Saying Goodbye to 2024 ~ Looking Forward To 2025

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 52 (RESOLUTION)

I first created my SomehowRelated blog in 2014 with the plan to write monthly about our Bramble Bush family tree, and genealogy in general.

In the following 5 years I wrote exactly 4 blogs. 

In 2019 I hoped that joining #52Ancestors would help me develop a committed relationship to my blog for sharing my genealogy research. 

My resolution that year was to write 52 stories about 52 different ancestors.

I honestly didn't have much hope that I would write every week in that first year.

Moving from an uncommitted relationship to a committed relationship required me to figure out who my audience was.

First it was me: creating tangible evidence of what I spend my time & our money on.

Second it was my children: who right now aren't interested, but someday when I am no longer here to share it they might be.

Third is a future me: someone who is searching for where they fit in their own genealogical story, and find their ancestors in my stories.

In the past 6 years I have written 312 stories about our Bramble Bush & genealogy in general.

Remembering I only wrote 4 stories in the 5 years previously this is an amazing achievement that I am very proud of.

I am eternally grateful to Amy Johnson Crow & her 52Ancestorsin52Weeks Challenge.

If you would like to breath life into your ancestors - this challenge is for you.

If you would like to take your ancestors from names and dates on a page to real people who lived life - this challenge is for you.

You can sign up here:
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks-new/

You can choose the free version where you will receive the weekly prompts & instructions on how to share them with a supportive community on Facebook.

OR 
You can choose to pay just $47 for a whole year of excellent professional genealogical support for the weekly prompts which I think is a fantastic deal. 

When you sign up for the plus version you will also get the weekly prompts & instructions on how to share them with a supportive community on Facebook which is a fantastic resource too.

Bring your ancestors to life by writing about them.

Their voices are waiting to be heard.

As 2024 comes to an end I recommit to 2025's weekly stories about the ancestors who came before us.

From our house to yours Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!! 

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!” 1 

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***

Footnote:

1 A Visit from St. Nicholas. Moore, Clement Clarke. Source: The Random House Book of Poetry for Children (Random House Inc., 1983) Retrieved December 21st 2024 from
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas

Photo:

Personal

Source:

First Things First - Going Back to the Beginning of My Genealogy Blog. 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 1 (First). Originally published January 7, 2019. Retrieved December 21st 2024 from
https://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/2019/01/first-things-first.html

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!

______________________________________________________________

Buckner, Missouri, USA ~ Where Exactly Did the Name Come From

This week's prompt is social 
"Maybe you have a story or photo of an ancestor at an ice cream social. Maybe your ancestor was part of a society, like the Masons or Odd Fellows. Maybe you've made a connection with a cousin or made a great discovery thanks to social media." Amy Johnson Crow 1  

I remembered that my husband's side of this Bramble Bush has Masons, and headed to Google to search. 

My search term was buchner free mason

The first result was

This led me to discover Buckner, Missouri, USA

Buckner, Missouri, USA
Clipped from Google Maps

There is some debate to how the town got it's name

"Buckner was established in 1875. In its inception Buckner was a railroad depot town for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Where Buckner derives its name from is a point of contention; the town is either named from former US Senator Alexander Buckner (1830-1833) who served on the States Constitutional Convention in 1820, or named after Real Estate operator Simon Buckner. Yet another claim as namesake is Thomas W. Buckner, an original owner of the site."2

Looking for more information for the 3 men I found this about
Thomas W. Buckner:
"Jackson County Photo Taken on August 16, 2019 The town was laid out by Thomas Monroe, in the spring of 1875 on land owned by Thomas W. Buckner, whose land extended up and over a high hill immediately south and adjoining the site. The hill had long been known as Buckner Hill and the town was given that name. Later by a town ordinance the Hill was dropped. The first house built on the present site of Buckner was by John T. Cobb, in which he kept a general country store. A post offices [sic] was established here in 1876 and is still in operation." 3

I found nothing for Real Estate Operator Simon Buckner.

I found lots for Senator Alexander Buckner. Following the Senators Family line back I was not able to go back to 'the old country' so I can't be sure if this line is from the same area as my husband's Buchner line from Unnau, Westerwald, Hessen, Germany. I did find Senator Buckner on Wikipedia. Using Relationship finder I discovered he is 21 degrees from my husband via his mother's line & not the expected Buchner line.

I always thought all Buchners, Boughners, Buckners, and any other variation of spelling were related - it seems that may not be true.

At this time there is no known connection between any of the three men and my husband's family line, but that may change in the future. 

Knowing there is always more to research!!!

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 Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from Generations Cafe, Private Group, Facebook challenge page.

