Where Were You When John Kennedy Was Shot?

One of the ways to begin to write about your life is to list the important historical events that happened during your life. Where were you when John F. Kennedy was shot? How did you feel? What happened around you?

I'll never forget that day. I was teaching my fourth grade students after lunch when my classroom door opened and another teacher, my friend, Betty F. said "President Kennedy has been shot" We didn't know if he had been killed. We had to wait until school was out to turn on a radio.

We had no cell phones then, and I have no idea how she heard about this in her classroom. We had no TV in the room. The balance of the afternoon is a blur. The next thing I remember is sitting on my bed in the little apartment I shared with two other young women my age, starring at the television as the hateful news filled my space and tears flowed down my cheeks. My boyfriend, Barry came in and sat beside me. Neither of us spoke.

I had been a huge supporter of John Kennedy. On my college dorm room wall, a picture of the youngest president, looked out at the world with courageous eyes, eyes that saw a grand future for our country, and I would have followed him to the ends of the earth. His death touched me as if I had known him personally. My roommates chatted on the phone and laughed over something silly while I grieved.

When I remember that time in my life, I think about the naive girl I was then. I didn't know he was unfaithful to his wife. I didn't know all the shenanigans that went on in the White House with Marilyn Monroe, but nobody could have convinced me he wasn't perfect. Looking back to that time, when I was in my twenties, I see how immature and unsophisticated I was. How easily we can be led when we are young and idealistic. People in their twenties are babies and yet, in our culture today, that age group rules. That age group is also the one that loses members in wars not of their making. Young idealistic men and women join armies to right the wrongs of the world.

The sixties were a tumultuous time and those of us who were young then saw many changes happening in our country, to our world -- war, civil strife at home, leaders killed by assassins, but nothing touched me like JFK's untimely demise. Somewhere I still have the newspaper clippings, yellowed and tattered, I saved from that era.

That brings back another memory. When I was a child, I found my sister's newspaper clippings she had saved when another president died. Franklin D. Roosevelt. How strange that both of us, fifteen years apart in age, grieved over men we didn't know. I'll have to ask her about her feelings for FDR.

If you have a moment in history that brings back a memory, or if you remember where you were when JFK was killed, leave a comment. Just click on and write in the box.

You asked about Poseys

A woman looking for our connection to the Posey line emailed me today.
Going back through my old records, I find Poseys, Noah and Feraby in 1850 census with six children at Sop Choppy Florida. Noah was 36 years old in 1850. Feraby was 37. In 1870 in Wakulla, Noah and Feraby were listed in censue with only one at home, Noah A who was 20.
In 1880, Noah A was listed with his father, Noah, in home with him. Father was 67. No mention of Feraby in 1880 and no mention of a wife for Noah A.
I have a few other Posey family group sheets. I'll post some of them later.

I did not go to the class for Legacy genealogy program, but my friend Mike went and said this program is wonderful. I will have to find time to get it and learn it. Mike said it is amazing. Sounds like it would be great to compile a book.
Mike also has the Posey line way back in her ancestry.

Mother's brother Rudolph Robison

My mother, Lois Robison, grew up in a loving and gentle family. She spoke of all her siblings with love and respect. She had a special love for her brother, Rudolph, and who wouldn't love him? He had a quiet smile and a trinkle in his eyes. Both my parents praised him for his triftiness, his kindness to others and his love of family. Daddy was not a big fan of some of Mother's family, but he did like Rudy.

I liked him, too. He called Gay and me "Peejinks" and I never knew where that came from, but it was an endearing nickname. He also slipped us a nickel or a dime once in a while. That made him even more special in our eyes. He worked for Georgia Power and I think he had money in his pockets all the time. Unlike my poor father who poured his profits back into the ground each spring.

Most of our uncles teased us a bit, but Uncle Rudolph's teasing was always appreciated because we could tell he did it with love. His only daughter loved him with all her heart and she was his heart.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was always jealous of her. Caroline had this close relationship with her father that I'd love to have with mine, but it never happened.

John Council of Jamestown

How are we related to John Council who came to this country in the 1700's? In my research, I find he entered at Jamestown, Virginia. Much has been written about John's family, his son Hodges Council and all their descendants many of whom migrated to North Carolina and further south.
Several family histories tell of the Virginia Councils, the large land holdings and prestigious positions they held.
The name has been spelled in various ways - Counsel, Counsell, Consell,
Councill, but, like many family names they get changed through Census records, or by a person's own choice.
In my mother's family, Robison is spelled as Robertson, Robinson, and Roberson on family records, but only by careful research can one find the family members, the ancestors and see how these names have been changed.
Mother's uncle Samuel Oliver Robison evidently changed the spelling of his name or it was changed for him when he left his family roots in South Georgia. His great grandson contacted me last year and asked why his name is spelled Robinson and his great great grandfather's name is John Monroe Robison? It is interesting to see when and where in the line the spelling of names change. That is part of what makes genealogy research such a puzzle.
Tonight I plan to attend a class on the genealogy program Legacy which is touted as one of the best. Perhaps I'll find more to share on this site.