Influencer: Carl "Charlie" Freidrich Strandt

 This week's prompt is "Influencer." I wasn't sure how to interpret it until I learned that Carl Strand's Uncle Charlie Strandt used to visit the Strand farm in Allegan and bring Hershey chocolate bars with him to hand out to Carl and Mildred's children. It was a tasty treat and one that was well received. Carl Strand is also known for handing out Hershey chocolate bars to grandchildren. Could Carl have been influenced by his Uncle Charlie? Let's find out.

Carl "Charlie" Freidrich Strandt was born in January 1860/1 in Teschendorf parish of Mecklenburg, Prussia, in present day Germany. His parents were Carl Friedrich Theodor Strandt and Dorothea Auguste Sophie Schroeder. Dorothea was the first wife of Carl Friedrich Theodor. Unfortunately for both Carls, Dorothea died soon after. Records don't indicate when exactly she died, so no way to know if her death was connected to giving birth or if it was unrelated. Some records indicate the birth of Carl was in 1860, others 1861. Same with Dorothea's death. It was either 1860 or 1861. Either way Carl Friedrich Theodor remarried on December 6, 1861 to Wilhelmina Gley. 

Carl and Wilhelmina had 2 daughters, Carolina and Wilhelmina before immigrating to America with their children in October 1871. They were headed to Chicago to meet other Strandt relatives. This is from notes in the Strand family Bible. Charlie was around 10 years old. In 1876 Charlie's Half-brother, William Frederick Strandt was born in Chicago. The only Strandt child born in America.

The 1880 Federal census finds Charlie living with a family as a farm laborer in Naperville, Illinois. On January 7, 1888, at the age of 27, he married fellow German immigrant Margarethe Schirmer. The 1900 Federal census finds them renting a house on 8441 Sangamon St in Chicago, Illinois. This address is where they will spend the next several years. They have a son and daughter. Margaretha notes on the census she has given birth to 4 children, with only 2 surviving. Charlie is a shipping clerk at a wagon works factory.

In 1910 Charlie has the same job, same address. He now owns though, instead of renting. He also notes he is a naturalized citizen. An addition has been made to the family. Son George Strandt was born in 1901. 

1920 brings much of the same. Charlie owns his home, free and clear. Same job. On August 27, 1929 Margarethe passes away. In 1930 Charlie and son Arthur still live at the same address. They have a radio to listen to.

1940 finds Charlie living with his daughter, Freda and her family in Elmhurst, Illinois. The census notes he has an education through the 8th grade, which was quite common for the time. 

Charlie dies on August 4, 1945. He was 84 years old. 

I know from newspaper articles found, and family stories, that Charlie and Margarethe would travel and visit friends and relatives. There are several stories of the "Chicago relatives" coming to visit the Strand farm in Allegan. With son, George, being born in 1901, the same year as Carl, they must've found a lot to talk about.  

Charlie is remembered as being tall by those who knew him, and his grandson remembered him as also being a kind man. Carl Strand didn't seem to take too kindly to too many people but the fact that he allowed his uncle Charlie, and cousin George, to visit shows that Carl must've thought highly of them. Or at least, thought they might think the way he thought. Perhaps Carl saw Uncle Charlie passing out the Hershey bars and decided to take up the same habit. Either way, I think it's neat that both men had the same habit of passing out chocolate bars. 

Here is a picture of Uncle Charlie and his family. Charlie is standing up in the back, with the hat on. His wife Margarethe is standing next to him. Son Arthur is seated directly in front of Charlie, and sister Freda is next to Charlie, looking like Princess Leia. :) The other people are assumed to be other Strandt relatives. (the picture is colorized from Ancestry's service)

How Uncle Charlie fits in:

Carl Friedrich Theodor Strand (1834-1914)

His sons Carl F. Strandt "Uncle Charlie", and William Frederick Strand. Charlie and William were half-brothers. Same father, different mothers.

Charlie's son, George, was a 1st cousin to Carl Strand, son of William. 

It's also interesting to note that with Charlie Strandt I sometimes found the last name spelled Strand, with no "t". It seems that in Scandinavia the name is spelled with no final "t.". In Germany it was spelled with a final "t". The spelling of the name depended on the census taker or person taking the information down it seems. 

