Amanuensis Monday - Oh, No They Didn't!

I was in Madison at the Wisconsin Historical Society last week and while searching for obituaries for my husband's side of the family I came across this article on the front page of the Dodge County Citizen (17SEP1896).  All I can say is if Mrs Newman died suddenly, I hope there was an investigation!  Even if she died after a long illness, it was in extremely poor taste.  Not my family, but I had to share!

"Married at his Wife's Funeral

Mr. Newman of Buffalo Valley, W. Va. Makes a Double Play

Huntingon, W. Va., Sept. 14 - The funeral exercises of Mrs. Marion Newman were conducted Sunday at Buffalo Valley Baptist church.  Immediately after the ceremony Mr. Newman and Miss Melinda Daniels, a cousin of Newman's dead wife, stepped forward, handed a license to the minister and requested to be married.  The minister performed the marriage ceremony, too."

Everybody's Doin' It...

Everyone's making their New Year's resolutions, so I figured I'd put down some genealogical resolutions.  Maybe making them public will help me keep them!

First and foremost, I'd like to finish citing my family tree.  A couple years ago, I was asked by a cousin I met through Ancestry message boards about information on my tree.  I went to my tree to give him the citation and it wasn't there.  I sat there scratching my head asking myself, "Now how the heck did I come to that conclusion?"  I was eventually able to find my source and forward the information to him, but I was frustrated it took so long and I hate disorganization.  I started poking around my tree and realized that I hadn't cited so much from my early years doing genealogy and the result was UHG-A-LEE!  So I decided to start over.  Scary and not something any of us want to do, but it had to be done.  I printed out a list of everyone in my tree and I've been going through it when I have free time and making sure each person in there has a citation and that my conclusions are valid.  If there's no source information in there for someone, they're out of the tree.

Which brings me to my next resolution...to find more time for genealogy.  Cub Scouts and PTA (mostly PTA) have taken an absolutely obscene amount of my time.  I've blogged about this before and it's just so frustrating to not be getting any farther in my aspirations of becoming a professional because of volunteer obligations.  They won't go away completely.  I love Cub Scouts and feel that it is ultimately beneficial to my boys.  We've got a great Pack too which makes the energy spent on Scouting completely worth it.  The PTA, well, I'm a huge supporter of the PTA, but most everyone (including some teachers, sadly) aren't.  This is the last year that I can be the President.  Elections will be in April and then I'll volunteer or perhaps run for a smaller position.  I could never walk away from something that benefits my children and their school (boy if everyone only felt that way, things would be so much easier!).  I still shouldn't have as much to do as I do now, so hopefully that will give me the time I desire.

Resolution #3...take some step toward credentialing.  Whether it's taking a course (looking at Boston University and my GI Bill if it hasn't expired), or jumping right in and beginning the certification process (I don't think I'm ready yet).  I will do SOMETHING to educate myself and get closer to my goal!

Fourth?  I want to create a website for my family's genealogy.  I've seen so many great family sites and I've become motivated to do just that.  Not sure how I want it to look yet.  I normally wait for an epiphany with stuff like that, so this one might be a tough one!

Fifth, I want to use my new family tree software!  I picked up Legacy's Family Tree software at the NGS conference, but didn't want to transfer my .gedcom over until I finished going through my data.  I hope to be enjoying that purchase soon!

Last, I want to keep up with my blogging.  I'm usually pretty good at getting at least 3 or more posts out each week, but I'll admit to slacking off now and then.  Never too long, but I don't feel my best when I don't give my blog the love it deserves.  Blogging makes me think.  Even when posting a tombstone, my instinct it to try to find out all the information I can about it and put that up with the post.  I start thinking and working on just that one person (or couple) and many times I come to some new conclusions or make completely new discoveries.  My blog isn't just for the sake of posting (and I'm sure all of you feel the same), it's here so I can make connections with others researching the same lines, it's there to help me work through problems, and it's here so I can connect with fellow geneabloggers who have been extremely helpful with their comments and suggestions!

Well, I guess that's it for this year.  Start slow.  Six resolutions.  Not too bad.  I'm not resolving to break through any brick walls that.  I'll save that for next year when I've completed resolution #1.  I don't know what my high-priority brick walls are until then!

I'll take a look back at these when the world doesn't end in December 2012 and see what I've accomplished.  Thank you all for reading and have fun tending those roots in the new year!

Wordless Wednesday - An Easy Repair

After

Before

My grandfather Edward Brown Sr. as a child.  I love how they used to pose people with furniture!  I'm playing a little hooky from my blog right now since I'm at home with family, but I can't keep away from the blog for long, so a quick post and then back to having fun.  Many people have old photos with missing corners.  Just grab the cloning tool on your photo editing software (I use Serif PhotoPlus x2), copy a section that is similar and drag to clone.  Easy!

