Brothers

Bob says he remembers meeting a "huge" man he thought was Mack. I'm pretty sure it was Lester's Uncle Mack Jr., not Mustache Mack of the Jungles.

There were three Adair boys that lived to adulthood. Jim (our line), Bill, and Mack Jr. from their draft registration cards . . .

Jim - 5'10" 150 lbs missing right big toe, age 53
Bill - 5'7" 130 lbs large scar on right leg, age 48
Mack Jr. - 5'11" 195 lbs large scar under right arm, age 43

Considering Bob is 5'8" and Grandpa Lester is about that same height I think . . . Mack Jr. probably appeared to be a large man to Bob (although he can't remember how young he was at the time).

Why were they registering for the draft at such an old age? Also, Bill had served in World War I why would they need him to register again?

After the United States entered World War II, a new Selective Service Act required that all men between the ages of 18 and 64 register for the draft. The fourth draft registration covered males ages 45 to 64. The draft registration, called the Fourth Registration, or Old Man’s Registration, was held on April 27, 1942. The purpose of this registration was to collect information on industrial capacity and skills of men. It was not intended to be used for military service but to provide a complete inventory of manpower resources in the United States that could be utilized for national service during World War II.

Picture: Jim, Bill, and Mack Jr.

Education - Schmeducation

Grandpa Lester Adair graduated from high school.  Big deal, right?  I guess I just never thought about my grandparent’s education. 

Education in the 1930’s in Oklahoma wasn’t easy, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl presented many challenges for students, teachers and schools.  Schools faced budget cutbacks and had to come up with creative ways to keep schools running.  Although education was highly valued by Americans prior to the 1930’s the limited amount of funding changed the way we thought about education.  It was a luxury that could not always be afforded.  Education was not highly regulated like it is today.  Students didn’t always attend school for 9 months a year as we do now.  Most students did not attend kindergarten or 12^th grade.  One room schools, where one teacher taught all grade levels in a single classroom was common, particularly in rural areas.

The depression impacted schools beginning in 1932, budget cutbacks led to reduction in school hours, increased class sizes, lower teacher salaries and school closings.  Schools and districts got creative by cutting out courses like music, foreign language, sports programs, cafeterias or even stopped providing school supplies and books to students. {Good hell, this could have been written today}

However, kids began to stay in school longer since jobs were harder to find, which led to more students in under-resourced schools.  Teachers also struggled to teach undernourished kids.  Despite these challenges it was a great time for literature for kids and adults – Dick & Jane readers, Nancy Drew, Dr. Seuss, Earnest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, and John Steinbeck to name a few.

Statistics from Oklahoma schools show Muskogee County had double, almost triple the students in school during the 1930’s as surrounding counties enrolled.  Was this due to more poverty or to an emphasis on education?

The dust bowl added to problems such as decreases in school support/funding due to falling property taxes.   Students were often sent home from school due to dust storms, a bit like “snow days” in our day.  This caused problems as well as teachers worried students would lose their way on the walk home.  The dust was so bad it would be completely dark in the middle of the day.  Lanterns would be lit so students could continue with lessons or sometimes the students were kept overnight so they wouldn’t get lost or overcome by dust.

I can’t imagine attending school in these circumstances, I barely survived school under great circumstances.  But Lester did . . . and I even found his final credit register (report card)

Lester took classes such as:  algebra I, geometry plane, US history, Oklahoma state history, ancient history, English I, II, III and IV,  physics, physiography, psychology, typewriting, com geography, and phys training.

Physiography?  A subfield of geography that studies physical patterns and processes in the earth.  It aims to understand the forces that produce and change rocks, oceans, weather, and flora and fauna patterns.  I’m betting Lester thought Flora and Fauna were attractive girls and that’s why he took the class.  I can’t even imagine why he would consider geometry plane.  He had teachers like Mr. Dalton, Mr. Hogan, Ms. Pinner and Ms. Haworth.  

I find it interesting to think about - Lester graduated.  He lost his mother when he was young, his father left him with his grandparents who were farmers and who were tough and strict.  Education was a luxury that could not always be afforded, and he graduated!  That's awesome.

My hope when requesting his record was to get a home address for him, but alas, it wasn’t include on the record.  Stinking Mack just won’t give up any information. 

