On this Date in History, March 13, 1781

On this date, March 13, 1781 William Herschel sees what he thinks is a "comet" but is actually the discovery of the planet Uranus.  Adolescent school boys have been giggling about the discover ever since.

6th grade boy's science project  poster of the what Uranus must look like.

Today In History, POPEYE'S birthday.

On this date, January 17th, 1929, POPEYE makes his 1st appearance in comic strip, "Thimble Theater".

I don't know about Thimble Theater but I do know his early videos from hours in the afternoon sitting in front our family's small black and white TV watching the POPEYE CLUB hosted by Officer Don (Don Elliott). 

Officer Don was very skillful in cutting off little kids before they could holler out the F word that their older sibling coached them to do.

Larry Bradford and I had the motions and Ka-ka-ka-k-k of cartoon Popeye's laugh or cackle  and the way he went around mumbling to himself down pat.

Roanoke, North Carolina, Lost Colony

Click here for Wiipedia's report on the Lost Colony

The above three pictures showing the mounds of dirt and a couple of worn trails are just about all the physical evidence of Roanoke, North Carolina, Lost Colony.

About a hundred feet away is a parking lot and a nice museum but I doubt either was there which before the Lost Colonists became "Lost".

Above this paragraph is a  Wikapedia link about the lost colony and the facts.  But the bottom line nobody has any idea what happened to them, except the colonists themselves and maybe the neighboring Native Americans, that is.

But I have two possible explanations:

1.  Click on the pictures to make them larger.  See the many foot prints in the dirt?  Has anybody thought to follow those footprints to see where they lead?

2.  The link will tell you were two neighboring Native American tribes were:  the Secotars and the Crocoans.

Maybe the two tribes had total different philosophies on how to treat outsiders and were angrily divided. Maybe the leader of one declared NO IMMIGRANTS ALLOWED!  GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM!

And the Colonists  walked out into the Outer Banks waters and disappeared.  

John Marshall appointed Chief Justice this day

This day in history, January 20, 1801, John Marshall was appointed U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice.

John Marshall had a sister named  Hannah Elizabeth Marshall .

Hannah married Zachariah Petty.  They are my ancestors.

So, John Marshall, Supreme Court Justice is an in-law of mine.  How do you think I got my job at the Post Office?

click on pictures to make them larger.

Johnny Mercer's Grave

On this Date in History, December 18,1909 Johnny Mercer was born in  Savannah GA, lyricist (Moon River, That Old Black Magic).  Johnny died  in 1976.  When we were in Savannah for a week  about ten years ago I dropped  by Bonaventure Cemetery and visited his family plot several times.  

Here are the pictures I took.

Johnny Mercer's Wife's Grave

Johnny Mercer's wife's mother's grave

Johnny Mercer Plot

Today In History, Dec 2nd

Today in History, December the 2nd.

1954 US Senate censures Joe McCarthy (Senator-R-WI) for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute"

In his time Joe McCarthy inspired the "Red Scare".  He ruined many careers of people in the entertainment industry because he insinuated they were communists, or had communist ties, or sympathetic to the communist cause. 

There is a new movie that is just coming out named TRUMBO.  I haven't seen it yet but I read it is about Dalton Trumbo. 

Dalton Trumbo was on the Hollywood Blacklist because of Joseph McCarthy.   Because of the Blacklist he could not get work.   Dalton was a screenplay writer who supported liberal ideals in movies.

I read a book by Trumbo once named JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN.  It is about a War World I soldier who was blown to bits.  He lost his sight, limbs, and mouth mechanism to prevent him from speaking.  In the book he works hard to figure out a way to communicate with the outside world.   

He was in a hospital bed in France.  Nobody knew who he is, only that he was a soldier and needed help.  He was kept alive by iv's. 

Finally he and a nurse find a way to communicate  and near the end he gives a moving speech against man and war.  That might be why Dalton Trumbo made the Blacklist.

On This Date November 17th

On this date in 1973:

President Nixon told AP "...people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook"

Also on this date in 1913 the Panama Canal  opens.

