Week 15: DNA

Week 15: DNA

I asked for a DNA kit a few years ago for my birthday and my parents got it for me. We had started watching the show "Who do you Think you are" on TLC and It really inspired me to take it. I was the first in my immediate family to take it. Now both parents, my aunt, great aunts, 1 grandma and many cousins have taken theirs. I did mine through ancestry.com and have been happy with the results. Things made sense and I really didn't have anything unusual pop up like some people have had!

Here's a brief summary of my results: 

England, Whales & Northwestern Europe: 36%

Germanic Europe: 33%

Sweden: 17%

Ireland & Scotland: 7%

Norway: 4%

France: 2%

Finland: 1%

Ancestry DNA now has what they call "ThruLines" that allows you to pick an ancestor you have on your tree and it shows how many DNA matches you have through that ancestor. It's pretty neat and I can't wait to explore it more. One cool thing is that it shows you potential ancestors that you don't have in your tree based on the fact that you share DNA matches with them!! How cool is that. Can't wait to do some more looking into some of the new names!!

I encourage everyone to do their DNA. Not only does it give you an idea of who you are but it allows more accuracy with your research the more DNA connections you have. In some cases it allows people to find long lost relatives that they never knew about. All it takes is a little spit in a tube and a whole world is opened up!

Week 13 "In the Paper"

Virgil William Walter

Born 16 September 1895 in Exline, IA

Died 10 February 1991 in Exline, IA

2x Great Uncle on mom's mom's side

Several years ago when I was a child I remember going to a little restaurant in the tiny town of Exline, Iowa. We were probably out visiting cemeteries for memorial weekend. Hanging on the wall of that restaurant was a newspaper article about Virgil Walter. Over the next several years I remember the story that was told but a part of me thought it may be folk lore. We went back to that same restaurant several times but it had changed hands that the article was gone off the wall and apart of me thought maybe it wasn't true. But then once I got into genealogy I found that the story was true and found proof from a newspaper article that was written about him.

In September of 1923 my 2x Great Uncle Virgil Walter did something that no man at the time had done and probably never will again! He shot an elephant in a field in southern Iowa. Yes you heard me right he shot an elephant! This elephant had escaped his home 30 miles south from owner and Circus man Bill Hall of Lancaster, MO.

I got this poster from the Schuyler Co Mo Historical society. It hangs on the wall with my newspaper clipping of the article about Uncle Virgil.  

The elephant made its way to Iowa terrorizing people and animals in it's path. But finally someone gave my 2x great uncle a gun that they got from WW1 and he shot the elephant. They then buried the elephant right there in the field.

Above is the newspaper article written about Uncle Virgil and his photo. Below is what the article says.

 It all happened in 1923 and this is the story as told by Charles B. DePuy in the Iowegian. 

“The elephant began its journey in the jungles of Siam.  It went thousands of miles over land and sea to end its days in a cornfield on the John McClurg place five miles east of Exline in Appanoose County, Iowa. It never got the chance to take its death walk to the escarpment of its ancestors.”

“The hectic last days of Jumbo began in Lancaster, Mo. They led through a fusillade of shotgun and small rifle fire until a 30-30 Enfield rifle in the hands of Virgil Walters of Exline brought an end to the running battle and probably saved the lives of some who might have crossed the elephant’s trail later.”

“It was Sept. 23, 1923, that Walters became the first man to ever shoot an elephant in the fields of Iowa or the U.S. for that matter. Other elephants had been shot at circus grounds or in zoos but this was the first elephant hunt ever staged in the open fields or woods of the U.S.

 “It all began when Billy Hall, circus owner of Lancaster, Mo., bought among other animals, in a shipment, two elephants. They were chained together until they got off a truck in Lancaster. Then they broke the chains and one elephant was herded into a barn but the other started off toward Appanoose County.”

