#33 Comedy. Dad's Humor. 52 Ancestors in a Year

#33 Comedy

Dry Humor—Humor at work

Growing up with a father who had a sense of humor, and a dry sense of humor,  which kept you guessing.  And sometimes you had to let it “sink in” before you understood the humor.   The humor was to lighten the mood and make the work easier.  

As kids, we (my sister & I), as well as a neighbor girl were his “hired hands”.  He would often say—maybe brag—I may not have the best crew, but I have the best looking!  But somehow we were expected to pull our weight and do the job.  There was no slack given because we were the “best looking”!  And we never got fired!

As we rode through rocky hills & sagebrush on horseback to get to the cows before daylight, his comment would ring through the early stages of light….”Did you hear the crack of dawn?”  Or the next time it might be…”did you hear the dawn crack?”  Sometimes we were half asleep as we ambled along, but he woke us up!

One of the trails to summer range, led past an old cabin.  He named it “Joe’s Beanery”!  We all knew where he was talking about when he said…when you get to Joe’s Beanery, stop and have lunch.  Or hold up the cows at Joe’s Beanery until the drag gets there….or we will wait out the rain storm or snow storm in Joe’s Beanery and have lunch.  Now Joe’s Beanery was nothing more than a shack with 4 walls (with holes), a tin roof and no windows.  But it often offered protection from a storm. And we all knew where it was and far we had let to trail that day!

Don Shaffner DVM

rancher

practical jokester

Dad was a veterinarian.  His skills in suturing were well known, especially after an incident at corral when working cattle.  Somehow a hired man received a gash in the head & was knocked out, either from a corral pole or chute handle.   Since it was over 60 miles to a medical facility & there wasn’t anyone who could be spared to take him; Dad said, “hold him down, I’ll stitch him up”.  The hired man regained consciousness with a gash in his head that had been sutured by the veterinarian!   And no medical bill!  

As a veterinarian, one of his jobs was pregnancy cows in the fall.  And Dad loved mentoring young people, so always encouraged the young men at the ranch to learn & feel a calf in the early stages of development.  He would take someone under his tutelage and give instructions.  While the said Individual was schooled as several cows were run through the chute, dad would entice the help in the corral to bring in a steer.  Dad loved a good practical joke and more than one person in Beaverhead County had the experience of trying to pregnancy test a steer!  

And when Dad asked, “What are you doing tomorrow?”, you hoped you had a things to do or places to go because if you answered, “Why?”, you learned fast that he had plans for you!  His ideas usually meant work at the ranch, or he hired you out for a job or working at the veterinary hospital.  

I am sure there are many others who benefited from his practical jokes!

#32 Sister--Ettie Viola Shaffner Mayer

#32  Sister  Ettie Viola Shaffner

Ettie Viola Shaffner was the 2nd child born to John Martin Shaffner and Elizabeth Deobrah Fletcher Shaffner.  Ettie was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 16 April 1883.  She was the older sister to my grandfather, John Faniot Shaffner.  

Ettie was 16 years old when her mother, Elizabeth Deborah died.  There was a 2 month old baby that needed a mother, so she, along with her sister Lida helped.  There were 6 children in the motherless home in 1899.

Ettie went to school to become a teacher.  She taught school in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania which was near where her mother’s family lived.  Her aunt, ______, was raising her younger brother, Walter Ruskin Shaffner in Lawrenceville.  Ettie boarded with a farm family that was about 10 miles from town.  After this job she was eligible to teach in Harrisburg.  Grandpa Shaffner wrote that after two miserable years at Lawrenceville and walking to school, she thought Harrisburg was heaven.  

Ettie married William A. Mayer on 12 March 1914.  She was nearly 32 years old.  

marriage license application

Unfortunately she died 28 December 1915 in Philadelphia from cancer.  

death certificate

Ettie was buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery.  

The pastor, Rev. E. E. Snyder, who married Ettie, also officiated at her funeral.

Ettie was the big sister to Walter and took care of him after their mother died.  And she was helping to provide for his care with money from her estate.

Walter Ruskin Shaffner received $500 from Ettie’s Estate.

I believe Walter is buried next to Ettie in the Harrisburg Cemetery.  

Genealogy friends are the best, even flying to Pennsylvania and looking for Ettie's grave! Fortunately the grave wasn't her only reason for the trip, but Kim made a special attempt to  find Ettie's grave. (Thank you Kim!)   I still think Walter is buried near Ettie, but further research is required.  I'm on it!

