#46 Poor Man-Poor Man Immigrant

#46 Poor Man. 52 Ancestors in a Week

Poor Man immigrant

As the immigrants came into the United States, they had to declare how much money they had on them.  Can you imagine coming into the United States in 1907, with a wife and 2 children, and have only $10?  

Leroy’s great grandfather, Philip, and his family came into the United States in 1907.  They boarded the ship Aconia, in Libau, Lativa.  Arriving in New York on 10 June 1907, he had $10, and hope.  The family had left Russia for a new life in America.  

The history of the Germans in Russia is tragic and sad; and many began leaving for a better life.  Philip chose America where other relatives had gone.  I wonder how they communicated so he knew where his brother lived.

But when Philip came into the United States, he stated he and his family were going to his brother Henrich Gabel at 925 S. Y Street in Lincoln, Nebraska and a mailing address of P O Box 975.  

Since Phillip only had $10, he had to call his brother and have money sent to New York.  Philip and his family were detained until 17 June 1907.  They were discharged at 10 AM and had to pay for 28 breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  Apparently Heinrich sent enough money for a train ticket to Lincoln..

Imagine that you spoke only German, had no money, and were detained at Ellis Island until money was sent.  Meanwhile you waited and waited  for money to arrive and the payment was made for your train ticket to family.   What were the thoughts of Philip and his family as they were detained?  Did Henrich and his wife, Katherina, think they were poor?  But he had $10, how did he even save enough money in Russia for the trip to America?  Did his brother send money to Russia to pay for the passage?  So many questions.  

The children were Henry, who was 5 years old and Molly, who was 3 years old.  The passenger list has another child listed, Anna who was 11 months old.  A line was drawn through her name and research indicates that she never boarded.  We do not know what happened to Anna.

Phillip and Katharina Margaretha Gabel [Gobel]

Henry and Molly

#45 Rich Man. Don Shaffner--his 100th Birthday

#45 Rich Man.   52 Ancestors in a Year.  100th Year for Don Shaffner

In the west and ranching lifetyle, a rich man describes himself wealthy if he: 

Has a good wife, a good dog and a good horse

Don Shaffner considered himself a rich man since he had all 3.  

Since today is Dad’s 100th Birthday, I dedicate this blog to him.  

Dad & Mom celebrating an anniversary at the ranch at Grasshopper Creek

Dad married an incredible woman, Helen Lloyd.  She stood beside him in his ranching and veterinary practice, yet she wasn't fond of animals and allergic to them!  But she could cook and host a party, sew for her daughters, as well as being a bookkeeper at the veterinary hospital.

Dad doing what he liked best.

Feeding his calves

Dad loved a pack horse.

He grew up packing to his sheep camp.

He had more than one good horse in his lifetime

He loved big Morgan horses that could travel the country; mostly at a trot!

Dad and his dogs!

Unfortunately I couldn't find a picture of his favorite dog.  It would be hard to tell which was his favorite dog, because he always named them Smoky!  Always a blue heeler and always a spayed female.  I will keep looking for Smoky pictures.

But in the meantime, his last dog was Blackjack.

After his head injury, Dad was spending time at our house.  I thought maybe a dog is what he needed to help heal as a dog would need care.  Dad was very good at caring for his dogs and they were always well manner, house broken and knew their owner.  We visited a neighbor who raised dogs and I knew they had good border collies.  They also had a miniature schnauzers.  And to my amazement, Dad chose a miniature schnauzer.  He said he knew that he would no longer be riding and didn't need a dog that required work.  He picked out Blackjack and I convinced him that we should go home and think on it.  The next day when I returned home from work, Dad asked if we could go get his dog and he had already named it Blackjack.   He smiled as we left, carrying the puppy in his arms.  As everyone knows, Schnauzer's bark-maybe even when a leaf falls off the tree!  But what we didn't know, is that Schnauzer's don't know where home is and like to wander.  As dad's condition worsened, he paid less attention to Blackjack.  Gail and her family spent hours looking for Blackjack and I think the town of Dillon knew Blackjack!  

I am not sure if this was his best dog!  

After all, it wasn't named Smoky!

But it was a dog that gave him lots of happy moments.

Happy Birthday Dad!

#44. Trick or Treat Find Peter Paul Deewall

#44 Trick or Treat  52 Ancestors in a Year

The trick was to find the passenger record of Peter Paul Deewall.  Records for Peter Paul had been searched many times.  But there was a trick involved to find it.  It took research to find the trick!

Spending a week at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City was the beginning of the treat.  I was certain I could find the information I needed at the world’s best location for genealogy records.  I knew the details of his life, and had read numerous accounts of his story.  But searches revealed nothing.  

The family story written by his daughter tells the story of Peter Paul leaving Germany in the middle of the night with family friends since his stepfather disliked him.  I knew the name of the friends so searched for his friend, Ludwig Odom.  And I found a Ludwig Odon baptism record in Germany.  I knew it was Peter Paul’s friend!  I was assured that there is no way I had proof and no way could I assume that was his friend.  But I KNEW…unfortunately I couldn’t find Peter Paul.

One morning at home, I sat at the computer and re-read the story and began on-line searching using wild cards in the search as well as different names that might sound like Deewall.  When I searched for Lewis Otton, I found the traveling group!  While I had searched for years for Mary Odom, Ancestry had indexed her with the last name of Widow; since that what was written on the passenger record.  And yes, Peter Paul Duval was traveling with them!  The age was correct for our Peter Paul Deewall.  Deewall and Duval are close, especially if one would be speaking German.  

 New York, Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island) 1820-1957. Database with images, Ancestry. (http://Ancestry.com : viewed 4 November 2019), image 1042, Entry for Peter Duval, age 22, arrived 23 May 1842 on Rowland from Le Havre, List Number 354, Line 19.  Citing NARA, New York, New York, M237 (1820-1897) Roll 48.  

Further research would lead me to more information about Peter Paul Duval (Deewall) in Germany.  I was able to locate his birth and baptism and confirmation records.  A family list in the community listing everyone's pedigree provides information that Peter Paul's mother did remarry after the death of her husband. The family list also includes the date of May 1842 when the Odon family left for America.  But Peter Paul is not included in the information as leaving for America.   Perhaps the family story is true!

Evangelical Church in Ludweiler, Germany

The Treat was finding Peter Paul Deewall, and information.  But the real TREAT was going to his church in Ludweiler, Germany in 2015!