Chalkboard Thoughts

          Mary Margaret Andrews was called Peggy by her family and friends. She was born on May 3rd, 1943 in Steubenville, Ohio to Mary Elizabeth and Alexander Acton Andrews. Her Dad worked just across the River in Weirton, West Virginia at Weirton Steel. In October of 1949, her younger brother, Patrick was born.    Peggy grew up in Wintersville, Ohio and went to high school there. After graduation in 1961, Peggy had thought about entering a convent but a priest had advised her to wait until she was absolutely sure she could commit to religious life. She was still considering entering a convent in 1962.   She went off to college and to work in Columbus, Ohio in 1961. She had a day job in an accounting office and an apartment in the vicinity of the Ohio State University neighborhood. She attended evening classes at Columbus Business College. She wanted to work as an auditor eventually.    That year Elvis Presley had a h...

      Ella Wilhelmine Wolka was born to Mary (Schafer) and Christian Wolka on February 22nd 1880 in a little cabin in Driftwood Township, Jackson County, Indiana. Her father, Christian Wolka, had been born in Hannover, Germany. Her mother Mary was born in Ohio. Her maiden name was Schafer.    The little cabin sat on Starve Hollow Road in Driftwood Township near the little town of Vallonia. Today the site of the cabin is part of Starve Hollow State Recreation Area in Jackson County, Indiana. The lake that the home stood near is still there and people enjoy camping, hiking and all sorts of recreation there today.    But, in the 1800’s it was a very different place.   Mary (19) and Christian Wolka (28) appear in the 1860 Census and they are living in Indiana. In 1863, Christian Wolka signed on with the Union Army and served in the Civil War. He survived and in the following years Mary and he would have many children.  ...