Lester graduated in May of 1935, he and grandma Zola married in September of 1936.  Here is their marriage license and certificate.  Notice Lester’s age?  21 years old?  I don’t think so! 

Now I’m no geometry plane major, but if one was born August 19, 1917 and you register for a marriage license September 2 of 1936, that makes you 19, barely.  Not 21 years old.  Zola’s age is correct, she was born November 4, 1916.  Why did they fib on the age?  To avoid parental consent?  You have to be 18 to marry without parental consent, Lester would have been 19 for 3 weeks.  Did he not want to be “younger” than Zola?   Does anyone know the details on this?  Dang I wish they were here, I have a list of questions miles long.  The first one being “grandpa, are your fingers straight in heaven?”

With Her Paramour

Oh fam, I found a scandal . . . Okay, like 3 or 4 generations back, but it’s still fun. Probably wasn’t for them.

A. R. (Albert) & Sarah Hinkle 

Who is Albert Hinkle to us? Albert is our Great Great Great Uncle. 

Researching the Hinkle line I went to old on-line newspaper archives.  You can find wedding notices, death notices and other bits and pieces.  That's how we found the awesome stories about all the run ins Mack had with the devil in the jungles.  

In the 1900 census records I found A.R. Hinkle with wife listed as Sarah.  There were two Hinkle children in the household and a "step-son" George Strahan listed as four years old.  The record indicated A.R. and Sarah were married and the length of time was 1 year.  Interesting, so they were both married before?  Were they widower/widow or divorced?  Digging through the Springfield (Missouri) Ledger and Press there it was - dated October 7, 1897

Oh my Albert!  It seems Albert and Sarah had a forbidden love - and got busted.  But hey, who doesn't want to live with their paramour over a hot tamale factory?  Luckeeeeeee.

There were arrested and their trial was to be held on Saturday.  I have not found the trial records, but I am looking this up for sure!

Bits and Pieces of Mack & Minnie

You know my obsession for Mack runs strong. I don't know why I love that mean old man so much, but I am determined to find his parents. Through this obsession I've found many cousins, and it's been really fun to connect with them and see pictures of their families.

One cousin sent me this treasure. This beautiful photo is Mack & Minnie and their young family. They had 10 children, 8 that reached adulthood (with the first sibling passing in 1925). We believe we know who each person is in the photo, left to right.

William "Bill" Bolen Adair
James "Jim" Harrison Adair (our line)
Eva Mae Adair Barnett
Mack Adair (seated)
Mack Adair, Jr.
Josephine "Josie" Adair Newsome
Arminda "Minnie" Hinkle Adair (seated)
Emma Adair Todd
Beatrice Adair Carroll Fugate

Where is their oldest daughter Cora Adair Peebles? Well, purely speculation on my part but the youngest child in the family is Mack Jr. born in 1899. I am making the assumption that he is the youngest boy - since he is in pants. He looks to be four-ish years old in this photo. If that is the case this photo was taken in 1903 or 1904. Cora married Willie Peebles in 1903, Eva married John "Harrison" Barnett in 1904. Maybe this was taken after Cora's marriage but before Eva married and left home. 



There are always family stories floating around, and it's tough sometimes to tell stories from truth. In visiting with the cousins I've found there are 3 or 4 common themes . . . remember, it's not all pretty and that's okay. Each of these bits and pieces I've heard from at least 3 sources (kinda my standard to include it in my records).

Minnie was one tough gal:

• She always wore something on her head when she was older, as she didn't have much hair.
• She was afraid of water on her head, as a result she rarely if ever washed her hair.
• She chewed tobacco and had a spittoon.
• Once when she had a bad tooth she pulled it herself.

Mack:

• 1 family line indicated Mack was adopted and raised by another family. Two family lines indicated they had never heard that story or anything like that. None of them have any information on Mack's parents or siblings. 
• 3 family sources have all indicated they heard a story of Mack while serving as a constable or deputy sheriff in Missouri shooting and killing a man for drinking at a "whites only" water fountain/trough. This upset the local community to the point Mack was given a referral for similar work in Muskogee Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and that is how the family ended up in Oklahoma.  (UPDATE:  A new cousin contact (4th source) heard Mack was a US Marshal during this incident.  I'm researching)

There is no avoiding it really, but no one has much nice to say about Mack and Minnie. Some of the comments received from cousins (from children or grandchildren of Mack and Minnie) are "meanest people I ever knew" and "they treated their children/grandchildren with what would be considered abuse in our day."

