Last Day Local: 1834 Log Schoolhouse, Battle Creek, Michigan

Imagine pre-statehood Michigan, an area where land wasn't deemed suitable to be given as bounty land to the War of 1812 veterans.  An area that was thought to be swamp land, much like the Everglades in Florida. This is the land where the first Battle Creek log schoolhouse was built in 1834.

Obviously, the surveyors of the time got it wrong as Michigan was developed and became a state in 1837.  The area around Battle Creek, at this time, was one of wilderness with a few Indian villages. The log schoolhouse is no longer in existence and all that stands in its place is a parking lot and a historical marker denoting it.

The transcription of the markers is  "Near this spot, facing the Indian Trail, the village's first public school was erected in 1834. Built of logs, its floor, desks and benches were constructed of lumber floated down the river from Bellevue's sawmill. Warren B. Shepard, the first teacher, had a dozen pupils. The pioneers paid eighty dollars for their schoolhouse, using it also for religious services, debates and other meetings. Sometime friendly Potawatomi Indians dropped in to watch the strange doings."

The log schoolhouse held classes and other community events from 1834-1838, when the school became overcrowded.  The school was built by Deacon Salter, who received $80 to build it, on logs that were floated down the Battle Creek river from Bellevue. 

During this time the log schoolhouse had two teachers: Warren B. Shepard and Sarah Phelps.  The residents who sent their children to this school included: Judge Sands McCamly, General Ezra Convis, Moses Hall, Deacon Salter, Daniel Thomas, Isaac Toland, Nathaniel Barney and Nebediah Angell.  The population of Battle Creek, at the time, was less than 400.

The school became overcrowded and in 1837 the residents voted to build a bigger school and appropriated $500 for the building.  The new school was known as the Frame Schoolhouse and it was built in a new location.

The Historical Marker for the Log Schoolhouse may be found on East Michigan Avenue, in downtown Battle Creek.

Last Day Local is a blog prompt I use to celebrate the history of Battle Creek, Michigan, my hometown for the past 26 years.  I try to post one article on the last day of the month about the heritage and history of Battle Creek, The Cereal City!

Sunday's Obituary: Claude Raymond Glover

The Mining Journal, (Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, USA), 9 April 1960 ; J.M. Longyear Research Library, Marquette, Marquette, Michigan, USA.

Transcription:

C.R. Glover, Retired Rail Engineer, Dies

                              

MUNISING-Claude R. Glover, 75, died at 6 this morning in his home, 301 Munising Ave., after a several months' illness

He was born Nov 12 1884, in Jackson, lived in Frankfort as a child and moved to Munising in 1905. He worked for the Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad from May 8, 1905 to Dec 17, 1957, when he retired.  He was employed by the railroad as an engineer since 1910.

Mr. Glover was a life member of Grand Island Masonic Lodge and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and a member of Munising Conservation Club.

Survivors are his wife, Edythe; a brother, Merle Glover, of Arlington, Va; a sister, Mrs Leonard McKee of Marquette; three step-children, Mrs Allen Swanberg and Lee Booker of Munising, and Neil Booker of Milwaukee and several nieces and nephews.

The body is in the Bowerman-Hallifix Funeral Home where friends may call after 2 Saturday afternoon.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 Monday afternoon in the First United Prebysterian Church. The Rev. Frank Beattie will officiate and burial will take place in Maple Grove Cemetery.

Claude Raymond Glover was the son of Frank H. Glover and Hattie Fenn Glover.  He is my grand uncle.

Daniel Fenn: An Overseer of the Poor

Once a researcher has found the low hanging fruit records, it is time to search beyond the online databases and conduct on the ground research for unique record groups.  When I did this I found that my third great grandfather, Daniel Fenn, was an overseer of the poor.

Daniel Fenn was one of the earliest settlers in Washtenaw County, Michigan Territory. Daniel and his family arrived, from Vermont, to Dexter Township, Washtenaw, Michigan Territory in the spring of 1833. He helped found what was then the Vermont Settlement in the Territory.

The Vermont Settlement in Sylvan Township held its first organizational meeting in April, 1834. Daniel Poor was appointed overseer of the poor at this meeting. The organization of the settlement drew on the government organization from New England.  In New England, towns would appoint overseers of the poor.  The job of the overseer of the poor was to see that those who could not care for themselves were looked after.  Payment to the overseer of the poor was made from town funds. 

