Treasure Chest Thursday - A New Family Heirloom

Memory bracelet

It's special when you know that you have something new that it will be worth passing on to your children and grandchildren.  That it will be cherished forever.  Your engagement and/or wedding rings, a baptism gown for your children, etc.  The other week when my mother-in-law and nephew were visiting they brought me a new family heirloom.  One that makes me sad sometimes, but also one that I cherish deeply and I know my children will as well.

It's a bracelet that was made from some of the flowers that were sent when my father-in-law's passed away.  It hasn't been a year yet since we lost dad, and even writing about it brings tears to my eyes, but wearing this bracelet is a beautiful reminder of someone very dear to my heart. 

Keeping mementos of someone that you lost is, I'm sure, as old as time.  People used to take pictures of the dearly departed (and in some cultures still do).  Now, there is jewelry like the bracelet my sisters/mother-in-law and I have, there are pieces of jewelry that can be made with a bit of ash, and some people keep a lock of hair.

We got our bracelets from A Lacy Creation and to be sure it will be passed on for generations, although I'm sure the sentiment will feel somewhat different in decades to come.  While it can still be a sad memento for me, it reminds me of someone I love...for my descendants, it will no doubt be representative of someone dear to them, they were blessed, as we were, to have known.

Wordless Wednesday - Repaired Tin Types

Before

After

I don't know who's in these tin types.  They were from an album that was most likely my great-great aunt Ella Quirk's.  I figured that for the next several "Wordless Wednesdays" I'd fix up the pictures (not all are tin types). My finished product isn't perfect, but not bad for my level of photo repair!

Tuesday's Tip - Pet Peeving on Message Boards

I've been wanting to write a "Tip" on Message Board posts, pretty much since starting my blog, but never got around to it because I always had something else to blog about that caught my attention.  As I went through my Google Reader today, I realized it was time.  Not because I think anyone reading my blog needs tips...it's more that I needed a bit of a rant.

When posting on a message board, make the subject line of the post something that draws people in and makes them want to read it.  Now I'm not suggesting that you post anything completely unrelated like "Ancestor busted as prostitute" and then in the post, "...now that I've got your attention..."  That will irritate and most likely get you flagged or removed.  Of course, if you actually have an ancestor busted as a prostitute and are seeking more information, then that's a completely satisfactory subject line!  What I'm trying to illustrate is not to expect to get very many responses when your title says something like:

"Trying to find my grandfather" 

(not enough info, especially if on a common surname message board), or

"Brown family", or

"Lee genealogy", or

"Looking for connections"

Those subjects don't tell anyone anything and I usually don't bother to read them.  I've got quite a few posts to read through each day, either as blogs, message board alerts, or news and I just don't have time.  If I see a subject like that, I just say to myself, "Well, they aren't really serious about this, or they would have said more".

Seriously, if you're researching someone with a common last name, you've GOT to put more detail in the subject (and, of course, the post).  Those boards have so many messages posted daily that people are looking for what pertains to them.  Such a general subject line will more often than not be ignored.  A better title for a common name would be "Lee family of the Hazleton, PA area", or "Brown family moved to Elmira, NY from PA".  That narrows it down considerably and would tend to get better responses.

One last peeve, and then I'll stop, because I so could go on, is content of the post.  Don't say, "I'm looking for the parents of Joe-schmo Hermann who moved to the US from Germany. Please help".  Again, pretty common last name, and it's not saying where they moved to....Wisconsin?  Texas?  Maine?  Where?  I would venture a guess that the majority of Hermanns in the United States came from Germany...can I have a time period?  A location before and after immigration, if you have one?  Tell the people reading the post all the details you have!  Let them know if there are details that you believe to be true, but haven't verified yet.  Something is better than a generalization.

OK...I feel a little better now.  I know some people are new to genealogy and jump right in and that's awesome, but a lot of this is common sense.  And sadly, I don't think that some of these ridiculous posts/titles are only from those new to genealogy.  Ah well...

