Week 6 - Theme: Valentine - A Wedding on Valentine’s Day

 2021 – 52 ancestors for 52 weeks

(challenge by Amy Johnson Crow)

 My challenge for 2021, I am writing 52 “stories” about my mother’s parents and their line instead of 52 ancestors.  I thought it would be a good way to get those stories onto the page for others to enjoy.

Theme: Valentine

A Wedding on Valentine’s Day 

There are a lot of topics that could be written around this theme. I decided to write about my Great Great Great Grandparents – Benjamin Hall and Elizabeth Lemmon.  I included a family chart showing how they are related.

Family Chart

Benjamin and Elizabeth were married on Valentine’s Day, Feb 14, 1841 in Vermillion, Indiana by Isaac Bullington, Officiator. 

Benjamin Hall and Elizabeth Lemmon

Marriage Record - listed at the bottom 

Benjamin was 24 years old and Elizabeth was only 17 years old.  Though back in that timeframe, 17 was not considered young for the woman to get married.  I wonder how they met?  What was their wedding like? Was it a big celebration or a small one? Her Obituary stated that she was a member of the Christian Church all her life so maybe their wedding was in the Church?

They both were living in Vermillion Indiana when they got married and made Vermillion their home for the first few years of their marriage. Sometime between 1845 and 1947 they moved from Vermilion Indiana to Red Rock Iowa, about 390 miles, where they continued to farm until they moved to Jasper County Iowa only 30 miles away around 1870. Their first 3 children were born in Indiana, and the additional 11 children were all born in Iowa. While researching the Red Rock area, I found a few men with the last name Hall living in Marion County.  At some point I will do more research to see if these men are related to Benjamin Hall.  It might give some insight into why the family moved from Indiana to Iowa. 

Their eldest child, Emaline (my Great Great Grandmother), married a man from Red Rock Indiana and had moved to Ashland, Nebraska.  Benjamin and Elizabeth decided to make the journey to Nebraska and purchase a plot of land outside of the Ashland township about 3 miles on 11 September 1972 for $2,350.00 (today’s dollar is $50,172.50). This makes me think they probably sold some farm land in Iowa. Ashland Nebraska was about 200 miles from Red Rock Iowa.

Homestead at Ashland Nebraska

Benjamin’s Death

On the 2^nd of January, 1875 a team of horsed brought Benjamin home. Unfortunately, a tragic accident must have happened as he was dead when they found him. He is buried in the Old Clear Creek Cemetery in Nebraska. He only had the land for three years.

There is a probate document on file showing the land was now owned by Benjamin’s wife, Elizabeth. The 1880 Federal census is showing Elizabeth as the head of household with 5 children ages 20, 19, 16, 14 and 12.  All old enough to help Elizabeth with the farming. By 1885, the three eldest children had moved out, leaving only the two youngest still living at home, ages 19 and 17. Did Elizabeth give the land to one of her Children? Or did she sell the property for money to live on?

 

Probate Record for Benjamin Hall

Her daughter Hannah had moved to San Diego California. By 1890, Elizabeth was 67 and living with Hannah and her family in California.

Elizabeth’s Death

Elizabeth died the 23^rd of February, 1902 and buried in the Clear Creek cemetery along side her husband Benjamin in Nebraska.

 

Obituary for Elizabeth Lemmon Hall

After doing additional research, it appears that Elizabeth’s daughter whom she was living with at the time of her death per the attached Obituary was Josephine.  Josephine was married to John Willis Clark.  The A. W. Clark listed on the obituary may have been transcribed in error as the copy I have is not a copy of the original. Josephine and John Clark were living in Marble Prescient in Nebraska at the time of Elizabeth’s death. 

Head Stone in the Clear Creek Cemetery Nebraska

 They were married for 34 years with 14 Children.

Table listing children, born state and death state (they still need to be verified)

Name	Birth Date	Birth State	Death Date	Death State
Emaline	7 Dec 1841	Indiana	14 Feb 1923	Nebraska
Josephine	4 Feb 1844	Indiana	1 Oct 1865	Iowa
Albert Milo	1 Dec 1845	Indiana	20 Dec 1845
James Robert	2 Oct 1847	Iowa	13 April 1909	Iowa
Baby Hall	28 Dec 1850	Iowa	29 Dec 1850	Iowa
Elvira	23 April 1851	Iowa	7 June 1890	Nebraska
Francis M	28 July 1853	Iowa	23 March 1882
Oscar Simpson	10 Jan 1856	Iowa	4 Feb 1877	Nebraska
Martha Etta	1 Aug 1858	Iowa	19 Nov 1934	Oregon
Jasper T.	7 April 1860	Iowa	18 May 1937	Nebraska
Daniel Alvin	17 Oct 1861	Iowa	12 Feb 1941	Iowa
Hannah Clementine	Jan 1864	Iowa	22 Oct 1939	Neb
David T.	Dec 1866	Iowa	6 Oct 1921
Garnsey Benjamin	21 Feb 1868	Iowa	17 Apr 1954	Nebraska

