Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Forget-Me-Nots 2024 Edition ~ 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (January)

Origins

As I delve into the ancestral roots of my great-grandparents, a fascinating pattern emerges. Five out of eight of them trace their origins back to Zeeland, Netherlands, affectionately known as "Zeelanders." However, upon closer investigation, it becomes evident that they hail specifically from the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen region within Zeeland. This revelation raises an intriguing question: How and why did so many individuals from this corner of the world find their way to Wayne County, NY?

Intriguingly, an article I stumbled upon claims a staggering 25% of Wayne County's residents can trace their heritage to Dutch roots. When most people think of Dutch communities in the United States, they often picture the well-known towns in places like Michigan or Iowa, celebrated for their vibrant tulip festivals and Holland Days. What's even more remarkable is that during the period from 1820 to 1920, when less than 300,000 Dutch people emigrated, Zeelanders embarked on their journey at a rate nearly six times the national average.

So, what compelled these Zeelanders to leave their homeland and venture to Wayne County, NY when ‌strong bonds with family, church, and their native land played a significant role, in discouraging so many from leaving behind what they held dear? Many Dutch did not succumb to the allure of "American fever" that affected many other Western European countries, so why did they?

Over the past two months, I've immersed myself in the fascinating push and pull factors that guided my ancestors on their path to emigration from Zeeland and their eventual settlement in Wayne County. The primary driving forces behind their journey appear to revolve around religion, economics, politics, and social reasons.

One of the standout features that made Zeeland unique was its powerful sense of religious conservatism. This province, primarily Protestant in its faith, carried a reputation for being incredibly traditional and deeply conservative in its values. When you ventured into the towns nestled within the Zeeuws-Vlaanderen region, you'd find a majority of folks dedicated to the Dutch Reformed Church, although some preferred to align themselves with various Calvinist groups.

Zeeland held a special place in the heart of Calvinism, a distinct branch of Protestantism rooted in the teachings of John Calvin. His doctrines left an indelible mark on the religious landscape here. In fact, Zeeland proudly wears the title of the "bible belt" of the Netherlands, a testament to the profound impact of Calvinism on the province's religious identity.  

The Zeeland Calvinists were also social and economic conservatives. They voiced strong opposition to contraception, smallpox vaccinations, insurance, loans at interest, and all things artificial, including chemical fertilizers.  Not surprisingly, they had some of the highest birth rates in the country, but they also had alarming death rates because of polluted drinking water and the resistance to scientific advances.    


Its strict religious views significantly hampered Zeeland's economic development, as well as its overwhelming reliance on agriculture. The region frequently suffered from devastating floods, interpreted by locals as divine punishment, further challenging its agricultural base, which primarily comprised wheat and madder cultivation on its clay soils. The economic situation worsened when cheaper alternatives and synthetic dyes took over the market for madder, a once lucrative dye crop. Modernization and global competition from North American farms worsened the situation, leading to widespread unemployment and an agricultural crisis

By the 1880s, this crisis had escalated, prompting a peak in Dutch emigration rates as farm laborers, who made up eighty percent of Zeeland emigrants, sought better opportunities and the possibility of farm ownership in America. With the Dutch industrial revolution lagging and a scarcity of factory jobs, emigration emerged as the only viable option for many. Compelled by adverse economic conditions, entire communities, sometimes including local congregations, embarked on journeys to America together, motivated by a desire to maintain their faith and support each other in a familiar language. This collective action reflected both the dire economic circumstances in the Zeeland province of the Netherlands and a deep-rooted commitment to religious and community solidarity, shaping the patterns of emigration and the establishment of Dutch immigrant communities in America.

In investigating where these Zeeland emigrants settled, ‌the Wester Schelde River served as an obvious line - emigrants from the municipalities to the south went primarily to New York and Wisconsin and those to the north chose Michigan.  Two-thirds of the emigrants from Zeeuws Vlaanderen settled in New York in areas near the city of Rochester and in Wayne County.  These emigrants came from towns such as Breskens, Groede, Cadzand, and Oostburg.


The Dutch immigrants in Wayne County found their haven near Pultneyville, a historic settlement that holds the distinction of being one of the earliest homes to Dutch-born settlers in the United States. Surprisingly, a handful of families had already put down roots in this area even before Van Raalte made his mark by establishing Holland, Michigan.  Later, they would branch out to the small hamlets around Pultneyville in places like Williamson, Marion, Sodus, and East Palmyra.

Legend has it that the first settler in Pultneyville was Abraham Peper, a native of Zeeland, whose presence attracted others from his homeland to join him in this promising region. The landscape of Pultneyville, characterized by its exceptionally fertile soil known locally as "muck," closely resembled the agricultural terrain of Zeeland. This muck, renowned for its fertility, proved to be an ideal canvas for cultivating potatoes and a variety of other vegetables. Moreover, the area's climate, shaped by the temperamental influences of Lake Ontario, provided the perfect conditions for nurturing fruit-bearing trees and plants.

