FIFTH COUSIN TWICE REMOVED OF RALPH WALDO EMERSON
SIXTH COUSIN ONCE REMOVED OF GEN. WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
FAMILY TRADITION SAYS SHE IS RELATED TO THE POET ROBERT BURNS
ACCOMPLISHED HORSEWOMAN
------------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF ANNA MARY SHRIVER FAST, by Laurence Overmire (grandson), genealogist and Fast/Shriver family historian, updated June 2020:
Anna Mary Shriver was born on the family farm in Ashland County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1893, the youngest of eight children of Albert Norton and Mary Belle (Burns) Shriver. Her father died shortly after her fifth birthday. Her mother and her siblings took over the burden of the farmwork. They were never wealthy, but they had enough to be comfortable and happy.
The Shriver farmhouse was just through the woods from the Burns grandparents' house which sat on a hill. Anna Mary spent many hours playing in the woods with her brother Ralph and often visited her grandparents' home. Daughter Nancy recalled, "The way she talked about it, it seemed like a castle to her, with many beautiful things and a beautiful winding staircase to the second floor."
The Burns believed they were related to Robert Burns the Scottish poet (though this hasn't been confirmed). Anna Mary wrote poetry herself. Her sister Olive, who became her primary caregiver after her father died, was a composer. The two girls would gather at the piano, Olive playing and Mary singing their own original songs.
Anna Mary attended Savannah Academy (high school). As daughter Nancy recalled, "She started teaching right after that, one could do that in those days, but I have no idea where. I do remember her telling about having to walk three miles to the school house somewhere in Ashland county, through rain, snow or whatever. It had one room with many ages of children. She had to chop the wood for the fire and did everything else that needed to be done. She commented about the difficulty teaching some boys who had been just a year behind her in school."
Anna Mary attended Ashland College for 2 years, getting teacher's training. She landed a job "in a private and very exclusive school in Southern Pines, North Carolina. While she was there, she was courted by two men: Irl Fast who was a student at the University of Michigan getting his Masters Degree, and the man in Southern Pines who owned the horse stables. Irl Fast must have been a pretty good letter writer, because he won her hand."
Irl and Anna Mary were married in the beautiful back yard of Aunt Tirjah Burns Shriver's house. Tirjah was the sister of Anna Mary's mother Belle. All of Anna Mary's brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles were in attendance. They had a sumptuous dinner beforehand.
Anna Mary and her husband Irl must have enjoyed married life. Daughter Mary Lou wrote, "My parents have lived what I consider to be a good life. They have always been happy and contented with what they've had. I have never heard either of them utter a harsh word against the other, and never have I noticed signs of quarreling."
Anna Mary and Irl were also loving, effective, and wise parents. Mary Lou reflected on her upbringing:
"My parents have had a great influence on my personality development. They have always been very understanding of the problems that face a girl at each stage of development and they have always helped me over the rough places... We have never been wealthy but we have always had enough to feel secure and to satisfy our needs. Mother is quite thrifty and in most cases she is able to make every penny count. She has always made most of my clothes, and she is very good at fixing up our home on an amazingly small amount of money. From mother I have learned habits of cleanliness, neatness, and thriftiness.
"My parents have never been very strict with me. Their discipline has been constructive rather than restrictive. If I ever wanted to do things which they didn't think best they would talk it over with me and then let me decide. I usually did the thing they wanted me to do; if I didn't however, nothing more was said. They have never done my thinking for me in any matter. They offer advice and suggestions but the decisions are always left up to me. Thus I have learned not to depend on other people to do my thinking for me, but am always able to do my own. I have been made to do things for myself."
Anna Mary and Irl shared many happy years together. In retirement, they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, but returned to Ohio in the summers to a wonderful little cottage they owned in Perrysville. Eventually, Anna Mary was stricken with Alzheimer's and was admitted to a nursing home in St. Petersburg. She died there on October 16, 1968, at the age of 75.
Source:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2020.
