tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386969832024-02-19T23:13:59.423-08:00AnceStories: The Stories of My AncestorsWelcome to my blog about my genealogical research: my triumphs, my challenges, my research notes...plus some tips and links for you.Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.comBlogger1885125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-23142698452685996062023-05-14T22:01:00.003-07:002023-05-15T10:13:12.218-07:00A Busy Day for Weddings in the HOLST and ROBBINS Families<div>I've been busy cleaning up items in the Downloads folder of my laptop. In many cases, I downloaded an image of a record from a genealogy or historical newspaper site and then used my photo editing software to make a copy of it, clip or resize it, rename it to fit my digital filing conventions, and then file it in the appropriate genealogy folder. But sometimes I didn't delete the original image. Other times, I downloaded an image but forgot to clean it up and move it to a folder. My Downloads folder was very full at over 1400 items, but it is slowly getting cleaned out and is down to about 550!</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I once again came across the October 17, 1940 edition of the <i>Coopersville </i>(Michigan) <i>Observer</i> that published my paternal grandparents' wedding announcement on page 8, column 3:</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitdhcCdCK4RTcXkYOv2QjQdwJhkchGwO_S9TH7DGbL9_Pdct5bgAHojJR4cSyBSpyw6lowOrVeTzO0qNjzJczIpUdUnMTNvn6XjjLqiqKNWrb4sbhT4dUjQ_yg5iak8mnK26lNLsTXwJiel5AI7FJDVUeJ0P_zjPC4kExQVreT_ASPgpb-cc/s745/ROBBINS%20Robert%20Louis%20-%201940%2010%2017%20-%20Wedding%20Annoucement%20in%20Coopersville%20Observer%20-%20Michigan,%20Ottawa,%20Coopersville%20-%20p%208%20col%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="611" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitdhcCdCK4RTcXkYOv2QjQdwJhkchGwO_S9TH7DGbL9_Pdct5bgAHojJR4cSyBSpyw6lowOrVeTzO0qNjzJczIpUdUnMTNvn6XjjLqiqKNWrb4sbhT4dUjQ_yg5iak8mnK26lNLsTXwJiel5AI7FJDVUeJ0P_zjPC4kExQVreT_ASPgpb-cc/s320/ROBBINS%20Robert%20Louis%20-%201940%2010%2017%20-%20Wedding%20Annoucement%20in%20Coopersville%20Observer%20-%20Michigan,%20Ottawa,%20Coopersville%20-%20p%208%20col%203.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Grandma and Grandpa had a simple wedding in the Methodist pastor's parsonage on a Saturday morning. They wore their Sunday best outfits, as seen in the photo below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv__nq2HaNGJjxaNIvumVj1ZxkzSG245B6zKF5hQGJQd9Z8GP_Z-Yr4fujusaT8PXniVlxm7jaoXakEVFwr5uB0PgE3vWEadem7tZzD-QuYVArcxuKe0JpU7uIpaGq-37N0TFetSceP7KjGpNe824ubh5PwAKo0qsqGOiz6Nj7pByojALsHU/s1476/1940%2010%2012%20-%20Robert%20Robbins,%20Jeanne%20Holst%20Robbins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1020" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAv__nq2HaNGJjxaNIvumVj1ZxkzSG245B6zKF5hQGJQd9Z8GP_Z-Yr4fujusaT8PXniVlxm7jaoXakEVFwr5uB0PgE3vWEadem7tZzD-QuYVArcxuKe0JpU7uIpaGq-37N0TFetSceP7KjGpNe824ubh5PwAKo0qsqGOiz6Nj7pByojALsHU/w346-h501/1940%2010%2012%20-%20Robert%20Robbins,%20Jeanne%20Holst%20Robbins.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their best friends, Geneva Parish and Raymond Adams stood with them during the ceremony, although my Great-Grandmother Nellie Holst signed the marriage certificate rather than Geneva. I know that Geneva would have been about 16 years old, just like my grandmother, so she would not have been of legal age to sign the marriage certificate. I don't know if my Great-Grandfather Alfred Holst or my Great-Grandparents Robbins (Bill Sr. and Marie) attended the ceremony.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After the ceremony, they had a "dinner", probably held at noon, at my Great-Grandparents Holst's home with immediate family. I'm guessing that would have been both sets of parents of the bridal couple, my grandfather's four younger siblings (Bill Jr, Shirley, Jack, and Joyce) and perhaps my grandmother's older married sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and John VanderHorn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was double checking to make sure that I had clipped, renamed, and copied the announcement into both my grandparents' genealogy documents folders, the surname Klinger in column 2 of the same page caught my eye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I knew that my Great-grandfather Holst had a sister named Margaret ("Maggie"), who had married Johan H. Klinger. Taking a closer look, I realized that Margaret and Johan's daughter Ethel Klinger, who was my grandmother's cousin, got married to Steve Hulka on the <b>same day</b> that Grandma did, only in the afternoon in Muskegon, rather than in the morning in Coopersville:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeZVyvGm-xfBLBykNjbn2U3zF3pviTcmF7bIGlMovyuWWfiLGCgZ5FwAn97KXK6LZ78NYq2Ei577K9YsV5-dZHLR1fjTIGv91Jv2fdZRE8pDrXqR_mMLucLPYwysqzz-QSx6-gbuBiz1A6zrTVICsYi7Gv4ZCe0xXVGx4_cRjF4YuuYhU2NI/s1066/KLINGER%20Ethel%20-%201940%2010%2012%20-%20Wedding%20Announcement%20in%20Coopersville%20Observer%20-%20Michigan,%20Muskegon,%20Muskegon%20-%20p%208%20col%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="576" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeZVyvGm-xfBLBykNjbn2U3zF3pviTcmF7bIGlMovyuWWfiLGCgZ5FwAn97KXK6LZ78NYq2Ei577K9YsV5-dZHLR1fjTIGv91Jv2fdZRE8pDrXqR_mMLucLPYwysqzz-QSx6-gbuBiz1A6zrTVICsYi7Gv4ZCe0xXVGx4_cRjF4YuuYhU2NI/w269-h498/KLINGER%20Ethel%20-%201940%2010%2012%20-%20Wedding%20Announcement%20in%20Coopersville%20Observer%20-%20Michigan,%20Muskegon,%20Muskegon%20-%20p%208%20col%202.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>While Grandma and Grandpa had a simple and informal wedding, Ethel and her groom Steve Hulka, had a more traditional church ceremony at a Lutheran church. Ethel wore a "...white satin gown with train and fingertip veil...."<div><br /></div><div>I was able to identify everyone in the article. Mrs. Theo. Klatt was Jennie (Holst) Klatt, another sister of Alfred Holst, and Mrs. William Scheile was Jennie's daughter, Ellen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next mentioned were my grandparents' wedding party and immediate families! Miss Geneva Parish, Miss Shirley Robbins, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Robbins (my grandparents), Mrs. Alfred Holst, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Adams (so Ray's wife would likely have been at my grandparents' wedding, too) and Mr. and Mrs. John VanderHorn were all named.</div><div><br /></div><div>It sounds like nearly the entire two families and wedding party left after dinner at my Great-Grandparents Holst's home and drove up to Muskegon, about 25 miles north, to attend Ethel and Steve's wedding and reception. I did notice my Great-Grandfather Holst was not mentioned, nor three of my grandfather's siblings: Bill Jr, Jack, and Joyce. We don't know if Bill had to work that day; he was an 18-year-old young man. Jack and Joyce were 13 and 7, respectively. Perhaps they stayed home, or perhaps they weren't mentioned due to lack of print space.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, one member of the Klinger family was not mentioned. Joh(a)n and Maggie had at least three children: Earl, Jennie, and Ethel. Jennie was mentioned as the maid of honor, but Earl is not mentioned. </div><div><br /></div><div>At any rate, it would have been an extremely busy day for both the Holst and Robbins families, and an especially busy day for my grandparents to get married in Coopersville, have a family dinner, drive to Muskegon, attend another wedding and the reception, and then set off for their honeymoon!</div>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-68653114970111609762020-12-25T16:44:00.003-08:002020-12-25T16:44:29.885-08:00A New Blog: Shirley's Diary: A Depression-Era Girl's Story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPSY6MtXCWzehW7hGy0_UhDCX03zaQ5aX0hOt-9E5JVeuxRn7b-XTjW6HaO-f1pyvltAF06w7T_Osse2q4FVIp9Eho-mk2MErBfF_W6sqkXs6g2PAklQYYA4lZ_QhkAYPUAb7BQ/s2048/00-01+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPSY6MtXCWzehW7hGy0_UhDCX03zaQ5aX0hOt-9E5JVeuxRn7b-XTjW6HaO-f1pyvltAF06w7T_Osse2q4FVIp9Eho-mk2MErBfF_W6sqkXs6g2PAklQYYA4lZ_QhkAYPUAb7BQ/w280-h400/00-01+Cover.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today I started <a href="https://shirleysdiary1936.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">a new blog</a>.<br /><br />Yes, I can hear what you're thinking! "She hasn't kept up with her original one, and she's starting <i>another</i>?!"<br /><br />Life has calmed down a bit (knock on wood) since my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2019, followed by his death five months later, caring for my mom, and a pandemic. Several months ago, I came across the diary of my paternal grandfather's sister, Shirley Robbins, in the things we had packed up from my parents' home. I had to share it, not just with family members and close friends, but with those who are genealogists, family historians, general historians, and descendants of the friends and community members mentioned in the diary. It's a wonderful perspective of Depression-era life through the eyes of a 10- and 11-year-old girl. It reminds me of the Kit books my daughter used to read from the American Girl series. It's real, and it will be unedited, although it will be published with comments and clarifications.<br /><br />Please join me over at <a href="https://shirleysdiary1936.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shirley's Diary: A Depression-Era Girl's Story</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a></div>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-42870413747740321022020-02-16T22:31:00.001-08:002020-12-30T12:15:46.671-08:00Before MLK, There Was Elizabeth Peratrovich<b>Seventy-five years ago today, the first anti-discrimination law was signed on American soil.</b><br />
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<i>It was more than two decades before the Civil Rights Act. Before Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous speech. Before Rosa Parks's act of defiance on a Birmingham bus.</i><br />
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<i>And it was brought to fruition by a soft-spoken Alaska Native woman you have probably never heard of. It's long past time to learn her story.</i><br />
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Elizabeth Jean Wanamaker was born in Petersburg, Alaska on the Fourth of July, 1911, the daughter of a Native woman and an Irish man. She was a member of the Tlingit nation, a tribe in Southeast Alaska, Northwest British Columbia, and the Southern Yukon Territory with a complex language and rich in culture, art, natural resources and oral history; a nation with a history of fierce warfare and a love of politics that transposed in modern times to powerful leadership. Tlingit people are keenly aware of their heritage and can proudly cite their moiety and clan. She would have been able to inform you at an early age that she was of a member of the Raven moiety, Lukaax̱.ádi clan and that her Tlingit name was Kaaxgal.aat.<br />
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When her biological parents were unable to raise her, she was adopted by another Tlingit couple, Andrew J. and Jean (Williams) Wanamaker. Andrew was a fisherman, a lay minister for the Presbyterian church, and a charter member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB), a lodge for Native men which worked to combat discrimination. Jean was a skilled basket maker. Elizabeth's growing up years included several Southeast Alaska communities: Petersburg; my hometown of Klawock where she met her future husband Roy Peratrovich; and Ketchikan, where both she and Roy graduated from the public high school, which had been integrated after the school board was successfully sued by a Tlingit couple more than a quarter of a century before Brown vs. Board of Education. Elizabeth continued her education at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska and the Western College of Education (now part of Western Washington University) in Bellingham, Washington.<br />
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At the time Elizabeth was born, neither women nor Natives could vote. Native Americans were not even given <i>citizenship</i> until 1924--four years after (white) women were given suffrage--and the last state to fully guarantee voting rights for Native people was Utah in <i>1962</i>. Alaska Natives, although in the majority population-wise, experienced a great deal of prejudice and discrimination from the Caucasian population in what was then Alaska Territory. Segregation was common everywhere in Alaska. It was this world in which Elizabeth and Roy grew up and were married, on 15 December 1931.<br />
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At first they lived in Klawock. Roy was from a prominent Native family. The Peratroviches, descendants of a Croatian man and his three Tlingit wives, were well-known in Alaska. They were acute businessmen and politicians. Roy's younger half-brother Frank served in the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives, the Alaska Territorial Senate, the Alaska State House of Representatives, and the Alaska State Senate. Both Roy and Frank served as mayor of Klawock. Roy also served as a policeman, chief clerk, and the postmaster of Klawock. Just as importantly, he became Grand President of the ANB, and Elizabeth became the Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS). The couple and their three children eventually moved to the territorial capital of Juneau, where they could be more involved with politics.<br />
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It was in Juneau that the Peratroviches especially noticed how strong discrimination was. Signs stating, "No dogs or Indians" or "No Natives Allowed" were posted in front of many businesses. When Roy and Elizabeth attempted to obtain housing in a nice neighborhood, they were refused on account of their race. Three-and-a-half weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, they wrote a letter to the territorial governor, Ernest Gruening:<br />
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<i>The proprietor of "Douglas Inn" does not seem to realize that our Native boys are just as willing as the White boys to lay down their lives to protect the freedom that he enjoys. Instead he shows his appreciation by having a "No Natives Allowed" on his door. </i></blockquote>
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<i>We were shocked when the Jews were discriminated against in Germany. Stories were told of public places having signs, "No Jews Allowed." All freedom-loving people in our country were horrified at these reports, yet it is being practiced in our country.</i></blockquote>
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The governor befriended the couple and together they worked to pass an anti-discrimination law through the territorial legislature in 1943. Unfortunately, it failed with a tie vote of 8-8. But Elizabeth and Roy didn't give up. They traveled tirelessly across the territory, encouraging Natives to support their cause and urging many of them to run for legislature. Two years later, the bill again came to a vote. Although expected to pass this time, there was much heated debate and many onlookers, including the Peratroviches. Elizabeth sat quietly listening to the arguments while knitting in the back of the gallery.<br />
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Senator Allan Shattuck expressed the sentiments of many prejudiced Alaskans when he debated:<br />
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<b>Who are these people, barely out of savagery, who want to associate with us whites with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind us?</b></blockquote>
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When it came time for public comments, Elizabeth set down her knitting needles and, poised and dignified, made her way to the podium from the back of the gallery. Intelligent and beautiful, she would have had the eyes and ears of everyone in the room. The last to speak, she was clear and eloquent:<br />
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<b>I would not have expected that I, who am barely out of savagery, would have to remind the gentlemen with 5,000 years of recorded civilization behind them of our Bill of Rights.</b></blockquote>
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Her passionate speech described what it was like to be treated as a second-class citizen in her ancestral lands, how difficult it was to be refused housing because of the color of her skin, and how dismaying it was for Native children to be barred from the theaters or stores.<br />
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<b>No law will eliminate crimes but at least you as legislators can assert to the world that you recognize the evil of the present situation and speak your intent to help us overcome discrimination.</b></blockquote>
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Her words were met with thunderous applause. When the vote was taken, the bill was passed with a vote of 11 to 5. On 16 February 1945, Governor Gruening signed the act with Roy and Elizabeth proudly looking on.<br />
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Elizabeth Wannamaker Peratrovich died of breast cancer on 1 December 1958 in Juneau and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery there. Roy was laid beside her after he passed in 1989.</div>
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On February 6, 1988, the Alaska legislature declared February 16 to be "Elizabeth Peratrovich Day," which has been proudly celebrated by Alaska Natives ever since.</div>
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Every year a distinguished Native American is featured on the reverse of the U.S. Sacajawea golden dollar. At the 2019 Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camp, the design of the golden dollar coin commemorating Elizabeth Peratrovich was unveiled.</div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #990000;">UPDATE:</b> On December 30, 2020, Google honored Elizabeth Peratrovich with a Google Doodle beautifully created by Native Alaskan artist Michaela Goade. You can read more at the Google Doodle page <a href="https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-elizabeth-peratrovich" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IFlqMJ5vBinUU8d8YmH0UHCUmaD8cBjsu2QHQbYMeTH27H9dPL7E7EIMmfBCczkU72v-e7O-fQMq4gCs8UQ0qFo1OohKCw4soylvQm2G2BX-LZM2sqruFjijVdbzZkhzy96JLw/s504/tempEP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="504" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3IFlqMJ5vBinUU8d8YmH0UHCUmaD8cBjsu2QHQbYMeTH27H9dPL7E7EIMmfBCczkU72v-e7O-fQMq4gCs8UQ0qFo1OohKCw4soylvQm2G2BX-LZM2sqruFjijVdbzZkhzy96JLw/w400-h200/tempEP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-49387850888483974912019-06-29T21:17:00.000-07:002019-06-30T10:45:38.734-07:00Sister Trip to Michigan: Part IIIMonday, May 6, 2019: Our third day of our trip and second full day in Michigan. And what a day it was!<br />
