Wordless Wednesday and a Lineup of Sisters

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

 

We all made it to 65. We didn’t all get Social Security.

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!

 

Oh Genea-Santa! I’ve tried to be so-o-o good. . . .

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!

 

The Gift My Brother Gave Me

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!!

 

Blog Caroling ~ O Holy Night was a Silent Night

O Holy Night is probably my favorite carol, followed closely by Silent Night, both for reasons pertaining to my family.

O Holy Night is the most beautiful carol I ever heard. . . . as my father sang it A cappella, in his clear, strong tenor voice.  Dad had been raised by his grandparents in Washington DC, and was a Choirboy at the “Church of the Presidents,” the historic Christ Church.  The boys would sing O Holy Night each Christmas Eve for the traditional Christmas Eve Service.

Early in their marriage, my father sang it for my mother, as the story goes, and she was awed by it.  So awed that she insisted he sing it when they were at a Christmas party one year.  The entire party chanted and clapped until he sang it.  It was years before he ever sang it again since he was not a public person.  When he did begin to sing it again, he would sing it for us every Christmas as we grew up and we loved it!  To this day I still get goosebumps when I hear this carol sung by a tenor with a clear and powerful voice.

The words to the carol are:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels’ voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,

Here come the wise men from Orient land.

The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;

In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,

Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

The next carol, Silent Night, has particular meaning in my life, because it reminds me of the year my son was born.  He was born in December, and our Church had the tradition of a Living Nativity.  At the end of the Christmas Eve Service the entire congregation would walk out of the Church carrying lit candles and singing Silent Night.  As they walked out, they saw the re-creation of that first Christmas.  The family with the newest infant portrayed the Holy Family.   In 1963, we were that family.  Forty five years later, I cannot hear that carol without thinking of that special Christmas Eve.

The words to that carol are:

Silent night, holy night
All is calm all is bright
‘Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Saviour is born
Christ the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night,
Son of God, love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Since caroling is not caroling without either of these magnificent carols, I hope our group will include these, just before the hot chocolate is served!

 

Wordless Wednesday

This picture was taken in 1923 in Sacramento, California when my mother was four years old.  The family was visiting  my great-grandmother, Minnie von Breyman, from Hilo, Hawaii.

 

Wordless Wednesday and Four Generations

Mother’s Day 2008, Lake Forest, California

I flew out to California from Pennsylvania this year to surprise my mother for Mother’s Day.  My daughter and granddaughter joined me and the three of us drove to my brother’s home to surprise her.  This picture commemorates the occasion.  It was a wonderful day and one none of us will forget.

My mother is in the middle, I’m standing behind her, my daughter on my mother’s left, and my granddaughter is on her right.

 

Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything You Read. . . .

My Grandmother’s Obituary:

SHERMAN, NELLIE VIOLA
Age 84 years in Riverside, April 30, 1976. Mother of William F. Sherman Jr. & Vincent E. Sherman. Also survived by 7 grandchildren & 5 great-grandchildren. Private services and inurnment were held in Evergreen Cemetery. Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary Directors.

Let’s take this obituary apart.  It’s a short one, so it will be easy to do.

1.  SHERMAN, NELLIE VIOLA
Age 84 years in Riverside, April 30, 1976.
Her name, age, place of death and date are correct.  So far, so good.

2.  Mother of William F. Sherman Jr. & Vincent E. Sherman.
Yes, she was the mother of William F. and Vincent E. Sherman.  However, if nobody knew, they’d assume both of them lived in Riverside, wouldn’t they?  After all, the obituary was published in Riverside and she died in Riverside.  The assumption would be wrong. William F. lived about an hour south of Riverside in San Diego County and Vincent E. lived across the country in Virginia!

3.  Also survived by 7 grandchildren & 5 great-grandchildren.
Yes, she had 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

4.  Private services and inurnment were held in Evergreen Cemetery.
Now this is where the facts are really, really wrong!  Private Services?  No.  Inurnment at Evergreen Cemetery?  Definitely No.

This obituary was printed in the newspaper on 1 May, the day after she died.  Now, how conceivable is this?  Services and inurnment held in time for the morning paper?

Private Services were held . . . but not until June 15 when her name was on the headstone with her mother in Springhill Cemetery in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania!

