Peggy Ann and Ted

 

Margaret "Peggy" Ann Thompson

Hey folks, isn't blogging wonderful! Blogging has enabled me to find so much wonderful information that otherwise would be lost to history.

An "Anonymous" comment on my last blog about Carmen and Violet who died in a car crash in 1946 leaving a two year old little girl orphaned, found the name of that little girl. He or she did some research on Carmen and Violet and found the name of the daughter was "Margaret Ann Thompson". Viola! Yes! That rang a bell. "Peggy Ann" was her name!

"Thompson" was her mother's maiden name. Perhaps she took that name because her mother wasn't officially married to Carmen Marino. Interesting, especially back then because having a baby out of wedlock was a big scandal only whispered about.

I found the census for 1950 and I found where she was living with her aunt Margaret, for whom she was obviously named. 

Look at her yearbook picture at the beginning of this blog. That folks is a genuine smile. I remember her as a little girl always happy. "Peggy Ann!" I often heard shouted in our second floor apartment building when my family lived just across the hall from Carmen and Violet. I'm pretty sure my Mother baby sat for Peggy Ann because both my father and my Mother had a close relationship with Carmen and Violet.

That yearbook picture was taken from the West Chester High School which she attended. Then her adoptive parents must have moved back to Downingtown in her senior year because Peggy Ann was on of this young people who had to finish out her high school years at a different school, which just happens to be the same high school I graduated from, Downingtown. She came too late to be included in the yearbook, thus this is the picture of her that was included.

Poor Peggy Ann, she doesn't look too happy in that picture. It looks like a hostage picture doesn't it?

Now here is something else interesting. Another commenter on my blog told me he was friends with Carmen's nephew. Here is his comment. 

Wow what a story. Perhaps eventually you can find out the name of Carmen & Violet's daughter and if she is still alive and her married name (if still married). 
The name Carmen Marino rigs a bell for me. Quick story: I knew a Paul C. Marino of Waterbury, CT. way back in the late 90s as I was just getting deep into the internet. We are both fans of the rock music group, Grateful Dead. Anyway I asked him what the "C" in his name was for, and Paul replied, "Carmen" a popular Italian name. That name was given to him in honor of an uncle who lived in or around a town called Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Aunt Violet died in a car accident just before X-mas in the 40's. They too had a daughter. 100% this is the same man.
I lost touch with Paul about 2003. In 2020, I wanted to get in touch with him again, but got no reply.

What are the odds? Wow! 

Now here is another link to me. Peggy Ann is actually related to me! First my family and secondly by a boy named Ted Thompson. I'll explain the relationship but it might hurt your head but here goes. Peggy Ann's mother Violet Thompson was the aunt of John Thompson who was my first cousin Jane Tipton's husband. Got that? And who was Ted Thompson? He was John's younger brother. 

Now this is where things really get interesting. One day in 1957 I began my first day in Typing class in high school. Back in the Fifties not too many boys took typing because it was considered "only for girls" or "sissy." But if you took a Commercial Course, which is what some of us boys from poor families took because we weren't going to college, those college bound boys took the academic course. So there I am sitting demurely in my seat ready for the class to start and here comes in this guy who just took my breath away. He walked like a panther. He had a great smile. He exuded casual confidence, something in which I was sorely lacking at that time. He was athletic. He was on the football team. He wore glasses (for some strange reason I'm often attracted to guys who wear glasses). Wow! I was really attracted to this guy but of course this was the Fifties, what was I going to do? He was two years older than me. I was in LOVE. Ted literally made me weak in the knees whenever he walks into the room.

Theodore Thompson
Downingtown High School Year Book Photo 1957

A pause, this is a blog post I often wanted to write but put off often. Now I think is a good time to write about one of my first major crushes and the terrible ending to that crush which has stayed with me all these years. Over the years I have often thought of the tragic ending of both Carmen and Violet and Ted Thompson and now that I find out they are related is a major coincidence. Especially how I found out. This is why I think there is a guardian angel that helps me and I think Bill had a hand in this too. I do think our lives are preplanned out for us as a learning experience. And in the end everything is related. And now it has been proven to me because these two episodes have haunted me my whole life.

