The theme for Week 5 and for February (for those of you doing the 12 Ancestors in 12 Months version) is "Branching Out." Have you branched out your research into looking at your collateral relatives? Made any good discoveries in records beyond the usual census and vital records? Or maybe you've discovered an ancestor who branched out in his or her education or occupation. Be creative!
When I hear the phrase "Branching Out", I think of going wide in my tree. Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc. There have been a few times where branching out had been necessary to further my research. Many are only interested in tracing lines back through their generational lineage. But by only doing that, you are missing half the story. Without going wide, or branching out, I wouldn't have confirmed my Helfrich Connection and traced the Hilke family back. I have written a few blog posts about this and even recorded an Auntie Jen's Two Cents video about it.
Helfrich
Maggie Helfrich
For my Helfrich Connection, I had to figure out how my 3rd Great-Grandma, Maggie Helfrich, was connected to Jacob Helfrich's family. She married him in Tennessee and moved to St. Louis. There were a few Helfrich families that she could have been connected to, so I had to trace some siblings and their children of a couple Jacob Helfrichs to see if there was a possible connection.
As you can see, if I wouldn't have branched out like I did and researched these people, I wouldn't have found the family. It took me researching all the listings in the City Directories and tracing them to narrow it down. But it was worth it.
Hilke
Edward Otto Hilke & Children
The Hilke family was a tricky line to trace. It first started with Edward Otto Hilke, Mark's Great-Grandfather. He went by the name Otto mostly, which is where the confusion came in. There was another Otto Hilke around the same age in St. Louis at the time. This led me to research both Otto Hilke's. I finally figured out which line was Mark's, but upon further investigation, I learned that the other Otto Hilke was a cousin! But more about that in a minute. Once I found the correct parents for Mark's Great-Grandfather, I was ready to research back more. Problem. I couldn't go back any further. I couldn't find where they came from and when. Since I learned about the other Otto Hilke, I decided to go wide with my research to see if I can learn more from the siblings. OH and boy did I learn more. A lot more!
As you can see, there were A LOT of Hilkes to find and connect. Each source gave one more clue about the connections. And once I made all the connections, I finally figured out where the family came from and when they came to the United States.
Auntie Jen's Two Cents - Go Wide!
As I said above, I also did an Auntie Jen's Two Cents video about this topic. It's a discussion that has been had many times in the genealogy community. Why should I go wide with my research? The truth is, it depends on what you are trying to learn about your family. Not every generation needs to go wide. But definitely don't rule it out, especially if you are having troubles going back another generation. The more sources you get, the better.
Have you branched out on your tree? What have you been able to learn by branching out?
This blog post is part of the #52Ancestors Challenge arranged by Amy Johnson Crow. If you would like to join up, click here.
Week
4: Curious Week 4's
theme is "Curious." Several people have already asked how to
interpret this. Remember -- it's completely up to you! When I put the list
together, I was thinking of something that you've always wanted to discover
(something you're curious about) or a record/discovery that you find curious
(unusual). You could also write about an ancestor who was curious (an
inventor or detective, perhaps?)
Curious. Someone in my tree that provokes curiosity. Hmmm... Usually, if I am curious about someone, I research them to learn more about them. So there isn't much curiosity left. But while looking through my tree, there was one person who piqued my curious mind. There are some aspects of his life that have left us all puzzled. And more than likely, answers will not come easily, if at all. This person is Scott Edward (Edwin) Rickards, my husband's Grand Uncle.
Scott Edward Rickards AKA Scottie, Edwin abt 1938 Centralia, Illinois
Now I have basic facts about his life. He was born in Centralia, Illinois on April 7, 1914, to Paul Jones & Grace Rickards. He was the baby of the family. He lived in Centralia almost all his life, graduating from Centralia High School in 1933. Sadly, his mother, Grace, died when he was just 11 years old. His grandma, Sarah Rickards, had been living with the family for years so it's likely she continued to raise him in the absence of his mother. After she passed away in 1934, it was just Scottie (as he was referred to), his father, and a housekeeper. He continued to live with his father after graduating from high school, while the rest of his siblings had moved away. His father passed away in 1941, leaving him alone. He soon moved to Iowa to live with his only sister, Ruth Rickards. He stayed there until his death on May 16, 1977. He died at the age of 63 from Pneumonia while living at Pleasant Hill Nursing Home in Des Moines, Iowa.