Eva Wilhelmina Strandt

 After last week's blog about William F. Strandt, I received a request wanting to know more about William's oldest daughter, Eva. This week's blog is what I've been able to piece together about Eva Wilhelmina Strandt. She also sorta fits the prompt for this week which is "War and Peace." 

Eva Wilhelmina Strandt was born April 20, 1899 in Allegan, Michigan to Mary and William Strandt. She lived with her parents on a farm belonging to her grandparents, Carl FT and Wilhelmina "Amena" Strandt in Allegan. Eva was soon joined by siblings Carl, Ruth and Howard. The family also moved from Michigan to Illinois and back to Michigan again. At the age of 18 Eva followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher in a rural school. She lived at home and taught school for many years. 

On January 11, 1923 she married Reed Hayes, an auto mechanic. They lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1929, or earlier, a daughter was born to them, Ruth Marilyn Hayes. Ruth was born after the death of Eva's sister, Ruth. My guess is that she named her daughter after her beloved sister. Ruth's early death seemed to bring great sadness to the Strandt family.

On January 20, 1934 Eva was granted a divorce from Reed Hayes. In the petition Eva cites extreme and repeated cruelty, and non support for reason for divorce. Reed didn't contest it. In talking to Eva's granddaughter, she relayed a story her grandmother told her about her first husband. Eva said that he had asked her to move to Florida with him so he could find work there. Eva refused, on the grounds that she wanted to stay and help her mother stay safe. Whatever the real reason was, after the divorce Reed did move to Florida where he remarried and had another child. Eva stayed in Kalamazoo with daughter Ruth.

The 1940 Federal Census finds Eva and Ruth living in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Eva supports herself and Ruth by teaching. Her income was $926, with no other source of income. 

On August 14, 1943 Eva married for a second time. She married Robert G. Kiser, who was originally from South Dakota. He worked in a local paper mill. Eva still worked as a teacher. In February 1948, daughter Ruth marries Jack Jones and moves out. A year later in 1949 her daughter Marilyn Eva is born. Eva is now a grandmother.

Eva and Robert live in Kalamazoo. Eva's daughter has moved to Orlando, Florida after the death of her husband in 1952. On one of her trips back home to visit family in December, daughter Ruth goes for a ride in a car with her cousin Charles Strandt, son of Howard. With them is Ruth's daughter Marilyn. While driving, a postal truck hits the car they are riding in. All 3 occupants are injured. Ruth dies later at the hospital, Charles survives, but with crippling injuries for life. Marilyn is severely injured but survives. Eva takes Marilyn in and helps raise her.

Marilyn remembers Eva as a kind woman. Eva never spoke to Marilyn about the conflict with her brother Carl. One day Eva drove Marilyn past the farm and told her her oldest brother Carl, his wife, and four children lived there, but no more was said about Carl. Eva also didn't mention any of the Strandt relatives in Chicago either. Eva and Howard did talk and associate, but I think there may have been a falling out with Howard after the tragic car accident. Marilyn does remember visiting William and Mary when they were older, and when they went to live in a nursing home before their deaths.

At some point after the deaths of William and Mary, Eva and Robert moved to Tampa, Florida. There they remained until their deaths. Robert passing away in 1967, and Eva passing away in 1980, at the age of 81.

Eva loved to teach and taught many children over the years. She also spent 5 years teaching children with Special Needs. She spoke both High and Low German, and drove a Model T in her younger days. Like her brother Howard, she supported the Republican party. 

Eva had a lot of trials and tribulations in her life, but she seemed to deal with everything with grace and dignity. Always trying to help others. Her granddaughter Marilyn had very fond memories of her. 

Mary, baby Eva, William Strandt.

Eva and 2 boys on horse. Perhaps Carl and Howard?

Ruth Marilyn Hayes, Eva's daughter

From the Tampa Tribune 1980

William Frederic Strandt

 The prompt for this week is "Spirit". I decided to remember the 'spirit' of my great, great grandfather William Frederic Strandt, who died on October 30, 1962 in Allegan, Michigan. He also liked the spirits of alcohol a little too much.

William Frederic Strandt was born on February 15, 1876 in Chicago, Illinois to Carl Friedrich Theodor Strandt and Wilhelmine Marie Friederike Gley. Carl and Wilhelmine had come to Illinois with their 3 children in November 1871 from northern Germany. They were joining Strandt family members who already lived in the area. Meanwhile, Wilhelmine had a sister who lived a bit further away in Allegan, Michigan.

