my father-in-law, Oliver Elza Drinkwater

"Oliver Elza Drinkwater, husband of Anna [Geary] Drinkwater, father of Minor Earl.

"I knew him only 3 years after we were married.  He was a small, bright-eyed man who missed little that went on.  Very percetive [sic] where the rest of family laughed at the ignorant little city girl my husband had married.  He slipped in many a time & showed me how to build a fire, milk a cow, slop a hog & stay safely away from her.  I learned to love him very much in those 3 years.  

"Two years after we were married he started having strokes.  I can never forget the last, was Thanksgiving day.  He tried to walk to table & started to fall.  Was his last walk.  He was bed-fast from then on & lingered till Jan of 1926.  There were few tears when he went.  Everyone was so relieved his suffering was over.

"He was a farmer and much respected in the community.  He died many years ago.  But he's still remembered."

-- Jessie S. Drinkwater

GARY WADE DRINKWATER

Thank you to everyone who came to any of the services or were there in person.  Your comfort and love and hugs and laughs were priceless.

A Needels Family History & its Custodians

There is a Needels family history book titled

Record of the 

Man, Needles, (Nedels) and Hambleton Families; 

with Others Affiliated Thereunto.

A.D. 1495 to A.D. 1876., et. seq.

Revised, Enlarged, and the Modern Records Corrected 

by Samuel Hambleton Needles.

January 1st, 1876. 

Philadelphia, U.S.A.

(124 pages plus index)

Custodians

I have digitized a photocopy of this book that I got from Grandma Jesse that was passed down through C.B. Needels and F.O. Needels.  You can see a pretty poor digitized version here.
C.B. began his custody as soon as the book was published.

Are these Needles Even Our People?

The final pages of the document reference communication with both Alexander Needels and C.B. Needels (his son).  Neither Alexander nor C.B. could prove the connection.

excerpt from page 124 (pictured above)

Alexander Needels of Sparta, Ohio, concludes in his letter of Dec. 22, 1875--"I have no doubt but we are of the same race, but likely will never be able to link it.  In another letter he states: "I have heard my father say, that after the death of my great-grandfather, William Needels, his widow (whether first or second wife, I know not) married a Harris, and had at least one son.  My grandfather, Thomas Needles, had two wives--the first was named White, who bore him one son, William.  His second wife was a Cubbage, who bore him five sons and five daughters, all of whom married and have families."  

C.B. Needels, of Sweet Home, Mo., under date of Jan. 4, 1876, writes: "I made some effort to obtain sufficient material to write a history of the family, but the records are so incomplete I gave it up.  I found the maiden names of all the women and the records of marriages neglected, but I am satisfied the William Needels you speak of is our legal ancestor, but by a second marriage.  My record gives the names of the parents of Thomas Needels, the second on our list, as William and Hannah, without the dates of their births.  According to your record of the birth of William, (March 12, 1697) if he was father of our Thomas, he was in his 42d year when the latter was born, (Nov. 2, 1738).***I will try to find out whether our William was married a second time."

         He appends the following list of his ancestors:

Your William,   son of John and Elizabeth (Man)                    born Mar. 12, 1697

Our Thomas,     son of William and Hanna (Hargrove*)         born Nov. 2, 1738
  "    George,     second son of Thomas and Sarah (Cubbage) born Aug. 5, 1773
  "    Alexander, son of George and Keziah (Jackson)*           born Mar. 6, 1797
  "    C.B.           son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Cubbage)   born Nov. 14, 1823
  "    Allen B.     son of C.B. and Catharine (Nedels)               born Dec. 30, 1853
*maiden names given in orange were written into the text by hand

Alexander Needels' Note in his copy of the book

Transcriptions are not my specialty, but I'll give this one a try:

April 24 A.D. 1876.  Try to write a few lines very hard for me to write with a pen.
I am born March 6 A.D. 1797 in Kent Co. Delaware State born to Christ in his kingdom March 3 A.D. 1821.  Married to Elizabeth Cubbage December 5 A.D. 1822.
I ___ in Ohio Morrow County near Sparta.  Am going to send this book ___ C.B. Needels my firstborn, he living in Missouri near Sweet Home, Nodaway Co.

