The Bethel, FL Sub-Alliance: Farmers Organizing in the Bethel, Oak Grove & Laurel Hill Areas

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

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

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

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