Genealogical Gems

Tombstone Tuesday: Frank & Helen Euler

2013-06-18T06:30:00.001-04:00

Husband Frank J. Euler, Jr. Wife Helen Z Euler
3 Jan 1924 - 11 Dec 1995 5 Jan 1924 - 5 March 1973

Frank & Helen Euler are buried at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery in Valley Township, Chester County, PA.

Frank served in the US Navy during WWII. He enlisted 11 July 1941 and was released 20 December 1945.

Frank was the son of Frank and Margaret Huskins Euler, who married 8 November 1923. Both Frank and Margaret was born in Pennsylvania. Both of Margaret's parents and Frank's father was born in Pennsylvania as well. In 1940 Frank and his father, now divorced, lived with his widowed grandmother (also named Margaret) who was from Northern Ireland.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Chester County Online Indexes. http://www.chesco.org/DocumentCenter/View/1728
Year: 1930; Census Place: Downingtown, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2019; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 19; Image: 433.0; FHL microfilm: 2341753.
Year: 1940; Census Place: Caln, Chester, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3464; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 15-4.

Sunday's Obituary: Frank M Eckman

2013-06-16T07:55:00.002-04:00

Frank M. Eckman, 81, died at his Lancaster home on Thursday, 9 August 2012. Born in Strasburg, he was the son of the late Willis E. and Emma Martin Minney. Frank was the husband of Dolores A. Haefner Eckman for 61 years.

A graduate of J.P. McCaskey High School, he served in the US Marines during the Korean War. Frank was a machinist for Armstrong Cork Company and then Kerr Glass for a total of 46 years. He was a member and ordained Deacon at St. Anne Catholic Church. A 4th Degree Knight he belonged to the Knights of Columbus Council 867. Frank loved to hunt and fish.

Surviving in addition to his wife Dolores are 5 children, Celeste L. Eckman, Mount Joy, Joseph M., husband of Kimberly Eckman, Elizabethtown, Valerie A., wife of Kevin W. Carroll, Morgantown, Stephanie M., wife of Thomas W. Childs, Lancaster, and F. Martin Jr., husband of Kristyn R. Zaenglein Eckman, Lancaster; 6 grandchildren, Michael T. Wagner, Kentucky, Jessica L. and Christopher J. Wagner, Lititz, Ryenne Carroll, Morgantown, and Zoe Z. and Sophie Z. Eckman, Lancaster; and his great-granddaughter Cambria Creter, Lititz. Frank was preceded in death by his daughter Michelle L. Eckman and his brothers George M. and Donald M. Eckman.

The Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11 AM, Tuesday, August 14, 2012, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 501 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA 17602, with The Very Rev. Philip G. Burger as Celebrant. Services by the Knights of Columbus Council 867 at 11 AM on Tuesday. The family will receive friends from 10-11 AM at the church. Interment with military honors will take place in St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery. Please omit flowers. Memorial Contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 1513 Cedar Cliff Drive, Suite 100, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

Source: Lancaster Online & Snyder Funeral Home

Nazi diary discovered

2013-06-14T07:28:00.001-04:00

Alfred Rosenberg, one of the most notorious members of the Third Reich and of the Nazi Party during World War II, was privy to much of the planning for the Nazi racial state, mass murder of the Jewish people, planning and conduct of World War II and the occupation of Soviet territory. His diaries – known as “The Rosenberg Diary” could obviously provide historians a wealth of personal information about Rosenberg, Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Federal officials and representatives from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington have recovered this diary.

"This important record of the crimes of the Third Reich and the Holocaust is now preserved for all to see, study and learn from. The work of combating the international theft of cultural heritage is a key part of our work, and no matter how long these items may appear to be lost to history, that hard but important work will continue." said Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Director John Morton.

"Although it is a reminder of a dark time, the Rosenberg Diary is important to our understanding of history. Our hope is that it will provide valuable insight to historians."

U.S.

Attorney Charles M. Oberly III.

Rosenberg served as head of the Nazi party's foreign affairs department and as the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, which included the Baltic States, Ukraine and parts of Belorussia. As Reich Minister, Rosenberg played a significant role in the mass murder of the Jewish people in the Occupied Eastern Territories, as well as the deportation of civilians to forced labor camps to support the German war effort.