All of them have said Mack and Minnie worked hard, and did the best they could.

Maxine, Grandpa Lester's youngest sister told her family little stories, as it seems she was a bit of a prankster. She got a hold of Mack’s pipe once and stuffed it with dried leaves instead of his tobacco. Maxine had said she had to tiptoe around him for days after that one. Also she cut off half of his mustache once when he was sleeping in a chair on the porch.

Maxine said once that another family member was complaining about how badly they were treated by Mack and Minnie, but Maxine defended them saying they did the very best they knew how. Maxine felt the girls were treated a lot better than the boys.

These things are tough to hear, but I do remember hearing similar stories. It hurts my heart to think of grandpa Lester being treated badly. From stories the boys (our dads) have told Lester had temper too, hearing about his upbringing gives us information that might helps us understand. As a grandchild I never saw that side of him, but I'm sure Bob, Gary and Dean could share stories, one that comes to my mind is when they had to tell him he couldn't drive anymore and they were there to take his drivers license.

There are many sides to people and not everyone sees every side of a person. We do know they donated to the Red Cross (through previous news articles) and they took in their four grandchildren and raised them.

When grandpa Lester's mom, Clara, died his dad, Jim, was also sick with the same flu. The newspaper said that he was improving slowly. Clara's death certificate informant was her mother Mary Buschjost. It appears then she was there. Maybe she came for the birth of the new baby and stayed since Clara wasn't recovering. Maxine said the four children stayed with the Buschjost side of the family for a bit, but were all left outside the front gate of Mack and Minnie's farm with a suitcase. Mack and Minnie took them in.

From records we know that Clara's father died about 18 months before Clara did. His wife Mary had 5 children at home to provide for after her husband's death. It is difficult to imagine the hard choices people had to make then. It was said grandpa Lester and his brother and sisters were left at Mack and Minnie's gate, we weren't there and we don't know if Mary agonized over the decision to let her daughter's children go.  For all we know she may have easily rode away, we just don't know.

And in all of this where was Jim (James Harrison), why did he not keep his children with him? Again, we weren't there and we just cannot know what he was thinking or experiencing. Was he grieving at the loss of his wife? Maxine said of her father, "He was an alcoholic and we would go long stretches without seeing him to finding him passed out in Ma & Pa's (Mack & Minnie) front yard. He'd stay a couple days then be gone again." From Maxine's photo albums it appears Jim remarried a lady named Dora and Jim did much better after marrying her. I did find a census record in from 1940 with a James Harrison Adair with a Darline. I'm researching this further, but can't find marriage records for it. Maxine has her listed as his "common law" wife. But in a photo, they both have wedding rings on. When Jim passed away in 1950 his obituary did not mention being married, nor did his will.

Willie Peebles & Thelma Mounts

William “Willie” Mack Peebles & Thelma Josephine Mounts

Who are they to us? 

Mack and Minnie’s daughter Cora Adair married Will Peebles.  Willie Mack Peebles is their oldest son, he is Lester's cousin.  I don’t know if you remember the escapades of Mack and his friend John Mounts in the Jungles or not, but Thelma Mounts is John’s daughter.  Mack’s grandson married his best buddy’s daughter. 

Willie was born in Oklahoma City in 1904, at some point the family moved to Muskogee Oklahoma, his mother, Cora’s, home town.  Willie married Thelma Mounts in July of 1923.  It seems they settled in Muskogee and raised three children.

Harold Wayne born in 1924, Rosa Lee born in 1927, and Billy Gene born in 1929. (Photo of Harold and Rosa).  The youngest son Billy passed away at the age of three years old after a short illness.

I found several news articles in 1941 with titles such as:  Killing and Suicide Reported at Porter (Oklahoma),  Separate Services Today for Willie Peebles and Wife, and Porter Man Kills Ex-Wife and Self.  Boy, there is some heartache there. 

