Friday, August 31, 2012

Follow Friday–Fab Finds for August 31, 2012


My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order) -
  1. Let's get personal, shall we? by Blogging Genealogy
  2. If Genealogy Dominated Reality Television by The We Tree Genealogy Blog
  3. Sepia Saturday: Before Bridezilla Roamed by Jollett etc.
  4. Sorting Saturday — Good Source, Bad Source, Exhaustive Search by finding forgotten stories
  5. Those Genealogy Police are at it again! by Planting the Seeds
  6. Trove Tuesday - Frank Duncan by Geniaus
  7. A Poem for Daisy by A Family Tapestry
  8. 10 Steps for Turning Blog Posts into Story Scenes by The Armchair Genealogist
  9. New Historical Records Go Online by Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
  10. Overview of FamilySearch Family Tree by Larry Cragun Family and and Genealogy Blog
New Blog Discovery
Amazingly Awesome Webinar –

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Those Places Thursday–Webster Family Road Trip: Galena, Illinois - Part 2

This is part of a series of posts dedicated to the immigration story of Debs Webster and his family.

Welcome to Part 2 of my Webster family’s visit to the Historic Ulysses S. Grant Home!  If you missed Part 1, just click HERE to catch up.

We’re finishing up our visit to this historic home with a look at four vintage postcards from my Grandpa Debs’ collection.

Here we have a postcard showing the Library ~


Library, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1
Library of the Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge


Library, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2
Library of the Ulysses S. Grant Home
Back of Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge


Next up is a postcard showing the Kitchen ~


Kitchen, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1
Kitchen of the Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge


Kitchen, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2
Kitchen of the Ulysses S. Grant Home
Back of Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge


Here’s the Dining Room ~


Dining Room, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1
Dining Room of the Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge


Dining Room, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2
Dining Room of the Ulysses S. Grant Home
Back of Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge


And lastly we have a postcard showing Ulysses S. Grant's Bedroom ~


General U.S. Grant's Bedroom in Grant's Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 1
Bedroom of Ulysses S. Grant
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge



General U.S. Grant's Bedroom in Grant's Home - Galena, Illinois pg. 2
Bedroom of Ulysses S. Grant
Back of Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge

I hope you’ve enjoyed our little vintage postcard tour of the Historic Ulysses S. Grant Home.  In the next installment of my Webster Family’s Road Trip we will find them in South Dakota.

Thanks for reading!

Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Workday Wednesday–Arthur's On the Job! ~ Part 1

My regular readers may remember reading about my Grandfather, Arthur Harry Iverson, in my previous post I Found Clark Gable's Mechanic in the 1940 Census.

I was thrilled to find this photo (below), as well as other photos, of Arthur at work in one of my Grandmother Ingrid's Books of Remembrance.

Arthur (right) and Another Mechanic
at Work in January 1931

Here are some close-up views from the above photograph.

First up—my grandpa, Arthur Harry Iverson.

Arthur Harry Iverson

I thought it would be interesting to show the calendar from the day the photo was taken. Looks like it was a January day in 1931.

Calendar at Mechanic's Shop

Don’t you just love this old car with the advertisement on the back?
JONES & OHEARNE
PLUMBING
AND
SODA FOUNTAIN
- SERVICE -
3798 S. WESTERN
Classic Car
I have more photos of Arthur at work to share with you in our next installment of Arthur's On the Job!

Thanks for reading!


Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Sepia Saturday 140–Helen Albertina Gilberg and Nils Gustav Nilsson: A Wedding Portrait

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.
Sepia Saturday 140 August 25, 2012


I’ve decided to stay with the obvious theme of weddings this week.  Below is a photo of my great-aunt Helen Albertina Gilberg and Nils Gustav Nilsson on their wedding day.