One of the workers* of the Panama Canal Zone was my father's uncle Oscar Ray Hunter* (1884-1963), son of William A. Hunter/Trammell.  Oscar married a Panama Canal project nurse Charlotte Georgia McCabe (1881-1958).  They had one son  William Ray Hunter, who was an engineer for NASA..  He and his wife Dorothy Grace Edmonson used to come to Hunter Reunions in Marietta and Blairsville.  

*Oscar was a bookkeeper for the Panama Canal project.

Happy 240th Birthday Marines

Today is the U.S. Marines birthday.  November 10, 1775 is considered their birth date because that is when the Continental  Congress made them official.  They are about eight months older than the United States.

They are part still part  of the U.S. Navy, ..right?

Unlike the other armed forces the Marines seems to promote brotherhood among themselves.  It is like a fraternity or a huge family.

a Creative History Tour

When we visit a historical city we are there because it is a historical city.  Events that changed history happened and we want to see and hear the facts from someone who has knows.

That is where a tour guide comes in.  A learned tour guide.

We have soaked up knowledge at various forts, old cities such as New Orleans, Savannah, Jekyll Island,  Charleston, Asheville, Philadelphia, Jamestown, Williamsburg,  Charlottesville,  and more.  The tour guides pointed out buildings and houses that famous people lived in, streets where famous duels were fought.

We walked away from each tour feeling we had just gained a little bit more knowledge about history.

What if we were conned?    And we just heard a story of a creative tour guide that made it up as he went?   I would feel  we didn't get what we paid for.  We were duped!

The historical city of Savannah had been issuing tour guide licenses .  The potential guides have to prove they knew the history of Savannah and its landmarks.

But maybe not anymore.

Some potential tour guides sued the city saying it was interfering with their Freedom of Speech.

It looks like they won.

Now, they don't have to be accurate in pointing things of interest out.  Now, it can be all BULLSHIT!

Would you want to be on a facts not mandatory   history tour?

What if a college professor who taught brain surgery decided to use his free speech decided to exercise his free speech and put on a little show instead of teaching?

"Bye, real history tours!"

Dueling and Feuding Andrew

I always learn something new when I watch JEOPARDY.  The other day I learned that Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) had  dueled over 100 times.

I read someplace that a lot of his duels were defending his wife's name.  She married "Old Hickory" when she was married to someone else, some people had a little fun with that, but not for long.  See who laughed last.

The thing is, in Tennessee, his home state, it was against the law to duel.

But who was going to call him on that, a congressman,  a senator, and a U.S. President  who had never lost a duel?  Not me! 

Tysons in History Like Forest Gump

Above: My great grandparents Obediah Hargraves Tyson (1852-1919) and Nancy Elizabeth Huey (1854-1938).  Some times when doing family research if someone has a surname as a middle name it is a clue of another family line to look for.  As you can see Obediah's middle name is Hargraves, which is probably a family surname.  I  have looked all over and only found the name Hargaves one time close to the Tyson family:  Obediah grandfather was named Eugene Hargraves Tyson.  But he was not named this by his parents Job Tyson and Frances Eliza Herring; They named him Job Tyson, Jr.  After they died Eugene's oldest sister Winston Tyson adopted him and  changed his name from Job Jr to Eugene Hargraves Tyson.   The only Hargraves I found was somebody in their father's militia unit last name was Hargraves.   He must have been an impressible guy.

During the Revolutionary War Job Tyson, a young man played a teenage prank on the British and was caught.  He was sentenced to hang.  However, the general , Lord Cornwallis,  pardoned him, saying he was just doing a harmless mischievous prank and boys will be boys and he admired young Job's courage.

It was like the kiss of death.  To get high praise from the enemy's leader was a curse of the Devil.  He was considered a traitor to the cause.  He spent some time and effort showing he still hated the British, as much as they did.

I think his own daughter was still spiteful of him because of that, and when he died, she changed Job, Jr.'s name.

Speaking of Winston Tyson, she was a school teacher.  She saw to it that  her adoptee went to best college in Georgia, Franklin College in Athens, which later change its name to the University of Georgia.

Also Winston might have  altered the course of history by being hired as a teacher on the Mulberry Plantation, near Savannah.   The Mulberry Plantation was a gift from the state of Georgia to General Nathan Greene and his heroic effort in the Revolutionary War, but he died before Winston was hired there as a teacher.

