The Little Creamer on the Table

You may have read about items I have been fortunate to receive and care for as part of my family history. This small glass creamer is one of those pieces.

It belonged to my grandmother, Daisy Fredricks, and it is the only item I have from her.

Photograph by Brenda Leyndyke

My grandmother came from very humble beginnings, and this creamer reflects that. It is simple pressed glass with a scalloped edge, the kind of everyday piece found in many homes in the early 20th century. Pieces like this were affordable and meant to be used. Today, they are often associated with what collectors call Depression-era glass.

I remember this creamer from visits to her home.

She would make coffee for my mom and set the creamer on the table. There was always a plate of cookies, and for me, a glass of milk.

I can still picture myself sitting at that table.

I do not remember exactly what kind of cookies she served, only that there was always a plate on the table. A few years ago, I shared my grandmother’s oatmeal cookie recipe, written in her own hand. I often wonder if those were the cookies she made when we visited.

I am emotional just writing this. I did not think of these moments as anything special at the time. They were simply part of visiting Grandma. Now, I realize how much those small moments mattered especially since we didn't visit often as we lived hours away from her.

When I look at this creamer today, I think about her hands setting it on the table. I think about the conversations between her and my mom. I think about being included, even as a child, in those quiet visits.

As family historians, we spend a lot of time looking for records and documenting facts. But sometimes it is the everyday items that tell us the most.

This creamer is simple, but it represents something much larger.

It represents a place at the table.

Remembering the Jebavy-Sorenson Orchards and My Family Connection to It

Image created by AI software, DALL-E. The visual was designed with author prompts to complement the content and enhance the reader's experience. 

At the intersection of U.S. 31 and M-22 in Manistee County today, you will find the Little River Casino Resort. But before the casino and modern development, that stretch of land was home to a thriving agricultural enterprise that was important to  the areas fruit farming industry. This was the Jebavy-Sorenson Orchard Company, once one of the largest orchards in northern Lower Michigan.

The story of the orchard began in 1940 when two local businessmen, Jebavy and Sorenson, purchased the Manistee Orchard Company from the Graham family. At the time, the orchard covered 550 acres and was already known for its fertile location and productive yields. After the purchase, the name was changed to the Jebavy-Sorenson Orchard Company. With new leadership and vision, the orchard began to expand and modernize.

The mid-20th century was a significant period for agriculture in Michigan. The state had become one of the nation's leaders in fruit production, especially apples and cherries. Technological advancements, improved cold storage methods, and the rise of large-scale processing allowed orchards like Jebavy-Sorenson to thrive. These developments helped meet the growing demand for both fresh and processed fruit throughout the country.

By 1979, just before it was sold, the Jebavy-Sorenson Orchard had grown to 900 acres. Its facilities were impressive for the time. The orchard featured cold storage space for 150,000 bushels of apples and freezer capacity for 350 million pounds of fruit. A processing plant on site handled sweet and sour cherries, blueberries, applesauce, and both frozen and sliced apples. Gross sales exceeded $4 million annually, making the orchard not just a local business but a regional powerhouse in fruit production.

The photograph of the Walter and Lola (Fredricks) Brown home on Jebavy Road at the top of a hill overlooking the acres of fruit trees, date unknown.

Courtesy of Bertha Brown Asiala family photograph collection.

This orchard is a part of my family’s story. My uncle, Walter Brown, managed the operation for many years. He lived on Jebavy Road in a house that overlooked the orchard, giving him a front-row seat to the changing seasons, the labor of harvest time, and the steady growth of the business. 

Uncle Walter and Aunt Lola lived in the house within the orchard for many years, remaining there until his passing in 1977. Their son, Walter Jr., known as “Freddy,” also worked at the orchard for a time.

Uncle Walter in 1963 with some of his nieces and nephews on the Fredricks side. Can you spot me? I was 5 at the time. Photograph courtesy of my cousin, Katherine Fredricks, from her family collection.

My Uncle Walter really was the heart of the orchard. As manager, he kept things running day in and day out. He planned the growing seasons, watched over the trees, and knew just when it was time to harvest. He worked closely with the crew, many of whom returned year after year, and everyone respected him. I remember him as someone who didn’t say a lot, but he always knew what needed to be done and he did it without fuss.

Farming in the 1950s and 1960s was changing fast, and Uncle Walter kept up with it. He oversaw everything from the storage buildings to the processing of apples and cherries. He kept detailed notes, scheduled the spraying and pruning, and made sure the equipment was ready to go. I still picture him walking the orchard road in the early morning, checking on the trees with a quiet focus. It was hard work, but he loved it and it showed in how well the orchard thrived under his care.