Back to Ted. When I heard his last name was "Thompson" I asked him if he was related to my cousin Jane Tipton's husband Johnny Thompson. Ted said Johnny was his brother. Wow! Now what I did next was very foolish but you have to remember I was a love struck fifteen-year old. I said "Oh! We're related!" Ted got a kick out of that. From then on almost every time he came into class he would mockingly greet me with a "Hi cousin!"

Read his caption he wrote in my yearbook, the "cousin" comment and "Ha! Ha!"  Hurt my feelings but what the heck. Wasn't the first time nor the last.  Life is a lesson. This was just one.

He was nice about it but it was still mocking me. Again, this was the Fifties and I probably came off as a bit of a nerd if not a complete sissy to him. Obviously he knew I was taken with him. Let me tell you, I really enjoyed being around that guy. I love that typing class. Of course he didn't pay attention to me, he was very popular and couldn't be bothered with his gangly, probably annoying underclassman in his typing class. I was pretty sure he wasn't going to ask me to be his date at his senior prom. Yes, that was what I was fantasizing about. Ted Thompson driving up in a cool 1957 Chevy

to pick me up to take me to his senior prom. Yeah, sure! Yes, these days students can take same sex to their prom but NOT IN THE FIFTIES!

Ted leading his graduation class onto the football field for his graduation ceremonies

And especially Ted, because he was obviously as straight as they come. But then that has always been my curse, I'm only attracted to straight or straight acting men. I've never been attracted to a swishy or feminine man, no offense to any of my gay brethren but that's just the way it is with me. This big, broad shouldered, panther walking football player taking me to his senior prom? Yes folks, that was one of my many teenage gay fantasies. Well, I could dream couldn't I? 

Ted, down in the from and in the middle. Mr. Popularity!

Not only was I attracted to Ted physically but I loved his outgoing, friendly personality even though there was a dearth of that personality directed towards me. I loved seeing how popular he was with every one he came into contact with including our typing teacher who I think also had the hots for me and he knew it. He often flirted with her. Even at fifteen years old I could tell when vibes were in the air between two people. 

Ted, the loudest in his class. Oh he was loud all right. You always knew when Ted entered the room. He was full of life. So much positive energy. I liked Rosie too. And yes, she was also loud. 

I only had one year in typing class with Ted because he graduated that year (1957) which made me sad because I would no longer be in his presence. I really enjoyed those typing classes because he sat right across the aisle from me with those tan khaki pants and form fitting shirts he always wore. What a guy! 

Then something terrible happened. After Ted left school he joined the Army, as most of us poor boys did (I did as did my two younger brothers) who couldn't afford to go to college. Ted was only in Basic Training two week when he died doing calisthenics! 

When I heard that news my heart was broken.  What a waste I thought! This beautiful guy with everything going for him. The looks, personality and popularity, what an awful waste of a life just doing exercises. And he was a football player. The only thing I could figure out is that he took basic training in the summer (which he did) and it was heat exhaustion. I followed him in basic training at Fort Dix New Jersey but my basic training was in February and March. Another lucky break for me. But back to Ted. My whole like, just like the sadness I felt for Peggy Ann, that little three year old girl clutching her doll in the dark as police flashlights woke her up that cold December night to inform her that both of her parents were dead; I also felt a sadness my whole life for Ted and the loss for his family. 

My cousin Jane Tipton had three children. Two boys and a girl; Johnny, Penny and Ted (named in honor of his uncle who died so young). I often my mother to visit Jane's mother, one of my favorite aunts and another "Peg". Yes, "Aunt Peg." Jane's son Johnny was her caretaker in her old age.

