tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43167596496592190002024-03-13T12:45:17.605-07:00Deb's Family History & GenealogyFor Family - Past, Present and Future.Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-32269612679680985592011-10-28T22:28:00.000-07:002011-10-28T23:02:20.025-07:00Halloween at Stack Rock School - 1914<div align="justify"><em></em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKUCM8hfyddLQo5Jr9tNEyY6Sz3qrm9gVaWukY2r-_kedselMgZ32VneDF3zvqAHYJmCHver4ZlmiLEi47oBZt4TP94SEn2NwiSQ12aBGN2tcWED2DuT0i-3_BjLgyRtaK8uqTDkRIYf9/s1600/0066.1.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 249px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668783536920020786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKUCM8hfyddLQo5Jr9tNEyY6Sz3qrm9gVaWukY2r-_kedselMgZ32VneDF3zvqAHYJmCHver4ZlmiLEi47oBZt4TP94SEn2NwiSQ12aBGN2tcWED2DuT0i-3_BjLgyRtaK8uqTDkRIYf9/s400/0066.1.JPG" /></a><em>When scanning the Stiff-McLane family photographs that are in my great grandparents trunk at the homestead ranch several years ago, I found this one taken at Stack Rock School on October 30, 1914. My grandfather Bert Stiff is on the far left of the photograph. I was surprised to see that they carved pumpkins back when he was a child. This is one of the few photos that we have of him as a child.<br /><br />This post is a tribute to Grandpa Bert who was born on October 23, 1903 in Kansas City, Missouri.</em></div>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-78193899606083995372011-03-24T07:12:00.000-07:002011-03-24T07:19:36.807-07:00On this day in our family history - 24 Mar 1911<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9z-2T-42vXseXM2RWLJ6Dveh9xX_6Etueapdq-dxZz2UbaKhZ5on_kO5bPrZh4oXWJzb9FG09kBni4VQYtjjX26Q-hKuIFMQPclRTIysjIC4-cvOYk7W13yVy6AOu0kSyM9OWUg1_gQx/s1600/Stiff+Homestead.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587649528011952738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9z-2T-42vXseXM2RWLJ6Dveh9xX_6Etueapdq-dxZz2UbaKhZ5on_kO5bPrZh4oXWJzb9FG09kBni4VQYtjjX26Q-hKuIFMQPclRTIysjIC4-cvOYk7W13yVy6AOu0kSyM9OWUg1_gQx/s320/Stiff+Homestead.jpg" /></a> On this day 100 years ago: 24 March 1911, the Robert Emmett Stiff and Stella Bertha McLane Stiff Family took up residence on their homestead property in the Dry Creek area just north of Boise, Ada County, Idaho. Robert and Stella's pioneer spirit, hard work and love of the land created a legacy that continues today. Later this year the Stiff Homestead, now known as The Ourada Ranch, will be offically designated as the first Century Farm in Ada County, Idaho.<br /><br /></div>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-53916541477604104352011-03-04T17:24:00.000-08:002011-03-04T17:42:00.592-08:004 March, on this day in our family history...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr-QrkAFRPZn46k3N3trOy7x2laRp9EFEtJ_uXhQaJW5GKQFrlWuOjovI8mEp033OaTi0dmTzQDtom_hro04Org1kBZRNEQE3GmCVEhQBD88rdbCYMcNPMC0GYozIRClHNx1HJMd89Dpb/s1600/eStiff+Bert+and+Ellen+c+1925.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 232px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580403048207466498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYr-QrkAFRPZn46k3N3trOy7x2laRp9EFEtJ_uXhQaJW5GKQFrlWuOjovI8mEp033OaTi0dmTzQDtom_hro04Org1kBZRNEQE3GmCVEhQBD88rdbCYMcNPMC0GYozIRClHNx1HJMd89Dpb/s320/eStiff+Bert+and+Ellen+c+1925.jpg" /></a><br /><div>4 Mar 1925, Roland Bertrand Stiff and Ellen E. Patton were married in Marsing, Owyhee County, Idaho.</div><div> </div><div>The couple met while attending school at the Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho.</div><br /><div>The wedding took place at the home of Ellen's parents, Jesse A. and Emma Slabaugh [Schlabach] Patton. The couple raised four children in the Boise area and moved to Oregon in 1944.</div><div> </div><div>This picture was taken soon after their wedding. They are standing on Stack Rock overlooking Bert's parents homestead ranch just north of Boise, Ada County, Idaho. As you can see by looking at the background in the photograph this land is very arid. The area is known as Dry Creek, but in the spring when the hills are green and the alfalfa is blooming it is heaven on earth.</div>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-35233559413387144292011-02-27T17:36:00.000-08:002011-02-28T06:59:32.977-08:00Robert Emmett Stiff 1870-1951<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoMyV3MDrHBiVZ4aqZOQMt6U_cKYcRCGGOwDCLz89DL4CSWN_ldgv_pSnX6e2VEC-ljLsKUF6HLymfn8Z1z2FEvulhKd9KBLGfu60dP_YbsH007nf0hZM-uk9na6j4cLzCKFam5tslpJt/s1600/BlogROBERT+EMMETT+STIFF.