He was a defendant at the Nuremberg Trials in Nuremberg, Germany, from 1945 to 1946 (seen here). He was found guilty on all four counts of the indictment for conspiracy to commit aggressive warfare, crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Rosenberg was hanged Oct. 16, 1946

PHOTO:
The photo is from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, which in turn used the photo from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

NOTE:
This information was provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

Those Places Thursday: Mesa Verde

2013-06-13T07:14:00.000-04:00

Those Places Thursday is a GeneaBloggers prompt reminding us to write of various places that have special meaning to us or our families. With the deadly wildfires in the news today out in Colorado, my thoughts turned to my godmother and her family and one of our trips "Out West".

My dad worked for Lukens Steel in Coatesville and they used to give long vacations. One year - when I was 13 (I remember because it was the summer going into high school and I was finally old enough to get a job) - he took several weeks off during the summer. We rented a RV (yes - think Robin Williams in RV) and off we went.

One of the most memorable places was of course Yellowstone Park. The other was the Mesa Verde National Park.

I remember thinking it was so cool that these people lived here so long ago and we could actually see how they lived. I also thought it was kind of creepy thinking that hundreds of years from now, someone may be going through my house and reflecting on my life! How bored they would be if they had to reflect on mine!

Mesa Verde was home to the Pueblo peoples, native to that region. They built their community into the landscape, sheltered from the weather and even enemies. They lived there from about 600 to 1300 AD, according to the National Park Service (NPS). The site contains the now-famous cliff dwellings and thousands of archeological sites. According to the NPS, approximately 600 of the over 4700 archeological sites are cliff dwellings. The other sites include mesa top pueblos, farming terraces, towers, reservoirs, and check dams.

Sometime in the late 1200's, the Pueblo people left the cliff dwellings and these communities. They migrated south to New Mexico and Arizona. It is believed that climate changes and a population growth forced these people from their homes.

The site, which some believed to be sacred, went unexplored by people for centuries. The Mesa Verde National Park was established on 29 June 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Photo:
Photo is from the National Park Service.

Tombstone Tuesday: Zadorozny

2013-06-11T05:28:00.001-04:00

Zadorozny

John b. 1 June 1888 d. 18 July 1927

Mary b. 6 Jan. 1889 d. 16 Aug. 1970

Sophie b. 19 Dec. 1915 d. 29 Aug. 1931

buried at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery

Valley Twp., Chester County, PA

Military Monday: Henry H Eckman

2013-06-10T07:43:00.001-04:00

Henry H. Eckman served the Union during the Civil War as a Private. He enlisted in Company A, Pennsylvania 122nd Infantry Regiment on 11 Aug 1862 and was mustered out on 15 May 1863. A Henry H Eckman also shows up as enlisting in Company I, Pennsylvania 21st Cavalry Regiment on 11 Feb 1864. He was promoted to Full Corporal on 11 Sep 1864 and mustered out on 08 Jul 1865 at Lynchburg, VA.

Census records do show two different Henry H Eckmans. One was from Strasburg Township and the other from Providence Township, Lancaster County. Hence it is quite possible that this is two different Henrys.

Sources:

Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.
Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.
National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

The First National Bank of Intercourse

2013-06-09T07:26:00.000-04:00

Years ago I found this on EBay. It was a bank check from the First National Bank of Intercourse and has the stamp of a J. F. Eckman. I had no clue who J. F. Eckman was at the time but long ago I realized all Lancaster County Eckmans are related somehow! So I got it and it got tucked away into my Eckman Surname Folder, which until Sorting Saturday seemed to be comparable to the "the kitchen drawer"!

The First National Bank of Intercourse (9216) was established on 10 November 1908. Its Federal Reserve number was 226819. According to AntiqueNotes.com, the bank issued 6 type of notes: 1902 $10 Ten Dollar Bill; 1902 $20 Twenty Dollar Bill; 1902 $5 Five Dollar Bill; 1929 $10 Ten Dollar Bill; 1929 $20 Twenty Dollar Bill; and the 1929 $5 Five Dollar Bill.

The Date of Deposit Insurance for the bank was 1 January 1934, according to the FDIC. The bank was inactive as of 5 June 1972. It was "merged without assistance" into Farmers First National Bank in Lititz. The name then changed to simply Farmers First Bank and then to Susquehanna Bank PA.

