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Nancy Jane Stapp McCurdy
- Female
- West Des Moines, Iowa
- United States
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Nancy Jane Stapp McCurdy's Groups
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Three Word Story Group
30 members
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A Thousand Welsh Voices
6 members
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Grwp y Gymraeg
81 members
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Left Coast Eisteddfod ...
50 members
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Left Coast Eisteddfod ...
25 members
Nancy Jane Stapp McCurdy's Page
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Latest Activity / Y Cyffro Diweddara
Our three word story group....help to compose the new Mabinogion.
Using online recording technology to create and produce a record of singers from accross the globe.
A group for anyone who wants to learn or practice Welsh
Profile Information
- Relationship Status:
- Married
- About Me:
- Here's a little about me and yes, I know it's rather lengthy:
I'm a Guest(Substitute)Teacher in two districts and enjoy it very much. They keep me very busy. I have a variety of interests as you can see. This is just a few of them. Some of the things about me are that I was born in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. At the age of about six months, my father bought a drug store and we moved to Osky where I grew up and graduated from High School and College. After my senior year in High School I had the privilege of going to England for a month on a Rotary Exchange trip. While in school I had a pen pal from Europe. I can't remember the country but it might have been Austria or Germany, but I think it was Austria. One of the things that I always wanted to be was a nurse but that didn't work out for a number of reasons. Oh well. My experiences are wide and varied and I have many, many different interests.
I am half Welsh on my Mother's side as her grandparents and great-grandparents came from the old country.The good old Welsh names on my mother's side are Thomas, Roberts(two sets), Evans(two sets),Lewis, Edwards, Williams, etc. On my father's side, I am one-fourth Scottish and as he used to tease and say< "part Water as one choice of part Heinz 57, meaning he waa a mixture of what he wasn't sure. As of just recently, I have found that besides Wales and Scotland, I have had ancestors that came from Ireland, Germandy, and Prussia. Names on my father's side are Stapp, Wilson, Nimmo, Phifer, Farris, Roush, Ray, O Bannon, Bell, Snyder, Barbee, etc. to name just a few of them. I love Genealogy. In fact, I like a lot of different things and as I scout around on NOTH, I find that I have something in common with almost everybody. Please make sure to become my friend as I love to meet people. ">My mother who is 89(Christmas Day), has Alzheimer's and lives with my husband and me. We enjoy having her with us and cater to her as much as possible. We spoil her rotten. LOL!!!! She's our "child".
My great-grandparents on my mother's paternal side(Thomas, Evans) and on her maternal side(Roberts, Roberts, -no two Roberts' is not a repeat as I"m related to at least two different sets.)came from Wales.
Genealogy Here's a bit of my Genealogy from my Great-great grandfather's obituary back in 1908.
My great-great grandfather, Professor D.W. ROBERTS was living in Bevier, Macon County, MO in 1880 according to the census.
His children were:
1. Rachel (who is said to have died as a teenager and is buried in perhaps the Oakwood Cemetery, if there is one named that.
2. Elizabeth,
3. William D, (my great-grandfather)
4. Evan F.,
5. Martha,
6. Jane (Jennie) born 26 March 1875 in Bevier, Macon County, MO.
Professor D.W. ROBERTS was born in Wales, lived in Ohio, and for a little while, Bevier, Macon Co. MO. By 1889 he had moved to Mahaska County, Iowa (Givin, Iowa I believe).
After living in Mahaska County for a while he moved to Polk County, Iowa where he passed away.
I do know that he was quite active in the Welsh Eisteddfods in Iowa and he seemed to well known in many places from family lore.
Here are the only two items that I have about him:
ROBERTs, --Word was received in the city this morning of the death of Professor David ROBERTS, a former well known resident of Oskaloosa. The old gentleman died at the Methodist Hospital (in Des Moines, Iowa)of pneumonia, after an illness of only six days. The funeral will take place at Des Moines Sunday.
The wife preceded him to the other side by only a couple months.(Her name was Mary A EVANS, and she died 14 February 1908.) A family of about six children survive the aged parents. Professor ROBERTS was a native of Wales. He came to this country and for years was engaged in coal mining at the coal camps near the city. He was for years located in the Welsh colony at Givin. In his declining years he gained a livlihood in this city by conducting a retail oil delivery. He and his wife removed to Des Moines about four years ago to be nearer relatives. Professor ROBERTS, as he was known by everyone, was perhaps one of the best known. He was a singing master and chorus director of wide repute and was himself a singer of considerable ability. he had the rare power of interpretation of party and chorus music and his knowledge of direction was little less than remarkable. The old gentleman was in his element in the work of the EISTEDDFOD when it was at its height in this city. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa and perhaps Des Moines, Iowa, but definitely Oskaloosa)
He was one of its staunchest reporters and hardest workers. He has won many large prizes for superior chorus work and he has received unstinted praise from the loftiest critics in the country.