Inurned in Evergreen Cemetery in Riverside, California?  Never happened.  She wasn’t inurned until she was inurned with her mother’s remains in Pennsylvania.

I remember the day she died. My father, the above mentioned William F., called me at work to tell me.  I left work and headed for my parents home an hour and a half away.  I do not remember any services or inurnments since they lived in San Diego County and she died in Riverside County. Since I have her death certificate and all of the bills and receipts from both the mortuary in Riverside and cemetery in Shippensburg, I can say with confidence that the obituary is wrong.

So who furnished the information for the obituary?  The family usually does, don’t they?  Well, yes and no in this case.  The family furnished the information about her descendants to the mortuary, and the mortuary furnished the information to the newspaper. . . . . embellishing it a little.

Springhill Cemetery, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

In summation, death certificates and obituaries, are not always to be taken as gospel.  They are only as accurate as the knowledge of the person furnishing the information.  It’s the same today as it was in the days our ancestors lived and breathed on this fine earth!

 

Our Family’s Tradition has been hung with care since the 1930′s

. . . and for as long as my mother can remember (and she’s 89 years old!) and her sister can remember (and she’s 82 years old!) Popeye has only had one leg!! Funny, he kept his pipe, but not his leg!

My mother grew up in Hilo, Hawaii, and these were part of their Christmas decorations when she was a child. My aunt remembers them and my uncle remembers them. . . . and I have them!!

Growing up, our Christmas celebrations in Hawaii, on Guam and then in California always included these.  Each one of us, my parents, my brother, my sister and I, got to chose the ornament we wanted to hang.  We’d rotate years, so one year, every  five years, we’d get first pick!  Invariably, my sister and I would fight over Little Orphan Annie.  Nobody wanted one legged Popeye!  I don’t remember who would hang the remaining ornament, after all that was decades ago!!

one legged, pipe smoking, tattooed Popeye

As the children left home, and celebrations at my parents’ home got less elaborate, the ornaments were finally mine!  My children, then my grandchildren looked for them every year and wanted to put them on the tree, and so the tradition continued.  Four generations, enjoying the beat-up wooden ornaments.

This year they will hang from the arms on the light over my dining room table.  They’ve been there before and I enjoy seeing them as I eat my breakfast.

. . . in a few years, I’m not ready to let them go quite yet, they’ll be passed on to one of my children so they can continue the tradition of

. . . the old, beat-up, wooden cartoon ornaments.

 

Thankfulness; The Attitude We Should Have All Year

What am I giving thanks for this year?  So many things! Among them are:

• My family ~ My husband, children, grandchildren, brother, sister, mother and extended family, far and near.  I don’t tell them often enough how thankful I am for them, but I am.  I am thankful for who they are and what they mean to me.

• My friends ~ They encourage me, they validate me, they laugh with me and are there for me.  They are  an extended family to me.

• Liberty ~ So many people in other parts of the world are oppressed and have nothing to look forward to.  We are blessed to live in a part of the world that we have the liberty to be all we can be.

• A Roof over my head and more than enough to eat ~ I think of all those who have lost homes, whether to floods, fires or loss of jobs.  I think of those who have never had a roof over their head or never had enough to eat, and I know I am blessed.

• Good health ~ although I have my share of medical problems, I can still walk, talk, see, hear and enjoy the life I’ve been given.  There are others who only dream of the days that they could do what I can do today.

• The ability to travel and see my family ~ So many can’t see their families due to military assignments, incarceration, illness, the inability to travel or a number of other reasons.  If only I choose, I can travel and see mother, son, daughter, or grandchildren.  It may be a little inconvenience or an added expense, but I can do it.  Some can’t, whether they can afford to or not.

• I’m thankful for the inclusiveness of a nation that accepts all, regardless of race, creed or color.  How far we’ve come, just in my lifetime.

• and since this is a Genealogy Blog, I’m thankful for my ancestors who endured hardships and traveled across the waters to search for a better life.  I am thankful they chose the routes they did and endured the adverse conditions they did so I could enjoy the life I live today.

• As I sit down to a plate full of turkey and all the trimmings and I bow my head in gratefulness, you, as a reader, are in my prayer of thankfulness. You are a part of what I am thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!