#6 Surprise-DNA Match . #52Ancestors

#6 – Surprise   #52 Ancestors A DNA Match        

Surprise! Genealogy is always a surprise when you open up records and read the information!    DNA matches seem to bring the biggest surprises.

Who is that name listed as a first cousin to my husband’s DNA?  The name was totally unknown and since I research his family; I was familiar with names.  Surprise!

A contact was made with the administrator of the DNA.  The story unfolded that the DNA was from a woman who was adopted 71 years ago.  Surprise.  And she had information indicating who her mother was.  Surprise.  But the location of the birth was a surprise as it was not in the birth mother’s family’s location.  Obviously the mother had been sent away in 1947 to have a baby, but the location was odd.  And then a surprise clue from my mother-in-law led me to include more family on the Ancestry tree.  And sometimes those shaky leaves in Ancestry are helpful! Surprise!  Unbeknownst to many, there was a relative living in the birth location as the public records on Ancestry led to the residence of an uncle of the birth mother.  None of us knew that the birth mother had lived with her aunt and uncle. 

Since all the players are deceased in the story, it was difficult to learn or trace.  The mother has numerous siblings and surely one of them knew.  There are only a few left and all claimed not to know a thing.  One even denies that DNA works!  But surprise—I received a call to tell me that she was told by one of the birth mother’s siblings that she had given birth to a daughter. 

The biggest surprise was who the birth mother was.  I would never have considered her without the information from the adoptee.   I would have liked to connect the birth mother with her daughter.  I can’t help but think that the birth mother would have been overjoyed. 

 

I haven’t given names, as there are living people still involved.  Many of the family have yet to learn of the story.

I created a collage of family pictures, including the new cousin, and the family resemblance is remarkable.

It was a pleasure to confirm her birth mother and give her family history; something she has been seeking for 71 years. 

We plan to meet the “new 1^st cousin” in 2019. 

#5-#52 Ancestors--Looking for Peter Paul Deewall at the Library

On last day of a weeklong class in Salt Lake City where I am discouraged at the Family History Library. I have searched all week and found no new information on any line.

It was my first time at the library and I thought I was prepared.  I had every family line in a 3-ring notebook; I had my genealogy program up to date with all the family information.  I inherited files and memorabilia, which provided the information in the software. But I really had no idea how to “research”!

I finally decided to look for the friend’s name given in a family narrative of my 2^ndgreat grandfather.  I had looked for Peter Paul Deewall in passenger lists for years with no luck.    The narrative never said where he came from but it was assumed Germany.  I had searched many times for his friend and the friend’s mother; Ludwig and Mary Odom.

All of a sudden, Ludwig Odom’s baptism record was returned in a search at the FHL.  I knew it was “my” Ludwig Odom.  How did I know that?  Because the Angels tapped my shoulder and my psychic abilities told me so. The leader of the weeklong seminar assured me that I could not assume that!  What…. when angels and psychic knowledge know more???

Obviously I had to find proof, I know that; but I knew it was definitely a clue.  

For the next couple of weeks I considered my case and reread the narrative and thought of all the different ways to search Ludwig, Odom and Deewall.  When I returned to the computer, I began search for Ludwig, Louis and variations of the names.  BINGO…. I found Louis Odom’s passenger record.  Not under Ludwig, but Lewis Otton.  And would you believe, right below Louis’s name was Peter Paul DUVAL! And with Lewis’s mother…Mary Otton. I could never find Mary because she was indexed wrong; as Mary Otton Widow!  Widow was listed on the passenger list after after Otton.  I would never have looked for the name WIDOW!

And would you believe that Peter Paul Duval’s baptism record was in the same church as Ludwig Odom?  My psychic abilities were right!  Both were at the Evangelisch, in Ludweiler, Rheinland, Prussia.  And Peter had same birth date that was in family records!  Through the Family History Library, I was able to order a film that gave the genealogy or pedigree of everyone in the Evangelisch church Ludweiler, Germany.  The amazing Stammlisten gave the birth date of Peter Paul and his parents, his father’s death date and his mother’s remarriage with additional children.   Even more amazing was the fact that the Odom’s had left for Amerika in 1842.  Which matched the passenger list of arrival on 23 May 1842.  But Peter Paul Duval was not listed as going to Amerika in 1842.   The family story is that he did not get along with his stepfather and left as the driver of the wagon for the Odom’s in the middle of the night.  Fact or Fiction??