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We checked out of our hotel in Grand Rapids and headed to the public library. As we were leaving the hotel, I walked across the street to photograph this historic site marker, as Grand Rapids was once known as the "Furniture Capital of America." Several of our ancestors worked in furniture factories in Grand Rapids.<br />
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The downtown branch of the Grand Rapids Public Library is a beautiful building. It was built in 1904 as a gift to the city by Martin A. Ryerson. The library has been in existence since 1871. In 1967, a wing was added to the back, and in 2001 it was completely renovated. When I first approached the entrance, I wondered how many of our ancestors had entered this building and enjoyed the pleasure of reading.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of the masonry above the main entrance of the GRPL<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiRePXW7O3P7GtG2xKfhocBYl_CbU1DiIp5sF5q4hshdo6_flPzkrk6RWYPCZoz59Rp0w4uEteflr3yllezkTejItFPKt-iiTQV-XWS0NEm68M_8q8uqGPhbeJO9BDPuLKoj7oA/s1600/GRPL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="750" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNiRePXW7O3P7GtG2xKfhocBYl_CbU1DiIp5sF5q4hshdo6_flPzkrk6RWYPCZoz59Rp0w4uEteflr3yllezkTejItFPKt-iiTQV-XWS0NEm68M_8q8uqGPhbeJO9BDPuLKoj7oA/s400/GRPL.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister photographed me on the steps of the GRPL.<br />
Photo courtesy of Katrinka Phillips.<br />
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We headed to the <a href="https://www.grpl.org/research/history/">Grand Rapids History & Special Collections department</a>, which includes genealogical resources, on the fourth floor. My goal was to locate some newspaper articles about our 3rd-great-grandfather, Charles H. Robbins, a Civil War veteran; an obituary of our 2nd-great-grandmother's sister, Nellie (Ton) Houseman; and some school census records featuring our adoptive great-grandmother Nellie M. Concidine, a school teacher, and our great-grandfather William James Valk and his sisters, Jennie and Gertrude. While I obviously could spend days or weeks in Special Collections with all our Western Michigan ancestral records, these were a list of items I knew were reasonable to research with the little time we had to spend there. I had found references to many of these items in the <a href="http://data.wmgs.org/">online databases of the Western Michigan Genealogical Society</a> ahead of time.<br />
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We had located two of the articles and the obituary by the time my genealogy friend, Chris Korstange, arrived. This was the first opportunity to meet in real life after being online friends for about 10 years. Chris and I had connected through the old <a href="https://raogk.org/">Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness website</a> when he asked for a lookup to resources I had at my disposal. In turn, he has done lookups for me at GRPL and local cemeteries. Chris is also a <a href="http://myobsessivehobby.blogspot.com/">genealogy blogger</a>, and with similar Dutch immigrant ancestry in Grand Rapids, it is pretty likely we will someday find an ancestral connection, either by being related to each other, or discovering our ancestors lived near, worked with, or worshiped with each other. After a welcoming hug and introducing him to my sister, he helped us by looking up and making scans of the Kent County School Censuses while we finished looking for the rest of the articles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris and I at the entrance of the Special Collections room<br />
Photo courtesy of Katrinka Phillips<br />
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Chris then drove us through the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heritage_Hill_Historic_District_(Grand_Rapids,_Michigan)">Heritage Hill Historic District</a> with its grand homes (see what I did there?!) to what had once been the <a href="http://www.historygrandrapids.org/photoessay/1667/historic-restoration-of-da-blo">Delos A. Blodgett Home for Children</a>, an orphanage where our paternal grandmother, Jane Marie York/Jeanne Marie Holst and her brother, and our maternal grandfather, William Valk, and his siblings, had once lived for short periods, at different times.</div>
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I had done some research in the past year, contacting the <a href="https://dabsj.org/">D.A. Blodgett - St. Johns</a> non-profit organization to try to obtain records on our York and Valk families. Although the full records have since been destroyed, I was able to receive scans of the index cards listing our families, with just enough information to confirm some of the theories I had made regarding their stays, as well as new information. I will be blogging about this at a later time. My inquiries to <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_381308968"></span>ICCF<span id="goog_381308969"></span></a>, the organization that currently occupies the Blodgett building, were never answered. I had hoped to be able to tour the building's interior while we were in Grand Rapids. However, were able to get some good exterior photos. As we wandered the front courtyard, I thought about the sad circumstances that had brought two of our grandparents and their siblings to this building. Every family story I have ever heard on both the York and the Valk sides about Blodgett Home had the same theme: it was not a nice place to be. Whether it was because of the situations that led to their placement or their treatment while there, or a combination, I could feel the sadness of this place. And yet, I felt personal gratitude, as well, because despite whatever occurred within these four walls, it was a place that filled a gap in family care that otherwise may have brought on worse trauma than what was already experienced.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftplf3cDHxsqf2d_mu8ugYMYz2c_G2nAw6zJQJ2CMkPYM3t7YXHN0QUblynLHHhhHopwCV8J6Zn2pdd6ZTwTPjFAwUcid0TCJazGGh_6J2tsJJgxbNGjT0V6qV0IW0bAPAbqdYg/s1600/20190506_125945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftplf3cDHxsqf2d_mu8ugYMYz2c_G2nAw6zJQJ2CMkPYM3t7YXHN0QUblynLHHhhHopwCV8J6Zn2pdd6ZTwTPjFAwUcid0TCJazGGh_6J2tsJJgxbNGjT0V6qV0IW0bAPAbqdYg/s400/20190506_125945.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The former D.A Blogett Home for Children, built 1908<br />
920 Cherry St., NE<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFEO9Rrz_KH7L2yjQnq4W4E7MSCtzvGByh98-VKNhh3bTXDFpVaLg_q1EulRNjrRhErjXS7QIg4lHyFK_81PUy-QWotRIcZKhjQ4-MjFTLmujzt7egv5kky2-f9AEeZQiuKqD7A/s1600/20190506_130031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFEO9Rrz_KH7L2yjQnq4W4E7MSCtzvGByh98-VKNhh3bTXDFpVaLg_q1EulRNjrRhErjXS7QIg4lHyFK_81PUy-QWotRIcZKhjQ4-MjFTLmujzt7egv5kky2-f9AEeZQiuKqD7A/s400/20190506_130031.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of the three-story pillars and balconies<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxKlnybY2apu91BD5QIEzjQ-Tqzpkgkwo4Gvc3t6I5BXIS_mhrfuHPv4Jx9JzwNDEO-tyTpI9hI081248aos_Sruk-ZcmdLTNLqAxnnh6lVkPpKLP4o2MYVzi3SVUHrjRnTwpJg/s1600/BlodgettHome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxKlnybY2apu91BD5QIEzjQ-Tqzpkgkwo4Gvc3t6I5BXIS_mhrfuHPv4Jx9JzwNDEO-tyTpI9hI081248aos_Sruk-ZcmdLTNLqAxnnh6lVkPpKLP4o2MYVzi3SVUHrjRnTwpJg/s640/BlodgettHome.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister and I in front of an ancestral home, of sorts<br />
Photo courtesy of Katrinka Phillips<br />
Taken by Chris Korstange<br />
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Next stop, was Oakhill Cemetery, where our 3rd-great-grandmother, <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/pieter-and-maria-part-i.html">Maria Marina (Van Klinken) Ton Bijl, and very likely her husband Pieter Ton</a>, are buried in unmarked graves in the Potter's Field. Chris helped us to locate the unmarked plot where Maria's brother Johannes "John" Van Klinken was buried. By then, it was starting to rain pretty hard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfyNgXB0Eoc5naiSbIfqFJgO-FeB4_6E8aurExZWR_wwPk2HBYSFM36SwudTRkmrDEkHWcHv4B-aj7wNFabkla9dWu6KWjQLEYrvy-j3-lHZePNoZjbbMU7ZNy2YXW8ZAlvGm2w/s1600/20190506_132038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfyNgXB0Eoc5naiSbIfqFJgO-FeB4_6E8aurExZWR_wwPk2HBYSFM36SwudTRkmrDEkHWcHv4B-aj7wNFabkla9dWu6KWjQLEYrvy-j3-lHZePNoZjbbMU7ZNy2YXW8ZAlvGm2w/s400/20190506_132038.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhere in this corner of Oakhill Cemetery, our 3rd-great-grandmother, Maria Marina (Van Klinken) Ton Bijl is buried. Her husband Pieter Adriannse Ton is also likely buried here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW3mOzZMP8KrVfRcGTjWu8nltEBoOHpId1MSWt3XEgRpvaC7TrrqiGlVQZwi74Bqae3cNt739QxDFe_Il0HEIoToy00lJHXLA3_Jt9QJxm6RlNDvJTMqhWarOuhc128CFKyYrrw/s1600/20190506_131943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW3mOzZMP8KrVfRcGTjWu8nltEBoOHpId1MSWt3XEgRpvaC7TrrqiGlVQZwi74Bqae3cNt739QxDFe_Il0HEIoToy00lJHXLA3_Jt9QJxm6RlNDvJTMqhWarOuhc128CFKyYrrw/s400/20190506_131943.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While these tombstones do not belong to our ancestors, I photographed them to show the condition of the few marked graves in Potter's Field (Permit Grounds) of Oakhill Cemetery: broken, dilapidated, uncared for. These graves aren't even listed on the<a href="https://grandrapids.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1ca0ead959144ab9b27b6b64e62b1880"> cemetery's map</a>. You can see that they are inscribed in Dutch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNDrJsQb_huOv4LSpy2eL2y17Z9wLq6_3Tjg8z_ayahhYxnrJ6IefskeaDStgoGhYb06d8KMIjB7HB48q5S9CCe2UFW1hRrxkoPgsYKFiJApQKyNxOTvSN6bWwbqHL9PcD3DHlg/s1600/20190506_133509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuNDrJsQb_huOv4LSpy2eL2y17Z9wLq6_3Tjg8z_ayahhYxnrJ6IefskeaDStgoGhYb06d8KMIjB7HB48q5S9CCe2UFW1hRrxkoPgsYKFiJApQKyNxOTvSN6bWwbqHL9PcD3DHlg/s400/20190506_133509.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were able to identify this spot as the resting place of Maria's brother, Johannes "John" Van Klinken (1840 - 1913) using Oakhill Cemetery's grave mapping website. We used some sticks to dig down to see if there was a gravestone covered by dirt, but were unsuccessful. It likely was never marked.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9y6v4WbBZIfsY5RP58YeuJOpMiDKPHs80b3_QLaKFIcYn7yNo8tmxmyfyJf_GxbTkntNcixwmHGspcMaNMCt3HofuwYyARcPrpMmyMLgbfWOknd_KVlOII0OyowTWck2O3B3mg/s1600/20190506_133516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9y6v4WbBZIfsY5RP58YeuJOpMiDKPHs80b3_QLaKFIcYn7yNo8tmxmyfyJf_GxbTkntNcixwmHGspcMaNMCt3HofuwYyARcPrpMmyMLgbfWOknd_KVlOII0OyowTWck2O3B3mg/s400/20190506_133516.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This grave of Peternella de Jongh just south of Johannes Van Klinken's grave helped us to locate his grave, as the Oakhill Cemetery's grave mapping site listed hers as being in the same lot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs22l5kalHLdXKRvXQuZW6l7bKLZg6qd3CyW1rlR3otMWT6WLoyj51VU4EVbIsdDDdyIyvlNLenb3mbm9BN0aktiiS9gBkuBsNRzcdlJmIsczC4nZeItF47v9xDcsODmbyA3oubQ/s1600/BlodgettHomeMemorialOakhillCemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="562" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs22l5kalHLdXKRvXQuZW6l7bKLZg6qd3CyW1rlR3otMWT6WLoyj51VU4EVbIsdDDdyIyvlNLenb3mbm9BN0aktiiS9gBkuBsNRzcdlJmIsczC4nZeItF47v9xDcsODmbyA3oubQ/s640/BlodgettHomeMemorialOakhillCemetery.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This marker was in Potter's Field, next to the cemetery road.<br />
It made me very sad to look at, as there is no information as to how many Blodgett Home children there were buried here, or who they were.<br />
Photo courtesy of Katrinka Phillips.<br />
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Chris returned us to the library parking lot where our rental car had been parked. There we discovered that we had lost our rental car keys! At this point, the rain was absolutely pouring down, so after quickly searching Chris' vehicle, the parking lot, the steps of the library, and the courtyard in front of it where we snapped photos, we reentered the library, dripping wet, to see if they had been turned in to the front desk. They had not. Our next search was the elevator, Special Collections room, and restrooms. We quickly determined that they probably had been dropped at the cemetery. Chris was kind enough to not only take us back out there, but tromp around in the downpour to help us find them. After about 10 minutes, they were located, and he returned us to our rental car. Thankfully, he did not need to drive us out to the airport to the rental car office get another set of keys!<br />
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After parting ways with Chris, we headed to west of the river to a cafe to dry off and grab a cup of coffee. After the cloudburst ended, we headed over to the John D. Widdicomb Furniture Factory where our step-great-grandfather, George DeVries, had worked. It's business complex now, but we got some great photos of the four beautiful yellow brick buildings located on both the west and east sides of Seward Avenue, parallel to the railroad tracks. I could just imagine how noisy and busy it was in its heyday, with the busy railroad bringing in lumber and shipping out completed furniture.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPxoCgKgVLn6-Vw5irpbf2tO6QfXUji9rRHaRgPGIK6r7Cy60kOsaS-rvfie3sXTlZvY6nQVxBxFXi3kBpc_0-H_DlsNjbtfk5wx7tdhzCTGdqpyf4oeYY6cIHeteqbOfPWyV1w/s1600/IMG_9398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPxoCgKgVLn6-Vw5irpbf2tO6QfXUji9rRHaRgPGIK6r7Cy60kOsaS-rvfie3sXTlZvY6nQVxBxFXi3kBpc_0-H_DlsNjbtfk5wx7tdhzCTGdqpyf4oeYY6cIHeteqbOfPWyV1w/s400/IMG_9398.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The southwest building, from the south<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6xR4uH_ub3QleCOmQUf9X3XP81SlT4_pCpYF5MmFheJTURlfP6oQBjZAH1AchXpHZOAWZyhfjwDK_AuFgy0boOyU46sbEYQrmZstFcUVUn7DplhoHzfAoKeGJZkz2L1fzZEw2w/s1600/IMG_9399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6xR4uH_ub3QleCOmQUf9X3XP81SlT4_pCpYF5MmFheJTURlfP6oQBjZAH1AchXpHZOAWZyhfjwDK_AuFgy0boOyU46sbEYQrmZstFcUVUn7DplhoHzfAoKeGJZkz2L1fzZEw2w/s400/IMG_9399.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The southwest and northwest buildings, from the southeast</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SuFJWuhavwUyZM3mjC_DLe0vDYRaE99Ma7KNop5FjuVrslx9dl6U9NS7xUe75KP-K2kAb6ohIgk5ble1dVaqsRWl_K5Z_uVbv1AJXl9c9alkxQ2BEnpzUXz8vjoGegK27iG6mA/s1600/IMG_9406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3SuFJWuhavwUyZM3mjC_DLe0vDYRaE99Ma7KNop5FjuVrslx9dl6U9NS7xUe75KP-K2kAb6ohIgk5ble1dVaqsRWl_K5Z_uVbv1AJXl9c9alkxQ2BEnpzUXz8vjoGegK27iG6mA/s400/IMG_9406.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The southwest building, from the east</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGlkcjGpH7guWulS6F9biwvn8V43FkurmLbMvNaeqEqwsB76QUeWNax0QY2GUsWGjeOZdZdCyM7lY3tjlUlBDvUgm-tx5r_bXbPYI3_W3Bfnvu3Sr5TsUFeqGdE6aoVsKujzdHw/s1600/IMG_9412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGlkcjGpH7guWulS6F9biwvn8V43FkurmLbMvNaeqEqwsB76QUeWNax0QY2GUsWGjeOZdZdCyM7lY3tjlUlBDvUgm-tx5r_bXbPYI3_W3Bfnvu3Sr5TsUFeqGdE6aoVsKujzdHw/s400/IMG_9412.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The southwest building, from the northeast</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jdP8PV68rloLe8YofwIoSvEDaAwd5LYRKHMzmxOZXUr_013ZjPd_HDEdItKIHunVLrsI0OIScREWbyU-pf1HZRx5NXoj_azJWrioSfRCjDOJ1q5ZzzdzSBC-tbApU3mRQ6n4Qg/s1600/IMG_9411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jdP8PV68rloLe8YofwIoSvEDaAwd5LYRKHMzmxOZXUr_013ZjPd_HDEdItKIHunVLrsI0OIScREWbyU-pf1HZRx5NXoj_azJWrioSfRCjDOJ1q5ZzzdzSBC-tbApU3mRQ6n4Qg/s400/IMG_9411.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The northwest building, from the southeast</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTr3Pi7r_p-sQi4l9c-cldBlnHqhl0p_ijJi0XXZjmqZ8kpbvVUioLqpq4YBnZu6ZXN-PUFPdXc70_4B3NsAZc66L7IuoJlnibQ4Sxv0wDCaJvo56-Lp5K_widn-_jqhoNE4m1A/s1600/IMG_9404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTr3Pi7r_p-sQi4l9c-cldBlnHqhl0p_ijJi0XXZjmqZ8kpbvVUioLqpq4YBnZu6ZXN-PUFPdXc70_4B3NsAZc66L7IuoJlnibQ4Sxv0wDCaJvo56-Lp5K_widn-_jqhoNE4m1A/s400/IMG_9404.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South end of the southeast (original) building, from the west<br />
