Americana, and the icons that represent us!

Reblogged from 1st Sense Photography:

I have always been a fan of American Nostalgia, and what better way to start a blog today than talk about America. Today April 15 , 2013 We as a nation were once again attacked on our own soil. Yet we do not know whether it was a terrorist attack, or a person just trying to gain notoriety by doing something that would harm innocent people.

Read more… 465 more words

Read my Son's blog. He usually writes about photography, but it's a little different this time after the bombings in Boston. Ienjoyed it, but then I am his mother.

Aunt Liz’ Secret Life

Aunt Liz is the smaller one.

 

My grandmother had three aunts, her mother’s sisters, Aunt Liz, Aunt Emma, and Aunt Agnes.  I had the privilege to know all of them, some better than others.  Today I’m writing about Aunt Liz as I think she is the most colorful one of the three or led the most secretive life.

Aunt Liz was born Elizabeth Reinhardt on February 10, 1881 in Amana, Iowa[1].  Two Years later the family moved to Ottawa, Illinois.[2]  Aunt Liz had two brothers and four sisters.[3]  Her father worked as a shoemaker and owned a shop in Ottawa.[4]

I knew Aunt Liz probably the best out of the three.  She lived in Ottawa, Illinois with family friends.  We would go down to Ottawa from Villa Park, IL several times a year to visit Aunt Liz.  My parents and grandparents were friends with the family she was living with, and I was friends with their daughter who was near my age.  I went down there for a week or two every summer to visit my friend.  Of course, Aunt Liz was there, and I would talk with her.  This was long before my interest in genealogy so we never talked about her family or her parents.  By the time I knew her she was old, and I would have never imagined that she was a sort of rebel in her youth.

It was always known in the family that Aunt Liz had an illegitimate son, Milton. I wrote about Milton on my blog dated January 14, 2013.  Milton was born in 1900[5] and Aunt Liz kept Milton and raised him.  Unfortunately, Milton died at the young age of 17.[6]  I had heard about her son Milton, but thought OK she made a mistake so what.  I knew she married later and was married a long time, but never had any more children or so I thought.

While researching Milton, I remembered my grandmother talking about how Aunt Liz went to California to visit her daughter.  I’m not sure of time frame, but I estimate that it was around 1964 or 65.  My grandmother was shocked to learn that Aunt Liz had a daughter. Everyone who knew Aunt Liz was surprised to hear that she had a daughter.

I decided to look for information on this child.  I found that she did have another child born in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois. The father is listed as Timothy Farrell on the birth record, and she named the daughter Helen.[7]  I found this strange because Aunt Liz was married to Timothy Farrell.  So why didn’t she keep her?  Now I needed to find out when she got married to Timothy.  The search continued on, and I found she married Tim in 1920.[8]  Now my question was why did she wait until 1920 to marry Tim?  I thought maybe he was married.   I next search the census records for 1910 and he was single, I found him on the 1900 census also single.[9] [10] I found her on the 1900 and 1910 census listed as single also.[11] [12] They lived a couple of blocks apart in Ottawa.  Why did she give up this child and not marry the father when she found out she was pregnant?  She kept one child, but not the other.  I find this odd.  I don’t know if I will ever know the answer.  I continued to search for Helen Farrell.  I found her on the 1920 census living at the Mary A. Judy Industrial School for Girls in Middlefork, Vermillion, Illinois.[13]  An Internet search turned up that the school was for girls who were having a hard time adjusting to foster care or had difficult family situations.[14]  I lose Helen after that.  She probably married, but I have no idea where or to whom and there are a lot of Helen Farrell’s.

In the mean time, my son, who into photography, found a picture I had of Aunt Liz when she was 18 years old with some things I have of hers.  She is in a fancy gown standing on a winding stair case.  It looked like it had been cut out of magazine because it was on magazine type paper.  Someone had written on the photograph Elizabeth age 18. My son knew someone who was into period clothing, and asked her to date the picture.  She said it looked like it was from around 1900 and it wasn’t the kind of dress that you would wear on the street.  It was more like a theatrical dress.  Aunt Liz would have been 18 in 1899.  So this information was correct.  Maybe the picture was from a play bill. What was she doing in play?  What was the play?  What part did she play?  These questions are still unanswered.  She never said anything about being in play to me, and I don’t remember any one else in the family talking about it.