It appears that on a Saturday night in April 1941 Willie ran into Thelma on the main street of Porter, Oklahoma and was very angry about their divorce and the outcome of the divorce hearing.  The articles do not give further detail as to why he was angry, but he shot and killed her.  He then shot himself in the head and was taken to a hospital in Muskogee in "grave" condition.  He died the next day.  From what I have read it seems the Mounts family took in the two children Harold age 17 and Rosa age 14.  

I’ve been in contact with a cousin – who is the daughter of their oldest son Harold.  She didn’t know the Adair side of the family as it seems after Willie killed Thelma then himself there wasn’t much communication with the Peebles side of the family (Cora Adair’s married name is Peebles).  Harold's daughter says her father never spoke of what happened.

Willie's mother, Cora passed away in 1925, she didn't have to see her son take the life of his ex-wife then his own.  As a mother that would be heartbreaking.  I can't imagine how their children felt, how they moved forward and had marriages and families of their own.  

Thelma as a young girl.

Willie Mack Peebles (facing left) with his son Harold.

Harold and his sister Rosa - children of Willie and Thelma

A Simple Marriage License

What kind of information would a marriage license have?  Date, place, maybe signatures.  I have a copy of the marriage license for M.C. Henry and Miss Margaret Renfrow.  These people are Zola's parents, Pop Henry and Great Grandma Thornsbury.  Good stuff to be learned:

1. MC Henry is Marion Clinton Henry.  It seems he is referred to as Clint by his sisters, but seems his brothers often called him MC.
2. He was 21 years old when he married Margaret, and she was 15 years old.  It's interesting to note also, that she did not have to have parental consent to marry.  Which means she was of legal age.  
3. They were married January 3, 1909 by a Justice of the Peace, J.W. Dean.
4. A handwritten personal note was written on the license by Great Grandma.

"Son of M.C. and Margarett Henry borned February 2th 1912.  Died Feb 2th 1912.  Gone but not forgotten.  He has gone our presise darling never more will he return for he sleeps a peaceful slumber till the resurrectin morn.

for our beloved one gone 

suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for sich is the Kingdom of Heven, aman."

This makes me so sad for them.  Child birth was so different in her world.  You may have noticed the spelling, as I typed it just like it appears.  Margaret never attended formal schooling, census records indicate she could read and write but that she hadn't attended school.  From previous pictures we know Clint attended some schooling, though I am not sure how much.  

In trying to find out normal ages for marriage then, there isn't really a standard answer.  Each state varied and life expectancy for a woman in the early 1900's is 50 years old.  Things such as poverty, fear, social status, and security (if she lacks family members - men - to provide) all contribute.  Although young, frankly it seemed to be the norm to marry around 15 to 16 years of age for girls in Arkansas at the time.  

This baby boy was born in 1912, Zola (born in 1916) was their oldest child (I thought) until finding this marriage license and note.  I wonder if there were more losses before Zola was born and survived.  

Finding this makes Margaret a little more real to me.  I mean, I knew her but only as an old great grandma with mushy apples and a house that was elevently-billion degrees.  But she was a young mom, with great loss too.  

Margaret Renfro Henry - about 1936 (about 43 years old)

What's in a Note?

Well, here I am again. Obsessing about Mack seems to be my favorite past time. Notice I didn't say "new" favorite past time.

In searching records of the White River Valley Historical Quarterly Society, a publication with interests in counties in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas, including Stone, Taney, Green and Ozark Counties, I ran across this note:




If you notice in the first paragraph the writer out lines the names listed in the old notebook. Frank Hinkle and Dan Hinkle are included - followed a few names later by Mack Adair.

Pure speculation on my part at this time, but Minnie (Mack's wife) has brothers named Frank & Daniel J. Hinkle.  Could that be the same Frank and Dan Hinkle listed and maybe even working with Mack Adair? Is that maybe how Mack and Minnie met or Minnie's brothers helped Mack find work?  From records found previously in the "Jungles" Mack seems to be fond of religion and the United Brethren in Christ church is an evangelical Christian denomination with roots in Mennonite and German communities in Pennsylvania.  The Hinkles are originally from Pennsylvania and of German ancestry, so it would make sense they were associated with this type of church.  

