A Precious Photo of Chester Malvin Iverson

In June 2016, I shared the exciting and wonderful news about a new cousin connection I made because my family tree is on WikiTree.com. This new cousin's name is Maureen. She is so awesome and sweet and it's been really fun sharing and receiving family history photos and information with her. I'm grateful that Maureen has been so willing to share these precious photos, documents, and information with me. I'm also grateful that she has given me permission to share them on my blog.

In my post from last June I shared one of the beautiful photos that Maureen shared with me. It was a photo of Rose Josephine Iverson, my first cousin twice removed.

Today, I'd like to share another of the photos that Maureen shared with me.

Chester Malvin Iverson
Photo Courtesy of My Cousin Maureen

This is Chester Malvin Iverson, my first cousin twice removed, and one of Rose Josephine Iverson's brothers.

Chester was born on 26 August 1900 in Benson, Minnesota to his parents, Iver Martin Iverson and Mary Cecelia Miller.

He was the second oldest of five children born to Iver and Mary.

Chester enlisted in the United States Navy in Seattle, Washington when he was only 16 years old, just shy of his 17th birthday.

In an upcoming post, I will tell you more about Chester and his service in the Navy during WWI.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2017 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

More Proof That It's Worthwhile To Have Your Family Tree Online

Last month I received an email from a a very nice woman named Maureen. She found my family tree on WikiTree and then contacted me. It turns out that we are cousins on my Iverson side. Our common ancestor is Iver Iverson, my 2nd great-grandfather who was born in Norway, immigrated to the United States in 1858, and fought in the American Civil War.

Maureen and I have emailed back and forth. She is so sweet! She shared amazing documents and photos with me and also gave me permission to share the photos here on my blog.

Here's one of her photos. This is Rose Josephine Iverson, my 1st cousin twice removed. Isn't she beautiful?

Rose Josephine Iverson

Photo Courtesy of my Cousin Maureen

 I recently gave my "Family History Blogs and Social Media" presentation at the Fresno County Genealogical Society's June General Meeting. One of the things I talked about in that presentation is the importance of sharing our family tree online. This recent cousin connection with Maureen is just one more example of why that is true.

My regular readers may also remember another amazing thing that happened because my family tree is online. I call it the Engle Family Postcards Adventure on my blog. If you aren't familiar with what happened, you can read about it by clicking on the "The Engle Family Postcards" tab at the top of my blog.

I'm so glad that Maureen contacted me. I look forward to us sharing more family history information with each other in the future.

Do you have your family tree online? If so, what connections have you made because your tree is online?

Thanks for stopping by!

Jana

© 2016 Copyright by Jana Iverson Last, All Rights Reserved

My Interview on the WikiTree Blog

A while back I was interviewed for the "Meet our Members" series on the WikiTree Blog. Yesterday my interview was published. And I'm so excited to share it with you!

I hope you'll pop on over to the WikiTree Blog and read my interview. Here's the link ~

Meet our Members: Jana Last

Also, I'd like to thank Eowyn Langholf, a.k.a. the "Forest Elf" at WikiTree, for interviewing me.

Thanks for reading!

Jana

© 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved

The Engle Family Postcard Adventure

Engle Family Postcards
from Ann in Ireland

It all started on November 11, 2013 – this wonderful, amazing, and exciting Engle Family Postcard Adventure. This incredible adventure is about postcards, dating from the early 1900s, that somehow ended up almost halfway around the world from where they originated. And about how these priceless postcards ended up back in America, and in the hands of a thankful relative of those who originally wrote and received these postcards. That thankful relative is me. This extraordinary adventure has also given me a new friend in Ireland named Ann. We have kept in touch since this adventure began.

The Engle Family Postcard Adventure Begins

On Monday, November 11th, I received an email from WikiTree that contained a private message from a very nice woman named Ann. She lives in Ireland and told me that she had purchased three vintage postcards from a second-hand market in Galway, Ireland. The postcards were addressed to Richard Engle and Mrs. S. A. Engle. Ann did an online search for these names and found my family tree on the WikiTree website. She saw that Richard and Sarah Engle were in my family tree and subsequently left me a message.

Ann wanted to know if any of the Engle's relations would be interested in receiving these postcards, and if so, she was willing to send them for free. She also said there were still many more Engle family postcards at the second-hand market where she had purchased these three postcards in Galway, Ireland.

To say I was thrilled upon receiving this email would be an understatement! This was simply amazing! Mrs. S. A. Engle, the addressee of these postcards, was my 2nd great-grandaunt. Her full name was Sarah Amanda (Waterman) Engle. She was married to Richard Engle. I have done a lot of research on this family over the years. Sarah was born on March 15, 1836 in Coolville, Athens, Ohio and passed away on December 5, 1939 in South Pasadena, Los Angeles, California. She was 103 years old at the time of her death. Her husband, Richard Engle, served in the Civil War.

Sarah Amanda (Waterman) Engle

Anyway, back to the postcards...I sent a reply to Ann informing her that I am, in fact, related to this Engle family. I asked her if she could scan the postcards and send the images in an email, which she did. It was so exciting to see the images of these postcards! I checked the names and addresses on the postcards, and was able to confirm that they were addressed to my Sarah (Waterman) Engle and her husband Richard.

I definitely wanted these postcards and offered to pay Ann for them. She insisted on sending them to me free of charge. How kind she is! I also asked her if she could give me the contact information for the seller of the Engle postcards at the second-hand market in Galway, Ireland, so I could see about buying the rest of the postcards. Ann gave me the information and I was able to contact him. His name is Thomas.

In the meantime, and before I even contacted Thomas about purchasing more of the Engle family postcards, Ann went back to Galway and purchased 16 of the remaining Engle family postcards from Thomas at the second-hand market. I hadn't asked her to do this. She is just that kind and thoughtful! And she again said she didn't want any money for the postcards. She would send them to me free of charge. She told me to just think of them as a Christmas gift from Ireland. Ann is just so sweet!

On December 16, 2013, I received a package from Ann. Not only did she send me these amazing Engle family postcards that she purchased, which are over 100 years old, she also sent me a lovely letter, a Christmas card to my husband and me, and this beautiful Christmas ornament for our tree!

Christmas Ornament from Ann in Ireland

On November 20, 2013, I contacted Thomas, the seller of the Engle family postcards in Galway, Ireland and inquired about the remaining Engle family postcards. We were able to purchase 45 more of these precious postcards from him.

On December 20, 2013, I received the 45 Engle family postcards we purchased from Thomas.

I have put all of the Engle family postcards in a binder with acid-free photo pages to protect them.

Engle Family Postcards

I will be sharing these special Engle family postcards here on my blog.

I sent my new friend, Ann in Ireland, a thank-you gift before Christmas. I would also like to publicly thank her for purchasing 18 of these amazing postcards, finding me by doing an online search, contacting me, and sending me these priceless Engle family postcards. I am overwhelmed by Ann's kindness. And I can't thank her enough for all she has done.

Thanks for reading!

Jana

© 2014 Copyright by Jana Last, All Rights Reserved