Leeland Golightley, Rozella Lamb & Hutch

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 3 (Jan 15-21)
Prompt: Favorite Photo
#52ancestors

 

Leeland, his cousin Rosella Lamb, and a friend named Hutch. Rosella was also serving in Germany in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC)

This is a photo that has always intrigued me. My Dad while in Germany met up with his cousin, Rozella, and friend, Hutch.  By the time he shared the picture with me, he didn't remember Hutch's last name. I didn't think to ask if they met in Germany or were friends before they joined the army.

On October 20, 1950, my father, Leeland Johnston Golightley, went to the local recruiting office with a group of friends to join the army. The local selective service board was listed as Duncan, Stephens County, Oklahoma, but his permanent address was listed as Ponca City, Kay Co., Oklahoma. Ponca City is probably where his parents were living at that time.

 After boot camp, Leeland deployed to Germany where he served as an automobile mechanic. He related that he worked mostly on jeeps that were coming from Korea. When he had them running again, the jeeps were shipped back to the war in Korea.

 His duty assignment was Med Co. 8^th Inf Regt. While in the army he completed the Eucom Ord school Auto OM course and was awarded the Army Occupation Medal (Germany).

 Rozella Lamb was Dad’s cousin on his Mother’s side of the family.  I would love to know more about Hutch. Was he one of the friends who enlisted at the same time Dad enlisted? Did they meet in Germany or was he Rozella's friend?

Sisters Step Up

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 13  (Mar 29-April 4)

Prompt: Sisters

#52ancestors

 

 In 1923, Myrtle Olive "Ollie" (Parker) Lamb learned that her younger sister, Nellie Pearl (Parker) Taylor had passed away during the recurrence of the flu from 1918-1920. Nellie left behind her husband and three of her four children.  Maxine had died at 5 years of age the year before.

 Ollie stated in her account of her life's journey "Then lost our Dear Sister Nellie in July 1923 which left 3 Motherless children which God said to me as each time before, take the little babe. But, Oh, what a burden it seemed but I have always tried to obey the masters voice. Each of these little ones had as kind, patient, loving, self-sacrificing, and God fearing Mother as I ever saw. This sinful world was no place for them."

The 3 motherless children were Eloise Anita, age 9, Robert Linley, age 3, and Mary Marjorie, age less than 1.  Ollie and Leeland Lamb took Mary Taylor in and raised her as if she were their own child.   

Ollie and Nellie's sister, Kitty took Eloise for the next 3 years. When Eloise was about 12, she went to live with her Father's sister, Viola Spurgeon Johannsen for several years before she spent a year with James and Delphia Parker. She then joined her Father in Medicine Lodge, KS.

 Robert was raised by his Father's sister, Viola Taylor Spurgeon Johannsen.  For a few years, Eloise and Robert were together with their Aunt Viola.

The Spanish Flu claimed these 3 children's mother but her sisters and sister in law stepped in to take care of them and make sure they had the best possible start in life.

* The 1918 Influenza pandemic also known as the Spanish flu or the Great Influenza epidemic broke out in 1918 in Kansas and lasted through 1920 with cases in 1921 and a major reoccurance in early 1922.  It is generally accepted that there were between 25 and 50 million deaths. There are other estimates that go up to 100 million deaths world wide. If you had family members who died between 1918 and 1922 especially young adults, it is possible that they died from the flu. 

Myrtle Olive Parker Lamb's Life Journey...

 

 

 

Myrtle Olive "Ollie" (Parker) Lamb

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 34

#52ancestors
Chosen Family

 Years ago as I was beginning to research my Father's family, I found a census record from 1930 for my Grandmother as a child. It had a large number of children that were unfamiliar to me. My Grandmother was close to her siblings so I knew Uncle Yip, Uncle Hinney, Uncle Jeff, and others.   I had never heard of the children on this record. 