Have you hear the story of Eli Whitney going to the Mulberry Plantation to apply for a teacher but found that the position had already been filled?   Mrs Green invited him to stay a few days as a guest before he went on his journey back to wherever he came from.  While there, he invented the Cotton Gin, with the help of Mrs. Green's comb.

I think maybe Winston Tyson was the one that beat him to the job....the time fits.

Thomas Jefferson Day

Today is Thomas Jefferson Day.  Thomas Jefferson is one of the few that authored and molded the U.S. Constitution and  made this nation's first laws.

Not bad, not bad, for a first time thing.

He was also the 3rd president.

When our kids were kids we visited Monticello and looked at the exhibits that he invented or plantation records of his growing experiments.  His mind was always working.

He also apparently  had long lasting love affair with one of his slaves Sally Hemmings.   While in Charlottesville, after touring Monticello and the University of  Virginia, which he founded and designed its buildings, we went to Thomas Jefferson Society Museum high on a hill overlooking the college and his home.  There, a docent was all smiles very proudly pointed out things and facts to build Jefferson's heroism I asked her about  Sally Hemmings.  Her face dropped and her smile turned into a scowl.  She snappily said,  Thomas Jefferson descendants did not recognize Sally Hemmings and the (the society) didn't either and just considered her another house slave, but a hateful glare came  with that last period.

I learned not long ago, two of Thomas Jefferson's grandsons killed a slave maid for accidentally breaking a crystal wine glass.  I'm glad I didn't ask the docent about that incident.

Cade's Cove's Church

These are pictures of an old country church that I took at Cade's Cove, Tennessee, several years ago.   They are no longer used as worshiping places but as museum relics to show us how people lived over a 100 years ago. 

You can see double entrance doors.  Churches back then  had two front doors, one for the women folk and one for the men folk.  They sat separately too.  If this church was still operational for what it was built for, if they kept their same format but  tried to keep up with today's trends, would they need four additional doors, two for the out of the closet gays and transsexuals.

Martin Luther King. Jr Day Observed

Peace

This Day In History, "Tutti Frutti" Jan 14th

On this date, in 1956, Little Richard recorded "Tutti Frutti!"

Also on this date in 1864 General Sherman started his troops marching south to whip some ass and leave a smoking wake.

Monopoly Game Launched This Date

On this date in history:

1935 Parker Brothers launches game of Monopoly.

I  Googled Monopoly cards  for  a visual for the post and saw not only cards I  remember but also saw that some people got creative and made  humorous Community Chest Cards that sort of made fun of the spirit of the game.  

Some are mixed here with the regular cards below. 

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!

"Tell the Indians this is our land now.  Also tell them to go back to where they came from."

On this Date in history in 1787 the US Constitution was adopted by the Philadelphia Convention.  It is very well written and when it was written had great foresight of possible upheavals or challenges  of the law.

However, parts of it apparently is general or vague.  It is said the  conservative and liberal scholars can sometimes use the same sentences to back up opposing views.  The same can be said about the Bible.

Saint James Episcopalian Church in Marietta will ring its bell 13 times at special times throughout today.  It will be sort of like singing out "Cheers!"

Kin Who Served

These are the kin folks that I know served in the Armed Forces.  Proceed with caution,  they might not be chronological order and some are not in uniform.  In error I probably left someone out.

click on image to enlarge any picture.

3rd great grandfather -Greenville Pullen, Sr. served in the Indian Wars as a musician.  He played a fife.

3rd great grandfather - Jesse Bookout also fought in the Indian Wars and later became an employee of the famous Chief Van of Chatsworth, Georgia, which was against the law and caused problems.

William A. Hunter/Trammell &Emaline Ray

3rd greant grandfather -William served in the CSA, NC 39th Infantry, Co . I.  He was wounded during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, and recuperated nearby in Woodstock, which ended up being his and his family's new home.

William Hunter/Trammell fought on Kennesaw Mountain with the name William Trammell (before he changed his name to Hunter).  

4th great grandfahter - His great grandfather, also named William Trammell fought at Kings Mountain, in the Revolutionary War.  Same name; both wounded in a battle on a mountain that started with the letter K.   

