30 June 2016

Last Day Local: The Heritage Mile of Battle Creek, MI

What does cereal, Seventh-day Adventist religion, and the Underground Railroad have in common? They are all part of the unique history of my hometown, Battle Creek, Michigan. The Heritage Mile of Battle Creek commemorates this history.

Many people know of Battle Creek and its Cereal City fame, but may not know about its Seventh-day Adventist, Sojourner Truth and Underground Railroad history fame.

Heritage Mile runs from Historic Adventist Village, on the west side of downtown, to Monument Park, along Michigan Avenue. Heritage Mile is the site of many historical Battle Creek events.


The Seventh-day Adventist history started when Ellen and James White and other Adventist pioneers moved to Battle Creek in the 1850's.  Visitors will find Historic Adventist Village, at the corner of Wood and Champion Streets.  Starting with the Visitor's Center, then the Ellen and James White home, to a schoolhouse, to a church, and more one will learn about the beginnings of one of the largest denominations in the world.  The Seventh-day Adventist Tabernacle can be found at 19 North Washington St.


Underground Railroad history can be found in places like Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church on West Van Buren St.; the Underground Railroad Monument off Division Street; and the Hussey Marker on East Michigan Avenue, the site of Erastus and Sarah Hussey's home, underground railroad stationmasters.


Heritage Mile Sojourner Truth history can be found at Monument Park.  A 12 foot high sculpture of Truth can be found here at the corner of Division and Michigan Ave. Sojourner Truth made her home in Battle Creek for over twenty five years. She is well known as an abolitionist and campaigner of civil rights.   Truth is buried in Battle Creek, not on Heritage Mile, but in Oak Hill Cemetery.

These things alone could make for an interesting Heritage Mile, but they are just a few of the 31 sites that make up The Heritage Mile of Battle Creek.  Other sites of historical importance include

  • Hart, Dole, Inouye Federal Center-former home of the Battle Creek Sanitarium where cereal was invented. 
  • McCamly Park-a park set aside at the original platting of Battle Creek
  • Clara's on the River-a Michigan Central Railroad station
  • Kimball House-home of Dr. Arthur Kimball
  • W.K. Kellogg House-home of cereal inventor, W.K. Kellogg
  • First Baptist Church-chartered in 1835
  • Old Post Office, now known as Commerce Pointe
  • City Hall
  • Historical buildings of architectural interest along Michigan Ave.
  • and more
More information about the Heritage Mile or Battle Creek can be found by contacting Heritage-Battle Creek or The Greater Battle Creek Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Check out other Last Day Local posts for more information about Battle Creek.



26 June 2016

Obituary of Harry Glover of Hazel Park, Michigan

My grandfather, Harry Glover, died 6 September 1950 at Grace Hospital NWB, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. He was 67 years old.  Grandpa Glover died before I born. I have come to know him through my dad.  Harry Glover died the night before my dad's, his son, first day of teaching.  My dad was getting ready to go to school when the superintendent came to his house to inform him of the news. How sad to have to start your first teaching experience with the news of your father's death. My father left to meet his mother in Marquette, Michigan for the funeral and burial.

I found one death notice and two obituaries for Harry Glover.  Harry Glover was his birth name, but sometimes went by the name of Frank H. Glover, Jr.  I don't know where the Frances Henry Glover came from.  I would be interested to know who wrote the obituary using that name.  It states he was born in Grand Rapids, which is inaccurate.  Harry Glover was born in Jackson, Michigan on 6 May 1883.





Marquette Mining Journal, Marquette, Michigan 6 September 1950 p 4; column 3.

Harry Glover
Word has been received by Mrs. Leonard G. McKie, of this city, and Claude Glover, of Munising, of the death in Detroit this morning of their brother, Harry Glover.

The body will be brought to Marquette for burial Thursday afternoon.  It will be taken to Swanson's funeral home.  Arrangements for service have not been completed.




Marquette Mining Journal, Marquette, Michigan 7 September 1950 p2; column 1

Francis H. Glover
Francis Henry Glover, 67, died at 7 Wednesday morning in Hazel Park, where he had resided 35 years.  He had been employed by the Chrysler Motors firm in Hazel Park.  He was born May 6, 1883 in Grand Rapids.

