Sunday, April 29, 2018


52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Cemetery

We all end up there at the end of our lives. It may be a large metropolitan cemetery with multiple gates or a family cemetery on the family farm, or even the cemetery that is part of a churchyard. All of these are represented in my extended family.

My mother’s family has a large plot in Mount Carmel Cemetery in the Chicago suburbs. The plot holds 12 graves and was first used in 1905 for the burial of Leo Connery, my mother’s brother who died at the age of 7.  I believe that there are currently three vacant graves left in the plot. Other than Connery’s there are two Hogans buried there, Louise who died in 1919 and Margaret who died in 1909. They are the daughters of my grandmother Alice Fleming Connery’s sister Eliza who married John Hogan in Ireland. Because of the wide acceptance of cremation, my parents share one of the graves. Since the graves are 32 inches wide and presumably 6 feet long, the family plot can be estimated to be 15 feet by 12 feet. There is a central monument facing east to the graves.[i]

Burbach family plot in Calvary Cemetery,, Milwaukee, WI.
My paternal grandmother’s family also has a family plot in Calvary Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, there are 64 people with the last name of Burbach In Calvary Cemetery. The earliest burial that could belong to our known family is of a George who was born and died on 9 October 1857.  This fits with the fact that my great-grandfather Georg and his young family settled in Milwaukee in 1856. I plan to contact the cemetery to see who paid for this burial since there were two unrelated Burbach families in Milwaukee at this time.

Sr Antonius Church Cemetery Oberselters, Hesse-Nassau, Germany.
In 2004, my husband and I traveled to Germany and were able to visit the village where the Burbach family lived for over one hundred years. At the cemetery attached to the church in the village, we were lucky to find that the family name is still represented in the Cemetery. This was a surprise since in Europe it is common that a grave is only there for about 25 years before it is replaced by another grave. [ii] 

We also traveled to Villmar, Germany where George Burbach married Catharina Caspari and found the family name on a memorial dedicated to the soldiers of WWI at the cemetery of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.


My husband’s families were farmers in a small town in southern Illinois. Both sides of his family used the same cemetery in Jasper County. This was convenient when we went to visit the graves of his grandparents since his great and great-great-grandparents are all in the same cemetery. His third and fourth great-grandparents are in the same county but a different cemetery.

 
     [iii]
Folk singer Burl Ives (Holly Jolly Christmas) is also buried there. But primarily it is the final resting place for the Ferguson and Sempsrott families. This small rural cemetery is very well cared for.

Small private family cemeteries are still in use in more rural areas but unfortunately, they often are lost to view and those buried there are soon forgotten. Such is the story of Phoebe Hill Barrow Ferguson who died sometime between 1810 and 1825 probably in Kentucky. There is no known date of death or place of burial for her. She was probably buried near the land her husband worked as the family traveled from South Carolina to Indiana. 

These small family cemeteries are still allowed in some areas today. My sister and her husband recently created one on their ranch in Colorado. All that is needed is a fenced piece of land. Their cemetery has a beautiful view of the mountains and Aspens.


[i] Cemetery information received from cousin Alice Sterling in the form of a sketch of the plot with the graves labeled and identified. This sketch is in possession of the author.
[ii] Photo of Anna Burbach’s grave taken in 2004 by the author.
[iii] Photos of Mound Cemetery taken in 2003 by the author.


Sunday, April 22, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – A Storm in Kansas



Susan Wisemore married Washington Chapman on 1 March 1846 in Jasper County, Illinois.[i] Washington was a farmer until his death probably in 1865-1866. The 1870 census shows widowed Susan Chapman in Granville, Jasper, Ill with Jefferson 15, Louisa 11, Sarah 9, Elizabeth 7, Charles 6, and Ira 4.[ii]

On 23 Jan 1872[iii] Susan Wisemore Chapman married William Myers in Jasper County and by 1880, the family had moved to Phillips County, Kansas.