William A. Hunter/Trammell's father, my great great grandfather, Jason Henderson Hunter recruited and formed  his own CSA unit that attacked Federal gunboats on the Mississippi.

1st cousin, 4x removed - Leander Newton Trammell.  He served as a quartermaster in the CSA.

He was an elected representative in Georgia and was the Governor of Georgia, technically for one day.   He made his home in Dalton and Marietta..

I don't have a picture of John T. Huey, but I do have a picture of his wife Drucilla Wilson Huey.  (2nd great grandfather) John was a large landholder, and therefore exempted from Military Service.  However, he went anyway, for a fee, in place of John B. Tippen.  He was caught up in the famous Siege of Vicksburg.

William D. Petty

2nd great uncle -I know he was in, I don't have his facts.

So was his brother Daniel Webster Petty, below.

Great grandfather - Daniel Webster Petty and Jane Garrett

Daniel Enlisted- Confederate Army Co B, 65th Regiment, Ga. Infantry

Great Uncle -Robert Edward Tyson

Uncle Ed, was in WWI.

This picture is the Marietta National Guard in 1937.  Most of the Hunter brothers are there.  In the front row center in the black shirt is Stanley Hunter.

First row:  Jimmy and Bobby Crain.

Uncles & first cousins -Second row: Stanley and Dick Hunter.  Dick was home on leave.  Nephew Bobby would join the Naval Reserves.  I know, because Bobby and I both were Naval Reservists at the same time.

Uncle -Walter Clarence, "W.C." during  WWII W.C was drinking coffee at the Red Cross in Africa and a bunch of U.S. Sailors walked by.  W.C. pointed at one of the sailors and said that kid looks just like his little brother Dick, and it was. He was wounded and a metal plate was put in his head, he was a war casualty that effected him the rest of his life.  He died in the VA hospital many years later.

Uncle - Jack Hunter spent a career in the Navy, and was in the Pacific in WWII.  He survived Pearl Harbor and is credited for pulling Eddie Rickenbacker  from the sea onto their PT boat.

Uncle - Stanley Hunter fought on D-Day, June 4, 1944.  He also had the misfortune of watching his first cousin and best friend Horace Crowder died from enemy fire.

Father - Ed Hunter was in the Georgia National Guard.  I think Daddy loved the fellowship. In the National Guards he made friends with Leo Blackwell, then chief of the Marietta Pollice and he hired daddy as a patrolman.  Up until then Daddy worked for Glover Machinery .  Not only did the Marietta National Guard help with state disasters, go to war, when needed over see, it also served as an excellent networking tool, like Linkin is today.

Uncle -Doug Hunter was in the Army, I just don't have a picture of him in his uniform.

1st cousin - Ray Hunter, WWII

uncle & 1st cousin, once removed - I think this may be cousins Horace Crowder and Stanley Hunter before their service time, they joined together.  As mentioned above, Horace was killed.

Uncle -Leonard Petty, Navy

Uncle -William LeRoy Petty.  He was "Bill" to his friends, he was "Roy" to his family, and "L-Rod "to his service buddies. Roy was in the D-Day Invasion of  Normandy.  He killed a very big number of Germans.  At least two books mentioned him twice and heroic actions:  THE LONGEST DAY and RUDDER'S RANGERS.  He used to stand up in the audience on the Ed Sullivan show to be recognized on or near D-Day.

Me, grandmother, & me -I am in front of my Grandma Viola Ridley Petty and my uncle Osmo Petty.  Osmo was in the Navy.  His brothers, Leonard, Roy, and Wallace considered Osmo the smartest of the Petty siblings. 

I too would be in the Navy in about 20 years, mostly in the Helicopter Squadron HU-4, home station NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey 08733 (Hey look!  I still remember the zip code).

Rocky's late  father-in-law, Sabrina's father,

O'Neal Sexton was in the Army, stationed in South Korea, where he met Sabina's mother-to-be, Chong.

1st cousin - Jerry Hunter was a F-105 Pilot.  He was shot down in Vietnam,  25 May 1966,.  He gave is life.  Hunter Park in Douglasville, Georgia, is named in his memory.