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - Christmas Eve

It's Christmas Eve and tonight we'll be spending Christmas together with all of my in-laws.  On Christmas Day everyone stays at their own houses (or their respective in-law's) to open presents and relax.  This night is for all of my Green Bay family to be together.  My brother-in-law, Mike, will be in charge of making the tenderloin, perhaps with some assistance from my brother-in-law, Joe, who will be bringing his delicious Stromboli to the feast.  My mother-in-law, Dolores, will be bringing her carrots with dill, and my sister-in-law, Lori Ann, will most likely bring her beer dip.  Everyone else will bring drinks or dishes that are needed to make the meal a success.  My sister-in-law, Cindy, will be working tirelessly all day to make ready for everyone's arrival tonight, since she is hosting the event this year.  I'll be bringing my camera in hopes that I can get all of the kids (18 months to adult in age) to sit still for a group photo (better charge my batteries)!

The kids will get to open the presents that their aunts and uncles got them (everyone pays an agreed upon amount into the "pot" a certain amount for each nephew/niece and the presents are bought as a group.  It makes it easier than having to worry about buying a present for each niece/nephew...and more cost effective!).  Then the presents are exchanged from Secret Santas (the kids and adults drew names on Thanksgiving and had to shop for one person).  Finally, the White Elephant pass around will occur.  A $10 present is passed around as a story is read.  Every time you hear the word "left" or "right" in the story that's the direction the present goes until the story is over.  The guys have their own pass around.  The girls have theirs, and the kids have a candy pass around.

There will be some drinking of soda, coffee, and beer (this IS Wisconsin) .  When dinner is served we'll remember those who are no longer with us to celebrate, but who are no doubt watching over us, especially my father-in-law, Patrick, who was the original maker of the beef tenderloin (recipe posted here).

Eventually, we'll all head back to our respective homes and my husband will read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to our boys before they set out Santa's cookies and milk, and put the stockings by the fireplace.  Then it's off to bed and time for mommy and daddy to get to work doing what we do.  Early mass on Christmas morning and then it's time to open the presents and stockings.  My trusty camera will be at my side throughout...maybe there'll even be a picture or two of me taken this year.  After all, it is the season of miracles!

So from the entire Cayemberg family, may you have a Merry Christmas!

Follow Friday - A Brief Edition

Blogging has been a bit sparse as the Holidays grow near.  I'm enjoying family and hope you all are as well!

I've seen so many great posts in the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories, but this one by Amy Coffin, I just had to share.  I love the idea!  Check out a great idea by her mom for what to do with all those Christmas cards and Holiday photos!

Jen Woods over at Climbing My Family Tree had a great post idea.  It was simple, but brilliant.  She posted a signature from an ancestor she found in a probate packet.  It's really the little things that make you feel great about a find.  Do you have any ancestor's signatures? Did they give you an extra special feeling when you saw them?

At Renee's Genealogy Blog a cute poem was posted about grandma and her genealogy addiction.  In my case it would be mommy!

An excellent point (and one that is still valid today).  I always find it amazing how the story changes depending on the outcome of a war/conflict.  A perfect illustration of that in this post by Donald Shaffer on the Civil War Emancipation blog.  While I agree that we may never know if this exchange took place, we can most likely check newspapers for all the blustering opinions of the day!

Save A Grave shared a post from the Archdiocese of Washington about the oddest mausoleum, I've ever seen.  When space is at a premium...build up!  I agree with the concern of upkeep.  We've all seen what happens to old cemeteries and the thought of a 32-story deteriorating mausoleum is scary!

I hate knee-jerk reactions.  I hate jerks two and this has them both!  Legislators trying to take away the Social Security Death Index because it will help stop fraud/identity theft.  Just shows the ignorance of many of those that make our laws.  Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak makes some excellent points.  Maybe she should run for office!

Until next post, have fun tending those roots!

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - Cookies

While my Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories posts aren’t matching up with the prompt of the day, I still want to share them.  And how could I not share a cookie recipe?  This isn’t a recipe that I remember from my childhood.  It’s a recipe that my mom remembers her mom making for them.  I will certainly be trying it out when I get back home after the holidays!  I’ll be sure to add a picture of the finished product as well!

Sand Tarts

½ c. shortening                                                          ¼ tsp salt

1 c sugar                                                                    ½ c almonds, blanched

1 egg, beaten                                                             1 egg white

2 c cake flour                                                             1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder                                                  ¼ tsp cinnamon

Cream shortening and sugar thoroughly.  Add beaten egg and dry ingredients which have been sifted together.  Chill dough until stiff.  Roll out 1/8 inch thich and cut with various shaped cutters.  Press ½ almond in the center of each, brush tops of cookies with egg white and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Bake in moderate oven (375 degrees F) 10 minutes.  This makes 76 cookies 2 ½ -inch diameter.  A crisp cookie which keeps well.

