Remembering a COVID-19 Thanksgiving

 Written Nov 25, 2020

Thanksgiving arrives tomorrow and I will be cooking dinner for me alone. Am I sad? No. I have much too be grateful despite COVID-19 invading my way of life. 2020 has been filled with many challenges in varying degrees. Missing the human touch, celebrations missed, overcoming family health issues, and yet, here we are surviving all that has been thrown at us, a testimony to family strength, love, strong faith and a willingness to help others that may be lonely by a simple phone call. 

Being a genealogist I know the difficulties my ancestors overcame that taught me perseverance, determination, commitment, compassion, support and the true meaning of love by putting others before oneself. 

As a direct descendant of ten Pilgrims, I wish you a very happy thanksgiving no matter where or how you celebrate. Remember all that you have to be grateful for.

Giving a Voice

So you want to write a book?

You need curiosity, love of knowledge, know your subject and eager to write it down. Bring readers in to propel them forward. Example: Freezing to death, or a fiery crash.

But this is what I do know. What is it that motivates you?  Just understanding the type of books you enjoy reading could give an indication as to the direction you would go to write a book. Lesson number one, “First you have to know who you are”. 

If you aren’t sure, you’ll make a mistake.  But we learn by them.  Example, a close family member wrote two completely different fictional books.  One was only half-way good, the second a complete failure. Lesson two,  ”Write what you know.”

Every author does research. No matter how much you know about a subject, there is always the need to do research.  Whether it is about genealogy, history, children stories, romance, or any other topic. “Lesson three, Research is part of writing.”

There are many writing veins.  It could be a book, but it also could be a blog, newspaper, magazines, or specialty quarterly journals. And, we mustn’t leave out writing poetry. So lesson number four, “It doesn’t have to be just books”.

For me, it was biography/memoir, my book Forever Laced, A Journey Through Two Centuries, also writing for the Southern Genealogy Exchange, a blog, and writing many short ancestor stories. Lesson five: “Editing is a writer’s worst enemy”.

Talk about main stream publishing. Getting an agent, also called mission impossible, vs. self-publishing, hard work, expensive and other pitfalls. Lesson six, “It is a lot of work, frustrating, but very rewarding, enjoy the process, have fun”.

Jürgen Trapp- Texting My German Cousin

 

Jürgen Trapp, son of Emil and Elizabetha Trapp

One of the greatest joys genealogy has given me was discovering my cousin, Jürgen Trapp, who lives in Sasbackwalden, Germany along the Black Forest. He is my 6th cousin 1X removed.  We connect through my 5th great aunt, Christiana Rosch, when she married Josef Bruder, his great grandfather, on February 26, 1781. Their daughter, Hermine, was his grandmother.

It has been such a joy getting to know him and his family, his wife Elke, three daughters. Anna, Lisa, and Lena, and son Alexander. He has shared stories, pictures and legends of the homeland. Some of which I have written about in my book " Forever Laced, A Journey through Two Centuries, but had never actually seen until now through his pictures.

My third great grandparents, Mathias Rosch and Magdalena lived in Sasbachwalden, a Black Forest municipality in Western Baden-Wurttemberg Germany.  It is located on the western slopes of the the Hornisgrinde Mountain located in the Northern Black Forest and belongs to the district of Ortenau. More than 70% of the town is forest.  They lived along the Oos River at the bottom of the Black Forest. Jürgen has brought my German ancestry to life.

Jürgen has a big heart. When Russia invaded Ukraine and the people had to flee to other countries, many Ukrainians went to Germany, Jürgen took in Tetianna, and her two children, Anna and little Alex while her husband was fighting the war.  Then he also worked to find apartments for the refugees .

                                                           

  Christiana Rosch and Josef Bruder 

       parents of Hermine  

                                                      

            

 Home of Christiana Rosch and Josef Bruder, 

Marberg, Germany

   (Today it is a hotel)

Following, are various views of Jürgen's ancestral home. He is the third generation to live in this house.  Painted on his house is evidence of the love of his family and his history.  The first two names side by side are his name, Jürgen Trapp and his wife Elke. Next are his parents, Emil and Elizabetha Trapp, then his grandparents Hermine and Emil Trapp.

Below that are two Coat of Arms in memory of his grandparents and parents who built the house. The Coat of arms of Sasbachwalden with the fir tree is for his grandparents Hermine, Emil and himself. The second Coat of Arms of Lauf is for his parents, Emil. Elizabetha, and his wife Elfe who are all from Lauf.

