Challenge

 This week the prompt is "challenge" so I am keeping up with my own challenge of recording the births, deaths, and marriages of each month. February is the shortest month and as a result I didn't find that many results for February.

Births in February include:

Marvin Henrickson, born on Feb. 11, 1944.

2x great grandfather William Strandt, born on Feb. 15, 1876. (Chicago, Illinois)

Gary Thompson, born on Feb. 20, 1949.

3x Great grandmother Wilhelmina Gley Strandt was born on Feb. 21, 1841, Prussia (Germany)

Paternal 2x great grandmother Mary Bellegraph born on Feb. 26, 1869 in Pomerania (Poland)

Marriages

Despite being the month of Valentine's Day, February only contains two marriages.

Great grandparents George Henrickson and Malvina Anderson were wed on February 21, 1900.

Paternal 2x great grandparents Mary Bellegraph and Joannes "John" Knach Conors were wed on February 7, 1888 in Indiana.

Deaths

Great granduncle Frank Anderson (older brother of Malvina Henrickson) died on February 5, 1939.

Paternal 3x Great grandmother Abigail Eldred died on Feb. 9, 1847.

Marvin Henrickson and 2x Great grandmother Elnora Truman Bellinger both died on Feb. 28. 2005, and 1953 respectively.

That's for this month. Not a lot happening in February. March will be completely different. Just the number of birthdays to keep up with. April, too! :)

Feel free to add additional birthdays, deaths, and marriages in the comments below. I try not to go back too many generations, or, go too much into extended family.

Mary Bellegraph and John Knach Conors Wedding day 1888.

George Henrickson and Malvina Anderson Wedding Day 1900.

Unless noted, births, deaths, and marriages occurred in Michigan. If they occurred in another state, or in "the Old Country" I tried to note it, if available. 

Random Number-Madison Taylor Truman

 This week's prompt was "Random Number". Every ancestor was assigned a number. I asked Tina to pick one and she chose "26". "26" would be Carl Johan Anderson, who I've already written about, so, I flipped the number to "62" and that brings us to Madison Taylor Truman, grandfather of Mildred Bellinger Strand.

Madison Taylor Truman was born approximately September 20, 1849 in Hillsdale County, Michigan to Henry and Lydia Wilson Truman. Henry was originally from New York and made his way to Michigan via Ohio. Madison was the fourth child and third son born to Henry and Lydia. One more daughter was born to Henry and Lydia before Lydia died in November 1859 of inflammation of the lungs. She was 41 years old, and Madison was only 10. 

Madison's father, Henry, was active in Republican Party politics and was a farmer who participated in local fairs. I've found newspaper articles mentioning Henry's name in regard to local Hillsdale politics and entering bulls in local fairs for competition. Even placing second and third. 

On April 22, 1869 Madison married Harriet Mabbs, of the Mabbs family recently of London, England. Like his father, Madison also farmed for a living. Their first child, William Henry, was born March 18, 1870. Three daughters followed, Isabel in 1872 and Elnora on March 2, 1873. Mary was born June 16, 1877.

Madison's father, Henry, died in February 1880. We know that Madison and Harriet's next child, son Judson, was born May 28, 1880, in Little Rock, Arkansas. I have not been able to find out why, or when Madison and Harriet made the decision to move to Arkansas. I don't know if it's connected to his father's death or not. Henry's will states that he gave Madison twenty acres of land before his death as part of Madison's inheritance. Either way, Madison and Harriet live in and around Little Rock, Arkansas. Judson is the infamous Uncle Judson that Mildred's brother Ray spent a summer searching for in Oregon and Washington. Madison is listed in the 1880 United States Federal Census as living in Totten, Arkansas and profession is Farmer. 

I haven't been able to find any records of Madison's life in Arkansas. For whatever reason, Madison and Harriet make the decision to move back to Ransom, Michigan. Madison dies on January 2, 1884. I haven't been able to find a cause of death either. Madison was only 34 years old. Elnora Truman was 10 years old. The same age her father was when he lost his mother. Elnora would go on to marry Charlie Bellinger and raise Mildred Bellinger. 