VARIATION – Roll thin, cut with tiny bridge-set cutters, bake 5 minutes, remove from oven and cool.  Frost with Peppermint Spread and while moist outline each with candy beads.

Sunday's Obituary - Who Died Again?

Don't you hate it when you get a nice juicy obit to only find that the woman isn't properly defined (or any of the women)?  Sure for the time period she's properly defined...Mrs So-n-so.  That's all you need to know.  Yes, and my husband would be jokingly saying, of course that's all you need to know (I love his humor)!  Unfortunately for a genealogist it's not what we'd like to see.  Luckily, I already had this woman in my family tree and this is supplemental information, but what could I do if I didn't have her in my tree already?  What if I stumbled across this obituary in the scrapbook passed on to me or as I searched through old newspapers?  I saw it and said, "George and Margaret Thalen [sic] Rosbeck are in my tree, so who is this?"

Well, the obit states her birth date and parents names (as mentioned).  That's enough to get me a birth certificate (if they're available for that time).  Her wedding date is in there too, so I can get that record, and with the publication information/death date, I can get the death certificate.  The obituary even tells you what church she belonged to so that opens up baptismal, matrimony, and other sacramental records if they are still in existence.  The Catholic Church is great with record keeping so unless there was fire or disaster, I should be good.  There is most always a way around a not-so-perfect obituary.

So who was Mrs. William Pesch?  Her name was Anna Pesch nee Rosbeck and she was the third of 9 known children born to George and Margaretha Rosbeck nee Thelen:  Frances, Bertha, Anna, John, Hermann, Martin, Adolph, Alfred, and Mary.

Commonwealth Reporter, 28OCT1965

I was delighted when I came across this obituary because I didn't have the names of her children in my tree yet.  Now I do, although I need to keep in mind that there may be children missing that died young and weren't mentioned.  The obituary does mention others that predeceased  her, but anything is possible.  Remember that obituaries are written during a time of grief.

Anna Pesch nee Rosbeck is my husband's great great aunt.

“Mrs Pesch Of Kewaskum Expires at 81

St. Mathias Church Service Announced; Survivors Listed

Mrs. William Pesch, 81, Kewaskum, died today at St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Bend.

She was born in the Town of Auburn Nov. 18, 1884, the daughter of George and Margaret Thalen [sic] Rosbeck.  She was married to Mr. Pesch June 27, 1905, at St. Killian.  She was a member of St. Mathias Catholic Church, Town of Auburn, Ladies Altar Society and the Apostolate of the Suffering.

Survivors include a son, Elroy, Kewaskum, R. 1; three daughters, Mrs. Albert Gross, Campbellsport, R. 2, Mrs. Erwin Guldon, Kewaskum, and Mrs. Joe Hammes, West Bend; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and five brothers, Herman, Knowles, John, Minneapolis, Martin, West Bend, Alfred, Mayville, and Adolph, Milwaukee.  She was preceded in death by her husband and three sisters.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday at Miller’s Funeral Home, Kewaskum.  Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mathias Church, Rev. Walter Morgan officiating.  Burial will be in the parish cemetery.”

[Fond du Lac (Wisconsin) Commonwealth Reporter, Thursday, October 28, 1965, pg 30]

Many times the same obituary is published in various newspapers, but don't make assumptions.  See the difference another newspaper can make.  Here we've got her first name, the first names of the daughters that married, and when her husband died.  You never know until you look!

The Sheboygan Press, 28OCT1965

"Mrs. Anna Pesch

Mrs. Anna Pesch, 81, of Kewaskum, died early today at St. Joseph's Hospital, West Bend.

The former Anna Rosbeck was born in St. Kilion [sic], Wis., on Nov. 18, 1884, daughter of the late George and Margaret Thelen Rosbeck.

She was a member of St. Mathias Caholic Parish, Town of Auburn, and the Ladies Altar Society and the Apostolate of the Suffering.

She married William Pesch at St. Kilion [sic] on June 27, 1905.  He died on April 6, 1950.

Surviving are a son, Elroy, R. 1, Kewaskum; three daughters, Mrs Albert (Ceceila) Gross, R. 2, Campbellsport, Mrs. Ervin (Celesta) Golden, Kewaskum and Mrs. Joseph (Lorraine) Hammes, West Bend; 14 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; five brothers, Herman, Knowles, John, Minneapolis, Minn., Martin, West Bend, Alfred, Mayville, and Adolph, Milwaukee.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mathias Catholic Church, Town of Auburn, with the Rev. Walter Morgan, pastor, the celebrant of the Requiem Mass.  Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Miller's Funeral Home after 2 p.m. Friday."

[The Sheboygan Press, October 28, 1965, pg 8]

It was also incredibly helpful that in this case I had a funeral card passed on to me as well.