(click to enlarge)<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_w3jfRbfugBTY9hkN0IK591QegOuWPWieB2ZAfWjCw742fO3Ln4ITpwR2orluLPRgmnLVwUYvdiWxlMcyFZBP4J1kJajj0mg3ihr0BxZkmxOCUqcnmxs-RmkJsRUnEJkvwysQ/s1600/IMG_9402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_w3jfRbfugBTY9hkN0IK591QegOuWPWieB2ZAfWjCw742fO3Ln4ITpwR2orluLPRgmnLVwUYvdiWxlMcyFZBP4J1kJajj0mg3ihr0BxZkmxOCUqcnmxs-RmkJsRUnEJkvwysQ/s640/IMG_9402.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Detail of the old doors of the southeast (original) building, from the west</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BY0ABq2Yu2GgZ2Vxqedk0293HKT7CL33oU72_tKuNnbMZw3dDiYBrq0gmqRfZPd1CKzKUuWOyOK9QcsEUobXJylTFI4RZo-kY6Z95s8Q_Z-2Xrgznkee2FhP3tS28U3r6K65sw/s1600/IMG_9401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BY0ABq2Yu2GgZ2Vxqedk0293HKT7CL33oU72_tKuNnbMZw3dDiYBrq0gmqRfZPd1CKzKUuWOyOK9QcsEUobXJylTFI4RZo-kY6Z95s8Q_Z-2Xrgznkee2FhP3tS28U3r6K65sw/s400/IMG_9401.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Detail of the corner stone, east building</span>"Widdicomb Furniture Co. 1877"<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2mD0yVTYqYk02uECzkfUH8y8UX5G_kARqf0DcOiy-kdQycxsDnRnOqvO2UoGpzTXvt62vKvwj4aR9cvTc0XaMN_SY0cNTTHa3Zp2FrLN2G6kO0kZZWWYxGN2sWwL0HsbPU4iQQ/s1600/IMG_9403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2mD0yVTYqYk02uECzkfUH8y8UX5G_kARqf0DcOiy-kdQycxsDnRnOqvO2UoGpzTXvt62vKvwj4aR9cvTc0XaMN_SY0cNTTHa3Zp2FrLN2G6kO0kZZWWYxGN2sWwL0HsbPU4iQQ/s400/IMG_9403.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">North end of the southeast (original) building and south end of the northeast building</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP8MoREJPl8BegTWEot3fdR4wS9wrgsiBrp4eHofAg5mBf2K6x7KsFaaSBmqnKmBoj4ftYcBLVsXA94PwUx8BuZn201GBEvz90bczknoN5M29AMmnZAWvdKt0z2JJm506iFojkQ/s1600/IMG_9405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP8MoREJPl8BegTWEot3fdR4wS9wrgsiBrp4eHofAg5mBf2K6x7KsFaaSBmqnKmBoj4ftYcBLVsXA94PwUx8BuZn201GBEvz90bczknoN5M29AMmnZAWvdKt0z2JJm506iFojkQ/s400/IMG_9405.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">North end of the southeast (original) building and south end of the northeast building</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizvrjIgacBEt_c7CVsR_raNtIpOCW0JLATV_IOgzcmUQj4lKMh_fpiFhuemp0JtP514fM0G-qFakllhClqtJPnGTpWpn0ntg0BogNAJzTGUjULNeglibnBmpaDyH7D6gmkIQzRQ/s1600/IMG_9408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizvrjIgacBEt_c7CVsR_raNtIpOCW0JLATV_IOgzcmUQj4lKMh_fpiFhuemp0JtP514fM0G-qFakllhClqtJPnGTpWpn0ntg0BogNAJzTGUjULNeglibnBmpaDyH7D6gmkIQzRQ/s640/IMG_9408.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">North end of the northeast building, from the northwest</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-hcqGrNNcU1ac4S95kLzpJdUsnNI_n27OFEAfNE3t1B-bSHIhFpdh94z5DOt-GVpIZpdsg0a9Nxft9usEkxy109u0M9t3GYFjMSa011ARtveNpqm8sShyphenhyphenqYJ1WkNsz9PjqenxA/s1600/IMG_9409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-hcqGrNNcU1ac4S95kLzpJdUsnNI_n27OFEAfNE3t1B-bSHIhFpdh94z5DOt-GVpIZpdsg0a9Nxft9usEkxy109u0M9t3GYFjMSa011ARtveNpqm8sShyphenhyphenqYJ1WkNsz9PjqenxA/s640/IMG_9409.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">North end of the northeast building, from the west</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">(click to enlarge)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Then we headed west to Coopersville in Ottawa County, where our dad and his siblings grew up. After checking in at our hotel, we met our dad's brother and youngest sister at her place, which just happens to be across the street from the home our grandfather built and where they all grew up.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_see4X8EZTuP4ZemEfZZzrcJukETS-ULyQ2ozTrYSa3Uo-kin4ydclGoLBTWyQQlh2syi0HlXk4JzDRlMDTXd1SU71ni-V4go1lJ-2xgKsqbe7el2upTOrAJrlzJ71DK5KJjfOw/s1600/RobbinsHouseinCoopersville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_see4X8EZTuP4ZemEfZZzrcJukETS-ULyQ2ozTrYSa3Uo-kin4ydclGoLBTWyQQlh2syi0HlXk4JzDRlMDTXd1SU71ni-V4go1lJ-2xgKsqbe7el2upTOrAJrlzJ71DK5KJjfOw/s400/RobbinsHouseinCoopersville.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house and auto body shop our Grandfather Robbins built<br />
Coopersville, Michigan<br />
Photo courtesy of Katrinka Phillips<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupzgXtDWaLaVypEbrHjnzN3TFTsE6YzRKXssVdO3_kFv0XBfbeeIGWR2P9m1SWsyJP30oiZh9hnGKhrnzxvsaOKWa2Hr9rREr2jhx79wD6VH9YvS-qEupQ6hn1f1xgnNj77VZqA/s1600/Cathy%2526Bob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupzgXtDWaLaVypEbrHjnzN3TFTsE6YzRKXssVdO3_kFv0XBfbeeIGWR2P9m1SWsyJP30oiZh9hnGKhrnzxvsaOKWa2Hr9rREr2jhx79wD6VH9YvS-qEupQ6hn1f1xgnNj77VZqA/s640/Cathy%2526Bob.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our dad's brother and youngest sister<br />
Photo courtesy of Katrinka Pillips<br />
(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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While visiting with them, sharing photos with each other of our of children and grandchildren and looking at old family photos, I held my own little Scanfest on my Flip-Pal scanner, scanning our Robbins great-grandparents' little memo book from 1938. I also took this photo of Aunt Jo's artwork. Josephine Rebecca (Huff) Robbins was married to our Great-grandfather Robbins' brother Lloyd. She was the Robbins family genealogist for many years before she passed away in 1987. I had forgotten that she was also interested in art.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNhzm6cb9S5OBt1WfzJhik_KLzIJy5-NhFiQM4ApZARbWdr7s3gDt1KLR89baSSFLwoVZFl0I8jcqTCWunJg5fuHbmBfQ3aqDgngHaqA2teCSY0FHazyzn0lwoO0ruTgA4Vg6yw/s1600/IMG_9413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNhzm6cb9S5OBt1WfzJhik_KLzIJy5-NhFiQM4ApZARbWdr7s3gDt1KLR89baSSFLwoVZFl0I8jcqTCWunJg5fuHbmBfQ3aqDgngHaqA2teCSY0FHazyzn0lwoO0ruTgA4Vg6yw/s400/IMG_9413.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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After a long, full, busy day, we crashed in our hotel room. More adventures awaited us the next day!<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-i.html">Sister Trip to Michigan: Part I</a><br />
<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/06/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-ii.html">Sister Trip to Michigan: Part II</a><br />
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-27087009734683069222019-06-07T20:13:00.002-07:002019-06-29T21:19:03.017-07:00Sister Trip to Michigan: Part IIOur first full day in Michigan, Sunday, March 5, was a beautiful one. Since the forecast was predicting rain for much of our trip, we decided it would be a good day to visit the <a href="https://www.meijergardens.org/">Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park</a> while we were in Grand Rapids. There are many gardens and exhibits, and we easily could have spent several days exploring everything; but since we had only one day planned for it, we chose the <a href="https://www.meijergardens.org/attractions/past-sculpture-exhibitions/">indoor art gallery</a>, the <a href="https://www.meijergardens.org/attractions/japanese-garden/">Japanese garden</a>, and the <a href="https://www.meijergardens.org/attractions/sculpture-collection/">Sculpture Park</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUPO1fOOg6T46csgrt7y-nVRqyyh6HGnrl2tjwKzc2a7uQDWFwYIlyyI5SbSQ8Js1nQng6sEMpi1avKtnZvj5AjTGZlf1CguR2-YEujyDMZlIfSIElk3mcNoN5C2KNZ41MFCgcQ/s1600/IMG_9276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUPO1fOOg6T46csgrt7y-nVRqyyh6HGnrl2tjwKzc2a7uQDWFwYIlyyI5SbSQ8Js1nQng6sEMpi1avKtnZvj5AjTGZlf1CguR2-YEujyDMZlIfSIElk3mcNoN5C2KNZ41MFCgcQ/s400/IMG_9276.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Gilded Champagne Gardens Chandelier"<br />
by Dale Chihuly<br />
Gallery foyer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeD_Lvu_p_VF4B30WUzPmBTUlEqdDwKgc0DgGIQAxfyt2OHOXmMZr3MtZy8OQrvLujZf24zEyp20Jk3JSq9hBmqWf6b0IvNO9AXB0PTAANhrzK1BZ_YFyMMNc-FSQoPC8fud5_g/s1600/IMG_9298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeD_Lvu_p_VF4B30WUzPmBTUlEqdDwKgc0DgGIQAxfyt2OHOXmMZr3MtZy8OQrvLujZf24zEyp20Jk3JSq9hBmqWf6b0IvNO9AXB0PTAANhrzK1BZ_YFyMMNc-FSQoPC8fud5_g/s400/IMG_9298.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of "New World Map"<br />
by El Anatsui<br />
Gallery<br />
Sculptural tapestry made of thousands of recycled aluminum bottle tops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z2tgNafWjKGZMrIJdMkYcfs1cUKv4CG6NidPi49A1ijPENRUi1v9cau_V8MPH8u9FfMJHrnWmHi-mVs3wL7yAZRo0HgesUHVz3MGpxb8qxUaoRkjobO1bfqtHdiyLBkV6j8E8Q/s1600/IMG_9307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9z2tgNafWjKGZMrIJdMkYcfs1cUKv4CG6NidPi49A1ijPENRUi1v9cau_V8MPH8u9FfMJHrnWmHi-mVs3wL7yAZRo0HgesUHVz3MGpxb8qxUaoRkjobO1bfqtHdiyLBkV6j8E8Q/s400/IMG_9307.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Blue Phrygian Cap"<br />
by Alexander Calder<br />
Gallery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUjjyE_OIVglOTTbSnN_TLbgYj6oCZve7eyhAU46V96Eps9-6qUSdwevAbw1Ci-yejomuLlp1fhxkxOIQ709l9B_UIngIuVKAviwAuY_2CAbK_ooepCQgjdw2qyNLD6zQi7gzOA/s1600/IMG_9314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUjjyE_OIVglOTTbSnN_TLbgYj6oCZve7eyhAU46V96Eps9-6qUSdwevAbw1Ci-yejomuLlp1fhxkxOIQ709l9B_UIngIuVKAviwAuY_2CAbK_ooepCQgjdw2qyNLD6zQi7gzOA/s400/IMG_9314.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of "Fighting Lions"<br />
by Nina Akamu<br />
Gallery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIih93nys1tnQmy10RG8_RjvUDmNgKs2cDLtLo0V3F1OJswV0r1PFXEU_7vimMEPB3tPFYg0N-qbIPiq77oLG3ZC4f44b-pC5aQyFWRuAGIGfXYuufdCwd7zMuRwPKCOVJ1wGBQ/s1600/IMG_9362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIih93nys1tnQmy10RG8_RjvUDmNgKs2cDLtLo0V3F1OJswV0r1PFXEU_7vimMEPB3tPFYg0N-qbIPiq77oLG3ZC4f44b-pC5aQyFWRuAGIGfXYuufdCwd7zMuRwPKCOVJ1wGBQ/s400/IMG_9362.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Long Island Buddha"<br />
by Zhang Huan<br />
Japanese garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV8tT294Ime957o5YPQlK04eRWZlIfQAyh4-AglN2JbZtRPpmiHZGtrBEbYWX9wlbmOrvGNf1eJthndegaWIRE1pp88AwlZnevUrwhDM01zfUeb_HBjNXYvW3M9_ZXf71L_DEWw/s1600/IMG_9375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV8tT294Ime957o5YPQlK04eRWZlIfQAyh4-AglN2JbZtRPpmiHZGtrBEbYWX9wlbmOrvGNf1eJthndegaWIRE1pp88AwlZnevUrwhDM01zfUeb_HBjNXYvW3M9_ZXf71L_DEWw/s400/IMG_9375.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pond at the Japanese garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3NM03pcWC6ojeYpfSnjc18c1pv-_zVlFm27G7yYhp9hMCcApYqoSYk_De5DvXDe61T9s_isLkWlk-w1PUyEYxJ-NDW2fjQ0svyX9ZsmG74e1eVAbq6XJwLVKQUWSlj2POCKc6g/s1600/IMG_9320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3NM03pcWC6ojeYpfSnjc18c1pv-_zVlFm27G7yYhp9hMCcApYqoSYk_De5DvXDe61T9s_isLkWlk-w1PUyEYxJ-NDW2fjQ0svyX9ZsmG74e1eVAbq6XJwLVKQUWSlj2POCKc6g/s400/IMG_9320.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"American Horse"<br />
by Nina Akamu<br />
Inspired by Leonardo da Vinci<br />
Sculpture Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q4uk3oH8J7JXUbCOVswgpbFHaVv5dNt-B6FF1T-6Is1W0HjIiQvdPbed76uu68sv8S6c1rQ2N8KIJWNq_KGEvHeYZ_9D68UHyAKGEQ1K1tBv7DbnUSsju9IuzAEv5FOsrzza4Q/s1600/IMG_9377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q4uk3oH8J7JXUbCOVswgpbFHaVv5dNt-B6FF1T-6Is1W0HjIiQvdPbed76uu68sv8S6c1rQ2N8KIJWNq_KGEvHeYZ_9D68UHyAKGEQ1K1tBv7DbnUSsju9IuzAEv5FOsrzza4Q/s400/IMG_9377.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Rapids Arch<br />
by Andy Goldsworth<br />
Made with native Scotland stone<br />
Sculpture Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8ghBVq6yXbjyyvS397U-sRLix3vhCSoYtDWz2BaQC0wHE3VMHIIk4aZ3v_BGqkwCq43HL-Tv8QGu12hwU_X14QgFBD5rB9Tpr4RZJz5q3FBjo90dt2xL5mVJVgDHTO6ggrKoKA/s1600/IMG_9380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8ghBVq6yXbjyyvS397U-sRLix3vhCSoYtDWz2BaQC0wHE3VMHIIk4aZ3v_BGqkwCq43HL-Tv8QGu12hwU_X14QgFBD5rB9Tpr4RZJz5q3FBjo90dt2xL5mVJVgDHTO6ggrKoKA/s400/IMG_9380.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I, you, she or he..."<br />
by Jaume Plensa<br />
Sculpture Park<br />
These sculptures are made of thousands of stainless steel letters of the alphabet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_1ZETvCQpVGA8L2beO8cYgjN5f8N3jkPJcfLUl0MS1GHJOd7DJjH_LchQAwFoj5BdNCWHUNE8hSHSTBLZyH9LTSKFaLeoX21tYGa9dsPjB-JVbMIO-Ea_e73JHKm9q7au-M4Rw/s1600/IMG_9391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_1ZETvCQpVGA8L2beO8cYgjN5f8N3jkPJcfLUl0MS1GHJOd7DJjH_LchQAwFoj5BdNCWHUNE8hSHSTBLZyH9LTSKFaLeoX21tYGa9dsPjB-JVbMIO-Ea_e73JHKm9q7au-M4Rw/s400/IMG_9391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Listening to History"<br />
by Bill Woodrow<br />
Sculpture Park<br />
A favorite of mine!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
After several hours at the Gardens, we met up for a late lunch with my mom's paternal half siblings and their family, the Valks, at Golden Corral. All four of the children of Grandpa Valk and his wife Elaine were there, three uncles and an aunt. While we had met them all on one of the trips we made when I was 11 1/2 - 12 years old, I really only remember playing with their children, my younger Valk cousins, in the family room in the basement of Grandpa Valk's house. And of course, my sister was a baby, so she had no memories from that time. Our mom's youngest Valk brother and his wife came to Spokane last summer for a visit, so we had gotten acquainted with them, but this lunch gave us an opportunity to meet the other uncles and aunt, along with their spouses, and some of their children and grandchildren, our cousins. There were about a dozen and a half of us, total, and we had an enjoyable lunch visiting for several hours, getting to know each other better, and sharing with them all the family news from our side of the country.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQiTwI4AJMAOvUuEXuDMUn0WrSyHOtkSg8nHbzNSxUz-F6wn2ylo-OPmTzTIOxO1rQfWGHpit3avqQrmmBCoNx35pBc5dR3eUMfiF4rEjtKu0FClRlbozSfyhtzshn4cNXHlUuw/s1600/59543378_10218673992911839_4730852690668552192_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQiTwI4AJMAOvUuEXuDMUn0WrSyHOtkSg8nHbzNSxUz-F6wn2ylo-OPmTzTIOxO1rQfWGHpit3avqQrmmBCoNx35pBc5dR3eUMfiF4rEjtKu0FClRlbozSfyhtzshn4cNXHlUuw/s400/59543378_10218673992911839_4730852690668552192_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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During lunch, as we were talking about Grandpa Valk and Grandma Elaine, I mentioned that I wanted to visit their graves, as I had never been to the cemetery where they were laid to rest. My youngest uncle and his wife offered to accompany us, and also told us that Uncle Jimmy's grave was there as well. Jimmy was Grandpa's first child, from his first marriage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67BxbGvHeNdwekzuE71dBAX-KnT2YQX8gbiTvyLOokslQfgUpUyS-lUYp7VAXC4x3H7taSqs_uLcJk6j1el6xTdx12GelSueyntYMdIxP0cIvARx7rklovEcYy0wEa6fYHbWu_A/s1600/VALK%252C+James+Frederick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67BxbGvHeNdwekzuE71dBAX-KnT2YQX8gbiTvyLOokslQfgUpUyS-lUYp7VAXC4x3H7taSqs_uLcJk6j1el6xTdx12GelSueyntYMdIxP0cIvARx7rklovEcYy0wEa6fYHbWu_A/s400/VALK%252C+James+Frederick.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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James "Jimmy" Frederick Valk was born 25 February 1939 in Grand Rapids to William Valk and Elfriede Joan Lomker. He was either developmentally disabled or deaf, or both. He was institutionalized and died at the age of 19, from pneumonia, as I understand it.</div>
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After paying our respects to Jimmy, we turned to leave when I spotted two Lomker graves nearby. I recognized them as Elfriede's parents, Anna (Kirchdyke) and Herman Fritz Lomker. It was comforting to me that Jimmy was buried near family, as my grandfather's grave was in a different area of the cemetery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEkHj7kereVyeE_RRtx3I5kZxax7eHoAgPcQsYmByiV-OfzBScB_ShyE7m8bLnkzXhIDHyWYQLARBZH9fOcn9iWE7SXBcQvM_fqMXxrnNfLd7DzBeyNpvHEZimfLZDHQ9JEKGEA/s1600/LOMKER+Anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsEkHj7kereVyeE_RRtx3I5kZxax7eHoAgPcQsYmByiV-OfzBScB_ShyE7m8bLnkzXhIDHyWYQLARBZH9fOcn9iWE7SXBcQvM_fqMXxrnNfLd7DzBeyNpvHEZimfLZDHQ9JEKGEA/s400/LOMKER+Anna.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDyyAHsVuX7SI2IT4PPcj112MPT3PN1VArNigNCHe8I7_n9cae4Qr7pRU1ZkZRlY5MexmOq-y3mrWCKE5knbhm6eTek0GlsuCuKXYM0CBODXB7VWE-DAfjC9rPEnV_wsA2syr7Q/s1600/LOMKER+Herman+Fritz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDyyAHsVuX7SI2IT4PPcj112MPT3PN1VArNigNCHe8I7_n9cae4Qr7pRU1ZkZRlY5MexmOq-y3mrWCKE5knbhm6eTek0GlsuCuKXYM0CBODXB7VWE-DAfjC9rPEnV_wsA2syr7Q/s400/LOMKER+Herman+Fritz.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have written previously about Jimmy, his mother Elfriede, her marriage to and divorce from my grandfather, as well as her subsequent marriage to my grandfather's brother Chet, who died in the Battle of the Bulge. You can read that post <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2008/08/john-william-chet-valk-1914-1944.html">here</a>.<br />
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Next, we spent some time at my Grandpa Valk's and Grandma Elaine's graves. My uncle and aunt shared fond memories of them, many of which were new to my sister and me. I especially enjoyed hearing how Grandpa and his three sons would play games of baseball together when they were kids.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHh7H5ic0R_msUzAlWRQJbwTIwepW0UJ9F360JRyS-EMP422hF8A_z8TROpRuXbsJZlbkGyA5JOzLUYn2Y-JIziAxLb-9_VEGCowQipXe5OcJERlnEiAvrExE_B91_c64MsLLeMg/s1600/IMG_9397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHh7H5ic0R_msUzAlWRQJbwTIwepW0UJ9F360JRyS-EMP422hF8A_z8TROpRuXbsJZlbkGyA5JOzLUYn2Y-JIziAxLb-9_VEGCowQipXe5OcJERlnEiAvrExE_B91_c64MsLLeMg/s320/IMG_9397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our maternal grandfather, William Valk, was born 30 October 1912 in Grand Rapids to William James and Agnes (Tuinstra) Valk, the third child and son of eight children. He first married Elfriede Joan Lomker on 13 May 1937 in South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. They had one son, James Frederick Valk. After their divorce in 1941, he married our maternal grandmother, Ruth Lillian DeVries, on 11 September 1943 in Junction City, Geary County, Kansas near where he was stationed in the U.S. Army during World War II at Fort Riley. They had one daughter, our mother. After their divorce in 1946, he married Elaine Estelle Bennett on 22 April 1950 in Grand Rapids. They had three sons and a daughter. Grandpa died 10 October 1989 at his home in Caledonia Township, Kent County, Michigan.<br />
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Our maternal step-grandmother, Elaine Estelle Seif, was born to Robert Olive Bennett (a.k.a. Seif) and Treasure Baldwin on 27 January 1927 in Grand Rapids (Elaine's father chose to go by his stepfather Andrew Seif's surname). Elaine was the second of two daughters. She died 11 January 2016.</div>
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After parting with our family, we went to Meijer,a grocery and department store, not unlike Fred Meyer in the Pacific Northwest, and got a few supplies and groceries for the next few days. We then settled in at our hotel room to watch the current episode of <i>Game of Thrones </i>and enjoy our Cinco de Mayo "dinner" of margaritas and quesadillas ordered from room service.<br />
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<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-i.html">Sister Trip to Michigan: Part I</a><br /><a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/06/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-iii.html">Sister Trip to Michigan: Part III</a><br />
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-44640630718202967672019-05-25T10:33:00.003-07:002019-06-29T21:22:07.727-07:00Sister Trip to Michigan: Part IIn early May of this year, my younger sister and I took a one-week-long trip to Western Michigan to visit family, do a little genealogy, and sight-see. Both of our parents are from Western Michigan: Mom is from the City of Grand Rapids in Kent County, and Dad was raised in Coopersville, a small town in Ottawa County about 20 miles west of Grand Rapids.<br />
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While not everything we did was related to genealogy, and what research we did was minimal, I am sharing our journey here, since we did a lot of follow up to some of the stories I have written about here in my blog.<br />