Where is Ludweiler?  It is in Saarland, Germany near Saarbrücken.    And I was lucky enough to visit Ludweiler and the church in 2014.  What a thrill to see the 150-year-old organ.  The visit with complete with a tour of the archives by a lady at the church.  No I couldn’t touch anything in the archives and most of the records that I wanted had been removed.  Unfortunately she wasn’t sure where they had been moved.  And our time to visit Ludweiler was short.  

In the 1850 Census of Limestone Township in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, Peter Paul Deewall and his wife Catherine and baby Maretta, were living as neighbors to Mary Oto and her son Lewis!  

Lois Jasper Lloyd--#4 Ancestor-#52week Challenge

Lois Jasper Lloyd-The person I would like to meet.

Thinking about the person I would like to meet has been easy, but difficult.  Which one do I write about as there are several I would love to have sitting around my table for visit.   How do I choose just one???

The woman whose life has intrigued me the most is Lois H. Jasper Lloyd, my great great-grandmother. I would first thank her for saving the family history memorabilia that has been passed through generations in the Lloyd family.  And then the interview or questions would begin!

Lois was born in Lexington, Kentucky on 10 December 1841.  One of the first questions I would ask her is what is your middle name?  What does the “H” stand for?  Family information has it as Hammond or Heath.  I suspect Hammond is her real middle name, but I have not yet found documentation to support that suspicion.  If it is Hammond, where did that name come from?  Is it a family name, farm name or locality name?  Heath is her mother’s maiden name so chances are good that is her middle name.   Please tell me Lois.

Lois moved to Missouri when she was a baby. Her family lived near St. Joseph, Missouri and her father died on 9 August 1845. I would hope Lois could tell me how & where he died, where he is buried and any Jasper family stories she could remember.  I do know that administrator for his will was appointed 24 October 1845 in Andrew County, Missouri.

In 1854, Lois went west on an Oregon Wagon train.  Lois was 13 years old.  Her older brother, who had gone to Oregon in 1851, came back and took his widowed mother, her old maid sister and 5 siblings west.  I would like to ask her about the trip, did she walk most of the way?  What did they cook?  Did they run out of provisions?  Was anyone sick?  Did the Indians attack?  Is your sister Gilla’s report of the Indians correct?  How did you carry water?  And what were your thoughts as you trudged across the prairies with the Rocky Mountains in the horizon?

Lois’s mother settled in Benton County, Oregon.  Her mother, Mary, ran a boarding house.  In Lois’s memoirs, she recalls the hard days of soap making and horrible washing arrangements.

When Lois was 16 years old, she married Albert Gallatin Lloyd on 20 May 1858.  Since Albert had fought in the Indian Wars, he remembered the beautiful countryside and potential for farming near Walla Walla, Washington.  Lois and Albert had a son, John Calvin, born 25 May 1859 in Oregon, but then they headed north.  Lois moved to a cabin near Waitsburg, Washington with a 2-month-old baby.  reaching their new home in July.  She brought along garden seeds but it was too late to dig a garden plot, so she planted her seeds in the dirt from gopher holes, saving seeds for next year’s crop.    I would love hear the story of the trip from Oregon to Washington, which they traveled by horse, buggy and boat.  

Lois was the mother of 11 children, with twins dying shortly after birth. 

While Albert filed for a homestead in 1859, Lois was busy with her garden selling produce to the miners and packers traveling through, darning socks for miners who stayed the night, and molding candles for the flour mill and increasing the funds in her sugar bowl.  Lois saved her money and bought 120 acres in 1865.  She even sold one of her young mares to buy another 40 acres in 1866. And by 1866 she had 4 children.  