Today the bank is home to the American Edged Weaponry Museum and is on the National Historic Register. The vault of the bank remains intact. The box above the vault door is the old bank alarm.

Sorting Saturday - sifting through the Eckman file

2013-06-08T16:01:00.000-04:00

One organization trick I learned early on is that if I file it when I find/acquire it, then I stand a much better chance of it staying with the right family unit. I have my husband's ECKMAN line traced back to just before 1687 when Johannes Eckman was born in Germany. Since I trace not only the direct lineal line but also all the branches, you can imagine how many file folders I have used over the years!

When I come across something that looks potentially keep-able but I just do not have time at the moment to deal with it, it then goes in the general surname folder. I have a folder for each and every direct lineal surname. Post it notes are my next best friend. If I do not write the thought when I have it, I may not get it back for months or even years. So today ... I am sifting through the Eckman folder.

Most of the info in the folder is documentation that I just did not get put away yet. For example, I had some info on John Charles Eckman (hubby's grandfather) in there - including info on his first wife (Emma GOEPEL) and his widowed mother's name after she remarried.

Years ago my system had crashed so I lost a lot of my electronic files. I knew the info but did not recall where my documentation had been. Today, I am finding a lot of that. Even when I type something up - be it here or in my FTM - I try to always add an "according to" note. I have found over the years this comes in very handy. I also like redundancy and it too has worked for me.

As I go through the Eckman file, I found a copy of the "Immigrants into Pennsylvania" dated 1727. Johannes Eckman is one of the men named as having come over on the William and Sarah, docking in Philadelphia on 18 September 1727. The ship left Rotterdam and the passengers are referred to as "Palatine Passengers." Johannes' brother Hans Jacob is also listed.

I have also found many fellow researchers I have met - many virtually - over the years. I started a (not to be published obviously) database of fellow researchers.

Sadly - my surname folder is only a quarter of the way through and my bed is covered in papers (good God I pray the cat is not in here somewhere - she loves paper!) ... but it is time to put the mom-taxi back in motion! It has been nice though to have a day to myself here though I have to admit. So I suppose my advice to everyone reading this is ... do not procrastinate. Put things in their proper place immediately or spend a beautiful sunny Saturday sifting through paperwork!

New at Genealogical Gems -- For Sale Page

2013-06-07T05:50:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Genealogical Gems added a For Sale page. The page will feature various (i.e. random) items related to genealogy or local history. Current items include Hometowne Collectibles and The Cat's Meow items but Sorting Saturday has found many potential items!

While items will be removed from the page once sold, I will still offer as much information as possible. For example, the photo at right here is the Hometowne Collectible from Grace Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA. The back simply reads: Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA. North Queen & East James Streets. Established April 1874. 125th Anniversary. 1975 - 1999. One of these "Those Places Thursdays" I may feature the church and her history.

Again items for sale will be random as I come across them. If you are looking for a specific item or information on a specific area, feel free to drop a comment here or email me privately and I will keep my eyes open for it!

Those Places Thursday: Schuylkill County, PA

2013-06-06T06:25:00.000-04:00

Years ago I had written the Historical Society of Schuylkill County concerning local Roman Catholic churches that my ancestors might have attended. My Walsh/Welsh family had come from Ireland to the coal mines of Shenandoah. My Keating ancestors had come from Ireland to Ringtown. The Society was nice enough to include a list of Catholic churches in northern Schuylkill County and the year they were first organized. The list contains 45 parishes started between 1827 and 1909.

They are as follows:

