The Ultimate Sacrifice

This Veteran's Day let us not forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. One of those young men was my husband's uncle, Joseph William Franklin (1920-1945).
 

Joe was the son of Kasmar and Johanna (Hudson) Franckevitch of Seattle, WA. He had four sisters--Johanna, Liz, Frances, and Mary; and three brothers who also served in the military--Kas, Pete, and Jim.

This photo was taken in 1942.

2nd Lieut. Joseph William Franklin. Seattle Daily Times, May 3, 1943.

Joe's plane was shot down on a bombing mission northwest of Kobe, Japan. His B-29 aircraft was flying in the No. 2 position as deputy leader in the 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bomb Group. According to an eyewitness account in the Missing Air Group Report that I found on Fold3.com, "The airplane commander probably put the airplane in a dive in an attempt to put out the flames . . . approximately 12,000 feet, the wing was torn off. . . " 

There were 11 crew members on board: 1st Lt. Joseph W. Franklin (WA), 2nd Lt. Paul H. Stuart (AL), 2nd Lt. Ralph J. Massaro (CA), 2nd Lt. Stephen F. Wenczel (NJ), F/O Frank A. Urso (IL), S/Sgt John R. Vincent (TX), S/Sgt Bryan McKown, Jr. (OH) S/Sgt George C. Peare (NJ), S/Sgt Henry F. Pleasants, Jr. (NC), Sgt. Robert I. Ellis (PA), and Sgt. Lavone L. Nix (SC).

Joe was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart. 

At the time of his death, he was married and had a 2-year old daughter; a son was born two weeks later. Joe's final resting place is in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI.

JOSEPH W. FRANKLIN

WASHINGTON

 CAPTAIN 29 AAF BOMB GROUP

WORLD WAR II

MAY 5 1920  JUNE 5 1945

- - - - - - - - - - -

I organize all the veterans' gravestones that I photograph and upload to FindAGrave.com by creating "virtual cemeteries" for each conflict. The following men were either reported missing or killed in action during World War II.

 Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

BAIRD

1884 CORA M.. 1927

1884 DAVID L. 1965

1913 DAVID H. 1944

MISSING IN ACTION U.S.N. W.W. II

Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

STILWELL

CPL. JOHN V. STILWELL, U.S.M.C.

KILLED IN ACTION SEPT. 23, 1944

AGE 23

PELELIU ISLAND, PALAU

Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

LT. ROBERT HULBERT JR.

868 BOMBING SQUADRON

13TH AIR FORCE

MISSING IN ACTION JUNE 20, 1945

AGE 21

Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

RICKEY

ROBERT D RICKEY A.M.M. 3/C

BORN MAY 10, 1918

DIED MAY 10, 1943

IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY 

AT ADAK, ALASKA

Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SON

WERNER J. HOLLY

PRIVATE U.S. ARMY

1922  1944

KILLED IN ACTION IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY

BURIED IN LUXEMBURG

First Presbyterian Church of Hanover, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ

FREDERICK WALTER HOPPING

KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE

CORPORAL 1ST BN. 116TH INF. 29TH DIV.

FEB. 8, 1907  JUNE 6, 1944

   Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, Albany, NY

IN LOVING MEMORY OF PFC. WILLIAM JOHN WALKER, JR.

BORN APRIL 18, 1925 KILLED IN ACTION MARCH 18, 1945

BURIED IN AMERICAN CEMETERY AT HAMM. LUXEMBOURG

 

LET US NOT FORGET

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

Into Browns and Blues

The fabrics in my most recent quilts are mainly browns and blues. 

I finished this top yesterday. When I saw this quilt on Lori's Humble Quilts blog, I knew I had to make one like it. Originally I thought I would try and reproduce the quilt and make it bed-size but that thought didn't last very long, lol! This is 55" square. 

I pulled all the fabrics from my stash that I thought could work.

As it turns out I only used 5 of them. The sashing is a Kaye England fabric that I purchased years ago. I had 3+ yards which worked out well as I fussy cut the long strips so the flowers would match up. The blocks are 9" and the sashing 4".  