Helen Gillberg and Nils Nilsson

Helen was a sister of my paternal grandmother, Ingrid Anna Gilberg.  I first introduced you to my Grandma Ingrid in my previous posts Wedding Wednesday - Arthur Harry Iverson and Ingrid Anna Gilberg and Matrilineal Monday: Flour Sack Dresses–Ingrid Anna Gilberg

If you read the Flour Sack Dresses post, you saw that Helen was one of nine girls born to Carl and Hilda Gilberg.  There was a son born to them as well, but he passed away at only 14 months of age.

Helen and Nils, who went by Gus, were married in Los Angeles, California on June 30, 1934.  I’m not sure why my Grandmother Ingrid wrote 3 March 1934 underneath the photo.  That actually wasn’t the correct date according to Nils Gustav Nilsson’s Petition for Naturalization.

Aren't they a handsome couple?  Don't you just love her dress and veil?  And look at Nils holding his white gloves.  How elegant!

To read what other Sepia Saturday participants have written this week, just click HERE.

Thanks for reading!

Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Those Places Thursday–Webster Family Road Trip: Galena, Illinois - Part 1

This is part of a series of posts dedicated to the immigration story of Debs Webster and his family.

Goodbye Chicago, Hello Galena

The next stop on the Webster Road Trip is Galena, Illinois. Why Galena? Well, the Historic Ulysses S. Grant Home is located there. Perhaps Uncle Rollin or someone in his family suggested they make a visit to this historic home.

If so, it looks like they took his advice because the next photos and vintage postcards in Grandpa Debs’ photo album and scrapbook are from their visit to the U.S. Grant Home.

Time for a bite to eat! 


Webster Family in or on way to Illinois
L to R: Standing - My Mom, Willis, Helena
Sitting:  My Uncles
Click to Enlarge
If you look closely at the top of the photograph you can see handwriting by my Grandpa Debs. It says, “de leste a weste em viagem.” Translated loosely from Portuguese to English this says, “On Our East to West Trip.” Grandpa also put the dates on the bottom of the photo – “Jul, Aug 1952.”

What else do you see in the photograph? Of course, there’s the 1951 Chevrolet Sedan behind them. And on the picnic table? Among other things, I see a bottle of milk, a bowl of fruit and a saucepan on top of a portable stove. What can you see?

You may recall from a PREVIOUS POST that the Websters bought camping equipment for their trip. Looks like they put it to good use!

Ulysses S. Grant Home - Vintage Postcards and Photographs

Looks like the Websters arrived safe and sound.  Here they are in front of the U.S. Grant Home.



Webster Family in Front of General U.S. Grant Home Galena, Illinois 1952 Photoshopped
The Webster Family at
The Ulysses S. Grant Home in 1952
Click to Enlarge


General U.S Grant Home
Sign in Front of the U.S. Grant Home
Click to Enlarge



Webster Family in Front of General U.S. Grant Home
Close-up of the Webster Family
in Front of the U.S. Grant Home
Click to Enlarge

 Below is a photo of the U.S. Grant Home from Wikimedia Commons.




US Grant Home Galena Illinois
Ulysses S. Grant Home
from Wikimedia Commons
Photo by Jesster79
Click to Enlarge

Time to share some vintage postcards - Smile

Here's a postcard showing the U.S. Grant Home.


General U. S. Grant Home, Galena, Illinois Vintage Postcard pg. 1
Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge
  
General U. S. Grant Home, Galena, Illinois Vintage Postcard pg. 2
Back of Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge
   And here we have the Parlor.

Parlor, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois Vintage Postcard pg. 1
Parlor of Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge

Parlor, General U.S. Grant Home - Galena, Illinois Vintage Postcard pg. 2
Back of Parlor of Ulysses S. Grant Home
Vintage Postcard
Click to Enlarge

There are four more vintage postcards from my Webster family’s visit to the U.S. Grant Home.  I'll share them with you in the next installment of the Webster Family Road Trip.

Thanks for reading!

Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Wordless Wednesday–E.P.C. Webster circa 1856

Fair warning…this will not be exactly wordless….Smile

This is a photo of my 2nd great-grandfather, Ebenezer Perry Carlisle Webster.  Don’t you just love that bow tie?!

Ebenezer was a Civil War veteran.  I wrote about him in a previous post titled Tombstone Tuesday–Ebenezer Perry Carlisle Webster.

This photo of Ebenezer was taken when he was 18 years old, or about the year 1856, just a few short years before the start of the Civil War.

Ebenezer Perry Carlisle Webster
at 18 years of age
circa 1856
Below is the back of the photo.  You can see what my Grandfather Debs Webster wrote about the photo of Ebenezer.  Thank you grandpa for this information!



Thanks for reading!

Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Sepia Saturday 139–Iguacu Falls - A Vintage Postcard

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.

Sepia Saturday 139 August 18, 2012

This week’s Sepia Saturday theme has to do with salvaged bones with an interesting picture of a man and a dog.  In addition to the obvious theme of an old man and a dog, Alan at Sepia Saturday suggested possible twists on this theme such as explosives, lubricating oil, fire resistant pain, etc.

Well, I’ve decided to really twist today’s theme.  I’m going with the word explosive.  I think it works perfectly with the vintage postcard I’ve decided to share with you today.  It shows the amazing Iguacu Falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina.  According to About.com - South America Travel, Iguacu Falls is taller than and twice as wide as Niagra Falls.

Iguacu Falls Postcard
Back of Postcard

This postcard belonged to my Grandpa Debs and Grandma Willis Webster.  It was printed in Brazil, but I believe they purchased it in San Francisco, as other postcards in this collection have the following stamp on them -




The Merrian-Webster Online Thesaurus defines explosive as -
1. extreme in degree, power, or effect and 2. marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity .
Also listed are some synonyms that I think fit perfectly with today's postcard:   tumultuous, turbulent, profound, and exquisite.  I love that last one - exquisite!

I think the following Youtube video shows just how exquisite these Falls really are.  Enjoy!


Uploaded by kedarvideo on May 24, 2009


Here are a couple photographs of Iguacu Falls from Wikimedia Commons (click to enlarge the photos):


Iguacu Falls, Brazil - Wikimedia Commons - Martin St-Amant - Wikipedia - CC-BY-SA-3
Iguacu Falls, Brazil
Wikimedia Commons
Martin St-Amant - Wikipedia - CC-BY-SA-3

Iguacu Falls, Brazil - Wikimedia Commons
Iguacu Falls and Brazilian Tourist Complex
Wikimedia Commons
Martin St-Amant - Wikipedia - CC-BY-SA-3.0

For more exquisite Sepia Saturday posts, just click HERE.

Thanks for reading!

Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Friday, August 17, 2012

Follow Friday–Fab Finds for August 17, 2012


My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order) -
  1. 1000! by The We Tree Genealogy Blog
  2. Celebrating Our Ancestors... by Chicago Genealogical Society
  3. Chimani by Desperately Seeking Surnames
  4. Free Digital Library of Historical Directories by Tangled Trees
  5. Searching for a Phantom Uncle in Depression Era Records by GeneaJourneys
  6. They came from Doornspijk by Branch and Leaf…a family history blog
  7. 15 Websites for Genealogy Education by A Sense of Family
  8. Family Fun Day in Pouring Rain - Yes it Can Be Done! and Rumour Mill: Who Do You Think You Are? New Season Coming to a New Network? by Olive Tree Genealogy Blog
  9. Illinois Cemetery Location Project at Illinois State Genealogical Society Website by Illinois State Genealogical Society Blog
  10. Tuesday's Tip: Check Out Genealogy Book Links by Genea-Musings
  11. 8 Ways To Make Sure A Link Is Safe Before You Click It by makeuseof.com
  12. TERWILLIGER - That SOUVENIR ALBUM by TWIGS and TREES
  13. Clogged Channels by Genealogy’s Star
  14. A Victor Victrola Machine! by A HUNDRED YEARS AGO
  15. Family History All Done? What’s Your Number? by Ancestry.com Blog
  16. Google Maps: 10 Handy Tricks You Should Know by Mashable Tech
  17. Splog Alert – Genealogygen.com by GeneaBloggers
  18. Family Quilt in the Indiana State Museum by Frequent Traveler Ancestry
  19. 18th and 19th century Frakturs by LEAVES FOR TREES
  20. DAR - Take 2 by Jollett etc.