Amanuensis Monday - The Rosiere Store

From the "Record-Herald", unknown date.

"THE ROSIERE STORE, owned by the late Eli and Florence (Villers) Cayemberg, is pictured in this photo believed to have been taken in the year, 1907.

Florence and Eli unk date

The picture was loaned the Record-Herald by Mrs. Lewis Lemens.  It belonged to her parents, Hubert and Emily (Cayemberg) Guillette.

Eli and Florence Cayemberg are standing in front of the store with their family.  Mrs. Cayemberg holds daughter, Anastasia, who later became Mrs. Harvey Moureau.  She, too, is deceased.

From left: Frank (deceased), Mr. and Mrs. Cayemberg, Emily (who became Mrs. Hubert Guillette and is deceased), Martin Joseph, Henry (deceased), Lucy (who became Mrs. Russell Anderson), Ella (who became Mrs. Eli Cravillion), Felix and Wilfred.  Two other children, Patrick and Walter, were born after the picture was taken.

Seated on the porch are Charles DeVillers, Emil Naze, Willie DeVillers and Mike Wautlet."

I would imagine that the "Record-Herald" mentioned in the article refers to the Algoma Record-Herald, which is a local newspaper, but that is just a guess.  No information was written on the clipping I have, which happens more often than not, but it's good to have the article anyway.  I would love to know when it was published in the paper and why.  Every year the descendants of Eli and Florence Cayemberg nee Villers have a family reunion and it's published in the local paper, complete with the names of all the attendees.  Perhaps this was published around one of the reunions.

Our family's copy of the picture "The Rosiere Store"

I was able to scan a copy of this photograph from my mother-in-law this past Christmas.  I suppose it's a picture that most, if not all, of Eli and Florence's descendants have.  My husband and children are descendants of Patrick, mentioned in the photo, but not in it.  It's still a precious photo even without him in it.

"The Rosiere Store" today (well, about 2002-ish)

During one of my first trips to Wisconsin, visiting with family, my father-in-law took me around to important family points of interest.  Dad was interested in passing on family history, and I cherish the times we spent with him going through cemeteries, hearing stories, and seeing family sites.  One of the places we went on that first trip was to see Eli and Florence's store in Rosiere, Wisconsin.  So, of course, I took a picture.

I took a picture from the van we were riding in.  The next time I'm in Wisconsin (which should be this Christmas) I will be getting my butt out of the car and getting it a bit cold to get a proper picture, or two.

I don't know who owns the building now, but it would be wonderful to have it in the family again someday (if it ever left)!

Sunday's Obituary - All Gave Some, Some Gave All

Add caption

SGT Lester Bader was a handsome young man whose life was cut short while serving in World War II.  His obituary is extremely interesting.  He was apparently a very brave and intelligent young man that had quite the military career.  I'd love to know more about those "secret duties"!

Rest in peace, SGT Bader.  You died while defending a monastery.  I'm sure you scored lots of points with the Big Guy for that one!  Your memory will always live on.

"SGT Lester Bader

Sgt. Bader's Body Arriving Wednesday

The body of Sgt. Lester Bader, 25, Luxemburg, route 2, son of Mrs. Mary Bader, Luxemburg, who was killed in action on Christmas day, 1943, in Italy, will arrive on the Milwaukee road at 9:45 Wednesday evening, and will be met by the Ralph Kline American Legion post, Luxemburg, who will escort it to the Dupont-Malcore Funeral home.

Sgt. Bader was killed while defending a monastery on Mount Defoncha, Casino, Italy.  He was born in Red River and before his enlistment the day after Pearl Harbor, he operated a farm with his brothers, and served as auction clerk in company with a brother's auctioneering business.  He attended East High school in Green Bay.

After training at Fort Riley, Kan., and El Paso, Tex., the soldier entered the secret service and took special training at Norfolk, W. Va.  He was on secret duty in Attu, Alaska, and in Africa before being transferred to the European theater of war.