2  Buckner, Missouri. Wikiwand. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Buckner,_Missouri

3 Buckner Missouri. Getty Images. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/photo/buckner-missouri-royalty-free-image/1177095808 

Sources:

Alexander Buckner. Wikiwand. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Alexander_Buckner

Buchner Free Mason. Google search. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://www.google.com/search?q=buchner+free+mason&rlz=1C1PRFI_enCA800CA800&oq=Buchner+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j69i59j0i433i512j69i60j69i61j69i65l3.3735j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Buckner Missouri. Getty Images. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/photo/buckner-missouri-royalty-free-image/1177095808

Buckner, Missouri facts for kids, Kiddle. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://kids.kiddle.co/Buckner,_Missouri

Buckner, Missouri. Google search. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from
https://www.google.com/search?q=Buckner%2C+Missouri&rlz=1C1PRFI_enCA800CA800&oq=Buckner%2C+Missouri&aqs=chrome..69i57j46i512j0i512j0i457i512j0i512l6.2290j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Welcome to the City of Buckner Website!  City of Buckner Website. Retrieved May 4th 2022 from https://cityofbuckner.org/

Links:

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

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!

______________________________________________________________

Researching Brick Walls ~ A Bag of Tricks

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 15 (BRICK WALL)

I have written about my brick walls many times.

In last week's post I discovered I haven't researched high enough in my tree. I realized I definitely need to focus on going higher up this Bramble Bush.

This week's prompt of BRICK WALL is an ideal time to spend some time breaking down those walls. 

BUT that is not what I did this week. 

Maybe I haven't mentioned it yet, but I chase shiny things.

As I began searching I started to ponder the phrase BRICK WALL as it relates to Genealogy. I then made the mistake of typing BRICK WALL GENEALOGY into a search bar, and the next thing I knew it was time for bed.

On the negative side I spent the entire day staring at my computer screen, and had nothing to add to my brick walls. 

On the positive side I now have a whole new 'bag of tricks' to try. 

I will share my new Brick Wall researching resources for this week's blog.

Normally I include my sources at the end, but this blog post is about these sources so you won't find any at the end. 

They will all be listed below in alphabetical order by the article's title. 

EXCEPT in first spot, in non-alphabetical order, is the article I found by Amy Johnson Crow.  

How a Professional Genealogist Approaches Brick Wall Problems, Amy Johnson Crow. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/professional-genealogist-brick-walls/

She is the creator of the challenge 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. She was the inspiration that moved me from an uncommitted relationship with my genealogy blog to a committed relationship.

She deserves to be highlighted in first place!

While you are at her site  be sure to check out all of her other interesting and informative articles!

Are You Really at A Genealogy Brick Wall? Family Tree Magazine. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://www.familytreemagazine.com/strategies/true-genealogy-brick-walls/
Family Tree Magazine's article "Are You Really at a Genealogy Brick Wall?" explains what a brick wall really is, and outlines tips to work around tough to find relatives. There are so many articles at this site you may lose DAYS as you click. If you sign up for their Free eNewsletter you will receive Family Tree 10 Essential Family History Research Forms. You can also sign up for a membership, and access more forms, research hints, and attend courses. 

Brick Wall Busting Playlist. Family History Fanatics. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcVx-GSCjcdkUTzh5k8Vr3dtWwjyOaVST

DNA Brick Wall: Finding a Female Ancestor, Your DNA Guide. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/2020/10/14/1119-lisa-dna-story-brick-wall-tree

Brick walls or just pit stops? Leaves Family History. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://leavesfamilyhistory.co.uk/blog/brickwalls/

DNA Testing and Endogamy, Your DNA Guide. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from
https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/2019/2/23/endogamy

The Dreaded Brick Wall. What to do next?, Ancestry Blog. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from
https://www.ancestry.com/corporate/blog/the-dreaded-brick-wall-what-to-do-next/

Genealogy - Brick Wall, Collection by Grant Davis, Pinterest. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://www.pinterest.ca/histgen/genealogy-brick-wall/

Genealogy Research Tips: Breaking Through Brick Walls and Getting Past Dead Ends, New York Public Library Blog. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/08/03/genealogy-research-tips

Genealogy: The Brick Wall Part One, Fauquier County Public Library. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://fauquierlibrary.org/2017/09/06/genealogy-the-brick-wall-part-one/

Genealogy: The Brick Wall Part Two, Fauquier County Public Library. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://fauquierlibrary.org/2017/09/25/genealogy-the-brick-wall-part-two/

Hit a Brick Wall? Cyndi's List. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from
https://www.cyndislist.com/brickwall/articles/

Hit a Brick Wall? Go back and re-read everything. Irish Family Roots Blog. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from  
https://www.irishfamilyroots.com/post/hit-a-brick-wall-go-back-and-re-read-everything
You can receive a 4 page eBook -  7 Steps for Busting Genealogy Brick Walls from Family History Fanatics that provides directions on how to tackle your most difficult research challenges, and when to call in an expert!

