Whitfields in Illinois

Frank E Whitfield

Follow along with me as I try to argue the connection for my maternal great great grandparents; John and Margaret Whitfield to newly found records.   Let's start with what we know.

  John Whitfield according to 1870 US census was, born about 1825 in England, living in Newark, Kendall Co., Illinois with wife;  Elizabeth Whitfield who was also born in England about 1837.  At this point we do not know Elizabeth's surname.  Along with John and Elizabeth are sons; Charles J., Alfred W. and Frank E Whitfield, all born in somewhere Illinois .  Charles was the first born about 1858, then came Alfred about 1859 and the Frank 1862.   The family is living comfortably as John is a Miller with a sizable amount of personal wealth on hand at the census taking the property is said to be of some value.  With our Whitfield family lives a young woman as a domestic servant; Isabella Gullickson age 16 from Norway.  So, the family seems to be doing quite well on a Millers income and in the 1870, don't you think?

1870 US Census Newark Illinois

  In the ten years that follows, not much is to be found until the 1880 US census, where we find Elizabeth is living in her sons Charles home in Hobart Indiana   Also in the house are brothers Alfred and Frank.  Charles is a school teacher, mother Elizabeth is keeping house and the two brothers employment is unknown.

  What happened to John Whitfield?  To this point his whereabouts are unknown!

  Charles J Whitfield at some point relocated to Chicago Il., where he meets and marries Artimisia Headley.  They wed on 3 Mar 1887 in Chicago and remained in Chicago for the rest of their lives.  To the best on my knowledge there were no children born to this couple. Charles and Artimisia are enumerated in the 1900, 1910 and 1920 US census, but only Artimisia in the 1930 census.  So, what happened to Charles and when?  In the 1930 US census Artimisia is living with a friend in Chicago, but I can't find her in the 1940 census.  I had no more leads at the time.   A little more about Artimisia Hedley.  Both her given and surname are misspelt numerous times on different documents, but the misspell are close enough to follow.  An example is; Hedley or Hadley or Headley.  Another example is Artimisia's given name was recorded as Artemisia and Martemisia.  These misspells are due to accents, ones hearing and/or spelling abilities.

3 March 1887

  Alfred W Whitfield whose middle name is William, lucky guy,relocates to Ohio where his is a Telegraph Operator.  I bet he had stories that would have been great to read.  Alfred meets Etta Shisler and marries in 1898.  Alfred and Etta had just one child, Lena G Whitfield.  Alfred and Etta marriage ends in a divorce Alfred passed away in 1924 and is laid to earth in the Union Cemetery, Columbus Ohio.

   Franks E Whitfield also relocates to Chicago Illinois and married Elsie M Grothmann in 1885.  Frank is a Grip Car driver and Elsie a housewife and mother of Grace Whitfield.  Elsie is a first generation Germany immigrant as her parents came from Prussia in the 1860's.  Frank and Elsie remain in Chicago until 1919 when Frank passes away at his house on Michigan Ave and is laid to earth in the Oak Wood Cemetery, Chicago Illinois.  After Franks death Elsie remarries to a Orrin Talley in April of 1921.  A year and a half later Elsie loses Orrin too to death.  Both Frank and Orrin lay next to one another in the cemetery.  Elsie relocates to Washington state where her only child lived.  Elsie passes away in Tacoma Washington, 1934

14 Oct 1885

  Did you notice that the three boys started and ended their lives, but there was no mention of their mother.  Elizabeth has gone missing sometime after the 1880 census.  My guess, she remarries!

  So, there you have it, the family as I know it.  So what do we know?  We know the parents, John and Elizabeth were born in England; John born 1825 and Elizabeth 1837.  We know John was a Miller and the family lived a comfortable life, well at least for a little while.  We know John and Elizabeth raised a family in Illinois, then divorced.   We know the family, except John, can be found in Hobart Indiana in 1880. We know that two of the sons relocated to Chicago and married.  And the third son worked as a Telegraph Operator in Ohio.  We can follow the sons through their lives until the 1920's when Charles drops off the radar and the two other boys pass away.

