52 Ancestors Week 7: Favorite Discovery

Although I could never choose one all-time favorite discovery, there is an easy candidate for my favorite discovery of the past week. It happened on Sunday, when I was sitting at the computer at my local Family History Center. Scrolling through images of original parish records, I suddenly had to laugh. Of course, being surrounded by other genealogists, there was avid inquiry into what I had found.

The parish records were for the parish of Tilmanstone, where my Cock line was residing in the early 1800s. (I learned that they lived in the nearby community of Thornton, about halfway between Tilmanstone and Knowlton.) Simon and Mary Cock were my 4great-grandparents, the parents of Isabella Cock. On 26 Jan 1820, they brought their twin sons to St. Andrew's Church for baptism. 

St. Andrew's Church in Tilmanstone
Josh Tilley [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

The first of these infants was christened Edward Simon. The second was christened... Simon Edward. I repeat, the twins were named Edward Simon and Simon Edward.

I cannot imagine why my ancestors would wish these inverted names on their children. If they ran out of ideas, why would they not have simply named one Simon and the other Edward? None of their other children were baptized with middle names. A previous child had been named Simon, but they could not have been superstitious about naming one child after another, deceased, child. They named a son John after his brother John's death.

If you read my earlier post on this family, you may wonder why I am so astonished by this discovery. After all, the index at FamilySearch contains two entries for that date, one for Edward Simon and one for Simon Edward. However, it seemed so much like a transcription error that I was almost wholly convinced that's what it was. There existed only the smallest grain of a doubt, and to see that grain expand into a certainty--and a certainty of such a ridiculous fact!--is intriguing, astonishing, and endlessly amusing.

Sources:

St. Andrew (Tilmanstone, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms 1813-1874," record for Edward Simon Cock's 1820 baptism, p. 11, no. 85, image #12; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 9 Feb 2020).

St. Andrew (Tilmanstone, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms 1813-1874," record for Simon Edward Cock's 1820 baptism, p. 11, no. 86, image #12; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 9 Feb 2020).

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 Oct 2017), entry for Edward Simon Cock's 1820 baptism; citing Tilmanstone, Kent, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,835,794.

"England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 Oct 2017), entry for Simon Edward Cock's 1820 baptism; citing Tilmanstone, Kent, England, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,835,794.

52 Ancestors Week 6: Same Name

This week's prompt is another one that has caused me difficulty, but this time because of the wealth of options. I could write about the string of Walter Underwoods in my family, beginning with my great-grandfather, or the intriguing Luxembourgish habit of naming children after the godparent of the same sex, regardless of any siblings with the same name. I could write about the complexities of dealing with multiple John Howards fathering children in the same English parish, or the large number of men in my family named Simon Cock. My most recent research, however, has been on a string of John Shrubsoles (and phonetic variations of that name).

I have previously written several times about my great-great-grandfather George Amos, who ran the Creeksea Ferry, both pub and ferry, on Wallasea Island in Essex, England. As I have written before, he had been born in Kent to Abraham Amos and Isabella Cock. Abraham Amos, as I wrote about in a previous post, was the son of Thomas Amos and Amy Dunn. Thanks to finally recollecting that I could access FindMyPast at my local Family History Center, I have been able to push Amy Dunn's line much farther into the past.

Nick Smith / An eclectic mixture of styles on Lyminge church / CC BY-SA 2.0

Amy Dunn was baptized Emara in Lyminge, Kent, on 17 Jan 1780. Her parents were John Dunn and Mary Shrubsole. The original parish records for the year 1752 in Lyminge were completely unreadable, but the Bishop's Transcripts at FamilySearch came to the rescue with the information that Mary Shrubsole had been baptized there on 5 Apr 1752, the daughter of John and Mary Shrubsole. This is the first John Shrubsole of my research. John and Mary Shrubsole had eight children that I know of, two of whom were also named John. The first was baptized on 10 Mar 1754. He evidently died within the next six years, as the next John was baptized 17 Aug 1760. The second John's surname, however, is spelled as Shrubshall in the records.

