A good place to start is probably how these records came to light. As many of you who read this blog regularly know, many of my ancestors helped to found and serve the Yellow River Baptist Church from 1840 through my grandparents. I’ve been working with the church for a while trying to digitize their … Continue reading The Bethel, FL Sub-Alliance: Farmers Organizing in the Bethel, Oak Grove & Laurel Hill Areas
Yellow River Baptist Church
Southern Farmer Unrest, 1865-1905
For Southerners the period immediately after the Civil War, or Reconstruction, lasted from 1865 until 1876 (see blogs Part I and Part II). For the rest of the country, the end of the War brought a significant amount of change and innovation up until the Great Depression. This is the period in our history where … Continue reading Southern Farmer Unrest, 1865-1905
Oak Grove in Okaloosa County, FL: It’s Importance & Development in the History of the FL Panhandle
Anyone who knows me, or follows my blogs, knows I have an affinity with the upper Yellow River area known as Oak Grove. For the last couple of years, I’ve been researching the genealogy and history of the area that will eventually culminate in a book. Some of us with family from the area like to … Continue reading Oak Grove in Okaloosa County, FL: It’s Importance & Development in the History of the FL Panhandle
“Family” Research – Genealogy Tips – Ancestors & Their Families
I am always surprised at the number of times I search for an ancestor on Ancestry.com and see entry after entry for a person of the same name and when you click on one of the family trees and look at the family, the person appears to be an only child, at least from that … Continue reading “Family” Research – Genealogy Tips – Ancestors & Their Families
Florida and the 19th Century “Panics”: 1837, 1857, 1873 and 1893, Part 2
This post follows Part 1 on the 19th Century financial panics and their impact on Florida. The first two, The Panic of 1837 and the Panic of 1857 were both covered here. We turn now to 1873. Reconstruction was still in force in the South and would be until close to the end of this … Continue reading Florida and the 19th Century “Panics”: 1837, 1857, 1873 and 1893, Part 2
The Shadow Occupation in the Florida Panhandle – Ancestors Bootlegging for Fun and Profit
Sooner or later if you study and/or write about America, the South, or the Florida panhandle, you will likely find references to the making of moonshine. I did not have to find my first reference to this once shadowy endeavor, my grandfather spent a year in the Atlanta Penitentiary after being picked up for his … Continue reading The Shadow Occupation in the Florida Panhandle – Ancestors Bootlegging for Fun and Profit
In Celebration of Father’s Day
This coming Sunday is Father’s Day. For some reason, it never gets quite as much attention as Mother’s Day. I decided to do a video on the men of the Upper Yellow River area from 1818 on. Very much like I did for Mother’s Day and the women of Oak Grove and surrounding communities. I … Continue reading In Celebration of Father’s Day
Some Upper Yellow River Area Women Through History – A Video
Bonus April posting - The original rendition of this video was created for my Mom's 90th birthday party. I've added a number of women to the video to create a video celebrating Mother's Day. The song is Mother's Patience by RimskyMusic. If you have a documented photo of any of the women who are included without … Continue reading Some Upper Yellow River Area Women Through History – A Video
Keeping Warm in By-Gone Days
Most Floridians, whether native or transplant, prefer warm and/or hot weather. Most of the time, winter isn’t too bad. We get a good, low-swinging cold front in December, or sometimes November, and we get a dip or two in January and February. And then there is the Easter cold snap that those of us who … Continue reading Keeping Warm in By-Gone Days
The Intimate Connections Between South Alabama and Northwest Florida
When I was growing up, I would occasionally hear the following observations: 1) Central and South Florida are suburbs of New York (and sometimes Cuba), and 2) the Florida panhandle is lower Alabama (L.A.). Usually, it was folks from the opposite area taking a pot shot at the other part. Folks in the panhandle, to … Continue reading The Intimate Connections Between South Alabama and Northwest Florida
Northwest Florida History & Genealogy 