Buried With 1st Wife ~ 2nd Wife's Grave All Alone

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 40 (CEMETERY)

This week Chris and I got to chatting about grave markers. 

We were talking about the practice of putting the surviving spouses names & birthdate on the marker at the time of a spouse's death.

We really were talking about what happens when the surviving spouse remarries, but they are already on the headstone with their prior spouse.

This is an example of what we were talking about.

This is the front of the marker with 1st wife Sarah Ann (nee Louks) Buchner.

She passed away in 1878 (age 35) leaving him with 6 children between the ages of 4 and 15 to raise alone.

Given the marker notes 1st wife we were left curious when the marker was added. 

Would Mark have projected he would remarry at the time she was buried?

For this reason we suspect the marker was added later. 

Two years later 41 year old Mark married 18 year old Barbara Walser (recently arrived from Switzerland).

Barbara and Mark had 9 children. 

On another side of Sarah Ann Louks marker is George - child of the 2nd marriage who died at age 6 & Mark (the husband and father this scenario is about).

On a 3rd side is Eric (10 yrs and 9 days), Frank (4 weeks), Mabel  (18) - all children of the 2nd marriage to Barbara.

I am unsure what was on the 3rd side because it appears as though I didn't take a photo of it. For that reason I am thinking it was blank, but it's possible I just can't find the photo I took.

When we found great grandma Barbara's marker we felt sad for her. 

She was alone - without her husband or her 4 children who died young (of diseases we now have vaccines or treatment for). 

Our conversation left us pondering how both a 1st spouse and 2nd spouse could be included in a scenario such as the one above. 

The conversation ended with us wondering how often this still occurs with today's practices.

BUT this conversation did begin because we heard about this exact scenario playing out right now.

We were not able to find a solution to the dilemma!!! 

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!

______________________________________________________________

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" 1 

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:

1 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!

______________________________________________________________

Passed Down Through the Oldest Direct Male Line ~ Wooden Walking Stick

 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. 

Cherishing the treasures 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***

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!

______________________________________________________________

Family Heirlooms ~ A Wooden Walking Stick

 
Recently we traveled across Canada to spend time with our children & extended family members. 

On this trip my husband's grandfather gave him this family heirloom:

Close-ups -  bottom to top

The photos do not do it justice. This is an incredible piece of woodwork. It's carved from a solid piece of wood...
It's a BROKEN BRANCH fitting this week's theme. 

Starting from the bottom the carvings tell the story of the Old Testament: Adam & Eve, Noah & the Ark, the 3 wise men following the Star of David to the manger, ending with the the Crucifixion of Jesus.
Or at least that is what we thought it was telling.  

Between Noah & the animals disembarking and the arrival of the 3 wise men is a beaver & a turtle. We wondered if it was to represent the Indigenous Creation Story alongside the bible's. Alternatively they could represent Turtle Island (North America) & Canada. 

Family lore suggests it might have been a talking stick used by missionaries.

On closer examination we aren't sure that it is telling the story of Old Testament from the bottom. 

The first four symbols have people carrying objects that appear to be an axe, a sled, a rosary, and one unidentifiable. Then livestock, a small boat, and a person carrying nothing followed by the beaver & the turtle. Then a man holding 3 fish & a key. Then a square with 2 wedges on either side with a platform above. Then the 3 wise men following a star to a place with livestock with a baby in a manger. Then a family - 2 adults with 1 child. Then another animal that might be a squirrel or a salamander. Then 2 more people who may be fighting. Then the symbol of Jesus on the cross. Around the cross is tools: an axe, a square, a hammer, a saw, a pair of plyers, and a spear. Above all of the that is a rooster. Then a man and a woman holding hands. Then a leaf (or a tree or a plant) with a bird sitting at the top. From bottom to top encompassing the entire story is a snake. 

Online searching resulted in our discovering it's a Folk Art Cane/Walking Stick. 

***If you have any knowledge of this walking stick we would love to hear from you***

His grandfather remembers the walking stick being at his grandparents house when he was a child. 

Mark Rearely & Anna Barbara (nee Walser) Buchner

Mark Rearely Buchner

BIRTH 24 FEB 1838 • Woodhouse Twp., Norfolk Co., ON, Canada

DEATH 12 JUN 1931 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
&

Anna Barbara (Barbara) Walser

BIRTH 13 APR 1860 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland

DEATH 1950 • Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada

Until the provenance can be established the origins before my husband's X3 great grandparents can't be known.

His grandfather told us that the family believed it originated 2 generations higher with 

Jacob Buchner Sargeant, UEL

BIRTH 31 MAY 1763 • Hardwick Township, Sussex County, New Jersey , USA

DEATH 11 AUG 1841 • Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
&

Catherine Shular (Sheelar)

BIRTH 20 SEP 1767 • Sussex County, New Jersey, USA

DEATH 8 FEB 1855 • Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Ontario

Folk Art Canes were typically from the Civil War to WW1 which put the X5 Great Grandpa Jacob tale a bit out of reach, but could fit for a generation below (X4 Great grandparents)

Jacob Clasnor Buchner

BIRTH 20 APR 1803 • Woodhouse Twp, Norfolk County , Ontario, Canada

DEATH 29 JUN 1886 • Houghton Twp, Norfolk County , Ontario, Canada
&

Amy Catherine Matthews

BIRTH ABT 1801 • Woodhouse, Ontario, Canada

DEATH 10 MAR 1880 • Cultus, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada

We do know the walking stick has been passed down to the oldest male of each generation starting with the children of Mark's second marriage. 

This left us wondering if it was possible the walking stick originated with X3 great grandmother Anna Barbara Walser's family. Alternatively it may have been that she gave it to her oldest son vs. Mark's oldest son (from his 1st marriage). We aren't sure where it came from before X3 great grandparents Mark & Barbara (nee Walser) Buchner obtained it. 

Grandfather to grandson happened this time because my father-in-law died last year. Our son is the oldest male of the next generation allowing the walking stick to continue 6 generations through the oldest male. 

In today's world the practice of passing down father to son ignoring daughters seems old fashioned & unfair. Since we have 2 boys and no daughters we can follow the tradition without discrimination. 

Treasures passed down the direct male line!!!

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/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!

______________________________________________________________