11 September 2010

Surname Saturday - 27: Adelbush

Back at it again this week.  

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)

12. William Fredrick OGDEN (b. 10 Oct 1871 in Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada, m. 25 Jan. 1895 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, d. 19 May 1951 in Platteville, Grant Co., WI, USA)
13. Mary Elizabeth HERREN (b. 22 Dec 1873 in Batavia, Scott Twp., Sheboygan Co., WI, USA, d. 14 Nov 1938 in Mission, Todd Co., SD, USA)

26. John Fredrick HERREN (b. Nov 1847 in WI, m. 1868 in WI, d. 8 May 1920 in Charles Mix Co., SD)
27. Julia Ann ADELBUSH (b. Jun 1850 in WI, d. 24 Aug 1912 in Charles Mix Co., SD)

54. John Jacob ADELBUSH (b. 23 Oct 1817 in Wurttemberg [Germany], m. about in 1839 perhaps in Dutchess Co., NY, d. 20 Feb 1901 in Sheboygan Co., WI)
55. Gertrude A. UNKNOWN (b. 18 May 1818 in NY, d. 6 May 1879 probably in Sheboygan Co., WI)

108. Jacob ADELBUSH (b. abt 1780 in Germany)
This is the second line of my German Wisconsin ancestors.  The Adelbushes came from Wurttemberg, Germany. You can read about the history of this area here.  As far as I can tell from what little research I've done on this line, they immigrated to Dutchess County, NY in the Hudson River Valley and then moved on to Sheboygan Co., WI.  You can view a plat map for Scott Township, Sheboygan Co. from 1889 here. J.Adelbush is located in Section 11.  John Adelbush is in Section 15.

24 July 2010

Surname Saturday - 25: Gibbon

After several weeks (OK, months) off, I'm back with a new post.  This week it's my Scottish ancestry.  Max and Isabella, this one's for you.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)

12. William Fredrick OGDEN (b. 10 Oct 1871 in Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada, m. 25 Jan. 1895 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, d. 19 May 1951 in Platteville, Grant Co., WI, USA)
13. Mary Elizabeth HERREN (b. 22 Dec 1873 in Batavia, Scott Twp., Sheboygan Co., WI, USA, d. 14 Nov 1938 in Mission, Todd Co., SD, USA)

24. James Robert OGDEN (b. 9 Feb 1836 in New Brunswick, Canada, m. 12 Nov 1861 in Grey Co., Ontario, Canada, d. 6 Aug 1910 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)
25. Hannah GIBBON (b. 10 Feb 1837 in Chinguacousy, Peel Co., Ontario, Canada, d. 18 Apr 1927 in Denby, Shannon Co., SD, USA) 

50. John GIBBON (b. 1803 in Scotland, m. around 1830 in Scotland, d. 1889 in Scotland, Bon Homme Co., SD, USA)
51. Margaret DAVIDSON (b. around 1810 in Scotland, d. Aug 1842 in Chinguacousy, Peel Co., Ontario, Canada)


John Gibbon (pictured above with his grandson, William F. Ogden, and his second wife, Isabella) emigrated from Scotland to Canada around 1836.  He then moved to South Dakota between 1871 and 1880.  His first wife died in 1842 and he married Isabella Davidson, possibly the sister of his late wife, in 1849.  He probably came from Aberdeenshire as that's where the Gibbon surname is most common.  Some on-line family trees link him to a John Gibbon who was a shoemaker in Aberdeenshire in the 1841 Scotland Census, but he was already in Canada by then, based on the birth of his daughter, Hanna in Ontario in 1837.  He first appears in Canada in the 1842 Ontario Census.

Having 2 Scottish great-great-great-grandparents makes me 1/16th Scottish.  Now I just need to know what tartan I should get my kilt in.

25 April 2010

Surname Saturday - 23: Collins

A day late and a week late with this line, but it's one where I have more unknowns than knowns.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)

10. Francis J. "Frank" KAIN (b. 14 Oct 1861 in Clinton Co., IA, m. 14 Feb 1888 at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA, d. 12 Dec 1930 in Yankton, Yankton Co., SD)
11. Margaret H. "Maggie" KENNEDY (b. 9 Sep 1864 in Clinton Co., IA, d. 8 Dec 1831 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

22. John KENNEDY (b. 2 Jun 1826? in King's County, Ireland, m. 10 Nov 1854 in ?, d. 6 Nov 1913 in Clinton, Clinton Co., IA)
23. Hanora COLLINS (b. 25 Mar 1830 in Glenbrohane, County Limerick, Ireland, d. 24 Nov 1888 in Clinton, Cinton Co., IA)


What I know of Hanora (Collins) Wallace Kennedy mostly comes from a copy of a couple of pages of handwritten notes from my grandmother's cousin, Eileen Kennedy.  According to her, Hanora Collins was born in March 1830 in County Limerick, Ireland and died 24 Nov 1888 a the age of 58 in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA.  Eileen also notes that Hanora was previously married to Wallace and had two daughters with him: Edna Wallace Ryan and Nora Wallace Collins.

According to her second husband's county history biography, they were married on 10 Nov 1854, but he didn't happen to mention where, so it'll be tough to find their marriage record.

Her grave marker states she was born in the parish of Glenbrohane in County Limerick, but I don't know who was the source of that information.  In census records, I've identified her daughters Ellen "Nellie" who was born in 1851 in Ireland and Hanora "Nora" who was born in 1853 in either Illinois, Iowa or Wisconsin (all three places are given in various censuses, but her children in the census records consistently list Wisconsin). 

I've paid for research in Glenbrohane records, but they were not able to turn up any baptism or marriage records for Hanora or Ellen. 

I conjecture that Hanora married this Wallace character in Ireland before 1851, the family came to America between 1851 and 1853, her first husband died in 1853 or 1854 and she married my great-great-grandfather between then and 1855 when their first son was born.

This line is a brick wall for now.  Further research will involve trying to find vital records in Iowa for Nellie and Nora to see if I can get more info on their parents.  If I can find where Nora was born, I can begin my search there for the death of her father and the second marriage of her mother.

10 April 2010

Surname Saturday - 21: Fox

 This week it's a Fox hunt.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)


10. Francis J. "Frank" KAIN (b. 14 Oct 1861 in Clinton Co., IA, m. 14 Feb 1888 at St. Iraneaus Catholic Church in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA, d. 12 Dec 1930 in Yankton, Yankton Co., SD)
11. Margaret H. "Maggie" KENNEDY (b. 9 Sep 1864 in Clinton Co., IA, d. 8 Dec 1831 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

20. John KAIN (b. 11 Jun 1819 in Armagh, County Armagh, Ireland, UK, 2 Jul 1848 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO, d. 16 Nov 1893 in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA)
21. Mary FOX (b. 29 Sep 1823 in County Leitrim, Ireland, UK, d. 12 May 1890 in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA)



Add there the trail goes cold.  I need some good fox hounds.  In the 1850 census, Mary and John are living with Mary's brother Patrick FOX.  That's a possible line of investigation.  Also living in St. Louis then and later on a nearby farm in Clinton Co., Iowa is a Thomas FOX, another likely brother.  Hopefully research on one of them will turn up information that will lead back to more on this line back in Ireland.