In Grandpa Shaffner's homestead application, he made to made a request, on 5 February 1916 that “since filing on said tract of land, on account of sickness in the family and death of my sister, Mrs. William Mayer, at the Uncologists Hospital Philadelpia, PA, Dec. 30, 1915, it was necessary for me to go East with my family and go to a large expense.  Therefore it will be impossible for me to put the improvements on my claim, that are necessary before establishing my residence there before June 1, 1916.”   I assume that Della (John's wife) and his son, George, accompanied him to Pennsylvania.  His request was granted.  

#31 Brother---Walter Ruskin Shaffner--52 Ancestors in a Year

#31 Brother.  Walter R. Shaffner.  52 Ancestors in a Year

Walter Ruskin Shaffner was my grandfather, John Fanoit Shaffner’s brother.  Walter was born 7 September 1899 to John Martin Shaffner and Elizabeth Deborah Fletcher in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

His middle name is not a family name that I am aware of yet.

Elizabeth Deborah Fletcher Shaffner died on 17 November 1899 in Harrisburg.  Her cause of death on her death certificate is listed as kidney trouble and that she had been ill 2 weeks.  

Walter was 2 months, 12 days old when his mother died.  John M. Shaffner was left with 6 children to raise, the oldest was 18 years old.  

John Martin Shaffner's mother, Margaret Maria Fetter Shaffner holding Walter

Walter was about a year old

With 6 children to raise, and a newborn baby, the care was provided by the older sisters (Ettie and Lida) who were 14 and 16 years old.  John remarried Emma Reamer on 10 July 1901, about 19 months later.  

Grandpa maintained that the step-mother, Emma, did not like the stepchildren.  Baby Walter went to live with his mother’s sister, Celia Metalla Fletcher Daggett and her husband Richard in Lawrenceville, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.  

Walter Ruskin Shaffner

Walter died in Elmira, New York on 15 December 1916 from acute indigestion.  

It had been Grandpa Shaffner’s goal to bring Walter to Montana but unfortunately Walter died before Grandpa was settled on the homestead in Beaverhead County, Montana.  

We have few pictures of Walter.  Grandpa wrote in his life story that he did not know where Walter was buried.  Since Grandpa Shaffner was living in Montana, I suspect that he never received information of where Walter was buried.  I am surprised that in Grandpa’s family history collection there was never a mention of where he was buried or a photo of his headstone. I wonder if Grandpa ever looked for the grave.

As I began to consider the blog topic of brother, I began to look for where Walter was buried.  Although I could find nothing on FindAGrave or other internet sources, I contacted the Historical Society of Dauphin County (Pennsylvania).  With in a few days by email, I received the cemetery plot information of where he was buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery.   A search on another subscription website provided a funeral notice with his burial stated in the Harrisburg Cemetery

Walter Ruskin Shaffner

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Cemetery

But how did I receive a picture of the headstone??

Story at end!

Now for the amazing part of the story.  I have a genealogy friend in Colstrip, Montana who I knew was from Harrisburg.  I texted her one evening and asked if she knew anyone that could go and check out the cemetery and see if there was indeed a headstone.  Within 2 hours I received information from her that her aunt would go tomorrow afternoon.  By the next morning, I received the picture of Walter's headstone!  

My next question, is why was Walter buried in the Harrisburg Cemetery when his mother is buried at the East Harrisburg Cemetery.  I hope to answer the question in next week's blog!

#30 Easy John F. Shaffner. 52 Ancestors in a Year

#30 Easy. Grandpa Shaffner. 52 Ancestors in a Year

My easiest genealogy research has been my grandfather, John Faniot Shaffner.  Grandpa lived to be 103 and loved his family history.  He was born in Harrisburg,, Pennsylvania on 12 September 1887 and died in Dillon, Montana in 1991.  He was a fixture in my life for 39 years.

Since Grandpa came west with the railroad, I was able to order his railroad retirement portfolio.  In all the pages of information, the only thing I learned was when he went to work at his first job with a railroad in 1907 at a student telegrapher at McElhattan, Pennsylvania with the Pennsylvania Railroad.  In 1912, he was with the Northern Pacific Railroad in the Yellowstone Division stationed in North Dakota.  Eventually he moved to the Union Pacific in Dillon, Montana.  He kept his typewrite and returned it to the Depot when he was a 102!

Grandpa homesteaded in Beaverhead County, so I ordered the homestead paperwork.  He filed for land on 9 February 1916 and was given a patent for 480 acres on 17 June 1921. It was a huge file with lots of information!  The size of the cabin, the struggled to prove up the homestead during the dry years of the ’20’s as well as the crops grown and harvested each year made for interesting reading! 

One of his mysteries was where he kept all of his family history through the years.  Especially in the homestead era as the cabin was not large.  

He kept the announcement of his marriage in 1913; yes, the original with the envelope is in my possession!  

