Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Family Favorite: I Must Go Down to the Sea by John Masefield

 

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.
I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. 

         
 - John Masefield     
1878-1967 - Herefordshire, England
             
 

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Sentamental Sunday: Johnny Kollein

  
John Martin Kollein
b: 01 Jun 1922 in Deans, South Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey
  Son of Martin Kollein & Stella Wojciechowski

d: 19 Aug 1998 in James A Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Hillsborough, Florida
                                                                       ~ ~ ~

Friday, June 25, 2010

June 25th: The 60th Anniversary of the Korean War


On this day in 1950 the North Korea People's Army crossed the 38th parallel invading South Korea marking the beginning of the war that divides Korea to this day.

 See a Slide Show presented by www.army.mil and the U.S. Army Center for Military History

The Korean War Veterans Memorial
 located in Washington D.C. on the National Mall just southeast of the Lincoln Memorial south of the Reflecting Pool
~ ~ ~

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Naturalization Certificate of Anton Stosz


(click image to enlarge)

We were very pleased to find this certificate in our papers.
The Naturalization Certificate for our ancestor, Anton Stosz.
Dated 09 Feb 1927 Certificate # 189088, Chicago, Cook, Ilinois

Anton was born 25 Oct 1886 in Segenthau, Hungary 
 (Now known as Sagul/Sugal or Dreispitz, Romania)
Son of Michael Stoss &  Anna Wild
Married Maria Rauner 25 Jan 1910 in Segenthau, Austria-Hungary
Immigrated 03 Aug 1914 Port of NY on the SS George Washington of the North German Lloyd line.

d: 16 Feb 1954 in East Brunswick, New Jersey
~ ~ ~

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

On Ships They Came: SS Melita

  
Canadian Pacific S.S. Melita c.1918

When construction began in 1913, the SS Melita was intended for the Hamburg America Line. World War I intervened, however, and while on the stocks she was purchased by Canadian Pacific. After being launched in 1917, she was towed to Belfast for the installation of her engines and outfitting.
She entered service with a 25 January 1918 maiden voyage from Liverpool to St. John, New Brunswick.

During the period from 1922 to 1927, Melita was in Canadian Pacific's Antwerp to St. John service. She then provided service from Britain to Canada, beginning in April 1927.
After 146 Atlantic crossings, Melita was used for local cruising until she was sold for scrap in Genoa in 1935. She was bought from the breakers by Italia, renamed Liguria, and used as a troop transport.  She was scuttled in January 1941, after being damaged in a 1940 air attack on Tobruk.  She was then raised and scrapped in 1950.
 
Nikolaus Lakatos immigrated from Segenthau, Romania, to Quebec, Canada, aboard this ship in 1924.
~ ~ ~

Friday, June 18, 2010

Follow Friday - Genea-Musing and the Maryland Historical Magazine Periodical Index

                                                        
Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings shared with us a great link to the online copies of the Maryland Historical Magazine ranging from 1906 to 2005. A free resource that is available to all who register for access.
Once signed in you can quickly run a keyword search.

I ran one on the surname Casteel.  The results are shown below:

 Clicking on the fist link brought me to the issue referenced:


Then, using the 'find' function, I was able to quickly located where 'Casteel' appears:


There are two persons named Casteel listed in Moses Chaplines muster roll: John and Zachariah Casteel
~ ~ ~

Thursday, June 17, 2010

An Unveiling of Plaques: Recognizing the service and sacrifice of African-American slaves


"In remembering the slaves who labored here, we give them in death some measure of the dignity they were so cruelly denied in life"   Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell 

 
AP Photo by Carolyn Kaster

 On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, a ceremony was held on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to unveil plaques recognizing the contributions of enslaved African Americans in the construction of the United States Capitol.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The Kollain Family c.1912



Ignatz John KOLLAIN
b: 23 JUN 1867 in Isak or Saboch, Austria
Son of Ignatius John and Barbara (Kissinger) Kollain
d: 22 AUG 1931 in Jamesburg, Middlesex, New Jersey
•Married: ABT 1887 in Austria Hungary
Maria PERGEL BERGNER b: 12 JAN 1869 in Budapest, Hungary
Children:
1. Rose KOLLAIN b: 1888 in Austria
2. Anna KOLLAIN b: 22 FEB 1890
3. Martin KOLLIEN b: 24 OCT 1893 in Broad, Slavonia, Austria
4. Anton (Thomas) KOLLAIN b: 15 NOV 1894 in Brod, Austria
5. Maria (Mary) KOLLAIN b: 25 JAN 1900 in Brod Austria/Hungary
6. Barbara KOLLAIN b: 18 MAY 1903 in Brod, Austria/Hungary
7. Katherine KOLLAIN b: 18 SEP 1910 in New York City, New York

Not included in the photo are the two oldest daughters who were already married at the time picture was taken .
~ ~ ~

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

John N. Bacon - Civil War Veteran



John N.  & Lucinda A. (Ribble) Bacon
Married 21 OCT 1875 in Carlinville, Illinois

Buried in Hettick Cemetery,
South Palmyra, Macoupin Co., Illinois





Monday, June 14, 2010

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy Challenge - It's here!!

