Jul 15

Max W. Friddle/Friedell Revisited

Ancestry.com’s recent partnership with the Indiana Archives and Records Administration has been a real boon to my research. That partnership made nearly 17 million Indiana birth, death, and marriage records digitally accessible on Ancestry.com. The available records include Indiana marriage records from 1958-2005, Indiana death records from 1900-2011, and Indiana birth certificates from 1907-1940. Wa-hoo!

Last week I posted Carrie Wren (Edgington) Eichhorn Friedell’s death certificate, which I recently found on Ancestry.com. I had not known the exact date of her death before that. Her tombstone only had her death year of 1965. Her death certificate also confirmed some of the information that I had already learned about her during my research.

But why stop there? Maybe I could learn what happened to Carrie’s second husband, Max W. Friddle, aka Max W. Friedell. After all, Max was an Indiana native, too, although he has been more difficult to track. He definitely stayed under the radar. To my knowledge he was able to avoid all but the 1880 and 1900 censuses. Where was he all those other years? He would have been almost non-existent had he not been mentioned in all those newspaper articles. And there were plenty of them. In later years his first wife even reported several times that she was his widow. But she wasn’t. He was still alive.

I thought I had found Max’s tombstone on Find a Grave.com last year, but I wasn’t 100% sure. If it was his tombstone, he or someone had changed his name back to Friddle for the inscription. Did he change his name back to Friddle again? Apparently yes.

I am happy to report that I was successful in my search for Max’s death certificate on Ancestry.com.

Maw W. Friddle death certificate. [1]

Maw W. Friddle death certificate. [1]

Max’s death certificate confirmed the information I had already learned about him. Max Welton Friddle was born in Parker Indiana on 16 February 1874, the son of Robert McClellan and Adalaide (Robinson) Friddle. His father was born in South Carolina and his mother in Indiana. Max died of chronic myocarditis at a residence on 405 North Martin Street in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. He passed away at 10:00 p.m. on 5 March 1944, at the age of 70 years and 18 days. His death certificate indicates he was divorced and gives his occupation as a retired oil worker. [That’s him!] He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Randolph County, Indiana, on the 7th. M.L. Meeks & Sons, Muncie, were in charge of the funeral. The informant for his death information was Mrs. Adne Viola Godwin, of the same North Martin Street address. [1] Adna Viola (Friddle) Godwin was Max’s sister, whose home was at 405 North Martin Street. [2]

Max’s death certificate also indicates that he had recently moved to Muncie from Nevada. Max had moved back to Indiana and was living with his sister when he died. Nevada! Was that where he was hiding out all those years? And yes, I searched for him yet again in the 1940 census, this time in Nevada, but found nothing. I even checked to see if he might have been living with one of his siblings in 1930 or 1940. Nothing. Still staying under the radar…

You can see a photo of Max Friddle’s tombstone on Find a Grave.com. He shares a tombstone with Naomi A. Friddle (1896-1899). [3] I do not know who Naomi was. Perhaps a niece?

Another piece in the puzzle.

Today I am grateful that the Indiana Archives and Ancestry.com has made all of these Indiana records available. I know I will use them a lot.

 

[1] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Max Welton Friddle; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Jul 2016); from Indiana State Board of Health, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[2] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Adna V. Godwin; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Jul 2016); from Indiana State Board of Health, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

[3] Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 1 Jul 2016); Max W. Friddle memorial #62330387.

Jul 12

Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob & Mary (Kettering) Becher

Jacob & Mary (Kettering) Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Jacob & Mary (Kettering) Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jacob and Mary Becher, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Jacob Becher
1859-1916
Mary Becher
1860-1923
BECHER

According to Zion Chatt’s Familienbuch, Jacob Becher was born 8 May 1859 in Mercer County, Ohio, the third of ten children born to Johannes and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. Jacob’s father Johannes Becher was born in Thuisburnn, District Oberfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria, and his mother was born in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Jacob’s parents were living in Mercer County by 1855, where all of their children were born.

Although Zion’s records indicate that Jacob Becher was baptized in Mercer County, there is no record of his baptism at Zion Chatt. However Jacob was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 4 May 1873.

Jacob Becher married Mary Kettering on 12 October 1882 in Mercer County. They were married by Rev. W.G. Nicol. [1]

Mary Kettering was born in March of 1860. [2] Zion’s records indicate that she was born in Washington Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Find a Grave indicates that she was the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Fennig) Kettering, [3] but I have not found a record that names her parents. This surname was spelled Kettenring in some of the church records.

