C.S. Weaver-Conservation Special Agent

Dear Family Trails readers,

The scrapbooks that were kept by Charles Sisson Weaver continue to supply our family blog with interesting aspects of his life. In 1920, at the age of 55, C.S. Weaver was asked by the State of Alabama Department of Conservation to serve as a Special Agent without compensation. 

This week's "Weaver Wednesday" edition has 2 letters that Grandfather Weaver included in his scrapbook. 

I have also included some beautiful photography of just a few of Alabama's amazing wildlife. These photographs are from Outdoor Alabama.  

Please take a minute and check out this website. Alabama has so much natural beauty and amazing wildlife. I have included just a few pictures of the animals that Grandfather Weaver may have encountered in his excursions.

In choosing which pictures to include, I decided to only use SOME  of the mammals of Alabama in this post. When you look up this website, be sure to look at all of the other pictures too-fish, birds, reptiles, insects, and the scenery of our state. 

This first letter is addressed to :

Hon, C.S. Weaver

Talladega, Ala.

Dear Mr. Weaver,

Recognizing the fact that you as a sportsman are very much interested in the enforcement of the conservation statutes of this state, I have the honor to hand you herewith a commission as Special Agent for the Department of Conservation to serve without compensation. This commission vests you with the power and authority to enforce the provisions of the game, fish and forestry laws in every county in Alabama. 

Of course I do not expect any special active service form you; I merely want you to be in position to prosecute such offenders as you can without incurring trouble or expense on your part. I will appreciate it if you will advise me by return mail if you  will accept the appointment. 

With high regards, believe me,

Very truly yours,

John H. Wallace, Jr.

Commissioner

This letter reads:

Department of Conservation

State of Alabama

I, John H. Wallace, Jr., Commissioner of Conservation, to C.S. Weaver, send greetings:

Reposing full trust in you prudence, integrity and ability, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested by the laws of the State of Alabama, I have, this day, appointed you Special Agent of the Department of Conservation, to serve without compensation from the Department of Conservation, State of Alabama, and you are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of the game, fish and forestry laws of this state in each and every county in Alabama.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of my Office to be affixed at the State Capitol, in the City of Montgomery, this the 15th day of June, in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty. 

John H. Wallace, Jr. 

Commissioner of Conservation

So after reading these letters, we learn that the love for this beautiful land goes back several generations. Thankfully, Alabama still has much of its natural land and its wildlife preserved for many more generations to enjoy. 

Love,

Mariellan

Strike a Pose!

My mother's birthday is next week, March 26. She would have been 83 years old. In looking through my grandmother's photo albums, these pictures stood out to me! All of these poses were taken during  Mama's early years! I guess the main thought that I take away from this--other than how cute these pictures are!- is that parents everywhere have always loved taking pictures of their children! We love to capture every minute, every expression, and of course every event in a photo.  So whenever I feel overwhelmed by all of my albums and all of the "double prints" (do you remember that craze?), I will remember this post. Whether there are 20 pictures of someone or 2000 pictures, they are each priceless! Each picture tells a story. I am thankful to have in my care some of the photo albums and scrapbooks of our Weaver family, and I love sharing the story.

Nancy Lee Harper DeWine

Sing a Song of the Saints of God

All Saints Day

I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true, Who toiled and fought, and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew…" 

Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, Birmingham, Alabama

Family Trails readers, let me share a personal note here as we begin our trail into the month of November. Sunday in church we celebrated All Saints Day, a day in our church calendar where we remember and thank God for the ones we have loved and lost. What better way to celebrate entering Christ's kingdom that with baptisms! This service gives us all hope for the future. Our grandson, Marshall, was baptized during this service, and he was surrounded by all who love him, those who are living and those who have gone before us.  The day was grand! 

Welcome to our newest edition of "Weaver Wednesday." We have so much to cover in this post. As I have written before, Family Trails will recognize the birthdays of the Weaver parents and children. 

Is this getting confusing to you? Let me try to explain how we all refer to ourselves in this family…

The "parents" of this family are Nettie and Sisson Weaver.

