Cousins, Uncles, and Aunties

 I used to wonder why we called people uncle, auntie, or cousin when they didn’t seem to be related to us at all. Doing genealogy research I’ve learned that there is always some kind of connection in most of those relationships. 

“Cousin” Ed Renfro, for instance, always baffled me. I don’t remember anyone ever saying how or why he was our cousin. I couldn’t figure out why lived with Daddy Albert and Mama Ada Hadnot, my maternal great-grandparents (according to the census). 

It turns out that Cousin Edward “Ed” Tenola Renfro was the son of Zora Hadnot, Albert Hadnot’s sister. Ed’s father was also named Edward Tenola Renfro (I think he may have gone by his middle name, “Tenola”). Tenola and Zora got married in 1918, three years after cousin Ed was born. At some point the two moved to Foley Avenue in Port Arthur, Texas... without cousin Ed. 

I haven’t been able to find out what ever happened to Zora, but when Tenola registered for the draft in WWII his wife’s name was Emma. They, at some point, moved to California where Tenola died in Alameda in 1957. 

I’ll save Cousin Ed’s wife, Elnora’s, family connection for another day.