The first census the Jacob Becher family was enumerated in was the 1900 census. They lived in Blackcreek Township and Jacob was a farmer. The Jacob Becher household, as shown in 1900: Jacob, 41; Mary, 40; John H, 16; Minnie C, 14; Jacob E, 12; Ida M, 10; Ida C, 10; Sarah E, 7; James W, 4; Raymond C, 1. Mary had given birth to 8 children and all 8 were living. This record indicates they had been married 18 years. [2]

The Jacob Becher household in 1910: Jacob, 50; Mary, 50; John HF, 26; Caroline MA, 24; George JE, 22; Ida FC, 20; Iva MM, 19; Sarah EC, 17; James WT, 14; Clarence OR, 12; Samuel OL, 9. The family lived on Leininger Pike in Blackcreek Township where Jacob was a farmer and their son John was a carpenter. Jacob and Mary had been married 27 years and Mary had given birth to 10 children and 9 were living. [4]

Jacob Becher died of a stroke on 28 October 1916 at the age of 57 years, 5 months, and 20 days. He was buried on the 30th. He was survived by his widow, children, and brothers and sisters.

In 1920 widow Mary (Kettering) Becher, 59 years of age, lived in Blackcreek Township with three of her children: James, 24; Ida, 27; and Oscar, 19. Her son James was a farmer. [5]

Mary (Kettering) Becher died of pneumonia on 17 March 1923. She was buried on the 19th and was survived by 4 sons, 4 daughters, and 13 grandchildren, according to Zion Chatt’s records.

Jacob and Mary (Kettering) Becher had the following children. All ten of them were shown in Zion Chatt’s records and all were baptized at Zion.
“John” Henry Friedrick (1883-1950), married Rosa Bollenbacher
Caroline Wilhelmine Anna “Minnie” (1885-1964), married Richard S Wilson
George Jacob “Edward” (1887-1975), married Hulda Berron
Ivy Maria Margaretha “Ida” (1890-1928), married Samuel Baumgartner
Ida Friedrika Katharine (1890-1949), married Firm Shifferly
Sarah Ellen Jane “Ella” (1893-1967), married HJ Reef
James William Diebold (1895-1959), married Eva L. Burry
Clarence Oliver Rehman “Raymond” (1897-1956), married Clara Catharine Fogle
Samuel “Oscar” LeRoy Becher (1900-1922)
Clella Alice Alberta (1903-1903)

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 10 Jul 2016), Jacob Becher and Mary Kettering, 12 Oct 1882; from Mercer County Marriages Vol. 5, p.161, from FHL microfilm 914956.

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.7B, dwelling & family 153, Jacob Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241303, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[3] Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); Mary (Kettering) Becker memorial #29627223.

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.1A, visited & family 6, Jacat Becker; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, p.8A, dwelling 158, James Becher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Jul 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

Jul 08

Carrie Wren Friedell Revisited

Nearly a year ago I researched and wrote about Carrie Wren Friedell, a mystery woman buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery, who was not mentioned in the church records. Last August I turned what I learned about her and her family into a four-part miniseries, Zion Chatt’s Mid-Summer Mystery. From my research, all done on-line, I eventually learned that Carrie was buried next to her mother, Eliza (Bobo) Edgington.

Eliza’s broken tombstone was also a mystery in Zion’s cemetery. Her tombstone was broken in two and most of the engraving was unreadable. I don’t know how many years it had been broken in two, broken on the third letter of her surname, making it illegible. Her name looked like Eliza Edo.

Eliza (Bobo) Edgington, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

Eliza (Bobo) Edgington, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

So, by researching Carrie I learned the identity of the woman buried beneath the broken tombstone and quite a bit about her daughter Carrie Wren (Edgington) Eichhorn Friedell.

But questions still remained about Carrie W. Friedell, who lived most of her life in Indiana. Her mother Eliza died in about 1876 and Carrie died in 1965. Eliza’s broken tombstone is unreadable. I wondered, after nearly 90 years, who knew that Eliza was buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery and who knew to bury Carrie beside her? Why wasn’t the information in Zion’s records? What was the exact date of Carrie’s death?

Carrie W. Friedell, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Carrie W. Friedell, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Even now, after a year has gone by, I still search for and still find information about Carrie. Piece by piece. Bit by bit.

A few weeks ago, through a partnership with the Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Ancestry.com added a lot of Indiana records to its website. The partnership made nearly 17 million Indiana birth, death, and marriage records digitally accessible on Ancestry.com. The available records include Indiana marriage records from 1958-2005, Indiana death records from 1900-2011, and Indiana birth certificates from 1907-1940.

That was some wonderful news to me since we live so close to the state line and I do a fair amount of Indiana research.

Once I learned the Indiana information had been added to Ancestry.com I decided to do another search for Carrie W. Friedell to see what I might find. After all, I still did not know Carrie’s exact date of death. I only knew she died in 1965. And that she very likely died in Indiana.

I entered Carrie’s name and the year she died and ta-da! There it was. Carrie Wren Friedell’s Indiana death certificate, right before my eyes!