Another story is that she raised sheep, making the candles from the tallow, making flour bags sewn by hand.  She even washed clothes for some men to get money to pay for her homestead.

Lois and Albert celebrated their 50^thwedding anniversary in 1908.  Albert died in 1915, but Lois continued to live alone. She made quilts (but never signed them). I would like for her to show me the quilts that she made!  Yes, our family has several quilts that have been handed down through generations.

Lois died in 1930. She had summed up her life:

“My life has been like the Old Oaken Bucket.  I hung on a long time before the iron bound bucket arose from the well.”

Now who wouldn’t want to sit and visit with Lois?

Unusual Name-Gabel family-#3-#52Ancestors in 52 week

Unusual Name in the Gabel or Gable family

An unusual name; I pondered the choice and couldn’t think of any.  Seems the ancestors used fairly common names.  If not once, but the same name in several generations.  

But then I remembered a name change! 

In my previous blog I referred to the census of 1910, which recorded the Philip Gabel family (this family included my husband’s grandfather, Henry) living in Rock Creek Precinct in Jefferson County, Nebraska.  There were twins listed by the names of Ferdinand and Adolph.  The information fit the family, ages and other names.   But the twins in later years were known as Tom and Otto.  Quite a bit of difference.  This information was found in my early years of genealogy and I really don’t have any idea how to prove names were different.

One day while trolling the old newspaper sites, I was searching for information on the Gabel family in Montana.   Knowing that occasionally it helps to search other members of the family as a way to find information, I entered Tom Gabel.   Imagine my surprise when “hits” appeared with the stories of Tom Gable (he spelled his last name different) testifying and turning state witness in a cattle rustling trial in Forsyth, Montana in February of 1928!  Not just one article, but the trial was covered daily by the Billings Gazette.   It was quite a sensational trial.

Tom testified for the state about the altering of brands and moving the cattle.   Under cross-examination he declared “western stuff” is “hard work”. He admitted that he was christened Ferdinand but nicknamed for Tom Mix when in early youth he expressed admiration for the star of western movies.   Oh yes, I let out a scream…”I am right, I have the right family!”

When Tom married for the first time, he used Ferdinand Gabel for his name.  When he married for a second time, his name was Tom H and third marriage he used Tom Henry Gable.

Philip Gabel--The Challenge #2

Philip and Katharina Gabel

Henry and Molly

taken before twins were born in 1909

Henry was born in 1901

Molly was born in 1903

Philip Gabel is Leroy's Great Grandfather.  It was my probably first genealogy challenge although only one of many in researching the Gabel family.  

Since I have so much family history and memorabilia, it was shocking to me that my husband had limited information or knowledge of his Gabel ancestors.  

As I began to research the Gabel family, I was accepting a challenge!  For many years I stated that I suspected they were thieves and left no traces!  The Gabel family were Germans from Russia and over the years of researching the family, I have discovered the reasons for leaving no traces.   

I knew the aunts and uncles didn’t know very much after questioning them.  In fact one aunt told me that her father’s family had arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska by boat.

Researching the Gabel family has also been a lesson in learning the history of the Germans from Russia. It is complicated, terrible and sad as they emigrated from Germany to Russia (beginning in 1766-67) and then to the United States.

My first success was writing to Nebraska Vital Statistics and obtaining a delayed birth certificate for a brother to Leroy’s grandfather.  I am not even sure if I had information stating he was born in Nebraska, only a clue. As a beginning genealogist, I didn’t know the procedure!

Believe it or not, I received a birth certificate giving me information of a location.  I then looked in the 1910 census and discovered a Gabel family, but the names were a bit different for the twins.  In the census they were Ferdinand and Adolph.  When questioning the aunts and uncles, I was assured that I didn’t have the correct family as the twins were known as Tom and Otto. But my psychic sense told me I had the right family, which I later proved I was right.  (the difference in names will require another blog!)

I knew that there were four members in the Gabel family, Philip, Katherine, Henry and Molly.  Along with the twins in the 1910 census[1].  The census stated that they arrived in 1907 so figuring ages of 4 when arrived would help to find a passenger record. 

