Happy Grandparents Day - Miss Them

There are times I miss my grandparents terribly. They were so much fun. Neither of them had favorites and I always loved visiting them as a child and even as an adult. As a kid I remember my cousins, siblings and I were always with our Grandparents. We were very close to our Grandparents and have many, many, fond memories we talk about even today.

I remember even as a child calling my grandparents to talk to them. My cousins and I knew their phone number by heart. My mom would say, “If you don’t want momma or daddy to know, don’t say anything around Jacqueline.” Mom claimed I would tell Grandma and Grandpa everything even when I became and adult.

The earliest memories I have of my grandparents is when they lived at 1606 White Oaks in San Jose, California. They lived here when my cousins and I were all in grade school. The backyard was dirt and there was a huge oak tree on the left-hand side. Grandma and Grandpa let us dig in the dirt and we would always make these cities with roads and houses. We’d use bricks and rocks to make buildings. We would make women out of hibiscus flowers and my grandparents didn’t care when we picked them. We’d turn them upside down and the flower was like a hoop skirt dress. Our families didn’t have a lot of money, so we didn’t have many toys. We always played outside and I don’t remember any of us ever fighting.

My grandparents always grew Kentucky Wonder green beans in the summer. I asked my Grandma one spring if I grew the same beans would she teach me how to can them. Of course, she agreed so I planted lots of Kentucky Wonder green beans. At harvest time we made a date and spent a day canning beans. She walked me through every step. She also told me of a few times the pressure built up and the pot lid would pop off and beans would be everywhere, even on the ceiling. I had heard these stories and I became a bit worried, but she assured me it would not happen. I still was not convinced and kept my eye on the pressure cooker. We ended up canning thirty jars that day and I have that wonderful memory of standing at my Grandma’s stove with her.

 

Our family use to go on many camping trips during the summer to Lake Shasta, Don Pedro Lake, and Lake Berryessa. At that time there were not official campgrounds. My grandparents had a black and white boat. Grandpa would anchor it off the shore about 50 feet and let us jump off the boat. He never cared if we jumped off the side, back or front. We always had a blast.

I have many more memories of my grandparents but I think the best is not a memory but a feeling of the love I felt from them even when I was not with them. I miss them to this day. 

Happy Grandparents Day Grandma and Grandpa. Love you bunches. 

Mary Lucinda (Dotson) Cradduck

My 3^rd Great Grandmother

The following information is from her civil war pension application under Moses M. CRADDUCK Private, Company D 1^st Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers. She  filed for Moses' pension after he died. 

He enlisted Nov. 19, 1862. He was honorably discharged August 23, 1865 and died December 17, 1886. She filed on July 24, 1890 and was living in Lancaster, Crawford County, Arkansas (AR). This helps clarify residency since the 1890 census records are not available due to a fire.

 

On November 16, 1917 she made the following statement in regards to Mary Ann Elizabeth (McCaslin) CRADDUCK (first wife) filing for Moses M. CRADDUCK civil war pension. Statement was taken near Frisco, Pontotoc Co., OK. Below is her statement from the pension file record from Mary Ann Elizabeth (McCaslin) CRADDUCK’s filing.

 

 “We lived a few years at Rudy Station, Crawford Co. [County], Ark [Arkansas]. Then one winter in Springfield, Greene Co.[County] Mo. Then a few months near Maysville, Christian Co., Mo [Missouri]. Then back to Rudy, Ark and lived five years, then to near Gainesville, Cook Co., Texas and was there not over one year. Then back to Rudy, Ark. And lived there until my husband died. Then I moved to Hanson, Ind. Ty[Indian Territory]. until 12 years ago, I have lived here 12 years.” (Near Frisco, Pontotoc Co. OK)

 

MY TIMELINE DATES APPX

1852 – 1859

Born 1852 near Maysville, Christian Co., Mo. Lived here until 2 years before the Civil War began. Then moved to around

1860 – 1869

Rudy Station, Crawford Co., Ark. for a few years. Lived here for a few years after marrying in 1869

    Springfield, Greene Co., Mo. for one winter Maysville, Christian Co., Mo. few months near this place

    Rudy, Ark and lived five years,

1876 to 1877

     Gainesville, Cook Co., Texas, and here appx one year then back to (James Clay CRADDUCK   was

     born while lived her so puts them here around 1876)

1880 - 1886

     Rudy Station, Ark. and lived there until my husband died  (Dec. 17, 1886)

1890

     Lancaster, Crawford Co., Ark (July 24, 1890 is when she filed her claim for Moses M.      

    Cradduck’s Civil War pension)

1886 - 1905

Then I moved to Hanson, Ind. Ty [Indian Territory]. Until 12 years ago. At the end of her statement she says she moved to Hanson, Ind. Ty. about 1895

1905 - 1917

  I have lived here 12 years. (Near Frisco, Pontotoc Co. OK)

 

RESEARCH ITEMS

1)   Her daughter, Josephine Ellen was living in Marysville, CA per pension statement from 1917

2)   Siblings whereabouts per her pension statement from 1917

a)    Rueben Alva Dotson AKA Bud in Oroville, CA

b.     Elaza Ann Dotson wife of “Gent” Pennington but does not know where or if she is alive