SIXTH COUSIN ONCE REMOVED OF GEN. WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
FAMILY TRADITION SAYS SHE IS RELATED TO THE POET ROBERT BURNS
ACCOMPLISHED HORSEWOMAN
------------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF ANNA MARY SHRIVER FAST, by Laurence Overmire (grandson), genealogist and Fast/Shriver family historian, updated June 2020:
Anna Mary Shriver was born on the family farm in Ashland County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1893, the youngest of eight children of Albert Norton and Mary Belle (Burns) Shriver. Her father died shortly after her fifth birthday. Her mother and her siblings took over the burden of the farmwork. They were never wealthy, but they had enough to be comfortable and happy.
The Shriver farmhouse was just through the woods from the Burns grandparents' house which sat on a hill. Anna Mary spent many hours playing in the woods with her brother Ralph and often visited her grandparents' home. Daughter Nancy recalled, "The way she talked about it, it seemed like a castle to her, with many beautiful things and a beautiful winding staircase to the second floor."
The Burns believed they were related to Robert Burns the Scottish poet (though this hasn't been confirmed). Anna Mary wrote poetry herself. Her sister Olive, who became her primary caregiver after her father died, was a composer. The two girls would gather at the piano, Olive playing and Mary singing their own original songs.
Anna Mary attended Savannah Academy (high school). As daughter Nancy recalled, "She started teaching right after that, one could do that in those days, but I have no idea where. I do remember her telling about having to walk three miles to the school house somewhere in Ashland county, through rain, snow or whatever. It had one room with many ages of children. She had to chop the wood for the fire and did everything else that needed to be done. She commented about the difficulty teaching some boys who had been just a year behind her in school."
Anna Mary attended Ashland College for 2 years, getting teacher's training. She landed a job "in a private and very exclusive school in Southern Pines, North Carolina. While she was there, she was courted by two men: Irl Fast who was a student at the University of Michigan getting his Masters Degree, and the man in Southern Pines who owned the horse stables. Irl Fast must have been a pretty good letter writer, because he won her hand."
Irl and Anna Mary were married in the beautiful back yard of Aunt Tirjah Burns Shriver's house. Tirjah was the sister of Anna Mary's mother Belle. All of Anna Mary's brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles were in attendance. They had a sumptuous dinner beforehand.
Anna Mary and her husband Irl must have enjoyed married life. Daughter Mary Lou wrote, "My parents have lived what I consider to be a good life. They have always been happy and contented with what they've had. I have never heard either of them utter a harsh word against the other, and never have I noticed signs of quarreling."
Anna Mary and Irl were also loving, effective, and wise parents. Mary Lou reflected on her upbringing:
"My parents have had a great influence on my personality development. They have always been very understanding of the problems that face a girl at each stage of development and they have always helped me over the rough places... We have never been wealthy but we have always had enough to feel secure and to satisfy our needs. Mother is quite thrifty and in most cases she is able to make every penny count. She has always made most of my clothes, and she is very good at fixing up our home on an amazingly small amount of money. From mother I have learned habits of cleanliness, neatness, and thriftiness.
"My parents have never been very strict with me. Their discipline has been constructive rather than restrictive. If I ever wanted to do things which they didn't think best they would talk it over with me and then let me decide. I usually did the thing they wanted me to do; if I didn't however, nothing more was said. They have never done my thinking for me in any matter. They offer advice and suggestions but the decisions are always left up to me. Thus I have learned not to depend on other people to do my thinking for me, but am always able to do my own. I have been made to do things for myself."
Anna Mary and Irl shared many happy years together. In retirement, they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, but returned to Ohio in the summers to a wonderful little cottage they owned in Perrysville. Eventually, Anna Mary was stricken with Alzheimer's and was admitted to a nursing home in St. Petersburg. She died there on October 16, 1968, at the age of 75.
Source:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2020.
