To Remember--

--and thank!

From the earliest conflict with indigenous people, the Pequot War of 1637, to the War in Iraq our family members have shown their patriotism by doing their part for us and our country. So many members have served whether over the seas or here at home. One uncle enlisted in the army in 1933 and was discharged after losing a foot from a land mine in Korea. Many served in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, both WWI and WWII, and the conflicts that have followed. For the time spent in danger or during quiet times helping to secure the country, we thank each for their commitment to the country and for the time spent away from families and loved ones.

Thank You to all veterans and all members of the armed service as we remember and honor you today.

Decoration Day

Decoration Day, as we used to call Memorial Day, was a day for taking care of cemeteries, cleaning grave sites and adding flowers in remembrance. I remember as a youngster visiting cemeteries where grandparents and others were buried, taking flowers to put on the graves even knowing they wouldn't last long in the hot sun. We always walked around as our parents visited with friends and relatives remembering the names on the markers, "I remember----, she/he, lived -- did--married--". Why didn't I pay more attention - but now need to search for such information. Afterwards we would always gather around Aunt Nellie's table loaded with such a feast and an afternoon of fun, pictures, and 'remember whens'.

Mom would always tell us when, as a child, there would be a 'program' in the little church and then all the children would parade around the cemetery putting a flower on each of the graves. She also told us how she would help her mother pick wild flowers, usually daisies, from the fields, wrap them in wet newspapers and ship them to Nebraska to the cemetery where Grandma's parents and two of her children were buried.

So many memories and so many people to remember!

Agnes

I love all the old family photos I have found. It has been such fun to get to know these people through research in genealogy. This is my Great, Great Grandmother, Sarah Agnes (Payne)Huckaby. She was born January 20, 1820 in Barron Co., Ky, the daughter of Jubal and Rhonda (Basham) Payne. She was known in many old documents as Agnes.

Sarah Agnes was the second wife of Joseph Huckaby. Joseph was born to Thomas and Nancy C. (Chaffin) Huckaby on October 18, 1789 in Bedford, VA. (Thomas Huckaby had served four years in the Revolutionary War.) Joseph moved with his parents to Barron Co., KY and later served with his brother Nathan in the War of 1812. They served as privates in Thomas Griffins Co., Kentucky Militia under Col. Samuel Parker's 14th regiment. This regiment took part in the Battle of New Orleans on Sunday, Jan 8, 1815. ("...and the British kept a coming.")

Joseph married Mary Polly Bridges on 31 Jan. 1818 in Allen Co., KY. She was born in 1797. Together they had 8 children but Mary died in 1838 in Barron Co. Ky. On June 23, 1841 Joseph married Sarah Agnes Payne. She and Joseph added 15 more children to the family. In the 1850 Census there were two other children listed as living with Joseph and Agnes. Perhaps they were her children from a previous marriage.

Joseph moved his family from Kentucky to Missouri in 1857 where six of their children were born. Joseph died January 1, 1871.

In 1880 with the help of a son, Agnes applied for his War of 1812 pension. She signed the application with "X, her mark" On the 1880 Federal Census she was living with four of her children. At the time of her death in Missouri Aug 7, 1911 a check for $36. was sent by the government to her son for burial expenses. Joseph and Agnes are both buried in Hopewell Cemetery.