November Ancestor: Thankful for my Mayflower ties

Happy Thanksgiving! Let us not forget this holiday about being thankful, and remembering all those who came before us. The "first Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims in the fall of 1621. The feast lasted 3 days, as there were no stores open for Black Friday shopping. In fact many Pilgrims had to live on the Mayflower for a few years or camp on open ground as it took a while to build small houses for each family. Supposedly 90 native Americans and 53 pilgrims attended this feast. Thanksgiving was started as a "religious" holiday, thanking and praising God the Father for all our blessings. The New England colonists did this, and then President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it. (Source: wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)#History )

I don't descend from any native Americans, as I am quite Caucasian and European. I do however have several ancestors who boarded the Mayflower and survived not only the trip but the hard early winters. At last count, I have two Mayflower ancestors on my dad's side: William and Mary Brewster. I have 9 Mayflower ancestors on my mom's side: John Alden, John Howland, William & Alice Mullins and Priscilla, Myles Standish, and John & Joan Tilley & Elizabeth. My husband also has 2 Mayflower ancestors: Isaac and Mary Allerton.

This month I am going to focus on one of my "famous" Mayflower ancestors: Myles Standish. It's a funny story how I found out he was "famous". I didn't really remember much history when I started my family history. I was online researching my family and going back. I ended up going back many generations, and then grabbed my papers and went to a genealogy meeting. I was telling my genealogy friends about my discovery and my friend says "do you KNOW who Myles Standish is?" I said "yes, my ancestor". She laughed and told me. When I got home, I then looked and even found him in the dictionary.

Myles was born about 1585 in England, probably in Lancashire county. He was a part of Queen Elizabeth's army and was stationed for a time in Holland where he met John Robinson and the Pilgrims who were living in Leiden. Standish was hired by the Pilgrims to be their military captain, to establish and coordinate the colony's defense against foreign and domestic threats. He led or went along on many exploratory missions of the land, and was very involved in selecting the site where they settled. He was one of the few who did not get sick the first winter, and helped care for those who did. He was heavily involved in the colony's defense, exploration and keeping the law. He was a short man with a quick temper. He was well respected and held many positions of authority.

Myles' first wife Rose (maiden name unknown) came with him on the Mayflower, but she died the first winter. His second wife, Barbara came on the ship Anne in 1623 and they were married within a year. He did not have any children with his first wife. Myles and Barbara were the parents of 7 children, 6 boys and one girl. Their firstborn died very young, probably as an infant or toddler. Their daughter died as a young woman, about age 18-20. I descend from their son Alexander.

Myles lived his later years in Duxbury, Plymouth county, Massachusetts until his death in October 1656.

I am a member of the Mayflower Society, and made my application through Myles Standish. Most of this information I have through the Mayflower "expert" Caleb H. Johnson. He has a web site mayflowerhistory.com, and two books. I am very thankful for all my ancestors, but it is especially fun to find a "famous" one.

October ancestor: Augusta "Minnie" Groft Hanks Eichenburg

October is family history month, and it's surely proven to be a busy month for me.
My October ancestor is Augusta "Minnie" (Groft) Hanks Eichenburg. Augusta "Minnie" is my third great-grandmother on my father's side.
She was born about 1821 in Germany, probably in the region formerly known as Neumark in Prussia (eastern Germany). I do not know who her parents were, or much about her early life there. (This could be a short post, as I really don't know much about her, so PLEASE contact me if you have more information.)
She married Fred Hanks in Germany about 1843. I'm not sure how many children they had, at least one but probably as many as four. Their son Charles William Hanks was my ancestor. They probably also had another son August born about 1844, 2 daughters Caroline born about 1850 and Amelia born about 1855.
Fred Hanks passed away in Germany before 1860, leaving Augusta with small children.
About 1858 Augusta remarries to Fredrich Wilhelm Johann "John" Eichberg. They have at least 3 children together. For sure they have a son named Herman and a daughter named Wilhelmine (Minnie); there is another child in this family named Frank that could be hers with either husband, or could be her second husband's child from a previous marriage. In 1867 they all immigrate from Germany to the United States through New York aboard the John Lawrence ship. They are headed for Wisconsin. In the 1870 census they are living in Dodge county, Wisconsin farming. In the 1880 census they are still living in Dodge county, Wisconsin farming. I haven't found anything about her death, but she probably died in Wisconsin some time after 1880, after the age of 60.
For records on her, I have found her in the 1870 and 1880 US Federal census, and the immigration record from 1867. I would love to find more records and information about her.
Thanks for reading. Please contact me if you are related.

September Ancestor: John Piatt Foresman

Oops, September must have gotten away from me. Here it is the second day of October.
For September, I am blogging about one of my husband's ancestors John Piatt Foresman. I have been working on this family this month, in fact I've been tracing several of his descendants.