  Here are the questions to be answered.  What happened to John in the 1870's?  What happened to Elizabeth in the 1880's?  And what happened to Charles in the 1920's.

  With recently found records, I believe we have found Charles and Artimisia Whitfield grave site in an Aurora Illinois cemetery.  Also found was a marriage between a John Whitfield and Elizabeth Gearey in Kane Co Illinois 24 September 1857.  There is work yet to be done on researching this data, but I am now confident that we have found the begin of our Whitfield family in Illinois and the resting place of most of the family, with the exception of John and Elizabeth who are still missing.   I have requested the aforementioned marriage record from LDS and soon will be able to examine it more closely.  The family was now been recorded by way of a marriage in Aurora, Kane Co Illinois in 1857, again in the 1860 US Census for Aurora Illinois, then in 1865 in Newark, Kane Co, Illinois and the finally in the 1870 US Census in Kendall Co, Illinois, which is next door to Kane Co Illinois. The data matches from one record to the next, with minor errors.  In the 1880 US census, the family has segmented by divorce and then again in the mid 1880's as the sons marry and start their own families.

  A record of a death for one Arlimesia Whitfield, in 1942 Chicago. Notice the misspelling of the first name?  Close enough to follow though!  Following this person, the Illinois vital records website indicated that she was buried in a local cemetery in Aurora Illinois.  Off to Aurora to poke around their cemeteries.  As luck has it, Aurora has a website with many name collected and linked.  Following the link for Whitfield, I found Arlimesia Whitfield in the Spring Lake Cemetery  Lot LW-33.  The record indicates that Arlimesia Whitfield is 77 and had died in 1942.  Doing the math... Arlimesia Whitfield was born in 1865 which is a close match to the married record of 1863.  People moved their birth years quite often to fulfill a requirement or not.

  Looking a bit closer at the Arlimesia Whitfield cemetery lot number of LW-33, guess who is laying with her, but none other that Charles J Whitfield, her husband.  So, why bury Charles in a cemetery in Aurora Illinois?  Well, the 1860 US census record John Whitfeed and family in Aurora Illinois.  Notice the age of Charles (see 1860 census below) is two years of age and brother is 10/12 months.  Charles and Alfred were close in age, maybe only a year. Note,  Aurora is in Kane County Illinois,so it only make sense that Charles was to be laid to earth in the place of his birth.  The cemetery records Charles J Whitfield passing away at the age of 68 in 1926, which matches the birth year for Charles as we know it.  Another factor is, there are other Whitfields in this cemetery and in the same lot. The image below is suppose to be the Whitfield family which I am guessing circa 1898.  Frank, Elsie and Grace Whitfield are present.. The child sitting on mothers lap, lower right corner is Grace and Elsie.  Frank is third row and third from left.

Whitfield Clan

  Back to John Whitfield.  The below mentioned 1860 recorded his name as Whitfeed, but looking at the actual record it was Whitfield, so a transcription error.  The rest of the family was recorded as Whitfield.  Elizabeth was recorded as Mrs Whitfield.  This is why I couldn't find John prior to the 1865.

1860 US Census

  In closing, I still don't have any new information about what happened to John or Elizabeth Whitfield.  But, I am pretty sure our John Whitfield married Elizabeth Gearey in Kane County Illinois in 1857, which just prior to their first born son in 1858 in Aurora, Kane County Illinois, which is also the resting place for Charles J Whitfield in 1926 and was joined by his wife Artimisia Headley Whitfield of Ohio in 1942.

I would love to hear your thoughts, question or corrections!

Sometime lateral branches need to be followed in order to find the trunk!

Camp Pine

Brigadier General Frederick Dent Grant

Camp Pine in the state New York. In 1908, Brigadier General Frederick Dent Grant, the oldest son of President Ulysses S. Grant, led thousands of Soldiers back to the area north of Black River, known locally as Pine Plains. Grant commanded 2,000 Regular Army Soldiers and 8,000 militia men from throughout the Northeast. He found Pine Plains to be an ideal place to train troops and money was allocated to purchase the land and summer training continued there through the years. The camp at Pine Plains formally opened on June 11, 1908, and training continued throughout the summer. Later in 1954, Camp Pine was renamed as Fort Drum.

