Gary: You are absolutely correct. This was indeed a very important piece of St Louis and a very easy read. Do you know if Craig is still a member of the list. I for one would like to compliment him on his work.----Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: G STOLTMAN<mailto:stopan@msn.com> To: persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net> ; mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 6:24 PM Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Sgt. George & Black Sheep Hi Craig I realize that I've read all of this before but never all together. A much clearer picture of that Limey side of the family and an obvious explanation as to where you inherited the qualities needed to become the successful politician you are. Hope all is well in VA. Did you ever try the name Ora Brown or Fields? Good hunting Gary Stoltman (Stopan) ----- Original Message ----- From: Craig Kilby<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net>> To: germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com%3Cmailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com>> Cc: St. Louis Metro List<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro-l@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro-l@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 12:29 PM Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Sgt. George & Black Sheep I almost deleted all of the "Pet Peeve" stuff myself, but now since I have mentioned in Sgt. George's email on this topic, I feel compelled to respond and comment. George: You do make me laugh. IMO, the "Black Sheep Society" is more than just being a murderer, prostitute, rapist or common criminal. It is about being a "colorful character." And THAT you are. I suppose I would consider myself one too. That be either good or bad--or both-- but never indifferent. I have never "officially" applied for membership, and since it is really just a mailing list I don't think it is necessary. It is a fun list, and full of very knowledgeable people. And what family story isn't brought to life with colorful facts? I could wall-paper 3 living rooms with the number of divorce decrees in my family. And that's just for starters. I think my best black-sheep candidate (and it's a tough contest) would be my great-grandfather the so-called "Doctor" William Woodson Brownfield. If anyone on this list can tell me what happened to him, I will pay good money. The Brownfield Family Association does not know. According to my father and his cousin Betty Brownfield (now both dead), he simply disappeared and left his wife and children. This was in St. Louis County. My father said he was a "snake-oil salesman." The Brownfields insist he really was a doctor. What I DO know is that he, his wife, and her brother, are listed in the St. Louis Directory as "pharmacists" in the late 1800s. Which brings me straight to another black sheepess. This would be "Aunt Ora". She was "Doctor" Brownfield's daughter by a previous wife. (I've never figured out who her mother was, as from what records I have been able to find on "Doctor" Brownfield in Illinois show he had two wives previous to my own great-grandmother). I have one photograph of "Aunt Ora", taken around 1910. A stunning looker she was. Mink coat, mink cap, gloves and the huge huge hat the ladies used to wear. And she a home-wrecker to boot. And in a very scandalous way. This doesn't mean she was a bad person. She was a music teacher, just like her step-mother (poor Delia). Things went awry when Judge Hugh Laughlin bought a large farm near her mother's home. Judge Laughlin was married. Judge Laughlin had married a very wealthy woman related to the Todds (as in Mary Todd Lincoln) in Kentucky. Judge Laughlin was very colorful. Judge Laughlin fell in love with young Ora Brownfield. Judge Laughlin divorced his wife (or she divorced him, it isn't all clear from the sundry newspapers accounts). Judge Laughlin resigned his judgeship in St. Louis, and bought two pieces of property. One was a resort home in Ashland, Michigan, and the other was a hotel in Chicago. Judge Laughlin's 1931 will is a literary masterpiece. Judge Laughlin was very wealthy, if the bequests in his will are to be believed. Now do not think for one minute that the ex-wife was the least bit amused by any of this. She had 2 sons and 1 daughter by this man. She was a matriarch (or at least WAS a matriarch) of St. Louis society. In fact her ex-husband arranged for his daughter Hester to become the first "elected" (i.e., "selected") Queen of the St. Louis Veiled Prophet's Ball. That was a big thing in those days, and in fact still is a big thing. It's the St. Louis version of the Debutantes' Ball, though that part has been greatly de-emphasized over racial issues after a former Mayor of St. Louis had the gall to actually shut down the bridges into St. Louis from Illinois to keep the "black folk" from "invading" the VP Fair under the Arch in the 1980s. Can you spell "Reverend Al Sharpton"? But I digress. To take this story further, I continue with the beautiful but probably very naive young Hester Bates Laughlin. Her headlines brought her great attention and many suitors. The winner of her hand was a dashing young Italian Count named Carlos Pfister. He was an Italian Naval