Putting my toe back into the Genealogy pool

Cousin Love!

The big move is over but still figuring where to put stuff.  My craft room is still being used as a bedroom.  Everything I want in the craft room is still packed.  But I have my laptop and I have my digital files.

Recently I got the chance to learn more about my uncle who was adopted.  He recently did a DNA test & found out more about his birth parents.  So I have been working on that sporadically. Went to the library for some obituaries. And used the census to find out that his birth parents were neighbors.

I also explored the largest library in my new county.  They do have genealogy materials so spent some time looking things over.  I did take some photos of materials I found interesting.  There was also a picture of my g+grandparents that I've never seen!

I also attended a local conference where we were encouraged to blog!  Going to conferences always gets me fired up to work on my tree too.  Learned a lot and feel like I'm heading in a good direction still.

I also re-connected with wikitree.com.  I made an account in 2012 but didn't even have the same email.  Got that all straightened out and have been working on adding my lines to the great tree in the cloud.  That has been a good experience since sourcing is very important.  But it is fun when you connect your line into an existing tree!

Good Luck & Good Night

Solar Eclipse 21 August 2017

 So today the solar eclipse finally happened. I say that because about a week ago, locals figured out they needed special glasses to view the eclipse safely.  And the news said: "Hey, the library has glasses!"  But not ALL libraries did.  So we were bombarded with requests.  (Similar to tax season.)  And the branches that did have glasses and events definitely experienced even MORE disruption, rudeness and lines!

(I had purchased 6 glasses from Amazon about a month ago.  And they were not some of the bogus ones that were being sold either.  And since I had gotten them "early", I didn't purchase them at an inflated price.)

Claire had her Senior Orientation and I had the day off work.  Peter & Eric were both at work but had glasses if they could take time to take a look.  My mother and her husband Lloyd also came over to share in the experience.  It was actually amazing even if it wasn't a total eclipse in Michigan.  Luckily the clouds were not to bad either.  So note to self:  be prepared in 2024!

Found this picture of my family and it made my day!

I was casually looking around for some genealogy stuff, switching between windows, when I needed to go to Family Search.  I have an account, of course, but I never really looked at some of the newer functionality of the site.  But this time when I logged in, it sent me to a photo screen based on a simple tree I had put up awhile ago.  The first picture totally got my attention and it was amazing!!  A cousin I didn't know, had this picture with her family genealogy and I had never seen it or even heard of its existence!!

As soon as I saw this picture, I knew which family.  The young man on the viewers left is my great-grandfather Ben.  The reason I recognized him is because I have a wedding picture of Ben and his bride, Emma, which would only be about 5 years from this photo.

So at this time of the family, the father, Minne had died 5 years before of "lung fever".  The only other direct family to pass away was one of the little girls, Klaaske in 1900.  Since Klaaske passed away from "strophia" (some form of muscle atrophy ), this picture is probably around the time of her death (before or after) in 1900.  The only other picture of the mother, Marie, is when she is much older and her face is shaded by a hat.  But you can see the lower part of her face and it does seem to resemble this picture too.

Now that I'm looking at the picture again, there is a weird blank spot between the boys.  May be this picture was altered?

Keeping it all Together

I have been working hard (when I have time) at reorganizing my genealogy files and making sure to source, source and source again for everything in my tree program.  Part of that organization is my need to see what I'm missing easily, without having to go through all the people in my tree.  So this is my master ancestor listing:

(I ONLY have direct ancestors on this sheet.  Adding more would just cause chaos.)  So I have the generations listed on the left, then the ahnentafel number, the last & first name of the ancestor, then all the primary records, then additional information and finally all the census records.  It is color coded at the name level to match the binders I have for each family.  When I find a vital record, I change the font to green.  If I know that person is not going to be in a certain census, I gray out that field.  I actually really love just viewing the chart!  It really appeals to the part of me that loves lists!

I didn't come up with this chart on my own.  I started with another chart a genealogist had used (and offered it to everyone in the group) and then I've just kept adding things.  The last thing I added was Military/Draft field so I can keep track of military records.  I am positive I will never ever complete this chart.  I can keep on adding names without running out of space.  And there is always something I cannot find.  But I will keep on hunting!

Another Tillotson Adventure!

Through some research online & at the Hastings library, I found Sylvia Johnson who was the only daughter of Sophia Tillotson Johnson and Bushrod Washington Johnson.  Unfortunately she died very young, at 18 in 1872 (after the divorce of her parents).  I have located her grave in Barry County which I thought was cool since I hadn't know this child existed before.  But now something else has occurred, which reinforces my love of Genealogy!

