The Storm of His Century- The Captain's Adventure 

Grandpa Raeburn, aka Ernie or The Captain was said to have been a great story teller. Beth said she loved to sit and listen to her father’s stories when he was home for the winter. Some cousins were lucky enough to have heard some of those stories. Of all the stories noted by my cousins or Aunt Beth, I had never heard of a story that was of the time he thought he’d ‘never see land again’. His newspaper interviews at that time were brief and non-descriptive. He never had an interview after returning home to the Soo, perhaps to not put fright in the minds of his wife Ethel and his children who were still young in 1924, Beth not yet born. Captain Raeburn was interviewed in 1955, and it was at that time that he mentioned the storm of 1924 in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as “the one time I never thought I’d see land again.” 

I decided to find that storm through numerous newspaper articles of the day. Having never been a mariner myself, I have done the best I can to recreate in my mind what grandpa and his crew might have experienced during the end of the shipping season leading to the storm in 1924.

                                            (Fun with AI photo generation, with the BGSU photo)

                       The Long Forgotten Witch of November 1924, Story of the Kenora

It was nearing the end of the Great Lakes shipping season, and the Kenora had one more run from Lake Superior to Montreal. Heading up, the Kenora arrived at Sault Sainte Marie on Friday, early morning at 4am on October 31st. The Kenora steamed on and continued to Fort William. A Lake Superior storm was brewing.

The first day of November saw the first “Gales of November” sweep across Lake Superior from the west. The SS Glenlyon was thrown off course by heavy seas that were reported as ‘mountains high’ and the ship was dashed upon the rocks near Menagerie Island on the southeastern end of Isle Royale on the west end of Lake Superior. The mate and watchman left the ship in a lifeboat, and their fate was presumed lost for some time time but later accounted for; all others had been rescued soon after she ran aground.

Through this, the crew of the Kenora headed west in Lake Superior and was in Fort William, in the Canadian Thunder Bay by November 3^rd, unloading freight, and then went on to Head of Lakes to load up on 592 tons of oats on November 4^th, and soon after set out to Montreal. By November 5^th Storm Warnings were hoisted for Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. Captain Raeburn and his crew sailed through without much ado as they headed east on the lake.

By Saturday, November 8^th, the Kenora had passed the Soo by 2am and was on Lake Huron heading toward Detroit. The air temperature in the upper lakes had reportedly dropped 31 degrees in 10 hours with 4 to 6 inches of snowfall and a howling gale of 48mph across Lake Huron. Gales had swept north from Kansas, reported as a blizzard in Lake Superior, and winds westward from the Lower St. Lawrence Valley had merged in Northern Michigan and the upper Great Lakes, and this is reported as the first severe storm of the season and the Kenora pushes on in the path of this gale in Lake Huron. The captain checks in at Detroit Monday, November 9^th at 1:10pm, unscathed.

On November 12^th, the Kenora is reported @ Port Colbourne in Lake Erie and through the Welland Canal to Port Dalhousie by 1:10pm that afternoon.  It is becoming colder with fresh southwest shifting to west winds. There is indication a tropical storm near Bermuda and is making its way towards Novia Scotia in the Atlantic Ocean.--

The crew reached the Lachine canal just west of Montreal on Saturday, November 15^th at 3pm, and were cleared for Montreal and above to head eastward. This trip east to St. John’s on the Island of Newfoundland was a last-minute request of the company and would take no more than a week to complete and that would end the season for the Kenora.  

They proceeded without issue to Newfoundland. The weather was partly cloudy and cool with showers and fresh westerly winds. Behind them to the west was stormy weather.  By November 19, lake traffic was reported ‘at a standstill’ in the lower Great Lakes.  To the east, 70-mile gales in the Northern Atlantic were reported.

The S.S.Kenora of the Canadian Steamship Lines is a 250-foot steamer freighter designed to navigate the current 1924 canals and lakes of the Great Lakes region through Montreal, and now she is headed through the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and into the Northern Atlantic Ocean . When the Kenora arrived in Newfoundland by the 20th, there was an ongoing longshoreman’s strike, and the crew was delayed. The Kenora is eventually reloaded with a reported 2500 tons of oil, fish, lobster, and other local produce and is on her way back to Montreal.