Aunt Liz in theatrical dress

 

I kept on searching the Internet and found that a Thomas Farrell owned a theater in Ottawa, Illinois.[15]  Now things were starting to make more sense.  At first I thought this was Timothy’s brother because on the census records he had a brother Thomas.[16]  But then when I researched the Thomas Farrell who owned the theater his age didn’t match Timothy’s brother Thomas.[17] Perhaps the Thomas Farrell that owned the theater is an uncle or cousin.  I do feel that they are connected somehow. Maybe Aunt Liz knew Timothy Farrell and this helped her get a part in a play or maybe she met him because she was performing at this theater.  Maybe it was neither.

After Aunt Liz married Timothy Farrell in 1920,[18] they lived in Chicago;[19] and they were married until Timothy died in 1947.[20]  Aunt Liz died on 5 August 1966[21] and is buried in the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery in Ottawa, La Salle, Illinois along side her husband Timothy Farrell and son Milton[22]

Aunt Liz 1963 or 64

Copyright © 2013 Gail Grunst

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[1] Birth record for Elizabeth Reinhardt.  Iowa County Births 1880 – 1835 Index, (https//Familysearch.org)

[2] Family story that they left Amana, Iowa in 1883.  Told to author by her grandmother Helen Bower’s Kaiser in 1979.

[3] Census Record for Elizabeth Reinhardt, parent, brothers & sisters.  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry Operations Inc, 2004.  Original Data:  United States of America Bureau of the Census.  Twelfth Census of the United States 1900.  Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Record Administration, 1900. T623. 1854 rolls.

[4] Death Record for Conrad John Reinhardt 6 July 1922, Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, Registration number 17200.

[5] “ Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916 – 1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3ZX-9YT): Milton Reinhardt 28 Mar 1918: citing reference FHL microfilm 1544185

[6] “ Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916 – 1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3ZX-9YT): Milton Reinhardt 28 Mar 1918: citing reference FHL microfilm 1544185

[7] Birth record for Helen Farrell 29 May 1905, Illinois, Cook County Birth Certificates, 1878 – 1922.  Department of Health, City of Chicago.

[8] “Illinois cook county Marriages 1871 – 1920” index. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org).  Timothy Farrell and Elizabeth Reinhardt 4 October 1920.

[9] “United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org), Timothy Farrell in the household of Elizabeth Farrell (sister).  Ottawa Ward 5, La Salle, Illinois; citing sheet 14A, Family 291, NARA Microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374314.

[10] “United States Census 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch(https:familysearch.org), Timothy Farrell in entry for James Farrell, 1900.  United States Census 1900, Illinois, LaSalle, ED 77 Ottawa Township, OttawaCity Ward 5, Image 6 of 34

[11] 1900 Census entry for Elizabeth Reinhardt.  Ancestry.com. 1900 Untied States Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations  Inc, 2004.  Original Data:  United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900.  Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623 of 1854 rolls.

[12] 1910 Census entry for Elizabeth Reinhardt. Year: 1910; Census Place: Ottawa Ward 5, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll T624_301; Page: 11 A; Enumeration District: 0129; Image: ; FHL microfilm 1374314.

[13] 1920 Census entry for Helen Farrell ; Middlefork, Vermillion, Illinois; Roll T625 412; Page 14A; Enumeration District: 194; Image: 418.  Ancestry.com. 1920 Untied States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.  Images reproduced by FamilySearch

[14] Mary A. Judy Industrial School for Girls. http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id884.html

[15] Ottawa Illinois in 1900; Ottawa, Illinois; E. A. Nattinger Thomas Farrell, page 122.  Reprint by the LaSalle County Illinois Genealogical Guild. 1995 Google books http://books.google.com

[16] “United States Census 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch(https:familysearch.org), Timothy Farrell in entry for James Farrell, 1900.  United States Census 1900, Illinois, LaSalle, ED 77 Ottawa Township, OttawaCity Ward 5, Image 6 of 34

[17] 1900 United States Census entry for Thomas Farrell. Year: 1900; Census Place:  Ottawa Ward 2, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll 317; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0074; FHL microfilm: 1240317.  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Cencus [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:  Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2004

[18] “Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871 – 1929” Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org) Timothy and Elizabeth Reinhardt, 04 Oct 1920.

[19] 1940 United States Census entry for Timothy and Elizabeth Farrell.  Year: 1940; Census Place:  Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T627 947; Page 15 A; Enumeration District:  103-865.  Ancestry.com.  1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line].  Provo, UT, USA:  Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

[20] “Illinois, Death and Stillbirths, 1916 – 1947” index, FamilySearch (Https://familysearch.org) Timothy J. Farrell 21 May 1947.

