#37 Mistake I should have paid attention 52 Ancestors in a Year

#37 Mistake  52 Ancestors in a Year

A mistake not to listen, write down or pay attention.

My mother, Helen Lloyd Shaffner, was interested in her family history for as long as I can remember.  There was a trip to a cemetery in Oregon in an effort to find a headstone.  I vaguely remember, as I was young, but I do remember a hill, trees, grass and probably rolling my eyes at the thought of this stop.  I think my Dad probably led the way of “wasting time doing this" attitude.  

Helen Lloyd
She graduated from high school in 1942

1938

What I would give to know where and what she found in that cemetery.  If only she had taken pictures or written a story down.  So far I have not discovered those 2 pieces of information in her genealogy collection. 

It was normal that we went to Mom's hometown of Waitsburg, Washington for Memorial Day festivities, which included a class reunion.   We took flowers and toured the cemeteries and decorated graves including my great great grandparents.

Mom never called herself a genealogist. Nor did anyone else.  But she was.  I have files, pictures and scraps of paper written on them.  Mom created family group sheets.  I have duplicates of many of them.  She shared her information with others too.  My mother, Helen Lloyd Shaffner, inherited a collection from her great aunt, so those letters and scraps of paper are also included.  

One of the many Family Group Sheets in her collection.

Many of her family group sheets have notes written on the back

Mom also created scrapbooks.  I think the earliest one I have is 1930.  Many include newspaper clippings of obituaries or other family information.

Mom had paid attention to her grandparents and knew many stories.  She did write a few down, but I want more!  But I wish I had written her recollections down or recorded them.

What a mistake I made by not spending more time learning the family history!

Mom was most proud of her heritage, especially the ancestors who came across on the Oregon Trail.

#36 School Days Della Kurtz Graduation 1905 Salutatorian Speech

#36 School Days  52 Ancestors in a Year

Della Kurtz Shaffner was my grandmother.  She was Salutatorian of her High School Graduation Class at Muncy, Pennsylvania in 1905.  We are lucky to have the memorabilia of the program and her Salutatorian Speech.  Written 114 years ago, the message is still valid!  Please read!

Della Kurtz

Graduation 1905

The Voice of the World

Essay by Della Kurtz, Class of 1905

Salutatorian Speech

There is one question in the minds of modern people that is doing much harm, and that is “what will people say”?  This question influences a greater portion of the actions of the people.  It is the fear of what people say that prevents them from doing that which they ought to do and promotes them to do what they are not to we do.

We do not live as we want to live but according to the standards by which we fancy others will judge us.  We dress ourselves for the eyes and opinions of the world.  We visit people not because we have an interest in them, but because we consider it our duty to do so. We would rather be dishonest than discourteous.  How much of the present “calling” would remain if by some x-ray force the minds of the average hostess and caller would be revealed at the time of the call.    

Now the question naturally arises how long are we going to remain under this thraldom? Are we going on year after year not daring to do what our own conscience tells us is right?  

There are a few of us who are brave enough to simply when we say of such people, that “they are sensible and go their own way.”  We really mean that they are, what it is a pity that more people do not dare to be, simply themselves.  In the final analysis it is always true that people are not one-half as much interested in us as we sometimes choose to think they are.

If we preferred to live simply: to do only the things worthwhile, then you say people will talk.  By the word talk we mean gossip or criticism.   But what if they do?  They cannot harm us so long as we do what we think is right. There are some people who are wisely leading lives fashioned upon their own convictions. They live simply, dress plainly and educate their children sensibly. They are happy, rarely ill, their nerves are strong, their skin clear and their eyes sparkle. They are just plain happy. And they are called sensible people

These people differ from the majority in that they do not allow anything to become a part of their day, that isn't worthwhile. The people of same, simple life always have the advantage they do not waste their energy and burning with ardor for that entire human family.