John and Mary Shrubsole were, if you weren't keeping track, my 6great-grandparents. John himself was baptized in Lyminge on 13 Sept 1722, a son of John and Elizabeth Shrubsole. This John, my 7great-grandfather, was baptized in Lyminge on 6 Nov 1692. And the names of his parents? John and Ann Shrubsol.

My research on these Shrubsoles and allied families is ongoing, and I have been delightfully astonished by how far back the line is traceable. I look forward to untangling the various Shrubsoles in the records--not just multiple Johns, but also Marys, Anns, Elizabeths, Davids, and more--enough to write a cohesive history. I am greatly looking forward to the research that will enable me to breathe a little life into the memory of these people.

Sources:

Ss Mary & Ethelburga (Lyminge, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms & Burials 1767-1812," record for Emara Dunn's 1780 baptism, p. 23; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 19 May 2019).

St Mary and St Ethelburga (Lyminge, Kent, England), Bishop's transcripts for Lyminge, 1563-1852, "Baptisms, marriages and burials, 1563-1812 (missing: 1565/6-1567/8, 1572/3-1575/6, 1579/80-1582/3, 1584/5, 1585/6, 1587/8-1592/3, 1596/7-1602/3, 1604/5-1606/7, 1608/9-1611/2, 1613/4, 1621/2, 1627/8, 1640/1-1661/2, 1708/9, 1711/2. "1564/5 return probably not for Lyminge. Does not relate to register or names.)," record for Mary Shrubsole's 1752 baptism, image #397; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 Dec 2019).

Ss Mary & Ethelburga (Lyminge, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms & Burials 1678-1766," record for John Shrubsole's 1754 baptism, image #14; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 19 Jan 2020).

Ss Mary & Ethelburga (Lyminge, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms & Burials 1678-1766," record for John Shrubshall's 1760 baptism, image #16; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 19 Jan 2020).

Ss Mary & Ethelburga (Lyminge, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms & Burials 1678-1766," record for John Thrubshal's 1722 baptism, image #9; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020).

Ss Mary & Ethelburga (Lyminge, Kent, England), Kent, Canterbury Archdeaconry Parish Registers Browse, 1538-1913, "Baptisms & Burials 1678-1766," record for John Shrubsol's 1692 baptism, image #5; digital images, FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020).

52 Ancestors Week 5: So Far Away

This prompt has proven the most difficult for me thus far this year, although "So Far Away" should seem an easy prompt for an American genealogist, with the necessity of immigration in one's history. However, I have struggled to think of someone in my tree who (a) was "so far away" from his/her family, home, or something else, (b) I had enough information to actually write about, and (c) I haven't already written about. I'm not going to write about the Underwoods' 1903 trip to America; it's already been covered in Aunt Elsie's typescript, and I currently have nothing to add. Likewise, I've already written about John and Mary Craig's eventful trip on the Mauretania. Harry Stroesser made a long journey from Luxembourg to Iowa, but I have yet to discover his name in the ship manifests.

All week I have pondered a subject for this post (with the Carole King song running through my head), and, now that the week is nearly over, one has finally come to me. The research is so fresh that it should have been obvious! Last Sunday I visited my local Family History Center and used their portal to access to Newspapers.com. Perhaps it slipped my mind because it was not my intended research topic, but a quick dipping of my toe before I moved on to my main plan.

In my speedy foray into the world of newpapers, I stumbled across several articles about the Brosius boys away in France during WWI. The earliest of these is dated 18 Oct 1917, before Ormond Brosius had left for Europe:

Likes Army Life.
Ormond Brosius, Sergeant in Artillery stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Brosius, that army life suits him and that his already dark skin is now so thoroughly tanned it is difficult to distinguis him from the Mexicans. Ormond volunteered in the regular army last April in company with Frank Ward and Bert Sherrod and they were in San Francisco until June when Ormond and Frank were transferred to Fort Bliss.