The Great Lakes region begins to experience treacherous storm conditions by news of the 27^th. The Atlantic along the eastern coast is also experiencing treacherous storm conditions.

Captain Raeburn and his crew aboard the Kenora left St. John’s in Newfoundland on November 27 and steamed through a very heavy easterly gale at her back all the way to St. Paul Island – in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There is a narrow gap in this region to sail.  The Gulf presents with rocky cliffs and shoals to avoid on any windy day, but now they are battling gale-force winds that can toss the ship around and large waves that can capsize at any moment. The Kenora cannot take on water because she could flood and would run the risk of sinking. The crew is on high alert as they battle these easterly winds. The captain at the helm had better have skill to keep this ship alive, back waves and winds are treacherous to maneuver. There was no wireless communication on the ship, and they were slowed down by this weather.

Every minute and every hour was a constant struggle with the waves and wind, but this turned into days… The captain had to then put back to Sydney, Nova Scotia to refuel as there were limited places to do so. This would be their last communication with anyone beyond the ship for several days.

After a couple of days of battling the easterly winds, they then encountered westerly gales with heavy, blinding snow at their bow and port side. At some point, they took shelter in the Aspy Bay of Cape Breton. Just before they approached the Cap Gaspe’ area, a sustained NW gale struck them.

This sustained gale put the Kenora in a perilous situation, battling a grueling head sea that forced the bow to rise and drop, putting significant pressure on the ship and potential structural damage. The Kenora could pitch or roll, and there is engine strain battling these conditions. The crew is on constant alert.  They eat very little as they constantly work. They are exhausted trying to keep the cargo and ship safe and could very well sustain injury trying.

The captain is wondering if they will ever see land again, but maintains his fortitude and continues on.

This gale drove the Kenora back 150 miles off its course. She is now long overdue, and no one has heard from them since they left Sydney; everyone fears they are lost.

By this time, Ethel knows Ernie is long overdue. She had just lost her father on November 1^st and now knows nothing of where her husband is. Nothing. No word whatsoever…

Captain Raeburn then had to work around on the westerly shore and up along the Gaspe’ coast, steering clear of the shoals and rocky cliffs that provided no ports along the way while battling the gales and waves in the blinding snow.

The Kenora was able to reach Cap des Rosiers by December 9^th, around 6:00, and by 8:30, they reached Fame Point [Lac de Fame Point area], where they were finally able to send their first report back to Montreal. Twelve days- after they had left Newfoundland.

From this point they had what the captain called ‘no misadventures’ and sailed through northernly winds and snow of otherwise no concern. Once the company received word that the Kenora was coming, The Lady Gray, a Canadian government icebreaker, made passage for the Kenora and escorted her back to the port of Montreal with the additional escort aid of Marine Department tugs and buoy tenders.

The Kenora arrived in port at Montreal on December 11 and unloaded, reporting a 14 inch snowfall while in the gulf and much cold but no ice until reaching Quebec. Fourteen days of grueling sailing, all the while with no word out to anyone. An otherwise five-day trip. The Kenora had become last ship into Montreal for the season, being a record breaker of 20 years. There was no time to waste as the waters were freezing up and the Kenora had to sail on to reach her winter destination. While Captain Raeburn is making way back to the Great Lakes in the mid-December days between the 11^th – 14th, reports of vessels missing in storms in Lakes Superior and the Huron through Ontario, and plummeting temps to zero. Storms are raging through the eastern U.S. states.

The Kenora was finally ordered to dock in Kingston for the winter; she could not go any further through the icy lakes.

Grandpa was quite unassuming in his interview. He had given all the credit to his crew and ship. He was 41 years old and had been a captain for 12 years in 1924.

 By Holly Spencer

                                               The Weekly British Whig, December 18, 1924

 The Kenora

The Daily Standard December 15, 1924

Simeon D Lillie, brother to my Great-grandmother, Melissa Jane Lillie Raeburn.

Simeon D Lillie was born in Lyndon Township, Washtenaw County in 1859 shortly after his parents Thomas and Anna Lillie settled there from Potter County, Pennsylvania. While growing up the family moved to Springport, Jackson county then on to Grand Traverse County.