Instead of walking through life with their eyes fixed on some marvelous reforms and treading on the toes of those nearest them, they see first the duty which lies nearest.  They are first of all about their own duty. The base of our operations should be in the field of our own immediate duty and happier indeed would be countless people today if that immediate duty were

more clearly seen by them. The duty which they overlook in a senseless and fruitless chase after distant wrongs to right.   There is a book called “The Simple Life”, by Charles Wagner. It is this savest book on the simple living that has been published and inits words that there are health and salvation for thousands of American people. It dwells in the main intentions of our lives. We must be simple in our thoughts to become simple in our actions

Such is the lesson the American people need to learn; That the way to live a simple life is to be simple and that means first  and foremost to make our  own mind simple. Simplicity is purely a thing of the individual, a personal state. A man who is rich and happy is not happy because he is rich but because he knows how to be happy. To have small means makes the problem of simple living easier.  The way to simple life and truest happiness begins in a mental attitude born of simple contentment. There must be no invitation of others.  Friends we want and must have, but let us be sure that we seek our friends for themselves. Let are words speak for something: stand for something, be interpreters of our ideas and intentions

The true life is in other words forgetting accessory and remembering the essential.  The more simply we live and truly, the more sincere is our future. And from it come those most precious of all blessings, contentment of mind and perfect health.  There are no nervous breakdowns in the simple life. The capstone of its structure is health.  From its alter Springs love:  it days give rest and it's old age is of quiet repose.  Only happy people dwell in the realm of simple life

The first page of the speech

It is a copy and located in the Kurtz Scrapbook

The High School Graduation program and banquet menu

A page in the scrapbook of her report cards.

The report cards are glued down & I haven't tried to remove them.

#35 Work.Agriculture work is genetic!

#35 At work—Agriculture work is genetic!  52 Ancestors in a Year

Agriculture and farming is genetic in the Gabel family.  

At Work in the Gabel family has always been centered around agriculture, primarily farming.  

The first generation of farmers that we know of would be Philip Gabel (Gobel), who immigrated from the Volga region of Russia in 1907.  Since he was a farmer (occupation listed in census records), it is presumed he was involved in farming in Russia.  Although no records exist of his occupation in Russia, we know from other sources that farming in Russia was primarily self subsistence farming.  And any product grown was taken by the Russian government & whatever was left over was used by the family.

Immigrating to the United States and being employed or having your “own” without government interference was a huge incentive to emigrate from Russia.

Philip was in Nebraska first, then the Huntley Project area of Yellowstone County, Montana and finally located in the Richland County, Montana area.  I believe he owned land but need to research for those records.

The second generation to farm in the United States was Henry Gabel, who came with his  parents in 1907 at the age of 6.  Marrying in 1920, he soon began a life in agriculture. While Henry never owned land, he worked or rented land to farm.  With 13 children to provide for, much of what he raised was consumed.  The family had the normal chickens, pigs, dairy cow and cattle and sheep.  The major crop raised was sugar beets.

Henry Gabel with a truck load of sugar beets, loaded by hand with a beet fork!

That was lots of work!

The third generation of Gabel farmers was Roy.  He began farming in 1946 after marrying.  He farmed in Hardin area for a year, before renting a farm in Huntley.  It was several years before he owned land.  

Roy Gabel in 1972

Last year for the one-row digger.

Truck could be loaded from the digger.

Owning land that you have saved and worked for is huge.  You remember all the sacrifices that you & your family made, so you could have your own land, is a huge accomplishment.  One not taken lightly!  Owning land to farm guarantees you a job and your destiny.  A farmer works hard to keep it!

It is hard for those not involved in production agriculture to understand the draw to the occupation of farming. Perhaps it is all a farmer knows, perhaps it is became they are their own boss, perhaps it was what they enjoy doing or perhaps the challenge of production is the draw to remain in agriculture.  Planting a crop and watching it grow it something that is definitely in the blood, but receiving the satisfaction of what you did to achieve that record crop is huge.  The daily challenge of obstacles simply becomes a challenge accepted.  There are never any 2 days alike!

The 4th generation of Gabel farmers is my husband, Leroy.  The task of learning to farm began at an early age with setting irrigation water, or watering cattle.  The type of farming done in 4 generations is the same, mainly sugar beets.  Ground is prepared the same way, seeds are planted, crop is irrigated and harvested.  But in 112 years, since great grandfather Gabel began his work in the dirt of America, a lot has changed.  From the type of seeds, technology to protect the crop from insects, technology to control weeds to the type of machinery needed to raise a crop have all been improvements to agriculture.  But there is more to the work of farming than just planting the seed.  In 112 years, farmers have had to learn to market the crops grown, as well as continual education in the production of animals and crops.  

6 Row Beet Digger

Bigger tractor

But still lots of work, just not as physical

Leroy Gabel with a sugar beet

Leroy At Work

Production agriculture work

#34 Tragedy Who is Anna? Gabel family---52 Ancestors in a Year

#34 Tragedy. Who is Anna? And what happened to her?