The uproar of war prompted Abraham Peper's departure from his homeland. The invasion of the Netherlands by the French in 1795 marked the beginning of a turbulent period, and by 1801, Peper found himself embroiled in an altercation with French soldiers who had taken up residence in his home. According to the family's written account, Peper's confrontation with the soldiers resulted in a trial, but he was eventually acquitted for protecting his own property. However, he received counsel that he should seriously consider leaving the country to safeguard his possessions from potential confiscation by the French authorities.

Heeding this advice, Peper made the hard decision to sell his home. In March 1802, he and his family embarked on a journey across the Atlantic, setting sail for America. Their voyage culminated in their settlement in Wayne County, where they sought refuge and the promise of a new beginning amidst the tranquil landscapes of their new homeland.

Peper corresponded with his friends back in the Netherlands inviting them to join him, at first few took him up on his invitation.  However, as time passed, more people joined him.   The Dutch settled the Wayne County area in what is called “cluster and chain” immigration.   This is when emigrants from one particular place follow others to a particular destination.  Over the next several decades, many Zeelanders would follow each other to this region to settle their new homes.

In 1853, a lengthy article in the February issue of De Sheboygan Niewsbode (a Dutch newspaper) written with stories about Wayne County Zeelanders and those living in Sheboygan, Wisconsin described the conditions in and around Wayne county as the most thriving Dutch areas;

 “the barns are filled with cattle, and the fields are teeming with crops.” The laborer who had nothing in the Netherlands can become a landowner here.  We live here with 800 Hollanders and have plenty of food, because everyone who wants to work can and is able to earn more than he needs to live on, because the wages here are very high. …We have about forty farms in our settlement, many that may be compared to the ones in Zeeland.  We have two Dutch stores, a smith, a steam sawmill, two shoemakers, a mason, a carpenter, a Dutch school and two Dutch churches. …And, while eight years ago there was no Dutch spoken here, now you hear almost nothing else. 


My Dutch ancestors arrived in various emigration waves, yet they shared a common thread of clustered immigration. Out of my eight great-grandparents, a remarkable five can trace their roots back to Zeeland's heritage.

  • Katherine Van Lare, my paternal great-grandmother, was born to Jacob Van Lare and Pietranella (Nellie) Bushart. They were both born in Zeeland and immigrated separately with their families to America in 1873. Nellie’s paternal grandfather, uncle and aunt came even earlier arriving in the Fall of 1862.

  • Peter Derks and Sarah Vergouwe emigrated from Zuidzande, Zeeland, Netherlands in June 1905 bringing with them their 8-month-old son, Abram. 

  • Isaac De Fisher and Sarah Wisse arrived in America from Schoondijke, Zeeland, Netherlands in April 1900. They came to the US with their first four children; ages four and below.  

Their destination? The Marion and surrounding areas of Wayne County, NY, where they laid the foundation for their new lives in the land of opportunity. This familial connection adds another layer to our understanding of how our Zeeland roots took root in the fertile soil of Wayne County, NY, shaping the course of our family's history for generations to come. My next blog post further explores their immigration story. 



Saturday, March 28, 2020

Ancestors in 2020 ~ March: Katherine VanLare's Life During the Pandemic of 1918

For my March ancestor, I'm writing about one that I consider having been lucky.   I had started to spend time researching my three times great grandmother, Mary Maguiness, who was Irish but soon changed my focus away from the luck of the Irish to a topic more in line with the current events and world happenings.  I sit here starting to write this blog post on a Sunday afternoon, just hours from entering a social distancing government order.  At eight o'clock this evening NYS will go into 100% mandatory social distancing with all non-essential businesses closing until further notice to help stop the spread of Covid-19.  We are urged to stay home; only going out for food and medical care.  All of this heightened anxiety and fear over the pandemic of 2020 made me wonder about my ancestors during the Spanish Influenza Pandemic of 1918.  How did it affect my family tree? Did anyone die in 1918?  I couldn't find a single death linked to the illness that ran amuck and led to October 1918 being the deadliest month in American History; over 195,000 American's died from influenza. More Americans died from influenza in 1918 than died in the Great War. 

Since it appeared that all of my ancestors were "lucky" enough to have survived and possibly not even suffer from the "grip" I wondered what life was like for them during this time period.  My grandfather, Vincent Haskins was born in July of 1918 just a few months before this pandemic took hold.  What was life like for his mother? I began exploring life through the eyes of my great-grandmother, Katherine VanLare.