David ROBERTS did a world of good in his time and he merits a rich reward. His death will cause deepest regret among hundreds of Oskaloosa friends. Rev. Lloyd WILLIAMS of this city (Oskaloosa or Givin, Mahaska County, Iowa)goes to Des Moines Saturday morning to conduct the funeral and interment.
12 January 1899 David ROBERTS to-day received a copy of the Uruguay News Letter of November 27, 1898 sent him by Col. SWALM at Monte Video. It is the first paper from that country which we have seen that is printed in English, and barring the grammar and spelling, it is a creditable publication. Mr.SWALM, wanting to make sure that Mr. ROBERTS would receive the paper added to the address "the man who sings"
Here's another Welsh Ancestor of mine:
12 April Morning Addition Iowa State Register (Des Moines Register) marriages, births, & deaths
Died--In Des Moines, April 11, at 10 a.m. Morgan THOMAS, State mine inspector
Mr. THOMAS had been ill for several months. He lived at the home of Mrs. John Williams at East 5th & Walnut streets where he had been under the care of a trained nurse since January. He had been trouble with asthma and bronchitis and bronchial affections since an extreme attack of pneumonia in Leadville, Colorado several years ago and which practically destroyed one of his lungs. This trouble was aggravated with a severe affection of the liver and kidneys.
A brother, Evan THOMAS, a nephew and niece, children of his sister who lives in Wales, all of whom live near Oskaloosa were immediately notified of the death and a brother who lives in Colorado was also telegraphed. A brief funeral service here at 5 o'clock on Wed evening has been arranged under the directios of the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks, and the remains will be taken to Oskaloosa for interement on Thursdays morning. The Knight of Templars there wil have charge of the funeral, which will be held on Thursday mornig at 10:30 o'clock. Here Dr. A. J. FRISBIE will conduct the services and a choir of four singers will sing selected hymns. Four of the pall bearers were chosen by Mr. THOMAS and are: James K. STOUTt, W. S. RICHARDS, Fletcher HOWARD and Thomas BATESs. The Elks were very attentive to Mr. THOMAS during his illness and will have charge of the service in Des Moines. Mr. THOMAS was als a Knight Templar and a Shriner.
Morgan THOMAS was born in Wales and was 62 years of age. When he was 16 or 17 years of age, he went to Australiia. He there engaged inmining, whcih he had learned in his native place, and accumulated considerable fortune. Returning to Wales he built his parents a home and then came ot this country. He located in Wapello county, amd bought a farm, engaging in mining also. The title for the land proved imperfect and was practically lost. Mr. THOMAS then went to Colorado and engaged in mining at Leadville, again accumulate a compeiance. He becamse superintendent of mines in both Colorado and Montana and after spendng some time in the copper regions of Superior, after agaiin visiting Wales, returned to Iowa. He located at Muchakincok and from there was appointed mine inspector of the state by Goverernor LARRABEE in 1889, to fill out the term of James K.STOUT, who had resigned. He was successibely reappointed to the place biennialy since that time and administered the duties of his important office with much ability and entire conscientiousness. He was an expert miner and was especially fitted for the office of Inspector. At present Mr. J. A. CAMPBELL, of Ottumwa and Mr. James MILLER, of Oskaloosa, constitiute the Board. Mr. THOMAS was Inspector for th third district, which included Des Moines and northern Iowa mines.
Morgan THOMAS was a man of heart. His great generosity often make him the victim of false friends, but he never lost his faith in humanity and at his death was as free and open hearted a man as the day when he left his Welch home for the Australian mines. A man who retains unsoured a generous disposition in this harsh world is a nobleman in the rue sense of the term. . Mr. THOMAS never married. It was to marry that he returned the second time to Wales, but the sweetheart died in the holiday time and the miner never glazed her image over with domestic alliance. Fate turned this page of his lifr, he used to say, for Morgan THOMAS had the mind and the heart of a poet. To his friends there was no truer man than he and he counted life worthless without the sacrifices and pleasures of unselfish friendship.
The flags of the state house were slung half mast yesterday.
Other Hobbies I have are: Reading
Don't have too many hobbies as I don't have time for them yet.
Activities:
Genealogy
Reading
Learning more Sign Language whenever I can find someone to teach me more
Being with friends and family
Learning more Sign Language as soon as I can find someone to teach me more from where I'm at which is not at the very beginning
Singing in church choir
Reading
Being with family and friends
Genealogy
working with the physically and mentally challenged children
learning more about the country of Wales Hopefully
being able to visit Wales some day and meet any relatives that might be over there
Learning more about Scotland and also visiting there
MOVIES
Sweet Nothing in My Ear
Children of a Lesser God
Old Yeller
High School Musical 1 and 2
Phantom of the Opera
Brigadoon
Camp Rock
Hairspray with John Travolta
Hairspray with Sonny Bono
These two are very different. Would love to compare and contrast with those who have seen both versions.
any movie dealing with the deaf or sign language
MUSIC
Music from when I was in my teens from the 1950's 1960's
Country Music
Church Music
Classical
Showtunes
Big Band
Swing
Easy Listening
Dance
Almost any kind of music as long as the words can be understood if they're singing, I remember my Grandmother telling me that when you learn a song/hymn, you have to learn all the verses as it doesn't make any sense otherwise.