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578550819766838066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoMyV3MDrHBiVZ4aqZOQMt6U_cKYcRCGGOwDCLz89DL4CSWN_ldgv_pSnX6e2VEC-ljLsKUF6HLymfn8Z1z2FEvulhKd9KBLGfu60dP_YbsH007nf0hZM-uk9na6j4cLzCKFam5tslpJt/s320/BlogROBERT+EMMETT+STIFF.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>On this day in our ancestor's lives...</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>28 February 1870, Robert Emmett Stiff, was born in Brandenburg, Meade County, Kentucky. He was the third child, of twelve, born to John Clayton and Margaret Clara Rachford Stiff.</div><br /><div>His first seven years were spent in the Meade County, Kentucky area. Then in 1877 the family migrated west to Morse, Johnson County, Iowa and in 1892 the family moved to Cedar County, Iowa. They lived in several different Cedar County communites, West Side, Rochester and Buchanan.</div><br /><div></div><div>Robert Emmett was the adventuring type, his youngest daughter described it as, wanderlust. About 1894 or 1895 he struck out on his own and traveled to Texas to visit relatives. He worked for a while on a ranch in Collin County, Texas. The ranch was owned by his aunt and uncle, John and Mary Rachford Rasor. He also worked on a Riverboat during his travels, which could have been as far south as Beaumont, Texas.</div><br /><div>His travels took him through Missouri and either on his way to Texas or on the trip back home to Iowa, he met his future wife Stella Bertha McLane. They married on the 24th of December 1896 in Benton County, Missouri. Nine children were born to this union.</div><br /><div>More on the adventures of Robert Emmett Stiff in my next posting...</div>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-56784549545091265002011-02-22T17:03:00.001-08:002011-02-22T17:17:11.334-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlXVDT06RNvs-EFYi_9H77iddORp-1pJ74wh1iseUoEuP39wJ18ZXk5JW30C5VZZcNfEO9D4fZcSg3EAeWfzy65-wg8hCzSbs8x2Jo4Ym84QFa-DtHZGludokNGtCmAyL6lXszxnDIPsA/s1600/blog1909WilliamHenryTurner.EudoraLockertHolderTurner.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576684934611971234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlXVDT06RNvs-EFYi_9H77iddORp-1pJ74wh1iseUoEuP39wJ18ZXk5JW30C5VZZcNfEO9D4fZcSg3EAeWfzy65-wg8hCzSbs8x2Jo4Ym84QFa-DtHZGludokNGtCmAyL6lXszxnDIPsA/s320/blog1909WilliamHenryTurner.EudoraLockertHolderTurner.jpg" /></a><br />On this day in our ancestor's lives.....<br /><br />22 Feb 1909 in Sedan, Chautauqua County, Kansas - William Henry Turner and Eudora Edna Lockert Holder were married by Samuel Bruner, Probate Judge. The witnesses to this union were, J. N. Cristen and Martha E. Randall.<br /><br />The wedding took place on Eudora's 39th birthday. This was the second marriage for each of them.Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-15266717289684662102011-02-16T17:50:00.000-08:002011-02-16T18:19:26.745-08:00145th AnniversaryOn this day 145 years ago our grandparents John Clayton Stiff and Margaret Clara Rachford Stiff married, in Larue County, Kentucky.<br /><br />May we live up to their pioneering spirit and honor them for who we are.Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-88290910464906047172010-05-12T08:40:00.000-07:002010-05-12T08:56:07.780-07:00Helping others find their ancestorsAfter several months of absence I have decided to start posting interesting genealogical information to aid others in their journey to find their ancestors.<br /><br />Here is a site that is free through the Family History Center in Salt Lake City. Go to <a href="http://www.familysearch.org/">www.familysearch.org</a>, click on "Search Records" and then click on "Record Search Pilot". The site has indexed records and actual images of several record sets.<br /><br />Have fun searching for your family!Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-71053122790970200862009-09-02T20:40:00.000-07:002009-09-02T20:49:45.525-07:00Last Days of Summer<em>As the days get shorter and the evenings cooler my thoughts are filled with organizing my family research files this fall and winter. To be an effective historian I need to get my office in order so I can get on track with my research goals. One could say this post is a declaration of intent to quit talking about my need to organize and just get to the task!