Katherine (Kate) VanLare was born on September 23, 1885, to Jacob VanLare and Nellie Bushart.  Kate's parents were immigrants from the Zeeland region of the Netherlands arriving in America in 1873.  Kate was their eldest child.  She had one younger sister, Sarah. 

Katherine VanLare - B. September 23, 1885

Jacob, Nellie, Kate, and Sarah Vanlare


Kate spent her childhood living on different farms in Wayne County with her family.  At the age of 7, the NYS census shows she was living in Williamson with her parents and sister.  In 1900, the Federal Census says she was living in Walworth, where she is listed as being 14 years old and attending school.   Kate and Sarah attended the Smith Hill Road School, which is now a modernized home.

Schoolhouse @ corner of Smith Hill & Arbor Rd in Walworth, NY


An Interesting Side-Story


While researching,  I became aware of family folklore around the house where Kate and her family lived in Walworth around 1900.  My father communicated that he was always told that they lived in the same house where Winston Churchill's grandmother once lived.  Now, I love history and this seems like something I might have read about, heard or learned prior to 2020.  Needless to say, this intrigued me and I wondered if it could at all be true.  The historian in me went to work and  I am making a claim that this is not an accurate story.    However, I did learn that Winston Churchill does have deep-seated roots in Wayne County.  His grandfather, Leonard Jerome, did live in Marion for a short time during the 1840s with his family.  His parents were Isaac Jerome and Aurora Murry.  Leonard married Clara Hall, whose father was Ambrose Hall a prominent resident from Palmyra.   Clara and Leonard married in her childhood home in 1849.  Later,  while living in  NYC they had a daughter, Jennie.  Jennie Jerome went on to became Lady Randolph Churchill when she married Lord Randolph Churchill. They were the parents of the former Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill.  Additional Information can be found at Wayne County: Deep Rooted Connections to Winston Churchill

And Now Back to Kate......

By 1905, Kate and her family had moved into the Town of Marion; living on Palmyra Road (or South Main St as it would later be called).  She was 19 listed as doing housework.   Jacob, her father was working as a farm laborer and her mother was taking care of the home and becoming a part of the Marion community.  The family was active members of the Baptist Church which I found surprising.  Both Kate and Sarah were baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church and most of the Dutch families from Zeeland were members and attended services there.  I wonder why they decided to move to the Baptist Church?  Nellie is mentioned in the newspapers as being involved in the WCTU.

Kate married Fred Haskins on June 4, 1913. Fred was the son of George Haskins and Sarah Drake.  He was born in Rochester, NY on April 14, 1894.  His mother, Sarah and grandparents, Charles Drake and Annagusta West moved to Marion from Sodus somewhere between 1900 and 1905.  The Drake's home was located across the street from the VanLare Family.

Fred & Kate Haskins - June 4, 1913

After their wedding, Kate and Fred resided on Buffalo Street in Marion.   Fred was working as a machinist at the Marion Canning Company.  The house they rented was actually owned by the Canning Co.  Kate and Fred had their first child, Paul, on February 27th, 1914.   In the spring of 1915,  Mrs, Lovica Newcomb came to stay with them after her brother Gilbert Shaw's funeral on March 26th.  She was unable to return to her home; Kate and Fred cared for her until in her death.  They held her funeral at their home on April 11th.  Gilbert and Lovica were both a major part of Fred's life.  He resided with one or the other from the time that he was 11 years old until soon before his marriage to Kate.

Kate and Fred's daughter, Rachel, was born on January 2, 1916 - her birth notice ran in The Marion Enterprise on January 7th.   In this same edition, the following headline appeared on the front page of the newspaper.

The article reports that this illness is becoming a huge problem, especially in larger cities.  NYC reported 272 deaths and Chicago reported 1,112 deaths for one week.  The article communicated concerns over it spreading to rural communities.  There is limited information mentioning the illness over the next month.  In February 4th's paper under the Local Gleanings, it mentions that doctors are busy and "La Grippe is stalking through the land."  The community seems to be moving through daily life in a "business as usual" manner.  Throughout the winter weeks there continues to be limited mention of this illness impacting the Marion community.  An advertisement begins running in the weekly paper for Father John's Medicine, an old fashion family remedy for grip and colds that turn into pneumonia.  Encouraged to take it today because it is free from morphine, chloroform, codeine, heroin, and other dangerous drugs.  March of 1916 is reported as entering lamb-like and gentle.  There is a mention of Mrs. E Hawley recovering from an attack of the grip, so it appears it has made its way into Marion.  The spring and early summer months of 1916 were wet and cool.  It rained on Easter, gardens were behind schedule, eggs sold for 20 cents and muck crops did not look promising.  However, there were reports of many strawberries and raspberries, but not a single mention of grip. Mid-summer was hot and dry.  July 1916 was the hottest July on record.  August brought concern over infantile paralysis AKA - polio.  By late August, the town health official, Dr. Besemer warned to keep children at home to prevent the spread of it including picnics, fairs, family reunions and visiting summer resorts.  He encouraged everyone to stay in their own town.  Autumn brought changes to leaves and colder weather.  Italy declared war on Germany.  Romania declared war on Austria which immediately followed with Germany declaring war on Romania and America did its best to stay neutral.  There was no Indian summer, the skies were dark and gray.  Early snow arrived in November and Woodrow Wilson was re-elected president.   The holidays came and went and in January with the new year -Rachel turned one year old.