Below that is a saying by Hoffmann Von Fallersleben, who also composed the German national anthem.

"Like the oaks striving towards the sky, despite the storms, we want to be like them, free, and firm, like Germans oaks lifting out heads."

                       

 

His text messages always begin with,  

"To My Dear Cousin." He became a grandfather for the first time this year, 2022.

He shared with me his Christmas and Easter traditions:

"You can say sauerbraten, is our national dish here in the southwest of Germany, especially in our region here.  At Christmas the children are all there and Elke's parents, of course. It has always been like this at Christmas and Easter".

"On Christmas Eve, we traditionally serve sauerbraten noodles and potato dumplings. This is a festive meal with a long tradition here in the Black Forest, Sauerbraten ..... is a piece of beef that is pickled in red wine vinegar with bay leaves for a few days. After souring, the meat is seared and then left on the fire for a long time.

Everyone is already looking forward to it".

"With all that we have shared, and yet to share, me learning more about my German ancestors, he learning more about his American ancestors, has brought us closer together. We are both enamored with our family and its' history, indeed we are, dear cousins.

Ten Life Lessons

     I look up at heaven and say to my husband, “It started with just you and me, now we number twenty-seven. I see the faces of our children, their spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren and realize how blessed we are.  My crystal ball sees more great grandchildren arriving in the future.

 I have been blessed to be here on this earth for seventy-eight years. and hoping for many more. I have experienced life in all its forms; love, pain, disappointment, sadness, joy and struggles. But something happens from living a long life. You learn what is important.

For the last twenty-five years I have delved into the genealogy world. What started out as just a curiosity, turned into a lesson of not just where we came from, but what our ancestors can teach us, but also who we are as family.

My heart is full. How do I pass this knowledge of living a life of joy effectively so it is understood.  These are my "Ten Life Lessons".

1. The most important lesson my dad taught me, for as long as I can remember, "Family First", without them you have nothing. Keep them close and protect that relationship.

2.  All marriages run into difficulties.  Don't give up so quickly, hang on, for in time all will heal and you will  discover the love you have for each other remains and has grown even stronger for what you endured.  What a great gift you give yourself, love everlasting. 

3. Don't be quick to judge a family member. You cannot fully understand what problems they may be going through. Try to be patient, loving and understanding.  Don't assume their unusual behavior has anything to do with you. Give them time to resolve their situation.

4. Everyone needs financial help at one time or another. You may have been given monetary assistance without judgement or question of having to pay it back. Just remember, pay it forward without expectations of repayment. It's all about love and supporting each other.

5. Continue the family traditions that have been practiced and carried forward for so many generations. Life can get crazy busy with work, children, and all that it entails.  These special gatherings of  Christmas, birthday parties, and summer cook-outs, keep you connected to one another.

6. Encourage each other, so that they may build confidence in themselves to achieve the dreams they are seeking. We all need someone to believe in us. Be that cheerleader.

7. Life is shorter  than you think. Always accept invitations when possible from family and friends, for the opportunity may never come again. Don't regret missed life experiences with those who are important to you.

8. Learn to forgive. Everyone makes mistakes, forgive them. Not everyone has the same beliefs as you, accept it. Not everyone has the same values as you, understand it. Not everyone has the same life-style as you, be open-minded. Being critical of others doesn't bring you joy, let it go. 

9. Be kind to yourself. We can be our worst enemy. We are more judgmental of ourselves than anyone else ever could be. Erase the negative thoughts that rob you of your happiness.  Accept yourself.  Believe you are worthy because you are. You are perfect the way you are. 

10. Lastly, find peace. There is so much tragedy in the world. We are confronted with it daily and it can rob you of contentment and at times make you fearful. You have to look for it through faith, the beauty of nature, the sounds of birds and ocean waves.  Connect with family and friends to share laughter.  Don't let negativity drag you down, smile, happiness and contentment is out there and can be yours if you seek it.  

Reprieve 1982

Bob and Elsie

                                                 

 The Story Behind Reprieve

          It was in 1982 when the George O. Jenkins Company on High Street located in Bridgewater, Massachusetts closed its' doors forever.  Dad, who was the General Manager was suddenly out of work.

The only option for mom and dad was to sell their home and move to the Florida Homestead where mom grew up. But, as luck would have it, dad received notification that he would still have a job, but, it was located in Lawrence, Massachusetts, about 56 miles away.

