52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 8 (HEIRLOOMS)
When thinking about heirlooms the one that comes to mind first is the wooden walking stick my husband received from his grandfather just 6 months before he died.
We aren't sure exactly how old the walking stick is.
His grandfather remembered that it was already an heirloom when he was a child viewing it at his grandparents house.
The family tradition is to pass down to the first born male of each generation. Since his father (Ronald Clare Buchner) was already deceased Grandpa Lyle decided to give it directly to Chris.
The tradition of passing down to the oldest male leaves us guessing it may have originally belonged to the family of X2 great grandma:
Anna Barbara (Barbara) Walser
BIRTH 13 APR 1860 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
DEATH 1950 • Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
On the Buchner line great grandpa Ernie (father of Lyle) was not the oldest son - he was the oldest son via the 2nd marriage:
Mark Rearely Buchner
BIRTH 24 FEB 1838 • Woodhouse Twp., Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 12 JUN 1931 • Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
At the time of his death he had 3 sons older than Ernie whose mother was Mark's 1st wife:
Sarah Ann Louks
BIRTH 15 DEC 1842 • Walsingham Twp. Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 1 JAN 1878 • Houghton Twp, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
X2 great grandma Barbara immigrated to Canada from Switzerland not too long before marrying Mark. It would seem strange that she would bring a wooden walking stick with her on that journey, but we don't know too much about her parents/family so that might have been what happened.
There could be some truth to the family lore that the walking stick belonged to X5 great grandpa:
Jacob Buchner Sargeant, UEL
BIRTH 31 MAY 1763 • Hardwick Township, Sussex County, New Jersey , USA
DEATH 11 AUG 1841 • Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
For that to be true the gifting of the walking stick to Ernie bypassed the direct firstborn male which may have happened if the widow Barbara chose her oldest vs Mark's oldest.
Regardless of which side it was handed down through it was already at the home of X2 great grandparents Mark & Barbara (nee Walser) Buchner when grandpa Lyle was a child (born in 1926).
Maybe once we find someone to date the walking stick we will have a better understanding of it's origins.
Grandpa Lyle advised against putting the walking stick in a display case due to the wood needing to breath.
On the same trip the BUCHNER framed image in the photo was gifted to Chris from the cousin who created it.
Each letter is a picture of an artifact from the farm Lyle grew up on or the Massey Ferguson dealership Lyle made his life's work.
The framed picture made a perfect hanger for the walking stick using fishing wire for minimal visual distraction, and matches perfectly on this red wall in our livingroom.
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***
Photos:
Personal
Links:
Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/
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