No time right now to post photos (maybe tomorrow or in 3 weeks when we get back from our big trip), but just wanted to let you know we had lots of fun in Indianapolis at my National Prevention Network Conference. The weather was on the muggy side. The city was nice and clean and well-planned with a River Promenade and also a Canal Walk just a few blocks from the Marriott. We went to the Indy 500 race track for a look see and spent some time in the museum and watched a film on the history of the track and race. Interesting. We found 4 geocaches (dropped 3 Travel Bugs and picked up 2 more). Actually we drove two hours to Louisville, just so we could count Kentucky on our list of states where we have found geocaches!! We also went to our first Pro Football game (well, it was an exhibition game) in the brand new Colts Lucas Oil Stadium. It was the inauguration/launching of the stadium--first game/event!!! It was an amazing place with a retractable ceiling. I think it seats between 60,000 and 70,000 people. Check it out: http://www.lucasoilstadium.com/
We bought two $119.00 tickets from a scalper for $30 a piece. (We didn't get there until half-time, so that helped with the price!) We were on Row 11. The game was lousy (Buffalo Bills 20—Indianapolis Colts 7), but it was fun to be there and watch the cheerleaders and the Colt mascot, eat a hot dog, talk with fans, and watch a 95-yard pass play for a touchdown. Anyway, we enjoyed the getaway even though I had to attend a lot of meetings.
My Laon, France Branch Reunion was wonderful, exciting, and emotional.
We leave Friday night around midnight for the British Isles and Ireland. Hope we can sleep on the plane! We’re getting excited.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I'm Not A Russell!
Greetings Family,
This story seems vaguely familiar to me, but I’ve never seen it in writing until now. I was doing some family history research and googled “William Greenwood Russell” (my 2nd great-grandfather) and quickly found this information on a blog. I have been in touch with the person who posted the blog…H. Craig Russell, a second cousin, in Virginia. I have emailed him some photos and family group sheets of our line, John Thomas (great-grandfather) and John Clifford (grandfather...Calvin Russell's father) which will add to his research and correct a few dates. This is a fascinating story (reminds me of the "Dread Pirate Roberts"!) and after talking to Craig, I think (and hope) it is more likely that young William did find his family in Liverpool, but returned to the boat to work towards a career at sea. Craig heard this story from someone (probably a relative) who lives in St. John, Utah, where the family lived and a number are buried. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this information. You can see photos, read about ships and about his wives (our line is through his second wife Elizabeth Vickery) by googling William Greenwood Russell or going out to the blog by that name. Craig has sent me 3 addresses that are supposedly William's parents' residences in the harbor area of Liverpool. Maybe we'll have time to look them up and see what's there now when we get to Liverpool!!
Sincerely,
Paula Greenwood Barker
Sincerely,
Paula Greenwood Barker
(from the blog)
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
WILLIAM GREENWOOD RUSSELL was born June 20, 1812 in Liverpool, Devonshire, England. He was born William Greenwood, the "Russell" will be explained herein. His parents were William Greenwood 1786-1839 and Ann James 1782-1854. He was the sixth of ten children living near the port of Liverpool where his father was a harbor pilot.
At nine years of age, William stowed away on one of the ships in the harbor that was bound for America. Evidently, William's journey lasted more than a year. Upon his return to Liverpool, he could not find his parents, or so it is said, even though records indicate his family had indeed moved but were still living in Liverpool, not far from the harbor when it is said he returned. We do not if William ever saw his family thereafter.
Anyway, William returned and or stayed with the ship in which he had stowed away, the ship of Captain Russell. The story continues that Captain Russell took William in and that upon his death William inherited the ship and assumed the surname of RUSSELL.
The next record we have of William is that of his marriage to Louisa Jones during March of 1839 in New York City, New York. When William immigrated to America is still unknown as is the name of his ship. However, the children born to him and Louisa were all born in Cleveland, Ohio. There he was registered as a seaman and freighter. Therefore, he sailed the Great Lakes and beyond from Cleveland.
