Reflections From the Fence: January 2024

Sunday, January 28, 2024

William N Lashbrook & Laura Jane Oakley, Research Report, the As It Is Series and One Short Newspaper Clipping.

This continues a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors. This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report. It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - -

Meet - - William N. Lashbrook and his bride, Jane Oakley, and their children, Wallace, Eliza, Julia, Infant, and George.

I have been working newspapers, deep diving, for quite some time, oh, the interesting articles I have been finding.

This weekend, I found and typed up this jewel:

From the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, published November 1, 1852:

“LIST OF LETTERS

REMAINING IN THE POST-OFFICE AT MADION (sic)

NOVEMBER 1, 1852

Persons calling for letters advertised below will please say “THEY ARE ADVERTISED.”

…

Lashbrook. Wm.

…

C ABBOTT, P.M.”

** We note with interest that his daughter, Eliza Jane was born the day after this notification ran in the paper.

I have written about Eliza before, see this link (you know I am no fan of links, but, well, sometimes one needs them). Her date of birth is as recorded in her mother's Bible. The Bible pages were kindly shared by the late Kenneth Lashbrook many years ago. Kenneth was a great-grandson of William and Laura Jane.

I love when I can find additional little pieces that help me place the families together, and/or in certain localities in specific time frames. I had been looking for something for placing William in Madison, Dane County for a few years. I will continue to look, but, for now, I am pleased with this "list of letters".

Happiness this weekend was short, sweet and a list of letters.

* 1852 - Wisconsin law required counties to record births, but this was largely ignored. I recently searched the data base at FamilySearch dot org for any birth record for any Lashbrook for the1820-1907, Index of births from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services in Madison. Index provided by Ancestry dot com. Nothing was found. I also searched Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926 and found nothing.

** Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors. I pay for subscriptions, full price.

*** My judgements may or may not be correct. Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

**** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink. Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs. As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed. If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Origins, In Brief, Sorta, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Thanks to Amy Johnson Crow, who year after year posts "challenges" her followers to share thoughts and/or photos in whatever manner suits each individual. Blogs, social media, or just in your personal memories. I have played before, and will play along a bit this year, God willing and the creek don't rise.

This week's challenge is: Origins.

Right off I remembered this fun chart from 2016:

A bit of the back story on this - - in March of 2016, J Paul Hawthorne posted his chart on Facebook. It was wildly and delightfully duplicated. It was such a fun week or so. He even blogged about it over at his blog, GeneaSpy, see his post of March 26, 2016.

So, each block represents part of my pedigree chart. Yes, starting with me. You will see this goes back as far as my great-great grandparents.

Yesterday I studied each of these great-greats and traced those lines back as far as I could, did I have any idea where they may have come from before jumping the pond?

Yes, and no.

Now, the disclaimer, for the past couple of years, I have not done any updating, or review of research on these ggggg (however many greats) grandparents, or their origins. So, this is information collected in prior research. There is nothing like review and more review of prior research. By doing so, we may find new ideas, information, hints, and new documentation. However, for now, this is what prior research has told us about the possible origins of my 16 great-great grandparents.

(By square number, starting at the top right, and working down that entire row.)

1. Wales

2 thru 6, have no clue

7. England

8. England, or possibly Wales

9. Possibly Alsace France

10. Germany

11. Germany

12. Possibly Germany.

13. Switzerland

14. France

15. Switzerland

16. England (possibly French Hugenots prior to England.)

Interestingly enough, these do remind me of the heritage claims of my grandparents when asked.

And, I will admit, I am now itching to review and see if I can discover more. Will I?? Stay tuned.

* Remember, links fail. They change, they morf, they disappear. That is why for the most part, I no longer use them. I made and exception in this post.

** The chart was worked on a spreadsheet, see the blog post by J Paul.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Alexander McFarland, Research Report, the As It Is Series

Let's begin - -

Meet - - Alexander McFarland:

What we know, he was a writing professor/teacher and we can find nothing about him after the 1880 census, at least as of today:

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published October 11, 1877:

Prof. A. McFarland begins his writing school this week. As a teacher of penmanship he has a good reputation, and we heartily commented his efforts, and consider them worthy of success.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published December 20, 1877:

A. McFarland closes his second term of writing school this week, which has been successful and every body is satisfied.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published December 27, 1877:

“WRITING SCHOOL. - - Prof. McFarland holds his school Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights at the M.E. Church, Mitchell. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights at Wardall School House, 5 miles east of St Anagar. 27w2”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published January 3, 1878:

“Prof A. McFarland is having his usual success in his writing school. He has about 125 pupils in his Mitchell school.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published January 10, 1878:

“Prof. McFarland is meeting with success. He has a large class and is giving good satisfaction. We understand he will commence next Tuesday to teach the Osagers to make hieroglyphics. We recommend him as one who throughly understand the profession he teaches.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published February 14, 1878:

“WRITING SCHOOL - - Prof McFarland will open his writing school at Armory Hall next Monday night.

AND, same paper, same date:

“Prof. McFarland’s writing school is in progress and is being largely attended.”

From the Mitchell County Press, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, published February 21, 1878:

“Stacyville

…

Prof McFarland has a large class of students, whom he is instructing in the science of penmanship. Now the prof not only likes his profession, but, he has taken a very strong liking for Miss Lashbrook, so strong indeed that about fifty guests were invited to witness the ceremony by which the Rev. Mr. Barrows made them though twain one. This was a very interesting affair, and reflects considerable credit on Mr. and Mrs. Grettenburg at whose residence the party was, for their careful and judicious management in the way of invitations and entertainment.”