My Genealogy Brick Wall John Townley - Brick Wall Busting Series Introduction, Family History Fanatics. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tv2sc2k1nY

I’ve Hit a Brick Wall… Now What?, Geneosity. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://www.geneosity.com/ive-hit-a-brick-wall-now-what/

Overcoming Brick Walls in Your Family Tree with a Genealogy DNA Test, Family Search Blog. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from|
https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/genealogy-dna-test/

Reviewing Research and Records Opens the Door in Regina Huberty’s Brick Wall, Opening Doors in Brick Walls Blog. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://openingdoorsinbrickwalls.wordpress.com/

Solve Your Genealogy Brick Wall, Kindred Past. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from
https://kindredpast.com/2020/01/22/solve-your-genealogy-brick-wall/

10 ‘Brick Wall’ Tips for Your Family Tree, Tenacious Genealogy. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://tenaciousgenealogy.com/brick-wall-tips/

Using DNA to Solve Genealogy Brick Walls, Legacy Tree Genealogists. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://www.legacytree.com/blog/using-dna-to-solve-genealogy-brick-walls

What are Genealogy Brick Walls? Family History Fanatics. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from https://www.familyhistoryfanatics.com/post/genealogy-brick-walls

When Is a Brick Wall Not a Brick Wall? The Family History Guide Blog. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from http://www.thefhguide.com/blog/when-is-a-brick-wall-not-a-brick-wall/

Will You Be Your Family’s Brick Wall?, Geneosity. Retrieved April 10th 2021 from 
https://www.geneosity.com/will-you-be-your-familys-brick-wall/

When chasing shiny things isn't a waste of time!

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***

Links:

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

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!

________________________________________________________________

Reflecting on the Beginnings ~ Looking Forward to the Future

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 1 (BEGINNINGS)

Welcoming a new year is always special.

 

This year feels even more special after the pandemic chaos of 2020. 

I couldn’t think about a more appropriate 2020 Bramble Bush visual.  

In anticipating 2021 I was reminded of a meme I had seen recently that left me pondering on a deeper level than seemed appropriate. 

Sourced below

I then remembered another meme seen recently and laughed harder than was appropriate.

       WHAT

Sourced below

In planning my 2021 Bramble Bush plan I thought it important to reflect back.

2021 will be my third year following Amy’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. Prior to signing up for the challenge in 2019 I had been in an uncommitted relationship with the genealogy blog I had started 5 years previously.

         * If you are interested in signing up the link is in the sources below.

The first year of the challenge I focused primarily on my side of the tree. The second year I planned which branch of both sides of the Bramble Bush I would write about. There were times an ancestor seemed to raise their hand to have their story told so I shifted.

In going back to the very beginning when I began searching it was because I found out, at the age of 29 pregnant with our second child, that my Scottish grandfather was probably a Ukrainian man with an entirely different life story than the one I knew.

I was left feeling like I didn't know where I came from, and didn't want my children to feel that way.

This helps with the WHY I am writing.

Next I ponder the WHO I am writing for.

The first person I write for is me.
I love having a tangible record of my research.

Secondly I write for my children.
They read some of my blogs.
Someday when I am not here to answer their questions
they can still hear my words.

Thirdly I am writing for my relatives.
Some of these relatives I am close to, some I have met,
some I have not yet met, and some are not yet born.
I hope my genealogy blog may assist if they are looking
for where they fit in their family story.

Fourthly (or maybe firstly) - I write as 'cousin bait'.
There are parts of my family I still know almost nothing about,
and I love hearing from relatives that they found my blog
via searching their ancestors name.  

Sourced below

Remembering the past, and looking forward to the future!

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***



Sources:

Cousin Baiting: What is It, Should You Do It? Retrieved January 3rd 2021 from
https://www.theoccasionalgenealogist.com/2017/01/cousin-baiting-what-is-it-should-you-do.html

Dear 2021,  you have literally been handed the easiest job in history, photo, Retrieved January 3rd 2021 from https://m.facebook.com/Dogs365page/photos/a.742254779257719/1785957684887418/?type=3&source=48

What if 2020 was just a trailer for 2021, photo, Retrieved January 3rd 2021 from https://imgflip.com/i/47b0u0

Links:

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

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!