“Colonel Hall wasn’t too excited. He knew that an elephant couldn’t stay hidden long in Iowa and he was right.  As Jumbo made his way into Appanoose County, calls were going to Lancaster. Hall came on the double. He found his elephant the object of all sorts of gun fire. However the .22 caliber bullets and shotgun pellets failed to penetrate Jumbo’s hide but they did make the big animal fighting mad. Hall, in an effort to turn Jumbo around, took a shotgun and going close range, fired it full in the face of the beast. It didn’t turn Jumbo around but it did cause him to charge Hall.” 

“The circus man fled and jumped into a 10 foot ditch just in time to avoid the elephant’s sweeping trunk. Hall came very close to losing interest in all things here below and quit the chase right there.  Jumbo came on. He reached Coal City and stayed overnight. The next day he headed into Appanoose County. It is said that some 200 people swarmed in the area to see the big beast and to take shots at him.”

“According to Virgil Walters, Jumbo used his left front leg to break down fences. He would put his foot on the top of the wire, and posts, staples and wire would give way and the animal would walk across.”

“According to Walters, the elephant got into quicksand on the Chariton river bottom but did not sink in it. Walters almost did when he tried to cross the same ground. Just how this happened he does not know. Maybe it was due to the size of Jumbo’s feet.” 

 In the meantime the elephant was cutting wide swaths in cornfields, and in orchards it pulled up trees that did not suit its taste.”

“People who wittingly or unwittingly got in the path of the elephant often had to run for it. The story is told of one young newlywed who was weeding in his father-in-law’s pickle patch.  He looked up, did a double take and then jumped in his wagon, whipped the horses and headed for his father-in-law’s house. Now it seems that his father-in-law  was not too happy with him anyhow and promptly accused him of being drunk because he said there weren’t any elephants in his pickle patch. However, his son-in-law maintained that there was and that he wasn’t drunk and papa-in-law was quickly convinced and both had to run for it.”

“It came to the Jess Exline farm and Jess had a horse that was pretty fast. He told his son Earl that the elephant couldn’t outrun Betsy. Earl mounted and took after the elephant but it turned on horse and rider and Earl found that the elephant was faster on its feet than Betsy. However, it didn’t charge the horse and rider.”

“At another farm the elephant chased Esper Hart up a tree and then shook the tree until Hart fell. That seemed to satisfy the beast and it went its way. Other men it chased ran for home and the elephant would follow them to the doors of their home and then stop as though contemplating whether it should try to push the house over. This it never did however.”

“Things were getting pretty hectic and it was only a matter of time until the elephant would have killed someone. John Sales had a 30-30 Enfield army rifle and he handed it to Virgil Walters. Virgil went to the field where the elephant was and when it came up broadside to him he shot it twice just back of the front leg on the left-hand side. The big beast went almost to its knees and regained its feet and went into an adjacent field where it fell down, groaned a couple of times and died.” 

“There are many people still living in Appanoose County today who took part in the one and only elephant hunt ever staged in  Iowa. They’ll remember it as long as they live. Wolves, foxes, maybe a bear, geese and deer there are, but elephants there are not in this county.”

“And over in the jungles of Siam some mother elephant may wonder what has become of her son Jumbo. She would never guess that he lies in a grave on the John McClurg place in Appanoose County, near the Daily schoolhouse, U.S.A. And in some future century when the skeleton is found and dug up, some long-haired paleontologist will proclaim loud and long that he has discovered that mid-America was once a steaming jungle before the Indians and Christopher Columbus took over.”

Week 11 "Large Family"

Albert Oscar & Sarah Josephine (Miller) Van Dorin

2x Great Grandparents on my Mom's Dad's Side

AO Van Dorin Born:23 June 1861 Iowa  Died: 23 March 1943 Iowa

SJ Miller Van Dorin Born:16 December 1865 Missouri Died: 17 Feb 1938 Iowa

Married: Holt Co Missouri on  March 9, 1882

 

 

AO & SJ Van Dorin don't have the largest family in my tree, but I've already talked about one of the largest a few weeks ago when I had that family photo. They had 16 children. I have a family photo of the Van Dorin family hanging right above my TV so I see them everyday and thought they would be perfect to talk about this week!