Grandpa was very good to write his life story.  Not once, but several times during his lifetime.  And yes, the story was about the same each time he wrote it.  He also wrote the story of his trip down the Susquannah River in 1910 when he was 99 years old!  

Until the day he died, he regretted that he never took the family photo album from his dad. His dad remarried when Grandpa was 14 and then he went to live with an older sister as the new wife did not like her step children.  (Grandpa Shaffner’s story).  At some point, Grandpa did take the Family Bible and he stated that his father said that “Emma (the 2nd wife) would be mad”.  What a treasure the Bible is with the births/deaths/marriage recorded.  Loose papers in the Bible were another treasure written in a very old cursive style of writing, recording the births/deaths/ marriages of Grandpa’s Grandmother, Margaret Maria Fetter Shaffner.  Unfortunately there is not information about John’s grandfather and great grandfather.

My Dad, Don Shaffner, with the Shaffner Family Bible

Grandpa liked taking pictures, buying postcards, and creating scrapbooks.  Although pictures were sometimes blurry or heads cut off, the pictures in the scrapbook are labeled with names and sometimes dates.  There is no order or rhyme or reason to the placement of pictures; there might be a 1913 pictures in a section of pictures from 1960!  

He worked for many years with my cousin, Donnee Shaffner Stibal identifying people and labeling pictures. 

Because of his love of family history, he kept in contact with many of his cousins and nieces and nephews, often making trip to visit them. 

Grandpa’s love of history made genealogy research easier for me.  So far, all his information has been fact checked and he was right!  I am very thankful for all the wrote and the information and pictures that he kept.  

His confirmation certificate from 1904!

Grandpa Shaffner (John Faniot Shaffner) on his 100th birthday

#29 Challenging Volga Germans. 52 Ancestors in a Year

#29 Challenging. 

The most challenging search for ancestors has been associated with the family lines that were Volga Germans which immigrated to the United States.  The family lines went to Russia at the invitation of Catherine the Great, many arriving in 1767-77.  Complicating searches is that the name of the villages for Germans in Russia have been re-named by Russia.  Obviously obtaining records from Russia is a challenge and they may be slim to no records available.

Complicating the research in the family lines that I am researching (Gabel and Grosskopf) are the lack of memorbilia.  And lack of family stories.  Why the lack of family stories?  Many of the Germans from Russia were shunned/persecuted because they were Germans.   Although they considered themselves Germans,others considered them not Germans but Russians.  And then there was World War I and the elimination of German spoke in churches, churches and public places.    The immigrants tried to integrate quickly into society, and thus eliminated their German traditions and customs.  Many tried to hide the fact that they were Germans from Russia or even Germans.  Many families maintained their favorite “family recipes” linking them to their German heritage.

There are national societies of Germans from Russia that have some records, buying records from Russia when available, and offering them for sale.  There is continual efforts made by many to identify and create maps of the villages.  There are a few memories written by the Volga Germans to help with research.  There are even re-created maps of the villages indicating where homes were located.  The village coordinators have been helpful, and through one village coordinator, and census records for the village; the family descent has been established since 1767 when they left Germany.

One of the family lines, I research, knew that they came from Frank, Russia.  Through the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, I learned that Mabel Grosskopf Gabel was born in Frank Chutor, Russia.  Which is a different area than Frank, Russia; but close.  Passenger records were found listing the family, but interesting there was a small name change in one person.  Maria Barbara was later known as Mabel.  Yet her family never knew her real name.  They arrived in Philadelphia in 16 April 1911, sailing on the ship, SS Friesland.  The ship left Liverpool on 5 April, 1911.  But how did they get from Frank, Russia to Liverpool.  The family story is that they left Odessa for America.  Odessa, where???  And how did they get to Yellowstone County, Montana from Philadelphia?

Researching the Gabel family has been a challenge because of limited information.  I found the family on a census in 1910, in Jefferson County, Nebraska.  When I first discovered the census (Ancestry), I felt it was the family but there was different names for the twin sons, as they were known by different names later in life.  Thankfully a court case in 1920’s cleared up the name confusion.  Otto’s original name was Adolph and Tom’s birth name was Ferdinand.  Tom admitted on a witness stand his original name!  

As farmers and as renters of farm land, the families I research moved frequently, probably for economic reasons.  Why they moved is never known, but probably in an effort to find more ground, cheaper rent and ability to grow better crops.   Thus not many records although children were born at home and occasionally births were officially recorded.

Naturalization records would be an excellent source of information.  Unfortunately one man was denied citizenship due to not being able to read or write English. He and his wife both died in 1930, before another attempt was made.  His sons did apply & receive citizenship, but interestingly on their paperwork they stated the correct date of arrival, the correct ship, but they all came into a different port!  