Besides his mother, he is survived by three brothers, Mose and Ralph, on the home farm, and Edward, Green Bay; and three sisters, Mrs. Martin Williams, New Franken, Mrs. Joseph Coel, Edgewater Beach, and Mrs. Jerry Baier, Green Bay.

The Holy Name society of St. Louis church, Dyckesville, of which he was a member, will say the rosary at 8 o'clock Wednesday evening at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ludolph Jacobs, O. Praem.

Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Friday morning in St. Louis church, Dyckesville, with Father Jacobs offering the requiem mass.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Ralph Kline American Legion post will conduct the military rites."

No publication information was written with the newspaper clipping I have.  It would most likely be from one of the local Wisconsin newspapers, perhaps the Green Bay Press-Gazette since he attended high school in Green Bay.

Follow Friday - An Easy Blog Improvement!

I was checking the Geneablogger roll up on Monday and saw that Find My Ancestor had a series of posts on Mobile Monday about making your blog easier to read in  "Making Your Blog Mobile Friendly".  I was certainly interested in what A.C. Ivory had to say.  I read blog posts on my computer through my Google Reader, but when I'm out and about and have time to kill, I whip out my iPhone and scroll through with my MobileRSS app.

So occasionally I've noticed that the whole blog doesn't feed into the Mobile Reader or maybe I want to comment on someone's blog, so I go to the blogsite on my iPhone. It tends to take longer to load and then you have to expand the screen to be able to actually read the small type on the blog.  It's not an impossible feat, but what if it were easier to read on a mobile phone?  Ever go to Wikipedia or a news page and the information fits your screen perfectly?  They configured their pages so that they are easier to read on mobile phones!  Did you know that it's super easy for you to do with your blog?  I found out it was when I clicked through A.C.'s posts and now my blog is mobile-friendly!

The Find My Ancestor blog not only tells you how to do this with a Blogger account, but also with WordPress.  The link to A.C.'s "Mobile Monday" series will take you to all of his "Mobile Monday" blog posts, so scroll down if a new post has been made!  He's got a short video that shows how to do it.  I'm not going to go into explaining it here, because he did such a wonderful job!

Sure loyal fans will visit your blog regardless of whether you make it mobile-friendly or not, but why not be cutting-edge and make it easier on them!  They may come back more frequently!

I'm sure there's got to be a way to do this with websites.  If anyone knows how, let me know!  Mine's still under construction, but I'll certainly be wanting to make it mobile-friendly as soon as it's up and running!

Happy blogging!

Thankful Thursday - I Love FREE Stuff!!!

I'm a member of the National Genealogical Society and I'm a fan on Facebook as well.  Now you don't need to be a member to become a fan of their page, but why wouldn't someone want to be a member!

A couple days ago I saw one of their posts in my FB newsfeed about a FREE Course offered by the National Institute for Genealogical Studies on Social Media use.  Now when I say free, I mean the course is free, but there is one book that is required for use during the course, Social Networking for Genealogists (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009) by Drew Smith. You can find the book for less than $20.00.  I think that's a pretty reasonable price!  

There is an additional optional "text" you can buy.  It's the printed course materials.  This way you don't have to print everything out from your home computer.  That is only $8.00 through GenealogicalStudies.com. You can check on the requirement materials for the course on the "supplies" tab at the course's website (below).

I know I feel pretty comfortable in my own little bubble of social networking, but we can always learn more.  It also may be a pretty good course for those of our genealogical comrades that haven't quite embraced technology fully yet, or are afraid to.  Maybe this is just what the doctor ordered!

You can check out NGS' blog post on the course by clicking here.

You can also go straight to the registration/course description page by clicking here.

The only problem I encountered was that it doesn't state if the participants in the online course meet in a chat at a scheduled time each week or if assignments are posted and that's it.  I'll be giving a call in Thursday to find out those details and will post an update!