Simeon continued to live in Grand Traverse County as an adult and farmed on 40 acres of land in section 8 of Blair Township, Grand Traverse County around his Youker relatives and mother Anna. By the time he was about 50 years in age and after his siblings had all moved on and his mother died, he moved on to Montana, first settling in Miles City c 1912. He was employed in carpentry work at that time. His brother John G Lillie was closest to him at that time geographically being in Alberta, Canada. While living in Miles City Simeon was engaged in the community socially. He engaged in various social engagements on committees etc. The locals all apparently knew him as he made the local about town breveties often. 

 Simeon applied for a Homestead in Powderville, Montana on May 16, 1916 and made his claim final after 3 years and finalized by 1920. He was witness to his neighbors claims when finalized. This is where he made his home from 1916 to the date of his death in 1941. He was the last of his siblings, and he had no wife or children. 

 Several years ago I obtained his death record. While it was tragic how he died and that he died all alone, I did not think much more of it because I thought Miles City was where he lived and died. 

Until recently….when I found out he lived in Powderville, Montana some 61+ miles southeast of Miles City.

What was he doing in Miles City on Friday January 17th 1941, 61+ miles away from his home at 82 years old? The recorded high temperature for the day was 17 degrees and the low was 8 degrees. How did he get there? Did he drive? He couldn’t have walked it could he? 

 I proceeded to do a name search in Newspapers . com. Nothing much turned up but that he died in a fire in a shack off Main Street in Miles City. I got so many hits with his name but nothing more and then…...... I searched the local paper, page.... by page for January 18th. And there it was -the answer to that question…why was he there. If you suspect something and are doing a name search and nothing comes up….you might want to go a bit further. I am not sure why this story did not turn up with a name search. He still owned his homestead in Powderville, Montana and it was auctioned off after he died. His burial location is unknown. 

Simeon D Lillie, I hope you found your family in the great beyond. To all of us….lets try to not abandon the elderly completely, ok.

Blogiversary 2014.

Well now this is downright embarrassing. Hmmmm....excuses? Hmmm....Life, work....distractions and walking down a different creative path. I have been writing still. My heart still longs to spend some time within my research, but with work and otherwise time consuming ventures, I have been neglectful of genealogy.

For my many genealogy friends that might happen to stumble upon my note here...thank you for taking a moment to read my silliness.

Perhaps you might take a moment to view my posts past, and suggest some inspiration to me...to get the genealogy bug flowing thru the veins again.

I am pretty sure I need to travel to the very few remaining relatives that may have something laying around to spark some interest...hail to spring as it is a better time for a scaredy cat to travel.

And please` say hello...and all suggestions are welcome!! REALLY! Love to you all and be good. :)

Blogiversary 2013

Gosh, it has been four years. Life has taken me a bit away from it all. working full time. I think I said the same thing last year.

I enjoy genealogy, I just need to have more time to be able to do it all. My main goal in the blog in the beginning was trying to connect to any Raeburns out there in the genealogy world. If I got lucky I would catch up with the Ireland Raeburn cousins. So far...they are all hiding. I think we are an obscure bunch. I have researched about everything I can get my hands on whether virtual or real in terms of documents and research to no avail. The trail still stops short of really finding ancestor relatives or a trail that leads to just exactly where. I can feel it in my bones where they came from. Just no'proof". Bummer. So I will keep writing from time to time, but maybe not about those elusive folks of mine. Maybe I should throw some of that poetry I write in as filler!lol. Just thought I should say Hi, and thank you to the couple of folks that stopped by to say Happy Blogiversary, Grant Davis of The Stephen Sherwood Letters and Jim of HiddenGenealogyNuggets

Williams first farm?

Williams first farm? C 1851

The agricultural census for Hamilton Twp, Northumberland Co Ontario lists William on page 135 #20.
He is listed next to land holder [Robert] R Weir who has 40 acres on con 2 lot 8. It appears as though the census taker was confused and started to list Wm as holder of the 40 acres....Could R. Weir have sold a small piece of his land to Wm to farm?