FIFTH COUSIN TWICE REMOVED OF RALPH WALDO EMERSON
SIXTH COUSIN ONCE REMOVED OF GEN. WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
FAMILY TRADITION SAYS SHE IS RELATED TO THE POET ROBERT BURNS
ACCOMPLISHED HORSEWOMAN
------------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF ANNA MARY SHRIVER FAST, by Laurence Overmire (grandson), genealogist and Fast/Shriver family historian, updated June 2020:
Anna Mary Shriver was born on the family farm in Ashland County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1893, the youngest of eight children of Albert Norton and Mary Belle (Burns) Shriver. Her father died shortly after her fifth birthday. Her mother and her siblings took over the burden of the farmwork. They were never wealthy, but they had enough to be comfortable and happy.
The Shriver farmhouse was just through the woods from the Burns grandparents' house which sat on a hill. Anna Mary spent many hours playing in the woods with her brother Ralph and often visited her grandparents' home. Daughter Nancy recalled, "The way she talked about it, it seemed like a castle to her, with many beautiful things and a beautiful winding staircase to the second floor."
The Burns believed they were related to Robert Burns the Scottish poet (though this hasn't been confirmed). Anna Mary wrote poetry herself. Her sister Olive, who became her primary caregiver after her father died, was a composer. The two girls would gather at the piano, Olive playing and Mary singing their own original songs.
Anna Mary attended Savannah Academy (high school). As daughter Nancy recalled, "She started teaching right after that, one could do that in those days, but I have no idea where. I do remember her telling about having to walk three miles to the school house somewhere in Ashland county, through rain, snow or whatever. It had one room with many ages of children. She had to chop the wood for the fire and did everything else that needed to be done. She commented about the difficulty teaching some boys who had been just a year behind her in school."
Anna Mary attended Ashland College for 2 years, getting teacher's training. She landed a job "in a private and very exclusive school in Southern Pines, North Carolina. While she was there, she was courted by two men: Irl Fast who was a student at the University of Michigan getting his Masters Degree, and the man in Southern Pines who owned the horse stables. Irl Fast must have been a pretty good letter writer, because he won her hand."
Irl and Anna Mary were married in the beautiful back yard of Aunt Tirjah Burns Shriver's house. Tirjah was the sister of Anna Mary's mother Belle. All of Anna Mary's brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles were in attendance. They had a sumptuous dinner beforehand.
Anna Mary and her husband Irl must have enjoyed married life. Daughter Mary Lou wrote, "My parents have lived what I consider to be a good life. They have always been happy and contented with what they've had. I have never heard either of them utter a harsh word against the other, and never have I noticed signs of quarreling."
Anna Mary and Irl were also loving, effective, and wise parents. Mary Lou reflected on her upbringing:
"My parents have had a great influence on my personality development. They have always been very understanding of the problems that face a girl at each stage of development and they have always helped me over the rough places... We have never been wealthy but we have always had enough to feel secure and to satisfy our needs. Mother is quite thrifty and in most cases she is able to make every penny count. She has always made most of my clothes, and she is very good at fixing up our home on an amazingly small amount of money. From mother I have learned habits of cleanliness, neatness, and thriftiness.
"My parents have never been very strict with me. Their discipline has been constructive rather than restrictive. If I ever wanted to do things which they didn't think best they would talk it over with me and then let me decide. I usually did the thing they wanted me to do; if I didn't however, nothing more was said. They have never done my thinking for me in any matter. They offer advice and suggestions but the decisions are always left up to me. Thus I have learned not to depend on other people to do my thinking for me, but am always able to do my own. I have been made to do things for myself."
Anna Mary and Irl shared many happy years together. In retirement, they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, but returned to Ohio in the summers to a wonderful little cottage they owned in Perrysville. Eventually, Anna Mary was stricken with Alzheimer's and was admitted to a nursing home in St. Petersburg. She died there on October 16, 1968, at the age of 75.
Source:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2020.