In 1880 Sarah is married to Thomas Whitmarsh and the mother of Stella Whitmarsh.[iv] Thomas is a farmer in Glenwood Township.

In 1885, the family had grown to include son Fredrick Nelson and they were still in Glenwood Township.[v]

On Friday, 29 April 1885, Sarah hooked up a team of horses to the wagon and with her un-named infant traveled to Republican City, Kansas to meet her husband, Thomas, who had been in Iowa on business for a week. Arriving in Republican City, Sarah found that Thomas had already left for home with a neighbor. Unfortunately, as she attempted to cross Crow Creek, the water rose and swept the team away, capsizing the wagon. Sarah Chapman Whitmarsh’s body was recovered but not the body of her infant child.

Sarah Whitmarsh was survived by her husband, Thomas, and children Stella and Frederick.

Thomas returned to Jasper County, Illinois with his children. Thomas married again and had additional children.

Stella married John Ferguson of Willow Hill and was a loving step-mother to his two children in addition to loving her own two children. Stella Whitmarsh Ferguson died in 1972 and is buried in Mound Cemetery in Hunt City, Jasper County, Illinois.[vi]

She has always been fondly remembered as “Grandma Dolly” by her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.



[i] Ancestry.com. Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1790-1860 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
[ii] Census Place: Granville, Jasper, Illinois; Roll: M593_232; Page: 283B; Family History Library Film: 545731
[iii] Ancestry.com. Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
[iv] 1880; Census Place: Glenwood, Phillips, Kansas; Roll: 393; Page: 83C; Enumeration District: 227
[v] Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, Kansas; 1885 Kansas Territory Census; Roll: KS1885_106; Line: 1
[vi] Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Maiden Aunt part 2



“Remembering Kathleen, Whose Life Was Love”[i] there could be no better phrase to describe her!

Kathleen (on left) Graduation from St Joseph Academy
Kathleen Frances Connery was born 10 April 1895 in Chicago. She was the second child and the second daughter born to Michael Connery and Alice Fleming. She was baptized on 14 April 1895 at St Columkille Parish by Fr Thomas Burke and her godparents were James L and Mary Purcell.[ii]

Kathleen undoubtedly followed her sister Mary to St Joseph Academy since her home parish, St Mel, didn’t establish an elementary school until 1906[iii] and Mary had already attended St Joseph Academy. That their Uncle, Father Michael Fleming was the school chaplain added to the feeling of security of the girls.

Kathleen graduated from St Joseph in June of 1916 and went to work in her father’s Real Estate office as a stenographer.[iv]

Kathleen would remain working for her family’s business until her retirement. She moved from stenographer to bookkeeper and ultimately to travel agent as the company grew and expanded.

As a travel agent, Kathleen often sailed to Europe with frequent trips to London, Rome, and of course visits to her Irish cousins in Limerick. The spoils of these trips were lovingly given to her nieces and nephews.

While on trips to England, Kathleen would purchase complete sets of fine china. These were shipped back to Chicago where she would store them in anticipation of an upcoming niece’s engagement when said niece would be allowed to select her favorite of the available patterns. 

Private audience with Pope Pius XII, Kathleen and her mother front row
nuns in rear are Sisters Michael Joseph and Marie Camilla, OP

Trips to Rome included an audience with the Pope, one trip with her mother and sisters included Archbishop Sheil for a private audience with Pope Pius XII.

Sometime in the 1940s her brother Jack bought a summer cottage in Long Beach, Indiana, just outside of Michigan City. Jack named the cottage the Lazy Jane much to the embarrassment of his wife Jane. Eventually Jack sold the cottage to Kathleen who changed the name to "Lady Jane" and kept it for the use of the family. The cottage was rented for the month of July to cover the expense of taxes and general upkeep but for the rest of the year it was for the use of family members. My family went there for the last two weeks of August every summer.  As a senior in high school I could use the cottage for a weekend party with classmates. We were chaperoned of course!

