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8 Comments

  1. Cynthia (Cook) McPherson
    October 1, 2015 @ 9:00 am

    You grew up in Scioto County?So did I. I lived in Portsmouth. I just finished reading The Measure of Katie Calloway, which I really enjoyed. I noticed in your author bio that you live on a farm in southern Ohio near an Amish community. Could that by chance be in Adams County, Wheat Ridge? I was just down there two weeks ago visiting my cousin who lives on a farm near West Union and we always go to Miller’s and Keim’s stores to look around and buy baked goods. Glad to hear of a Scioto County person being so successful especially a writer, a talent I admire, since I’m a retired English teacher.

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    • Serena
      October 1, 2015 @ 5:19 pm

      Hi Cynthia–

      Great to hear from a former Portsmouth native! I grew up in Minford and still live there. The Amish community I live near is the one in Oak Hill which is about twenty minutes away. We are pleased that it is growing rapidly. The last I heard they had four settlements in that area now. Wheat Ridge is an interesting place, although much further away.

      Serena

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  2. Linda Grimes
    October 28, 2016 @ 3:09 pm

    Such a precious photo! And precious memories to go with it.

    Reply

    • Serena
      November 30, 2016 @ 9:24 am

      I was so thrilled to find it. One of my favorite memories was sitting on my dad’s lap as he read to me.

      Reply

  3. Jerry Allen
    April 25, 2018 @ 8:43 am

    Hello Serena. My name is Jerry Allen, and my Father was Cleo Allen. He and your Father were cousins. Your Grandmother Lizzie Bonzo was my Father,s Aunt. My grandfather was Alva Eathan Allen, your grandmothers brother. I spent many days at Aunt Lizzie,s house as a child and teenager when we went to Minford to visit. I remember your grandmother always had a stone bowl in her kitchen filled with comb honey from the hives on the hill behind her house. I met your Father many times when we were there. A very nice man. I have a picture of Lizzie sitting on her porch from around 1950. Very nice picture of you family, thanks for sharing. Bring back many wonderful memories. I live North of Marysville, Ohio.

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    • serena b miller
      February 17, 2021 @ 8:41 pm

      Hi Jerry! I sincerely apologize, but I just now ran across this–three years late. I don’t know how I missed it but I’m glad I finally found it. Was your grandfather the Alva with whom my father worked at the Minford Telephone Company? If so, I remember him well, but I did not realize he was my grandmother’s brother. He was a classy man who was always kind to me. I remember we always called him “Alvie” instead of Alva. That would make you and me what? Third cousins? I love the image of my grandmother having honeycomb in a stone bowl. I was only eight and she was 93 when she died, so I don’t have a lot of memories of her.Hope all is still well with you. Again, my apologies for missing your thoughtful
      message.

      Reply

    • Bobbie Gay (Amos) Miller
      October 18, 2023 @ 11:30 am

      My great Uncle Alvie Allen is a nephew of Aunt Lizzie. Alvie’s father ( George Wesley Allen) & Aunt Lizzie are siblings (brother & sister)

      Reply

  4. Jerry K. Allen
    February 7, 2022 @ 12:15 am

    Hi Serena. I just found your response to my post about knowing your father and Grandmother. Guess I’m only a year late! The Alva you said worked with your father at the phone company could not have been my grandfather, since he passed away in 1940. Four years before I was born. I mentioned that I have a picture of Lizzi, your grandmother, and if I can dig it out of my picture files, I could have a copy made and send it to you. Many relatives on my fathers side are buried at the Mt. Carmel. I also have a cousin Carmen Shoemaker Hull that lives on Marcum Rd. outside Minford. Very nice hearing from you!

    Reply

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