Madison Taylor Truman is something of a mystery. He's been a difficult man to find information on. I've found many articles in the newspapers mentioning his father, but none about him. I know he may have gone by the name Elwin, and Judson's middle name is even Elwin. I haven't found any pictures of him either. 

How Madison fits into the family tree:

Madison Taylor Truman is the father of

Elnora Truman, the mother of

Mildred Bellinger, the mother of

Howard, Viola, Marylaine, Yvonne, Milton, Joyce, Fred

1850 census. First mention of Madison Truman

Family Lore: Whatever happened to Uncle Judson?

 When I first started researching my family tree, one of the earliest questions I received was, "Can you find out what happened to Uncle Judson?" "Uncle Judson" was a maternal uncle to Mildred Bellinger Strand. He was the youngest brother of her mother, Elnora Truman Bellinger. According to family lore, Uncle Judson had traveled out west to Oregon and was never heard from again. What happened to him? Had he met with an unfortunate accident, or had he simply never found the time or willingness to sit down and send his family a letter or make a telephone call?   Let's investigate!

Judson Elwyn Truman was born May 28, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was the youngest of the 5 children born to Madison Truman and Harriet Mabbs. Judson was born in Arkansas shortly after the family moved there from Michigan. So far no evidence exists to explain why the family moved to Arkansas. They didn't remain long and by 1884 the family was back in Michigan, where Madison passed away. Harriet remarried and gave birth to 5 more children with her second husband. As the youngest son, Judson stayed on and lived with his mother and stepfather. On the 1900 Federal census Judson is listed as a boarder and working as a farm laborer with his mother and stepfather.

After this Judson decides to go out west. On May 29, 1904 he marries Mary Elizabeth 'Bessie' Malcolm in Columbia, Oregon. They were married by a Justice of the Peace at Bessie's father's house. Judson and Bessie quickly start their family. Daughter Mildred is born in 1905. Sadly, she dies of cholera in 1907. Only son Reuben is born next in 1907. He's followed by 5 sisters: Hazel, Mary Lou, Edith May, Dorothy, and Myra. The paperwork isn't clear, but I think Hazel may have had a twin sister named Sally. Sally would have died as an infant or child as no other record is found of her.

Judson and his family start off living in Goble, Oregon, but then buy a ranch and move to Astoria, Oregon around 1920. On a side note, while Ray Bellinger talks of finding Uncle Judson in the summer of 1915, he mentions looking for him in Seattle or Portland. Judson lived in Goble the whole time. It's no wonder Ray never found him. :)

Judson's occupation on the 1910 and 1920 Federal census records is listed as a farmer. By 1930 the country was in the midst of the Great Depression. Judson must've been affected by it as he and his family are now living in Lewis and Clark, Oregon and his occupation is as a laborer on public docks. He does own his home, valued at $2000, and has a radio. In 1940 Judson is now employed as a truck driver for a lumber company. He says he has other sources of income, and that the highest schooling he achieved was 2nd year of high school. In 1950 Judson is retired and has moved back to Astoria, Oregon. He and Bessie have 2 of their grandchildren living with them. 

Judson dies on August 29,1957, still living in Astoria, Oregon.

Judson's children all married and had children of their own. The granddaughter who lived with him in 1950 just recently passed away in December 2020. On a side note, I found a petition for divorce from Bessie, filed back in 1928. There was a note on it saying, "Error, withdrawn." 

Judson seemed to have a pretty good life in Oregon. Perhaps he just wasn't good at writing and keeping the family back home informed of what was going on with him. I wonder if his family in Oregon knew about their father's extensive family back in Michigan? I haven't found any pictures of Judson but I do have pictures of his children Reuben and Edith.

And that is the tale of what happened to Uncle Judson. 

"Dig a Little Deeper" Martha Patty Mabbs

 The prompt for this week is "dig a little deeper." I've been researching the Mabbs line lately and, digging deeper into the research, I discovered a new document that opened up a whole new branch and brought the Family Tree back another generation!