Wm Rayborn cons 2 lot 8. / 5 acres held & under cultivation / 1-1/4 a under crops & 3-1/4 a under pasture / 1 a of wheat & 6 bushels produce / 3/4 a of potatoes & 50 bushels produce

A very small farm, but a start. R Weir held the land next to Wm, but Edward Weir lived on the land and is recorded so in the personal census. Robert lived close by.

Ireland family connections; Edward Weir is brother to Margaret Weir Reburn, who married John Reburn and lived in Corvacken Townland, Aughnamullen Parish in Monaghan Ireland.

Quebec the first stop

Where in Quebec did the Raeburn's first go? William & Margaret Raeburn's daughter Mary was born in the "Montreal area" c 1844.
Their daughter Margaret Ann was baptised in Chatham, Argenteuil Co Quebec in 1846.

Then there is Margaret Raeburn Livingston b c1786 Ireland.
She married John Livingston in Carrickmacross, Magheross Parish, Monaghan in 1818, close to the proposed townlands of Ireland William & Margaret lived-
It appears that the Livingstons were in Quebec by 1826 per census recording daughter Mary Livingston as born Quebec.
They lived in Terrebonne Quebec 1851 per census, next door to Patrick Hamill.
Patrick Hamill was listed as joint tenant with Wm Reaburn in 1824- Drumcunnion townland, Monaghan Tithe record.

Are the Livingston/Hamill families related to William Raeburn? Did William first bring his family to the "Montreal area" of Terrebonne Quebec to be near the Livingston's?

Reflections of the Captain

Friday sadly was my daughter in law’s father’s funeral. She and her family lost their rock, a much loved and cherished man. Ray was a resident of our small community all of his life, and was well known all around by all. He was a good man, and raised a family of five with his wife JoAnn of forty years. I watched Ray’s grandson, Torin [also my grandson of course] on Friday while they paid their respects. As I looked after Torin now almost two years old, and watched him play, it reminded me…..

I was five years old when my Grandpa Raeburn died. Not old enough to form vivid lasting memories of my own. Very, very few cameo appearances flash within my mind of him. I must rely on family members to tell the story of our very interesting patriarch. Many of those folks that could tell the story have come and gone, and few remain that can still tell me about the Captain. Miscellaneous photographs, newspaper clippings and a little oral folklore are what remain. No scrapbook of his life, or written accounts of his tales on the lakes. I am, a witness in the third person to his life, but will try in any event to put together a recollection of who this man was. In time. Not all to be done in just a day…..

Ernest Ferrier Raeburn died April 6, 1965 at his home in Sault Saint Marie, he was 82 years old. A then retired Great Lakes captain, father of five grown children, and husband to Ethel for fifty-two years; he was also granddad to eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was a grand story teller and weaved stories of adventures on the lake when he came home in the winter to his children, perhaps the townsfolk when he took his daily winter strolls around town. Ernest was raised on a farm in Ontario near Collingwood, and came to the Michigan Soo with his parents at age 16. He may have developed a love for the water visiting relatives in Collingwood, near the shipyards. I have been told he left home and joined an academy for sailing in Ontario, and as we know now later became a captain after a few years as a shipmate.

As I am told a large funeral was attended by not just his family and local friends, but also old lake captains and shipmates he knew. Remembrances of lake tales, and events of old times. Someone told me that my father, who was 46 years old at the time, was pacing back and forth (for what reason I am not aware) baring a ‘striking resemblance’ to Ernie. In my mind I tried to picture my grandfather, at 46 years old, in his captain’s uniform. I really should have written down the stories I was told, but at the time never thought I would want to be recalling the details. I was young, and we all know the young are foolish. I need someone to wave their magic wand and make those stories reappear! I have some work to do…perhaps, more to come : )

My sister Kim, my Dad and I, and Grandpa Raeburn at grandpa's house in the Soo.

Ethel, Ernie & the Titanic

Ethel and Ernie were just a few months away from getting married. The anticipation and excitement was in the air, the dress, the church, the dream of a life beginning. This was certainly a consuming vision in any bride’s dreams. Ernie would have to take time away from his job for the wedding, as he worked a bit far from their soon to be home in the Soo. They were to be married in St. Luke’s Cathedral in Sault, Ontario on July 6, 1912.

