Discombobulated!!

Discombobulated! That's been me for the past six weeks.  At the end of May, our home computer decided to act up.  The loss of the computer that I was comfortable with threw me into a state of confusion.  I had written a few blog posts, but not enough for what was to eventually be 6 weeks. 

Luckily, my darling hubby, had his school laptop home for the summer.  He was nice enough to share.  I shouldn't complain, but it just wasn't the same as having my own computer.  Plus, I didn't want to have a bunch of my pictures and files on his laptop.

I was a good girl and had listened to my other geneabloggers and had backed up my information.  No pulling my hair out on that front, and I don't think it can get any grayer.  I didn't want to transfer my backed up files unless I absolutely had too.  But, I eventually had to transfer some files in order to keep my blog up and running.

So, I am back and feeling less befuddled-for tonight anyway!  The home computer was beyond repair (why it took 6 weeks to figure that out I don't know), but it was under warranty and the warranty company cut us a check for the purchase price.  Yahoo! 

I am up and running with my new Dell laptop and it is better than the old desktop.  Will it help me write better blogs?  Probably not-but at least I have everything all in one place again.

Hattie's Bible

I have written in the past about how generous I thought genealogists are, but nothing can compare to the recent generosity I have been the recipient of-my great grandmother's family Bible.

In January 2010, I saw a posting on genealogy.com from someone researching the Fenn family, the same family in my ancestry.  I contacted, Carol, via email and explained our common ancestry.  I asked her if she would be interested in sharing information.  She emailed me back and said she was interested. Yay!

We exchanged what information we had on the Fenn family over a few weeks.  Then, one March day, she told me she had been visiting her mother's home.  Her mother opened a chest, that Carol didn't even know opened, and brought out three family Bibles.  As I continued to read her email I was brought to tears.  One of the Bibles was my great grandmother's, Hattie Fenn Glover.  Now, as if it isn't enough that the Bible is in existence, Carol's mother wanted to know if I would like the Bible.  I couldn't say 'yes' fast enough.  I felt honored, privileged and so excited.  Carol's mother wanted the Bible to go to someone in Hattie Fenn's direct line.  Carol and her mother were descendants of Hattie Fenn's brother, Tully.

In the same email Carol had sent pictures of my great grandparent's, Frank H. Glover and Hattie Fenn Glover, on their wedding day.  I cannot begin to put into words what that email meant to me.  I never thought I would see pictures of my great grandparents from the Glover side.

The logistics of getting the Bible had to be worked out as the three of us lived in different parts of the state. So, I waited patiently. (really, I did)  On June 24th I got a call saying the Bible was in Marshall, Michigan, just 10 miles away.  Of course,  I wasn't available to go get it until June 27th.  I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.

June 27th arrives and we are having a thunderstorm.  Nothing was going to keep me from getting this Bible.  I put a rubbermaid container(to keep it dry) in the car and off my husband and I went.  I'm not sure he trusted me to drive home in all my excitement.  By the time we got to Marshall, the rain had let up.  The Bible was at Carol's aunt's home, a first cousin, twice removed of mine.  I visited and shared a few stories and picked up the Bible to go home.  The Bible was boxed up and it was a lot heavier than I thought.

I was so excited.  I couldn't wait to get home and open it.  My mind was spinning.  Should I wear gloves when I open it?  Is it OK to take pictures of it?  How fragile is it? Will I be able to look at the pages? How should I store it?

The condition of the Bible wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  The front and back covers were in rough shape, but the inside binding was OK.  I gingerly unwrapped it and the first thing I saw was pages of pictures.  I had opened the back cover, first. 

I have been very carefully examining the contents of the Bible.  I have ordered an archival safe box, tissue, and sheet protectors to store it in.  I will share the contents of it in future posts. 

How do you ever thank someone for a gift that means the world to me?  Words don't seem enough.  So, I guess I will be a good caretaker of this treasure and see that it is saved for future generations.  I will continue to research the Fenn family and share whatever I find with my 'cousins'- it is the least I can do.

Fredricks Family Reunions

Family Reunion July, 2007

The Grandchildren of August and Louise Fredrick

L-R:  Audrey, Richard, John, Kathryn 'Kate', Norma Jean 'Jeannie', and Lola

The Fredricks side of my family has celebrated with family reunions for years.  I enjoyed attending them as a young child.  My mother came from a family of twelve brothers and sisters.  My family lived on the other side of the state, so going to the family reunion was a time to see my grandparents and lots of cousins.