Survivors are his wife, the former Lilla Watt of Marquette; two sons, Francis and Bruce, Hazel Park; his mother, Mrs. Frank Glover, Munising; a sister, Mrs. Leonard G. McKie, Marquette; two brothers, Clause R., Munising, and Major Merle M. Glover, Arlington, Va. and one grandchild.

Services will be held at 2 Friday afternoon in the Swanson funeral home with the Rev. Homer Mitchell, pastor of the First Prebysterian church, officiating.  Burial will be made in Park Cemetery.




The Daily Tribune, Royal Oak, Michigan 6 September 1950, page 16; column 2 and 3. 

Harry Glover
Harry Glover, age 67, died early today at the New Grace hospital, Detroit.  He resided at 23749 Reynolds avenue, Hazel Park.

Mr. Glover was born May 5(sic), 1883 in Jackson.  He was a cost estimator for the Chrysler corporation and a member of the University lodge 482, F and AM, Detroit.

Surviving are his wife, Sarah L.; two sons, Bruce D., at home, and Francis, 23772 Reynolds avenue, Hazel Park; two brothers, Claude R. of Munising, and Merle, Arlington, Va.; a sister, Mrs. Adeline McKie of Marquette, and one grandson.

Mr. Glover will be at the George W. Ashley and Sons funeral home, 329 East Woodruff avenue, Hazel Park until 9 p.m. today.  Services will be held at the Swanson funeral home, Marquette, on Friday.



23 June 2016

The Great Big New England Genealogy Tour: Preparation of Places


The latest project for my Great Big New England Genealogy Tour is to determine where my ancestors lived in New England. I wrote about using the "Who Was There" feature in my Roots Magic genealogy software, in April.  Now, I am taking that information one step further.

I am taking each place and confirming the county boundaries at the time my ancestor lived there. Colonial county boundaries changed and knowing what jurisdiction the county or district was in will help me find the records I need.  Having this information when I go to the different repositories in New England will save me time and frustration, hopefully.

Next, I started a Pinterest board of New England, plus New York, historical societies.  I plan to contact the societies before I go to make sure of their times and dates they will be open, or to arrange an appointment.

Once I get the historical societies board complete, I plan on starting a library board. I will be looking for libraries in the areas my ancestors lived that have a local history section.

Using local historical and genealogical societies, plus libraries, should make the best use of my research time.  These are the people that know what resources are available and how to access them. If they are as wonderful as the ones I have used in Michigan, I am looking forward to this part of the trip.

Have you used local societies and libraries when you go on a research trip? I want to prepare a few simple gifts to leave with those who help me?  Is a gift or a donation appreciated, what do you think? If a gift, what kind of gifts would be appropriate? I was thinking of something local, but I'm not sure if they would like a box of cereal or pop tarts!

It is only a few short months until I leave.  I get excited, then overwhelmed, then anxious, but mostly I am looking forward to walking in the places that my ancestors lived.  Even if my research is a bust, just seeing the area where they lived three hundred years ago and more will be exciting.

Check out other The Great Big New England Genealogy Tour posts:

Preparation
Research Plans
A Visit to Indiana




21 June 2016

Where in the World is Johann Caspar Graf?

Where in the World is Johann Caspar Graf?

One of the first place family historians search for their ancestors is in the United States Census records.  I am compiling my census information into a table format. Each month I share a "Where in the World" post.  Compiling my information this way shows me where I have gaps in my research.

I am to the point with my ancestors where using the census for ancestors isn't as helpful.  I will be adding other record categories to my charts.  City directories, land records, church records, and immigration records are a few of the records that help put a ancestor in a certain place and time.

J. Caspar Graf lived a short ten year life in the United States.  He died at the age of 41.  He left his wife, Mary, and eight children.  The next steps I plan to take in my research of J. Caspar Graf is to look for land records.