As the couple both worked through the months to the wedding, they woke to news one morning that would rattle the nerves of many, and send them to despair and grief. The world was small, and this was the kind of news that would reach around it quickly and hard.

The biggest ship ever built, with a reputation as the ‘Unsinkable’ dove to an icy grave at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, on its virgin voyage. Just a few days after it set sail from Southampton, England, the Titanic did the unthinkable. It sank on April 15, 1912 and took over 1500 of its passengers with it, only some 700 managed to survive the horror. We can only imagine the terror that went through the minds of those fated people that night. The frightening knowledge of fate of those left on the ship. The grief and pity of those who had to leave their loved ones behind as the lifeboats floated them away in the frigid night air.

What was the sentiment of the people around the world? Outrage, most definitively, the builders of the ship never had enough life boats to accommodate all of its passengers. The wealthy lives were regarded higher than any other passengers. People beginning new lives had them preempted by way of arrogance.

What was the sentiment of my grandparents, I wondered. Ethel, was a feisty outspoken young suffragist about to marry…. a steamship captain of the Great Lakes. Ernie, who had been sailing on the Great Lakes since 1905 as a first mate took his first command in that ill-fated year of 1912. Captain Ernest Raeburn took the helm of the City of Chatham, a passenger ship that sailed between Sault Saint Marie and the Blind River. He went on to sail the Great Lakes from The Superior through to the St Lawrence Seaway to Montreal for 46 years. The Great Lakes may not have been the treacherous Atlantic Ocean, but the lakes could take the lives of those who rode the waves just as cruelly.

Did Ethel wish Ernie had picked a different profession? Did the fate of the Titanic spark conversations of prudence, safety and….arrogance of man? Would they weather this life with strength and courage? Absolutely! Did I say Ethel was feisty? Outspoken? A strong woman that was able to keep up with this salty ol’ character….who would have never given up this love of the water, it flowed through his veins. Observances were made and lessons were learned and taught. She kept any fears in check. She lived their married life on land and raised a family, and when the ice froze the path he came home to her, every winter. And they never sank.

Time Machine Poetry! (oh yea-I write poetry)

I want to see what you see…

My magic carpet goes back in time
As the future will be told
Our history books in libraries abound
The prime destinations to behold

Now if I was driving, I’d take the back roads
to all of the places that little is known

Maybe I’ll stick close to residence-
No wish to be stuck
In some- medieval dominance

But the roaring twenties,
Ultimately destination one
My kind of party, in the dawn of expression.

Now the Renaissance, cannot be missed
No matter the year
Enlightenment is on the list.
In Plato’s time, air tense with political power
To much like the present
It would make me glower! 
[I may as well stay home in my corner and cower]

But In the end my passion plan
Is to see my blood in another land
Your trails stops cold in Ireland
In the year of eighteen hundred and ten

Who is your da, dear William?
Is it John or Henry, shall I ask again?
Before the famine to ship you took
The future there on is on the books
So to Monaghan off I go
To see from whom my blood does flow.

SNGF- Write a Poem on "Where I'm From"

After a rather long leave of absence Randy @ genea-musings has prompted me to try writing a poem on 'where I come from' from a specific format, well here's a shot at it....

Where I'm From

I am from a small town life
From dolls to outdoors games
With Prang, Bazooka and Dairy Queen
Among some other names.
I lived within the sand from the bay
Climbed maples everyday
The smell of the lilacs along the drive
made me smile along the way
Around the kitchen table some smart-alecks did reside
From Dean to Uncle Jack all around there was a gibe
We are from yellers and the schmoozers, wouldn’t you know
The introverts and extroverts, sometimes it didn’t show
I am from the Traverse Bay and Ethel & Ernie’s clan
The stories of the Captain’s tales
Refresh me if you can
The Church of England, Episcopal now
The family friend and priest
Sunday school and coffee gatherings
The dark old wood and creaking floors
The painting on the wall
The colors in the old stained glass-
They were very, very tall
I am sure I was told a lot of things for now my memory fails
I guess I ‘ll make a phone call now, to hear the infamous tales.