Camp Pine was the training location for my Grandfather George Henry Reynolds and Great Uncle James William Reynolds in 1910.  I don't believe either seen any military active duty in the first World War.  

1917 Registration Card

The above registration card places my great uncle James Reynolds in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia prior to the 1917.  What kept him out for the war is unknown.

And in the Lowell Sun newspaper 1910, James and George are called up for training at Camp Pine.

Camp Pine Training 

Thank you both,  James W Reynolds and George H Reynolds for you time in server for our country!

*Thanks for to the Library of Congress, the Lowell Sun Archive and Family Search for providing these historical documents.

Gunned down!

Gunned down at the oh so young age of 17.  In 1924 in the West Tampa area, Cyril was shot a number times in the stomach and died shortly there after. As the story goes Cyril was with two or three other young men, supposedly in the process of breaking into a store when the shots rang out.

Young Cyril P Herrick started life out in Chicago Illinois, 2 March 1907, before his parents decided to pack up the whole family and move to the West Tamp Florida area. This move must of been an adventure!  Can you imagine packing up a family of seven and heading south across a road system that wouldn't have existed in the late 1910's.  

Illinois Birth Record

In searching for Cyril's records,  I wasn't able to find a birth record, but found one that matched, well for the most part.  The birth record was for an Edward Herrick with the same parents, same home address and same date of birth. So, I don't know if this was an error in recording by the hospital staff or his parent decide to call him Cyril Paul instead and just didn't bother documenting the correction. The picture of the boy on horse back (above) was Cyril  somewhere between 13 and 17 years old.  Nice looking boy, wouldn't you say.

Now,  by the 1920 the family were firmly in place in the Tampa area, including  the two oldest boys, Edmund and George F Herrick (II) and his family.  The head of the family, George F Herrick (I), came from Cork Ireland, after which, he stops in Freeport Illinois long enough to find his wife Mary Kennedy and start his family.  Eleven children all but, only seven children made the trip from Chicago due early deaths.  Cyril was a teen by this time, doing what teens do, running with friends,  Moving ahead four short years, and we learn about the next set of records found for Cyril.  While with friends, in the early morning hours of 24 April 1924, Cyril was heard to say; "Boys, I'm dying, save me"!

Cyril was with friends checking out a drinking stand around two o'clock in the morning, when shots rang out.  hitting Cyril in the stomach and supposedly wounding another.  Cyril was with friends, Johnnie Thomas and E.M. Albury and one unknown red-headed guy.  The shooter was also the owner of the drink stand.  George St Amant was arrest and held in jail awaiting trail.  The attached newspaper clippings are from the Tampa Tribune April 1924, in which I will allow the rest of the story be told.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Continued.....

Alfred Whitfield

Alfred William Whitfield born to John and Elizabeth Whitfield in the state of Illinois in 1859.  Alfred had two brothers Frank E, and Charles J. Whitfield, also of Illinois.  Alfred at some point is his life relocated to Ohio and in 1898 married a young woman by the name of Etta G Shisler.  Etta was the daughter of Samuel and Hannah Wollam Shisler of Ohio.  Alfred was a telegrapher in Sandusky County Ohio.  I can only imagine the stories he sent and received across the wires.  Alfred and Etta had but one child; Lena G Whitfield, 1899!  After a time, the family fell apart and Alfred relocated to Columbus Ohio and this is where we find his final resting place in the Union Cemetery.
telegrapher in northwest

I have written about Alfred's brother Frank, so if you are curious, please follow the label suggestions or enter Whitfield in the search box top left corner of this blog window.

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Case of the missing N

Louis Grothmann

Or is it Grothman, Grotman, Grathman?  This question is not a cause of the family, but rather those that are trying to understand, translate accents and write down what they think is correct.  As of yesterday, I thought the previous four mention names were going to be the only spelling variation I would need to watch for as I searched historical data for Grothmann.  But no, it turns out another variation has popped up; Groveman!