FACT
DATE
PLACE OF RESIDENCE
ENUMERATION DISTRICT/PAGE ID./DWELLING
Birth¹
14 Oct 1827
Katzenbach, Pfalz, Germany

Christening²
19 Oct 1827
Rockenhausen, Pfalz, Germany

Immigration³
18 Nov 1859
New York, New York

Census4
1860
Harrison, Miami, Indiana, United States
p393/768
Death5
March 1869
Miami county, Indiana, United States

Will6
25 March 1869
Miami county, Indiana, United States









Sources:
¹, ² "Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898," Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 4 April 2016), citing the birth (14 Oct 1827) and baptism(19 Oct 1827) of Caspar Graf; Deutschland, Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898, FHL microfilm 193,130.

³"New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," [database on-line], Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 March 2015), Entry for Johan Casper Graf, arrival date 18 Nov 1859; Year: 1859; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897

1860 U.S. Census, , population schedule, Post Office: Cary, Harrison Township, Miami, Indiana, p 393, dwelling 768; lines 8-13, Casper Grove; digital images, ancestry.com (: accessed 13 March 2015); Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1,438 rolls..

5Graf-Richer Emma and Graf-Froelich, Louise, The Graf Family: A record of the seven descendants of Caspar Graf (pdf format: n.p., July 1921).

6Will Records, Circuit Court, Miami County, Indiana, 1889-1925; Author: Indiana. Circuit Court (Miami County); Probate Place: Miami, Indiana, Ancestry.com (accessed 11 June 2016) Kaspar Graff p. 389





17 June 2016

Lord Stanley Is Three! Weeeee!


Lord Stanley, my nephew, is three today!  I can't believe it.  He is growing up so quickly.  He is a young child with all the wonder in his eyes.

I had the time of my life when I went to 'babysit' Lord Stanley and his sister, Cutie Pie, last September. He has to be one of the happiest, laid-back, children I know. He smiles all the time and nothing seems to phase him. He is a little bit like my brother, his father, that way.  Sometimes not taking things seriously that they could or should!  Lord Stanley seems to like men a little better than women and he had no trouble snuggling up to Uncle Kirk.

I loved it when he would wake up from his nap and call Brenda, stretching the word out!  Another favorite time was story time, at bedtime.  He enjoyed sitting on my lap and looking at books.  He knew all his colors and could point to items that were that color.  He enjoyed watching the "bus" video, it was a Wheels on the Bus video. Another favorite video was the "tick tock" one, which was a Hickory Dickory Dock video.

He was into Paw Patrol when we were there last fall.  Of course, Uncle Kirk and Aunt Brenda had to take him to Toys R Us while we were there and let him pick out a toy. Now he is into Blaze and the Monster Machines and being a good aunt, I bought him a couple of Blaze toys for his birthday. I was thinking about buying him an electronic drum set, but decided my sister-in-law didn't need that, my brother yes, but I wouldn't subject her to it!



Fisher-Price Nickelodeon Blaze and the Monster Machines Transforming Fire Truck Blaze

Fisher-Price Nickelodeon Blaze and the Monster Machines Flaming Volcano Jump Playset

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of Lord Stanley from the last year.



 Just chilling and being happy!

 Snuggling with Uncle Kirk

 In awe of the big screen TV football game at Buffalo Wild Wings

Can't leave Toys R Us without a ride with Bert and Ernie 

 Playing play doh, I played with him

Lord Stanley and Cutie Pie sharing the motorcycle at the park


Lord Stanley!

I hope Lord Stanley has an awesome birthday filled with family, food, and fun.  Have a slice of birthday cake for me, Lord Stanley.  I wish I could be there, but I will see you when you visit this summer.

15 June 2016

Hattie Fenn Glover Lived in Battle Creek, Michigan

Why is it that a record right here in my hometown took me years to look up? My dad talks about how he would go to see his Aunt Addie and Grandma Glover in Battle Creek, Michigan when he was a child, but he doesn't remember where in Battle Creek they lived, other than they lived on Gougac Lake.

Aunt Addie is Adeline Elizabeth Glover, the daughter of Hattie Fenn Glover and Frank H. Glover. Grandma Glover is Hattie Fenn Glover.  Hattie Fenn Glover lived with her daughter for a number of years at Addie's, and her husband's, Victor Tyson, home on Gougac Lake.

