Giddy for Gilsa

Gilsa Mittelhof. Wikimedia Commons.¹

An obituary from 1922 for Gertrude Thomas Vef  included a reference to her birthplace as "Gilsa, Kurhessen, Germany".² Now part of the village of Neuental, Gilsa (51° 1' 0" North, 9° 11' 0" East) is also the long-sought after birthplace for my great-great-great grandmother, Catharine Thomas Kibel Younker.³

Catharine has been one of my most stubborn brick walls through the years. Catharine was born on 18 September 1834 in Germany and according to census records immigrated in 1851.

She married was married first to John Kibel (also Kible and Kaebel) and following his death to John Hubertus Younker (various spellings include Junker and Yonker). Distant cousins descended from her Kibel children had some clues, but Gertrude's obituary provided not only a place but names for their parents, Conrad and Catharine Thomas. Small crumbs, given their common names, but a starting place nevertheless.

An search of a online newspaper site yielded an article about a nephew visiting Gertrude Vef ⁴, which led to the discovery a brother, Conrad, had also immigrated.⁵ Now I had three siblings but few options because there aren't many records online for the area in Germany they were from. The recent discovery of a Thomas family researcher based in Germany on Geneanet finally broke down that brick wall when she was able to locate Catharine's parents in Gilsa's civil records and several additional generations.⁶

                                                     

1. Mittelhof Gilsa in Neuental-Gilsa, Hessen, Regierungsbezirk Kassel, Schwalm-Eder-Kreis, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mittelhof_Gilsa.jpg.
2. Gertrude Thomas Vef.  Find A Grave Memorial 53429686.
3. Catharine Thomas Kibel Younker. Find A Grave Memorial 7525363.
4. The Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois), Friday, June 20, 1919, pg 14. www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=3859217
5. Conrad Thomas. Find A Grave Memorial 33037411.
6. Family tree for Conrad Thomas (1808-1848) and Catharina Jünger (1808-1850). Geneanet, accessed 3 Jan 2016.

The Mystery of Mariam

Mariam Williams.

Her name was recorded over 175 years ago by a clerk in Green County, Wisconsin, when she married Robert Kirkendoll on August 26, 1838.¹  And that record is one of the few pieces of tangible evidence of her life. She lives on through her many descendants but the details of her life remain shrouded in mystery. What is known -- beyond her marriage to Robert -- is that in 1840 Robert is enumerated in the Wisconsin Territorial Census as the head of a household which included one white male, age 20-30, and one white female, age 15-19, most likely Mariam.²

1850 Federal Census, Wiota, Lafayette County, WI.

Robert Kirkendoll was born in Yellow Bud, Ross County, Ohio, on 12 March 1814. His parents are unknown and he seems to have struck out on his own at an early age. He is enumerated in Iowa County, Michigan Territory, in 1830, now part of Wisconsin, and later served during the Black Hawk Wars in Illinois during 1832 and 1833.

Mariam and Robert's first child -- my great-great-great grandmother -- Eliza Ann Kirkendoll was born on 25 October 1841. A second daughter, Mary Lucas Kirkendoll, was born 5 October 1843.
        

1850 Federal Census, Wayne, Lafayette County, WI.

Wisconsin records indicate Robert married Sarah (Million) Hoffman in 1848.³ In the 1850 census Mariam is enumerated with the family of John Chilton. John's wife, Elisabeth and Mariam (Miriam as she is recorded) are close in age and both are listed as having been born in Delaware. It's possible they were sisters, but no records have been located to corroborate this theory. One of the children in the household -- likely John's and Elisabeth's daughter -- is also named Miriam/Mariam, which also suggests a family connection.

In 1850, Robert and Sarah are living with Eliza and Mary; Sarah's sons from her first marriage; and their first child together. It is curious that Eliza and Mary are living with their father. Presumably Mariam and Robert divorced sometime between 1843 and 1848, but what is also surprising is it appears Mariam has a young daughter, Caroline, born about 1848, previously unknown.^4,5 

Excerpt from Robert Kirkendoll's obituary.
Unknown newspaper.

And then Mariam and Caroline disappear. The 1860 census for southwest Wisconsin seems to have been particularly incomplete. None of the extended Kirkendoll family can be found in the census, but Robert, Sarah and their growing family can be found in subsequent census. But not Mariam. Did she remarry? If so, where? Searches of Wisconsin marriage records have been unsuccessful. Did she die? If so where and when?