AND, just a few lines later in the same column, same paper, same date:

“FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT

The event of the season has come off at last. Prof McFarland, who has for the last few weeks been teaching writing in Stacyville, was united in the bonds of matrimony to Miss Annie Lashbrook, of Mitchell. The wedding took place at the residence of Mr S. E. Grettenburg, brother-in-law to the bride. Over a hundred invitations were issued and accepted, and everything passed off very pleasantly.”

In 1880 Alexander McFarland and Ann, his wife appear on the census of West Mitchell, Mitchell County, Iowa enumerated just before Julia's mother, Jane, and her brother, George B. This entry shows Ann McFarland age 25, born Wisconsin, father born England, mother born New York. It also shows a one year old son, Ernest. Alexander is shown as 32 years of age, a writing master, born in New York, father born Scotland, mother born Iceland.

In his son Ernest's obituary (provided by Marilyn O'Connor of Mitchell County, Iowa), it is stated that Alexander died when he (Ernest) was very young. Julia was remarried (October 15, 1883, Mitchell County, Iowa) and had a daughter, Pearl Celestial Cummings, by July of 1884.

In the 1925 Iowa Census, Ernest states Alexander was born in Michigan, and shows no age, indicated Alexander was deceased.

That is it. Even after numerous research dives at Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, and Find A Grave as well as digitized newspapers via the CommunityHistoryArchive project. Frankly, I am befuddled. Alexander was seemingly a popular teacher/professor, who after his marriage had one child and then goes poof into the upper stratosphere of a place unknown.

I searched the Mitchell County Death Registers for 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884. Zip, nadda, newp.

Mystery man, what happened to you? Are you really Alexander McFarland? Did you change your name before or after your marriage? Where were you before you start teaching in Mitchell County Iowa? Oh, the questions.

Now and then, I will revisit Alexander and search again. Hopefully some day - - -

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors. I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct. Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink. Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs. As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed. If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

**** I hope the usual happens, within hours, sometimes minutes, I do another search and something shows up. Well, I can hope.

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

More Lashbrook Newspaper Fun

I may have mentioned a time or two - - I LOVE NEWSPAPERS - -

Lately, I have been processing through 3,166 hits, give or take, from a newspaper collection available via the Community History Archive Digital newspaper collections. Ya, that many hits. Takes a while, but, the family tidbits have been more than worth the journey. In late December I found this.

First, a Lashbrook school?? Frankly, I do not remember hearing about this before. Of course, look at that date, wahhoooo, 1870!!

Next, I have so many questions while I read this. Who are these people? Not names I recognize from my, cough, cough, years of researching the Lashbrook clan. (Since 1991, again, give or take.)

Here, take a read while I do some internet snooping - - -

From the Waverly Republican, Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa, published March 24, 1870:

“SCHOOL EXHIBITION. - - The Lashbrook school closed on Friday, but owing to the bad weather in the beginning of the week, the exhibition was postponed until Saturday evening following.

The school was conducted by D. W. Edgar, to the general satisfaction of the parents and scholars, and many happy remembrances of bygone days will be remembered by both scholars and teacher.

The classes in Algebra, Book-keeping, and the first class in Arithmetic nearly finished their studies.

The exhibition opened with greeting song, by the entire school, followed by declamations, dialogues; vocal and instrumental music by Alfred and Wesley Broadie, added much to the evening’s entertainment.

Most of the speakers were young, and their ‘maiden’ effort was highly creditable. Among the latter was Carrie Stockwell, Katy and Fannie Potter and Ida Curtis. The ‘Universal Melody’ was sung by the Broadie boys, and was cheered by the audience. Mary Broadie sung “I’m Ninety-Five,” and was loudly applauded.

The Tableaux, ‘The Family Reunion,’ and ‘Good Night’ we’re called for the second time.

The exercises closed by singing the ‘Good Night’ song by the school.

As a whole the exhibition was a decided success, agreeable to scholars and teacher, and highly enjoyed by the large audience in attendance.

The scholars return the sincere thanks to Mr. Broadie for the use of his organ.

CEDAR”

OK, I'm back from my soooping. I decided to take just a moment or two with the song names, decided on "Good Night" as my first snoop.

Right off, I found hits to the Library of Congress. Here is the link. (You know how I feel about links, I dislike them, cause they morf and change and later all you see is Error 404, but, here it is anyway, good luck. See my disclaimer below sig line.)

Good Night.

NOTE: The Library of Congress Music for the Nation: American Sheet Music, ca. 1870 to 1885 collection is in the public domain and is free to use and reuse.

AND:

Title

Good night! Love! Good night; Serenade

Names

Haig, Alex

Created / Published

Cincinnati : Church & Co., John, 1883. (**Not sure why the 1883 vs my search for 1870, sigh.)

Notes

- Record created through migration from the Performing Arts Encyclopedia Database.

Medium

1 online resource (1 score)

Repository

c-Music Electronic resource

Library of Congress Control Number

2023847770

Credit Line: Library of Congress, Music Division

There are 6 pages digitized, here is the first one - -

The next 4 pages, in the collection consist of the music and the words.

Disclaimer, when I searched for the "words" of the song in 1870, the hits list was LONG. I'll pass on that for now.

OK, that was fun. Now, I have more news articles to type up. I may return to this one and do some additional research in the future, I'll try to remember to update you if I do that.

Meanwhile - - YEA NEWSPAPERS and DIGITIZATION!