Mother's Day Remembrance

 Forty years ago Mother's day fell on Sunday, May 9th, 1976. It was the last Mother's Day I would have with my own mother.

Celia Jane Fitzwater Brinkley: 23 May 1932 to 20 June 1976

Press Release: A Positive Proof, John Fitzwater, abt 1765..1835, son of John Fitzwater & Judith West

Press Release:

July 4, 2013

 A Positive Proof, is a research piece, 32 pages in toto, refuting the specific errors published in Fitzwater Families of America by Katheryn Fitzwater Devine, concerning the status of Thomas Fitzwater as the heir to the land in 1787, the elements and end date of Primogeniture, the nature of marriage consents, and the parentage of John Fitzwater, Jr. 

It truly became a journey into law history, as well as a genealogical proof.   I hope the truths revealed by this brief study of Virginia law and documents, will aid future researchers and allow Fitzwater descendants to benefit by recognizing their true lineage.

In a nation, such as our United States of America, privileged to have freedom of speech and of the press assured unto its citizens, I am completely confident that any publication, created and put forth for public consumption, makes itself available for ordinary review, criticism, comment, and rebuttal.

I have taken no quotes from Fitzwater Families of America due to Devine’s unusual view of copyright, but rather, have paraphrased and commented upon  some of its passages.  The interested researcher is instructed to view her material directly.  To further assure accuracy, the researcher is also requested, at their leisure, to access the documents I have presented herein, directly at their sources listed in A Positive Proof’s bibliography.

I thank you for your willingness to own and read a copy of this manuscript in the interest of an open minded, unbiased discovery of the truth, allowing researchers to evaluate all the facts and arrive at their own conclusions.

A Positive Proof is available free in pdf form; or in hard copy for printing and shipping costs at the time of order only. 

 To Order Contact:  

Victoria Elaine Hopkins Kahn,

BA Psychology (graduated with Distinction), San Diego State University, San Diego, CA;

Preliminary Level 1: Education Specialist Instruction Credential, California State University, Long Beach, CA;

 A life member of: The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; a member of: NSDAR)

 By email at kahnv@cox.net or by phone at (760)658-6372.

Wait, Waite, Waitte: Family Naming Traditions

Wait, Waite, Waitte: Family Naming Traditions

I discovered much too late that there was a family naming pattern in my father’s family. Grandfather to grandson the name was handed down. Before we had a naming standard we had each generation’s best guess as to how they wanted to spell the name Wait, Waite or Waitte.

The progenitor of the name was this man, Wait Scott, born 4 Feb 1805, Fletcher, Chittenden County, Vermont; died 13 February 1859, Cumberland County, Tennessee. He was the father of five sons, the last being Merton Bullard Scott, born 15 Jun 1853, Cambridge, Lamoille County, Vermont; died 5 Jan 1944, Denver, Colorado. None of the sons were given this unusual name.

Merton Scott’s first child, a son, was Edward Waite “Ed” Scott, born 1 Jun 1880, Devizes, Norton County, Kansas; died18 Nov 1973, Burlington, Kit Carson County, Colorado. Edward was the father of seven children. None were given the name, Waite.

One of Edward’s children was Thelma Ellen Scott, born 10 Oct 1909, Red Cloud, Webster County, Nebraska; died from tuberculosis 20 Nov 1944, Denver, Colorado. She had an identical twin sister, Elma Helen Scott. The sisters were pregnant at the same time so they decided that Thelma would give the middle name of Waite to her son and Elma would give the first name of Edward to her son.

Thelma’s son, Leon Waitte was born 15 Jan 1929, Stratton, Kit Carson County, Colorado. Leon did not give his son the name, and his son did not pass on the name of Wait in any form either.  Perhaps now knowing this we can get that name back in the family line. You get to pick the spelling you want, after all, that’s what they did!

As you might guess, this posting is cousin bait, and to ensure that my family recognizes the importance of the name in our family.

Charles John Kauffman, 1924-1997

Charles John Kauffman
6 September 1924 – 9 October 1997

Tigard- Charles was born in Oakland, California to Charles Martin Kauffman and Winifred Hargest.

He married Doris Areodine Jacobson on 13 November 1949, in Tijuana, Mexico. They divorced in Hillsboro, Oregon, 1962. They had two children.

He married Jewel Chain; they divorced in 1982.

Charles enlisted in WWII, US Army in Alameda, California. He served with the 729th Bombardment Squadron, 452nd Bomb group; discharged 29 October 1945, Sioux Falls, South Dakota as a pilot. Charles spent his life in love with flight. You could find him in an airplane or near Twin Oaks Airpark most every weekend. You can read more about the division he was attached to here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/452d_Operations_Group
Scroll down to “World War II.”

