Month: December 2010

A Christmas Census, 1946

Another unique find in Tom D’s garage among Julia Mae’s papers was this set of autographs and birthdates of the Williams family in Sierra Blanca on Christmas day in 1946. What if every family had a Christmas book and we each signed it every Decemb…

Another unique find in Tom D’s garage among Julia Mae’s papers was this set of autographs and birth dates of the Williams family in Sierra Blanca, Texas, on Christmas day in 1946.  What if every family had a Christmas book and we each signed it every December to keep our own census?  Wouldn’t our descendants thank us one day? Continue reading “A Christmas Census, 1946”

My host, Tom D

Now that you’ve met the Williams family who arrived in Sierra Blanca 99 years ago, I’d like to introduce you to the sole Williams descendant in Sierra Blanca today – Tom D Ellison, son of Thelma Williams Ellison, and nephew of our grandfather. He …

Now that you’ve met the Williams family who arrived in Sierra Blanca 99 years ago, I’d like to introduce you to the sole Williams descendant in Sierra Blanca today – Tom D Ellison, son of Thelma Williams Ellison, and nephew of our grandfather. He is literally holding down the fort. Continue reading “My host, Tom D”

Getting to Sierra Blanca

Take Interstate 10 southeast from El Paso to get to Sierra Blanca, the town where our mother was born and where she spent the first ten years of her life. It’s pretty much a straight-shot at a high speed, a legal 80 mph for a good stretch! (1) Unc…

Take Interstate 10 southeast from El Paso to get to Sierra Blanca, the town where our mother was born and where she spent the first ten years of her life.   It’s pretty much a straight-shot at a high speed, a legal 80 mph for a good stretch!  (1) Continue reading “Getting to Sierra Blanca”

Black and Gold and Purple

Note: This is more of a football post than a genealogy post but it is a family story! Originally written six years ago, I tried to get it published but couldn’t get the attention of either a Pittsburgh or a Baltimore publisher. But now that I have…

Note:  This is more of a football post than a genealogy post but it is a family story!  Originally written six years ago, I tried to get it published but couldn’t get the attention of either a Pittsburgh or a Baltimore publisher.  But now that I have a blog, who needs ’em?  It’s perfect for the run-up to a critical AFC North re-match this weekend. Continue reading “Black and Gold and Purple”