John Piatt Foresman was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1826 to John Foresman and Mary Elizabeth Piatt. He grew up in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. He marries Anna Filbert August 17, 1848 probably in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. They become parents to 9 (or 10) children, 2 (or 3) boys and 7 girls. Between 1855 and 1857, they move from Lycoming County, Pennsylvania to McDonough county, Illinois with 4 of their children. The younger 5 children are then born in McDonough county, Illinois. The children are named the following: Mary Regina, Lydia Ann, Ludwig Henry, Sarah Elizabeth, Almira Louise, Martha Colwell, Laura Catherine, Harriet L., and James Piatt. Another possible child I have listed is Charles P. but I don't find him in the 1880 census or any other information about him, so I am doubting his existence or if he belonged to a different family.

My husband descends from the youngest child James Piatt Foresman. Interestingly enough (to me), Mary Regina Foresman married Robert A. Buchanan; they were the parents of 5 children, and at least 2 (and possibly 3) of those children moved to Nebraska and are buried in the next county from where we live! I went to the cemetery and found those 2 children's gravestones, and I think there is a good possibility another one is buried there but she possibly has an unmarked grave.

But back to John Piatt Foresman: In 1860 I find him listed as a farmer in McDonough county, Illinois where the value of his personal estate is listed as 175. So I'm not sure if that's $175 worth of farm land, or 175 acres. In the 1870 census, he is a farmer in McDonough county, Illinois with value listed of 830. By 1880 the Foresman family moves to Hancock county, Illinois where he is a farmer. He remains in Hancock county for the rest of his life until December 1, 1891 when he passes away. He is buried in Harris Cemetery, outside of Dallas City, in Hancock County, Illinois.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: 5th Grade Memories

It's Saturday night, so I am choosing to participate in Saturday night genealogy fun.
Here is the blog post that lists the rules: http://www.geneamusings.com/2015/09/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-fifth.html

I was about 10 in fifth grade, so that was the early to mid 1980's. I went to Cambridge Public School in Nebraska where my parents were teachers. One thing I remember is that I was terrified of my fifth grade teacher. His name was Mr. Hein and he was known for spanking children or hitting them with rulers. Or at least these were the rumors I heard from my brother, two years older than I was. Later I found out Mr. Hein and I were related, although distantly through my mother.

I remember we had a pop quiz; I don't know what subject and I don't know why we had it. But I remember I FAILED it. I didn't just do bad; I FAILED. I was an A student, so this made me cry. I'm guessing it was social studies or science; it couldn't have been a math quiz. I remember he allowed me (and probably the whole class) to wad up my paper and throw it away. I was SO thankful. The grade was not recorded, and it wouldn't tarnish my record.

I'm pretty sure Andrea was my best friend at the time, as my other best friend Susie had just moved away. I remember we had lockers to store our bookbags and coats, which we thought was pretty cool. That was much cooler than the "hooks" we had in early elementary years.

I was also starting to grow and develop in fifth grade, so I was one of the taller girls. I think there was just one girl taller than me, and only two or three boys taller than I was.

I usually got to school riding with my mom in the car. Then I'd either ride home with her, or walk home. It was 2 blocks, all downhill to school and all uphill the way home.

Fifth grade was a pretty good year, but not my favorite. I think 4th and 6th were better.

Below is a picture of me in 5th grade:

August Ancestor: Sarah Green Sickmon

Well I am home with a sick girl today and not feeling the best myself, and August is almost over, so I guess I should blog about my August ancestor. She is my third great grandmother on my mother's side.

Sarah Green was born in Columbia, Herkimer county, New York on 20 July 1824 to Abel Green and Sally (maiden name unknown). I don't know much about her life in New York. According to her obituary her parents died when she was quite young. She married George Sickmon September 1, 1842 in Hamburg, New York. They were there a short time. Their first child Sallie (my second great grandmother) was born in New York in August 1843, and then some time in 1844 they moved by wagon to Monmouth, Warren county, Illinois. They set up a farm just east of Monmouth. There they had 5 more children, 3 more girls Susan, Anna and Eliza and 2 boys Winfield and Charles.

She was a housewife, raising her kids on the farm until her husband retired and they moved into town. I have found them living on the farm in the 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. By 1900 George has retired and they are living in town according to the census. Her husband George died in 1908. It is amazing to me they were married over 60 years. Sarah Sickmon dies October 21, 1910 in Monmouth at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 1 day. According to the death certificate she died from septic cholecystitis, which appears to be gall stones in the gall bladder, and secondarily by senility. Two of her children preceded her in death, namely Sallie and Winfield.

So I have found her in 5 censuses: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1900. I also just received her death certificate this week. I have been to Monmouth once, located her gravestone and took a photo. And I also have her obituary. I also have a narrative written by her grandson with a little information about her. I do not have a photo of her, would love to get one. So if you're a relative and have one, please contact me. I have just found the funeral home that provided services is still run by a descendant, so I hope to possibly get a funeral home record.

