Wordless Wednesday: The Nut Really Doesn't Fall Far with Family Traits

I watched the recent news story regarding the family skeleton in Oprah's mother's closet with interest.  It must have been hard for her to give up an infant she knew she couldn't care for as it has been for mothers for years.  How exciting the genes that were passed were able to provide joy for the family.  Oprah and her family talked lovingly of the sister who had previously died and how similar the mannerisms are of the newly discovered sister are.  How blessed they are to have found her and to have her presence bring back so many loving memories of one who has gone.

It's the same in so many families.  When I think about the cousins I have met whose laugh can stop me in my tracks, or whose eyebrows can make me cry, I think about the genetics and how our deep our family ties can be.  I just love hearing the laugh of the cousin who sounds just like my mom did, or looking at the eyebrows of a cousin who I just know took them straight off my dad, or even the I'm-rather-ticked toe tapping that my child does as she stands and looks just like grandma.

And to go further, I love looking at old photographs to see if I can identify any family traits that have been passed down.  And yes, the old photos have me looking so much like my dad's mom and my children looking like their 3g grandma.  Amazing.

Just recently, I established contact with a descendant of a female cousin.  This female cousin, Margaret GLENN (1837-1902) was a bear to find.  Tracing married female cousins can be hard to do when they moved away from the area and lost contact over the years.

I knew about Margaret from the 1936 papers of my cousin, S B HERDMAN.   In that tree, SB had written that Margaret had married a McKEE and had 3 children of which he was aware.  McKEE was a college professor.  End of story.

Until a month ago----

One of my other GLENN types had asked me if I had ever traced her line in more detail.  I had not as Margaret was the granddaughter of my 4g uncle, William GLENN. 

I started digging around and found her living in Centre Co, PA, in the 1880 census with her hubby and children.   After searching around more for the one child's name that was listed in the 1880 census, I found the family.  They had moved to Cleveland later and the sons were prosperous.  I found a great great grandson of Margaret and contacted him.  He didn't know much of the family, but directed me to his uncle.

I popped off an email to the uncle's business and waited.  Waiting to see if they were interested in the family or just thinking I was a nut job---  kind of like Oprah's staff thought when they were contacted by Oprah's newly discovered sister.  You know, you always wonder what people really think when someone contacts them and says,'Hey, we're family." 

When I contact someone, I try to give them a sense of who I am by having them check out the family cemetery page where I have done a lot of research and work, and by checking out my blog.  I also provide enough background info on our mutual relation that they should be able to verify what I say easily.

Sometimes people don't.  They either don't check or they don't care.  Or perhaps, they think I want more than a distant cousin who can tell me more of the family.  That has happened to me before when someone who was famous did not want to connect the dots or know about the other parts of their blood roots.  Oh well, their loss.

Anyway, the uncle did call me the other day, and as luck would have it, I was no where near my computer so I probably sounded like a bumbling fool when I was digging into the deep recesses of my mind for the right family connection.

He did tell me more of his family history and I was able to provide more to him.  Hopefully, he'll dig around and find some more old pictures for me so I can look for the family mannerisms or traits that give me such a warm touchy-feely feeling.

Ahh, genealogy.  Seeing the past on the young descendants today can still provide me with a sense of family, and warmth and love.

©2011 AS Eldredge

Tombstone Tuesday: "Just Didn't Know When He Was Licked"

The boys of Company D 149th PA Volunteers were oft heard to say that Captain James Glenn "didn't know when he was licked."

Captain James Glenn (1824-1901) was almost "reckless in his bravery" as he served his country during the Civil War.  Hailing from the area of Pittsburgh known as Carnegie, Glenn had no difficulty in organizing men to form the company in 1862.  Mention of some of these meetings was even noted in the diary that we (myself and two cousins) transcribed and published some six years ago in the Quarterly Journal of the Western PA Genealogical Society.

One note about his service was his promotion to take command of his Regiment after the fight at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863.  His location during the battle was on Seminary Hill, which saw some of the most intense fighting. General Abner Doubleday mentioned James in his official report of the day stating  "When the troops at this point (Lutheran Seminary) were overpowered, Capt. Glenn of the 149th Pa. Vols, in command of my headquarter's guard, defended the building for fully 20 minutes against a whole brigade of the enemy (Perrin's), enabling the few remaining troops, ambulances,, etc. to retreat in comparative safety."

I thought it fitting today to remember all the troops, no matter whether they fought for the Grand Army or for the Confederacy. Some estimates of up to 50,000 American men lost their lives during this bloody battle. The anniversary of Gettysburg was just celebrated with a re-enactment of the three day battle in July 1863. 
I thought you might be interested in learning a bit more about the battle and of the re-enactment.

