This is my space to share my quest to collect as many broken branches as I can in my fractured family tree which resembles a bramble bush more then a proper tree. As I go forward in this blogging journey I hope to share how I have searched far & wide for family - with no regard for where they come from or if I should really want them.
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Remembering Ron ~ On His 79th Birthday

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 30 (RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS)


Today, on Ron's 79th birthday, I will write about my father-in-law.

Ronald Clare (Ron) Buchner
Birth 24 JUL 1946 • Tillsonburg, Oxford, Ontario, Canada
Death 6 FEB 2021 • Puerto Vallarta Hospital, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico


Ron will always be remembered as a larger than life man who kept everyone amused. He really was the life of the party.

Chris was Ron's first born child, and only son.


Ron was the grandson on Brethern in Christ Pastor, Alonzo Vannatter.

Alonzo Vannatter with great grandson Chris

Remembering Ron on his birthday











Ron school photo - 2nd row third from the left
1957 1958 school year grade 5 and 6 Rolph St public school

Glendale Football 1961
































Now at rest






Gone too soon!!! 



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/



If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please
include a link to the specific blog and
credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/
My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.
All rights reserved.
Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Twinsies ~ Ann (nee Smith) Franklin & Myself

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 29 (COUSINS)


According to Family Search Ann Franklin & I share 51% of our looks.

Check out the photo below provided by Family Search


We are 9th cousinx X6 removed via my maternal grandmother's paternal line (Bayes, Merrill). 


"More than 200 years after her death, Ann Smith Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame at the University of Rhode Island. She is also remembered as the owner of the press on which Benjamin Franklin learned to set type." 1


We are also inlaws because Chris is related to her husband James Franklin via his mother's paternal line via marriage.

This mean Chris shares in common relatives with Benjamin Franlin, but a direct connection has not been found at this time. 



We seem to be getting closer to be able to introduce ourselves as cousin!!!


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***



Footnotes:

1  Colonial Newspaper Printer and Publisher. History of American Women. First Women. Ann Franklin. Retrieved July 15th 2025 from
https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2008/11/ann-smith-franklin.html


Sources:

Ann Smith Franklin, First Lady of Rhode Island Journalism (and Ben’s Sister-in-Law). She started a newspaper and raised her children in a genteel manner. New England Historical Society. Retrieved July 15th 2025 from 
https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/ann-smith-franklin-first-woman-printer-of-rhode-island/

Colonial Newspaper Printer and Publisher. History of American Women. First Women. Ann Franklin. Retrieved July 15th 2025 from
https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2008/11/ann-smith-franklin.html


Photos:

Family Search Clip


Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/



If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please
include a link to the specific blog and
credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/
My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.
All rights reserved.
Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Barbara (nee Walser) Buchner ~ Traveler From A Foreign Land

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 28 (TRAVEL)


The name Barbara means "Traveler from a foreign land" 

This seems an ideal name for Chris' X2 great grandmother, Barbara Walser.

Anna Barbara (Barbara) Walser
Birth 13 APR 1860 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 1 MAY 1950 • Woodstock, Canada, Ontario, Canada

In the 1881 & 1891 Census her birth place is listed as Switzerland, but there is no arrival date included in those census records.

In 1900 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1879
In 1911 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1878
In 1921 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1880
In 1931 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1890

We know she was in Ontario when she married Mark on March 18th 1879 in the Methodist Church at Houghton.

This was a first marriage for 20 year old Barbara, and a second marriage for 41 year old widowed Mark. Step mom Barbara was only 3 years older than Mark's oldest child with first wife Sarah Ann Louks. 

I have found some records for her siblings that suggest she wasn't the only child who left Switzerland. 

In fact her brother Daniel signed as a witness to the marriage. I'm not sure when Daniel went to the United States, but he is found on records there including his death registry from Detroit in 1908.
Daniel Walser
Birth 5 FEB 1853 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 2 SEP 1908 • Detroit, Michigan, USA
married December 24th 1888 Detroit, Michigan, USA
divorced February 4th 1908 Detroit, Michigan, USA
Elisabeth Louisa (Eliza) (Louisa) Biernbaum


Her sister Bertha's obituary notes she arrived in Canada (or maybe it was referencing the USA) at 13 years old in 1877.
Bertha Walser
Birth 18 DEC 1864 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 28 MAR 1927 • Walkerville, Essex, Ontario, Canada
married March 9th 1883 in Houghton Township, Ontario, Canada
William Henry Stephens


I have found DNA matches through the descendants of these 3 siblings.

I have not found a descendant match for brother John who claimed 1869 & 1871 on various census records - he resided in Detroit.
Johannes (John) Walser
Birth 2 SEP 1850 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 2 AUG 1937 • Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
married 1882
Elisa Schiess

The remaining four children did not live to adulthood.