This article enabled me to add a few more details to my knowledge of Ormond's movements during the war. It also lines up to a certain extent with Ormond's own account of his enlistment:

There was three of us. When war was declared there was three of us... Frank Keller and myself and Bert Sheridan. We got on the Missouri-Pacific and went up to Wichita to enlist. Well, they told their right age. I was 16, see, and they was 18. So we got in this line... Ol’ Bert says, “I’m 18.” This old boy wrote it down. “Go on.” And Frank Keller was a-next... When they come to me, I told the truth. I said, “16.” And he said, “Young man, you come back in a couple of years.” So, the next morning I got right in this line, and when I got there I told him, “18.” “Go right ahead.” See? That’s how that happened. See. Boy, it pays to be a liar sometimes.

The first names are identical, even if the last names are not quite the same. Sheridan is quite similar to Sherrod, though. I also enjoyed the reference in the article to Ormond's dark skin. I have come across similar references on his mother's (Wade) line, and it is interesting to see how the trait is passed down the generations.

The next article helps to clarify the confusion between the names "Frank Ward" and "Frank Keller."

Mrs. E. A. Keller this week received a card announcing the safe arrival in France of her son, Frank Ward, who was at a cantonment in Texas. Ormond Brosius was with the same detachment.

It seems that Frank and his mother had different last names, and that Ormond was simply giving them the same surname. The date of arrival in France makes sense, given that the company had departed from Hoboken aboard the Aeolus on 23 Apr 1918. The 16 May 1918 printing of this note allows for the time for the troops to arrive in France, Frank to write the card, and the card to travel back across the ocean and then across land to Kansas.

It seems it took a little bit longer for Ormond to send news to his parents, but when he did it was not just a card but a whole letter.

Ormond Brosius writes his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Brosius of this city from somewhere in France, a cheerful letter telling of his safe arrival, good health and some of the quaint customs of the people of that land, which are a source of wonder and amusement to our soldier boys. He was enthusiastic over the country and well satisfied to be there under his own flag. Ormond enlisted early in the activities.

I can only wish the newspaper had printed the entire letter, as it did with one of his half-brother Harry's, which I transcribed in his Military Monday post and will not repeat here.

Speaking of Harry, the next clipping finally mentions him. Admittedly, I was more interested in finding articles regarding Ormond, in whose cabin I spent a wonderful vacation, than in Harry. When I have more time to dedicate to this newspaper research I will do a more thorough job.

John Brosius and wife are among the few Sedan parents who have received no letters from France since the armistice. Ormond is with the 18th Field Artillery and Harry with a Gas Regiment.

This clipping is dated 26 Dec 1918, the day after Christmas. The family must have spent an anxious Christmas waiting to find out if two of their members had survived to the armistice. It would have been the second anxious Christmas, the previous year still during the fighting.

They finally heard from their boys the next month.

Mr. and Mrs. John Brosius received word from their sons, Harry and Ormond Tuesday, the first they had received since the big fight ended and were greatly relieved to know that the boys are all right. Both are with the armies of occupation.

It surprised me that none of these clippings mentioned Lee, the third brother in the service. I don't believe that he ever went overseas, but some of these articles were about army life before prior to shipping out. Perhaps this lack of Lee has more to do with my search terms during my limited research time than anything else. When I return to this line of research, I will specifically seek information on Lee.

Sources and Citations:

"Likes Army Life," Sedan Times-Star, 18 Oct 1917, p. 7, col. 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020), World Collection.

Ormond Brosius, Lowell Brosius (Portland, Oregon), recorded conversation, Aug 1979; audio cassette privately held by Amber Brosius.

"General News," Sedan Times-Star, 16 May 1918, p. 8, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020), World Collection.

