Curious and Branching Out

February 5, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

Branching out or researching collateral lines is a well-known technique used in the genealogy community when you hit a brick wall. It was a brick wall and curiosity that caused me to branch out and research collateral lines. In two ancestral lines, I was curious what brought them to the place they settled in. What brought my 2^nd great-grandfather, Charles Bowers, to Ottawa, Illinois in 1854? Usually, people settle in a specific area because they know someone or have a job. The job was out because he worked as a farm laborer and a school janitor. He could have done these jobs anywhere. He must have known someone, but who? If I wanted to know why he settled in Ottawa, Illinois, it was necessary to research his collateral lines.

Charles Obituary in 1897 said he had two brothers, Robert and William, living in Syracuse, New York.[1] I did find a Robert living in Syracuse in 1900[2] and Richard Bowers[3] living in Syracuse, New York in 1892, but no William. I often wondered if Richard was William. Maybe William was his middle name. I gave up looking for William and thought perhaps the newspaper or person giving the information had it wrong.

A few years ago, I ordered microfilm from the Family History Library in Utah to look for my 2nd great-grandfather Charles Bower’s baptism on 2 October 1828 in England.[4] I knew it was there from the online index. When I got the microfilm reels of the church records it covered the years 1772 – 1905. I started looking for anyone and everyone with the last name Bowers. I found my 3rd great-grandparents Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford marriage which stated that Eliza was a widow.[5] I also found baptism records for a Richard,[6] Robert[7] and Eliza Bowers[8] born to Bonnet and Eliza Bowers. I never found a William Bowers that was a son of Bonnet and Eliza. Along the way, I found Eliza in the marriage banns to Robert Linford.[9] I also found two children she had with her first husband, William baptized 28 August 1811,[10] and Elizabeth baptized November 30, 1814[11] and died on 5 December 1814. I made copies of all the pages that listed these events. I then came home and entered the Bowers information into my family tree. I filed the documents in my file cabinet under their family name and moved on to another branch.

I decided to start scanning documents that I have collected over the years into my computer. I started with the Bowers folder because it is the first one in my file cabinet. As I was scanning them into the computer, I was looking over them again, when I came across the name William Linford born in 1811 to Eliza and her first husband.[12] I guess it pays to take a second look at documents because at that moment it struck me that if William lived, he would be a step brother to my 2^nd great grandfather Charles. Could this be the brother William mentioned in Charles’ obituary? The next thing I did was a search on William Linford, and the first thing that popped up was the 1850 census which had a William Linfor (spelled without the d) living in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[13] This was most likely brother, William, and that is why Charles ended up in Ottawa, Illinois.

I continued to search for William Linfor(d) and found out the following information. He married Dinah Essaby in 1833.[14] They had four children John 1837, William 1840, Sarah 1844, Robert 1846.[15] They came to the US 22 August 1849 and to Ottawa, Illinois on 1 October 1849.[16] In 1851 William applied for citizenship and in 1854 he became a citizen of the United States.[17] He worked as a Sexton at the West Ottawa Cemetery until the family moved to Section 20 in Allen Township, LaSalle County, Illinois in 1856. William farmed the land until 1879 when Dinah died and he moved to Syracuse, New York.[18]

In 1911 William Linfor was living at 1516 Grape Street in Syracuse, New York. At the age of 99 he was just beginning to carry a cane. The previous winter he was seen climbing a ladder to clean snow off the roof. He attributed his long life to never eating beyond what he knew he could digest. He was still in possession of all his faculties except his hearing.[19] William Linfor died on 28 January 1912 of pleurisy at the ripe old age of 100.[20]

Another 2^nd Great Grandfather, Conrad Reinhardt, settled in Amana, Iowa after coming to the United States.[21] The Amana Colonies are religious communal way of life.[22] All property was held in common and all decisions religious and secular were made by the same leadership.[23] My grandmother always said that her grandfather’s sister started the Amana Colonies, however I could never find proof of this and in researching his siblings, they all would have been too young to be involved in the founding of the colonies. I could find no evidence that any of his siblings ever lived there. Who did Conrad know in Amana, Iowa?

While I was researching a great-uncle, John C. Reinhardt, I found an article in the Sabetha Herald about John’s recollection of his childhood in the Amana Colonies, Iowa.[24] I found this interesting since he is my great grandmother’s brother and our common ancestor is his father, Conrad (my2nd great grandfather). In the article John mentions that his great-aunt was a school teacher for more than half a century. She weighed 225 pounds and was 6 feet 2 inches. The name of the great aunt was not mentioned in the article. I figured this was my 2^nd great-grandfather’s connection to Amana, and this is the reasons he chose to go there upon arriving in the US.

I had previously corresponded with the Amana Heritage Museum when needing information on my 2nd great-grandfather. I wrote to them once again and they were able to provide me with information about the aunt. The Aunt was Elizabetha Schuh born in Nussloch near Heidelberg, Baden, 26 May 1831. Elisabetha is the sister to Conrad’s mother. She came to Ebenezer Society in September 1847, then to Amana in October 1863. The Internal records of Amana Society indicate that she came with the Bortz family. The Bortz Family and another outside source claims that her parents did not approve of her relationship with a certain boy so they shipped her to America.[25] The Amana Heritage Museum history documents her as a woman of size and strength. They also said that all of the teachers were men with the exception of teaching knitting.[26] I was able to find her on the 1870 United States Federal Census[27] and the 1885 Iowa Census[28] and on both census records her occupation is listed as housekeeper not a teacher. She died on 25 March 1908 and is buried in the Amana Cemetery.[29]

By branching out and researching collateral lines I was able to resolve my curiosity as to why both 2^nd great-grandfathers settled where they did.

Note: I combined last week’s 52 ancestors in 52 weeks prompt “curious’’ and this week’s prompt “branching out” for this week’s post

[1] Obituary for Charles Bowers: Republican Times (Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois) February 18, 1897.

[2] New York, U.S., State Census, 1892 for Robert Bowers, Onondaga, Syracuse Ward 11, E.D. 02

[3] New York, U.S., State Census, 1892 for Richard Bowers, Onondaga, Syracuse Ward 07, E.D. 09

^[4] Baptism for Charles Bowers baptized on 2 October 1828; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[5] Marriage Record for Bonnet Bowers and Eliza Linford married 27 April 1822; Register of Marriages in the Parish of Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1838 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 item 2; Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[6] Baptism Record for Richard Bowers baptized 20 April 1822; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England.

[7] Baptism Record for Robert Bowers baptized 25 February 1825; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[8] Baptism Record for Eliza Bowers baptized 10 June 1827; Register of Baptisms in the Parish of Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, England; 1813 – 1841 manuscript on microfilm #13640109 Item 3; Utah: filmed by the Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Cambridgeshire, England

[9] England Marriages, 1538–1973 database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVJ5-JXV : 10 February 2018), William Linfor and Dinah Essaby, 14 “Oct 1833; citing Gedney, Lincoln, England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1542146 IT 1

[10] Baptism for William Linford 28 August 1811; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[11] Baptism for Elizabeth Linford 30 November 1814; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[12] Baptism for William Linford 28 August 1811; Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk, England; Parish Register Baptism and Burials 1772 – 1812 Item 2; Microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Salt Lake City, Utah at Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Wisbech, Cambs., filmed 26 July 1988, Film Number 13640109, film unit # 2161 NCD 2 Roll # 5

[13] Year: 1850; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; roll: M432_115; Page: 269B; Image: 191

[14] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 224 & 227.

[15] Year: 1850; Census Place: Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; roll: M432_115; Page: 269B; Image: 191

[16] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227.

[17] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D. C.; Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration and Naturalization service District 9 1840 – 1950 (M1285); microfilm Serial: M1285; Microfilm Roll 112

[18] Biographical and Genealogy Record of LaSalleCountyIllinois(Google eBook) (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900), p. 227.

[19] Henley B. J., The Art of Longevity (Google eBook) (Syracuse, N.Y, 1911), p. 223 & 224

[20] Health News. Monthly Bulletin (Google ebook) (New York State Division of Public Health Education, Albany, New York), New Series, Vol. VIII, No 1, Full Series Vol. XXIX No 1, January 1913

[21] Amana Church Membership Records, in archive collection of the Amana Heritage Museum, Amana, Iowa.

[22] Bourret, Joan Liffring-Zub and John Zug, Amanas yesterday: a religious communal society: a story of seven villages in Iowa: historic photographs 1900 – 1932. IA City, IA: Penfield Press, 2003

[23] Ibid.

[24] Sabetha, Kansas, Sabetha Herald, Wednesday, December 9, 1936, Pg. 4.

[25] Email from the Amana Heritage Society to Gail Grunst dated Friday October 13, 2017.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Year: 1870; Census Place: Amana, Iowa, Iowa; Roll: M593_396; Page: 131B; Family History Library Film: 545895

[28] Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

[29] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106053138/elisabeth-schuh

Favorite Picture: Three Generations 1938

January 22, 2022 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

I have many favorite pictures so it was hard to pick just one. This happens to be one of my favorite pictures because it is three generations of strong women. The picture was taken in 1938. From the left is my great-grandmother, Eva Bowers, my mother, Dorothy Kaiser (age 14), and my grandmother, Helen Kaiser nee Bowers. I think the picture was probably taken in front of my great-grandmother’s place in Chicago. By 1938 my grandparents were living in Villa Park, Illinois and this is not their home. I wish I could have been in the picture to make it four generations, but I was not born yet and by the time I came along, Eva had already passed away. I never knew Eva, but heard a lot about her from my mom and grandma. Eva was born in Heidelberg, Baden, Germany to Johann Konrad Reinhardt and Anna Maria Schwebler on February 14, 1877. Eva came to the United States when she was almost two years old. Her brother John was a baby. Her first home in the United States was in Amana, Iowa. They spent a few years in Amana and then moved to Ottawa, Illinois where Eva grew up with her brothers and sisters. Eva grew into a young woman and sometime around 1896 she married Robert Bowers also of Ottawa, Illinois. The family story is that Robert and Eva ran off to Chicago to be married. I have never been able to find a marriage record for them in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. According to family stories, Robert’s family never accepted Eva as his wife or acknowledged that any of the children were Roberts. I started to wonder if they were ever really married and that is why Robert’s family didn’t want anything to do with Eva or their children. However, when Robert’s father died, Robert and Eva as his wife signed a quit-claim deed to a piece of property to Robert’s mother. I was told that if they were not married, Eva would not need to sign the quit-claim deed. Perhaps they were married somewhere other than Chicago. Robert and Eva had three children, Ralph born in 1897, Helen in 1898 and Frances in 1900. Shortly after Frances was born Robert left Eva. Again family stories say they were divorced, however I have never found divorce records for them. In 1900 Eva was on her own and had to make a living for her and her three children. She raised the three children alone in a time when there was no financial support for women. Robert did not have to pay child support and there was no welfare. Eva relied on family to babysit her children while she worked. She worked a milliner and seamstress for many years. She moved to Chicago away from her support system in Ottawa, Illinois. There were probably better job opportunities in Chicago. She had a couple of long relationships with men, but I can find no proof that she married them. She always kept the surname Bowers. Eva passed away on 23 December 1941 in Chicago, Illinois.

My grandmother married in 1923 to Fred Kaiser. Because of her upbringing with no father in her life, she was determined to have a long marriage and raise her children in a home with both a mother and father. She had my mother in 1924, a son in 1930 that lived only 11 days, another son in 1931, and a stillborn son in 1933. The son born in1931 was premature, weighed 4 lbs 2 oz and fit into the palm of her hand. She had a strong belief in God and I am sure that is what got her through those years in the 1930’s. Her premature baby boy survived and died at 80 years old. Grandma witnessed the depression during the 30’s and WWII. She was a true homemaker of the day, a good cook, seamstress, and housekeeper. She had a successful long marriage that ended in October 1980 after 57 years with the death of her husband. She only lived four months after the death of her husband and died at age 82 in February 1981.

My mother’s life was probably the easiest of the three. She married George Manfroid in 1945 and had two children. She was also a homemaker of the time. The depression of the 30’s affected my father’s family more than it did my mother’s, because of my father’s experience it made him determined that his family did not go without. He bought things that they really could not afford. My mother was the one that tried to keep things in check and watch the money. They were always living paycheck to paycheck. My mother was the worrier and this bothered her a lot. In spite of my father’s foolish spending, they were happily married. Once my brother and I were old enough she went to work. She worked part-time as a cashier for Walgreens, and went to night school to learn bookkeeping. She then found a job working as bookkeeper for Slater’s Shoe Store. This was a huge help to their financial situation. My mother was healthy during her life time, but not my father. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1967, my mother took good care of him through his treatments and worried she might lose him. He survived it and lived another 17 years. In 1984 he was diagnosed again with cancer this time with lung cancer, and he only survived a couple of weeks after diagnoses. My mother who had never been ill with more than a cold, died suddenly three years later from a brain aneurism.

All three women had their trials and tribulations and managed to stay strong and keep going in spite of them. In-between the hard times were good times too. My grandmother looks so happy in the picture above. They all had a hard life, but it was also a good life. I think for all of us life is full of those hard times, but it is our faith and family that get us through those times.

Week 3 Favorite Picture 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Favorite Picture

January 7, 2020 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 4 Comments

Dorothy in Center, Left her grandmother (Eva) on right her mother (Helen)

The theme this week for 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is favorite picture. This fits in nicely with what I have been doing lately and that is posting pictures and telling a story to go with the picture. I have many favorite pictures so it was hard to pick just one. This happens to be one of my favorite pictures because it is three generations of strong women. The picture was taken in 1938. From the left is my great-grandmother, Eva Bowers, my mother, Dorothy Kaiser (age 14), and my grandmother, Helen Kaiser nee Bowers. I think the picture was probably taken in front of my great-grandmother’s place in Chicago. By 1938 my grandparents were living in Villa Park, Illinois and this is not their home. I wish I could have been in the picture to make it four generations, but I was not born yet and by the time I came along, Eva had already passed away. I never knew Eva, but heard a lot about her from my mom and grandma. Eva was born in Heidelberg, Baden, Germany to Johann Konrad Reinhardt and Anna Maria Schwebler on February 14, 1877. [1] Eva came to the United States when she was almost two years old.[2] Her brother John was born on the boat.[3] Her first home in the United States was in Amana, Iowa.[4] They spent a few years in Amana and then moved to Ottawa, Illinois where Eva grew up with her brothers and sisters.[5] Eva grew into a young woman and sometime around 1896 she married Robert Bowers also of Ottawa, Illinois.[6] The family story is that Robert and Eva ran off to Chicago to be married. I have never been able to find a marriage record for them in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. According to family stories, Robert’s family never accepted Eva as his wife or acknowledged that any of the children were Roberts. I started to wonder if they were ever really married and that is why Robert’s family didn’t want anything to do with Eva or their children. However, when Robert’s father died, Robert and Eva as his wife signed a quit-claim deed to a piece of property to Robert’s mother.[7] I was told that if they were not married, Eva would not need to sign the quit-claim deed. Perhaps they were married somewhere other than Chicago. Robert and Eva had three children, Ralph born in 1897,[8] Helen in 1898[9] and Frances in 1900. [10] Shortly after Frances was born Robert left Eva. Again family stories say they were divorced, however I have never found divorce records for them. In 1900 Eva was on her own and had to make a living for her and her three kids. She raised the three kids alone and I believe this made her a strong woman.

My grandmother and mother did not have easy lives and to survive all their trials and tribulations they had to be strong. My grandmother died at age 82 and my mother at age 62. I believe my mother’s early death was caused by some of the problems in her life.

________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Certificate of Death for Eva Bowers; State of Illinois, Department of Public health, Division of Vital Statistics, Springfield, Illinois, Registration Number 34633. Date of death: December 23, 1941; Place of death: County of Cook, City of Chicago.

[2] Ira A. Glazier and P. William Filbry, ed., Germans to America: List of passengers arriving at U.S. ports, Volume 34 October 1878 – December 1879; ( Wilmington, Delaware, Scholarly Resources,1993), Page 106.

[3] Ibid

[4] Conrad Reinhardt household, 1880 U. S. Census, Amana, Iowa; Roll 345; Family History Film 1254345; page 146D; Enumeration District 201; Image 0155.

[5] From family stories told to this author.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Quit-claim deed record from Robert Bowers and Eva Bowers, his wife to Alexena Bowers, City of Ottawa, County of LaSalle, state of Illinois; deed book 448, page 167. LaSalle County Illinois Genealogical Guild collection.

[8] Eva Bowers household, 1900 U. S. Federal Census, LaSalle County, Ottawa township, ED 76, line 37, page 6, dwelling 557, fmily124, National Archives film publication T623, roll 317.

[9] Delayed Record of Birth for Helen Bowers, State of Illinois, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statics, LaSalle County, City of Ottawa, State of Illinois, Date of Birth: December 3, 1898, Dated August 7, 1957.

[10] Eva Bowers household, 1900 U. S. Federal Census, LaSalle County, Ottawa township, ED 76, line 37, page 6, dwelling 557, fmily124, National Archives film publication T623, roll 317.

Christmas 1960

December 19, 2019December 18, 2019 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / Leave a comment

Everyday until Christmas, I am going to try to post a picture from a past family Christmas.

Christmas 1960

Family photo from Christmas 1960. Back left: Ralph Bowers (grand Uncle), George Manfroid (father), Fred Kaiser (grandfather). Next row: Martha Treppa, Elizabeth Farrell (great aunt), Dorothy Manfroid (mother), Helen Kaiser (Grandmother), Helen Bowers (grand aunt). Front: Ronald Manfroid (brother) and me (Gail). Notice the Texaco Truck in front of my brother. My grandfather worked for Texaco for 45 years, and was still working for them when this picture was taken. He retired in 1963. It was unusual to have Ralph and Helen Bowers, Martha Treppa, and Elizabeth Farrell in our family pictures. They were with us on some holidays, but not all. I think this picture was taken at the last minute before they left because of the shopping bags and boots on Aunt Helen. Missing from the picture is my Uncle Russ, but he appears in the next one and I am missing from that one.

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Uncle Russ is sitting on the arm of the sofa.

Nice Uncle Ralph

December 22, 2018December 22, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks topic this week is “Nice”. The first person that came to mind was my grandmother’s brother Ralph. Uncle Ralph died when I was 16 years old so I got to know him. I loved him and thought he was the nicest person I had ever known. I still think that. I wrote about him a couple of years ago and decided to repost it. Here is his story.

Uncle Ralph

Ralph C. Bowers was born 18 June 1897 to Eva Reinhardt and Robert Bowers in Chicago, Illinois[1]. He was my grandmother’s brother and my great uncle. I remember Uncle Ralph as kind and reserved with a great sense of humor. I can still hear his laugh even after all these years without him.

I was told by grandma that when he was young he contacted TB and was in a sanitarium for a while. He had a hard time keeping jobs until he got a job at R. R. Donnelly in Chicago working the night shift. The night shift was what he needed. Apparently, he was not a morning person and the night shift worked for him. For as long as I knew Uncle Ralph he worked at Donnelly.

Uncle Ralph married for the first time to Helen Treppa when he was forty six years old.[2] He and his wife (Aunt Helen) would come to my Grandmother’s house for holidays and some Sundays in between the holidays. Sometimes they would come to my parent’s house too. I always liked going to their house in Chicago. Sometimes we would just decide at the last moment to go visit Uncle Ralph and Aunt Helen. We would go there unexpected and always got a warm welcome. Aunt Helen would put out a spread of lunch meats and breads. It always amazed me that she had all this food on hand. It never failed they had plenty of food for unexpected company.

We would sit around the kitchen table and there was always great conversation. Even though I was young, I loved to listen to the adults talk. I always found it interesting. Of course I always enjoyed the food too. Their house was very warm and welcoming. Aunt Helen’s sister, Martha (Marty) lived with them. I loved Aunt Helen and Marty as well as Uncle Ralph. Because Ralph and Helen married so late in life, they never had any children.

My mother loved her Uncle Ralph very much and after he passed away, she would say that he was her guardian angel looking after her.

Uncle Ralph passed away on 5 January 1964 from a stroke[3] and was buried on 7 January 1964 in the Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, Cook County, Illinois[4]

If he knew I was writing about him, I can hear him say, “Oh, for the love of Mike.”

_____________________________________________________

[1] Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll 1613573; Draft board: 53

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. {database on-line}. Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operation Inc, 2005. Original Data: United States, Selective Service System World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cares, 1917-1918. Washington, D. C. : National Archives and Record Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library Microfilm.

[2] Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois Marriage Index, 1930-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, Ut, USA: Ancestry.ocm Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: Cook County Clerk, comp. Cook County Clerk Genealogy Records. Cook County Clerk’s office, Chicago, IL: Cook County Clerk, 2008.

[3] From his sister Helen Bowers Kaiser’s datebook.

[4] Ancestry.com U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600’s – Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

Generations Picnic at Starved Rock

August 28, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 3 Comments

My grandmother’s family was from Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois. Near by is Starved Rock State Park, the site for our family picnics throughout the years. Since it is summer and August, I’ve been thinking a lot about those picnics. We would get up early on a Sunday Morning and drive about a two hours to Ottawa to meet family and friends and then drive on to Starved Rock for a picnic. Starved Rock is located on the south bank of the Illinois River. The park has beautiful hiking trails, canyons, historic lodge, and panoramic views from tall bluffs. “Starved Rock derives its name from a Native American legend. In the 1760s, Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe, was attending a tribal council meeting. At this council of the Illinois and the Pottawatomie, an Illinois-Peoria brave stabbed Chief Pontiac. Vengeance arose in Pontiac’s followers. A great battle started. The Illinois, fearing death, took refuge on the great rock. After many days, the remaining Illinois died of starvation giving this historic park its name – Starved Rock.” [1] If you would like more information click the link Starved Rock State Park .

Here is a pictorial of our family history at Starved Rock.

Mina and Rudolf Kaiser (Great-Grandparents) on Starved Rock year unknown

Eva Bowers (Great-Grandmother) at Starved Rock 1920 or 21

Fred and Helen Kaiser at Starve Rock 1923

Fred Kaiser and Helen Bowers Kaiser (Grandparents) on Starved Rock 1923

Helen Kaiser (Grandma) at Starved Rock 1923

Helen Bowers (Grandmother) at the top of Starved Rock 1923

Helen Bowers Kaiser on the path to the top of Starved Rock 1923

Another view of my grandmother on the path leading up to the top of Starved Rock 1923

Fred and Helen Kaiser at Starve Rock 1939

Helen, son Russell, and Fred Kaiser at the top of Starved Rock 1939

Mom, Grandpa and Uncle Russ at Starved Rock 1939

My Mom (Dorothy), Fred, and Russell Kaiser on Starved Rock 1939

My Mom and Uncle at Starved Rock 1939

My Uncle, Mom, and friend 1940

Dorothy Manfroid (Mom) at Starved Rock 1953

My Mom at Starved Rock 1953

Mom, Me, Lynn (friend), My Dad and Roy(friend of family) on Starved Rock 1953

Me, Bruce (husband), Richard (friend) and his daughter at Starved Rock 1971

I realized when looking through photos for pictures of Starved Rock that so many family members were missing from photos including my own children. I think we will have to make a trip to Starved Rock and take pictures of all of us on Starved Rock. A few years ago we went there with my brother and his wife. We climbed to the top of Starved Rock, but did not take any pictures. Now he is gone, and I don’t have any pictures of him at Starved Rock. I guess none of us were big picture takers.

You can see how over the years things have changed there. Now there are stairs and wooden walk ways to preserve the stone and to keep people from falling. The path back when my mom was young wound around the outside of the rock. One time she tried to take me on it when I was little. I remember the path getting narrow and narrower and below us was the Illinois River. She said that she didn’t remember it being that narrow and we turned back. We then went up what was then the new way at that time, but less exciting. I am also amazed how the women dressed to picnic. They didn’t exactly have shoes for climbing and walking either. My grandfather would tell stories of their drive down to Ottawa and Starved Rock back in the 20’s. He said it would take most of the day, and he would have several flat tires on the way. Now it’s two or three hour trip from Chicago.

Some times when Starved Rock got crowded we would go to a lesser known park across the river from Starved Rock known as Buffalo Rock State Park. It was smaller and had a couple of trails. One trail went along the river on a bluff. Always hated to see the day end and the good times with family and friends. After a day of hiking and eating all the great food, I would fall asleep in the back seat before we made it home. Now after all this reminiscing, I am ready for a picnic there soon!

____________________________________________________________________________

[1] From website: Starved Rock State Park www.starvedrockstatepark.org/history/

Black Sheep?

June 26, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Frances and Helen Bowers

Ralph Bowers

52 Ancestors in 2 Weeks topic this week is Black Sheep in the family.

I can’t think of any ancestors that were black sheep in the traditional sense. I have not run across any criminals or ones that have done outrages things and been banished by family.

The closest I can come to black sheep are my grandmother, her brother, and sister. My grandmother’s parents were divorced when she was a young child. She grew up never knowing her father or his family. They lived in the same small town, and she would see them from a distance. She said the reason she never knew them was because the Bowers family thought they were better than the Reinhardt’s. My Grandmother claimed the Bowers denied that their son, Robert, married and had children. My grandmother told stories of how she saw her grandmother, Alexena, in the cemetery; but Alexena did not acknowledge her. One time she saw her father walking down the street and she ran up to him and said, “I’m your daughter.” He said, “Get away from me kid, I don’t have any children.” The Bowers were of English and Scottish descent, and the Reinhardt’s were from Germany. Also the Bowers appear to be financially better off than the Reinhardt’s. It also appears that the Bowers were upper class and the Reinhardt’s lower class. Maybe the Bowers had something against Germans or maybe it was a class thing.

The story is that Robert Bowers and Eva Reinhardt ran off to Chicago to be married, however I have not been able to find a marriage record for them in Cook County Illinois. For awhile, I wondered if they never married and that is why the Bowers denied the children were Roberts. However after Charles Bowers died in February 1897,[1] Robert and Eva sign a quit-claim deed over to Alexena Bowers on 26 June 1897.[2] It lists Eva Bowers as Robert Bowers wife.[3] Eight days earlier on 18 June 1897 Eva and Robert’s first child is born.[4] Charles bought the two lots listed on the quit-claim deed in 1882. [5] At some point he turned the lots over to Robert and Eva. I am wondering if he gave them as a wedding present to Robert and Eva. After his death and after their first child is born, the property is signed over to Alexena for $1.00. I am speculating here, but did she insist on getting the property back because of her dislike for Eva and now their newborn child? I never found a divorce record for Robert and Eva either. Robert died in Chicago 4 March 1913.[6] Eva went by Eva Bowers until she died 23 December 1941.[7] Her death certificate lists her as Eva Bowers, widow. I believe they were married because of the quit-claim deed and her life long use of the Bower name. I beginning to believe that they were never officially divorced. See Quit-Claim Deed below:

img145 (2)

The story my grandmother told came to life for me when I read Alexena’s will. This is proof that they did not want to acknowledge Robert’s children. The following is a transcribed from Alexena’s will in Probate Court for proof of heirship:

On the 26^th day of June 1926 R Ethel Vittum, a competent witness of lawful age produced sworn and examined on oath in open court, testified as follows, to-wit:

C. B. Chapman
Q. Your name is R. Ethelyn Vittum?
A. Yes
Q. You reside in Ottawa, Illinois?
A. Yes
Q. You are a daughter of Alexena Bowers?
A. Yes
Q. When did she die?
A. March 7, 1926
Q. Where did she die?
A. At her residence 543 Chapel Street
Q. At the time of her death was she an actual resident of the city of Ottawa, County of LaSalle, State of Illinois?
A. She was
Q. About what was her age?
A. 79 years in August
Q. She was a citizen of the United States?
A. She was
Q. Did she leave a surviving husband?
A. No
Q. What was her husband’s name?
A. Charles Bowers
Q. And about how long ago did he die?
A. I think it was about thirty years ago
Q. Was she married more than once?
A. No
Q. How many Children were born of the marriage?
A. Five
Q. What were their names?
A. Richard L. Bowers, Elizabeth A. Bowers, Robert F. Bowers, Genevieve L. Bowers, myself.
Q. R. Ethel Bowers is yourself?
A. Yes
Q. And you are residing in Ottawa, Illinois?
A. Yes
Q. Is R. L. Bowers living?
A. He is
Q. And he is living in Ottawa, Illinois?
A. In Ottawa
Q. And Elizabeth Ann Bowers is living in Ottawa?
A. Yes
Q. Is Richard Bowers living?
A. Richard and R. L. are one and the same. You mean Robert?
Q. Robert, I should say.
A. He is dead
Q. About how long ago did he die?
A. 13 years ago, I think.
Q. And was he married?
A. I don’t know, Mr. Chapman
Q. You haven’t any knowledge so that you could testify as to whether or not he was ever married?
A. No.
Q. Do you know whether or not there are living any persons who claim to be his children?
A. There was a few years ago.
Q. And do you know there names or the names that they go by?
A. I don’t think of the name, Mr. Chapman.
Q. Let me refresh your recollection. Do you remember whether the persons who claim to be his children are Ralph Bowers?
A. Yes Ralph is one
Q. And Helen Kaiser?
A. I don’t know the Kaiser, but I know a Helen.
Q. Helen claimed to be Helen Bowers and you don’t know whether she is now married and whether her name is Kaiser.
A. No
Q. And Frances Bowers, who also claimed –
A. I think so.
Q. And do know that she is now married and her present name is Beck?
A. I don’t know.
Q. Were there any other parties than Ralph, Helen and Frances that claimed to be children of Robert?
A. I don’t know of any others.
Q. Never heard of any others?
A. Never.
Q. And in matters where the question of the heirship of Robert was raised you knew that there was proof made and these three parties were found to be children of Robert, did you?
A. Yes
Q. And found to be the only children of Robert?
A. Yes
Q. and the other child of Alexena Bowers was what?
A. Genevieve L.
Q. And she died in infancy?
A. Yes – Oh, no –
Q. Because she was-
A. Why she died about 29 years ago.
Q. Was she ever married?
A. No.
Q. Did your mother at any time ever adopt any children?
A. No. [8]

In 1935 Ethelyn passed away[9] and in 1947 Elizabeth passed away.[10] The only one left was Richard Bowers. It was after the others were all gone that my grandmother got to know her Uncle Richard Lambly Bowers. He must have been the one who gave her the pictures of the Bowers family that are now in my possession. I have done extensive researched Charles and Alexena Bowers, and I think it would be of interest to my Grandmother to know about her father’s roots. They seem to interest me for some reason. What kind of people deny their own grandchildren? By the way, my grandmother, her brother and sister did not receive any inheritance from her Grandmother.

Today with DNA tests it can be proved that my grandmother, her brother, and sister were indeed Robert’s children. I had my DNA test done and it is a match with fourth cousins that descend from one of Charles Bowers brothers.

Ottawa Avenue Cemetery Records: Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois. Record number 8539, Cemetery Card CCY-TS, Burial location OT18-7
Tract Index Book, Recorder of Deeds Office, Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, Book488, Page 167, Microfilm at the LaSalle County Genealogical Guild 115 W. Glover St., Ottawa, Illinois 61350
Ibid.
[1] Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll 1613573; Draft board: 53. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. {database on-line}. Provo, UT, USA; Ancestry.com Operation Inc, 2005. Original Data: United States, Selective Service System World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cares, 1917-1918. Washington, D. C. : National Archives and Record Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library Microfilm.
Tract Index Book, Recorder of Deeds Office, Ottawa, LaSalle County, Illinois, Book238, Page 137, Microfilm at the LaSalle County Genealogical Guild 115 W. Glover St., Ottawa, Illinois 61350
Certificate and Record of Death for Robert F. Bowers, March 4, 1913, Registration 1311, Department of Heath, City of Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Certificate of Death for Eva Bowers; State of Illinois, Department of Public health, Division of Vital Statistics, Springfield, Illinois, Registration Number 34633. Date of death: December 23, 1941; Place of death: County of Cook, City of Chicago.
“Probate of will of Alexena Bowers” (Proof of Heirship), 26 June 1926, LaSalle County, Illinois, Old Estate Books, File 1, Box 954., LaSalle County Court House, Ottawa, Illinois. Photocopy of original in possession of this writer.
Cemetery Record for Ethelyn Bowers, Ottawa Avenue Cemetery, Ottawa LaSalle, Illinois; Date of Birth, June 20, 1878, Date of Death March 14, 1935, Burial March 16, 1935; Burial location: OT, 18-7, Cemetery Card: CCY-TS, Record: #8542.
Cemetery Record for Elizabeth Bowers, Ottawa Avenue Cemetery, Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois; Date of Death January 31, 1947; Burial location OT, 18-7; Funeral Home Gladfelter; Cemetery card CCNF-noTS; Record number 10315.

Close-up in Ottawa, Illinois

May 5, 2018 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

Lincoln – Douglas Debate Statue in Washington Square Park Ottawa, Illinois

1957 — 1965

Did you ever visit a place and feel that you belong there? I had that feeling when I was a young. We would visit a great-grandaunt who lived in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois with some friends. The friends had a daughter my age and we became friends. I would stay with them for a couple of weeks each summer from about the time I was 10 until I graduated high school. My friend and I would walk all over Ottawa, and I came to know Ottawa as well as my own town. We went to the parks, the movies, played on the school play-ground, etc. I loved Ottawa and I felt I belonged there. I wished my family could live in Ottawa. I had a vague knowledge that we had some ancestors or relatives that had lived in Ottawa at one time, and I knew my grandmother was born there. Beyond that I didn’t know who they were or even their names and I really didn’t care at that time.

Fast Forward to 1990 -2018

Now many years later, I am into genealogy and want to know all about my ancestors especially the ones that were from Ottawa. So my search began and I spent many years researching my two sets of 2^nd great-grandparents that settled in Ottawa. My 2nd great grandfather, Charles Bowers, settled in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois in the 1850’s and stayed in Ottawa until his death in 1897. After his death, his wife and children stayed in Ottawa except for Robert who moved to Chicago. The other set of 2^nd great-grandparents, Conrad and Anna Reinhardt, came to Ottawa in the early 1880’s. They lived there until their deaths. Anna died in 1910 and Conrad in 1920. All their children moved away from Ottawa. Today there is no family or friends living in Ottawa.

I still love visiting Ottawa and seeing all the places that I visited as a kid. In addition to researching in the courthouse, genealogical society, historical museum, and the cemetery, I visited all the places I went when I was there in the 50’s and 60’s. Some things have changed but there are still some things there that remain the same, and I enjoy reminiscing. I have seen the house where the Bower’s and the Reinhardt’s lived. One of the things that I learned is that one of great-grandaunt Elizabeth Bowers was a school teacher at Lincoln School. That is the school play-ground we played on as kids. One summer day a few years ago I parked my car in front of the school and walked around it. While walking, I thought about how I was walking on the same ground as my ancestor’s walk on. I still feel connected to that town. A town I never lived in. I think somehow I instinctively knew this is where I came from and I belonged here. Between visiting Ottawa and researching both families, I feel I have come to know both the town and the families close-up.

Thinking of Uncle Ralph

December 18, 2016 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 1 Comment

ralph-bowers

My mother loved her Uncle Ralph very much and after he passed away, she would say that he was her guardian angel looking after her.

Uncle Ralph passed away on 5 January 1964 from a stroke[3] and was buried on 7 January 1964 in the Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, Cook County, Illinois[4]

If he knew I was writing about him, I can hear him say, “Oh, for the love of Mike.”

_____________________________________________________

[1] Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll 1613573; Draft board: 53

[3] From his sister Helen Bowers Kaiser’s datebook.

Memories of Aunt Fran

December 11, 2016December 11, 2016 / Gail Grunst Genealogy / 2 Comments

frances-bowers-beck LaVon Frances Bowers was born on 19 February 1900[1] to Eva Fredricka Reinhardt and Robert Bowers in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois.[2] Frances married William Beck on 27 June 1925.[3] They had one child LaVon Patricia born 20 November 1932.[4] LaVon used hermiddle name and was better known as Frances. I knew her as Aunt Fran. She was my grandmother, Helen Bowers Kaiser‘s sister. She also had a brother, Ralph Bowers. I never knew Aunt Fran’s husband as she divorced before I was born.

Although she was born in Ottawa, LaSalle, Illinois she lived most of her life in Chicago. Aunt Fran loved the city. She was a city girl, but also a tom boy. She would go fishing and camping. My grandmother said that she (my grandmother) would stay at the campsite and do the cooking and washing the dishes. Fran would be with the guys fishing. When I was a little girl around 5 or 6 we took a trip with Aunt Fran and her daughter Pat to Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Somewhere I have a picture of Aunt Fran cleaning fish. I remember that she got jigger bites from sitting in the weeds.

Aunt Fran loved to shop and she would find the most unusual things. She would bring us frog legs, rattlesnake meat, and all kinds of weird things. I would never eat any of it. She also gave great parties. She would come to our house and decorate for my birthday parties and she would find all kinds of neat things for party favors and prizes. When I was a little older around 12 – 14 years old, I started having Halloween Parties. Aunt Fran and her daughter would come out to our house and decorate, run the games, and they would be in costume too. Aunt Fran loved to play the witch. One little boy told her that she made the best witch. She loved the compliment.

Aunt Fran loved to sew and she did it for living. She made all my clothes until I went to school. I got my first store bought dress when I went to Kindergarten. At first she worked in the sweat shops sewing, but later she worked in bridal shops and made wedding dresses and formals. She would bring me formals but I had never had any place to wear them. My girl friends and I would dress up in them and pretend we were going somewhere fancy. She would take me shopping at the beginning of every school year and buy me two or three dresses.

I would stay with her and her daughter for a week every summer and they would take me all over Chicago. I had a lot of fun and looked forward to it. They would come out to my grandmother’s house almost every weekend. They would arrive by train early Saturday morning and leave late Sunday afternoon or early evening. They always brought me something so I looked forward to their visits. Aunt Fran’s daughter Pat is14 years older than me and my Godmother.

Aunt Fran died 17 July 1971 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois of a massive cerebral vascular accident. She had her body donated to science.[5]

_______________________________________________________

[1] Death Certificate, State of Illinois, County of Cook, City of Chicago, Registration No. 620423

[2] Told to Author Abigail Grunst by Francis Bowers Beck

[3] From Helen Bowers Kaiser’s (Frances Bowers Beck’s sister) date book.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Death Certificate, State of Illinois, County of Cook, City of Chicago, Registration No. 620423

Family Tales from Gail

My pastime is past time

Bowers

Curious and Branching Out

Favorite Picture: Three Generations 1938

Favorite Picture

Christmas 1960

Nice Uncle Ralph

Generations Picnic at Starved Rock

Black Sheep?

Close-up in Ottawa, Illinois

Thinking of Uncle Ralph

Memories of Aunt Fran

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