Head on over to their pages and take a look.  You may find that it's not the right course for you, or it may be perfect for you!  You never know until you look!


UPDATE!:  I got an error message when I tried to register for the course, so this morning I called the number at the bottom of the registration page.  The woman I talked to was wonderfully patient with all of my questions and she made sure that I was registered for the course.  I found out that there are live meetings, but they are not mandatory.  If you register for the course you will receive several emails that detail what to expect.  So a couple weeks until I get the emails, but I feel extremely confident that all my questions will be answered!  I'm ready to have fun with this course! :)

Organize Your Home Office Day - The Beginning of the End

My built-ins are a disorganized nightmare

While it may be "Organize Your Home Office Day", I won't lie and say that my home office will be organized by the end of today.  My nephew and mother-in-law are leaving for the airport in the morning, I've got a webinar in the afternoon, then it'll be time immediately following that to pick up the kids, make dinner and take my oldest to CCD in the evening.  There will be about 3 hours in there that I can dedicate to making a dent in what is my home office.

The printing station is a cluttered

The bookshelf o'stuff

My husband and I share the office and it's horribly laid out.  When we first moved into the home we were excited that it had a separate room that we would be able to use exclusively as an office.  It even had built in bookshelves (although we came to see that we had more books than shelves!).  As with most things, you notice flaws once you move in that you may have been oblivious to beforehand.  Things like the phone jack is in the back of the bottom shelf of the bookcase (no, you didn't read that wrong...who the hell puts a phone jack in the bookcase!) and the cable port is on the opposite side of the room.  Pretty much makes for a cable nightmare.  My hubby has been working overtime trying to get us as wireless as possible.  He's the tech person of the two of us and he's doing an awesome job considering he's got the anti-tech wife.  I simply walk by technology and it spontaneously combusts.

The not-too-bad-desk

Unfortunately, even though Cherie got her groove back about a month ago, I wasn't groovin' in the home office.  I've actually been working from the dining room table.  Great space, but it put a damper in using it for diner!

Since my PTA meltdown back in November, the office became a repository of stuff and I just wasn't motivated to clear it out.  That ends today.  I'm going to don my snorkel and swim fins and dive on in.  It's time to organize so my hubby and I have a work-friendly environment for Cub Scouts, PTA, and (most importantly) my business!

My is that the next pictures I'll post of my office will be much better looking!

World Poetry Day - Immortality Through Our Descendants

Shakespeare...

DON'T CRINGE AND RUN AWAY!!!!

Shakespeare understood the importance of leaving behind children.  That they are our path to immortality.  We live on through them.  As long as there are descendants, we too live in some form.  I'm a big Shakespeare fan.  Can I wax poetic on all aspects of his works?  No.  I'm reading his entire works this year via the Shakespeare in a Year group.  I'm a little far behind, but even if I don't finish with the group I will finish.  It's different reading Shakespeare as an adult than as a high school kid.  You tend to understand more of it.  These are two of my favorite sonnets.  It made me realize how passionately he felt about having children.

Sonnet IX

Is it for fear to wet a widow's eye

That thou consum'st thyself in single life?

Ah! if thou issueless shalt hap to die,

The world will wail thee, like a makeless wife:

The world will be thy widow, and still weep

That thou no form of thee hast left behind,

When every private widow well may keep,

By childrens eyes, her husband's shape in mind.

Look, what an unthrift in the world doth spend

Shifts but his place, for still the world enjoys it:

But beauty's waste hath in the world an end, 

And kept unus'd, the user so destroys it.

No love toward others in that bosom sits, 

That on himself such murderous shame commits.

Die without leaving a child and the world weeps for the loss, while should a wife lose her husband (or vice versa), they continue to see their spouse in their children's faces.  You continue to live on through your children.