1917 was very much like 1916 with the one main exception that in mid-April the US formally declared war on Germany and entered the Great War.  The spirit of patriotism ran high throughout the nation as well as in Marion.  The nation's colors were on display everywhere - women even wore hosiery that were red, white and blue.   The big question was "what can I do for my country?"  The answer - buy a liberty bond!  The first draft was in July with the second draft call coming in September.  Fred was asked to report.  He was found physically qualified but made a claim for discharge on grounds of dependency.  It was granted.   The Marion community continued to support the war as the months and seasons went by.  There was no mention of illness or disease just the need for Red Cross efforts to support the men overseas.

1918 found Fred and Kate with two young children and one on the way.  Paul was now four and Rachel had just turned two.   Kate was pregnant; due in the summer.  In January, Fred took at a position at the East Williamson Canning Factor as a processor, moving from the Wayne County Canning Company.   Community members were encouraged to buy thrift stamps which were a means to help finance the war while instilling traditional values.  There was a sugar shortage, so many housewives turned to molasses as a substitute.  Kate gave birth to Vincent Haskins, aka "Budd" on July 24th.  August had a run of good, but hot weather.  The canning plants were busy with beans, berries and soon juicy tomatoes. The harvests looked promising until the late summer heat took its toll.  By September Rochester's newspapers are beginning to run stories related to the "Spanish Flu" most of them urging the public to follow preventive instructions especially about covering coughs and sneezes, but there is little to no information appearing in the local papers in Wayne County.   The local papers are all about the Fourth Liberty Bond Drive.  October 4th was Liberty Day in Marion, which was part of a statewide observance.  At 2:30 the pupils of the Marion High School paraded in the streets of the village.  Sunday, October 6th was Liberty Sunday - the local churches mobilized with messages around the topic of the great war loans.  Every household was urged to invest at least one-eighth of their income into bonds.  Citizens were also urged to not use gasoline on Sundays as a way to help with the war efforts.   By the end of that next week, there was much more concern and information about influenza.   In Newark, village and county schools were closed as were churches, theaters, lodges, public and private meetings.  Doctors recommended drastic efforts to save lives.  Parents were urged to keep their children on their own premises and not allow them to play together in the streets.

The flu seemed to hit harder in towns around Marion -- There were over 700 cases in Lyons; there the doctors and nurses were having a very hard time taking care of all of the sick people.   Newark also had over 700 cases with 400 of them being at the NYS Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded Women. The Marion community did not close down public events as quickly as other places but they did eventually follow suit  The papers were reporting between 40-50 cases by mid-to-late October.  The Marion schools were shut down for two weeks and churches did not have services.  It was mentioned it was the first Sunday in over a century that a Marion church did not have a service.   Marion had two doctors at the time, Dr. Arthur Besemer, located on North Main Street and Dr. John VanDorn, located on Buffalo Street.  It was difficult for them to keep up with all of their patients.  The Wayne County Canning Compay had to be shut down during the prime of the canning season due to so many cases among the women.  At least eight canning factory work families were struggling with the flu.

The local health official, Dr. VanDon put a notice in the paper on October 11th and US Public Health Service issued an official health bulletin that ran on October 18th entitled "Uncle Sam's Advice on the Flu."

By November, things started returning to normal.  Just as quickly as the flu swept in it swept out.   Students started back to school after having two weeks off, however, there were many absences including one of the teachers due to illness.   Church bells began ringing for Sunday services, the Baptist Harvest festival was rescheduled for November 15th.   It seems that the small rural town of Marion was coming out of the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 better than others. 

On November 11th - Armistice Day, the Great War ended, and so did mention of the pandemic.  After the end of the war, papers stopped publishing death numbers.   In Rochester, over 13.000 people died in less than six weeks.  Rochester had more deaths from the flu than they did from the Great War, however, the war was always the bigger story with liberty bond drives leading the way.

Some interesting Rochester, NY statistics:

55% of the deaths were people between the ages of 20-40

More men died than women
More married women over married men
68% of the deaths were native-born
Most were laborers 
The death rate among school children was 10%



The New York State school system communicated that they would not defer or delay state exams.  The schools would make up their days missed by eliminating holiday breaks.  They would only get Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day as vacation days that academic year.