On one of his return trips from England William is said to have met Elizabeth Vickery who so happened to need employment, so he brought her to his home to assist his wife with the family. However, upon arriving home found that Louisa had died in childbirth along with the child. She is said to have died February 20th, 1847. She is buried in the Erie Street Cemetery Section 10, Lot 21, Grave 2 in Cleveland, Ohio.
This left William with two young children to raise by himself. Elizabeth agreed to work for William as a housekeeper and nanny for the children. Soon after Louisa's death, William moved the family to Buffalo, New York near Elizabeth's family. They were then married March 18th, 1848. (An alternate marriage may be 7 July 1847 in the Grace Episcopal Church - we are checking this information)
Mormon missionaries contacted the family in early in 1851 and on April 3rd, 1851, Elizabeth was baptized. William was baptized April 10th. Elizabeth had been unable to conceive; however, in less than one year after joining the Church she gave birth to their first child William, July 4th, 1852.
William and Elizabeth made the decision to join the Mormons in Utah. He sold his interest in the freighting business and headed west. They joined the Isaac Bullock Company in 1852 and made the journey from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Salt Lake City arriving 21 September - 1 3 October 1852. One hundred and seventy five persons were in this company.
They first settled in West Jordon where Brigham Young Russell was born March 29th 1854. They then moved to Taylorsville and then to Shambip, Utah (Clover/St. John).
William then moved to Kamas where he was the 1st Presiding Elder. Here the family resided for five years. The family now numbered 12 and it was time for another move back to Shambip. Here they settled near the Warm Springs and established The Russell Ranch. The last of the children were born here and the family numbered 14, which included the two children from William's first marriage.
William died October 23rd, 1872. Elizabeth died March 4th 1912 and both are buried in the St. John Cemetery located in St. John, Tooele, Utah.
Unknown to anyone in this family is that William's brother George Francis's son, Clarendon Greenwood, immigrated to America with his family in 1890 settling in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This is the only other Greenwood from his family known to have left England. I have visited Williamsport, met two of Clarendon's descendants and visited the graves of this family. That in itself is another story.
WILLIAM GREENWOOD RUSSELL was born June 20, 1812 in Liverpool, Devonshire, England. He was born William Greenwood, the "Russell" will be explained herein. His parents were William Greenwood 1786-1839 and Ann James 1782-1854. He was the sixth of ten children living near the port of Liverpool where his father was a harbor pilot.
At nine years of age, William stowed away on one of the ships in the harbor that was bound for America. Evidently, William's journey lasted more than a year. Upon his return to Liverpool, he could not find his parents, or so it is said, even though records indicate his family had indeed moved but were still living in Liverpool, not far from the harbor when it is said he returned. We do not if William ever saw his family thereafter.
Anyway, William returned and or stayed with the ship in which he had stowed away, the ship of Captain Russell. The story continues that Captain Russell took William in and that upon his death William inherited the ship and assumed the surname of RUSSELL.
The next record we have of William is that of his marriage to Louisa Jones during March of 1839 in New York City, New York. When William immigrated to America is still unknown as is the name of his ship. However, the children born to him and Louisa were all born in Cleveland, Ohio. There he was registered as a seaman and freighter. Therefore, he sailed the Great Lakes and beyond from Cleveland.
On one of his return trips from England William is said to have met Elizabeth Vickery who so happened to need employment, so he brought her to his home to assist his wife with the family. However, upon arriving home found that Louisa had died in childbirth along with the child. She is said to have died February 20th, 1847. She is buried in the Erie Street Cemetery Section 10, Lot 21, Grave 2 in Cleveland, Ohio.