At this time I have no records for the parents beyond birth/marriage/death of their children. I do not know if they came to Canada, the United States, or stayed in Switzerland.
Bartholomew (Bartli) Walser & Anna Elisabeth (Eliza) Oertli 

I would be surprised if they stayed in Switzerland since all the children who lived to adulthood were recorded in Ontario & just south of the border in Michigan, USA.

Now back to our traveler Barbara.
Her parents named her Anna Barbara, but at some point she didn't want to be known as Anna (the gracious one), and instead wanted to be known as Barbara (the traveler).

She left Switzerland - with or without her family
She arrived in Canada - possibly USA first
There is much we still don't know about X2 great grandma Barbara.

Anna Barbara (Barbara) Walser
Birth 13 APR 1860 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 1 MAY 1950 • Woodstock, Canada, Ontario, Canada
married: 18 Mar 1879 • Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
Mark Rearely Buchner
Birth 24 FEB 1838 • Woodhouse Twp., Norfolk Co., ON, Can
Death 12 JUN 1931 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada

Chris' X2 great grandparents:
Barbara (nee Walser) & Mark Buchner





Taking a second look at what you know & what you don't!!! 



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***



Footnotes:

Barbara. Details on Barbara. Baby Names Yay. Retrieved July 7th 2025 from 
https://www.babynamesyay.com/meaning/barbara/


Sources:

Anna. Details on Anna.  Baby Names Yay. Retrieved July 7th 2025 from
https://www.babynamesyay.com/meaning/anna/

Barbara. Details on Barbara. Baby Names Yay. Retrieved July 7th 2025 from https://www.babynamesyay.com/meaning/barbara/


Photos:

Personal


Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/



If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please
include a link to the specific blog and
credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/
My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.
All rights reserved.
Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Massey Ferguson ~ It's The Family Business

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 27 (FAMILY BUSINESS)


This is week 8 of my blogging style switch

For the next several weeks I will post a photo and a brief description. 

This new style of posting is due to CMC Arthroplasty surgery on my left thumb. 

I will continue with this style until my thumb has sufficiently recovered.

~


A few years ago Chris' cousin gifted this framed photo collection to him. Each of the letters is special to the family is some way. 

All the years while Chris was growing up his Grandpa Lyle owned the Massey Ferguson Dealership. 

When I first met Chris it was one of the first family facts he shared with me.  

Chris worked one summer for his grandfather Tobacco Farming.

He was very proud of all his grandfather accomplished.

For this reason it was my immediate thought for the prompt Family Business.

The R in the photo above is from the Massey Ferguson dealership signage.

When Chris and I met & he told me his stories, I had no idea I was related to Daniel Massey who was one of the founders of what would eventually become Massey Ferguson.

That knowledge appeared in an email from WikiTree telling me how I was connected.


Daniel Massey 
Birth 24 FEB 1798 • Windsor, Windsor County, Vermont, USA
Death 15 NOV 1856 • Newcastle, Durham, Ontario, Canada

As often happens with WikiTree Connections Daniel is not directly related. We are in the same general neighbourhood of this Bramble Bush.

Daniel is the Brother-In-Law of my 4th Great Aunt:
Rachael Merrill
Birth 5 FEB 1795 • Waterdown, New York, United States
Death 1 JAN 1878 • Haldimand, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada
married Daniel's brother
Jonathan Massey
Birth 23 JUL 1792 • Windsor, Windsor, Vermont, USA
Death 9 AUG 1834 • Haldimand, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

The family connections do not end there.

Daniel Massey married
Lucinda Bradley
Birth 24 MAR 1803 • Watertown, Jefferson, New York, USA
Death 3 MAR 1872 • Newcastle, Ontario, Canada

Lucinda is sister of 
Drusilla Bradley
Birth 14 SEPT. 1815 • Haldimand, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada
Death 1 FEB 1902 • Haldimand, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

Lucinda was married to my 4th great Uncle
Thomas Harrison Tuck
Birth 22 MAY 1816 • Sharrington, Norfolk, England
Death 9 JAN. 1865 • Eddystone, Haldimand Township, Ontario, Canada

Thomas' sister is my 4th great grandmother
Mary Ann Tuck
Birth 15 JAN 1823 • Sharrington, Norfolk, England
Death 28 JAN 1908 • Cramahe, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

married to my 4th great grandfather
Solomon Bayes
Birth 26 NOV 1815 • Hunworth, Norfolk, England
Death 25 OCT 1882 • Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

Finding the areas where both sides of this Bramble Bush intersect!!! 



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/



If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please
include a link to the specific blog and
credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/
My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.
All rights reserved.
Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________