It was acknowledged that the lack of general health care abilities and lack of proper hygiene in the community contributed to the widespread of germs.  It was deemed essential for more education in this area.  One of the most important lessons learned was that people are the most valuable tool in fighting a pandemic and that best-laid plans are useless unless people carry them out.

It appears my family members and the Marion community must have done something right related to this pandemic as I am here over 100 years later to write about it which I consider pretty lucky.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Ancestors in 2020 ~ February: August Leisten

For my February ancestor, I've decided to combine the topics of Far Away and Prosperity and write about my three times great grandfather August Leisten.

August Leisten (Lehsten) was born on July 14, 1838, in Mistorf which was located in the Duchy of Mecklenberg-Schwerin, which would later be part of Germany.    His parents were Frederick Leisten and Sophia Kroger.  August, his parents, and siblings are the ancestors of mine that emigrated from the most distant location to America. 

Leslie Albrecht Huber has an informative website Understanding Your Ancestors which provides an overview of Mecklenberg's history.  It includes links to helpful resources for additional research for those looking to research their roots from Mecklenberg.  Another helpful website is the GenWebsite by Carol Gohsman Bowen.

The Grand Duchy of Mecklenberg-Schwerin was a territory in what would later become northern Germany.  At the time of August's birth, it was ruled by Paul Friedrich.  It was one of the poorest provinces, mostly due to poor land configuration and bad governance.

August's parents Frederich and Sophia were both born prior to 1820, meaning that they were born into a feudal society.  Around the time of their birth in 1805, Napolean passed through leaving much destruction and despair.  From 1806 -1813, Mecklenberg was under French occupation and was part of the Confederation of the Rhine.  During this time period, Mecklenberg villages suffered robbery and plundering by the French army.   The troops acquired their horses, food, and supplies.  The villagers were forced to house the troops and were subject to high taxes; it was a time of repression and great suffering.

In 1820 serfdom was annulled with the belief it would lead to tremendous progress and an improvement to the quality of living.   It had the opposite effect, conditions worsened for the majority of the population.   Former peasants could not make it on their own and often had to sell their land, which was purchased by nobles and landowners making their estates larger and more powerful.    The now landless peasants had to go back to work for the landlord as wage laborers, but the estates no longer had obligations to take care of their workers by ensuring housing and basic necessities leading to increased homelessness and poverty.  The majority of Mecklenbergers lived in the worst living conditions in all of Western Europe, similar to Eastern Europe.  They had nothing - little freedoms, few possessions, no land, farms or homes.  Many people moved from place to place with little hope for a profitable future.

It was a hard, physically demanding life.  Both men and women put in long days for little gain.  During harvest time it was typical to work between 17-18 hours in the field.  Women worked in the fields but were also responsible for cleaning stables, milking the cows, caring for the livestock, tending the garden, taking care of the children, preparing meals, doing laundry and mending clothes.

The time period between 1850-1890 saw an enormous exodus leaving Mecklenberg.  Over 150,000 Mecklenbergers left their home country and migrated overseas.  Migration peaked between 1850-1860 when 3% of the population boarded ships to America.  The region was overpopulated, there was a lack of suitable jobs, housing and there was devastating indifference from the rulers related to basic rights.  The worst was linking the right to marry with the right to domicile. An individual could not get permission to marry until they had established legitimate domicile.  This could take years, especially since there were housing shortages and renting was forbidden.  After 1830, all German states forced marriage restrictions as a way to decrease the poor population; they remained in place until 1919.  These repressive laws made life unbearable.

The marriage restrictions did not decrease the population, in fact, illegitimate birth rates grew in proportion to the severity of the marriage restrictions.   In 1850, 20.9% of the births were out of wedlock.  Pre-marital relations were widespread and were often looked at as pre-marital births verse illegitimate.  Many individuals began starting families once parents had given permission to marry even if there hadn't been formal permission from the state.

August Leisten was born after his parents married on January 7, 1831.   They did have one child before marriage, Elisabeth Sophia Christina, born on November 23, 1828.  She died before her first birthday on June 28, 1829.   August's brother Charles was born exactly a month after their wedding.  Their wedding and all of their children, including August, were baptized in the parish of Hohen Mortif in the local church.


August and his siblings were not likely to have much of a childhood by the age of seven most boys were hired out to take care of geese, pigs and pull weeds.  His sisters would have been hired out to look after children as their mothers were busy tending to their many duties.  By the age of ten, August, would have been put to work helping with the harvest while his sisters might have been sent away to begin working as small maids.