[21] Death record for Elizabeth Farrell.  Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois Death Index 1908 – 1988 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

[22] Personal knowledge of author from being at funeral in 1966 and visiting graves whenever I am in Ottawa, Illinois.

An Ordinary Life

The other day, I was having a conversation with a friend about family stories.  She told me that her grandmother had written her life story.  I thought that was so neat, and wished just one of my ancestor’s had written their life story or kept a diary.  She stated that she couldn’t do this because her life is just ordinary, and therefore, she had nothing to write about.  I told her that isn’t true.  Everyone thinks their life is ordinary, but there is plenty to write about.

Just think about it, our kids don’t know what it was like to grow up in the 50’s, 60’s let alone our grandchildren or their children someday.  Think how nice that would be for them to read about your ordinary life in the 50’s.  They don’t know about some of the things that we had in our lives or didn’t have in our lives.  Tell them about the milkman coming and your mother leaving empty bottles for him to pick up with a note in the empty bottle for what she wanted next.  My mother would put the money she owed him in an envelope and put it in the empty bottle with it sticking up enough that he could get it out.  We didn’t have two cars so we would walk to the A & P.  My kids never heard of an A & P or a National Food Store.  One day I mentioned a dime store to my grandson and he said, “What’s a dime store?” I had to explain that it was like a dollar store today.  Actually, I think the dime stores were better.  What about soda fountains in drug stores, you don’t see those around now.  The library was actually a library where you went for books and were told to be quiet.  Now it’s not just for books, but for videos, video games, Cd’s, computer, Internet, programs, etc., and your not told to be quiet.  Television was new then too, just black and white, a tiny screen, and 3 or 4 stations.  I remember thinking that Milton Berle was my Uncle because my dad always said it was time for “Uncle Milty”.   I found out he wasn’t my uncle when I asked my mother why we never saw him and why he was never at grandma’s on holidays.  What about going to the dime store for penny candy?  Where I lived there were little mom and pop stores in almost every neighborhood.  My mom sent me to one near us with a note that she wanted some napkins.  I was about eight years old and I thought I was old enough to buy napkins without a note.  I argued with my mom that I didn’t need a note.  She said, “Just give Eleanor the note.”  When I got there, I asked for napkins and did not give her the note.  When I got home and gave my mother the napkins, she said to me, “You did not give Eleanor the note did you?”  I shook my head no.  What she really wanted was Kotex.  When my brother was little, he found the box of Kotex and thought they were bandages.  He played doctor or Veterinarian with the family dog and bandaged up the dog with Kotex.  My mom would send me to the store with a note for cigarettes. You can’t do that today! Write about your friends, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and first boyfriend. Write about holiday traditions, birthday parties, picnics, your house, and your room.  You could write about how you met your spouse and your wedding day.  I could go on and on, but this gives you an idea about the ordinary things you can write about.  Just stop and think about your life, and it will help you recall the funny and sad events in your life.

Write about the historical events that happened in your life time.  For me it is the assassination of President Kennedy, first man in space, first man to orbit the earth, first man on the moon, Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy.  I lived through these things and many more.  My kids and grand kids only read about them in history books.  Wouldn’t it be nice for them to read about what we were doing when these things happened, what we thought about them, and how these events affected us?  I have started my life story, and I hope this inspires you to start writing your life story too.

A Typical Day for a Farm Kid a Hundred Years Ago

Reblogged from A Hundred Years Ago:

17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today: 

Wednesday, February 26, 1913:  We practiced tonight.

Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:

Grandma was referring to play practice. She had the role of Chloe, the servant, in the class play.

Here’s my best guess as to what Grandma’s schedule looked like on this date a hundred years ago:

Read more… 207 more words

I always enjoy reading her blog and her grandmother's journal entries. Interesting to read what someone was doing 100 years ago. This is a must read blog!

Remembering Riverview

Postcard photo of the Midway at Riverview Park, Chicago circa 1909.

This media file is in the public domain in the United States. This applies to U.S. works where the copyright has expired, often because its first publication occurred prior to January 1, 1923. See this page for further explanation.

