Farley-Hite-Hale-Rice – Page 5

Thomas W. Farley Letter to Son Fred Farley

This letter from 1884 was written by Thomas Willis Farley (1841-1903) to his sons “Jimmie” (James Henry Farley, 1877-1960) and “Freddie” (Frederick Lee Farley, 1879-1945). Also mentioned are his children “Annie” (Anne Blanch Farley, 1875-1960), “Sutton” (William Sutton, 1872-1938) and “Pattie” (Pattie Pugh, 1870-1921), as well as his wife, Nancy Rigg Farley (1847-1923). Thomas Willis Farley was working in Coal Valley at that time.

I have this original letter; my recollection is that was in the possession of my grandfather, Willis Hite Farley, who was grandson of the writer. At some unknown time, someone (probably my aunt Alice) preserved the letter through lamination. It made its way to my house sometime in the last ten years or so from my father. Continue reading “Thomas W. Farley Letter to Son Fred Farley”

Death of James Orville Hale

James Orville Hale was the oldest child of my great-grandparents, Effie Allen Rice Hale (1887-1978) and Henry Orville Hale (1882-1966). He was known by his middle name of “Orville” and his younger sister Audrey Vellence Hale Farley (1908-2001) was my grandmother. Continue reading “Death of James Orville Hale”

Triple Wedding

Three related couples from Carter County, Kentucky were married on 24 Dec 1903 in Grayson County, KY. Effie Rice married Henry Hale; Effie’s brother Willis Rice married Lucy Stephens; Henry’s sister Bertha Hale married George Rice, 1st cousin of Effie (through their fathers James and Granville, respectively). Continue reading “Triple Wedding”

Boone Tavern Spoon Bread

This dish was frequently made by my grandmother, Audrey Vellence Hale Farley (1908-2001, affectionately known as “Grandmam”) and the recipe handed down to many friends and family. I was interested in the provenance (with its quaint instructions of removing from the “fire” and using an “electric” mixer), and Continue reading “Boone Tavern Spoon Bread”

Cousin Barack

I was watching Barack Obama deliver his speech for re-election at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, and found myself randomly looking at various information about his family and genealogy. I noticed an article in a 2008 Duvall family newsletter that described President Obama’s ancestor Mareen Duvall; this caught my eye as I remember Mareen Duvall in my own family tree, fairly directly through the Farley line.

I then confirmed that we indeed share the same ancestor – Mareen Duvall (the Emigrant) is our 9th-great-grandfather, which makes us 10th cousins.