It is doubtful if one individual ever became a citizen. He states in the census of 1910, 1920 and 1930 that he immigrated in 1901, he was German and born in Russia and was an alien.  But in the 1940 census he states he was born in Nebraska!  In fact his obituary states he was born in Nebraska as the writer (probably a daughter) had been told he was born in Nebraska!  Another daughter told me that family history/records burnt in a fire.  Asking about a fire has never turned up any information.  I suspect the fire was in a garbage can burning any traces of their past.  

And so the search continues.  Perhaps German records will yield information, but they are written in German.  Perhaps I will learn to read German, as genealogy is a continual learning hobby; one is just never sure what will be next!

#28 Reunion--Oregon Trail reunion--52 Ancestors in a Year

#28 Reunion.  Oregon Trail Reunion 1904

Obtaining accurate information on when people traveled the Oregon Trail is often difficult.  It is especially hard to find reliable sources of information.  There are few passenger lists available and even family stories are known to have the wrong dates.

In our family we are lucky to have so many sources to verify the dates our ancestors traveled.

Oregon Pioneer Association has yearly reunions.  In 1904 it was the 32nd Annual Reunion

One source is the Oregon Trail Pioneer Association Reunion book.

1904 Reunion Book

The  book from 1904, lists the reunion participants and which years they crossed the plains.  There is also a listing of those who have died between the reunions of 17 June 1903 and 14 June 1904.  Included are recollections of the trip by those who attended the reunion as well as a diary of someone who crossed, day by day

1845 List

A. G. Lloyd

my Great Great Grandfather

1845 

Mrs. G. A. Irwin and her sister Mrs. Lois Lloyd

Lois is my great great grandmother

Gilla and Lois Jasper 

 At the 1907 reunion, ribbons were given to the members indicating the years they crossed the Plains.

Albert G. Lloyd

crossed in 1845

Lois Jasper Lloyd

crossed in 1854

Oh what I would give to sit in the room and listen to these people talk, discuss and reminisce about their trip.  

So many questions….

#27 Independence-- Independent Woman 52 Ancestors in a Year

Independent Woman!

My 3rd great grandmother, Polly Jasper took her family on the Oregon Trail in 1854.  What could show more independence? 

Mary “Polly” Heath Jasper lost her husband, John McHenry Jasper,  in Missouri in 1845.  They were living in Andrew County, Missouri, although a burial location has never been identified.

Mary and John were married in 27 March 1928 in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky.  The family story is that they moved to St. Joseph, Missouri in 1841.  I suspect the travel was by wagon.

Mary "Polly" Heath Jasper

By 1845, Mary and John had 8 children, Elizabeth, Andrew, Nancy, William, Thomas, Gilead, Lois and Minerva.  The family also included Polly’s old maid sister, Lois.   

When John died, Polly was left with 8 children to raise, the youngest was about a year old.

In 1848 her daughters began to marry.  Elizabeth, was first & married Jesse Owenby in December of 1848, Nancy married a few days later in 1848.

Polly was left in Missouri with 5 children,  along with her sister, Lois.  They lived with other family members but life had to have been difficult, it was a hard life to provide food and clothing.

The 1850 census records show that her son, Andrew was a  farmer at age 19. 

The exodus to Oregon has begun in Missouri in the 1840’s and Jasper’s joined the movement.  The first to go were Elizabeth & Jesse Owenby & Andrew Jasper in 1851.

 Nancy Jasper and her husband, John Langston, set out in 1852.  Her husband died of cholera enroute.  

Andrew, who was 23, came back in and escorted his mother, her old maid sister, Lois,  and siblings across the Oregon Trail in 1854.  My great great grandmother, Lois, was 12 at the time and her younger sister, Minerva was 9.  

Polly was 43 and her sister Lois 66 years old. 

A metal container carried by Polly Heath Jasper

I assume carried in the pocket of her dress.

The family story is that after enduring many hardships, and much the stock having died; when they reached Green River, Wyoming; the family stayed there while an older son went on to obtain food and supplies.  These he got from other members of the party who had gone in advance of the train to locate a home for the family.  Using an ox team to pull the wagon, not all of the family was able to ride at the same time, so many walked.  

Ribbon sewn into a quilt

Participant ribbon from Pioneer Association meeting

Proof of the year on the Oregon Trail

Once in Oregon, census records in 1860 show Polly & Lois living with other family members.  Polly also maintained a boarding house.  When her daughter, Lois, married Albert G. Lloyd, she & her sister moved to Waitsburg, Washington.  Both are buried at the City Cemetery in Waitsburg.

Lois Heath

Polly's sister

City Cemetery

Waitsburg, Washington