ON BLOGGING

My hat’s off to those who can keep up with all of the blogging. It is time consuming…and even when a joy, still a lot of work. I dropped off a couple of months ago, wondering why I didn’t get response, comments etc. It is hard to want to keep up if nobody is reading. The thing is, I just don’t have the time to devote as much as I would like. Then other new ventures have come into play…poetry, sketching etc, and the fact that I have to decide where to divide my time. If I am blogging I am not researching…I do need to get back at that. But I really like the blogging! My son recently got me a subscription to Ancestry.com and I have been digging….and I will try to blog a little more. I started this blog because I was inept in creating a website! The reason for the blog was to get out there where in my Raeburn ancestry I am stuck…that’s completed….now the wait for the magic response. I often wonder why my ancestors seemed to have just left behind Ireland and those they came from there. Or did they? Did the future generations at some point find it all irrelevant? That would be sad, at least that is how I see it.

So, this is just an update…I am still here and for those who do read this from time to time…what would YOU like to hear about? Let me know…sometimes a little shove is a good thing! Oh and I forgot my “Blogiversary”, it has been 2 years now…time flies.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun...Who's to Blame?

Good MORNING Sunday-
From Randy At Genea-Musings:
Hey geneaphiles - it's Saturday Night, time for more Genealogy Fun for all Genea-Musing readers.

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (and we need more of you to do this, otherwise it may end...), is to:

1) Read Brenda Joyce Jerome's post Who or What Do You Blame? on the Western Kentucky Genealogy blog. She asks these questions:

* Can you identify person or event that started you on this search for family information?

* Did you pick up researching where a relative had left off?

* Did your interest stem from your child's school project on genealogy?

* If you have been researching many years, it may be hard to pinpoint one reason for this journey.

2) Write your responses on your own blog, in a comment to this blog post, or in a note or comment on Facebook.

Hmmm, Well It really all started with my now 29 year old - Eric’s 10th grade class project regarding a family history assignment. We started to gather Spencer & Raeburn information. The Spencer family history was pretty well documented already, but it did need some tweaking. We received some Raeburn family info from my Aunt Barbara-Dad’s sister. This really got me curious, suddenly there were names I had never heard of. She gave me a visual of many family members. This was awesome, I had been so much younger than the rest of the family I didn’t know them.....but it was put away after the class assignment....until.....

My sister was pretty much the sole care giver of our mother as they lived together. When Mom’s health started to decline- Kim needed a outlet, online where she could quietly do something or communicate quietly. So then two of us were IM-ing... a lot. I had to be doing something ‘productive’ so I started in on the genealogy and realized I really was very intrigued with it and haven’t been able to put it down since. I have learned a lot of Do’s and Don’t s, & How Tos. I have met a lot of people online, some of whom I have met in person and maintained a friendship with which I hold dearly.

All in all a pretty enriching hobby huh? ; )

This Week in Family History-

October 17-23

October 17 & 18 were uneventful days for my ancestors. Really? Nothing? It looks that way.

October 19- 358 years ago in 1652, John Carpenter was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. His parents; William Carpenter from England and Priscilla Bennett. John married Rebecca Readway.
He is my 7th great grandfather, on my father’s maternal side. I haven’t ventured this far back yet in getting more documentation.

October 20th is another quiet day.

October 21- Hannah B. Gorton is born in Lima, Livingston, New York in 1810, her parents are Thomas Gorton and Hannah Straight. She is my 3rd great grand aunt on my mother’s maternal side.

October 22- William Carpenter (another one?!) is born in 1786 in Keene, Cheshire, New Hampshire to parents Stephen Carpenter and Zilpha Wilbur. Getting closer now to my research leave off area. (Zilpha is an unusual to me re-occurring name in this family, my great grand mother Zilphie Elizabeth Carpenter shares the name...) So this makes this William my 3rd great grand uncle.



Way back in history-
October 18- US control in Puerto Rico
October 20- Louisiana Purchase Treaty

This Week in Family History-

October 10-16

October 10 there seems to be no family activity brewing-a quiet day.

October 11- 113 years ago Ross Lynn Wheeler was born in Seney, Michigan to parents Ross Wheeler and Elizabeth McCarthy. Ross Lynn Wheeler is my first cousin, 2 times removed and our common ancestors are James and Matilda Wheeler on my dad’s maternal side. This family moved from Seney to Minnesota sometime after 1900.

