We have made it half way through the year? Can you believer that we are now slightly closer to Christmas than to the begging on the year?
While you are dealing with that new sense of panic of the fast approaching Christmas Season, lets talk about this month's family themed movie Dolittle
This imaginative new twist on a classic film had Robert Downey Jr. playing the title role. We find Dolittle in a far away kingdom, happily living with his wife and a huge plot of land taking care of all sorts of creatures from around the world. Some coming to find him themselves, other coming with their owners seeking guidance for car of their animals. Whatever the reason for being there, everyone was loved and well looked after. That all changed when Dolittle's wife went on an adventure and never returned home. Knowing that she was never going to returned, Dolittle locked himself, and all the animals that chose to say, out from the world. No one heard from him, or tried to look him up, for years. One day, a servant of the queen came looking for him to help figure out what is making her so ill. It's soon reveled that there is an evil plot afoot, and Dolittle must go on the same mission that he lost his wife to in order to safe the queen.
I really do enjoy this movie. I have seen it a few times since it came out. It's a bit odd to watch a first because you expecting it to be one way and it nothing like you thought it was going to be at all. I do love how this weird family is put together. They all have a role that they know that they play, how best to help, and still learn about themselves during this adventure. What I also love about it is that this family was a family before tragedy stuck, and they still were one after as well. They were there to help lift others up when they were down. A big part of families are those you are born into, but I find more that adding family from outside blood can be just as beneficial.
Now, lets talk about a very interesting man on my dad's side of the family tree. Ewil Pentecost Gardner is my 4x Great Grandfather. My does he have a story to tell. Let's start off in the story of how Wise County, Virginia got it's name. No, nothing to be named after my family but there is a book about Wise County that holds this story. So, when it was being voted on what the county should be called lots of people in the county wanted to be named Dunn or Roane. Seeing that it's Wise it didn't work out for them. The author or the book A Narrative History of Wise County, Virginia did find a petition to have Dunn be the name. In looking at all 121 name on the list I have found other members of my family, that I have not had the time to deep dive in yet, but Pentecost Gardner was number 58 to sign. The author also wrote a story about him after the list of name.
The story takes place when Civil War ended. Pentecost was in Yellow Creek Falls running a corn mill when the new broke that General Lee surrendered at Appomattox. He left his corn mill and ran up and down the streams or Guests and Powell Rivers telling every family on the route about the news.
However, is story doesn't end there. Not terrible long after Wise got it's name she called on Pentecost as a witness in the fist murder trial in Wise County. One the day of the celebrate of the birth of the county of Wise there was to be a first organization of the county court. Alexander Carico was on his way to the celebration when he ran into his neighbor Beverly Dickenson. They were feuding because Alexander found that some his hogs were shot and crippled and Alexander accused Beverly of doing the deed. This was the last time they would ever meet heading towards this celebration. Beverly took a big stick and struck Alexander over the back of the head and killed him. He was arrested and charged with Murder.
My Grandfather, along with 16 other men spent on day in deliberations and pronounced Beverly Dickenosn guilty of voluntary manslaughter.
You know with all of the stories I have heard from my dad over the years about murder and stuff in the family, it's nice knowing that someone actually helped to upheld the law... not break it.
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