Looking for a passenger record presented problems.  The challenge is the name—Gabel, Gable, Gebel, Goebel and many other variations.  I found a record which I believe is the correct family coming through Ellis Island in 1907.[2]

But the problem are the first names; if I switch the names (as they were known in later life) to the ages, this is the correct family.  In the 1907 passenger record, Henrich is 41. Mary, his wife, is 37, their son Philip was 5 and their daughter Catherine was 3.  But they were known by the names given In the 1910 census, Philip is 44, his wife Katherine is 40, their son, Henry is 9 and their daughter Mary (Mollie) is 7. 

Philip & family arrived 10 June 1907 on the ship Arconia and they sailed from Libau.  They left 10 May 1907.  They were going to see his brother Henry who lived in Lincoln NE at 925 F. S, in Lincoln, NE.[3]  

The Heinrich Gabel was also detained.[4]  The reason for detention was calling for money.  They were discharged on the 11th at 9:15.  They were charged for 1 breakfast, dinner and supper.  

Further research on family finds an August Gabel  arrived in 13 May 1907 on the ship Moskwa, from Libau. And left Libau on 13 May 1907, arriving in New York on 30 May 1907.   He was going to see his brother, Henrich Gabel, who lived at 925 F W, in Lincoln, NE.[5]   August and family were also detained.  August reason for detention was telephone for money.  August and family were discharged on 4 June 1907.[6]  August and family were charged $2.30 for meals; 8 breakfasts and suppers and 10 dinners. They were detained for 4 days before money arrived. 

In both passenger lists, there is a daughter Anna listed, who is 11 months old, but her name has a line through it.  Research through Ellis Island indicates that Anna never boarded a ship.  Did she die in Libau?  Another challenge.  Somehow these families are related.

From all information I had gathered over the years on the Gabel family and various Gabel’s, I concluded that their village in Russia was Warenburg.  Working with the village coordinator of Warenburg, through the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia; she was able to connect the family in an 1885 Census/family list census and made some startling discoveries.

The birth dates of Henrich Philip Gobel born in 1866.  (making him 41 in 1907), his wife was Katherina Margaretha Klamm, born in October 1869, making her 37 in 1907).  And the Challenge is not over for the Gabel family!

Do you think I have the identified the correct family as Philip Gabel?

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[1]Rock Creek, Jefferson, Nebraska. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, Database with images. Ancestry.com. 12 January 2019, Philip Gobel (Gabel), NARA roll: T624_848; Page 3A; Enumeration District: 0104; FHL microfilm: 1374861 

[2]"New York Passenger Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2019), image 681 of 722, Line 26-29, Heinrich Gebel & family entry; citing List Number 7 of National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 1897-1957, Roll 0916, Line 26, Page Number 109; Ship Arconia out of Libau, Lativa, Ulrich Baffer master, arrived on 10 June 1907.

[3]Ibid

[4]New York Passenger Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2019), image 681 of 722, Line 26-29, Heinrich Gebel & family entry; citing List Number 7 of National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 1897-1957, Roll 0916, Record of Detained Aliens,  Ship Arconia out of Libau, Lativa, Ulrich Baffer master, arrived on 10 June 1907.

[5]"New York Passenger Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2019), image 177 of 738, Line 3-5, August  Gebel & family entry; citing List Number 7 of National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 1897-1957, Roll 0910, Line 3, Page Number 90; Ship Moskova out of Libau, Lativa, V. Tranoff master, arrived on 31 May 1907.

[6]New York Passenger Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2019), image 247 of 738, Line 39, August  Gebel & family entry; citing List Number 7 of National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, 1897-1957, Roll 0910, Line 39, Record of Detained Aliens; Ship Moskova out of Libau, Lativa, V. Tranoff master, arrived on 31 May 1907.

#1 Challenge-- First

Accepting a challenge for 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks, developed by Amy Johnson Crow, (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/) is a bit daunting.  With the interruptions in my life, I hope to be able to complete this challenge and write a blog each week.  Sounds easy, right?  The first topic for the challenge is “First”.