The ultimate goal of every peasant and farmer was to one day live and cultivate his own piece of land.  It became clear that this dream was not going to be fulfilled in their homeland.  America was calling and it promised a golden future.  In 1855, August's brother Charles emigrated to the United States as part of the first stage of migrators to leave Mecklenberg.  In the year previous over 8750 individuals left the state.  The rest of the family would follow Charles to America in 1857. 

The trip to America started with securing the passage to get there.   Families would need to have 50 taler in cash as well as 30-50 taler per person for the fare.  Their journey would begin by selling all of their belongings to help pay for the passage and then they would board a train from Schwerin to Hagenan where they would take a train to Berlin and then to Hamburg.  From there they would secure their tickets on a boat to America. 

The Lehsten family boarded the Doctor Barth which was a three-mast vessel called a bark.  It departed for New York on April 16, 1857.  The voyage was the most difficult part of the migration.  They were on the steerage deck which was the makeshift space between the upper deck and the cargo hold.  It typically was only five and a half feet in height. The steerage accommodations came with limited ventilation and light.  It was cramped, dark and dirty.  Each person had about six feet by two-foot space to themselves.  One half of the steerage deck was free space for eating and moving about.  The other half contained bunks stacked on top of each other.  The smells were horrendous as a result of poor ventilation and the combination of urine, vomit, rotting garbage, water-soaked bedding, and clothing as well as the rancid smells of unwashed passengers.    The Lehstens were lucky, their trip only lasted 37 days as it landed in NYC on May 22, 1857.


Once in New York, they headed to Rochester where Charles had been living since his emigration.  Here they established residency and lived out the rest of their lives.

August married his wife, Louise Eicas Stiegmann on Oct 29, 1868.  Louise was also born in Mecklenberg but her family did not migrate until 1867.  August and Louise had seven children.  Their firstborn was my 2nd great grandmother,  Wilhelmina Ruth Leisten.  She was born on April 21, 1869, in Penfield, NY.

As with most immigrants, the ultimate success story was to move to America and become prosperous.  Mecklenbergers wanted to own land and feel a sense of control over their lives.   August found this golden dream and died having found prosperity. 

In the 1880 Non-Population Schedule census outlines the specifics of August's farm.   August owned his farm mortgage-free.  It included 24 acres of tilled land with 10 permanent pastures and orchards.  It had 15 acres of woodland and one acre classified as an "old field."  The farm's estimated value was $1900 with about $100 in farm machinery and  $300 in livestock.   He owned two horses, three milk cows, two calves, two pigs, sixteen chickens.  He grew corn, oats, rye, wheat, potatoes, and apples.  His farm was self-sufficient and provided what he needed for his family. 

August died on November 12, 1922.  He and his wife are buried in the Smith Cemetery in Penfield.  He was a member of the Bethlehem Luthern Church in Webster, NY.









Friday, January 31, 2020

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks -- Well, Maybe 12 Ancestors in 2020

Last year I attempted to complete the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge and failed miserably.   I love the concept of the challenge but one ancestor per week is just too much so this year I'm modifying and adjusting to fit better into my life situation.   I am going to focus on one ancestor per month using one of the 52 Week prompts for that month.  Hopefully, I will find more success.

The first prompt of the year was a Fresh Start.   A fresh start is what I need to take with my four times great grandmother - Mary Ann Graham.   She is a brick wall and I don't know how to break it down.   This past week I watched a Legacy Family Tree Webinar entitled "Creative Hypothesis Development of Complex Geneology Problems" presented by Jan M. Joyce CG, CGL.   I was hoping to get some ideas to work through my brick wall.  One of the ideas that Jan presented was the idea of Simplification and Sharing.   First, you identify the challenge you are trying to overcome.  Then, you list the critical facts that you have pertaining to the challenge.  Finally, you brainstorm a series of hypotheses and share them for feedback.

So here it goes -

Who are Mary Ann Graham’s parents?


Facts related to Mary Ann Graham
  • She was born in 1815 based on her obituary appearing in the New York Herald on June 2, 1861.  It read - “West: On Saturday morning, June 1 Mary, the beloved wife of Edward West, aged 46 years and 9 months, The friends of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral without further invitation, from her late residence, No 37 First Avenue, this (Sunday) afternoon at 2 o’clock.  Her remains will be taken to Greenwood for interment.”
  • She died on June 1, 1861
  • There is no record of internment in the Greenwood Cemetery under the name of Mary West.
  • Census records state she was born in New York
  • It is assumed she married Edward West sometime between his arrival to the US, from England, in 1839 and the birth of their first child, Joseph, in June of 1841
  • Edward was a butcher that worked in the Fulton Market.  He came from a long line of butchers that remained in England
  • Edward and Mary had six children
    • Joseph - born June 20, 1841   ---- presumed to be named after Edward’s father Joseph West
    • Anna Augusta - born Sept 25, 1843 -- presumed to be named after Edward’s mother - Annaugusta Druitt
    • Edward - born 1845 - presumed to be named after his father, Edward West
    • Margaret - born  Nov 26, 1847 - no record of this being a family name on the West side of the family
    • George - born June 18, 1849 - Edward had a brother named George
    • Thomas - born June 15, 1852 - Edward had a brother named Thomas, also the name of his maternal grandfather
  • Joseph West, Ann Augusta West, Margaret West, George West, Thomas West as well as a Louisa Hartell West were baptized in the Church of the Epiphany in NYC on Feb 2, 1861.   Their parents/sponsors were Edward and Mary Ann West living at 99 First Avenue.
  • Joseph West’s Civil War pension file includes his medical death certificate listing his mother as Mary Graham born in New York City
My hypotheses