</em>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-70269763012870982862009-04-08T20:00:00.000-07:002009-04-08T20:10:11.644-07:00Taking time to enjoy Spring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9bqGE67OsSsMzI9V889uSMM2nzDzBQ3BSWwHZhHGTYeVgrmYxOYzRBY3nOYf2NlFcv6aTaYvtiuzDLJvgJvJJcHc9KWto8nOfV8ufD4yxYysh8_YkOpECWV9E76v7KtszoRYwUdoN2Bp/s1600-h/Eryn+Flowers+2009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322522211732079826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9bqGE67OsSsMzI9V889uSMM2nzDzBQ3BSWwHZhHGTYeVgrmYxOYzRBY3nOYf2NlFcv6aTaYvtiuzDLJvgJvJJcHc9KWto8nOfV8ufD4yxYysh8_YkOpECWV9E76v7KtszoRYwUdoN2Bp/s320/Eryn+Flowers+2009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>This is a post for the present instead of the past. </em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em></em></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>Sometimes we need to stop and enjoy the small things, look around as a child does and live in the moment.</em></span></div><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>Enjoy this snapshot in time.</em></span></div><br /><br /><div></div>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-14044337965143390412009-02-23T20:30:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:44:39.832-08:00John Clayton Stiff<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NkC4X-7bHueeM0pT808cmqOhj4f0kMvFxflgsB__IMpWexCAfyUUN-wVBRUqd6poSHjcFmMRk_Qk0X_vXIhAkOITjR-mSc_7hVCtetxkVB6cB7kR3JnjF_84Z6BxEsO8bnQEBfcGI_MO/s1600-h/Stiff.John+Clayton.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306219674944779890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NkC4X-7bHueeM0pT808cmqOhj4f0kMvFxflgsB__IMpWexCAfyUUN-wVBRUqd6poSHjcFmMRk_Qk0X_vXIhAkOITjR-mSc_7hVCtetxkVB6cB7kR3JnjF_84Z6BxEsO8bnQEBfcGI_MO/s320/Stiff.John+Clayton.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Obituary for our great great grandfather John Clayton Stiff.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>RITES FOR JOHN STIFF<br />AT ROCHESTER SATURDAY<br /><br />Funeral services for John Stiff were held Saturday afternoon at Rochester church with Rv. Otis Moore in charge. Interment was in the Rochester cemetery.<br />John Clayton Stiff, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Stiff, was the last survivor of the three children. He was born in Maryville, Larue county, Ky., March 17, 1846 and died at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Finefield in Tipton on March 29, 1934 at the age of 88 years and 12 days.<br />He was united in marriage of Feb. 16, 1866 to Miss Margaret C. Rachford who preceeded him in death in 1923. They had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. Three children, Johnie, Mary and Eddie passed away in infancy and William and Franklyn, in 1928. Mr. Stiff is survived by four sons and three daughters, Robert E. of Boise, Idaho; Henry M. of Peoria, Ill.; Peter C. of Cordova, Ill.; Otto C. of Davenport; Anna F. Sheldon of Wichita, Kansas; Ada C. Finefield of Tipton and Katie B. Christian of Davenport, twenty five grandchildren and a large number of great grandchildren. In addition there are a number of relatives and friends who will miss him.<br />Mr. and Mrs. Stiff came to Iowa in the year 1877, locating at Morse. They moved to Cedar county in 1892.<br />He united with the Baptist church early in life and while living at Morse joined the United Christian church to which he has remain loyal.<br />He was always interested in the uplift of the community. He was a kind and loving father who enjoyed the company of his children and friends. His grateful disposition manifested until the last days of his earthly life.<br /><br />Cards of Thanks<br /><br />We desire to thank our good neighbors and friends who in so many ways were so thoughtful and helpful during our bereavement.<br />The kind words of sympathy and the beautiful flowers, so expressive of friendship, were greatly appreciated.<br />The Children</em></div>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-55315434792023495672009-02-21T21:35:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:23:16.294-08:00Margaret Clara Rachford Stiff<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM57qi8YF4rkwTkfqvA1xf3JbIW-Rb1JrJh998aAirLKiXrzrKjn4qP0rikxCQWoTSqnkDRoK6lnr71cRu4MFuIQIMJ4iyjCvcSazt0fsCVOPKkJQyzZQkDxhocVJ-2p-GfnBwGtZT401g/s1600-h/Stiff.MargaretClaraRachford.