My Grothmann line starts in Prussia around 1860 when Louis Otto Grothmann and his wife Rosalie Hedtke Grothmann started their journey to Chicago and their American life.  Louis was a professional musician of some kind, but I've not been able to find what he played or where.  After coming to America, Louis started being known as Lewis and Grothmann lost the second N, thus Lewis Grothman came to be.  So, while chasing this name, I needed to be aware of the case of the missing N.


Louis and Rosalie were both born in Prussia.  Louis in 1836 and Rosalie in 1846. Leaving Hamburg, they traveled across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the steamship Kepler and arriving in New York  25 October 1864.

Kepler manifest 1864

They were heading for Ohio according to the ships manifest.  What was waiting for them in Ohio? A question that may never get answered. By the taking of US census of 1870,  Louis, Rosalie and two relatively newborns (Elsie and Otto) were recorded in Chicago Illinois.   Louis and Rosalie had eight children together; Anna, Elsie b. 1865, Otto b. 1867, Emma b. 1869, Emily b. 1876, Amelia b. 1877, Frederick and Louis b. 1879.  Of these children I have been able to find four mentioned in history beyond the birth.

Elsie Minnie Grothmann was born in 1865 and appears to be Louis and Rosalie's first born.  She grew up in Chicago and spends most of her life in the big city.  In 1885 at the age of 20, Elsie marries a Frank E Whitfield also of Chicago.  You will notice that the marriage license has Elsie as Else Grotmann at the age of 19.  Frank is a Street Car operator in the big city. Elsie and Frank have only one child;  Grace Rosalie Whitfield, who can read more about by following the link.  Elsie remarries to a Orrin P Talley in December 1921.  This marriage

is not long live as Orrin passes away in November 1923.  Both Frank and Orrin are resting in same plot in the Oakwoods Cemetery Chicago Illinois.  To this date, 1/13/2013, I have not found Elsie death or resting place.

Update:  Elsie Grothmann Whitfield moved to Tacoma Washington after the death of her second husband.  Tacoma is where her daughter lived at the time. Elsie passes away 2 Nov 1934.  Her final resting place is still unknown, since she was cremated, my guess she rests with her daughter.

Otto Grothman was born December 1867 in Chicago.  At the age of 24, Otto marries a Wilhelmina Dudde, 13 August 1892.  Otto and Minnie have two children; Otto and Minnie.  No, that's wasn't a typo. Otto (the younger) was born 1893 and Minnie in 1894  Otto (the elder) passes away in 19 November 1895.  Otto (the younger) working as a bookkeeper, marries Anna Tennyson of Norweigan decent on 18 Jun 1921.  The Chicago marriage register confirms the marriage, but nowhere can the be couple be found in census records, until yesterday as  I was searching for the surname of Tennyson in Chicago, which disclosed the newest variation of Grothmann as Groveman.  Otto and Anna are living with Anna's parent's in Chicago and were numerated in the 1930 US census.  The census recorded age, years married and employment as matching data to what was known about Otto Grothman, so I have accepted this Otto Groveman as the same person.

Becker girls

Emma Grothman was born 1869 in Chicago.  At the age of 21 Emma marries a Joseph Becker of Chicago. This couple has four daughters Hazel b. 1891. Edna b. 1893,  Rose b. 1895 and Carrie b. 1900.

Emily F Grothman was born December 1876 in Chicago.  In May 1899 she marries Louis Dediemar of Kenosha Wisconsin.  By the spring of 1901 Emily has passed on due Phthisis Pulmonalis, which is tuberculosis. Louis and Emily had no children  prior to her passing.

UPDATE: A cousin of Louis DeDiemar shared the resting place for Emily;  Green Ridge Cemetery Kenosha, Wisconsin. I have created a FindaGrave Memorial with a photo of the headstone. I hope you take a moment to view.

That begins us back to the beginning of our story as we end with a few more details about Louis and Rosalie. Louis Otto Grothman passes away in 1891 at home, 6732 Michigan Ave, Chicago.  After Louis' death Rosalie remarries in April 1894 to a August Fenske.  The Fenske's relocates to Kenosha Wisconson.  Rosalie passes away in 1915 at the age of  69.