Today there are amusement parks through out the country with extreme rides.  They are great, and I have enjoyed visiting several of them.  When I was growing up the amusement park of the time in Chicago was Riverview. Going to Riverview was the big treat of the summer.  It was family tradition to go to Riverview.  It opened on 1908 so my grandparents and parents went when they were young.  I usually managed to go several times each summer.  I believe we spent around $5.00 to go.  They charged by the ride.  You paid only for the rides you went on.  They ran anywhere from 5 cents to 25 cents.

My father took me on my first roller coaster ride (the Greyhound) when I was five years old.  After that I went on the Blue Steak,  Fireball, Comet, and Bobs. The roller coasters were my favorite ride.  You could ride them again and again without getting off.  You just paid the attendant and rode again.  I remember going with my cousin and her boyfriend.  She didn’t like riding roller coasters so her boyfriend and I rode all of them several times in a row.  I went with my parents, girl friends, cousin, and aunt throughout the summer.

My aunt took me on the Bobs roller coaster the first time and on the parachutes the first time too.  I also liked the Chute to Chutes (a water ride).  They had the usual rides Tilt-a-whirl, Whip, Merry-go-round, and Ferris wheel.  Some of my other favorites were the Water Bug, Boomerang, Caterpillar, Tunnel-of-love, Bumper Cars, Train, Riverboat, Wild Mouse coaster.   There was a fun house called Aladdin’s Castle, arcades, and a freak show. There were many more rides and other things to do.

Unless you grew up in or near Chicago and went to Riverview you won’t understand its charm. It was torn down in 1967 with little notice to the public.  Everyone missed their last chance to go one more time.  A few weeks ago a friend sent me a link to the best Riverview site.  This site describes Riverview better than I ever could.  Plus there are pictures and videos.  If you are a Riverview fan go to this site and enjoy the memories.  If not, go there anyway and see what you missed!

http://www.fengerjune1958.com/member_survey_form.cfm?SurveyID=15049#ReturnToIndex

Copyright © 2013 Gail Grunst

Meeting Uncle Donnie

My father had a brother who was mentally challenged.  Back when my father was growing up the term used was mentally retarded.  His brother, Donnie, was 14 years younger than him.  I don’t know if Donnie was born that way or if something happened after birth.  This was in the 1930’s, and they did not know as much as they do today on how to treat people with mental retardation.  He lived at home with my grandparents, and my grandmother did the best she knew how.  My grandmother died the year before I was born so I never knew her.  When she died, my grandfather had to make a tough decision of what to do with Donnie.  He had to go to work and could not leave him at home alone.  He could not afford to have someone come in and take care of him.  He had Donnie put into a state mental hospital.  My father and grandfather would go visit him regularly.  Then in 1955 my grandfather died.  After that my mother and father would go see Donnie and send him clothes and things.  As a little girl, I would ask to go along.  My parents always refused to take me.  My father said “You never know what these people are going to do”, and he didn’t think it was safe to take me.   He told some horror stories of what he saw when he went there.  After many years went by, my mom and dad quit going.  My father claimed that Donnie didn’t even know him anymore.  I asked why he couldn’t live with us.  My dad explained that Donnie couldn’t be left alone.  You never knew what he was going to do. He could set the house on fire, or hurt my brother or me.  He could not use the washroom on his own. There were more reasons, but now I can’t remember all of them.

In 1984 my dad passed away and my mother followed in 1987.  My brother and I had never met Donnie, and by this time it had been so long since my parents had visited that we didn’t even know where he was at.  We didn’t know how to go about finding him.  For ten years after my mother’s death, we didn’t try to find him.  Then one day my brother was going through some papers of my mothers, and he found some information that told what state hospital Donnie was in.  He contacted the hospital and Donnie was no longer there, but they were able to tell my brother that Donnie was still alive and where he was now residing.  My brother then called the hospital where Donnie resided, and he was told that Donnie was doing OK.  They invited us to come see him.  They seemed thrilled to find out that this man had a family.

