TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Charlie Wilson & Fred Cole

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive...

Today it is Charlie Wilson & Fred Cole

Charlie Wilson & Fred Cole
Cousins

Fred Cole [1890-1977] was the son of Delivan & Josephine (Hagen) Cole, and the youngest brother of my Great-Great Grandmother Minnie (Cole) Maine.

Charles Wilson [1888-1959] was the son of William & Mary Etta (Randall) Wilson. Mary Etta Randall was the daughter of Anna Marie (Cole) Randall, who was the oldest sister of Delivan Cole.

This photo is undated, but it is not the only photograph I've seen of the two cousins together. So it appears they were not only kin, but friends. 

So I am NOT exactly who I thought I was...?

DNA...solving or creating mysteries?

So it seems I'm not exactly who I thought I was... How is that you ask? Well, I recently had my DNA tested--- and the results seem to show my family tree isn't exactly as I thought it was!

I'd heard rumblings over the years, regarding the possibility of some paternity issues in my pedigree. I dismissed them as unlikely and went about my research... though this possibility was always in the back of my head, as well as the identities of possible pedigree replacements.

Fast forward 20 years--- I have an ancestry DNA test done-- and SURPRISE! I have more than one match to descendants of one of my possible pedigree replacements... and as far as I can tell, no connections to anyone from the family I was expecting to.

I'm not going to lie, this has been disheartening. Not only because it seems I invested over two decades researching a family that's not mine, but because I considered it part of my identity. 

One bright spot is, this particular branch has been wrought with brick walls and dead ends. In all of my years of research, I've barely progressed beyond a couple of generations. Most of what I did find is pretty unremarkable, so I'm not missing out on too many amazing ancestors.

For the mean time this development is an asterisk in my genealogy research. I'm going to have a couple of other relatives tested and also have mine done again with another testing company, to help confirm what I already know. 

I certainly have plenty of other lines to research and projects to work on.

The disappointment I had at these results is fading--- I've processed this new piece of the puzzle and am ready to move forward. And see what other mysteries DNA may unlock for me!

What about you? Have you had any DNA surprises?
Has it solved or created mysteries?

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Ralph Maine Family

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive...

Today it is the Ralph & Minnie (Cole) Maine family

L-R- Thora, Larrie, Minnie & Vernie, Ralph, Blanche, Hiram, Loren  circa 1909



The young family above, probably while living in Southern Minnesota... and below after settling in Northern Minnesota, near Pequot Lakes, when everyone is grown

Back Row L-R- Loren, Thora, Larrie, Blanche, Hiram
Front Row L-R- Ralph, Vernie, Minnie

 In the early years of their marriage, Ralph & Minnie Maine moved from Northern Minnesota, back to Southern Minnesota, and back & forth yet again... before settling for good in the Pequot Lakes area, around 1910. The above studio photograph is the only one I have ever seen for the entire family... though they were regular users of 'snapshot' cameras... so many photos exist today.

Ralph died in 1939, after suffering a sudden stroke at the home of his daughter Vernie. Minnie remained on the homestead alone, until about 1947 when Hiram & family moved in with her, after their nearby farm house burned down. Suffering from dementia in her later years, Minnie died in 1953.

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Dan Weber Family

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive...

Today it is Uncle Dan Weber 

& his 3 sons- George, William & Andrew

I am not sure which son is which however... I will have to see if some of my cousins know the identities for certain.

Daniel Weber [1873-1956] was the husband of Eva Krumholz [1881-1956] and they had 4 children, a daughter Mary Weber Erickson [1914-1993] and the 3 sons pictured above- George [1910-1987], Andrew [1906-1981], William [1907-2001].

The Weber family started out in Martin County, MN before moving to the Osakis, MN area in the 1910s. They lived & farmed their until their deaths... descendants still live in the area today.

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- James George

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive...

Today it is James George... 

older brother of my GGG-Grandfather Myron George

This is a great photo of James George [1844-1916] dressed in his Civil War Uniform. James was born in China, Wyoming County, New York, the oldest child of Lee & Sally (Silloway) George. He grew up in Erie, Holland County, NY and later moved with his family to Alma, Allegany County, NY.

Sometime after serving in the Civil War he was married and settled in Southern Minnesota, eventually relocating to Central City, Iowa in the 1900's, where he had a brother living.

I do not know anything about the early life of James George, or about his military service. He did not have any children and I have yet to focus any significant research on him and his life.

Jacobina Krumholz Weber... 141 years old

Jacobina Krumholz

Jacobina Krumholz was born April 8, 1874 in Hildmannsfeld, Baden, Germany the 5th child of Jacob Theodore Krumholz, Sr & Agatha Kleinhans...  as a young child she immigrated to the United States with her parents, settling in Woodford County, Illinois.

She married William Weber on October 30, 1894 and they eventually moved to Martin County, Minnesota with their young family. After William's sudden death in 1932, Jacobina remained in their home, along with daughter Agnes, until her death in 1950.

TBT Photos of Yesteryear- Merle & Josephine Mapson

Spotlighting photos from my extensive photo archive...

Today is it my Great-Great Aunt & Uncle- 

Josephine Sturm & Merle Mapson

One their wedding day- August 11, 1931

Josephine [1907-1997] is the youngest sister of my Great-Grandfather John Sturm while Merle [1902-1988] is the younger brother to my Great-Grandma Beatrice Mapson Sturm..... ten years after the marriage of my Great-Grandparents, their younger siblings also married one another.