Friday, October 3, 2025

About Questions and Answers

Once upon time, more than a decade ago, I stepped into a little store with “esoteric” type goods. I had never visited it before. The lady who ran the establishment asked me to think of a question/something I wanted to know and next, draw a card from a Tarot card set. She offered  that to every customer who came to her place, to read the Tarot message for that particular person. I told the lady that I did not need that as that was how I felt about it.

The store keeper insisted – she wanted to learn why I said so. So I did draw a card. The message was:  “All the answers are within you”. It was no surprise to me and that was exactly what I thought rejecting the lady’s initial card reading offer. However, the store keeper seemed rather amazed. She said nobody else had drawn that card before. Perhaps not enough persons had come to the place? Who knows.

I do believe that the answers we seek are within us and, surely, I do not mean here the questions related to General Knowledge. That is a totally different matter.

Many people look for the fulfillment and comfort in the outside world only. Whatever they find there, though is temporary and fades away quite quickly. Thus, they need to be constantly surrounded by people and/or make another purchase again, and again, to keep the fulfillment flowing. It is like pouring water into void, a closed circle that never ends.

If you cannot find what you seek out there, perhaps it is time to look within?


It is quite common we choose to blame others for our failures and unsuccessful life. How convenient it is, blaming others and not taking any responsibility for our own life. Does it help us improve anything, though? 

I used to know a lady who had a good job but was not happy with her life. She found it boring and she blamed her parents and her social background for her situation. Whenever I met her, she kept saying she would like to learn a foreign language, join this and that club so that her life could be more interesting and exciting. The time was passing and she did nothing regarding what she was talking about. I came to a conclusion that she enjoyed it all - that narrative, blaming others and using it as an excuse for her own inertia. It grew so old that I stopped meeting her. 

Stop self-pitying. It does not improve anything and leads to nowhere. If you wish to change something in your life, act on it. If one direction does not work, try another one.

Another acquaintance once said, 

“I have been messed up because my father was …. (put an adjective or a noun of a negative meaning here).”


When we were children we could not do much about our life circumstances, I agree to that. Nonetheless, what if those conditions were given to us not as a punishment but as a learning lesson? To learn from them, draw conclusions, and move on?

We are not our parents, you are not your mother, father. You are YOU so be yourself. Each of us is responsible for our own beliefs, thoughts, and emotions. They all carry positive or negative energy, depending on what our beliefs/thoughts are. If you believe you are nothing more than a product of other people’s actions and situations created by them, you are like a steerless boat thrown by the winds and storms of life from one side of the ocean to the other.


Be your life Captain,  bless the ones who you think have harmed you or influenced your life in a negative way. Let them go. Clinging to dark feelings/memories of traumatic moments/the past/ holds you back.  Sending those people negative thoughts is hurting you mentally and physically, not them. Do you really need that? Whatever was, was. Everything has a reason and nothing happens by accident. What we do and how we deal with it is another matter.

It is quite common that when a person happens to make a mistake, they say, “How stupid of me/ how clumsy I am” Are you such a person? Saying so, you express your negative belief about yourself and put yourself in a negative judgment frame. Why should you do that? Everybody makes mistakes, it is part of our lives. However, if you do not believe you are good enough who else will? Nobody.

Look at every moment and other people who surround you as part of life learning process. Somebody claims you will not succeed or are not smart enough? Why should you care? Perhaps they project their own anxiety on you. They are NOT you. If you believe them, you let them lead your life. You are the Captain of your life, your thoughts and beliefs. However you direct them, you direct your reality, as well. Focus on the positive.

Yes, it is possible. Discipline your thoughts. Our mind constantly talks to us, brings doubts and all that gloomy and fatalistic visions which create fear. Mind that hurting others, even if in thoughts only, is a road to self-destruction. Send love to others as whatever we send ripples back to us. It is not fantasy. Remember Physics and “every action creates reaction”?