SIXTH COUSIN ONCE REMOVED OF GEN. WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN
FAMILY TRADITION SAYS SHE IS RELATED TO THE POET ROBERT BURNS
ACCOMPLISHED HORSEWOMAN
------------------
A BIOGRAPHY OF ANNA MARY SHRIVER FAST, by Laurence Overmire (grandson), genealogist and Fast/Shriver family historian, updated June 2020:
Anna Mary Shriver was born on the family farm in Ashland County, Ohio, Feb. 2, 1893, the youngest of eight children of Albert Norton and Mary Belle (Burns) Shriver. Her father died shortly after her fifth birthday. Her mother and her siblings took over the burden of the farmwork. They were never wealthy, but they had enough to be comfortable and happy.
The Shriver farmhouse was just through the woods from the Burns grandparents' house which sat on a hill. Anna Mary spent many hours playing in the woods with her brother Ralph and often visited her grandparents' home. Daughter Nancy recalled, "The way she talked about it, it seemed like a castle to her, with many beautiful things and a beautiful winding staircase to the second floor."
The Burns believed they were related to Robert Burns the Scottish poet (though this hasn't been confirmed). Anna Mary wrote poetry herself. Her sister Olive, who became her primary caregiver after her father died, was a composer. The two girls would gather at the piano, Olive playing and Mary singing their own original songs.
Anna Mary attended Savannah Academy (high school). As daughter Nancy recalled, "She started teaching right after that, one could do that in those days, but I have no idea where. I do remember her telling about having to walk three miles to the school house somewhere in Ashland county, through rain, snow or whatever. It had one room with many ages of children. She had to chop the wood for the fire and did everything else that needed to be done. She commented about the difficulty teaching some boys who had been just a year behind her in school."
Anna Mary attended Ashland College for 2 years, getting teacher's training. She landed a job "in a private and very exclusive school in Southern Pines, North Carolina. While she was there, she was courted by two men: Irl Fast who was a student at the University of Michigan getting his Masters Degree, and the man in Southern Pines who owned the horse stables. Irl Fast must have been a pretty good letter writer, because he won her hand."
Irl and Anna Mary were married in the beautiful back yard of Aunt Tirjah Burns Shriver's house. Tirjah was the sister of Anna Mary's mother Belle. All of Anna Mary's brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles were in attendance. They had a sumptuous dinner beforehand.
Anna Mary and her husband Irl must have enjoyed married life. Daughter Mary Lou wrote, "My parents have lived what I consider to be a good life. They have always been happy and contented with what they've had. I have never heard either of them utter a harsh word against the other, and never have I noticed signs of quarreling."
Anna Mary and Irl were also loving, effective, and wise parents. Mary Lou reflected on her upbringing:
"My parents have had a great influence on my personality development. They have always been very understanding of the problems that face a girl at each stage of development and they have always helped me over the rough places... We have never been wealthy but we have always had enough to feel secure and to satisfy our needs. Mother is quite thrifty and in most cases she is able to make every penny count. She has always made most of my clothes, and she is very good at fixing up our home on an amazingly small amount of money. From mother I have learned habits of cleanliness, neatness, and thriftiness.
"My parents have never been very strict with me. Their discipline has been constructive rather than restrictive. If I ever wanted to do things which they didn't think best they would talk it over with me and then let me decide. I usually did the thing they wanted me to do; if I didn't however, nothing more was said. They have never done my thinking for me in any matter. They offer advice and suggestions but the decisions are always left up to me. Thus I have learned not to depend on other people to do my thinking for me, but am always able to do my own. I have been made to do things for myself."
Anna Mary and Irl shared many happy years together. In retirement, they moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, but returned to Ohio in the summers to a wonderful little cottage they owned in Perrysville. Eventually, Anna Mary was stricken with Alzheimer's and was admitted to a nursing home in St. Petersburg. She died there on October 16, 1968, at the age of 75.
Source:
1) "Genealogy of Fast, Shriver, Burns, Scott, McKibben, Including Descendants of Revolutionary War Hero Christian Fast," by Laurence Overmire, RootsWeb World Connect Project, 2000-2020.
Bio by: Laurence Overmire
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