A New Hampshire Easter Medly

Posted on 23 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Happy Easter Everyone!

Even though it may not feel like Spring, a few days ago on March 20th, the vernal equinox occurred, ushering in this new season. While growing up in New Hampshire, Easter was the date that we officially recognized Spring had arrived, even if we had a light dusting of snow on our Easter bonnets.

To personally celebrate this event, I’ve collected blog articles from past years relating to Spring. Enjoy!

Janice

-Bill West: Not Only Does He Now Have 49 Ways To Use a Flutaphone, He Also Writes About Easter–

-Not New Hampshire: Roscoe E. Rodda, Inventor of Peeps (1862-aft 1930)–

–New Hampshire’s Haruspices of Spring–

-Poem: “Spring,” by Kathi Webster–

-Tulips – Spring is Coming to New Hampshire–

-Easter-themed stories at Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi–

-Easter mentioned at Smoky Mountain Family Historian–

-Easter on Ancestories–

-Easter at Destination: Austin Family–

–Welcome Spring! at kinexxions–

Posted in Current Events, Genealogy, History | 2 Comments

Easter Census Whacking

Posted on 21 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Taking my queue from Randy Seaver's “Census Whacking” series, I've decided to celebrate Easter in a new way.  In addition to the more religious symbols, chicks and bunnies are often what we think of as being connected with this spring holiday.

Among some of the interesting names found in the United States Census:

Carry Chick–in 1900 living in Somerville MA, a NH native
Carrie I. Chick–in 1900 living in Madison, Carroll County, New Hampshire
Ima I. Chick–not a New Hampshire native, but cute nonetheless, in 1920 living in Laguna, California
Isreal Chick–as opposed to a fake one? In 1810 living in Hinsdale, Cheshire Co. NH
(Actually Thomas Chick, the immigrant ancestor, was b. abt 1641 in Devon England, and removed to the American Colonies, where he married and died in Kittery, York Co., Maine.)

North Carolina appears to be the most Easterish state… in 1910 I found both an Easter Bunny and an Easter Lilly living there.

And last, but certainly not least….

Am Easter–in 1860 living in Plymouth, Grafton County, NH [I suspect this should be “Ann”, however the census taker clearly wrote “Am”]

Chris Dunham of The Genealogue recently posted his own version of census whacking.

Janice

-New Hampshire Census Whacking-

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Manchester New Hampshire Physician, Civic Leader and Politician: Zatae L. (Longsdorff) Straw (1866-1955)

Posted on 19 March, 2008 by Janice Brown
Dr. Zatae L. Straw

Dr. Zatae L. Straw, likeness from “The Granite Monthly”

Zatae Leola (Longsdorff) Straw, M.D. was a strong, outspoken woman who experienced many “firsts” in her life.  She was a trend-setter and role-model for other women of her age.  The daughter of a physician, she was born in 1866 in Pennsylvania, and died in 1955 in Manchester, New Hampshire. She was the first female graduate of Dickinson College in 1887. While at Dickinson, she was the first woman to win the Pierson Oratorial prize.She loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter. She encouraged walking as a healthy pastime, and in March of 1927 walked 18 miles between Manchester and Concord NH to attend a legislative meeting–covering the distance in four hours. Continue reading →

Posted in New Hampshire Politics, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cow Hampshire: Celebrating My Second Anniversary

Posted on 17 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

There are many ways to celebrate an anniversary. In this particular case no champagne will be sipped, no cake and ice cream devoured, and no candles lit.  There are however always gifts to be exchanged.   

At least every other day for the past two years, I have posted articles about people, places and events in New Hampshire history. Although it has been suggested that I redirect this energy to writing books instead, I continue to give freely of my time and research to my readers throughout the world (my gift to you).

And in return, I daily am reminded how small the world really is, how closely related we all are to each other (your gift to me).  I have also learned that history has a tendency to repeat itself.

During the past two years the number of blog visitors has grown exponentially. Sitemeter reported that 8,291 unique visitors read Cow Hampshire in January of 2008. Just a year ago (January 2007) this site had 3,610 unique visits. Both then and now about 80% of the visitors are brand new to Cow Hampshire.

A keyword search using the Google search engine is the most popular method of arriving here.  Between 11 AM and 8 PM is the most popular time to visit.

The top three (all-time most popular) articles viewed this year were:
– Francestown New Hampshire Motorcycle Inventor: Sylvester Howard Roper (1823-1896)
– Webster New Hampshire Author and Illustrator: Tashua Tudor aka Starling (Burgess) McCready (1915-living)
– Gilmanton New Hampshire Serial Killer: Herman Webster Mudgett (1861-1896)

Since Cow Hampshire's inception in March of 2006, 827 articles have been posted, 335 photographs shared, and 1518 comments added.   I want to acknowledge (and thank) those who read and comment on my articles, as you help me to discover additional information about the topic, and what subjects people find interesting (or not).

The cow in my banner has worn 11 outfits this year with the following themes: irish, spring, thanksgiving, beach-goer, wintry day, vote, Christmas, new years, Halloween, valentine, and nekkid flagwaver. 

“I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought I'd rather dance with the cows until you come home. ” (Groucho Marx)

Janice

-Cow Hampshire: Celebrating One Year of Blogging About New Hampshire-

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Hanover NH: Death by Sponge in 1851

Posted on 15 March, 2008 by Janice Brown

Foreign Body In The Trachea– In July last, Mr. J.A. Dobie, of Hanover NH while making an application to his throat by means of a sponge, lost his hold upon it and drew it into his trachea.

It could be perceived that the sponge moved from the bifurcation of the bronchi to the larynx. The dyspnea at times excessive, occasionally disappeared entirely.  A tracheotomy was performed by Prof. Dixi Crosby, and the sponge removed.

The patient died within forty-eight hours after the operation. The sponge is described as being about two inches long by one wide, and about half an inch in thickness–a size which we should have supposed would entirely preclude its passing through a healthy larynx–(and such the patient's is said to have been) or after reaching the trachea, would have prevented it from moving.

From “The New Hampshire Journal of Medicine,” Published 1851, G. Parker Lyon, page 88.
New Hampshire

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