I decided to turn to Battle Creek City Directories to find where they lived.  Victor and Addie Tyson's address was 103 Lakefront Drive.  Currently, there is no Lakefront Drive in Battle Creek, Michigan. This led me to using the maps that are available at the Helen Warner Branch of Willard Library in Battle Creek.


I found Lakefront Drive on the Sanborn maps and on a 1956 Battle Creek map.  It was located on the North side of Goguac Lake in Lakeview Township.  The rectangle box at the top of the lake is where Lakefront Drive was located.  The red star is where I live now.  They weren't living there when I moved here, unfortunately.


The above image is from the Sanborn maps.  The heavy black horizontal line is Columbia Avenue and the heavy black vertical line is Capital Ave. SW.; two major streets in Battle Creek today. The streets that curves into Lakefront Dr. is Waweenork Dr.  Waweenork Dr. has been reconfigured and now goes up to Columbia Ave.  Hulbert Lane is still located in Battle Creek.


This is a current map of the area. The area that was Lakefront Dr. is now condominiums.  The arrow denotes the area that Lakefront Dr. use to be located.

According to Battle Creek City Directories, located at Helen Warner Branch of Willard Library, Hattie Fenn Glover lived at 103 Lakefront Dr. in 1929, 1930, 1931, and 1935.  Hattie Fenn Glover went to live with her son, Claude Glover, in Munising, Michigan.
Next time my dad visits I will be able to show him the area where his aunt and grandma lived.  I wonder if he will remember any of it.

13 June 2016

WWI Draft Registration of Henry Graf

Source: "World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," [database on-line], Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 July 2014), entry for Henry Graf, card number 98; United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

Henry Graf, is the son of my great grandparents, Valentine Graf and Nancy Mast Graf.  He registered for the WWI draft on 5 June 1917, at the age of 27.  Henry was living in Wellman, Iowa at the time and working for Chas. Johnson as a farmer. Henry's sister, Nina Graf, married a Thomas Johnson from Wellman, Iowa and even though I haven't researched the Johnson family, I am guessing there is a connection there.

Henry lists his birth place as Waupkong, Indiana, which is Waupecong or Wawpecong, Indiana, a community in Miami county, Indiana.  This is the area that the Graf family lived for many years.

Other information I found interesting on this card is the fact where Henry claims an exemption because he is a member of the Church of the Brethren and has a wife and children.  Henry, at the time of this record, was the father of four children, Charles, Gerald, Raymond, and Francis, who was three months old at the time.

WWI draft registration are one of the records I go to when I need more information about an ancestor. The cards provides a lot of information that genealogists like to find.

09 June 2016

1864 Tax List for Daniel C. Fenn



Source:  U.S. IRS Tax Assessment List 1862-1918, Washtenaw, Michigan, USA, District 3, p133 ; line number 15, for Daniel C. Fenn, 1864.  NARA M773, NARA Roll 8, database online, www.ancestry.com.

My second great grandfather, Daniel C. Fenn, is on the 1864 Tax List for Washtenaw county, on line 15;  his brother, Orlo H. Fenn, is on line 4.  This tax was collected during the civil war and used to help pay for the war.  The National Archives has an article, "Income Tax Records in the Civil War Years" in their Prologue magazine and it is available online here.

Daniel C. Fenn was living in Sylvan Township, he had 1 Horse Carriage and was taxed $1 in Class C.

Orlo H. Fenn was living in Sylvan Township, he had income of $183 and was taxed $5.49 in Class A.

The 1864 Tax List helped me to know where my ancestors were living between the census dates of 1860 and 1870.  It gave me a look into their welfare at the time, as well. It looks like Uncle Orlo was a little better off than his brother.

The highest tax paid on this page was $74 from Henry Goodyear for income of $2400 and one two horse carriage.  Most of the people on the page paid less than $10.

Don't overlook these tax records as a source in your research, you can learn a lot about your ancestor in the limited information that was recorded.



