24 Visits from the Stork: A True Labor of Love

While looking around at an old Pittsburgh Press newspaper today dated December 27, 1923, I ran across this story. 

While I can say with confidence that I am not related by blood to this clan, I can add that my dear spouse is distantly related to William Penn, thus to this lady as well.

What a story.  What a lady.

M'Keesport Couple Bring a Family of Twenty-Four into World--Mother a Penn


France and England have decorated their sons and daughters who brought 24 children into the world. America probably does not know that in McKeesport, not so long ago, John and Sarah Tauber had a like number of visitations from the stork.


And added to this self sacrifice of the mother, she endowed each child with rightful honor of declaring a lineage in the historical family of William Penn. She, before her marriage, was Sarah Virginia Penn, a direct descendant of the founder of Pennsylvania.


There is nothing unusual in the lives of John Tauber and his wife. John Tauber was born in Germany in 1830. Alone, he came to America 15 years later. In his early days, he learned the locksmith trade and established himself in Cumberland, MD, repairing locks, clocks and guns.


It was while he was repairing the flint lock rifle that belonged to the father of Sarah Penn, he met his future wife and mother of the largest family in western Pennsylvania, if not in the entire state.


John Tauber was 26 when he was married. His wife, nine years his junior. The ceremony took place Nov 20, 1856 in Cumberland, MD.


Early in the morning of March 4, 1857, the stork made its initial visit to the Tauber home. John J Tauber, the first child to the union, was born dead.  The second child, born in June 1858, a short time after the young couple moved from Cumberland to McKeesport, lived for 43 years. John Tauber II, third child lived but two weeks.


List of Children


The children, the dates on which they were born, are as follows:  John J, March 4, 1857; George I, Feb 22, 1858; John A Jan 15, 1859; Harry T, Feb 18, 1860; Adam A, March 12, 1861; Conrad W, May 23, 1862; Otto, Aug 23, 1863; Morgan, Mar 11, 1865; Rebecca S, Mar 18, 1866; Anna R, April 10, 1867; Barbara N, Nov 12, 1868; Martin, Dec 21, 1870, Minella, March 8, 1871; George II, Mary 17, 1872; Clara P, April 26, 1873; Elizabeth S, May 20, 1874; Fred, Feb 26, 1873; Thomas, Nov 10, 1875; Frank, Sept 8, 1876; Mary E, July 15, 1877; Amelia, July 18, 1878, Phoebe V, June 21, 1880, James A, May 15, 1881, Susan V, May 22, 1882.......

Story on family continues with the note that only six of the children died before age 14.

It just boggles my mind to think of the 26 years this lady spent either in maternity clothes or having a newborn with diapers around the house.  Can you imagine how tired she was?

And I thought my one distant family member who had 18 children was so noteworthy.  But wait, there's more.  I think my distant family member's children all lived to adulthood. 

Ahh genealogy.  Counting the labor of love, one by one.

Source:  Pittsburgh Press, Dec 27, 1923 pg7

©2011 AS Eldredge

Tombstone Tuesday: Happy Birthday, Cuz Pres

"There is nothing stable but Heaven and the Constitution." - James Buchanan

 April 23rd is the 219th birthday of James Buchanan, 15th President of the United States, and my cousin.  While Buchanan served his country during a most difficult time in American history as the War of Northern Agression, (or the War Between the States as some are wont to refer to it), he supported the Constitution completely. Buchanan is reported to have believed slavery was morally wrong, but thought the Constitution prohibited the federal government from interfering in a matter he thought to be states' rights.

James apparently never got over the loss of his fiance after her death, thus he remained single.  He was gracious to his family and cared for the orphan children of his siblings.  A nephew of his (his sister's child) was his Personal Secretary while Buchanan was in the White House.

I am fortunate to have contact with descendants of his nephew as they are all my blood cousins.  Early sources found in PA for the Reverand Robert Henry (1801-1838) and Harriet E Buchanan (1802-1840) tell us that James was a frequent guest in the home of the family and was quick to raise their young son after they passed.

Buchanan is buried at Woodward Hill Cemetery near his country home in Lancaster Co, PA.

I wonder what the family thought about James becoming President?  So far, I have not seen anything that could provide any clues as to this puzzle.

Ahh, genealogy.  Tis so much fun to find interesting facts about the family.  I guess that and a dollar might buy a cup of coffee!


Photo Source: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=143&PIpi=76078, Photo by Stew Thornley, 2001.

And the Gift Keeps On Coming

I sort of fell into genealogy about 15 years ago and admittedly have a strong addiction. Just ask my family- close or distant blood!

I've been working with a gent for about four years now on my blood. He's been a real gem in my quest to learn, and to learn more about my blood. Click here to read a previous post on my buddy.

Well, today, he offered another gift. Oops, I should back up a few months.

My buddy and I have been searching for the proof that his blood runs in my veins. Finally, we found a living breathing male with the correct surname in both our families who were willing to take the DNA test. This would tell the tale.

The tale, or rather fact, of the matter is to our knowledge we share not one itty bitty drop of blood.

He has finally decided he didn't need to run the online tree of the family, so today, he offered it to me. I accepted. In a day or so, the newly owned tree will be available on ancestry for all to see. Of course, it's been there the whole time. It's just now going to be updated by a common gene seeker.

As for my buddy? He's gained a place in my heart and I will continue to refer to him as my "kinda cousin." After all, he's the one who was able to lead me in the right direction in my personal quest of Wall Street John.

Thanks, Bill, for the gifts of knowledge, time, and friendship. I look forward to continuing our "kinda cousin" relationship.