Golden advice hiding at your great-great-grandparent’s grave

Imagine your great-great-grandparent’s ghost giving advice at their grave.

One search shows he . . .

• was a confederate veteran from Virginia
• moved to Texas in 1891 and opened a photography studio
• bought a house on Eighth Street in 1898

How do you go from defeat as a Virginia confederate soldier in 1865 and grow a photography business in Texas a few years later?

How do you survive five years as an artillery officer in the Civil War and lose . . .

• home
• friends
• safety
• security
• identity

Great-great-grandparent advice #1

Don’t let today’s loss interrupt your instinct for a new future.

Findagrave.com helped me uncover the courage of A. B. Nuckols.

In 1861, he signs up in his home state for the Virginia Light Artillery.

“Light”, in this context, has nothing to do with the size or weight of the guns used, but refers only to speed. With the cannoneers individually mounted, a battery could travel much faster – was, so to speak, lighter on its feet – than when the men had to walk or hang precariously from a limber. In short, “light” artillery is “horse” artillery. Artillery Civil War Facts

He witnesses five years of untold casualties and home devastation.

But, he survives war.

Instead of looking for a job with the railroad or a farm or ranch, he opens a photography studio at 608 Neches Street in 1897.

And that was the beginning of reversal from misfortune to fortune.

“We need to be willing to let our intuition guide us, and then be willing to follow that guidance directly and fearlessly.” Shakti Gawain

Great-great-grandparent advice #2

Take care of your family at all costs.

1898 was a good year in the Nuckols photography studio as he moved to a bigger space at 1402 Lavaca Street and buys a house on 1017 East Eighth Street the same year.

Reading the Historic Landmark Commission Report, we learn that 1017 East Eighth Street (later 1015) was a haven for Nuckols’ family members before, during and after their own tragedies.

• Claude, A. B.’s son, my great-grandfather, lived there.
• Maggie, Claude’s widow, lived there after Claude’s sudden death.
• Claudia (my grandmother), T. L. (my uncle) and Laura (my aunt) lived there.

Truly, a good business, a nice house and home atmosphere were big priorities for my great-great-grandad.

Great-great-grandparent advice #3

Make arrangements for your estate ahead of time.

A. B. not only provided a nice home for his family, but he left enough money so that his son’s widow, Maggie, and her kids could live in his house for years without needing to work.

Two years later, Maggie, moves to San Antonio and buys another house and the 1920 census shows her with “no occupation listed.”

What a blessing to give your family financial space.

A secret of priceless value

Leaving Oakwood Cemetery, I pass a lichen-covered headstone of someone who died in 1865 OF A FEVER. Someone’s BELOVED WIFE with these barely readable words . . . EVER SHE SOUGHT THE BEST, EVER FOUND IT.

Driving to Dallas, I couldn’t get these eight words out of my mind.

There’s tenacity in these words. “Ever she sought the best, ever found it.” A secret of priceless value hidden right there.

What you look for today, she seemed to say, is what you will surely find; even if you don’t see it right now or even months from now. But, keep looking. You’ll find it.

So, search for the best and take heart in that direction.

You’ll surely get there.

What advise would your great grandparent offer today?