Mack and Minnie were married by the 1880 census and living in that area. It's the right county and right time frame. Again, I may just be desperately looking for a connection, but I'm going to hold on to this just in case.

Adairs or Not? That is the Question

Family history is a lot of making contacts and exchanging information. I've connected with several of our Adair family's distant cousins and we've kept in touch and shared information.

Mack & Minnie

• Jessie Adair (1881-1882) did not have children
• Mary Adair (1883-1895) did not have children
• Cora J. Adair (1884-1925) - cousin connection (Lynn)
• Eva Mae Adair (1886-1970) 
• James Harrison Adair (1889-1950) - our line
• Beatrice Adair (1891-1959) - cousin connection (Marsha)
• William Bolen Adair (1893-1994) did not have children
• Emma Adair (1895-1962) 
• Josephine Adair (1897-1993) - 2 cousins connections (Sandy & Jo)
• Mack Adair, Jr. (1899-1986) - cousin connection (Chelsea)

Chelsea, this new cousin I recently connected with, is a descendant of Mack Adair, Jr. We shared information and what our sources were. I asked her what she knew about Mack Sr. this was her reply:

"So, as far as finding more on Mack Sr., it is hard and I am not sure we ever will. The story I have always been told about him (and it seems to be a story that was told often as everyone here seems to knows it) is that he was adopted into the Adair family as a baby. He was a member of a Native American tribe that was massacred and as far as we know he was the only living survivor. On census records they did not list him as Native American or Indian because of the stigma and prejudices then. Regardless, I have not been able to even find his adopted family, but I am always searching. I am not sure if that is the full story or even a true story, but I have always been at a wall with him as well and that would make sense to me as to why."

From what our cousin has been told Adair is the family who adopted him.  I'll have to look into this further.

Am I My Own Grandpa?

Josh Renfro married John Anna Brown.  Who are they to us?  

I cannot get over his overalls with his nice jacket!  They are adorable.

Their daughter is Margaret Elizabeth Renfro Henry Thornsbury.  Great Grandma – Zola’s mother.

This picture is Zola with her Grandma and Grandpa Renfro.  My understanding is this was when she went to tell them goodbye as she and Lester were getting ready to move to the Pacific Northwest.  That blonde baby . . . . in her arms?  That's Bob; I'm guessing this was taken around 1941 - 1942.

Josh Renfro’s mother Drucilla Jane Barnes married three times.

First to Josh’s father, Joshua Benjamin Renfro.  You might remember, Joshua was killed by lightening during the civil war.

Second, Drucilla married a Isaiah Moore and I only have his name, nothing else. 

Third she married William W. Manuel.  William was first married to Mary Emeline Brown.  Who is Mary Emeline Brown?  She is John Anna Browns sister.  

Wait what?  John Anna was Josh’s step-father’s former sister-in-law.  No blood relations there, we’re safe.  

Mary Emeline Brown would be our great great Aunt.  Great Grandma Thornsbury's aunt.

James Harrison Adair

We are hideous!  
Take a seat and prepare yourself 

Who is James Harrison Adair to us?  Lester's father, Jim Adair.

I found great-grandpa Jim's WWII registration card.  He was 5'10" in height, 150 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair.  He was light complected AND MISSING HIS RIGHT BIG TOE!  WHAT?  

How can we be this deformed, I'm blaming him for everything now #thanksjim

The Buschjost Family

The Buschjost Family - spell it anyway you want, matter of fact the more letters the better.  

Buschjost

Bushjost

Buschjoest

Buschgort

H.C. Buschjost and Mary Jane Lawing married October 23, 1893 in Pottersville, Howell County, Missouri.  H.C. was 27 years old and Mary was 16 years old, which required her father's consent to the marriage.  Interestingly, this was not Mary Jane's first marriage.  Her first marriage was to Emmett J. Wells in 1891 when she was 14.  My research has found Emmett married with a family in later years, so I believe they divorced; however, I have not found any records of that so far.

