C. T. Suddeth

MLK Day (Monday, January 16)

In honor of Martin Luther King Junior, who preached non-violence, but violence ended his life. Though some progress has been made in his dreams, we still have a long way to go.

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This photo is a European flax mill for linen production. My triple-great grandfather, Jared Suddeth, died in an 1860 flax mill fire in Leota, Indiana. The fire was bad enough that the farm was abandoned that year. Anyone who has knowledge of flax mills/linen production is welcome to contact me. I know nothing. His wife, Nancy Moore Suddeth, was an Irish immigrant who may have brought the art of linen making with her. (she is my triple-great grandmother)

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Dartmoor National Park is a mixture of uplands and peat bogs in south Devon England. (The river Dart runs through an area of moors) It also home to pixies and Dartmoor ponies. [my 8^th great-grandmother Marie Southwood Sudduth born about 1620 in nearby Exeter, Devon]

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My late wife Suzanne Fisher Suddeth was born on December 12 in Huntington, West Virginia and grew up in Russel, Greenup County, Kentucky. Love is forever.

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Old cars: My grandparents, Orval & Mary Pait lived on a small farm on Charleston Pike, near Jeffersonville, Indiana. When I was small, they owned a used 1950 Chrysler—I was proud of that car. Later they bought a 1954 Ford—by then lots of grandkids turned the car into a shambles. Neither car was flashy—these were church people. Sweet memories.

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Hartford Connecticut holds in May an annual Hooker Day Parade and Foundation Festival to honor Thomas Hooker, its founder, and yes, a play on names. Must be the only Hooker parade anywhere. He’s my 10^th great grandfather—I would love to attend.

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Thomas Hooker (1586 Leicestershire, England-1647 Hartford) left Massachusetts after conflict with Puritans in 1636 and founded Connecticut and Hartford. A congregationalist minister, he wrote several books and helped draft a Connecticut constitution, the first in the world to form a government. Famous descendants include Vice President Aaron Burr, President William Taft, painter George Catlin, financier J. P Morgan, publisher Frank Doubleday, John Turner Sargent Jr. current book publisher, and me (he’s my 10th great grandfather).

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My 12^th great grandmother Susannah Pym Hooker 1564 Amersham England – 1631 Tilton England.

Grandchildren accused 1692 Salem Witchcraft Trials: Frances and Anne Palgrave plus 2 others unknown names. None died as far as I can tell.

Her son, Thomas Hooker, founded Connecticut.

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Now and then

Leota, Scott County, Indiana, my grandfather, Lawrence Suddeth was born there in 1883, moved away 1888, but this store was surely familiar to him. The first photo is about 1902 and the other is recent. The old store looks taller, likely a façade, false front to make it appear 2-stories. Store likely dates from Civil War—from about 1860 to 1880 was a bustling town—school, canning plant, post office. Now it is a few homes and churches.

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Leota is in Scott County, Indiana, between Vienna and Salem. From 1830 to 1888, my family owned a farm here. My grandfather, Lawrence Morticle Suddeth, was born here but couldn’t find the farm years later with my father. If anyone knows the location, I would love to know. July 1863, Moran’s Raider passed through here, stealing horses and forcing local folks to cook for them.

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