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A little background about our parents' families: Our dad is the second child and first son of a family of five children. His oldest sister lives in Spokane, near us. The younger three siblings, an uncle and two aunts, live in Western Michigan. Our mom was the only child of the marriage of her parents. Her dad had been married before and had a disabled son from that marriage who died in his late teens. Our grandmother was his second wife and he was her first husband. Our mom was raised in her mother and step-dad's home with a younger brother and sister. Our grandfather had three sons and a daughter with his third wife. All of my mom's living siblings live in Western Michigan, except for her maternal half-sister who lives near Detroit.<br />
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The first day of our sister trip was Saturday, May 4th. Our flight from Spokane to Grand Rapids through Denver arrived late in the afternoon, and after picking up our rental car and checking into our hotel, we met up with our uncle's family (our mom's maternal half-brother with whom she was raised) at a restaurant for an early dinner. Attending was our uncle's wife, their daughter (our cousin) with two of her children, and their daughter's fiance. After dinner, we headed to our cousin's house for more visiting, but on the way, we stopped at <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/481/fairplains-cemetery">Fairplains Cemetery</a> to visit our grandparents' graves. It was my sister's first visit to their graves since they had passed away in 2001 and 2007. I had visited the cemetery when I came to Michigan in 2012 for our paternal grandmother's memorial service.<br />
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Our maternal grandmother was born Ruth Lillian DeVries on 16 January 1919 in Blodgett Memorial Hospital, the Village of East Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan to John Martin and Lillian Fern (Strong) Hoekstra. She was the eldest of three daughters. She first married our grandfather, William Valk, on 11 September 1943 in Junction City, Geary County, Kansas, having traveled to marry him where he was stationed in the U.S. Army during World War II at Fort Riley. After their divorce in 1946, she met and later married my step-grandfather, Adrian "Ed" DeVries on 3 October 1947 in Wyoming Township, Kent County. Grandma died 25 August 2001 in Grand Rapids and was buried at Fairplains four days later. Today, both the Village of East Grand Rapids and the area in Wyoming Township where she married Grandpa, are now a part of the City of Grand Rapids.</div>
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Our maternal (step) grandfather, Adrian "Ed" DeVries, was born 10 June 1916 in Grand Rapids to Jarig Egbert Binnes DeVries and his wife Johanna Bos (their names were Anglicized to George Edward Benjamin DeVries and Josephine Bush). Ed was the third child and third son of five children. He attended South High School in Grand Rapids just a few grades behind Gerald R. Ford, Jr., and eventually followed him to the University of Michigan, although the Great Depression cut his college education short. He joined the U.S. Army during World War II and served as a military postal clerk in North Africa. After the war, he met our grandmother on a blind date with mutual friends, and soon they were courting. Our mother started calling him "Daddy" before Grandma even married him! He raised our mother along with his own two biological children and never treated her any differently than if she were his own. He was the only maternal grandfather we knew well, having met our Grandpa Valk only a few times. In fact, of the six grandchildren Grandpa DeVries had, only one was biological, due to step-families and adoption. He loved us all equally. Adrian died 6 January 2007 in Grand Rapids, and was buried four days later at Fairplains.</div>
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After a nice visit at my cousin's house for a couple of hours, we headed back to our hotel, where I enjoyed the previous week's episode of Game of Thrones, having missed it, and then wrapped up the evening with a couple of drinks from room service.</div>
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<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/06/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-ii.html">Sister Trip to Michigan: Part II</a><br /><a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/06/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-iii.html">Sister Trip to Michigan: Part III</a></div>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-15537174587790715322019-05-18T19:43:00.000-07:002019-06-29T21:22:59.150-07:00Pieter and Maria: Part III(<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/pieter-and-maria-part-i.html">Part I</a> and <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/pieter-and-maria-part-ii.html">Part II</a>)<br />
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In mid-to-late 1872, Pieter and Maria (Van Klinken) Ton moved from Cincinnati to Grand Rapids, Michigan with their three daughters, Nellie, Mary, and Jennie (my ancestor), who were about 11, 8, and 5 years old, respectively.<br />
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Left behind in the area were Maria's oldest daughter, Cornelia "Kate" Van Klinken and her husband Joseph Meyers, who settled across the Ohio River in Newport, Campbell Co., Kentucky. They eventually had two children, neither of whom married or had children themselves.<br />
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Also left behind were Maria's sister, Adriana Van Klinken and her husband Leendert "Leonard" Klinke, who lived in Cincinnati. They eventually had four children, none of whom married or had children, either.<br />
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Finally, Pieter's widowed brother-in-law, Izak Pape, and his son Jacob also remained in Cincinnati. It's unknown at this time if Jacob had any descendants. It's likely Pieter and Maria never saw these family members again.<br />
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In Grand Rapids, they were joined by Maria's brother, Johannes "John" Van Klinken, who apparently immigrated about 10 years after they did. It's not clear where he lived, or with whom, until he appears in the same neighborhood as them in the 1873 Grand Rapids city directory. That year, John married Barendina "Dena" Lendering. They had two boys who did not survive infancy.<br />
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Pieter continued to work as a laborer in Grand Rapids. He and his family attended First Christian Reformed Church, located then at 58 Commerce Ave., SW. On 17 June 1874, he died of consumption. While that term was used most frequently to describe tuberculosis, "an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs" (Wikipedia), it's quite possible it may have been lung cancer caused by his exposure to white lead. We do not have a burial location for him, as the city did not start recording burials until about three months after he died.<br />
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Without a husband, Maria had no means to support herself and her three young daughters. A year later, she married a widower who lived down the street, Dirk Bijl (Byle), who had a ten year-old son, and a five-year-old daughter. Sadly, Maria herself died 22 April 1878 of dropsy, an old term for edema, "a condition characterized by an excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body."<br />
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Maria was buried in the Potter's Field of Valley City Cemetery, now a part of Oakhill Cemetery. It's very likely that Pieter had been buried there, too. There are no plot maps for this area, and few tombstones. Across a path from Potter's Field, Maria's brother John Van Klinken is buried in a identified plot. When I planned my trip to Western Michigan for early May 2019, I put Oakhill on my list of places to see. (Update: <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/06/sister-trip-to-michigan-part-iii.html">here</a> is my post about the visit to the cemetery.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potter's Field, Southeast Corner of Oakhill Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan<br />
Taken for me by Chris Korstange, 2007</td></tr>
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Dirk Bijl remarried shortly after. Not wanted in their step-father and step-mother's home, the older girls, Nellie and Mary, worked as maids, living at those homes or in boarding houses. Nellie eventually married Martin Huisman (Houseman) and had six children. Mary married Charles Jerome Cleveland and lived in Muskegon, Michigan. They had one daughter.<br />
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Jennie went to live with her Uncle John and Aunt Dina Van Klinken. She had no more than a third-grade education. For a time, she lived with Mary and Charles in Muskegon. Eventually, she became a laundress, and that is probably how she met my ancestor, Martin Jans Hoekstra, who was a teamster, driving a delivery wagon for the American Steam Laundry Company in Grand Rapids. A laundress' life was hard, hot, dirty, muggy, and dangerous work in commercial laundries. Google has a historic book about what it was like: <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=g55NAAAAYAAJ&lr=">https://books.google.com/books?id=g55NAAAAYAAJ&lr=</a>. She was probably glad to give up the life of a laundress and start her life as a housewife.<br />
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Martin and Jennie married in 1886 and had four children, including my great-grandfather, John Martin Hoekstra. His daughter, my grandmother Ruth, had many fond memories of Jennie, who died when Grandma was 24.<br />
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I have a precious scrap of paper written by Jennie, with a few short memories of her parents scribbled on it: "I, remember when my mother was kind to me, and took the long walk, with her. Sundays after-noon. and her Love. I, remember the walk, my Father and I, took one evening. in Cincinnati Ohio: the Father's day. and mother's days are a blessing. Sunday Feb 14 - 1943."<br />
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I get emotional every time I read Jennie's note. She was not quite 7 when her father died, and almost 11 when her mother died. You can tell by her writing she was not well educated, but I'm so glad she took the time to share the few memories she had of her parents.<br />
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-57806496253025104552019-05-18T18:44:00.000-07:002019-05-18T19:47:05.515-07:00Pieter and Maria: Part II<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(click image to enlarge)<br />
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"Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977," database with images, <i style="font-size: 12.8px;">FamilySearch</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L996-KQJQ?cc=1987615&wc=4627-BFY%3A265564801%2C265694401 : 1 May 2019), Hamilton > Declarations of intention 1860-1873 > image 150 of 306; county courthouses, Ohio.</span></td></tr>
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(Part I can be found <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/pieter-and-maria-part-i.html">here</a>.)<br />
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Life for Pieter and Maria in America as Dutch immigrants was very hard. While they had arrived in New York City, it was not their ultimate destination; rather, it was Cincinnati, Ohio. It's not clear why they and the others from the Netherlands that they traveled with went to Cincinnati, which was not a typical Dutch immigrant settlement location, like Western Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, or Washington State were. However, Cincinnati was a growing city with a growing economy. River commerce was high and spurred many industries, such as steamboat construction. It was well-known for its pork packing center, and many German and Irish immigrated there in the years before the Civil War.<br />
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The Ton family lived in a succession of boarding houses, and Pieter worked as a laborer. They likely worshiped in the homes of their fellow Seceders, for although Christian Reformed Church history states a congregation started in Cincinnati in 1867, no church by that denomination (called Holland Reformed Church in those days) was found in the city directories until long after they had left the city.<br />
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They faced grief many times. In March 1860, Pieter and Maria had a second son, Louis, likely an Anglicization of Leunis, named for Maria's father. He was not listed with the family in the 1870 Federal Census, so he likely died young. Pieter's sister Suzanna (Ton) Pape died 10 October 1860 from "confinement", probably after giving birth to a son Jacob. Her daughter, Neeltje, has not been found in records beyond the ship's passenger list, indicating she also died young.<br />
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Pieter's work as a laborer was probably quite dangerous. One of his employers was Wood & McCoy's Eagle White Lead Works. A history of the company can be found at this link, with information about the various toxic products their employees were exposed to over a century-and-a-half: <a href="http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/eagle-picher-industries-inc-history/">http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/eagle-picher-industries-inc-history/</a>. It is entirely possible that Pieter was familiar with processing white lead, used in those days as paint. There was a well-known method of processing called the "Dutch method" and it could be that Pieter had worked with this process in the Netherlands (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_lead">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_lead</a>). We shall see how working with this product may have affected his quality of life in the next post.<br />
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There were also celebrations. Pieter declared his intention to become a citizen on 22 January 1862 and was naturalized by 1870. By 1867, three daughters were born to him and Maria: Neeltje "Nellie"; Marina "Mary"; and my great-great-grandmother, Adriana, also known as "Jana" (YAH-nuh) or "Jennie". Maria's sister Adriana married Leendert Klinke in 1864, and Maria's daughter Cornelia married Joseph Meyer in 1874.<br />
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(<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/pieter-and-maria-part-iii.html">Part III</a>)<br />
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-50325738872621805532019-05-18T16:56:00.000-07:002019-05-18T19:47:51.572-07:00Pieter and Maria: Part I<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMYq0GyYP86LG7VSXSOnPqSH3kOe6S5EFVOXsC-U2KvhFrsrfUZSFgPFFT6jCLhyphenhyphen9qFg9b1tmCSZJ3LrHrLRJ-RhTJlmGuFBNwybCza5go2dJQ76fAw1b-oZUjACChu9F0nPO5g/s1600/TON+Pieter+Adriaanse+-+1857+12+07+-+Passenger+List+on+E+C+Scranton+-+New+York%252C+New+York.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMYq0GyYP86LG7VSXSOnPqSH3kOe6S5EFVOXsC-U2KvhFrsrfUZSFgPFFT6jCLhyphenhyphen9qFg9b1tmCSZJ3LrHrLRJ-RhTJlmGuFBNwybCza5go2dJQ76fAw1b-oZUjACChu9F0nPO5g/s320/TON+Pieter+Adriaanse+-+1857+12+07+-+Passenger+List+on+E+C+Scranton+-+New+York%252C+New+York.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(click image to enlarge)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Manifest, S. S. <i>E. C. Scranton</i>, 7 December 1857, 6th page (unnumbered; contains passengers numbered 271-324), lines 29-32 (passengers 299-302), Peter Ton household; "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, <i>Ancestry</i> (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 March 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M237, roll 181.</span></span></td></tr>
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On December 7, 1857, my maternal 3rd-great-grandparents, Pieter and Maria Modena (Van Klinken) Ton disembarked from the <i>E.C. Scranton</i> in New York City at the Emigrant Landing Depot at Castle Garden, America's first official immigrant center, 35 years before Ellis Island opened. They had left the port of Rotterdam on October 31, 37 days earlier.
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<br />
With them were Maria's six-year-old daughter, likely from a previous relationship, Cornelia Van Klinken; Maria's almost-26-year-old single sister, Adriana Van Klinken; Pieter's married sister Suzanna Ton, her husband Izak Pape, and their two-year-old daughter Neeltje Pape; and about a dozen other Dutch immigrants heading to Ohio, along with many other European passengers headed to various U.S. destinations.
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The Tons, Van Klinkens, and Papes were Seceders: a religious group who had split from the official state church of the Netherlands, the Dutch Reformed Church, both in the Netherlands and the United States. The Seceders would form what became the Christian Reformed Church. They were not unlike the Separatists, whom we know as the Pilgrims, who separated from the official state church of England, the Anglican Church, in the early 1600s.
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They were also poor laborers from the municipality of Nieuwerkerk (New Church) in the Province of Zeeland (Sea Land); my only non-Frisian immigrant Dutch ancestors. Frisians are an ethnic minority in the northern provinces of the Netherlands and western areas of Germany, who are ethnically and linguistically closer to the English than the Germanic peoples of Western Europe. The Ton, Van Klinken, and Pape families were ethnically Dutch.
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<br />
Pieter and Maria had been married only a year, and had had one son, Adriaan Ton, named for Pieter's father. Adriaan had been conceived before they were married; not unusual in a time and place where the marriage fee to the church was prohibitive for the lower classes. Many couples co-habitated and had several children before they could afford a church wedding. Maria's daughter Cornelia was five years old when her mother married, and there's little evidence that Pieter was actually her biological father. Baby Adriaan died at four months old; three months before his parents and extended family arrived in New York City.
