What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Last summer I attended the Genealogy Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). It was an amazing week full of great people and wonderful presentations by professional genealogists. The class I took was headed by Paula Stuart-Warren (Intermediate Genealogy). It was four fast paced days full of information and group discussions. By Friday my brain was fried! 

Because my experience was so positive I decided to sign up again. This time I chose the class being presented by Tom Jones (Advanced Methods). In the course description he said that he would have some "homework" for us to do prior to class. He also stated that there would be optional "homework" during the week as well. I thought, OK, how bad could it be.

WELL! This past week I received an email from Tom that had two attachments for us to read. He also strongly suggested we make a chart that lays out all the data. Again I thought that's not too bad I can do that...then yesterday ANOTHER email came with two more attachments. This time the attachments are from Rick Sayre who will also be presenting for the class. One of his attachments is 43 pages long! 

 I'm officially terrified! Thank goodness I have two weeks before I take off for Pittsburgh.

Genealogy Is More Than Dates

Recently, well actually it was back at the end of May, I was wanting to find out more about my southern family that came from Greenville, South Carolina. I have all their dates for birth, marriage and death but it seemed so stark. What was the rest of their story? 

I decided to take a stab at some records that I had previously overlooked, the record of the Freedmen's Bureau. But first I need to understand what was the purpose of the bureau. On www.Civilwarhome.com I found an article,"Freedman, The Freed Slaves of the Civil War". The article gives a brief history and explanation of this short lived bureau. The bureau was first conceived in 1863 and finally acted on by Congress in 1865. The war department in response to the Confiscation Act of 1862 felt there was a need to help the newly freed slaves become self-reliant. It's main purpose was to provide an education and provisions such as food, clothing and fuel. The funding for all this was to come from the Department of War. But it was also required to resolve disputes between the white employers and the newly freed men demanding fair wages. Surprisingly it was to last only one year.

While browsing the records on Familysearch.org for Freedmen's Bureau, I came across a letter to the local agent for the Abbeville District in South Carolina. It clearly denotes the exact portions of what the provisions are to be for adults and children and how often.

Portion of letter to Capt. C. R. Becker from William Stone, Bvt. Maj; FamilySearch.org; SC Freedman's Bureau Field Office Records 1865-1872, Abbeville Courthouse (agent) Roll 32, Letters received Mar 1866-Nov 1866; image 13 of 206

Reading on, the next letter had the term Vagrant Act.

Portion of letter from Capt. C.R.Becker to Bvt. Maj. William Stone; SC Freedman's Bureau Field Office Records 1865-1872, Abbeville Courthouse (agent) Roll 32, Letters received Mar 1866-Nov 1866; image 14 of 206

What? Never heard of that before. Even my friend Sandra Rumble was not familiar with that term. So I turned to Judy Russell, The Legal Genealogist.(www.legalgenealogist.com) Judy not only sent me an article to read, she then used my question for her blog that explained the who, what, where and why. ( See her blog post for May 26, 2015.)

In a nutshell, it appears if newly freed slaves were found not to be providing for his or her family, or were found to be gambling, peddling without a license or if their behavior could be considered disorderly they could be arrested, tried and sentenced to hard labor. Remember, the jury would have been the free white males, the very plantation owners they had just left. Can you imagine the resentment these men would have toward their former slaves or any other person of color?

I started out looking for anything that might tell me more about my family from South Carolina and ended up learning more about the prevailing attitudes and unfairness that existed after the Civil War. To understand who our ancestors were, how they may have thought and the issues they dealt with every, family historian/genealogist must understand the laws and records of the past. Genealogy is more than dates and names. Genealogy is a search for the joys, the grief, the triumphs, the struggles, the disappointments, the fairness and yes the unfairness that comes with every day life.

Thank you Judy for your help and insight.

Greenmount Cemetry

While in Quincy, something else that was also important for me to do, was to visit Greenmount Cemetery. This cemetery which was established 1875 is the resting place for the majority of my ancestors. It was my goal to get pictures of all their headstones. It was Kennedy's job to read the cemetery map and successfully navigate us to all the grave locations. Not only did she get me from one section to the next she managed to figure out exactly where I should stop and park. Her accuracy was outstanding! We always found the plots in a matter of minutes.

Kennedy with the cemetery map in hand, meeting her 3x Great-Grandparents
Henry and Pauline Schralla. Notice how close the car is!

