Those Flanders Men had Architecture in their Blood

 A couple of years ago I shared a post with my readers that told of John James Flanders, the architect who designed a noteworthy residence in Chicago, Illinois in the late 1800s. It can be found at this link: Grace and Glory: My Flanders Connection to Architect John James Flanders. My research showed that John was my 4th cousin, 4 times removed!

 I recently was contacted by a cousin who shared another story of the Denton County (TX) Courthouse that was designed by James Edward Flanders. 

We wondered if we are related to THIS Flanders architect too. My research shows this result: I'm his 5th cousin, 3 times removed. 

Wikipedia shares this extensive information about this famed architect here: James E. Flanders - Wikipedia

I'm grateful that I have this interest in my "Connections"! It certainly helps to broaden my horizons as I research and learn more about my FAMILY, however distant they may be.  

This 145-year-old Book is Now My Favorite!

This beautiful book has adorned my bookshelf for 30 years, after I purchased it from a Used Book Sale at the Union Printer's Home in Colorado Springs, CO. It's titled "Revised New Testament and History of Revision" and was published in 1881 by Hubbard Bros. Publishers, and Compiled by Professor Isaac H. Hall, LL. D.

My copy of the book shows this autograph on the first page by "J. D. Spitler, May 3rd, 1881". 145 years ago! It contains 496 pages and each page is gold-edged!

As I opened the book, I discovered this envelope and letter inside, with this information:

"Mr. L. M. Spitler, Sullivan, Ills

Dear Sir:

Our Tea Expert and Salesman, Mr. McHugh will call upon you next week prepared to give you the latest China news and to show examples of our resent importations, among them some excellent bargains. To raise the enormous indemnity China will have to pay as a result of her late insurrection, a heavy tax may be placed on tea and other products exported from that country, greatly increasing their cost here.

Mr. McHugh will advise you as to the exact present condition of the market and we ask for him your attention and an offer for the teas you will need during the winter and Spring.

Awaiting your valued favors, we are,

Yours very truly,

John B. Brown & Co."

Being the Genealogist that I am, one who loves discovering CONNECTIONS to the people I research, I had to look into both the man who autographed the book, L. M. Spitler and the man who published it, Isaac H. Hall. 

I discovered that the book belonged to Levi M. Spitler, and his son Jefferson Dennis Spitler is the 5th cousin 4 times removed of my husband, William L. Thompson!

Then I discovered that Isaac Hollister Hall, who authored the book, is MY 5th cousin, 5 times removed and is also a 3rd cousin, 5 times removed of my adopted son!  

 I'm proud to own this book and have a better understanding of its meaning and connection to my family. And now I've added it to my "to be read" list!

My Flanders Connection to Architect John James Flanders

  A few days ago my cousin Veva Young posted the photo below at left and asked if we were related to John James Flanders, the famous architect in Chicago, Illinois. The chart I drew up shows our relationship.

Cemetery Photos Bring Me Cousins and Stories

My husband and I frequently visit nearby cemeteries to photograph headstones that I add to individual accounts on FamilySearch. Recently as we were slowly driving through the Weiser, Idaho Cemetery, I noticed this small headstone with the name "Mudd Main" on it. 

I was intrigued that a mother would name her son "Mudd"! As I reviewed the family as listed in FamilySearch, I discovered several more intriguing facts. Andrew Parker Main (1849-1932) and Sarah Elizabeth Hack (1853-1912) were the parents of 12 children. Notice their names:

Odus Olen, Lonnie Loren, Byard Bolen, Made Marian, Nina Noble, Harry Harmon, Carry Clifford, Flo Fountain, --Main (1891-1891), Rell Rencie, Mudd Marble, and Eela Elas. 

I don't think I've ever seen that pattern in naming each child with the same letter starting the first and middle names. 

The "Memories" on Family Search offers this photo of Mudd Main, at left with his brother Flo at right.

Further digging into the "Memories" of the family revealed a very sad story involving another brother of Mudd, namely Carry Clifford Main. Here's the story: 

Isn't this a sad story? The children of Carry (1885-1943) and his wife Lily Jones (1888-1934) were:

Cecil (1908), John (1910), Kenneth (1912), Gladys (1914), Clarence (1917), Claudia (1920), Elmer (1921), Laura (1922), Pearl (1924), Clifford (1028), Edith (1929), and Beulah (1933-1934).

So when Lily and her 11-mo-old daughter Beulah were burned to death in the house fire, their 11 children, ranging in age 26 to 5, lost their mother. And if the 4 oldest were out of the house, living on their own, that still left 7 children at home for the father to care for. 

I don't know the family's circumstances, but this story really hit me hard. When we see headstones in the cemetery, we see only a tiny fraction of the family's story!

As I reviewed the pedigree charts of the family members, I discovered that this Lily Jones Main who died at age 46 was the half-6th cousin, two times removed of my husband, as shown in the chart. 

And I discovered that I'm an 8th cousin, once removed of Mudd Marble Main, as illustrated in this chart. 

Perhaps this is why his headstone caught my attention! But now I know a new story about one of my distant relatives and that make the family seem more like "family" to me.