Together H.C. and Mary had seven children:

Clara Buschjost Adair 1895 - 1918 (Lester's mom)
Ceclie Buschjost 1897 - 1990
Nadine Vena Buschjost Gardner 1898-1956
Harry Jackson Buschjost 1900-1966
Charles F. Buschjoest 1904-1974
Hazel E. Buschjost Long 1909 - 1975
Hattie G. Buschjost (DiCarlo or Allen) 1911-2003

The 1900 Federal Census record shows the family living in Benton, Arkansas in a town called Hico which is now Siloam Springs.  Notice H.C. is listed as Charles H. Buschjost born April of 1851 in Germany.  Interestingly if he were born in 1851 he would have been 42 at the time of their marriage, yet the marriage certificate indicates he was 27 making him born about 1866 (which other records match).  This could be an error on the census takers part, or did Charles misspeak?  Did an accent make him harder to understand?  Clara (our great grandmother) was born in Missouri and so was Cecil.  Cecil was listed as a son, but I know she is a daughter.  It can be challenging weeding out the incorrect information from what is accurate.

In the 1910 Federal Census record taken in April of 1910 the Buschjost family is living in Nash Township in Muskogee County Oklahoma, or Indian Territory at the time.  The area was opened to non-indian settlement during the Cherokee Outlet Opening in September of 1893.

 

Again, the names and information can be confusing.  H.C. Buschjost is listed as 46 years old making him born in 1864.  Cecil(e) is listed as a daughter and there are 3 more kids.  If you notice Mary J.'s listed as wife, female, white, 33 years of age, married for 16 years, the 7 & 6 column is the number of births to that woman - 7, the next number is the number of living children - 6.  This means they lost a child.  I have not been able to located any records yet  as to when this might have been.  Oklahoma did not legally require birth or death certificate filings until 1917, with the earliest birth records they have being from 1908.

1920 Federal Census, we find the family in Hulbert, Oklahoma.  This is about 15 miles north east of Nash Township (basically Fort Gibson, OK)

H.C. is not listed, with Mary J. being listed as the "head of household" and a new daughter Hattie G. was 8 years old.  Clara is not listed, and neither is Nadine.  

Since the 1910 census, Clara had married James Harrison "Jim" Adair in 1912 and had her little family daughter Lois in 1915, son Earl in 1916, Lester in 1917, and Maxine in 1918, passing away three weeks later.  I did obtain a copy of her death certificate which was completed by her mother (previous news articles indicated her husband, Jim was very ill with pneumonia when Clara passed).  Her mother lists Clara's father as Charley Buschjost born in Germany.  The "C" in HC is Charles . . . .  Clara's cause of death says:  influenza, pneumonia, with the secondary cause:  child birth.

Nadine married Robert C. Gardner in 1917 but had not had any children that I know of yet.

This got me digging, where did H.C. go?  Looking through old Fort Gibson newspapers, I found this notice - March 23, 1916

This little notice tells me so much - they had lived in the Muskogee area for the past 15 years.  He died of pneumonia (probably the beginning of that horrible pandemic that took his daughter's life), he left five daughters: Cecil (who had been listed as a son and daughter on different census records), Nadine, Mrs. James Adair, and the two younger girls, who are Hazel and Hattie.  Two sons Harry and Charley.  This again, verifies the information I had tracked down, hoping it was our Clara's family.

From here I have not been able to find anything specific on Mary J.  Harry, Charley, and Cecil all lived together until 1933 when Cecil is committed to a hospital for the insane.  The Eastern Oklahoma State Hospital at Vinita.  She was diagnosed as having delusional persecution disorder, where the person believes they are being slandered, mistreated, drugged, spied on etc.  In those papers it indicates her father died at age 56 of pneumonia (would have made him born in 1860) and her mother died at "47 cardiac."  I've basically given up on H.C.'s age - he's worse than a woman ;-)  But I am going to continue looking into Mary passing at age 47 to see if there is anything to verify this.  Cecile was released and living on her own again by 1940 in Tulsa and working as a "presser" in a local laundry business.

1.  Cecile Buschjost (in Zola's handwriting on back of photo). Ideas on how to pronounce her name?  Suh-seal?  It looks like the male spelling of See-Sul?

