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THE CALLAWAY FAMILY ASSOCIATION Volume II No. 1 A MESSAGE from the PRESIDENT Greetings to Callaway Family Association members! As our Association enters its 26th year, we can reflect with pride on our accomplishments and look forward with anticipation to all we plan to do. The Callaway Family Association focuses on two mutually-supportive goals: 1) to document the genealogy and history of the Callaways (including Calloways, Kellaways, and every other spelling!) and 2) to provide a forum for sharing information and ideas. We strive to do this in the context of a true "family" fellowship. Over the last quarter century, we have grown from a small group just beginning to explore the complex story of the descendants of Peter and Joseph Callaway as they spread from Maryland and Virginia across the United States, to an international association conducting research in England and the many destinations of Callaways who were part of the diaspora of the 16th - 19th centuries. Sifting through obscure records in ancient archives, studying faded markers on grave stones, accessing information from electronic data sets -- we have made tremendous progress in our research. The story of the Callaways in the United States has been shared through our Journal. And at the 25th Anniversary meeting of the Callaway Family Association, held in October 2000 at Callaway Gardens, we distributed a publication detailing the families of Peter and Joseph -- a document that will be useful to current and future generations of Callaways as we continue the research on our own family lines. During the last four years, Callaway genealogists have turned their attention to England, searching for early records of Callaways and tracing their lives across oceans and continents. Each research trip has produced more leads and more information, and has left us realizing the enormity of the task ahead. But we are pleased with our progress and we plan to continue our efforts. A critical step is to make this information widely available. Certainly our Journal will continue to serve this purpose, but we have other communication channels as well. We have begun the complex process of computerizing the data produced by our researchers and contributed by Association members. This will ensure that accurate information is available to all of us. This effort has grown from a "list" to a real "data set", with plans for a comprehensive, user-friendly system. We now have an electronic newsletter, the CFANET BULLETIN, distributed monthly. We also have a very good Website ( www.callawayfamily.org) and a Chat Room. In addition, we have the excellent support of the Troup County Archives, which houses the documents of the Association. But our continued progress, both in collecting and sharing information, depends on our members. What can YOU do?First, renew your membership in the Callaway Family Association! As a member, you receive the Journal, get advance information about our Annual Meetings, and share in the "family" experience. Please help us expand our membership by encouraging your family members to join. Complete your renewal forms that you will receive shortly, and send them in. Second, share information about you! Our data base is growing because our members are completing the Five Generation Ancestor Chart, the Family Group Records, and the Biographical Data Sheet. By sending these forms, along with three photographs of yourself at various ages, plus an autobiography (written, videotaped or audiotaped) you will qualify for STAR MEMBERSHIP. And, more importantly, you will greatly contribute to the ever-growing data base of the Callaway Family Association. For more information on STAR Membership, check our Website or contact Connie Sherrill, the STAR Membership Chairman, at Box 32, Strong, AR 71765. Third, come to the CFA Annual Meeting in Richmond, Virginia. The meeting will be held in October, 2001. If you have been coming to our meetings, you know what to expect. If you haven't, prepare to be impressed with the venue, the activities, and - most of all - the people. The meetings are a terrific experience for all of us. Please plan to join us. You'll receive more information in the next few months about this important event. I wish you and your family the very best in the coming year. Let's make this a truly great year for the Callaway Family Association. Join! Share information! Come to the meeting! I'll see you there. Sincerely, Victoria Jennings, President THE CALLAWAY FAMILY ASSOCIATION JOURNAL Editor, Ben Callaway, reminds members that he welcomes all news - graduations and other triumphs, marriages, births, and (of course) death notices, with as many details as possible, including personal remarks, on the passing of family members. E-mail preferred, typed paper copy next choice, and if longhand necessary, please print in block capitals if possible so he can get it right. Ben would like to get any material, pictures with identifications welcome too (which he'll return) no later than mid- February. Ben's e-mail address is: callaben at rcn.com . His postal address is: 420 Kingston Drive, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. It should be noted that Ben has been the Editor of the Journal since 1977, and JOURNAL 2001 will be the 25th consecutive one that he has published. A remarkable record, Ben, and a job well done! The Callaway Family Association greatly appreciates your efforts. Are you good for another 25? EXTEND THE SPIRIT Christmas may be over, but one aspect of the season remains with us throughout the year - the spirit of helping others. The anonymous Christmas Story was well received and it prompted Ben Callaway to relate a personal tale of his own, illustrating the year round generosity of our