First Names
I noticed that people's first names often changed throughout their lives. Here are a few I've extracted. Danie Mathilda Hanning is first called Matilda in the census when she's 6 months old. 10 years later she is called Maudana. Most other records called her Danie. Johanne "Lenora" "Caroline" Christiane Hanning was listed as Lenora on the passenger list when she was 8 months old immigrating from Germany. About 10 years later her marriage record and…
Wagner Family Home Movies
These are the Raw unedited videos from the Super 8 Transfer. There is no sound or captions. The number corresponds to the DVD/chapter. It takes hours to upload each one, so as they finish I'll post and email out. If it doesn't have a link, I'm still uploading. My next task will be to edit like scenes together (like all the Chatauqua Lake footage) Here's a link to the folder that contains all the videos,…
Home Movies – Staryn, Will and Chris
These home movies were taken by Will Wagner of his son Staryn and wife Christina. I edited some of these into the Staryn movie. Here is all the raw footage used in that plus a lot more. 2-21 Seneca Indian Reservation 1968 2-22 Baby Staryn (1970) (has Seneca Indian title card in beginning) 2-24 Chris and friends at Houston, PA and area. Summer 1969 Chris - At Houston PA back yard getting into car with…
My genealogy software
Family Tree Maker on my PC. I've used FTM since version 2 (I still have the old floppies!). Mackiev has done a pretty good job taking over the program. They are improving it and it works pretty well now. to host my trees. I have a full subscription which gives me access to all their records, as well as fold3 and Ancestry apps on my iPad and iPhone. Note: I still LOVE the Ancestry APPS…
[CD] Lonesome as the Land: The Civil War through the diaries of boy soldiers
I recently discovered an album of music by Lynette Westendorf of her compositions based on the letters and diaries of civil war soldiers. I included several of the quotes from the album in my narratives to illustrate the experience our ancestors were going through. Please support Lynette by ordering her CD. It's very interesting. You can purchase it on Amazon HERE.
When I Read the Book
When I read the book, the biography famous, And is this then (said I) what the author calls a man's life? And so will some one when I am dead and gone write my life? (As if any man really knew aught of my life, Why even I myself I often think know little or nothing of my real life. Only a few hints, a few diffused faint clews and indirections I seek for my…
Frank Funkenbusch – his life after moving to Montana in 1905
When writing the foregoing biographical life of Father and Mother is was intended the story should end with their activities and demise. But now since some have read it and commented it has been suggested that an addition be appended depicting my own life and activities after coming to Montana in 1905. Reflecting on the avidity with which I would read such a story written by my Grandfather of his early life in Germany, crossing…
Ancestral History of Frank Funkenbusch
I was born on my father's small farm about five miles north of Canton, Missouri January 27, 1880. My father's name was William Funkenbusch. This name I wore until 1925, when for social ease and for the benefit of my two young sons I had abbreviated to 'Busch'. This was done in District Court before Judge Theodore Lentz in Missoula, Montana May 25, 1925. More recently I contacted Montana State University for a translation of…
Did the Vespers and the Fryhofers know each other?
Recently I connected with Susan Vesper, a 5th cousin. She alerted me to an error in my Ancestry tree and we've been trading data and photos ever since. When I added Susan to my tree, I did a little more research on her lineage. She descends from Johann Wilhelm Vesper, my ggg grandfather Frederick Vesper's brother. Three of Johann Wilhelm's sons came to America in the late 1800s and they lived for a few years…
Christmas Past
PLEASE EMAIL ME YOUR MEMORIES AND PHOTOS OF CHRISTMAS WHEN YOU WERE A KID OR OLD PICS FROM YOUR PARENTS/GRANDPARENTS FOR THE ONLINE COLLECTION. My Wagner family sure knew how to do Christmas. There was always a tree, lots of presents, and usually a model train set at my grandparents house. Living up north in Pittsburgh, there was usually snow. I was lucky to have my grandparents (Homer Wagner and Louise Weiler) nearby to spoil…