Got Ancestors?! conference

My dad and I attended the Got Ancestors?! conference yesterday in Grand Rapids, MI at Calvin College.  It was put on by the Western Michigan Genealogical Society, in which I am a member of as of this year.  The speaker yesterday was Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi's List.

We learned a lot about Cyndi's website and how they are over 330,000 links that are categorized to make it easier on how to find information on our ancestors. We went over some interesting facts about how our ancestors may have migrated in the U.S. as well as how to translate foreign documents. We also learned on how important it is to put a research plan together.  My dad and I admit we are very much like squirrels when we are researching, we could be looking at one person, and then go off to another name and hours later, not really sure what we were looking for. Getting organized in our research is our next step.

My mom and dad will be leaving for an Ireland trip soon, and one of the things was to find out where John P. Owens' (b, 1843) father Patrick Owens (b. 1803) was born in Ireland. No luck yet, it would be nice to know what area he was from so he could drive through the county.

This conference has ignited our genealogy spirits again, plus summer is over, and family history is much more of a fall/winter sport.  I hope to continue to update this blog more often with my progress.  

Wordless Wednesdays - Rose Anna Delude Bricault

My Great, great, grandma I never knew, Rose Anna Delude Bricault. 

Charles Able family

A photo of my mother's family in 1957.  I believe this photo was taken inside their house on Salzburg in Bay City, MI.  My mom, Cynthia Able, is the little girl sitting on my grandma's lap at age 3.  I like this photo because my daughter Savannah, who is almost 3, resembles my mom in this picture. I also like the picture because everyone seems so happy, and it makes me just want to step into this scene of happiness.  No iPhones, computers, maybe not even TV, just family gathered around.

Pictured left to right: grandma Rosetta Able, grandpa Charles Able, my aunt Charlene, aunt Bonnie and aunt  Dee. 

Treasure Chest Thursday - Leimann Family

Leimann Family Photo: L to R Back: Mary, Pauline, Josephine, Gertrude. L to R Middle: Hannah, Marie (mother), Theo  Jr, Theo (father), Bill. L to R Front: Clara, Matilda

My maternal great grandmother's family is pictured above. Josephine Leimann was my mother's mother's mother.  My great Aunt Bea labeled the back of this photo with the first names of the family members in spring of 2015.  My great grandma Josephine is the girl in the back row centered, she reminds me of Nelly from the TV show Little House on the Prairie.

Theo Leimann (b. 1868 and d. 1922) and Marie (Van Wert) Leimann (b. 1870 d. 1942) were from Hesse, Germany.  The entire family sailed on the SS Zeeland ship to the United States and arrived on May 17, 1904 on Ellis Island.  My great grandma was born on March 10, 1893 in Frankfort, Germany.  She was only 11 years old when she came over on the boat.

SS Zeeland from the Red Star Line

Theodor Leimann listed on the Manifest of the SS Zeeland on May 17, 1904

I estimate family photo was taken in 1905 because Theo Jr. ("Ted") looks to be only one year old. I see that Theo was born August 22, 1904, meaning Mary was 7 months pregnant with Theo when they came over on the ship.  It was a 10 day trip with a ship capacity of 566 passengers and over 600 crew; she must have been one strong lady to endure the sea and the overall conditions as steerage passengers (known as the cheapest ticket rate for the ship).  This was her ninth child, so she probably had it down by now and pregnancy was just another day.  I have researched example prices of second class tickets or steerage, $25-35 is the cost of 1 ticket, two to three weeks of a worker's salary.  With Theo's family of 10, that could be $250-$350 to bring his family to the USA. 

The family photo may also be a sign of a new beginning as a family in America. I do not know if families took photos knowing they may not be done making their family.  Perhaps it was best practice to be finished with making babies and plan that Kodak moment.  I do not know of any other photos of the Leimann family prior to this date.   

I have not studied recently of what was going on in Germany in the early 1900s, but only know that World War I was around the corner.  Perhaps Germany was poverty stricken and political strife was heightening. Theo Leimann had made his dream come true with new opportunities in the United States and moved to Bay City, Michigan to raise his family.  As I continue my family history research, I would like to learn why they chose that city, what did he do for a living, and how did he die so young at age 52.  

Wordless Wednesday - Rosetta Able (Kolb) - 1917

Rosetta Able (born) Kolb.  1 year old, b. June 22, 1916, d. Sep. 3, 1990

This is my maternal grandmother.

Loraine Mary Owens 23 Years old - 1936

My paternal grandma, Loraine Mary Owens (born Bricault), b. November 8, 2013.  d. May 27, 2008.  This picture was scanned and given to my dad with the file name 1936.jpg, that would make her 23 years old, one year before she married my grandpa, Thomas Aloysious Owens (b. June 21, 1913, d. April 18, 1992) on September 25, 1937. 



I am not sure what the occasion was for the photo, I would think back then taking a studio photograph would be a special occasion.  Perhaps it was part of engagement photos, I don't know if people did that then, or when they were engaged?  I love the slight peachy color in the cheeks and lips. 

5 Generation Birthplace Chart

I was inspired by a blog I have been reading, Genea-Musings, to create a birthplace chart going back 5 generations. It's a nice reference to show all the states and countries where my family was born.  My mom's side has German roots and my dad's side has Italian, French-Canadian and Irish roots. 

If you would like to do your own - You can download Pat Richley-Erickson's spreadsheet (5 or 6 generations), available at: http://bit.ly/5n6GenBirth.