Carrie Wren Friedell, Indiana Death Certificate, Ancestry.com.

Carrie Wren Friedell, Indiana Death Certificate, Ancestry.com. [1]

Carrie Wren Friedell died at the Delaware County Home, Muncie, Indiana, on 12 March 1965, at the age of 92 years. She had lived there for the past five years. Her parents were given as Benjamin F. Edgington and Eliza Bobo. Carrie was born in Delaware County, Indiana, on 31 March 1873. Her death certificate indicates she was a retired school teacher and a widow. She died of congestive heart failure, caused by arteriosclerotic heart disease. E.M. Rust Funeral Home, Albany, Indiana, was in charge of the arrangements. And there it is, right on her death certificate: burial at the Lutheran Cemetery at Chattanooga, Ohio, on 15 March, 1965. The informant was indicated as “records of county home.” [1] That sounds like a rather sad, lonely end to our Carrie’s life.

I would have been spared hours and hours of research had the Indiana records been available on Ancestry.com  a year ago.

But what fun would that have been? There would have been no research challenge if I had found all that information on just that one record. If that had been the case I probably never would have learned Carrie’s interesting life story.

After all, the fun is in the hunt, right?

 

[1] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Carrie Wren Friedell; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 Jul 2016); from Indiana State Board of Health, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jul 05

Tombstone Tuesday–Henry R. & Mary A. (Menche) Baker

Henry R. & Mary A. (Menche) Baker, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Henry R. & Mary A. (Menche) Baker, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Henry R. and Mary A. (Menche) Baker, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Father   B   Mother

Henry R. Baker
1851-1914
Mary A. His Wife
1856-1915

BAKER

Reverse:
O, Let us think of all they said
And all the kind advice they gave
And let us do it, now they’re dead
And sleeping in their lovely grave.

Fortunately, Zion Chatt’s records give quite a bit of information about this couple, although this surname is rather challenging to research in the church records. The name seems to be spelled Becker in the older records while the more recent entries spell it Baker. But not always. I wrote a blog post about this on 26 June 2015, Becker or Baker.

Heinrich “Henry” Baker [spelled Becker in Zion Chatt’s Familienbuch]  was born 13 September 1851 in Piqua, Ohio, the seventh child of Johannes and Barbara Catharine (Wiedmann) Becker, which was also spelled Baker in later records. Henry’s father was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria and his mother was born in Wuerttemberg.

Zion Chatt’s records indicate that Henry “Becker” married Anna Maria Menche on 16 April 1874. The couple’s parents were given as Johann and Barbara Becker and John and Barbara Menche. Their marriage license and return indicates they were married in Van Wert County on 30 May 1874 by Rev. Schmidt. They applied for their marriage license on 13 April. [1]

Anna Maria Catharina “Mary” Menche [spelled Maenche in Zion Chatt’s Familienbuch and Manche in some other records; Manche seems to be the more recent spelling variation] was born 7 April 1856 in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, the first child born to Johannes “John” and Barbara (Hopf) Menche. Mary’s father was born in Hessen Darmstadt and her mother was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria. The John Menche family moved to the town of Willshire by 1860, where John was a shoemaker. According to the Zion’s Familienbuch Mary’s father John Menche died in 1865 while in the Army, after the end of the Civil War. He was Private John Manch/Manche, age 36, Co. B, 62nd OVI, who mustered out 24 September 1864 and died at Belle Isle POW camp in Richmond, Virginia, on 15 June 1865. John is now buried at Richmond National Cemetery, after being moved from Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] His widow Barbara filed for a widow’s pension 21 August 1865. [7]

After their marriage Henry and Mary (Menche) Baker lived in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County. Their household in 1880: Henry, 28, farm labor; Mary A, 24, wife; Theodore W, 4, son; Amelia B, 2, daughter; Lucy, 4 months, daughter. Daughter Lucy was born in February 1880. Also in the household was David Betsel, 16, hired labor, no relationship given; John Baker, 71, father, unemployed; and Barbra Baker, 68, mother. John and Barbra Baker were Henry’s parents and both were born in Bavaria. [8] 

The Henry Baker household in 1900: Henry, 48; Mary A, 44; Caroline J, 17; Anna C, 14; Clara, 9; Frederica, 6. This enumeration indicates that Mary had given birth to 7 children and all 7 were living. Henry farmed and all family members were born in Ohio. [9]

The Henry Baker household in 1910: Henry R, 56; Mary A, 54 (enumerated as Marry); Clara, 19 (enumerated as Clark); and Freda R, 16. Henry’s occupation was stock farmer and this document indicates they lived on State Line Road in Blackcreek Township. [10]

According to Zion Chatt’s records Henry Richard Baker died of tuberculosis on 19 November 1914 at the age of 63 years, 2 months, and 6 days. He was buried on the 22nd and Rev. Brobst was in charge of his funeral service. Henry was survived by his widow, 6 daughters, 1 son, and 12 grandchildren. Henry’s death certificate also indicates that he died of tuberculosis. It was signed by Chattanooga physician Charles Watkins and HB Cowan of Willshire was the undertaker. [11]

Mary Ann (Menche) Baker died of Bright’s disease on 21 April 1915 at the age of 59 years and 14 days. She was buried on the 23rd and was survived by her children and a brother and sister.