The 1880 Federal census finds William living with Carl and "Amena" in Downer's Grove, Illinois. Carl's profession is Farmer. William is the only child still living at home. Older brother Carl is working as a laborer on another farm, while older sister Caroline has moved out. She would be 16 so I'm guessing she probably was living with another family as a servant. She marries and starts a family in 1884. Younger sister Wilhelmine Johanna has disappeared completely. I have not been able to find any record of her death, or marriage, or anything related to her after the family comes to Chicago. If anyone knows anything about her, please let me know. 

The next big event in William's life is marrying a young Mary "Matie" Elizabeth Pulsipher in Allegan, Michigan on June 8, 1898. William is 22 years old and Mary is 21. I often wondered how William came to Allegan when he lived in and around Chicago. While researching his mother's family I discovered he had an aunt and uncle who came to Allegan, before his parents came to America. My guess is that on a trip to visit his aunt and uncle he must've come across and met Mary. After marrying Mary, William put down roots in Allegan. Almost a year later, their first child was born, Eva Wilhelmina Strandt. She was born on April 20, 1899 in Allegan. She's named after both of her grandmothers. 

William and Mary Strandt, Baby Eva 1899.

On March 10, 1901 their son Carl Albert Strand is born. Carl is also named after both of his grandfathers. The 1900 Federal census finds William and Mary and baby Eva living with William's parents, Carl and Wilhelmine in Watson Township. Both Carl and William are listed as Farmers. 

Mary Strandt in the middle. William Strandt on the far right with a young Carl Strand. 1903. Possibly Carl and Wilhelmine Strandt. Others unknown. 

In 1904 daughter Ruth Bessie is born in Otsego, Michigan and son Howard is born in 1909 in Hinsdale, Illinois. Sometime between Ruth's birth and Howard's birth, William decided to move the family back to Illinois, where he thought he might have better luck in earning money. It was not to be though, and the family moved back to Michigan. The 1910 Federal census finds the family living with William's father Carl in Trowbridge Township. Both William and Carl are listed as Farmers. 

It is sometime around here where Mary's uncle, Charles Richard Brownell, who was very successful in the lumber business in Louisiana, deeded a farm to William and Mary. From what I've been able to find out, William didn't seem to have much luck in farming. He wasn't very good at it, or at training horses. Younger son, Carl, was good at farming, and training horses. Carl had one pair of horses trained so well he could drop the reins and the horses would continue down the row and wait for Carl at the other end. Carl was also very good at farming. He liked to farm "the German" way and had disdain for his neighbors who farmed "the American" way. These disagreements led to many arguments between William and Carl. The one thing William did seem to be good at, was drinking. By all accounts, William drank. A lot. William would get drunk and become belligerent. Arguing and yelling. One time he became so drunk he chased Carl around the outside of the house with an ax, threating to kill him. Daughter Eva would often fear for her mother's safety. Not trusting what William might do. Finally, Mary had had enough and filed for divorce from William January 13, 1917, citing Cruelty. William contested it but a divorce was granted on July 31, 1917. It was Absolute. 

Carl was happy about the divorce and began to farm the farm his way. Unfortunately for Carl, William and Mary reconciled and almost a year to the day, on July 15, 1918, William and Mary remarried and William moved back home. Upon moving back home, the arguments between William and Carl started back up again. The final straw came when William sold Carl's favorite work horses that he had trained so well. Carl was still upset about it, years later talking about the incident. Carl then moved out.

The 1920 census finds William, Mary, Eva, Ruth and Howard all living in Watson Township at the Strandt farm. In 1926 William, Mary and Howard are living with son Carl and his family in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Both men are working as drivers. Carl started his own trucking company and allowed his parents and younger siblings to move in with them so Ruth, and then Howard could attend high school. After Howard graduated from high school, William and Mary moved back to the farm.

William's lack of farming skills really showed during the Great Depression. Unable to pay bills and in danger of having the farm foreclosed on by the bank, William and Mary asked Carl and his family to move in and take over running the farm. William and Mary agreed to move out. Carl agreed. Carl took out loans, bought supplies, and got to work. He was able to turn things around and get the family farm stable again. However, William and Mary decided to stay, and not move out as they had agreed to. This led to more arguments between William and Carl and led to an eventual lawsuit filed by Carl against his parents, to get them to move out. The case went to the Michigan State Supreme Court. Carl eventually won, and William and Mary moved out. The case left such a bad taste in Carl's mouth, that he never spoke to William and Mary again. He also forbid family members to speak to them. Something which, his family did not respect. I've heard many stories of Carl's children, and wife Mildred, sneaking over to visit William and Mary and not letting Carl know. 

