Tombstone Tuesday - Posey Reed McDaniel

Posey Reed McDaniel my maternal Great Grandfather

Posey Reed McDaniel was born in Young County, Texas on March  31, 1890. He was the first child of Robert Lee McDaniel and Ritte Jane (Otts), who would later give him 8 known brothers and sisters. The 1900 US Census finds him in Justice Precinct 3, Stephens County, Texas with his parents and sisters Ella, Stella, and Nevada. His father is listed as a farmer, they rent their home, and both of his parents can read and write.

On December 29, 1908 he married Dora Isabell Dawson in Clarksville, Red River County, Texas. I have not been able to find them in the 1910 Census. In 1917 his draft registration shows them living in Eldorado, Jackson County, Oklahoma. They are still living there in the 1920 Census and have four children Edith, Sidney, Nicebell, and my Grandma Vera. Posey's occupation is listed as general farming.  On September 30, 1925 they had another daughter, Lena Eudean Evelyn, who was born in Pleasant Hills Oklahoma and died at 18 days old according to family records.

By 1930 the family is living in Armstrong County, Texas and added two more daughters to the family Gertrude, and Georgia. Posey is listed as a cotton farmer which is what my Grandma remembered the family doing as she grew up. In 1937 they were living in Amarillo and he was an auto mechanic according to the city directory.

Sometime between 1937 and 1939 they moved to Grand Junction, Colorado because he shows up there in a city directory in 1939. The 1940 US Census listed them as living in Orchard Mesa, Mesa County, Colorado with only Georgia living at home but Posey's mother Rittie is living with them as well. In 1941 they are listed in the Grand Junction City Directory again. By 1945 they are back in Amarillo, Texas and they are both working at McCartt Supermarket, him as a Porter and Dora as a Baker according to yet another city directory.

In about 1947 they moved to Southern California where they lived for many years before returning to Colorado. Posey Reed McDaniel died on May 27, 1973 and is buried in Fruita Elmwood Cemetery in Appleton, Mesa County, Colorado.

Tombstone Tuesday - Dora Isabell Dawson McDaniel

Dora Isabell Dawson McDaniel my maternal great grandmother

Great Grandma McDaniel was born on August 20, 1889 in Texas. The 1900 US Census finds her living in Red River, Texas with her parents George William and Julia Francis (Morrison) and her siblings Rodolph, Gussie, Carrie, Fannie, and Vivan. I don't remember much about her, she was a sturdy woman and bigger than her husband Posey. I have a newspaper clipping from their Golden wedding anniversary part of it says "Mrs. McDaniel says the secret to a her happy marriage lies in the fact that she never takes part in an argument. She waits till her husband "cools off" and then states her case. "It works." she says  "We both do pretty well as we please." she adds."  An interesting thing for her to have said back in 1958.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandma Jones' Jewelry Box

In addition to a love of dancing Grandma Vera had a fondness for clothing and jewelry. This is one of her jewelry boxes. It's interesting what collects in this type of box. Tucked in the top lining there are sewing needles, a few more are scattered through the compartments along with a plastic bag of buttons and a thimble. A dog's name tag "Bosco", some Mexican coins, a pill box, a souvenir toothpick holder from The School of the Ozarks, jewelry findings and loose stones, a stretchy beaded hat band, and a car key. The jewelry is mostly nicer costume stuff, there are pieces made by my Grandad of turquoise, fire agate, and silver, a few tie tacks she had been safe keeping, two bolo tie slides, four watches, some fancy western shirt collar points, and four belt buckles. I'm so glad I have this box, it still smells like her and her house. When I am missing her I can open it up and take a deep breath and remember.

Tombstone Tuesday - Vera Sybal McDaniel Jones

 Vera Sybal McDaniel Jones my maternal Grandmother

Her death date was not yet engraved on the stone when this photo was taken

 and is October 20, 2007

Vera Sybal McDaniel was born in Eldorado, Jackson, Oklahoma on December 4, 1918. The 1920 US Census finds her still living there with her parent Posey Reed and Dora Isabell (Dawson) along with her siblings Edith, Sidney, and Nicebell. Grandma Vera came from humble beginnings, her family did cotton farming in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. She had many stories of them picking the fields. She was a small feisty woman, in her younger days she road a motorcycle, and drove a long haul truck. She had a life long love of dancing. She met my Grandad when he came into a coffee shop where she was a waitress and after a few meetings he asked her to a dance. I spent a lot of time with these grandparents, there are many more stories to tell!