2.  Harry married Enid Kincaid in 1933.  World War II registration records give the following info on Harry,  Height:  5'8"  Weight: 170  Hair:  Black/Brown  Eyes:  Grey  Build:  Tall/Slender  Complexion:  Dark

3. Marvin Lawing and Charley Buschjost 
An interesting note on this picture is for years I had no idea who Marvin Lawing was.  When I found the name of Clara's mother as Mary Jane Lawing with a brother Marvin it clicked.  Marvin would be the Clara's uncle or Lester's great uncle.  One more piece to help confirm we had the right information.  Charley's World War II enlistment records when he was 38 years old indicate he was 5'7" and 160 pounds.

4.  Hattie Buschjost Stock (L) and Hazel Buschjost Long (R)

As I've said before, nothing earth shattering or amazing.  I just love knowing all the info I can.  Also, I totes love the overalls . . . . the beginnings of Lester's love for cover alls?

Love you fam.

UPDATE: Minnie Hinkle

Minnie Hinkle Adair

Who is she to us?  She is Lester's paternal grandmother.  She and her husband Mack (of the jungles) raised Lester and his siblings after his Mom died of pneumonia.  (Do you see Lester in her face?)

Researching women can be a bit tough due to maiden/married names but from what Zola told me and from the records I found I believe Minnie's name is Arminda Ellen Hinkle or Amanda Ellen Hinkle.  "Minnie" for short.

Minnie is the daughter of William and Alvira (Winstow or Winslow) Hinkle, born  August 8, 1865 in Missouri.

I found a book:  "A Reminiscent History of the Ozark Region" by Goodspeed Brothers Publishers 1894, that includes a biographical sketch of the Hinkle family.  What?   We are famous?  I always knew it.  Goodspeed Publishing was a Chicago company that published many works on local American history and biographies in the 1880's.  They are viewed as a significant resources for historians and genealogists because they contain personal biographies of many prominent American citizens, and they provide an important snapshot of the lives and economic situation of that era.

This was an excellent find and I learned Minnie's father (William) was a native of the Keystone* State and of German descent.  He moved from Pennsylvania to Iowa and from there to Lawrence County, Missouri where he remained until 1870.  He finally settled in Taney County and passed away in 1876.  William was a blacksmith and worked in that trade as well as farming all his life.

*Sorry Mama and Mr. Rossbach I had to look it up - the Keystone State is Pennsylvania

Alvira Winstow or Winslow (dang I wish I'd know her name when I was pregnant with Emma - Alvira Jade Hansen has a nice ring to it, huh?) was born in Pennsylvania and in 1894 was living a comfortable life with her son Henry J. Hinkle.

They were the parents of eleven children who are listed as follows:

Henry J.
Frank, who is a farmer near Sparta
Albert, residing in Taney County
Minnie the wife of Mac Adair of Indian Territory;
Daniel, a farmer of Taney County
Ida; the wife of George Bullock of Clay County
Lillie a widow, residing in Clay County
James
Mahala
and two infants deceased

The family attended the Christian Church and Mr. Hinkle was a wealthy man, a good citizen, and was well liked by all acquainted with him.  Mrs. Hinkle reared a large family, and is a most estimable lady of about 60 years of age now.

The things we learn from this article!!!  It's is a treasure trove (toilet paper word of the day).  We learn several things - Minnie had 10 siblings.  Her mother's maiden name (kinda) and birthplace and her birth year - approximately 1834.  We learn her father's profession and that it seems he did well and people liked him.  He passed in 1876 in Missouri.  To tie it all together, I mean what if this isn't our Minnie, it says she was the wife of Mac Adair of Indian Territory (Oklahoma).  Minnie was most likely born in Lawrence County - other records indicate she was born in Missouri, this timeline says that by 1870 the Hinkle family settled in Taney County.  Minnie was born in 1865, so before they moved to Taney County.

As I searched census records I have found these siblings with their respective spouses and this gave me something to go off of.  Frank's name is actually William F. Hinkle on many records, now I know they called him Frank.  Ida's name looks like Luda on several records as well and we have her married name.  Darn, we don't know Lillie's married name, but I know she was a widow by 1894.

So much information from one little article, here is some more.