I'm in the process of quilting this one now but it all began with two early quilts and the blue fabric . . .

In 2003 Rachel, Rita and I went to see the Art of the Needle quilt exhibit at the Shelburne Museum. I loved this quilt the moment I saw it.

Then in 2006 we were at the AQSG Seminar in CT. Another favorite!

At some point I bought a yard of this fabric Treasures of the York County Heritage Trust by Roberta Benvin and Joan Hamme for P&B Textiles. 

 

I'm quilting the blocks in double lines throughout like those in the Shelburne quilt above but haven't yet decided what to do in the borders. It's 27" x 27".

I had a lot of 3" swatches that I cut in fourths to make these little 4-patches. An inner-and-outer border of blue and brown was the perfect setting :)




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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

Flags of the American Revolution Update

Here are my flags for the Flags of the American Revolution quiltalong. You can see what other quilters are doing on Lori's Humble Quilts blog. What fun to see everyone's blocks! 

Instead of embroidering the snake's tongue and eye, I inked them in using a Pigma pen.

I knew I didn't want to use star buttons for the next few flags as was suggested. Even bought a package of stick-on felt stars at Michaels but they were too big . . . 

Then I remembered I had these star fabrics. They were perfect. I cut out the blue stars and fused them to the flag below and then did the same with the smaller stars (using the reverse side as they were a bit "whiter") and fused them to the next two.

Oops, one star shifted a bit. Can you tell which one?

I'm all prepared to start November's assignment. Have my fabrics and just traced the pieces for the eagle applique onto freezer paper.

Happy Sewing!



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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

One of Each

A quilt, a gravestone, and a family photo with Halloween in mind.

Take a closer look. Certainly not fall colors, not even a Halloween theme . . .

Did you notice The Jersey Devil?

Looks like this little boy loved bats and things that go bump in the night.  

My great-grand aunt, Maud McCord Schmitt (left), her husband, Charles, and a friend going to a "fancy dress party" in 1906. Great costumes, don't you think?


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!



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Copyright 2014, Barbara  Schaffer

A Graveyard Tour & Some Interesting Motifs

Last Saturday friends and I FINALLY went on the graveyard tour of the First Presbyterian Churchyard in Morristown, NJ. Every time we talked about going there was a major climatic event to deal with like Superstorm Sandy or a freak October snowstorm but this year the weather was on our side and we weren't disappointed.

The cemetery is tucked behind the First Presbyterian Church "On the Green" in downtown Morristown. 

A map of the cemetery and the names of everyone interred are on the church's website here. I'm always on the lookout for gravestones with interesting motifs so here are a few that I found and photographed.

The oldest stone in the cemetery is that of Mrs. Abigail Goble who died in 1742 at the age of 62 years. Her gravestone features a Felled Tree With Ax where the hand of God extends from a cloud in the upper right hand corner. "Memento Mori" or Remember Death is inscribed along the top curve. 

"Here lies inter'd ye body of ye widow Elizabeth Lindsley. . . "   

 

Oops! The carver ran out of space for the last two letters of ElizabeTH so he added them above the 'e.'

Lovely flourishes or curlicues and a leafy vine adorn the gravestone of Harriet and Theodore Briant who died in 1833 and 1824.  

"Here lies Interr'd the body of Prudence Wife of Joseph King Who departed this life Feb. 2, 1746 aged 25 years. . . " This pear-faced soul effigy with crown and wings was most likely the work of Uzal Ward a carver from Elizabethtown, NJ. 

One of the most popular motifs in the 17th & 18th centuries was the Death's Head or Winged Skull as seen on Hannah Lyon's gravestone in 1763. 

 

Welcome to Heaven.

 
Rising Sun or renewed life on the gravestone of Elizabeth Stiles 1792. 

 

At the end of the tour we went back through the church to take another look at the beautiful Tiffany windows. 

This one depicts George Washington receiving Communion in the church orchard in the Spring of 1777.

Cemetery Project Updates :)

Yay! I've reached over 10,000 memorials on Find A Grave and am still working on the Woodlawn Cemetery Project along with other volunteers. To date we've entered over 80,000 names with a goal of 250,000.

