Julia Ann Foster was born on December 30, 1863, in Floyd County, Virginia, the last-born of my sixteen second great-grandparents. Julia was the daughter of William Foster and Orpha (pronounced Orpa) Jones, the third of four children. The first two Foster children were born in 1849 (Mary Jane) and 1851 (Asa). Julia was born twelve … Continue reading Julia Ann Foster
Cannaday
Ernst Heinrich Tornedde
Ernst Heinrich Tornedde was born July 29, 1855, in the tiny village of Brunsen in the Braunschweig (Brunswick) region of Lower Saxony in present-day Germany. The identity of Ernst’s parents is unknown. However a DNA match points to Johann Heinrich Christoph Tornedde and Engel Hedwig Binnewies Tornedde, a married couple who lived their entire lives … Continue reading Ernst Heinrich Tornedde
Tazwell Howard Cannaday
Tazwell Howard Cannaday was born on September 10, 1852 in Floyd County, Virginia. Tazwell was the third of nine children born to Stephen H. Cannaday and Elizabeth Lemon, and their first son. Both of Tazwell’s parents came from large families—his mother was one of twelve children, and his father was one of twenty-four! (Stephen’s parents, … Continue reading Tazwell Howard Cannaday
Wilhelmina Bremer
Wilhelmine Caroline Amalie Bremer was born April 26, 1849, in Heinade, Germany. In the United States her given name of Wilhelmine became Wilhelmina and throughout her life was often shortened to Minna. Wilhelmina’s parents, both German-born, were Friedrich Wilhelm Bremer and Friederike Wilhelmine Müller. Heinade is located in the Holzminden district of Lower Saxony. Holzminden lies within the … Continue reading Wilhelmina Bremer
Martha Maria Tornedde
My mom’s paternal grandmother, Martha Maria Tornedde, was born in Steubenville, in Jefferson County, Ohio on April 6, 1884. Her German born parents, Ernst H. Tornedde and Wilhelmina Bremer, immigrated to the United States just a few years before Martha was born. By 1886, the Torneddes had moved to Peoria, Illinois, which would be Martha’s … Continue reading Martha Maria Tornedde
Edward Cabell Cannaday
My mom’s paternal grandfather, Edward Cabell Cannaday, was born in Virginia on March 19, 1881, to Tazwell Howard Cannaday and Julia Ann Foster. Edward was born in rural Floyd County, which sits on a plateau in southwestern Virginia between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains. Edward's interesting middle name likely comes from William H. Cabell … Continue reading Edward Cabell Cannaday
Edward Ernest Cannaday
What’s that I hear? It’s the lovely strains of Humoresque on the violin! Edward, hello! Put down your bow and let’s hear about you now. The third oldest of my four grandparents is my mom’s father, Edward Ernest Cannaday. Edward was born in Peoria, Illinois on June 24, 1908, to Edward Cabell Cannaday and Martha … Continue reading Edward Ernest Cannaday
The Singing Oak 