Archive for January, 2008

Blogging the Blog – 5

Monday, January 28th, 2008

This past month has introduced us to Eric Searing, who provided great information, first on his father (see entry in Searing Artists), and on his family lineage for Genealogy.  This is great stuff and I am very pleased to ‘meet’ Eric through the internet.  Both Eric and Stan Searing in CA suggested LinkedIn as a great place to ‘troll for Searings’…so I will get on that as soon as I can.  I am still drafting my intro letter.  It has to be  good!  Jim Searing counseled patience on contacting other Searings, stressing that content was important to convince folks to keep checking back on both the blog and the Facebook group.  Good advice!  On a more personal note, my brother, Stan Searing of Paulding OH has just retired from his second career as Paulding County Executive (his first was as a school superintendent in OH) and I look forward to enlisting him to do some Searing research.  Congrats, bro!   Dan

An Eric Searing Lineage

Monday, January 28th, 2008

Let’s try something different while I am pondering the best way to blog genealogy. Eric Searing of Atlanta has given permission to post his family tree:

Here is Eric’s lineage from his Grandmother’s bible.

Charles Oscar Searing (1860-1938)(married 1883)(of Morristown NJ)(my great grandparents)

Wife Estrella Burge (1865-1938)(Thomson, IL)

Unknown relative G.H. Searing

Children of Charles and Estrella Burge Searing:

Bertha Pearl Searing (1887- 1933) Married Alfred Meeker in 1905 (1 known child)

Etta Harway Searing(1889-1959) Married Warren Johnson in 1909 (1 known child)

Voorhees Pierson Searing (1891) Married Olive Hodges in 1921

Glen Griffith Searing(1893-1954) Married Francis Gillison in 1929 (3 children):

Hilda Francis Searing(?) to Bobby Jo Jackson (Florida) (2 children “Bubba” Bobby Jo Jr. & Kathy )

Eleanor T Searing(?) to Roy Unkefer

Estella Burge Searing(?) to David S Addams

Jone Elizabeth Searing(1895) Married Walter Larson in 1930

Hilda Rachel Searing (1897-1986) Married Andrew Muller in 1920

Earl Burge Searing (1899-1971) Married Eunice Perkins in 1936 (keystone heights FL)

Charles Oscar Searing Jr. (1905 – 1938)

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(Eric’s grandparents) Earl Burge Searing and Eunice Perkins’ children (Starke FL):

(Eric’s father and mother) Earl Burge Searing Jr. (1941 – 2008) Married to Diane Nichols(1944-2008) of Chattahoochee FL in 1963

Carol Rae Searing (1946) Married to John G. Sims III in 1969 (2 children)

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Earl Burge Searing and Diane Nichols Searing’s children (FL and StoneMtn GA):

Eric Searing(1963) married Anna Hudgins of Dunwoody GA in 1990

Erin Searing(1974)

Thank you, Eric! I will be happy to post Searing lineages that are sent in. Eric can be found at esearing.com; webdevelopersbookstore.com; and at www.linkedin.com/in/esearing.

Searing Artists – Musicians

Monday, January 21st, 2008

(May 6, 2008) I regret to announce that Earl ‘Burge’ Searing, Jr  passed away on May 5, 2008, after a brief battle with cancer. He is survived by his son Eric (who notified me of his passing), his daughter Erin, and a sister, Carol. Dan

We have our first Searing musician, nominated by his son, Eric Searing. His name is Earl “Burge” Searing Jr. He was trained as a classical pianist, with degrees from Florida State University, Stetson University, and University of Florida. He taught music theory and piano at Jacksonville University (1970-1981). His creative endeavors include Painting, Drawing, and various musical instruments (Piano, Guitar, Clarinet, bagpipes, mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, and Celtic harp).

During the mid 1980’s and 90’s Burge manufactured and sold Mountain Dulcimers, Hammered Dulcimers, Celtic Harps, Psaltry (an ancestor of the dulcimer) and other unusual wooden instruments in Stone Mountain, GA.