Scott Rickards Obituary Des Moines Tribune, Des Moines IA Wed., 18 May 1977 Source: Newspapers.com
Simple. Straight Forward. To the Point. Well, that's what I thought until I visited Centralia's Museum & Historical Society. I had asked the ladies if they had anything on the Rickards family and they did. She printed out a few items and copied others to a flash drive for me. I would look at those when I got home. I was able to find some pictures of Scottie in old yearbooks, along with his siblings. Such an exciting find.
Centralia High School Yearbook Sphinx 1933 Source: Ancestry.com
But it was when I got home to look at what I had copied that made me more curious. In the file that they gave me from the Historical Society was a letter correspondence between Ruth (Scottie's sister) and her old school friend, DeWitt. In the letter dated Dec 19, 1973, Ruth talks about Scottie.
Letter from Ruth Rickards to Friend, DeWitt December 19, 1973 Centralia Historical Society
Transcription:
"I got to the nursing home yesterday in spite of ice and four inches of snow and hope for as good luck on Christmas. I think Scottie will never walk well enough to come home. I see him three or four times a week to break the monotony and inastivity."
When I first read this, I had no idea Scottie was in a nursing home. So I was confused. What happened? Why was he in a nursing home? At this time, he was only 59. DeWitt's reply still had me shaking my head.
Letter from DeWitt to Ruth January 5, 1974 Centralia Historical Society
Transcription:
"Ruth, you have been a marvellous sister for Scottie. I know he has been in ill health for many years and you have supported and taken care of him - a life of beautiful service."
Ill for many years? What happened? What was wrong with Scottie? Unfortunately, to this day, I have no clue. I have inquired about his Death Certificate, but there is no guarantee it will say anything more than just Pneumonia. I have talked with other cousins on the Rickards side of the family and no one knows anything about Scottie. I have searched for the Pleasant Hill Nursing Center in Iowa where he lived, but the facility is no longer there. The research of his life has yielded many questions. He has apparently never lived on his own. He lived with his father in Illinois until he died, then moved in with his sister in Iowa. On his 1940 WWII Draft Registration Card, he is listed as Unemployed. But there are no other descriptors on the card giving hints to any problems. Yet, on the 1940 US Federal Census, he has listed as his occupation, Salesman. There is nothing else anywhere giving any hints to anything. The 1950 census will be released in a few months, so I am looking forward to seeing what they have listed for him. According to a 1950 City Directory that I found in Des Moines, IA, he was living with Ruth still. So sometime between 1950 & 1973, he became Ill and was sent to a nursing home. As Alice from Wonderland would say, "Curiouser and Curiouser!". As I said when I first started this post, I may never find out what happened to Scottie. And that's something I have to accept. But it doesn't make me any less curious for sure.
Do you have any ancestors that have left you curious??
Click the buttons to view photos of Scottie:
Slideshow Images
Week 2: Favorite Photo Week 2's theme is "Favorite
Photo." If you've done the 52 Ancestors challenge before, you might
recognize this theme. Yes, it's a repeat -- but it's too good not to do it
again! Tell the story of a favorite photo: who is in it, where and when it was
taken, and why it was taken. What was the event?
In my research, I have come across many photos of family members. Some from my own parents' and grandparents' collections, some from long-lost family members I have found on Ancestry. My digital photo collection has grown so much, I had to get another external hard drive to hold everything. I love photos. I have always loved photos since I was a kid. Looking through my parents' photo albums always felt like storytime. As I got older, I started taking photos all the time. As much as I could. I wanted to tell my own stories through pictures. In High School, I started hanging my pictures on the walls of my bedroom. Not in the conventional way. I started stapling each photo to the wall. I'd trim what was needed and start piecing them together like a puzzle. Soon all four walls were covered and I had to go up to the ceiling. You can ask some of my friends. They still remember all the photos on my walls. Photos are what got me into research to begin with. My grandma gave me boxes of photos to go through since she knew I loved photos. It was like new stories had been opened up to me. I was in heaven. But with all the photos I have gone through and collected through the years, there is one I always come back to. See the photo below.
