Habitational Surnames

Habitational Surnames

Habitational Surnames   Another type of surname is the location of habitation surname.  It indicated where one lived.  These often end with -ton which meant settlement.   Beck – stream Dilworth, a place in Lancashire, from Old English ‘dill’ (the herb) + enclosure Hamilton – crooked hill Lundy – place...Read more
Ancestral Surnames

Ancestral Surnames

Surnames that end with -s or -son are often patronymic, or metronomic, indicating who their parents or ancestors were. Fitz and Mc mean son of. For instance Fitzgerald, means son of Gerald. Others are nicknames. Today we look at names that are ancestral in nature. Bates – son of Bartholomew...Read more
Occupational Surnames

Occupational Surnames

How did last names come to be?  Some are self explanatory, like Carpenter, Miller, Weaver and Brewer, others have their roots in old and ancient languages. Surnames that end with  -er are often occupations and of English origin. Other names indicate a location where they lived, and still others were...Read more
UGRR Hiding Places

UGRR Hiding Places

Wilbur H. Siebert (1866-1961) was a Professor of History at the Ohio State University from 1891-1961. He researched the Underground Railroad extensively. Siebert interviewed many abolitionists and their descendants in the 1890s, including many in the area of, and surrounding, Mt Pleasant. So, what do the records say? ================================== James...Read more
UGRR Hiding Places?

UGRR Hiding Places?

This is another editorial from me, Angela. The desire to hide is innate.  We hide what we don’t want others to see, have or know on all levels, but today we’re talking about physical belongings.  True stories… in my grandmother’s house in KY, there was a hole in the upstairs...Read more
1844 presidential election

1844 presidential election

Our bylaws state that we will have no political affiliation and that we will not support any specific candidate.  We extend this to our Facebook pages and our meetings. However, since this took place almost 200 years ago I think we can talk about it today.  Please no comments referencing...Read more
Slave Acts

Slave Acts

Eli Whitney When Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793. By making cotton easier to prepare for market he created a need for more slaves. During the mid-1800s. America was growing three-quarters of the world’s supply of cotton.  The same year the first Fugitive Slave act was passed. Although...Read more
Janet Flanner

Janet Flanner

From our earlier post you may remember Abigail Flanner.  Her great nephew, Frank Flanner, operated a funeral parlor and was the first licensed embalmer in Indianapolis, IN.  He married an actress Mary Ellen Hockett.    Mary Elen Hockett Flanner   They had three daughters, Janet Flanner, Mary Emma Flanner and Hildegarde Flanner....Read more
Quakers, Indians and Education

Quakers, Indians and Education

The Quakers were active in educating Indians in both traditional school and English agricultural methods. Wapakoneta, was an American Indian town, with a population of some 500 Indians living there in 1808. Wapakoneta, 1831   Mt Pleasant Quaker, Jonathan Taylor, purchased 500 acres of land in the vicinity of Wapakoneta....Read more
Abigail Flanner

Abigail Flanner

Albi Cottage, home to the Flanners Ah, the year was 1836, Abigail Flanner and her friends made a pact on New Years Eve to write someone famous. Abigail chose Fitzgreen Halleck, and they carried on a correspondence throughout the year.  Halleck was a popular NY poet who rubbed shoulders with...Read more
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