Alexander Needels

My Copy

Apparently Alexander sent his brand new copy to C.B., who is listed as the first custodian.  F.O. Needels received the book from his father and had it until he passed in 1956.

At this point a copy or copies were made and it was a copy that came into Jesse's hands in 1965 and which she passed down to me.  I would be delighted to know where the original is.

For C.B. Needels' entries in the history, 1876-1904 see here.
[coming soon...]
For F.O. Needels' entries in the history, 1904-1956 see here.
For Jesse Drinkwater's entries, 1965-1982 see here.

A Chinese Wedding & A Chinese Wedding Dinner

These are two more writing assignments that Jesse completed for her writing class at LSU.

A Chinese Wedding

Having been in Singapore only a few months, we were very surprised to get a wedding invitation from our landlord’s son, as this was not the general rule on so short acquaintance.

Neither did we know their culture or customs.

After questioning many people, and getting no answers but a shrug and an “I do not know,” Phillip the grocery boy came to our rescue.  He told us, “Chinese women very vain, must look your best.  Get UMPAH envelope put money in for gift, must be given to groom at proper time.  Also must have escort.”  Here was a problem.  Our menfolk were working in Borneo.  We knew they had agencies there where you could rent an escort, but we were too new to the country and were afraid to try that.

We would not go to the wedding.  Groom and Bride go alone to temple very early morning, where priest marries them.  Then back to groom’s parents’ house, where both families have wedding breakfast.  A day of celebration for both families begin and last till late afternoon.

The bride’s parents then present her to the groom’s family, thereafter she belongs to her family no more.

Pink is the traditional wedding color, standing for happiness.  The groom cannot marry until he has enough money saved to pay for his wedding dinner.

A Chinese Wedding Dinner

We were ready to go, feeling we could compete with any Chinese women.  But no escort: what to do?

At seven p.m. sharp, a taxi arrived and two well-dressed young Chinese men, rang the bell.  They informed us Mr. Wong (bless him) had sent them as our escorts. Mr. Charlie Chan was mine.  Mr. Allen Chan was Faye’s.  They also said they had graduated from Oxford and were gentleman.  They were to explain the procedure to us.  We were to watch closely and do exactly as everyone else did.

They handed us into the taxi and we were off, excited and half scared, wondering how we would fare.  When we arrived, the gates were open.  We were greeted by the groom’s elder brother.  A waiter seated us at a table for ten, and gave each of us a cigarette.  Shortly another waiter brought a bowl of nuts and drinks.

A Canadian joined our table.  Charlie and Allen soon put us all at ease.  As we were munching nuts we started looking around.  We were seated in a large pavilion with a roof, from which hung Chinese lanterns, pink streamers and many-colored balloons.

There were tables as far as we could see.  I asked how many guests.  Charlie said about 2000.  There seemed to be people of all nations there.  Some in native dress but a surprising number in western clothes.  Caterers started wheeling food in.

We realized we had a very good table, and were told it was next to the Groom’s.  Back of their table was a Malaysian band which every few minutes struck up some American popular music.

At last the front door opened, and there stood the Groom and Bride shyly holding hands: everyone cheered. When they were seated, the door opened again.  A handsome couple (his parents), mother in black lace on her husband’s arm, next eldest brother and wife were seated, last their two children.  The bride was lovely in pink silk.

Then started the ten-course dinner.  First a salad, shrimp appetizer, small roast pig, shark fin soup, Peking duck, Chinese hamburger, baked angel fish, sweet and sour pork, fried rice, frozen fruit for desert.  It had taken two hours to serve this meal.  About midway through dinner the groom and bride rose and walked to a table near them.  Everyone at table stood up and sounds like a mournful howl filled the air, then everyone said “cheers,” drank a toast and the groom was given the red envelope. They bowed and passed on to the next table.  The bride was lovely, but got very little attention.