"U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939," online images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 Jun 2018), manifest, Aeolus, 23 Apr 1918, entry no. 40, for Ormond J. Brosius, service no. 1,042,684.

"General News," Sedan Times-Star, 20 June 1918, p. 10, col. 2; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020), World Collection.

"General News," Sedan Times-Star, 26 Dec 1918, p. 2, col. 5; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020), World Collection.

"General News," Sedan Times-Star, 30 Jan 1919, p. 5, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 26 Jan 2020), World Collection.

52 Ancestor Week 4: Close to Home

Lowell Brosius, my Grandpa Red's brother, was born in Sedan, Kansas 21 Mar 1913. When his father died in 1920, he moved with his mother and the younger of the Brosius kids (he was the second youngest of them all) to the Pacific Northwest. He quit school at about age 13 and began working. He worked a number of different kinds of jobs throughout his life, along with a stint as an Army MP in Europe during WWII. Among his jobs, he worked as a logger, a gold miner, and a glazier. He was married once, but the marriage didn't last.

During my earliest years, he was renting the back room of a house in Portland, Oregon. There was a backyard with a tree, and Lowell used to feed the squirrels and scrub jays. They became so tame that the squirrels would climb on him and one of the jays would snatch a peanut from his open mouth. I don't actually remember that, but I have seen photos.

Lowell standing outside his pink trailer, 1988

When I was just a little bit older, he moved into a trailer court. As a child, I was amused that his trailer was pink. He lived there for many years, and I can easily conjure up the layout of his main room. The couch was to the right of the front door, parallel with the wall. Directly across from the door was his TV, which was always tuned to a football game, and which was topped by a gold-colored mantel clock shaped like a naked woman. To the left was his kitchen table and a chair or two. Stacked up behind the couch and TV, nearly to the ceiling, were dozens and dozens of old cigarette cartons--mostly Pall Mall, a few Lucky Strike, and one or two other brands--full of books by Louis Lamour. When we visited, we would be seated on the couch while Lowell sat across from us in a chair at the kitchen table. There was always a red plastic cup on the table, and every so often Lowell would spit into it. I made the mistake of looking inside it once, and seeing the brownish liquid that resulted from his habit of chewing snus.

At some point when I was in about seventh or eighth grade, Lowell could no longer drive. Dad would visit him at least once a week to offer to take him shopping, and I never turned down the chance to come along. Sometimes Lowell would take us up on the offer of driving him to the grocery store, and I can still visualize him in his plaid flannel shirt and jeans, leaning on the cart as he slowly walked up the aisles. More often, though, Lowell wasn't in need of groceries, and we would sit on his couch and visit with him. Budding genealogist that I was, I asked many questions about his family and childhood, and a couple of times brought my tape recorder along. Other times he and Dad would discuss current events and I would let my eyes wander over his belongings, especially those boxes of books.

Whenever it was time for us to leave, we would get into the car and wave goodbye as we drove away. Lowell would stand in his open doorway and salute us as we left. It wasn't a military salute, but rather a gesture of two fingers beginning at the temple and extending toward us, then remaining in place until our car was turning the corner. It's a rather simple, ordinary gesture, but as a child it puzzled me. Everyone else I knew just waved. To this day, every time I picture Lowell in my mind, the first image that comes to mind is of him standing on the top step of his pink trailer holding his hand in that casual salute.

Once I was in sophomore or junior year of high school, Lowell needed more care. He was still independent, but it was no longer advisable for him to live alone. So he moved in with us. We had a daylight basement, carpeted and furnished, so we set that up for him as his own apartment. He generally prepared and ate his own meals, but it became our habit to go down and offer him a bowl of ice cream every night. I know he enjoyed that, because sometimes we would come back from a weekend out of town and there were fork marks in the ice cream container where he had come upstairs and helped himself. I always found it strange that he scooped ice cream with a fork, but it was endearing too.