07 June 2016

Tombstone Tuesday: Philip Asiala

ASIALA
PHILIP T         BERTHA E
1938-1998                            



PHILIP THOMAS ASIALA
PFC US ARMY
VIETNAM
OCT 9 1938     JAN 29 1998


My cousin-in-law, Philip Thomas Asiala, who was known by "Pino", is buried in Brethren Cemetery, Brethren, Michigan. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War having served his country in the U.S. Army.  A bronze plaque commemorating his service is attached to the back of his gravestone. Philip was 60 years old when he died of a heart attack. He left a wife, Bertha and four children: Michael, Scott, Jennifer and Renee.

Philip Thomas Asiala married Bertha E. Brown, the daughter of Walter and Lola (Fredricks) Brown, the 11 June 1966, in Onekama, Michigan.

Philip's Find a Grave memorial number is 46184719.  An obituary is posted there.

03 June 2016

Aunt Kate's Creamy Chicken Salad

My luncheon shower table, chicken salad puffs in back of flowers.

The first time I had my Aunt Kate's chicken salad was at my bridal shower that she hosted at her house in Brethren, MI.  My aunts, Jeannie, Lola, and Leona hosted, in addition to Aunt Kate.  It was held on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1981. It was so good I asked her for the recipe.  Aunt Kate served it in homemade cream puffs, but I have served it as a sandwich, as a salad on lettuce or cantaloupe.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Creamy Chicken Salad
Kathryn Louise Fredricks Tritten Puryear Pihl

3 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 cup diced celery
1 cup diced onion
1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste

Place chicken, celery, onion in a large bowl.  Add sour cream and mayonnaise.  Season to taste.

I was surprised at how simple the ingredients were.  I think it is the mixture of the sour cream and mayonnaise that made it taste so good.

Whenever I make this chicken salad I think of my aunts and the day of my bridal shower.




01 June 2016

The Glover DNA Results are In!

Some of you may know that my parents are aging, ages 86 and 91, and I have been helping them with a few chores every week.  Of course, this gets me thinking that they will not live forever. These thoughts were my motivation to have my mom's and my dad's DNA tested.  I chose to use Ancestry DNA.  I ordered four kits (two for my parents and two for my in-laws).  I had them perform the test, sent it in and waited.  I was surprised that I had all four results within a month.  I can tell you that everything stopped the minute I saw the email that said my DNA result was in.

My father, Bruce Glover, was the first result to come in.  I was disappointed, at first, by Ancestry DNA and thought, " This is what I spent my money on?"  Obviously, I am a novice DNA user.  I decided I needed to get some more information on how to interpret the DNA results.  I re-watched a Legacy webinar, Watch Geoff, Live-DNA, and I watched two You Tube videos, "You Received Your DNA Results, Now What? and Understanding DNA Ethnicity Results.

I have to admit I was more excited about seeing the ethnicity results than I was in finding new 'cousins'.  I am starting to dig deeper into the results and getting ready to upload them to gedmatch. Because all four results came within ten days of each other, I haven't had a lot of time to go into detail with each one.

Here is what my dad's ethnicity looked like:

I wasn't surprised by these results as I knew I had a lot of English and Scottish ancestry.  I knew who my Irish ancestors were and I understood where the Scandinavian came from due to a little World History knowledge.  Those areas made up 96% of my dad's ethnicity.  It was the trace regions I was curious about.

It wasn't until I watched the You Tube videos that I understood what these results meant.  This is what I learned about my Dad's DNA from his ethnicity results:

  • It is an estimate based on the best science can do now.
  • It takes into account 1000-2000 years of DNA
  • It goes beyond what genealogists can find as recorded family history.
  • My dad is 100% European, within this time period.
  • I have to think of the results as broad regions, not countries.
  • I have to think of it as having two trees: one my genealogy tree and the other my DNA tree. Once I got that into my head it was a lot easier when looking at the remaining three parents DNA results.
Next, I looked at the Ancestry DNA matches.  My dad had three second cousin matches, one I have been communicating with for years and the other two do not have a family tree online. I am still going through the information, but I have starred seven to look at later.

A few of the surnames that I have found a connection to my dad's DNA include Poor, Watt, Barber, Glover and Salisbury.  I think I am on the right track with my research here.  I still have a lot of work to do to understand all the results and how it will help me in my research, but I am so glad I have my parent's DNA and can continue to learn more about my family history through it.