When they returned to their table they were exhausted.  The band started up some fast dance music and our escorts excused themselves to hunt a dance partner.  People started leaving.  Finally, it was decided we were to escort ourselves home.  As we were leaving here was a very proper receiving line: bride, groom, his father, mother, elder brother, and wife.  Each shook hands and thanked us for coming.  Slowly walking down the street we wondered if it was proper to be alone on streets at this hour.  We soon discovered many other women walking home alone.  A strange custom.  We had a good laugh after we were safely home.

We had learned much that night and a new respect for Chinese customs.  We had been to many wedding receptions, but never had we seen such precise catering or such a lavish dinner.  It had been a most enjoyable and enlightening evening.

I don't have any good images at the moment to include for this post, so I'll just add this clipping from Granny's scrapbook.

Family History Record by C.B. Needels 1880

1880

Record by C.B. Needels

Dec 28.  I make the following record on the supposition that the Wm Needels referred to on page 79-80 is the father of Thomas Needels by a second marriage to a woman named Hanna Hargrove, but the date of the marriage has not been obtained.

Thomas his son was born Nov 2, 1738.

My father told me before his death that his grandfather (Thomas Needels) was married twice: once to a woman named White (her name he had forgotten).  She had one son Wm.  He married Rachel Johnson & by her had four sons:  Thomas, Wm, James & John and one daughter Sarah who married Keys.  These all came to Ohio except Wm.

--C.B. Needels, custodian 1876-1905

C.B. Needels made a record of the following families:

• himself & his wife:  Cubbage Barrett & Catharine (Needels) Needels
• his parents: Alexander & Elizabeth (Cubbage) Needels
• his maternal grandparents: Thomas & Mary (Dill) Cubbage
• his father- & mother-in-law: George C. (Jr) & Elizabeth (Fellers) Needels  
• his & his wife's paternal grandparents: George (Sr) & Kezia (Jackson) Needels
• his & his wife's great grandparents (George Sr.'s parents): Thomas & Sarah (Cubbage) Needels 

Cubbage Barrett & Catharine (Needels) Needels

C.B. Needels (son of Alexander & Elizabeth (Cubbage) Needels) was married to Catharine Needels (daughter of George C. & Elizabeth (Feller) Needels) May 3, 1851.
Children of the above see pages 273 & 274

Their children (only some are listed):

Allen Burns Needels (1st son) born Dec 30, 1853.  Married Eliza Ann Hellen Hillhouse Sept 21, 1879, who bore him three children (see page 274) and died March 24, 1884.  He & his two boys lived with his parents.  Converted when a child, joined the M.E. Church of which he is still a member.  He has served as Leader and Steward in the church.

Christopher Demas Needels (2nd son) was born Nov 10, 1855.  Married Sarah Catharine Harbison (see page 276) Jan 23, 1884.  Was converted when a child.  Lived on his father's farm until Feb 1883.  Moved to Oregon and in July of the same year returned to his father's farm.

George H. J. Needels (4th son) born Sept 4, 1859.  Converted in childhood.  Of a cheerful, hoeful disposition.  Had many friends, few enemies.  A prohibitionist, strictly honest & yet irregular in his habits.  Attended Avalon college one year and the Stanberry Normal one year.  Roved about consideraby in Iowa, Nebraska & Kansas.  Went to Oregon & Washington Territory in 1883.  Came home in the fall, took sick in Feb and died the 16 day of March 1884 aged 24-1/2 years of age.
He expressed a desire to live yet resigned to God's will.
He was a licensed Exhorter & held several other positions in the Church & taught two terms of public school.  Funeral preached by Rev Wm Kinzer.