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<br />
For a drawing of a similar ship to the one the Ton and Van Klinken families traveled on, see <a href="http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gerber/genealogy/gerbership.html">http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gerber/genealogy/gerbership.html</a>.<br />
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(<a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2019/05/pieter-and-maria-part-ii.html">Part II</a>)<br />
<br />
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-44781036693168981192018-09-29T20:14:00.000-07:002018-09-29T20:14:08.747-07:00Proving the Generations 4: Robert Louis Robbins<i>In the <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2018/09/proving-generations-my-parents-and-i.html" target="_blank">first post</a> of this series, <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/search/label/Proving%20the%20Generations" target="_blank">Proving the Generations</a>, I wrote how my goal is to use the <a href="https://bcgcertification.org/ethics-standards/" target="_blank">Genealogical Proof Standard</a> to show my ancestry through my great-great-grandparents' generation.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>In this fourth post, I will be proving that my paternal grandfather, Robert Louis Robbins, is the son of William Bryan Robbins, Sr. and Marie Lewis.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA97XadsIDnHrDXQuNvTdrIZkr01SP0LYYDoD6WYrutDBCnj8pKIHlqbYmjItgiwQdjIfBnzHf-475N2P-GS0gKGK741mXqJ2afuNp3004Pfg-ojxPo79jwtgfgVAulSojdPHuUw/s1600/018_-_Marie__Wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA97XadsIDnHrDXQuNvTdrIZkr01SP0LYYDoD6WYrutDBCnj8pKIHlqbYmjItgiwQdjIfBnzHf-475N2P-GS0gKGK741mXqJ2afuNp3004Pfg-ojxPo79jwtgfgVAulSojdPHuUw/s1600/018_-_Marie__Wm.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandfather, Robert Louis Robbins (holding the kitten), with his parents, Marie (Lewis) and William Bryan Robbins, Sr, and his younger brother, William Bryan Robbins, Jr.<br />
Taken c. 1924-5, probably in Muskegon Heights, Muskgeon Co., Michigan.<br />Digital copy held by Miriam J. Robbins, Spokane, Washington, 2018.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
I was personally acquainted with my grandfather, as well as my great-grandmother (I met my great-grandfather at least once, maybe twice, but I was so young I don't remember him). My grandfather told me that he was born on 21 September 1920 in Muskegon Heights, Muskegon Co., Michigan. However, none of us are expert witnesses of our own births, since although we <i>were </i>there, none of us can remember the event!<br />
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Besides my own memories of my grandfather and his mother, my dad, aunts, uncle, and a great-aunt all have shared their memories of my grandfather and his parents. Additionally, I have original and digital copies of many photographs of my grandfather with his parents. Most importantly, my grandfather's birth to his parents has the following documentation:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>A Certificate as to Birth issued by the County of Muskegon on 3 July 1942*, certifying "upon a careful examination of the original records on file in the office of the Clerk of said County and Court" a record as to the birth of Robert Louis Robbins, born 21 September 1920 in Muskegon Heights, whose parents' names were Wm. S. <i>[sic]</i> Robbins and Marie Lewis (maiden), the latter of Muskegon Heights. It also states the original record was recorded with the county on 1 November 1920 in Liber 10, page 40.[1] I have a copy of the index page of the liber, microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, which corroborates that his birth was recorded in Liber 10, page 40.[2] You can view the Certificate as to Birth in <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2014/06/signature-sunday-robert-lewis-or-louis.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. The liber record is not yet available to the public, and will not be until 2020 or later.[3]</li>
<li>A birth announcement published in the local paper, <i>The Muskegon Chronicle</i>, on 2 October 1920, stating: "ROBBINS--To Mr. and Mrs. William B. Robbins, 1134 Hoyt street, September 21, a son, Robert Louis."[4]</li>
<li>My grandfather appears with his parents, three younger siblings, and a paternal uncle during the enumeration of the 1930 U.S. Federal Census. They were living on East Broadway in an unnumbered house (but not a farm) in Norton Township, Muskegon County, Michigan and were enumerated for the official census day of 1 April on 6 May 1930.[5]</li>
<li>My grandfather appears with his parents and four younger siblings during the enumeration of the 1940 U.S. Federal Census. They were living on a farm in Wright Township, Ottawa County, Michigan and were enumerated for the official census day of 1 April on 11 April 1940. Unfortunately, the enumerator did not mark who provided the information at each household that day, as required.[6]</li>
</ol>
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*At the time of all four of my grandparents' births, the law regarding birth registrations that was in place in the state of Michigan was Public Act 330 of 1905, which required the attending physician or midwife to file a certificate of birth with the local registrar within 10 days of the birth.[7] Now filing a certificate of birth and issuing a copy to the family are two different things. It's apparent that my grandfather did not have a copy of his birth certificate until he was almost 22 years old. The date of 3 July 1942 coincides with his registering for the draft for World War II, for which he would ask a deferment due to his daughter's (my aunt's) impending birth in August[8], after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 13 October 1942.[9]<br />
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Additionally, DNA tests results from FamilyTreeDNA for my father and me show matches consistent with the degrees of relationship to a Robbins cousin who is a descendant of my great-grandfather's youngest brother, Don. Also, my test results from AncestryDNA show a match consistent with the degree of relationship to another descendant of Don Robbins, as well as to a Lewis cousin who is a descendant of my great-grandmother's younger brother, Percy.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpnlWKie-NsJktko0BW5YF9Giqd86Kv3WAUpRNZPrRriBiPZZkO7IpWt-MwxI3axAdjlsI5FuV2bBOOEspJPAtDY7uLeJBRy1HfZ2Km0cjPZvJ7pRpYizTJpP0IwAH4KhD8BjVA/s1600/1940+10+12+-+Robert+Robbins%252C+Jeanne+Holst+Robbins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="1020" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpnlWKie-NsJktko0BW5YF9Giqd86Kv3WAUpRNZPrRriBiPZZkO7IpWt-MwxI3axAdjlsI5FuV2bBOOEspJPAtDY7uLeJBRy1HfZ2Km0cjPZvJ7pRpYizTJpP0IwAH4KhD8BjVA/s640/1940+10+12+-+Robert+Robbins%252C+Jeanne+Holst+Robbins.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandparents, Robert Louis Robbins and Jeanne Marie Holst, on their wedding day,<br />12 October 1940, Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Michigan.<br />Original photo held by Miriam J. Robbins, Spokane, Washington, 2018.</td></tr>
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Finally, I am providing some information on my grandparents' marriage, even though I am not using it to prove my grandfather's parentage. My grandparents' Marriage License/Certificate of Marriage[10] states my grandparents obtained their license and married on the same day, 12 October 1940. The license would have been obtained at the Ottawa County Courthouse in Grand Haven. They married in Coopersville in the Methodist parsonage[11], and my grandfather's best friend, Ray Adams, and the minister's wife were the witnesses. I know that my grandmother's best friend, Geneva Parrish, stood with her[12], but like my grandmother, was underage, so she would not have been able to sign the Certificate of Marriage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eX3GLUEJkYRWQaP4W3VWofNKLnFm3CphzRA-JlCIft4fWR2AFasANv4hWtK2-U4dxdmjxJMJ2lxqDJBvePpjxRqHtqNgx85J6qftYQ8EldNyvuyU3cEQs3JUo5Oo99l50DZ5hQ/s1600/ROBBINS+Robert+Louis+-+1940+10+12+-+Marriage+License+%2526+Certificate+of+Marriage+-+Michigan%252C+Muskegon+Co+-+obverse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1244" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eX3GLUEJkYRWQaP4W3VWofNKLnFm3CphzRA-JlCIft4fWR2AFasANv4hWtK2-U4dxdmjxJMJ2lxqDJBvePpjxRqHtqNgx85J6qftYQ8EldNyvuyU3cEQs3JUo5Oo99l50DZ5hQ/s640/ROBBINS+Robert+Louis+-+1940+10+12+-+Marriage+License+%2526+Certificate+of+Marriage+-+Michigan%252C+Muskegon+Co+-+obverse.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage of Robert Louis Robbins and Jeanne Marie Holst.<br />See footnote 10.</td></tr>
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<b>Conclusion:</b></div>
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Family stories and photographs, documents created at or near the time of birth or referencing an original record created shortly after birth, and DNA test results all provide conclusive evidence that my paternal grandfather, Robert Louis Robbins, was born 21 September 1920 in Muskegon Heights, Muskegon County, Michigan to William Bryan Robbins, Sr. and Marie Lewis.</div>
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<b>Sources:</b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>Muskegon County, Michigan, Certificate as to Birth, citing county birth liber 10, page 40 (1920), Robert Louis Robbins; Muskegon County Clerk's Office, Muskegon; original document held by Miriam Robbins [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Spokane, Washington, 2018.</li>
<li>Muskegon County, Michigan, Index to births L-Z, 1867-1949 continued: 1920, Robbins, Robert L.; FHL microfilm 1,320,091, item 1.</li>
<li>Carol McGinnis, <i>Michigan Genealogy: Sources & Resources, Second Edition</i> (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005), 50.</li>
<li>"Heights Births," birth announcement, <i>Muskegon (Michigan) Chronicle</i>, 2 October 1920, p. 14, col. 3.</li>
<li>1930 U.S. Federal Census, Muskegon County, Michigan, population schedule, Norton Township, enumeration district 42, p. 21A, dwelling 416, family 442, William Robbins household; digital image, <i>Ancestry.com</i> (<a href="http://www.ancestry.com/">http://www.ancestry.com</a> : accessed 26 November 2008); citing FHL microfilm 2,340,750.</li>
<li>1940 U.S. Federal Census, Ottawa County, Michigan, population schedule, Wright Township, enumeration district (ED) 70-45, p. 5B, dwelling 97, household of William Robbins; digital images, <i>Ancestry.com</i> (<a href="http://www.ancestry.com/">http://www.ancestry.com</a> : accessed 6 March 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 1809. </li>
<li>McGinnis, <i>Michigan Genealogy</i>, 49.</li>
<li>Bryan H. Robbins, interview by Miriam Robbins, undated (between 1996-2018). Bryan stated that his father had received a deferment to enlist until after his daughter was born; at which time, he persuaded his brother, William Bryan Robbins, Jr., to go to Kalmazoo to enlist with him.</li>
<li>Access to Archival Databases, "World War II Army Enlistment Records," database, <i>U.S. National Archives & Records Administration</i> (<a href="http://aad.archives.gov/">http://aad.archives.gov</a> : accessed 22 Apr 2005).</li>
<li> Ottawa County, Michigan, Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage, no. 527, Robbins-Holst, 1940; duplicate document held by Miriam Robbins [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Spokane, Washington, 2018.</li>
<li>Robert Louis Robbins, interview by Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff, 1989. Bob stated that he and Jeanne were married at the Methodist parsonage.</li>
<li>Bryan H. Robbins, interview by Miriam (Robbins) Midkiff, 1990. Bryan stated that at Bob and Jeanne's 50th anniversary celebration which he attended, Ray Adams and Geneva Parrish, who were introduced as the best man and maid of honor, were also present.</li>
</ol>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-70703478530649161272018-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:002018-10-15T22:58:48.264-07:00Proving the Generations 3: My Mom<i>In the <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2018/09/proving-generations-my-parents-and-i.html" target="_blank">first post</a> of this series, <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/search/label/Proving%20the%20Generations" target="_blank">Proving the Generations</a>, I wrote how my goal is to use the <a href="https://bcgcertification.org/ethics-standards/" target="_blank">Genealogical Proof Standard</a> to show my ancestry through my great-great-grandparents' generation.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In this third post, I will be proving that my mother, Faith Lillian Valk, is the daughter of William Valk, Jr. and Ruth Lillian Hoekstra. Because my mother is living, I will not be providing as many details or citations in this post as I will in the posts where all the ancestors are deceased.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bk_lSvv44wK-i0H8o8zZdVvxbJt4Q5s1J8NHX-k3HRdfRvRglSDdaN3zYMHKhyphenhyphenZ7TXbBVtqB-xT-iT85CS-aOUcOscd7VLTtpJ6cZs9A15MuOB8qL-MzgeKowxDhlYAXqiPaPg/s1600/1947-8c+-+VALK+Faith+Lillian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bk_lSvv44wK-i0H8o8zZdVvxbJt4Q5s1J8NHX-k3HRdfRvRglSDdaN3zYMHKhyphenhyphenZ7TXbBVtqB-xT-iT85CS-aOUcOscd7VLTtpJ6cZs9A15MuOB8qL-MzgeKowxDhlYAXqiPaPg/s400/1947-8c+-+VALK+Faith+Lillian.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mother, around 3 1/2 years of age.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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My mother was born in Michigan during World War II. Her father was serving in the U.S. Army, and so was not present at the time of her birth. My grandmother told me her memories of my mother's birth, and I have numerous photos of my mother with her mother from infancy through adulthood. Because my grandparents divorced when my mother was 22 months old, I have not seen photographs of my mother in infancy or young childhood with her father. However, I have in my possession professional photographs taken of my mother in infancy and early childhood with "To Daddy, from Faith" captioned on the back, which I received from my grandfather's widow and son after his death.<br />
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The following documents were created at or near the time of my mother's birth:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>A Certificate of Birth issued by the Michigan Department of Health, Bureau of Records and Statistics, stating my mother's full name, date of birth, place of birth (hospital and city). It lists her parents as "William Jr. Valk" and Ruth Lillian Hoekstra, their ages, and their birthplaces.</li>
<li>A Notification of Birth Registration issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, stating my mother's full name, date and place of birth, and listing her parents as "William Jr. Valk" and Ruth Lillian Hoekstra.</li>
<li>My maternal great-grandmother, Lillian Fern (Strong) Hoekstra, mentioned my mother's birth and her parents' names in two places in her Family Record book. This information would have been written between the time of my mother's birth and 10 September 1967, when my great-grandmother passed away. Although this information may not have been written close to the time of the event, it <i>was</i> written by her maternal grandmother who lived in the same city and would have had personal knowledge about the birth of my mother, her first grandchild.</li>
</ol>
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Additionally, my mother's DNA matches her parents' biological relatives on both sides of the family. Her paternal cousin shares 758 centimorgans (cM) of DNA, which is consistent with a first cousin relationship. She also shares DNA with numerous 2nd - 3rd cousins on both her father's and mother's sides, consistent with the estimated relationship ranges.<br />
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Finally, I am providing some information on my parents' marriage, even though it is not used to prove parentage. My parents' Marriage License/Certificate of Marriage document states my parents' full names, age at the date of the license (issued four days before their wedding), residences, full birth places, and names of their parents: Robert Lewis <i>[sic] </i>Robbins, Jeanne Marie Holst, William Valk Jr., and Ruth Lillian Hoekstra. The license half is signed by the deputy county clerk. The certificate half is signed by the officiating minister, best man, and matron of honor, and gives the date and location of their marriage. I have in my possession professional and informal photographs of the event, an invitation to the wedding from their scrapbook, and copies of articles from the local newspaper regarding their engagement and their wedding.<br />
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<div>
My mother is the daughter of William Valk, Jr. and Ruth Lillian Hoekstra.</div>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-15351439363951580542018-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:002018-10-15T23:01:36.338-07:00Proving the Generations 2: My Dad<i>In the <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2018/09/proving-generations-my-parents-and-i.html" target="_blank">first post</a> of this series, <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/search/label/Proving%20the%20Generations" target="_blank">Proving the Generations</a>, I wrote how my goal is to use the <a href="https://bcgcertification.org/ethics-standards/" target="_blank">Genealogical Proof Standard</a> to show my ancestry through my great-great-grandparents' generation.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In this second post, I will be proving that my father, Bryan Henry Robbins, is the son of Robert Louis Robbins and Jeanne Marie Holst (born Jane Marie York). To begin, I must clarify that my paternal grandfather's middle name was often spelled Lewis, for his mother's maiden surname, and it is likely that his middle name was <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2014/06/signature-sunday-robert-lewis-or-louis.html" target="_blank">misspelled on his birth certificate</a>. I must also clarify that my paternal grandmother was an adoptee, born Jane Marie York, whose name was legally changed at adoption to Jeanne Marie Holst when she was 16, although she had been using the latter name as a foster child since she was three years old. More details on my grandmother's birth and adoption will be provided in the fifth post of this series.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAGBtwx199aE9Sw9AZoG4-rIppRUwlEZyu-XEpRPXaAnL3VwPxus7utCMWBt5ajF_lWnnRSfXXVOy4TdTOqLJASxHGa0gqKmzYea4mC80QjbuJOa_I3Es8fuoK9SUX9N1bCx_RQ/s1600/1949+00+00+-+Bryan+Robbins.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="504" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyAGBtwx199aE9Sw9AZoG4-rIppRUwlEZyu-XEpRPXaAnL3VwPxus7utCMWBt5ajF_lWnnRSfXXVOy4TdTOqLJASxHGa0gqKmzYea4mC80QjbuJOa_I3Es8fuoK9SUX9N1bCx_RQ/s640/1949+00+00+-+Bryan+Robbins.jpeg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dad at five years old.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Because my father is living, I will not be providing as many details or citations in this post as I will in the posts where all the ancestors are deceased. My father was born in Canada during World War II to American parents. My grandfather was stationed at a U.S. Army Air Corps base in the Province of Alberta, and my grandmother and my aunt, not quite two years old, were living on base with him. My grandmother had followed my grandfather quite literally around the continent to the various bases he was assigned at. These are the stories told to me by my grandparents and aunt (who has a few early memories of these times), and they are backed up by a photo album my paternal great-grandmother put together as a birthday gift for her son, my grandfather. Additionally, I have a photo of my expectant grandmother walking down the street of the city where my father was born, holding my toddler aunt's hand; this photo was taken by a street photographer, a common occurence during World War II. I also have numerous photos of my father with his parents, from infancy to adulthood.<br />
<br />
My father was named for his grandfathers, William <i>Bryan</i> Robbins, Sr. and Alfred <i>Henry</i> Holst (my grandmother's adoptive father), showing indirectly that he is related to his parents, and thus grandparents.<br />
<br />
There were several documents created at or near the time of my father's birth which state his birth date and location of birth:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>His Certificate of Birth issued by the Province of Canada, stating his birth date, city of birth, his parents' names (Robert Louis Robbins and Jeanne Marie Holst) and their respective birth places (Muskegon Heights, Michigan, U.S.A. and Goodrich, Michigan, U.S.A.).</li>
<li>A baby announcement in his baby book stating his birth day of the week, birth date (month and day, but interestingly, not the year), time of birth, "U.S. Station Hospital" and the city, province, and country, and signed by the attending doctor and nurse. It appears this baby announcement may have been provided by the hospital where he was born.</li>
<li>Within a few weeks of my father's birth, my grandfather submitted a Report of Change of Status and Address to the War Department. This report gives my father's birth date and birth location, my grandfather's full name, Army serial number, grade, and military mailing address, and allowed for an upgrade in my grandfather's family allowance from the military.</li>
<li>Although it was created when he was 16 years old and not at or near the time and place of birth, my dad's Certificate of Citizenship from the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service gives his date and country of birth, and his current residence, which was known to be the same residence as my grandparents. Citizenship is issued in the United States by the federal government only after careful examination of documents and the participating parties.</li>
<li>While the Certificate of Citizenship does not list my father's parents' names, the Summons for Interview for Certificate of Citizenship, dated a couple of weeks previous to the certificate date and mailed to the residence where my father and grandparents lived, stated my father had to appear at the Office of the County Clerk with both parents. Since my grandparents had to attend the interview, it stands to reason that the information on the certificate would be accurate.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Additionally, my father's DNA matches his parents' biological relatives on both his father's and mother's sides of the family. His aunt shares 1,842 centimorgans (cM) of DNA with my father, which is consistent with an aunt/nephew relationship. Dad also shares 325 and 255 cM with a paternal second cousin and maternal second cousin, respectively, which is consistent with a 1st-3rd cousin relationship.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, I am providing some information on my parents' marriage, even though it is not used to prove parentage. My parents' Marriage License/Certificate of Marriage document states my parents' full names, age at the date of the license (issued four days before their wedding), residences, full birth places, and names of their parents: Robert Lewis <i>[sic] </i>Robbins, Jeanne Marie Holst, William Valk Jr., and Ruth Lillian Hoekstra. The license half is signed by the deputy county clerk. The certificate half is signed by the officiating minister, best man, and matron of honor, and gives the date and location of their marriage. I have in my possession professional and informal photographs of the event, an invitation to the wedding from their scrapbook, and copies of articles from the local newspaper regarding their engagement and their wedding.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My father is the son of Robert Louis Robbins (a.k.a. Robert Lewis Robbins) and Jeanne Marie Holst, (a.k.a. Jane Marie York).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-23748576875056314072018-09-02T22:07:00.002-07:002018-10-15T22:59:26.058-07:00Proving the Generations: My Parents and IFor some time now, I've been following the <a href="https://www.dutchgenealogy.nl/tag/eleanor-of-aquitaine/" target="_blank">genealogy blog</a> of a Dutch Facebook friend and accredited genealogist, Yvette Hoitink, who is using the <a href="https://bcgcertification.org/ethics-standards/" target="_blank">Genealogical Proof Standard</a> to attempt to prove that she is descended from Eleanor of Aquitaine, her supposed 26th-great-grandmother.<br />
<br />
As I've been reading these fascinating posts which Yvette publishes once a month, going back one generation at a time, I've been thinking, "<i>I</i> should be doing something like this to show that I've accurately traced back my ancestry!" My goal at this time is to work all my lines through my great-great-grandparents' generation, which will be a total of 31 posts.<br />
<br />
So this is my first post in this series, which proves that I am my parents' biological child. Because my parents are both living, I'm not going to provide the full details that I would in a post where all ancestors are deceased.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN9fVj4szPXTmICN2k2biH-AuDniD8weQ5pzmTG1BwbA2PLum0Lkm6b_kuTx7G2uaIi56cwIEHOjASFhTv_9TQ-uT497bxi1rLS-fJigRbynvAPLHkUibR4T38zKTFytzFWDJTA/s1600/1967+03+26+-+ROBBINS+Miriam+Joy+-+Alaska%252C+Kodiak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN9fVj4szPXTmICN2k2biH-AuDniD8weQ5pzmTG1BwbA2PLum0Lkm6b_kuTx7G2uaIi56cwIEHOjASFhTv_9TQ-uT497bxi1rLS-fJigRbynvAPLHkUibR4T38zKTFytzFWDJTA/s400/1967+03+26+-+ROBBINS+Miriam+Joy+-+Alaska%252C+Kodiak.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo taken of me at one week old, held by my mother.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I have five documents that were created or published at or close to the time of my birth which list my parents as Bryan Robbins and Faith (Valk) Robbins and give my birth place and birth date. These documents include:<br />
<ol>
<li>My official birth certificate from the State of Alaska, with the signatures of my mother and the attending physician. This certificate also gives the age of my parents at the time of my birth, and their general birth locations.</li>
<li>The Certificate of Birth from the hospital in which I was born, signed by the attending physician. It also has my footprints and my mother's thumbprints, and gives my parents' birth dates and specific birth locations (cities of birth).</li>
<li>The certificate from my parents' church enrolling me in the Cradle Roll of the church, at the time of my Dedication to God at one week old (a religious event similar to christenings in other churches).</li>
<li>A birth announcement published in the local newspaper of my mother's hometown of Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.</li>
<li>Birth announcements handmade by my mother and mailed out to family and friends, one of which is in my baby book.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In addition, there are a couple of photos of my expectant mother taken during the time she would have been pregnant with me; many photographs taken of me at a very early age with my parents (I was the first child and first grandchild!); many cards of congratulations about my birth kept in scrapbooks and my baby book by my mother; a letter my dad wrote to his parents shortly after my birth; stories my mother told me about the day I was born; and my own earliest memories of my parents dating back to when I was 18 months old (yes...I remember seeing the local school on fire and hearing the town siren!) and 27 months old (accompanying my father to the local airstrip to pick up a wreath of flowers someone had shipped to be placed on the grave of my infant brother).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3RsAkavThC1bjTH6SlaDyiun4jNd3TRPwlrC3jb3Uu1Ff2SZcSq6eUDKfcr0ky4TzsXwCT4QBJ7nOxWPqLqnv_J6jgo1h-Tj4onxSM-lJVfH95AfIcAVlRmNfdNlXoN-5u0m-A/s1600/1967+04+00+-+ROBBINS+Bryan%252C+Faith%252C+%2526+Miriam+-+Alaska%252C+Kodiak+-+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="712" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3RsAkavThC1bjTH6SlaDyiun4jNd3TRPwlrC3jb3Uu1Ff2SZcSq6eUDKfcr0ky4TzsXwCT4QBJ7nOxWPqLqnv_J6jgo1h-Tj4onxSM-lJVfH95AfIcAVlRmNfdNlXoN-5u0m-A/s400/1967+04+00+-+ROBBINS+Bryan%252C+Faith%252C+%2526+Miriam+-+Alaska%252C+Kodiak+-+crop.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My parents and me, when I was about three weeks old. I believe my maternal grandmother took this photo, as she had come to Alaska from Michigan to help my mother care for me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
However, documents, photographs, and memories do not provide 100% proof of biological parentage. After all, there are many stories of secret adoptions, babies being switched at birth, and other examples of Misattributed Parental Events (MPEs) that one occasionally reads about. While I truly had no doubts about my parentage, I did want to have my parents test their DNA for genealogical purposes, especially since my paternal grandmother was an adoptee. My parents agreed to test through FamilyTreeDNA, and the results show my parents and I each share 3,384 centimorgans--or 50%--of our DNA, which is consistent with the amount of DNA shared in a parent/child relationship.<br />
<br />
So there you have it: I am my parents' biological daughter! </div>
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-71554369684692520532018-07-28T14:13:00.002-07:002018-07-28T14:25:56.815-07:00Richard V. Robbins of Pennylvania and Michigan: Is He Related to One of My Robbins Ancestors?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwzbplP_pLmjaP00a_taUB5P-27Q_yF43cmF_E5cQ9YZCSlpamFfjEfNmC90Wa8S6f0tHST5jsB5mXeZqEwSwL3xq9iyiONAg9xrlSbVcKs6DYdIglahVMUx-kZs2zSgXSUNeUg/s1600/ROBBINS+Richard+V+-+1921+05+20+-+Death+Certificate+-+Michigan%252C+Kent%252C+Grand+Rapids+Twp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="1458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwzbplP_pLmjaP00a_taUB5P-27Q_yF43cmF_E5cQ9YZCSlpamFfjEfNmC90Wa8S6f0tHST5jsB5mXeZqEwSwL3xq9iyiONAg9xrlSbVcKs6DYdIglahVMUx-kZs2zSgXSUNeUg/s400/ROBBINS+Richard+V+-+1921+05+20+-+Death+Certificate+-+Michigan%252C+Kent%252C+Grand+Rapids+Twp.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michigan Department of Community Health, “Death
Records, 1921-1947,” database with images, <i>Seeking
Michigan</i> (<a href="http://cdm16317.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p16317coll1">http://cdm16317.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p16317coll1</a>),
entry for Richard V. Robbins, 20 May 1921, certificate no. 41 355.<br />(click on image to enlarge)<o:p></o:p></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
One year ago today, I made a discovery on one of my Robbins lines (I have two). I have known from one of my cousins that there was a land transaction between Richard Robbins and my 4th-great-grandmother, Marinda (Robbins) Robbins in Oceana County, Michigan in the 1880s. I have been trying to figure out if Richard was a relative of Marinda, or of her husband/my 4th-great-grandfather Joseph Josiah Robbins.<br />
<br />
As I've mentioned often, my 4th-great-grandparents both had the last name Robbins. They married each other. They don't seem to be related, or if so, not closely. Joseph was born in Otsego County, New York and his father's name was George. Marinda was born probably in Broome County, New York or Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania (they border each other), and her father was Uzza Robbins.
