12 Photos: January 2025 Grandparents

 

Janaury 2025

12 Months of Photos - Appalachia Style

"Grandparents"

Ina May Bonner King and Ward Montgomery King, my maternal grandparents.

I have no idea how they met.

Well, that’s not exactly true. I know they met in Webster County, West Virginia, and that a coal mine was involved. My Granddad was working at a nearby coal mine, not far from where my grandmother—“Nanny”—lived on top of Point Mountain, West Virginia.

The courting and dating details left this earth when they did.

I do know that my mom was already born in April 1938. Ina and Ward married on Christmas Eve that same year. Ward was not my mother’s biological father, but that didn’t matter to him.

This picture was likely taken around their 10th or 15th wedding anniversary.

52 Ancestors Week 4: Overlooked

 

This week’s theme is “Overlooked.”   An ancestor that was hiding in plain sight

Judge Charley aka Charles McClure Dodrill was not only overlooked in my research but his tombstone was hiding in plain sight.  It is unbelieveable the fight and battle I had to find him and get him straightened out on Find A Grave. 

The Cemetery where my grandmother is buried, Point Mountain Church Cemetery, is one that I know extremely well.  I'm related or closely connected to all of the 300+ souls buried there.  I survey it on a yearly basis and have for well over two decades now.

So, when I noticed a Find A Grave "hoarder" place Judge Charley in the Point Mountain Cemetery, I instantly went into research mode.   For decades, Judge Charley's grave location was unknown because it was on private property.  That property was owned by a legacy farmer/family.

52 Ancestors Week 1: In the Beginning

This week’s theme is “In the Beginning.”  Who was the first person you wanted to find when you started your genealogy journey? 

My Uncle Drex was the family historian on my mom's side. This was back in the days before computers and Post-it notes. Before he passed away, he gave me the notes he had left—most of them were lost during moves with his last wife—and asked that I carry on the family genealogy. I smile as I remember his deep voice saying those words. He had a rich, resonant voice and sang in the family band.

I completely adored him. 

He had the biggest smile and gave the best hugs whenever he saw you.