Grothman family circa 1882

From the back to front is; Elsie, Otto, Emma, Anna and Emily. Sitting is Rosalie and Louis Grothmann.  To date I haven't found anything for Anna other than this photo.  

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Cross in the fold

As I went through my mother's belonging after her death 2001, I found boxes of old family pictures and letters wasting away in an old leaky and smelly outbuilding .  Many of the pictures were without full name or names at all. The letters had names of which I was somewhat familiar and others not! So, it was slow going trying to figure out who was who and how they connected to me or me them.  In one envelope, a letter from my great aunt Adelaide Herrick Roberts of Florida to my mother who lived in NE Minnesota.  There was no date on the letter itself, but the envelope was post marked in the 1960's.

In the folds of the letter was a cross.  A cross my great grandmother Mary Clement Kennedy Herrick wore and carried in her purse for many a year.  I have no idea how old the cross might be, but I am going to guess near a hundred years.  The cross was send as a keepsake but was to be returned if not wanted.  My aunt Adelaide has since passed on too and I have no current with any of her children, so the cross and the letter stays with me for now.

Mary Clement Kennedy, daughter of Michael and Margaret Walsh Kennedy, Freeport Illinois.  Mary was born in 1869 Freeport Illinois and was laid to rest in Tampa Florida 1947.

Elizabeth A Watters Reynolds

 Elizabeth was the first born of James Watters and Sarah Jane Dingle Watters in year of 1868.  James is of Cornwall England, and a miner.  Sarah is of St Mary's River Nova Scotia.  Sarah is the daughter of a fisherman, Thomas and Margaret Leigh Dingle. According to the 1900 US Census, Elizabeth migrated to the US from Nova Scotia  with a son, James W Reynolds and I assume then husband George Henry Reynolds in the year 1889.  I say assume because I can't find any data about George Henry Reynolds before  1889 and nothing after 1892.  I have no idea where George came from or got off too, but he was in the picture for two children after James.  In the following couple of years, George and Elizabeth gives birth to George Henry Reynolds (II) and Flossie Jane Reynolds.  Both George (II) and Flossie's birth are registered in the city of Woburn Massachusetts.

Marriage Certificate

In 1907 Elizabeth remarries to a James McArdle of Lowell Massachusetts. In the 1910 US Census Elizabeth, George (II) and Flossie are living the McArdle house of Lowell MA.   George (II) marries twice, first to a Margaret Hodge of Lowell MA and then Edith Ruby Heaney also of Lowell.  Flossie (Florence) married a William Kershaw of Lowell MA

Obituary

In 1919 Elizabeth passes away at her daughters home in Lowell MA.  Elizabeth rest in the Edson/Westlawn Cemetery, Lowell Massachusetts. The bearers were sons James W Reynolds and George H Reynolds (II) and brother James L. Watters.

Today, 17 Feb 2014, while seeking other records for other relatives, I bumped into a record that I had not see previously;  Massachusetts Standard Death Certificate; issued 1919.

Death Certificate

The name on the above record is Hannah E McArdle, which is really Elizabeth A Waters Reynolds McArdle.  My grandmother used her given name of Elizabeth and middle name Anna at different times. Well, apparently she used Hannah too.  The above record has her parents as James Waters and Sarah Lee, which is not totally accurate as Sarah was a Dingle.  Sarah's mother was a Lee or Leigh depending of the record you look at.  This is an understandable error as the informant for the Death Certificate is James McArdle.

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Early morning visit

A earlier visit brought it's end! 

Round about 4am Gandalf goes off on something in the darkness of the per morning light, which was more shadow and dark places than light. Not long after the standard warning barks, Gandalf's voice changed to something more serious. This was my signal to check things out. I slipped into some clothes, found the flash-lite, the .22 and exited the house. The sound of the door closing behind me brought Gandalf to my side, where upon he guided me to coop where something moved in the darkness. I could hear it rustling about the front part of the coop looking for a way into the chicken. Getting a bit closer, the smell hit me first then the scurrying skunk came waddling out the front of the coop. We escorted the skunk a safe distance away from the area, where upon it turned around and was heading back... Gandalf barked, I yelled and the .22 ended it all. So goes the Pepe this night!