My father-in-law sold his house and we received some of the pictures that were hanging on the walls for as long as I can remember.  I had no idea who this girl was but she had a huge frame, which looked old.  So today I take the backing off the frame so I can see if there is any writing on the back (actually, we think it is a drawing) and it says Sylvia Johnson!!!

"Sylvia Johnson, daughter of Sophia Tillotson Johnson & Bushrod Washington Johnson lived in Milo, Mich.  She was a half-sister of Oscar & Carrie Tillotson.  She died at 18 yrs of age. She had been a student at Kalamazoo College.  She had one sister Ruby Johnson who died in early childhood."  (Ruby was actually a Tillotson, the first born of Sophia & Asahel Tillotson.)

Wedding Wednesday: Gradus Lubbers and Dina Sneller Ball

Gradus Lubbers and Dina Sneller Bol where married March 14, 1896 in Fillmore Township, Michigan.  Three children total born to this couple, one set of twins.

It's curious how little anyone in the family knows about the courtship and marriage of our ancestors.  So write down your own story to save it for the future generations!

Wedding Wednesday: Naber & Lubbers

Walter Naber and Priscilla Lubbers married February 14, 1918 in Fillmore Township, Michigan. Together they had 11 children, 2 who died young.  Walter Naber is credited by family with saving some of his younger children who were very small.  He setup a little incubator at home for the newborns, keeping them warm like little chicks!  Their youngest daughter was actually born at the hospital at a time when very few babies were not born at home because of the high risk birth.

Wedding Wednesday: Brandt & De Vries

Jeanette De Vries and Otto Brandt married October 31, 1918 in Zeeland, Michigan.  I don't have a newspaper clipping describing the dress but the story goes that Otto and Jeanette had a shotgun wedding.  She was pregnant (first child born April 1919) and her brothers (she had six of them) chased Otto down, forcing him to marry her.  They ended up with 11 children, two who died very young.

Wedding Wednesday: Brandt & Naber

I love old wedding pictures!  I have tried to locate direct line ancestor's wedding pictures and have only been partially successful.  So I'll share the ones I have, starting with my maternal grandparents.

Gertrude Brandt married Gordon Naber on September 26, 1941 in Holland Township, Michigan.

From the newspaper: "A pretty wedding took place Friday evening at 8 o'clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Brandt on route 2 when their daughter Gertrude, was united in marriage to Gordon Naber, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Naber, of route 5.  The bride was gowned in white silk marquisette, princess style with a train.  The yoke of the dress and the upper sleeve were trimmed in lace.  She wore a fingertip veil and carried a bouquet of lilies, delphiniums, pink gladioli and baby breath."

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #32

Egbert and Hermina (Beld) Boes were married November 21, 1858 in Zeeland, Michigan.  Egbert Boes was born July 2, 1819 in Zweelo, Drenthe.  Hermina Beld was born March 16, 1836 in Bentheim.  Together they had 12 children.  Egbert died at the age of 92 on May 30, 1912 in Zeeland, Michigan.  Hermina died at the age of 83 on February 12, 1920 in Jamestown, Michigan.  They are both buried in the Zeeland cemetery, Zeeland, Michigan.

Blue Willow Love

I always have liked the blue willow pattern.  No, I didn't grow up with it in my house and I don't
remember any of my grandparents having it either.  I did have a friend in grade school whose parents owned a nice house (at least it was to me) and had a beautiful side board with china.  I think that is where I saw it and remembered it in part of my mind.

When I really look at the pattern now, I like the boarder with the geometric shapes and the two birds flying free plus the bright blue color (that's the dutch side).  I also have a fondness for willow trees.  We had two in our yard as a child that we used for swings and they were beautiful.  But there were many things I never noticed about it also.  I never looked at the buildings and thought China or saw the three men charging over the bridge.

I bring this up now because we are moving stuff out of my father-in-law's house due to a move to a different state.  I kept on coming across pieces of the blue willow here and there, a lot of it damaged.  Then there was a WHOLE box full of it.  It was covered in dust and a few pieces cracked but still beautiful.