members. " Our church has a 'family adoption' deal and getting to know the people is, to me, more rewarding far beyond the dollars invested. Writing out a check (checking out the charity first) is okay, but the personal touch is so inspiring. "Before Callaway Gardens, Randy and I visited Mendenhall, Mississippi, where through Compassion International, I've been supporting a Genesis One school. Brought tears and a choked throat to see some of those kids, especially the little three- and four-year-olds napping on their little mats. Not a peep from any of them when we peeked in. "Same route, Compassion International, we sponsor a 7-year-old girl in Bolivia, Giovanna Ninachoque. As a female and an Indian in one of the poorest countries, she's at the 'bottom of the barrel' although her father works. She's getting a good education, and with my college Spanish and her tutor-interpreter, the communication gets more interesting as she grows. Was tempted to take a group trip to Bolivia last October, but couldn't do that and CFA (missing a 55th high school reunion in Illinois same weekend) all in one month." Thanks, Ben, for sharing that experience with us. LETTER TO THE EDITOR December 18, 2000
"Thank you for a complete and excellent report on activities of the
Callaway Family Association. Recently, you probably read about the
problems with the vote totals in Florida. You probably read that the
last time this problem occurred was in 1876 when Rutherford B. Hayes of
Ohio was selected by the United States House of Representatives as the
president. "During the rebellion of 1861 - 1865, Mr. Hayes
was a captain in the Union Army. He and his troops were pursuing a Col.
Jennifer through the foothills of western Virginia. On May 1, 1862 Col.
Jennifer burned the village of Princeton, leaving 1200 refugees. Hayes
and his men stopped to care for the beleaguered citizens. He then left
to pursue the rebel forces through Giles County, Virginia.
"Princeton was later rebuilt and became part of the new state of West
Virginia. Hayes became President of the United States in 1876.
"I was born in Princeton in 1942 and learned about the burning of
Princeton. My grandfather, David Callaway, owned a grocery store in the
town from 1922 - 1957. My father, Nathan Lucas, was born in Giles County
and migrated to Princeton where he was a plumbing contractor." Thank you, Fred, for that historical footnote. CHANGES TO WEB SITE Our Webmaster, Donna Morgan, wrote on December 19 to say: "I just wanted to let you know that I put the new Peter Line file on the site today. The old one had 450 individuals and 156 families in it. The new one has 3002 individuals and 1101 families in it - so lots of information has been added. That's great! I mentioned it on the opening page, like I did for the Joseph line." Thanks, Donna. The Web Site just keeps getting better and better. THE WEATHER Lucy Gray, of Pensacola, Florida reminded me on December 30 of the diversity of weather that we CFA members experience. She writes: "To you folks in the cold country, my nine grandchildren went swimming in a heated pool on the deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They also waded in the Gulf several times a day! Of course, grandmother was in the house where it was warm, and didn't go out on the beach one time during the cold week. Luckily none of the little ones caught a cold as I told them they would." What kind of weather are you having on this first day of the year 2001? Have you north easterners dug out from that horrific snow storm yet? The cold weather in many other parts of the US can probably be blamed on the Arctic air being exported from Canada. Sorry about that! At least Southern California, Arizona and Hawaii, are basking in warm, sunny weather, if my computer weather reports can be believed. Judging by the live TV pictures of the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California (which I am trying to watch while typing this Bulletin) you lucky folks in that part of the country are enjoying a beautiful, sunny day. However, here in Parksville, B.C., (like most of the Pacific Northwest, probably) it's not a bad day - partly sunny and relatively mild ( high of 45 degrees, and low of 35). Just had a New Year greeting from Bruce Callaway in Sydney, Australia where they are having summer-like temperatures in the 80s and 90s. Maybe that's because it is summer "down under". In England, where Bill Piper lives, they have been subjected to a very wet winter, causing lots of flooding in the southern part, and snow in the north. Christian Hunt, in Brussels, Belgium is having a mild (55) but rainy day, according to the latest report. Whatever the weather in your part of the world, have a wonderful first day of the New Year! (and the next 364 days, too). A FOXY STORY Speaking of Bill Piper, on December 24 he submitted a funny tale with a Callaway twist. "A friend of mine tells of a recent golf game with three friends. The opposing pair were using high quality Callaway balls; my informant and his partner felt less confident and used cheaper, second-hand balls. "After they had hit off along the fourth fairway, their balls had all landed in reasonably close proximity to each other. One of them exclaimed, 'Well, look at that!' A fox had come out, and was sniffing at the balls. Then the fox picked up one of the Callaway balls and carried it away into the bushes. It reappeared very soon and, as the players watched, sniffed at the second-hand balls, rejected them, sniffed the remaining Callaway, picked it up and again disappeared into the bushes. "This was clearly a very discerning fox." Thanks for the sly humor, Bill. ANNOUNCEMENT On December 27, Vivian Zimmerlee,
of Prineville, Oregon wrote:
"If it's not against your
policy, I would appreciate your passing along this message.
