I Doubt that they were Family Pets...

"All Creatures Great And Small" is the topic for the 13th Edition of Smile For The Camera. When I was growing up, the only pets we had were dogs, with creative names such as Buster, Rover, and Bootsie (my post written for the 50th Carnival of Genealogy). I went through nearly every image folder on my hard drive trying to find some other "animal" pictures and re-discovered those below, which were loaned to me for scanning by Aunt Phyllis about four years ago.

Given the size of this horse, I'd have to guess that it was one of the working farm horses. Of course, it may not be as big as it appears - Aunt H. was only about five feet tall.

Bill was my grandmother's brother, William Hale Brubaker (1905-1979). Thag was my grandmother's first cousin, Thagrus Asher Burns (1917-2008). Aunt H. was my grandmother's aunt Hazlett (Wise) Burns (1885-1977). Date of photo unknown but Thag looks to be maybe 3-4 years old so it was probably taken about 1920-21.

Uncle Harl was Harlo Asher Burns (1880-1952). He was the husband of Hazlette Wise. I didn't know or remember him since I was only 4 years old when he passed away but according to my mother and her sisters, Uncle Harl was a rather large "somewhat uncouth" man but he loved his family - and his horses! Date of photo unknown.

Uncle Harl in the field with his horses. Date of photo unknown.

Tombstone Tuesday :: Harlow and Hazlette Burns

BURNS
DAD / HARLOW / 1880 - 1952
MOM / HAZLETTE / 1885 - 1977
Scott-Keister Cemetery, Etna-Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana
photo taken July 14, 2000

Hazlette Ann Wise was born on October 10, 1885 in Whitley County, Indiana. The youngest of the four children of William P. Wise and Sophia Dunfee, she is a sister of my great grandmother Maude Wise Brubaker Yontz. Hazlette was named after her great-grandmother Sophia Elizabeth (Hazlett) Dunfee.

On October 10, 1911 Hazlette Wise was married to Harlow Asher Burns, an up-and-coming farmer of Troy Township. They lived their entire married life on their farm in Troy Township. Harlow passed away on June 15, 1952. At the time of her death on October 9, 1977 (at the age of 91) Hazlette was living in a nursing home in Fort Wayne.

They were the parents of two children: Maurice Wise Burns, who died in infancy, and who is buried near Harlow and Hazlette, and Thagrus Asher Burns who passed away in October 2008 at the age of 91. This picture of Thag is one of my favorite family photos.

As a teenager, I remember "aunt" Hazlette attending family dinners and gatherings that were given by my grandmother. Aunt Hazlette was a woman of short stature who had, so I've been told, an "iron will" and great determination.

Tombstone Tuesday :: Two Little Babes

Buried in the Scott-Keister Cemetery in Etna-Troy Township, Whitley County, Indiana in close proximity to William and Sophia Wise are two of their grandchildren.

John Wise Brubaker was born prematurely on February 16, 1901. He survived eight days, passing away on February 24th. John was the first child born to Charles Romain Brubaker and his wife, Maud Catherine Wise. It's possible that little John was named for his great grandfather.

Maurice Wise Burns was born on July 31, 1912 and died on October 2, 1912. He was the son of Harlo Asher Burns and Hazlette Ann Wise (Maud's younger sister), and was their first child. The Columbia City Post of October 5, 1912 published this sad notice of his death: "Maurice Wise Burns, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Harlow Burns, of Troy township, died at 3 o'clock Thursday morning. The little babe was born July 31, and has never been very well, but the parents and friends hoped that its constitution might become stronger and its life be spared, but their fond hopes were blighted when the spark of life became extinct at the hour stated. The funeral will be held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house. Rev. E. E. Wright, of Larwill, officiating, and the interment will be in the Scott cemetery." Little Maurice was named after his uncle, Maurice James Wise.

Gentleman Farmer

1921. Thagrus Burns.

Relationship: My 1st cousin twice removed.

Thag was the son of Harlow and Hazlette Wise Burns. Hazlette was the sister of my great grandmother, Maude Wise Brubaker. Thag was named after his grandfather, William Pythagrus Wise.