He kept a large supply of peanuts for the squirrels and scrub jays, and would spend time in the back yard feeding them. They never got quite as tame as the ones at his old back-room apartment, but an occasional squirrel did wander into the house demanding peanuts.

Lowell died there in our basement, sitting on Grandpa Red's big leather easy chair. Mom found him that morning when she went downstairs to do laundry. I was at school, and was called to the office to get the news. That was a rough day.

As a child, and well into my teen years, I always had an overactive imagination. I was afraid to go downstairs if the lights were out, and I didn't like to be the last one to go up the stairs, because of course there was a (imaginary) skeleton who resided under the staircase and would emerge and dance at the bottom of the stairs as I ascended. Looking back, I don't know how exactly that was threatening, but somehow it was. One would think that knowing someone had actually died down there would make the basement even scarier, but the opposite turned out to be true. The very next time I went down there, it felt as if Lowell's presence were protecting me. The skeleton under the stairs vanished, as did whatever other monsters my imagination had provided. I have never felt frightened in that basement since.

52 Ancestors Week 3: Long Line

Ever since I was a child and first saw one in action, I have harbored a secret desire to become a blacksmith. It wasn't until decades later that I discovered that my desire may be quite natural; I come from a long line of blacksmiths. Perhaps it is in my blood.

"medieval blacksmith making a new hammer" by Hans Splinter
Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The blacksmiths are on my Stroesser line. The first known one, my 4great-grandfather, Nicolas Strösser, was born in Fischbach, Mersch, Luxembourg on 7 Apr 1753. Unfortunately, the parochial records of that time do not indicate professions, so I cannot comment on his father's occupation, but by the time that Nicolas died on 1 Dec 1815 in Beringen, Mersch, Luxembourg, civil registration had been implemented and occupations were recorded. Nicolas was a "hufschmidt," a blacksmith or farrier. A farrier, of course, is a type of blacksmith that specializes in horseshoes and caring for horses' hooves.

Nicolas passed on his profession to at least some, if not all, of his sons. I have unsourced notes in my database that his sons Nicolas and Adam were farriers, and sources for his sons Pierre and Theodore also being farriers. Pierre, who was my 3great-grandfather, was born in Beringen on 5 Mar 1796. In the 1843 census he is recorded as a "maréchal ferrant," the French term for farrier. He is also recorded as a "hufschmiedt" on his death certificate. Theodore was married twice, and the civil marriage certificate for his second marriage in 1831 gives his occupation as "hufschmit."

In my direct line, the third generation was Peter's son Peter, my 2great-grandfather. He was born in Ettelbrück, Diekirch, Luxembourg on 3 June 1834. He seems to have taken the family business in a slightly different direction. On his child Michel's 1873 birth certificate he is recorded as an "eisenhändeler," or ironmonger. An ironmonger runs what we (in the U.S.) would term a hardware store. He may or may not have manufactured his own goods. Given his family history, I rather suspect that he did manufacture them. Or perhaps his brothers did. His brother Jacques, his brother Michael, and his brother Dominique were all recorded as hufschmieds on their marriage records, and they were all residing in the municipality of Wahl. 

Sources:

"Luxembourg, registres paroissiaux, 1601-1948," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-32461-2121-64?cc=2037955&wc=STH8-3Y2:1500941901,1501121838 : accessed 15 February 2015), Fischbach (Mersch) > Baptêmes 1742-1770, mariages 1737-1770, sépultures 1738-1770 > image 56 of 68; paroisses, Luxembourg [parishes, Luxembourg].

Luxembourg Civil Registration, 1793-1923. Index and Images FamilySearch.[1]: 2009. Municipality: Beringen. "Mariages 1846-1890--PETTINGEN: Décès 1796-1823--Décès 1796-1851." Image #866. (death record for Nicolas STROESSER, died 20 Dec 1815.) Accessed 9 Dec 2010.