Let all the grudges and regrets go. The past is the past, gone, the future has not happened, yet. Choose love, peace, harmony and the good. Focus on the current moment. Replace fear with positive thoughts and keep repeating them again and again. Love, Peace, and Harmony. You can create your own positive mantra such as for example, “God loves me and looks after me.” It is all not about any religion. It is about the universal laws of life. Whatever you focus on in your thoughts will amplify in real.  If  the word “God” does not resonate with you, use another one e.g. the Source or the Ultimate Creator. The meaning stays the same: “the source of life and everything that is”.

Be the Captain of your mind, thoughts, and beliefs.

Be the Captain of your life.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

Napoleon B. Breeding & Family - Part 3

28 December 1843 – Napoleon’s father David W Breeding passed.

 14 March 1844Richard Landy, Napoleon's brother, married Miss Artimecia Ware, in Colorado, Texas (4). The lady was born on 17 November 1827, in Gwinnett, Georgia. She was the daughter of Thomas Ware and Phoebe Peeler, sister of  Louisa, John’s wife. Richard Landy ran a mercantile business.


🔹Alexander was born to the couple in about 1846.

1847Fidelio, Napoleon’s brother, sold his share of the father’s estate to brother Benjamin, and in 1848, served with the U.S. Army in the Mexican.

🔹Josephine came to this world in abt. 1848.

👉 1848 – Napoleon owned 1376 acres of land (value $1376) in Colorado County (5).

1849 – Napoleon’s brother Fidelio passed in San Antonio. Together with his brother Benjamin, the man was going to go to California to look for gold.

🔹Cornelia M was born on 9 September 1850.

👉 About 1850 – Charlotte’s brother Alfred left Texas. Alexander, the oldest brother of Charlotte’s came to Texas and settled with his family on the land that belonged to his mother Mary.

🏠 Census 185029 August – the family of Napoleon B. Breeding was recorded in Fayette County. Napoleon was a farmer.   The value of his real estate was given as $2000. Mr. R Wilson, blacksmith, age 37, lived with the family (6).

Among the children registered by the clerk was also Mary Elizabeth, born on 20 January 1836, in Alabama. It seems, she was the first child of Charlotte’s, from her previous marriage to Mr. Temple (7).

 20 January 1853Mary Elizabeth married James L Harwell (8). 

1853Benjamin paid taxes in Fayette County for 3 horses and 60 heads of cattle (9).

In about ♦ 1854 – Napoleon’s mother Sally died.

1 November 1856 – Charlotte’s brother Alexander left this world.

18 July 1859Sarah Jane, age about 17, married Mr. Sidney S. Pollard in La Grange, Fayette, TX (10). He was born in about 1834, in Gonzales County, TX to William Roy Pollard, Sr. and Elvira Smith Pollard.

♦ Daughter Josephine died  by 1860.

🏡 Census 1860, 15th June – Napoleon (age 46), his wife Charlotte (age 40), and children, David (age 20), Benjamin (age 16), Alexander (age 14), and Cornelia (age 9) lived  in Fayette County, TX, Post Office Fayetteville. Napoleon was a farmer. His real estate was worth $1000, and his personal estate value was estimated for $4000.

⇒ Napoleon’s brothers – John (age 52) and Benjamin Wilkens (age 40) lived with their families in the same area, not far from each other (11). John’s wife was Louisa (age 36), the children who lived with them were Columbus (age 16), Sarah (age 14), David (age 12),  John (age 10), Thomas (age 8), Josephine (age 6),  Arthie (age 3), and Robert (age 2). A Mr. W. J. Shakelford (age 25, born in Georgia), a superintendent, lived in the household as well. John’s real estate value given in the record was $5000 and the personal estate was worth $14000.

⇒ John was the County Sheriff until 1840. Following that, he took part in the three month-long campaign against Comanche Indians serving under Colonel John Henry Moore. John and Louisa Park Ware (born on 6 July 1824, born in Gwinnett, Georgia) were married on ⚭ 10 February 1842, in Colorado City, Mitchell, TX (12). John was 34 on the day of their marriage. Louisa was about 16 year younger.

