Willemke Meulenbelt Brand 1863-1947

Willemke Meulenbelt was born February 2, 1863 in Aduard, Groningen, Netherlands. She married Otto Brand Dec 31, 1890. They had two children, Gijsberdina & Jan, before they immigrated to America aboard the Dubbeldam, April 19, 1894. They had two additional kids, Otto & Catherine after arriving in Michigan.

The story I heard from my mother about Willemke is that she pressured her husband into coming to America. Her family had already come across and she really wanted to go also. Otto never really adjusted to life here and didn't even learn English. Interesting, they died 11 days apart. They are both buried in the Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland Michigan.

Halloween pasts

Okay - time for another challenge from Genea-Musings. The question is what was your most memorable Halloween.

I don't think we did up Halloweens much in our family. I do remember going trick or treating around my Grandmothers trailer park and I have pictures of me dressed up etc. These days I do enjoy going to my kids school and seeing all the kids dressed up and having fun. But the most memorable probably is still one from high school. A few of us were studying. (I think we had the ACT test coming up). And we decided to put our shortest friend (Martha) into a mask and drive around to people we knew and send her up to the house on her knees to see if they would give her candy. It was quite funny to see my friend doing this! Most people had no idea. I think one person caught on because her nails were always so long which isn't normal for a grade schooler.

The pumpkins are my brothers creation!

Smokey 1993-2009

We received Smokey in the Fall of 1994 from my brother & sister-in-law. She wasn't a kitten when we received her so we were not sure of her exact birthday. But she was truly a wonderful cat. I do not remember her ever getting into something she wasn't suppose to, leaving the house without us or biting. She didn't enjoy the children when they were younger and pulled her tail but in recent years she grew to love them also. Her favorite spot was lying on our waterbed. She always purred when you pet her. She use to "bite" Eric's hair. (I kind of forgot about that until just now!)

I will miss her laying against my legs at night and her soft thick fur. I will miss the welcoming look on her face and her moving to greet me. I will just really miss her.

Rest in Peace, Smokey

Who do you know?

The new Genea-Musings challenge is laid out below:
1) Choose a set of Great-grandparents:
I choose Berend Groenhof (1881-1967) & Ymkje Steigenga (1883-1938)
2) Create a descendent list using iFamily for Leopard
3) List the number of descendants, living or dead:
**Children - 4 (3 dead, 1 living)
**Grandchildren - 19 (1 dead, 18 living)
**Great-Grandchildren - 56 (all living)
**Great-Great-Grandchildren - 79 (all living)
**Great-Great-Great-Grandchildren - 1 (living)
4) How many have I met?
I met 3 of the 4 children & 8 or 9 of the Grandchildren. As the generations go down, I probably have met fewer since I only see them at the annual family reunion. I actually gained a lot of family information at the last reunion I attended. I brought my computer instead of a print off and everyone really seemed to enjoy looking at the information I had collected.

(I couldn't get my image to load - I will try to add later!)

Picture postings

I scanned the pictures from my mother's heritage album and uploaded them to the internet. But now I realize that I should post information about the people in the pictures because my cousins don't know much, if anything, about them. So I will be putting information on the blog with the picture in question.

The picture here is of my Grandparents. I just really like this picture - they are so young! But I will post information about them individually at a future date!

Ahnentafel Roulette

Another Saturday night challenge from the Genea-Musings blog. First, I took my fathers current age (66) divided by 4 and round up to the nearest whole number (17). Now I have to write three things about the person who matches that ahnentafel number in my family tree.

Edith Nelson (my husband's Great-Grandmother)
Edith was born 23 Jan 1891 in Elk Rapids, Michigan, married 08 Oct 1914 to Philmore Hutchison Green, and died 29 May 1958 in Petoskey, Michigan.

1) Edith & Philmore had 6 children
2) Her parents were John Nelson & Bertha Anderson
3) Edith died of acute peritonites in the Little Traverse Hospital

Sorry those are so run of the mill but I really don't have a lot of information on Edith. I only have this one picture of Edith & Philmore but I am not sure when it was taken.

Genealogy Update

I have a bunch of files in a folder on my desktop that I need to sort through and add to Bento/iFamily. There is a mix of things from both sides of the family. I know there are census records and some military and a couple immigration records. I know in the long run this will be great but it really is time consuming to organize!

16 Great-Great-Great Grandparents (in-law edition)

It didn't seem right to post my own 16 GGG Grandparents and then not include a post for my husband's side of the family. I will admit right now that I don't have as much information for this group. I actually cannot even establish nationality for all of them. But I will add what I have and see what happens!