 

History:

Indiana

Vermillion County lies in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana between the Illinois border and the Wabash River. It was officially established in 1824 and was the fiftieth Indiana county to be formed. The first settlers in the area arrived in 1816, the same year that the state of Indiana was established. Vermillion Township is one of five townships in Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. 

Vermillion Indiana to Red Rock Iowa – about 390 miles

In the 1860 there were approximately sixteen to seventeen thousand people in Marion County Iowa.  During the War of the Rebellion, one thousand three hundred and seventy two men went to war.

 In a book about Marion County, it referenced a Claiborn Hall who was a treasurer for the County, a Henry Hall and a JC Hall who also had something to do with the County and a Garrett W Hall who was wounded at Shiloh on 30 January 1862 and discharged 13 June 1862.  These families may have been related to Benjamin F. Hall and could explain why Benjamin moved his family from Indiana to Marion County Iowa. More research needs to be done to confirm if this theory is true.

Red Rock Iowa to Ashland Nebraska – about 200 miles

Ashland is located at the site of a low-water limestone ledge along the bottom of Salt Creek, a mud-bottomed stream that was an obstacle for wagon trains on the great westward migrations of the late 1840s and 1850s. The limestone bottom of Salt Creek at Ashland made it an excellent fording site.

 

Fun Facts during the timeframe of Benjamin and Elizabeth:

Ashland was established in 1870 and named after Ashland, the estate of Henry Clay. The telegraph lines came to Saunders County in May 1869. The railroad in 1870. From 1867 thru 1870, a stage line ran from Plattsmouth to Lincoln. Ashland was an over night stop.  Ashland’s first newspaper, the Ashland Times, began its existence April 8, 1870.

 Families Matter - Past and Present

Happy Hunting

 

Week 5 - Theme - In the Kitchen - John Schoenewald

 

2021 – 52 ancestors for 52 weeks

(challenge by Amy Johnson Crow)

 My challenge for 2021, I am writing 52 “stories” about my mother’s parents and paternal line instead of 52 ancestors.  I thought it would be a good way to get those stories onto the page for others to enjoy.

Theme: In the Kitchen

My Grandfather, John Schoenewald, owned a Café and Ice Cream Parlor sometime around 1948 – 1951.  The exact dates and location are unknown at this time.  More research needs to be done.  I see a road trip in the future!

I love this picture!  But I do wish we had more showing the actual Café.

John Schoenewald cooking at the Blue Bird Cafe

Blue Bird Café and Ice Cream Parlor

Located in Vale, Oregon (Eastern Oregon)

Owned by John and Emmeline Schoenewald

John was my Mother’s father.  My mother, Pat, was in High School when her parents owned this Café.  My mother’s sister, Darlene, was 12 years younger than my mom. Their stories are from different perspectives.

Darlene remembers the day when the Café was bought.  She was on a trip with her Mother, Emmeline, to Montana when John told Emmeline over the phone that he had bought a Café.   Darlene remembers her mother was worried and troubled over this news.

The Café: (quoted from Darlene)

“The entire front of the Blue Bird was big picture windows and a glass door, all facing along the sidewalk.  All the buildings were sandwiched together. Once inside, you could choose a dark blue bench seat from one of the booths lined up along the light blue walls on the right side. To the left, just beyond the soft ice cream machines and the display case for the frozen ice cream was a counter where hungry and thirsty patrons could step up and take a seat on the shiny silver chrome stools with round deep blue slick plastic seats.  Beyond the corridor on the other side of the counter was a half wall about four feet high filled with a large assortment of candy bars, suckers, gum, etc.  Beyond the goodies display was the grill and kitchen area.  It was a typical modern 50’s décor complete with a juke box.”

“Beyond the food service area and the juke box, you could walk towards the back of the building where it opened up into a recreation bonanza. There were pool tables, ping pong tables, shuffle board, pin ball machines, and more.”