1. 1827 – St. Patrick in Pottsville

2. 1833 – St. Jerome in Tamaqua

3. 1841 – St. John the Baptist in Pottsville

4. 1842 – St. Vincent de Paul in Minersville

5. 1846 – St. Bartholomew in Brokton

6. 1847 – St. Stephen in Port Carbon

7. 1851 – St. Ambrose in Schuylkill Haven

8. 1853 – St. Boniface in Saint Clair

9. 1853 – Immaculate Conception in Tremont

10. 1855 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Minersville

11. 1856 – St. Mauritius in Ashland

12. 1856 – St. Joseph in Ashland

13. 1858 – St. Kieran in Heckscherville

14. 1862 – St. Canicus in Mahanoy City

15. 1863 – St. Fidelis in Mahanoy City

16. 1864 – St. Mary in Saint Clair

17. 1866 – Holy Family in New Philadelphia

18. 1869 – St. Patrick in McAdoo

19. 1870 – Annunciation in Shenandoah

20. 1870 – St. Joseph in Girardville

21. 1872 – St. Casmir in Shenandoah

22. 1872 – Holy Rosary in Mahanoy Plane

23. 1879 – St. Mary Magdalen in Lost Creek

24. 1886 – St. Mary Star of the Sea in Branchdale

25. 1888 – St. Joseph in Mahanoy City

26. 1891 – St. George in Shenandoah

27. 1892 – Assumption B.V.M. in Mahanoy City

28. 1893 – St. Cunegunda in McAdoo

29. 1893 – St. Mary in McAdoo

30. 1893 – St. Casmir in Mahanoy City

31. 1895 – St. Francis of Assisi in Minersville

32. 1895 – Sacred Heart in New Philadelphia

33. 1896 – Sacred Heart in Newton

34. 1896 – SS Peter and Paul in Tower City

35. 1898 – St. Stanislaus in Shenandoah

36. 1899 – St. Stephen in Shenandoah

37. 1900 – St. Stephen in McAdoo

38. 1905 – St. Stanislaus Kostka in Minersville

39. 1905 – St. Joseph in Pottsville

40. 1905 – Immaculate Conception in Saint Clair

41. 1907 – St. Anthony in Cumbola

42. 1907 – St. Vincent de Paul in Girardville

43. 1907 – Sacred Heart in Mahanoy City

44. 1907 – Our Lady of Siluva in Maizeville

45. 1909 – St. Joseph in Frackville

The researcher, a Howard T. Crown, had written me in 1993 that the information the Society has on Catholics was indeed sparse.

Wordless Wednesday: Still

2013-06-05T07:08:00.001-04:00

Helen Still & Alice Still

Tombstone Tuesday: Wroblewsky

2013-06-04T04:47:00.000-04:00

The Rt. Rev. Mitrate Hilary H. Wroblewsky, his wife Mary, his parents and her father are all buried here together in Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery where he was pastor from 1932 to 1950. It was during Rev. Wroblewsky’s pastorate, on 28 October 1940, that the charter of the church was changed to read "Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ghost of Coatesville, PA". We had previously been a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.

Jacob Keen Eckman

2013-06-03T18:04:00.000-04:00

Today being Military Monday, this post started as what I thought would be a story about an Eckman who had served in World War I. I first found Jacob Keen Eckman by his draft registration papers in 1942 and traced backwards since he was 63 then. I thought perhaps I would find in the first World War. Jacob however had his own story to tell and aside from registering in the drafts, no proof that he actually enlisted or was drafted exists.

In April of 1942, I imagine Jacob read in the daily newspaper about the Allied air raid on harbor city Kupang Timor, about the Destroyer Roper sinking the German U-85 just off our east coast, and how operations had begun to destroy the Sobibor Concentration Camp. Like many other men in America, Jacob Keen Eckman registered in the draft for World War II. Jacob though was 63 at the time.

The 1940 Census shows him and his wife Bertha living in Eden Township. Living with them was a 23 year old domestic named Evelyn Caldwell. She was living with them in 1930, at the age of 13, also but was listed as a lodger. Jacob and Bertha also gave board then to an 18 year old William Edwards. Both William and Jacob listed their occupations as farmer.

The 1920 Census reveals Jacob and Bertha in Eden Township living and working the farm. Living with them is 12 year old George Emore. It (see below) looks like it says that George is Jacob's son however the word between "wife" and "son" is not clear enough to say for sure.

Jacob had also registered for World War I in 1918. The draft registration card reads almost identical, except it reveals a younger man with brown hair instead of gray. Jacob and Bertha owned a 30 acre farm in Eden Township, according to a directory from 1914.

He was born on the first of January in 1879 in Providence Township, Lancaster County to Daniel H. & Martha C. Eckman.

The 1910 Census finds Jacob, age 30 and single, living with his parents. In addition to his parents, living there were: 23 year old Maude B., 19 year old Lottie V. and two year old H. Hertzler Eckman. Daniel listed the toddler as his grandson. Martha notes she has had five children and all five are still living.