 

Albert Oscar was born in Henry Co, Iowa to James Alexander and Mary Jane (Harsbarger) Van Dorin. According to the census records they moved to Kansas by the 1880 census. But then by the 1900 census he had moved back and settled in Appanoose Co, Iowa and had 7 children. According to family stories they didn't like it in Kansas because it was too hot and dry.

 

 Sarah Josephine was born in Holt Co Missouri to James and Emily (Whipple) Miller. This is always so fascinating for me because we live in the county right next to Holt Co and for a long time I never really felt any connection here other than my parents and my sister and I living here. Her dad's family is really a mystery and I haven't found very much info on him or where he's buried. Her mom's family I lucked out and found a book someone had made and donated to the Holt Co Historical society.

 

On the 1870 census it lists SJ as living in Holt Co. After that It's a true mystery because her father died in 1879 and her mother before that. I've not been able to find her on an 1880 census. Then she pops up on the 1900 census with her husband and 7 children!! So much to happen in 30 years and know idea what!

 

I'm in the boat with every genealogist who complains about having no 1890 census! This is the one instance that it would be helpful.

 

 

I don't know how exactly AO & Sarah met but I know that they were married in Holt Co. Mo. I am sooooooo very lucky and honored to be the care taker of AO & SJ's original Marriage license. I've also been to the Holt Co courthouse and saw it written in the marriage record book.

 

 



 

The first 5 of their children were born in Kansas and then the rest born in Iowa after they settled.  

 

This is the photo that I have hanging above my TV.

 

They had 11 children with 10 surviving to adulthood:

 

Flora Bell Van Dorin Jones

James Thomas Van Dorin

Anna Laura Van Dorin Lockman

Effie Myrtle Van Dorin Brain

William Henry Van Dorin *my great grandfather*

Fred Franklin Van Dorin

Albert Burle Van Dorin *Passed away as infant*

Fairie Angeline Van Dorin Faber

Zadia Beatrice Van Dorin McFall

Maude Zempna Van Dorin Bettis

Doris Maxine Van Dorin Hindman

 

They left behind 30 grandchildren

 

 

 

One neat thing is that the Moravia Union which is the local paper that was from the town they lived in, has all the newspapers online. So I've been able to find many articles and tidbits about their family.

 

 

 

 

 

Albert and Sarah both lived a majority of their lives in Iowa surrounded by most of their family. Sarah died February 17th, 1938 and AO died March 23, 1943.

 

 

 

 They are buried in Moravia Iowa at the Old Moravia Cemetery

Week 10 "Bachelor Uncle"

Amanda S. Larson

Born: 27, November 1868 in Sweden

Died 3, May 1939 in Iowa

3x great Aunt on my mom's dad's side

I couldn't come up with a "Bachelor Uncle" and was asking my mom if she had any ideas and she mentioned Amanda Larson. Not an uncle but rather a "Bachelorette Aunt". I've visited her grave several times so I thought she'd be perfect to look up since I didn't know much more beyond her name and her connection to me. My mom then said that she had several photos of her!! The first she showed me was the one above!! How neat of a photo is that!! 

Back of photo says "Hannah Anderson & Aunt Amanda" 

 

Talking with my mom and Aunt they said that she was a housekeeper most of her life. She use to work in Ottumwa Iowa for more wealthy people who had large homes. My aunt said that when they would have furniture they didn't want they would give it to her and she would ship it on a train back to where her family lived. She and her family came from Sweden to America to find work which was lacking in Sweden.

 

 

I've always been drawn to the people in my family tree who didn't have children or who never married. Often times they are the ones who become forgotten because they have no one to remember their stories. But I'll do my best to keep their memory alive. 

Amanda is buried in Albia, Iowa at the Oakview Cemetery.

