Vacation Road Trip

We've been wanting for a long time 

to take a road trip to Michigan and see some of the areas 

where my dad grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan 

and find some of the graves of my ancestors. 

I went to Michigan in my 20s 

but I went this time with more desire of seeing 

how the different relatives lived and maybe feel 

the history of my forefathers by visiting there homes.

 My dad's grandfather and great-grandfather 

immigrated here from Goes, Netherlands 

and were the first immigrants in the United States

 from the Netherlands. 

Most my ancestors on other lines came to the United States 

really early on, like in the 1600s

so this was different and rewarding 

to see my ancestor that arrived in 1857

Peter Reynders (1827-1895) Maria de Wijs Reynders (1824-1893) 

They first came to Plymouth, Michigan and later to Grand Rapids, he was a painter by trade, 

They brought 3 young children and had 5 more, one dying in infancy 

"Reynders" originally spelled "Reijnders"

My dad's maternal great-grandmother, 

"Anna St Denis Gordon" (1844-1916) 

she immigrated from Canada, 

this is a brick wall as far as family history goes.

 Her death certificate has her last name as "Clayton" 

but we were always told that "Clayton" was her married name 

and her maiden name was "St Denis" 

and that her parents names were  Felix and Mary 

but we have few sources. 

She married a war veteran in her later years "Charles A Gordon" 

She worked her whole life, for a time on a ship as a cook, 

other times in service at a home where she also left her daughter 

"Mable Clayton" my great-grandmother 1869-1952)

who was adopted by the family that Anna worked for and 

Mable stayed in touch with her birth mother her whole life. 

 Anna also worked at the Tuberculosis hospital which is where Mable worked too. 

Anna also had a second child while working on a boat. 

She gave him the last name of "Clayton"

Here she is, my dad's grandmother "Mable Clayton Dolton"

She had a hard life. 

Was left with a family so her mother could earn money. 

Married and had 7 children that she had to place with other families 

because her husband went to jail for larceny

and she had no income to take care of them. 

My dad's mother, Martha Thaxton (1896-1927) 

was put in a home at age 12

and later married my Grandfather Dee Allen Reynders. 

They met at church. 

My grandmother played the organ. 

She was very musical and could play hymns by ear. 

140 Prospect, Grand Rapids, Michigan

I loved seeing houses of my ancestors.

This is the house of Peter Jr & Luella Williams Reynders. 

My great-grandparents raised their 5 children here. 

730 Bristol Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan 

This is my grandaunt Beth Reynders Anderson

sister of my pop, Dee Allen Reynders

and her husband was Lorand Anderson. 

She is who I was named after. 

She raised my dad when he was young. 

My dad's mother died of tuberculosis when he was only 6 months old.

This is the house my grandfather Dee Reynders built for his family. 

My dad grew up here with his 4 other siblings. 

1458 Covell Road, Grand Rapids, Michigan

We also went to Hart Michigan

My 2nd great grandparents settled here

Dr Samuel Randolph & Mary Marine Williams

We had to pull over and take a picture of "Reenders"

really close to my maiden name "Reynders" 

"Big Red" Lighthouse at Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan was beautiful!

Shops at Holland, Michigan

Fun to see this Windmill

We were here just 2 weeks too late to see the tulips

This map was on the wall of the Netherlands.

"Goes" is where my ancestors are from

We also stopped in Indiana

Greenfield, Indiana and Indianapolis, Indiana

Home of the Hoosier Poet, James Whitcomb Riley

A favorite relative of my dad

He's my 2nd cousin 3 times removed

Downtown Indianapolis at Lockamy Square

Unfortunately the museum was closed

but in Greenfield, Indiana his childhood home museum was open

We loved being able to go here

We also got to go to some church history sites.

Kirtland Temple (Ohio)

Special feeling here.

Tree of Life

Hill Cumorah, Palmyra, New York

The Sacred Grove in Palmyra

Palmyra Temple

 

I forgot to put this grave on here.

This is Ann Cammack Williams (1781-1859)

Cedarville, Ohio

My Williams ancestors were from South Carolina

and moved to Ohio and Indiana and later to Michigan

fun area, neat cemetery

Blessed, Honored Pioneers

The Lockhart Converts to the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Frederick County, Virginia

Mary Jane Foreman Lockhart

Beverly Lockhart

Mary Jane Foreman Lockhart (1848-1934) and her husband, Beverly Lockhart (1847-1922), were early converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Frederick County, Virginia near Winchester.

This specific couple represents an important chapter in the history of the Church in northern Virginia.

Beverly Lockhart married Mary Jane Foreman on 9 March 1875. They lived and raised their family in the Back Creek and Rock Enon districts of Frederick County, Virginia, located just west of Winchester, Virginia.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Latter-Day Saint missionaries traveling through the Shenandoah Valley frequently baptized local families in rivers and creeks. Mary Jane was baptized into the Church in 1902, followed by Beverly in 1907.

Beverly was a Civil War veteran.  He enlisted as a private in Company F of the 1st Infantry (United States) in February 1865 and was honorably discharged later that year.  He spent the rest of his life working as a farmer in Frederick County.

