In my last post I ended with a note about the cowhide chair that now sits on my fireplace hearth. It has been in my family for 125 years and I feel honored to be the caretaker of this beautiful historic piece. In the second pictures you can see there is a little patch that still has hair on it. I’m so amazed that has lasted on there all these years.
Here are some family pictures that I have recently come across. The internet is truly amazing. A cousin of mine was doing family research online and came across some pictures of our family posted by a lady in Texas. We contact her and come to find out she is married to a distant cousin of mine and loves genealogy. I have never met this cousins. We now are comparing notes, sharing pictures and stories catching up via facebook and e-mail. We hope to meet soon. Who knew we both grew up in Florida now live about an hour and a half apart in Texas. They shared some of these wonderful old family pictures with me.
This is a picture of my great-great-great grandparents (seated). See the chairs lined up across the porch. One of these could possibly be the chair I have today. This is truly old Florida living. Yes, my family tree has deep roots in Central Florida and those are orange trees you see. Notice the well pump on the right side of the porch. On the left you will see a separate building that housed the kitchen. The kitchen was built separate from the main house so if there was a fire hopefully the main house would not burn. This picture was taken around 1910. Clayborn Taylor (seated) was born in 1842 and his wife Sally was born in 1850.
In the picture below my great-great grandparents are photographed along with four of their eventual eight children. The wife is the daughter of the older couple in the picture above. The little boy on the left next to his daddy is my great-grandfather Malcolm. I love his short pants and dirty bare feet. Once again, you see similar chairs on the porch. This picture taken around 1900.
I will be leaving this week for a long road trip in the car to Florida. It will be just me and the girls as Buster has to work. Since I’m driving we (I) can take as many bathroom breaks as I want. ;0
I will check in on all your blogs now and then while I’m gone, but probably won’t post until I get back.
Joy
27 comments:
Chuckled at your last sentence! That's the way I like it too! LOL
Have a great trip. Wonderful oldtime photos!
Hi Joy, Hope you all have a great time in Florida... Is this a 'fun' vacation either to the beach or to Disney World???? OR---are you going to do some Family History while there?????
I'm so excited that you are finding info on some of your relatives. That is SUPER.... Love the old pictures.
Have fun!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy
Lovely to have that piece of history and I wonder if one of your ancestors sat on that chair and prayed for those that would follow. Have a wonderful time on your trip.
Wow, what wonderful heritage, those photos and the lovely old chair. Enjoy your time in Florida!
Wishing you a happy and safe trip to Florida with all the potty breaks you want! See you when you get back!
jj
Joy...love the old family photos...have a safe trip...can't wait to hear all about it...
Those are great old pics. What treasures!
Have fun on your trip! When you get back come and get your award from my blog, okay? :)
http://merriemelody.blogspot.com/2010/06/master-of-karate-and-friendship-award.html
Your photos remind me of the book Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski. Did you ever read it as a kid?
I love geneology too. I have family pictures from the same era. Funny how they dressed and all photographed the same! Anyway, I am happy that you made an important contact. It's a relief to find your own history! Have fun on your trip. We will miss you while you are out having fun!
Great vintage pictures. The chair ahs so much character and tells such wonderful stories. Hope you have fun on your trip.
Yoli :)
Enjoy a great time!!!!
Joy,
Have a wonderful and safe trip. This will be so much fun: A girls only trip. You're making wonderful memories for your girls. They'll always remember their road trip with mom.
Thank you for sharing your pictures with us, too. What an honor to be the keeper of that chair. I bet it could tell some stories....
Blessings,
Joy
How wonderful to be the owner of that chair. I am an antique lover....we own several pieces that were passed down to us (from Johns family).
I love all the old photos!
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I love this post, Joy, and that you may have found the source of your chair. Very cool! You should frame that photo and put it in your new living room. :-)
Have a wonderful trip!
I absolutely love the chairs and the old pictures! You know, as a Florida girl myself, I really appreciate these things as much as you do!
It's fantastic that you are discovering your history!
Have a safe and fun trip Joy! Oh how many cracker barrels I could stop at and browse if only my guys were not with me! Actually it is only The Hubster that does not like stopping cause he knows it always costs him something! Ha!
It is wonderful that you have family that shares. Unfortunately, my parents have not even shared my own baby pictures with me, and I have been married almost 12 years with 3 kids! I am convinced that when my kids are older and have settled I am going to start giving them things so they may enjoy and appreciate them. I love the first picture with that beautiful porch. What a blessing to have found a relative.
That is amazing! I love the internet for that very reason. I have similar stories I could tell. Have a safe trip as you head to my neck of the woods!
That chair is a historical piece of artwork. You are lucky to have it.
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Have a nice trip.Be careful.
Hey Joy...I hope your road trip was GREAT! Love it that you are delving into the fam. We are too. It's all so fascinating, isn't it? Your chair is a treasure!
I have to agree with you the internet can be an amazing place! How wonderful you have that amazing chair and now those pictures to go with! Love your blog will definitely will be coming back to read!
Does it make you think about the heritage your children will cherish?
Sigh, missing you and your lovely blog, Joy! Hope you're having a great vacation.
How exciting Joy!!! I love the family chair, can you imagine all the comversations that went on while different ones in the family sat on it. Oh if only chairs could talk lol. The only thing I have from wayy back is a old luggage piece that was used each time someone in the family went to the Hospital to have a baby !. Have fun and let us know how everything went.
Blessings Sos Lorie
I love old photos like that. There so interesting to look at. Love the photos of your chair as well. I'm sure if it could talk it would tell some interesting stories.
Is that a real cowhide chair, Joy?? Wow, it looks really comfortable!! :)
I have a cousin, Fred, who is VERY much into genealogy, its come to the point that its actually annoying. hahhahahaha! I have American Indian ancesters, I found out. Not too far back, too! Pretty near actually! :)
It must be so exciting for you to have found your distant cousins and relatives! :) And FaceBook! Of course, FaceBook, right?? :)
Thank you so much for your comment on my recent post, Joy! :)
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