Charles B. Biswell recounts his life's story for his great-grandson Hayes

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cbb060393a (43.0M)
cbb060393b (43.1M)

On June 3, 1993, and at the age of 89, Charles B. Biswell recounted his life's story for his great-grandson Hayes David Richard Pierson a few days before his first birthday.

Highlights:

• Life on the Biswell farm in Howard County, MO.
• His education, including Central Methodist College at Fayette, MO, and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
• His jobs.
• His romance, engagement, and wedding to Mary Yancey.
• Their move to Delaware and New Jersey and his career with DuPont.
• The birth of their son Charles "David" Biswell and his childhood.
• The Chestnut Drive house in Woodstown, NJ.
• David's engagement and wedding to Sue Ellen Clevenger.
• Mary Yancey Biswell's illnesses.
• Charles's retirement from DuPont in 1968.
• Their move to Orangeburg, SC, in 1978.
• Charles's marriage to Azel Stockman in 1981 after Mary's death in 1978.
• His current health, including his deteriorating sight.

Cemetery tour conducted by Thomas "Ralph" Yancey

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try100183a (29.5MB)
try100183b (29.5MB)
try100183c (27.2MB)
try100183d (22.6MB)

On October 1-2, 1983, Thomas "Ralph" Yancey conducted a cemetery tour accompanied by John Raymond Yancey, Jr. They visited these cemeteries: Waverly Cemetery in Waverly, MO, in Lafayette County; Little Grove Cemetery, two miles south of Malta Bend, MO, in Saline County; Union Baptist Church Cemetery in Saline County, MO; Ridge Park Cemetery in Marshall, MO; and Sappington Cemetery in Saline County, MO.

Although the Biswell connection to this recording is tenuous (Ralph is the brother of Mary Yancey Biswell), I am posting this recording for those who are interested in the Yancey family history, specifically the Thomas Alexander Yancey branch. Thomas, born in Virginia in 1831, was the son of Charles Lewis Yancey and moved to Missouri in 1858 after his wife Sarah died after two years of marriage. Thomas visited his cousin John Franklin Yancey, whose father, John S. Yancey, came to Missouri in 1829 shortly after it became a state in 1820.

Highlights:

• Little Grove Cemetery is where many of the Virginia Yanceys are buried, including Thomas Alexander Yancey. Many Snoddys can be found here, as well.
• Ralph remembers the Yancey house and farm.
• Ralph tells the story about Dr. T.A. Yancey setting Jesse James's broken leg.
• Ralph's brother Layton decides to study medicine.
• Stories of African-Americans who lived in the area.
• The Union Cemetery is where Gaudins and Minors are buried.
• Novelist Pearl S. Buck's relationship to the Minors.
• History of the purchase of lots #39 & #67 in Section 20 of Ridge Park Cemetery and who is buried there at the current time. The Yancey stone is in the picture below.
• The Sappington Cemetery is where two Missouri governors are buried.