04 April 2010

SNGL - Degrees of separation

Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun for yesterday was:

Find an ancestral line that stretches back to the time of the US Revolutionary War (1775-1783), about 230 years. Define your person-to-person connection (the person actually met the next person on the list) back to a historical figure from that time.

I knew my grandfather, Emery Ogden.  He knew his grandfather, James Robert "JR" Ogden.  JR most likely knew his grandfather, Jonathan Ogden, who died in New Brunswick when JR was 9.  The record of Jonathan's claim to the Crown for compensation for the property he lost when he left New York for Canada after the war included the following "Produces Certificate of his taking the Oath of Allegiance. Mathews , Mayor of New York , 27th March, 1777".  So he swore an oath of allegiance to the Crown in front of Mayor David Mathews.

As I wrote here, Mathews was accused of plotting to assassinate General George Washington.  I can speculate that Mathews at least knew somebody who knew George Washington, or I can just claim Mayor Mathews as an historical figure who my great-great-great-great-grandfather met.

Surname Saturday - 19: Schmitt

This is the first of my Schmitt lines.  This one is from the area around Neunkirchen-Seelscheid in the south of North Rhein-Westphalia, Germany.  The other line comes from near Trier in Rhineland-Palitinate.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)

8. John Edward HUIGENS (b. 15 Jun 1862 near Henry, Marshall Co., m. 28 Jan 1884 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Henry, Marshall Co., IL, d. 12 Apr 1949 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)
9. Mary FITZLER (b. 22 Feb 1866 in Marshall Co., IL, d. 6 Feb 1949 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)


18. Johan Wimer "Wymer" FITZLER (b. 23 Jul 1832 in Wolperath, Rhein Province, Prussia, m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, LaSalle, LaSalle Co., IL, d. abt 1888 in Marshall Co., IL)
19. Anna Helene SCHMITT (b. 17 Aug 1833 in Eischeid, Rhein Province, Prussia, d. 20 May 1904 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

38. Johannes SCHMITT (b. 28 Feb 1790 in Eischeid, Palatinate, HRE, m. 24 Feb 1821 in Neunkirchen, Siegkreis, Prussia, d. ? in ?)
39. Anna Helene PETERS (b. 20 Jan 1799 in Niederwennersheid, Palatinate, HRE, d. ? in ?)

76. Johann Theodor SCHMITT (b. 7 Oct 1760 in Wende, Germany, m. 21 Feb 1789 in  Neunkirchen, Siegkreis, Prussia, d. 30 Apr 1833 in Eischeid, Siegkreis, Prussia)
77. Maria Helene SCHORATH (b. 25 Mar 1763 in Eischeid, Palatinate, HRE, d. 21 May 1810 in Eischeid, Siegkreis, Prussia)

152. Heinrich Wilhelm SCHMITT (b. ? in ?, m. ? in ?, d. ? in ?)
153. Anna Margaretha OVERROEDDER (b. ? in ?, d. ? in ?)

Like the FITZLER line, most of this information comes from Josef Schnieder's research in the records of the Catholic church in Neukirchen, Germany. I am indebted to James Mattern for sharing this with me several years ago.

I have put some of the location information in italics to indicate uncertainty.  It's easy to figure out the current government bodies overseeing a location in Germany. It's much more difficult to figure out who was in charge of a given locale at a given time in the past.  When did the Holy Roman Empire end?  When did the Palatinate dissolve?  When did Seigkreis become part of the Rhein Province? I determined some of this several years ago, but don't have time right now to go searching for the documentation.

28 March 2010

Surname Saturday - 17: Toemmes

This is the first surname posting on my eight great-great-grandmothers' maiden names.  "Toemmes" is sometimes anglicized to "Thomas".

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)

8. John Edward HUIGENS (b. 15 Jun 1862 near Henry, Marshall Co., m. 28 Jan 1884 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Henry, Marshall Co., IL, d. 12 Apr 1949 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)
9. Mary FITZLER (b. 22 Feb 1866 in Marshall Co., IL, d. 6 Feb 1949 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

16. Evert HUIGEN (b. 6 Dec 1827 in Holland, Netherlands, m. ? in ?, d. 27 Feb 1864 in Marshall Co., IL)
17. Catherine TOEMMES (b. 6 Jan 1827 in Trassem, Kreis Saarburg, Prussia, d. 22 Feb 1899 in Morgan Co., IL)

34. Johann TOEMMES (b. 1790 in Trassem, Kreis Saarburg, Prussia, m. 1815 at St. Hubertus Catholic Church in Trassem, Kreis Saarburg, Prussia, d. ? in ?)
35. Maria SCHMITT (b. 29 Sept 1796 in Trassem, Kreis Saarburg, Prussia, d. 4 Nov 1869 in Marshall Co., IL)

What I know about the genealogy of this line comes from this website, an alphabetical listing of births and marriages extracted from the book Zwischen Saar und Leuk 1675-1900 [Between Saar and Leuk]. This book is a compilation of area church records.

The Toemmes family immigrated from Trier area of the Rheinland in 1853.  I posted about their arrival in New York here.

Other members of the TOEMMES family who settled in central Illinois are Matthias, Peter, Anna, Maria and Anna Maria, also known as Emma.

Fearless Females: Day 28

Yesterday's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge was:

March 27 — Do you know the immigration story of one or more female ancestors?  Do you have any passenger lists, passports, or other documentation?  Interesting family stories?

I haven't been inspired enough by any of the recent prompts to post, but this one I do like.  I posted about one of my great-great-grandmother Anna Helena SCHMITT's 1858 immigration from Prussia here.  Another of my great-great-grandmothers also immigrated from Prussia at about the same time.  I posted about the arrival of the TOEMMES family in New York here.

Anna Helena came with her future sister-in-law.  Were there any men that they knew on the journey with them or did these young women make the journey ot the New World all by themselves?  Did someone meet them in New York or were they left to get to Illinois alone?

Johann TOEMMES did not make the journey with his family.  Had he died and his widow, my great-great-great-grandmother Maria bring her family to start a new life in America?    Were the accompanied by other families on their travels?  Why are there always more questions than I have time to research?

23 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 23

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 23 — Create a timeline for a female ancestor using your favorite software program or an online timeline generator such as OurTimelines.Post an image of it or link.

Here is a timeline for my great-great-grandmother, Katherine TOEMMES.