Me with my Aunt Peggy Tipton, June 16th, 2005 at her granddaughter's home (Penny Thompson, niece of Ted Thompson) in Downingtown, PA

Aunt Peg was one of my favorite Tipton aunts. She always treated me like an adult, even when I was a little kid. I even think I earned my first money from her. She and her family lived in the apartment above us at 120 Washington Avenue. She used to send me to the local corner grocery store (Wagners') to get an item or two. She would give me a nickel tip. Back in the Fifties a nickel would buy me some serious penny candy. Later in her life she gave me some old family photos. She was a sweet lady. Unfortunately all three of her children died before she did. Life can sometimes be cruel. I've been very lucky in my life. I had almost sixty great years with Bill and now I have Pat in my life. My cup runneth over one might say.

So there you go folks. Some loose connections put together at this late stage of my life. No doubt some of Ted's relatives will read this post and be grossed out because I had a crush on Ted. Oh well. This was one secret I wasn't going to take to my grave.

Talking about graves, little Peggy Fisher got married and I hope had a happy life. She died in 2012 in  Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, not far from Downingtown. Here is her final resting place.

I hope she was able to meet up with her parents Carmen and Violet in heaven just as I hope Bill was able to meet his father who also died in an auto accident when Bill was only a year old. Yes, Bill's father also died with three other people in a drunk driving accident. His father was twenty-one years old. He and his buddies were out for a night of drinking. Apparently they were drunk when the driver of the car crashed head on into a bridge abutment. Thus changing Bill's life forever, leaving his mother a widow with two young daughters and a young son, named Bill Kelly. 

Bill with his two older sisters, his mother and his new half brother. His mother married again. Photo taken about 1931

DNA Test In!

Pat's DNA test results

This year I gave Pat a DNA test for a Christmas present. Pat claims he is a "mutt."  Well, who isn't?  
The results of his DNA test came in on Christmas Eve. Good timing!

What we knew about Pat's ancestry (Flynn) before the DNA test was that his father was of Irish ancestry. His maternal ancestry is French. In fact his maternal ancestors (Nicolas Pelletier) colonized Quebec in the middle 1600's!  Thus it came somewhat as a surprise that Pat's DNA test results show his ancestry is 60% Ireland & Scotland. The balance of his ancestry is 33% England, Wales and Northwestern Europe.  His French ancestry is only 4%. Another surprise is that he has 3% Norwegian ancestry. Pat says his Scandinavian ancestry accounts for his love of the clean lines of Scandinavian furniture. Every one of our quarterly vacations includes visits to furniture stores checking out the latest clean Scandinavian furniture. IKEA is Pat's absolute favorite destination.

What I find very interesting with these DNA tests is the accuracy of the migration information. Pat's is absolutely accurate in that his ancestral migration was the Saint Lawrence River French Settlers.

Ron's DNA test results

My ancestry was no surprise for me. I knew from my family research history that my paternal line came from England via Jamaica.  My nine times grandfather Jonathan Tipton emigrated to Baltimore County Maryland in 1692 after the Great Earthquake of Port Royale in Jamaica. What was he doing in Jamaica?  He was one of the English colonists, probably by way of indentured servant, of Jamaica.  He was originally from Shropshire, England.

On my maternal side of my family my great-great grandfather Thomas Hadfield emigrated to America via way of New York with his young wife and two young children.  They had lived in Glossop, England. I have the ship manifest to prove that fact. I also have the record of the Baltimore Gazette that proves Jonathan Tipton emigrated to Baltimore County Maryland, his obituary. 

One of the great joys in my life was discovering my family roots. If a genie in a bottle popped up one day and gave me a wish, I would wish that I could visit back in time my ancestors. Wouldn't that be fascinating?  

Family Skeletons

Alfred Hickman with his mother Ethel Hickman Hadfield and her sister Grace Hickman Weaver; behind Ethel is her husband (and my grandfather) George Hadfield and Grace's husband H. Ralph Weaver. The child is my aunt Grace Hadfield Tinder Wagner.  Photo taken 1916 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Yesterday I received a letter from my cousin.  I know what is in the letter. I choose not to read it.  

