2020 Week #3 Long Line

There are 2 lines in my family tree that I have the details and documentation that I can confidently trace back 13 generations!!! One I will talk about in a different post hopefully later this year. The one I'll talk about today I can actually trace back 14 generations but most of the details begin with a man name Joseph Loomis. Below is the lineage.

Erin Mullins (Me)

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Patrick Mullins

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Glen Mullins

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William Mullins
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Matthew Mullins
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Lois Loomis Mullins
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Israel Loomis
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John B Loomis
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Dyer Loomis
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Nathaniel Loomis
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Jonathan Loomis

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Nathaniel Loomis
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Joseph Loomis

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John & Agnes Loomis

The most interesting thing is that almost this entire line starting with Joseph lived in America! Joseph was a Woolen Draper and left from London England  on April 11th, 1638. He came to America on the ship the Susan & Ellen. They arrived in Boston Massachusetts on July 17th, 1638. They remained in Dorchester Massachusetts for about a year before moving to the Windsor Connecticut area in 1639 where they remained until his death in 1658. A few years ago I came across a book that was published with the Loomis Lineage and it follows all the way down to my 3x great grandparents. Which gives me the confidence to say that Joseph Loomis was my 10x great grandfather!!! It's mind blowing to think about the DEEP roots my family has in America and that they were some of the first settlers in Connecticut.

Postcard of the Loomis Homestead

Loomis Homestead today. Definitely a bucket list place to visit!! 

 Joseph Loomis Tombstone

"Joseph Loomis

One of the early settlers of Connecticut

Came from England to Boston 1838 and to Windsor

in 1839 Died November 25 1658 Age 68"



2020 Week #2 Favorite Photo

As with many of these prompts I found it hard to pick just 1 favorite photo. Photos are such an amazing thing to have as a genealogist. It gives you a small glimpse into our ancestors lives and transports you to a different time in history. It's great to be able to read stories about your people but to actually get to see what they look like and see their surroundings is an amazing treat. I'm lucky that I have photos of so many of my ancestors but there are a few who I long to see their faces and I know I never will.

This week I chose 2 photos. I came across these 2 photos in an old photo album that belonged to, we think, my great grandmother Blanche Walter or one of her sisters. It's filled with photos from the early 1900's and they are amazing and even better yet most are labeled with who they are!!!! As a farm girl who at one time in my life raised pigs I instantly fell in love with these 2 photos.

We are't 100% sure who the woman is in the top photo but the bottom photo we think is my Great Great Uncle Walter Miner.  My great Grandmother Blanche's half brother.

I ask you this how many women, dressed in their Sunday best, would even go around a hog pen let alone get ON a pig!?!?! A dirty one at that!!! I remember my time with pigs fondly and you'd look at a pig from 10 feet away and end up covered head to toe in mud I can't imagine what crossed her mind or how much encouraging it took to get her on that pig!!

I will forever cherish the photo album these came from and these 2 pictures in particular!!

2020 Week #1 A Fresh Start

As with any of my new years resolutions/goals I failed to continue on with the 52 prompts for 2019. I started of strong and was really enjoying it but then around March things got crazy and life changed and something had to be set aside. Unfortunately that was the blog.

So my goal for 2020 is to at least do 2 posts a month. I feel that that is an obtainable goal.

I did not stop researching all together in 2019 I actually came across some neat information and worked on a couple of projects which I hope I'm able to talk about next year! We were able to go cemetery visiting in May and visited a few new cemeteries.

So here's to the Fresh Start that 2020 brings! A new year, a new decade, and more people to discover!

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