Today, the land where the Jebavy-Sorenson Orchard once thrived lies quiet and dormant. Now owned by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the orchard is no longer accessible to the public, with the road gated off. What remains is a bittersweet sight with rows of trees left untended, many of them lifeless, or cleared land, a remembrance of what was once a vibrant and bustling agricultural hub.

Although the orchard no longer exists in its former condition, the Jebavy-Sorenson Orchard Company is remembered through the stories of those who worked there and the many who visited. Its roots run deep in Manistee County, Michigan. For those of us with family ties to the orchard, it holds a special place in our hearts,  including me. I still remember bringing home bushels of apples and lugs of cherries from our visits.

AI Disclosures

This blog post used the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools at CPT4o. While the content reflects my ideas, writing, and research. the AI was used for grammar and spelling editing.

ChatGPT4o suggested blog post titles based upon my writing and ideas and I selected the one with edits to enhance the blog experience.

The image used on this blog post was created by AI software, DALL-E at ChatGPT4o. The visual was designed using prompts written by the author. The visual was designed to complement the content and enhance the reader's experience.

The Gift of an Autobiography: My Father's First Teaching Job and a Momentous Meeting

I wouldn’t be here to tell this story if my dad hadn’t gotten his first teaching job in Brethren, Michigan. That job didn’t just launch his career, it sparked an eventual romance. I once read that "some stories shape a lifetime, and others shape a family." This is one such story.

In this chapter of my father's autobiography, I share the serendipitous moments that brought my parents together. Join me as I step back in time to discover how one teaching job became a love story that lasted 66 years.

Brethren, Michigan JV Basketball Team, 1951

Pictured is the Norman Dickson High School Junior Varsity basketball team in Brethren, Michigan, coached by Bruce Glover. Seated (L-R): Bobby Johnson, Richard Spoor, David Welch, David Potter, Darrel Leckrone, Norman Fredricks. Standing (L-R): Dean Archer, Dick Dombrouski, Dick Beane, Robert Phillips, John Archer, Darwin Lagerquist, Robert McCary, and Bob Paulus, Coach Bruce Glover. Seated in the front row, wearing jersey number 27, is Norman Fredricks, who would later become Glover's brother-in-law. In the collection of the Glover family photographs of Brenda Glover Leyndyke. Picture is also in the 1951 Nor-Dic Yearbook.

TWO YEARS IN BRETHREN 1950-52

My first year at Brethren was very enjoyable, the kids were great, fellow teachers were great, and my roommates and I got along very well even though I was the only jock.  Bill was a great cook and did all the cooking when we ate in. Sherwood and I shared the chores such as dishes, dusting, and sweeping and any other duties needed around the house.  We all chipped in for the groceries and went together most of the time when shopping for groceries.  Day to day items we purchased at Jess Sturdivant's market in Brethren and would go to Manistee or sometimes Kaleva on Saturday to do our major shopping.  We didn’t pal around that much outside of school as our interest didn’t exactly jibe with each other.  Bill started dating a second-grade teacher; they hit it off and eventually married.  Sherwood was pretty much a loner and frequently went home to Kalamazoo on weekends.  As for me I was busy with my coaching that occasionally included Saturday competition.  I did date the fifth-grade teacher, a local Brethren girl, Grace Schmidt, a very pretty, young lady, but we had absolutely nothing in common as she didn’t have the faintest interest in sports, and I think she thought of me as a jock period. (She was right on that part.)

     A fellow jock I met one day the first month in Brethren was a sixth-grade teacher Doyle Eckhardt and we hit it off immediately. One day I was in the locker room in the basement after school and Doyle walked in and hemmed and hawed and finally hesitatingly asked me if I drank beer. I said yes and we took off (in his car of course) for Sportsman’s Port, 17 miles away. It was a bar that probably could seat 10 persons if they squeezed together. That fall I coached the Varsity Baseball team (Brethren didn’t sponsor football) and taught Junior Hi Health, Conservation, U.S. History, and I believe Government as well as a couple of P.E. Classes.  I had to look up a definition of conservation before I could teach it but managed to struggle through without damaging the kids or the trees.  One thing I was most proud of was my class planted literally a couple of hundred trees around the northern edge of the High School property.  What were seedlings in 1950 today are huge trees and I proudly point out to the grandkids and anyone else who will listen: See those trees?  Grandpa’s class planted those trees over 50 years ago. That winter I coached Junior High basketball and J.V. basketball.

