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 "M" is for the million things she gave me, "O" means only that she's growing old, "T" is for the tears she shed to save me, "H" is for her heart of purest gold; "E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining, "R" means right, and right she'll always be,
"MOTHER," A word that means the world to me.
Since all of our family was involved in various Units, Brigades, and "Sides" during the great Civil War, I continually seek interesting stories about the war between the States. Many of our families also served from Illinois, and also from Missouri. So I want to present a little known story, that centers around the St Louis Area. Much is known that Missouri was known as "Bloody Missouri", because the state was torn between both sides. Even though Missouri was Union, many of its residents were southern supporters. This led to many battles and skirmishes. One in particular right at the onset of the War. Read the article on The Capture of the St Louis Arsenal and learn of this areas history. There even today exists a good deal of anomosity between the Missouri St Louisians and the Metro East Illinoisians. Maybe that story could be the roots of that animosity?? Could be......
 April Showers bring May Flowers. So here are the list of May "Birthday" Flowers. All of you have a Happy Birthday this month:
Sue Austinson on May 3rd,
To all of you, Happy Birthday, and many more to come!! Well the Reunion Plans are forming, and all MRR Committee are working to make this something great for all of us, and our families to come. Last month we showed a proposed memorial stone, and got lots of good comments. This month we have posted a Motel of Choice on the MRR Central Site. If you plan on making the Reunion, check there for the Info on the Hampton Inn as we expect many of our out of state travellers to stay there. If you all have any more ideas, be sure to send them to the Committee. Visit the MRR Central Site for the latest Committee news.
 | and Records Administration (NARA). One of the greatest free (well almost free), Government resources is at the NARA. This agency houses millions of records, documents, and family history data, that can be obtained for the cost of reproduction. One of the hardest items in researching family history, particularly back in the 18th and 19th century, is the lack of any official records. Many states were not even formed, so there is little state records. Many of the family records that can be found, are generally military records, court records, or possibly if one can pinpoint within a few years the dates their ancestors arrived in the US, possibly they can be found on a ships register. Beyond that source of official records, the old family bible, and bible records are extremly useful. Never be one to overlook this source, because many family records are only found here. NARA is an independent Federal agency that helps preserve our nation's history by overseeing the management of all Federal records. The mission is to ensure ready access to the essential evidence that documents the rights of American citizens, the actions of Federal officials, and the national experience. NARA make it easy for citizens to access this essential evidence regardless of the location of the documentation or of the people using it. NARA hopes that by providing electronic public access to more and more of our national records and services, they can better meet the public's information needs. One of the goals of the NARA Strategic Plan is to "expand current efforts to build a nationwide, integrated online information-delivery system that will educates citizens about NARA and its facilities, services, and holdings." They have a number of projects under way, including a public accessable Web site. Another project is the NARA Archival Information Locator (NAIL), a pilot database of descriptions of many various NARA holdings nationwide. In addition, some of the descriptions have links to digital copies of the documents being described. NAIL is the cornerstone of a larger Electronic Access Project through which NARA plans to develop an online catalog of all of NARA's holdings nationwide. Visit the NARA Web Site for more information: http://www.nara.gov/
You may request forms by email:
GIL #7 (brochure for Military Service Records) Then specify the of forms you wish to receive. Remember! Requests which do not contain the word 'FORM' in the subject line get routed differently and will take more time to process.
As you all know we (Rita and I), maintain several web sites on the Internet. Actually I do most of the web work, Rita comes up with the ideas. (some of the better ideas were her doings). Then I transpose them into web publishing. Visit some of our sites.. and let us know what you all think! |
Things are blooming here, in southern Illinois. Our branch of the Metheny are planning a May 16th Reunion near Moonshine this Year. (Yes there is a Moonshine, Illinois). We always have a very good turn out, and a nice day for all. All my family made a trip to Washington, IN this last month, for another funeral. My nephew Kenny Metheny passed away unexpectedly, and at a young age of 35. We all resolved to meet again very soon, under more ideal and happy conditions. It is so unfortunate that families, and the ones who you dont see very often, usually come for funerals. My niece was there whom we haven't seen in at least 15 years. So it is resolved to do something about it!
PROPOSED - AUGUST 14th 1998 AQUIA CHURCH, VA. | Thanks to my information contributors. Diana Jones for the Birthdays. To my wife Rita for her ideas, help, and putting up with me. Thanks to Kelly Matheny for the great pictures and the matheny Tavern Information.. Ed Powell, thanks for the Stone drawing (and the maps we posted on the MRR Site). Thanks to to the MRR Committee for volunteering their time and efforts. If you have some info or unique stories, wills or obituaries, send them to me I will put them in ...and, dont forget to email me. Dave Metheny
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May is a wonderful Month. The spring flowers are blooming, many families are planning their summer vacations, and the many family reunions. Trips to "home", always results in a cemetary trip this month to place flowers and wreaths on the graves of loved relatives, long since passed. The couple pictured left, is my Grandfather, and Grandmother, Sylvester (Vess) and Margaret (Maggie) Metheny. She passed away when I was about 7, Vess passed away when I was 14. But I do remember them both. Grandma was always setting in her rocker, summers on the porch, winters she sat just inside the door, by the window. Grandpa walked with a cane as long as I can remember. Stories said his stiff and crooked leg was due to a mule falling on him as a young man. I remember WELL the cane. As each time we came to visit, as I would enter the door, this hook end of the cane would pop out of the dim room, and snare me by the neck. Gramps always had to grab the first kid thru the door. Which was always me, in fact we used to race to see who would get hooked first. Then it was always off to the back room to delve into Grandpa's store of horehound candy. Many of the other cousins, also remember the cane, and one other thing Grandpa had we all have memories of: His electric fence he had to keep the horse in the pen. Especially when some of us found the control to be able to turn it up or down. Many stories abound about that fence.