The 1900 Census reveals that Daniel was born in April of 1860 and Martha in October 1858. The census also reveals their other children. D. Martin, 18, was born April 1882. Effie M., 15, was born November 1884. Bertha M., 12, was born July 1887. Lottie V., 10, was born May 1890.

The 1880 Census shows one year old Jacob with his young parents. Daniel was a farmer and they lived in Strasburg Township.

Jacob lived a long life, passing away in February of 1964, according to the Social Security Death Index.

Lancaster County Archives offers classes

2013-05-31T08:58:00.001-04:00

While researching a marriage this morning, I stumbled upon this great resource:
(taken verbatim from Lancaster County website)

New Course!

Searching Deeper: Untraditional Geneaology Sources at the Lancaster County Archives

Fridays, March 8th and November 8th

(same class offered two different dates)

9am - noon

Lancaster County Government Center Annex: Room 102/104

Plus:Take a tour of the Lancaster County Archives Department!

Also, Lancaster Central Market is open on Fridays and just a block away!

Discovering Your Roots: Genealogy Sources at the Lancaster County Archives

Fridays, February 8th, May 3rd, July 12th, and October 4th

(same class offered four different dates)

9am - noon

Lancaster County Government Center Annex: Room 102/104

Plus:Take a tour of the Lancaster County Archives Department!

Also, Lancaster Central Market is open on Fridays and just a block away!

Homemade History: Researching Your Historic Home at the Lancaster County Archives

Fridays, June 7^thand September 13^th

(same class offered two different dates)

9am - noon

Lancaster County Government Center Annex: Room 102/104

Plus:Take a tour of the Lancaster County Archives Department!

Also, Lancaster Central Market is open on Fridays and just a block away!

Courses are free and available to everyone.

Please reserve your seat and register

by calling Lancaster County IT at 717.299.8257

and press "1" for the non-technical nature questions.

Registration is available Monday-Friday, 8:30am until 5pm.

NMAM: Herbert Eckman

2013-05-31T08:56:00.000-04:00

As May comes to a close, this is our last National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM) entry until next year. We will continue to highlight our servicemen and women on Monday's as GeneaBloggers promote Military Mondays. Today we randomly chose World War II veteran Herbert Eckman of Lancaster County, PA

Herbert served in the Army from 31 August 1942 to 8 December 1943.

He was born 19 May 1913. Herbert was six when the 1920 Census was taken. He was at home with his parents - Frank M & Nevada - and his siblings: Emlyn S., Ray, Beluha, Dorothy, and Delmar. The 1930 Census shows Herbert - then 16 - living with his parents and his older brother Delmar, age 18. Frank was a automobile salesman. Delmar was a laborer in a pickle plant and herbert was still in school.

His wife is Dorothy M. Eckman. The 1940 Census shows he and Dorothy living on a farm in Drumore Township, Lancaster County, PA. Living with them was a hired hand by name of Warren Boyd. Boyd was 20 at the time.

He passed on 13 Feb 1983 at the age of 69. He is buried in Quarryville cemetery, in Quarryville, Lancaster County, PA.

Sources:
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

NMAM: John Frederick Eckman

2013-05-30T07:46:00.001-04:00

John Frederick Eckman served in the Navy in WWI. He served from 23 September 1918 until 30 September 1921.

He was born on 20 February 1897 to William Aldus and Annie E Stively Eckman in Quarryville. The 1910 Census shows the then 13 year old John at home in Lancaster City. He was one of five children, although his parents had lost a child by the 1910 census. His father was a commercial traveler in the carpet cleaning industry.

In 1918 when he registered for the draft, John was living in Detroit, MI, working for a sales company. His father, who was listed as his closest kin, was still in Lancaster County, PA. The 1920 census includes John as a lodger with the Trapp Family in Detroit. He worked as a machine operator in the auto industry.

He passed on 20 January 1985. He is buried at the New Providence Mennonite Cemetery, New Providence, Lancaster County, PA with his wife Helen May Moore (1895-1971).

NGS announces 2014 conference

2013-05-29T08:56:00.002-04:00

NGS has announced the 2014 Family History Conference will be held 7–10 May 2014 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center and Marriott Hotel located in downtown Richmond, Virginia.

