Independence Day

Let me ask you this, does England have a July 4th? Yep, they do! Silly question, I know. It's the Fourth of July and the work has begun. Toyia started her cooking on friday evening. I guess she's getting a head start on her feast. Yes, tradition continues -- there will be a family meal today. I do like to eat up a bunch food on days like today. Hell yeah I do!!! I enjoy it more when I have little or no cooking to do. This year I will help on a few things. Mom requested I make sweet potato pudding. I have made it before, but never for July 4th. It's not what we'd normally have. There will be the old favorites; barbeque ribs, chicken, burgers and brats. I'm sure Toyia "the barbeque queen" will put a few ears of corn on the grill, too. I like that. While preparing and then enjoying our delicious meal and good time together, there will be tales of holidays and relatives long past. Family history and traditions will be told by the "wise ones" and passed to the young ones to tell at future gatherings. Years from now, when some of us are gone or just plain OLD, Maurice will share these stories with his family. I know I'll be there to make certain he tells them correctly. This is a photo (one of my favorites) of Ethyl Johnson Cooley, with her sister-in-law Victoria Cooley Cogwell and friends. They were known to take many roadtrips throughout the midwest in the 1920's. The location of this picture may be Chicago or Minneapolis.

F.Y.I.

I want you to take a look at the older posts. I have added a few new pictures to some of them. Here are some pics of the fam.

Happy Birthday Zoe!!!

Go Zoey, it's your birthday! Happy Birthday Zoe Elizabeth. The little Princess is seven years old today. Zoe is the great-granddaughter of Eugene "Eckie Bud" and Helen Cooley. Something interesting happened the last time we were together. After having a large breakfast at Perkins, it was time for us to leave. Zoe and I played while waiting for the rest of the family. We were having a good time, just the two Cooley cousins. I happened to turn my head and noticed an elderly white woman looking at us. She looked at me as though I was a predator preying on this small child. It appeared as though she wanted to say or do something. I'm glad she didn't. She was dead wrong and I would have snapped her right up! I was playing with my cousin Zoe and making her laugh. I guess to look at us it would not be so obvious that we're related. No matter - she's mine and I am hers. Sometimes you have to overlook the ignorance of others. This taught me to let the love of my family be known to everyone. Zoe is the great-great-great-great granddaughter of Lacy and Aggie Cooley. I am their great-great-great grandson. It doesn't matter if all of my family "looks like me" or not, we have that common bond -- Cooley blood. I love you, Zoe. Happy Birthday to you. You are my little Princess.

Happy Birthday Jessica!!!

Happy Birthday, Jessica. Jess is the great-granddaughter of Eugene and Helen (nee Anderson) Cooley. I have witnessed first hand her ability to speak her mind, "the Cooley way." I see a promising future for this young lady. I have to teach her one small thing; I require a complete pound of bacon for breakfast. I don't usually share, but I will her. Stick with me, Jess. I'll make sure there is plenty of bacon.

Anna Belle Burns Lites Harris

On March 19, 1907, Anna Belle Burns was born to thirteen year old Victoria Cooley and thirty-eight year old Lee Burns in Bevier, Missouri. Lee was married with children and couldn't provide much help to Victoria for the care of their baby. To earn money, Victoria begin working in the kitchen of the local train station. After living with Uncle Harry and his family for three years (more on him later), Anna Belle was sent to live with her grandfather George Cooley, his wife Mary, and their three children; Edward, Curtis and Georgia Elizabeth.

By 1920, Anna Belle had moved to Des Moines with her mother and stepfather. It was about this time Anna Belle showed an interest in painting. She allowed her artistic talent to become a job for her. She found work painting china in department stores in downtown Des Moines. Anna Belle would continue hand painting china until her retirement. Anna Belle had two marriages in the course of her life. The first was to a man know only as "Lites." Mr Lites first name is unknown. For a brief time she and her husband lived in Detroit. Anna Belle had moved back to Des Moines when the marriage ended. Her second to Ike Harris lasted much longer. They stayed married until his death. Anna Belle had no children, but loved the children of cousin Edward and his wife Ethyl Cooley. Vel, Dideo, Eckie Bud, Maxine, their children and grandchildren were recipients of her love. From an early age she saw strength and unity in family. Her favorite quote was, "Don't do as I do, do as I say do." Wise words from a wise woman.