Going back on the maternal side of the family, Viola Strand's mother was Mildred Bellingar. Her mother was Elnora Truman. Elnora's mother was Harriet Mabbs. Her mother was Martha Patty Warner. That was where the maternal line stopped. I knew that Martha Warner had married William Mabbs from England in 1851, and I knew that she had been born in 1828 in New York. Aside from that I didn't know any more about her. I didn't know her parents' names, her siblings, how many siblings, or even if she'd been married before. She was a complete mystery. Then, last week, Ancestry gave me a new clue about her. It suggested I look at the Will of a William E Warner of Ransom, Michigan. Martha had lived in Ransom Michigan for most of her life. I started reading the Will and in it he says how he wants his belongings and money distributed to his wife and children. Among the children listed is a daughter named Martha Mabbs! While Warner is a pretty common name, Mabbs is not. The odds of having two women both named Martha Mabbs living in Ransom, Michigan in 1864 is pretty high, so I'm fairly confident that this Willam E. Warner is the father of our Martha Mabbs. In the Will William names his wife, Susannah, and his surviving children, William L., Orville, Martha, John W., Mary Jane Saxton. He also leaves to daughter Martha a silver watch that had belonged to her deceased brother Samuel. 

After finding out the names of Martha's parents I was able to put them into the family tree. I then received new hints about them. I found their marriage license from New York. Susannah's maiden name was Fitzgerald. I was then able to discover the names of her parents, Edward Fitzgerald (1765-1816) and Anne Wallace (1768-1851). Edward Fitzgerald was born in Northern Ireland and came to America. Anne Wallace was born in New York. A lot of research has been done on the Fitzgerald line. I will have to read over that at some point. Not much is known so far about Anne Wallace.

Getting back to William E. Warner. I haven't found information on his parents yet. He was born in Connecticut in 1792 and passed away in Michigan in 1864. He was a minister and a farmer. He came to Michigan in approximately 1835, making him one of the first settlers in the area. When he died, he left the bulk of his estate and land to his son, Orville. Martha, William L., John and Mary Jane were given money. Martha received $20. She was already married to William Mabbs by that point.

Pets

 This week's prompt is "Pets." I just had to say goodbye to Becks, a cat I've had for the past 16 years. Pets truly become members of the family. They bring us joy and help us deal with life's ups and downs. No matter what, our loyal pets are always there for us. So, this week, in honor of the prompt I thought I'd share some photos I've come across of pets in our lives.

First, I can tell by looking at photos that I have always loved cats. I can't remember a time without a cat in my life. Whether it was mine, or someone else's. There's always been a cat.

Cats have also been popular with my ancestors.

Great granduncle Horace Ashley with his wife and family cat.

Grandfather Ray Henrickson holding a barn cat.

Dogs have also been a popular pet over the years.

This was Bum. He rode on the floorboards of my Grandpa Thompson's car. He'd go with Grandpa all over town.

Lower picture. This was our Airedale Terrier Timothy. Mom had had an Airedale growing up that she had fond memories of. Airedales have been popular dogs in the Henrickson household.

While not normally seen as pets, horses have played an important part in the lives of my ancestors too. A good team of horses could make farm work a lot easier. 

Carl Strand's team of horses, circa 1917.

Henry Truman's team of horses. Older brother to Elnora Truman Bellingar.

These are just a few of the pictures I've found with animals and pets. Do you have any favorite memories of pets, or any stories of ancestors with their favorite pet? Share below or email me. susanmichele83@gmail.com

I'd Like to Meet

 There are many ancestors I'd like to meet. If only to ask them questions about names and dates. How many children did you have? When and where were they born? Where did you live? Who were YOUR parents? But, if I could only pick one, or two, it would have to be Ulrika Johansdotter and Harriet Mabbs.

