My Family TREE? John Henry Johnson from Hope Mills, NC

Johnson Homestead in Hope Mills, NC From left: Irvin Johnson John Henry Johnson Archie McInnis and Mary Frances "Fannie" Dawkins  Date: About 1916

John Henry Johnson in Hope Mills, NC 

Kira's friend is a member of Ancestry.com and was showing me how he researches family trees. We looked for my father's family and found some interesting things. I believe my great grandfather, John Henry Johnson from Hope Mills, NC was a moonshiner!  My grandfather, Irvin Francis Johnson was married to Katie M. Caldwell on Sept 26, 1917 in Sharon, Mecklenburg County NC. Irvin was unaccounted for during the 1930 Census It showed Kate Johnson was the "sister in law" and Alfred Johnson was the nephew living with a family with the last name King. Kate was listed as being married but we did not find my grandfather's name at that house hold. hummm?  Interesting.  I can't wait to find out more and look for more photos on the internet. Who would have thought we could find that much on our family in North Carolina. Gran'pa Johnson (Irvin) did not get a social security number until he got to NY. (He must have been running moonshine)

                    

Avocado

Mmmm...avocado...

The Willow Tree: Aftermath

Here's what is left...

It would have been nice to have a large cross section of the tree to make a table, but the trunk was so massive that there had to be several cuts since Andy's crew didn't have a saw that would saw through the whole thing.

The tree grew around this chain that was for the tire swing...

...As well as over the chain this pulley was attached to that once held Adam's heavybag. The service that took away the rest of the tree wouldn't take these two pieces because of the metal embedded in the wood, since they send all the wood through a grinder (and the metal would ruin their grinding equipment).  So we still have these two pieces...for Adam to make a table out of perhaps?

The Willow Tree: Going...going... GONE

The branches are gone....only the trunk remains...

Our friend Andy cutting up what's left of the trunk.

Andy's son climbing up the massive stump...reminiscent of years ago when Adam used to climb the tree at that age.

There's so much sky now without the tree there.

Killing my children's childhood.

That really sounds bad. Killing my children's childhood, but it is just an end to an era. We finally took down the GIANT willow tree in the front yard.

Over the years the flower garden and landscape has changed. Now I need to know what to do with the front of this house again. The birds planted a Lilac in the middle of the cedars. I want to take out the cedar trees now. Looking for ideas.












You now know why I don't blog. It takes to much to figure out how to put the pictures where I want them ... how I want them. I am annoyed now and need to just get this thing posted. There must be an easier way. I have so many more pictures to tell the story but can't decide how to do it. so... there it is.

MOM, I BLOGGED FOR YOU! Kira don't laugh at me.

computer lab at school

Nothing to say but Hi!

HI MOM! and Kira.

I'm at work computer lab...oops

time is up
bye!

LOCKS OF LOVE

Well on January 25 I cut off 10 inches of my hair to donate to Locks of Love. Seeing that my hair grows so fast by next year at this time or Feb/March it will have grown back. I had my hair cut last year around Feb.

So I hope YOU like it....who ever YOU are. Kira, Mom?

Oh and I just got my birthday card from MOM the day before my birthday. SURPRISE!!

THanks Mom! Love you.