Upon the night air

In the wee hours of the morning, Gandalf goes off on something in the field to the south. The urgency is his voice sets Gurl off, who is lying on the floor next to the bed. Damn she is loud! With both dogs barking I figured I best check things out. The clock read 1:30 am as I rolled out of bed heading for the front door. I didn't get but a step or two when I learn what the alarm was about ... Pepe Le Pew had entered the domain of Gandalf the White. The air was full of the scent of da skunk, to which gave me I little desire to go outside. But, after checking the cams that watch the coop, I saw Pepe roaming around trying to get in. Gandalf no worse the wear followed me to the coop with flashlite and .22 in hand. Can you image an old fat man wandering around in the wee hours chasing a skunk about the yard and trying to stay clear of the spray. Pepe the wiser headed for the woods. I returned to the house to watch the cams for awhile. No further evidence, so off to bed again... Not a hour later Gandalf and Gurl are alarmed and the aroma of Pepe was again in the air. I wasn't able to catch up to Pepe this night. So, I wish him a good night with warning not to return. Come morning Gandalf had a slight hint of a new cologne; Ode de Pepe Le Pew!

Things about my dad!

I don't have a good recall of my childhood, just bits and pieces here and there.  What I remember most about my dad was three or four things he would say.

If! If! If! Frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their arse.  I remember telling my girl this when they started playing THE WHAT IF GAME.

Two blind men came out to fight, back to back they faced each other.... the story goes on from there.

Righty tighty, lefty loosey!  Still use this one!

Don't let the bed bugs bite, but if they do you know what to do?   Bite them back!

SOTEBS was always the gift one was getting if asked.  SOTEBS for all I know this was my dads creation. It's an acronym for Shit on the End of a broom Stick.  I know it doesn't fit totally.

SOS was a food he seem to enjoy... Shit on a Shingle is what it stood for.  You may know as Creamed Chipped Beef over mashed taters, rice, scrabbled eggs!

He hated oil that would settle on top of spaghetti mac that was still in the pot.  So much so, he would start yelling at mom.  I have found myself sounding like my dad all to often.  I hate it!

But mostly I remember trips to the woodshed were a 2x4 was used.   I can't tell you how many times I've woke up during my life seeing that board crashing down on me.  I hated him for years, but come to realize, he was doing what he knew right or wrong.  I carried that hatred inside me for years and years and to this day I  will not bow down, even if you have a board in your hand.  I know the hatred and anger within, messed with my life in so many a ways and I regret many things I can't correct.  But, I love my family and friends and I try very hard to stand up for those that are beaten down and need a hand up.  I will take that board for you if I can, I will protect you if I can.  I will...........................................................

Murder in Racine

While doing some genealogy research, I came across a murder story in Racine Wisconsin.  Captain John Crangle seem to be ill of health and attacked his wife.  

Captain John was a Lake Michigan boat captain and was well known all about the lake.  John came from Ireland and quickly took to the way of the big waters of the Great Lakes.

Julia Crangle, Captain John's wife survived her wounds that came about her from this attack.  Julia too from Ireland and started life as Julia Nolan. Not only did Julia survive these wounds, she survived the bearing of 13 children.  This is one strong person!  This is one strong woman!

One of the strangest parts of this story was, Captain John just a bit earlier the same day was speaking with others about town.  So, what happened to cause such a thing and to come to such an end?

The following article is the whole story as told by the Racine Daily Journal, 20 July 1894.  I broke the story into parts for ease and the retelling of the story.  In beginning, we learned about the Terrible Deed! Now, the rest of the story.....

Part One... The community!  John was at the cigar store talking about steamers and reading the local newspaper.

Part Two.. The son's story of what happened. Charles is the tenth child and is about 16 years old.

Part three... Julia's injuries.  She is so lucky!

Part four.... Julia survives her wounds.  She does not share the reason for the argument!

Part five.... The Caption shoots himself

Part six.... The daughters are notified. Maggle who I think is Margaret the older is about 19 and Julia was 16 years of age.