The Interlibrary Loan

While researching the ancestry of Susannah Underwood and taking down her parental brick wall I came across references to snipets of a book that appeared to have potential in filling in the gaps of her ancestry.
The Underwoods, from Roaring Gap (NC) to Dumplin Valley (TN) and onward: And related families
by Burl Underwood  
1987

It was listed on Amazon as being 'out of print' and I saw one copy on the resale market for ~$100!
...Time to look into the interlibrary loan option.

The interlibrary loan process allows a user of one library to borrow books or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library. The patron makes a request with their local library, which then identifies owners of the desired item, places the request, receives the item, makes it available to the user, and arranges for its return. The Fairfax County Public Library Chantilly Branch did this for me at no charge.  It was extremely simple and painless.  I received an email alerting me that the book was available at my branch.
I was very happy to learn that I could actually check it out and bring it home to gleen all the important and wonderful facts from the book in the comfort of my P.J's!
Now all I need are more hours in the day....

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Sentimental Sunday: Uncle Steve Hack


'I am a lumberjack & I am OK
I sleep all night & I work all day...'
(Monty Python)
 
Steve (Istvan) Hack was born on 21 August 1907 in Porva, Hungary.

He was a shoemaker in Budepest then worked as a lumberjack in Canada before immigrating to the U.S.

Married Theresa Stosz on 02 Feb 1938 in Montreal, Canada
d: 07 Jan 2000 in New Jersey

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Footnote Finds: John N Bacon


Footnote’s Civil War Records on both Union and Confederate soldiers records are constantly being added to, and through the month of June they are available for free.  These records include:
  • Union and Confederate service records for many states
  • Widow’s pension files
  • Emancipation documents and slave records
  • Confederate amnesty papers and citizens files
  • Lincoln assassination investigation and trial papers
  • Civil War photos and maps
Our find:
Collection Title: Civil War Pensions


Civil War Pension Cert# 678280

•Name: John N. BACON •Birth: 19 NOV 1846 in Jonesboro, Washington, Tennessee
     Son of Jeremiah & Susan S. (King) Bacon

Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois
Company "C" 133rd Illinois Infantry Regiment
Rank: Private
Mustered into service on May 31st, 1864. On June 3rd, the 133rd Infantry Illlinois Volunteers were moved to Rock Island Barracks and were assigned to duty, guarding prisoners of war.


•Married Lucinda A. Ribble on 21 OCT 1875 in Carlinville, Illinois
    Children:
1. Mary C. Bacon b: 10 MAR 1878
2. Elbert E. Bacon b: 01 OCT 1882
3. Rosa B. Bacon b: 08 SEP 1887
 
•Death: 19 JUL 1936 in Hettick, Macoupin Co., Illinois
~ ~ ~

Friday, June 11, 2010

Follow Friday Fun!


Create your own signs and image widgets.
(Warning:  Can be addicting.) 

Enjoy!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Documents: Declaration of Passenger to Canada


Filed in 1924, the above is a copy of Nikolaus Lakatos's
 Declaration of Passenger to Canada
Written in on the side margin appears to be a date in reference to Naturalization.

Below is a form completed in 1936 by his son, George (a citizen of Canada), to allow for a 2 week stay in the United States to visit his Uncle, Wendel Lakatos, who resided in Cleveland, OH.

~ ~ ~

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Wisdom Wednesday - Favorite Saying


Mucho Trabajo, Poco Dinero



A favorite saying of my father-in-law, "Mucho Trabajo, Poco Dinero" is a Spanish phase meaning "Lots of work, little money."




Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Nikolaus & Anna (Stoss) Lakatos



Nikolaus LAKATOS
b: 20 APR 1881 in Segenthau, Austria-Hungary
d. 1942
•Married: ABT 1910 in Segenthau
Wife: Anna (Stoss) Lakatos
b: 25 NOV 1881 in Segenthau, Austria-Hungary
(Daughter of Michael Stoss b: 08 JUL 1851 in Segenthau
& Anna Wild b: 09 JAN 1852 in Segenthau)
d: 23 OCT 1957 in Montreal, Canada

•Residence: 1910 - neighbors to Anton (Anna's brother) & Mary (Rauner) Stosz; house #71, Segenthau, Austria-Hungary (now Romania)

Children:
1. John LAKATOS b: 23 JAN 1911 in Segenthau, Austria-Hungary
2. Ida LAKATOS b: ABT 1914 in Segenthau, Austria-Hungary
3. George LAKATOS b: 28 DEC 1919 in Segenthau, Romania
~ ~ ~

Monday, June 7, 2010

Bathing Beauties at Dallenbach's



Ann Bauman with family friend, Maria


Taken c. 1957 at Dallenbach's recreational swimming lake located in East Brunswick, NJ.    Before filling with water, it was originally the Dallenbach Sand Pit owned by the Dallenbach family.  A summer pass, at a cost of abt $2.50, was required to access the man-made lake.

Submitted as part of the Carnival of Genealogy Annual Swimsuit Edition

Sunday, June 6, 2010

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge #23: Getting Kinky

Genealogy Challenge Description for Week 23: "Come up with a personal genealogy challenge of your own. Each person has different research goals and experiences. Use this week to come up with your own challenge, and then take the steps to accomplish it."        My Goal:

Getting the Kinks out of my Family History Database

Thank you to MHD of GreatGreats genealogy blog for pointing out a discrepancy in one my postings. Best of all, a source was included with the notes shared with me.  This has inspired me to go back to some of my very first gatherings of family history data and clean up & verify some of my source and data entry 'kinks'.

As always - while I do this I come across new information and continue to update and add to things I haven't looked at in a long time.  I am actually enjoying rediscovering the already discovered.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Surname Saturday: Whitlock / Whitlocke

Whitlocke / Whitlock

 

"Vive dui Whitlocke deo sic utere fatis ut reserent sensus alba nec atratous" (Long live the Whitlockes. In God may he reveal understanding so that our future may be bright not gloomy)

 

 Surname Origin:  (Saxon) Fair hair  - from the Middle English 'whit', white, with 'lock', a tress or a curl.

Also, from the  Internet Surname Database there is "an Old English pre 7th Century personal name composed of the elements 'whit', demon or elf, and 'lac', play, or sport, thus elf play, and Whitlock may be from this source."

 Our Ancestor:  Hannah Whitlocke (b.1613 or 1617)

listed in the Buckinghamshire Parish Registers, Marriages:

Jos. Baldwin & Hannah Whitlocke
--
Married 10 Nov 1636 High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire 
~ ~ ~

Friday, June 4, 2010

Follow Friday - The Illinois State Genealogical Society Blog

On this lovely, sunny, Follow Friday I wish to share with you the link for:

This blog of the Illinois State Genealogical Society (ISGS - established in October 1968) provides helpful hints and great links that are useful in researching family history in the state of Illinois.

Their most recent posting included numerous links to Illinois Veterans Databases from the Illinois State Archives:

Database for the Illinois Veterans' History Project
Database of Illinois War of 1812 Veterans
Database of Illinois Winnebago War Veterans
Database of Illinois Black Hawk War Veterans
Database of Illinois Mexican War Veterans
Illinois Civil War Muster and Descriptive Rolls Database
Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans Serving in the U.S. Navy
Database of Illinois Civil War Veterans of Missouri Units
Database of Illinois Spanish–American War Veterans
Database of the 1929 Illinois Roll of Honor
Database of Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home Residents
- - -

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Cause of Death: Bright's Disease



Bright's Disease is a historical classification of kidney disease which was first described in 1827 by the English physician Richard Bright. Now commonly called acute or chronic nephritis, it was treated with  blood-letting to reduce blood pressure, warm baths, diuretics, and laxatives. Sometimes dietary modifications were suggested which involved alkali and acid balance through consuming various foods and drink, lowering the kidney's involvement with blood pH balancing.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Richard W.Casteel of Macoupin Co.,IL


Richard W.Casteel

•Born: 08 AUG 1843 in Blount, Tennessee, son of James M. & Susannah (Underwood) Casteel
•Death: 30 JAN 1909 in Barr Township, Macoupin Co., Illinois;  had Bright's Disease
•Single - Never married;   Occupation: Farmer
• Resided in IL 44 yrs.
•Buried: Gilead Baptist Cemetery - Hettick, South Palmyra Township, Macoupin County, Illinois
~ ~ ~