“First” brings up many ideas.  “First” Ancestor I knew, “First” genealogy trip, “First” ancestor research success; the list is huge!

The “First” Ancestor I knew was my father’s parents, John & Della Kurtz Shaffner.  I was able to spend time at their ranch in Beaverhead County, but my grandmother died when I was 9 (1960) so I have very few memories.  My grandfather lived to be 103 (1991) so I have many memories!  Really a book should be written about Grandpa Shaffner as he was a character and full of life.    (Cousins memo:  Write your stories of Grandpa Shaffner and send them to me). What a life he led, born in 1887, beginning work with a railroad in 1907, working in Washington D.C. for a Senator, coming west with the railroad job, traveling to Yellowstone Park in 1913, Homesteading in Beaverhead County, Montana in 1916, raising 4 boys, losing 1 son in World War II, having 3 sons in the South Pacific at the same time in World War II, (every letter written home by a son was saved) ranching, working as a railroad telegrapher to support the ranch, losing a wife, eloping with his 2nd wife at age 79, living in town, helping his sons in a bindery and a ranch, teaching his granddaughters how to ride and work/move cattle (or we learned how not too),  and seeing a man on the moon.  But Grandpa Shaffner had a love for his family and his family history and worked for his lifetime to document his genealogy.  Let’s just say there are lots of notes scribbled on various papers.  He did work with my cousin, Donnee Shaffner Stibal, and she was able to create family group sheets.  Grandpa was very good about labeling pictures too.

My mother’s mother (Calla Lloyd) was also a “First” ancestor that I knew.  But she lived in Waitsburg, Washington; so I saw her yearly.  Mostly I remember trips to Waitsburg for Memorial Day where we placed flowers on ancestors graves.  My grandfather died before my mother married, so his grave was decorated.  Then both sets of great grandparents.  And then the graves of great grandparents and their children.  Along the way, Mother told the stories that she grew up with or lived.  While not old enough to write them down (or smart enough) we heard them more than once.  The Lloyd family was also interested in their family history and cut newspaper articles out if their name was in the paper, scribbled notes on various papers, labeled pictures (and they had many studio pictures taken), kept every momento from funeral cards to newspapers to letters and quilts.  Since the ancestors had come west in 1845 & 1852, moved to Waitsburg in 1859; there is a collection.  Which I inherited.

My mother loved genealogy and worked on it before the age of computers.  I inherited her collections-maternal & paternal.   It took me 12 hours to sort the collection into manila folders labeled by name.  

Genetics must play a part in my love for genealogy!

The “First” Genealogy success was discovering that the horse thief claimed in the family, was actually another family member by the same name.  In the Lloyd collection, I discovered a copy of a newspaper article from 1894 about “Tony Lloyd” and the story of stealing horses.  Since I had discovered Tony Lloyd in Fort Benton in 1900 and his occupation as a gambler, I figured the story of him stealing horses was correct.  The newspaper article mentioned that Tony Lloyd served time in prison.  Thinking it would be neat to find the prison records, I began searching and the Walla Walla Petitionary records were on line!  There was enough information online that I discovered that “Tony Lloyd” the gambler was not the horse thief, but another “Tony Lloyd” in the family.  His parents were listed on his prison record confirming his genealogy.    And if I submitted $17 to Washington Records, I could have the entire court case, prison records and his mug shot—from 1894!  Well you know, I bought!  My husband questioned my purchase, after all, $17 for a prison record for my hobby???  I explained that I doubted he could drive me to Olympia, Washington for research any cheaper.  End of discussion and my genealogy habit was hooked.  