Out of all the different patterns and types of china we are uncovering, this one seems unloved and unappreciated, even though someone else must have loved it too, at one time.  I think it is time that it was loved and had some tender care.  And hopefully my children will love and care for it as well.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #27

Hendrik and Zwaantje (Schrotenboer) Lubbers were married October 9, 1865 in Fillmore Township, Michigan.  Together they had 15 children.  Hendrik was born January 30, 1838 in Bentheim and died February 4, 1865 in Fillmore Township, Michigan.  Zwaantje was born October 10, 1847 in Fillmore Township, Michigan and died February 17, 1904 in Fillmore Township.  Together they are buried in the Graafscap Cemetery.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #26

Johannes and Geertje (Bos) Hellenthal were married March 26, 1842 in Overijssel, Netherlands.  Johannes was born February 26, 1816 in Overijssel and Geertje was born about 1811, also in Overijssell.  Together they had 7 children.  Johannes died September 28, 1889 and Greet died September 16, 1894, both in Zeeland, Michigan and both are buried in the East Holland Cemetery.  (Stone is very faded but can make out parts of the writing.)

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #25

Johannes and Anna (De Vries) Naber were married May 17, 1843 in Ulrum, Netherlands.  Together they had 7 children with only 1 living to adulthood.  Johannes was born May 17, 1813 in Groningen, Netherlands and died October 6, 1892 in Michigan.  Anna was born February 7, 1813 in Warfhuizen, Netherlands and died July 17, 1893 in Michigan.  They are both buried in the Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland, Michigan.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #24

Albert and Anna Aletta (Weertman) Maarlink were married April 29, 1863 in Assen, Netherlands.  Albert was born August 31, 1834 in Assen, Netherlands.  Anna was born May 14, 1836 in Coevorden, Netherlands. Together they had seven children.  Albert died April 7, 1911 in Borculo, Michigan at the age of 76.  Anna died May 19, 1919 in Borculo, Michigan at the age of 83.  They are buried in the Zeeland Cemetery, Michigan.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #23 & #31

Jan Kornelis and Luiktje (Mulder) De Vries were married June 6, 1850 in Leens, Netherland.  Jan Kornelis was born November 13, 1816 in Hornhuizen, Netherlands.  Luiktje was born January 29, 1822 in Leens, Netherlands.  They had four children together.  Jan died January 20, 1892 in Zeeland, Michigan at the age of 75.  Luiktje died April 1893 in Zeeland, Michigan at the age of 71.  They are buried in the Beaverdam Cemetery.  (The stone above is for their daughter, Jan & Luiktje do not have a stone but they are in the same area as Jantje.)

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #16

Ira and Phebe (Bagley) Case were married about 1820.  They had about 9 children together.  Ira was born in 1790 in Connecticut and died after 1870 in Marion, New York.  Phebe Bagley was born August 1798 in New Jersey and died August 1, 1874 in Marion, New York.  Phebe is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York.  I'm not sure if Ira is buried there or someplace else.  There is no photo of the stone in Mount Hope at this time.

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #14

Thank you to Find-a-Grave for picture

Samuel and Margaret (Allen) Geer were married December 2, 1834 in Shefford Township, Canada.  Samuel was born February 13, 1811 in Dunham, Canada.  Margaret Allen was born March 5, 1813 in Shefford Township, Canada.  Together they had 11 children.  Samuel died December 8, 1886 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  Margaret died August 14, 1885 in Shefford Township, Canada. They are buried in the North Shefford Cemetery in Quebec Canada.

Scrapbooking Update

After much delay and procrastination, I have actually finished my albums from January 1998 to September 2007!  Feeling proud right now to finally have that part of the task complete and my albums are looking very organized right now.  (see above)

Just as a little reminder, I had skipped portions from almost every scrapbook album I had created in order to "keep up", which didn't happen either.  So I had to back track through every album to finish those skipped pages.  Some of the albums had over half the pages incomplete but luckily, the last few were only short a few pages.  In fact, the last one I did, my chocolate 2007 album, there were only four skipped pages and I really have no idea why I just didn't finish them at the time.  Now they all have page protecters and everything!

Summary:
9  - 45 page albums for me complete
7 - 45 page albums for my son PLUS his high school album current to Fall 2014
6 - 45 page albums for my daughter PLUS her high school album ready to add Fall 2014

Since it's Pi day (3-14-15) that makes 990 double sided pages completed!!

Tombstone Tuesday: Great-Great-Great Grandparents #13

Asahel and Sophia D (Ward) Tillotson were married June 1, 1841 in Ada Township, Michigan.  Asahel was born in 1808 in Middlebury, Vermont and died March 4, 1851 in Hastings, Michigan.  Sophia was born August 2, 1818 in Vermont.  She remarried March 7, 1852 to Bushrod Washington Johnson.  She died June 3, 1897 in Petoskey, Michigan.  Asahel is buried in the Prairie Home Cemetery, Michigan.  Sophia is buried the Greenwood Cemetery, Michigan.