Maps

 This week's theme is "Maps." While researching my Michigan ancestors I've found some land ownership maps. What I like about them is not only do I get to see where my ancestors lived, but I get to see their neighbors and other ancestors too. When you see how close families lived to each other you can see why people got married, or you had brothers and sisters from one family marrying brothers and sisters from another family. People tended not to stray too far from home then and married someone who lived close by.

This first map is the U.S. Indexed County Land Ownership Map of 1873. I specifically downloaded it because it shows where my 3x great grandfather Riley Thompson owned land in Allegan, Michigan in 1873. 

Riley's land is on the very bottom, right hand side. He owns 18 acres near the Ashley's. He also owns another 20 acres near John Ashley. Riley's land is very near O. Ashley, my 2x great grandfather. Orville Ashley is the grandfather of Lois Ashley, my paternal grandmother. Also, in the middle of the map, on the left side, you can find D. Bellinger's 40 acres of land. D. Bellinger stands for David Bellinger, my 3x great grandfather on my maternal side. He is Mildred Bellinger Strand's grandfather. So, in this one map I can see land owned by two 3x great grandfathers, and 1 2x great grandfather. There are also various other relations shown here too. Aunts and Uncles. In-laws. 

This is another map I found. Also from 1873. It shows the land that Riley Thompson owned in Heath, Michigan. 

On this map you can find Riley's land on the bottom left hand side. He owns 80 acres of land. His is third from the left, on the bottom. Under the Kalamazoo river. Other ancestors with land living nearby are J. Sadler, and C.R. Brownell. The Sadlers and Brownells were united in marriage in 1839 when John William Brownell married Lavinia Sadler in Ogden, New York. When they moved to Michigan, many of their family members came with them. C.R.Brownell most likely refers to their son Charles R. Brownell. He was into logging and owned a lot of land in Michigan. He is also the uncle who bought the Strandt family home for Mary and William to live in. John and Lavinia are my 4x great grandparents. They are Carl Strand's great grandparents. 

Maps are a great tool to use in researching. Hopefully I'll be able to find more as time goes on.

Branching Out

 This week's theme is "Branching Out." I thought I would write about an interesting branch of the Pulsipher family. In the 1850's 3 of Ebenezer Pulsipher's 6 sons moved from Geauga County, Ohio to Allegan County, Michigan. One of them was Horace Pulsipher, great grandfather to Carl Strand. 2 brothers remained in Ohio, and 1 brother moved to California. I'm going to write about the brother who moved to California.

Orrin Pulsipher was the older brother to Horace Pulsipher. Orrin was born in 1817 in most likely Stowe, Vermont. Sometime in the 1830's Ebenezer moved his family from Vermont to Ohio, settling just outside Cleveland. In the 1850's Ebenezer's sons started to make their own way in the world. While 3 of the brothers decided to go to Michigan, Orrin decided to go to California. The 1850 census finds Orrin and his wife Sarah living in Ohio. Their daughter, Rebecca, birth is recorded on September 27, 1856 California. I haven't been able to find a document of Rebecca's birth, but all her records list that day, and place as time of her birth. From various newspaper articles I've found Orrin living in Sacramento, California from 1859 to 1863. His job is always listed as Carpenter. I've found him listed as a plaintiff and defendant in lien cases against property, sheriff sales of property, letters left behind at the post office needing to be picked up, and in 1862 he was a juror in a case involving a charge of arson. In 1863 he is listed in the city directory of San Francisco. He is still working as a carpenter. In 1866 he appears on the list of voters in San Francisco. His address is 122 Fourth Street, in the Tenth Ward of the city. 

However, on the 1870 census Orrin is listed as being denied the right to vote, on grounds other than rebellion or other crime. 

I have been researching this and I can't find WHY he was denied voting rights, especially since he was on the voter rolls in 1866. I'm thinking it may have something to do with California law and maybe one of the property lien cases he seemed to be involved with. It is a mystery.

In 1869 an ad appears in the San Francisco Examiner asking contractors and builders to come to a meeting to devise ways to thwart LUMBER THIEVES that are infesting the city. Orrin is specifically named. 

The next time we see Orrin in the newspaper, unfortunately, is for a "probably fatal" accident he took. 

Orrin's death was very tragic, but as I continued researching his family, I learned it wasn't the only tragic death. 

Orrin's daughter Rebecca married a man named John Hucks. John had been born in England and came to California with his family as a child. John started a photography studio and was very successful. In the 1880 census they lived at 904 Market Street in San Francisco. They had 2 children and seemed to have a happy life. Rebecca was involved with the Rebekah Lodge. Unfortunately, Rebecca had her own tragic death, as reported in the newspaper. From December 28, 1892.