Thanks!"
Searching for descendants of Andrew Jackson CALLAWAY and
his wife Sarah Ann (STEELE) CALLAWAY. Sarah Ann was the eldest
daughter of Thomas Carter STEELE and Mary Jane (BLAYLOCK) STEELE.
Thomas C. Steele fought with the South in the Civil War.
He traveled to Oregon with his family in 1877 and died the following
spring. The United Daughters of the Confederacy will honor Thomas and
dedicate his grave March 2001. A stone will be placed at the grave
site in Prairie City Cemetery, Grant County, Oregon. All descendants
and friends are invited to attend this colorful and impressive
service. STAR MEMBERSHIP Our Secretary, Judy Ostler, has kindly informed me of an error in last month's Bulletin, in which I stated that there were only four STAR members. She reminded me that her 90 year old father, Ramon W. Callaway, of Crockett, Texas has also completed his STAR Membership requirements. "He did most of our family research", says Judy. At Callaway Gardens in October, Russ Callaway, presented Judy with a STAR pin which was for her father, who was not able to attend the Annual Meeting due to ill health. She is still waiting to receive her own pin. I have also been notified by Connie Sherrill, STAR Membership Chairman, that we now have another new STAR member - Lucy Mary McGeachy Gray, of Pensacola, FL. Congratulations to Ramon and Lucy! So we have 6 STAR members, rather than 4, and hopefully our President's Message will spur on more of us to complete the five requirements. SHARE INFORMATION! MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL Last item, but not the least, is the topic of Membership Renewal, which Victoria also mentioned in her Message as the first thing we can do to ensure the continued progress of the Callaway Family Association. RENEW! Martha Winkler, our Assistant Secretary, of Denver, Colorado has been working extremely hard the last few weeks preparing the mailing of the Renewal packet. It has taken her many hours of work typing the forms, photocopying them, sticking the address labels (prepared earlier by Judy Ostler) on to the Annual Dues Renewal Notice, stuffing the envelopes with 3 sheets of folded paper plus a return envelope, sticking more address labels on to the envelopes, and finally, affixing stamps. (I hope they were the self-adhesive kind.) Tomorrow, January 2, Martha will be taking 3 bins full of packets (approximately 650) to the Post Office for mailing to all of you. We owe Martha a great big vote of appreciation for the tremendous job she does so willingly for the Callaway Family Association. And her work is just beginning, because that return envelope is addressed to her. Martha tells me that she expects to receive 30 - 40 per day at first, tapering off later in the month. On receipt of your Renewal form, Martha makes 2 photocopies of it. One she sends to the Secretary, Judy Ostler, in Crockett, TX for her membership records. The other is sent to the Treasurer, Heide Callaway, in Concord, NC, along with your check, for deposit in the bank. These renewals continue to trickle in all year long. Wouldn't it be kind of us to send our forms to Martha this month, or next month at the latest, so she and Judy and Heide can wrap up their work in timely fashion, rather than having to deal with it for 12 months of the year. They will have enough to do later on dealing with new CFA members, especially all the family members you are going to encourage to join. There are 50 LIFE members of the Callaway Family Association and they, of course, do not have to pay Annual Dues anymore. However, they are asked to complete their special form and return it ASAP to Martha, so that information can be updated, if necessary. You will notice that all members are being asked to give their e-mail address yearly. You would be amazed at how many Bulletins are returned to me as "Undeliverable" due to incorrect e-mail addresses. Sometimes people change them and forget to notify me. Other times I have transcribed them inaccurately from the Renewal Form to my Address Book. Because we want to get it right, we are asking you to PRINT your e-mail address very clearly on the form that you return to the Assistant Secretary, who will in turn inform me. The most accurate way, of course, would be for you to cut out your address from one of your printed e-mails, and scotch tape it to the Renewal Form. That way, there will be no doubt about its accuracy. I realize that this is like preaching to the converted since, if you are reading this Bulletin, your address will be correct. So on that happy note, I shall conclude this first Bulletin of 2001. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! Bill Callaway, CFANET Coordinator, Parksville, B.C., Canada ALL RIGHTS RESERVED - Copyright © 2001 Callaway Family Association |