<br />
<br />
So one year ago, I took another look at Richard's death certificate. He was young enough to be Marinda's son, so it was doubtful he was her brother (we haven't identified all her siblings). Perhaps he was a nephew? I saw his parents were Stephen Robbins and Sarah Wright, and he was born in Pennsylvania.
<br />
<br />
Looking through old notes and family tree info that was exchanged between myself and other Robbins genealogists, I saw that Stephen Van Rennselaer Robbins married Sarah Wright, and was a son of George Washington Robbins and Abigail Hicks, the couple I am 99% sure are also the parents of Joseph. Although most of George and Abigail's children moved directly from the Town of Westford, Otsego County to the Town of Carroll, Chautauqua County, New York, Stephen followed the same migration trail as my Joseph: living first in Elkland Township, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, then Liberty Township, McKean County, Pennsylvania, and then probably on to Oceana County, Michigan (I say "probably" because I don't know if Stephen did for sure...but his son Richard definitely did!).
<br />
<br />
Stephen also joined the same unit that Joseph did during the Civil War: the 58th Pennsylvania Infantry. In their forties, they both would have been considered "old men" at that time.<br />
<br />
Joseph and Marinda's son Charles, my 3rd-great-grandfather, once declared in an newspaper interview before he died in 1934, that the family moved from Pennsylvania to Hesperia, Oceana County, Michigan near "where his aunt was living near Martin's lake in Newaygo county." I have long been trying to identify this aunt. Was she Sarah (Wright) Robbins?
<br />
<br />
Also, Stephen's brother, George Robbins, Jr., bought land in Oceana County, and lived in Newaygo County, Michigan (the counties border each other, with the village of Hesperia lying on that border).
<br />
<br />
It looks likely that Richard V. Robbins was Joseph's nephew, not Marinda's.
<br />
<br />
The indirect evidence is mounting that Joseph Josiah Robbins was the son of George Washington Robbins and Abigail Hicks. I haven't found the direct piece of evidence; I may never find it. But the puzzle pieces are fitting together better than ever. It's time to find a direct male descendant of George and Abigail and (Y-DNA) test him against my dad!
<br />
<br />
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">
</span>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-75410193605132042832018-07-25T22:06:00.000-07:002018-07-25T22:15:05.869-07:00Seven Generations <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVunHpm3XXZ4GAdl0OfFhdwlpxmwTM0AEVvk0VovyxEV_gMt46CXJqoA5aW7QeaPkeapSZ37aiqqCBcGLgvDS6Ez1EZrNPuDjkoakhzPivKIhVX_FHeWZTPLJG4Kjtnxi5XuaVrA/s1600/20180704_140949+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1399" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVunHpm3XXZ4GAdl0OfFhdwlpxmwTM0AEVvk0VovyxEV_gMt46CXJqoA5aW7QeaPkeapSZ37aiqqCBcGLgvDS6Ez1EZrNPuDjkoakhzPivKIhVX_FHeWZTPLJG4Kjtnxi5XuaVrA/s400/20180704_140949+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Theo lovingly pets the polar bear that belonged to his<br />
Great-great-great-grandfather, William Bryan Robbins, Sr.<br />
4 July 2018<br />
Taken at the home of his Great-grandfather Robbins in <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stevens Co., Washington.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Earlier this month, I spent time with extended family and friends at my parents' place for their annual Fourth of July barbecue. My 20-month-old grandson, Theo, attended with his parents, my daughter and son-in-law. It was Theo's second Fourth of July at his Great-grandpa and Great-grandma Robbins' property high in the Selkirk Mountains, and this time he was big enough to run around.<br />
<br />
And run around, he did.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They say it takes a village to raise a child. It took almost that many to keep an eye on a busy toddler that loves to explore: his parents, his three cousins, and me.<br />
<br />
Occasionally, he would come across something that would capture his attention, and he would hold still for a few minutes. One of those items was the polar bear statue of my great-grandfather, William Bryan Robbins, Sr.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have written about Bryan's service with the American North Russian Expeditionary Forces in a series on this blog, and it is the statue I reference in the <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2007/07/polar-bear-in-north-russia.html" target="_blank">first post</a> in that series. When my dad was a boy, he and his father came across this statue at a nursery. Grandpa decided it would make the perfect gift for Great-grandpa, as a way to honor his military service.<br />
<br />
When Great-grandpa died, the statue became Grandpa's. And after Grandpa died, my aunt brought it out West from Michigan to deliver it to Dad on one of her visits. Now it sits on the covered front porch of my parents' log home, up in the pine forests of Eastern Washington....</div>
<br />
...where Theo discovered it.<br />
<br />
I wish I could have captured the look on Theo's face when he spotted Great-grandpa's polar bear. His eyebrows rose, his mouth opened wide (so that his binky fell out!), and then he ran to squat and pet the bear.<br />
<br />
In that moment, I felt the pages of history turn. I had met my great-grandfather a couple of times when I was very little (too young to remember, unfortunately). And here was my grandson, admiring and loving something that had belonged to an ancestor five generations before him, a man his Mimi (grandma) had met. A man his Mimi will tell stories about to him, when he is old enough to understand, just as my father and grandfather told me stories about <i>their </i>grandparents and great-grandparents....<br />
<br />
...the stories that motivated me to begin genealogical research; the stories that motivated me to write down my ancestor stories, or AnceStories.<br />
<br />
When my great-grandfather died in 1972, he had known seven generations of Robbins in his lifetime, from his great-grandparents, to his grandparents, parents, siblings and cousins, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It was a span of knowing people who had lived over the course of 152 years, from 1820 to 1972!<br />
<br />
My grandfather also had known seven generations of Robbins in his lifetime when he passed in 2003; people who had lived over a course of 159 years, from 1844 to 2003! My dad, at nearly three-quarters of a century old, has known seven generations of Robbins, too; even though his great-grandfather Robbins died before he was born, he knew his great-grandmother.<br />
<br />
I have known six generations of Robbins. And if I'm lucky, someday, I'll be a great-grandmother, and know Theo's children. Who knows how many generations Theo will know in his lifetime?<br />
<br />
In Pacific Northwest Native cultures, there is an inter-tribal value of "Seven Generations," in which the impact of decisions on the next seven generations is considered. As genealogists, have we considered how we are passing on the stories, photos, heirlooms, traditions, and culture that we have learned and inherited from the ancestors within memory to our descendants?<br />
<br />
How many generations have you known?
Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-32661743779760173382018-03-16T14:47:00.002-07:002018-03-16T14:47:26.690-07:00Her Name Was...Anna?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsJG8XzsFvs9MU7kWieLWbmZli7nD8XaaawiEWV2i61YYrgaKW92brou-zRpi3cFtZn8_Djs3CAcRLL7yAn7FDhaNoPzFA3g7BYOPfkVywdGMAfr-DDv4FzxblN8y3eutJjL-XQ/s1600/1905c+-+Nellie+Concidine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsJG8XzsFvs9MU7kWieLWbmZli7nD8XaaawiEWV2i61YYrgaKW92brou-zRpi3cFtZn8_Djs3CAcRLL7yAn7FDhaNoPzFA3g7BYOPfkVywdGMAfr-DDv4FzxblN8y3eutJjL-XQ/s320/1905c+-+Nellie+Concidine.jpg" width="263" /></a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
Nellie May Concidine, c. 1905.</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
Unknown location, probably Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
Original privately held by Miriam Robbins,</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
[ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Spokane, Washington, 2018.</div>
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Last night, I was lost in thought, looking toward my dining room wall, which I call my "Ancestor Wall," since so many of my ancestors' portraits grace it. My eyes fell on the portrait of my adoptive great-grandmother, Nellie May (Concidine) Holst (1883 - 1953). Nellie...hmmm. Was her first name really Nellie, or was it Eleanor? Maybe I needed to double-check her birth record to see how her name was originally recorded. Then I realized that I wasn't sure I had her birth record.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BXn4DoAB0si6NXnLun6x-jNqUljyoipew8cBkB89scginHUR5jSTushad6cQY3F1KiqS8SrZnh29quQjPRy7kJ3lU3sHUgTnO56EZwfUEDIMsb3_ASzNR6X-iPEW92UODoIpxA/s1600/1905+abt+-+CONCIDINE+Nellie+May+%2526+HOLST+Alfred+Henry+-+Michigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BXn4DoAB0si6NXnLun6x-jNqUljyoipew8cBkB89scginHUR5jSTushad6cQY3F1KiqS8SrZnh29quQjPRy7kJ3lU3sHUgTnO56EZwfUEDIMsb3_ASzNR6X-iPEW92UODoIpxA/s320/1905+abt+-+CONCIDINE+Nellie+May+%2526+HOLST+Alfred+Henry+-+Michigan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nellie May (Concidine) and Alfred Henry Holst, c. 1905.<br />
Unknown location, probably Grand Rapids, Kent Co., Michigan.<br />
Original photo privately held by Miriam Robbins,<br />
[ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Spokane, Washington, 2018.<br />
(click on photo to enlarge)</td></tr>
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A little background: Nellie was born in Byron Township, Kent County, Michigan. She was the second child and first daughter of half-Irish, half-Scots John Dennis Concidine (1854 - 1925) and Anna "Annie" Matilda Higby (1861 - 1903), a woman whose roots go back into colonial New England. After teaching for a few years, Nellie married a German-Swedish immigrant, Alfred Henry Holst (1882 - 1952) in 1905. They had a set of twins, Earl and May, who died in infancy in 1909. Then they had my grand-aunt, Lucille, in 1918. Hoping to enlarge their little family, they fostered and later adopted my paternal grandmother, born Jane Marie York, whom they named Jeanne Marie Holst.<br />
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I looked in my family tree software, <a href="http://www.rootsmagic.com/" target="_blank">RootsMagic</a>, and the only sources I had for Nellie's birth were family records, census records, and her death certificate. I looked in my electronic files and did not see a birth record for her. So off I went to <a href="http://www.familysearch.org/" target="_blank">FamilySearch</a> to look in their <a href="https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1459684" target="_blank">Michigan Births, 1867-1902</a> collection.<br />
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It took some creative searching to locate Nellie's birth record. A search for "Concidine" with the Exact Search box <i>unchecked</i> (because Considine and Constantine are common alternate spellings) yielded results for Nellie's siblings, Ethel, Loid (Lloyd), and Manly (Manley), along with 151 other results, but no Nellie. After several unsuccessful other searches, I finally settled on leaving the name field blank and searched the birth location Byron (exact) and the birth years 1883 - 1883 (my family records stated Nellie was born 23 December 1883 in Byron Township). This yielded a list of all babies born in Byron Township in 1883, a total of 31. And one of them was an "Anna Corcadine" born 16 December 1883 to John and Anna:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0TFSG64i3yqZX_bhdfUIFO7_ngyMCGUd13W2VsxR5SBuKgxkux_QJQDmbdWNL_ZpfSFN6BvQW9YoMg2FE73OXJ8qB-hqPhHubiwEMdSTBjzHpvtzF5LKv4Didv8qp7GV9_8BXg/s1600/CONCIDINE+Anna+-+1883+12+16+-+Birth+Record+-+Michigan%252C+Kent%252C+Byron+Twp+-+detail1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="97" data-original-width="1600" height="20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0TFSG64i3yqZX_bhdfUIFO7_ngyMCGUd13W2VsxR5SBuKgxkux_QJQDmbdWNL_ZpfSFN6BvQW9YoMg2FE73OXJ8qB-hqPhHubiwEMdSTBjzHpvtzF5LKv4Didv8qp7GV9_8BXg/s400/CONCIDINE+Anna+-+1883+12+16+-+Birth+Record+-+Michigan%252C+Kent%252C+Byron+Twp+-+detail1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzrpk6rkqIDSgUY0e2-R8os-uCYvAyAkfXwbDpt2SRtWzz7xXDzHzMt-fh3ntv8evlQBSNEsHnOkOdK3bYMcVdS51nYb5r0jm9QcOaQe2EPbIbAcpIYDVz8QO0XuSeMT9-DWjNg/s1600/CONCIDINE+Anna+-+1883+12+16+-+Birth+Record+-+Michigan%252C+Kent%252C+Byron+Twp+-+detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="102" data-original-width="1600" height="25" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzrpk6rkqIDSgUY0e2-R8os-uCYvAyAkfXwbDpt2SRtWzz7xXDzHzMt-fh3ntv8evlQBSNEsHnOkOdK3bYMcVdS51nYb5r0jm9QcOaQe2EPbIbAcpIYDVz8QO0XuSeMT9-DWjNg/s400/CONCIDINE+Anna+-+1883+12+16+-+Birth+Record+-+Michigan%252C+Kent%252C+Byron+Twp+-+detail2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Michigan Births, 1867-1902," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQCN-TZQ : 10 March 2018), Anna Corcadine, 16 Dec 1883; citing item 2 p 344 rn 1287, Byron, Kent, Michigan, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 2,320,696.<br />
(click on each image above to enlarge detailed area)</td></tr>
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<br />Her name was...<i>Anna?</i> What in the world?</div>
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You need to understand how birth records in Michigan were created, prior to birth certificates being issued in 1905. The town supervisor or a city clerk would canvas his area once a year, going door-to-door to record all the births and deaths that had occurred in that township or ward the previous year. Remind you of anything? Yes, the <i>census</i>. Vital records, births and deaths, were recorded <i>census-style</i> in Michigan, from 1867 to 1895 (death records) and 1905 (birth records). After 1895/1905, death/birth certificates were issued.</div>
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So all the issues we have with people going missing or having incorrect information recorded on censuses applies to birth and death records in Michigan from 1867 to 1895/1905. To add to the rates of error, we're not exactly sure what happened to these original recordings. The information was copied into the county birth and death libers, many of which have been microfilmed by the Family History Library. Then the information was further copied and sent off to the secretary of state, and recorded in the state birth and death libers, also microfilmed by the Family History Library and now digitized and available online as the <a href="https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1459684" target="_blank">Michigan Births, 1867-1902</a> collection. I have not been able to find what the town supervisors or city clerks did with those original records they made when going door-to-door. They do not seem to be in existence.</div>
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So the record viewed above is actually the <i>third</i> recording of the information of Nellie's birth, copied from the county record, copied from the door-to-door record, which was recorded in May 1884, five months after Nellie's birth. We also do not know who gave out this information to the recorder: her mother...her father...a relative living in the home...or a neighbor?</div>
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I am now more stumped than ever. Was Nellie originally named Anna (after her mother), but then the family decided to call her Nellie? Was Anna a recording error made by the town supervisor, or did it get mis-copied from the original (for instance, did one of the recorders glance at the mother's name and write it as the child's name)? Also, our family records state Nellie was born on 23 December 1883, but this record says 16 December. Sometimes, finally being able to access the record generates more questions than provides answers! In these cases, careful comparison and analysis between multiple records that contain similar information must be made, and a reasonable conclusion must be drawn, understanding that more than one reasonable conclusion can be made.</div>
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What I am sure of is that Nellie was born to John and Anna (Higby) Concidine in Byron Township in December 1883. I will look for other sources to which to compare the birth record and come up with the best reasonable conclusion about her name and her birth date.</div>
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-13064699594617460152018-01-07T23:14:00.002-08:002018-01-07T23:14:54.466-08:00Book Review: The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, 4th Edition<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23dOpPPshyx3F9Du_MvMf42zm9RrkvrDou7Vrx92z3iuz0WdP4DdBWmuoa-08vllyCRbW195s6DXwdRURuzJtPCDsMHr4A9tQhBUcozHZx4O7gyb-bXwEpQzQonYE3bKLMl08Ag/s1600/2364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23dOpPPshyx3F9Du_MvMf42zm9RrkvrDou7Vrx92z3iuz0WdP4DdBWmuoa-08vllyCRbW195s6DXwdRURuzJtPCDsMHr4A9tQhBUcozHZx4O7gyb-bXwEpQzQonYE3bKLMl08Ag/s320/2364.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Recently, I was given an opportunity to review the latest (fourth) edition of the classic <i>The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy</i> by Val D. Greenwood, published by the Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore, Maryland in 2017. I had been hearing exclamations of <span style="background-color: white;">elation</span> about the newest edition being published from various professional genealogists with whom I am friends on Facebook, so I jumped at the chance to review it. Also, who doesn't like free genealogy books?<br />
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Ironically, when I first heard that this book had been updated, I didn't consider purchasing it. I have at least four comprehensive genealogy guide books in my home library, so why did I need another one? I've been doing this thing called genealogy for 30 years now, have taken a professional course, and taught classes. Was there anything this book could tell me that I really didn't already know...anything of enough <i>additional</i> value that it would warrant a purchase of a generalized topic such as "American genealogy"?<br />
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As usual, when I received the new book in the mail, I took a look at its format and contents. This is a one-and-a-half-inch-thick, six-inch-wide by nine-inch-tall 778-page paperback book. Besides the Table of Contents, it contains a list of the illustrations and charts, along with a preface by the author , with a detailed 39-page index at the back. The book is divided into two parts; below are the chapters within each part:<br />
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Part 1: Background to Research<br />
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1. Understanding Genealogical Research<br />
2. Language, Terminology and Important Issues<br />
3. Surveying, Analyzing, and Planning<br />
4. Evidence<br />
5. Libraries and the National Archives (NARA)<br />
6. Reference Works<br />
7. Organizing and Evaluating Your Research Findings<br />
8. Successful Correspondence<br />
9. Computer Technology and Family History<br />
10. Family History on the Internet<br />
11. Family History: Going Beyond Genealogy<br />
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Part 2: Records and Their Use<br />
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12. Compiled Sources and Newspapers<br />
13. Vital Records<br />
14. Census Returns<br />
15. Using Census Records in Your Research<br />
16. Understanding Probate Records and Legal Terminology<br />
17. What About Wills?<br />
18. The Intestate, Miscellaneous Probate Records, and Guardianships<br />
19. Government Land: Colonial and American<br />
20. Local Land Records<br />
21. Abstracting Probate and Land Records<br />
22. Court Records and Family History<br />
23. Property Rights of Woman as a Consideration<br />
24. Church Records and Family History<br />
25. Immigrant Ancestor Origins<br />
26. Military Records: Colonial Wars and the American Revolution<br />
27. Military Records: After the Revolution<br />
28. Cemetery and Burial Records<br />
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As you can see, this is quite an exhaustive lineup of background resources and records. Much of the first seven chapters reminded me of what I learned in my <a href="https://ancestories1.blogspot.com/search?q=progen" target="_blank">ProGen class</a>. For instance, Chapter 3 specifies excellent strategies of "pre-search": determining what research needs to be done and how to approach it. The following chapter on "Evidence" explains proof and evidence, details the Genealogical Proof Standard, types of evidence, and types of sources. Chapter 7 offers different methods of note taking and the recording of research results, as well as how to analyze the information found therein. For these reasons, I have to say this content makes an excellent reference for both the beginning and intermediate genealogist, to provide and maintain the fundamental steps of good research.<br />