Five Generations St. Louis, Missouri abt 1938 From my Grandma's collection
The moment I found this photo, I fell in love with it. It was just a small photo, about 3 inches tall. It is a five-generation photograph of my mom's side of the family. Starting with Grandma Maggie Helfrich (seated), then Grandma Oma Mae Buer (center back), Grandma Maggie "Honey" Ilg (back right) Grandma Ruth Wheeler (back left), and Uncle Jerry Valdes (baby held by Grandma Helfrich). To see a rare five-generation photograph brought so much joy to my life. It's not something you see every day. Most people don't live long enough for something like this, and/or they don't start having kids that young. Oma was 18 when she had Honey, Honey was 17 when she had Ruth, and Ruth was 17 when Jerry was born. Grandma Helfrich died in 1943. The circumstances were perfect. I printed this photo out for my grandma so she could have a copy in the nursing home with her. I also put some photos in an album for her to look at. I got some more stories out of her and she helped identify some photos. I still love looking through all the photos my grandma gave me. I am still in the process of digitizing everything. And now I have my dad's photos as well. After everything I have gone through, this is still my favorite photo. My grandma (Ruth Wheeler) passed away in 2015 and I miss her every day. I never got to meet Honey, Oma, or Grandma Helfrich. My Uncle Jerry is still around today and I do hope to sit down with him soon to look through photos.
Week 2: Favorite Find Week 2's theme is "Favorite Find." This could be a discovery that you
made from breaking down a brick wall or something that just made you smile.
(Like on my ancestor's Civil War pension application when it asked, "Is
there an official record of your marriage?" and he answered, "No,
it's recorded at the courthouse." Sometimes, you just have to laugh.)
Through the years, I have had a few "Favorite Finds" while doing genealogy research. From locating some headstones of relatives to finding a particular ancestor in census records or finding the truth about a particular event. I've found records no one knew existed, pictures of ancestors that I never thought I would see. Ok to be honest, I get excited about every little piece I find. So for me to narrow it down to one favorite is not so easy. I think the best thing for me to do is to give three of my "Favorite Finds". They are in no particular order and are in no way better than any other finds I have come across, but they are ones that do pop up when I think of some of my favorite finds.
1. Marriage Record of Great-Grandma & Great-Grandpa Ilg
This is one of the first big "finds" that came across when I started doing research. When I inherited my Grandma Wheeler's photos, there was also a datebook included. This datebook was a treasure trove of information: Birth dates, death dates, marriages, arrival dates, original villages, etc. I was thrilled with this information. It's what I used to build my first family tree.
After I started filling in the tree and getting hints, I started looking at the census records. But I hit a discrepancy. According to the datebook, my Great-Grandpa Joseph Ilg and Great-Grandma Margaret Buer were married on July 24, 1919, in Detroit, Michigan. But I found 1920 census records for both of them showing that they were NOT married, living with their own families, and still in St. Louis. I was confused. It took me a while, but thanks to the help of another researcher, they found the Marriage Register for Detroit, Michigan. The register stated that they were married on July 23 but in the year 1920; not 1919. Oops!
I thought about it for a minute and then it all fell together. My grandma was born September 9, 1920; two months after they were married. Big oops! So that's why they went to Detroit. To hide the mistake. They eventually returned to St. Louis about a year after my grandma was born. And from then on, they told everyone they were married in 1919. Even celebrated their anniversaries with that year. It was that discovery that made me double-check and find sources to back up that datebook. My grandma was still living when I found this information out, but I didn't want to stress her out with this information. Word was she didn't have a good relationship with her mom growing up. Plus grandma was showing signs of dementia, so I just felt this was the best decision. I wish I could say that this was the ONLY discovery I made about this side of my family, but nope!
2. Oma Mae Dennis was Adopted
Oma Mae Dennis is my 2nd Great-Grandma, the daughter of Maggie Molten and Logan Dennis. This information was also in my grandma's datebook. Logan was Maggie's first husband. After they divorced, Maggie and Oma moved to St. Louis from Tennessee. I have had quite a bit of trouble finding information on Maggie and Oma in Tennessee. Ever since I began researching in 2012, Maggie has been my brickwall.