Kathleen was a very complicated person. Full of love for her family, she became the caretaker of her parents as they aged. She also became the family “fixer” at times. If there was a problem she would work to find the solution. She arranged travel for the family as well as her office clients. Although she didn’t become the nun her sisters did, Kathleen did join the Third Order of St Francis. Her devotion to her faith preceded her devotion to her family but one never conflicted with the other.

After she retired from the office, Kathleen moved to Florida where she continued her caretaker duties nursing her sister Sister Michael Joseph before Sister returned to the Healthcare Center in Adrian. Later Kathleen would try to help another sister Betty return to health.

In her efforts to help others, Kathleen always had to do just one more thing. As a result Kathleen was almost always late to everything, to the extent that when my mother invited her to dinner, Kathleen was told that dinner would be at 4pm when it was really planned for 6pm. Among the family it was often said that she “would be late for her own funeral.” And she was!

Kathleen Francis Connery died on 12 August 1986 in a nursing home in West Palm Beach, Florida. Her memorial mass was held at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette, IL on September 6, 1986[v]. Since she was cremated in Florida, her cremains were shipped to Illinois for burial. We were about a third of the way through the mass when her brother Jack entered the chapel carrying a container which he proceeded to place on the altar.  She was well and truly late to her own funeral!

Kathleen is buried in the family plot at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, IL.

Kathleen you were well loved!




[i] Title of Memorial Booklet designed by her niece Peggy Ann Ryan.
[ii] Illinois, Chicago Catholic Church Records 1833-1925, "FamilySearch.org," database with images, familysearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVMN-RNYY : online 4 December 2016), Birth and Baptism of Kathleen Connery; Family History Library film # 4332302 page 442.
[iii] St. Mel’s Grade School Centennial book  1886-1986
[iv] US Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 35, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_356; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 2230
[v] Chicago Tribune () , obit for KATHLEEN CONNERY, GenealogyBank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/obituaries/obit/0F750BADE678CD05 : accessed 15 April 2018)

Sunday, April 8, 2018


52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks – Maiden Aunt(s) Part 1 of 3



My mother had 3 older sisters who remained single for their entire lives. They were dearly loved by her and she was spoiled by them. My mother was “Betty” to most but “Bettina” to her sisters.

Mary Elizabeth was the first born. Two years later Kathleen Francis was born, followed Alice Josephine, so that is the order in which I will talk about them.
Mary Elizabeth Connery was baptized on 29 March 1893 at St Columkille Catholic Church in Chicago, IL.[i]

According to Mary’s biography she went to school at St Mel in her home parish for grade school, moving on to St Mary of the Woods in Terre Haute, Indiana for her first year of high school. She had an Aunt, Sister Mary Regina, who was teaching there at the time. How ever the 1900 U S Census shows six-year-old Mary at St Joseph Academy in Adrian, MI.[ii] Her Uncle, Fr Michael Fleming, chaplain, is on the very next line. 

Mary graduated from St Joseph Academy in June of 1911 and returned home to take business classes and work for her father’s company. After taking time to dwell on her decision, Mary returned to Adrian, where she was received in the Order of St Dominic, taking the name of Sister Michael Joseph, after both her father and favorite uncle, she professed her vows on 22 August 1919, the same day her sister Alice was received into the order.[iii]

As a teaching Sister, SMJ (as she routinely signed herself), taught mostly in the Chicago and it’s suburbs with an occasional assignment in Michigan. Mostly she taught the upper elementary grades although she opened several new schools in Detroit, MI. When she returned to the Chicago area she taught fifth grade at St Edmund’s school in Oak Park for twelve years.  Later she would teach at Bishop Quarter school, a junior military school for boys at the grade school level while assisting in the library.

