Those Places Thursday: Zero, Lucas County, Iowa

My great grandfather, Thomas Orville Conner, was born in Zero, Iowa in 1896.  Zero has always fascinated me because it’s now a true ghost town with apparently not even a building left.  It began in 1883 due to the coal mining and railroad that was nearby, but never became incredibly huge. 

It was in Lucas County, Iowa, about 4 miles east of Russell off of Highway 34.  As Frank Myers says in his article, titled, “Ghost Towns and Post Offices of Lucas County, Iowa”:

“The 1978 book, ‘History of Lucas County, Iowa’ said, ‘Located halfway between Melrose and Russell, Iowa, is the ghost town of Zero. Only a couple of old wooden buildings and a few foundations remain of the old town that was platted in 1883 by the Zero Coal Company. There were 61 lots, 5 streets and 3 alleys drawn into the town.

‘Zero did have a post office operated by Aquilla Kern and there was a general store run by Henry Gettinger. The Zero mine was never a big mine. It never exceeded 20 railroad cars of coal a day and finally closed in 1886 because there was too much water in the mine.

‘Today Zero, Iowa, is losing its contest with time. Fred Schreck is the last person living there in 1978 and he is 78 years old. The few buildings that remain have deteriorated past the point of ugliness and have achieved a weathered beauty of their own. The lovely countryside is closing in on the once proud house and sagging barn, and the shingle roofs no longer hold back the rain.’"



From:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9ibKwq1jRTUkjKscfofAi9ADu-O624kxOjaiss0hMBX7NoPb3um6L31ZKJIChVF1RnjI10oIY6qh6ypOVtJgRMcZJoGM8uxPxldKRNKd_nIi3YwufywUSJBfC2UUzvuhZ5g4RT7TOA/s1600/ZeroIowa1977.jpg

The Russell Historical Items blog also has a story about Zero, Iowa to go with this picture the I linked to:

http://russellhistoricalitems.blogspot.com/2010/12/short-story-about-town-of-zero-ia.html



Wednesday's Child: Celia Sylvesta Price

Bardolph Cemetery, Macomb Township, McDonough County, IL
Price, Celia
d: 14 Nov 1865 age 4 yr 11 da

I first heard of Celia from notes that my dad got from his grandmother, Ann Konst.  Ann was daughter-in-law to Harriet Price, who was sister to Celia, born three years after Celia died. 

Celia has always fascinated me because, a) she was still very much remembered despite her short life; b) she was born while her father was in the Civil War and before her parents were married; c) she is buried with a number of her Markham relatives, which would be on her mom's side (Emmaline Markham). 

I think a lot happened in little Celia's life and it must have been hard for Emmaline to not only leave her family to move with her husband after the war, but to leave her child's grave.   It makes me happy that I, 146 years later, remember that little girl.

Tuesday's Tip: Geneablogger Radio

If you have an iPod or some other listening device, I suggest you run (don't walk) to iTunes and download all the past episodes of Geneablogger radio.  If you don't, then go to Genealblogger Radio and listen on your computer.  And if you have time on Friday nights to listen live, then do that, too. 

I've learned so much from it.

Mappy Monday - I Less Than Three Maps

I can't wait to fill this in with more specific info.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=201026514217356293488.0004a6242fd89190820ee

Once I have it all filled in, I hope to do some sort of movie about it.  Or something.  Very fun.

Black Sheep Sunday: Doty

"The first duel of New England is said to be that between Edward Doty and Edward Leister, servants of Steven Hopkins. They fought with sword and dagger and both were wounded. Having no statute agains the offense, the Pilgrims met in council to determine the punishment. It was, according to observers, exemplary. The parties were ordered to be tied together, hand and foot, and to remain twenty-four hours without food or drink. The intercession of their master and their own entreties procured their release before the sentence was carried out."   (http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/enquirer/front.htm)

Edward is my 10th great grandfather.  My line from him is:
Edward Doty
Samuel
Samuel
John
Samuel
Samuel
Jesse
Francis
Mary Louisa
Myra Belle Hulse
Ethyl Maxine Shelton
Mom
Me

Sorting Saturday: Sorting Pictures

With the death of my sister-in-law, we inherited a great deal of pictures.  I’ve been scanning and sorting through them for a while now and I like how Family Tree Maker will let me log them to individual people. 

What I don’t like is my naming of the jpg files, so I need to go back through and rename everything., but first I need to find a naming convention that I like.  As I was pondering on a new convention, I saw this post at Sassy Jane Genealogy and promptly ordered the e-book.

Off to begin renaming…

Family Recipe Friday: Swiss Steak

I remember my grandmother making this Swiss Steak and when Skeet shared her recipes with us, I found out it was her grandmother’s recipe.  What I didn’t really know was that Swiss Steak isn’t really Swiss… but it is good.  If you grew up with it. 

Swiss Steak

3 to 4 lbs. round steak                            Kitchen Bouquet

Onion to taste – cut in rings                 ¼ c green pepper cut into rings          

Salt and pepper to taste                         shortening

Cut round steak in serving sized pieces.  Prepare a bowl of flour (about 1½ cups I think) and add salt and pepper - stir up (I use a fork to mix the salt and pepper in the flour).  Coat each piece of steak in flour and brown in melted shortening in large frying pan.  Brown both sides and remove from pan and place in roaster.  You may have to add more shortening to get all pieces browned.  Then add enough shortening to make a thin layer of melted shortening in bottom of frying pan; sprinkle flour to cover the shortening and add salt (takes quite a bit of salt to flavor it).  Brown this and slowly add cold water stirring continuously while doing so.  This will take about 3 to 4 cups of water and will be very thin. Add 3 or 4 drops of Kitchen Bouquet to gravy and stir in.  Pour over steaks.  Add onions and peppers if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 1½ to 2 hours. 

We always had mashed potatoes and corn with this.