1) Clark V. GREEN - b: 19 Mar 1859 in Kalamo Township, Eaton, MI; m: 03 Jul 1886; d: 08 Jun 1930 in Marquette, MI. (might be British?)

2) Elizabeth Jennie KIDDER - b: 10 Dec 1859 in Washington, Missouri d: 12 Jan 1934 in Boyne City, Charlevoix, MI (might be British - really no idea)

3) John NELSON - b: abt 1863 in Sweden; m: 02 Mar 1888 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, MI; d: Unknown (nationality=Swedish!)

4) Bertha ANDERSON - b: abt 1864 in Norway; d: before 1900 (nationality=Norwegian)

5) Hugh LIVINGSTON - b: Unknown in Scotland; m: 14 Dec 1855 in Blythswood, Glasglow, Scotland; d: Unknown (nationality=Scottish)

6) Margaret CAMERON - b: Unknown in Scotland; d: Unknown (nationality=Scottish)

7) William COOK - b: Unknown; m: Unknown; d: Unknown (nationality=unknown)

8) Jane HELBERT - b: Unknown; d: Unknown (nationality=unknown)

9) Elisha Alden VORCE - 14 Nov 1832 in New York; m: 09 Jun 1857; d: Oct 1913 (nationality=British)

10) Jemima HOWELL - 02 Jun 1839 in Pennsylvania; d: 27 May 1889 (nationality=unknown)

11) Frank Henry STINCHFIELD - b: abt 1847 in Dover, Piscataquis, Maine; m: Sep 1869; d: 28 Jul 1933 in Burton Township, Genesee, MI (nationality=unknown)

12) Abbie Augusta NUITE - b: 25 Aug 1850 in Sangerville, Piscatquis, Maine; d: 15 Apr 1899 in Benton Township, MI (nationality=unknown)

13) Oscar TILLOTSON - b: 07 Jun 1844 in Prairieville, Barry, MI; m: 10 Feb 1869; d: 02 Sep 1933 in Hayes Township, Charlevoix, MI (nationality=British)

14) Ardennes GEER - b: 22 Jul 1849 in Granby, Shefford Vale, Quebec, Canada; d: 17 Dec 1921 in Hayes Township, Charlevoix, MI (nationality=Canadian)

15) Charles Frank BURNETT - b: 1837 in Canada; m: 05 Sep 1860; d: 01 May 1876 in Victor, Ontario, New York (nationality=Canadian)

16) Sarah Jane CASE - b: 28 Apr 1840 in Ontario, New York; d: 08 Jun 1915 in Bay Shore, Charlevoix, MI (nationality=unknown)

So my kids are 1/2 Dutch, 2/16 Canadian, 2/16 British, 2/16 Scottish, 1/16 Norwegian, 1/16 Swedish & 1/4 Unknown. I guess I know where some work is needed!

16 Great-Great-Great Grandparents

If nothing else, Genea-Musings is giving me things to blog about!

So here is the list of my 16 G-G-G Grandparents & their nationality:

1) Minne Gerbens Groenhof: born 10 Mar 1850 @Hemelumer Oldeferd, Friesland, Netherlands, married 07 Jun 1878 @Hemelumer Oldeferd, Friesland, Netherlands, died 22 Oct 1895 @Olive Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

2) Marijke Berends Kool: born 28 Apr 1852 @Hemelumer Oldeferd, Friesland, Netherlands, died 08 Apr 1932 @Blendon Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

3) Jacob Harmens Steigenga: born 07 Apr 1853 @Hemelumer Oldeferd, Friesland, Netherlands, married 24 May 1877 @Workum, Friesland, Netherlands, died 30 Jul 1923 @Borculo, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

4) Aukje Ruurds Vander Meer: born 30 Dec 1856 @Workum, Friesland, Netherlands, died 20 Mar 1916 @Blendon Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

5) Symon Harmens Stremler: born 11 Dec 1843 @Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands, married 05 May 1925 @Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands, died 08 May 1925 @ Olive Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

6) Pietje Wiebes Hiemenga: born 19 Oct 1845 @Wonseradeel, Friesland, Netherlands, died 06 Aug 1920 @Olive Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

7) Jacob De Vries: born 23 May 1861 @Zeeland Township, Ottawa, Michigan, married 23 Mar 1887 @Michigan, died 29 May 1949 @Zeeland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