My “First” Genealogy Trip that was memorable was a trip to a Kurtz reunion in Pennsylvania.  Of course it necessitated a stop at a library in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where I was met by an older librarian.  I told him the family I was researching and asked if there would be a family file.  He looked down his nose at me as he asked questions.  I told him I had been to the cemetery, found my great grandfather’s grave and was given index cards of Shaffner burials.  He said; “Well you got more than I have ever gotten from that cemetery.” He continued his appraisal of me and it didn’t look favorable for obtaining his help.  He brought out the family file and said; “There isn’t much in it”, as he threw on the table.  His action indicated that I was rather a nuisance.  The older family friends who were driving me around, were asleep in the lobby chairs by this time.  He nodded to them and said, “Are they with you”?  I opened the file to discover the letter that my cousin Donnee Shaffner Stibal had written requesting information.   He made a comment about the letter and I opened my folder and showed him the letter that he had written to Donnee after receiving he(.   r letter.  He was rather shocked (remember I said I inherited a collection) and he remarked; “Oh you are for real”!  After that He couldn’t have been more helpful!

A. G. Lloyd Memorial Address

Albert Gallatin Lloyd, (A.G. Lloyd), was born in Missouri in 1836, and came west on the Oregon Trail in 1845 with his father and family.  He was an Indian War veteran and moved to Waitsburg, Washington in 1859 after marrying Lois Lloyd in 1858. (information from Lloyd Family Bible) 

A. G. Lloyd is my great great grandfather.

My research indicates that he began serving in the Washington Territory Legislature in 1867.  Washington became a state in 1889.  He had a long distinguished career in Legislature.  A.G. Lloyd died 5 January 1915. (Washington Death Certificate).

He was honored in a Memorial Address at the Washington Legislature in 1915.  All the Memorial Addresses are in a bound book in my possession.  

Memorial Address Honoring A. G. Lloyd


MR. MASTERSON SPOKE AS FOLLOWS:

Mr. President and Associate Members of the Fourteenth General Assembly:

“Tell me not in mournful numbers life is but an empty dream, And the soul is dead that slumbers, life is not what it seems.

Life is real, life is earnest, and the grave is not its goal.

Dust thou art, to dust returneth, was not spoken of the soul”

A. H. Lloyd was born in Buchanan County, Missouri, in 1836.  At the age of nine he moved with his parents to Benton County, Oregon. There, amid the forests primeval and close to the heart of nature, his youth and early manhood was spent. There, through patient endeavor and self denial, he developed those sterling traits of character and that splendid physique which so admirably fitted him for the stern duties of a pioneer.

In 1859 he was married to Louise Jasper, and shortly thereafter moved to Touchet Valley in Southeastern Washington.

Mr. Lloyd was elected to the Legislature in 1893, and for four terms served the state in the lower house.  Though never indulging in disputation, his keen insight into the subtleties of legislation and his unfailing good humor made him a power in caucus and committee.

Mr. Lloyd took an active part in the early Indian Wars, and became Grand Commander of the Indian War Veterans of the Pacific Coast.  In 1894 he was appointed by President Cleveland Register of the United States Land Office at Walla Walla, and so well did he conduct the affairs of this then important post that he reflected credit, not only upon himself, but upon the administration which he represented.

Useful and varied as has been the public service of Mr. Lloyd, he is best known as friend and neighbor.  He was a man of cheerful disposition and he retained his clearness and vigor of intellect up to his closing day.  Though he died full of years and ready to be gathered to his fathers, the grief that is now felt is widespread and sincere.

His best monument will be the good report he has left behind him.  He exemplified, by his pure and honorable life, the teachings of the Golden Rule, and unfailingly evinced a practical piety that will long be remembered as the best of professions.

In temperament he was mild, conciliatory and candid, and yet remarkable for an uncompromising fairness which could not yield to wrong.  Men, women and children sought his counsel and sympathy, and never was a confidence betrayed, and today many there are who may justly attribute their success in life to the wise counsel or kindly admonition of this venerable neighbor and friend.

And, Mr. President, this afternoon memories of George Lloyd twine as tender tendrils around the hearts of us who knew and loved him, and wafts the sacred name of friend and neighbor down over the billowy seas of endless time to transcendent glories among the immortals.[1]

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[1]Memorial Addresses In Joint Session of Senate and House, Fourteenth Legislature of the State of Washington, 1915. Olympia, Frank M. Lamborn,, Public Printer, 1915.

Compiled by A. J. Hoskin, Senate Reading Clerk.  Page 111-112.