A Rare Photo - Thomas Richard "TR" Houghton

My beloved Grandpa Houghton (Minter Jackson Houghton) would have been 106 years old on 12 June 2013.

Coincidentally, I recently found a photo of his grandfather, Thomas Richard "TR" Houghton 1846-1923, on ancestry.com. Holy Cow! He looks just like my grandfather. See photo - TR, left and Minter right. In this photo, Grandpa Houghton is in his 80s.  I don't know how old TR Houghton is in the photo but he died around the age of 77.

TR Houghton's first wife, my gg-grandmother, Sarah Jane Cochran Houghton, 1858-1905, died at the age of 47. She was 12 years younger than TR.

After Sarah died, TR moved to Oklahoma (in 1907, age 60) and married Rinda Horton. She was 26 years younger than he; they had one daughter, Lillie Lee Houghton. This photo is from one of her descendents. I've contacted the person who posted it in hopes of getting more information.

When TR died in 1923, his body was sent to West Virginia for burial with his first wife, Sarah, and family. They are in Walnut Grove cemetery, Strange Creek, WV.

Belated Happy Birthday to Grandpa Houghton!

 Till next time, keep the blue side up ... Lynn

What Did the W Stand For?

My great grandmother, Luanna W. Henderson, was born in 1875 in Strange Creek, Nicholas County, West Virginia.  "Lewie" married my great grandfather, Homer Newton Houghton, at the age of 18 and lived her life on a picturesque if remote farm caring for her 12 children. Despite a trail of indicators that her middle initial was W, I've never learned what it stood for.  

Below are six sources that use "W" as a middle initial.  The only other initial used is H - presumably for her maiden name Henderson (e.g. on her tombstone: Lewie H. Houghton).
 
1.) 1880 Census - Luanna W. age 4, this census is very difficult to read (ancestry.com).  Appears to use "W." as a middle initial.  Also appears to have another letter at the end of Luanna.
2. ) West Virginia reindex of the Marriage Register (typed) uses W. as a middle initial. (http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx)  1893
3.) Daughter Vada Houghton's Tombstone: Vada Daughter of HN and LW Houghton. 1919
4.) Son Murrill Houghton's Tombstone: Murrill son of HN and LW Houghton.  1934
5.) Husband Homer Houghton's WWI Draft Registration: "Lewie W." 1918 (below)
6.) Obituary: Luanna W. Houghton, 1938

  




Family name?  Could the W stand for a family name? My best guess to date is that it's Wilson. Luanna's maternal grandmother was Alcinda Wilson, born in 1823. Also, Luanna has a brother and uncle that use the name Walker as a given name. There are lots of Walker's in the area but  I have not found this family name anywhere in the family tree which only goes back to the 1700s.

I will continue my search.
Till next time, keep the blue side up ... Lynn