Sonnet II

When forty winters shall besiege thy brow,

And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field, 

Thy youth's proud livery, so gaz'd on now,

Will be a tatter'd weed, of small worth held:

Then being ask'd where all thy beauty lies,

Where all the treasure of thy lusty days;

To say, within thine own deep sunken eyes,

Were an all-eating shame and thriftless praise.

How much more praise deserv'd thy beauty's use,

If thou couldst answer - 'This fair child of mine

Shall sum my count, and make my old excuse-'

Proving his beauty by succession thine!

This were to be new-made when thou art old, 

And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

As we reach the end of our lives we see that there is still so much life left.  Life that we issued.  Why wouldn't a parent as they grow old not look at their children and grandchildren and smile!

Amanuensis Monday - Good Advice Through the Ages

I was actually preparing to transcribe an article on the Peshtigo Fire for today, but when I opened the digital copy of "The Waynesboro Village Record" for October 26, 1871 and began looking for the article on the fire, the following article caught my attention and I figured I'd have a bit of fun today!

Waynesboro Village Record, 26OCT1871

"Some Things

Have ideas of your own.

Be sure your own doctrines are sound before pitching into other people's.

Ride and belabor your own hobby to your hearts content, but for heaven's sake do not quarrel with friends and neighbors because they refuse to mount with you.

If it hurts your feelings to be snubbed and bluffed off, remember that others may not like it any better than you do.

Conceal the weak points in your nature with an honest mantle of self-poise and independence, and then many an intended sting will not wound or give you pain.

Earn your own self respect and then you will not imagine people intend to slight you.

Be sure you meirit [sic] respect and then do not lay awake nights worying [sic] about other people's opinion of yon [sic].

Above all things be kind to the poor, the sick, the old, the young, and to your wife, if you have one; and go slow when attempting to revege an injury, for ofttimes that which seems an injury proves a benefit.

In short, be kind and considerate to your friends, keep your enemies at a proper distance, in thought and every other way, and be as good to yourself as you possibly can without wronging anybody else. - Elm Orlon."

I found it amusing that it was in the newspaper let alone on the front page!  It's so interesting to see how different the news can be, but what a great insight into what was seen as important during our ancestor's time! 

I certainly did note upon reading "Some Things" that some things are as true today as they were back then!

Sunday's Obituary - Valentine Herman

"V. Herman Of Allenton Dies Tuesday (hand-written 1954)
Valentine Herman, 63, of Allenton, died Tuesday, Sept. 21, in that village.

He is survived by his wife, nee Hulda Hahn; three sons, Erwin, Raymond and William; four grandchildren, three daughters-in-law, two brothers, Carl and George, and two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Zimdahl and Mrs. Dora Kuehl.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, Sept. 24, at 1:30 o'clock at Zion's Lutheran church Kohlsville, the Rev. G. Kaniess officiating.  Interment will be in Union cemetery, Theresa.  In state at the Ritger funeral home, Allenton after 1 p. m. today (Thursday) and until 11 a. m. Friday, and from noon until the hour of services at the church."

Valentine was actually the son of Valentin Hermann and Ernestine Mueller.  The surname can be spelled with one or two n's at the end. Valentine Jr was my husband's great-great uncle.

Funeral Card Friday - Joseph Batzler

”Joseph Batzler, Others Pass On (hand-written, 1981 - unknown Wisconsin newspaper clipping)

Joseph "Tom" Batzler, 76, a lifelong resident of the St. Kilian area, died early Tueday morning, June 30, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac after a brief illness.

He was born in St. Kilian on March 27, 1905, to the late Jacob and Victoria Bonlender Batzler.  He was a retired farmer and truck driver for Baker Canning Co. in Theresa, and a member of St. Kilian Catholic Church in St. Kilian.

On June 7, 1932, he married Marcella Hurth in St. Kilian Catholic Church at St. Kilian.

