Wedding Wednesday - Estel and Imogene Huffman Shoemaker

This little, yellow newspaper clipping tells the story of the wedding party for my paternal grandparents, Estel and Imogene Huffman Shoemaker.

Estel was born in Adams County, Ohio on 3 April, 1907.  He left home for Sabina in Clinton County and a job at the Mac Tool Co..  It was there in Sabina that he met his future bride, Imogene Huffman, who was born on 16 July, 1907.  They were married in Covington, Kentucky on 23 November, 1929 and upon their return home, they were treated to a small family wedding reception, which is described in the above article.

They soon had two children, my father, Estel, Jr. and his younger sister, Joyce. Tragically, my grandfather passed away from a sudden heart attack at the age of 42 on 30 March, 1950.  My grandmother went to work in the town grocery store and she continued working until the day she retired. 

I was so very blessed to have two sets of incredible grandparents who were not only great role models for their children, but for their grandchildren as well!

My grandparents with my daddy.

Tombstone Tuesday - Ella Jacks Adams

Today I am sharing the gravesite and story of my great great grandmother, Ella Jacks Adams.  Her beautiful tombstone stands in the Sabina Cemetery, Sabina, Ohio.

Her obituary reads:

Obituary

“So live that when thy summons comes to join that innumerable throng which moves to that mysterious realm, that thou mayst be sustained by an unfaltering trust, and approach they grave like one who wraps the drapery of his covers about him and lies down to pleasant dreams.”
Such was the life lived and the departure from this world of Ella Adams, daughter of Eli and Nancy Jacks. She was born in Sabina, O, Sept. 4, 1862 and departed this life February 9, 1902, aged 39 years, 5 month, and 5 days.
During her girl life and young womanhood she was the light of the family. Her ever joyous disposition shed a halo of gladness about her and she was ever the solace and comforter of an afflicted mother.
On February 13, 1884, she was happily united in marriage to Henry Adams. To this union were born five children, two of which in infancy preceded her to the spirit world.
On March 3, 1890, under the ministration of Rev. S. S. Fleming, she was happily converted to God, and from thence lived a worthy, consistent, Christian life.
At the institution of the camp of Royal Neighbors in Sabina, she was one of its charter members. The emblems of the order, faith, modesty, courage, unselfishness, and endurance were compatible with her nature and were faithfully practiced. Her love for the order and its members was ardent, and sadly will she be missed in the council of the camp.
Just previous to her departure, she called her relatives around her and bade each an affectionate farewell, assuring them of her bright prospect of heaven and desiring all to so live as to meet her there.
She leaves father, mother, husband, children, sister, and brother to mourn the loss of a dutious daughter, as affectionate wife, a doting mother and a loving and obliging sister, and the community a valued neighbor.
The funeral was held in the M.P. Church, Wednesday forenoon, sermon by Rev. W.J. Elliott, and burial services in charge of the Royal Neighbors. Interment in the Sabina cemetery.

Also printed in the newspaper was the following resolution:

I don't know what illness took my great great grandmother from her family at such a young age, but I do know from these writings just how much she was loved.  I think her tombstone is one of the most beautiful I have seen and I'm glad to have been given the opportunity to know her through the words of those who knew her so well.

Tombstone Tuesday - Eli and Nancy Pike Jacks

Today's Tombstone Tuesday photograph is the gravesite of my paternal 3rd great grandparents, Eli and Nancy Pike Jacks. Their burial site is located in Sabina Cemetery, Sabina, Clinton County, Ohio.

Eli is the son of Elkanah and Catherine Bennett Doan Jacks and Nancy is the daughter of Nathan and Hannah Pike.  

Sabina High School Basketball Champions

In keeping with the spirit of the madness of  March wall to wall basketball, today I am sharing two photographs of the Sabina (Clinton County, Ohio) High School basketball team when they won the County Championship.  I am not sure of the exact year, but since my father graduated in 1948, it would have to have been between 1946-1948.  My dad is standing, top row, far left in the bottom portrait.  In the top portrait, you can see him peeking out from behind the boy holding the smaller trophy. Unfortunately, I can't name all the others in the photograph, but I'm sure someone else might be able to.  About the only thing I know of my father's basketball career is the fact that he used to "foul out" often. 

What I really love about these pictures is the expression of sheer joy on their faces.  What a great memory this must have been for all of them.

Tombstone Tuesday - Catherine Bennett Doan Jacks

Today I am sharing the gravesite of my paternal 4th great grandmother, Catherine Bennett Doan Jacks.  The tombstone is located in the Sabina Cemetery, Sabina, Clinton County, Ohio.   The poem on the bottom of the stone reads, "Mother, thou art gone to rest. We must not weep for thee, For now thou art where oft on earth Thy spirit longed to be."

Catherine was the daughter of Timothy and Elizabeth Hoblit Bennett. She was born in Woodford County Kentucky on 15 March, 1795, but in 1800 the family moved to Warren County, Ohio.  In 1801, the Bennett's became the first settlers in Union Township, Clinton County, Ohio.  On 23 September, 1813, she was married to Joseph Doan and they lived for awhile in Indiana before settling on the "McClintock Farm in Richland Township, Clinton County, Ohio and before Joseph's untimely death on 2 September, 1825, she had given birth to 5 children.  On 7 May, 1829, she was married to my 4th great grandfather, Elkanah Jacks, in Clinton County.  They had 4 children, Eli, (my 3rd great grandfather) Silas, Phoebe, and Isaac.