Paroisse de Mersch (Mersch, Mersch, Luxembourg), Luxembourg Church Records, 1601-1948, "Baptêmes 1791-1796," Petrus Streser baptismal record, image #62 of 73 (1796); digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 Mar 2015).

1843 census of Luxembourg, Ettelbrück, Ettelbrück, image #570, household of Pierre Stroesser; digital images, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Luxembourg, Census Records, 1843-1900," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 18 Oct 2014); citing Archives de l'Etat.

Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg, death certificate no. 10 (1860), Peter Strösser; digital image #341 of 682, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Décès 1829-1890," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 22 Nov 2014).

"Luxembourg, Registres d'état civil, 1796-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6GVC-TF?cc=1709358&wc=9RYQ-L29%3A130076401%2C130674101 : 17 July 2014), Mersch > Naissances 1870-1890 Mariages 1796-1823, 1796-1847 > image 1267 of 1495; Archives nationales de Luxembourg (National Archives), Luxembourg.

Ettelbrück, Diekirch, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 61 (1834), Peter Stroesser; digital image #1295 of 1477, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Naissances 1797-1804 Naissances, mariages, décès 1804-1805 Naissances 1805-1838," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 19 Oct 2014).

Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 32 (1873), Michel Stroesser; digital image #99, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Naissances 1867-1890-- RINDSCHLEIDEN: Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823 -- WAHL: Mariages 1796-1803, 1805-1890 -.," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 May 2010).

"Luxembourg, Registres d'état civil, 1796-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6G2W-D25?cc=1709358&wc=9RYZ-C68%3A130534201%2C130651301 : 17 July 2014), Wahl > Naissances 1867-1890 Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823, 1796-1803, 1805-1890 Décès 1797-1803, 1805-1828 > image 1042 of 1475; Archives nationales de Luxembourg (National Archives), Luxembourg. Jacques Stroesser's marriage certificate.

"Luxembourg, Registres d'état civil, 1796-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6G2W-N2V?cc=1709358&wc=9RYZ-C68%3A130534201%2C130651301 : 17 July 2014), Wahl > Naissances 1867-1890 Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823, 1796-1803, 1805-1890 Décès 1797-1803, 1805-1828 > image 1095 of 1475; Archives nationales de Luxembourg (National Archives), Luxembourg. Michael Stroesser's marriage certificate.

"Luxembourg, Registres d'état civil, 1796-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6G2W-FKT?cc=1709358&wc=9RYZ-C68%3A130534201%2C130651301 : 17 July 2014), Wahl > Naissances 1867-1890 Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823, 1796-1803, 1805-1890 Décès 1797-1803, 1805-1828 > image 1144 of 1475; Archives nationales de Luxembourg (National Archives), Luxembourg. Dominique Stroesser's marriage certificate.

52 Ancestors Week 2: Favorite Photo

The prompt for Week 2 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge this year is "Favorite Photo." 

My first reaction when I saw that this week's prompt was "Favorite Photo," was an inward groan and the question of how I could pick just one. A moment later, an image came to mind, of my Grandma Rose as a child, and the recollection that the image had an interesting story with it. It may not be my favorite photo of all time, but it is my favorite photo of Grandma Rose as a child.

The photo shows Grandma staring at the viewer, her round face framed by a short, blunt bob cut with thick bangs. She is wearing a dress with a wide white collar and a large dark bow. The most striking element of the picture is the lighting. Much of the background is in deep shadow, and Grandma's chest is slashed by strips of light and dark, like sun shining through a blind.

All through their lives, my mom and her siblings heard the story that Grandma was supposed to have been Spanky in the Our Gang (Little Rascals) films, but she lost the job because the studio found out that she was a girl and they wanted a boy. It seems like a strange story because she lived in Omaha, Nebraska, far from Hollywood studios, but it turned out to have a kernel of truth.

