Photographic Treasure

Love it when I find an unexpected treasure! This store was owned by Ephraim Miller and his brother, George. In the 1880 Census, George, our great-great-grandfather, is listed as being a store clerk, which give us some idea of the age of this photograph.

Look at the boy riding the calf on the lower left of the photograph.  He has a dog riding behind him. There's the treasure!

Civil War Bodyguard

Our great-great grandfather was William Hayden.  He was born in Virginia in 1844 and by 1850 was living with his family in Ohio.  He became a soldier in the 1st Ohio Infantry and fought at the Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro, TN, where he was wounded and hospitalized.  

The images in this post are from Stones River Battleground in Murfreesboro, from research at the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and from Fold3.com.

House of Cannon

Notes from Pete Cannon identify this as the home of John Cannon, a home which has since burned. Although the porch is different, I am wondering whether it is the same house in the photo below, taken in approximately 1892, of the Hayden and Cannon families.

I recognize William Hayden, holding the baby (center of the photo).  This man is our great-great grandfather and I have been digging into his history recently.  He served on the Union side during the Civil War as a bodyguard. Found some wonderful information at the Tennessee State Archives about him - expect a separate post about his military service.

Our Family's Bible

I love this Bible.  It is an amzing piece in our family's history. Published in 1881, it belonged to Grandma's family, the Millers.

After Daddy died, this was one of the items in a box of his personal belongings that was given to us girls.  At the time, none of us knew who the Millers were, so the Bible came to live with me, the sister most interested in our family heritage.

I had a vague recollection of Daddy saying that Grandma's mother died when Grandma was really young and that she was raised by a step mother.  So after some research, I discovered that this Bible belonged to the Miller family: Grandma's maternal family.

Happened in Elkton

He had been working in Lyon County, part of a road construction crew. Now he found himself headed into the army during the Korean Conflict.

She wanted to move away from Lyon County. 

Together they planned a life after the army that would take them to different towns, going to wherever he would be able to find work.  She was excited at the prospect. Since he was always valued for his "hard work", I imagine he was proud to be able to provide for her. The first step in their plan is to get married.

They obtained their marriage license in Lyon County, and I don't know what their actual plans for a wedding were.  What I do know is that........

No Place Like (the Hayden) Home

Old Kuttawa Home

Several weeks ago, someone posted a picture of the Hayden family on Facebook (Randy Armstrong).  Our cousin, Clyde Shelley, messaged me about the picture and while I thought I had a better copy of the picture that had been posted, I hadn't found it until today.

It's About Time!

No posts since 2011!?  Had to ask myself what I've been doing since then. In a single statement: life as it was, is no more.  The changes haven't all been easy, but after (most) of the dust settled, I can say that all the changes are good.  

In the 4 years since my last post, I have become a member of the DAR with three documented ancestors approved and am actively working on two more.  It is the findings I am collecting during the search for "proofs" that has prompted me to reinstate this blog.

I need a place to share with all of you in such a way that you can pick and choose the information that is of most interest to you.  So, "DenneyGirls" is active once again - after all, it's about TIME! :)

(This is the Anniversary Clock Daddy brought to Mama from Germany after his service during the  Korean Conflict, 1951-1953)