Sunday's Obituary - J. B. Hermans

A few weeks ago I posted about a diamond anniversary for Mr and Mrs George Hermans, and that I would soon be working him into my family tree.  While visiting Wisconsin, I stopped by the Wisconsin Historical Society and pulled the obituary for George's father Jean Baptiste (yeah, that whole "Joseph" isn't quite right in the obit).  Trying to add to my research and maybe even discover some new information.

The New Era, 09NOV1892, pg 1 (Kewaunee County, WI)

Unfortunately as J.B. Hermans died in 1892 and newspapers were particularly lacking in many aspects to genealogist as far as obituaries went (unless your ancestor was famous...or infamous).  I'm glad to have them though, even with information being scant.  I now know the cemetery that he was buried in and as long as the rain keeps away, I plan to visit it on Monday.  Hopefully, I'll find him while I'm there!

The second obituary does make me laugh a bit.  Stating that J.B. was "about 45 years old" and leaves "about eight children".  I was beginning to wonder how they came by there information and what exactly they were sure of!

"Mr. Joseph B. Hermans, one of the most prominent farmers in Red River died last Sunday from a stroke of apoplexy.  He was well up to a few moments of his death, and died almost without warning.  He was 47 years old, and a highly respected man.  He was buried on Tuesday from the Catholic church at Walhain, Rev. Fr. Van Huyster officiating.  He was a native of Belgium, and leaves a wife and a large family of children."

Kewaunee Enterprise, 04NOV1892, pg 8

"-Died, of apoplexy, on Oct. 30, 1892, Mr. J. B. Hermans, of Tonet, town of Luxemburg:  His remains were interred in the Catholic church cemetery at Martinsville on Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, Re. Father Van Huyter officiating.  Deceased was about 45 years old and leaves a wife and about eight children, besides his aged mother, a brother and two sisters, to mourn his loss."

Wednesday's Child - Robert Schmidt

"Robert Schmidt

Robert Michael Schmidt, 5-month-old son of Alfred and Florence Weiland Schmidt, 254 W. Main St., Campbellsport, died at 3:15 a.m. today at St. Agnes Hospital.  He was born March 31.

Survivors include his parents: 10 brothers and sisters, Michael, Lorraine, Laverence, Norbert, Donald, Marion, Joseph, Joan, Christine and John, all at home, and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Weiland, St. Kilian, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Schmidt, rural West Bend.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Twohig Funeral Home, Campbellsport.  Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and 11 a.m. at St. Matthew's Church, Rev. Warren Schmitt celebrating the Mass of the Angels.  Burial will be in the church cemetery."

I was about to say that the clipping wasn't dated (and it's not), but I actually found the article on Ancestry and was able to put a date and newspaper with it.  It was published in the Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter on September 12th 1966 on page 8.  I don't know where Robert belongs in our family tree, if indeed he belongs there at all.  It may just have been clipped because they were a friend of the family (or parishioner) and the loss of a little baby touched them.

Tombstone Tuesday - Milton Turnbach

Time to get some more information that I've got lying around and attach it to someone in my tree. I look forward to having more time to do this when we get settled into our new home, but we're genealogists.  We do what we can, when we can, and I've got a little time right now as babysit my great niece and she naps peacefully in the next room.

Milton Turnbach was born in 1899.  He was the oldest of 8 known children born to Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield:  Milton, William, Robert, Mary, 2 unknown (either died young or were stillborn), Elizabeth, and Anna.

I don't know if Milton married or had children, but with a death date from the Social Security Death Index I can grab his obituary when I get back to Pennsylvania.  Oh how essential that database is to genealogists!

Milton was my first cousin twice removed and he died on November 23, 1988.  He is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania.  Rest in peace, Milton.

Military Monday - Central Texas Casualties 2006, 2010, 2011

Just after Memorial Day this year, in the midst of the movers coming and packing our stuff up and the kids' various end of school celebrations, I took some time to visit the newest monument to those that made the ultimate sacrifice.  This monument combined 2006, 2010, and 2011.  My final genealogical act from Central Texas.

Roll Call

2010

SPC Christian M Adams

SPC David A Croft Jr

SGT Shawn D Fannin

PFC David D Finch

CPT Jason E Holbrook

PFC David R Jones Jr

PFC Alexis V Maldonado

PFC Diego M Montoya

SPC Donald S Morrison

SGT Mark A Simpson

PFC Barbara Vieyra

2011

SSG Estevan Altamirano

SGT Michael P Bartley

SSG Nicholas P Bellard

CPT Shawn P T Charles

PFC Adam E Dobereiner

PFC Matthew J England

SPC Robert M Friese

SPC Matthew R Gallagher

SSG Christian A S Garcia

CPL Frank R Gross

SSG Quadi S Hudgins

SPC Dylan J Johnson

SPC Kurt W Kern

SGT Noah M Korte

SGT Martin J LaMar

SGT John A Lyons

SGT Mecolus C McDaniel

CPT Matthew G Nielson

SSG Russell J Proctor

SGT Paul A Rivera

SSG Jorge A Scatliffe

SGT Glenn M Sewell

PFC Steven F Shapiro

PFC Antonio D Stiggins

SGT Steven L Talamantez

SGT Robert G Tenney Jr

CWO Christopher R Thibodeau

CPT David E Van Camp

1LT Omar J Vazquez

PFC Justin M Whitmire

SGT Vorasack T Xaysana

2006

SGT Ahmed K Altaie

May our Soldiers come home soon.

Wordless Wednesday - The Kuehl Sisters

Lorraine, Helen, Dolores and Alice Kuehl

My mother-in-law (Dolores) and her sisters.  Rest in peace, Aunt Lorraine.

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Dart

The other week I posted the tombstone for John B. Dart (Jean Baptiste) and it was one of those, Oh-my-goodness-you-mean-I-had-that-tombstone-all-along moments.  This would be the other half to that pair.  Mary Dart was John's wife (their marriage date is still unknown).  Mary and John were my husband's 3rd great grandparents.

John and Mary had six known children:  Jean Baptiste Jr, Marie (Mary), Jules, Eugene, Antoinette, and Desira (Desire).

I'm still slowly chipping away at the Dart-line. Always feels good to make some progress, no matter how small. Until next time, have fun tending your roots!

"In memory of Mary J. Dart
Died May 3, 1902
Aged 92 years"

Alive and Well and in Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods with Pike's Peak in the background

It was quite the one day trip, but on Friday evening we made it to Colorado Springs!  The allergens here are kicking my butt and I'm exhausted, but happy that we made it in one piece.  I've been holding off on posting because the account to my bank was hacked and I assumed that my computer was where the problem stemmed from.  It's a Mac so this doesn't normally happen...and it didn't.  As it turns out, my computer is clean.  It hasn't been compromised, which means that it was most likely my bank that was compromised, since the thief had my user name, password, pin, email, etc.

I now feel safe enough on my computer to begin posting again.  At least a little before leaving Colorado Springs on Tuesday or Wednesday morning to drive to Iowa to see my beautiful sister (one of my beautiful sisters) and then finish up in Green Bay, Wisconsin for the family reunion.  For now, just this quick post before heading out to look at land and model homes.  Perhaps hit some open houses if we can find any.  Hopefully, there'll be a proper genealogy post this evening!