⇒ Benjamin Wilkens fought in the Texas Revolution when he was 16. In 1840, together with Napoleon, he was part of the Comanche campaign.  Two years later, Benjamin participated in the Vasquez and Woll Campaigns.


Benjamin Wilkens Breeding was 32 when he married  Miss Catharine Mayhar on 2 February 1850, in Colorado, Texas (13).

From census 1860: Benjamin W.’s Catherine (age 26) and their kids (according to the 1860 record) were Don R (age 6), Ada (age 5), Fidelio (age 2), and Mary (3 months). Ben was a farmer as well. His real estate was worth $12000 and his personal estate value was given as $10000.


Clipping source:
 The True Issue. (La Grange, Tex.), Vol. 9, No. 41, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 23, 1859newspaperJuly 23, 1859; La Grange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1294586/accessed September 20, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Fayette Public Library, Museum and Archives.

👉 It seems by the end of 1660, Napoleon’s wife had been registered as the owner of their property as it was her name only that appeared in the County taxes records. Perhaps, Napoleon’s health deteriorated (?). Anyhow, by then, the number of their cattle had risen to 75 heads. They also had 5 horses (14).

Napoleon Bonaparte (Pole) Breeding passed on 22 January 1861 (15).

TBC

---

Other Posts about Napoleon B. Breeding

Part 1 - Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding & Family

Part 2 - the letter related to Snively Expedition

---

This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas"

Sources:

1.      4.  "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-45M5 : Sun Jul 07 08:13:52 UTC 2024), Entry for Richard L Bruding and Artimecia Ware, 14 Mar 1844.

2.      5.  "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8P-SWGV : Sat Mar 09 11:47:59 UTC 2024), Entry for Napoleon Breeding, 1848.

3.      6.  "United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-SCG : Wed Jan 22 11:54:19 UTC 2025), Entry for N B Breeding and Charlott Breeding, 1850.

4.      7.  Findagrave.com

5.      8. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-71LS : Fri Jul 12 01:51:14 UTC 2024), Entry for James L Harwell and Mary E Breeding, 20 Jan 1853.

6.      9.  "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4QKS : Wed Mar 06 17:07:17 UTC 2024), Entry for Sharlotte Breeding, 1853.

7.     10. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-WZ7B : Fri Mar 08 06:08:33 UTC 2024), Entry for S S Pollard and Sarah J Breeding, 18 Jul 1859.

8.     11.  "United States, Census, 1860", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFY-YLQ : Mon Jul 08 23:33:36 UTC 2024), Entry for N B Breeding and Sharlot Breeding, 1860.

9.   12. "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-2010", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV14-4XM5 : Thu Apr 17 16:44:28 UTC 2025), Entry for John Breeding and Louisa P Nare, 10 Feb 1842.

"T  13. Texas, County Marriage Index, 1837-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK8T-K53W : Wed Jul 10 10:55:55 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin W Breeding and Catharin Mayhar, 02 Feb 1852.

1014.  "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-4NK3 : Fri Mar 08 22:49:33 UTC 2024), Entry for Charlotte Breeding, 1860.

11115.   "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVG4-4H4S : Mon Mar 17 22:59:06 UTC 2025), Entry for Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding.


Sunday, September 14, 2025

Napoleon B. Breeding - Part 2

 In 1843, Napoleon was part of Snively Expedition.

The note you can read below was posted by the Expedition participants (including napoleon and his uncle Benjamin Wilkens) to clear misconceptions that arose around the Expedition purpose/circumstances.





Source: Cruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 44, Ed. 1, Wednesday, October 18, 1843newspaperOctober 18, 1843; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48256/accessed September 12, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

TBC

---

Other Posts

Part 1 - Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding & Family

---

This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas"

Friday, September 12, 2025

Napoleon Bonaparte & Charlotte Breeding + Family

I learned about the couple from a history piece on the pavement when we visited La Grange, Fayette, Texas. I thought I would find out more about the couple. The research brought six pages of information related to Napoleon, Charlotte, and their relatives. I decided to break it into a series of posts, and here is the first one.


Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding came to this world in 1815, in Christian County, Kentucky. He was the third son of David W Breeding (born in 1776 in Virginia) and Sally Davis (born in abt. 1771 in Virginia).

His brothers were 

John, born on 16 October 1807, in Virginia

Richard Landy, born on 15 October 1810 in Kentucky,

Fidelio Sharp, born in 1818 in Kentucky,

Benjamin Wilkens, born on 10 January 1820, in Kentucky,

and Davis, born/died in 1828, in Kentucky.

👉 Mr. David W Breeding his wife and five sons came to Texas in 1832/1833. Napoleon was about 18 then. The family found his home in Mina Municipality along Cummins Creek.

In the second half of the year 1833, Napoleon’s cousins joined the family in Texas. They were George W., Edward Judson, James, and Gustavus, the sons of John breeding and Elizabeth Russell. John Breeding, the brother of David W., passed on 16 July 1833, his wife Elizabeth died earlier, in about 1827.

The boys attended the only school in the area – run in a log cabin on the land that belonged to the breeding family.

👉 In December 1835, Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding was a second sergeant and, together with Thomas  Alley’s Company, he fought in the siege of Bexar. Both Napoleon and his brother John served as Texas Rangers. Later, from 1835 to 1836, the man served in the Texas Army. At first, he was with Capt. William J. E. Heard’s company, however, due to an illness the man did not fight  in the Battle of San Jacinto (*). John, his brother was ill then as well, they both stayed in the camp. In the next year, Napoleon was with Steven Thousand’s company.

 14 December 1837Fayette County was created. Mr. David breeding served on the first Board of the Land Commissioners and was a juror during the first  session of the District Court.


Clipping sourceCruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 3, No. 1, Ed. 1, Saturday, December 16, 1837newspaperDecember 16, 1837; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth47965/accessed September 12, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

⇒ 1 January 1838John, Napoleon’s brother, was elected the first Fayette County Sheriff and soon received 1/3 league of land there.

⚭ On 19 January 1838, 23 year-old Napoleon B. Breeding married Miss Charlotte O’Bar  (born on 7 May 1818, in Alabama). It happened in Fayette County, Texas. Their marriage was the first one recorded in the county (1).  Charlotte was the daughter of John O’Bar (native of Ireland, born in 1778) and Mary E Reed (born in Virginia in 1782).

---

John O’Bar, Charlotte's father,  passed before 1837. In September 1837, Ms. Mary O’Bar came to Fayette County area, Texas with her children (Lucinda + husband Thomas Hodges, John + wife Nancy, Carson, Alfred, and Charlotte) and grandchildren. 

Charlotte stayed at home with her mother Mary who was granted 1280 acres of land in Warrenton Community.

---

⇒ In 1837, Richard Landy, Napoleon's brother,  hauled lead for the government. On 2 February 1838, he received payment from the land Commissioners – 1/3 league of land in the Fayette County.

🔹1838 -  on 5th August, Napoleon and Charlotte’s first son, David S. was born.

👉 22 October 1838 – Napoleon breeding served as a juror during the first session of the District Court. Later, he was also was part of  the first Grand Jury.

👉 1838 – Napoleon  paid taxes (2)  in Colorado County for 1 horse (worth $40) and 7 heads of cattle (worth $100).

🔹Sarah Jane was born to Napoleon and Charlotte a year later, in 1839.

In the same year, Napoleon had 4 tracts of land in Fayette County (3).


Clipping source: Cruger & Moore. Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 7, Ed. 1, Wednesday, July 31, 1839newspaperJuly 31, 1839; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48064/accessed September 12, 2025), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.

1840 Lucinda, Charlotte’s sister died.

July 1842, her brother John passed.

🔹In 1843, the second son, Benjamin J. , was born to the family of Napoleon and Charlotte's.