The 1940 Federal census finds William and Mary living next door to Mary's younger sister, Florence and her husband. William's occupation is Laborer, and the home is rented.  William also says he only went to 7th grade in school. Mary had worked as a teacher off and on over the course of her life. Her income as a teacher helped support her and William.

The 1950 Federal census finds William and Mary living just down the road from granddaughter Viola and her family. Viola would sneak down and visit William and Mary and not say anything to her father, Carl about it. William's occupation is listed as a Farmer once again. 

William's wife, Mary, passed away in November 1961, and William passed away October 30, 1962. I haven't been able to find a cause of death yet, but he was 86. After Carl cut off contact with William and Mary, and forbid others from seeing them, I don't know how William was as he got older. If he mellowed and drank less, or if he continued to drink. I'd like to know more about William. Did he drink because he was unsuccessful in earning a living and supporting his family, or, was he unsuccessful because he drank? Which came first? The drinking or the economic failure? Maybe it was a combination of both? 

William and Mary in later years.

A hymnbook belonging to William Strandt.

Another picture of William. 
 

#Namesake

 This week's theme is "Namesake." In researching the family tree I've discovered it was quite common to name children after relatives. In one way this is good. If I see the same names used over and over again I can pretty much assume I have the right person. On the other hand this can also be confusing. When you have a son named after his father, and then 2 brothers both decided to name their eldest sons after their father, it doesn't take long before you have potentially 4 people in the same family with the exact same name. And if they all live in the same town it can get very confusing. Fortunately I haven't run into that too much. :)

In many countries it was tradition to name children after family members. There was often a naming pattern. Sometimes it was followed. Sometimes not. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Germany both had traditional naming patterns.

In Sweden, the naming pattern was:

• First son, after the father's father
• Second son, after the mother's father
• First daughter, after the mother's mother
• Second daughter, after the father's mother
• Third son, after the father
• Third daughter, after the mother
• Fourth son, after the father's eldest brother
• Fourth daughter, after the mother's eldest sister

Germany, Norway, and Denmark had very similar naming patterns. 

I thought I'd use the Strand family to illustrate this. 

William Strandt married Mary Elizabeth Pulsipher. William's parents were Carl and Wilhelmina Strandt. William is the second son born to them, but his name of William is the masculine version of his mother's first name, Wilhelmina. Mary's parents were Albert and Eva Pulsipher. Mary was the second daughter born and named after her father's mother, Maryetta Stone Pulsipher.

William and Mary's first born child was Eva Wilhelmina Strandt. She is the first daughter and named after both her grandmothers. Her maternal grandmother's name coming first. Their next child born was Carl Albert Strand. He is the first son and is named after both his grandfathers, with his paternal grandfather's name coming first. Their next born child was Ruth Bessie Strandt. Bessie is a nickname for Elizabeth and comes from her mother's middle name. "Ruth" is a new name in the family, and shows that the naming pattern isn't always followed. Their last born child was Howard Charles Strandt. "Howard" is also a new name in the family. "Charles" is the American version of Carl and goes back to William's father again.  

When Carl Strand and Mildred Bellingar married and had children, they used family names for some of their children. First born son was Howard Charles, named after his father's youngest brother. Viola Mildred had her mother's name as her middle name.  Carl's sister Ruth passed away in 1928. Her name was given to his daughter Yvonne as her middle name. Unfortunately she also passed away young. It wasn't until their youngest son, and last born child, that they got back to traditional family names. Frederick Carl Strand was the youngest son, and named after his great grandfather Carl Frederick Theodore Strandt. "Frederick" was a common name in the Strandt family, on both Carl's side and his wife's Wilhelmina's side. 

I find children being named after family members more common in the 1800's. In the 1900's parents started to get away from it. Family names are still used, but more often as middle names. Then, I've run into some families where none of the children are named after anyone in the family. All are given "new" names. Looking for naming patterns definitely makes researching more interesting!