Over the years, I have contacted many repositories trying to find information about Maggie and her marriage to Logan. I kept coming up with discrepancies. Little by little I started finding court records and newspaper articles. But the biggest surprise came when I found the final divorce decree for Maggie and Logan. In the decree, it mentions that Maggie wanted custody of their daughter Oma, who was NOT her natural-born daughter. It completely blew me out of the water! No one in the family knew this piece of information. Oma may not have known either.
I still had questions regarding this information. Such as where did Oma come from? Was she Logan's natural-born daughter? Then recently I finally got my answers. Searching through court records on FamilySearch.org (that wasn't transcribed) I found the adoption record for Oma! Both Logan and Maggie adopted her together in Tennessee from the Bedford County Asylum. Oma was only a few months old, and would you believe, they actually mentioned her original name: Oma Mae Collins.
Watch me talk about this discovery
I am still reeling from this find. I still have more research to do, but I am excited to find this. I haven't found the Bedford County Asylum yet but I found some leads. This is where a DNA test might come in handy. Before, I didn't consider it because it wouldn't help me track down Maggie's parents since we are not blood-related to her. I will just keep plugging away at this. That brickwall will fall piece by piece.
These are just two discrepancies I've found in my grandma's datebook. There appear to be two authors of that book. One was my 2nd Great-grandma Pauline Ilg, who wrote everything in German. Then someone translated that to English and continued writing more. That person appears to be Margaret Ilg, but this is unconfirmed.
3. Joseph Henry Rickards Only Man to Arrest Jesse James
Oh yes, this was quite an exciting find. Joseph Henry Rickards is Mark's 2nd Great-Grandfather. We had learned from some family that he was the Sheriff in Liberty, Missouri, where he lived for a time. We took a trip out there in 2014 for our anniversary.
Watch my first few Genealogy Research Trips
It was exciting to learn that Joseph was Sheriff during the time of the big bank robbery in Liberty, Missouri that was supposedly done by the James Gang, resulting in the death of a local man. We toured the bank, which is now a museum, and were delighted to see a picture of Joseph in the museum.
Joseph Henry Rickards Picture in the Museum
After doing some research in the newspapers, I found some stories mentioning an incident with Joseph and Jesse James that occurred sometime before the bank robbery. Apparently, to make a point, Joseph arrested Jesse and some others and put them in jail for one night. Why is this a huge thing? Because the stories that get circulated state that Jesse James had NEVER been arrested, but that's not the case. I have found a few books written about Jesse James that include this event. There was also an interview with the local judge who "set the record straight".
Cincinnati Enquirer 1902 Newspapers.com
This information actually got me interviewed by Scott Fisher from Extreme Genes for his radio show. The interview is at the top of my blog on the right-hand side. I also brought this to the attention of a local historian in Clay County. He originally thought it was just lore, but I submitted all the proof I had found and he was shocked. Every time I share information about the research I've done on the family, I always include this story.
So these are just a few of my favorite finds from the research I've done through the years. Like I said before, really every new find is my favorite. I'm always so excited to learn more, whether it is about my family or someone else's. I feel like a detective trying to track down the truth. There is always something more to find.
Week 1: Foundations The theme for January and for Week 1 is "Foundations." Some ways you
might interpret this include focusing on the person who sparked your interest
in family history, a builder in your family tree, or the person who is the
bedrock of your family.
After much consideration, I decided to write about my immigrant ancestors, Frederick, Johann Michael, and Andreas Fuchs. Johann Michael is my 3rd Great-Grandfather. Frederick is his brother and Andreas is his nephew. They came to St. Louis in 1832. But the reason I chose them is not what you may think. While it makes sense since they were the foundation of my Fuchs family in America, there is another reason I thought of them. It was the REASON they came to America. According to a history book of Jefferson County, Missouri, the Fuchs family was contracted in Europe by the Catholic Church authorities to come to St. Louis to help construct the St. Louis Cathedral also known as the Old Cathedral. You see, they were stonemasons. So they would have helped with the "Foundation" of the church. Didn't see that one coming, did you?
History of Jefferson County St. Louis County Library
The history of the Old Cathedral is as follows:
"Founding fathers Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau deed a tract of land to the people of St. Louis where a one-room log structure is erected as the first Catholic Church in the newly founded city. Known originally as Laclede’s Village, it is later named St. Louis by Laclede to honor King Louis IX of France.