Researching the Gabel family is challenging.  They were Germans from Russia, Volga Germans, or German-Russians.  The history of the Germans from Russia is laced with tragedy.  Leaving their homeland of Germany, at the invitation of Catherine the Great, in 1766-1767, they arrived in a new land full of promises.  Unfortunately the promises made to entice the Germans were never fulfilled.  The newcomers in a hostile land overcame many problems and issues to thrive.  Again, promises were not kept, such as not having to serve in the military.  Many began emigrating to various countries, leaving behind family as well as their culture.  Arriving in new countries, adaption to the new culture & society was difficult but events at the time made it difficult to trust others.  Were they Germans or were they Russians?  During World I and World II, neither nationalities were favored by other people.  So the Germans from Russia, who spoke German, adapted.  Often that meant keeping "quiet" about their previous life, learning a new language and "forgetting" their previous life.  Favorite foods may be the only link to their history.  Their history is definitely a tragedy.

One of the goals of family research is to locate passenger records to determine the date of arrival.  Since no family history stories existed in the Gabel family (my husband's family) of their arrival, the only clue was census records.  In three census records, 1910, 1920 & 1930, the year of arrival was listed as 1907.  A starting point.  The next problem encountered was names.  Germans seem to be famous for using a two or three names as first names and regularly changing which first name they use!  In addition, just how is Gabel spelled? Various family members have used Gable, but then the German way might be Goebel, Gebel, Gobel, or Gibel.  See the problem?


After various research struggles, I believe I have found the passenger record (Ancestry.com) of my husband's great grandparents, Philip & Katharina Gabel.  

I found a record in the database of Ancestry and Ellis Island which I believe to be the great grandparents, Philip and Katharina Gabel.  Heinrich Gebel & his wife Mary and children Mary & Philip.  The ages are correct for the family, although the names appear to be mixed up.  They arrived on 10 June 1907 aboard the ship Arconia from Libau, Latvia after leaving on May 20th.  But there is a name crossed out, Anna, 11 months old.  The family was going to Henry Gabel’s at 925 I. W. In  Lincoln, Nebraska.  What happened to Anna?

Following all leads in research, led me to an August Gebel who arrived in 1907, a few weeks before Philip.  How are they related?  They are both going to their brother's in Lincoln, Nebraska.

August  & Catherina Gebel arrived 31 May 1907 in the port of New York from Libau, Latvia.  There is a child listed with them, Anna, 11 months old, but her name is crossed out.  The family was going to his brother Heinrich Gebel, 925 I. W. In Lincoln, Nebraska.  They left 13 May 1907 from Libau, arriving the 31 May 1907.  What happened to Anna

August left Libau, Lativa 7 days before Philip & Katharina and arrived at Ellis Island 10 days before Philip & Katharina arrived. 

 A question on both passenger records is "who is Anna"? 

And what happened to Anna?

Since Anna is on the first passenger list,  was she, August & Catherine’s daughter?  Why was her name crossed off in the first passenger list in May?

Why was Anna in the passenger list of Philip & Katherina in June?  Why is her name crossed off?

Was Anna sick when her parents left in May?  Was she left behind with other family, hoping hopes she would be well enough to travel?  Did she die in Libau, Latvia?  

A friend, Trudie, visiting Ellis Island continued my research there.  

From an Ellis Island researcher in an email, 26 April 2017:

After studying the two entries into the US and reading both detained alien list- it is clear that the infant Anna was not on board. I explained in my earlier email, that the parents were detained because the didn't have enough money and had to telephone August's brother in NE for money. The same reason is listed for the 2nd journey with Henry.

Furthermore, if you look at both passenger manifests, you will find a number on the bottom of the page. The number is 28. That "28" means only 28 out of the 30 passengers boarded the ship. On both manifests, you will see 2 lines crossed out. One of them on each sail, was Anna's line.

What we can confirm for you... is that she never did board the ship with her family.

So we are left with the question of "who is Anna"?  

Genealogy research in Libau or Lativa is difficult.  Few records and the records are in German or Russian.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a family story?

What a tragedy that no one knows anything about Anna.  

A life remembered only in census records.  A tragedy.

Arconia, the ship that brought Philip & Katharina to the United States in 1907

#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!