From Axer to Ziegler

Jim was just a child, and seemed to enjoy sitting in this Model A. Standing in front of the car from left to right are his brother Gerald (deceased,) sister Hilena and brother, Pete.  Jim doesn’t remember who this car belonged to, but at the time, I don’t think he really cared!

About 1946 or 1947, Hull, Iowa

. . . and for Christmas, 2008, he got to relive some childhood memories when he found this 1928 Model A and had to have it!

November, 2008, Lancaster,Pennsylvania

Merry Christmas, Jim.  Enjoy your Toy!

Today is Mother’s Birthday. She has lived through the roaring 20′s, the depression of the 30′s, the war of the 40′s, the rebuilding of the 50′s, the hippies of the 60′s, the “Me” Decade of the 70′s, the materialism of the 80′s, the emergence of personal computers in the home, and into the 21st century!

She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 4th child and 2nd daughter of a growing family. The first known picture of her was taken in 1920, at the age of 2 months.

1920, First Known picture of Mother

The next picture was taken in 1921. She and her mother were on a trip to Honolulu from Hilo. Her older sister, Maralee June, had just died and her mother needed to get away. According to my mother, her mother’s dress was a lovely blue velvet.

1922, Honolulu, Hawaii

Fast forward to 1932. What the occasion of this picture was, I have not a clue!  The picture was taken next to a pond and mother is wearing a lovely dress.

1932, Hilo, Hawaii

A few short years later she celebrated her high school graduation. She graduated from Hilo High School in 1937 and was preparing for college in Sacramento, California. She had grandparents, aunts and uncles in that area.

High School Graduation 1937

In 1945, she was a young mother and had three children. In this picture, she is holding her middle child, a lovely young daughter . . . ME!

Hilo, Hawaii. Mother and Me

The next picture was taken in 1948 when we lived on Pauhau Sugar Plantation on the Big Island of Hawaii. I, again, don’t know what the ocassion was, but wasn’t Mother lovely?

1948, Pauhau, Hawaii

In the 1950′s we moved to Guam. We spent a lot of time at the beach, picnicing and hunting sea shells. We have an awesome collection from those days. This picture was taken just before we left on a vacation to visit my granddparents in Hawaii. When we returned, I no longer had my braids. I got my wish and got a hair cut and a permanent! I was cool!

about 1954 at the beach on Guam

In the 1960′s all three of her children got married and she became a grandparent for the first time. My parents took an assignment in the Philippines and traveled extensively throughout the Far East. This picture was taken at the wedding of her youngest daughter, Priscilla, in December of 1964 in Riverside, California.  (the picture was creased ~ there is nothing wrong with her face other than the crease!)

December, 1964, Riverside, California

In the 1970′s a lot of changes happened in her life. She retired, my father retired, they sold their home in Riverside and retired to their weekend home in Fallbrook, California. Life was good! The following picture was taken in the mid 70′s in their home in Riverside. With mother, are her two daughters, I am on the left and Priscilla on her right.

Riverside, California, about 1975

My parents established themselves in life in Fallbrook. Mother volunteered at a local charity’s thrift store and they were members of the Symphony. They traveled. They made friends easily and family came for the holidays. This picture was taken of them at my father’s 50th class reunion. He graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco in the early 1930′s.

Lowell High School 50th Class Reunion, early 1980

In the 1990′s Mother lost her mate of 50+ years, but found another man to spend the remainder of her life with. Paul and Mother have been married for over 15 years and seem to be soulmates, never forgetting the full life they each shared with their first loves. In this picture, Mother was preparing Thanksgiving dinner for her family in Fallbrook, one of the last the entire family would share together.

Thanksgiving, early 1990's in Fallbrook, California

Which brings us to the present decade! Her family has become larger with grandchildren added and her family has spread out ~ Linda in Pennsylvania and Priscilla in Wyoming, and grandchildren living in Oklahoma, Nevada and up and down California! Bud still remains in California, close to her.  He and his wife, Cherrie, threw a mother’s day luncheon this year and the majority of the family was able to attend. This picture was taken there.