Past reunions have been held in Brethren, Michigan.  They have been held at various aunt's or uncle's homes and at the original family farm, which is still in the family.  The earliest reunion I remember attending was held at my Aunt Kate's home.  She lived in Brethren, Michigan.  My grandparents, Otto and Daisy(Graf) Fredricks lived next door to her.  One of my favorite memories at past reunions is food.  There are a lot of good cooks in the family.  Aunt Kate, in particular, made the best homemade noodles.  No one has been able to replicate the deliciousness of her noodles.

This is Aunt Kate's recipe exactly as she wrote it:

1 beaten egg (with fork)
1/2 tsp. salt
3 or 4 drops yellow food coloring
2T. milk or water (I use water)
1 cup flour or enough to make a stiff dough.

Roll very thin on floured surface-turn so they dry evenly-I cut mine in strips as soon as I can cut them and they hold their shape.

Don't try to keep in cupboard, they'll mold-keep in freezer if you have more than you cook at one time-experiment-use 2 eggs if you want.

My sister, Linda, and Aunt Kate at the reunion in 2007

For the past 23 years at least, I'm not sure how many, they have been held at Dickson Township Park and Pavilion in Brethren, Michigan on the second Saturday in July. (It is being held today!)  This park is just a short walk from Aunt Kate's original home. Children games, lots of great food, white elephant auction and family stories provide for a good time.

While doing research on the family in Manistee, Michigan I came across the following article about a Frederick (sic) family reunion held in 1924.  I don't think family reunions have been held every year since 1924 but there have been reunions for years. 

Mr and Mrs. August Frederick held a family re-union Sunday, Sept.3, the first time the children had met at home for 19 years.  Sixty people were in attendance, among the number being Mrs. Chalmers of Canada, Will Frederick and family of Grand Rapids, John Bruce and family, and Mr. and Mrs. Breen and family of Manistee.  (Source:  "Brethren (News)" Manistee News Advocate(Manistee) 16 September 1922)  (Repository:  Manistee County Historical Museum, Manistee, Michigan)

Mr. and Mrs. August Frederick in this article were my great grandparents.  Mrs. Chalmers is their daughter, Emma;  Will Frederick is their son; their daughter, Mary, married John Bruce; and their daughter, Augusta 'Gustie', married Herman Breen. 

Do you have family reunions?  What makes your reunion special?

What's in a Name?

Instead of focusing on one surname for Surname Saturday I decided to focus on first names.  Do you have names that are unique to your family? Here are few from my family tree:

Angharad
Dionysus (Artz)
Wrestling (Brewster)
Tamisen (Brike)
Ievan (Cadwgan)
Teague (Crehore)
Nest (Cynric)
Hattie (Fenn)
Aminda (Fenn)
Tully (Fenn)
Damaris (Francis)
Thankful (Fuller)
Gamaliel (Glover)
Vinera (Powers)
Mehitabel (Rowley)

What's the most unique name in your family?

Wordless Wednesday: Stanley Cup 2010

My son-in-law, Chase, is the Coordinator of Photography for the

Chicago Blackhawks, the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions!

Tombstone Tuesday: J. August Fredrick and Louise (Zastrow) Fredrick

Oakgrove Cemetery Entrance

Manistee, Manistee, Michigan

Johann August Fredrick

Birth:  8 January 1845  Germany

Death:  27 January 1924  Dickson Township, Manistee, Michigan

Louise (Zastrow) Fredrick

Birth:  9 April 1856  Germany

Death:  27 July 1940 Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan

I am not sure why the "H" was engraved in place of the 'K'.  Some family members believe the surname was pronounced Fredrich, this may be why it is this way on their gravestone.   

Surname Saturday: Begole

The surname Begole has been found as Begole and Begold.  The Begole side of my family comes from Maryland and later Wayland, Steuben, New York and eventually Sylvan Township, Washtenaw, Michigan.  The Begole's I have researched so far include:

First Generation
1. William W Begold was born (date unknown).
Rachel Rivers was born (date unknown).


William W Begold and Rachel Rivers had the following child:
+2 i. William Rivers Begole.


Second Generation
2. William Rivers Begole (William W-1) was born (date unknown).
Rachel Starr was born (date unknown).


William Rivers Begole and Rachel Starr had the following child:
+3 i. Thomas Jefferson Begole, born 12 Jan 1776, Maryland, USA; married Ann Matelda Nancy Bowles, 21 Nov 1803, Washington County, Maryland, United States; died 18 Jan 1854, Wayland, Steuben, New York, USA.