Below is their press release issued today:

Conference highlights and contact information for conference hotels can be found in the Announcement Brochure, which can be downloaded at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/galleries/new-gallery/2014_Announcement_Brochure.pdf. The conference theme, Virginia: The First Frontier, will explore the records and history that draw so many back to their roots in the Old Dominion. Lecture topics will also include migration into, within, and out of the region down the Great Wagon Road, over the Appalachian Mountains, and across the south to Texas and beyond.

Genealogy conferences in Richmond, Virginia, are always well attended, so plan to make your reservations early. The five conference hotels will accept reservations beginning 1 June 2013 and the special conference rates apply three days before and after the conference. The hotels offer a variety of amenities and dining options, so choose the one that best fits your needs. The convention and visitors bureau will be providing shuttle buses between the convention center and the Crowne Plaza, Omni, and Holiday Inn Express hotels, which are a few blocks away, while the conference is in session. For more details please see the NGS conference website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/accommodations. Consider arriving early to experience one or more historical tours in and around Richmond provided by Richmond Discoveries’ Tours on Monday afternoon 5 May 2014 and Tuesday morning and afternoon 6 May 2014. Details can be found at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/tours. Tour reservations will be accepted beginning 1 December 2013.

The four-day conference will include more than 150 lectures by nationally known experts on topics including the history, records, repositories, and ethnic and religious groups in Virginia and the neighboring states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The program will also feature broader genealogical categories including military and other federal records, the law as it relates to genealogy, methodology, analysis, and problem solving. There will also be an emphasis on the use of technology (GenTech) in genealogical research including genetics, mobile devices, and apps.

An Exhibit Hall with more than 100 vendors will be free and open to the public from Wednesday through Saturday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, directly across from the Marriott Hotel. Exhibitors will include genealogy database and software providers, booksellers, genealogy societies, providers of genetic testing, and much more.

Sign up for the NGS Conference Blog at http://conference.ngsgenealogy.org so you do not miss any of the conference news or announcements. Conference registration opens 1 December 2013.

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-29T08:35:00.000-04:00

My daughter and I will be participating in

JDRF's Lancaster 2013 Walk to Cure Diabetes event on Sunday, 2 June.

If you would like to donate. or receive more information, please visit http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/FacingDiabetes.

Thank you.

NMAM: Oscar Eckman

2013-05-29T03:52:00.000-04:00

Oscar's headstone is a simple stone. His name is included on the family stone and he also has an individual stone that reads "Oscar D. Eckman, Mec. USA Amb. Cps. Unit 583."

He was born on 21 April 1878 to John Henry and Catharine Kezia Cresswell Eckman, one of 11 children. The family attended the Zion UCC in Providence Township. His brother Charles is my husband's great grandfather.

Tombstone Tuesday: Ann Harris

2013-05-28T08:43:00.001-04:00

Ann Harris

14 June 1904

11 January 1978

buried at Holy Ghost Ukrainian Cemetery

Valley Township, Chester County, PA

Photo by Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman

NMAM: James Deyoe

2013-05-28T06:34:00.000-04:00

Private James Deyoe served in the 120th Regiment, Co B in the Civil War. He enlisted on 8 August 1862 in Shandaken, Ulster, New York.

James was born 8 Jul 1822 in Lexington, Greene Co, New York to John and Mary Schermerhorn Deyoe. He was one of six children to the couple. The 1880 Census lists Eliza Lane as his wife. She is 35, he is 57. They also have a 73 year old servant - Smith Griffin - who is a farm laborer.

He passed on 21 November 1890 and is buried at the Deyoe Family Cemetery in Lexington, NY.

One of James' siblings is Daniel G. Deyoe. Daniel married Louise Sharp and their son Moran G. Deyoe was my husband's maternal grandfather.

Sources:
New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Town Clerks´ Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War, ca 1861-1865; Collection Number: (N-Ar)13774; Box Number: 64; Roll Number: 35.

Memorial Day dates back to just after the Civil War

2013-05-27T05:57:00.002-04:00

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Originally called Decoration Day, its exact origins have been blurred over the years. The day itself was officially proclaimed by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic on 5 May 1868.

It was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873. After World War I, the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress and - sadly I might add - placed on the last Monday in May. Moving the day to a Monday like any other federal holiday diminished its true relevance. Memorial Day is - and should be remembered as - a National Day of Mourning.