1827: Katherine TOEMMES born in Trassem, Kreis Saarburg, Prussia to Johann TOEMMES and Maria SCHMITT
1853: Emigrated to America with her mother, brother and three sisters on the Finland
btwn 1853 and 1856: Married Evert HUIGEN of Holland
1856: Daughter Mary Julia born in IL
1858: Son Bernard "Barney" August born in IL
1860: Daughter Maria born in Hopewell Twp., Marshall Co., IL
1862: Son John Edward born in Hopewell Twp., Marshall Co., IL
1864: Husband Every HUIGEN died
btwn 1864 and 1869: Married Nicolas WEND of Luxembourg and moved to Magnolia Twp.,  Putnam Co., IL
1869: Daughter Emma born in Magnolia Twp.,  Putnam Co., IL
1871: Son Joseph born
btwn 1880 and 1895: Moved with husband Nicolas to live with daughter Emma's family in Franklin Twp., Cass Co., IA
1899: Died in the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL

22 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 22

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 22 — If a famous director wanted to make a movie about one of your female ancestors who would it be?  What actress would you cast in the role and why?

I think that my great-great-grandmother, Katherine (TOEMMES) HUIGEN, had a life story that would make for an interesting film.  Born in the Rheinland of Prussia in 1827, she came to America in 1853 with her mother, brother and sisters.  Maybe with the help of professional researchers, the famous director could figure out how she met my great-great-grandfather, Dutchman Evert HUIGEN, and when and where they married.  He died at the young age of 37, leaving her a widow with three children and a farm in Marshall Co., IL.  She met and married Nicolas WEND from Luxembourg and moved the family across the county line to a farm in Putnam Co., IL.  She had two children with Nicolas. When all her children were grown and they could no longer farm, they moved to Iowa to live with their daughter's family.  Katherine died in 1899 at the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane.  Not really, a happy, up-beat movie.

I'd cast a young, dramatic actress in the role.  One in her mid-twenties who could be made to age with prosthetics and make-up.  How about Natalie Portman or Emily Blunt?

20 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 20


March 20 — Is there a female ancestor who is your brick wall?  Why?  List possible sources for finding more information.

I'd have to say that the female ancestor about which I'd like to know more has to be Hanora "Nora" (COLLINS) WALLACE KENNEDY.  I don't know the first name of her first husband.  I don't when when or where in Ireland they married.  I have only been able to narrow down the time they came to America to the two years between the births of their two daughters.  I don't know where in America her second daughter was born.  Was it Iowa, Illinois or Wisconsin?  I don't know when or where her first husband died.  I don't know where she and my great-great-grandfather met and married. I don't know her parents were.  I paid to have the the baptism and marriage records in County Limerick searched; that turned up nothing. 

More information may come from further investigation in the lives of her two daughters, Hanora "Nora" (WALLACE) COLLINS MCGOVERN  and Ellen "Nellie" (WALLACE) RYAN.  Their marriage records or death records might give their father's full name.  Their obituaries might make it clear where they were born.   If I knew where the younger Nora was born, I could focus on that area for her father's death and my great-great-grandparents' marriage.  Hopefully the marriage records would name her parents, which would help in locating more records back in Ireland.

Surname Saturday - 15: Strayer/Stroeher/Streher

There is a lot of information available on the STRAYER family, a German family that settled in York County, PA in the early 1700s.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)
1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)

14. Gustav Adolph JOHNSON (b. 18 Aug 1867 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, m. 4 Sep 1899 in Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 25 Dec 1941 in Henning, Otter Tail Co., MN, USA)
15. Rosabell "Rose" STRAYER (b. 23 Aug 1872 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 7 May 1955 in Henning, Otter Tail Co., MN, USA)

30. Abraham STRAYER (b. 2 Sept 1822 in Dover, York Co., IL, USA, m. 10 Jul 1847 in Clark Co., OH, USA, d. 13 Feb 1893 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA)
31. Harriet Alice HOWARD (b. 30 Apr 1829 in Dayton, Montgomery Co., OH, USA, d. 2 Apr 1914 in Davenport, Scott Co., IA, USA)

60. Andrew STRAYER (b. 18 May 1781 in Dover, York Co., IL, USA, m. ? in probably Dover, York Co., PA, USA, d. 1855 in Dover, York Co., IL, USA)
61. Catherine SCHAEFFER (b. 1784 in PA, USA, d. 1875 in Dover, York Co., IL, USA)

120. Johann Peter STRAYER (b. btwn. 22 Jun 1710 - 1722 in Starkenburg, Kreis Zell, Eifel region, Germany, m1. 17 Oct 1741 in Irmenach, Kreis Zell, Hunsruck region, Germany, m2. 19 Aug 1766 in Dover Twp., York Co., PA., USA, d. 17 Jul 1794 in Dover Twp., York Co., PA, USA)
121. Maria Jacobina STOUCH (b. 9 Feb 1745 in Wurtemburg, Germany, d. 1802 in York, ME, USA)

On-line information on the colonial STRAYER family is almost as jumbled as my OGDEN line.  It looks like the STRAYER's came to America in 1751. I need to check the following two books:
  • Dull, Keith A. 1997. Early German settlers of York County, Pennsylvania. Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications. 
  • Strayer Historical Committee. 1968. History of John Peter Strayer of York County, [PA.]. [Pennsylvania?]: The Committee.  
These will get me started on possible areas to research and what original sources to look for.

I am in the process of organizing the papers from Abraham STRAYER's application for a Civil War pension.  I blogged about his service here.

19 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 19

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 19 — Have you discovered a surprising fact about one of your female ancestors?  What was it and how did you learn it?  How did you feel when you found out?

Earlier this month, I blogged about discovering that my great-great-grandmother Katherine (TOEMMES) HUIGENS WEND died in the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane.  That was very disconcerting at first.  I know that she was most likely there due to senility rather than insanity.  Still, I don't like to think about what Katherine had to go through.  As bad as it is to have people I love in nursing homes, I'm glad that today we have places that are much more humane to care for our elderly.

18 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 18

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:


March 18  — Shining star:  Did you have a female ancestor who had a special talent?  Artist, singer, actress, athlete, seamstress, or other?  Describe.


My mother is a knitter.  I still have a sweater and an afghan that she made for me 30+ years ago when I was in college in Chicago. She has made beautiful, cherished afghans for all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Chicago, Los Angelos, New York and London.  She also quilts and does counted cross-stitch.  I have several pieces that she made, as do my kids.  She was also doing arts and crafts projects when I was growing up.  When she was our den mother, we Cub Scouts were always making things out of Popsicle sticks, wooden matches, Styrofoam and pieces of felt.

Fearless Females: Day 17

Yesterday's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge was: 

March 17 — Social Butterfly?  What social organizations or groups did your mother or grandmother belong to?  Sewing circle, church group, fraternal benefit society or lodge?  Describe her role in the group.