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One chapter I felt could have been stronger was the one titled "Computer Technology and Family History." For one, the title is redundant and should have "computer" removed. For another, DNA is discussed in this chapter, which seems completely out of place (the following chapter, "Family History on the Internet" is a better fit). Also, there is a list of computer-related terms and their definitions that are not put in context with genealogy, and thus appear unnecessary. An example is the term "https" found at the beginning of many web addresses. While the term is defined to explain that websites with this in their address are secure, giving the reason as to why that would be important to a genealogist is lacking; i.e., making an online purchase of genealogy materials, subscribing to a major genealogy website, or accessing DNA results online. Finally, no modern book on genealogy with a chapter on technology should ignore mentioning the importance, availability, and substantial number of genealogy apps on smartphones and other devices.<br />
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In Part 2, I was particularly impressed with the content of Chapters 16 through 23, encompassing probate, land, and court records. This meaty section is full of legal definitions, the processes involved in probate and purchasing and selling land, resources spelled out by state, tables of figures, and sample documents. In these eight chapters, my question about whether a purchase of yet another genealogy guidebook would be warranted was satisfactorily answered!<br />
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Finally, throughout the book, as I've browsed and skimmed, delved and devoured, I have discovered little gems; things that were new to me, a seasoned researcher. These include descriptions of various library classifications systems, notes about Virginia's independent cities, and a link to the Family History Guide (<a href="http://www.thefhguide.com/">http://www.thefhguide.com</a>). </div>
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My takeaway is that this book does belong in your home genealogy library. It also requires some in-depth study. DearMYRTLE will be offering a six-month online book study and discussion on Google Hangouts beginning February 28th (you can register <a href="https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_m-BvT1rGQGWI6RMyC2YRKw" target="_blank">here</a>).<br />
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<i>The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy, 4th Edition</i>, by Val D. Greenwood, is available at the <a href="http://www.genealogical.com/products/The%20Researchers%20Guide%20to%20American%20Genealogy/2364.html?ref=1765&affiliate_banner_id=3" target="_blank">Genealogical Publishing Company</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0806320664/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0806320664&linkCode=as2&tag=ancthestoofmy-20&linkId=4404f43290c9514e753a3318ce8462a7" target="_blank">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=ancthestoofmy-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0806320664" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for $49.95.<br />
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<i>Disclosure: I received a free book from the Genealogical Publishing Company (GPC) for review. As a GPC Associate and an Amazon Associate, I receive a small percentage of the purchase price when readers purchase a title through the GPC or Amazon links above.</i><br />
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-90963341643851038032017-07-03T14:08:00.001-07:002017-07-03T14:08:52.029-07:00Was My Ancestor a Deserter?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On a weekend when we're celebrating the birth of our country and honoring ancestors who served in the American Revolution, it seems ironic to be writing about an ancestor who may have deserted. Recently prompted by some DNA matches that appear to connect to my elusive PECK line, however, I have determined that I need to share a records discovery that may pertain to my brick wall ancestor, Nelson H. PECK.</div>
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Very, very little is known about my 4th-great-grandfather. To begin with, I have no primary source material, so I am relying on secondary or tertiary source material, at best. Here's a timeline I have put together for him:</div>
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<li><b>About 1819: born in New York, Pennsylvania, or England.</b> His birth date comes from a newspaper extract about his death, filed with the Potter County (Pennsylvania) Historical Society, which states he was about 30 years old on 15 April 1849. His possible birth locations come from his daughter's census record information: 1875 Minnesota State Census (Pennsylvania); 1880 Federal Census (New York); 1884 Michigan State Census (England); 1900 Federal Census (England); 1910 Federal Census (England). The thing is, we have no idea who supplied this information to the enumerators. Was it his daughter Viola, or her husband, Charles Robbins? They were not witnesses to his birth, obviously; so how did they know this information? Did Viola learn it from her mother? Again, Viola's mother would only have had second-hand knowledge, even if she knew her husband's family well.</li>
<li><b>About 1847: married Lura Ann Jackson, probably in Coudersport, Potter County, Pennsylvania. </b>This is based on the date of their daughter's birth; obviously, they could have married earlier...or even later, if Lura was "in the family way" when they got married. I have listed Coudersport as the probable marriage location, since it was typical in those days for a woman to be married at or near her family home. I do know from the Jackson family genealogy, census records, and the county history that her family lived in Coudersport at the time. There is also a possibility they married somewhere else. Regardless, neither Potter County, nor the state of Pennsylvania, nor the bordering counties and state of New York kept vital records at that time.</li>
<li><b>1848: resident taxpayer and carpenter/joiner in Coudersport. </b>Both the <i>History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania....</i>which was compiled by Michael A. Leeson and published in 1890 by J.H. Beers & Co. of Chicago, and <i>Early History of Coudersport; Pioneer Families of Coudersport</i>, published in July 1949 by the Potter County Historical Society in Coudersport, Pennsylvania mention Nelson briefly on pages 11 and 1057, respectively.</li>
<li><b>14 April 1848: daughter Viola Gertrude Peck is born in Coudersport.</b> Her 18 February 1918 Oceana County, Michigan death certificate provides her date and specific place of birth, which aligns with all the state and census information during her lifetime.</li>
<li><b>15 April 1849: died.</b> This date comes from a newspaper extract about his death, filed with the Potter County (Pennsylvania) Historical Society, the entirety which reads: "Nelson H. Peck of Coudersport, died Apr. 15, 1849, age abt. 30 years. He was a carpenter." There is no reference to the title, date, or page of the newspaper. Note this date was a day after his daughter's first birthday.</li>
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As you can see, only the years 1848 and 1849 provide definitive events in the life of Nelson. Over the years, I've looked closely at the other PECK families in the area, but have been unable to come to a conclusion about whether they are related, especially since they were adults born after Nelson's death and came to Potter County later in their lives.<br />
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Recently, Ancestry.com provided me with some hints about a Nelson Peck who could possibly be my ancestor. He served in the War with Mexico, and was listed as a deserter. Below, I have created a timeline of this man:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>31 May 1847: enlisted at Galena.</b> From <i>Ancestry.com</i>, "U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914"; 1847 Jan - 1849 Jun, Mexican War enlistments: Nelson Peck; age 25 [b.c. 1822]; blue eyes, light hair, fair complexion, 5 feet 5 inches tall; born in Hume, New York [in Allegany County, which borders Potter County, Pennsylvania on the north]; laborer; enlisted 31 May 1847 at Galena by Lt.[?] Hall; 1st Infantry [U.S. Regular Army], Company A; deserted 29 November 1847. No other information is given, including under the "apprehended" column. Galena is not identified further. Was this Galena, Illinois? Or was it the village of Galena, which is in Chenango County, New York?</li>
<li><b>14 September 1847: Transfer to Fort Leavenworth from Jefferson Barracks, Missouri.</b> From <i>Ancestry.com,</i> "U.S., Returns from Military Posts, 1806-1916"; Missouri Jefferson Barracks, 1840 Jan - 1851 Dec.</li>
<li><b>22 September 1847: Arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Missouri</b> [as it was known then]. From <i>Ancestry.com</i>, "U.S. Returns from Regular Army Infantry Regiments, 1821-1916"; 1st Infantry 1844-1848.</li>
<li><b>29 November 1847: deserted from Fort Leavenworth, Missouri. </b>From <i>Ancestry.com</i>, "U.S. Returns from Regular Army Infantry Regiments, 1821-1916"; 1st Infantry 1844-1848.</li>
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Assuming my ancestor Viola was a full-term baby, conception for her 14 April 1848 birth would have had to occur around July 8, 1847. If Nelson-my-ancestor and Nelson-the-deserter were the same person, how much time would it have taken for him to travel from Coudersport, Pennsylvania to Jefferson, Missouri? Was it possible for him to leave Coudersport in early July 1847 and arrive at Jefferson Barracks before he then transferred to Fort Leavenworth on September 14? Train travel in 1847 was very limited; between east coast cities, mainly. "Swift" travel in those days meant river travel, and a likely route would have involved the Ohio River to the Mississippi River and then to the Missouri River.</div>
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I've tried to find Nelson-the-deserter in records after 1847, such as the 1850 and later Federal censuses. I haven't been able to come to come to any strong conclusions that he is or is not any of the men I find. I realize his birth year given at the time of his enlistment doesn't quite match the birth year given for Nelson-my-ancestor; but then again, my ancestor's birth year is also an estimate.</div>
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I've also looked for every Nelson Peck in the 1840 Federal Census, and have come up with exactly six. One of them--and the most likely, given the distance to Potter County--was living in the Town of New Berlin, Chenango County, New York, which borders the Town of North Norwich, where the village of Galena is located. There are three people in the household: a man age 20 to 29 [b.c. 1811-1820], a woman age 20 to 29 [b.c. 1811-1820], and a female child under the age of 5 [b.c. 1835-1840]. This man could be Nelson-my-ancestor with a first wife and child, rather than my ancestors Lura Ann Jackson (b. 1826) and Viola Gertrude Peck (b. 1848). It could also be Nelson-the-deserter. Finally, it could be both Nelson-my-ancestor <i>and</i> Nelson-the-deserter. There are no adult Nelson Pecks in Chenanco County or adjacent counties in 1850.</div>
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It would be easy to dismiss Nelson-the-deserter as not being Nelson-my-ancestor, except for one detail: <b>family lore has a story about a Mexican War serviceman who "took off."</b> In the early 1930s, Nelson's son-in-law, my 3rd-great-grandfather, Charles H. Robbins, was interviewed about his life, and specifically his Civil War years. Charles talked a little about his father, Joseph Josiah Robbins, who also served in the Civil War. One of the things the article stated was that Joseph had also served in the Mexican War:</div>
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His father, Joseph Josiah Robbins, was a veteran of the Mexican war in which he had been an artilleryman. He came home in 1849 after having started to California during the big gold rush but decided to come back to his family.</blockquote>
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The thing is, I have never been able to find evidence that Joseph enlisted during the Mexican War. I can't find Mexican War-era service records for him or locate him in lists of Mexican War veterans in New York or Pennsylvania. He did draw a pension for disability from his Civil War service. His pension application and related records never mention service from an earlier time prior to the Civil War.<br />
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The interview of Charles is full of inaccuracies, probably due to the ramblings of an old man with dementia. In every case where the information is inaccurate, there's been evidence that it was touching on an actual event, and a plausible explanation of the inaccuracy can be given. The part of the Mexican War service has been the only exception. Or has it?<br />
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Could Charles have been confused and been talking about his father-in-law, rather than his father? Could the "going off to the Gold Rush" have been a "cover" for Nelson's desertion? It could not have been an actual cause, as Nelson deserted on 29 November 1847 and the Gold Rush at Sutter's Mill started in early January 1849.<br />
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There's a lot more research and analysis that need to go into both Nelson-my-ancestor and Nelson-the-deserter before I can come to a reasonable conclusion about either one of them, much less determine if they were one and the same. But I wanted to publish my theory and get it out to the public so that I can reference it while working on Nelson-my-ancestor and my PECK DNA results.<br />
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Are you a PECK descendant? Were your ancestors from Upstate New York or Western Pennsylvania, particularly the Twin Tier Counties? If so, please contact me at kidmiff@gmail.com.</div>
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-81814902112922530852017-06-04T13:53:00.001-07:002017-06-04T13:53:49.016-07:00New Facebook Group: Historical City Directories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOrcAXv29-mpp22qOv6bDHLBFp3UVn8aHN13TdTRFxaJMrzxyEEcY36jckGapDu-1FzGhyphenhyphenoU3zvYF9SHGouaVRUDSBm871ZsFHrYWs_yBB6f0V-AAlTBka7TmHmurP3PAhyaG7g/s1600/histdirgroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1080" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOrcAXv29-mpp22qOv6bDHLBFp3UVn8aHN13TdTRFxaJMrzxyEEcY36jckGapDu-1FzGhyphenhyphenoU3zvYF9SHGouaVRUDSBm871ZsFHrYWs_yBB6f0V-AAlTBka7TmHmurP3PAhyaG7g/s400/histdirgroup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've just created a new Facebook group, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HistoricalCityDirectories/" target="_blank">Historical City Directories</a>, for those genealogists and historians who are interested in learning about and sharing resources for historical city (and other types of) directories. It is a closed group, and I encourage you to join. You must have a Facebook account, of course, and you will be asked a question before being admitted to the group. This will help cut down on spammers.</div>
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The reason for the creation of the group is to give more interaction for those following my <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/" target="_blank">Online Historical Directories site</a> than <a href="http://onlinedirectorysite.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">its companion blog</a> allows. It's a great way to learn about and share resources, both <b>off line</b> and online. <br /><br />I look forward to "meeting" you over there!<br />
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a>
<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-21483082213985987772017-05-27T12:46:00.004-07:002017-05-27T12:46:41.698-07:00Anthony Fredenburg: Civil War Veteran?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAZKzUS1m8D152RAoZ_wd6P96_ePuKk70lxL1FnxPVg8LBK9V6PN6igcFk4X7UfavSYHnzYdDpFumEElVIVcJWDbQ34DUSjlHUcNjC_YJgldI_VhBolGftXmSEqAxVpFA4PnRrg/s1600/1861c+-+Anthony+FREDENBURG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAZKzUS1m8D152RAoZ_wd6P96_ePuKk70lxL1FnxPVg8LBK9V6PN6igcFk4X7UfavSYHnzYdDpFumEElVIVcJWDbQ34DUSjlHUcNjC_YJgldI_VhBolGftXmSEqAxVpFA4PnRrg/s320/1861c+-+Anthony+FREDENBURG.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony Fredenburg, my 4th-great-grandfather</td></tr>
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This Memorial Day weekend, I want to focus on a man that I recently learned was likely my <b>ninth</b> Civil War soldier ancestor. Each one of my direct ancestors who fought in the Civil War is on my dad's side, as my mother's ancestors were either too young or too old to serve in that conflict.</div>
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In February 2014, I visited Salt Lake City, Utah for my very first genealogical research trip there. It was part research trip, part conference, as I was attending RootsTech, an annual event focusing on information technology as it relates to genealogy.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb382B00SzJFhkg6F4JXdwB8mttiIT-eMOMIL9OEOHEHaE8uAAE2Eohs2Uu10QqtqtTT3-S9Kkd_YLbBIAxpqMEJ4fBvZMMU0ipjyaDwVbmj2aERapG2BI-I1whLjYOWkJPfbF_Q/s1600/Sylvester+Fredenburg%252C+c.+1861+-+1864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1146" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb382B00SzJFhkg6F4JXdwB8mttiIT-eMOMIL9OEOHEHaE8uAAE2Eohs2Uu10QqtqtTT3-S9Kkd_YLbBIAxpqMEJ4fBvZMMU0ipjyaDwVbmj2aERapG2BI-I1whLjYOWkJPfbF_Q/s320/Sylvester+Fredenburg%252C+c.+1861+-+1864.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sylvester Fredenburg, my 3rd-great-grandfather</td></tr>
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I had several ancestors whom I had "targeted" to be the focus of my research while in Salt Lake City, and one of them was my paternal 3rd-great-grandfather, <a href="http://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2008/04/civil-war-soldier-pvt-sylvester.html" target="_blank">Sylvester Fredenburg</a>. He did several "tours of duty" during the Civil War, enlisting first in 1861 in Company A, 50th New York Engineers; then in both the spring and fall of 1862 in Company I, 33rd New York Infantry; and finally re-enlisting in the 50th New York Engineers in 1864, this time in Company L. In 1998, I ordered his pension file from the National Archives, which gave me the above enlistment information, as well as his death information: 20 March 1879 in Riley Township, St. Clair County, Michigan. A now-obsolete website on the 33rd New York Volunteers provided me with a burial location in Romeo, Macomb County, Michigan. I contacted the webmaster to determine the source of this information, but never heard back. I also have had several volunteers try to track down exactly which Romeo cemetery Sylvester is buried in, without success. Although he has a memorial page listed on Find A Grave, I have yet to see any record or other documentation that actually lists his grave as being in that particular cemetery.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9cwptwEUB4e-jo3NIu5OQTkkqKg8nPIZEk2u_4eJbflJLqqPwtZSP5_pdkFdMUNVHJq5g9rDhdaxP4jrbhKd7Cxbnk6R9p_lsywwG_eTJ3dGoKMDBXucHufaT9N5RhJUGYln6w/s1600/FREDENBURG+Anthony+-+1891+06+17+-+Burial+Record+Abstract+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer%252C+Mt+Hope+Cemetery+-+Title+Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9cwptwEUB4e-jo3NIu5OQTkkqKg8nPIZEk2u_4eJbflJLqqPwtZSP5_pdkFdMUNVHJq5g9rDhdaxP4jrbhKd7Cxbnk6R9p_lsywwG_eTJ3dGoKMDBXucHufaT9N5RhJUGYln6w/s320/FREDENBURG+Anthony+-+1891+06+17+-+Burial+Record+Abstract+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer%252C+Mt+Hope+Cemetery+-+Title+Page.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Before leaving on my trip to Salt Lake City, I searched the Family History Library catalog for books and films that might provide answers to where Sylvester was buried. One of them was <i>Indigent Soldiers Burial Records, Volume I and II, Abstracted from the Original Books in the Lapeer County Clerk's Office, Lapeer, Michigan</i>.</div>
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As I paged through the book, my eye caught the name "Fredenburg." But it wasn't Sylvester listed on the page. It was Anthony, his father!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1aOqon3z5scUfquU21s2oP8uzUR2eA9b04mL-CFDT0tmk56cir_7d2vU1yRlPzJfL9wsCWDQOEUzmJjXDEh7DyexZyGpgoSG32n9WZsDhCjZMs6wM8Q4Q24QW0ms-ifxX4R9KA/s1600/FREDENBURG+Anthony+1891+06+17+-+Burial+Record+Abstract+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer%252C+Mt+Hope+Cemetery+-+Abstract+-+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="992" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1aOqon3z5scUfquU21s2oP8uzUR2eA9b04mL-CFDT0tmk56cir_7d2vU1yRlPzJfL9wsCWDQOEUzmJjXDEh7DyexZyGpgoSG32n9WZsDhCjZMs6wM8Q4Q24QW0ms-ifxX4R9KA/s320/FREDENBURG+Anthony+1891+06+17+-+Burial+Record+Abstract+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer%252C+Mt+Hope+Cemetery+-+Abstract+-+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anthony FREDENBURG</div>
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Private, Co. L?, Heavy Artillery Regiment, New York; also enlisted in -----(?) -----(?) New York Volunteers</div>
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Died: 15 June 1891 in the 1st district, Lapeer city</div>
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Buried: 17 June 1892 in Mt. Hope cemetery</div>