Bud, Linda and Mother, Mother's Day 2008

Happy Birthday, Mother! We look forward to the Big NINE O next year!

Hmmm-m-m-m-m just what is it that I will resolve in 2009??  

There is so much I can resolve, but I know the more I resolve the more resolutions I will break.  

• I could resolve to organize all 12,000 pictures I transferred from my old computer.  Was I surprised when I saw how many pictures I had stored on that Dell laptop?  You bet I was!!  It took 1 1/2 hours to transfer them.  Now what??
• I could resolve to go through that stack of paper that I’ve moved from pillar to post because I just don’t know where it should be filed.
• I could resolve to take that trip and spend several days at the National Archives going through a quadzillion pension files.  After all, I’m fortunate to live within a couple of hours of Washington DC.  (The trip will NOT be at the end of January, however!  I understand half of America will be there during that timeframe!)
• I could resolve to spend more time volunteering, either photographing cemeteries or at the Historical Society.
• I could resolve to blog more, but then I think sometimes my blogging takes away from my research. . . . and I love doing both of them.

I’ve decided to tackle paper!  I’m tired of seeing these stacks of paper!  Everywhere I look, it’s paper.  And to this end, I’m going to keep a log.  I’m going to try (and the keyword here is TRY) to record what I’ve accomplished, month by month.

. . . and then, if, and that’s a big IF, I finish that, I’m going to make time to take that trip to Washington DC!  After all, I should have enough Marriott points to get at least one night for free, and I love traveling by rail.  

And when I finish going through pension files, I could go through Washington DC records (where ever they may be) since my great-grandparents lived there, and my grandparents lived there and my father was born there ~ there should be a lot of information for me in their archives!

. . . but of course, I’ll keep blogging, and I’ll keep researching.  I’m happy with the progress I’ve made with both of them in 2008.

I’m eagerly awaiting 2009!

Times were rough in the Niess household in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Catharine Auxer Niess, my great-great-grandmother kept a diary.  I am blessed to have a copy of that diary and this Christmas I’m sharing her entries for several different Christmas entries.  I have transcribed them exactly as written (spelling and punctuation included.)  

1890:

December 10th – This was another beautiful day, the streets were crowded with walkers, people are prepareing (sic) for Christmas.  I think we will spend a poorer christmas this year than we have for a long time . . .

December 18th – The weather to day is rough.  Yesterday it rained, hailed and snowed and the wind belw so hard that some old buildings fell to the ground.  I just got over a hard spell of head ache and feel weak, but I thank God that I am what I am and where I am.  I can scarecely (sic) realize that Christmas is so near.  I baked a few cakes to day, as we are so deep in debt I must bake sparingly.

December 28th – Clear and cold, and good sleighing.  Christmas day was cold and cloudy in the evening about ten o clock it began to snow and snowed all next day.  On Saturday it still snowed some and began to get colder.

1891:

December 26th – It has been raining all week.  Yesterday (Christmas) it was cloudy but did not rain much.  We all were out to Uncle Harries except Katie.  Her and Lou were up to my Sisters to dinner.  We got many nice presents.  This eve Katie took a few things up to Mrs. Shafers and a little cake to Mrs. McCann.  This evening it is blowing very hard and is getting very cold.  Gertie Carns is still sick, is a little better.  

1892:

December 26th – The weather is very cold.  I got a half ton of coal last friday now I can makea the house comfortable.  We had a real nice Christmas.  It being on Sunday, I went to church in the morning.  We did not have any in the evening.  Today we had a small turkey.  katie and Lou were here to dinner.  Sadie was here.  Last week two of the River Brethren Ministers were here.  They talked and prayed beautiful.  O how I love Christian people.  Everything is going better now hope it may continue.  The river is froze over.

I wish Catharine would have provided just a few more details about Christmas.  Wouldn’t it have been a great thing to have?

1949, Pauhau, Hawaii:

When I still looked good in a swimming suit. .

1968, Riverside, California:

Two of the cutest kids ever!! Mine!

1993, Tehahapi, California:

An Angel if I ever saw one! Michael in Kindergarten

1995, Tehachapi, California:

Hallie ~ just waiting, patiently!