It was a long two hour drive, in heavy highway traffic, and it quickly took a toll on his body and his health began deteriorating. Dad, who was approaching retirement in a few short years, lost a lot of weight, his color was pale, and we all could see if this continued we would lose our father.

It was at this point, led by our mother, that the decision  was made to sell their house and move to the  Florida homestead. The house was sold to our sister.

As much as they loved being at mom's childhood home in Florida , missing family was emotionally difficult.

 

Widowed at Age 28

Ellen Sullivan Wilber, my third great grandmother, known as Nellie was widowed at age 28.  She was two months pregnant with her fifth child when her husband Joseph passed away in 1886. She was left to raise one year old Ellen, Mary Catheren at age two, four year Dennis and William age six. She went to work in the Bay State Iron Works company sewing hats to support her children for the next seven years.  She would marry again in 1892.

Nellie goes to work

                              Nellie is in the front row, 9th from the left.

The following information is from "Recollecting Nemasket" writing about the history of the town of Middleboro and Lakeville.

       "At the start of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the Bay State Straw Works, located in Middleboro, Massachusetts, was producing half a million hats and bonnets annually, or over 1,300 a day. To produce these goods, the plant employed nearly two hundred and seventy operatives, divided equally between men and young women, as well as some 1,200 women and girls as outworkers “who are engaged sewing hats and bonnets at their homes,” the company’s braid cart delivering straw to these women and collecting straw braid in return.

"One of the few comments upon nineteenth century female labor history in Middleborough concerns the lot of women in the Bay State Straw Works, the firm which was located on Courtland Street and was once the world’s largest manufacturer of straw hats and bonnets. Of their work there, it was written of the firm’s female operatives: 'The work was easy and pleasant; the girls’ tongues flew as fast as their fingers, and they said of their work. It is just like going to a party.’

"There are reasons to doubt, however, the characterization that work in Middleborough’s straw industry for women always was either “easy” or “pleasant” as some have maintained.  

"The Bay State Straw Works employed 150 females and 8 men.  Like other industries, straw manufacturing preferred the use of female help wherever possible, largely due to the wage differential between men and women, as well as the presumed greater docility of female workers, though this latter view carried little import at this stage in Middleborough as labor remained disorganized and would remain so for some time. Men, however, were engaged by the straw works for the physically more demanding tasks at the manufactory, working as bleachers, dyers, blockers, printers, packers, teamsters, machinists, carpenters and firemen, among other occupations, and as the firm’s business increased, so too did the number of men on the payroll to support these functions.

"The treatment of its female operatives would be a frequent source of potential conflict for the Bay State Straw Works, as it frequently was for other employers. In February, 1876, female employees’ wages were docked twenty-five percent, prompting sympathy from at least one journalist who opined that the reduction was 'a heavy cut when they didn’t get too much before.' In December, 1885, shortly before Christmas, wages of sewing machine girls were similarly docked.

 "Nonetheless, women of talent were recognized by the firm and promoted to positions of authority as overseers and forewomen, supervising other women in areas such as the trimming department.

 “While characterization of employment during the latter half of the nineteenth century for women in the local straw industry as “a party” is highly suspect, unquestionable was the role of these women, many whose names have long been forgotten, in helping build and sustain one of Middleborough’s historically most important industries."

                                     Nellie Sullivan Wilber Thompson

'The Marching Twelfth'

 

Herman (Heinrich) Roesch, my 2nd great uncle was born in Baden, Germany on July 8, 1845. He sailed to America with his parents and sibling in1857 on the William Nelson. They settled in Potosi, Wisconsin. He was one of four brothers who served as union soldiers in the Civil War.

Herman was paid $600 as a substitute soldier and entered into service on October 15, 1864 at the age of 19.The Twelfth, known as “The Marching Twelfth”, was formed under the command of Colonel George E. Bryant of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. Herman joined General Sherman when Sherman took his army along with the now ‘Fighting Twelfth, ‘to march to the sea in November of 1864.

 The12th Wisconsin participated in the occupation of Savannah. The Twelfth's last battle was at Bentonville, N. C. in March of 1865 to end their participation of the War. Herman was in the March from Atlanta to the Sea and attended the Grand Review in Washington, D.C.  He mustered out of service in Louisville, Kentucky on June 16^th, 1865 serving for a total of eight months. 