In April of 1997 my brother and I made a day trip to see Donnie, and I met my uncle for the first time.  He looked at us with curiosity.  His nurse told him we were his family.  He shook our hands, and we sat on a porch.  He had a hard time communicating.  But you could see he was taking in everything.  I think he knew way more that he was able to communicate.  I asked him questions which he couldn’t answer, and told him that I was his Brother George’s daughter.  He repeated, “George”.  I told him George was in heaven with his mother and father.  He seemed to understand.  I asked him if he watched baseball and did he like the Cubs.  He said, “The Cubs suck.”  He would make hand motions when he wanted something.  He started pulling on his shirt and trying to unbutton it.  I asked him if he was uncomfortable and he said, “The shirt sucks.”  He also said a few swear words that came out clear.  Other than that most of what he said, I could not understand.  But I felt we made a connection with him.  I asked him if he could give me a hug and he did.  When he was given commands he obeyed them.  He knew what was being said to him.  He was able to go to the bathroom by himself and keep himself clean.  They told us if we came back to bring pictures of my dad and grandparents.  He resembled my father and was a kind man.  He was not as bad off as my father had told us.  Maybe it was because they knew more in recent years on how to help people with mental disabilities.  The administrator showed us his records going back to when he was admitted in 1946.  We did go back many times after that day, and brought my husband and children.  We went there for special events like Christmas parties, picnics, etc. We brought pictures of my dad and grandparents.  He ran his fingers over the picture of my dad and said, “George”.   I brought a picture of his mother and he said, “Ma”.  Another time he told me that his mother was with God.  He made me tear up many, many times.   Donnie would tear up when he saw us.  So I believe he knew we were his family.  My brother brought him a video of trains because we remembered my father saying he liked trains, and my father would take him to the train yards to look at the trains. I looked forward to each visit.  I had fallen in love with my Uncle Donnie.  Unfortunately, Donnie had a heart attack and died in 2002 at 68 years old.  The hospital had a memorial service for him.  I was unable to attend because I had Pneumonia at the time, but my brother went to it.  I am happy that I was able to know him and have five wonderful years with my Uncle Donnie.  I loved him so much!

Coopyright © Gail Grunst 2013

Honoring Ancestors who died too young: Milton Reinhardt

Milton Reinhardt was the illegitimate son of my great-great Aunt Elizabeth Reinhardt[1].  Milton was born on December 5, 1900[2], and to Elizabeth’s credit she kept him and raised him.  I haven’t found a birth certificate for Milton.  His death certificate lists a William Reinhardt as the father[3], however I doubt there was ever a William Reinhardt that fathered this child.  It was well known among family that Milton was the “illegitimate” son of Elizabeth.  Illegitimate was a term used then to describe a child born to an unwed mother. On the 1910 census Milton is listed as living in the same household as his mother and grandparents, but is listed as the son of the grandparents not the grandson.[4]  Perhaps the truth was known among family members, but not to the outside world.  I think if neighbors and acquaintances knew this it might have been the talk of the town in 1900.  So perhaps it was kept quiet.  I found a letter that Milton wrote his mother on July 8, 1917 from Chicago.[5]  His mother was living in Ottawa, Illinois at that time.[6]  I am attaching a copy of the letter in this post.  I don’t know how easy it will be to read. So I will transcribe it here.

Chicago, Ill

July 8, 1917

 Dear Ma,

 Received the letter with the two boxes.  I was at Municipal Pier today with Doc and Ralph and had a fine time.  I’ve got a $3 Brownie Camera it’s a good one and took 12 pictures.  I was in the big music hall listening to a concert and I met Charlie Rude.  I took his picture a couple of times.  Ralph and I are going over to Charlie’s Tuesday eve.  I was at Madison, Wisc. working with Al.  I didn’t take anything because he paid my expenses and had a good time.  Agnes wants me to stay awhile and take a ride with her and Charles.  Did not here from Brownie yet.  Are all the bunch working .  I suppose I’ll have to loaf around again when I get back.  I don’t know for sure yet what day I’ll be back.  Ralph is coming down in a few weeks and try to get a job.  I hate to go back to Ottawa.  That pier certainly is great.  There’s about 2000 soldiers on the pier camping.  Charlie Rude says would do better if I worked up here this summer.  I wish I had more money to get films.  I haven’t got much left to spend.  Will write soon and keep Kaiser tied up.  Don’t borrow the wheel.  Tell Tom to answer that letter.  Well I guess that’s all I can say.  Ralph comes over nearly every night so it’s not dull.  Write soon.

 

                                                                           With Love,

                                                                           Milton

 

I tried to transcribe it as written with mistakes and all.  Every time I tried to write this story I would get sidetracked tracing the people in the letter.  Agnes is Elizabeth’s sister[7] and I wonder if he was staying with her, it sounds that way.  Ralph is Milton’s cousin[8].  My grandmother, her brother Ralph, and her sister were all near or the same age as Milton.  My grandmother loved Milton.  She thought the world of him and described him as a “wonderful boy”.  I do not recognize the other names in the letter.