In 1902, there was a declaration by community leaders in Winchester, Virginia that forbid proselytizing, and this directly affected members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  This ban primarily enacted to target traveling LDS elders (missionaries), preventing them from knocking on doors, preaching, and distributing religious literature within the city limits.  Because of the restrictions, LDS missionaries quieted their efforts and left the immediate area.  Local historical records note that the declaration effectively cut off residents from hearing about the faith for several decades.  Missionaries did not permanently stay away;  They quietly returned to Winchester toward the middle of the 20th century, which ultimately led to the establishment of an active local congregation.

Beverly and Mary Jane Lockhart seemed to cling to their new found faith through this time period, regardless of not being a part of an active congregation and most likely with a certain amount of persecution by the locals.

Charles Martin Lockhart, son of Beverly and Mary Jane, had mentioned to his children and grandchildren that Mary Jane and Beverly would let the missionaries stay in their home on occasion to keep warm by the fire during the frigid climate.  Ironically, most of the Lockhart descendants didn't realize that Beverly and Mary Jane had been baptized into the Church but only that they had shown kindness to the missionaries.

The obituary of these converts leave clues to the fact that they still considered themselves part of the LDS faith even until death.  Beverly's 1922 obituary mentions that he was part of a religious sect that had no clergy in the locality.  Mary Jane's obituary states that her funeral was conducted by Elder Riley Glenn from Washington DC, who upon research, was discovered that he was a leader for the Latter-Day Saint who served in Washington DC.

The early 20th-century restrictions in Winchester, Virginia, reflect a broader, nationwide struggle over religious liberty.  Anti-proselytizing ordinances eventually collapsed under Supreme Court challenges, paving the way for a local congregation to be established and grow.

So what happened with this Lockhart family after Mary Jane and Beverly's death? Around 1950, Charles Martin Lockhart was visited by the missionaries from the Church in Winchester.  There is no known record of him ever being baptized into the Church at the time of Beverly and Mary Jane's baptism but several members of the Lockhart family say that Charles claimed he had already been baptized before the arrival of these missionaries. Research discovered that two Lockhart sisters of Charles had been baptized at the time of Beverly and Mary Jane but no record of Charles had been found. 

Regardless of what had not been recorded, Charles' testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had been rekindled with the arrival of these young missionaries. So at this time, Charles introduced the missionaries to his nephew William James Lockhart and wife Dellitt Jenkins Lockhart and their young family.  They took the missionary discussions and were converted to the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.  Charles, Dellitt and the older Lockhart children of Dellitt and William were baptized on the 5th of August 1950. Later, their father William was baptized in November of 1954.  The Lockharts and others baptized in these early years were instrumental in establishing the Church in Winchester, Virginia.

There are still many Lockhart descendants of these northern Virginia pioneers that cherish the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to this day and are

"True to the faith that their forefathers have cherished"

I feel very blessed to have married into the Lockhart family and discover the wonderful heritage they have. Soon, Winchester, Virginia will have a temple for the Church.  A standing monument of the faith, courage and sacrifice of missionaries and a few converts in this area of our Lord's vineyard. We can see how the Church in the city of Winchester has truly blossomed like a rose. 

1950 Baptism Washington DC

Lockharts, Simpsons & Missioonaries

Dellitt & William Lockhart

Dave & Robert Lockhart

 grandson and son of William & Dellitt Lockhart 

Winchester, Virginia

 Robert is one of the remaining Lockhart children baptized in 1950

He still lives in Winchester today

Dave & Beth Lockhart

Winchester, Virginia Temple Site 

"You are never lost

when you can see the temple." 

~Elder Gary E Stevenson

Family History Trip ~ Winchester, Virginia

 We had a fun weekend, saw the graves of Dave's ancestors who were the very first members baptized in the church 1902 & 1907 his 2nd great-grandparents (Mary Jane Foreman & Beverly Lockhart) We also found an old, small church where a lot of infants and relatives were buried. This church needs some help. It is on the property of a Boy Scout camp but they let us go in it and look around. We also saw different places where Dave's grand-parents lived and raised their family, a school house where they went to school. Uncle Robert took us around. We also saw the beginnings of Winchester Temple. Great time!

Beverly Lockhart 1847 - 1922 served in Union army, 

he and his wife were first members of the Lockhart family 

to be baptized int the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Mary Jane Foreman Lockhart, 1848 - 1934, 

wife of Beverly Lockhart, They lived in Back Creek, Virginia near Gore, 

moved to Winchester, VA in their later years

Her Obituary said that an Elder from Washington D C

came to perform her funeral

Believers to the end even though there were

no LDS churches in the area

It was special to see her grave.

This was the neatest little church we found 

up Rock Enon Springs on the BSA property. 

Luckily we found it.

When we were going down this road, 

Uncle Robert saw the church and remembered 

that Aunt Mary Catherine was buried there.

A lot of babies that died in infancy

 from the Lockhart's are buried here. 

Sacred ground. We felt the Spirit here.

Probably one of highlights of our trip was visiting this place.

There was a "Carson" there

Our Carson liked this picture

Boy Scout Leader had a key and let us go in

He even let us take some hymnals.

This is an old school house in Warren County, Virginia 

where Uncle William Lockhart attended school. 

Its now an antique and gift shop but wasn't open

Down this road was private property but they let us come on it. 

Its where the Lockharts lived when Grandfather William Lockhart 

was manager over their farm years ago. 

Still in Warren County, Virginia

We also visited the Temple Site for the Church