Rebecca was only 36 years old. You would think this would be the end of tragic deaths for this family, but, no. There is one more tragedy to come.

On October 30, 1915, apparently despondent over his declining health, John decided to end things by taking his own life. His son found him dead in the studio the next morning.

Going further with this family, I found the obituary for the son George A. in the paper. He died suddenly at the age of 52 in 1928. Sarah Pulsipher, the wife of Orrin, lived to the ripe old age of 80 years and 11 months.  She passed away in 1901.

I thought this branch was especially interesting because most of my ancestors stayed in Michigan. This is one of the few branches to go somewhere else, and to California in the 1850's no less! It must've been exciting to be in California then, and to be in San Francisco at the start and to help with the building of the city. 

 

Favorite photos

 The theme for this week's #52ancestorsin52weeks is "Favorite Photo." Looking through the family photos I've been lucky enough to acquire over the past few years I've come up with a few favorites. Most of these have been graciously shared with me. I very much appreciate the generosity. 

The first photo I really like is one of my grandmother and grandfather when they were dating, and my grandmother's older brother. On the left is Howard Strand, my granduncle. Kneeing is my grandmother, Viola Strand. Standing on the right is my grandfather, Raymond Henrickson. The photo is dated August 11, 1939. I love this photo because I think all 3 just look really cool. They're young and look like they're ready for an adventure. Grandma is even wearing pants and heels. Very fashion forward for the day. Howard was 18. Viola was 16, one month away from turning 17. Ray was 26. Viola and Ray would get married April 20, 1940. 

Moving back in time, another photo I really like is this one of my great grandfather Carl Strand, circa 1917. He's about 16 years old and he's leaning against a plow in the field. I like this one because I think the expression on his face seems to capture his personality. I only remember meeting him once, but from what I've learned about him, he seems to have been a serious, hard working man. Not that he didn't have faults, we all do, but he seems to have tried to do the best he could with what he had. Life wasn't easy for him, but he tried his best. Carl is Viola and Howard's father. 

Going back in time again, this time to about 1903. It's a picture of the Strand and Pulsipher families. My great, great grandmother Mary Elizabeth "Matie" Strand is in the dead center of the photo. Her husband, and my great, great grandfather William Strand is on the extreme right. The small boy beside him is my great grandfather Carl Strand. I like this one because it has Matie right in the middle of the picture. Everyone has their eyes on her. What is she going to do? What is she thinking? She's the star of the show! The other people in the picture are members of the Pulsipher family, and the Strand family. 

The last favorite photo I'm going to show today is another one of Matie and William Strand. This one was taken with them and their first child, daughter Eva Wilhelmina. Eva was born April 20, 1899, so I'm assuming the picture was taken a few months later that year. Once again, it's a picture of a young, happy couple. They have their first born child and the whole world is open to them. Eva Wilhelmina also happens to be named after both of her grandmothers. Matie's mother was Eva Brownell, and William's mother was Wilhelmina Gley. 

I'm always looking for family photos. Sometimes the people in them are known, sometimes not. I've actually been able to solve a few photo mysteries by comparing known photos, looking at dates and places, and by documentation. 

What are some of your favorite photos? Leave a question or comment below, or email me.

Favorite Find

 The theme for this week's blog post is "Favorite Find." When I first started researching my family, there was one piece of paper I was more excited to find than any other. That was the ship's passenger log containing the names of my Great, great, great grandparents Carl and Wilhelmine Strandt. Seeing their names on the passenger list of the ship coming into New York City on November 17, 1871 gave me such a thrill. That is when their life in Germany ended and their new life in America began. It was when the Strandt's came to America. They were real people. It listed the entire family, ages, and year of birth. I also discovered that William had 1 brother and 2 sisters born in Germany. 

Carl Strandt and family is listed at the very bottom.

Soon after I found the passenger list from when they sailed from Hamburg, Germany to England.

Carl Strandt and family is listed at the top.

This record contained where the family lived in Germany, Carl's occupation, and how they traveled. Also, final destination.

I've also been able to find the travel papers for my Great, great, great grandparents  Carl and Ulrika Anderson. Malvina Anderson's parents.

Carl and Ulrika are near the bottom. 

This tells us where they lived prior to coming to America, and their ages. Place of final destination, and the name of the ship, which was the "Orlando." 

I was also able to find the passenger list of the ship coming into New York City that carried Sven G. H. Johansson. AKA George S. Henrickson. He traveled through Copenhagen after leaving Sweden to come to America. He was 17 years old, a worker, and carried 1 piece of baggage. 

Sven is #384.

I also found Sven G. H. on the Swedish register of immigrants. He left from Malmo, lived in Moheda, and his ticket was bought and paid for him. This ticket would pay for his entire journey from Sweden through to New York City. 