This left William with two young children to raise by himself. Elizabeth agreed to work for William as a housekeeper and nanny for the children. Soon after Louisa's death, William moved the family to Buffalo, New York near Elizabeth's family. They were then married March 18th, 1848. (An alternate marriage may be 7 July 1847 in the Grace Episcopal Church - we are checking this information)
Mormon missionaries contacted the family in early in 1851 and on April 3rd, 1851, Elizabeth was baptized. William was baptized April 10th. Elizabeth had been unable to conceive; however, in less than one year after joining the Church she gave birth to their first child William, July 4th, 1852.
William and Elizabeth made the decision to join the Mormons in Utah. He sold his interest in the freighting business and headed west. They joined the Isaac Bullock Company in 1852 and made the journey from Council Bluffs, Iowa to Salt Lake City arriving 21 September - 1 3 October 1852. One hundred and seventy five persons were in this company.
They first settled in West Jordon where Brigham Young Russell was born March 29th 1854. They then moved to Taylorsville and then to Shambip, Utah (Clover/St. John).
William then moved to Kamas where he was the 1st Presiding Elder. Here the family resided for five years. The family now numbered 12 and it was time for another move back to Shambip. Here they settled near the Warm Springs and established The Russell Ranch. The last of the children were born here and the family numbered 14, which included the two children from William's first marriage.
William died October 23rd, 1872. Elizabeth died March 4th 1912 and both are buried in the St. John Cemetery located in St. John, Tooele, Utah.
Unknown to anyone in this family is that William's brother George Francis's son, Clarendon Greenwood, immigrated to America with his family in 1890 settling in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This is the only other Greenwood from his family known to have left England. I have visited Williamsport, met two of Clarendon's descendants and visited the graves of this family. That in itself is another story.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Another Tree Bites the Dust
A fast moving storm on Saturday night, accompanied by some severe bursts of wind knocked down one of our two Autumn Blaze Maples up by the fence on 2nd East. It had a diameter of about 6 or 7” and was 32’ tall. It broke a branch out of one of the old thorny locust trees. There are leaves of all kinds strewn all over the yard. It’s always sad to lose a tree, and this is the second one this year. We lost the little Eastern Redbud in the front yard from a diseased/rotted trunk. Remember the half-a-tree (Ornamental Pear) we lost to a micro-burst at the old house, the day we picked up Marie the exchange student from France at the airport? Dad spent quite a bit of time pruning off the branches, cutting up the trunk and hauling it down the hill.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Enjoying Summer, a Birthday and Visitors from Oregon
Sunday, July 27th, was a fun-filled day...spending time with the kids and grandkids from Hillsboro in the back yard and an evening birthday party for Baron in Stansbury Park, with the entire Barker Bunch and plenty of good food. We also got to see Robin and kids one more time before they headed back to Oregon. Here are few of the many photos taken by Grandpa Laur: Please click on the photos for more close-up views.
G & G & S & T...in the cool of the evening.
Sharing the recliner.
Another backyard group shot.
Pony ride, mom and son.
The party goers.
Auntie Autumn and Syd and 2 nephews.
Tick Tock.
A & A
Mr. Big Blue Eyes Colby
The Birthday Boy Baron...30 Something...and the delicious Cherry Chocolate Cake.
Brie getting checked out on the camera!
Brother and Sister...fun in the Frog.
Little Miss Sunbonnet and admirers with splashing in the background.
The Bubble Gun.
Pineapple Pants ready to pop in the pond.
Chasing Daddy!
3 generations of Barefoot Barkers
Grandma and Little Miss Sydney on the deck.
G & G & S & T...in the cool of the evening.
Sharing the recliner. 
Another backyard group shot.
Pony ride, mom and son.
The party goers.
Auntie Autumn and Syd and 2 nephews.
Tick Tock.
A & A
Mr. Big Blue Eyes Colby 
The Birthday Boy Baron...30 Something...and the delicious Cherry Chocolate Cake.
Brie getting checked out on the camera!
Brother and Sister...fun in the Frog.
Little Miss Sunbonnet and admirers with splashing in the background.
The Bubble Gun.
Pineapple Pants ready to pop in the pond. 
Chasing Daddy!
3 generations of Barefoot Barkers
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