TBC

---

More about the Family

N B Breeding - Snively Expedition

Napoleon Bonaparte Breeding and Family - Part 3

---

This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas"

Sources:

"Daugthers of Republic of Texas. Patriot Ancestor " Album vol.1 - Turner Publishing Company, 1995

• Fayette County Founders

1. "Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6YT-RTG : 22 January 2020), Napoleon B. Breeding, 1838.

2. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8P-S3RM : Sun Mar 10 14:13:48 UTC 2024), Entry for Napolean B Breeding, 1838.

3. "Texas, County Tax Rolls, 1837-1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ85-WYZN : Sat Mar 09 09:51:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Napoleon B Breeding, 1839.


---
This post is part of our series "They Lived in Texas"  dedicated to those ones (their families and descendants) who at some point in their lives relocated to Texas/lived in Texas.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025

V-J Day at Local Museum

on 2 September, we attended a very interesting V-J Day Commemorative Event at the local museum - National Museum of the Pacific War. We were glad we had found out about it and were able to participate.


With the buffet treats and drinks, in a way, it was as if we had celebrated the end of the war 80 years ago (considering that, according to quantum physics, past, presence, and future happen at the same time, now).

The program of the commemoration, with the national Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance was quite patriotic.


The presence of the two WWII made it all quite special.


From the right (in white shirts) - Mr. Donald Graves and Mr. Ken Jones (USS Colorado veteran).


Introduction by Mr. David Shields, the Museum Director,


was followed by the lecture delivered by Mr. Jonathan Parshall.


During the event, I thought about my grandfather Józef, who was a POW and then a labor camp for five years of WW2.



We were honored to meet Mr. Donald Graves - Iwo Jima survivor.

Corporal Graves was a flamethrower of the 5th Marine Division, 28th Regiment, 2nd Battalion Dog Company. He was 17 when he joined the US Marine Corps in 1942.

An expected survival time of a flamethrower at Iwo Jima was 4 minutes. Miraculously, Mr. Graves lived through the battle with no harm to his body. You can learn more about the man from the interview with Mr. Graves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=N6naKvmyWAw

PS

Listening to the lecture mentioned above, I realized that at the history classes I had attended in my childhood (Easter European block), it was never mentioned  the Soviet entered Japan after the A bombs were dropped on the country by the US. I thought I might be wrong so asked my sister about that. She confirmed that she had not been taught about that either.

Friday, August 29, 2025

Universe Is Speaking Again

We were to watch a movie and I was planning to do some ironing while watching the show. The film began when I was still getting my “ironing station” ready. The very first scene of the movie - the characters of the show exchanged the lines:

- “I am making coffee. Are you coming?”

- “No, thank you. I have some ironing to do”.

How did they know I was about to start doing the latter as well? It was a musical and had nothing to do with ironing. We just laughed and laughed at it.


Sunday, August 24, 2025

About General Knowledge

When I was working with students, I often tended to hear their questions or incorrect answer to various questions. That was no surprise – the kids were learning, gaining their knowledge and had a lot to process.

These days , meeting with various people (who are mature, often with college degrees, who have traveled to many places in the world, and, in many cases, held important position at their work places), I am repeatedly stunned with “thunders” our interlocutors throw from time to time. 

Here are some examples: 

- The word "Colombian" relates to a coffee brand (no clue that Colombia is a country?).
- There is no such city in Mississippi as Greenville – from a person who originates in that state and lived in Mississippi for many decades (well, I checked, Greenville is the county seat of Washington County, MS) .
- Yuma? – from a person who has lived in Arizona for some years and still lives there – they did not know what we were talking about – they had never heard of Yuma, AZ.
- A song in English which lyrics mention “Zulu” and “Africa” is a Polish song and relates to Polish traditions – according to a native American-English speaker.
- Chianti? Is it a dance? (no, it is a type of wine)
- “I did not know you have corn in Poland.” (???)

I am aware that no human is all-knowing and I am no different in that matter. No judgment here – I do not write about it to criticize anybody, simply do not know what to think about such peculiarities considering those persons experiences and education.