Sven G. H. is #846.

There are a lot of other exciting finds I've made, but I'm always thrilled when I can find the names of ancestors on passenger lists. It took so much courage to leave everything they knew behind them and come start a new life in a new country, with a new language and new ways of doing things. Often times they were leaving family and friends behind. They all traveled in steerage with other immigrants also hoping for a new and better life. It was a hard and treacherous journey, but they were courageous. Without them taking the chance, none of us would be here. 

Lucy Collier Foster

 New year. New blog post!

January 6 was in the news a lot this week. For our family, January 6 has a different meaning. For on January 6, 1838 Lucy Collier married Archibald Foster in Lorrain, Ohio. Archibald Foster and Lucy Collier were the parents of Loretta Foster. Loretta married David Bellinger of Allegan, Michigan after he returned home from fighting in the Civil War. David and Loretta were the grandparents of Mildred Bellinger Strand. 

Lucy Collier was born in most likely New York to unknown parents. I've seen some names mentioned by others, but I don't have records yet to prove who her parents really were. She may also have been born in Vermont. Most records state her birth as New York, though. At some point, with her family I assume, she moved to Ohio. At the age of 20 she married Archibald Foster. Archibald was born in 1799 in New York and moved to Lorrain, Ohio. At the age of 29, in 1828 he married Eliza Mann and began his family. They had 4 children over the next 9 years. Eliza died in August of 1837. Just 3 months after giving birth to a daughter.  On January 6, 1838, Archibald married Lucy Collier, who was just 20 years old. 

A son was born next March, 1839. Loretta was born May 24, 1841. All together, 5 children were born to Archibald and Lucy in Ohio. The 1850 census finds the entire family living in Ohio. Archibald is listed as a shoemaker. With 9 children living with him and Lucy, it's probably a good thing he can make their own shoes. 

 

For some reason, new opportunity perhaps, the family moves to Michigan. In 1855 Son Franklin is born in Michigan. In 1857 the youngest child in the family, Eva, is born. The 1860 census finds them living in Trowbridge. Archibald is listed as a farmer with $50 personal estate. His son George is married and lives nearby.

 Most of the older children are living on their own, including Loretta. Loretta is working as the servant of a merchant in Allegan. A Mr. John Jones and his family. Jones has a personal estate worth $4000.

The 1870 census finds Archibald and Lucy living by themselves in Trowbridge. Archibald's real estate is estimated to be worth $200 and his personal wealth is listed as $150.

Archibald passes away September 11, 1872 from unknown causes. He was 73 years old. Lucy passes away on May 18, 1873. Just less than a year later, at the age of 55. Her cause of death was listed as spinal fever. I'm not sure but it's probably what we call spinal meningitis today. Spinal fever was listed quite a bit as a cause of death. 

As with most women, I haven't been able to find much on Lucy herself. All the stories and records are told through the men. I did recently come across a picture of Lucy though. Lucy and one of her sisters. Lucy is on the right.

Lucy and Archibald are my 4x great grandparents. One of my goals this year is to find more information on this branch of the family tree. Hopefully to trace Archibald and Lucy back to their immigrant ancestors. 

 

By Just 2 Votes

 This week's #52ancestors challenge was #voting. I knew that my great grandfather Carl Strand was Watson Township Supervisor. What I didn't know was the convoluted and complicated story that put him in office in the first place. 

Carl's younger brother, Howard, ran for Register of Deeds of Allegan County starting back in the late 1930's. He was elected to office in 1941 and held that post until he chose to retire in 1976. He ran as a Republican and was easily reelected every election. He was elected president of the Michigan Register of Deeds Association and his wife was involved in the ladies of the G.O.P. association in Allegan.  By this time Carl had had a falling out with his brother Howard and was no longer speaking to him. I'm not sure if there was a rivalry there or not, but at some time Carl began getting involved in county and Watson Township politics. While Howard was a Republican, Carl ran as a Democrat. 

In 1949 Jesse Stone, Rep. and Bernard Cavanaugh, Dem. ran for Watson Township supervisor. In a close election, Bernard Cavanaugh won. There was a recount, and Bernard Cavanaugh was still declared the winner.  Jesse Stone still disputed the results of the election, alleging fraud in the 9 absentee ballots counted. Bernard Cavanugh, resigned his position. He said he would rather go back to this farm than continue defending his win in the election. Carl Strand, who had won election as a member of the board of review, was then chosen by the other members to be Watson Township Supervisor. 