Mary's parents were probably living in NYC the year that she was born, so there is a chance that one of the Grahams listed in the NYC Directory could be her father.

Mary's father could be a butcher and that is how she met Edward West.

Her father's name could be one of her children's names especially since Joseph, Anna and Edward were named after family members. Could Margaret be her mother's name? Could her father's name be George or Thomas?

Your Suggestions

Does anyone have any ideas on things to explore, places to look, questions to ask? I am looking for feedback and ideas to break down this brick wall.



Tuesday, January 29, 2019

52 Ancestors in 2019: #4 -- Charles W. Drake

Charles W. Drake

This week I'm highlighting my three times great grandfather.   I would love to be able to meet and spend some time chatting with him to get his perspective on the many details that have been presented as the stories of his life.   I have so many questions that I would love to hear his answers and fill out the details.

Charles W. Drake was born on March 25, 1843, in Standford, Dutchess, New York.  Based on my research, he was the fourth of six children born to Morris Drake and Sarah Clark.

Some of the first questions I would ask him are:


  • Who were his great-grandparents?
  • Where are his parents buried?
  • What do you know about your family's history?  When did they come to America?
  • Was Edmund Drake really his brother and what are the specifics about his brother's life?
  • What was his childhood like?
  • Was he close with his siblings?
  • What were their holiday traditions? Favorite foods?
  • What was going to school like?
  • Did he keep in touch with his siblings as adults?
Charles Drake married Annagusta West in 1861.   They lived in Duchess County until the 1880-1890s.  They had a family of seven children; six daughters and one son.   When they left Dutchess County moved to Wayne County, New York where Charles' brother John Drake lived.  


Some additional questions I'd ask:


  • How did you meet your wife?
  • When was your actual wedding?
  • Where did you get married?
  • What was life like when your kids were little?
  • What was your perspective of Anna's family?
  • Where were you in 1875 when Anna and your family were living with her brother?
  • Why did you not choose to fight in the Civil War?
  • Why did you move to Wayne County?  
  • What was life like after you moved, how was it different?
  • How did you get here?
  • Why did your daughter Minnie move to Illinois?
  • What can you tell me about each of your children and your wife?
  • Tell me about the pictures that were taken of your family -- what are the stories of each, when were they taken and what was the circumstances?
  • Who did your daughter, Clara, marry? When and where was the wedding?
  • Who were your wife's mother's parents?  Who were the Grahams?
  • Where is your wife's mother buried?
  • What happened between your daughter Sarah and her husband George, where did he go and why did he leave?
  • What is your perspective on the bonfire that accidentally killed Julia?  What happened as result?
  • Why did Anna leave in 1896 and when did she come back?
  • Why were you living in the city with Agnes for a period of time?
  • Did Agnes marry someone before she married Joe Hasselwander?
  • What was Anna's involvement in the WCTU?
  • Would you have considered yourself a drinker?   I'd want to explore how much he drank as he died from cirrhosis - did it impact the family? 
  • What do you know about Anna's siblings?  Why did her brother move to Illinois as a young teen?
What is the story?



Charles died on November 11, 1922, at his home in Marion, NY.   He is buried in the Marion Cemetery.



Sunday, January 20, 2019

52 Ancestors in 2019: #3 - Mary Welbeloved

Mary Welbeloved

For week three of the #52ancestors, I selected to write about my 6 times great grandmother, Mary Welbeloved, as my family member with an unusual name.   As I was looking over my family tree pondering who to write about her name stood out as one that is unusual and unique compared to some of the others.   

I don't have a great deal of information about Mary and am struggling to find that little nugget that will open the door to let more details flow in.   

First of all, in terms of the surname Welbeloved.  I have learned this week that it is from medieval origin meaning "dearly loved by all."  It is believed to date back to the early 14th century.   One of the first recorded individuals with this surname is Richard Wellbyloved appearing in 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire during the reign of King Edward III.   Surnames became necessary when the government introduced personal taxation.   