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305491781364187266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM57qi8YF4rkwTkfqvA1xf3JbIW-Rb1JrJh998aAirLKiXrzrKjn4qP0rikxCQWoTSqnkDRoK6lnr71cRu4MFuIQIMJ4iyjCvcSazt0fsCVOPKkJQyzZQkDxhocVJ-2p-GfnBwGtZT401g/s320/Stiff.MargaretClaraRachford.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="justify"><em>Here is the obituary for our great great grandmother Margaret Clara Rachford Stiff. </em></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>Obituary<br /><br />Mrs. Margaret C. Rachford Stiff was the last survivor of a family of five children. She passed away at her home in Rochester, Ia., May 27th, 1923 aged 79 years, 6 months and 9 days. She was born in Hodgensville, Larue Co., Kentucky, where she was united in marriage Feb. 16th, 1866, to J. C. Stiff. To them were born twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. Three children, John, Mary and Eddie passed away in infancy. She leaves to mourn her loss a loving husband and nine children, namely, Jas. W., of Rochester, Iowa; Robert E. of Boise, Idaho; Henry M., Davenport, Iowa, Chas. F. of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Anna Sheldon, Wichita, Kas.; Mrs. Ada Finefield, Moscow, Iowa; Mrs. Kate Christian, of Tipton, Iowa; Peter C., of Wilton, Iowa; Clare O., of Rochester, Ia; twenty-six grand-children and eight great grand-children and many relatives and a host of friends who sorrow with them.<br />Mr. and Mrs. Stiff came to Iowa in the 1877 locating at Morse, in Johnson county, Iowa, living there until 1892, when they moved to Buchanan and later to Rochester. In her young life Mrs. Stiff was united with the Methodist church, to which she had always been loyal, although her frail health deprived her of the joy of active service for several years.<br />She was always interested in the uplift of the community. She was a lover of home, delighting in ministering to her family and enjoying the company of her friends. Her grateful disposition was manifest till the last days of her earthly life.<br />Funeral Services were conducted from the Rochester church by Rev. A. W. Straub, and interment was made in the Rochester cemetery.</em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>------------------------------------</em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>This obituary was received today from a fellow genealogist in Tipton, Iowa. She is a volunteer for the organization <strong>Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness</strong> and after we emailed back and forth a few times she asked if Henry M. Stiff was a relative. I explained that he was a great grand uncle. She emailed back and told me a story of how Henry was her great great grandmother's first husband. I remembered a picture that I scanned from the trunk at The Ranch and sure enough it was Henry and Rosa's wedding picture. I emailed her a copy and she confirmed with her mother and aunt that it indeed was Rosa. Small world!</em></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em>In 2003 Terra and Herman went out of their way to go through Rochester, Iowa. They took a few pictures of the church and the cemetery. Refer to your timeline from the reunion in 2007.</em></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><em></div></em></span>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4316759649659219000.post-35872795690606644652009-02-21T16:06:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:22:25.629-08:00Sharing our family heritage<em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Hello all,<br /><br /></span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I have finally taken the plunge into the world of blogs!<br /><br />This is my first step as a family historian to share our rich family heritage.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">Our ancestor's life experiences, their <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">struggles</span>, heartbreak, successes and pioneering spirit is within each of us. Their spirit is what brought us to where we are today. My goal is to share my research so you can better know your ancestors, their lives, professions and where they lived.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">This will be a place where you can ask questions, share stories and personal experiences.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"></span></em>Debra Monsivehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13687589259433524564noreply@blogger.com0