New Blog Discovery

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Those Places Thursday–Webster Family Road Trip: Chicago, Illinois

This is part of a series of posts dedicated to the immigration story of Debs Webster and his family.

Bye Bye New York, Hello Chicago, Illinois!

Debs Webster and his family are on the road again! This time they are leaving New York and heading to Chicago, Illinois.

In my last
POST I mentioned that my uncle had emailed me with some very interesting recollections regarding this trip across the USA.  Here’s what he had to say about this leg of their journey:

“We travelled first to Chicago, where Pop’s uncle and some cousins lived. They tried to teach me some English words to no avail. Since I wasn’t using them, I had no retention of the words.”
The uncle he is referring to is Rollin Waterman Webster. He was a brother of my "Traveling Dentist Great-Grandpa" Frederick Webster. I introduced you to sweet Uncle Rollin in this previous POST.

Grandpa Debs’ 1952 photo album shows photos and a vintage postcard from Illinois immediately following those from near Palmyra, New York. With that in mind, I hope I’m correct in assuming they left Palmyra and headed directly to Chicago. If that was the case, then according to GoogleMaps, the trip would have taken about 10 hours!

My uncle also said that my Grandpa Debs was the only one in the group who knew how to drive, so guess who drove the whole way!

Palmyra, New York to Chicago, Illinois Map
GoogleMaps.com

According to a letter from Uncle Rollin to my Grandpa Debs, the last time they saw each other was probably sometime before 1923. So I can imagine how exciting this must have been for them to see each other again after so many years! Actually about 29 years! In 1952 Uncle Rollin would have been about 80 or 81 years old.


The photo below of Rollin was taken in June, 1952 in Chicago. The young man behind him is his grandson Billy.

In 1952 Rollin was living at 8937 South Paulina Street in Chicago. According to
Zillow.com, his house was built in 1924. Today’s stats say it is 1,087 square feet in size, and has 1 bathroom. It doesn’t list how many bedrooms it has though.

Rollin Waterman Webster June 1952
Rollin Waterman Webster and
Grandson Billy in Chicago - 1952



Rollin Waterman Webster June 1952 pg. 2 back of photo
Back of Photo

The following photo of Rollin was taken in 1942 at the Chicago Loop.


Rollin Waterman Webster 1942 at Chicago Loop
Rollin Waterman Webster
at the Chicago Loop - 1942


Back of Photo
Here’s a map of the Chicago Loop from Wikimedia Commons. It was created using OpenStreetMap.org. Ever heard of it? I hadn’t until I wrote this post. It seems pretty cool. And yes, I’ve added the website to my blog’s Research Toolbox. Here’s the LINK to the Chicago Loop map on OpenStreetMap.org.

Chicago Loop
Map of Chicago Loop from
Wikimedia Commons via
OpenStreetMap.org

I don’t know how long my Grandpa Debs and his family stayed in Chicago visiting Uncle Rollin and his family, but I’m sure they had a wonderful time.

Unfortunately, it is time to get going again for Debs and his family. The next photos and vintage postcard in Debs’ photo album are from Galena, Illinois.

Why did they stop in Galena, Illinois? Tune in next time to find out.

Thanks for reading!


Jana
 
Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Tombstone Tuesday–Michael Christian Christopherson

My regular readers may remember that my family and I spent an enjoyable time in Utah on vacation recently.  I wrote about it in my blog post I'm Back!!.  We had a great time together.