In 1910, when he was 65 years of age, he entered the United States National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers suffering from asthma and bronchitis. On the 23rd of August 1919 at the age of 74, he died from Interstitial Nephritis, a kidney disorder in which the kidneys become unable to filter waste materials and fluid properly, which brought on acute cholecystitis, a sudden inflammation of the gallbladder that causes severe abdominal pain. Acute cholecystitis causes bile to become trapped in the gallbladder. The build up of bile causes irritation and pressure in the gallbladder. This lead to bacterial infection and perforation of the organ.

 Herman was described as five feet five inches tall, having gray eyes and gray hair, a farmer by trade.  Nine years later on August 23 1919 he died of renal failure. Herman was collecting a pension of $32 a month at the time of his death.  His personal effects totaled $590.25. He bequeathed this money to his youngest brother, John who was living in Potosi, Wisconsin with his wife Susan Taylor, son Lake and daughter Iona

 Herman was buried in the Danville National Cemetery in Danville, Illinois.

No Business Like Shoe Business

  The Keith family emigrated from Scotland to Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 1662. The Rev. James Keith became the first minister in town. It was his grandson, Levi, that built an addition to the house where he ran a tannery business. It remained in the family for a number of generations. But, it was George E Keith who invested $1000 into a  new shoe manufacturing company in the campello section of Brockton, Massachusetts, which at this time was known as North Bridgewater, and becoming one of the premier manufacturer of quality shoes.

Brockton, MA was known as "Shoe City". The Keith Shoe mfg. co. was established in 1758.  The Walk Over name came from a newspaper headline in 1899. "America's Cup Defender, 'Columbia' wins in a Walk Over of Sir Thomas Lipton's 'Shamrock'". 

The shoe mfg. company built a clubhouse for its' employees on thirteen acres. The Walk Over Club had baseball fields, tennis courts, croquet, archery and all kinds of outdoor sport activities. Indoors, there was a bowling alley, a swimming pool, billiards and so much more. There were rooms that catered to men only and other rooms with fireplaces  just for the women. There was ample room to conduct dances, socials, weddings, and other entertainment.

The clubhouse was so popular that by 1900 more than 1600 employees became member for a fee of $2.00.

By 1919 Walkover shoe was not the only shoe mfg. company in the city.  The city now had approximately 13,000 employees making shoes. Walkover shoe in Brockton came to end in 1945.

When this building came to its end of life and it was being torn down, this brass door knob was rescued. You can literally see George walking over the shoe, hence Walk Over Shoe.

When WWII began there was a need for military boots. One of those manufacturers was Corcoran Shoe where my grandfather, Malcolm Leroy Smith, worked from 1941 until is death of a heart attack in 1955.

There were others in my family tree that made shoes.  They too were one of the many that worked for the largest industry in Southeast Massachusetts.

My dad, Robert Franklin Smith, also worked in the shoe industry, by making the leather board in large vats that went in to making the shoes.  He was the General Manager for the George O Jenkins Company in Bridgewater, Massachusetts until his retirement. Dad passed away in 2008 at the age of 86.

I remember hearing on the the radio one day in late 1969 early 1970 how shoes were going to made overseas; less expensive to produce, lowering prices for Americans to purchase  This was the beginning of the final curtain for the shoe business in Massachusetts.

Oscar of Orient Maine

     Oscar Sidney Maxell was born in Orient, Maine on June 1, 1879 on Maxell Settlement Road. He held the position of deacon in the Orient Baptist church longer than anyone else.  He was a confectioner who had his own candy store on Congress Street in Portland, Maine.

Oscar was a staunch republican, who held the position of state representative for two terms. He was on the Temperance Committee. A fitting committee due to the fact he was against alcohol and managed to keep the state of Maine dry for years.  He was also House Chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee. 

Oscar vacationed in Florida with his wife Susie and daughter Shirley every winter. He became president of the Maine-Florida Society of more than 200 members. Here he would promote the state of Maine and all that it offered. 

On March 3, 1931, Oscar sailed aboard the SS Governor Cobb out of Tampa, FL for a five-day trip to Cuba.  In his diary, he summed up his visit to the island this way: "The Cubans are a friendly people and hold U.S. of America, and its people, in high esteem.  The Cubans its (sic) all America, both North and South, but they always emphasize the United States of America to which they belong.  On every hand, the names of General Wood and Teddy Roosevelt, and others, are, to them, sacred, and they avoid being connected with Spain...even say 'we speak the Cuban and English language, and not Spanish', where as a matter of fact, it is Spanish."  Oscar, a strong prohibitionist, firmly believed that "with the Cubans taking the U.S. as their example, someday will adopt prohibition."  He truly believed in the "words of Gifford Gordon: 'Hold on, America!  The son follows in the footsteps of the father and one day Cuba will follow their father in prohibition'."