Amanda's connection to me:

Amanda S Larson Sister to my 2x great grandmother Louisa (Larson) Anderson
My Great Grandmother Hazel (Anderson) Van Dorin
My Grandfather Sylvan Van Dorin
My Mom
Me

Week 9 "At the Courthouse"

Daniel Hutchison

Born 30 June, 1784 in Pennsylvania

Died 10 March, 1869 in Exline, Iowa

My 4x Great Grandfather
1st wife Nancy Armstrong
2nd wife Rebecca Caster (my 4x great grandmother)

(Mom's Mom's side)

I became interested in Daniel many years ago when we were visiting his tombstone one Memorial Day weekend. I realized that he was my 4x great grandfather. At the time I was just getting interested in genealogy and I was just starting to wrap my head around that I was visiting such a distant relatives grave. At that time he was probably the oldest relative I had visited or remembered visiting and I became interested in learning more about him.

So I took first to Ancestry where I found a document someone had done for their family history and it mentioned that Daniel was the first sheriff of Holmes County Ohio. Wow that's a cool thing I thought. So I started searching for more resources to prove that. We happened to be in a genealogy library in Princeton Mo (the one I talked about a couple weeks ago) when I came across a book about Ohio history. I thought that might have some info on Holmes Co. Ohio. Sure enough it talked about Daniel and his brother William were crucial to the founding of Holmes county.



Holmes County Courthouse in Millersburg Ohio

For some reason I became really fascinated with Holmes Co and knew I had to go there some day! In 2017 I made the trip East and visited the beautiful county that my ancestors helped found.

 While I was there I had scheduled myself to be there when the Holmes County Genealogical Society was open to see if I could find documents pertaining to my ancestors. They happened to have many of the original early court documents at the Library. Since Daniel was the Sheriff he was involved with many court cases and his signature was on many papers. It was so neat seeing his signature on these original documents that he would have touched!!! I'm mad at myself because I can't find where I put those papers!! I scanned probably 50 pages of documents from that day. Daniel didn't get to see the courthouse built in the photo above he would have been in the 1st courthouse built in 1825 which was built at the same location where the present one stands. 

You can learn about the Holmes County courthouses from this VIDEO done by the Ohio Channel. 

After visiting the library I wanted to find Daniel's parent's graves and they were located in a town just north of Millersburg in Fredericksburg Ohio. There are 2 cemeteries in Fredericksburg the Old West Fredericksburg Cemetery and the East Fredericksburg Cemetery. It said they were buried in the West one so I started there. On the website there was a photo of the grave so I had an idea of what it looked like but I walked and walked and looked at every stone and couldn't find it. So I decided to check out the other one. Sure enough it was listed in the wrong cemetery!! But I found it and was so excited. Here were my 5x great grandparents.

James and Jane (Kelly) Hutchinson's tombstones

Jane (Kelly) Hutchinson's obituary I found just last week!!! 

As someone who loves wandering around cemeteries, the above photo was the view from the first cemetery I visited in Fredericksburg. Even though it didn't have the people who I was looking for the view was spectacular!!! Right in the middle of Amish farm country.

My connection to Daniel:

Daniel Hutchinson- 4 X Great Grandpa

Rebecca Hutchinson Withrow 3x Great Grandma

Louisa Withrow Walter- 2x Great Grandma

Mearl Walter- Great Grandpa

Carolyn Walter Van Dorin - Grandma

My Mom

Me 



Week 8 "Family Photo"

Conrad & Sarah Jane (Castleman) Kaster
Conrad Kaster: Born 1827 Kentucky Died 1900 Missouri
Sarah Jane Castleman: Born 1832 Kentucky Died 1917 Missouri
Married 30 October 1851 in Kentucky

A few years ago my cousin on my dad's side made contact with some distant cousins doing family research and they became fast friends. In the summer of 2016 my mom and I made a trip to east Missouri to meet up with these new cousins. We too became fast friends!! While we were on this trip we all wanted to go to the Schuyler Co. Historical society to do some digging on some relatives. I had never been to the museum but had been to the town many many times. It's a fabulous museum for the small size of the town and county it resides in. The historical society does an amazing job of keeping it up and helping out anyone who's doing research. 