The "children" are their 10 children, Cabot, Kiser, Lora, Lassie, Ivera, 

Dewey, Jep, Alma, Nina, and Tenison.

The "grandchildren" are the next generation, (my mother's generation).

I am a great-grandchild of Nettie and Sisson. 

BUT

Here is the clue to reading this blog, and any other family publication about this family: 

We all say, "Grandmother and Grandfather Weaver" when we are referring to Nettie and Sisson! 

Happy Birthday Anniversary to Charles Sisson Weaver, who was born November 8, 1860.
"Grandfather Weaver's" scrapbook is filled with greeting cards! He was quite the "memory keeper", and we are all the better for it!

Below are photos taken in Oak Hill Cemetery, Talladega, Alabama, where many Weavers have been laid to rest. So, do you think it is strange that I take pictures in a cemetery? Sister, Rebecca, and I take pictures any time we are in a family cemetery! This is a good way to remember accurate dates and burial sites. 

Nettie and Sisson Weaver had 10 children. As the story goes, Nettie got to give birth to the children and Sisson got to name them! And name them, he did! Each of their ten children have beautiful, musical names... unique, yet lovely.

We have 2 of their birthdays to celebrate this month.  Cabot Suttles Weaver was born on November 14, 1886. He was affectionately called "Unc" by his nieces and nephews.

Lassie Eudora Weaver Malone was born on November 15, 1893. As her great nieces and nephews, we called her "Aunt Lallie."

Left to right, standing: Uncle Rat and Aunt Nina
Sitting are Ivera (Bo), Tee, and Aunt Lallie

Cabot's obituary is from The Talladega Daily Home, Monday, August 8, 1960. Does anyone know why his funeral was in Tee's house and not a church? I did not know that any funeral services had taken place in her house. 

 This article about Aunt Lallie's service was in The Talladega Daily Home, Saturday, May 2, 1992.

These 2 articles about C. S. Weaver passing away are from The Talladega Daily Home. For the sake of Family Trails readers, I will retype these articles soon so you may read them easily.  

 Look at these 2 cute little boys with their Great-Grandfather! Can anyone name them for me? (I am going to guess…. are they Bill and Gordon Malone?)

I hope ya'll have a wonderful week this first week of November. If you begin planning your Thanksgiving meal, don't forget to use your Weaver family cookbook, Seasoned with Love. Our next "Weaver Wednesday" will be all about our cookbook. So until then, happy trails…….

Happy Halloween!

Who ARE all these goblins!!!!! Does anyone recognize these 3 little monsters?

I have now opened up another Pandora's box in this Family Trails endeavor…. now I am reorganizing my own Grandmother's photo album!
 This album spans a daunting time frame from 1921 to 1978! Can you imagine what treasures are in store for our family blog! This scrapbook of "Bo's" contains pictures of "the Grandchildren" of C.S. Weaver, as toddlers and teenagers. What a treat for all of us to see all the first cousins during the years that they were all playmates!

 I have heard these stories for years of the first cousins playing in Tee's basement and making movies on Talladega Creek. Finding these pictures has made these stories come to life, and I will share them with all of you at Family Trails throughout the next few posts.

                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                 Here is a picture on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial-a family trip that held fond memories for my mother. She and her mother went to Washington D.C. with Uncle Dewey, Aunt Era, and cousin Alice.   Mama must have been the photographer for this picture. From left to right on the top step of the Memorial are: Aunt Era, Ivera, Uncle Dewey, and Alice.

I have received so many sweet emails from some of you thanking me for Family Trails. I just love hearing from you and your ideas for future posts. Please keep those ideas coming…I love them! But for now, I have a big request…. during your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, please take pictures of any family dishes you make and send them to me. As you can tell, my mind is already gearing up for these wonderful holidays, and I would love to include your favorite dishes in a future post.

So today, on October 29, 2014, we say,"So long" for a week with a precious portrait of "Grandfather Weaver" found in his scrapbook! The artist is unknown. Does anyone remember drawing this?
Love to all, and I wish you all a very Happy and Safe Halloween.