Two weeks ago I received a letter from her in which she requested that I remove the information about our maternal grandmother that I had posted on Ancestry.com.  I wrote her back telling her the reason I had to turn down her request. I'm pretty sure the letter she wrote back to me is either chastising me for refusing her request or disowning me. Either scenario is not one I wish to engage in at this time.  Thus, that letter from my cousin will remain unopened indefinitely.

Now that I have you intrigued as to what is the subject of my cousin's consternation, I will now divulge the family skeleton I discovered whilst doing my family research.

After I left my job at First Fidelity Bank in Philadelphia, and had a period of unemployment, I began a log postponed project of researching my family tree.  I began with my paternal Tipton relatives. I got very involved and unearthed a lot of family history and a few skeletons.  

My Mother observed with interest my total involvement with my paternal family history and wistfully said "I guess you're not interested in my family history." She had a point, I had done very little research on my maternal family tree.  I told her "I will research the Hadfield's too."   She said "While you're at it, could you find out who Uncle Afred was?  Every time his name came up every one would clam up. There was something strange about him that no one wanted me to know."  

My Mother told me that Alfred Hickman was raised at her mother's (my grandmother) brother. But she doubted that he was her brother. 

My grandmother, Ethel Hickman Hadfield

Alfred Hickman was born in 1911, when my grandmother was fifteen years old.  Alfred died in 1922, at eleven years of age of diphtheria. My Mother was born in 1923.  She said Alfred was always a "mystery."  

I started my research on uncle Alfred by asking my Mother's older sister "who was Alfred Hickman?"  My Aunt Grace, who was slipping into dementia at that time and would die a few months later said "Oh!! Uncle Alfred!  We DON'T talk about him!"  Upon further questioning, she told me that Alfred was indeed my grandmother's son born out of wedlock and raised as her brother.

Now to prove this fact.  I got Alfred's death certificate from Ancestry.com.  His death certificate listed my great grandparents as his parents. 

Alfred Hickman 1911-1922 photo taken 1916

I decided to get Alfred's birth certificate. That was no easy task that I was to discover. I wrote to the Pennsylvania Department of records. They responded back to me that only direct descendants (children) could obtain his death certificate. Since Alfred died at eleven years old he had no children. I wrote back to the Pennsylvania Department of records and explained that Alfred didn't have any children because he died at eleven years old and that I was his great nephew. They sent me his birth certificate. When I read his birth certificate I discovered a different name listed as Alfred's father. The name listed was Harold Griffith Sutton.  Ah ha, the family skeleton was exposed.

Harold Sutton was eighteen years old at the time of Alfred's birth. My grandmother was fifteen years old. Both worked at the Lloyd estate in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. My grandmother was listed as a "governess" which is the same as a baby sitter. Harold was a gardener at the Lloyd estate. I think you can figure out what happened here. In 1911 a birth out of wedlock was a scandal. In fact when I graduated from high school in 1959 such a birth was also a scandal, that's why one of my classmates didn't graduate with us, she was pregnant. 

I posted this correct information to my family tree which I maintain on Ancestry.com. I told my cousin that I had discovered this information about  our grandmother. She advised me not to post the information to our family tree.  She said "grandmother would have wanted it that way."  Uh, really?  All the parties involved are long dead. My grandmother died in 1923 at the age of 29 years old from complications from an incomplete abortion. Yes, another "skeleton" I discovered about my grandmother which will be the subject of a future blog post.  Harold Sutton lived a long life and died in 1983 at age of eighty-nine years of age. He married in 1919 to a woman named Sarah and they produced six children. Harold was a college professor who lived his life in Connecticut. I don't know if he family knew about his love child, Alfred Hickman. But they probably will now since I have posted the Truth to the Internet.  My grandmother married my grandfather in 1915. They had five children (my Mother being the youngest) before my grandmother died in 1923 from her incomplete abortion. My Mother was a motherless before she was two years old because of a decision my grandmother made.

