Friday, June 29, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
My German Ancestors - Geneabloggers Tech Tuesday
I have recently attended lectures/webinars on using timelines and "Putting Flesh on the Bones" (thank you Ron Arons and Geoff Rassmussen!) so I decided to see if I could use technology to improve on the details that I knew about my Milwaukee ancestors.
Using city directories, I was able to track occupations and residences. I watched as my immigrant great-grandfather moved from working as a lithographer to becoming a butcher. From being a butcher he joined his brother and opened a butcher shop. I know his family lived in back the of the shop.
Using the 19th century newspapers, I found out that when he died his estate was valued at $7,500.00. Not a small amount in 1896. It was left to his widow until her re-marriage. (I'll need to read the actual probate records to learn more.)
I also learned that he served as a precinct clerk for his ward and appears to be a Republican in 1876.
I learned that his son John drowned in the Milwaukee River at the age of 16. John was confirmed at St Joseph Church on the morning of the day he died. Johnnie's body was found 2 weeks later!
Using various online resources is helping me to develop a better feeling of my ancestors lived in Milwaukee in the late 1800s. My ancestors were in the cattle/meat business in Milwaukee at the same time that Phillip Armour and Patrick Cudahy were establishing their businesses. Wonder if their paths crossed.
Using city directories, I was able to track occupations and residences. I watched as my immigrant great-grandfather moved from working as a lithographer to becoming a butcher. From being a butcher he joined his brother and opened a butcher shop. I know his family lived in back the of the shop.
Using the 19th century newspapers, I found out that when he died his estate was valued at $7,500.00. Not a small amount in 1896. It was left to his widow until her re-marriage. (I'll need to read the actual probate records to learn more.)
I also learned that he served as a precinct clerk for his ward and appears to be a Republican in 1876.
I learned that his son John drowned in the Milwaukee River at the age of 16. John was confirmed at St Joseph Church on the morning of the day he died. Johnnie's body was found 2 weeks later!
Using various online resources is helping me to develop a better feeling of my ancestors lived in Milwaukee in the late 1800s. My ancestors were in the cattle/meat business in Milwaukee at the same time that Phillip Armour and Patrick Cudahy were establishing their businesses. Wonder if their paths crossed.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Wordless Wednesday - Telephones to Software
Thursday, June 7, 2012
1911 Irish Census - Geneabloggers Treasure Chest Thursday
There is a story in our family about my grandmother's brother Patt Fleming who is said to have come to the United States only to return to Ireland saying "the work was too hard". How to prove or disprove such a story?
I found a ship's list showing that Patt Fleming arrived in 1884 with his sister Eliza Fleming Hogan and her 4 children.
In 1893 Patt wrote a letter to his sister Alice on the occasion of her marriage. The letter was written on letterhead engraved "P S Fleming Family Grocers A Wine Merchant 1 Sandymount Green Dublin".
This would support the theory that Patt returned to Ireland very shortly after his immigration to the US.
The 1901 and 1911 Census for Ireland shows Patt living in Dublin with the occupation of grocer. In the 1911 census Patt and family are living at 1 Sandymount Green. Also living in the household are the 6 assistants in the shop. This would indicate some success.
There are 2 additional pages of the census for Patrick Fleming which further describe the property that they lived in. There are about 10 pages for this census which give information including the number or rooms and windows of each dwelling.
Sandymount is also a beach area but only when the tide is out!
I found a ship's list showing that Patt Fleming arrived in 1884 with his sister Eliza Fleming Hogan and her 4 children.
In 1893 Patt wrote a letter to his sister Alice on the occasion of her marriage. The letter was written on letterhead engraved "P S Fleming Family Grocers A Wine Merchant 1 Sandymount Green Dublin".
This would support the theory that Patt returned to Ireland very shortly after his immigration to the US.
There are 2 additional pages of the census for Patrick Fleming which further describe the property that they lived in. There are about 10 pages for this census which give information including the number or rooms and windows of each dwelling.
Sandymount is also a beach area but only when the tide is out!
Friday, June 1, 2012
David Lee Peterson 1 June 1939 - 24 Oct 2005
Today he would have turned 73. I could wait until his 75th birthday to do this but why? It feels right now. Today I will try to define my husband for his children and grandchildren. Dave was a multifaceted person and it is only in knowing all of the parts of his life that we truly know the man he was.