Where do you look for town records in Michigan? Early town records in Michigan can be found in a few different places.  I found town records at Ypsilanti Historical Society, Bentley Library at the University of Michigan, and Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County.  The Archives of Michigan have some as well.  

Historical and Genealogical societies, as well as archives, in the locality one is researching are great resources that every family researcher should use. I enjoy going to local repositories because you never know what you may find.  Local resources are filled with information that only the locals know about.  Step away from your computer and get out and visit your local repositories. Many of the repositories have an online catalog where you can search for town records.  Some repositories will pull the records and make copies for those who live out of the area, for a fee.

If you want to add unique details to your ancestors family history, check town records for mention of your ancestor.

Color Coded Birth Places of My Ancestors

Credit for the idea and spreadsheet to J. Paul Hawthorne

A fun distraction is going around the genealogy community this morning and I thought it would be fun to participate.  The above pedigree chart shows the birth places of my ancestors.  The home person is me, with my father's ancestors across the top and my mother's ancestors across the bottom. 

I like the visual aspect of this chart.  It allows me to see at a glance my heritage  There are thirty one places on this chart.  The birth place of Michigan leads the chart with ten people being born in Michigan.  Second, is Germany with seven ancestors.  I was happy to see I only have two that are unknown.   

I am like a lot of Americans and have a real melting pot of ancestry.  What does a genealogist do on a rainy day? Gets distracted and creates a multi-colored pedigree chart.

Sisters, Sisters There Was Never Such Devoted Sisters

Sisters Mary Ann Graf and standing, Daisy Ellen Graf

Family pictures are some of the most precious mementos I have of my family.  The picture above has to be in the Top Ten of pictures I treasure.  I received this picture from my cousin, Jamie Welch, last year.  Who wouldn't treasure this picture? Look at her tiny waist and awesome hair.

This treasured picture is of my grandmother, Daisy Ellen Graf and her sister, Mary Ann.  They were the daughters of Valentine Graf and Nancy Mast Graf.  Daisy, was two years older than her sister, Mary Ann.  Daisy was born in 1892 and Mary Ann in 1894, both were born in Howard county, Indiana. I don't know a lot about this picture, such as date taken or where, but I think it was taken in Manistee county, Michigan. I don't have a picture of my Grandma where she is younger than this. Most of the pictures I have of her are after she was married and had children.

The Graf family moved from Howard county, Indiana to Brethren, Michigan in the early 1900's. Daisy and Mary were young children when the family moved.  I imagine this picture was taken in Manistee county between the time the family moved to Brethren and 1913, when Daisy had her first child.

This picture reminds me of the song, Sisters, Sisters and the lyrics, "Sisters, Sisters There Was Never Such Devoted Sisters...Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister and lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man.

Aunt Mary is one of my grandma's sisters that I remember.  She lived across the street from my grandma, in Brethren, Michigan, and I think they remained close throughout their lives.

35 Moments That Took My Breath Away on Our Anniversary

"Moments that take our breath away" are the best kind of moments.  I have had a number of breathtaking moments in the past 35 years.  I mention 35 years because my husband, Kirk, and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary today.  It is a special occasion for us.  We plan to do a quiet, romantic dinner at Mangia, Mangia restaurant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, tonight. Our other anniversary celebration is taking what I am calling, "The Great Big New England Genealogy Tour".

The moments that take my breath away have been those moments spent with family.  Share my 35 moments that took my breath away with me.