Minnie's brother Henry J. Hinkle seemed to be the main subject of the biography and it says he secured a fair education in Missouri.  He also learned the blacksmith's trade and when he was a grown man started a shop for himself in Taney County at Kirbyville where he stayed for 6 years.  Then he moved to Texas to pursue farming .  I am assuming this is Texas County Missouri, not the state.  He then moved to Sparta Missouri in 1883 and opened a shop working there until 1892.  Then he opened a hardware business and has always been successful in all his pursuits.  The man didn't have enough to do so he opened a hotel and that is what he was doing at the time of the article in 1894.  He has a comfortable home in Sparta attended to by his wife - formerly Miss Mariah Ellen Stephens of Illinois.  She is the daughter of Thomas A. and Elizabeth (Davis) Stevens of Taney County.  Notice the two different spellings of the name Stephens/Stevens?  Great . . . .

Henry J. and his wife had five children, two dying in infancy - William T., Jasper N. and Tulela A (excellent names).  I love that the article mentions that Mrs. Hinkle is a lady of much capacity and performs the duties of landlady with "command and great ability."

Again - look at all that information.  I've been matching up census records, marriage records, wills/estates and having a hay day!  Jealous much?

Do you wanna know what got me really excited?  Because I know Minnie's brother's name is Henry and Henry's wife is Mariah Ellen, when I found them on an 1880 census record it made me wonder if Minnie was anywhere around them.  One street over I found Mack and Arminda Abrita - as I examined the census closer I swear it says Adair not Abrita.  The ages Mack - 21 and Arminda  - 15 are exactly right for Mack and Minnie.  I sent a correction for consideration - and they approved it.  In examining the original record the National Archives agrees that it is Adair not Abrita. Oh my exciting.  I've been looking for some proof of Mack before 1900's and this is the only thing in 25 years I've found.  It indicates on the census they are married and they live in their own household in Oliver, Taney County Missouri.  The 1870 census shows Minnie as a child in her father William's home - this 1880 census record is the earliest record I have of Mack.

When I finally was finally able to obtain a copy of Minnie's death certificate it listed her father as Henry Hinkle and her Mother as Alvira Hinkle.  So unless her father's name was Henry William  or William Henry Hinkle, I think her daughter Ava (who provided the information) didn't know her grandfather's name for sure or just mixed it up with her uncle's name.  She also listed her grandmother's maiden name as Winslow  - the article reports it as Winstow.  I realize in the 1880's Facebook and the internets wasn't as popular as it is today, so they didn't have the same contact with family members who weren't nearby.

It's tough to read, but Minnie's cause of death?  says "don't know, probably due to ongoing head lesion, she died suddenly."  I am not sure I am reading it correctly though . . . .

Do you know your parent's parents names?  Including maiden names?  The information on a death certificate is provided by a family member.

Remember when I said I would tell the good the bad and the ugly?  Family stories have it that Mack and Minnie were strict, even mean.  I've often wondered about it, and in their pictures they look grumpy, but really - what does one picture say about someone?  I mean, I think we all should be remembered for 1 snapshot of our lives.  Right?

What if Mack & Minnie were worriers?  What if they were stressed about raising snot-nosed kids who don't know how to work when their 4 grandchildren came to live with them?  What if farming is super hard work and they needed everyone to pull together and work hard?  We just don't know . . . were they mean and ornery?  Were they strict?  Is that a fine line?  Maybe one day we will know.

I do know I love Minnie, as I've search and learned about her - as I look at her picture and see my grandpa in her face . . . . It's still surprising to me that I can have so much love for people I haven't met.  Blood is blood, right?

I love you all, so much.  When I'm having a tough day - I think of you, and I love you and my heart swells.  "Oh, I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love."    We may be a small clan, but our love is mighty.

UPDATE:  I received a copy of the Record of Funeral from Leschers Funeral Home who are still operating and in business in Fort Gibson Oklahoma.  They were wonderful and so helpful in searching for information for me.  Here is some of that information:

Mack made the arrangements for Minnie with the help of their daughter Ava Barnett.  Minnie passed away at 7:00 p.m. at home on May 4, 1946.  Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on May 8, 1946 at their home in Fort Gibson.  Reverand George. T. James officiated.  Minnie's cause of death was clarified a bit . . .  "unknown, probably due to heart lesion, died suddenly."  These may be silly details, but I just like to know all I can, she had a "steele gray plush, half couch casket" and the form even indicates her hair and her dress was done by a professional.  Her funeral cost $592, which is equivalent to $8,018 in our day.