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Expenses: casket - $30.00, undertakers attendance - $2.00, hearse & ice - $5.00, sexton's charges - $3.00</div>
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Occupation: laborer; No property real or personal; Had been for sometime previous to his death partially supported from the county poor fund</div>
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Record dated at Mayfield, 13 June 1891 <i>[sic - probably <b>23</b> June 1891, given the death and burial dates]</i></div>
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Signed: Oscar A. WILLIAMS</div>
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While I never did find Sylvester's burial information in this book, I did gain a new Civil War soldier ancestor! When I returned home, I looked through my notes and records of Anthony. This had been staring me in the face for years, and I never recognized it. Long before the 1890 Census of Civil War Veterans or Widows was available online, I had copied a page from a book with a printed index that listed:<br />
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Fredenburg, Anthony, Mi, Lapeer<i> [County]</i>, Lapeer</div>
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Of course, at that time, I had no easy way of determining if this was my ancestor. Now that I had more information, I looked him up on Ancestry:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXwbHyWEDvVqcRSWB4xDWPFoL2TWAiWdthPyRy-tNfcVSaMK5YFu7N6XbSXsDV1dhhQ-O1Q_i_KAzXk7BkTJtlyosGyM2XQWGA5JhhqCyjwHdf1_O1eHkOGGJWaBL_OYxyycC4A/s1600/FREDENBURG+Anthony+-+1890+-+Veterans+Schedule+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXwbHyWEDvVqcRSWB4xDWPFoL2TWAiWdthPyRy-tNfcVSaMK5YFu7N6XbSXsDV1dhhQ-O1Q_i_KAzXk7BkTJtlyosGyM2XQWGA5JhhqCyjwHdf1_O1eHkOGGJWaBL_OYxyycC4A/s320/FREDENBURG+Anthony+-+1890+-+Veterans+Schedule+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1890 Veterans Census<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjBZWEZ7JUkuw1xBiZabhyQecqOSpnsHhU89U-OUDp1SBv4l6rlZHx_hirI367R_646ZbJoqKbrNHl8mvZrqRdm8n0z7uEAguJbwm05OGTBXz4gEAGv_ogtdv2-m6NNnmICe1wg/s1600/FREDENBURG+Anthony+-+1890+-+Veterans+Schedule+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer+-+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="144" data-original-width="1406" height="40" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjBZWEZ7JUkuw1xBiZabhyQecqOSpnsHhU89U-OUDp1SBv4l6rlZHx_hirI367R_646ZbJoqKbrNHl8mvZrqRdm8n0z7uEAguJbwm05OGTBXz4gEAGv_ogtdv2-m6NNnmICe1wg/s400/FREDENBURG+Anthony+-+1890+-+Veterans+Schedule+-+Michigan%252C+Lapeer%252C+Lapeer+-+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail from above page<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, the regimental information given about Anthony does not coincide with that found in the <i>Indigent Soldiers Burial Records</i>. I believe this may be an error made by the enumerator; if you look at the entry directly below Anthony's, for Robert White, it is nearly identical to Anthony's. There is no information given for Post-Office Address, Disability Incurred, and Remarks, for any entry after line 34. This suggests that entries 35 through 37, including Anthony's, may have been written in later, and could explain why his regimental information is basically a duplicate of Robert White's.</div>
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I have done multiple searches in Ancestry's military databases with a variety of spellings of Fredenburg(h) and Vredenburgh (the original name), and cannot find Anthony listed anywhere. I did find an Andrew Fredenburg serving in <b>Company L, 2nd Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery</b>, but other searches lead me to believe this was a young man, born 1844 in Broome, Schoharie County, New York, who originally enlisted in Eldrige in 1863 in the 9th New York Artillery. I have also looked through lists of pension records, but it seems that Anthony did not apply for a pension. His wife, Hannah (Fox) Fredenburg, died nine months before he did, so there is no widow's pension application. This makes sense, given that Anthony was living off the county poor fund in the months before he died (why weren't his eight or nine surviving children supporting him? Hmmm....).</div>
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So, what we have is a bit of a mystery: did Anthony actually serve in the Civil War? I believe he did. Besides the two documents above, this family photo is telling:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0twQLQhu3ULDJJbReYVRvhyyZ3G2kPFMs97aC28RsZFq0VFvk5fnadHPZ_smPn8GKVdoRzndudR0dA0eyegrmyZ7q6n8bfqEvL3QhpD6wMU30-F_gOZF1jPdknL05HViSZoWv_A/s1600/Fredenburg+Family%252C+c.+1861+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="528" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0twQLQhu3ULDJJbReYVRvhyyZ3G2kPFMs97aC28RsZFq0VFvk5fnadHPZ_smPn8GKVdoRzndudR0dA0eyegrmyZ7q6n8bfqEvL3QhpD6wMU30-F_gOZF1jPdknL05HViSZoWv_A/s320/Fredenburg+Family%252C+c.+1861+resize.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the Fredenburg family, c. 1861<br />(click to enlarge)</td></tr>
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On the left are Anthony and his wife, Hannah. On the right is my ancestor, Anthony and Hannah's second son, Sylvester, with probably his first wife, Mary Jane [--?--] behind him. In the middle is Abram, Anthony and Hannah's oldest son, with his wife, Myra (Chidsery) Fredenburg behind him.</div>
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This photo is significant, because it appears to show the Civil War soldiers in the family, although Anthony is not in uniform, as Abram and Sylvester are. If Anthony did enlist, it was likely after 1861, when Abram and Sylvester enlisted in the 50th Engineers.<br />
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Meanwhile, I'll keep digging until I can find out for certain when and in what company Anthony enlisted.</div>
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<a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="https://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a>Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-43401620208035399852017-01-01T02:00:00.000-08:002017-01-01T02:00:27.677-08:00With Best New Year Wishes<div style="text-align: center;">
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Postcard to Miss Rena Lerfald in Glendive, Dawson Co., Montana from Sophia <i>[unknown - possibly Lerfald] </i>in unknown location. No postmark or stamp. Circa 1914-1915. Westaby-Lerfald Postcard Collection. Digital image privately held by Miriam Robbins, <i>[ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] </i>Spokane, Washington. 2016.</div>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-83764835359124384672016-11-30T18:45:00.002-08:002016-11-30T18:45:39.469-08:00The Marriage Record of Albert Francis CHAPLIN, Sr. and Emma Alice LYTONRecently, I discovered that Ancestry had added the <a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3287703-10470501?url=http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8823" target="_blank">Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880 - 1937</a><img border="0" height="1" src="https://www.awltovhc.com/image-3287703-10470501" width="1" /> database to its collections. While I don't have Iowa ancestors, my children do on their paternal grandmother's side. I was hoping to confirm marriage information for their great-great-grandparents, Albert Francis CHAPLIN, Sr. and Emma Alice LYTON. A family history written by an aunt of their grandmother lists Iowa as their marriage place [1], but no date is given. Their eldest child was born in 1892 in Surprise, Butler Co., Nebraska, but the next two children were both born in Fremont Co., Iowa [2], as was Emma [3], so I figured that was the likely location of their marriage.<br />
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A year and a half ago, my children's aunt received the Chaplin Family Bible [4] from a relative, which gave Albert and Emma's marriage date, but not the location:<br />
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I was able to locate the marriage record on Ancestry [5] with no difficulty:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIgRuBXTeA69Yn6zvQuJWRCWHz7DIyhpqDRVZkJlG64krSJD2p_tojHfJM4MUK7D8vJ2h-z9BiIh8gUl1p-hpdXftNwPI4ue2_85JtLLtufPti61HpTJ0ncK-XAr8Zxni44JWew/s1600/CHAPLIN+Albert+Francis+I+-+1891+03+18+-+Marriage+Record+-+Iowa%252C+Fremont%252C+Percival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIgRuBXTeA69Yn6zvQuJWRCWHz7DIyhpqDRVZkJlG64krSJD2p_tojHfJM4MUK7D8vJ2h-z9BiIh8gUl1p-hpdXftNwPI4ue2_85JtLLtufPti61HpTJ0ncK-XAr8Zxni44JWew/s400/CHAPLIN+Albert+Francis+I+-+1891+03+18+-+Marriage+Record+-+Iowa%252C+Fremont%252C+Percival.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The record is written across the top two lines of the register. I've enlarged and cropped the image to facilitate reading it on this blog. You can click on any of the images in this blog to view an enlargement; then use your "Back" button to return to this post.</div>
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As you can see, both Albert and Emma were living in Percival, Fremont Co., Iowa and that is where they were married on 18 March 1891 (confirming the Bible entry) by the Justice of the Peace, D. Lumm. It is interesting to me that no witness names were recorded on this register page for any of the marriages recorded here. That's too bad; I would have liked to have known who the witnesses for their marriage were.</div>
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From other research I've done, I know that their parents' names were not quite recorded in full or with accuracy here. Albert's parents were Gideon CHAPLIN and Susan W. HAINLINE. Emma's parents were Henry LYTON and Maria(h) Emily DAILEY. Henry's name was an alias. He was born George TURK in Ottawa, Ontario and came to the U.S. to serve in the Union Army during the Civil War. He changed his name at that time, although it is not clear exactly why.<br />
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Sources:<br />
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1. Southard, Velma Chaplin, <i>The History of the Chaplin Family as of December 1970</i>, p. 4.<br />
2. <i>Ibid., </i>p. 2.<br />
3. <i>Ibid</i>., p. 4.<br />
4. Albert and Emma (Lyton) Chaplin Family Bible, 1867-1922; <i>The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments</i> (undated, no publication information); privately owned by Mary Duncan [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], Washington State, 2015. Dates from 1867 to 1919 appear to have been written in the same hand and at the same time. One marriage entry, dated 15 February 1922, appears to be written in the same hand, but at a later time than the other entries.<br />
5. Fremont County, Iowa, Return of Marriages, 1880-1922, vol. 36, p. 483, Albert Chaplin-Emma Lyton, 18 March 1891; digital images, <i>Ancestry.com</i>, “Iowa, Marriage Records, 1880-1937” (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8823 : accessed 24 November 2016).<br />
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<i>Disclosure: I am an affiliate for Ancestry.com, and as such, receive compensation for products advertised on and linked from this blog.</i></div>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-32469145461660575792016-11-21T02:00:00.000-08:002016-11-21T02:00:18.972-08:00Mug Book Monday: Frank L. BISSELL (1828 - 1902)<i>"Mug books" are collections of biographical sketches usually found within county histories of the late nineteenth- and early twentieth-centuries, particularly in the United States. On Mondays, I'm highlighting ancestors or relatives who were featured in these mug books.
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<i><br /></i>This biographical sketch is actually about the son-in-law of a couple of my ancestors, my adoptive 4th-great-grandparents, Dennis CONCIDINE, Jr. and his wife, Honora "Nora" GILLIGAN. I include it here, because in several sentences mentioning his wife's family, it mentions this couple, as well as a third ancestor, Dennis' father, Dennis CONCIDINE, Sr. It's another good example of expanding your search beyond your direct ancestors, and looking at siblings, cousins, and in-laws.<br />
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The Concidine name has a variant spelling of Constantine in this biography; understandable considering Concidine and Considine (another variant) both mean Constantine.<br />
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"Frank J. Bissell was born at Montvale, Conn., October 4, 1828, a son of Abel and Mary (Vallett) Bissell, of Hebron and Montville, Conn., respectively. Abel Bissell, born in 1785, was a clothier by trade. In early life he run <i>[sic]</i> a carding and woolen factory. In 1848 he came to Bergen being 18 days coming by canal from New York. He reared children as follows: John, Calvin, Jeremiah, Frank, Lucy A, Phebe, and Rachel. He died August 30, 1861, aged 75 years. His wife was born April 1, 1786, and died January 14, 1879, and was a daughter of Jeremiah Vallett, a farmer of Connecticut, whose children were John, William, Jeremiah, Mary, and Nancy. Frank J. Bissell was reared in Connecticut, worked in a carding-mill and a tannery, and after coming to Genesee County became a farmer. He came to Le Roy in April, 1863, locating where he now resides, and where he owns a fine farm. He married, April 18, 1854, Mary Ann Constantine, a native of Java, Wyoming County, and a daughter of Dennis and Honora (Gilligan) Constantine, who were born in Ennis and Durah, County Clare, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1811, with two sons and a daughter, locating first in Rochester, and finally in Java, where he settled on a farm of 100 acres. His children were John, Patrick, Bridget, Margaret, Mary A., Ellen, Catharine, and Elizabeth. Mr. Constantice died in 1861, aged 74 years. He was a son of Dennis Constantine, of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Bissell's children are Mary L., now of Wichita, Kan., Francis E., and Catherine G. They have liberally contributed to the erection of the Roman Catholic Church for which he purchased the bell at a cost of $500."</div>
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I did not have a death date for Frank or a birth or death date for Mary Ann. I did find their graves (<a href="http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Bissell&GSiman=1&GScid=65959&GRid=77228788&">here</a> and <a href="http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Bissell&GSiman=1&GScid=65959&GRid=77228816&">here</a>) on FindAGrave.com, which gave me that information. A biography of Frank's brother-in-law and Mary Ann's brother, John D. Concidine, was featured on an earlier Mug Book Monday post <a href="http://ancestories1.blogspot.com/2012/08/mug-book-monday-john-d-concidine-1823.html">here</a>.</div>
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This biographical sketch was taken from <i>Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890</i>, edited by F. W. Beers and published in Syracuse, New York by J. W. Vose & Co., June 1890. Frank's sketch was found on page 515. This county history, along with many other ones, can be found at the <a href="http://archive.org/">Internet Archive</a>.</div>
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-1690652632596543602016-08-03T12:38:00.000-07:002016-08-03T12:41:50.136-07:00Online Historical Directories Site One of Family Tree Magazine's 101 Best Websites for 2016!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I'm thrilled and honored to announce that <i>Family Tree Magazine</i> has selected my <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/">Online Historical Directories site</a> as one of its 101 Best Websites for 2016! The Online Historical Directories site was listed with four other sites in the "<a href="http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/best-cemetery-directory-sites-2016">Best Cemetery and Directory Sites for Genealogy in 2016</a>" category.<br />
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To view all 101 Best Websites for 2016, which will be featured in the September 2016 issue of <i>Family Tree Magazine</i>, visit <a href="http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/101-best-websites-2016">http://www.familytreemagazine.com/article/101-best-websites-2016</a>.<br />
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38696983.post-69087333898389661432016-07-16T23:12:00.001-07:002016-07-16T23:12:55.824-07:00Researching Michigan Roots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I often tell people I have Michigan roots, but I think it’s often not conveyed as to how deep and wide those roots grow. I am the first generation of my family in five full generations and eight partial generations to not have been born, married, lived a significant part of my life, and/or died in Michigan, although I have had extended (months’ long) visits. Here are some statistics about my Michigan roots:<br />
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<li>Both my parents grew up and married in Michigan. My mom was born in Michigan; my dad was born in Alberta, Canada only because his dad was stationed there during World War II.</li>
<li>All four of my grandparents were born, married, and lived most of their lives in Michigan. My paternal grandfather was the only one of the four who died in a different state (Texas). He and my paternal grandmother were Michigan-Texas snowbirds for much of their retirement years. Grandpa and Grandma Robbins are two of only five of my ancestors buried west of the Mississippi River, in Texas.</li>
<li>All eight of my great-grandparents were Michiganders. One of my maternal great-grandfathers was the only one not born in Michigan; he was born in Illinois and his family moved to Michigan when he was three. All of my great-grandparents married, died, and were buried in Michigan.</li>
<li>Of my 16 2nd-great-grandparents, all lived a significant part of their lives in Michigan. Six were born in Michigan, 12 were married in Michigan, 14 died and were buried in Michigan. The two ancestors of this generation who did not die in Michigan are another two of my five ancestors buried west of the Mississippi River, in Oregon.</li>
<li>Of my 32 3rd-great-grandparents, 24—all (16) of my dad’s ancestors, and half (eight) of my mom’s ancestors—lived a significant part of their lives in Michigan, with two actually living their entire lives in the state. This is about 72% of that generation.</li>
<li>Of my 64 4th-great-grandparents, I have been able to identify 62 of them. It’s not likely the two unknown ancestors of this generation lived in Michigan, but it’s not impossible. Of the 62, 17 of them lived in Michigan for part or most of their lives. They were all my dad’s ancestors, and none of them were born in Michigan, but were immigrants from other states or countries. This is almost 27% of that generation.</li>
<li>Of my 128 5th-great-grandparents, I can identify 88 of them. Of these 88, seven—all my dad’s ancestors—were known to have lived in Michigan in their elder years. This is 5% of that generation. The earliest ones came around the time of Michigan statehood with their adult children to pioneer.</li>
<li>When I tally the number of direct ancestors from my parents to my 5th-great-grandparents, I get 78 out of 254 people in seven generations who lived all or part of their lives in Michigan, or about 31%.</li>
<li>None of these figures include my grandmother’s adoptive family, or my mother’s step-father’s family, both of which I research as if they were my own. It doesn’t include hundreds of collateral families, which include thousands of individuals who are other children, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, step-parents, step-siblings, in-laws, and second (or more) spouses of my direct ancestors.</li>
<li>Michigan counties in which my direct ancestors live include (in alphabetical order): Allegan, Antrim, Clinton*, Genesee*, Gratiot*, Houghton, Ingham*, Kalamazoo*, Kent*, Lapeer*, Lenawee, Macomb*, Muskegon*, Oakland*, Oceana*, Ottawa*, Newaygo*, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair*, Tuscola, Washtenaw*, and Wayne. I’ve marked the counties with an asterisk if I had more than three direct ancestors living there at one time or another. The top six counties with the most direct ancestors who lived in them are Kent (21), Ottawa (15), Lapeer (13), Muskegon (12), Genesee (10), and Newaygo (9). Some ancestors are counted more than once, because they may have lived in more than one of these counties.</li>
<li>Of my 57 ancestors who came to Michigan from another state or country, the highest number were born in New York State (18), the Netherlands (12), and Canada (7). Four each were born in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; three each were born in Ohio and Vermont; one each was born in England, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.</li>
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Because of all this, I've learned a lot about Michigan genealogical resources and historical records over the years. There's always more to learn, however!<br />
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Do you have ancestors from Michigan? Or do you have numerous ancestors from another state or province that causes you to be an “expert” in genealogical research in that location? Tell me about it in the comments below, or write a blog post and link it here.<br />
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Miriam Robbinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12021845886261585678noreply@blogger.com6