Rose Bell Needels (1st daughter) born Jan 20, 1862.  Converted in childhood, joined M.E. Church.  Married John C. Fremont Lyle (who was born June 3, 1856).  (See page 275)

Victoria Catharine Needels (2nd daughter) was born Mar 7, 1864.  Five ft 3in high, fair complexion, dark hair, weighed 120.  Converted in childhood, had a pleasant disposition.  Loved to read & had no enemies.  Married to Richard S. Winslow (see pg 276) Sept 2, 1880.  Had one child which died three days after her mother died.  She was a faithful member of the M.E. Church. Died in Albany, Gentry Co., Mo Oct 10, 1882 in peace & Holy triumph.  Buried in Bethel Cemetery in Wilson Township, Gentry Co., Mo.  Funeral preached E.J. Jewett, her pastor.

--C.B. Needels, custodian 1876-1905

George C. & Elizabeth (Fellers) Needels

George C. Needels (son of George Sr. and Kezia (Jackson) Needels) was born July 8, 1810 in Fairfield County, Ohio.  Was converted May 2, 1834 joined the M.E. Church.  Served as Steward & Leader for 15 years.

Married Elizabeth Fellers at her father's house May 17, 1832 by ___ in presence of a large guest.  Lived in Ohio till May 1844.  Came to Mo., settled in (now) Gentry Co.  Entered 1 qr Sec of land, lived and died on the same.  His wife bore him 5 sons & 5 daughters, 8 of which lived to marry.  She dying, he married Mrs. Bertha Gaddy in Feb __ 1856 by Rev. ___ at her house & stran [?] no children by this marriage.
Six ft 2in high, light hair, light complexion, weak constitution.  Made a good living, a zealous Methodist and considered a liberal man.  Died in Holy Triumph Oct 9, 1860.  Buried in the graveyard on his farm by the side of his wife & son.

Elizabeth (Fellers) Needels (wife of G.C. Needels) was born April 15, 1814 in Pennsylvania.  Converted May 2, 1834.  Although raised a Lutheran, when converted she joined the M.E. Church with her husband & was faithful to her Christian vow.
About 5ft 4in high, dark hair, dark complexion, quick temper, weighing 130 pounds.  Worked hard, loved hard, hated hard.
A faithful wife, mother & friend died in holy triumph July 1, 1855.  Buried on her husband's farm in the graveyard not far from the house.  She died in ___.
Her children:

• Hiram W.    born June 19, 1835, died Aug 22, 1902
• Mary J.        born June 19, 1833, died Mar 1858
• Catharine     born Aug 20, 1837, died Dec 18, 1903
• Abram H.    born Dec 23, 1839
• Elijah B.      born Sept 12, 1841, died Nov 1860
• Elizabeth A. born June 17, 1845
• Sarah K.       born Mar 1, 1850
• Martin V.     born Jan 31, 1848, died May 28, 1849
• Feriba F.      born Feb 1, 1852
• An infant     born dead July 1, 1855 [Elizabeth and the baby lost in childbirth, presumably]

The children of G.C. and Elizabeth (Feller) Needels: five sons and five daughters.

Mary Jane married John S. Allen at her father's house by Rev. Henderson.  Present: Wm Steel, Charles Gilbert & a dozen others.  No of children 5.

Hiram W. married Mrs. Louisa Ann Huffer (Miss Louisa Ann Ragland) at camp meeting by Rev. John James.  Present, C.B. Needels & the family.  Children: 1 son & 2 dau.  Died Aug 22, 1902.

Catharine married C.B. Needels* at home by Rev. Isaac Burns in presence of the family on Sunday May 4, 1851.  Children 13.

*present custodian [writing this entry]

Abram Harris married ___.

Elijah Barret married Rebecca Thompson by Rev. B.J. Needels [George C's brother].  Children 1 son John Russel born after his father's death in 1871.  He is still unmarried Jan 16, 1888.

Elizabeth Ann married Martin V. Landon at ___.

Sarah Kezia married Aaron Rover Mar 18, 1866 in Fairfield County, Ohio by Rev. Hefley.  Children three boys & three girls.  He died April 22, 1880.  Children all living & married this 1901.

Feriba F. married Carr Brown at her sister's by Wm Conway Esq in presence of family.  Now living in Kansas.  Six children 4S 5D [four sons & five daughters would be nine?]

--C.B. Needels, custodian 1876-1905