Dave was born under the sign of Gemeni and truly reflected this in his personality. He loved people and was quick to make them feel comfortable. At parties and gatherings he became very personable and was quick to join in the fun. At home he could be quiet and introspective but he always had a great sense of humor. After 41 years of marriage, he still made me laugh.
After graduating from high school in 1957, Dave joined the U S Army. He was first trained as a medic and later went to jump school and became a paratrooper and proud member of the 101st Airborne Division. This led to a post army love of sky-diving. I believe Dave made about 150 jumps as a sky-diver.
Leaving the army in 1960, Dave worked as a tree surgeon and laundry truck driver before eventually being hired at Western Electric. There he remained for 30 years beginning with polishing telephone handsets and advancing to repairing secure phones for the White House during the Gulf War in 1991. He attended every school and training offered him by the company. He became a computer repair person and often taught his skills to others in his section. He was very willing to share his knowledge and experience.
Dave's sense of duty to his country extended past his military service. As a young family-man, Dave became involved in the local village government. He was elected to the village board and served for 4 years until we moved to another community. Dave was appointed police commissioner and also was on the water and zoning committees. Even after retirement, Dave was serving his country as the clerk of an election poll. He was responsible for all the poll workers and the smooth running of the election. He also helped train new poll workers for many years.
When our son joined Cub Scouts, Dave stepped up to become Pack Leader.then he advanced to Boy Scout Troop Leader, staying with the troop until our son graduated from high school. He led the boys on several trips including one to the Philmont Scout Ranch.
Dave had a strong devotion to his church. He was a lector and eucharistic minister for about 30 years, serving the needs of whichever parish we belonged to. He joined the Knights of Columbus and was admitted to the 4th Degree, the patriotic arm. He was a member of the 4th Degree Color Corps which is charged with the responsibility of protecting the Bishop of the church. Dave served his K of C Council in several offices including Grand Knight. He served the 4th Degree Assembly as Faithful Navigator in addition to being Color Corps Commander.
Dave was a man of many parts, all of them admirable. He is missed.
Dave was born under the sign of Gemeni and truly reflected this in his personality. He loved people and was quick to make them feel comfortable. At parties and gatherings he became very personable and was quick to join in the fun. At home he could be quiet and introspective but he always had a great sense of humor. After 41 years of marriage, he still made me laugh.
After graduating from high school in 1957, Dave joined the U S Army. He was first trained as a medic and later went to jump school and became a paratrooper and proud member of the 101st Airborne Division. This led to a post army love of sky-diving. I believe Dave made about 150 jumps as a sky-diver.
Leaving the army in 1960, Dave worked as a tree surgeon and laundry truck driver before eventually being hired at Western Electric. There he remained for 30 years beginning with polishing telephone handsets and advancing to repairing secure phones for the White House during the Gulf War in 1991. He attended every school and training offered him by the company. He became a computer repair person and often taught his skills to others in his section. He was very willing to share his knowledge and experience.
Dave's sense of duty to his country extended past his military service. As a young family-man, Dave became involved in the local village government. He was elected to the village board and served for 4 years until we moved to another community. Dave was appointed police commissioner and also was on the water and zoning committees. Even after retirement, Dave was serving his country as the clerk of an election poll. He was responsible for all the poll workers and the smooth running of the election. He also helped train new poll workers for many years.
When our son joined Cub Scouts, Dave stepped up to become Pack Leader.then he advanced to Boy Scout Troop Leader, staying with the troop until our son graduated from high school. He led the boys on several trips including one to the Philmont Scout Ranch.
Dave had a strong devotion to his church. He was a lector and eucharistic minister for about 30 years, serving the needs of whichever parish we belonged to. He joined the Knights of Columbus and was admitted to the 4th Degree, the patriotic arm. He was a member of the 4th Degree Color Corps which is charged with the responsibility of protecting the Bishop of the church. Dave served his K of C Council in several offices including Grand Knight. He served the 4th Degree Assembly as Faithful Navigator in addition to being Color Corps Commander.
Dave was a man of many parts, all of them admirable. He is missed.
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