And as any other good genealogist would do, I planned a couple visits to local cemeteries while we were there.

One of the cemeteries we visited was the Ogden City Cemetery.  If you have ancestors buried in this cemetery, be sure to check out the cemetery's link.  This website allows you to search for your ancestor's burial plot and see it on a map.  Very cool!



Buried in this cemetery are several of my Christopherson ancestors from Norway.  Today’s post will focus on my 3rd great-grandfather, Michael Christian Christopherson.

 
Grave Marker of the Christopherson Family


Christopherson Family Gravestone

Michael Christian Christopherson Grave Marker

Transcription of Grave Marker:

MICHAEL C.
Christopherson
Born at
Christiansund
NORWAY
JAN 18, 1812

Died
SEP. 24, 1882


Michael was born on January 18, 1812 in Christiansund, More Og Romsdal, Norway.  He was the son of Christopher Christiansen and Peternilla or Petronella Mikkelsdatter.

Michael married Serianna Olsdatter on February 15, 1834 in Tromso, Troms, Norway.  They were the parents of seven children:
  1. Christiana Christopherson (1835-1889)
  2. Ole Anthon Christopherson (1837-1914) - My 2nd great-grandfather
  3. Peter Christopherson (1840-1930)
  4. Serianne Michelia Christopherson (1843-1928)
  5. Julia Maria Christopherson (1845-1874)
  6. Anne Johanna Elizabeth Christopherson (1848-1935)
  7. Henning Abraham Christopherson (1857-1937)
Michael and his family immigrated to the United States sometime between 1867 and 1875.  Michael died on September 24, 1882 in Harrisonville, Weber, Utah.

More on this family in future posts.

Thanks for reading!


Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Sepia Saturday 138–The Traveling Dentist and His Motorized Bike circa 1917

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.   

Sepia Saturday 138 August 11, 2012

Here he is again, that traveling dentist great-grandpa of mine, Watson Emory (Frederick) Webster.  For those who want to find out why I refer to him as my “Traveling Dentist” great-grandfather, simply click HERE.

Today’s Sepia Saturday prompt featuring bicycles provides the perfect opportunity to share this photograph of my great-grandfather with one of the ways he traveled, his motorized bike.

Frederick Emory Webster and Bike
Watson Emory (Frederick) Webster
Most Likely in Brazil
circa 1917

If you look closely at this photo, you can see his Dental Office sign on the building behind him.


Fred Webster Dentist Sign
Dental Office Sign:
F.E. Webster

Dentista Norte Americano



I believe the three little kids in the doorway are my grandpa Debs (far right front), and his sisters Edna (next to Debs), and Carlota (behind).


Frederick Webster's Children Carlota and Edna and Debs
Most Likely Carlota, Edna and Debs Webster

Also interesting to see is the bike itself. It’s sitting on a triangular bike stand (rear wheel). The motor is visible and if you look closely at the handlebars you can even see a bulb horn. And behind the seat is a small attached bag for carrying various items.

Fred Webster and Bike Kickstand
Kickstand

Fred Webster and Bike Motor
Motor

Fred Webster and Bike Horn
Bulb Horn

Fred Webster and Bike Saddle-Bag
Bike Bag

Now, I don’t know if this bike came motorized or if my great-grandpa added a motor to his regular bike.  In my research for this post, I haven’t been able to find a motorized bike that looks just like this one.  What do you think?  If anyone familiar with historic bikes knows the answer, please share in the comments below.

To see what other Sepia Saturday participants have written this week, cycle on over to Sepia Saturday.


Thanks for reading!

Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012


Update:  Since publishing this post, my mom emailed me the following interesting note - 
"Dear Jana, 
When we lived in Rio Claro, if memory serves, my father Debs also added a motor to his bicycle and added a wooden seat in front so he could give rides to small children and also to our little dog who loved to ride with dad.  Like father like son in inventing...
Mom"

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