According to my grandmother's obituaries, my paternal grandmother, Julia (KAIN) HUIGENS was a member of "the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, St. Mary's Altar Society and the American Legion Auxiliary of Rushville [NE]" and my maternal grandmother, Esther (JOHNSON) OGDEN, was a member of "the United Methodist Church and active in women's groups."  As I previously posted, one of the women's groups was a Larkin Club.

My mother has always been a member of the Altar Guild at her church, both in Rapid City, SD and Kerrville, TX.  She was part of a quilting group.  She is a member of the Red Hat Society.  She is also a member of the American Volkssport Association and has completed a walk in each and every one of the lower 48 states.  I think that is quite an accomplishment.

16 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 16

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 16 — If you could have lunch with any female family member (living or dead) or any famous female who would it be and why?  Where would you go?  What would you eat?

I would like to have lunch with my mother.  She's in Texas, 1200 miles away  and I don't get to see her very often or spend much time with her.  I have so many questions to ask her about her life, my dad's life, her parents, her grandparents.  I've been taking stock of what I know about my ancestors, organizing facts and sources, what I know and what I don't know, gaps in the timelines, etc.  I bet she could answer a lot of questions about my grandparents, and maybe even great-grandparents.  It wouldn't matter where we ate or what, I just want to be able to practice being curious and see how much I could learn.

Fearless Females: Day 15

Yesterday's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge was:

March 15 — Write a six-word memoir tribute to one of your female ancestors.

This is for my paternal grandmother, Julia (Kain) Huigens: Good-hearted Nebraskan farm wife.  Irish grandparents.

14 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 14

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 14 — Newsmakers? Did you have a female ancestor who made the news? Why? Was she famous or notorious? Did she appear in the social column?

Nope, no famous or notorious female ancestors. They were hardworking wives, mothers and homemakers.

Here's a note from a March 1930 Sheridan Co., NE newspaper that qualifies as an appearance in a social column:

Mrs. John Kilber entertained the Larkin Club on Wednesday. Eight were present and enjoyed a delightful afternoon. Refreshments were served. Mrs. Emery Ogden will be the next hostess.

"Mrs. John Kilber" was originally Ethel Mae OGDEN, my grandfather Emery OGDEN's sister. So my grandmother Esther OGDEN was following her sister-in-law as hostess.

You can read all about the Larkin Co. and Larkin Clubs here.  I had never heard them before I researched this news item.  Who knew?

13 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 13

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 13 — Moment of Strength: share a story where a female ancestor showed courage or strength in a difficult situation.


One of the most difficult situations for any parent is the loss of a child.  Most of my female ancestors lost a child, many of them their first.  My grandmother Julia (Kain) Huigens lost her first child, a son named Paul Joseph, in 1914. He lived for 3 days and is buried with family in Creighton, NE.

My other grandmother, Esther (Johnson) Ogden, lost her first child Rose in 1930.  When it was time for her to delivery her second child, my mother, in 1931, she traveled from Rushville, NE to Henning, MN to be with her parents.

Other female ancestors who lost babies were Mary (Fox) Kain, Katherine (Toemmes) Huigens, Hanora (Collins) Kennedy, Mary Elizabeth (Herren) Ogden and Anna Helena (Schmitt) Fitzler.

I admire the courage and strength it took for this women to continue having children after losing their first.  They may have had no choice, given the absence of birth control, but I doubt it was easy for them.  I'm sure they experienced many anxious moments as the time for delivery approached.  I hope they all found whatever sources of support and encouragement they needed.

Surname Saturday - 13: Herren

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)

12. William Fredrick OGDEN (b. 10 Oct 1871 in Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada, m. 25 Jan. 1895 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, d. 19 May 1951 in Platteville, Grant Co., WI, USA)
13. Mary Elizabeth HERREN (b. 22 Dec 1873 in Batavia, Scott Twp., Sheboygan Co., WI, USA, d. 14 Nov 1938 in Mission, Todd Co., SD, USA)

26. John Fredrick HERREN (b. Nov 1847 in WI, m. 1868 in WI, d. 8 May 1920 in Charles Mix Co., SD)
27. Julia Ann ADELBUSH (b. Jun 1850 in WI, d. 24 Aug 1912 in Charles Mix Co., SD)


52. Johann HERREN (b. 1804 in Hannover, m. before 1830 in ?, d. after 1880? in ?)
53. Anna BRUNS (b. 1807 in Oldenburg, d. after 1881 in ?)

These are my Wisconsin ancestors.  Johann was born in the Electorate of Hannover (AKA Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg) which was part of the Holy Roman Empire.  Except that one year before he was born, Napoleon Bonaparte's armies had occupied it.  So technically he was born under French rule.  Anna was born in the independent Duchy of Oldenburg.  Both places are now parts of Germany.  No idea yet when or where they married.  It was probably somewhere in Germany before their oldest known son was born there.  They came to America some time between 1841 (when their daughter Hannah was born in Germany) and 1847 when John Fredrick was born in WI.  The family first settled near West Bend, Washington Co., WI, then later moved to Sheboygan Co., WI.

Some time between 1880 and 1884, John Fredrick moved his family to Charles Mix Co., SD, where Mary Elizabeth met and married William Frederick OGDEN.

12 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 12

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 12 — Working girl: Did your mother or grandmother work outside the home? What did she do? Describe her occupation.

My mother was a bookkeeper.  After high school in Rushville, NE she kept the books for a couple companies, one of them a hardware store where she met my dad, who was a clerk.  Before I was born (I'm her oldest child), she worked for Nash Finch, a wholesale food distributor.  After my youngest brother was in high school, she went back to working outside the home. She was a bookkeeper for the Old West Regional Commission and a service station in Rapid City, SD.

My mother passed on to me a love for numbers and math, attention to detail and organization, and an interest in genealogy.  Thanks, Mom!

11 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 11

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 11 — Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?

Nearly all of my female ancestors have lived into their 80's--early deaths are rare. I do have one whose place of death was a surprise, though. According to the on-line Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916, here is the entry for Katherine (TOEMMES) HUIGENS WEND:

Name of Deceased: WEND, CATHERINE
Date: 1899-02-22
City: HOSPITAL FOR INSANE
Age: 72 YR
Sex: F
Vol.: 2
Page: 228
Certificate No.: 6215
County: MORGAN

The Illinois Hospital for the Insane was not where I expected to find her in 1899. In 1895, she and her husband Nicholas WEND were living in Franklin Twp., Cass Co., Iowa with their daughter's family. Four years later she died in the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane back in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., IL. Check here for background and history on this hospital.

I have no idea how she got there from Iowa. She had another daughter who lived in Peoria, IL about 100 miles northeast of the hospital. Why she was there is another mystery. My guess is that is was probably senility or Alzheimer's. The records for the hospital are in the Illinois State Archives in Springfield. Access to them is limited, but I'm going to have to see sometime what I can learn from them.

