Banks Genealogy

Have I ever mentioned how wonderful the internet is when doing genealogy? I have met several distant cousins who are searching for their family members --like I have been doing. They google specific names --and if they are looking for some of the same people that I'm looking for, then we connect!!!! This happened again yesterday... I got an email from a Ballard cousin in Indiana who had read something I had written about one of his relatives. We have a common Grandfather --way down the line!!!! I always get so excited when hearing from a new cousin in my life. He sent me all kinds of family information to check out... His direct line goes a different direction from mine, but our lines do meet, which is NEAT!!!! Now---all I need is MUCH more time to work on my Ballard history.

The Ballard family line and the Bruce family line are on my Mom's side of the family. I have been able to find quite a bit of information on both lines. However, I have had very little luck with my Dad's side of the family. He (I) was a BANKS---and the line is just broken...

SO--because of this wonderful internet, I have decided to begin putting some Banks names out there, so that hopefully, I can find some more distant cousins on that side of the family who will contact me. Today, I will feature my Dad and a little about his family. These are all OLD pictures (obviously--ha)---and I don't have time to 'clean them up' but you can at least see them. Above is my Dad ---taken probably when he was in his mid to late 20's (about 1915). Below are more.

Dad joined the Navy when he was about 20 yrs. old (1910-1913). He stayed in the Navy for about 4 years --and while there, got to sail around the world!!!

Dad and Mom ---during their 'dating' days!!!! They got married on Sept. 6, 1919. They had 3 children: Raymond Edgar Banks (1922-2009); James Ballard Banks (1930-1985); and me, Elizabeth Bruce Banks (1942).

These are two of Dad's brothers (twins obviously): Reuben Eli Banks (1894-1969) and Roy Bratton Banks (1894-1970). I remember both of these uncles. Reuben lived in Bristol, VA and Roy lived in Kingsport, TN.

My Dad: Simon Edgar Banks (1889-1969); This picture was taken about 1940.

Dad's parents: William Green Banks (1867-1913) and Alpha E. Witt (1867-1915); They lived in Lee County, VA. There were 8 children: Oscar, Simon, Alfred Ray, Reuben, Roy, Frankie, Thelma, Carl.

Dad's Grandparents: Alfred Banks (1841-1914) and Mary Jane Hyatt (1834-1910); Alfred Banks came from Letcher County, KY.

Dad's Great Grandparents: Williams Banks (1814-?) and Nancy Haney (1810-?); William Banks was born in North Carolina, and moved to KY.

Dad's Great Great Grandparents: Henry Banks (1785-1850) and Catharine Pruett (1789); Born in North Carolina and moved to KY

Dad's 3Great Grandparents: Nathaniel Banks (1730-?) and Jane Gould; North Carolina

Dad's 4Great Grandparent: John Banks (1686-?)

That's as far as I've gone---and I'm not totally sure how accurate this is... Hopefully, I'll hear from someone. I don't have any pictures of Dad when he was young, nor any of his family.

Here's my Dad as I remember him. He was 53 years old when I was born --and Mom was 42..

Here's my Dad with his bundle of joy. Don't you know that he spoiled me ROTTEN!!!!!! ha

If you haven't done any of your family history, do it now... Don't wait like I did until many of the family members were dead. It's harder to get info this way!!!!

Hugs,

Joy AND Sadness

As you know, I've been very distracted for the past month --dealing with my left knee problem. Anyhow--during that time, our Bluebirds must have decided to nest in the new Bluebird Nestbox in our backyard. After the Chickadees and Bluebirds fought over the nest a couple of months ago, neither took it. SO--it had been empty for quite awhile.

This morning George walked by the nestbox (for another reason) and a Bluebird flew out.... He came and told me---and of course, I got VERY excited... I made him open the nest to see what was going on.. Surprise!!! There are about 4 baby birds in that nest.. SO--I'm gonna be a Grammy again this Summer!!!! YEAH!!!

I sat on the deck for awhile this afternoon trying to get some pictures... Mom and Dad were taking turns going back and forth feeding the little ones.. I managed to get a few pictures ---but hopefully I will get LOTS more before and when they fledge.

Above is Mama Bluebird coming out of the nest... (They are so quick that it's hard to catch them in a photo.) Below are a few more pictures!!!!

Daddy Bluebird comes to the nest to check out his babies. Mom and Dad take turns going back and forth taking care of them.

I just had to include this picture even though it's sorta blurry.... One of Dad's jobs is to carry the 'fecal sac' away from the nest (far away). See it in his mouth? Bluebirds are VERY clean birds --and when all of them leave the nest, we will find it almost as clean as when they first got there. Daddy keeps those babies' diapers changed regularly!!!! ha

Here's a cute picture of Daddy Bluebird at the nestbox. I'm sure he and his lady are proud of their babies!!!! I'll keep you posted on this JOY.

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On a very sad note, a very good blog friend of mine, Eileen Brown, from British Columbia. lost her husband, Daryl, this week. Eileen and I have been blog friends since November of 2008 ---even BEFORE I joined Blogger. She is one of my very first blog friends--and she means so much to me.

Eileen and her hubby had only been married five years (would have been six in August) ---so we had something special in common, since George and I have only been married almost nine years. We both felt as if we had found a very special love-of-our-life in our 'golden' years. We always enjoyed talking about our Sweethearts with one another. The one difference was that this was the first marriage for both Eileen and Daryl. They had no children---but have an adorable dog named Mingus.

Eileen had gone to visit an ill sister when her husband died. He was only 60 and had been in very good health. He worked six months out of the year doing fire weather forecasting. No one knows yet what happened to Daryl, but apparently, he died very suddenly (maybe from a massive heart attack).

When I read Eileen's post, I just burst into tears. Life is so precious --and none of us know how long we are going to be on this earth. This has just devasted me. I wish I could meet Eileen and give her a big hug. We haven't met ---but she is one special lady. Don't let anyone ever tell you that blog friends are not that important. They ARE--and I have some GREAT friends for life I'm sure.

If you have a few minutes, please go to Eileen's blog and leave her a comment. I'm sure she'll appreciate knowing that so many of us in Blog World are thinking about her and praying for her. Click HERE to visit Eileen's blog (Cicero Sings).

Hugs,