Survivors include his wife; one son Gerald (Grace) of R. 3, Campbellsport; two daughters, Joann (Raymond) Sippel of R. 3, Campbellsport, and Susan at home.  He is further survived by eight grandchildren; one brother, Oscar, of Lomira; one sister, Miss Anna Batzler, of St. Kilian; many in-laws, other relatives and friends.  One brother, one sister and one grandchild preceded him in death.

Visitation at Miller's Funeral Home in Kewaskum will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday with a prayer vigil at 8 p.m.  Services will be held Friday, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home and at 11:00 a.m. at St. Kilian Catholic Church in St. Kilian.  The Revs. Joseph McDonald and Arthur Kalinski will officiate and burial will be in the church cemetery.”

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from the Muppets

A friend of mine shared this clip on Facebook (through YouTube, of course!).  Such a sad song, but it made me smile.  Here's the Muppet's version of "Danny Boy" starring the Swedish Chef, Animal and Beaker!

Thriller Thursday - Some People Just Can't Be Good, Part III

The Plain Speaker, afternoon edition, August 16, 1950

Here it is!  The last installment of "Some People Just Can't Be Good".

"Betty Bronsavage Shot And Killed In West Hazleton Cafe; Slayer Suicide; Woman Figured In Freeland Death

Double Shooting Occurred at 12:40am - Couple Had Quarreled

Mrs. Betty Bronsavage, 33, of this city, who was acquitted of murder in the shotgun slaying of her common-law husband in Freeland on May 1, 1949, was shot to death early this morning in Beltz' Cafe, West Hazleton.

Her slayer, who police said was Andrew Harvilla, 60, a retired miner of Tresckow, then killed himself.

The murder and suicide is believed, police authorities said, to have been the result of a separation and quarrel between the two, who had been going together the past several months.

Deputy Coroner John Salvator, Jr. and Cpl. Frank Burtner, of the Hazleton detail, State Police, said that Mrs. Bronsavage, whose full name is Helen Elizabeth Bronsavage, entered the cafe alone.  Harvilla came in shortly after, and, with both standing at the bar, asked if he could buy her a drink.

Woman Refused Drink

Police said she was reported as having refused the drink, but that she asked Harvilla to call a taxi, after which she walked to a table and sat down on a chair.

Harvilla, after calling a cab, then walked to where she was sitting, pulled a .38-calibre revolver from his pocket, and fired one shot at her head, according to authorities.

As the victim sprawled into a grotesque position, apparently killed instantly, Harvilla walked away about eight feet, put the revolver to his head and fired again.

Autopsies on both bodies were performed this morning at the State Hospital by Dr. Jules Foldes, staff pathologist.

Results Of Autopsies

Deputy Salvator in releasing details of the autopsies, said Mrs. Bronsavage's death, a homicide, was due to a .38-calibre bullet severing the jugular vein and carotid artery.  It entered on her left cheek and left the body on the right side of the neck.  Harvilla's death, called a suicide by the coroner, was due to a bullet of the same calibre, which entered the head at the right temple and lodged in the brain, where it was found at the autopsy.

Mrs. Bronsavage, was the center of a sensational case last year.  Louis Broton, 30, of Harleigh, with whom she had lived for seven months, was found dead, the victim of a shotgun blast, on the early morning of May 1, 1949, in a small two-room house on Butler Terrace, west of Freeland, which the two had rented only a few hours earlier.

The woman told state police that Broton had committed suicide, but after continued questioning, allegedly admitted that she shot him in his sleep.  She told police Broton had threatened to kill her several times and that night had brought the shotgun home.  In fear of her life, because of the threats, she killed him.

Was Acquitted Nov.1

She was indicted for murder by Luzerne County Grand Jury August 31, 1949 and was brought to trial.  The jury, believing her story of self defense, acquitted her on Nov. 1

After her acquittal she lived in McAdoo and the moved to Hazleton, residing in several boarding houses here.