Ulrika Johansdotter is Malvina Anderson Henrickson's mother. Ulrika has such an interesting journey. She was born to two parents who were labeled as "farmers/peasants." Her parents were older and neither was in good health. Her father dies when Ulrika is only 2 years old. Ulrika continues to live with her mother, who is blind and cannot work. They are still living in poverty. Older brothers and sisters are helping to take care of the family. When Ulrika is 7 years old her mother dies. Ulrika is partially taken care of by the parish. Her older sister moves back and helps to take care of her. Older brothers and an older sister also help look after Ulrika. Without this family support Ulrika would have been sent to foster care. That would have involved hard work and starvation. She was lucky to remain with her siblings. When she was older she obtained jobs as a maid on farms and worked her way up and across Sweden. She made her way to Stockholm where she married Carl Johan Andersson. After some hard times in Sweden they made their way to Michigan. With much hard work, and some luck, they were able to purchase 80 acres of land and start their family. They raised 3 children, but unfortunately lost a young daughter to a devastating train accident. Despite this Ulrika carried on. She and Carl gave back to the community in many acts of charity. My grandfather Ray Henrickson remembered Ulrika as a nice grandmother who used to give him cookies when he'd come over, calling him her "little beggar boy." Ulrika started off in such poverty, losing her parents, but made her way to raising her own family and seeing her many grandchildren thrive and succeed in America. I would love to hear her stories and how she dealt with all the obstacles in her path. 

Harriet Mabbs Truman was born in 1850 in Michigan. Her father had immigrated to America with his family from England when he was 9 years old. Harriet married when she was 18 years old and had 5 children with her first husband, Madison Truman. They also moved the family from Michigan to Arkansas and then back to Michigan again. Some time between 1877 and 1884. Madison died when Harriet was only 33 years old. She remarried 3 years later and had 5 more children with her second husband. Her last child was born when she was 45 years old.

I can't imagine moving from Michigan to Arkansas back in those days. It would have to have been by horse and wagon. And then moving back. Also, Harriet effectively had 2 families. She had one family with her first husband, and then a whole new family with her second husband. She passed away in 1929, when she was 78 years old. She saw a lot of technological changes too, from 1850 to 1929. Traveling by horse to travel by car and airplane. From candles to electricity. The telegraph, the telephone, moving pictures, radio. She saw a lot. I would love to get her thoughts. 

2 women who lived through a lot of personal ups and downs, but seemed to keep going. They also lived through great societal and technological changes too. I'm sure they'd have great stories, and advice, to give.

Who would you want to talk to?

Harriet Elizabeth Mabbs

 This week I'm writing about Harriet Elizabeth Mabbs. Harriet is Mildred Bellinger Strand's maternal grandmother. Harriet is my great, great, great (3x) grandmother.

Harriet was born June 27, 1850 in Hudson, Lenawee, Michigan. Her parents were William Mabbs and Martha Patty Warner. William was born in London, England but came to America as a child with his family.  I haven't been able to find Harriet yet on the 1860 or 1870 census. In fact, I don't have much information on her childhood at all. After her birth, the next record I have of her is her marriage to Madison "Elwin" Taylor Truman on April 22, 1869 when she is 18 years old. However I can only find Taylor Truman on the 1870 census working as a farmhand for a married couple. On March 18, 1870 Harriet gives birth to her first child, a boy named William Henry Truman. He is named after both his grandfathers. He's born in Jefferson, Michigan.  About 1872 Harriet has her next child, a daughter named Isabel Truman.  On March 2, 1873 Elnora Truman is born. Elnora is Mildred Bellinger Strand's mother. The next child, another daughter, is born in 1877. HIllsdale, Michigan. Mary E. Truman.

Sometime between 1877 and 1880 Madison and Harriet move their family to Arkansas. Their last child, Judson Elwin Truman is born May 28, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The family didn't stay long in Arkansas, though, as at some point they moved back to Michigan. Madison died at the age of 34 on January 2, 1884 in Ransom Township, Hillsdale Michigan. I found a report of his death in a newspaper, but I haven't found the exact cause yet. Sadly for Harriet her father William died later that year in October. 

Harriet entered the next phase of her life on November 25, 1886 when she married Albert Bush in Montcalm, Michigan. Harriet was 36 and Albert was 42, It was the second marriage for both. I haven't been able to find out if Albert's first wife died or he was divorced. 

About 6 months later on May 2, 1887 Harriet and Albert's first child is born, a boy named William Joseph Bush. In 1889 a daughter named Dorothy is born. In 1891 Harriet has a baby born but it dies as an infant. In 1893 Nellie Eltah is born and in December 1895, at the age of 45, Harriet gives birth to her last child, a daughter named Georgiana Bush.

The 1900 and 1910 censuses find Harriet and Albert living in Montcalm, Michigan. On both census records Harriet lists 10 children as the number of children she gave birth to. On the 1910 census she lists "Laundress" as her occupation. She must've taken in washing from other families for extra income. 