#Beginnings

 I thought I would begin with our first Strand(t) ancestor to come to America: Carl Friedrich Theodor Strandt. Carl was born March 27, 1834 in Teschendorf, Mecklenburg, Prussia. His parents were Christian Friedrich Strandt and  Caroline Friederike Elisabeth Gley. This is in present day north eastern Germany. It would have been part of East Germany after World War 2. At some point he marries his first wife, Dorothea Schroeder. Dorothea has a daughter from a prior relationship. Whether a marriage or born out of wedlock, we're not quite sure yet. Carl and Dorothea have a child together. Carl Friedrich Strandt is born in January 1861. Dorothea dies soon after. On December 6, 1861 Carl marries for a second time. This time to Wilhelmine Marie Friederike Gley.  Carl is 27 years old and Wilhelmine is 20. Wilhelmine was born in 1841 and also lived in Teschendorf Mecklenburg. Her parents were Johann Friederich Gley and Adolphina Carolina Friederica Ahrndt. Carl and Wilhelmine have 2 daughters: Caroline is born in 1864 and Wilhelmine Johanna Dorothea Strandt born February 8, 1868. The family lives in Teschendorf, Mecklenburg. 

On October 27, 1871 the family begins their journey to America. They sail from Hamburg to Liverpool England. They sail on the ship "Hansa" and are in steerage, the cheapest class available. It is Carl, Wilhelmine, Carl F, Carolina and Wilhelmine. Also with the family is Dorothea's daughter from the previous relationship. She is listed as a servant. She's about 13 years old. From Liverpool the family transfers to another ship, the Minnesota. Carl lists Farmer as occupation. The ship stops in Queenstown, Ireland and then sails to America, landing in New York City on November 17, 1871. Almost a months' journey from leaving Hamburg.

The family settles in Chicago, Illinois. On February 15, 1876 William Strandt is born. William is the father to Carl Strand, our grandfather. The 1880 census finds the family living in Downer's Grove, DuPaige, Illinois. William and Carl are still at home. Dorothea's daughter has moved out, and there is no trace of daughters Carolina and wilhelmine. I can only guess that they died sometime after arriving in Chicago. I also can't find proof of their deaths either. Whatever happened to the two daughters is a mystery.  

In 1898 William moves to Allegan and marries Mary Pulsipher. Mary's uncle gives the couple land upon which they built their house and raised their children. A farm that became very important to their son Carl Strand later in life. 

I'm not sure why William came to Allegan from Chicago but I discovered his aunt was living in Allegan with her family. His mother Wilhelmine had a sister who lived in Allegan with her family. They actually came to America first, before Carl and Wilhelmine. I'm guessing on one of his visits to see his aunt is when he met Mary and decided to stay and marry her.

After William marries, Carl and Wilhelmine move to Allegan too. In 1910 Wilhelmine dies at the age of 69 from chronic bronchitis. Carl follows and dies in 1914 at the age of 79 of bronchial pneumonia.  His occupation was listed as Farmer.

Carl's oldest son Carl F. stayed in Chicago where he went on to raise his family and Strandts live in the area still. Aunt Joyce says she remembers the Chicago relatives coming to visit sometimes when she was little. I also found a bit in an Illinois newspaper mentioning Carl and Wilhelmine traveling to Illinois from Michigan to visit family and friends. 

One interesting note on the Strandts. It was always assumed that the Strandts were German. However, when DNA tests came back there was actually very little German DNA but a whole lot of Scandinavian DNA. I assumed the Scandinavian DNA came from the Henrickson side, but there was just SO MUCH of it, and so very little German. Especially if William had been full German. Aunt Joyce was gracious enough to take a DNA test and her results came back a lot for German but also for Sweden and Norway. I've traced Mary Pulispher's ancestry back to England and Ireland. Mildred Bellingar's ancestry goes back to Germany and England. That leaves the Strandts for being Scandinavian and not so much German. The area that they lived in at one time was controlled by Sweden. It was very close to the Baltic Sea. Also, "Strandt" is a very popular and common name in Norway and Sweden. I'm guessing that at some point the Strandt's came from Norway or Sweden and settled in Germany. Carl was born in Germany but I'm guessing his parents were born in Norway or Sweden. Of course, there could also be Scandinavian ancestry from Wilhelmine's side too. Or both of them could have been more Scandinavian than German. It's definitely a mystery and one I plan on doing more research on.