Henry & Mary (Manche) Baker. Children: Anna, Amelia, Lula, Theodore, Caroline, Clara, and Freda.

Henry & Mary (Manche) Baker. Children: Anna, Amelia, Lula, Theodore, Caroline, Clara, and Freda.

Henry and Mary (Menche) Baker had the following children:

William “Theodore” (1875-1932), married Mary Bolenbacher
“Amelia” Barbara Emilie (1877-1950), married John McGough
Maria Louise (1880-1964), married Birch L. Baumgardner
Ida “Caroline” (1882-bet 1950-64), married S.L. Evans
Anna Catharina (1885-aft 1964), married Louis S Egger
Clara (1890-bet 1950-64), married Leo Merkle
Friederike “Frieda” (1893-aft 1964), married Sam Egger

One of Zion Chatt’s large stained glass windows was given in memory of Henry and Mary Baker by their children. It is the beautiful south window which depicts an angel reporting Christ’s birth to the shepherds. Below the window, in the stained glass: In Memory of Father and Mother, Henry and Mary Baker. Henry and Mary passed away a couple years before the current church was built in 1916.

Zion's south window, given in honor of Henry and Mary Baker. (2011 photo by Karen)

Zion’s south window, given in honor of Henry and Mary Baker. (2011 photo by Karen)

Dedication below Zion's south window. (2011 photo by Karen)

Dedication below Zion’s south window. (2011 photo by Karen)

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 4 Jul 2016), Henry Baker and Mary Menche, 30 May 1874; from Van Wert Marriages, Vol. 4, p.229; from FHL microfilm 1015860.

[2] U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, from film M552, roll 67;database online,  Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016), John Manche.

[3] U.S, Burial Registers, Military Posts, and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016); from  records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-2007, The National Cemetery Administration, Washington, D.C., NARA Record Group 15.

[4] U.S, Burial Registers, Military Posts, and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016); from  records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-2007, The National Cemetery Administration, Washington, D.C.,  NARA Record Group 15, and Department of the Army, Office of Quartermaster General, Burial Registers of Military Post and National Cemeteries, c1862-c1960, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985, NARA Record Group 92.

[5] U.S. Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries, 1862-1960, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016); from Burial Registers, compiled 1867-2006, documenting 1831-2006, The National Cemetery Administration, Washington, D.C., NARA record Group 15.

[6] National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016); from Interment Control Forms, A1 2110-B, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985, National Archives at College Park, Maryland, Record Group 92.

[7] U.S. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016); database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Jul 2016); from General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, NARA microfilm T288.

[8] 1880 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 179, p.323B, dwelling & family 2, Henry Baker; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1255048, from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[9] 1900 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.9B, dwelling & family 195, Henry Baker; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241303, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[10] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.1B, dwelling & family 15, Henry R Bakes; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Jul 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[11] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 4 Jul 2016), Henry Richard Baker, 19 Nov 1914; from Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, file no. 62079; from FHL microfilm 1983285.

Jul 01

Independence Day 2016

This coming Monday is the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. It has been 240 years since the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the thirteen colonies were no longer part of Great Britain but were independent sovereign states that were part of a new nation.

Below are some patriotic quotes about liberty and freedom and America.

“Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith.” — French historian Alexis de Toqueville, Democracy in America.

“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” –Herbert Hoover

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” –Psalm 119:45 (NIV)

“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” –Benjamin Franklin

“In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.” –Psalm 118:5 (NIV)

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce – and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”  –French historian Alexis de Toqueville, Democracy in America.

“But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American war? The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations … This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.” –John Adams

July_Fourth_Clip_Art

“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.” –William Faulkner

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” –1st Peter 2:16

“Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty.” –Louis D. Brandeis

“And I’m proud to an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.” –Lee Greenwood

The American’s Creed was the winning submission in a 1917 national writing contest for a creed of the United States. William Tyler Page used phrases from the Declaration of Independence, the Preamble to the Constitution and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in his entry. The American’s Creed was adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1918. We recite it at our DAR meetings:

The American’s Creed
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support it Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies. —William Tyler Page

Finally, for a different and healthy dinner on the Fourth, try salmon and peas. Salmon and peas has been a New England Fourth of July tradition for hundreds of years because fresh garden peas were ready at the same time the salmon run. Sounds delicious to me!

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!