Genealogy Corner
Genealogy is like fried chicken and potato salad -When you share it with others, its a picnic!
By Lee Thatcher
Comments from 1892 Hostetters Almanac
5th Mon - 31 Days
J.J. Audubon, born May 5, 1785
J.J. Audubon was one of the premier artists of the nineteenth century. While not the first artist to create an artistic rendition of birds in their natural habitats and to catalog them, Audubon’s work was the most life-like in its depiction of American birds in their natural settings. Audubon used a distinctive technique to pose the lifeless birds in realistic positions. He was also skilled in multiple mediums including watercolor and pastels and various methods of using them. “The American Woodsman” eventually became the standard by which all works of the genre would be judged. Original books and print are now highly valuable. A four-volume set in fine condition sold at Christie’s in New York for over three million dollars. While Audubon had no role in the creation of the Audubon Society, he was an inspiration for it. In his later writings, Audubon expressed his concern over the destruction of wildlife and habitat. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, there were no laws to protect wildlife. Birds in the millions were slaughtered, their plumes used in hats. Some birds nests were robbed and still others were over hunted for food. Entire species of birds were exterminated, including the Great Auk, Carolina Parakeet, and Passenger Pigeon. Groups of concerned citizens formed under the banner of “Audubon” societies- smaller groups that worked on a state level. Awareness and conservation began. They Audubon members have contributed to many important laws being passed for the preservation of wildlife.
Crown Point Captured, May 12, 1775
British Military Engineer, General John Montressor had recommended that the area of Crown Point, New York be made into a new fortification created through the strengthening of the Montreal camp at Grenadier Redoubt. Before the plan could be implemented, however, the Revolutionary War broke out at Lexington and Concord.
The British began to withdraw their forces and by 1775, the fortification was very lightly guarded. Seth Warner and the Green Mountain Boys succeeded in capturing the fort. It became the launching point for the invasion of Canada. General Montgomery and Benedict Arnold’s troops were defeated in Quebec, highly infected with Smallpox. Hundreds died and were buried in mass graves at Crown Point, New York. This was one of many American defeats here. Crown Point was not under American control again until the peace treaty signed in 1783.
Earthquake at Antioch- May 20, 526 A.D.
Over 250,000 deaths were attributed to the devastating earthquake in Antioch, Syria, in the year 526 A.D.
Thomas Moore born, May 28, 1779
Thomas Moore was born the son of a grocer and didn’t mind letting people know it. He became a very popular poet, ranked alongside such heavyweights as Lord Byron. Moore’s poetry and works had a satirical edge for the most part. He enjoyed mocking snobbery and the political machinery of his day. He is still known as Dublin’s National Poet and for some strange reason, his statue was erected at the city’s largest public urinal.
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Also from The Hostetter’s ..Anecdotals…
A sarcastic lawyer, during the trial of a case, made use of the expression, “Cast not your pearls before swine.” Subsequently, as he arose to make the argument, the judge facetiously remarked: “Be careful, Mr. S., not to cast your pearls before the swine.”
“Don’t be alarmed, your Honor, I am about to address the jury, not the Court.”
And from B. Frank Ogle, of Illiopolis, Illinois- January 29, 1889:
Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters are very popular here: Many old families are as careful in keeping a supply of it in their households as they are to keep salt and sugar. It’s virtues are explained by the father to the son, thus each decade finds it stronger in public favor.”
And, this old Hostetter’s formula works!
A Problem: Girls of a marriageable age do not like to tell how old they are, but you can find out by following these instructions, the young lady doing the figuring. Tell her to put down the number of the month in which she was born, then to multiply it by 50, then to add her age, then to subtract 365, then to add 115, then to tell you the amount she has left. The two figures, to the right will tell her age, and the remainder the month of her birth. For example, the amount is 822, she is 22 years old and was born in the 8th month. (August).
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May 2, 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville. On May 1st, Hooker ordered his men into a defensive posture. Lee divided his forces and sent Jackson’s corps to turn Hooker’s right flank. May 2nd, Jackson slammed into Hookers flank, however Jackson was accidentally shot by one of his own men during the confusion and died from pneumonia 8 days later. On May 3rd, Segwick was stopped by Early near Banks Ford and Salem Church. And on May 4th, Lee attacked Sedgwick. Later that night Hooker ordered a full retreat of the Union Army.
May 13, 1607 - Captain John Smith lands in Jamestown, Virginia in chains. Upon opening of a sealed box from the Virginia Company he was released from his chains and awarded as the Council of the Colony.
May 16, 1770 - Marie Antoinette married the crown prince of France. Four years later King Louis XVI was crowned and she became queen. When faced with death at the guillotine she defied her executioners by saying, “Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I should lose it at the moment my sufferings are to end?”
May 18, 1860 - Abraham Lincoln first nominated for president.
May 23, 1868 - Kit Carson, noted Indian agent, Army scout, and Civil War Brigadier General, died in Fort Lyons. The following year his remains were moved to Taos, New Mexico.
May 31, 1889 - The Johnstown Flood devastated Pennsylvania when the South Fork Dam collapsed spilling over 20 million tons of water into the Little Conemaugh River Valley. A wall of water reaching 70 feet high, swept down the 14 miles of the valley, killing over 2,200 people and devastating the area.
Various Alphabets - The Sandwich Islands alphabet has 13 letters; the Burmese 19, Italian 20, Bengalese 21, Hebrew, Syrian, Chaldee and Samarian, 22 each, French 23, Greek 21, Latin 23, German, Dutch and English 26 each, Persian and Ceptic, 32 each, Georgian 25, Armenian 38, Russian 41, Mesenvite 43, Sanscrit and Japanese, 59 each, Ethoipa and Tartarian, 202 each.
Prevent Hair Loss - A good wash to prevent the hair from falling out is made of one ounce of powered borax, half an ounce of powdered camphor, one quart of boiling water and a gill of alcohol. When cool, pour into a bottle for use, and clean the head with it, applying with a flannel or sponge once a week.
Its All In The Meaning - A church in a country town was about undergoing repairs and improvements; and at a congregational meeting held for the purpose of determining what these should be, it was suggested by someone that the proposed extension of the building might interfere with the acoustics.
Acoustics! exclaimed one of the members. Acoustics! Well just throw them out. I don’t know what they are good for, anyhow!
Smoking Injurious - The latest medical pronouncement is that smoking after meals is injurious. Since it is already established that smoking before meals is injurious, the only refuge is to stop eating.
Published in U S Legacies Magazine May 2004
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