July Ancestor: Rev. Matthew Gardner

July was a busy month with vacations and a garage sale. But I did get a little research in. So my ancestor for July is one of my more notable ones on my father's side, Reverend Matthew Gardner. Reverend Matthew Gardner (1790-1873) is my 4th great-grandfather. Myself, my dad, his mother, her father, his mother, her mother, and then her father Matthew Gardner. So now you're probably totally confused.

Matthew Gardner was born December 5, 1790 in Stephentown, Renssselaer county, New York to Benjamin Gardner and Lucy (Hawks) Gardner. He was the fourth of ten children. When he was 8 years old, he was hired out, but then 2 years later, his family moved to Ohio. His father traded 2 horses for 100 acres of land in Brown county, Ohio. They then built a cabin where they lived. In 1809, Matthew left home and went to Cincinnati, where he hired on a flatboat to New Orleans. While in New Orleans he came down with a fever, and during that time was converted and became a devout Christian. He made it home in October 1809, and started studying to enter the ministry. He was baptized about a year later in October 1810. Rev. Gardner was the first pastors at one of the early Christian churches in southern Ohio. He was also a carpenter at this time.

On May 20, 1813 he married Miss Sally Beasley. In July 1813 he enlisted as a soldier for a short time. In 1813 Rev. Gardner purchased 100 acres of land from his father-in-law and moved in January 1814. He lived there for 60 years. There he operated his farm and was a Christian minister. He was a pleasing speaker and singer, "robust" at 6 feet 1 inch and about 200 pounds.

In March 1818 Rev. Gardner was ordained, and he organized several churches. Later at his own expense he started his own Christian paper, called "The Christian Union". It was a monthly publication similar to a magazine; the first issue was May 1841. He preached the gospel for 63 years.

During this time, Rev Gardner and his wife Sally became the parents of 11 children: (1) Barton Beasley (born 1814), (2) Sallie Ann (born 1815), (3)George Washington (born 1818), (4) Jeptha Monroe (born 1820), (5) Lucinda Elisa (born 1823), (6) Louisa Maria (born 1825), (7) Julia E. (1828), (8) James A. (1830), (9) Mary Jane (born 1833), (10) John W. (1836) and (11) Elnathan Matthew (born 1839). They were married a little over 56 years, until Sally's death in 1869. Rev. Gardner passed away about 4 years later, on October 10, 1873 at the age of 82 years and about 10 months. He is buried in Shinkle Ridge Cemetery, in Higginsport, Brown county, Ohio.

I have found Rev. Gardner in the following censuses, 1820, 1840, 1850, 1860 and 1870. There is a gravestone photo on Findagrave taken by a volunteer. Much is written about him and one of his sons in a book on Google books "History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio". There is a photo of him in one book, which I found on Ancestry.

June Ancestor: Elizabeth (Smith) Patterson

It's getting close to the end of June, so thought I better start on my or rather my husband's ancestor.
Elizabeth (Smith) Patterson was born in Illinois (not sure what town or county, probably Lincoln in Logan county) on April 7, 1863 to John W. Smith and Allie (Keisner) Smith.
I next find her in the 1880 census with her parents and younger siblings living in Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois at the age of 17.
She marries William Lincoln Patterson about 1881, probably in Logan county, Illinois. I have not been able to find them in the Illinois marriage index that is online.
William and Elizabeth become the parents of 5 children: Margaret Pearl (1882), Charles William (1885), Martha O. (1887), Hazel F. (1893) and Lester H. (1901), although I believe the 1900 census implies Elizabeth had 2 more children who weren't alive in 1900. The 1910 agrees, as it says she had 7 children, with 5 alive.
So the 1900 census has the William Patterson family living in McDonough County, Illinois. From then they must have moved some time in there, as 1910 has them living in Dallas Ward 1 Township, Henderson County, Illinois. This family was quite mobile, as by 1920 William, Elizabeth and Lester, along with 3 of their grandchildren (Martha's boys) were living in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In June 1928, William L. Patterson passes away in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I cannot find Elizabeth in the 1930 census. By 1940, the census finds her living with a daughter, Margaret in Hildalgo county, Texas where according to that census, they had been since 1935.
Elizabeth (Smith) Patterson passes away September 11, 1941 in Tulsa, Tulsa county, Oklahoma at the age of 78. I do have a copy of her death certificate from the state of Oklahoma. She is then buried a couple days later on September 13, 1941 by her husband at the Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, in Tulsa Oklahoma.
Thanks to a Findagrave volunteer I am able to see her gravestone photo:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Patterson&GSfn=Elizabeth&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=38&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=44694532&df=all&

I am working on tracing more back on her line, but Smiths and Pattersons aren't the easiest names to trace.
So in summary, I found her in those censuses, plus I have a gravestone photo, and death certificate. I would really like to find a marriage record for them. Otherwise I think I've done fairly well.
This is my husband's great-great-grandmother. May she rest in peace.