"A second, larger log church is built in place of the first church… a new church more in keeping with the growing importance and dignity of the young city that was becoming a town of marked beauty, size and prominence.
By 1831, the 55-year-old log church is deteriorating and can no longer accommodate the growing parish. Rather than enlarge it, Bishop Rosati decides to replace it all together. The cornerstone of the new church is laid in August of 1831, and the sum of $63,360.85 is raised to build the new church. It was designed by Morton and Laveill and completed in 1834." History of the Basillica of St. Louis
Old St. Louis Cathedral Lithograph by J.C. Wild 1841 Source: NextStl.com
According to a ship manifest, "Mr. Fox and Family" arrived in New Orleans in May of 1832. "Fox" is the way Fuchs would have been pronounced. (Although at some point the pronunciation changed for my specific line at some point; it now sounds more like the Fuschia plant). There have been other sources that spelled the surname this way. From New Orleans, the family would have traveled to St. Louis up the Mississippi River. This timeline fits with the history of when the new stone church would have been built and the completion year coincides with when Johann Michael bought property in Jefferson County.
So not only is my Fuchs family the foundation of start in America, they helped build the foundation of a very important church which became the foundation of the Catholic church in St. Louis. Based on the year they immigrated, the Fuchs family also qualifies to be listed as one of the "First Families of St. Louis". I found this out in 2019 when I attended the St. Louis History Fair.
I'd say you can't get any more foundational than this. I still have quite a bit of research to do on the origins of my Fuchs Family in St. Louis. Still need to track down more sources so I can get the family listed on that register. My family was here from the beginning and I'm proud to be a part of that history.
Come back next week for the new 52 Ancestors Prompt. If you wish to join in, click here: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
Sources: History of Jefferson County, Missouri - St. Louis Public Library
I still remember making this post to put on Facebook. I waited until the end of the day giving family time to receive the news and after I had just met with the Funeral Director. This was and is still the hardest post I ever had to make. I bawled my eyes out trying to type up something that would make sense. It's hard to believe it's been a year. This is the anniversary I've been dreading the most. It was hard to sleep last night as my brain wanted to remember everything I and my family experienced a year ago. The day before dad passed was the hardest for sure. I won't go into details, but that night when I went home, I collapsed from exhaustion and just cried my eyes out to my husband and God. As my husband wrote in his journal, that day broke me. I wasn't sure how long I could continue on and I questioned everything God was doing. The next morning something told me to be prepared. Maybe it was God. But on the way to Mom and Dad's, Mom called to ask how close we were and we told her just a few minutes. When we arrived she said, I think he is gone. I went right to him and checked. She was right. He was gone. He had gone peacefully in his sleep. I thanked God and cried. I never wanted Dad gone, but I didn't want him to suffer. Neither did God, so he took Dad home. The rest of the day was a complete blur. We had a few visitors, including Father Leo. He knew Dad very well. He had called just a few minutes after we got there and I informed him of what was going on. He came over immediately. He offered words of comfort, prayers and so much support. I know I continued to make calls and inform as many family members and friends as I could. Eventually, Mark and I would have to leave to go to the Funeral Home. That took the longest, mostly because Jefferson Barracks was backed up. We were lucky to get in when we did. We had planned the funeral to be on January 12, 2021, with visitation the night before. That gave us nine days to prepare for the hardest days of our lives: Saying our final goodbyes to my Dad. After we left the funeral home, it was already night time and that's when I made that post on Facebook. I just alternated being numb and crying my eyes out. I don't know how I slept that night except for the fact I was utterly exhausted. I forced down food, but couldn't taste anything. The next few days I found myself talking to Dad saying things like, "Dad what suit is your favorite?" or "Dad what pins were special to you?". It's those moments like that make it real that he is gone. I still have moments where I wish I could just call him and ask him something.