Now, some may agree with my cousin that I keep this information about my grandmother a secret forever.  I cannot do that.  I will not lie about my grandmother.  I will not lie about my uncle Alfred. His memory deserves the truth of who his real father was. I will not participate in perpetuating a lie. 

We all make decisions in life. My cousin suggested that perhaps our grandmother was raped. How does she know that?  Still, history deserves to know the truth. 

My maternal grandparents 1921 - my grandmother was pregnant with my mother,  she is hiding her pregnancy behind her oldest child Grace

My Mother at the Birmingham-Lafayette Quaker cemetery in West Chester PA at the grave of her grandparents William and Esther Hickman - the small headstone flush with the ground at her bottom left is of Alfred Hickman, her uncle who was raised as her mother's brother by William and Esther Hickman.  Bill is in the background in the two tone brown jacket.  This photo was taken by me April 7, 2002 when I used to take photos of headstones in cemeteries for my Find a Grave account. At the time I did not know who Alfred Hickman was, he was always a mystery to the family and his secret would not have been known forever until I discovered the Truth.  Alfred will no longer be forgotten.

Daddy Long Legs

Sidney Ervin Hughes
Born 10 May 1836 Yancey North Carolina
Died 19 Oct 1920 Bradshaw, North Carolina

Sidney Ervin Hughes was my great-great grandfather.  His daughter Mary Alice Hughes (1858-1916) was my great grandmother.

Mary Alice Hughes - my great grandmother

She was married to Isaac Lewis (1856-1944) who was my great grandfather and father of my grandmother Hester Lewis (1892-1945).

Isaac Lewis, my great grandfather

Hester was the mother of my grandfather Fieldon Jacob Tipton (1884-1939) who was my grandfather and the father of my father Isaac W. Tipton, Sr. (1920-2000). 

Hester Lewis - my grandmother

Hester was a tall woman.  Her father Isaac was a tall man. Her husband and my grandfather Fieldon Tipton was tall also.

Fieldon Jacob Tipton - my grandfather

Fields and Hester had twelve children, all sons of which eleven survived birth.

Eleven Tipton Brothers at 1960 Family Reunion

You see the tall man in the back to the right?  That's my dad, the tallest of the Tipton brothers.  

When I was young, I was tall for my age.  If I remember right, when I was eleven years old I was six feet already (chew on that Tom Cruise). I frequently had these questions hurled at me:

"Are you really only eleven years old?"

"Do you play basketball?" 

"How did you get so tall?"

Well, the answers to those questions were:

Yes, I was really that young and TALL.

No, I didn't play basketball - too uncoordinated (clumsy).

And how did I get so tall?  Well, I was born that way.  

A few months ago I came across the photo of my great great grandfather Sidney Ervin Hughes and the mystery of my tallness was finally and forever solved.  Damn, check out that man's legs.  Talk about a daddy-long-legs.  That's where my tallness comes from folks, the good old gene pool.  

Me in Provincetown, Mass. 1976

Bill told me the first thing he noticed about me when he saw me for the first time across the Westbury Bar in Philly, was my long legs. 

He said he was a "leg man."  Lucky for me he likes long legs or else I would never be where I am today, with this wonderful man who has devoted the last fifty years of his life to making me happy in every way possible. 

Of course regular followers of this blog know that one of my legs was injured a few months back.  I'm on the mend now and those long legs are going to be on full display soon.  

First bout of physical therapy right after my surgery to reattach my quadricep muscle on my left leg which was severed when I fell on the ice February 18th, 2015 -  painful and laborious

These days I'm walking around still holding my cane but rarely leaning on it.  My leg is still stiff but I can now bend it 85 degrees which is a big improvement over the 30 degrees when I first started physical therapy last month.  

I can now sit in the passenger seat of the car, still can't drive though.  

My leg is still swollen, painfully at times but most times bearable.  

Next week my friend Pat arrives for his annual spring time visit to LSD (Lower Slower Delaware).  

He will be chauffeuring me around during our visit to my home state of Pennsylvania and a few days here in LSD.  My leg should get a good workout. 