 I was also hoping to "uncover" where my Great-Great Grandparents are buried. Sadly the church records only shows their burial date not the location. Then to add to the frustration, according to the cemetery manager, Kay Ginther, back in the late 1800's the cemetery only needed to know who owned the plot not who was buried there! The cemetery records have many unknowns but alas they have no dates! Kay was so nice, she checked other cemeteries and even looked at coroner inquest files to see if there was any record. Again, we hit a dead end.

One headstone we did find though was that of my Great-Grand Aunt, Hanna. She was only 11 months old when she and her parents arrived in the U.S. When she was 21 yrs. old, she marries August Wolf. Their marriage lasted only four short years when he dies suddenly. Hanna, who often went by Anna, was left with two small children ages 3 yrs and 6 months. Thankfully, though she found love again and marries Frank Schell in 1900.

Hanna Schralla Wolf Schell
On the top of her headstone her name is Anna

Finding the headstones of my relatives was bitter-sweet. I have many questions. So many questions that shall remain unanswered. But sharing the experience with my granddaughter was priceless.

It's Never Too Late!

At the beginning of June, I did something I have wanted to do for a very long time. With my 10 year old granddaughter Kennedy in tow, we headed to Quincy, IL. Quincy is the town that my paternal Great-great Grandparents immigrated to in 1860 from Stockheim, Germany. Quincy was where my Dad grew up and was the first place I took an airplane to when I was five years old. To this day, many relatives still reside there and this is why we went. 

 

To keep Kennedy engaged, I planned stops at the Cahokia Indian Mounds, the Gateway Arch and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and last but not least Hannibal, MO and the Mark Twain Caves. It was a joy to expose her to history and to see her absorb and enjoy the various stops. She even kept a journal and rated each days with stars!

 

But the best part was meeting our cousins. On Friday June 5, we met with Carol Kroner, Helen 'Sweets' Langan, and Shirley Deringer. Carol is my 2nd cousin, Sweets is  my 1st cousin 1x removed and Shirley is the daughter of my Great-Grand Uncle...not sure what that makes her, but she's family!

  

Carol Kroner, Helen 'Sweets' Langan and Shirley Deringer



Kennedy and I with our cousins

Lunch lasted for over two hours and was filled with lots of laughter and stories. I'm sure to the other patrons of the restaurant we were just a gregarious group of old friends. Little did they know, that only Sweets and Shirley really knew each other. Before saying good-bye we exchanged pictures, addresses and lots of hugs. We all agreed that this should have been done years ago.  I sneaked a peek at Kennedy's journal that night and she gave the day FIVE stars! I couldn't agree more, it was a great day.





The Thrill of the Hunt!

Last year I was proudly sworn into the Daughters of the American Revolution. Luckily for me, this was an easy task to do. My Grandmother, her sister and my Aunt, all on my Dad's family, had done all the leg work when they joined back in the 1950's. For my application all I had to do was prove my relationship to my Grandmother. It couldn't have been easier.

 

This past January, my Dad turned 95. For his birthday, I put together a family history/story. In doing all the research for this little book, I found that there could possibly be at least three more relatives who may have been involved in the Revolutionary War. But it wasn't till this past weekend that I looked into these ancestors.

 

I started with James Charles, my 5xGreat-Grandfather. Going to the DAR website, I find him listed as a Patriot but there was a problem. He has a bright red line next to his name that says: More on Back---See Comment. It seems no one has submitted proof that Sarah Halbert was his wife. This could be a problem, because I will need to prove that my 4xGreatGrandfather is the son Sarah and James Charles. So I turned to Familysearch.org to search for a marriage record or a will, anything that may list her and James Charles. I find a will that lists her as his wife and also the children by name, but it doesn't tell me her maiden name. Turning to Ancestry.com. I began by searching through other members' family trees. I find that the majority have Sarah Halbert as James's wife but they offer no proof. A few however, have that they were born and married in Virginia! How they know this I am not sure but it gave me another state to search on Familysearch.org. Sadly nothing was found.

 

Back to Ancestry.com, but instead of searching the family trees for James Charles, I started searching under Sarah Halbert. BINGO! Under one of the trees, just waiting for me to find, is an excerpt from a deed abstract book.  

Thankfully this person who posted this included the County name, Deed book and the page number. On Monday morning, I made a phone call to the Clerk of the Court office, Essex County, Virgina. I spoke with a lovely woman named Agnes. I explained that I live in PA and I was looking for a copy of a Deed and a Bond from 1754. Her only question was, “Do you have a book number?” . Thankgoodnes I did, and with that she put me on hold. Not more than a minute later she came back and said she had three pages for the Deed and Two pages for the Bond. She even read to me the part that clearly states that Sarah Halbert is the wife of James Charles.The fee for the copies would be $3.00. My total time on the phone was four minutes.