   
The Battle at Gettysburg
Harper's Weekly, July 25, 1863
http://www.civilwarliterature.com/2Battles/The14thAtGettysburg/The14thAtGettysburgHistory.htm 


The Gettysburg Civil War battle lives again
by Daniel Terdiman


-If you're a Civil War buff, or even an amateur historian, you no doubt know the history of the battle for Gettysburg. One of the most famous battles of the Civil War, it was also one of the bloodiest. Over three days of intense fighting, Federal troops led by Major General George Gordon Meade fought off Robert E. Lee's Confederate troops, and the battles in and around Gettysburg are often thought to be a turning point in the war.......http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20009651-52.html?tag=rtcol;txt

Ahhh, genealogy.  How our hearts ache as we remember the pain of American brother against brother in the Civil War.  Oh- and yes, James Glenn was my cousin and is buried at the "family" cemetery known as the St. Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, Allegheny, PA.

©2010 AS Eldredge

Start the New Year on Fire!

Tis the new year and time to revisit some old stumbling blocks to see what new information has been placed online.

Since the beginning of the new year, I've been deep into genealogy.

On one of the groups on which I lurk and comment, the big news right before Christmas was the addition of some more old newspapers from Pittsburgh. So, I've been searching the Pittsburgh Press through Google Archives just to see what I can find.

Every now and then, shouts of glee have bubbled right out of my mouth. So far, I have been able to view some new (or rather, old) obits of my family. I found my great grandma's obit. The obit itself wasn't new as a copy of it had been placed in the family Bible. What was new was the newspaper it came from and the date it was published. I also found the obit of some cousins and of my great grandma's sister.

Feeling like I'm on fire on this extremely cold winter day, I even found a fire. The fire was at the James RITCHIE Lumber Yard in Mt. Washington, Allegheny, PA on April 17, 1909. The fire was reported to be" one of the most spectacular ever seen in Pittsburg" with flames almost 20 feet high. Although an engine (fire) house was adjacent to the property, lack of water pressure made it impossible to fight. The home of James RITCHIE was also adjacent to the property. It was badly scorched and smoking.

By the way, James (1840-1922) was married to a cousin of mine, Anna Elizabeth NEELY (1842-1912) and both are buried in my "family cemetery" known as the St Clair Cemetery in Mt Lebanon, PA. James was born in Ireland but spent most of his life in Allegheny Co, PA. After marrying Anna in 1861, he mustered into the Union Army and served in Co. K of the 49th Regiment, PA Volunteers.

It was cool to see both his obit and the article of the fire. I also have sent them on to his great grandson. I suspect I'll hear from him soon. After all, it's been some time since we were to talk all day in the cold. Click here to read more of our last visit.

Guess I'll stop looking for fires and just use some hand warmers.

Monday Madness: Who is Cousin Elizabeth Troech?

Who is she? And why don't I know of her?

After many years of searching for more information on the McClain family who moved from Blair Co, PA, to Allegheny, Co, PA, between 1850 and 1870, more information has finally arrived via snail mail.

I knew of Austin McClain Brendel (1873-1935) as he is buried in the same plot with his mom, Henrietta McClain Brendel and his cousin and spouse, Charles Edward Simmons and Isabel Patterson Simmons, in Southside Cemetery in Allegheny Co, PA.

One of my cousins who knew Austin had told me years ago that Isabel buried Austin in her plot as there was no place else for him to go.

Austin also had a daughter, Marie, by an unknown wife. Marie later leaves Pittsburgh with her husband, Floyd Taylor to Akron, Ohio. We have followed Marie for a time and then we appear to have lost her and her descendants.

But, back to Elizabeth Troech? Who is she? Austin's memorial book from his funeral has finally made it in my direction. Happily looking through the details of the book, I see an unfamiliar name. There are many names in the book and only one listed as a cousin that I don't know.

Cousin Elizabeth Troech is listed under the name of Dr. Frank Caldwell and above the names of Frank's married chidlren. Elizabeth is named as "cousin." Who is she?

There is no Elizabeth Troech listed in Allegheny Co, PA, from the 1900-1930 Federal Census. There is no Troech. So what is the real name or have the census people truly botched it?

She is also listed as "Mrs." I checked my files for mention of an Elizabeth during the timeframe of Austin's life that could be a candidate for this cousin. None. No Elizabeth, whatsover.

Who is Mrs. Elizabeth Troech? How is she related to either the Caldwell or McClain family in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA?

Wondering family genealogy members want to know-----