The family story goes that Milton returned to Ottawa, Illinois and fell doing some kind of work.  He told his mother he didn’t feel well and soon after that died.  I have to admit that I haven’t bothered to get his death certificate so I don’t know his official cause of death.  It’s on my to do list. The information I have from his death certificate is from FamilySearch index and it does not give the cause of death (see footnotes 2 & 3) but it really doesn’t matter what the cause of death, the fact is he died too young.  He died on March 28, 1918 at 17 years old[9].  His mother married in 1920 at age 39.  Aunt Liz as I knew her lived to be old and died when I was 19 years old.[10]  She had quite a colorful and secret life.  Someday I will write about her life before and after Milton.

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[1] Family story told to author many times from 1960 – 1981 by Helen Bowers Kaiser (niece of Elizabeth Reinhardt).

[2] “ Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916 – 1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3ZX-9YT): Milton Reinhardt 28 Mar 1918: citing reference FHL microfilm 1544185

[3] “ Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916 – 1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3ZX-9YT): Milton Reinhardt 28 Mar 1918: citing reference FHL microfilm 1544185

[4]  Year: 1910; Census Place: Ottawa Ward 5, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll T624_301; Page: 11 A; Enumeration District: 0129; Image: ; FHL microfilm 1374314.

[5] Letter written to Elizabeth Reinhardt, 630 Washington Street, Ottawa, IL from Milton Reinhardt, Chicago, IL, dated July 8, 1917.  In possession of author since 1980 to present 2013.  Originally found in the home of Helen Bowers Kaiser niece of Elizabeth Reinhardt 1980.

[6] [6] Letter written to Elizabeth Reinhardt, 630 Washington Street, Ottawa, IL from Milton Reinhardt, Chicago, IL, dated July 8, 1917.  In possession of author since 1980.  Originally found in the home of Helen Bowers Kaiser niece of Elizabeth Reinhardt 1980

[7] Year: 1910; Census Place: Ottawa Ward 5, LaSalle, Illinois; Roll T624_301; Page: 11 A; Enumeration District: 0129; Image: ; FHL microfilm 1374314.

[8] First hand knowledge of the relationship of Milton to Ralph by Helen Bowers Kaiser and told author many times from 1960 – 1981.

[9] “ Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916 – 1947,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3ZX-9YT): Milton Reinhardt 28 Mar 1918: citing reference FHL microfilm 1544185

[10] Elizabeth Farrell died 5 August 1966 from date book of Helen Bowers Kaiser.  Now in possession of author 2013.

Copyright © 2013 Gail Grunst

Finding Brother William

Picture from:

Henley B. J., The Art of Longevity (Google eBook) (Syracuse, N.Y, 1911), p. 222.

I always wondered how or why my Great-Great Grandfather, Charles Bowers, ended up in Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois.  His Obituary in 1897 said he had two brothers, Robert and William, living in Syracuse, New York[1].  I did find a Robert living in Syracuse in 1900[2] and Richard Bowers[3] living in Syracuse, New York in 1892, but no William.  I often wondered if Richard was William.  Maybe William was his middle name.  I gave up looking for William and thought perhaps the newspaper or person giving the information had it wrong.

A while ago I ordered microfilm from the Family History Library in Utah to look for my great-great grandfather Charles Bower’s baptism on 2 October 1828 in England.[4]  I knew it was there from the online index.  When I got the microfilm reels of the church records it covered the years 1772 – 1905.  I started looking for anyone and everyone with the last name Bowers.  I found my third great grandparents Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford marriage which stated that Eliza was a widow.[5]   I also found baptism records for a Richard,[6] Robert[7] and Eliza Bowers[8] born to Bonnet and Eliza Bowers.  I never found a William Bowers that was a son of Bonnet and Eliza.  Along the way, I found Eliza in the marriage banns to Robert Linford.[9]  I also found two children she had with her first husband.  William was baptized 28 August 1811,[10] and Elizabeth was baptized November 30, 1814.[11] I made copies of all the pages that listed these events.  I then came home and entered the Bowers information into my family tree.  I filed the papers in my file cabinet under their family name and moved on to another branch.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to start scanning documents that I have collected over the years into my computer.  I started with the Bowers folder because it is the first one in my file cabinet.  As I was scanning them into the computer, I was looking over them again, when I came across the name William Linford born in 1811 to Eliza and her first husband.[12]  I guess it pays to take a second look at documents because at that moment it struck me that if William lived he would be a step brother to my great-great grandfather Charles.  Could this be the brother William mentioned in the Obituary?  The next thing I did was a search on William Linford.  The first thing in that popped up was the 1850 census which had a William Linfor (spelled without the d) living in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[13]  So this was most likely brother, William, and this why Charles ended up in Ottawa, Illinois.  Finding out why Charles ended up in Ottawa, Illinois was a thrill for me.  Now I wonder what drew William to Ottawa, Illinois.