While doing some digging we came across this article donated to the Museum by Mrs. Edith Alexander Dufur describing my 4x great grandfathers house in Schuyler Co.

"An Ancient Landmark Has Passed into Oblivion."

The Kaster house, known by almost everyone in Schuyler County at least. It was the home of Conrad and Sarah Jane Castleman Kaster and their family of 16 children. Conrad was born in Hardin, Co, Kentucky on January 26, 1827 and died May 7, 1900. 

When a young man, with 2 or 3 others, rode horses west from Kentucky seeking good farming land. When they reached the land what is east of what is now Queen City (Missouri), they rode through the bluegrass almost as high as the horses backs and prairie chickens and quail were everywhere; also pheasants. Mr Kaster said, "This is God's country, let us look no farther." So they entered land from the US government and began plans for a settlement. 

Conrad returned to Kentucky, married his childhood sweetheart and came to what is now Schuyler Co. to begin a life in a virgin land. A log cabin sufficed at first. The lumber was brought from as far as Quincy, Illinois, by horse and wagon to build the large 2 story, 8 room house, much like a Kentucky mansion in design. 

Mr Kaster became a race horse breeder and farmed extensively. He built a race track on his own farm which was the focal gathering point for the young men on Sunday afternoons. 

In this family were born 4 sets of twins. The first issue were still-born twins. One smaller Florence died at about 2 and a half years of age. The parents were survived by 35 grandchildren and 46 great grandchildren. They lived on the same farm continuously for 45 years and at present (no date give) is owned by a relative. 

By religious belief they were Baptist, being members of the South Prairie Baptist Church, located on their farm and which they helped build. Memorial services for Conrad Kaster were conducted by J. A. Minter and services for "Granny" Kaster were conducted by Rev. TB Ritzinger on March 29, 1917. The Meyers Cemetery was chosen for their last resting place. 

The fine old Kaster House was unoccupied for several years and was obliterated in 1981 by a planned fire.

After reading that article we had so hoped we could have seen a photo of the house. It apparently was known by many around. But we left empty handed.

Fast forward to the next year about the same time. Myself and the same cousins all met up again for a special celebration the museum was having. They were doing different demonstrations and giving talks and we wanted to do more research. The lady in charge of the museum happened to over hear one of the family names we were discussing, Kaster, and she said "Oh I think there's a Kaster photo somewhere around here hanging on the wall." My cousin and I got all excited and set out looking for this photo. 

SURE ENOUGH!!!! Hanging on the wall as your going up the staircase was the photo above with a note by it saying "Conrad Kaster family in front of the family home". My cousin and I were, to say the least, THRILLED!!!! We asked if we could take the photo down and make copies and take photos of it. Luckily we were able too!!

It was so amazing to come back and actually find a photo of not only the house but of the WHOLE FAMILY!!!! Talk about a wonderful surprise. It was so nice to have the photo and the article to go with it and it's one of my favorite "Family Photos" that I have of my ancestors. 

Conrad and Sarah Jane Kaster are my 4x Great grandparents on my dad's mom's dad's side of the family. 

Here is a photo of Conrad and Sarah Jane with their child Elizabeth. 

Another family photo of the Kasters 

A land grant record of purchasing his land 

Conrad & Sarah Jane's grave in Meyer's Cemetery 

My Connection:

Conrad & Sarah Jane Kaster

Philip Kaster 3x Great grandfather

Maude Kaster Ertel 2x Great grandmother

William Ertel Great Grandfather

My Grandma

My Dad

Me

"Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future. We make discoveries about ourselves."  ~Gail Lumet Buckley

Week 7 "Love"

Sylvan and Carolyn Van Dorin

William Sylvan Van Dorin born March 30, 1919 Died Dec 30, 2000

Carolyn Marie Walter born October 5, 1927 and Died June 26, 2015

My Maternal Grandparents

 

This week the prompt was love and the first couple that came to mind was my maternal grandparents Sylvan and Carolyn Van Dorin. Although my grandpa passed away when I was young, looking at photos of the two of them and reading letters they wrote to each other there was no doubt that these two were in love. 

