Family Memories ~ Little House on the Prairie

Not so long ago there was no PVRs. 

If you missed an episode of a tv series you didn't know what happened. Years later you might catch the episode on reruns, but the ability to see every episode of a series was scarce. 

Some of my fondest childhood memories are rushing to get into my pjs to watch Walt Disney on Sunday night & Little House on the Prairie on Monday nights. 

Both play a significant role in my leisure time memories.

My whole family in our pjs snuggled on the couch until we got too big for family snuggles and we moved to our own spaces. 

What didn't change was watching these shows every week in our pjs with our family. 

Sometimes with hot chocolate. Sometimes with popcorn. Sometimes freshly bathed. Sometimes with a blankets. Sometimes with a fire burning. 

As a kid who moved many times (5 schools in 3 provinces for grade 3, and 3 schools in 2 provinces for grade 4 plus many more) it's those tv times that elicit the memory of the home we were living in. 

While researching for a blog about famous folks I discovered that the author Laura Ingalls Wilder was related to a few of my famous folks.

After digging far & wide I discovered that I am related to Laura's father Charles Phillip Ingalls through my mother's maternal line. 

Now ... this really is a stretch, but I will definitely take it. 

Laura is my 1st cousin 4x removed of wife of 4th cousin 7x removed.

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls
BIRTH 7 FEB 1867 • Pepin County, Wisconsin, USA
DEATH 10 FEB 1957 • Rocky Ridge Farm, Mansfield, Wright, Missouri, USA
married to
Almanzo James Wilder
BIRTH 13 FEB 1857 • Burke, Franklin, New York, USA
DEATH 23 OCT 1949 • Mansfield, Wright, Missouri, USA

As I snuggled with my family in my pjs watching the tales I would have loved to know I was connected to Laura. Even as loosely connected as we are I feel blessed to have her connected to my tree at all. 

The tales she told in her books, that the tv series was based on, were based on hers and Alonzo's childhoods.

Were they facts. Not at all. Did they introduce children and adults to the past. Absolutely. 

When I look back at my early watching and reading interests I realize I have always been a historical fiction fan. 

I love viewing the past through the eyes of a person.

Adding flesh & bones to our family history!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photo Source:

File:Laura Ingalls Wilder - Documentary - DVD - 150th Birthday - cover art.jpg, Retrieved August 31st 2021 from: 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laura_Ingalls_Wilder_-_Documentary_-_DVD_-_150th_Birthday_-_cover_art.jpg

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!

________________________________________________________________

Place Holders - Not a Tragedy

This is my 3rd year with the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. 

I am finding it a challenge to write each week. I suspect it's rooted in the pandemic appearing like it will never end. I am struggling with my lack of focus and ambition. I just can't seem to get it together to do anything except work.  I spend too much time doing nothing.

This week I was on vacation.

I didn't prep a blog entry. 

I considered not writing this week. 

Then I realized it's okay to take a break. 

I primarily write for me. 

If I don't have the time, energy, or ambition to write this week that is okay. 

I also write for future researchers who may find what they are looking for in the stories I have left behind. 

This week they will find that I have left a bit about me in this week's placeholder.

Writing a place holding week is not a tragedy.

What did we do this week on vacation?

We cycled:

We got outdoors:

Ate some good food:

Took car trips:

BUT there is still a pandemic so we stayed close to home & didn't visit with any other people. 

Getting pretty tired of Covid-19.

Recording for future searchers!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***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!

________________________________________________________________

New York City ~ BUT Not Ellis Island

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 32 (IN THE CITY)

Last September our trip to New York City was canceled. 

On that trip I planned to research more about my husband's 8th great grandparents who arrived via New York.

Sadly that trip didn't happen because of the worldwide Covid pandemic. 

We do not have a lot of information or confirmation of exactly when they arrived. 

That was supposed to be found in our Ellis Island searching.

BUT since it appears as though they arrived between 1710 and 1717 they didn't enter at Ellis Island.

Ellis Island opened as an immigration site in 1892.

All that we know about my husband's 8th great grandparents on his father's maternal line.

Freidrich Wilhelm Schram

BIRTH 2 JUN 1695
DEATH Unknown
                       &
Anna Maria Kuester (Kuster)

He descends via their son (7th great grandparents)

Johan Wilhelm (John) Schram

BIRTH 22 JUL 1717 • West Camp, Ulster, New York, United States

DEATH JAN 1785 • New York, USA

                         &

Anna Catherine (Catharina) Lehman

BIRTH 12 FEB 1720 • Loonenburg, Greene, New York, United States

DEATH 1784 • Athens, Greene, New York, United States

AND their son (6th great grandparents)

Johannis (John) Schram UEL

BIRTH 9 MAR 1759 • Loonenburg, Greene, New York

DEATH BEF. 1817 • Grantham Township, Lincoln County, Ontario, Canada

                            &

Nancy Ann Derby Derby (Darby, Darbie)

BIRTH 23 DEC 1765/1755 • Kiskatemesy, New York, USA

DEATH 10 APR 1856

and their daughter (5th great grandparents)

Elizabeth Schram

BIRTH 28 FEB 1782 • New York, USA

DEATH AFTER 1840

                            &

William Havens

BIRTH 20 MAY 1764 • Jefferson, Gloucester, New Jersey, USA

DEATH 20 DEC 1836 • Gore, Erin, Ontario, Canada

DNA matches have confirmed the family connections to William & Elizabeth (nee Schram) Havens.