October 12- In 1931 Marion Barbara Stafford was born to Carl Stafford and Dorothy Virginia Mathews. She lived only 2 years, 6 months and 6 days unfortunately, I do not know the cause of death. She is buried in the Pinegrove Cemetery in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. Her mother Dorothy is my dad’s cousin, his maternal side.

October 13- another quiet day in family history.

October 14- 1847 John S. Gorton and Emily H. Ketchum are married in Henrietta, New York. They later moved to Allegan, Michigan living next to John’s brother Quartus. In 1850 they lived next to a Reynolds family there and I have often wondered if they are a relevant family or not as John and Emily’s daughter later marries a Reynolds. Later they move on to Alma, Michigan. They are my 2nd great grandparents on my mothers maternal side.

October 15- Leslie Martin Spencer was born in 1905 to parents Leonard Spencer & Grace Hambleton. He lived in East Lansing Michigan. He is my husband’s grand uncle.

ALSO IN HISTORY-
October 10- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
October 13- Cornerstone of The White House

This Week in Family History-

October 3-9

October 3: Elizabeth Baxter, the wife of Enos Sylvester Carpenter- is born October 3, 1880. The couple was married in Parry Sound Ontario in 1896. Enos later moves to Saskatchewan and is buried there, in Prince Albert. It is not know (by me) at this time if Elizabeth is also buried there. Enos is the brother of my great grandmother [Zilphie Elizabeth].

My wonderful, beautiful mother Robinette was born October 3, 1922. Happy Birthday Mommy.

October 5: Stephen Hubert Cornell and Genevieve Dean are married in Wexford County, Michigan on October 5, 1904. Stephen was a widower when they married. He and his first wife, Alice Cunningham adopted my grandfather’s birth sister Myrtle.

October 6: Franklin Walter Scott was born in 1902 in Lincoln County, Ontario to parents John Franklin Scott and Effie Parnell [Parnall]. He is the grandson of Jane Raeburn.

October 7: Calvin Silas Wheeler is born in Tamworth, Ontario in 1852 to Luke Wheeler & Abigail Carscallen. He is my great grandfather’s cousin.

October 9: Dorothy Virginia Mathews is born October 9, 1907 in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan to parents Mae Matilda Wheeler and Charles Mathews. Dorothy is my dad’s cousin.

October 8 in history- The Midwest Fires!

This Week in Family History-

September 26- October 2

September 26 : Augusta Jane Scott was born on September 26, 1877 in Nottawasaga Twp., Simcoe County Ontario. She is the daughter of John Scott and Jane Raeburn. She lived 21 years. She is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery in St. Catharines, Lincoln Co. Ontario. Augusta Jane Scott is my 1st cousin twice removed.

September 27 : Julia Miranda Carpenter was born on September 27, 1875 in Parry Sound Ontario. She is the daughter of Amos Carpenter and Mary Ann Cliffe, and my great grandmother Zilphie Elizabeth’s sister. Julia came to the U.S. around 1895, living in Minnesota for quite some time. Later living in South Dakota. She married William Hickok.....oh but not “Wild Bill” !!


October 1st : Warner Cornell and Josephine Derry are married in Port Huron Michigan on October 1, 1895. Warner and Josephine made Port Huron their home, where Warner was an ENT physician. Warner is my great grand uncle, brother of my great grand father Webster Cornell. Many members of the Cornell family came to Michigan from Wentworth County, Ontario.

This Week, September 19-25

And for this week in the family history-

September 21, 1860: Eustalia Shier nee ??? is born. She is sooooo not related to me but is in my database as the wife of George Shier. George’s MOTHER is Mary Jane Wheeler-Shier who’s common ancestor to me is her parents; Calvin Wheeler and Elizabeth Carscallen. The family lived in Lennox and Addington County Ontario. This makes Mary Jane my “second great grand aunt”.