Their love story began in rural Iowa. They grew up on farms close to each other. During the early years of their relationship my grandmother was in high school and my grandfather in the service serving during WW2. So they wrote letters back and forth to each other. 

My grandmas sister told me a story that my grandpa was notoriously late and one evening he was supposed to pick my grandma up but was so late that she gave up on him and went to bed. When he arrived to pick her up her mother told him that she'd gone to bed and that he was too late!! I'm thankful that wasn't a deal breaker! 

Another fun story we found in a letter from my grandpas Aunt Flora to my grandpa when he was in the service. In the letter my grandmas Aunt writes that my grandma had stayed with her and said that she claimed my grandpa as her own but then mentioned that another young lady in town also thought that grandpa was hers too!! I wish I could go back and ask what made him choose my grandma over the other young lady. But whatever it was i'm glad he chose her! 

Sylvan and Carolyn were married on April 28, 1946 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Moravia Iowa. To this union they had 3 daughters, 3 granddaughters, and 2 great grandsons. They lived most of their lives in the town of Moravia and were very active in their community. 

For 33 years they owned and operated Van Dorin Implement where they sold Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment and home appliances. 

They were honored as Moravia Fall festival King and Queen. 

All together they celebrated 54 years together above is them pictured at their 50th anniversary. 

A couple of pot holders my grandma made. 

"I've got Ewe under my skin"

"Owl be yours forever"

For 15 years they were separated after my grandpa passed away but I know that they are together again watching over all of us in heaven. Thank you both for showing us all how to love.

 "Being a family you are a part of something wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life. No matter what!"

Week 6 "Surprise"

John Cahuac

 Born: 1771 in London, England

Died: 1832 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

**Possible** 5x Great grandfather on my dad's dad's side

Wife: Mary ? (1770-1827)

More recently I've been seeing more information and hearing stories about the English transport of convicts to Australia. It's something that's somewhat fascinated me. Well just a couple days ago I found a photo of my 4 x great grandmother Elizabeth (Cahuac) Barnes that I hadn't seen before. It was actually a really neat photo of her in Mourning of her husband Samuel. I want to wait and share the photo another time. But it encouraged me to do some more digging on Elizabeth and her family. Well on Ancestry it popped up with hints for possible parents for Elizabeth so I bit and up pops John and Mary Cahuac. 

Like Elizabeth it showed that they were born in London, England but they both died in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. WHAT!! Total surprise!!! This was the first time i'd seen anyone in my family tree end up in Australia. Then I instantly thought about what I've learned about British people who ended up in Australia. Uh OH!! So I started looking at some of the hints and what do I find.... England and Wales Criminal Registry...... Convict Ship Muster Rolls..... well looks like he was a criminal! This was a surprise for sure. He's the first real criminal that I've found in my tree also. 

So now I wanted to see what he did and how he ended up in Australia. So the first document I look at was the "England and Wales Criminal Registry 1791-1892". I know you can't read it from the photo below but I just wanted to show the document. Next to John's name it says:

 "Receiving Stolen Goods....Age 49......14 years." 

Hmm. What does that mean? Receiving stolen goods? So I looked at some of the other documents and found a document on a website that actually has the notes from his court case and describes all about what he did. 

The gist of the story is that a man by the name of Thomas Beeman stole books from one store, then John Cahuac received the books knowing that they were stolen goods and selling them in his store. Not as juicy as say murder but apparently enough of a crime to receive a sentence to be transported to Australia and serve 14 years. Thomas Beeman only received Transport to Australia and 7 years. 

The document above shows that John arrived in Australia in 1823 and came aboard the ship Phoenix.

I'm having some reservations on weather John is for sure my ancestor due to lack of proof but I though this story was definitely a neat one that should be shared either way. Learning about him and his life was definitely a surprise!! I'm hoping to do more research to pin down if he truly is Elizabeth's father.