Fearless Females - How They Met

March 5 — How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents? 

My parents met in 1955 in Florida. My Dad, aunt, and uncle worked for RCA and my Mom was working for Pan American at Patrick Air Force Base. RCA had a boat ride event and my aunt and uncle introduced my parents to each other. Their first date was to see a movie and play golf. I asked my Mom if he asked her out at the boat ride and she laughed and said, "No! I asked him!".

I don't know how any of my grandparents met, but my Dad's parents were listed on the same page in the census, so I would guess they went to school together.

My parents on their wedding day in 1956. My aunt and uncle are behind them.

Fearless Females - Marriage Records

March 4 — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one. 

Robert and Anna Lee Pulskamp Creeden, Dec 27, 1930

The picture of my grandparents Robert and Anna is from their wedding day on December 27, 1930 in Celina, OH. I don't have any family stories on their wedding and one thing I'm missing is an official record for their marriage. Sadly, Anna died in 1934, but from all accounts they had a few very happy years together.

Marriage records I have are:

Grandparents Royce and Edna Willis Councill, Marriage Certificate, June 13, 1925 in Chestertown, MD

Grandfather Robert Creeden to 2nd wife Hilda Kleinhenz, Marriage License
August 19, 1937, Certificate from Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, OH
Newspaper clipping says they were married on August 24, 1937 in Cleveland, OH

Great-grandparents Charles and Anna Niehaus Creeden, Church Record
November 27, 1907, Immaculate Conception Church, Celina, OH

Great-grandparents George and Mary Gast Pulskamp, Newspaper clipping of their 50th anniversary celebration on August 21, 1949, in Celina, OH (Marriage assumed to be August 1899.)

Great-grandparents Eugene and Pearl Chilcutt Willis
1930 census - 1st marriage for Eugene about 1904

Great-grandparents John Wesley and Ariana Sparks Councill
Feb 2, 1887, Maryland - Public Family Trees
1900 census says they were married 18 years, 1910 says 23

Great-great-grandparents Samuel and Susan Godwin Sparks
Index to Queen Anne's County, MD Marriage Records, July 16, 1849, Rev. Sumption

Great-great-grandparents Francis and Mary Ann Meredith/Merridith Councill
Index to Queen Anne's County, MD Marriage Records, July 8, 1840, Rev. Larkins

Great-great-grandparents Timothy and Mary Ann Matson Creeden, Marriage License and Court Record, December 10, 1868, Clinton County, OH

Great-great-grandparents George and Kate Covey Chilcutt
1930 census - 1st marriage for Kate around 1878
1910 census - Married for 34 years, placing year at 1876

Great-great-grandparents William Martin and Ruth Edna Adams Willis
January 25, 1859, Delaware Marriage Record

GGG-Grandparents Samuel and Ann Davis Godwin
Index to Queen Anne's County, MD Marriage Records, March 23, 1824, Rev. Crouch

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Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

Fearless Females - Why Kathryn?

March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

The name Kathryn is usually thought to derive from the Greek word for “pure.” There are many, many spelling variations and variants on the name.


My parents said they chose the name because it was the middle name of my maternal grandmother and my Dad's maternal grandmother. My grandmother was Edna Catherine Willis Councill and my Dad's maternal grandmother was Mary Katherine Gast Pulskamp. As for the spelling of my name, they said they just liked it! Since I've started researching my family tree, I've discovered several other Katherines, Catherines, and a Kate, but none with my spelling.

My parents must have really liked the name since they named my younger sister Karen. My sister and I were looking our names up in a book of baby names one day and when we got to Karen, it said, "Derived from Katherine". We had no idea that we essentially have the same name!

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Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

Fearless Females - Day 2 - Pearl Chilcutt Willis

Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This photo is of my great-grandmother Pearl Chilcutt Willis and her son James (aka Shug). I don't have an exact date for this one, but would guess it was taken around 1930 in Maryland.  I only have a few pictures of Pearl and this is the only one that gives a glimpse into what her home looked like. When I saw this picture, I was struck by how much my grandmother Edna looked like her.

Fearless Females - Favorite Female Ancestor

Once again, in honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

It would be hard to choose between my two grandmothers-- one I knew and one I didn't. I have always felt drawn to my father's mother Anna Lee Pulskamp Creeden since I never got to meet her and she is somewhat of a mystery. I know some facts about her, but don't know much about what she was like. She died tragically on December 2, 1934, a few days after my father's birth. She was born on June 11, 1910, so was only 24 years old when she died. She was married to my grandfather Robert Creeden on December 27, 1930.

My mother's mother was Edna Catherine Willis Councill. I remember her as a very sweet, shy lady who was always nice to everyone she met. My grandparents used to come visit us in Florida and we made some trips up to Pennsylvania and Delaware to visit them, but we didn't get to see them that often while I was growing up. She was born January 12, 1905 in Queen Anne's County, MD and died in May 1973 in New Castle, Delaware. She was married to Royce Rufus Councill on June 13, 1925 and they had four daughters. Since I started my genealogy searches on my father's line and have gathered more information on his family, I plan on concentrating most of these prompts on my mother's ancestors.

Goals:

• Document what I already have
• Document stories from my Mom and aunts 
• Scan any photos I don't have online
• Redo searches on Ancestry.com and other sites to see what's new