All Music
BOOKS
Nancy Drew Mystery Books
Books by V. C. Andrews
Mary Higgins Clark Books
Historical Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Almost any book I can get my hands on to read as I love to read, read, read!!!!
MY FAVORITE COLOR
Purple and yellow
MY FAVORITE FOOD
Don't really have a favorite food but I like Mock Chicken Legs.Here is the recipe since many have asked me for it:
Mock Chicken Legs:
2/3 lb ground beef
1/3 lb sausage
2 TBL chopped green peppers
2 TNL chopped onion
salt
3/4 - 1 tsp. sage
pepper
1 egg
3/4 C cracker crumbs
1 can mushroom soup.
Mis Well. Add WATER to make moist. Form in loaves(oblong). Brown on both sides in hot grease. Spoon soup over meat. If electric skillet 250 degrees Farenheit with lid for about 1 - 1&1/2 hours.
I've also used the crockpot and let them stay heated all day. They're pretty tasty.
Actually I like most foods, am not a picky eater. I like tacos, pizza, baked potatoes with a variety of toppings, lobster(too expensive though)seafood although I can't eat much of the white fish. I can eat Rainbow Trout and Catfish and that's it in the fish ilne. Seafood doesn't bother. I do not like meatloaf!!!! nor do I care too much for pork. I'd rather eat seafood or chicken or turkey.
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LEFT COAST EISTEDDFOD 2010 / EISTEDDFOD YR ARFORDIR CHWITH 2009
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Blog Posts / Blogiadau
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Two Welsh-American non-profits need photos of Wales
Posted by mona everett on November 28, 2009 at 9:00pm — 7 Comments
Comment Wall (19 comments)
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I'm intrigued by the talk of the gravestone in "old Welsh"... I'm wondering where it's possible to see a photo of it. Did you get the translation finished in the end?
Diolch!
I loved reading your "about me" information. What grades do you sub for? I think that would be a great job because you get to see a lot of kids! sounds good to me! sounds like you keep yourself pretty busy! You know what they say about idle hands. That is not much of a problem for you.
I agree, you can never have too many friends! I enjoyed all the info you added about yourself and your family history! Made me feel I need to write more!
My father's family was from Inysybwl , Wales and came to the US via Ellis island in 1911, on the Lusitania. He was the youngest and was born here. My grandfather was Arthur E. Wright and his dad was Thomas Wright. My grandmother was Margaret Mary Evans. The males in both families were coal miners at the Lady Windsor mine. We recently took a trip to Wales, and were able to actually go in the house where my grandfather grew up on Clive Terrace, which was about 2 doors from where my grandmother lived. Up the hill and across the street is the house my grandfather built for my grandmother when they married! The people of Wales were all so welcoming and sweet. I felt at home immediately!
Just returned from NYC trip, and went to Ellis Island. I will be spending time this winter researching my family on the Ellis Island Web Site.
I also love to read, and love Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson, Janet Evanovich, Steven Cannel and most others. I usually have a book by my bed, a book on CD in my car and a book on my MP3 player all going at once!
I know you will love the Ameicymru site!
Croeso!
clyde
Many thanks for asking me to be your friend! You seem to know more about your Welsh roots than most people living in Wales. It's something I started some time ago, got back to around the 1790's - no skeletons found yet!
I wonder if my film "The Land of Your Fathers" visits some of the locations your forebearers came from?
Pob hwyl,
Huw
Pob hwyl,
Thank you for your friend request. Reading your profile we have many things in common. I love to read, one of my favorite authors is Bill Bryson who I believe comes from Des Moines originally. I also had to read old yeller as part of our GCSE(secondry school qualification) english text, I remember the story made the class feel sad with the ending!!
As a nurse I work with many older people with Alziehmer's & really admier their primary carers as it can be really difficult on times.
My husband is proper Welsh be was born and raised in West Wales and has come from generations of Cardiganshire Lewis.
He also has an intrest in geneology enjoys finding out about his ancestors.
Hwyl am nawr
Leanne
Ceri emailed me regarding your translation;
Um, with your translation, whilst some of the words remain similar to this day, the translation request is very old Welsh, and I don't understand most of it, and I've emailed a few of my mates and they're none the wiser neither.
Your best bet would be to email the Welsh Language Board where they have people who specialise in 'Yr hen iaith' - 'the old language'
I'm more than happy to email them for you and see what they can come up with.
Speak to you soon
Mike
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