Through out his life he has painted and drawn. But in 2002 suffered a stroke and lost the use of his right arm. Recently he has begun painting again trying to master water color. If you ask him how he is doing, he will tell you that it will take him a couple hundred paintings to get the hang of it. He has almost always painted landscapes or still life in an impressionist style. His son’s favorite painting by Burge is a Spanish bull fighter done in the traditional bull fighter poster style.

Mr Burge’s other accomplishments include – Scout master, Sailboat builder, Furniture Maker, Model train builder, and Atlanta Bagpipe Band member.

Eric Searing
esearing.com
webdevelopersbookstore.com

Searings on eBay

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

Items related to Searings occasionally come up on eBay. I will list them here with as much appropriate information as I have. For starters, here are two recent paintings by artists Searings that sold in December, 2007

An expressionist cityscape done in mixed media on masonite by Sonia Searing recently sold on eBay for around $50.00. Signed LR “Sonia Searing”; on verso, “Past Splendor” is written along with the artist’s name and Bradenton Florida address. Estimate age to be post 1950s. Davenport’s lists a 20th century artist by the name “Searing” who is noted for cityscapes. (Description courtesy of seller’s description on eBay.)

A vintage oil painting on board of a street market scene done in an impressionist style, ca 1960′-70’s, with a signature that looks like ‘Searing,” in original frame also recently sold on eBay for approximately $12.00. (Description courtesy of seller’s description on eBay.) Nothing more is known about this artist.

Searing Artists

Saturday, January 19th, 2008

Artists named “Searing” can be found from a variety of sources such as eBay and the internet.  For the moment I am going to list the ones I have come across in this one paragraph.  As we develop more information I would like to give each artist their own paragraph.  Again I invite information and comments….Dan

The Searing artist I know best is Don Searing, a member of my own family, whom I met on several occasions.  I do not know if any of his paintings are on the market. 

An expressionist cityscape done in mixed media on masonite  by Sonia Searing recently sold on eBay for around $50.00.  Signed LR “Sonia Searing”; on verso, “Past Splendor” is written along with the artist’s name and Bradenton Florida address.  Estimate age to be post 1950s.  Davenport’s lists a 20th century artist by the name “Searing” who is noted for cityscapes.  (Description courtesy of seller’s description on eBay.)

A vintage oil painting on board of a street market scene done in an impressionist style, ca 1960′-70’s, with a signature that looks like ‘Searing,”  in original frame also recently sold on eBay for approximately $12.00.   (Description courtesy of seller’s description on eBay.)  Nothing more is known about this artist.

Searing authors

Monday, January 7th, 2008

Jim Searing has a definitive list on his Facebook site “My Last Name is Searing”…that I have joined and will continue to urge you to visit and join). However, other Searing authors pop-up from time to time, and for the time being I will keep a running list here of issue based items (family based blogs or videos will be listed in the blogroll as I get permission from their authors) . For example, Adam Searing writes material for a North Carolina based blog, The Progressive Pulse. The link is http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?author=9.  UPDATE on 7/14/08:  Further information on Adam is: Adam G. Searing, JD,MPH, i Project Director for the North Carolina Justice Center’s Health Access Coalition. He can be reached
at adam@ncjustice.org or PO Box 28068, Raleigh, NC 28068.Telephone: 919-856-2175. Adam’s work is linked on the “About” page. Other Searing authors will be listed as I find them…or as you do! Dan

Blogging the blog 4

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

Of notables, Facebook, and family trees.  A couple more ‘notables’ are up.  I can see this is going to need some organization.  Perhaps a modern/historical split? Or a grouping by occupation …artists/academics? We’ll see how future entries develop.

I am now a proud presence on Facebook, and its turned out to be a lot of fun.  Jim Searing has cataloged 138 Searings (and growing?  come on in, folks!).  I’m still contemplating how best to contact them.   The whole thing about  ‘walls’, ‘poking’, ‘status’ and profiles is still a little mysterious, but you can invest a lot or a little in the site, depending upon your inclinations.