 I sat down with my Dad and he started laughing as he looked at the record. "This Earl is Uncle Yip,  this is Uncle Hinney, and Wilfred is Uncle Jeff.  He explained that the family often had nicknames that had nothing to do with their real name. There were other children with different last names to explain, too.  There was Taylor and Mowbray. Dad explained that his Grandparents took in some neighbor children whose parents had died. They adopted one of the children and raised the others as if they were their children.

 I looked for adoption records and guardianship records but there were none. It must have been a case of just taking the children to raise without benefit of any legal paperwork.

 Years went by and I became curious about them again, these extra children. I started researching to find their parents. I did eventually find that the Taylor children were my Great Grandmother's sister's children.  Her and her husband had died very close together. Despite having a large family already, they took her sister's children to raise. Since there was no legal paperwork and no original last name, it was many years later before I found any information about the fourth "adopted" child.

 After my Dad passed, my Mother and I searched for insurance papers, his will, and other paperwork that we needed. In a plain envelope mixed in with his important papers, I found the life story of my Great Grandmother. It held the information that I need for the search all those years.

 Titled "My Life Voyage",  Myrtle Olive Parker Lamb, told a heartbreaking story of devotion and dedication to her family and God.  This seems timely since we are once again in a pandemic.

  "Then in October [1918] when the flu was raging the Master came to me and said there is a Baby at Jefferson go get it and rear it for Me, or you will go to Hell. How I plead and made excuses but we must obey God rather than man, so lost a dear cousin and took her son, as she was called home to Heaven."

 When they took in Arthur, Leeland Henry Lamb and Myrtle Olive "Ollie" Parker Lamb already had 8 children living and one who was stillborn.  Then three  more children were added to their family.

  "Then lost our Dear Sister Nellie in July 1923 which left 3 Motherless children which God said to me as each time before, take the little babe. But, Oh, what a burden it seemed but I have always tried to obey the masters voice. Each of these little ones had as kind, patient, loving, self-sacrificing, and God fearing Mother as I ever saw. This sinful world was no place for them."

 Not only did I discover the background for the 4 "neighbor" children, I discovered the children were not chosen. Ollie Parker was chosen by God to raise these children.

My Life Voyage

My Life Voyage

My Life Voyage

            In 1881 March 13 near Mayfield, Kansas. I was born on a pioneer farm, am about the middle of a large family, grew up on the farm got a little education at Long Branch school enjoyed the hard work and fellowship of Sisters and Brothers and a Christian Father and Mother who tried to teach us the true and living way.

            I gave my life to Jesus at 12 years of age and have tried to follow him ever since although not as close as I should as there has been lots of sorrows, trials, and hardships all along the way although the joys far out numbered them all.

At 20 met a lad I loved and had a great sympathy for as he was left without parents at an early age altho a little wayward and rough. The spirit seemed to say marry him and save him for me. I prayed several weeks before launching on such a voyage but finaly yielded as the Spirit still plead with me to save him from Sin and Destruction.

So there has been years of anxiety and worry yet Jesus has always been near comforting and helping me at all times and the word of Our Pastor (R.L. George) who left the table of a friend and came to the well when I was drawing water and said, "God Bless You", and those words have tided me over many trying places when almost to give up in despair.

At 33 I had the great joy of seeing Hubby Saved by Grace about 14 years later but he has always been faithful and kind and ready to help those in need.

At 34 lost my dear Father in 1915. He had always been true and faithful to his family and God. I will never forget the sweet rememberences of the family alter and the lessons we learned around it in prayer which always helped me to stand the trials and hardships as the family had  [couldn’t read rest of the sentence].

At 35 we now had 8 children all healthy and happy with their share of sickness and trials of a large family, but all were spared through the Love of Jesus.

Many a time when trials pressed hard the tempter would say, give up, but there would seem to appear two pair of little hands at the Golden Gate beckoning me to be faithful. Hands of two little brothers that went on years before I was born but Thank God for his all wise Judgements and keeping power and guidance if we will but follow.