Finding family via dna & records!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

Ellis Island, History.com. Retrieved August 13th 2021 from
https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/ellis-island

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!

________________________________________________________________

Favourite Name ~ I Don't Think I Have One

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 31 (FAVOURITE NAME)

I am not very good at choosing favourites.

Everytime I'm asked for a favourite I struggle with how to choose just one.

My favourite depends on so many factors that change constantly.

I couldn't choose just one favourite in any category. 

Favourite Food - depends on the moment. 

Favourite Colour - depends on what it's for

Favourite activity - depends on the mood

Favourite travel destination - depends on the season

ON & ON it goes...

Sometimes when I am asked for my favourite I choose whatever random one comes to mind first.

Later I wonder if folks think my answer was strange, and then I remember no one actually cares!!!

How exactly should I write this week's blog?

I could talk about my least favourite name. I thought I could choose just one because of the generation after generation of the same name, but then I realized I don't dislike the name - just the naming pattern. 

I could list a whole bunch of names I like, but then that wouldn't focus on an ancestor for week 31 of 52.


What to do?

I decided to write about a person in my tree with a cool name.

My 7th great grandmother's name leapt off the computer screen as I was scanning for who to write about. I realized that I like how the name looks in print, and the flow of the name.  

Agness Forrest

BIRTH ABT. 1711 • East Lothian, Scotland

DEATH Unknown

Agness is my 7th great grandmother through my father's maternal line. She married my 7th great grandfather, James Richardson,  on the 11th of June 1731. 

I further connected with this 7th great grandmother because my husband & I were also married on June 11th. 

I haven't yet figured out who Agness's parents were.
I would love to figure out where the Forrest name originated. 

I am pretty sure Agness was a very interesting person. 

She is just waiting for me to tell her story.



As always - 

My work here is not yet done!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***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!

________________________________________________________________

Axle Tourniquet ~ Still In Use 220 Years After Dr. Joseph Strong Filed His Patent

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 30 (HEALTH)

"In 1801, a patent was issued to a Joseph Strong of Pennsylvania for his invention of the axle tourniquet. By using a ratchet and key apparatus connected to the belt of the tourniquet, a surgeon was able to exert greater and more precise pressure.

Strong's first model sold for $4, which was a large sum but understandable when its several hand-made parts needed to work together smoothly under considerable tension.7 "

7. "Dr. Strong's Account of his Axle Tourniquet, in a Letter addressed to the Editor of the Philadelphia Medical Museum," Philadelphia Medical Museum, vol. 1 (1804-5), 311-317.

In 1801 my 5th cousin X6 removed filed a patent for the Axle Tourniquet. He sold them for $4.00 each. I'm pretty sure he would be delighted to know they are still in use in the year 2021. 

220 years later they look a little different. 

And they sell for a lot less. Today's $40.00 is considerably cheaper than 1801's $4.00. 

My husband is a Paramedic in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He has never used an Axle Tourniquet in the 28 years he has worked on Ambulance. He tells me they are occasionally used. Every ambulance in the province of British Columbia has one available. Likely they are in use worldwide. 

This is an incredible legacy for Dr. Joseph Strong to have left behind. 

My 5th cousin X6 removed via my mother's maternal line:

Joseph Strong, Doctor

BIRTH 10 MAR 1770 • Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut, USA

DEATH 24 APR 1812 • Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, USA

married to

Rebecca Young

BIRTH 5 MAY 1779 • Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

DEATH 8 JUN 1862 • Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, USA

They had 8 children.

Lucy Strong

BIRTH 17 SEP 1797

DEATH 27 AUG 1860

Joseph Strong

BIRTH 26 JAN 1799

DEATH 1857

Peter Young Strong

BIRTH 28 APR 1801

DEATH Unknown

Eleanor Strong

BIRTH ABT. 1802

DEATH 9 JUL 1863

William Strong

BIRTH 12 DEC 1804

DEATH 8 SEP 1805

William Young Strong

BIRTH 26 JUN 1806 • Pennsylvania

DEATH 23 MAR 1866 • Miami County, Ohio, USA

Rebecca Strong

BIRTH 25 SEP 1808

DEATH Unknown

Lavinia Strong

BIRTH 19 AUG 1810

DEATH Unknown

There are people alive today because the device created by Dr. Joseph Strong was available to stop a life threatening bleed. 