Talking about general knowledge - I am aware I have forgotten a lot of information we were expected to memorize when I was going to school. In the school system I have experienced, all the school subjects were mandatory – there were no optional ones. Most of them were purely theoretical. Even at Chemistry classes it was all about learning by heart, no practical experiments at all. Although I did not complain about that then, the level of knowledge expected to be digested by us, students, was often beyond general. Since I was not going to become a chemist, I did not have the heart to fill my mind with all the atomic numbers of each end every chemical element  (which was required by our Chemistry teacher). I remembered only a few, the most useful ones regarding solving chemical equations. 


I must admit that my approach brought me some difficulties during written tests - when we were to solve given chemical problems and were not allowed to use any reference resources beside our brains. Anyhow, nowadays, of all the atomic numbers, I can only recall 1 - the atomic number of Hydrogen.

Another example - in Physics, we needed to memorize not only the SI units terminology. The older system of units was preferred by our teacher. Why? Nobody knew. The lady just liked it better.

Within the years, a lot of what I was taught/learned has faded away. Not everything, though. Occasionally, I exercise my gray cells trying to remind myself this and that. An example here are the names of the countries and their capital cities which we also had to memorize when we studied a particular continent. Then, we were expected to recite the names and show those countries and cities on the map. I did not like that part - any hesitation was disapproved by the teacher. Besides that, during tests, we were given a diagram of the continent we currently studied and was told to complete it with the names – countries and capital cities again. 

As I said before, the knowledge that has not been used fades away. However, it does not disappear completely. When I look up the names of capitals cities I cannot recall, they seem obvious and come back again.


Every day, no matter how old we are, learning opportunities come to us. Whether we are or we are not open to them is a totally different matter.

Thursday, August 21, 2025

Buford J Ellison

 Today's "They Live in Texas" entry is also our WWII August memorial post.

🎕

Beauford Jefferson Ellison was born on 10 August 1922, in Wichita Falls, Wichita, Texas  His parents were  James Thomas Ellison and Vada Zelma Knight (1, 2).

Later, the original spelling of the boy’s name was changed to Buford.

In 1930, little Buford lived with his siblings and parents in Precinct #1, Wichita, TX. The siblings were Thomas  Jefferson (age 14) and Helen Alene (age 4). Mr. James Buford was a laborer at a stock ranch (3).

Seven years later, Buford’s brother, Marvin Burnell was born.

From the records - it seems that , when he left school, Buford most likely did various jobs. In 1940 census, there is a record of Jefferson B. Ellison who lived in Hartley, Texas, in the house of J. B. Bagwell. Jefferson B. worked as a waiter in a café owned by Mr. Bagwell (4).

27 June 1942 – Buford lived at 600 N. Grant, in Odessa, Ector, TX. He was unemployed. On that day, he was drafted (WWII time). The young man was 5 feet 6 tall, weighted 130 lbs., had blonde hair, and  brown eyes. His complexion was described in the draft paper as ”ruddy”. Buford’s mom lived in Hawley then (5).


Buford J Ellison was enrolled into the Air Force where he became a B-24 J engineer. He served with 866th Bomber Squadron, 494th Bomb Group and was part of the “Lonesome Lady”  bomber crew.

On 28 July 1945, they flew on a mission to the Japan area. The plane crashed on a tree near Hiroshima. All the crew members (besides one) survived. They were soon arrested and taken to the local police station. A few days later, on 6 August, Buford perished  - killed by the A bomb blast.


His fate was unknown for a long time. 


🎕

Sergeant Buford J. Ellison was awarded

World War II Victory Medal,

Purple Heart,

American Campaign Medal, 

 Army Presidential Unit Citation, 

Army Good Conduct Medal,  and Prisoner of War Medal.


We learned about Mr. Buford and other American POW who were imprisoned in Hiroshima in August 1945, at the documentary ("Paper Lanterns") screening event at the local Museum of the Pacific War.

Book by Mr. Mori - the documentary is based on.

