Birthdays from my family tree for the week of April 27.
My Uncle Kenny, at Christmas in the living room of the farmhouse where he grew up. He's holding his oldest son — my cousin, Kenneth Lee — and his mother — my granny, Leona Williams Wilson — is holding present in the background. Kenny has a fantastic memory, particularly when it comes to family history. He doesn't write anything down; he just remembers it. And it's uncanny how many times a story he's told me has been verified by the historical record.
April 27
Kenneth Adrian Wilson (my uncle on my mother's side), b. 1951. Happy birthday, Uncle Kenny. No one has done more to demonstrate to me the importance of remembering where you came from.
Verna M. Kidd (my third cousin on my father's side), b. 1930 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Sept. 19, 1937, in Fayette County, Ky. Verna was the daughter of Davis W. Kidd and Myrtle Mae Lambert Kidd. Verna died at age 7 of infantile paralysis, exacerbated by bronchial pneumonia, according to her death certificate.
April 28
Amberous Franklin Williams (my 2G uncle on my mother's side), b. 1889 in Morgan County, Ky.; d. Nov. 23, 1970, in West Virginia. I've also seen his name recorded on "Ambrose" on historical documents. He was the brother of my great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Williams.
Williams, shown at left, was born on the family homestead in Elliottville and moved around quite a bit. He also lived in Lincoln County, Ky.; Scioto, Ohio; and Logan, WVa., where he passed away in 1970. Williams was married twice. His first wife, Nannie Mae Spence Williams, died in 1936 at age 44 and is buired in the Williams-Turner Cemetery. I don't know much about his second wife, Rosie Davis.
William Allie Wilson (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1903 in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky.; d. Feb. 25, 1980, in Montgomery City, Montgomery County, Mo. The son of Dr. Jeremiah Wilson and Anna Elizabeth Halley Wilson, Wiliam lived at least part of his life in Grayson, Ky., where he was living when his brother Homer Lee died in 1940, according to the obituary.
April 29
Jacob W. Wilson (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1836 in Somerford, Madison County, Ohio; d. Feb. 28, 1897. The son of Valentine and Nancy Roberts Wilson, resided at Summerford, Ohio. He was a man of great inventive genius, his inventions including a twine grain binder.
The Rev. James Henry Gregory (my 3G uncle-in-law on my mother's side), b. 1843 in Morgan County, Ky.; d. May 17, 1918, in Clearfield, Rowan County, Ky. The reverend married Sarah Ann Caudill, sister of my 2G grandmother, Rebecca Caudill Williams.
Judah Skaggs (first wife of Levi DeBoard, my 2G uncle-in-law on my mother's side), b. 1896 in Leadinham, Elliott County, Ky.; d. Dec. 13, 1901, in Elliott County, Ky. Levi DeBoard married Judah in 1887. She died in 1901. I'm not sure if they had children — honestly, I haven't looked for any — but it's likely they did. At any rate, just more than three years her death, DeBoard married Laura Belle Williams, daugther of my 2G grandparents William Washington Williams and Rebecca Caudill Williams. Levi and Laura had two children.
John Everette Wilson (my first cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1896 in Montgomery County, Ky.; d. Sept. 12, 1983, in Lexington, Ky. He went by Everette.
Nelson Jennings (my second cousin once removed on my father's side), b. 1932 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Jan. 23, 2001.
April 30
Katheryn Caloway Wilson (my second cousin three times removed on my mother's side), b. 1885 in Kentucky; details of death uncertain. I haven't found much information about Katheryn. She is the granddaughter of Abijah Brooks Wilson and Catherine C. Wilson Wilson. Her grandparents weren't just husband and wife; they were sixth cousins, making both of them my double relatives. Abijiah is both my 4G uncle-in-law and my 4G uncle.
Larry Mullens (my step cousin on my father's side), b. 1958; d. 2012. Larry was the stepson of my Uncle Atlee "Pat" Kidd, my father's brother. He was 5 when his mother, Evelyn, married Pat, who passed away in February. At my uncle's funeral, another of Evelyn's children, daughter Kathy, told a story before her mom and stepfather were married. She and her sister Carolyn were supposed to keep an eye on Larry while Evelyn was out of the house, but they got distracted and Larry wandered off. When Evelyn returned home, they realized he was missing. They frantically began searching for him. Pat walked up with Larry on his shoulders: "You looking for someone?"
Lori Ann Brooks (my half cousin on my mother's side), b. 1972. Happy birthday, Lori. Hope you have a great day.
May 1
Walter Scott Hall (my 3G uncle on my mother's side), b. 1864 in Rowan County, Ky.; d. Feb. 10, 1953, in Garfield, Okla. Walter was one of 14 children of George Martin Hall and Susanah Downing Hall.
William Paul Brooks (cousin of Ronnie Jackson Brooks, my half uncle on my mother's side), b. 1926 in Claiborne, Tenn.; d. Aug. 28, 1926, in Hoop, Claiborne County, Tenn. William died in infancy, before his many of his family members, including parents Roy and Cassie Mae Pillion Brooks moved to Clark County, Ohio.
Chance Wayne Lewis (my step half cousin on my mother's side), b. 1969. Happy birthday, Chance.
May 2
Collin Trent Thomas (my second cousin on my mother's side), b. 1977; d. Aug. 18, 2010, in Afghanistan. An American hero. His obituary read, in part: "Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Collin Trent Thomas, 33, of Morehead, Ky., assigned to a Navy SEAL team based out of Little Creek, Virginia, was fatally shot on August 18, 2010, during combat operations in Eastern Afghanistan. He is survived by his fiancee Sarah Saunders, his parents Clay and Jean Thomas, and his sister Meghan Edwards." During a 13-year Navy career, Collin's awards and citations included two Bronze Star medals with combat "V" distinguishing device; a Purple Heart; a Joint Service Commendation medal with combat "V" distinguishing device; a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; six Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals; two Combat Action Ribbons (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom); four Good Conduct medals; the National Defense Service medal; Afghanistan Campaign medal with two campaign stars; Iraq Campaign medal; Marksmanship medals with "expert" service device for both rifle and pistol, and a multitude of personal, unit, and campaign decorations.
May 3
Edd and his first wife, Pearl Belle Lowe.
Edward Lambert (my 2G uncle on my father's side and my third cousin three times removed on my father's side), b. 1883 in Sandy Hook, Elliott County, Ky.; d. Oct. 29, 1974, in Morehead, Rowan County, Ky. My dad's Uncle Edd was a double relative — his mother and paternal grandmother were distant cousins. His brother, Henry Lambert, was my paternal great grandfather. He had eight children by his first wife, Pearl Belle Lowe. After she died at age 40 in 1928 of influenza, Edd remarried Lula Bell Hamilton, who had nine children by her first husband.
Thomas Lewis (my 5G grandfather on my mother's side), b. 1755 in Wales; d. Aug. 9, 1849. Came to America, specifically, Washington County, Va., as a young man. Was a Revolutionary War veteran. He was a maternal 2G grandfather of my great grandmother Noral Ellen Kendall Williams.
Billy Jean Carr (my third cousin twice removed on my mother's side), b. 1928 in White Lick, Morgan County, Ind.; d. May 3, 1928, in White Lick, Morgan County, Ind. A great grandchild of Abijiah Brooks and Catherine C. Wilson Wilson. She is the daughter of Oral and Bessie Lee Wilson Carr, and a niece of Katheryn Caloway Wilson, who celebrated a birthday on April 30.