My Musical Family: October 2010

“Vicksburg is the Key” – Part 2: Iowa and G. Oliver

Go read the story of thy past. Iowa, O! Iowa

What glorious deeds, what fame thou hast! Iowa, O! Iowa

So long as time’s great cycle runs,

Or nations weep their fallen ones,

Thou’lt not forget thy patriot sons, Iowa, O! Iowa– from “The Song of Iowa” by S.H.M. Byers

Dad and I were hastily skimming newspaper articles and assorted letters and documents, trying to get through the file folders in all five boxes of George Landers’ papers before the Iowa City branch of the State Historical Library closed for the day. It was June 2007.

Oct

“Vicksburg is the Key” – Part 1: Illinois and Jasper

“Vicksburg is the key. The war can never be brought to a close until that key is in our pocket.”

– Abraham Lincoln

When my boyfriend Steve and I visited Vicksburg National Military Park in 1991, I secretly wished I was from Illinois.

Oct

Shiloh: A Place of Peace

It seems contradictory to find peace at a battlefield that saw so much bloodshed over a two-day period in 1862. But on our family’s visit Wednesday to Shiloh National Military Park, it was difficult to imagine a more peaceful place.

Known for being one of the most pristine Civil War battlefields, Shiloh is located off the beaten path, about two hours east of Memphis, and 45 miles north of Corinth, Miss.

Oct

A Yankee Family Heads to Dixie

I awoke at 5:30 this morning, too excited to sleep any longer. All I could think about was our upcoming Southern vacation. Our six-day adventure will start and end in Memphis and include visits to Shiloh National Military Park, New Orleans, Natchez, Miss., and Vicksburg National Military Park.

I’ve already been to all those places except for Shiloh.

Oct

A Shout-out to My Grandfather

I spend so much time writing about the life of my great-grandfather, G. Oliver Riggs, that I don’t get much chance to focus the spotlight on my grandfather, Ronald. Because he would have turned 109 this month, I’d like to dedicate this post to him.

Ronald Graham Riggs was the eldest child of G. Oliver and Islea Graham Riggs. He was born Oct. 23, 1901, in Crookston, Minn.

Oct

An Interview with a Music Man

I was so busy during the Vintage Band Festival, trying to hear as many concerts as possible, that I wasn’t able to spend much time talking to musicians and directors. Fortunately, through the modern wonder that is Facebook, I have had the opportunity to become better acquainted with one of the band directors who attended, William L. Reynolds, of the Independent Silver Band of Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Oct

Wanted: A Hired Girl

I feel like such a blogger slacker. It’s been my goal since I started this blog to post an average of twice a week, and I haven’t posted anything since Sept. 24. I could blame it on a combination of things: flooding, a bedroom renovation project, adjusting to the rhythm of the new school year. But I’ve decided to blame it on my lack of a hired girl.

My great-grandmother, Islea Graham Riggs, had a hired girl 100 years ago when the family lived in Grand Forks.

My Musical Family