Harvilla Was Retired

Harvilla who retired from mining work several years ago, had worked in Jeanesville.  He was born in Europe but came to this country as a young man and resided in this section ever since.  His wife died about two years ago.  There are no survivors in this country, but (unk) people said he had two brothers and two sisters living in Europe.

Police said this morning that Harvilla sold his home several months ago, and had been seen in the shooting, which occurred at approximately 12:40 o'clock.

Mrs. Bronsavage is survived by her husband, a crippled miner, from whom she was separated; a daughter, and several brothers and sisters.

Coroner Salvator released Harvilla's body to the Jupina funeral establishment in McAdoo.  The funeral will be held at a time to be announced later.

Up to press time, no one had claimed the body of Mrs. Bronsavage."

"2 Victims of Tragedy Were Buried Yesterday

The two victims of a tragedy, a murder and sucide [sic] at a West Hazleton cafe at an early hour on Wednesday morning, went to their final rest yesterday afternoon.

Andrew Harvilla, 60-year-old Tresckow widower, who fired the shot that killed Mrs. Betty Bronsavage, 33, and then turned the gun on himself, was buried in the Mount Laurel cemetery.  The body had been at the Jupina funeral home in McAdoo.  Mrs. Bronsavage was laid to rest in Calvary cemetery at Drums.  The body was at the Conahan Funeral Home on North Vine street after the Catholic Charities had directed that such provision be made.  As the body was laid to rest in unconsecrated ground.  Rev. A. P. Malony intoned a final blessing."

Anthony Bronsavage Jr

She abandoned her family leaving a husband, severely disabled from a mining accident to care for their small child. Anthony Bronsavage Jr did have some help from family to care for their daughter, but their abandonment is inexcusable.  Perhaps ironically she was in turn abandoned...by her religion.  While Catholic Charities appeared to have claimed the body, she was buried in unconsecrated ground.  This is no doubt a result of her sensational trial from the previous year as well as her habitual infidelity.

Why was she buried in unconsecrated ground?  Now I was always taught that if you were naughty, you were buried in unconsecrated ground, but no additional explanation of what unconsecrated meant was ever given.  I did some research and found a pretty good explanation as to who did not have a right to a "Christian burial" on www.newadvent.org.  It went on to state in a particularly long article on burials, "notorious sinners who die without repentance, those who have openly held the sacraments in contempt... and who showed no signs of sorrow..." were not entitled to Christian burial.  OK...very naughty.

Anyway, enough of that.  So what is the significance of consecrated ground vs. unconsecrated?  Something that has been consecrated takes on a new significance and now falls under "Divine protection".  Consecration is permanent and is only performed once (unless something becomes desecrated), while a blessing is not and may be done over and over again.  

What does this essentially mean? There are many details about the Catholic faith, dying in mortal sin instead of in a state of grace, and the determination of heaven and hell to briefly state the significance.  However, I would think that the blessing was done out of the belief to pray for the dead even though it was probably the belief that her soul was lost.  I will actually have to talk to my priest about this one!  Acquitted of murder, abandonment of her husband and child while sleazing around...I don't think they thought much of her soul, but prayed for it none the less.

Too bad little miss Betty just couldn't be good...

Wordless Wednesday - Turnbach Family Photo

This photo was originally passed on to me by William Turnbach, Jr.  He sent me the key on a floppy disk back in 2001, but the file wouldn't open.  Since then Bill's passed away, but other cousins that I've found in that line have helped name some of the people in the picture.  I have high hopes that someday all of them will have names!

Tuesday's Tip - Killing Two Birds

Anyone that's followed my blog even for a brief period of time knows that I love transcribing information.  I do a lot of "Amanuensis Mondays", "Sunday's Obituaries", and anything else that gives me a chance to transcribe information.  One of the reasons I do this is that when you transcribe information from newspapers, vital records, etc into your blog, you make information available to others researching the same line.