When Pat leaves, I return to work at the hotel for two nights a week.  Right after Memorial Day and the onslaught of summertime guests and all their needs and wants.  Should be fun.  

And that folks is the status of yours truly, Daddy Long Legs. Soon to return.

Me at the local flower nursery, sans brace but still with my cane to steady me and make sure my repaired leg doesn't buckle - recovery for this injury is a long process

Throwback Thursday - My First Home

My Mom pregnant with me at our first home in Mineral Springs, PA - 1941

Haven't done a "Throwback Thursday" for a while.  What with posting photos and videos of my trip to California and my leg injury, I thought posting a Throwback Thursday would be a welcome diversion.

This week's "Throwback Thursday" features me (of course) in about the earliest photo I could find of me.  Specifically the summer of 1941. I was born in November of 1941.  Looking at this picture of my Mother pregnant with me and the leaves on the trees behind her and the size of her belly, I estimate she was at least seven months pregnant.

My Mom was 17 years old when I was born.  She ran off with my dad, a 21 year old North Carolina hillbilly transplanted to Pennsylvania when he was 10 years old, to get married.  

Ike Tipton (my father)

Their first home did not have indoor plumbing, running water nor electricity.  My father worked at a local steel mill. They didn't have any money. But they did have me, their first born. Lucky them, lucky me.

And that was the start of the saga of my life folks.  Some life. And it's not over yet.

Throwback Thursday - First Cousins

My cousins Jack Tinder (far left), Elaine Reynolds Tyson and me - at her father's funeral 2005
the three oldest children of The Hadfield girls - we have that special "oldest child" bond

This week's Throwback Thursday isn't throwing back that far, only to 2005.

Picture above is me at my Uncle George Reynolds funeral in September of 2005.  I am seated with my cousins Jack Tinder and Elaine Reynolds Tyson.  We three are the oldest children (first born) of the "Hadfield Girls" as my cousin Jack likes to call his mother (Grace) and my Mother (Betty) and his Aunt Jeanette.  

My Mom (Betty), and her two older sisters (Jeanette Reynolds and Grace Wagner)  - September 2005

My Mom was the youngest of the five children my grandfather George Hadfield and his wife Ethel (Hickman) had.  She also had two brothers, Randall (Randy) and George, Jr.

My Mom with her two older brothers George and Randy - 1928

Both of my Mom's older brothers never had families.  George, Jr. never married.  I strongly suspect he was gay but have no basis for that other than he never had a girlfriend or anything close to it.  George was born the same year as my father (1920) and back in those days, if you were gay you stayed in the closet which is what I suspected Uncle George did.  Besides, who doesn't have a family who doesn't have an "Uncle George" in it?  Grace Kelly had a gay "Uncle George (Kelly).  

Uncle George L. Hadfield, Jr. - 1942 Army Engineers

My uncle Randy was a different story.  He died young in an automobile accident in 1942 (shortly after I was born) at the young age of twenty.  I heard a lot about Uncle Randy growing up, he was the star of the Hadfield family. A classic example of the good die young.

Uncle Randall L. Hadfield, Jr. - 1940

I've done massive research on my paternal genealogy (Tipton) line.  Some years ago while I was doing research my Mother gently reminded me "Aren't you interested in my line, the Hadfields?"  I sheepishly had to admit that I was not.  However, to assuage her and later to my great pleasure I started to research my maternal ancestral line.  What I found was most interesting.  Whereas my paternal Tipton ancestors first immigrated to this country (from Jamaica of all places!)

in the 1690's. I'm a ninth generation American from my father's side, my maternal Hadfield ancestors didn't immigrate to this country until the 1850's.  I used to tease my Mother that her line were almost "wetbacks" compared to my father's line.  

Me and my cousins visiting my Aunt Jeanette at Simpson Meadows - 2005

I have to stop myself now because I could go on days, and weeks and months once I start with the family genealogy but I thought this would be an interesting diversion for this week's "Throwback Thursday" (plus I've set in permanence part of my life history on the Internet forever so when I'm gone others in my family who follow me won't have to do the research that I've just done).