I found it quite by accident. Stroesser, Grandma's maiden name, is fortunately pretty uncommon. It is possible to trace a genealogical relationship between most Stroessers in North America. Therefore, in newspaper research, I can narrow the search down to Omaha newspapers and use just "Stroesser" as the search term, and almost every result will have something to do with Grandma's family.

One day I was combing through the results of such a search and stumbled upon an article entitled "More Entries in Davey Lee Resemblance Contest." Davey Lee was a child actor of the era, perhaps most recognizable today as Sonny Boy of the eponymous Al Jolson song. He played the character in two films, The Singing Fool and Sonny Boy. The lookalike contest was being put on by the Omaha World-Herald, with grand prizes of $50, and every participant invited to attend a theater party with the chance of meeting Davey Lee himself.

 

And there, in the top row of entries, was a trimmed down version of that interesting photo of Grandma Rose. It was her entry into the Davey Lee resemblance contest! This explained that strange story about Spanky of the Little Rascals. Although Davey Lee wasn't Spanky, he was another child star of the era. Grandma was five years old at the time, and no doubt her recollection of events was colored by later assumptions and suppositions. Perhaps she thought at the time that winning the contest would make her a movie star. And perhaps someone in her family commented that she didn't win because she was a girl. The story could easily have grown from there.

Source:

"More Entries in Davey Lee Resemblance Contest," Omaha World Herald, 4 Dec 1929, p. 9; digital images, America's GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com : accessed 12 July 2014), Historical Newspapers.

52 Ancestors Week 1: You

Last year I began the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge a little late in the year and tried to catch up. After a few weeks I was only falling farther behind, and soon gave up. This year, in the spirit of New Year's resolutions, I am starting fresh. The theme for this week is "You." Since I can't find a way to make this post about all of you who may be reading, I am taking the "You" to mean me. 

My great-uncle Ormond Brosius and his girlfriend Billie Gardner were visiting Oregon from their home in Wyoming. All the Oregon Brosiuses took advantage of this opportunity to have a family reunion. It wasn't a complete family reunion as one might envision, with all the descendants of a particular couple, but it was what they could manage in the area. There were Ormond and Billie, Ormond's brother Lowell Brosius, their brother Red and his family, their sister Susie and her kids, and their nephew Maurice (pronounced Morris) and his wife Mary. This was to be the largest reunion of the Oregon branches of Brosiuses ever held. 

One of the group shots taken during the reunion. None of the shots show all of the participants, but this one is the best grouping in terms of composition. From left to right: Eddie Renas (Susie's son), Lowell Brosius, Les Hogan (Susie's daughter's husband), Aileen Brosius (Red's wife), Ormond Brosius, Mary Brosius, and Maurice Brosius.

The reunion lasted a few days. There was much chatting, as would be expected, and my very pregnant mother had the foresight to record a portion of it to cassette. (This cassette has been cited and quoted in a number of previous posts.) There were also activities such as sightseeing, fishing, and shopping. 

My mom, as I mentioned, was very pregnant at the time. With me. So I was there, attending my first family reunion, in utero. And apparently I was anxious to attend it in person. The story goes that Billie took my parents to the Portland Saturday Market, which was an event worth seeing back then. I remember from my younger days acres of booths selling well-made crafts and foods. It took over the streets of Old Town and spilled into the historic buildings and then back out onto streets on the other side. It would take hours to go through, and all the while you would be hearing the sounds of street musicians and smelling the scents of unfamiliar cuisines. Today's Saturday Market is barely a shadow of its former self, and depresses me because I remember its glory days. Now it takes up only a couple blocks, and there is very little shopping available in those historic buildings. There is still the sound of street musicians, though, and the fragrances of world cuisines.

It was to the Saturday Market of Portland's past that my parents and Billie went, with its acres and acres of booths. And, as my mom says, "Billie walked that baby right out of me." I was born the next day while various participants in the reunion went fishing on the coast. I was literally born during a family reunion.