I did do some family tree research over the holidays.  I really like a web site titled “Kindo”, and have experimented by starting on the building of my own family tree.  It seems easy to make entries,  clean and neat, but with the ability to add details.  I explored some others (which shall remain nameless, as I’m not in the business of rating these sites.)  I would like to hear of other experiences with ‘trees’.  Dan

Hudson R. Searing and Con Edison of New York

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

From Answers.com, Hoover’s Profile of Consolidated Edison:  “For many years Consolidated Gas and its subsidiary New York Edison grew quietly. The long process of unifying New York’s various power companies continued, and by 1932 Consolidated Gas was the largest company in the world providing electrical service. The final step occurred in 1936 when Consolidated Gas became Consolidated Edison Company of New York. Under the direction of Hudson R. Searing, the previously cool relations between Edison’s gas and electric divisions were quietly improved, and the gigantic combine took on its present configuration as New York City’s sole power company.”   Mr. Searing was still active in 1983 (correction 1955) and was quoted in a Time article (of Feb 21, 1955) announcing the nations ‘first privately owned atomic power plant.’The Con Edison history quoted above was fascinating on a brief reading.  Much more research needs to be done on Mr. Hudson R. Searing.  If anyone has some sources or a write up I will be happy to post it.  Thanks to Stanley M. Searing for bringing this entry to my attention. (Added June 2009) And thanks to Michele Utterson for providing a  correction on Mr. Searing’s dates.  She also noted that Mr Searing passed away on June 26, 1957 after a short illness.  She provided a full obituary that I will publish here in the blog soon.  Dan

Colonel William M Searing (1821-1895)

Friday, January 4th, 2008

Jim Searing has suggested we include Colonel William M Searing (1821-1895) who served our country during the Civil War from 1861-1863. He served in the 30th New York State Volunteers, and was a Lt. Colonel. He fought at the 2nd Bull Run, Antietam (the corn field, which was one of the most ferociously fought battlegrounds in the Civil War), Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. His unit was decommissioned just before the battle of Gettysburg.

Details obtained from: www.dcnyhistory.org/books/breview.html
Leading citizens of Delaware County NY

William M. Searing was reared to agricultural pursuits on the home farm, assisting in its labors during the years of his boyhood and youth, but not neglecting his educational advantages. After mastering the common branches of learning, he taught school several terms with unquestioned ability and success. Having a logical and analytical mind, with a taste for jurisprudence, he began the study of law in the office of William A. Beach in Saratoga Springs, and subsequently entered upon the practice of his profession in that place. He has always taken an active interest in works of philanthropy and reform, ever being foremost in the cause of the oppressed, and was prominent among the Free-soilers, who spent some time in Kansas in the stirring period of its settlement. During the late Civil War he won a record as a brave man and a loyal officer, of which he and his descendants may well be proud. He enlisted in the service of his country in 1861 as Major of the Thirtieth New York Volunteer Infantry, and for gallant conduct was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and subsequently was appointed Colonel of his regiment, serving as such until honorably discharged in 1863. He was an active participant in several heavy engagements, being at the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and others, and at one time having his horse shot out under him. Returning to Saratoga Springs, he resumed his law practice, and is still an honored resident of that place, where he is filling the office of Pension Agent.

He married Caroline M. Huling, daughter of Beekman and Maria (Smith) Huling, the former of whom was born in the town of Beekman, Dutchess County, N.Y., being the son of John Huling, a native of the same place and a pensioner of the Revolution. Jacob Smith, the father of Maria Smith Huling, was a resident of Kinderhook, Columbia County, where the latter was born, December 8, 1799. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William Searing seven children were born, namely: Beekman; William, deceased; Richard C.; Edmund; Carrie; Samuel, Chaplain of City Institutions, Boston, Mass.; and Hannah, deceased. Both parents are esteemed members of the Bethesda Church at Saratoga