The Café had a Juke Box (quote from Darlene)

“You could put your money directly into the juke box and make your selection or you could make your choice from the chrome boxes on each booth table. Just put your nickel in, push the button for the songs you wished to hear. For one nickel you could choose three songs”.

Ice Cream Parlor (quote from Darlene)

“John’s favorite thing was being creative with the ice cream. There were two soft service ice cream machines in the Blue Bird. In a day when ice cream was usually only offered in vanilla, chocolate or strawberry and soft ice cream was always vanilla, John took great enjoyment and pride inventing new ice cream flavors. Darlene remembers people coming in to inquire what flavor he was serving that day and John would gleam with pride and delight to extoll his latest creation. The flavor of the day was then frozen to join the selection of flavors in the freezer case of hard ice cream. The flavorings for the ice cream came from sources like the candies that were for sale in the café and syrups for making milkshakes and other drinks”.

The Girls in the Cafe

Since Darlene was still in grade school, she remembers having to just hang around after school until her Mother would take her home.  Boring for a little girl. However, the back door to the café led to the Library not far away so much of Darlene’s time would be spent there instead. Darlene soon realized that if she walked to the Cafe during her school lunch time, her father would feed her and she could save her lunch money for other things, like doll furniture. 

Since Pat was much older and had more responsibilities, she had to actually work at the Café after school.  If she wasn’t at the Café, she was home on the farm doing the chores that needed done, like milking cows, while her parents were working.

Both girls remember that their Mother didn’t really enjoy the Café but their father seemed to like it.

They also don’t remember going wild with the opportunity to have ice cream so handy at the Blue Bird.  Now me – I love ice cream!  Growing up I remember my father, Bob, would always want ice cream in the house.  I certainly got my love for ice cream from him.  It’s a good thing we didn’t have an ice cream parlor growing up.  That would have been dangerous!  

Feb 4th – Happy Birthday – Otillie Kujawski (Gerke) Schoenewald - My Great Grandmother

 In honor of my Great Grandmother’s birthday - Today, Feb 4^th, 1873

She is the Mother of my Grandfather (John Schoenewald) on my Mother’s (Pat Kurtz) side. I did not get to meet her as she died before I was born. 

You can find more information on her Journey to America here: (LINK) 

Otillie's journey to America

At this time, I have not yet researched any of the German Records so Otillie’s birth information has not been verified.  Otillie’s death certificate which was filled out by one of her daughters, who Otillie had been living with for several years, states her birth date was February 4, 1873. Yes, this information is indirect. However, based on my experience of providing my own mother’s birth information all the time while taking care of her, I am going to go with this date for now.

Otillie was the oldest of 5 children.  She was 3 when her baby sister finally arrived.  Was she excited to have a little sister?  Or did she resent having the attention taken from her? At 3 years old you never know how they are going to react.

Based on what little information I have to go on, her birth place may have been Thorn, West Prussia (Germany). Also known as Torun.

 Happy Birthday Great Grandma!!

 

Here is some history I found on Wikipedia:

Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with the first settlement dated back to the 8th century and later having been expanded in 1233 by the Teutonic Knights.^[6] Over centuries, it was the home for people of diverse backgrounds and religions. From 1264 until 1411 Toruń was part of the Hanseatic League and by the 17th century it was one of the elite trading points, which greatly affected the city's architecture ranging from Brick Gothic to Mannerism and Baroque. In the early-modern age, Toruń was a royal city of Poland and it was one of the four largest cities in the country at the time.^[7] After the partitions of Poland it was part of Prussia and later the German Empire. After Poland regained independence in 1918, Toruń was reincorporated into Polish territory, and during World War II was spared from bombing and destruction. This allowed the Old Town to be fully preserved with its iconic central marketplace.^[8]

Believed to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe,^[9] Toruń is renowned for the Museum of Gingerbread, whose baking tradition dates back nearly a millennium, and its large Cathedral. Toruń is noted for its very high standard of living and quality of life.^[10] In 1997 the medieval part of the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2007 the Old Town in Toruń was added to the list of Seven Wonders of Poland.

  

The 1st Map shows an overview of Prussia and where West Prussia is located. And it also gives you an idea how far away her birth town was to Hamburg where she sailed from when she came to America.

West Prussia is in the upper right 

The 2^nd Map shows a close up where Thorn is located within West Prussia.  

Thorn is located on the bottom of this Map (center right)

The square shows the location where one of her siblings may have been born.