One year later... It's so hard to believe it's been a year. It's been such a blur. But every day I function a little better. Writing these Year of Firsts posts have been so therapeutic. My first goal was to just get through the first year. Now it's time to allow the healing process to go to the next level. I have so much peace in the knowledge of where my dad is today and that he is not suffering or worrying anymore. I have no real regrets when it comes to my Dad. I loved him and made sure he knew that. We made many memories together. We apologized for past hurts. We mended bridges between us. He shared many things about his past, which I know were hard for him to do. There are still questions I wish I had answers for, but he either wouldn't or didn't provide them... and I'm ok with that. Grief is horrible and a huge pain in the butt. It definitely comes in waves and takes me down some days. But I cling to God to get me through. As I tell my teen, we hurt this much because we loved so much. Now it's time to remember with smiles. As I told Dad when I visited his grave last, it's time for me to move on, knowing I will still miss him and grieve, but I've got work to do. And I laughed after I said that. If you know my dad, you know why. It's something Dad would always say. "Good I'm glad you're here, we got a lot of work to do." Something that always used to drive me nuts, but now I'm saying it.
Yesterday, as the reality of what the next day would be, I found myself struggling just to function. I called mom to talk to her for a bit and while I was on the phone, I had a special surprise outside my kitchen window.
Just when I needed it the most, God had a cardinal in the trees in my backyard. I had to stop and take a picture. Unfortunately, I don't have a great zoom on my phone or camera, so it is quite grainy. I instantly felt peace. I knew God was telling me it was going to be alright. Soon after the photo, he disappeared and I didn't see him again. Thank you, God.
Dad I still miss you like hell, but we will be ok. God's got us. You just enjoy time with Papa, Grandma, Uncle Kevin, and other family members... including Teddy. I will see you again one day and I know you will say, "Good I'm glad you're here, we've got a lot of work to do!" Love you Dad.
It's finally here! 2022 has arrived. I don't think I've ever looked forward to a year being gone more than this one. Hands down, this was the worst year I have ever experienced. But it's done. It's over. Time for new goals. New things to look forward to. New research. And new blog posts. I've already been planning on some new material for this year. But something else I decided to do is participate in Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors Challenge again. Yes, again. If you look back to 2019, you will see I already completed one of her challenges. I really enjoyed it but decided to take a break the last two years. There was just too much going on for me to focus on posting a new blog every week. Well this year, I want to get back on it. The prompts sure encourage me to think more deeply about my ancestors and research. You may be asking, "What is this challenge?" Well, this is something created, like I said, by Amy Johnson Crow of Generations Cafe and Modern Genealogy Made Easy. She is a certified genealogist, well-known author, and a very informative teacher. She wanted to help people take their research and turn it into bit=sized stories. Creating different prompts helps take the guesswork out of the "who" or "what" to write about. That's taken from her website. You can read more about her here: AmyJohnsonCrow.com So this year, I will have a new prompt every week to guide me in what or who to write about. You know what that means? A new blog post at least every week. I say at least because I will also be writing other blog posts about my research not related to the prompts. Oh boy. If you are interested in joining us on this challenge, just click the image below.
That's not all I am going to be working on this year. I'm hoping to film and edit some more videos for my YouTube Channel. I've really been lax about doing this the past two years because of everything going on. I have some footage recorded that I never edited. I also want to visit some more places this year (safely). Places such as cemeteries, memorials, historical locations, and buildings and film it all.
Something big that is coming up this year is the release of the 1950 Census which I am SOOOOO looking forward to. I've been prepping for this since last year. I've already written a few blog posts about it so be sure to check them out. I am looking forward to finding more of my family in this census. Quite a few living family members will be on this census. Never know what kind of information or surprises you will find. I am hoping to be finished with processing all of Dad's stuff this year. That includes finishing in Mom's basement, scanning/digitizing documents and photos, and selling or donating items such as clothes, tools, furniture, and antiques. This has definitely been a labor of love. I'm loving going through all the stuff my dad left behind (well some of it). I just wish he was here to go through it with me. But the best I can do now is preserve it for the future. Other goals I have this year include reading the new books I got for Christmas, Organizing my hard drives, helping out at the Franklin County History Museum, and making some more crafts. Plus other personal goals that don't have anything to do with genealogy (gasp I know right?) but are still very important. One is taking better care of myself. I let my health go this past year in my grief and I feel it. So my big goal this year is to take steps to improve my health (mental and physical).
What about you? Do you have any special goals this year? What are you hoping to accomplish in 2022? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