Then I had a severe sick spell in 1916 and but little hope was had for me for several days.  But God through his loving kindness saw fit to spare my life although at times before I had wished for Him to take me Home where all sorrow is over.  During this sick spell 3 times my life just hung on a thread as I had 3 bad hemorages and as I was recovering one day, just after dinner I was lying quiet and there seemed to appear Angels from Heaven and took me up with them a little ways and then I fell back to earth then again they took me higher to fall back and the third time away up in the most Beautiful Clouds I ever saw and the most beautiful peace I cannot express. But the need of the children were so great and they seemed to need me so bad that down I came with a great crash to earth again. But, Oh, if Heaven is just as great and beautiful as those clouds and the sweet experience was it will be worth striving for.

When this sickness came on me I prayed earnestly nearly all night to be spared for the children’s sake. Which prayer was answered.

At 37 lost a dear Brother in a Motorcycle accident in 1918 which was a severe shock to all of us.

Then in October when the flu was raging the Master came to me and said there is a Baby at Jefferson go get it and rear it for Me, or you will go to Hell. How I plead and made excuses but we must obey God rather than man, so lost a dear cousin and took her son, as she was called home to Heaven.

My youngest was born on February 4, 1920 with another severe sick spell but we were spared thro God’s Love took another little baby in 1921 as his Dear Mother went home to Heaven.  He also had a severe sick spell in which he almost passed over to be with her in peace and joy and no sorrow and sickness.

At 42 lost our Dear Mother in 1923, but her precious acts of kindness and self sacrifice still live in our memory. She is now rejoicing in Glory.

Then lost Our Dear Sister Nellie in July of 1923 which left 3 Motherless children which God said to me as each time before take the little babe. But, Oh, what a burden it seemed but I have always tried to obey the masters voice. Each of these little ones had as kind, patient, loving, self-sacrificing, and God fearing Mother as I ever saw. This sinful world was no place for them.

But we have been cencured and ridiculed and held down for taking these, by people instead of being helped.  But God said, “In as much as you did it unto these you did it unto me.” And He has always been graciously good and kind to us always. Altho at times it looks dark ahead but the Master was always present to comfort and help in time of need.

Then in Spring 1927 lost our Oldest Brother who was always faithful to his loved ones.

Then in October 1927 My Dear Hubby had an operation and severe sickness which almost took his life, but God through his Divine Goodness and Answer to prayers saved him for us.

Then in September of 1929 I was operated on. All throught I had passed over but the Master saw fit to spare me again. But as I was taken to the Hospital it seemed the Strong arms of the Master was beneath me bearing me up. I could feel them there all the time during my stay at the Hospital and had no fear for when Jesus is near, “He casteth out all fear and giveth a strong hope of Eternal Life.” My greatest regret is I have not lived closer and did more for Him, but he sees and knows how frail we are.

In the fall of 1930 we moved to Arkansas, have enjoyed the country and dearly love the people and their way. Altho have had sickness, accident, and sorrow. Jesus has always been near to Bless and Comfort in these trying hard times.

Oh, that all would strive more faithfully to do the Masters Will each day and hour. As God has promised to care for his own. And what else matters if we know our names are written in the Lambs Book of Life.

God will care for our own children as he has asked me to care for these little motherless ones that their Father’s have deserted.

Gods Love and a Mothers Love always abideth forever. Also most Father’s Love, Praise God for the Love and sympathy of my Dear Hubby for Motherless children and the oppressed although a great sufferer himself. God through his Great Love is Mighty to save and Strong to Deliver in times of need and destress.

May we all put Our whole trust in Him who can save and delier and seek his forgiveness from Sin and accept the Holy Ghost which is promised to all who will except Him.

                                                                        MOTHER LAMB

Handwritten at the bottom:

Died May 27, 1939 mother died.  58 years old when died.