8) Agina Jannetina Marlink: born 25 Nov 1867 @Zeeland Township, Ottawa, Michigan, died 11 Aug 1949 @Zeeland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

9) Johannes Jans Naber: born 06 Mar 1855 @Holland Township, Ottawa, Michigan, married 06 Mar 1876 @Holland Township, Ottawa, Michigan, died 13 Oct 1904 @Holland Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

10) Aaltje Hellenthal: born 31 Oct 1854 @Fillmore Township, Allegan, Michigan, died 22 Oct 1919 @Holland Township, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

11) Gradus Lubbers: born 01 Dec 1872 @Fillmore Township, Allegan, Michigan married 14 Mar 1896 @Fillmore Township, Allega, Michigan, died 20 Jan 1947 @Holland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

12) Dina (Sneller) Bol: born 26 Dec 1875 @Olive Township, Ottawa, Michigan, died 08 Nov 1960 @Holland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

13) Otto Ottos Brand: born 09 Nov 1860 @Zuilchem, Gelderland, Netherlands, married 31 Dec 1890 @Bedum, Gelderland, Netherlands, died 03 Jul 1947 @Holland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

14) Willemke Jans Meulenbelt: born 02 Feb 1863 @Aduard, Groningen, Netherlands, died 14 Jul 1947 @Holland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

15) Johannes De Vries: born 23 Jul 1863 @Zeeland Township, Michigan, married 05 Oct 1887 @Zeeland, Ottawa, Michigan, died 01 Oct 1943 @Zeeland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

16) Gertrude Boes: born 04 Oct 1866 @Beaverdam, Ottawa, Michigan, died 28 Apr 1936 @Zeeland, Ottawa, Michigan (Dutch)

So it looks like my "nationality" is...Dutch! Big surprise!

3s of Me

The Genea-Musings posted a little fun 3s of Me questions about genealogy so here are my responses:

* Three genealogical libraries I frequent
1) Herrick District Library
2) Grand Rapids Public Library
3) The Michigan Library

* Three places I've visited on genealogy trips
1) Montcalm County
2) many cemeteries in Ottawa Count
3) Boyne City, Michigan

* Three genealogy societies I belong to (or want to)
I don't belong to any society but I would consider joining the West Michigan or the Holland one

* Three websites that help my research
1) Ancestry.com
2) Genlias.nl
3) Seeking Michigan.org

* Three ancestral graves that I've visited
Okay, I have visited a lot of graves, all of grandparents & great-grandparents plus many many more

* Three ancestral places I want to visit
1) The Netherlands
2) Rhode Island
3) Maine

* Three brickwall ancestors I want to research more
1) Joseph Green, father of Weaver Green (1793-1870)
2) Duncan Livingston's (1856-1945) parents, Hugh & Margaret
3) Ida Cook's (1884-?) parents, William & Jane
(and yes these are all my husband's ancestors)

History of Ellis Island

I am reading an interesting book right now called "American Passage: The History of Ellis Island" by Vincent J. Cannato. Although there is some less interesting political stuff, I enjoy reading about Ellis Island and how immigrants were treated. It really makes me wonder what happened when my ancestors came through Ellis Island and before when Castle Rock was the entry point. And yes, there were translators!

Genealogy Blogs

There are a lot of great genealogy blogs that will help you learn about what is going on in the field. I actually follow quite a few different blogs so I thought I would add a couple of them here in case anyone is interested. One of the oldest genealogy blogs is Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. Most of the postings are free to view but there are some that are only for subscribers. I appreciated the news updates as well as some of the more general information that is added. I also really like the MacGenealogist postings. Since I use a mac it is great to get updates about software and other mac related stuff. There are so many that I wouldn't be able to list them all but I might add more to the side bar at some point. If you have a favorite genealogy related blog, put it in the comments!

Genealogy

Although this blog hasn't had much content on my family history, I might start. This is kind of a test run. (The picture is of me with some of the kittens taken in the 70's.)

I am currently focusing on organizing my genealogy materials since I hadn't been very good about that up to this point. I am using my lovely MacBookPro along with iFamily for Lepoard and Bento. Of course I haven't even started on my drawer full of files. What I have been doing is locating census records and sending a digital copy to my computer for transcribing into Bento, among other records. I have created a number of "Libraries" on Bento which are connected to a main listing of people in my tree. I love Bento since I can link files and add pictures etc. I would love to show this to people so if you know me, ask and I will bore you for hours!