1. Meeting Kirk
2. Our first date at Windjammers Restaurant in Lexington, Michigan
3. Our engagement after a dinner at Windjammer's Restaurant.
4. Our Wedding Day!
5. Our honeymoon to Toronto, Canada
6. Setting up our first apartment as husband and wife, in Deckerville, Michigan
7. Living in married student housing, the summer Kirk went to graduate school at Central Michigan University
8. Celebrating with Kirk upon the completion of his obtaining a Master's Degree in School Counseling
9. Seeing a positive sign on the pregnancy strip, telling me we were having a baby
10. The birth of our first child, Kirsten
11. Buying our first house in Deckerville, Michigan
12. Seeing the second positive sign on a pregnancy test kit and hoping it was a boy
13. Having Kirk with me as we are told I miscarried at 20 weeks of pregnancy
14. Grieving as a couple, Kirk was so strong, through this miscarriage
15. Finding out I was pregnant again
16. Celebrating Kirk's first job as an elementary school counselor at Harbor Springs, Michigan
17. The ride to the hospital, from Harbor Springs to Petoskey. over the railroad tracks to deliver our son, Travis, 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital
18. Growing as a family of four, living in Harbor Springs, Michigan
19. Celebrating Kirk's second elementary counselor job with a move to Kalamazoo, Michigan
20. Taking Kirsten for her first day of preschool at Milwood Cooperative Preschool in Kalamazoo.
21. Moving to Battle Creek, Michigan to be in the city where Kirk worked
22. Buying our second house in Lakeview area of Battle Creek, Michigan
23. Walking Kirsten to her first day of Kindergarten at Riverside Elementary School
24. Taking Travis to his first day of preschool at Woodlawn Preschool in Battle Creek
25. Walking Travis to his first day of Kindergarten at Riverside Elementary School
26. Watching Kirsten walk across the platform to receive her high school diploma
27. Visiting Kirsten at college at Milliken University in Decatur, Illinois, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
28. Meeting Chase, who would become our son in law, and getting to know him
29. Watching Travis accept his high school diploma at Lakeview School District, Battle Creek
30. Visiting Travis at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where he received his BAA in Sports Management 
31. Meeting Alayna, who would become our daughter in law, and getting to know her
32. Seeing Kirsten marry Chase Agnello-Dean
33. Seeing Travis marry Alayna DeSalvo
34. Watching Kirk as a wonderful role model and father to Kirsten and Travis.
35. Many beautiful moments in the last 35 years that has me looking forward to all the moments that will take our breath away in the future.

I could go on and on as I have many moments that took my breath away over the past 35 years.  Below you will see the start of our beautiful life and where we are today.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk and Brenda Leyndyke

21 March 1981

St. John's Lutheran Church, Palms, Michigan

The Leyndyke Family

Christmas in Battle Creek, Michigan

Front Row: Brenda, Ella the Dog, Kirsten, Alayna

Back Row: Kirk, Chase, Travis

Military Monday: A WWII Phone Call from Honolulu

Source:  News of Our Men in the Services, Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, Calhoun, Michigan, United States, 28 April 1944.

Transcription
Telephones from Honolulu  James Tyson, 19, signalman, third class, who has been "somewhere in the Pacific" stationed on a minesweeper for the last 14 months, was able to arrange for and complete a telephone call from Honolulu last Sunday night to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Tyson of 1833 West Goguac, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Roselene Tyson of the same address. He had previously been flown 2500 miles to Honolulu from his base for some dental repairs. The San Francisco overseas operator arranged with his family for the Sunday night call on the previous Tuesday and gave them instructions not to have any conversation about weather, military topics, dates of letters, or addresses or location of other serviceman. The conversation lasted for nine minutes. Signalman Tyson entered the Navy in September, 1942, was on boot leave at home in October, 1942, and has not been home since.  He has a brother, Pfc. Jack Tyson, a paratrooper, stationed at Camp Polk, La.

James Tyson was the son of Victor Tyson and Adeline Glover Tyson.  James Tyson is my first cousin, once removed.  The Battle Creek Enquirer had a series, "News of Our Men in the Services".  A file card of articles is available at Helen Warner Branch of Willard Library, Battle Creek, Michigan-my local library.

Those Places Thursday: Netze District, Prussia

I was told repeatedly that my great grandfather, Johann August Fredrich, came from Posen, Germany. No family members had any records or documents supporting this, only hearsay. I thought, "okay, that is a start", until I started researching Posen! Posen was not only a city, but a province, as well, and a pretty big one!

It wasn't until I was contacted by a Fredrich researcher, who lives in Germany, that I learned of the area the Fredrich family was from in the late 1700's.  He even sent me a book on the area, "Heimat an Netze Brahe Weichsel".

Netze District, 1786

This image is a copy or a derivative work of central_europe_1786.jpg, from the map collection of the Perry-Castañeda Library (PCL) of the University of Texas at Austin.

The Netze District was a part of the Kingdom of Prussia from 1792-1807.  Wikipedia states," It included the area of Bydgoszcz (Bromberg), Inowrocław (Inowraclaw), Piła (Schneidemühl) and Wałcz (Deutsch Krone) and was given its name for the Noteć River (German: Netze) that traversed it." The Fredrich family was from the Bromberg area.

This area eventually became a part of West Prussia, then South Prussia, which became part of the Duchy of Warsaw after Napoleon Bonaparte's victory in the War of the Fourth Coalition.  In 1815, it was divided between the Duchy of Posen and Poland. Today, the area is in Poland.