________________________________________________________________

 

Generational Photos ~ Aspden Line

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: 2020 Week 7 (FAVOURITE DISCOVERY)


This year's plan for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is to fairly share the 4 family lines that make this Bramble Bush. 

Last year's challenge I focused predominantly on my side of the tree, and only wrote about my husband's side a few times. This year I set up a weekly rotating  plan before the 2020 weekly prompts were released. This week's prompt is FAVOURITE DISCOVERY from my mother-in-law's maternal line. 


I think this is the first time I have written about the ASPDEN family. When I was trying to decide who to write about I realized that I had researched this part of our tree so long ago that I remembered very little.


As I began looking through the entries I discovered that the Aspden family has always had a thing for photos. I was able to find photos of his ancestors on this line up to his X3 great grandparents. There are some lines of our tree that we have no photos past our great grandparents. 


My husband has a photography hobby. He takes amazing photos. We used to have a darkroom in our home, and he developed his own photos. He now uses digital. His first camera was a present from his grandmother Eva Alice (nee Aspden) Lee when he was a small child. Almost 45 years later the strap that holds his camera secure was the one on his grandmother's camera while he was growing up.

Grandma's camera strap still going on adventures

⸞

My husband's grandparents

Clifton & Eva (nee Aspden) Lee

Eva Alice Aspden
BIRTH 4 SEP 1922 • Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada

DEATH 23 AUG 2008 • Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

&

Clifton Alexander (Cliff) Lee

BIRTH 20 MAY 1902 • Northfield Centre, Brant Co., Ontario, Canada

DEATH 9 SEP 1979 • Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

⸞

My husband's great grandparents

Thircul & Kate (nee Powers) Aspden

Thircul Murney Aspden

BIRTH 4 APR 1883 • Houghton Tp, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
DEATH 25 APR 1963 • Courtland, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada

&

Catherine Cameron (Kate) Powers

BIRTH 5 JUL 1888 • Tain, Rosshire, Scotland
DEATH 5 MAY 1978 • Simcoe, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada

 *** My husband remembers delivering tea & toast to his
great grandma Aspden when she lived with his grandparents in
Vienna, Ontario. He clearly remembers stirring 3 teaspoons of sugar
and a dash of milk into the tiny tea cup, and carefully carrying the
cup & saucer and side plate of toast to his beloved great grandma.  

⸞

My husband's X2 great grandparents

Michael Aspden

Margaret Jane (nee Murphy) Aspden

Michael Aspden

BIRTH 8 DEC 1853 • Norfolk Co., Canada West
DEATH 25 JAN 1905 • Houghton Tp., Norfolk Co., Canada

&

Margaret Jane Murphy
BIRTH 16 OCT 1853 • Woodhouse Tp., Norfok Co., Canada West

DEATH 15 JAN 1932 • Langhton, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada

⸞

My husband's X3 great grandparents
(Michael's parents)

John & Martha (nee Wolfendon) Aspden

John Aspden

BIRTH 20 AUG 1819 • Brooks Bottoms, Bury, Lancashire, England
DEATH 7 MAR 1906 • Houghton Tp., Norfolk Co., Canada

&

Martha Wolfendon

BIRTH 10 OCT 1819 • Rochdale, Lancashire, England
DEATH 21 OCT 1888 • Houghton Tp., Norfolk Co., Canada

⸞

My husband's X3 great grandparents
(Margaret's parents)

John & Elizabeth (nee Kniffen) Murphy

John Murphy

BIRTH 11 FEB 1833 • Charlotteville Tp., Norfolk Co., Upper Canada

DEATH 23 AUG 1909 • Walsh, Norfolk Co., Ontario, Canada

&

Elizabeth Kniffen

BIRTH 26 MAY 1833 • Charlotteville Tp., Norfolk Co., Upper Canada

DEATH 2 MAY 1923 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada

⸞

Looking at these old photos it's apparent that photography is in the blood of the Aspden line. The older photos are from a time when photography was rare. This wasn't something done at home. You needed a highly skilled photographer to take, develop and print photos. This was a time when there wasn't funds for anything that you couldn't eat, grow, wear or ride. It must have been a special time to have the photos done. Looking at the photo of John & Elizabeth it wouldn't have been their wedding day because they are considerably older than 19 (which was how old they were when they got married). My husband definitely comes from a long line of photo enthusiasts. 

My husband's photo, Ocean Shores, Washington, June 2015

When the talents of your ancestors are passed down!







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***

Photo Sources:

All photos of X2 & X3 great grandparents from Ancestry.
All others family photos.




Links:

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

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!

___________________________________________________________