My grandfather George Lincoln Hadfield, Sr. and his family 1923 (my Mother is in this picture, she wasn't born yet but my grandmother was pregnant with her thus standing behind my Aunt Grace)

One of my very favorite pastimes is digging into my family history.  I love it! How about you?  

My father's side of the family - YEP! Hillbillies all.  Know how you can tell? The wringer washing machine is on the front porch - 1939 - my Uncle Sam, Bruce and Tip are in this classic photo

Genealogy Break

Twenty years ago (1994) I began researching my family (Tipton) history.  At first my research consumed just about all my time.  Then Life interrupted.  

Since then, I go in spurts in researching my family genealogy.  Right now I am in one of those spurts.  

Yesterday I received two different e-mails from distant cousins inquiring about their Tipton connection.  I talked to both of them today on the phone.  One lives in Montana and the other lives in Ohio.  Both fine fellows and coincidentally, both related and not through the Tipton connection but through their Bennett family connection which is also in my family.

All of our ancestors were hillbillies from the western North Carolina mountains (which I am proud to admit, true Americana - Appalachian stock sometimes referred to as "hillbilly.") 

So folks, my usually daily blog postings here may not be so daily for the next few days.  Rest assured I am still here and in fine health but taking a little detour here whilst I update my family history on Ancestry.com.

Old Family Photos

My great grandfather Hiram Tipton and his family about 1927 Limestone Tennessee
My grandfather Fieldon Jacob Tipton is the tallest man (of course) second from the right in the back row)

Good morning folks!  Little tired this morning.  Just got off of working three days straight at the hotel.  I'm a bit off my track now.  I have a couple of really good posts coming up but this morning I'll just touch base to let you all know I'm still here and not in the ER or just pouting.

Yesterday I discovered a photo of my grandfather Fieldon Jacob Tipton and his brothers and sisters and parents that I had never seen before on Ancestry. com.  I never knew my paternal grandfather, he died two years before I was born.  I've heard a lot about him and I physically resemble him.  He was a hillbilly (there, I said it) from the Appalachian mountains of western North Carolina, on the border of Tennessee.  

My Uncles Sam, Bruce and Tip at the Baker Place - cheap farm labor who lived in tenant houses - note the washing machine on the porch - my uncles Same and Bruce were the my last two Tipton uncle born in Pennsylvania

He moved to Pennsylvania with his nine sons about 1930.  Two more sons were born in Pennsylvania thus making up a football team. Actually, they moved to Pennsylvania to work on their uncle Don Byrd's farm as cheap farm labor.  Yep, this was before "the illegals".  Back in the day poor white trash relatives hillbillies were used as cheap farm labor.  Long story short, my father met my mother on a double and they fell in love immediately and I resulted one year later.  Miracles do happen!

My father (the tallest man in the back to the right - fifth son) and his ten brothers at a Tipton Family Reunion 1960 Downingtown, Pennsylvania - the last time all eleven of them were together

The Ike Tipton family - me (center) with my two younger brothers (yes, I am the Crown Prince) and Uncle Ed and  Aunt Mabel's place "int he country - 1948

I'm going to spend some time this weekend updating my family tree on Ancestry.com with photos.  I may not be updating my blog on a daily basis for the next few days.  I'll try but something has to give.

My grandmother Hester Lewis Tipton with ten of her eleven sons (Uncle Rich took the picture) after burying my grandfather Fieldon Jacob Tipton - 1939 at Union Cemetery, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania (of course my father is the tallest man in the back to the left)

My friend Pat asked me a few months ago "How do you have time to do everything?"  You know what folks?  I don't.  I rob Peter to pay Paul.  This weekend will probably be one of those instances.

So hang tight folks, I'll be back in full force in a few days ready to agitate, question, provoke, thrill and amaze soon!

The Great Carsoni!