Fast forward now to May 1950. Carl Strand is still Watson Township supervisor, but Jesse Stone, and other defeated Republican candidates have taken their case to court. They want the 9 absentee ballots thrown out. 2 of the voters waived their right to secrecy and told how they voted. The other 7 were still in dispute. The judge decided to throw them out. That made Jesse Stone the winner. But, Bernard Cavanaugh had previously been declared the winner, resigned, and then Carl Strand had been appointed supervisor. Who was the supervisor?

Finally, after going to court, a judge declares that Jesse Stone is the winner of the Watson Township supervisor race. But now there's just one small problem. Carl Strand is refusing to give up the job. He is now going to court to keep his job. He is once again appealing a case to the Michigan Supreme Court.

I haven't found a newspaper article with that outcome but I'm assuming Carl lost. In March of 1951 there is an article mentioning how Carl Strand is running for Watson Township supervisor, against the incumbent Jesse Stone.

So, after 2 years of legal wrangling, did Carl win?

Carl won the election by just 2 votes! This time Jesse Stone accepted the results of the election and didn't contest them. As far as I know. Carl also stayed on as Watson Township supervisor for 22 years, I believe. 

I also was sent some correspondence of Carl's wife, Mildred recently. In one of the letters she mentions Carl winning the election by just 2 votes. She only gives it one sentence though, and then goes on to other topics. lol.

When I first found these articles I couldn't believe how closely they mirrored today's news. Contestants  contesting election results. Wanting absentee ballots thrown out. Courts and judges deciding winners. I guess what they say is true, history just continually repeats itself. 

I wasn't surprised to find Carl involved in another case going to the state Supreme Court. This man never gave up a fight. He was stubborn to the end about everything. 

Steps: The Ashley Family of Allegan, Michigan

This week's prompt was Steps.  I've already written about all the steps David Bellinger took in his long life. From walking to Michigan from Ohio, and then marching in the Union Army with General Sherman on his march through Georgia and to the sea. I have very recently come across another ancestor who walked a great many steps. My 2x great grandfather, Orville  Ashley.

Last week I was able to finally obtain a copy of a family history written about my paternal grandmother's family. The title of the book is "Our Pioneer Family: Joseph and Mary Allen Ashley" written by Mrs. Effie Kellogg French, granddaughter of Joseph and Mary Ashley. Effie wrote it in 1926. Effie wrote down the stories told to her by her mother, Lucina Ashley, and tales told to her from her aunts and uncles and grandparents themselves. 

The story begins in 1843. Joseph Ashley's father, Nicholas Ashley, has passed away. Joseph is about 43 years old and the father of  9 children. Orville, my 2x great grandfather, is 7 years old and the 5th of the 9 children. For whatever reason, cheap land or change of scenery, Joseph decides to move the family to Michigan. They are currently living in Williamson, New York. Williamson is on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Just east of Rochester, New York. The family left New York in either September or October of 1843. They had a one horse buggy wagon that was later called the "Democrat Wagon" and a covered wagon drawn by 2 horses which contained their household goods. A big iron kettle hung underneath the wagon. Effie also writes that a cow was tied at the back of the wagon but never made it to Michigan. The family traveled west through upper New York, then through the upper northwest portion of Pennsylvania and into Ohio where they stopped near Cleveland. They stayed in Ohio for 6 weeks to rest the horses, and themselves. According to a biographical sketch of Orville written in 1892 a cow was obtained in Ohio to bring along for milk. 

While in Ohio the ground was quite muddy and the wagons got stuck. The children had to help get the wagons free. The older children were expected to help keep an eye on their younger siblings. When the kids got tired of riding in the wagon they were allowed to get out and run and walk alongside. The wagon wasn't the only thing that got stuck in the mud. The kids would also lose their shoes in the mud. The older brothers, or Joseph would have to go back and find the shoes in the mud. At night the children all slept on feather beds in the wagon.  

The family finally reached Michigan in January 1844. The new land was entirely forested and contained a log cabin. It was 80 acres in section 36 of Allegan County Township. Joseph paid the back taxes and liens against the property and was granted full title to it on February 5, 1847. He cleared 36 acres of land and added a board shanty to the log cabin. One interesting bit of information is that Joseph later sold 50 acres of this farm to a newly arrived immigrant family from Germany. They were Mr. and Mrs. Glye. Mrs. Glye was the sister-in-law of Carl Friedrich Theodor Strandt. I'm sure Carl and his family must've come to Allegan to visit their relatives.  I wonder if it was on one of these trips that William Strandt met Mary Pulsipher and ended up becoming engaged and moving to Allegan from Chicago? 

I track my daily steps with a Fitbit. I often find it hard to get in my recommended 9500 steps in a day. I'm sure walking from New York to Michigan, Great, great grandpa Orville Ashley got in more than 10,000 steps on a daily basis. 

screenshot of "Our pioneer family"