Vicki's Kids

Collectively, we are know as "Vicki's Kids." Of course we three have our very own unique
personalities. Thank God. A couple of things we do have in common are music and dancing.

I don't remember the exact year, but I clearly remember dancing with Toyia and Tony in our dining room at 914 Carroll. The Jackson 5 were on Carol Burnett and we couldn't sit and watch the show. We had to get up and do the bump and the robot like Michael, Jackie, Marlon, Tito's big ass, Jermaine and Randy were doing. I'm sure anyone that remembers watching the show would also recall getting up and dancing as well. The Jackson five were the "IT" group, period.


Michael was always, ALWAYS a talented performer. We may not have all wanted to be him, but we sure as shit wanted to dance just like him. I found a clip of the performance on YouTube. I'm posting it here, because when I think of Michael, I think how one saturday evening, in the 1970's My sister, brother and I were on one accord. For that moment were not growing "thought we were smart-ass" kids, but three people so enjoying the performance, we had to get up and dance. That was a good time for us. It has been a couple of years since the three of us have danced together. We last danced together in 2006. I feel it's time we danced again.

I'm Still Waiting

Hey fam! I wish I could report something about the reunion, but this year's organizer has not given me any information. This proves to be a little frustrating. We'd all like to know what's going on, for the purpose of planning for the event. I will make another attempt this weekend to get some answers. Hang in there! When I know something I'll be certain to post that information here.

Mary Washington Cooley

I think we've all heard the story of the beginnings of our family in the small town of Coaling (also known as "Cooley"), Alabama. We're familiar with the Cooley side of the story, but this tidbit is about the Washington side of the family. The Washingtons, who are they? I'll tell you what I know. George Washington (He was named for which great American?) and his wife Gracie (nee Hargrove) had settled there to raise their family. Like the Cooleys, the Washingtons were a farming family. They were blessed with four daughters; Calladonia, Mary (born June 1874), Julia and Elizabeth. Once she was old enough, Mary would marry her neighbor, George Cooley in 1893. While living in Alabama the couple would have three children, but only two survived; Edward born in 1895 and Curtis born in 1899. In the early part of the twentieth century, the family would move to Missouri, where George would find work as a coal miner. This is where their daughter, Georgia Elizabeth "Lizzie" was born in 1904. George and Mary would move their family to Iowa in 1910, eventually settling in Enterprise. Unfortunately, Mary would not live to see her children grow up. She died in May of 1917. She is buried in Elmhurst Cemetery in Des Moines, Iowa.

Yes, We're Having A Family Reunion

I spoke with Armon and he assures me we're having a reunion this year. It's going to be in September. He's going to contact me with further information. I will be certain to forward the dates, times and location to the family. We shall see what it will be.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! For all the fathers, father-like figures and the mothers that carried the load and made a way, this one is for you! Spend some time kicking back, relaxing and enjoying the day. I'm not a parent, but I plan to enjoy the day. Someone is going to barbeque and I want some! This is your day, dads. Enjoy it.

The Fathers from top to bottom; Edward Cooley, Marvin Cooley, Eugene Cooley, J. Walter Thompson and son Dennis, Tony and son Anthony

A Couple of Cooley Cousins

I gave myself a day away from here. I wanted to ensure I'd have something fresh, or at the very least, interesting to write. Yeah well, it didn't work the way I thought it would. There are so many stories about the family I want to tell. My problem, which one do I tell??? While I think about it, here's a bit of news. Today, Bud's grand-daughter (Maria) and Velt's grandson, (Yours Truly) will spend some time together. We've not seen the other since the family reunion. A fun time will be had by all, I'm sure. Of course I'll take pictures. Oh -- that's a hint. I need more pics, family!!!

Helen Johnson

Edward and Pinkie (nee Doolen) Johnson had three children; Ethyl, Helen and Rex. This is Helen Johnson's Iowa Census card from 1915. What we learn from this card is Helen's age; 13, place of birth; Missouri, number of years in school; 9, residence; Enterprise, Iowa and number of years in Iowa; 1. Helen has been described as having an outgoing personality, long blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Unfortunately there are no pictures of her. Helen's life was a brief one. She was injured while playing with her classmates in Enterprise. Feeling better care could be given to her in town, she moved to Des Moines, with her newly married sister, Ethyl. It was there that she died. Helen Johnson is buried in Elmhurst Cemetery.