Today I received the copies and I couldn't be happier. This is the proof I was going to need:

 

I know it's a bit hard to see, but the third line down reads: "NOW if sarah the Eldest Daughter of said Joel Halbert now the wife of said James Charles...

This undeniably proves that Sarah Halbert was the wife of James Charles! The other exciting thing is, it gives me the names of Sarah's father, Joel and her younger sister Mary. I now know the name of my 6x Great-Grandfather! Looks like I have more research to do.

But for now, happily Supplemental DAR application, here I come.

Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling

March has been designated as National Women's History Month. For the past 35 years the National Woman's History Project has brought the contributions of women from around the nation to the forefront. The theme for 2015, as stated on the website: www.nwhp.org, is Weaving the Stories of Women Lives. “This years theme presents the opportunity to weave women's stories-individually and collectively-into the essential fabric of our nation's history.”

What a powerful statement, weaving the stories of women back into our history . How often has society overlooked the women, from all classes,who have made contributions in our lives? Sadly it's numerous, shamefully too numerous.

I'm a member of a book club and recently we read a wonderful book, “Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy” by Karen Abbott. It's a story of four women during the Civil War who actively spied and fought for the cause they so heartily believed in. Regardless of their station in society, they risked everything from family to their very lives to support their troops. These women were fearless determined fighters in their own way. One changed her identity and kept it hidden so that she could fight side by side with the men. Another used her wealthy position to entertain Generals to garnish any information that might pass from tongues made loose from too much wine. This is a fascinating story of four young women, Yes, young women they were from 17 years old to no older than mid 20's! And apparently they were not alone. Many women spied and fought during the war. I had no idea. I highly recommend this book , it's a good read.

 

Then there's the Ruth Faith. Ruth is the 6xGreat Grandmother of my friend Sandy Rumble. Ruth was a widow who, as legend goes, donated her deceased husband's clothes and saddle to the troops. But that wasn't enough for Sandy who wanted to join DAR through a woman's contribution. It turns out that she also paid supply taxes, which is just the type of proof DAR wants. Because of this record Sandy was admitted to the DAR last spring. But even though it isn't provable, that Ruth gave her husdand's clothes, saddle and probably boots to a soldier in need, it was a selfless act. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there is a diary out there waiting to be found in which a soldier had written how the Widow Faith gave him her husbands clothes. It could happen.

 

And then last but not least, there's my grandmother, Miriam Green Schralla. My grandparents met in Tallahassee, Florida n 1917 and married in 1918. Shortly after my Dad was born in 1920, they move back to Quincy, IL where my grandfather was from. There she went to a local business school and learned typing, shorthand and everything else a good secretary needs to know. Her first and only job after graduating was with Adams County Treasurers office. This was sometime in the 1930's, when it was definitely a man's world. For the next 30 years, she worked and learned everything she could about the treasures office. Then in 1953 the county treasurer resigned his position to take a job with the state. The county commissioners appointed Grandma to fill out the unexpired term. In a letter to the editor from the Quincy Herald-Whig, Sunday, August 9, 1953 Lula Bailey wrote:

“Thirty-one years ago a little lady from Georgia began work in the county treasurer's office and worked hard to learn the many details of the office, and she went to work to learn it with vim and vigor because she loved the work and the people she worked with and for. Elected county treasurers came and went, but she kept on in the background, and every year mastered more and more of the work so that she had her fingertips on every phase of the work done in the office...her name became a symbol of efficiency, politics being entirely in the back...It doesn't surprise us who know her that she should be the choice of the supervisors to fill out the unexpired term of the county treasurer, made necessary by the resignation of E.W. Thompson...Honor to whom honor is due. Just a woman who has labored faithfully and well not seeking anything but the joy of work well done.”

 

And it doesn't stop there, another small article that was cut out of the paper, so sadly I don't know which publication it is, states; “...When E. W. Thompson resigned to accept a state position, the board gave proper recognition to the woman who has served longer and done more than any other to make the treasure's office function smoothly, It was a deserved honor.”

The Supervisors by a vote of 21-17 appointed her! She won out over the Deputy Sheriff . She is the first woman to hold this office for Adams County and only the third in the state!

Is it any wonder then that in 1954 she announces that she will seek a full term as county treasurer.

