Monday, February 16, 2009

Who is Uncle Mack?


In the bottom of my Grandfather's trunk was a collection of pictures, mostly without names or dates. It has been fun to try to locate and identify the people in these photos. Two of my favorites were without dates but with hand written notes, "Uncle Mack Martin".

I don't remember hearing the name Uncle Mack so began to try to find out what I could about this stylish gentleman. He has his bow in hand and looks like he's ready for the next barn raising or a country dance.

The early Martin family came from Barron County, KY. to Missouri in 1860. My grandfather's grandfather, James Martin was born in June 22, 1824 and with his wife Martha raised 7 children, the first three born in Kentucky and four additional children born in Missouri. One of the four born in Missouri was Joseph M. Martin, born in 1859, the father of Albert, my grandfather.

From the 1850 Schedule of Free Inhabitants in the Division in the County of Barron, State of Kentucky lists James Martin and his family. Living nearby with the family of a blacksmith was a Malakiah Martin, perhaps an apprentice. The notation for occupation after his name lists "N2Smith." I didn't find a Malakiah again for several years of census.

According to the census of 1910 of Hickory Co. Missouri, living near the Joseph Martin property in Missouri was Samuel Martin and his family. Samuel was Joseph's older brother, born in 1852 in Kentucky. According to the census of 1910, a Meliciah F. Martin was listed as age 81, estimated birth year of 1828, living with Samuel and was listed as an uncle to Samuel.

I am assuming that "Uncle Mack" was a brother to James and I believe Mack was a nickname for Malakiah. Census takers not always got names spelled correctly nor dates recorded correctly. Therefore either "Malakiah, or Meliciah" could be correct or neither could be correct.

This Uncle Mack had similar facial features to Grandpa. So I'll call him Uncle Mack, too.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Up so high

One spring story hour session with a kindergarten class sitting on the floor before me brought a much more memorable story than the one in the book on my lap. It was such a beautiful little story I remember often and especially if I'm up in an airplane with beautiful white, puffy clouds all around.

I don't remember the book selected for the day. We began by talking about what those wiggly little ones liked to do, when they could play outside, after a Missouri winter had begun to warm.The usual responses of playing ball, chasing the dog and picking flowers were on the list. After several such "likes" one little guy, sitting right in front, said, "I like to fly my kite." Since he had everyone's attention he added, "And one day -- it took me right up into the sky with it!"

"Oh, what did you see when you were flying up so high?" I asked.

"Oh-" he said trying to come up with a good answer. " I saw God and Jesus and all those guys!"

There was a very brief pause but before anyone could say another word, a little voice came from the back of the group, "Did you see my Uncle Frank?"

It's amazing how little minds work, what they perceive of what they hear from us and what they can tell us .