10 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 10

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:

March 10 — What role did religion play in your family? How did your female ancestors practice their faith? If they did not, why didn’t they? Did you have any female ancestors who served their churches in some capacity?


I was raised Episcopalian, a compromise between my mother's Methodism and my father's Catholicism. My mother was active in our church's Altar Guild when I was growing up.

My paternal ancestors were Irish and German Catholics. My great-grandmother, Maggie (KENNEDY) KAIN, had a sister who was a nun. Julia KENNEDY became Sr. Mary Baptista, BVM. She died when she was only 27 years old. I believe my paternal grandfather, John HUIGENS, also had a cousin who became a nun. She was part of the HAUGENS branch of the family from central IL. According to her obituary, my paternal grandmother, Julia (KAIN) HUIGENS, was a member of St. Mary's Altar Society at the Catholic church in Rushville, NE.

On my mother's side, there were Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists. My maternal grandmother Esther (JOHNSON) OGDEN's obituary says she was active in women's groups in the Methodist churches to which she belonged.

09 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 9

Yesterday's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge was:
March 9 — Take a family document (baptismal certificate, passenger list, naturalization petition, etc.) and write a brief narrative using the information.

Let's start with an announcement from the NY Times of 25 Jun 1858 of the arrival of the ship Charles Cooper. This comes from the on-line NY Times article archive.

The ship left from Antwerp, Belgium on 8 May 1858 and arrived in New York about 6 weeks later. "Coffin" refers to the ship's captain, Rufus Coffin. That makes it a much better kind of Coffin ship.

Here is the header and a bit of detail from passenger list.


The names of interest are Helena SCHMIDT(my great-great-grandmother, Anna Helena SCHMITT) and Christina FITZLER and her 5-year-old son, Wymer. Christina is the sister of my great-great-grandfather, Johann Wimar "Wymer" FITZLER.

Helena came from the village of Eishceid in the Rhein Province of Prussia. The Fitzler's from nearby Wolperath. They all would have attended the Catholic church in Neunkirchen-Seelscheid. So did Helena know the Fitzlers before they departed? I'm guessing that Helena and Christina traveled to Antwerp together, along with others from the area. There are several names on this passenger list that appear later records of Marshall Co., where these two women settled.

Only sixteen days after their arrival, on 10 Jul 1858 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in LaSalle, IL. Christina married John SCHLOSSER and my great-great-grandparents married.

Did Helena SCHMITT come to America specifically to marry my great-great-grandfather? Had she known him back in Prussia? Or did Wymer's sister convince Helena to travel with her and marry her brother sight-unseen?

08 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 8

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:
March 8 — Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.

My mother has filled quite a number of journals and diaries. Quite a few of them cover the late 1980s and early 1990s after my parents sold their house, bought an RV and crisscrossed the country visiting friends and family. These will be a great resource to future generations of her descendants.

07 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 7

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:
March 7 — Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother’s kitchen. Why is this dish your favorite? If you don’t have one that’s been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family.

My favorite thing to eat in the whole world is my mother's chocolate chip cookies. She just uses the Tollhouse cookie recipe on the bag of chocolate chips. Some how she makes them come out perfect. The texture, the taste--perfect. With a glass of milk for dunking, I could eat them until I made myself sick.

06 March 2010

Surname Saturday - 11: Kennedy

Kennedy was the maiden name of my paternal grandmother's mother. My grandmother felt a strong connection to JFK and his family because of the possible relation. Since our Kennedys came from County Offaly and the famous Kennedys from County Wexford, we're probably not related.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)

10. Francis J. "Frank" KAIN (b. 14 Oct 1861 in Clinton Co., IA, m. 14 Feb 1888 at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA, d. 12 Dec 1930 in Yankton, Yankton Co., SD)
11. Margaret H. "Maggie" KENNEDY (b. 9 Sep 1864 in Clinton Co., IA, d. 8 Dec 1831 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

22. John KENNEDY (b. 2 Jun 1826? in King's County, Ireland, m. 10 Nov 1854 in ?, d. 6 Nov 1913 in Clinton, Clinton Co., IA)
23. Hanora COLLINS (b. 25 Mar 1830 in Glenbrohane, County Limerick, Ireland, d. 24 Nov 1888 in Clinton, Cinton Co., IA)


44. Michael KENNEDY (b. ? in Ireland, m. ? in ?, d. ? in ?)
45. Unknown NOLAURD? (b. ? in Ireland, d. ? in ?)

The name of John Kennedy's father and his mother's maiden name comes from a transcription of his death record found in the Clinton Library's genealogy department. The informant was John Sheppard, the husband of John Kennedy's neice, Anna (Kennedy) Sheppard. When he died, John was living with them across the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Clinton. I'm not sure how accurate the information is. I can find no record of anyone with a last name of Nolaurd in any on-line source.

The beginning of the information on John Kennedy came from two hand-written sheets of family history from his granddaughter Eileen Kennedy. John also has a brief biography in an 1879 history of Clinton County.

John Kennedy's birth year is a mystery. Most of the earlier census records point to 1825 or 1826. As he got older, it switched to 1820. His obituary used that date and list 93 years old. That is also the year used on his grave marker and on the death record.

Hanora was a widow with two young daughters when John married her. In his biography he gives the date of his marriage, but not the location. It may have been in Iowa, Illinois or Wisconsin.

Anna Kennedy's mother was very likely John's sister, Mary. She first married a Stephen Lawler in Chicago, then a John Kennedy in Clinton. Her obituary contradicts a lot of the information given by my great-great-grandfather in his bio. It also contradicts some of the census records. No surprise there. Lots of opportunities for further research into this line as a way of getting over this brick wall, just wish they didn't have such common Irish names in a heavily Irish place like Chicago.

The Kains and Kennedys had adjoining farms in Hampshire Township in Clinton County, just west of Lyons, IA. Frank and Maggie had known each other from childhood and were married on Valentine's Day, 1888 at St. Iraneaus Catholic Church in Lyons.

Fearless Females: Day 6

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:
March 6 - Describe an heirloom you may have inherited from a female ancestor (wedding ring or other jewelry, china, clothing, etc.) If you don’t have any, then write about a specific object you remember from your mother or grandmother, or aunt (a scarf, a hat, cooking utensil, furniture, etc.)

I have a cast iron frying pan that was my Grandma Julia's. I use it regularly. I also have a collection of Readers Digest humor from the 1950's that was hers. I used to love sitting and reading it when we visited her. It was my first introduction to the great essayist Robert Benchley.

05 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 5

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:
March 5 — How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?

My parents met when they were both working in a hardware store in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE. My mom was still in high school; I think my dad had recently graduated.

I'm not sure how my grandparents met. My paternal grandparents would have known each other through attendance at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE. They probably knew each other since childhood.