After he and his first wife divorced Charles moved to Reno, Nevada and lived there for a number of years. His mother, sister, and brother were there at one time or another.

Charles was the oldest of three children born to his parents, Charles Martin Kauffman (1894-1958) and Winifred Hargest Kauffman (1904-1965).  His younger brother Douglas James Kauffman predeceased him in 1987 as did his sister Barbara Jean Kauffman Pennington in 1990.

Charles had heart problems for many years, eventually causing his death.

Charles did love his grandchildren. When Aubrey was little, he called her Barney. She hated it and told him so! He loved it and called her Barney every time he saw her. Josh and Jenn both loved Grandpa’s house. They could play hide and seek on 3 floors. See Jenn’s memories below.

At the time of his death he was cremated and there was no obituary printed for him. His ashes were scattered off the end of the runway at the Twin Oaks Airpark in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Survivors include his two children John C. Kauffman of The Dalles, OR and LeaAnn Kauffman; grandchildren Aubrey Burrows, Jennifer Kauffman of Aloha, OR, Josh Kauffman of Aloha, OR, Jason Kauffman of Sioux Falls, SD.

We savor the memories this man gave us
Jenn’s memories:
Things that make me smile about Grandpa Chuck are his love of his Thunderbird car and living with him in that big old house.  I loved that house and I know that if I went there today I would have even more memories.  I remember in Grandpa's bedroom he always had a naked lady calendar and that made me laugh.  I remember you would get mad at him for not taking care of himself because you would find him eating bacon or Snickers (I don't know if those are really what he ate, but that's what I remember in my head).  I remember my brother and I playing hide and go seek in that big house, and I think one of us thought we could hide in a drawer of your dresser, and we took the whole thing down.  I also remember our bedroom with the bed in a drawer, and the pink curtains.  I remember Josh busting his face open on the bouncy horse outside.  I remember picking rhubarb, raspberries, and plums at his house.  The smell of a plum still reminds me of Grandpa.  As well as the smell of those weird flowers that were out along the street in big bushes, with white flowers I think (The flowers are St. John's wort: http://healing.about.com/od/floweressences/ig/Flower-Essence-Gallery/Saint-Johns-Wort.htm).  I couldn't tell you the name, but whenever I smell that, it takes me right back to that house.  I also remember the big weaving loom.  I was very intrigued by that thing.  And the couches in the living room were all flowery.  I also remember [the neighbors] Alma who lived across the street, and Jimmy and Ethel.  Jimmy and Ethel were always so sweet to us, and they ALWAYS had candy to hand out, usually some orange smiles.

I guess I have strayed away from Grandpa.  I remember his smile and his love of airplanes.  It was very hard to see him in later years in the nursing home, so weak.  But I still loved visiting him and I wish I would have seen him more as I grew up.  I always felt like Grandpa loved me very much.  I don't remember how long we lived there, but I remember being generally happy.  I don't remember moving in or moving out, just being there.  I have a clear memory of sitting on the couch with Grandpa; he was smiling a huge smile.  That's how I like to remember him.

Josh’s memories
Well said Jenn! I forgot about a lot of those things...every time I see the bouncy horses I think of that. I also remember the smell of that plant, but don't know what it is...I smell it sometimes and always think of his house. I remember the bed and calendars too. So great :) thanks for sharing! Jimmy and Ethel were great and I remember the candy and the accordions [Jimmy played and taught accordion]. I also remember the collections of airplanes...maybe on mirrored shelves or glass by a mini bar. Some maybe made out of cans? Also a mobile or one that balanced and floated.

How long did we stay there?
Mom’s response: We lived there not quite a year. Then we moved over to the house on 111th to take care of your grandmother [Doris Aerodine Jacobson Kauffman, 1914-1990].

Grandpa had all kinds of airplanes. There was a mobile that hung in the family room made out of beer cans.

Jenn: I vaguely remember the beer can airplane too!  I can't believe we only lived there a year.  In my little kid memories, it seems much longer.  Maybe because there are so many memories.

How old were we when we lived there?  I think I remember being in kindergarten there.  And you made me some dresses...one that was pink with little rosebuds and a yellow one with a pinafore. 

How long did we live at 111th?

Mom: We moved from Reno to Grandpa's in July 1984, the week before Jenn's 5th birthday (that's how I remember it. The years fly by so fast!). So, Josh was 3 and Jenn was 5. We lived at Grandpa's till the end of that school year, and then we had to move over to the house on 111th. We were there 4 years I think... 4 1/2?

But you guys went over to Grandpa's frequently, so it's no wonder you have so many memories of his house!

And for the record Josh, you busted your nose when riding Rocky horse because you were riding for the hills when he threw you!

Josh: I don't remember much about that time...being young I suppose.  For the record, I blame the horse...a spring broke!


