Follow Friday: If These Walls Could Talk

From Journey to the Past

Have you ever wondered what your ancestor's house looked like? I have a couple of pictures of homes where my ancestors lived. One picture is of the family farm on my mother's side. The farm is still in the family today. Another is from a picture I took myself. A present day picture (2009) of a house my great grandparents, Frank and Hattie Glover, were living in around 1910. The picture above is that house on Ridge Street in Marquette, Michigan.

196 Capital Ave, NE, Battle Creek, Michigan c. 1940

Present Day: Kimball House Museum

If you have ancestors that lived in Battle Creek, Michigan circa 1940, you are in luck. Willard Library in Battle Creek, Michigan has a Historical Images of Battle Creek, Michigan-Homes and Building c 1940 collection accessible online. This collection has photographs of every house and building that was within the Battle Creek boundaries in 1940. The collection is listed alphabetical by street name, then house number. Even if you don't have ancestors in Battle Creek, check this great collection of photo's out. If these walls could talk, oh the secrets they would tell.

Enlisted at Age 15; Later Became Lieutenant Colonel

My father always told the story about his uncle, Merle Glover, running away to join the Army, during World War I. It wasn't until I found the document below that my father and I realized he was 15 when he joined the Canadian Army. Merle Glover was born 21 January 1902 in Michigan, United States.

The following Attestation Paper found at ancestry.com from the Canada, Soldiers of the First World War, 1914-1918 collection, has Merle attesting to the truth of the information on the form. His birth date on the form was listed as January 21th. 1898. His place of birth was listed as Kingston, Ontario.

Merle Glover eventually made a career with the United States military. I don't know when he left the Canadian Army and joined the U.S. one. He rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel and served in the military for 33 years. His obituary says he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, but I haven't been able to find his burial information at Arlington.

Obituary of Merle Glover

The Mining Journal, 10 December 1981

Marquette, Michigan

The Social Security Death Index above also states his date of birth as 21 January 1902.

I find it interesting that a young man of 15 would want to join the army so bad he would go to Canada, lie about his age to join, and continue to serve for many years to come. The patriotism and dedication of Merle is to be admired.

Madness Monday: Louise Fredricke Zastrow Fredrick

Louise Fredricke Zastrow Fredrick is my great grandmother and a brick wall in my research. She was born 9 April 1856 in Germany. Where in Germany, I have not been able to ascertain. She was naturalized in 1909, but I have not been able to find a source for the Naturalization records in Manistee County, Michigan. The county clerk's office says they aren't available. So where do I go now? What I know is listed below with the documents I have found.

New York Passenger List 1820-1957

Louise Zastran arrived 24 April 1875 aboard the ship Donau. She travelled with Johann Zastran-was he a brother?

The marriage register of Louise Fredricke Zastrow and Johann August Frederick, 8 May 1875, Manistee, Michigan. The family story is that Johann August sent back to his homeland for someone to come to the United States and marry him. Louise Zastrow was sent. I don't know if she knew him before she came here or not. The family believes she did not want to leave Germany. She supposedly left a twin sister in Germany. I haven't been able to learn the name of her twin sister.

This marriage certificate copy was obtained in 2007. John Zastrow was a witness but I haven't been able to find any information on whether he stayed in the United States or not.

Louise Fredrick can be found in the 1930 Census. She is living with her daughter, Mary and the Bruce family in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Louise died 27 July 1940 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I don't know where to look for further information on her and her origins in Germany.  Any suggestions?

Surname Saturday: McGee

The Surname McGee is Irish in origin. It has been found written McGee, Magee, MacGee. The McGee side of my family arrived in Canada in the mid 1800's, eventually, settling in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. Richard McGee was an early settler of West Gwillumbury Township, Ontario, Canada. Catherine McGee, Richard's daughter, arrived in the United States in the early 1880's, settling in Marquette, Michigan.

Ancestor Biography: Samuel Stillman Glover, Jr.

Birth: Samuel Stillman Glover, Jr. was born 13 May 1836 in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan. He was the sixth, of twelve, child born to Samuel Stillman Glover and Vinera Eglantine Powers.

1850 Census: Samuel's mother died in February of 1847. He was 10 years old. Stillman Glover can be found living in Ypsilanti, Washtenaw, Michigan in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census. He is living with John, Eliza, Orson, and Alice Cody.

Marriage: According to the Dibean’s Michigan Marriage Index for Lenawee County, Michigan, Samuel S. Glover married Ada L. Dyer on 2 August 1857. Ada L. Dyer was the daughter of William G. Dyer and Mary Ann Swallow.