My maternal grandparents must have met when my grandfather arrived in Sheridan Co., NE. The Johnson family was in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE in the 1920 US Census. My grandfather arrived in the area some time between 1925, when he was listed in the SD Census, and 1929, when he married my grandmother. According to the article I posted yesterday my grandmother was living in Henning, Otter Tail Co., MN when she married. Her parents are listed there in the 1930 US Census.

I think I need to ask my mother a lot more questions.

04 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 4

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:
March 4 — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.

Let's see where I stand with having sources.

Grandparents
Joseph HUIGENS and Julia KAIN, 18 Nov 1914 probably at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creigton, Knox Co., NE. I do not have church or civil records for this marriage. I do have a picture, though.
Emery OGDEN and Esther JOHNSON, 19 Mar 1929 probably at Morse Memorial United Methodist Church in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE. Again, I don't yet have civil or church records for this marriage.


I have a newspaper clipping from the Rushville newspaper of 22 Mar 1929. The hand-written correction was made by my mother.




I also have a picture that was supposedly taken on their wedding day.

Great-grandparents
John HUIGENS and Mary FITZLER, 1 Feb 1884 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Henry, Marshall Co., IL. I don't have any church records for this marriage and I have a surplus of civil records. Many years ago my mother sent off for a Certificate of Record of Marriage from Marshall Co. The date on that is 29 Jan 1884. A few years ago, I also sent off for the same record. Ther version I received states 24 Jan 1884. Clearly the people who transcribed the record had different opinions on that one character. To add to the confusion, the wedding announcement from the Henry Republican on 7 Feb 1884 states "Married, in the city, Feb. 1, at the German Catholic Church, by the Reverend Father Hout, JOHN HIGGINS and Miss MARY FITZLER." So is the date on the original certificate the date they obtained the license? I need to get to the courthouse and see the original marriage license.

Frank KAIN and Maggie KENNEDY, 14 Feb 1888 at St. Irenaeus Catholic Church in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA. Again, no civil or church records. Not even a picture.

William OGDEN and 1) Mary HERREN, 25 Jan 1895 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, 2) Mary CHARBONEAU about 1939. No records or pictures for these either.

Gustaf JOHNSON and Rosabell STRAYER, 4 Sept 1899 in Rock Island Co., IL. No details and no church records, but I do have a marriage record index from an on-line database of Illinois marriages. And I have a picture.
So I really need to get busy gathering records, transcripts and originals at courthouses. I do have some church records and civil records for some of my great-great-grandparents.

03 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 3

Today's prompt for the Fearless Female Women's History blog challenge is:
"March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree."

None of my female ancestors was named Kevin. Not too surprising.

Most of the first names of my female ancestors are very commonplace. Lots of Mary's and Maria's and Anna's. Lots and lots of Anna's for some reason. Most of them German.

I'd have to say that the most unusual female first name is that of my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother, Alchey GARRISON. She was the mother of Elnathan MORRELL, who was the maternal grandfather of my great-great-grandfather, Robert OGDEN. That makes her #197 in my ahfentahl. This information came from on-line family trees and has not been verified.

I have no idea how to pronounce "Alchey." The only information we have for her is that she was born in 1750 in Peekskill, Weschester Co., NY and that she married Thomas MORRELL in 1767 there. That also came from on-line family trees and has not been independently verified.

02 March 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Esther Louise OGDEN

This is the grave marker for my maternal grandmother, Esther Louise (JOHNSON) OGDEN. She died in the Black Hills Rehabilitation Hospital, Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD. She is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE.

Fearless Females: Day 2

Today's prompt: Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?
This is a photo of my Swedish great-great-grandmother Christina Lotta Jonsdotter. She was born 4 Jul 1839 in Slottsbäcken, Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden and died on 10 Oct 1919 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE. She must have been living with her son, my great-grandfather's family when she died since Gust JOHNSON's family is in Gordon in the 1920 US Census.

Stina, as she was also called, arrived in New York on 25 Apr 1881 on the ship The City of Paris. She came to the New World with her husband, Carl Jacob JOHNSON, and their five children.

The photo was probably taken between 1890 and 1910 in Henry Co., IL. I like it because it shows that Stina was not a slave to fashion, but was a very practical woman. The photograph also has an ethnic feel to it. She may be in America, but she is still Swedish through and through.

01 March 2010

Fearless Females: Day 1

Lisa Alzo in her blog "The Accidental Genealogist" has suggested 31 daily prompts for National Women's History Month. The first prompt is:

"March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check."

My favorite female ancestor is my maternal grandmother, Julia Mary (KAIN) HUIGENS. This is a picture of us together when I was 15 months old. My birthday was two days before hers, so I felt a special connection to her growing up. All four of her grandparents were Irish immigrants, so it's also appropriate to honor her to kick off Irish-American Heritage Month.

What do I know about her? She was born 19 May 1894 in Knox Co., NE to Francis and Margaret "Maggie" (KENNEDY) KAIN. They were probably living around Bazille Mills when Julia was born. She was their second child. She is on the right in the picture below. Her brother Richard is in the back in the middle. Nora is the sister on the left and Francis Jr. is in the front in the middle.
She married Joseph Andrew HUIGENS on 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE.
They had 7 children, the youngest my father Joseph Anthony HUIGENS. The family moved west to Sheridan Co., NE in Jan 1926, about a year before my father was born.

My grandmother died at Parkview Nursing Home in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE on 29 Apr 1979, shortly before I graduated from college. I was unable to get home for her funeral, but I visit her grave every time I'm back in the area where I grew up.

What else would I like to know about her? Exactly where her family was living when she was born, where and how long she attended school, the cause of her death (I remember she was sick for a long time with some disease of the blood).

What is on my research list for her? Order the state death record for her, investigate church records from St. Ludgers in Creighton or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rushville, use Knox Co. land records to pinpoint where her family was in 1894, order her SS-5 application, get a copy of her marriage record from Knox Co., find out the location of where the family farmed in Sheridan Co. I also need to track down the photo I have of her grave marker.

27 February 2010

Surname Saturday - 9: Fitzler

This week's Surname Saturday is the first of the maiden names for my 4 great-grandmothers.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)

8. John Edward HUIGENS (b. 15 Jun 1862 near Henry, Marshall Co., m. 28 Jan 1884 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Henry, Marshall Co., IL, d. 12 Apr 1949 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)
9. Mary FITZLER (b. 22 Feb 1866 in Marshall Co., IL, d. 6 Feb 1949 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

18. Johan Wimer "Wymer" FITZLER (b. 23 Jul 1832 in Wolperath, Rhein Province, Prussia, m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, LaSalle, LaSalle Co., IL, d. abt 1888 in Marshall Co., IL)
19. Anna Helene SCHMITT (b. 17 Aug 1833 in Eischeid, Rhein Province, Prussia, d. 20 May 1904 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

36. Wimar FITZLER (b. 29 Dec 1774 in Wolperath, Palatinate, HRE, m. 25 Aug 1820 in Neunkirchen, Juelich-Cleves-Berg Province, Prussia, d. after 1834 in Prussia)
37. Anna Margaretha FELDER (b. 9 Apr 1798 in Wiescheid, Palatinate, HRE, d. after 1834 in Prussia)

72. Heinrich FITZLER (b. 11 Jan 1750 in Neukirchen, Palatinate, HRE, m. ? in ?, d. ? in ?)
73. Anna Margaretha SCHMITZ (b. 15 Sep 1760 in Neukirchen, Palatinate, HRE, d. ? in ?)