A 1951 photograph of Bruce Glover and Audrey Fredricks in the family photograph collection of Brenda Glover Leyndyke

THE GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE

     On a cold winter day in mid-January of 1951 with snow on the ground and a winter storm forecast I was eating my lunch in the school cafeteria (I believe it was a Wednesday) when Supt. Dunnavan dropped by and asked me if I would supervise the gym that evening as the town team was scheduled for a game with Manistee, which I had no problem with.  I just needed to be there to see things run smoothly, open and close the gym, put out the lights, etc.  As it turned out, little did I think my life would forever change that beautiful stormy evening.  The opponents because of the weather did not show up and the town team along with several spectators simply continued to shoot baskets.  One young lady caught my eye.  When I told her, it was ok to shoot baskets, but please remove her street shoes, she replied something to the effect would I see her socks got washed, or something close to that.  I can honestly say after watching her awhile that I had to know more about her.  I don't think I ever saw such a combination of beauty and athletic ability and wondered where in the world she came from.  I was smoking in those days and went to boiler room for a few puffs and first thing I did was ask Ross Cook, the janitor, who that gal was.  He said she was a Fredrick’s girl.  I assumed she was an older sister to Ray, Norman, and Jeannie all of whom I either had in class or participated on the Baseball and JV basketball teams which I coached.  She was with a secretary at the school Mickey Fredericks who was married to one of her older brothers.  I think I might have mentioned something to Mickey the next day but put it out of my mind for the time being.

     Anyway, that Friday night we had an out-of-town game and afterwards I stopped in at Jim Barr’s house (the high school Principal) who frequently entertained coaches and teachers after a game.  Lo and behold who was there but Audrey Fredrick, the girl from the gym.  I immediately started up a conversation with her and it didn’t take long to make up my mind that this was a girl I wanted to get to know better.  I walked her home that evening, all of one block, to her sister Kate’s home, which was just up the street from where I was living.  It was hard for me to believe I had been in Brethren for five months and just noticed her for the first time.  I asked her for a date that night and we went bowling with Junie and Nancy Anderson to Manistee that Sunday.

     They had to make up a bowling match from their Friday night League and afterwards we bowled three games.  Audrey couldn’t believe I was wearing a pair of hi-top bowling shoes, which were old, fashioned to her, but when I whipped off a 540 series she was impressed, I think.  From that time on, I was completely enamored, and we continued to see each other regularly the rest of the school year whenever we could.  We would meet a night or two during the week when I wasn’t coaching a game and went out steadily on Saturday nights, usually for dancing at the Sleepy Owl or the Pines in Manistee or Canfield Lake Inn, south of Manistee, where at one time the likes of Frankie Yankovic and other famous polka bands and orchestras use to perform.

     Often, I would be invited to Kate’s house or Audrey’s parents on the farm for Sunday dinner.  Those Sunday farm dinners use to amaze me as Audrey was one of 12 kids and it was amazing how many people, family or otherwise, seemed to pop-in at dinner time whether invited or not. We had many memorable Sunday afternoon get-togethers on the farm playing ball, chewing the fat, and me taking the brunt of good-natured ribbing as a city slicker. 

 

Johnny Tritten, age unknown

On Easter Sunday we were having dinner at Kate’s house when her son Johnny, who was only 8 or 9 years old, gave me an Easter Egg he had decorated with “Uncle Bruce” on it.  I don’t know who blushed the most, Audrey or me, but it brought about several good laughs.  As it turned out later Johnny proved to be a good prophet.

That same evening Richard, Mickey, Audrey, and I went to the Pines in Cadillac for an evening of drinking and dancing. Afterwards, we were heading into Cadillac for a late snack when someone mentioned going to Detroit and daring Richard to go.  That was all Richard needed and next thing we knew he was dropping us off at my Mother’s house in Hazel Park and they went on to Mickey’s parent’s home in East Detroit.  I don’t know what my mother thought about me bringing a strange girl home at 2 in the morning, but she was gracious enough about it.  Audrey remembered her asking me if that was Grace. The next afternoon we headed back to Brethren.  It was spring break for Mickey and me, but Audrey missed a day’s work at Kaleva where she worked at MakKraft tying and painting fishing flies and working in the shipping department.

     Somewhere between Cadillac and Brethren on M-55 as darkness was descending and we were smooching in the back seat I got brave and popped the question— “Sweetheart will you marry me”? --- I’m sure this was the last thing she was expecting to hear out of me and after some silence she said she would have to think about it.  Sometime later that week she gave me the answer I was hoping for—YES—and it made me the happiest guy in the world at the time.  The rest of that school year was like a blur to me as I couldn’t get over my ecstasy.  At the end of the year in late May I accompanied the track team to the State finals in Lansing.  Audrey had gone with Kate and I asked her to ride back on the bus with me.  The students had a field day as they serenaded us most of the way home with Audrey to the tune of Margie.