What I've realized recently (and I'm sure many of you already do this) is that when I'm transcribing an obituary, death record, etc I can quite easily open another tab or window to FindAGrave.com and create a memorial, if one doesn't already exist for the person.  It's a great time to check against information already on there and if you're creating a new memorial then it's a great way to contribute to a wonderful genealogical site and help others that may be looking for the same people.  Another bonus for creating a memorial is that if you didn't already have a picture of the gravestone, you can request one after you create it! 

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - The Case of the Mysterious Spots

Week 11 - Illness and Injury - Describe your childhood illnesses or injuries.  Who took care of you?  Did you recuperate in your own bed, on the couch in front of the television, or somewhere else?

The mysterious red spots and the hammer up the nose...and these were the days of my life!  Those "mysterious red spots".  Seriously, that's what we referred to them as.  I already had chicken pox and a decent case of them so it wasn't a recurrence.  It turned out that what those spots were was a case of the German measles (rubella), but I wasn't actually told that until I was older.  We just kept calling them "mysterious red spots".  As if it isn't hard enough being a kid, but to think that you've got some odd disease! :)


So there I am the kid with the mysterious cooties, and my clumsy Irish side comes out.  I'm around 7 or 8 years old and I'm at my neighbor (and godparents') house.  Their son was hammering nails into a step and removing them with the back of the hammer.  So of course, I had to see what was going on "up close and personal".  So there was a trip to the emergency room (one of my only as a child...my dad was a cheap-skate and you'd have to be dying to go to an emergency room), because I got a hammer claw up my nose.  It wasn't broken, but it was bleeding something horrible.  I guess a life lesson learned is to not be so close to the claw of a hammer and a 7 year old when he's practicing his mad hammer skills.

Apart from that I don't know of any other illnesses that I had.  My sisters and I all had chicken pox at the same time, but nothing exciting.  I haven't found anyone in my family that succumbed to the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918 (and I looked!  I suppose we were very lucky).  I did find out that my uncle had polio when he was a little boy.  If I remember the story correctly (and my memory has never been what it should be), he was walking home and dragging his leg awkwardly.  He (obviously) recovered from it and went on to become a doctor, a great husband, and wonderful father!  I need more details on that story because it sounded like a good one at that!

Sunday's Obituary - Johannes Hermann August Kuehl

Unknown Wisconsin newspaper

Oh how I love that name! Gut und German!  He wasn't born in Germany, nor was his father, but a fine German name he was given, and to a ripe old age he lived!  He was going by "John" at the time of his death so that's what's seen in his obituary.  John Kuehl is my husband's great-grandfather.

June 6-1974 - handwritten (unknown which Wisconsin newspaper clipping was published in)

"John Kuehl

John Kuehl, 90, of Route 3, Campbellsport, formerly of Kewaskum, died Thursday evening at St. Joseph's Community Hospital, West Bend.

He was born Sept. 14, 1883, near Theresa.  He married Dora Herman on Nov. 6 1906, at St. Jacob's Church in the Town of Theresa.

Mr. Kuehl was a retired farmer and carpenter.  He farmed in the Town of Wayne for 30 years, in 1947 he moved to Kewaskum where he resided until 1970 and the past four years with a son, Elmer at Route 3, Campbellsport.

Survivors include three sons, Roman and Elmer of Route 3, Campbelsport, [sic] and Marvin of West Bend; a daughter, Mrs. Leroy Stean [sic] of Sheboygan Falls; 13 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and three brothers, William of Milwaukee, Paul of West Bend and Rudy of Minneapolis, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his wife of Feb. 22, 1958, by a son, Lester, during World War II, and a son in infancy.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Salem United Church of Christ at Wayne.  The Rev. Timothy Prasad will officiate and burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation for Mr. Kuehl will be from 4 p.m. Saturday and until 11 a.m. Sunday at Miller's Funeral Home, Kewaskum, and at the church from noon Sunday until the time of services."

John's daughter is listed as Mrs. Leroy Stean, and the surname should be Strean.