In April of 1912 Albert passes away. He was 68. Cause of death was "Epithelioma under the left arm." I'm guessing it was some form of skin cancer. Harriet was 61.

The 1920 census finds Harriet living in McBride village of Day Township, in the county of Montcalm, Michigan. Harriet lists "Laundress" as her occupation. She reports that she owns her own home and owns it free and clear, with no mortgage. She knows how to read and write and she lives with her daughter, Nellie Bush. Nellie lists no occupation.

Harriet died on June 21, 1929. Death certificate lists cancer of the breast and something else as the cause of death. Senility is also listed as a contributing factor. According to the death certificate Harriet was only seen by a doctor for 10 days before her death. She passed away 6 days before her 79th birthday. 

I wish I knew more about Harriet, especially her early life. She married at 18 and had 5 children with her first husband. Moved her family to Arkansas in a horse and wagon, and then back to Michigan again. Lost a husband. Married again, and had another 5 children with him. I don't have any pictures of her, but I do have pictures of her oldest son, William, and her daughter Elnora. 

 The first picture above is William and his wife Eltah. The second picture is William on his farm in Trowbridge. The third picture is of Elnora with her husband Charles. Parents of Mildred Bellinger. Elnora is in the center. 

Harriet lived until 1929 so it's quite possible there may be a picture of her out there as an older woman. If anyone knows anything or has any pictures, please let me know. Thanks!

Please add any questions, comments or recollections in the comments below. 

 

Truman and Mabbs families

 I've written about Mildred Strand's father's family, the Bellingers. This week I'm writing about her mother's family, the Trumans and the Mabbs. 

Mildred Viola Bellinger Strand's parents were Charles Bellinger and Elnora Truman. Elnora Truman was the daughter of Madison Truman and Harriet Mabbs. Both Madison and Harriet were born in Michigan. In 1869 they were married and lived in Hillsdale, Michigan. 4 children were born to them. However, in the 1880 census we find the family living in Totten, Lonoke, Arkansas. Their last son, Judson, was born there. They didn't stay in Arkansas long. Madison's death is reported on January 2, 1884 in Hillsdale, Michigan. The family moved from Michigan to Arkansas, and then back again. After Madison's death, Harriet marries again to Albert Bush and has 5 more children. All in all she gives birth to 10 children. She was 19 at the birth of her first child and 45 at the birth of her last child. She must have been a remarkable woman.

I've traced the Trumans back to a Josiah Truman who was born in Massachusetts in 1778. The Trumans may originally be from Cornwall, England but I haven't gotten that far back yet.

Harriet's family, the Mabbs, are a bit more interesting.

Harriet was born in Michigan in 1850 to William Mabbs and Martha Patty Warner. William was born in 1824 in Oxfordshire, England. William was one of eight children, all but the youngest born in England. His parents were William Hawys Mabbs and Hannah Hill Stace. William Hawys was the only son of John Mabbs and Sophia Andrews. John was a Methodist preacher. The Mabbs family had been Methodists for at least a couple of generations in England. Our William Hawys Mabbs took a different direction with his life, though. His older sisters worked as governesses, and teachers. William, started a soap factory in London. He manufactured soap and was very successful. For unknown reasons, in 1833, at the age of 42 he and his family sailed to America. He settled in New York City where he invested in another business. Things were going fine and another daughter was born. However, the bank he had his money saved in failed and he lost all his savings. He decided to move to Michigan and try his hand at farming and the manufacture of brick. 

William, the son, was a farmer and at the end of his life was a minister. He died at the age of 60 in 1884 of tuberculosis.  His older brother John worked in Chicago as an engineer. Another brother, Austin, went to Deadwood, South Dakota and owned and operated gold mines. Yet another brother, Robert, was quite prosperous. He was a very successful farmer in Allegan, and during the Civil War he enlisted as a private in 1862 and was discharged as a 2nd lieutenant in 1865.

The Mabbs family has been especially fun to trace, as I've found lots of information on them. They've been very successful. It's also fun to think of ancestors living in both New York City and London.

Mildred Strand, with parents Elnora and Charles Bellinger.