SMJ loved nature in all its glory and frequently took long walks to enjoy the beauty and identify the trees she saw. She was an English language purest and an advocate of precise enunciation. She ate slowly and walked daily, aware of the importance of taking care of her health. She was a lover of people, music and books.

In her 75th year, SMJ resided at St Edmund’s Convent for five years in a semi-retirement before moving to Maria Hall Health Care Center in Adrian for her last ten years.

As Sister Mary Alice Collins remarked at the Scripture Vigil for Sister Michael Joseph Connery, O.P., “She died as she lived, unobtrusively.”[iv]

She died 21 Dec 1984 and is buried in the cemetery at Adrian, MI.


[i] Illinois, Chicago Catholic Church Records 1833-1925, "FamilySearch.org," database with images birth and Baptism of Mary Elizabeth Connery.
[ii] Year: 1900; Census Place: Chicago Ward 28, Cook, Illinois; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0851; Ancestry.com; online image.

[iii] From a copy of the biography of Sister Michael Joseph Connery, received from her sister 21 Dec 1984 as recorded in the Adrian Dominican Archives pages 1578-1580
[iv] ibid

Sunday, April 1, 2018

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - The Old Homestead


Thinking about this topic, I considered all my ancestors and the length of time they lived in any one location.

My German ancestors immigrated in the 1850s to settle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While they remained in Milwaukee until my grandmother married and moved to Chicago in 1907, they lived at several different addresses mostly on Walnut Ave.[i]

My Irish ancestors came to the United States in the 1880s/1890s and made their home in Chicago for the rest of their lives. About 1905 they built a large home on Washington Boulevard where they remained until my grandfather’s death in 1953. [ii]

When my Norwegian grandfather immigrated in 1894, he first lived in Chicago with a maternal aunt and her family since he was only 12 years at the time. After his marriage to my grandmother, the couple traveled for some time before settling in Oak Park, Illinois.

While none of these people could be considered nomadic by any means, I don’t feel that any of their residences could be considered “the old Homestead” for that I will defer to my husband’s Ferguson ancestors.



Figure 1John Ferguson Indiana Land Purchase 10 August 1837[iii]


Our Ferguson branch first settled in Virginia in 1640. Just before the Revolutionary War, they migrated to North Carolina.  My husband’s fifth great-grandfather, John Ferguson (1754-1842) was a Revolutionary War soldier and as such received a land grant in 1795 for a parcel in Robson County, North Carolina.[iv]

As time marched on, so did John and his family, moving from North Carolina, to Kentucky, Indiana, and finally to Jasper County, Illinois.  Land records in Indiana and Illinois show the migration pattern. Most likely the family improved the land they purchased and used the profits from the sale to buy land in the next location.

John remained in Indiana, where he died in Boone County in 1842 leaving his second wife and two children. His son Benjamin, according to the 1850 census. remained in Indiana and his son, Jeremiah  moved on to Jasper County, Illinois where he appears in the 1850 census. Jeremiah has 280 acres of which 60 are classed as improved and 220 unimproved with the cash value estimated to be $1000.00[v]

In 1860 the census shows that Jeremiah’s 240 acres had increased In value to $5000.00.[vi]

Upon Jeremiah’s death in 1882, his youngest son David took over the stewardship of the farm which remained in the family until sometime in the 1940s. Gradually family members left the farm for work in the city but there are still Fergusons in the area.


[i]  Milwaukee City Directories, 1860-1896
[ii] Chicago City Directories, 1910-1923
[iii] ttps://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=IN3010__.056&docClass=STA&sid=waskqnlw.iyw
[iv] Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
[v] Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Newton District 18, Jasper, Illinois; Archive Collection Number: T1133; Roll: 2; PCensus Year: 1860; Census Place: Willow Hill, Jasper, Illinois; Archive Collection Number: T1133; Roll: 7; Page: 61; Line: 24; Schedule Type: Agricultureage: 529; Line: 37; Schedule Type: Agriculture