Heritage Genealogy Corner

08/04/2025

Halloween is just around the corner! Do you have any vintage photographs of your family that are either old Halloween photos or are so creepy they could be old Halloween photos?

08/03/2025

It can get complicated 😂

07/29/2025

Rhoda Skelton, was of mixed race, European descent and either Creek or Cherokee. Her husband was Green Hill Thornton son of Dozier Thornton a well known Baptist minister, who founded the Van's Creek Baptist Church in honor of his friend Cherokee Chief David Van(n). As Dozier had close relationships with many Indians in Georgia it is not surprising that his son Green married a half Indian woman. Rhoda's mother's name is unknown, her father is Rhesa Skelton.

Rhesa was the son of Robert Skelton and Elizabeth Bobo. Rhesa is often mis-identified in family trees as female with no additional information about "her". Rhesa and his unknown wife continue to move west into Indian Territory through the years.

(Rhesa's wife is often found in family trees as Lucretia Highsmith, however it is well documented that she married Hiram Robert Skelton. And there is no evidence to suggest that Rhesa or Reecy as his name is sometimes written, was a nickname for Hiram Robert.)

Rhesa is found in the 1815 Elbert County Georgia Property Tax Digests. By 1820 he is in northern Alabama in the county of St. Clair.

In the 1830 Census for Shelby County Alabama his name is seen as Ruce Skelton. His wife appears to be still alive as there is 1 Male 40-49 in the home and 1 Female 40-49 in the home. There is also 1 Male under 5, 1 Male 15-19, 1 Female under 5, 1 Female 5-9, 1 Female 10-14, and 1 Female 15-19. Rhoda who was born in 1807 was already married to Green at this time so is not in the home. Names of these children are currently unknown other than 1 son Blackstone Hadimon Skelton. (Rhoda would also name a son Blackstone.)

By 1840 Rhesa is living in Benton County Alabama with his family. His wife is still alive and there is another son under 5 listed, this son we also know the name of, Henry Austin Skelton. Henry Austin and Blackstone Hadimon will relocate to Mariposa County California together.

By 1845 R Skelton appears in the State Census in Choctaw Mississippi, along with I. B. Skelton and H. J. Skelton.

In 1850 Rhesa is living in Itawamba Mississippi with the family of his daughter Alpha Colson nee Skelton.

Rhesa dies sometime between 1850-1860 in Mississippi.

07/28/2025

Reported to be taken in 1921 - Duren Family. Taken Lake Morton, Lakeland, Polk County Florida

Florida always keeps it exciting - imaging being the one that harnessed the gator! 😳😆

07/28/2025

07/28/2025

Queen Anne style houses from Shoppell's "Modern Houses and Beautiful Houses," 1887 edition, Design 359.

My sharp-eyed friend Brad Emerson ( on Instagram) noticed the similarities between the Bangor, Maine, house on the left and the Newburgh, NY, house on the right, both of which I have posted here. He brought it to my attention - sending me down a research rabbit hole.

The Bangor house has been attributed to prominent local architect William Mansur, but the research shows that to be incorrect. A reference to the house in the March 29, 1889, issue of the "Industrial Journal" identifies the plan as being from the New York Cooperative Building Association.

This company was founded by architect Robert W. Shoppell to publish his popular house plan books and magazines. Complete blueprints could be purchased for any design, and duplicates of his houses often appear throughout the country. This house is Design No. 359 in the 1887 edition of his "Modern Houses and Beautiful Houses." There are often differences in the details of the houses built from these designs, as seen here.

Many 19th-century house designs came from plan books. Identifying them can be very helpful when restoring an altered house.

More than 50 color photos are used to illustrate the Queen Anne style in Chapter 2 of "Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners."

Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.

Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!

"Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.

© Scott T. Hanson 2025.

07/28/2025

Cherokee County, North Carolina, 1937...

Caption
The Gilbert family of Murphy are shown at their home...

Source
Tennessee Valley Authority

07/28/2025

Oh yeah!

07/24/2025