Blessings on this most sacred of Eves. . .

The von Breyman Sisters  in California.  No idea what date this was taken but probably in the 1950′s.

L-R:  Fredi Jackson, Minnie Schnitter, Louise Nugent, Ida Fletcher, Bertha Lindgren (my grandmother), and Amy Silva

Since I celebrated my “Medicare Birthday” this week, I thought it would be a good chance to chronicle all of my female ancestors at the same age! . . . all the female ancestors that I have pictures of, that is! Each one of my grandmothers are either exactly 65 or a year on either side of it

Can you figure out who I resemble? Hint: it is not my mother!

My great-great grandmother, Amelia D. Gode, at least 65 years old
(my mother’s great grandmother)

My great-great grandmother, Catharine Auxer Niess, age 65
(My father’s great grandmother)

My Great Grandmother, Minnie Goda von Breyman, age 65
(my mother’s grandmother)

My great-grandmother, Carrie Carvell Niess, age 65
(my father’s grandmother)

Catharina Dorothea Schultz Lindgren
(my mother’s grandmother)

My grandmother, Nellie Viola Niess Sherman, 60+ years old
(my father’s mother)

My grandmother, Bertha E. von Breyman Lindgren
(my mother’s mother)

My mother, Catharine Dorothea Lindgren Sherman

. . . .and now you know who I’m named after!  My name is:
Dorothea (after my great-grandmother Lindgren and my mother)
Linda (after my grandfather, who was called “Lindi” and had nobody named after him!)
and of course, Sherman, carrying on my father’s name!

We all reached the age of 65, but only myself, my mother and my two grandmothers ever saw Social Security benefits.

Hopefully, there will be enough for my daughter to see!

won’t you please read my plea and bring to me. . . . .

• One or two letters to my grandfather from his family?  You know which grandfather!  The grandfather who is my brick wall!  The one who I think lied about his name. . . . and if it’s not too much to ask, could it please have a return address on it?  So I know where there were along with their names???  If I could have that, I’d be as pleased as punch!!

• . . . and if that’s impossible for you to find, how about just one coverlet that was woven by my fifth great grandfather, Michael Auxer?  You know (since you’ve been around since the beginning of time!) that he was a weaver in Elizabethtown, surely just one of his coverlets still remain today!  What do you think?  Can you find one of those for me?

• . . . and Santa, one more thing would make this the Christmas to end all Christmases and that would be that Melodeon great grandpa Niess left  Grandma Nellie.  When Grandma Nellie died she left a note that said Dad could have it, but somehow his brother got it.  I’d love to have it, Santa, but I don’t know how to ask for it. . . perhaps you could grab it for me on your travels!

. . . . and Santa, don’t think of this as a bribe, but I’ve left you a plate full of goodies with all of those carbs you need on Christmas night!  You’re going to need them to get around to the homes of all my Genea-blogger friends, and I want you to enjoy them.  However, if you want to leave one of those little things I’d like to have in exchange, feel free to do so!

I’ve been actively researching my family since 1990 and my main brick wall is my grandfather!  Family legend says he lied about his age to join the service.  I tend to think he lied about his name, too!

After 20 years, all I really know about him is:

• He was married to my grandmother in 1914 in Washington DC.

• He was the father of three sons.

• My grandmother divorced him in 1948.

• He died the same year and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Think it would be easy to find things on him, huh?

• I did find his enlistment record on the internet, however, his records were among the MIA in St. Louis, so nothing there.

• My grandparents had a big society wedding, but the newspaper article about it had no mention of any of his family.  Even the out-of-town guests in attendance were not from his side of the family.

• His obituary information was furnished by my Uncle who knew all I know today.

In an act of desperation, I e-mailed my brother and asked him if he would take an DNA test for me, and I would pay for it.  He, being the extraordinary brother he is, told me he’d be glad to.   .   .  and I got the results this week!!

What did they say?  They said we do not match any Sherman who has results posted on the internet!  We are not even close!

What it did say to me was I think  I was right all along ~ He must have lied about his name!

If this guy looks like anybody in your family, let me know!  Maybe we can compare DNA!!