My Dad, Had He Lived to be One Hundred

Today is the100th  anniversary of my father birth.

Chester Lee and Ida Stevens Clemens, 50th Wedding Anniversary, 1984

He was born into a large family, the fifth child into what would become eleven.  The house he was born in no longer exists in Lawton, Carter, Kentucky, but he often showed me where it was located.  It wasn't really close to anything.

Chester as a baby in a dress.

Chester as a young farm boy, right around the time he married in 1932.

Chester, after working in the coal mines in West Virginia, early 1940's.

Chester in the U.S. Navy.  He served in Pearl Harbor.

He was baptized into the Mormon Church in 1951, later serving as a Bishop.

When he served as Bishop, he baptized me in 1963.

He spent his later years serving as a temple worker in Washington, DC.

Instead of going over a prologue of his life and accomplishments, I chose to go to the website:  www.ourtimelines.com and see what was going on in the world during his lifetime.

1912:             He was born during a worldwide cholera pandemic.

                     William Howard Taft was President.

                     The Titanic sunk the month before he was born.

1914:            WWI began when he was 2 years old until he was 7.  He had relatives who served.

1918-1920:   He survived the Spanish flu pandemic.  Others in his family did not.

1920:            Women received the right to vote when he was 8 years old.

1922:            Insulin was made available to diabetics.  This would have great bearing on his family, as many  were diabetics.

1926:            Movies with sound were beginning to be made.

1927:            Charles Lindberg made the first Transatlantic flight.

1928:            Television was invented. 

                     Penicillin was invented.

1929:            The Stock Market crashed.  The Great Depression begins.

1930:            Pluto was discovered.  Dad always loved astronomy.

1939-1945:  WWII years.  Dad served in the Navy at Pearl Harbor, the only coalminer from the coal camp in West Virginia to be drafted.

1948:            They began to make 33 1/3 records.  Dad LOVED music.  I get my love of all types of music from him.

1955:            The Sale Polio Vaccine becomes available.  One of his children would become mildly afflicted with polio.

1969:            The moon landing!  Dad was fastened to the television, not believing his eyes.

Dad died in 2002.  He was born in the days of horses, mules and wagons, yet lived long enough to see men walk on the moon.

Some of the above events may or may not have directly affected his life.  I have listed the ones that I remember talking to him about.  He was an avid reader, always having a book or a magazine or a newspaper in his hand.  As a matter of fact, ten years after his death we are still receiving some of his magazines in the mail.  He had them paid that far ahead so as to not expire.

Dad was a poor boy that was born in poverty in the eastern hills of Kentucky - but what a rich life he lived.  He saw quite a lot during his 90 years.  

We miss you, Dad...

                           

Dad went to college?

Dad always told me he went to college.

Um-hmmm.  Dad, who always said he spent three years in 4th grade and finally had to be asked to leave.  Dad, who was not educated beyond 6th grade.  Dad, from the hills of eastern Kentucky where education was not always a priority and opportunity was just not there.

Chester Lee Clemens

On a recent genealogy trip to Kentucky, we thought we would broaden our usual route to include Berea College, where Dad said he attended.  Even if nothing panned out, we enjoy researching at college libraries, which can certainly be a treasure trove of information.

Berea College, from the web site

The first thing we noticed was the beauty of this community.  It was founded in 1855, and the trees and the buildings were stately on this autumn day. 

The second thing we noticed was the beauty of the students.  They were modestly dressed, dripping with manners, and they seemed so happy.  One of the things that sets this college apart is the work ethic.  Students may attend for free, but are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours each week in campus and service jobs. 

The college was the first interracial and coeducational college established in the south.  Its purpose was to help the youth of Appalachia gain education and better their lives.  There are now students from all over the world.  Every one that we encountered had a story to tell, and seemed to be grateful for the opportunity to attend there.

Although it took some effort, we found our way to the area where the student records would have been.  We weren't aware that we should have let them know ahead of time that we would be coming to look for our father's records, and that even some of those might not be available to us.

In the end, our trip was not in vain.  Dad was indeed a student at Berea College.



Chester L. Clemens' name is found just below the point of the pencil.

Unfortunately, Dad's stay at Berea College during the school year 1930-1931 didn't last very long.  He had been enrolled in the Junior High Program, Industrial Arts, but withdrew in the spring.  He went home to Olive Hill.  It was plantin' time.

Dad was never able to return to Berea.  And, the following year, in February 1932, he married my mother.

Both of my parents truly valued education.  They wanted their girls to have every opportunity to learn, and to keep on learning throughout their lives.  Mom and Dad tried - but times were different. 

They did the best they could...



Love my little Kentucky library!

Week #8 – Genealogy Libraries Week 8 – Genealogy Libraries: Genealogy libraries (and dedicated departments in regular libraries) are true treasures in the family history community. Tell us about your favorite genealogy library. What or who makes it special?

I LOVE the Minnie Winder Room of the Genealogy Department of the Ashland, Boyd Co., Kentucky library!!!  http://www.thebookplace.org/genealogy

Each time my sisters and I go "genealogizing", our pathway takes us there.  Though our destinations make take us elsewhere, we always make a special point to stop in Ashland, for we never walk away emptyhanded. 

Their collection covers a tri-state area, including eastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, West Virginia.  There are also collections covering parts of Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

We have grown with this genealogy department since it was in a smaller room "up the hall a piece" into the modern room that houses it now.  The staff is phenomenal.  The collection is phenomenal. 

Now we all know the bounty of resources available in Salt Lake City, Allen County, Indiana, New England Genealogy and Historical Society, etc.  But sometimes, you just have to go local.  We have found many useful items and sources that didn't seem to be located anywhere else.

Love those little libraries!