  

 

 

She wins the election, of course, with over half the votes. Out of 24,525 counted votes she received 13,943 while her opponent, Robert (Red) Bickhaus only obtained 9,534 votes....I think I hear the shattering of that glass ceiling. How cool, right? And I can't help wonder if the current treasurer, Peggy Crim realizes she has my grandmother to thank for her being in her job?

 

I didn't grow up near my Grandma so I hardly knew her but I sure wish I could talk with her now.

 

 

Hidden Treasures

My Mother was an avid antique hound. She especially loved hunting for marble-top wash stands. She managed to buy five very different ones. Intending one for each of us. Each stand is unique and beautiful in their own right. I can't help but wondering when looking at them, who used them what joys and misery did they witness.

I have my own antiques. One is an East Lake washstand, circa 1880, that I bought in Chanute, KS. I love it! It's hand carved leaf design is lovely and it has the original hardware which is really nice.

 

 

But I've always gravitated towards wicker rockers, I have two. One came from a house that my former mother-in-law and her sister inherited. It's huge! With a wide seat, back and arms, I've not seen one like it before. The other one, which I bought in PA is just the opposite. It's very petite and has a geometric design on the back. I don't know how old these chairs are but that doesn't matter to me. I like them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also have a set of Victorian chairs from my brother-in-law Fred. They belonged to his Grandmother. He remembers being told that his Grandfather brought them to El Paso, TX from New Orleans, LA. Fred's brother died a few years back and the chairs were actually his, but Fred and my sister Lynn didn't want them. My mouth dropped! I immediately asked, if I could have them. Without a second thought, Fred said sure. So before he could change his mind, out to my car they went. Wouldn't it be nice to know the story behind these chairs? It's a shame how some of our stories are lost and all we have left is a piece of furniture or an undated, unidentified photo.

When my son's Dad and I were first married we lived it a great flat in Oakland, CA. I don't remember how I found this place but I'm really glad I did. When I went to look at it, it was full of the previous renters furniture. There was a beautiful red velvet Victorian couch, a Zenith radio, and a wonderful yellow Formica kitchen table with chairs set. When I agreed to rent the place I was in need of a kitchen table so I asked how much for the table. The landlord said $15! Perfect. Feeling brave I asked about the radio and you won't believe this she said, “Oh that thing, you can just have that!” The radio is beautiful and it still works! I think it's from the late 1930's to early 1940's. Okay so technically it's not an antique but as far as technology goes it certainly is! And what I love too is that my youngest son wants it. But as for the lovely Victorian couch, I could just kick myself for not taking that as well.

 

When my cousins (1st cousins, 2x removed) in Penn Yan, NY died, besides the photo albums that I previously wrote about, I took some furniture. They had a lovely Duncan Phyfe dining set, a mahogany china cabinet, a Maddox secretary desk, circa 1920 and a Windsor chair with a rush seat, circa 1920. I love the desk and chair. The desk and chair had been well used . The chair seat in fact was literally falling apart and I recently I had the seat redone and it looks fantastic. The desk is full of scratches and if the light hits it just right, you can see words where someone pressed down too hard as they were writing. I especially love the secret compartments where one can “hide” their treasures.

All these pieces of furniture must have wonderful stories behind them, especially the desk. The girls were school teachers during a time when Yates County, NY was still dotted with one room school houses. I can just see them taking turns using the desk for grading and lesson planning. Can you imagine the conversations they must have had regarding their students? Who was doing well, who was being a nuisance or who needed extra help.

Something else that was wonderful about this desk was what was hiding inside. Inside one of the drawers were two handwritten charts. Each one was for our ancestor the Roche/Roach family. Apparently the girls, would challenge each other to write down the family tree starting in Ireland and ending in present day!. It's pure gold. Not only do they have siblings written down, but who they married and the children they had and who they married! I'm even listed! I can't put enough explanation points to emphasize how exciting this was to find. Though no dates are given it certainly gives me a starting point and not to mention all the maiden names! Gold, pure gold! Downside is it's written in pencil so it really needs to be protected. But what a riot. How competitive these two sisters must have been. I'm not sure who was the winner as each one looks pretty much to be the same. But that's not all, there also were some individual family pages. These pages that were all stapled together and listed in a bit more detail names and dates of birth, marriage and death and where, and when if known

. Unfortunately they don't have any supporting documentation but just the same it's a starting point.

The Girls Family Challenge

 

 

Mildred and Carrie Adams with my Mom, Mary Charlotte in the middle

Thanks Mildred and Carrie, you two must have been quite the characters.