In Remembrance

 Remembering David Miller Leffel 
1816-1862

Memorial pavers for David Miller Leffel and his wife, Susan

October 19, 1862

David Miller Leffel, our 2nd great-grandfather, was one of forty Union sympathizing citizens of North Texas who were charged with disloyalty and treason against the Confederacy by a “Citizens Court” in Gainesville, Cooke County in October 1862 and then hanged in the Great Hanging at Gainesville.  

"Bringing in Union Men"
Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper 1864

"Hanging of Union Men"

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper 1864

Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago a memorial monument for the men who died in the hangings was placed in Gainesville, Texas at the Georgia Davis Bass Memorial Park .  The Dedication of the Great Hanging Monuments took place on October 18, 2014, one-hundred and fifty-two years after the Hangings.  

Great Hanging Monument

In the close-up view of the monument with the names of the men who were hanged, you will find David's name in the bottom group that were hanged on Sunday, October 19, 1862.  While we still do not know exactly where David was buried after he was hanged, there is now a memorial with his name on it.

To read about David Miller Leffel click here.

To read about the Great Hanging memorial click here.

To read about the Great Hanging at Gainesville, Texas 1862 click here.

To read about David's wife, Susan Leffel click here.  

Ancestry's Ancestral Regions

 Ancestry's Ancestral Regions 

Recently, Ancestry updated their ethnicity estimates.  Ancestry claimed it is their biggest update ever.  Their new name for ethnicity estimates is Ancestral Regions.  Ancestral regions show where ancestors likely lived 1,000 years ago.  The new name for Ancestry's former communities is now Ancestral Journeys.  Ancestral journeys are where ancestors likely lived and moved in the past 300 years.

Ancestral Regions 2024

Below is a comparison between my new 2024 Ancestral Regions and the former 2023 ethnicity estimate.  All of the Sweden & Denmark was taken away.  Since I could never find any connection to either of those Scandinavian countries, I'm glad that percentage is gone.  My Germanic increased 11%.  Since my paternal grandfather was German, I knew I should be about 25%.  I must have more Germans hiding in my ancestors somewhere. 

Ancestral Regions by Parent

 

Comparison of each region inherited from parents

Ancestral Journeys 2024

The only two ancestral journeys shown are for my maternal lines and none are given for my paternal lines.  I have three times more matches on my maternal lines than I do on my paternal lines.  The two maternal ancestral journeys shown are spot on.  Since my two maternal grandparents were born in Texas, that is where a lot of my DNA matches come from. Over the years, I have made many trips to Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee to research and visit family.  

Chromosome Painter 

Ancestry "paints" our chromosomes with the regions our ancestors were associated with.  The  Maternal or Paternal tabs at the top can be clicked to see who passed down which chromosomes.  On the left side, you have the option of clicking on one region and only that region will show on the browser.

Note: Click on above images to make them larger.

Previous Posts about Ethnicity Estimates: 

2013 Ethnicity Estimates 

2022 Estimate Comparison by Company 

2022 Ancestry New Ethnicity Inheritance 

Tintypes

Tintypes of Unknown Persons

The following tintypes were found in an old photo album belonging to my Great-Grandmother, Minnie Pearl Hatfield Wilson.  I think the tintypes and album belonged to Minnie's Aunt Susannah McNeil Ball.  There are no identifying marks on the tintypes themselves.  

Tintype of Unknown Woman
Pink and gold stamped paper matt

Tintypes of unknown woman and man

Tintypes of three unknown children

The tintypes were laying loose inside the small 5x6 album.  The album is 2-1/2 inches thick and has brass clasps to keep it closed.

Spine and front cover.

Inside front cover.

Would love to return them to the family they belong to😊

Related Posts:

Susannah (McNeil) and Levi Ball family 

October is Family History Month

Family History Month

I love October for many reasons: changing colors of leaves, sweater weather, pumpkins, apples, mums, pumpkin spice everything, and family history.

In 2001, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah proposed a resolution to designate October as National Family History Month.  The bill included a long list of reasons for designating the month of October as "Family History Month".   Below is a small portion of the bill:

Whereas the study of family history gives individuals a sense of their heritage and a sense of responsibility in carrying out a legacy that their ancestors began;

Whereas as individuals learn about their ancestors who worked so hard and sacrificed so much, their commitment to honor their ancestors' memory by doing good is increased;

Whereas interest in our personal family history transcends all cultural and religious affiliation; 

The complete bill introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch and passed unanimously in the Senate can be found here.  

While every month of the year is a Family History Month to me😍, I really like having one month especially focused on Family History.

There are many ways to celebrate Family History Month.  Below are a few links to articles to help get started.

FamilySearch has a list of 31 Simple Ways to Celebrate Family History Month, click here to read.

Celebrating Family History Month with Ancestry.com, click here.

Preserve and Share 

Personally, I think one of the most important family history activities anyone can participate in is preservation. This blog was created to preserve memories and promote Family History.  Anyone can create a Family Archive to preserve photos, documents, and artifacts.  Start with your immediate family then progress to extended family. Visit and interview relatives - write down stories.  Remember to share what you find with other family members.

Photos and documents can be digitized and uploaded to family history sites such as Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, and FamilySearch.org.  I try to preserve in as many places as possible.  One never knows when there might be a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood, theft, vandalism, etc.  

Photograph artifacts and memorabilia, then write a story about who the item belonged to and any memories about it.   There are several examples on this blog about preserving and sharing memories of "things".  
Shaving Mugs
Desert Rose Dishes 
Hymn Book 

🍂🍁Have fun with Family History Month🍁🍂