Contagious Genealogy: A Pandemic

  OCTOBER 31, 2021 In January of 1920, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution went into effect. It established the era of Prohibition, which had been spurred on by the temperance movement; the thought being, that decreasing the sale of liquor would, in turn, decrease nationwide poverty. While the actual act of drinking was not illegal, store and bar owners were no longer allowed to sell and distribute liquor, wine, spirits, or beer. This change definitely impacted local businesses that had previously made a portion of their profits from the sale of alcohol. Making up for that potential lost income could result in other nefarious activities. Week 38: Fun and Games John C. Eggenberger photo, undated. My great grandfather, John C. Eggenberger, ran a small grocery and confection shop during this time in Ottawa, Kansas. And it would appear he took it upon himself to dabble in this type of illegal behavior. John C. Eggenberger in grocery store, Boone, Iowa, ca. 1905. It’s u...

  SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 My mom was supposed to have an older brother. I was supposed to have an uncle. My grandparents were supposed to have a son. But life is full of curveballs, and Chester Leland Millhouse became a victim of one of those wayward pitches. Chester Leland Millhouse, 1950, 157 Ridgecrest Rd, Bethlehem, West Virginia. Week 33: Tragedy On 10 February 1950, my would-be uncle, “Ches Le” was born in Wheeling, West Virginia to Edna and Ray Millhouse, first time parents. As Edna’s sister, Sheila, would put it, “Ches Le was such a bright light for us.” Annie Diamond (Williams) Millhouse, 10 Feb 1950, diary, unnumbered page, Chester Leland Millhouse birth announcement. The little boy came at a time when the family needed a little pick-me-up, as Edna’s father (Chester’s namesake) had suddenly passed away from a heart attack just a few months prior in November. Edna Millhouse and son Chester Leland, 1950, Oil City, Pennsylvania. Ray and Edna Millhouse and son Chester Leland, 1950...

  JANUARY 31, 2021 Anyone that knows me, knows that you will rarely find me anywhere near the kitchen, except maybe during this pandemic, in which I’m practically forced to cook for myself out of necessity. It’s not that I’m a horrible cook, it’s really just the fact that I have absolutely no interest in the act of cooking or baking. Also, my least favorite thing is cleaning dishes, and those just stack up when you cook, so my solution is don’t cook. I also detest the fact that women are just assumed to be the default domestics of the family, but that’s an argument for another day. Week 5: In the Kitchen There were, however, some folks in my tree who gravitated toward the kitchen and left a breadcrumb trail of their activities in that room.  Photograph of Edna Arlene (Dean) Millhouse in the dining room off of the kitchen, 1 Jan 1984, Hawthorne, California, photo in possession of granddaughter Kira D. Foltz. My maternal grandmother, Edna Arlene (Dean) Millhouse, had a tradition...