International Jazz Day

First International Jazz Day, April 30th, 2012 - Flash mob of Cologne Jazz Musicians in front of the Cathedral of Cologne. Photo by Annamarie Ursula (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]. Available from Wikimedia Commons.

 In 2011, the 36th UNESCO General Conference proclaimed April 30 as International Jazz Day. According to the United Nations International Jazz Day, April 30 Web page, International Jazz Day "is intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people."

An All-Star Global Concert is held each year. This year's concert was held in Paris, France.

My cousin Steve Slagle is a professional jazz musician.

References
International Jazz Day, 30 April
International Jazz Day 2015
Proclamation of International Jazz Day

52 Ancestors: Week 17 "Prosper": Laura Ingeborg Olsen

According to "A Brief Story of the Boe (Bø) Family" by Melvin Brodshaug, in Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt: Shared Roots in Telemark, compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, Laura Ingeborg Olsen "moved to California in the 1940s and made successful investments in oil wells and goldmines, emulating her grandfather."

Laura Ingeborg Olsen was born on 5 May 1900 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of Louis Henry Olsen and Carrie (Kari) Boe (my great-grandfather's sister). Her father's father, Louis Olsen, was a forty-niner. According to "A Brief Story of the Boe (Bø) Family," he mined $8,000.00 worth of gold and had it minted in Philadelphia.

Laura grew up in Minneapolis. In 1920, she worked as a cashier in a department store.

1920 United States census, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Ward 3, population schedule, enumeration district 238, sheet no. 4A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

On 6 November 1925 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, Laura married Lewis Gilmore Klefsaas, a school teacher. From 1925-1927, the couple lived in Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota. By 1929, they were living in Minneapolis.

Keiter Directory Co.'s Rochester and Olmsted County, Minnesota Directory 1927. Rochester, MN: Keiter Directory Co., 1927. Page 254. Available from Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Some time between 1938 and 1940, Laura and Lewis' marriage ended. Laura married John Mason O'Day, an oil driller, some time after 1942 (when his previous wife died). He was living in Maricopa, Kern County, California. Laura may have gone to California and met and married him there. It is also possible that they met elsewhere, though; John traveled frequently. He may have been the reason that she moved to California. John died in Kern County, California on 17 March 1947. Since John was an oil driller, I wonder if Laura inherited some of those investments in oil wells.

On 18 September 1948, Laura married Frank M. Withrow in Los Angeles, California. At the time of their marriage, Laura lived in Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles County, California. Frank worked in radio sales. He died in 1958.

California, County Marriages, 1850-1952, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8KT-BLG), Frank M. Withrow and Laura I. O'Day, 18 Sep 1948; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,116,805. Image edited (negative to positive).

On 12 May 1962, Laura married Frank Holman Cannon in San Diego, California. Frank was an engineer with RKO and Warner Brothers studios. He was chief engineer at Camp Pendleton for 22 1/2 years, and was a specialist in earthquake reconstruction. Frank died on 13 October 1983. At the time of his death, they were living in Fallbrook, San Diego County, California. Laura continued to live in Fallbrook until her death on 4 March 1992.

References
Boe (Bø) and Halvorson-Otterholt: Shared Roots in Telemark. Compiled by Melvin and Alpha M. (Boe) Brodshaug, 1984. Published by Arlene (Boe) Christensen and Marjorie (Boe) Bergee. Printed by Anundsen Publishing Co., Decorah, Iowa.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Boe!

My maternal grandfather John Boe was born 107 years ago today.

Mappy Monday: Moreton Bay and Moreton Island

Moreton Bay and Moreton Island. Screen shot from NASA WorldWind. Public domain. Available from Wikipedia.

This map shows Moreton Bay, located on the coast of Queensland, Australia, near Brisbane. My great-great-grandfather's brother Ola Peter Troedson arrived at Moreton Bay on 12 August 1871, on the Friedeburg, which had departed from Hamburg, Germany.

Moreton Island, the world's third largest sand Island, is on the eastern side of Moreton Bay.

Census Sunday: Mr. and Mrs. Sexy

I came across this census record, and the names of one couple caught my attention: J.N. Sexy and Mrs. Sexy. I thought that was an unusual surname!

1925 Census of Iowa. Ellsworth, Hamilton County, Iowa. Available from Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Bills of Sale Between Francis Hardgrave and His Descendants

I have summarized the below information about the slaves that my 6th-great-grandfather Francis Hardgrave sold or gave to his descendants. I have not seen the original deeds; the information is based on published transcriptions/abstracts.

On 7 April 1818, Francis Hardgrave sold his sons John and Skelton Hardgrave seven negro slaves named Phillis, Jurdon, Darkcus, Allen, Claborne, Colman, and Charles. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H on 12 November 1818.

On 8 April 1818, Francis Hardgrave sold his sons John and Skelton Hardgrave a negro boy named Green. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H on 12 November 1818.

On 19 October 1818, sold his sons John and Skelton Hardgrave a negro man named Stephen. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H on 12 November 1818.

On 1 May 1828, Francis Hardgrave gave and conveyed  a negro boy named Henry, about six years old, to his grandson Thomas Francis Hardgrave. The bill of sale was registered in Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book P on 23 May 1828.

References
Smith, Mary Sue. Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book H 1809-1821. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2000.
Smith, Mary Sue. Davidson County, Tennessee Deed Book "P" Personal Property Deeds 15 November 1821 - 13 February 1829. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2010.

Friend of Friends Friday: Will of William Gower

My 5th-great-grandfather William Gower wrote his will on 1 March 1849. He died on 11 October 1851, and his will was recorded in the Davidson County, Tennessee Probate Court books on 23 April 1852.

William Gower will, recorded 23 April 1852. Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927. Davidson County. Wills, 1851-1853, Vol. 15. Image 197. Available from FamilySearch.

William Gower will, recorded 23 April 1852. Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927. Davidson County. Wills, 1851-1853, Vol. 15. Image 198. Available from FamilySearch.

William Gower will, recorded 23 April 1852. Tennessee, Probate Court Books, 1795-1927. Davidson County. Wills, 1851-1853, Vol. 15. Image 198. Available from FamilySearch.

I have transcribed the portions of the will which mention William Gower's slaves, as well as the list of his children near the end of the will.

[To his wife Charlotte Gower] Also for life the following Slaves. viz. Isaac a negro man and Rachael and Harriet negro Women.

Item 5 it is my  will and desire that at my death the residue of my perishable property be sold on a Credit of Twelve months and with any debts due me applied to the payment of debts and funeral expenses and the balance thereof together with the residue of my slaves not heretofore bequeathed be eaqually [sic] divided among all my Children and the children of Abel Gower deceased they representing their deceased Father and respect being had to the deductions heretofore directed to be made.

And it is intended that all my children viz. Lorenzo D. Gower, Peggy Gatlin, Mark B. Gower, Abel B. Gower's children, Wm T Gower, Charlotte T Russell, Sally Newsom, Lucy Shuster, James Gower, John H. Gower, Leonidas F. Gower, and Nancy C. Gower shall share eaqually [sic] in my estate including the advancement or deductions above mentioned.

Below are the slaves held by William Gower and his son Lorenzo Gower that were recorded in the 1850 United States Census slave schedule.

1850 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, slave schedule. Available from Ancestry.com. 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.