When your relative leaves a legacy!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

Medical Supplies, Discovering Lewis & Clark, Retrieved July 30th 2021 from
http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/2560

Joseph Strong, M.D., Yale, 1788, Army Surgeon, Inventor, Practitioner of Physic, Barr, Lockwood. Retrieved July 30th 2021 from 
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/8228846.pdf

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!

________________________________________________________________

Fashionista ~ Princess Chris

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 29 (FASHION)

I grew up surrounded by males. My husband grew up surrounded by females. In our family, if someone has their hands on their hips saying 'if you really loved me you would understand' it's not me.

He is definitely the princess. 

In the photo above he is modeling the presents he got from his coworkers for his surprise birthday party a couple of years ago. In that adorable handbag was a Starbucks gift card.
They know him well. 

Anyone who has met Chris quickly realizes that he is totally in touch with his feminine side, and is completely comfortable in that element. 

When we met 29 years ago we quickly learned that he was the SME (Subject Matter Expert) on all things fashion. 

The first event we went to as a couple I needed a new outfit.
Off to the mall we go. I kept finding things I thought would look good, but when I tried them on they just weren't right. He kept trying to get me to try on a dress that I thought would look hideous. I decided this new boyfriend of mine had terrible taste in fashion, and was stubborn. He just wouldn't give up that I should try on that dress. It was fitted in what I thought were all the wrong places. 

I finally gave in, and off to the change room I went. I put it on, and burst into tears. After looking at all the awful outfits I had tried my confidence had been shattered. That dress looked amazing. 

In the 29 years since I never shop for an important outfit without him. He is our FASHIONISTA!

I don't know if it's nature or nurture, but both our boys have fashion sense. They don't get it from me. I still hate to shop, and my fashion sense definitely lacks. 

Shopping is Chris' thing. A few years ago my cousin and her daughter came to visit. They live in a small town, and wanted to come to the city for some shopping. Chris agreed to be their shopping guide. He planned several days of shopping complete with breaks to maintain stamina. I had to work. They didn't miss me. Shopping is not my strength.

Chris planned 4 days of shopping.

Quoting Chris  "Implementation of retail therapy begins. Surrey's Guildford Town Centre, Langley's Willowbrook Mall, Abbotsford's Sevenoaks Shopping Centre, Fresgos for lunch. Must pace ourselves and ensure hydration 🙂"

The first 3 days went pretty well.

 

On the 4th day Vancouver's Robson Street was planned. That morning over coffee he found out she was out of money, out of energy, and was tapping out after saying she just couldn't go again. Chris outshopped a teenage girl, and earned the title of MASTER SHOPPER!

Where I shine is in making dinner reservations.  Chris and I had been living together several months before he knew I could cook. In their small town Sushi is not as prolific as it is in our area.

We first developed relationship with Joscelyn when we attended every skipping event she had in our area as she was growing up. Chris and I showed up every time. We delivered food & beverages if they were needed. Chris took lots of photos. 

We didn't actually visit with her because she was either competing or practicing to compete. Did we spend quality time together?  Nope! Simply showed up. She knew we were there, and perfectly happy to just watch. Her mom was busy helping the team. Neither of them had to worry about us.  We were happy to just be there to watch her achievements.

Flash forward a few years, and Joscelyn wants to go to the city to shop. Given our history of always being there it was a natural choice to want to come stay with us, and get Cousin Chris to take her shopping while Cousin Debbie worked.  There was no doubt that we would be delighted based on our past relationship. AND we were. 

In my family the children of my cousins call us cousin. 

In Chris' family the children of cousins call us uncle & auntie. 

Recently Chris was promoted to Cousin Uncle Chris. 

I remain Cousin Debbie. 

He earned the promotion via relationship that began first with showing up, and then later with shopping. 

Building relationship through common interests

Family is whoever shows up!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***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!

________________________________________________________________

A Trip Home ~ A Death in the Family

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 28 (TRANSPORTATION)

I come from a family that lives to 100 - until they don't.

My mom passed away 6 years ago at the age of 65.
Last week her sister passed away just a month before her 70th birthday. 

Auntie Bobbi was super active and healthy right up until her diagnosis the middle of April. 

She was an amazing photographer. Over the weekend a family member said that Auntie Bobbi's photos are a peek into the world as she viewed it.

 When I went looking for photos for this blog the depth of that comment was clear. Auntie Bobbi left behind a legacy of the joy & beauty around us if we just take a moment to enjoy it. 

Auntie Bobbi was kind & fun.

My mom was the oldest of 6 kids. Auntie Bobbi the 2nd oldest.
The first 3 girls were born in 4 years, and were always close.

My mom and auntie Bobbi were super close. 

Auntie Bobbi and I were very close when I was small. It's been many years since I left my hometown. Over the years I haven't visited as often as I should have. 

Grandma turns 95 this year, and has lost her 2 oldest children.

4 Generations

Our family will never be the same

Auntie Bobbi would want us to remember her with love

 

No longer in pain - She is free

To the moon & back



Remembering the joy through the tears!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***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!

________________________________________________________________