Memorial Day is not about barbeques and sales at the mall. It is a day when we should remember those who gave their lives in service to the nation. So how should one celebrate Memorial Day? It is suggested that one visits cemeteries and places flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes. Visit memorials and fly our nation's flag at half-staff until noon. Fly the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well. Participate in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day. Finally, renew a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen soldiers, and to aid the disabled veterans.

This month Genealogical Gems had been focusing on a different veteran each day in honor of National Military Appreciation Month (NMAM). Although this month is coming to a close, Mondays here are (okay most Mondays!) Military Mondays. It is a blog prompt by GeneaBloggers in which we focus and highlight on a military personnel or something in general military related. I encourage you to visit back here on Mondays, especially if you have enjoyed the NMAM posts.

To all who have served - THANK YOU.

An Eckman ancestor fought in the Revolutionary War

2013-05-26T08:47:00.001-04:00

Exciting news to share .... while looking up Sunday's NMAM piece, I confirmed that Martin Eckman, who fought in the Revolutionary War and is buried in the Eckman/Kunkle Cemetery, is my husband's 4th great grandfather!

Actually John Martin Eckman is his full name. He is the son of Jerome Hieronimous (1718 – 1784) and Barbara Slaymaker (1724 – 1796) Eckman!

John Martin Eckman married Elizabeth Sides. They had nine children:

Mary
Susanna
Henry
Martin
Elizabeth
Hieronimous
Daniel
Sarah
Jacob

Elizabeth Eckman married (yes a cousin) Henry Eckman. They had eight children:

Daniel
Catharine
John Henry
Lydia
Ann
Martha
Elizabeth
Mary

John Henry Eckman married Catharine Kezia Cresswell on 7 January 1858 in Providence Township. They had 11 children!

Clara
Charles Henry
Dora H.
Margaret Estella
John Grant
Darius J.
Martha Ann
Winona Sue
Kate Bernice
Oscar Dale
Edith Alberta

Charles Henry Eckman married Rosa T. Kirchner from Lancaster City. Their son, John Charles Eckman, is my husband's grandfather!

NMAM: Eckmans in the Revolutionary War

2013-05-26T08:29:00.002-04:00

There is so much information provided in Civil War records and the two World War records but not so much for those soldiers who initially fought for our freedoms here in the States. The "Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783" includes entries for a couple Eckmans, though I am sure more served.

The Index includes a John Eckman, a Martin Eckman and a Henry Eackman. There are also many Heckmans and Hickmans that came up in a simply search by surname. Both John and Martin are listed under "Associates and Militia". John is a Lieutenant and Martin is a Private. Henry (not shown) is a Lieutenant and is also listed under "Associates and Militia." My search parameters had merely been Eckman, born and lived in PA.

While John was tough to track down with certainty, Martin was relatively easy as someone else had taken a photo (at right) of Martin's grave - with the Revolutionary War grave marker - and uploaded it to Ancestry.com. Apparently he is buried in the Eckman/Kunkle Cemetery.

Source:
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

NMAM: Jacob Eckman

2013-05-25T07:31:00.000-04:00

This month we have been honoring a different veteran each day. Today's randomly chosen veteran is Jacob Eckman who served in the War of 1812. He enlisted on 25 August 1813 and served as a Private in Capt. Stansbury's Co 38 US Inf. He was discharged 30 April 1814.

Jacob was born 30 September 1791 in Loudon, Virginia to Peter and Elizabeth Eckman. According to a fellow researcher, Peter was a son of Hans Jacob Eckman and was born in 1751 in Pennsylvania.

His first wife was Margaret Lind (1801-1834). He married Mary Raney (1792-1875) in 1844. He passed away on 10 September 1877. They lived in Cleves, Hamilton County, Ohio. He fathered five children between the two wives. They are: Addison Shannon Eckman (1820-1860); George Washington Eckman (182-1877); Peter L. Eckman (1824-1867); William Henry Eckman (1828-1884); and Eliza Eckman Geeding (1840-1924).

He is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Cleves, Hamilton County, OH.

Source:
Ancestry.com. War of 1812 Pension Application Files Index, 1812-1815 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2010.

Ancestry.com. Web: Ohio, Find A Grave Index, 1787-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.