The greatest percentage of Welbeloveds appear to have originated or lived near London and its surrounding counties, especially in Middlesex and Surry.  There was a John Welbeloved of Feltham who married Johanna Farr of Ashford in 1529.   Hugh Welbeloved, a yoeman, married Anne Hyne, both of Feltham married in London in 1596.    

My six times great grandmother, Mary Welbeloved, was also married in Feltham which is in Middlesex, England.   She married John West on May 18, 1780.    Records indicate they most likely raised their family in this area as each of their children have baptism records listing this location.  All of her children were baptized at St Dunstan with St Catherines in Feltham, Middlesex, England between 1781 and 1791.




In terms of how I am related to Mary -- Mary Welbeloved was the mother of Joseph West who was the father of Edward West who immigrated to America, he was the father of Annagusta West who born in NYC and moved to Wayne County NY, who was the mother of Sarah Drake who was born in Amenia, NY but also moved to Wayne County, who was the mother of Fred Haskins, who was the father of Vincent Haskins, who was the father of Mark Haskins, father of me!

Sunday, January 13, 2019

52 Ancestors in 2019: #2 - Clara Drake

Clara B. Drake

This week's topic for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is Challenge.  In thinking about the characters/family members in the book I am writing entitled "Between the Dash" I have decided to select Clara B. Drake for this week's blog post.   Clara B. Drake is the daughter of Charles Drake and Annagusta West, my three-times great grandparents.  This makes Clara my third great aunt and she has proven to be a challenge in being able to pull together all of the details of her life.

Clara was born on May 12, 1878, in Dutchess County, NY.   She was the seventh child born to Charles and Anna - having one older brother and five older sisters.  She would later have one younger sister, Agnes, born in 1880.   Her early childhood was spent in Dutchess County, living there until she was at least nine years old.

By the age of 12, Clara and her family had moved to Sodus, NY in Wayne County.  She was attending school in the District No 2 (Maxwell/Sentell) school which was located on the corner of Maxwell Road and Lake Road, just west of Sodus Point.  Myron H Proseus was her teacher.   He was the nephew of her Uncle John Drake and Aunt Mary Proseus Drake, who also lived in Sodus.   Clara had 39 students that attended school with her.  This included her sisters Jennie and Agnes.  On March 10th of 1890, the local paper reported that Clara scored the highest examination score on the Fifth Reader.  It is evidence that she must have been a very good student and quite intelligent.




In 1893, at the age of 15, she was still attending school with the same teacher.  Her sister Jennie took off to Rochester without telling her parents.   Her mother went and retrieved her with enough drama to have it find its way into the town happenings section of the local paper. The family moves from the country into the village of Sodus renting a house of Mill Street owned by William Sergeant one of the most wealthy farmers in the community.  Clara lives at home with her parents for a few more years before she moves to Rochester to find work. During that time her sister Agnes is arrested on a charge of vagrancy and her father, Charles Drake, puts a notice in the local paper that states her mother, Annagusta Drake, has left him and forbids anyone to help her.  It makes one wonder what exactly was going on at the home on Mill Street.  

In the 1900 census, she is listed as living in a boarding house in Rochester working as a telephone operator. This is where the challenge begins, in 1900 I know Clara is in Rochester and is single.   I then can't find her again until the 1915 NY Census has her in Buffalo listed as Mrs Clara White living with Dr Clifford (C.B.) Rowell and working as a servant.    Somewhere between 1900 and 1915 she moves to Buffalo, becomes Mrs White, leaves Mr White and moves in with Dr Clifford Rowell.   She remains residing with C.B. Rowell until her death in 1942.    She is listed as having various occupations during the years she is living with Dr Rowell -- from being his servant, nurse and housekeeper.   She attends social events with him and he attends family gatherings.  Dr Rowell was prominent in the harness horse racing circuit.   It even appears that he named one of his racehorses Clara.  I'm not exactly sure of the true nature of this relationship.   I also do not know when she got married, to whom she married or why she was no longer with her husband.   Did he die?   I can't find a record.  I can't find a record of their marriage.   His information is not listed in the family bible.  He is not in any family portraits.   I believe his name might be Edward B. White but can't find evidence to prove it.  The only thing I can find is a 1905 state census record listing an Edward B. White married to a Clara B White living in Buffalo.   That is the only record that seems to exist and I don't know if it is my Clara White.  My gut says it is but then poof ..... nothing!  The trail and records are cold.




Family lore states that she was married for a short time but was unable to fulfil her marital duties due to a medical condition so they divorced soon after they got married.  The story does not include his name.  Clara B White died on January 30, 1942, she is buried in the Marion Cemetery in the Drake family plot.