144. Johan Wilhelm FITZLER (b. 11 Dec 1718 in Neukirchen, Duchy of Berg, HRE, m. ? in ?, d. ? in ?)
145. Anna Maria SÖNTGERATH (b.11 Apr 1717 in Grossscheid, Duchy of Berg, HRE, d. 10 Feb 1774)

288. Bernard FITZLER (b. ? in ?, m. ? in ?, d. ? in Neunkirchen, Palatinate, HRE)
289. Christine ACKERMAN (b. 30 Mar 1693 in ?, d. 9 Nov 1747 in Neunkirchen, Palatinate, HRE)

Most of this information comes from Josef Schnieder's research in the records of the Catholic church in Neukirchen, Germany. I am indebted to James Mattern for sharing this with me several years ago.

The Fitzlers and Schmitts came from the Rheinland, southeast of Köln. Wymer and Anna Helene married in 1858, a few weeks after she arrived in this country. I don't yet know when he arrived. Anna came over with Wymer's sister, Anna Christina, who married Johan Schloesser at the same time as Wymer and Anna Helena. It's possible that these couples all knew each other back in the Old Country. They most likely left Prussia to escape the persecution of Catholics. I have not yet tracked down the details of Wymer's death. Family lore is that he fell from a bridge while drunk.

23 February 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Emery Julius OGDEN

This is the grave marker of my maternal grandfather, Emery Julius OGDEN. He was born near Elk Point, Union Co., SD and died in Bennet County Memorial Hospital in Martin, SD. He was 87 years old. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE. He earned the American Legion medallion by serving in the US Army near the end of World War I. He was stationed at Camp Funston in Kansas.

20 February 2010

Surname Saturday - 7: Johnson, et al.

JOHNSON was my maternal grandmother's maiden name. This name poses some problems because it is an Anglicized version of JOHANSSON and because following it back takes us out of the land of surnames and into the land of patronymics.

All of the information back in Sweden comes courtesy of my third-cousin Brenda in Seattle. I posted here about the work she is doing in Genline.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)

14. Gustav Adolph JOHNSON (b. 18 Aug 1867 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, m. 4 Sep 1899 in Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 25 Dec 1941 in Henning, Otter Tail Co., MN, USA)
15. Rosabell "Rose" STRAYER (b. 23 Aug 1872 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 7 May 1955 in Henning, Otter Tail Co., MN, USA)

28. Carl Jacob JOHNSON (b. 1 Jul 1832 in Vrångfall, Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, m. 4 Sep 18 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, d. 17 Oct 1915 in Orion, Henry Co., IL, USA)
29. Christina Lotta JÖNSDOTTER (b. 4 Jul 1839 in Slottsbäcken, Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, d. 10 OCt 1919 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA)

Here we leave surnames and start with patronymics.

56.Johan Peter KARLSSON (b. 19 Jul 1807 in Vrångfall, Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, m. 17 Nov 1830 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, d. 29 May 1852 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden)
57. Stina Greta JAKOBSDOTTER (b. 3 Oct 1806 in Hallingshult, Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, d. 30 May 1845 in Vrångfall, Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden)

112. Karl HINRICSSON (b. 21 Oct 1764 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, m. 26 Dec 1789 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden, d. 26 Mar 1827 in Locknevi, Kalmar, Småland, Sweden)
113. Stina JOHANSDOTTER (b. 17 Feb 1769 in ?, d. ?)

Because of patronymics we don't know Karl's father's last name, instead we only know his first name was Hinric. I wonder how DNA Surname projects work in Sweden? How does one know what last names to research?

13 February 2010

Surname Saturday - 5: Kain

This week I start on the maiden names for my grandmothers.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 9 Mar 1891 near Creighton, Knox Co., NE, m. 18 Feb 1914 at St. Ludgers Catholic Church in Creighton, Knox Co., NE, d. 8 Nov 1957 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 19 May 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 29 Apr 1979 in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE)


10. Francis J. "Frank" KAIN (b. 14 Oct 1861 in Clinton Co., IA, m. 14 Feb 1888 at St. Iraneaus Catholic Church in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA, d. 12 Dec 1930 in Yankton, Yankton Co., SD)
11. Margaret H. "Maggie" KENNEDY (b. 9 Sep 1864 in Clinton Co., IA, d. 8 Dec 1831 in Creighton, Knox Co., NE)

20. John KAIN (b. 11 Jun 1819 in Armagh, County Armagh, Ireland, UK, 2 Jul 1848 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in St. Louis, St. Louis Co., MO, d. 16 Nov 1893 in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA)
21. Mary FOX (b. 29 Sep 1823 in County Leitrim, Ireland, UK, d. 12 May 1890 in Lyons, Clinton Co., IA)


I'm not sure when John KAIN arrived in America from Ireland. The earliest record of him in America is his 1848 marriage in St. Louis, which I about in this post. The Armagh information comes from his grave marker. Neither his will, death record or obituary provide any clues to his ancestry. I need to track down his immigration papers for more detailed information on where he came from. There is an elderly David KAIN born in Ireland listed in the 1870 US Census on the farm of John's widowed sister-in-law. He might be a possible relative.


His son, Francis KAIN, was married on Valentine's Day 1888. He farmed for a few years in Plymouth Co. IA, near his brothers and his wife's brother. He moved to Knox Co., NE where my grandmother was born. He was active in the Knights of Columbus and represented Creighton, NE at several state conventions of that organization.

09 February 2010

Tombstone Tuesday: Joseph Andrew HUIGENS

For my first Tombstone Tuesday post, I'll start with the grave marker for my paternal grandfather, Joseph Andrew HUIGENS. He is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Rushville, Sheridan Co., NE.


My grandfather was born near Creighton in Knox Co., NE. He was named after his father's half-brother, Joseph WEND. He made his living as a farmer in Knox Co., NE and Sheridan Co., NE.

I was only six months old when he died, so I didn't have a chance to know him. Everyone says he had a great sense of humor. He passed that sense of humor on to my dad and I was also lucky enough to inherit it. I wish I had been able to get to know him.