Attache. He was based out of DC. They met in DC when Hester's disgraced but not un-connected mother took her there on a visit. They held one of St. Louis's most extravagant weddings ever. The newly-married couple returned to DC for a brief while, and he was then re-called to Rome. Apparently, at this time, young Hester suffered either a physical or mental breakdown, or both. Here again the newspaper accounts from both countries are quite contradictory. What is clear is that something was going wrong, her mother went over to help her out, and on the morning that Hester was to check herself in to the "Blue Nuns" (A Catholic Nunnery, and for what reason is not clear, some accounts say leukemia), she found a gun in her mother's suit case and used it for the purpose of ending her life. At which she succeeded. This was on 5 November 1912. The St. Louis newspapers are replete with accounts of this, all of which conflict. They of course re-hash all of the scandalous history of her parent's marriage. It was a family tragedy of the first magnitude, and to have it all splashed once again in the gossip columns certainly could not have been any comfort. To rush and conclude this story, Ms. Laughlin-Pister was sent back to her father in Chicago, where she was cremated. Her father's 1931 will leaves an enormous sum of money to a Catholic Nunnery in Chicago. Her father was not Catholic. Obviously, a great mystery. To sum it all up, family histories are not usually so fascinating. But when they are, it certainly brings a great deal to light. And much to write about. The best part of this story is that not too many years ago I was contacted by a grandson of Judge Laughlin, and his beautiful wife. They were on this trail, and we were able to compare and exchange copious notes and photographs. They didn't know much about Ora Brownfield, and I knew next to nothing about Judge Laughlin. Our visit revealed mountains of information. When they came to my condo in St. Louis, I could actually point across the street and show them the house where Judge Laughlin lived with his first wife. I could walk them down the street and show them where she was living when she died. We went to two cemeteries and found where one of Judge Laughlin's sons had put up gravestones for almost every character in this story (except Dr. Brownfield, whom we have no idea is buried.) We had a delightful full-blown picnic at Belle-Fontaine Cemetery (not allowed anymore) and found even more markers, including poor Hester, in the same fashion as at Fee Fee. The Belle-Fontaine cemetery office provided us tons of data on the cremations, origins of body, and other records on the burial information. SO....My point is, you never know what you might find out if you work with others. Yes, there can be some disappointments along the way and yes, some people will take your data and plaster it on the internet and then act like you never existed. But, I would trade 100 of those such incidents for any single one of the like I have described. To paraphrase my good friend Gary Stolpan, Happy Hunting! Craig Kilby Lancaster, Virginia persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net%3Cmailto:persisto@earthlink.net>> cc: St. Louis Metro List > > Well Don, that's a little strong, but I think I know where you're > coming from. I've never come across anyone like that, but I'm sure > they do exist. >SNIP > I'm almost certain that you have had a very bad experience in your > research endeavors and hope that you don't judge anyone else by > what happened then. I don't know a single soul on this List that > would be so pretentious as to exclude anyone from his/her family > tree. In fact, if the truth were known I'll bet a good percentage of > us here also belong to the "Black Sheep Society", which has a > Mailing List here at Rootsweb. To be a member you have to have > an ancestor who could be considered a "Black Sheep" and most > of us have more than one such ancestor. Right Craig? As a matter > of fact, Don, I know you're a member of IBSSG. (GRIN) > > I mentioned Craig in the paragraph above and have to tell you > what he posted when I applied for membership in IBSSG. He > said that I qualified for membership in my own right! I "think" > he meant that I was Black Sheep enough myself that I didn't > need an ancestor to make me eligible. Dang, now no one will > want me in his/her family tree! Sob. > > Anyway, Don, don't let it bother you. Everyone has a bad > apple back there somewhere, even those "who pick and choose > whom they will allow to appear in their Family Tree". They > either haven't found that bad apple yet, or have and choose > to ignore him/her. > > Regards, > Sarge ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com%3Cmailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com>> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Jim I should add that I still read yours also - always interesting. I haven't corresponded with Craig for a couple of months or so. Obviously, he's still a member of Mo-Metro. Gary ----- Original Message ----- From: JAMES O BRASHER<mailto:jims505@msn.com> To: mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 12:26 AM Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Sgt. George & Black Sheep Gary: You are absolutely correct. This was indeed a very important piece of St Louis and a very easy read. Do you know if Craig is still a member of the list. I for one would like to compliment him on his work.----Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: G STOLTMAN<mailto:stopan@msn.com<mailto:stopan@msn.com>> To: persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net>> ; mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro@rootsweb.com>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 6:24 PM Subject: Re: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Sgt. George & Black Sheep Hi Craig I realize that I've read all of this before but never all together. A much clearer picture of that Limey side of the family and an obvious explanation as to where you inherited the qualities needed to become the successful politician you are. Hope all is well in VA. Did you ever try the name Ora Brown or Fields? Good hunting Gary Stoltman (Stopan) ----- Original Message ----- From: Craig Kilby<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net>>> To: germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com%3Cmailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com<mailto:germanna_colonies@rootsweb.com>>> Cc: St. Louis Metro List<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro-l@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro-l@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro-l@rootsweb.com<mailto:mo-stlouis-metro-l@rootsweb.com>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 12:29 PM Subject: [MO-STLOUIS-METRO] Sgt. George & Black Sheep I almost deleted all of the "Pet Peeve" stuff myself, but now since I have mentioned in Sgt. George's email on this topic, I feel compelled to respond and comment. George: You do make me laugh. IMO, the "Black Sheep Society" is more than just being a murderer, prostitute, rapist or common criminal. It is about being a "colorful character." And THAT you are. I suppose I would consider myself one too. That be either good or bad--or both-- but never indifferent. I have never "officially" applied for membership, and since it is really just a mailing list I don't think it is necessary. It is a fun list, and full of very knowledgeable people. And what family story isn't brought to life with colorful facts? I could wall-paper 3 living rooms with the number of divorce decrees in my family. And that's just for starters. I think my best black-sheep candidate (and it's a tough contest) would be my great-grandfather the so-called "Doctor" William Woodson Brownfield. If anyone on this list can tell me what happened to him, I will pay good money. The Brownfield Family Association does not know. According to my father and his cousin Betty Brownfield (now both dead), he simply disappeared and left his wife and children. This was in St. Louis County. My father said he was a "snake-oil salesman." The Brownfields insist he really was a doctor. What I DO know is that he, his wife, and her brother, are listed in the St. Louis Directory as "pharmacists" in the late 1800s. Which brings me straight to another black sheepess. This would be "Aunt Ora". She was "Doctor" Brownfield's daughter by a previous wife. (I've never figured out who her mother was, as from what records I have been able to find on "Doctor" Brownfield in Illinois show he had two wives previous to my own great-grandmother). I have one photograph of "Aunt Ora", taken around 1910. A stunning looker she was. Mink coat, mink cap, gloves and the huge huge hat the ladies used to wear. And she a home-wrecker to boot. And in a very scandalous way. This doesn't mean she was a bad person. She was a music teacher, just like her step-mother (poor Delia). Things went awry when Judge Hugh Laughlin bought a large farm near her mother's home. Judge Laughlin was married. Judge Laughlin had married a very wealthy woman related to the Todds (as in Mary Todd Lincoln) in Kentucky. Judge Laughlin was very colorful. Judge Laughlin fell in love with young Ora Brownfield. Judge Laughlin divorced his wife (or she divorced him, it isn't all clear from the sundry newspapers accounts). Judge Laughlin resigned his judgeship in St. Louis, and bought two pieces of property. One was a resort home in Ashland, Michigan, and the other was a hotel in Chicago. Judge Laughlin's 1931 will is a literary masterpiece. Judge Laughlin was very wealthy, if the bequests in his will are to be believed. Now do not think for one minute that the ex-wife was the least bit amused by any of this. She had 2 sons and 1 daughter by this man. She was a matriarch (or at least WAS a matriarch) of St. Louis society. In fact her ex-husband arranged for his daughter Hester to become the first "elected" (i.e., "selected") Queen of the St. Louis Veiled Prophet's Ball. That was a big thing in those days, and in fact still is a big thing. It's the St. Louis version of the Debutantes' Ball, though that part has been greatly de-emphasized over racial issues after a former Mayor of St. Louis had the gall to actually shut down the bridges into St. Louis from Illinois to keep the "black folk" from "invading" the VP Fair under the Arch in the 1980s. Can you spell "Reverend Al Sharpton"? But I digress. To take this story further, I continue with the beautiful but probably