---

Sources:

1. "Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDPK-Q74 : Tue Feb 25 15:36:35 UTC 2025), Entry for Beaufard Ellison, 10 Aug 1922.
2. "Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4L8F-DY3Z : 14 February 2020), Buford Jefferson Ellison, 1922.
3. "United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HLJK-93Z : Thu Mar 07 03:25:52 UTC 2024), Entry for James T Ellison and Vada Z Ellison, 1930.
4. "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWK2-DR8 : Wed Jan 22 08:20:02 UTC 2025), Entry for T B Bagwell and Jefferson B Ellison, 1940.
5. "Texas, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1947", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3X-YX61 : Mon Apr 21 20:50:51 UTC 2025), Entry for Buford Jefferson Ellison and Vada Ellison Hawley, 27 Jun 1942.
6. https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-59758/, 
7. Honorstates.org
8. Familysearch.org

Friday, August 15, 2025

About Clouds & More

 The skies looked different on that day. The clouds were lower than usual, and seemed to be placed in void above our heads, just hanging there. 



They appeared 3-dimensional and quite plump. Looking straight at them, you could see all other sides of those cloud formations, as well. In addition to that, unusually bright colors lightened up the clouds of many various, strong shapes.


We were on the road again. It was so nice to stare at those clouds and admire the beauty of the sight.


At some moment, we noticed a pretty rainbow in front of us, in the mist of the clouds. We were driving towards it. Both of us were amazed by the view and the sudden appearance of the rainbow. At the same time, we heard the words coming from our music player,

“(…) Rhymes that keep their secrets
Will unfold behind the clouds
And there upon the rainbow
Is the answer to a never ending story(…)”

The rainbow is hardly visible in the picture - it was much clearer to see in real,  with our own eyes

It all was quite heart-touching. What a breath-taking coincidence it was. We were astonished  – the rainbow just in front of us and then, the lines of the song* played again,

“(...) Rhymes that keep their secrets
Will unfold behind the clouds
And there upon the rainbow
Is the answer to a never ending story (...)”. 

---

*The lyrics come from the song: “Never Ending Story”, made popular by Limahl in 1984.

Saturday, August 9, 2025

My Polish Alphabet: "S" for Seagulls

 Today, a more down to earth-type topic.

When we came back to Poland  and were staying at my “old” place,  one thing surprised me then – I heard some weird noise outside the window -  again and again. I could hear it even when the windows were closed. To my astonishment,  I realized it was the sound of the seagulls flying around the house. What was strange about that?


The thing is, when I had used to live there, for all those decades,  I hardly noticed the sound those birds made. Obviously, I was aware of the constant presence of those birds in our area, however, I did not hear them that often.  My mind simply learned to not pay attention to that noise.  All in all, at that time, I  tended to notice the seagulls’ calls more often, when I happened to be closer to the sea. 

It reminded me the summer, when my aunt once visited.  I was little then. The lady complained then that she could not sleep in the night. The sound of the trolleybuses going along the street near our house kept her awake. Well, it did not bother us at all. Being used to the trolleybuses, we did not pay attention to the sound they made. Anyhow, strange how the human mind works.

Well, no seagulls where I live now (and no trolleybuses either). 

Another “S” is for seagulls in “My Polish Alphabet”.

Seagulls at the Sopot pier, in Poland

---

"My Polish Alphabet" is about things, places, and people that come to my mind when I think about Poland.


Monday, August 4, 2025

James J Harper

 


In the book I have studied*, among many men, James J Harper is mentioned.

James was a resident of Polk County, TX. He enlisted into the CA on 14 May 1862. The man was a Private (1), he served with Company F, the 22nd Regiment Texas Infantry (Hubbard’s Regiment). In November 1862, he was reported sick at Camp Nelson in Arkansas. James did not recover. He passed on 17th November of the same year and was buried at Camp Nelson Cemetery in Cabot, Arkansas.

The note mentions James’ wife Susannah who received $80.42 from the CA Treasure Department after the man’s passing. It was the soldier’s earnings.