Oscar was well-known throughout the Aroostook County of Maine. New Newspapers would often have stories of his him, and his family. Stories of his political career, stories of his family in Florida and how his daughter Shirley was crowned Queen in the Maine-Florida Society. They led a privileged life.

Oscar was interviewed frequently by the news media. This newspaper article read, "Grandson of Pioneers.”

Oscar’s father, Sidney P Maxell was born in Orient, Maine on June 7, 1848 to Thomas Jefferson Maxell and Elizabeth (Betty) Jane Colson.  Oscar was one of six children.

The article went on to quote Oscar.  “There were six in our family and we children found plenty to do on father’s one hundred acre farm. My grandfather, Thomas, was one of Orient’s earliest settlers.  I still possess the old family Bible that came from the old county. He took a plot in the wilderness in Orient, built a log cabin, and cleared the forest and brush for planting crops.”

“I heard my grandmother, Betty, tell how often at night it was necessary for him to go forth with an axe and drive away bears from the wheat patch. Grandmother said she was often awakened at night by the howling of wolves, and when grandfather was away she would let the fire go out because she was afraid to go to the wood pile because of prowling Indians.”

“There were no roads in those days and when grandfather had wheat to be found he carried it in a bag on his back through the woods to the grist mill at Hodgdon. (The town borders the province of New Brunswick, Canada to the east and Houlton to the north.) After living in a log cabin for a considerable time grandfather put up a frame building which burned. After that disaster, he built the old Maxell homestead in which I was born”.

“When I was a boy all the famers for miles around engaged in mixed farming, cattle, sheep and hog raising.  Every fall each farmer sold eight or ten head of yearlings and these cattle were driven to Danforth and shipped to Bangor. Sometimes these herds included several hundred head of cattle. Hundreds of sheep were also driven to Danforth.”

“When I was 15 years old, I joined three other boys in driving a large flock of sheep to Danforth and I shall never forget the experience. We started at 6:00 a.m. and it was 3:00 p.m. before we pulled into Danforth. We were exhausted from chasing those sheep. Often the leader would head for a noise in a fence and the entire flock would follow him. Sometimes it would be an hour before we got the flock back on the road and headed in the right direction.”

The Captain & The Commercial Artist

Arthur Belmont Smith was my 1st cousin 1x removed. He was the first born child of Perley and Agnes Smith. Perley was brother to my grandfather Malcolm.

Arthur was born on June 12, 1919 in Bridgewater, MA. and graduated from the Normal High School. 

On July 19, 1941, at the age of 22 Arthur enlisted in the US Army Air Corp in Falmouth, MA at Camp Edwards as a radio Technician for a period of three years. He served in China, Burma, India Theatre of Operations, rec'd the distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medals.

Phyllis Belair was born on Sept 16, 1917 in Meriden, Conn. She attended Meriden High school where she played the violin in the school orchestra. Her year book described her, "Who knows most says the least". She was a graduate in the class 1935.

Phyllis received her Registered Nursing Degree at Children's Hospital in Boston.

During WW11 Phyllis, known as Phil, joined the army and earned the rank of Captain.  She was deployed in the European Theatre from Jan 1942 to Jan 1946. She was a member of the Harvard Unit, the first nursing unit to land on Normandy.

When Arthur was discharged from the Military he went back home and enrolled at the Boston Art School.  Arthur received his degree in Commercial Art. 

It seems plausible that Arthur and Phyllis met while they were both in the Army. Perhaps Arthur was injured or ill and she tended to him. Perhaps even in Boston where they went to college. Just seems like they were destined to meet.

They were married in June 1948 at the Bridgewater Congregational Church with the Rev. Mr. Coe officiating.  Phyllis at this time was the assistant to Dr. Engelbert Dumphy at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

Soon after the couple moved to Kirkwood, New York where Arthur had his own Commercial Artist Business.

They had three children, and six great grandchildren 

Arthur passed away at the age of 73 in Kirkwood, New York on June 1, 1993.  He was a retired commercial artist with his own business, a member of  the Mason-Fellowship Lodge and the Lions Club. He was an avid golfer and fisherman. He was cremated and laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Phyllis retired after 30 years as a school nurse teacher. Then she moved to Venice, Florida where she was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church .

Phyllis passed away at the age of 89 in Venice Florida. She was cremated and laid to rest with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 3, 2007 at 11:00.