     That summer I returned home to stay with my mother in Hazel Park while working in a factory taking the place of various unskilled workers while they were on vacation.  This was also the time when I bought my first car, a 1951 Ford, and had to take Mr. McIlvride (Don’s) dad with me to drive it home. The next three weeks practically every night when he got home from his milk route Mr. Mac gave me driving lessons and I must have been a good student as I passed my driver’s test and secured a license on my first try.  In the meantime, Audrey and I corresponded back and forth and after I secured my license, I drove up to see her and was completely taken off balance when she returned my ring saying she was not ready to settle down yet.

     The next few weeks were among the worst times I had ever experienced, but I wasn’t about to let her get away if there was any way I could prevent it.  I was head over heels in love and determined not to take no for an answer, so eventually I asked her if she would meet me in Saginaw one Saturday to discuss our situation and to my relief she said yes.  We met in Saginaw at the Bus Station, went to a movie, and out to eat and I don’t remember all the details, but I told her how much I loved her and in no way wanted to call it quits, but also if she decided that was what she wanted to be 100% sure before she took the ring back. When she decided to take it back, I was once again on top of the world. We stayed at my house that night as my mother who was with Hank and Mabel that weekend.  I took her back to Brethren and everything was “hunky dory” from that moment on and when I returned to school that fall, we started in seriously to make our wedding plans.

     One Saturday night before our marriage, Audrey’s sister Kate, husband Carl, Audrey and I were going into Manistee along Highway 55 when a drunk pulled out of the Stockade Bar, pulled across center line, and hit us head on. I was ok, but Audrey rammed her knee into the buttons on the radio and still has some lingering effects to this day.  Carl suffered bruised ribs and the car was damaged beyond repair and I replaced it with a 1952 Ford, which I purchased in Cadillac. This turned out to be the last Ford I owned as subsequent car purchases for the most part went to Les Kaskinen husband of Jeanie, Audrey’s sister.  Les owned a Chevrolet garage in Kaleva and subsequently moved to Bellaire where he is still in the car business, but mainly in a rental capacity.

      Originally, we had set the wedding date for May 24^th until I learned the State Final track meet was scheduled for that date and thus would have to postpone it a week until Saturday the 31^st.  Luckily, we didn’t have any programs or announcements printed for that date so things went rather smoothly, but I’m sure Audrey could read the handwriting on the wall that my coaching was going to be a problem and thankfully loved me enough to go along with it. The year passed all too slowly for me as I couldn’t wait to take her for my bride and start our life together.

      We were both in agreement that we didn’t want to start our married life in Brethren, so one important task was for me to secure a coaching job, not just any job, but a Varsity Head Coach of basketball as I felt after 2 years of Junior High and JV basketball coaching, I was ready to step up to a Varsity position.  I had several interviews at Hesperia, Bronson, Cement City, and Kingsley.  Only Kingsley was a head position that was likely to open that summer but was far from a sure thing.  I took a great gamble hoping against hope the Kingsley job would open and we sweat it out, but sure enough that summer where Audrey and I were spending our first married year we finally got the call-in early August the job was mine which I gladly accepted at the sum of $3300 for Varsity baseball, Varsity Basketball, Varsity Track, and teacher of Social Studies.

        One incident I was not proud of, but at the time thought it was a good prank was when I took Audrey’s wallet which she left lying around one night at Mickey and Richard’s house stuck it in my pocket and let her think for a week she lost it.  When I returned it to her, she was relieved to get it back, but didn’t share my idea of a good prank.  That school year as previously stated seemed to pass by slowly, but finally the big day was upon us.

Thinking about my parents' story, I’m reminded how small moments can shape an entire life. Who would have thought that a simple gym night and a shared love for sports would lead to a lifetime together? Their journey wasn’t always easy, but it was filled with love, laughter, and determination. Stories like this remind me that family history isn’t just about dates and facts, it’s about the moments that shape who we are. I’m so grateful my dad took a chance that night, and that my mom said yes. Sharing this story is my way of keeping their memory alive and honoring the love that started it all. 

Obituary of Walter Frederick "Freddie" Brown Jr.

 

My cousin, known to me as Freddie, passed away on October 25, 2020. He was the son of my mother's sister, Lola Fredricks Brown. I had seen Freddie just a few months earlier at another cousin's funeral. The older generation is almost gone and now my generation is passing. I remember Freddie as a very intelligent man. I believe he lived a good life.   

Obituary-Walter Frederick “Freddie” Brown Jr., of Onekama, passed away at home on Sunday, October 25, 2020, at the age of 71.  He was born in Manistee on August 6, 1949, to the late Walter F. and Lola M. (Fredricks) Brown Sr.

He was a graduate of Manistee High School, class of 1967.  He was a US Naval Reserve veteran, a graduate of Great Lakes Naval Academy.  He worked several years at Jebavy-Sorenson Orchards, Shell Oil, and retired from Mark West Oil.  As a no fuss, no muss guy, he was an avid reader and loved to watch classic TV and Westerns.

He is survived by: his loving wife, Janet; step-children, Heidi (Mark) Ingalls, Shanda Sedelmaier, and Sean (Tricia) Springborn; step-grandson, Michael (Megan) Socher; step-grandchildren, Jocelyn and Austin Teter; sisters, Bertha Asiala of Brethren and Faith Brown of Manistee; brother, John (Sue Flater) Brown Sr. of Manistee; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and an uncle.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Walter and Lola Brown; his paternal grandparents, Edward and Bertha (Tritten) Brown; his maternal grandparents, Otto and Daisy (Graf) Fredricks; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his brother-in-law, Philip Asiala.

Per Walter’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and no funeral services will be held.

The Terwilliger Funeral Home, in Kaleva, is in charge of arrangements. 

Source: "Obituaries," online obituary, , Terwilliger Funeral Home (http://www.terwilligerfuneralhome.com/ : accessed 20 February 2025), citing the death of Walter Frederick "Freddie" Brown, Jr.

Photograph source from the personal collection of Brenda Leyndyke.

The Rise and Fall of Manistee Michigan's Timber Industry

Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. [Au Sable Logging] [Photograph]. Huron-Manistee National Forests. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfs-hmnf/23630909216

Manistee County, situated along the shores of Lake Michigan in the northwestern region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, was instrumental in the state's timber industry throughout the 19th century. The area's abundant white pine forests, navigable waterways, and its proximity to burgeoning urban centers such as Chicago and Milwaukee established it as a prime logging location. In contrast to numerous other timber towns that were primarily influenced by external investors, the timber industry in Manistee largely remained under local governance, significantly impacting its economy and community for many years.

Early Settlement and the Birth of the Timber Industry (1820s–1850s)

Initially, the Manistee region was home to Indigenous peoples, but the Treaty of Washington in 1836 nullified their land claims, resulting in the establishment of a 70,000-acre reservation along the Manistee River. This reservation, however, was short-lived, and by 1849, the land was made available for purchase by white settlers. Prior to the formalization of land sales, illegal logging activities were widespread. As early as the 1830s, white squatters were cutting down trees on federal land without facing any repercussions. This environment facilitated Manistee's swift evolution into a logging center. In 1841, Scottish lumbermen John and Joseph Stronach arrived, establishing the first permanent white settlement. They constructed a sawmill, and within ten years, four additional mills were operational. Despite the initiation of official land sales in the late 1840s, many early lumbermen disregarded federal regulations and continued to harvest timber without acquiring land.

Boom Years: Growth and Local Control (1860s–1880s)

The population of Manistee surged in tandem with the growth of its timber industry:

• 1860: The population reached 972, with nine sawmills in operation. 
• 1870: The population soared to 5,956, solidifying Manistee's status as a significant timber center. 
• 1880: The population climbed to 12,211, with most of the available land in the county already acquired.

Unlike many other timber towns, the industry in Manistee remained under local control. Nearly half of the land purchased from the federal government was acquired by residents of Manistee County, with only 15% going to buyers from outside Michigan. Many sawmill owners were residents.

Not all individuals adhered to the established regulations. Timber harvesting frequently occurred prior to land transactions, and federal efforts to enforce logging laws faced significant resistance. During the years 1853 to 1854, government officials attempted to address illegal logging activities, only to encounter hostility from agitated crowds. One official was even restrained in handcuffs overnight to prevent his escape; however, he ultimately managed to evade capture and return to Manistee. The economy of Manistee flourished, yet it was characterized by a rugged logging culture. Although the official census recorded merely two saloon proprietors, drinking and brawling were prevalent activities among the predominantly male populace. An early settler recounted that weekly fights were so intense that nearby pine trees were stripped of their bark as men were hurled against them. Still, even in this unruly environment, attempts were made to establish some semblance of order, including the recruitment of a Catholic priest to intervene in the drunken altercations that occurred on Sundays.

Challenges and the Beginning of Decline (1890s–1900s)

By the 1890s, the white pine forests of Manistee were rapidly vanishing, signaling the conclusion of the industry's prosperous era. Extensive logging had significantly depleted the timberland, and although sawmills continued to function, the availability of easily accessible trees was diminishing. This decline in the lumber industry was reflective of the trends observed in numerous other lumber towns across Michigan. While some regions adapted by shifting towards agriculture or tourism, Manistee's sandy soil proved unsuitable for farming endeavors. Many individuals categorized as "farmers" in census data were, in fact, seasonal loggers who abandoned their properties once the timber resources were exhausted. As logging employment opportunities dwindled, a considerable number of residents departed from Manistee in pursuit of better prospects, resulting in a notable decrease in the population during the early 20th century.

Legacy of the Timber Era

The conclusion of Manistee’s timber boom has left a legacy in the region that remains apparent today. Numerous affluent lumber magnates chose to reinvest their fortunes into the community, establishing residences, educational institutions, and enterprises that significantly influenced the town's development. The historic district of Manistee, characterized by its impressive 19th-century architecture, stands as a monument to the prosperity once enjoyed by its timber industry. The narrative of Manistee’s timber empire encompasses themes of opportunity, resilience, and transformation. In contrast to many other boomtowns dominated by external investors, the inhabitants of Manistee were instrumental in determining their economic future. Nevertheless, the industry's unsustainable methods ultimately precipitated its decline, resulting in a community that was compelled to adapt and redefine itself for the challenges of the new century.

My Family History with Logging

My great grandfather, Johann August Fredrick, immigrated to Manistee in the early 1870s. He worked at a sawmill in Manistee and lived there until he bought land near Brethren, Manistee, Michigan in 1901.

Sources:

• Blackburn, G. & Ricards, S. (1970). A Demographic History of the West: Manistee County, Michigan, 1860. The Journal of American History.
• Blackburn, G. & Ricards, S. (1974). The Timber Industry in Manistee County, Michigan: A Case History in Local Control. Journal of Forest History.

Disclaimer: The use of ChatGPT was used for this blog post. It was used to create the source citations and a timeline which I followed to write the blog post, the headings used were from the AI timeline.

 

The Marriage and Divorce of Leo Sandberg and Daisy Marie Fredricks

Daisy Marie Fredricks, who went by Marie, was the daughter of Otto and Daisy (Graf) Fredricks. She was born 13 November 1921, probably at the family farm in Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan.

When Marie was eighteen years old, she married Leo Sandberg, age twenty-one, on 23 November 1939 at the Trinity Lutheran Church Parsonage in Onekama, Michigan. It was Thanksgiving Day. 

Leo and Marie Sandberg had one daughter, Rose Marie. They lived at 267 Christingdon Street, Manistee, Michigan. Leo worked in a hotel in Manistee. Marie worked in a restaurant in downtown Manistee. 

A divorce record can be found at ancestry.com in Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952. The divorce decree date was 27 Feb 1943, state file number 51 408; docket number 2558. The divorce was granted to Leo and the record states it was contested. The reason for the divorce was cruelty. No alimony was granted. 

The custody of Rose Marie, age two, was granted to Leo. When Rose Marie was a young girl, she went to live with her grandparents, Otto and Daisy Fredricks, in Brethren, Michigan. Leo eventually remarried, Marjorie Adamski. Leo and Marjorie would visit Rose Marie occasionally. Marie moved to California and remarried, Walter Kurth, but she rarely saw Rose Marie.

Gunner's Mate 3/c Ray Fredricks Served Four Years in Navy

 

Photographs in the collection of Audrey Glover, my mother.

Ray Edwin Fredricks, is the ninth child of Otto August Fredricks and Daisy Ellen Graf Fredricks. He was born 16 June 1932 on the family farm in Dickson Township, Manistee county, Michigan.

Uncle Ray entered the service on 10 Jul 1951 and served until discharge on 17 Jun 1955. He was a Gunner's Mate 3/c in the Navy. An 8 December 1953 article in the Manistee New Advocate, Manistee, Michigan reports that Ray was at the U.S. Naval Receiving Station, Norfolk, Virginia awaiting further assignment to the Naval unit in the Atlantic area. He was in the Korean War.

That's Aunt Jeannie to Me-Norma Jean Kaskinen

Norma Jean Fredricks 1934-2023

Otto August Fredricks and Daisy Ellen (Graf) Fredricks had eleven children together. The last two were twins. Norman Eugene and Norma Jean. Norma Jean went by Jeannie, and she was Aunt Jeannie to me. She was my mother's youngest sister.

The Wedding Party of Leslie Kaskinen and Norma Jean Fredricks

Jeannie and Les Kaskinen

Norma Jean Fredricks Kaskinen died on 3 March 2023 at the age of eighty-eight. Coincidently, her death date was her marriage date. She married Leslie J. Kaskinen on 3 March 1956.

Her obituary follows:

Norma Jean Kaskinen, 88, of Bellaire, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2023, at home. She was born on December 18, 1934, the daughter of Otto and Daisy (Graf) Fredricks.

Norma was a loving wife and mother. She was known for her baking skills and enjoyed sharing her delicious pastries with family and friends. In her early years, she enjoyed being on the golf course, bowling, and traveling to new places. Norma was also a member of the Bellaire Lioness Club.

Norma is survived in death by two children, Rhonda (Lloyd) Williams of TX, Brent Kaskinen of Bellaire; two grandchildren, Justin (Sandy) Williams and Alex Williams; great grandson, Lonnie Williams; sister, Audrey Glover, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Leslie, son, Mark Kaskinen, six brothers, and four sisters.

A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, March 14, at 11 a.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in Bellaire with Pastor Wade Seaver officiating. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday, as well as Monday, March 13, from 5-7 p.m. at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Interment will take place in the spring at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kaleva.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Hope Lutheran Church, PO BOX 160, Bellaire, MI, 49615.

Arrangements are in the care of the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com

Book Review: The Cut by John Wemlinger

The Cut by John Wemlinger

John Wemlinger's Michigan Notable Book selection "The Cut" is one I found interesting especially because it takes place in northwestern Michigan. It is in Manistee County, Michigan, where my Fredricks and Graf families settled.

The Cut tells the story of two warring factions, the lumber industry, and the homesteaders. Two children, one from each faction, meet and fall in love. Alvin, a farmer, and Lydia, the daughter of an influential businessman, meet in 1870. The Cut tells their love story woven between the historical events of the time. 

The businessmen want to build a dam powered sawmill. The sawmill affects the landowners’ farms and floods them affecting their ability to make a living. Lawsuits are filed and the reader gets a glimpse of what the farmers were dealing with at the time. A lot of the book tells the contentiousness of the time.

The Lumbering Boom 1870-1890 exhibit at the Michigan History Museum in Lansing, Michigan (United States). Permission and Photography by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Manistee, Michigan was the center of the lumber industry in the area during this period. The story is fiction with nonfiction history told. It is a great Michigan history read. The characters are believable, and the story captures the reader's interest. History is a bonus.

What is the Cut? It is a man-made channel that links Lake Michigan to the village of Onekama and Portage Lake. The channel is the cut.

My great grandfather, Johann August Fredricks, worked at a sawmill in Manistee saving his money to buy a farm. Having spent a lot of time in the area visiting family and doing family history research led me to visualize what the time was like. Wemlinger's detailed descriptions take the reader back in time.

Does Alvin and Lydia's love life overcome all the obstacles in their way? You will have to read the book to find out.  

WWII Draft Record of John Leonard Fredricks

John Leonard Fredricks, the son of Otto August and Daisy Ellen (Graf) Fredricks, was 18 years old when he registered for the U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. He was living at home at the time of his registration.

Photograph provided by family member

John Fredricks served as a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. John served as a Sergeant in the Korean War from 1949 to 1952, where he earned the Silver Star for gallantry in action.

I enjoy the information on draft registration cards, but enjoy the stories about his service more. He recieved the Silver Star for carrying a fellow soldier out of harm. Thank you for serving, Uncle John.

Gorsin, Bromberg, Posen, Prussia-My Fredrich's Ancestral Home

Gorzeń canal area of Poland

By Jarosław Szczepaniak, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56619491

Previously, I wrote about finding the birthplace of my maternal great grandfather, Johann August Fredrick (h). It is exciting to make the leap across the pond with one's ancestors.

My leap took me to Gorsin, Bromberg, Posen, Prussia. The 1905 population of Gorsin was 493. The 1920 United States Census record states that J. August Fredrick immigrated in 1872. It is hard to say what the population was at the time of August's emigration, but I am guessing it was still a village.

Researching Prussia ancestry can be complicated, and it is important to know where one's ancestors lived or where they went to church to further one's research. I was fortunate to find both in one record, a church record. ("Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1567-1945," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 11 March 2018), entry for Johann August Fredrich; Mikrofilm Sammlung. Familysearch.org; Lutherische Kirchenbücher, 1567-1945)  

Gorsin was a dorf (village) in the Regierungsbezirk (district) of Bromberg, province of Posen, and kingdom or state of Prussia (Preussen). It is important to study the history of the area, especially Prussian history as its boundaries changed throughout the years. Look at maps from the time. Two map resources I have found helpful are James Beidler's The Family Tree Historical Atlas of Germany and Wendy K. Uncapher and Linda M. Herrick's German Map and Facts for Genealogy. 

The Bromberg district, not to be confused with the city of Bromberg, was in existence from 1772-1807 and 1815-1920. Bromberg district became part of the German Empire in 1871. Under the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles the area was given to Poland, in 1919. Final agreement and transfers were concluded in 1920. Many Germans emigrated at this time. This is a brief history of the area at the time my ancestor lived. There is much more history of the area.