Children: Samuel and Ada Glover had ten children:

Charles W. 1859-
William E. 1861-
Frank H. August 1863-7 October 1925
Mary J 1864-
Louis B 1866
Laura J 1869
Sarah 1871
Emma D 24 July 1873-3 September 1874
Emerson 24 July 1873-28 October 1873
Walter S. 27 Feb 1875-5 February 1920

Military Service: On 7 December 1861 Samuel Glover, Jr. enlisted in the Civil War, Union side. He enlisted at Marshall, Calhoun, Michigan at the age of 26. He was living in Lenawee County, Michigan at the time.

While serving Samuel S. Glover Jr. was with the 1st Regiment, Engineers and Mechanics, Michigan, Company H. His rank during his service was Private First Class. He received a disability discharge on 8 Dec 1862 in Nashville, Tennessee. My great grandfather, Frank H. Glover was born nine months later in August of 1863! Samuel's obituary states:

"early in ’62 he was wounded in the right knee while on his way from
Shelbyville to Huntsville with secret dispatches. He was several miles
from his destination when wounded (was shot through the knee) but pluckily
clung to his horse until he reached the picket lines at Huntsville, when he
was taken from his horse nearly unconscious and had just strength enough to
say dispatches were in his shoes, that was the last he knew for weeks. His family at home did not hear from him and had about given him up for dead when months after he suddenly arrived in Adrian (where his family resided at that time) discharged as incapacitated from further service."

According to his obituary, Samuel received a pension of $10 per month.

1870 Census: Samuel S., Adaline, Charles W. William E, Franki H., Mary J, Louis B, and Laura J can be found living in Manistee, Manistee, Michigan in 1870. This census page is interesting because Samuel S. Glover is Ass't Marshall.

Other Census Information: Samuel Stillman Glover, Jr can also be found in the following census:
1860 Macon, Lenawee, Michigan
1880 Muskegon, Muskegon, Michigan
1900 Pleasanton Township, Manistee, Michigan
Occupations: Samuel S. Glover, Jr was listed in the census as a merchant, life insurance agent, clerk in clothing house, and farmer. In 1876, he was the Justice of the Peace in Manistee, Manistee, Michigan. Sometime during the 1890’s he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and worked for the “Milwaukee Sentinel”. He returned to Manistee County in 1898 and farmed land in Pleasanton Township, Manistee, Michigan.
Death: Samuel died 12 April 1904 in Pleasanton Township, Manistee, Michigan from uremic poisoning, chronic prostatis and nephritis.

Obituary: Samuel S. Glover's obituary can be found in the Manistee Daily News 14 April 1904, and Manistee Daily Advocate on 16 April 1904 (on the front page).

Below: Manistee Daily News 14 April 1904

Above: Manistee Daily Advocate 16 April 1904

Burial: Samuel was buried 16 April 1904 in Gilmore Township Cemetery, Elberta, Benzie, Michigan.

Tombstone Tuesday: Civil War Veteran-Samuel S. Glover Jr.

Samuel Stillman Glover, Jr, a civil war veteran, died 12 April 1904 in Pleasanton Township, Manistee, Michigan. He was 67 years old. He is buried in Gilmore Township Cemetery, Elberta, Benzie, Michigan-Section F Lot 25. Gilmore Township Cemetery is located on the corner of Grace Road and Highway 22, Elberta, Michigan. Access to the cemetery is from Grace Road.

Surname Saturday: Fenn

The surname Fenn is English in origin. It has been found written as Fenn, Fen, and Fann. It is a topographic surname coming from someone living in a marsh, lake or boggy region. The Fenn side of my family is my brickwall. The Fenn family in my lineage comes from the Shoreham, Addison, Vermont area. Daniel Fenn married Huldah Rowley and migrated to Michigan. Their son, Daniel C. Fenn is the father of my great grandmother, Hattie Fenn.

Women's Basketball in 1901!

For the past month my family has been immersed in basketball. We even have a fun family pool to pick the winner of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. This year there are 17 members hoping to pick the winner for the right to brag for a year! (I chose West Virginia to win it all. If they win then I will be the one bragging!)

Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891. This picture, from Marquette High School in Marquette, Michigan, is of the women's basketball team in 1901-just 10 years after it was invented!

My grandmother, Sarah Lilla Watt, is the first one in the front row. I find this picture fascinating because I can't imagine playing basketball in a long skirt. Also, I was amazed that they had a women's basketball team in 1901. I graduated from high school in 1975 and until the Title IX education amendment of 1972 was passed, women's sports weren't as accessible as they are now. It makes me wonder was Marquette schools ahead of their time?