September 22, 1892: Willis Berkey is born in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Again another totally not related person in my database, however he is the husband of my great-grandmother’s sister...Nettie Alberta Carpenter. Willis and Nettie were married in Miles City, Montana in 1932 and have two know children; Donald Lee Berkey and Ruby Berkey. Nettie grew up in Parry Sound, Ontario with my great-grandmother Zilphie Elizabeth Carpenter-Wheeler. My Dad’s side.

September 23, 1853: James Allen McLean Wheeler is born in Sheffield Twp, Lennox and Addington County Ontario. His parents are John Edward Wheeler and Mary G. Berry. James married Emma G. Sommerville. Our common ancestors are Calvin Wheeler and Elizabeth Carscallen, making him my 1st cousin 3 times removed.....well at least he’s–RELATED!

The Case of Harry, part 2

Well in my last post about Harry Spencer I had two photos of the man. Maybe.
It has been suggested by family members that the photo of the old man is Harry.

Brenda suggested flipping the photo and putting them side by side.


I still am not sure this is Harry.....wouldn't "Harry" the old man have the same receding hair line?

What do you think?
Click on image for larger view

This Week...September 12-18

This week in the family history, September 12-18th:

September 12, 1826: Priscilla Phelps is born to parents Basil and Phoebe Phelps in Pennsylvania. She married Henry Youker, who is my 2nd great grandmothers brother.
Henry and Priscilla move their family from Potter County, Pennsylvania to Grand Traverse County, Michigan along with oodles of relatives and friends around 1866. Priscilla is not related to me. 

September 14, 1743-49: George Gorton is born to Benjamin Gorton and Mercy Foster in West Greenwich Rhode Island. He married Lydia Aylesworth.
George and Lydia move to Henrietta, New York and are buried in the Bushman Cemetery in Henrietta. George Gorton is my 5th great grandfather.

September 17, 1847: Ann Eliza Youker is born in Potter County, Pennsylvania to Henry Youker and Priscilla Phelps. She married Laverne O. Sackett in Potter County around 1864 and they later moved to Grand Traverse County c 1866. Ann Eliza Youker is my first cousin 3 times removed and our common ancestors are Johann George Youker and Catherien Margaret Burkdorff. My dad’s line.

September 18, 1866: John Scott and Jane Raeburn are married in Nottawasaga Twp, Simcoe County Ontario. John moved the family to St. Catharines, Grantham Twp Lincoln County Ontario and is a fruit farmer in the area. He remarried after Jane died.
John is not related to me directly, Jane is my great grand aunt, our common ancestors of course, a common theme, are William and Margaret Raeburn. Paternal line.

Also this "week" in history:
Lewis and Clark Journal September 12-18, 1805

Today in History: September 13, Library of Congress Archives

President William McKinley Shot!!

The Sault News-Record September 7, 1901
Sault Saint Marie, Michigan

Ida McKinley Wheeler

Ida McKinley Wheeler was born July 10, 1896 to parents James Byard Wheeler and Zilphie Elizabeth Carpenter Wheeler in Seney, Schoolcraft County Michigan.

Ida’s unique name came from her very Republican, very politically involved father, James. He named her after First Lady Ida McKinley, the wife of President William McKinley who served as the 25th President of the United States from 1897 to 1901. She was born the year of William McKinley’s presidential campaign and election. Her father James was a strong supporter of William McKinley...Well I guess so!

Ida’s family spent a brief residence in Alger County before moving to Sault Saint Marie Michigan circa early 1900's. I do not know much about Ida’s life. At some point she made it to Chicago along with her sisters Marjorie and Ethel.(my grandmother) Marjorie was married and lived in Chicago, Ethel came back to the Soo after a few years and married there.
Ida married William C. Panter sometime about 1925 probably in Chicago, the couple never had any children. I heard some vague story that Ida's husband had worked for Al Capone, but how would anyone ever find that out! Ida's husband William died in Chicago July 10, 1955, and Ida continued to live in Chicago. She died September 28, 1971 in Chicago and is buried in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan in the Pinegrove Cemetery with her sister Ethel Raeburn’s family.
I would love to find out more about Ida's life in Chicago.

President William McKinley was shot on September 6, 1901 and later died from the wounds inflicted by the assassin on September 14, 1901.


Newspaper source- subscription: NewspaperARCHIVE.COM
Ida's photo, family collection.