Happy Wednesday!
 

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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer

 

My Great Grandmother, Margarette Edwards Davis

My paternal great-grandmother, Margarette Ann Edwards Davis (1844-1917) was a lifelong resident of Sullivan County, NY; daughter of John Edwards and Catherine Wood; sister of Deborah, George, and Uriah Blake; wife of Horace E. Davis, and mother of Osmer, Edmond, Hannah Adella, and Ralph B. (my grandfather).

What fun it is to read some of the letters she wrote. Excerpts below.  

According to my dad, "My grandmother was a very strict disciplinarian. She was a very religious woman and taught Sunday School. She maintained a very strict household, one in which you didn't dare sit down unless you were told to do so. If you wanted something you always had to ask properly, "May I have a cookie?" and she would then go out to the wood shed where the cookie jar was kept and get you ONE cookie."

On November 13, 1861 Margarette wrote her sister Debbie Edwards Fish: "Dear Sister Debbie, As George is coming to see you  I thought I would write a few lines. I ought not to for you have not written since you were here and you did not make half a visit." She tells her sister the local news:  
". . . George Albies Wife has got a boy they were married 2 or 3 weeks they are what you may call smart. Mary is teaching in Gorton's District & boards to Gortons. Well Debbie there has been another death since you was home one we little expected of Julia Kracht. . ." 
". . . We have killed our hog & I have got all through now so I will have quite a leisure time. It is a good job done. I made sausage & head cheese. Well write will you & let us know how George got there. Good by from your Affectionate Sister, Anny Davis, Youngsville, NY."    

In another letter dated Oct. 26, 1862, Morrston, NY, she wrote, "Dear Brother & Sister, Your kind letter came to me Tuesday the 21st so being so very busy I will now take the time and answer it. I wanted to write before but not knowing wether you still lived in Youngsville or not I thought I would wait and see if you would not think enough of me to send me a line or two and let me know . .  "  

Cont'd . . . 

". . . I am well but quite lame. We are living up stairs now. We have got through plastering the lower part but Horace thought it was so damp I would take cold to sleep down stairs but we are going to move down this week. . ."
". . . Eunice has not got home yet so you see I don't have any one to run in and see me. I am alone. I would like it if you was close by so you could come often. Hor says he won't come to see you till he can fetch something with us. I think you know what it is but you must not tell Ed." [My note: Margaret was pregnant with their first child.]
". . . Write to us again and direct to Parksville as there is no Post Office at Morston now. My love to both children. From your affectionate Sister Margaret Anne. To Edmund & Debbie Fish
". . . I have a Tea chest full of apples dryed and have got more to dry and we have pan cakes. . . "

 

Celebrating their 50th. Livingston Manor Times 4 Jan 1912. "The fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Horace E. Davis of Livingston Manor, held Monday at their residence on DuBois Street, brought together a happy reunion of the older and younger members of the Davis family. A number of handsome gold presents made glad the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Davis and a most sumptuous dinner was served at 2 p.m.
The guests include: Mr. and Mrs. E. Fish, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Davis and Mr. and Mrs. P. Davis of Livingston Manor; Mr. and Mrs. O.P. Davis and daughter and Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Davis of Liberty; Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Davis and son of Palisades Park, New Jersey; Miss Maud Wadhams of Livingston Manor and Frank R. Bennett of New York."

Both Margarette and her sister, Debbie, died of pneumonia within three days of each other. Their obituaries appeared in the Middletown Times Press, Middletown, NY, February 2, 1917.   

 

Margarette's death certificate says it all. She was born June 22, 1844 in Sullivan County, NY, and died Jan. 25, 1917 in Livingston Manor, NY. She was 72, married, and a housewife. Her parents were John Edwards and Catherine Wood both of Sullivan County. The attending physician was her nephew, J. William Davis and the informant was her son (my grandfather), Ralph B. Davis, of Palisades Park, NJ. Place of burial was listed as Livingston Manor . . . 

 . . . where the sisters are buried next to each other in the Methodist Cemetery.  Margaret and Horace here. Debbie and Edmund Fish here.  

 
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Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer