Jan 27

Happy Anniversary to Karen’s Chatt!

This is the one year anniversary of Karen’s Chatt. It is hard to believe that one whole year had passed since Jeff created this website for me. I have read that the average life of a website is 100 days. I think we have done pretty well considering this is primarily a family-specific website.

Below are some statistics for Karen’s Chatt during the past year:

  • There were 4,358 visits to the website.
  • There were 1,718 unique/different visitors to the website.
  • There were 13,638 page views.
  • Visitors viewed an average of 3.13 pages per visit.
  • Visitors spent an average of 4 minutes and 50 seconds per visit.

There were visits from 69 different countries. Some of the more unusual countries were Moldova, Burma, Russia, Ethiopia, Qatar, and Slovenia, to name a few. I am even not sure where some of them are located.

It is no surprise that most visits were from the United States, with a total of 3,961 visits. The top ten countries were US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, Russia, Ireland, Brazil, US Virgin Islands, and India.

There were visits from every state in the union except one. There were no visits from Maine. That’s ok. I have never been to Maine either.

Most visits came from Ohio, a total of 2,054 visits. Indiana came in second with 534 visits. Rounding out the top ten states were California, Illinois, Colorado, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Arizona.

The most popular static pages on the website were the gallery/photo pages. The Schumm Gallery was the most viewed. Following that were the Brewster Gallery, Links page, Schinnerer/Scaer Gallery, Photos page, and the Miller Gallery.

The most popular blogs were Ten Tech Tools and Tips, Tombstone Tuesday: Jacob Miller, Changes in Technology over the Years, and Dropping Pennies.

Many people found Karen’s Chatt by entering specific words or phrases on a search engine. There were 899 various search terms that were used. Here are just a few:

  • Nicholas Headington War of 1812 (93 searches. I guess I really need to blog about him!)
  • Marie Kessler (19 searches. There was a lot of interest in my great-great-grandmother.)
  • Changes in Technology over the years (19 searches)
  • Dropping Pennies song, Hear the Pennies Dropping, etc. (40 searches! Who knew this catchy Sunday School song is so popular!)
  • My interest is Chatt (Mine, too!)
  • Scary Santa (6 searches. Did others find my Uncle Kenny/Santa scary?)
  • Schinnerer clan
  • Van Wert, Georgia destructed (Is there a Van Wert, Georgia?)
  • Christian Hoffman and Maria Schinnsler, Van Wert, Ohio (Were they looking for Schinnsler or Schinnerer?)
  • Who does the Bluetooth lady’s voice? (I don’t know. She stopped talking to me several months ago.)
  • Flip Pal Memorial Day (A Flip Pal scanner is handy on any holiday.)
  • Hide Schumm zeugen jehovas (I’m sorry. I can’t help you with this one. I do know that Zeugen is a witness/sponsor at baptism.)
  • The last two search terms on the list appeared to be in Russian.

Karen’s Chatt is still a work in progress. I would like to put more genealogy on the Family pages but I haven’t decided what format I want to use. I have more photos to upload. It would be a great asset if I had a faster Internet service to upload photos. I refer to our wireless service here as “glorified dial-up”.

I have accomplished several things I had hoped to. I am writing about my family history and sharing the information in my blogs. I am doing more cemetery research and as a result posting my weekly Tombstone Tuesday blog.

I was able to help a couple people with their family research and I even met some distant relatives. We shared photos and information and I gained some new information, too!

And I joined the great group of Geneabloggers! Geneabloggers wear those colorful beads at conferences. If you haven’t already you should check out the vast number of family history blogs in this group.

My readers are great. In fact one kindly gave me some advice for self improvement. She suggested that I need to “lighten up”. Her comment was in response to me asking her to correct some misinformation she had published about one of my ancestors. I also asked her to give the source of a group of photos that she took from this website without my permission. She had put those photos on her Ancestry page. I asked her state where the photos came from by labeling each, “Photos courtesy of Karen Miller Bennett” and my URL.

She wrote to me:  I do not need your permission to use those pictures. If you don’t want anyone to have those pictures make them private! You need to lighten up and realize that mistakes are made, I try to research and I add and delete things all the time. First thing you should do is make your site private then nobody will bother you. Please don’t contact me again.

Well, I guess she told me! Hmmm. Let’s see. She doesn’t need my permission to take and use photos from this website? Even photos that I personally took myself? Does the word copyright mean anything anymore? I wonder if she realized what she was writing. Think about it, Missy. If this website were private you wouldn’t have all those nice photos, now would you???

All in all it has been a fun and interesting year. I have learned a lot and I plan to continue writing blogs and adding additional items to Karen’s Chatt. I hope you keep visiting and reading.

 

 

 

 

 

Jan 24

Tombstone Tuesday–Friedrich Schumm Jr.

Friedrich Schumm Jr, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Friedrich Schumm Jr., located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The gravemarker is inscribed: Hier Ruhet [here lies] FRIEDRICH SCHUMM, Geb. [born] Apr. 1, 1844; Gest. [died] Dez. 24, 1907. Text Offenb. Johannis. Kap. 7, Vers 13 Bis 17.

According to the church records at Zion, Schumm, Friedrich Schumm Jr. was born 1 April 1844 in Schumm. He was the third child of Johann Friedrich and Magdalena (Meyer) Schumm. His father was one of the oiginal Schumm immigrants.

Friedrich Jr. died 24 December 1907 in the hospital at Fort Wayne, Indiana, aged 63 years, 8 months, 23 days. He was buried 27 December 1907 in Zion’s cemetery. Survivors included his widow and nine children. (records of Zion, Schumm)

Friedrich married Margaretha “Margaret” Ehrenmann on 26 October 1871 in Allen County, Indiana. They were married by Rev. Seemeyer. Her name was spelled “Ariman” on their marriage record. (Allen County, Indiana, Index to Marriage Record, 1824-1920, WPA; from County Clerk, Book 8: 389. www.FamilySearch.org, accessed 23 Jan 2012.)

Friedrich and Margaret had nine children: Theodore Wilhelm (1872-1876), Katherine Magdalena (1874-1958), Anton “Hugo” (1876-1932), Mina Juliana (1876-1876), Leona Barbara (1877-1958), Henrietta Amalia (1879-1947), Maria Elizabeth (1881-1966), Clara May (1883-1883) and L. William (1884-1961).

Margaret (Ehrenmann) Schumm died 27 June 1885 at the age of 38 years. She is buried in row 5 of Zion’s cemetery. (records of Zion, Schumm)

Friedrich then married Maria Catharina Büchner on 6 September 1888 at Zion, Schumm. (Van Wert County Marriages, Vol 7:265, #686; www.familysearch.org, accessed 23 Jan 2012) She was born 7 March 1861, the daughter of Johann Büchner and wife. Maria died 16 February 1930 and is buried in row 11 of Zion’s cemetery.  Friedrich and Maria had four children: Justina Louise (1889-1889), Amos C. (1891-1974), Erna Theresa (1894-1971) and Naomi Margaretha (1897-1982). (records of Zion, Schumm)

The Friedrich Schumm family lived in Mercer County, Ohio. Their farm was located in the Charlie Reservation in Black Creek Township, a couple miles northwest of Rockford.

Jan 20

Alta Jane’s Autograph Books

Alta Jane Bryan's autograph book, c1887.

Last week I showed some photos of a few Bryan family heirlooms that I photographed last fall while visiting my distant cousin Ed.

The John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan family lived in Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana, in the latter half of the 19th century. I found it surprising that they had calling cards in rural Jay County back then.

Ed also showed me two autograph books that his great–grandmother Alta Jane Bryan once owned. Alta Jane (1866-1946) was the daughter of John and Hannah.

Alta Jane Bryan (1866-1946)

These two autograph books contain short verses written by Alta Jane’s family and friends. The verses were hand-written by her father, mother, two of her sisters, Byantha and Emily, and others. Emily (Bryan) Reid, was my great-great-grandmother. How interesting to see what their handwriting and signatures looked like. It is also interesting to read what they wrote to Alta.

Inside above autograph book.

One of the small autograph books has a blue velour cover. The books are a little over 5 x 3 inches.

Alta Jane Bryan's autograph book, c1887.

Inside of blue autograph book.

 

 

 

 

 

Written by Father (John Bryan)

January 1887
Have courage Alta and do not stumble
Though your path be dark as night
There is a star to guide the humble
Trust in God and all is right.
Your Father

Written by Mother, Hannah (Huey) Bryan

December 12, 1887
To Alta
May peace and plenty be thy lot
May conscience ever be thy guide
May God above forget thee not
As on life’s stormy waves you glide.
Your Dear Mother

Written by Alta's sister, Emily (Bryan) Reid

Rockford, Mercer County, Ohio, July 17
Troubles never last forever
The darkest day will pass away
Water falling day by day
Wears the hardest rock away.
Sister Emily Reid

Written by Alta's sister, Emily (Bryan) Reid

Hark, the voice of Jesus is calling
Who will go and work today
Fields are white and harvest waiting
Who will bare the sheaves away.
Loud and strong the master calleth
Rich reward he offers thee.
Who will answer gladly saying
Here am I gladly waiting.
Emily Reid

A verse by Alta’s other sister:

Westchester, December 28 1888
Sister Alta,
Remember me in the hours of leisure
Remember me in the hours of pleasure
And if forgotten in the hour of care
Remember me in the hour of prayer.
From Your Sister, Byantha Saxman

These lines from Alta’s autograph books show the Christian faith of the Bryan family. I also found it interesting that my great-great-grandmother Emily (Bryan) Reid was living in Rockford about 1888. Rockford is only a few miles from where we live.

You never know where you will find information and clues about our ancestors.

 

Jan 17

Tombstone Tuesday–Peter J & Mary A Bryan

Peter J & Mary A Bryan, Loofbourrow Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

This is the tombstone of Peter J and Mary A Bryan, located in Loofbourrow Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. The grave marker is inscribed: BRYAN, Peter J. Bryan, 1852-1914; Mary A. his wife, 1854-1901.

Passage:  P.J. BRYAN PASSES AWAY:  P.J. Bryan of Jefferson Township, father of S.P. Bryan, our local jeweler, died at his home on Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, 1914, age 62 years. Mr. Bryan was one of the pioneer farmers of Adams County and a man known and respected by nearly every inhabitant of the county. He had been an invalid for several months with a complication of diseases and his death had been expected for some time. The direct cause of his death was the bursting of a blood vessel. (Geneva Herald, 29 January 1914)

Obituary: Peter J. Bryan was born in Jay County, Indiana, May 22, 1852. He departed this life at the home of his son on Jan. 27, 1914, at the age of 62 years, 8 months and 5 days. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reed in the year 1876. She preceded him in death in the year 1900. To this union was born six children. Five are still living, one having died in 1898. Those still living are John Bryan of this county, Irene Maxwell of Toswell, New Mexico, Adele Digges of Beaumont, Texas, Jesse Bryan of Geneva, Ind., and Emma Bond of Beaumont, Texas. He also leaves one brother, H.B. Bryan of Michigan, and four sisters, Mrs. Mollie Reed of Kenton, Ohio, Mrs. Emma Bysel [sic] of Jay County, Ind., Mrs. Bertha [sic] Saxman of Michigan and Mrs. Alta Schmidt of Jay County, Ind., seven grand-children and many other relatives and friends. Mr. Bryan was an exemplary citizen and a patient sufferer for many years before his death.  He was a member of the K. of P. Lodge and an active member of the Maple Grove Christian Church. (Geneva Herald, 5 February 1914)

Peter J Bryan (1852-1914)

Mary A Bryan died 27 Jul 1901 in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. (County Health Office, Decatur, Indiana, Book H-22:10, Indiana WPA; database, FamilySearch.org, (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

Obituary: Mary A. Bryan was born Oct. 6, 1854 and died July 27, 1901, aged 46 years, 6 months and 21 days. She was united with the Christian church at the age of 17 and was united in marriage to Peter J. Bryan in 1877. To this union was born six children, three sons and three daughters. Edward, the second son, having preceded her to the Spirit Land. She leaves a husband, two sons and three daughters to mourn in her death, a kind mother and loving wife. Funeral by Elder Miller at Mt. Carmel Church.  (Geneva Herald, 2 Aug 1901) 

Peter J Bryan was the son of John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan. He was born in Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana. He married Mary A. Reid 8 Nov 1877 in Allen County, Ohio. (Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1950, film number 901414, image number 637; digital database, Family Search.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2012). Peter was my great-great-granduncle.

Peter and his wife Mary were living in Washington Township, Van Wert County, Ohio in 1880. The family consisted of Peter J, 29, born in Indiana; Mary, wife, 26, Ohio; John, son, 2, Ohio.

Peter J & Mary (Reid) Bryan

In 1900 the Peter J Bryan family was living in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. They probably moved to Indiana sometime between 1881 and 1884. The family consisted of: Peter J, 49, born in Indiana; Mary A, 45, Ohio; John S, 21, Ohio; Irena L, 19, Ohio; Edward B, 15, Indiana; Opadell M, 13, Indiana; Jesse P, 8, Indiana; Emma E, 7, Indiana.

Peter was still residing in Jefferson Township in 1910. In this census enumeration he was a widower and living with his son John. The household was as follows: John, head, 30; Sylvia, wife, 30; Kenneth, son, 3; Lawrence, son, 1y 6m; Peter J, father, 58; Jesse, brother, 19; Hazel Galloway, servant, 14.

Loofbourrow Cemetery is also known as Lufboro Cemetery or New Corydon Cemetery. I enjoy visiting this cemetery which is located on the south side of county Road 1150, a short distance east of County Road 450. It is in the middle of a field and getting to the cemetery reminds me of driving down a farm lane. Once a Mocking Bird entertained me as I wondered through the cemetery. Some of my Brewster ancestors are also buried there, including Jackson and Mary Ann, Daniel’s first wife Sarah Ann (Fetters) and Sarah’s parents, John and Elizabeth.

Loofbourrow Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

An index of Loofbourrow Cemetery transcriptions can be found on the website of the  Indiana Genealogical Society. It is a free database.

 

Census Sources:

1880 US Census, Washington Twp, Van Wert, Ohio, Roll 1074; Page: 425C; ED: 153; Image: 0009; FHL Number: 1255074; database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

1900 US Census, Jefferson Twp, Adams, Indiana; Roll: T623_357; Page: 12B; ED: 4; database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

1910 US Census, Jefferson Twp, Adams, Indiana; Roll: T624_338; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0004; Image: 83; FHL Number: 1374351; database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

 

 

 

Jan 13

Hannah Smoked a Pipe

Great-great-great-grandmother, Hannah (Huey) Bryan

Last summer I visited a distant relative in Jay County, Indiana. We both descend from John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan. John and Hannah were my great-great-great-grandparents. I descend from their daughter Emily and he descends from their daughter Alta Jane.

My distant cousin had some Bryan family heirlooms and photos to show me. In return I shared my Bryan family history research with him. It was a good trade.

Some of his Bryan heirlooms were very interesting and surprising. One item was a small pipe that he said Hannah (Huey) Bryan had smoked. My great-great-great-grandmother smoked a pipe! Who would have guessed that this sweet-looking grandmother was a pipe-smoker?

The petite pipe is in good condition and I believe it is made out of clay. It did not look like the corn cob pipes I have seen.

Female pipe smoking was very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the 1850s it was associated with the working class and began to decline in public. However, many women continued to smoke their pipes in secret. I wonder if Hannah smoked this pipe in secret. Perhaps behind their Jay County barn?

Hannah Huey Bryan's pipe

My cousin also showed me a number of calling cards that belonged to the Bryan family and friends. I always thought that calling cards were used by city folk. But apparently the Bryans left and received Victorian calling cards in rural Jay County in the latter half of the 1800s.

Leaving a calling card was considered part of social etiquette. Calling cards were popular from 1840-1900 and were carried primarily by well-to-do ladies. The cards were left at a home when an individual went to visit. The visiting person would leave their card in a card receiver on an entry table in the foyer or on a parlor table. They might have left the card with a servant.

Emma Bryan

Charley Bryan

Hallet B Bryan

Merida F Bryan

Sometimes the cards were folded and the folds meant different things. A folded top left corner: the visitor had come in person; an unfolded top left corner: a servant was sent; a folded bottom left corner: farewell; a folded top right corner: congratulations; a folded bottom right corner: condolence. The folding of corners went out of style by the 1900s.  A black band around the edge signified that the carrier of the card was in mourning.

Miss MC Huey

Calling card salesmen traveled around with books displaying samples of their cards. Plain cards could be ordered for about a $1/100 and fancy fringed cards sold for about $1.25/dozen. You can read more about Calling Cards on this website.

Minnie May Reid

AA Metzner

I do not know all the owners of these calling cards but I can identify a few:

  • AA Metzner: Arthur Augustus Metzner married Laura Dell Reid, daughter of Wilbur and Emily (Bryan) Reid.
  • HB Bryan: Hallet B Bryan (1853-1936) was the son of John and Hannah.
  • Emma Bryan (b.1892) may have been the daughter of Peter J. and Mary A. Reid Bryan. Peter was the son of John and Hannah. Or Emma may have been Emily Bryan Reid (1856-1940), daughter of John and Hannah.
  • Minnie May Reid was either the daughter of Daniel and Elvira (Headington) Reid or the daughter of William and Emily (Bryan) Reid. (The former 1867-1910, the latter born 1884)

I scanned these calling cards with my Flip Pal mobile scanner during my visit with my distant cousin. The scanner worked well and was very convenient to take along. I scanned photos and other items while we talked. I also used my Magic Wand scanner to scan the larger documents. I’ll show more scans of other items in future blogs.