06 February 2010

Surname Saturday - 3: Ogden

This week's surname is my mother's maiden name. The Ogden's are the Canadians in my ancestry. They were Loyalists who left New York for New Brunswick shortly after the end of the American Revolution. I wrote about my Loyalist ancestors in this post.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

6. Emery Julius OGDEN (b. 9 Sept 1896 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, m. 19 Mar 1929 in Gordon, Sheridan Co., NE, USA, d. 8 Apr 1984 in Martin, Bennett Co., SD, USA)
7. Esther Louise JOHNSON (b. 23 Feb 1902 in Milan, Rock Island Co., IL, USA, d. 24 Mar 1984 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)

12. William Fredrick OGDEN (b. 10 Oct 1871 in Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada, m. 25 Jan. 1895 in Elk Point, Union Co., SD, USA, d. 19 May 1951 in Platteville, Grant Co., WI, USA)
13. Mary Elizabeth HERREN (b. 22 Dec 1873 in Batavia, Scott Twp., Sheboygan Co., WI, USA, d. 14 Nov 1938 in Mission, Todd Co., SD, USA)

24. James Robert OGDEN (b. 9 Feb 1836 in New Brunswick, Canada, m. 12 Nov 1861 in Grey Co., Ontario, Canada, d. 6 Aug 1910 in Rapid City, Pennington Co., SD, USA)
25. Hannah GIBBON (b. 10 Feb 1837 in Chinguacousy, Peel Co., Ontario, Canada, d. 18 Apr 1927 in Denby, Shannon Co., SD, USA)

48. Robert OGDEN (b. abt 1807 in New Brunswick, Canada, m. 13 Jan 1825 in Kings Co., New Brunswick, Canada, d. 26 Jan 1892 in Bruce Co., Ontario, Canada)
49. Frances Amelia MORRELL (b. abt 1809 in Canada, d. 1881)

96. Jonathon OGDEN (b. 1748 in NY, m1. before 1794 to Millie Whitlock in ?, m2. 20 Oct 1801 to Mary Clark in Gagetown, Queens Co., New Brunswick, Canada, d. 14 Nov 1845 in Greenwich, Kings Co., New Brunswick, Canada)
97. Mary CLARK (b. 1765 in ?, d. Aug 1846 in Greenwich, Kings Co., New Brunswick, Canada)

192. Michael OGDEN (b. 1703 in Rye, Westchester Co., NY, m. ?, d. 30 Mar 1790 in Queens Co., New Brunswick, Canada)
193. Jane BLOOMER (b. 1725 in ?, d. ?)

384. John Ogden (b. 1672 in Rye, Westchester Co., NY, m. ?, d. 1746 in North Castle, Westchester Co., NY)
385. Susanah DUNSCOMBE (b. ?, d. 8 Nov 1869 in North Castle, Westchester Co., NY, d. 17 Apr 1687 in Rye, Westchester Co., NY)

768. John OGDEN (b. 3 Sept 1600? in England, UK, m. 19 Apr 1865 in Stamford, Fairfield Co., CT d. 1682 in Rye, Westchester Co., NY)
769. Judith BUDD (b. 4 Jun 1639 Southold, Suffolk Co., NY, d. 17 Apr 1687 in Rye, Westchester Co., NY)

There are OGDEN family trees that go for generations and generations back in England. Unfortunately they are all based on "The Ogden Family in America, Elizabethtown Branch, and Their English Ancestry: John Ogden, the Pilgrim and His Descendants, 1640-1906, Their History."This bogus family history is based on work done by the infamous genealogy fraud Gustave Anjou (original name Gustaf Ludvig Ljungberg). According to this book, my ancestor John OGDEN, known as John Ogden of Rye, was the first cousin of John Ogden the Pilgrim. John the Pilgrim has many,many descendants, some of them quite famous. Lord knows if the two men were really related and I am really related to all of these famous people.

Some of the details above are still subject to verification. I'm still not sure about the connections between Robert OGDEN and Jonathon OGDEN and that between 384. John OGDEN and 768. John OGDEN.

30 January 2010

Surname Saturday - 1:Huigens

Wow, has it really been that long since my last post? My research kinda got sidetracked by the holidays. In order to increase my blog-rate, I'm going to try and participate in some of the standard genealogy blogging themes.

One of the ways I organize my research is by surnames. I had the insight a while back that new surnames appear in an ahfentahl on the odd-numbered people, which are the females. Kind of obvious since each woman brings a new maiden name to the family tree. (This ignores the problems introduced by Swedish patronymics, but I'll deal with that when I get to it.)

So first up in my surname list is my surname: HUIGENS.

1. Kevin Joseph HUIGENS

2. Joseph Anthony HUIGENS
3. Shirley Ann OGDEN

4. Joseph Andrew HUIGENS (b. 1891 in Knox Co., NE, d. 1957 in Sheridan Co., NE)
5. Mary Julia KAIN (b. 1896 in Knox Co., NE, d. 1979 in Sheridan Co., NE)

8. John Edward HUIGENS (b. 1862 in Marshall Co., IL, d. 1949 in Knox Co., NE)
9. Mary FITZLER (b. 1866 in Marshall Co., IL, d. 1949 in Knox Co., NE)

16. And here is where it gets tricky. (b. 1827 in Holland, Netherlands, d. 1864 in Marshall Co.,IL)
17. Catherine TOEMMES (b. 1827 in Trassem, Saarburg, Trier, Prussia, d. 1899 in Morgan Co., IL)

I've written before about the difficulties surrounding my Dutch great-great-grandfather's name here. His first name was most likely "Evert" or "Everett." This was Anglicized to "Edward" and Germanized to "Eberhard." His name on the index card to his naturalization papers in the NARA's Soundex Naturalization Index (Microfilm Publication M1285) is "Evert HEUIGEN." His name on his grave marker is "Eberhard HEIGENS." This information was probably provided by his German-born wife. Edward was my great-grandfather's middle name and both he and his brother named a son Edward.

If my great-great-grandparents followed traditional naming patterns, Evert's parents' names would be "Bernard" and "Maria." Their first born daughter was named Mary Julia. This matches my great-great-grandmother, Maria (SCHMITT) TOEMMES. Their first son was named Bernard. Their second son, my great-grandfather, was named John which would match my great-great-grandmother's father, Johann TOEMMES. His second daughter, known only through a baptism record discussed here, was named Maria. They named his first daughter and second son after Katherine's parent's, so it is likely that his first son and second daughter were named after his parents. So #32 in my afentahl is most likely Bernard HUIGEN.

Future research plans for this family line include obtaining Evert's naturalization papers, land records and probate records from the court house in Lacon, Marshall Co., IL. I'm hoping to find some trace of relatives or details of where he came from other than just the imprecise "Holland." It would be great if he signed his naturalization papers legibly. Most likely, I'll just find more variations on his name.