Until recently the only other evidence I had substantiating Mariam's life was a brief mention in Robert's obituary naming her as the mother of his two oldest daughters. Then last month I had the opportunity to visit southwest Wisconsin and at the top of my research agenda was to try and locate Mariam and Robert's divorce. I started with Green County, where Mariam and Robert were married and learned the case files had been transferred to the Southwest Wisconsin Room at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. So off to Platteville I went and that's when things finally got interesting...
                                                       

1. Wisconsin Historical Society. Pre-1907 Vital Records Collection. Madison, WI, USA: Wisconsin Historical Society Library Archives. Robert Kirkendoll and Mariam Williams, 26 August 1838, Green County, Wisconsin Territory, vol. 1, page 1.
2. Sixth Census of the United States, 1840. Green County, Wisconsin Territory; NARA  M704-580; Page: 137, Line: 16; Robert Kirkendoll.
3. Wisconsin Historical Society. Pre-1907 Vital Records Collection. Madison, WI, USA: Wisconsin Historical Society Library Archives. Robert Kirkendoll and Sarah Hoffman, 11 August 1848, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, vol. 1, page 23.
4. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Wiota, Lafayette, Wisconsin, NARA M432-1001; Page: 355A. John Chilton.
5. Seventh Census of the United States, 1850. Wayne, Lafayette, Wisconsin, NARA M432-1001; Page: 332A. Robert Kirkendoll.

Gå till Amerika :: Going to America

In 1882, 33-year-old Gustaf Oberg left his family, and Swedish homeland, behind to immigrate to the United States. Gustaf sailed from the Swedish port of Göteborg to Bremen, Germany, where he set out on the S.S. Main, a steamer bound for New York.

On 23 March 1882, as he departed Sweden, Gustaf registered with Swedish police, as required in the late 19th century. These records indicate he was a resident of the village of Hammar, in Örebro Län (county).¹

Sixteen days later, on 8 April 1882, the S.S. Main arrived in New York’s bustling harbor.² The passenger list for the Main only specifies USA as the destination for the new arrivals. By this time, however, there was already a burgeoning Swedish community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Gustaf likely traveled west by train across New York and then continued by water across the Great Lakes.

Three years later on 19 June 1885 – presumably after Gustaf had established a home in Michigan and earned enough money for their passage – his wife Emma registered her departure with the Swedish police and that of her three sons, Adolf, Karl and Gustaf.³ 

Like husband before her, their former residence was also listed as Hammar. Iron Mountain, Michigan, was recorded as their destination once they reached America. The ship manifest for the S.S. Baltic documents their arrival in the United States on 3 July 1885 at the Port of New York and likely the family was happily reunited by the end of July.⁴

It wasn't until the Emigranten Populär index became available online that locating the corresponding ship passenger lists was successful. Although the family didn't have particularly complicated names the indexing and transcription of the New York port arrival records was just off-kilter enough, as cited below, that passenger manifest searches were unsuccessful. Yet another reminder that using all available records is critical for breaking down brick walls in our research.
                                                       

1.  Gustaf Öberg. Emigranten Populär, 1783-1951 (Swedish Emigration Records, 1783-1951). Archive number: 19:277:3187. Place of Origin: Hammar Örebro Län, Sweden. Destination: New York. Record Date: 23 March 1882. Port of Departure: Göteborg.  
2. Guslab Herg. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. 8 April 1882. (National Archives Microfilm roll: M237_448; List number: 425.)
3. Emma Åberg. Emigranten Populär, 1783-1951 (Swedish Emigration Records, 1783-1951). Archive Call Number: 27:81:890. Place of Origin: Hammar Örebro Län, Sweden. Destination: Iron Mountain. Record Date: 19 June 1885. Port of Departure: Göteborg.  Traveling with Emma were her sons:  Gustaf, born about 1874; Karl, 1878; and Adolf, 1883.
4. Anna E. Aling. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. 3 July 1885. (National Archives Microfilm roll: M237_488; List number: 819.) Accompanying her were three boys: Gust, age 11, Carl, age 7 and Gotfried, age 2.

Honoring the Home Place

With my aunt, Barbara Leimback, on our
first trip to Holy Cross Cemetery in August, 1992.

Well... one of them anyway. I had a nomadic childhood and stumble for a good answer when people ask me my hometown. It depends on the audience and my answer varies.

My story parallels that of generations before me. If there was one child who ventured away from their family and hometown over and over again that was my direct ancestor. It is a recurring theme for many, I imagine, whose families made their way west. One such example from my cast of wandering antecedents is Joseph Troll who -- at the time his brother Engelbert's estate was probated in 1866 -- was "supposed dead, last heard from in California 12 years since." ¹ Fortunately not all of my ancestors were as negligent as Joseph in keeping their families informed of their whereabouts.