very naive young Hester Bates Laughlin. Her headlines brought her great attention and many suitors. The winner of her hand was a dashing young Italian Count named Carlos Pfister. He was an Italian Naval Attache. He was based out of DC. They met in DC when Hester's disgraced but not un-connected mother took her there on a visit. They held one of St. Louis's most extravagant weddings ever. The newly-married couple returned to DC for a brief while, and he was then re-called to Rome. Apparently, at this time, young Hester suffered either a physical or mental breakdown, or both. Here again the newspaper accounts from both countries are quite contradictory. What is clear is that something was going wrong, her mother went over to help her out, and on the morning that Hester was to check herself in to the "Blue Nuns" (A Catholic Nunnery, and for what reason is not clear, some accounts say leukemia), she found a gun in her mother's suit case and used it for the purpose of ending her life. At which she succeeded. This was on 5 November 1912. The St. Louis newspapers are replete with accounts of this, all of which conflict. They of course re-hash all of the scandalous history of her parent's marriage. It was a family tragedy of the first magnitude, and to have it all splashed once again in the gossip columns certainly could not have been any comfort. To rush and conclude this story, Ms. Laughlin-Pister was sent back to her father in Chicago, where she was cremated. Her father's 1931 will leaves an enormous sum of money to a Catholic Nunnery in Chicago. Her father was not Catholic. Obviously, a great mystery. To sum it all up, family histories are not usually so fascinating. But when they are, it certainly brings a great deal to light. And much to write about. The best part of this story is that not too many years ago I was contacted by a grandson of Judge Laughlin, and his beautiful wife. They were on this trail, and we were able to compare and exchange copious notes and photographs. They didn't know much about Ora Brownfield, and I knew next to nothing about Judge Laughlin. Our visit revealed mountains of information. When they came to my condo in St. Louis, I could actually point across the street and show them the house where Judge Laughlin lived with his first wife. I could walk them down the street and show them where she was living when she died. We went to two cemeteries and found where one of Judge Laughlin's sons had put up gravestones for almost every character in this story (except Dr. Brownfield, whom we have no idea is buried.) We had a delightful full-blown picnic at Belle-Fontaine Cemetery (not allowed anymore) and found even more markers, including poor Hester, in the same fashion as at Fee Fee. The Belle-Fontaine cemetery office provided us tons of data on the cremations, origins of body, and other records on the burial information. SO....My point is, you never know what you might find out if you work with others. Yes, there can be some disappointments along the way and yes, some people will take your data and plaster it on the internet and then act like you never existed. But, I would trade 100 of those such incidents for any single one of the like I have described. To paraphrase my good friend Gary Stolpan, Happy Hunting! Craig Kilby Lancaster, Virginia persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net%3Cmailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net<mailto:persisto@earthlink.net>>> cc: St. Louis Metro List > > Well Don, that's a little strong, but I think I know where you're > coming from. I've never come across anyone like that, but I'm sure > they do exist. >SNIP > I'm almost certain that you have had a very bad experience in your > research endeavors and hope that you don't judge anyone else by > what happened then. I don't know a single soul on this List that > would be so pretentious as to exclude anyone from his/her family > tree. In fact, if the truth were known I'll bet a good percentage of > us here also belong to the "Black Sheep Society", which has a > Mailing List here at Rootsweb. To be a member you have to have > an ancestor who could be considered a "Black Sheep" and most > of us have more than one such ancestor. Right Craig? As a matter > of fact, Don, I know you're a member of IBSSG. (GRIN) > > I mentioned Craig in the paragraph above and have to tell you > what he posted when I applied for membership in IBSSG. He > said that I qualified for membership in my own right! I "think" > he meant that I was Black Sheep enough myself that I didn't > need an ancestor to make me eligible. Dang, now no one will > want me in his/her family tree! Sob. > > Anyway, Don, don't let it bother you. Everyone has a bad > apple back there somewhere, even those "who pick and choose > whom they will allow to appear in their Family Tree". They > either haven't found that bad apple yet, or have and choose > to ignore him/her. > > Regards, > Sarge ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com%3Cmailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com>>> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com>> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com<mailto:MO-STLOUIS-METRO-request@rootsweb.com> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message