According to James’ military record, he was born in 1833 (2). I tried to find out more about James J. Harper and his family. Here are the results of my research.

I did not know where James was born so I looked for him in various states. It appeared the name James Harper was quite common as I found quite a few men by that name, who were born in 1833 in Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama, among others..

However, 3 things needed to add up: James’ estimated year of birth, the name of his wife, and the place of residence in 1862 – Polk County, TX.

The only more clear record was the birth of Nancy Ann E Harper, the daughter of James J Harper and Susanna O’Neal. Nancy was born on 12 August 1862, in Polk County, TX (3, 4).

It led me to James J Harper born in Alabama.

He was the son of Benjamin Hale Harper and Nancy Jane Standley. James’ mother died early and his father remarried. In 1850, the family of Mr. Benjamin Harper, a farmer, lived in Henry, Alabama (5). The family was – wife Elizabeth (age 38, born in NC), Sarah Jane (age 18), James (age 15) + children from the second marriage Benjamin Hale (age 13), Wilson (age 11), Malinda (age 9), Eliza (age 7), Washington (age 7), Joseph (age 3), and William (age 2).

James started his own family in 1859, on 21 March. He married 18-year-old Miss Susannah O’Neal (6), who was born on 19 April 1840, in South Carolina and was the daughter of James Henry O’Neal and Sarah Jane Hill. 

As you can see, the record mentions James S Harper - not James J (?)

James and Susannah’s marriage took place in Henry County, Alabama.  Susanna was the bride’s middle name. Her first name was Charlotte.

Sometime after the marriage, the couple came to Texas. I tried to find him in the 1860 records. However, he might have come to Texas later, possibly in 1861.

James never saw his daughter Nancy, who was born a few months after he was enrolled in the CA.


Sources:

* "There never were such men before: the Civil War soldiers and veterans of Polk County, Texas, 1861-1865". Ruth Peebles, Livingston, TX, Polk County Historical Commission, 1987. 

1. Soldiers and sailors

2. "Texas, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ4L-K77 : Thu Feb 13 18:52:41 UTC 2025), Entry for James J Harper, 1862.

3. Findagrave

4. "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1977", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KSBN-P82 : Tue Jun 10 00:01:01 UTC 2025), Entry for Nancy Ann Jackson and James J Harper, 20 March 1937.

5. "United States, Census, 1850", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH5M-LRQ : Thu Jan 16 23:55:33 UTC 2025), Entry for Benjamin Harper and Elizabeth Watts Harper, 1850.

6. "Alabama County Marriages, 1711-1992", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZS-FG6K : Tue Mar 05 05:08:42 UTC 2024), Entry for James S. Harper and Susannah O Neal, 21 Mar 1859.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Movies & More

Two days ago, we were watching a movie while our evening meal was getting cooked in the oven. When the sound of the timer buzzed in the kitchen, telling us that the food is ready, a character in the movie we watched said, "Sit down, we'll have dinner."

So I took out the meal out of the oven and we did - sat down and had dinner.

That was some of the synchronicities that have often happened to us.

A few more TV related examples? Here they are:

Once we watched a horror. Well, rarely we do. After that, we switched off the TV set, and I turned the radio on. The first words that we heard were "You just can't kill the beast." It was the "Hotel California" song going on quite coincidently. 

 It was an old movie telling the story about Fatima and the Holy Mary appearances there. At some point the crowd in the show was shouting, "Give us a sign, give us a sign!" They gathered at the place where Holy Mary had made herself visible to the 3 children. At the moment when they finished shouting their "give us a sign", a thunder struck behind our window. We were stunned as the skies were perfectly clear on that day.

 One day, I looked up the meaning of an old English word which is very rarely used in the spoken language these days. Later, we watched a randomly chosen movie. One of the very first words said in that movie was the one I had looked up on that day.

I could go on and on with that - on my husband's birthday - a randomly chosen movie again - in the very beginning of it, the characters sang "Happy Birthday" to one of the persons in the plot.

Well, does it ever happen to you?