Third Generation
3. Thomas Jefferson Begole (William Rivers-2, William W-1) was born on 12 Jan 1776 in Maryland, USA. He died on 18 Jan 1854 at the age of 78 in Wayland, Steuben, New York, USA.


Thomas Jefferson Begole and Ann Matelda Nancy Bowles were married on 21 Nov 1803 in Washington County, Maryland, United States.2–3 Ann Matelda Nancy Bowles, daughter of Thomas Bowles and Eleanor Price, was born on 20 May 1783 in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA. She died in 1850 at the age of 67 in New York, USA.


Thomas Jefferson Begole and Ann Matelda Nancy Bowles had the following children:
+4 i. Eleanor Begole, born abt Nov 1804, New York; married Samuel B. Poore, 1822, Steuben County, New York; died 9 May 1848.
5 ii. William Begole was born in 1806 in Danville, Steuben, New York, USA.


Fourth Generation
4. Eleanor Begole (Thomas Jefferson-3, William Rivers-2, William W-1) was born about Nov 1804 in New York. She died on 9 May 1848 at the age of 43.5 She was buried in Vermont Cemetery, Sylvan Township, Washtenaw, Michigan, USA.5


Eleanor Begole and Samuel B. Poore were married in 1822 in Steuben County, New York.6 Samuel B. Poore, son of Moses Augustus Poore and Elizabeth Barber, was born on 9 Sep 1792 in Dunbarton, Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA.


Samuel B. Poore and Eleanor Begole had the following children:
+6 i. Elizabeth Ann Poore, born Oct 1827, New York; died 20 Sep 1894, Hersey, Osceola, Michigan, USA.
7 ii. Jane Poore was born (date unknown).
8 iii. George Poore was born on 29 Feb 1828 in Steuben County, New York.
9 iv. Hannah Poore was born (date unknown).
10 v. Samuel Poore was born on 8 Feb 1833 in Steuben County, New York.
11 vi. William Poore was born (date unknown).
12 vii. David M Poore was born (date unknown).
13 viii. 10 Evan J. Poore was born (date unknown).
14 ix. Harlan Poore was born (date unknown).

A Special Take on 3 Generations

What's so special about 3 generations?  I imagine many people have 3 generation pictures.  I even have some.  My 3 generations is a little different-it is 3 generations of cancer and I am one of the generations.  I rarely think of myself as a cancer survivor, but I give thanks for surviving it every July.  I am a 30 year cancer survivor.  On July 2, 1980, I underwent surgery to remove a malignant thyroid and lymph nodes.  I was 22 years old.  Luckily, the surgery removed the cancer and I didn't need any further treatment.  I am sure modern medicine helped in my early diagnosis and treatment.  My grandmother and great grandmother weren't so fortunate.

My grandmother, Sarah Lilla (Watt)(Glover) Bell, underwent surgery of the neck area in 1965.  The cancer had spread to the point that they were unable to treat her.  They closed her up and informed the family that she probably wouldn't live long.  She died shortly after that on March 31, 1965 at the age of 80.  Her death certificate doesn't have a cause of death on it.  I don't know for a fact it was thyroid, but do know the cancer was in her neck area.

Sarah's mother, Catherine (McGee) Watt died of cancer on 22 January, 1932 in Marquette, Michigan.  Her death certificate lists the cause of death as carcinoma.  Her obituary states she had been sick for 18 months.  I do not know where her cancer was, but know that Catherine suffered from a goiter for years.


Cancer seems to run on the female side of my dad's family.  I went with my younger sister, a breast cancer survivor, to a genetic specialist.  The specialist believed we had a mutation of the P-10 gene, but testing was negative for it..  The geneticist recommended further testing but due to insurance restrictions neither of us explored it.

I can only imagine what the diagnosis of cancer did to my grandmother in 1965 and my great grandmother in 1932.  I am sure they felt it was a death sentence.  I remember, vividly, the day I was told I had cancer.  I was shocked.  It had never even crossed my mind.  Being young, I was sure I could beat it.  I did!  I had wonderful surgeons, doctors, and medical personnel with the newest technology available at the time.  I am not sure what their treatment was like. 

My hope and prayer is that future generations will live in a time when cancer is cured.  Wouldn't it be nice if future generations have to look up what cancer is when they see it on death certificates like I have had to look up a few obsolete conditions?  July 2nd is here and I have reminisced about being a cancer survivor and I am thankful for the wonderful care I received at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.  Here's to many more years of good health for all cancer survivors!