Now, in a curious turn of events, here I am drawn to retracing their steps backwards and returning to the communities that originally nurtured my ancestors. One such place is the unincorporated village of Holy Cross located about 7 miles north of Port Washington in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Ozaukee County holds the distinction of being the smallest county in Wisconsin. Yet, it is the site of the largest settlement of immigrants to the United States from one of the smallest countries in Europe: Luxembourg. And, incredibly, at 1,118 mi² tiny Ozaukee County is larger than Luxembourg's 998 mi²!

I ended my trip to Wisconsin earlier this month with my traditional pilgrimage to Holy Cross Cemetery. On a overcast morning -- unusual for Wisconsin in August! -- I checked in with the greatest concentration of my ancestors buried in one place. A cool, gentle breeze rustled through the cornfields which surround the cemetery where it is so quiet the sounds of birds singing was the only other thing I heard. The cemetery is a serene, well-maintained place and after many visits I know just where to go and who to see! My great-great grandparents John Peter Ney, his wife Margaret Mans, John Evangelist Uselding and his wife Catherine Lauters are buried there; as well as great-great-great grandparents Josephine Hemmer, John Nicholas Uselding, Anna Maria Bastendorff, Nicholas Lauters and Margaret Bourton. Several miles away Anton Mans and Catherine Plier are buried at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Whether is it Twin Falls, Idaho, Gold Hill, Oregon, or Holy Cross, Wisconsin, I can rarely pass through ancestral home places without a detour through the local cemetery. On one hand it grounds me and the tangible evidence of my ancestors in the form of their headstones remind me of who and where I came from. It also inspires me to continue searching for the details that help tell the story of their life beyond the spare facts captured on those stones. The Luxembourg national motto is "Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sin!" -- We want to remain what we are! -- and my cemetery visits are just one way I honor and live out what I am by remembering all those who came before me.

---

1. St. Louis County, Missouri, probate case files, estate no. 7404, Engelbert Troll (1866), Probate file, 19 May 1866; Probate Court Clerk’s Office, Clayton.

100% Luxembourger

Eugene "Nick" Ney, 1912-2002

Later this week I will have the privilege of speaking at the Ninth Annual Luxembourg Cultural Conference as part of the Luxembourg Fest and Heritage Weekend held the second weekend in August each year in Belgium, Wisconsin. The theme of this year's conference is Finding the Stories: Genealogical and Family History Research for Luxembourg Americans. My fellow presenters and I will be discussing strategies for successful research.

I didn't always know about my Luxembourg heritage. Shortly after I graduated from college, my dear friend Monika and I decided to take a genealogy class together. This led to a longstanding Tuesday night tradition which began after the course ended. First up was dinner at Arby's. Then it was onto the local Family History Center and a weekly date with two courtly gentleman who volunteered there and graciously shepherded us through ordering our first microfilm and witnessed our first genealogical successes.

One of the first things that I learned in those evenings spent peering at microfilm was that my Grandpa was of Luxembourg descent. I had NO idea! And, admittedly, at first I wasn't even entirely sure where Luxembourg was. I was so excited to share the news of his ancestry with my Grandpa but when I did he proudly exclaimed "I know! I'm 100% Luxembourger!" "You're 100% nitwit" I remember thinking to myself for NOT having mentioned this sooner since we'd had several conversations previously about his parents and grandparents. I quickly realized I was the real nitwit for not having asked the right questions. Truth be told, my grandfather knew a great deal about his extended family which was remarkable given his parents had moved away from the family fold when he was four years old.

This week I'll be celebrating my Luxembourg roots with pride and thinking of my 100% Luxembourger Grandpa. He's been gone 13 years this month and I miss him dearly.

Prize Winner of Seattle, Washington!

Marlborough Apartment Hotel. MH5 9 MP3 1M p80.

Under the progressive tutelage of Publications Director, Jill Morelli, the Seattle Genealogical Society recently held its first-ever family history writing contest. Participants were invited to submit creative nonfiction entries relating to family history of 2,000 words or less. I was delighted to receive the news that my entry, Fire and Ice: Deadly Disaster in Minneapolis was selected as the first prize winner!

Fire and Ice is the story of my great aunt, Marguerite Oberg, her husband William Lee Coovert and their sons, Sander and Edward, and the Marlborough Apartment Hotel fire that took the lives of 19 people in the early morning hours of January 3, 1940, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As exciting as it was to win, the experience of writing this story was the real prize. It rekindled my belief that only when we take the time to weave together the various names, dates and facts we've accumulated into a narrative form that we're really able to synthesize the story, analyze what is missing and identify what questions remain. I also believe something is better than nothing. Too often researchers get caught up in looking for just one more thing before beginning to write. So, that leads me back to this blog... where I plan to share stories of my family's history and also capture my research in progress. Stay tuned!