I continued to search for William Linfor(d) and found out the following information. He married Dinah Essaby in 1833.[14]  They had four children John 1837, William 1840, Sarah 1844, Robert 1846.[15]  They came to the US 22 August 1849 and to Ottawa, Illinois on 1 October 1849.[16]  In 1851 William applied for citizenship and in 1854 he became a citizen of the United States.[17]  He worked as a Sexton at the West Ottawa Cemetery until the family moved to Section 20 in Allen Township, LaSalle County, Illinois in 1856.  William farmed the land until 1879 when Dinah died and he moved to Syracuse, New York.[18]

In 1911 William Linfor was living at 1516 Grape Street in Syracuse, New York.  At the age of 99 he was just beginning to carry a cane.  The previous winter he was seen climbing a ladder to clean snow the roof of his house.  He attributed his long life to never eating beyond what he knew he could digest.  He was still in possession of all his faculties except his hearing.[19] William Linfor died on 28 January 1912 of pleurisy at the ripe old age of 100.[20] 

John served in the Civil War, and upon return home he continued to live and work on the family farm.  In 1865 he married Martha E. Patton, and they had two children, Flossie E. and Ida L.  Flossie married John Blair of Allen Township and they had one Child, Flossie.  Ida L. married Otto Strobel also of Allen Township and they had two children Martha C. and William O.[21]

Robert also served in the Civil War. After the war he returned home to farm with John.  In 1875 Robert started farming his own tract of 160 acres.  In 1867 he married Cynthia Alice Isgrig, and they had four children Carrie, Lottie, John W, Mabel.  Carrie married West Grant of Chicago, Illinois and Lottie married A. Berge of Allen Township. [22] 

William (Son) moved to Walnut, Iowa and married Lodema.  They had five children Cora S, William G, Robert, Charles, and Claud.[23] [24] 

Sarah Linfor Golder died in Kansas in 1873.[25]

There is still more searching to do as I would like to continue down to today’s descendants.

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[1] Obituary for Charles Bowers; Republican Times  (Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois) 18 February 1897.

[2]United States Census; Year: 1900; Place: Village of Danforth, Onondaga, New York; enumeration District: 161 District 2 Scyracuse City Ward 19, Onondaga, New York; Page: 3B; Family; 63; NARA Publication Film T623; Microfilm: 1241138.

[3]New York State Census; Year 1892; Place: Syracuse, Onondaga, New York; Ward: 7; enumeration District: 9; Image: 10.

[4] Baptism Record for Charles Bowers 2 October, 1828; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptisms 1813 – 1841 Vol 3, Page 112, No 891;  Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[5] Marriage Record for Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford  7 April 1822; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Marriages 1813 – 1838 volume 4 Page 35; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed August 1988, film #13640109, film unit ser no 2161 MCD 2 Roll #11.

[6] Baptism Record for Richard Bowers 28 April 1822; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptism 1813 – 1841 Vol e, Page 68, No 539; ;  Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[7] Baptism Record for Robert Bowers 25 February 1825; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptism 1813 – 1841 Vol 3 Page 90 No 713; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[8] Baptism Record for Eliza Bowers 18 June 1827; Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Baptism 1813 – 1841 Vol 3 Page 105 No 835; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[9] Marriage Banns for Robert Linford and Elizabeth Huggleson dated 7 day October 1810, 14 October, 1810, and 21 October 1810, Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers, Banns 1806 – 1905, Item 4, Vol. 1, Page 8, no 39; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at the Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, cambs; filmed 9 August 1988, film #13640109, film unit ser. No 2161 MCD 2, Roll # 12

[10] Baptism for William Linford 28 August 1811; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812  Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5.

[11] Baptism Record for Elizabeth Linford 30 November 1814; Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Registers Baptisms 1813 – 1841 Vol 3, # 114; Microfilmed by Genealogical Society Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs; filmed 26 July 1988, film #13640109, film Unit 2161, MCD 2, Roll # 5.