My ancestor J. August Fredrick lived in this area from 1845 until his emigration in the 1870's. I am sure the turmoil of the time and possible military conscription due to the Austro-Prussian and Franco Prussian war years helped him decide to go to the United States. All but one of August's siblings emigrated to the United States.

After ceding the area to Poland the village of Gorsin became Gorzeń, Poland. Today, Gorzeń is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, within Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland.

Richard Lewis Fredericks Death

 Richard Lewis Fredericks

(May 20, 1925-February 26, 2020)

Richard Lewis Fredericks, 94, of Brethren, died Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at home with his family by his side. He was born May 20, 1925, in Brethren, the son of Otto and Daisy (Graf) Fredricks.

Richard was a veteran of the United States Navy. He owned and operated Fredericks Phillips 66 gas station in Brethren. He also drove school bus for Kaleva Norman Dickson School District.

Richard was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Onekama, and had an unwavering faith in his Lord. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening

On November 18, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Onekama, Richard married Marilyn "Micki" Wendt who survives him. He is also survived by : his daughter Pamela Monroe of Brethren; his grandchildren, Rich Lagerquist of Jenison, Emily (Joe) Wilson of Lake Leelanau, Jessica (Josh) Hoffman of Thompsonville, and Matthew (Leslie) Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie; his great-grandchildren, Morgan Lagerquist of Plainwell, Oliver Wilson of Lake Leelanau, Gwedolyn Hoffman of Thompsonville, Benjamin Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie, Hannah Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie, and McKenzie Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie; his sister Audrey Glover of Portage and Norma Jean (Leslie Kaskinen of Central Lake; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by: his parents; his son, Richard "Ricky" Fredericks; and his siblings, Harold Fredricks, Daisy Kurth, Leona Wagoner, Ray Fredricks, Norman Fredricks, Otto Fredricks, Kathryn Tritten Pihl, Lola Brown, and John Fredricks.

Graveside services for family and friends will take place in the Brethren Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of Onekama, Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, or to Hospice of Michigan.

The Terwilliger Funeral Home, in Kaleva, is in charge of arrangements.

 

Richard Frederick WWII Draft Registration

 

Source: National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Michigan, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 386 found at Ancestry.com

The above draft registration is for my uncle, Richard Lewis Frederick, Brethren, Michigan. Richard is my mother's older brother. I want to point out Richard's last name. The spelling of the last name on this record is Frederick. This is the name that was on Richard's birth certificate and he used it throughout his life. My mom has Fredrick on her birth certificate. Others in the family have Fredricks on theirs. There is no uniformity among the twelve siblings. 

Richard was living at home and farming with his father, Otto August Fredrick. This is the correct spelling for Otto, no 'e' in the middle of his name. He listed his mother, Daisy Fredrick, as the next of kin. 

Richard was five feet, four inches tall and weighed 117 pounds. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion. I believe the dark complexion was due to his time farming in the sun. I knew Uncle Richard and would not say he had a dark complexion.

The above picture was on Richard's wedding day in 1950, seven years after his draft registration. He doesn't look like he has a dark complexion here. 

Tritten Store in Brethren, Michigan

An undated photograph of Brethren, Michigan.

I never visited my aunt and uncle, Kate and Carl Tritten, when they had the store on N. Coates Hwy, in Brethren, Michigan. My stories come from my mother, Audrey, who went to live with her sister, Kate, at the age of nine. 

She tells stories of having to clean and polish the wood floors of the store, pumping gas, babysitting Kate and Carl's children, Katherine Marie and John, stocking shelves, and waiting on people. I don't have a picture of the inside of the store, but I have a few that were taken outside of the store.

Carl Tritten holding his daughter, Katherine Marie Tritten, on the steps of the store.

Lola Fredricks, Kate Tritten's sister, holding her niece, Katherine Marie Tritten, in front of the gas pump.

John Tritten on his bike. The gas pumps are behind him, the store would be to his left. To John's right were railroad tracks. The store was a stopping place for the train. The train would pick up mail bags that were hung on a hook. If no passengers were getting on at this stop, the train didn't stop. The train would slow down so the mail bag could be grabbed. My mother told the story of how it was her sister's (Kate) job, but my mom would have to go out and hang the bag.

1984 picture of Aunt Kate's home. The store entrance would have been at the front of the house.

The Trittens lived there for many years. The room that was originally the store was a huge room. A bathroom was added at some time. There was a large dining table and huge hutch on one end. A washer and dryer were near the kitchen. The other half of the room was a living room type area and an office area.