Memorial Obituary written September 2012 as though it was October 1997.

Week 30: Genealogy Serendipity

If you do genealogy long enough your are bound to encounter genealogy serendipity. I can admit to having been tripped in cemeteries and finding the headstone I needed. It is usually covered by bushes or some nasty weed I don't want to do combat with. But, in the interest of my genealogy, the greenery must go! So, out comes my cemetery bucket, and I go to work at taking back the headstone from nature. This little blog post is not about that kind story. [My kids were all ready rolling their eyes, : )]

Many years ago my husband and I were divorcing. He had taken his things out of the house. I went in and packed up my stuff and then went back for one more walk through. I don't know about you, but every time I move a box of something comes up missing! So, I was determined that I would double check each room to make sure I didn't leave a box behind! I started in my son's room upstairs and then did the full sweep all the way to the utility door. There I entered the master bedroom expecting to find nothing as I had in all the previous rooms. There lying in the middle of the floor was this marriage certificate. I had lived in that house for three years and had never seen it there before! But there it was in the middle of the floor. Where had it been all these years? I knew instantly who the marriage document was for! My children's great grandparents were listed on that document. Now you must know, this home had been in my husbands family for many years. When we moved in, this room wasn't occupied so I have no idea how the document came to be on that floor, but I'm ever so glad that the ancestors entrusted me with it! It has been preserved in all things archival safe and hangs in a dark place in my house where no natural light can damage it. [Which also explains why it's difficult to get a good shot of it.]

O.M. Jacobson [Omer Mathias "Ole" Jacobson, 1885-1958] and Grace C. Davis [Grace Clara Davis, 1890-1980] were married 16 February 1910, in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon at the St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church. Witness present: Mrs. Dora H. Leas; Mrs. Mary Palmer; signed by "J. Allen Leas, St. Jas. Luth. Ch."

And now my kids know how we came to be entrusted with such a special document.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

Edith (Embree) Hiett 1817-1902

Edith Embree married George Hiett about 1842. She was the mother of nine known children, living with her daughter Kate Hiett Halliday as she grew older. Edith was born 17 Feb 1817 in Ohio and died 23 Nov 1902, in Mendocino County, California. She is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Point Arena, Mendocinio County, California.

A Tribute to Herbert Leo Brinkley

Herbert Leo Brinkley, December 12, 1921 - April 12, 2012

Herbert Leo Brinkley was born 12 December 1921 in Seymour, Wayne County, Iowa. He was the son of Clarence Herbert Brinkley and Mabel Fern Webber. He died 12 April 2012, in Corydon, Wayne County, Iowa.

Herbert was my second cousin, once removed. We met when I traveled back to Iowa for the FGS Conference [a genealogy conference]. I had flown in on September 10, 2011, arriving early to Quad Cities for the conference in Davenport, Iowa. I had so much Iowa research to do on my Brinkley's I needed that extra time. The next morning I rose to the news on CNN, planes flying into the towers in New York City, and the news telling me that all planes were being grounded. I was in Iowa for the duration now! It is the most memorable conference I've ever been to in all these years. I was going to be staying in Iowa for a time. After the conference I had already planned to go do onsite research through a good part of Iowa. One of the people I was to meet up with was Herbert Brinkley and his wife Norma.

Herbert and Norma were wonderful. When we met they had already copied many photos for me as well as funeral handouts, obituaries and family stories. I had hit gold! Then they took me on my own guided tour of Wayne and Appanoose County, Iowa. They showed me every farm my ancestors had owned and worked and we walked the land. I could feel them there with us that day. Then Herbert took me to the cemeteries and walked me to the stones he knew I'd come to see. I spent three days there going through all the cemeteries, the court house, the genealogy library and of course visiting with Herbert and Norma. We met for lunch each day so that I could tell them what I found which sparked more memories and sent me to other places for more documents. It was a wonderful visit. When I left Herbert was in tears. When I asked why he stated simply, "you're the only one who's ever come back."

I kept in touch with them through all the ensuing years. Every research trip I've taken I wrote Herbert to let him know my discoveries. He loved the genealogy, and he loved knowing his connection to it all. Norma wrote at Christmas [2011] that she had to put Herbert in a care facility and he had entered into Hospice. It wasn't shocking when he passed but it saddens me greatly. He was the only Brinkley that was as excited about our genealogy as I was. I'll miss sharing with him in the future.

Photo taken in Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, September 2001.

Herbert Leo Brinkley, 1942, Plano, Iowa, w/horses Doc & Nell

Here's a link to his online obituary: http://hosting-24658.tributes.com/show/herbert-leo-brinkley-93624454

It was wonderful to know you Herbert. Thank you for your time and your sharing, it meant as much to me as it did to you. With Love. L-