[12] Baptism for William Linford 28 August 1811; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812  Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[13]  Year: 1850; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; roll: M432_115; Page: 269B; Image: 191.

[14] “England, Marriages, 1538 – 1973,” Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/Pal:MM9.1.1/NF4Q-JXW: accessed 18 Nov 2012), William Linfor and Dinah Essaby, 1833; citing reference 2:3GJG91D, FLH microfilm 1542146.

[15] Year: 1850; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; roll: M432_115; Page: 269B; Image: 191

[16] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227.

[17] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D. C.; Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization service District 9 1840 – 1950 (M1285); microfilm Serial: M1285; Microfilm Roll 112

[18] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 224 & 227.

[19] Henley B. J., The Art of Longevity (Google eBook) (Syracuse, N.Y, 1911), p. 223 & 224.

[20] Health News. Monthly Bulletin (Google ebook) (New York State Division of Public Health Education, Albany, New York), New Series, Vol. VIII, No 1, Full Series Vol. XXIX No 1,  January 1013

[21] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227 & 228.

[22] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 224 & 225.

[23] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 224.

[24]United States Census; Year: 1880; Place: Walnut, Pottawatomie, Iowa; Roll: 361; Family History Film: 1254361; Page: 192D; Enumeration District: 190; Image 0387

[25] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227.

Copyright © 2012 Gail Grunst

Do Your Ancestor’s Haunt You?

Since I’m getting up there in years, I have had the unfortunate experience of seeing most of my family member’s pass on as well as some friends and coworkers.  I can’t say that I have ever seen anything or felt haunted by any of them. With that said, I have wondered about a couple of incidents that happened.

I had a clock in my house that was from my grandmother’s house.  I came home one day to find that the clock stopped a little after 12 pm.  Later that day I got a phone call that my grandmother had passed away.  My Aunt went to visit her in the nursing home around 5 pm.  As soon as she walked in, she knew my grandmother was dead.  She went to the nurse’s station and informed them.  My Aunt said that her lunch tray was still there, and it appeared that she had not touched her lunch.  Apparently, no one had checked on her since they brought her lunch.  Now I don’t know what time they brought lunch to her, but I assume it could be around 12 pm.  I have always wondered if she passed away at the time the clock stopped.  Later that night, I was in bed and could not sleep; and I thought I heard foot steps in the hallway.  I thought maybe grandma was coming to get one more look at her great-grandchildren.  After that I never heard or felt anything.  I didn’t connect the clock stopping with her death right away.  It wasn’t until someone told me when her father died, the clocks in her house stopped.  The clock never worked again.

I went to a cemetery to find my great-grandfather’s grave.  I had a hard time with this particular great-grandfather.  First I had very little information about him, so little in fact, that I thought it would be impossible to find him.  Also, he used his middle name, which everyone thought was his first name.  So I would find some records where he used his first name which no one in the family knew, or he would use his middle name which was the name everyone knew him by.  It took me years to find out if this was two individuals or one person using both names.  I went off to the cemetery to see if the mystery of the two names could be solved.  I asked a man working in the cemetery office where my great-grandfather was buried in the cemetery.  He took a big book down off a shelf and opened it up to the page that listed my great-grandfather.  We both laughed at the coincidence of opening the book to exact page.  He gave me instructions as to where to find the grave, but stated that the grave had no tombstone.  I knew right then that this was not going to help me solve the mystery.  I then asked him if he could tell me who owned the lot.  He said that was in another book and he took that one down from the shelf and opened it up.  Again, he opened to the page that listed my great-grandfather.  At this point, his eyes became huge as if he was frightened, and he looked at me and said, “Grandpa really wants you to find him.”  It turned out that the state owned the lot and great-grandpa was buried in a pauper’s grave.  So the mystery was not solved that day, but I have often thought about the coincidence of opening two books to the exact page that listed my great-grandfather.

Now I don’t know if these two incidents would be considered the haunting of ghosts or what.  I have had the experience of thinking about a person and later that day or the next day finding out that they passed on.  I have heard stories of ancestor ghosts from others.  It would be nice if some ancestors would visit me and help me solve some brick walls.

Updated Pages

Just a quick note to tell you that I have updated this site.  I added a page for libraries and archives, updated my favorite blogs, my bio and research/classes pages.  Hope you find these pages useful.