Part seven.... Captain was in Ill health... was this the cause?

Part eight.... Thirty years in Racine WI with a bad temp at home.   Of the thirteen children I know the names of eleven.

Part 9...  The Children

Part 10... The scene was visit by thousands.  

This is such a sad event in the time of this family when at mid morning life stops and life ends.  Why am I re-posting this story, well there is a connect back to mine.. Katherine, child number 6, was married to my great uncle John Kennedy.  And while researching the union between John and Kate this story of tragedy was revealed to me.

This story was first posted in the Racine Daily  Journal, 20 July 1894, one year prior to Kate's marriage to John. By the year 1900 Kate too is widowed by an unknown reason.

Gandalf the White

Today, we set out today to pickup a new member for the Prairie Home Hobby farm, a Livestock Guardian Dog (LGD).  We took off at 9 this morning for a 120 mile trip into the Dakotas.  Doesn't that just sound like some old western.  We pressed the Explorer into a westerly direction, passing through East Grand Forks MN and Grand Forks ND, toward Devils Lake.  Now, I haven't been out this way since 1983 when I  was stationed at the US Grand Forks AFB and was then sent to Alaska.  I just didn't have the reason to go west into the Dakotas after that.  Well, today we made the venture west to a little town call Doyon.   Upon reaching the farm of Bob and Marte, we were greeted by a pretty little girl that was dressed up in winter clothing with only her eyes and nose exposed to the raw wind on the Dakota cold.  Marte was at work, but Bob was there to show us the pups and the parent dogs.  Bob and Marte's farm is called the Tangled Tree farm.  There is a story there, but not now.  Bob whistled out towards the horses and yelled "Come here"!  Pretty soon a big white dog showed itself and stood in place long enough for another round of whistles and come here.  The old boy come running in a slow gait to where we stood.  There was a temporary cattle fencing blocking the dogs full approach.  I asked Bob if it was OK to greet the dog and was given the OK.  Bob spoke to the dog by name.. Gandalf its OK!.  Gandalf the White is the registered name for this impressive male LGD.  I swear Gandalf was near big enough to saddle.  He was a very well behaved dog and very much loved the attention.  So much so, he made his way around the house to an opening in the fence and then came over to me.  I let the old boy smell my hand for a bit before starting to pet him... he ate it up.    Met the pups mom and immediately decided to get a male pup if any.  Don't get me wrong, the female was a great looking dog, but loved the size of Gandalf.  Bob gave me a bit of a tour around his farm while we watched the pups play bout the stead.

The Tangled Tree farm is built on a ridge running north and south, in the Dakota prairie pothole lands, just east of Devils Lake.  The farm stead is sheltered from the west winds by the ridge and a shelter belt of trees.  They have a good population of goats of a few variety, horses, cattle, chickens, turkey, cats and Maremma, the LGDs!  In building the Tangled Tree farm, Bob and Marte rescued an old farm house that Devils Lake was about to swallow by the expansion of Devil Lake.  The house was originally built in 1905. Nice rescue! I must say that Bob was a very pleasant man and we enjoyed out time chatting with him.

Without getting into a big history lesson, the Maremma is a distant Italian relative to the Great Pyrenees sheep dog. The name is pronounced as Mare like a female horse and Emma like a girls name.  If you are interested in learning more about the Maremma LGD, please follow this link.

While we moved about the stead, I kept my eyes on the pups activities.  All the females pups and all but one male pup stayed close to the activity of the visitors.  The one male I was watching was out on patrol with dad, who had returned to the pasture with the horses.  Next thing I knew, the pup was checking out a coop not far from where we stood.  His dad continue his path towards the horses.  Bob noticed I was watching the pup and gave it a call.  It responded almost immediately and was then selected as the new member of the Prairie Home Hobby farm.  We loved the name of Gandalf the White so much we asked if Bob mind if we too used the name. Bob had no troubles with that idea at all.   And so, Gandalf was placed into the Explorer.  Gandalf the White was so exhausted by his exploits, he slept most of the way home in the backseat.

In the days to come... I will be posting updates about Gandalf on our blogs, so stay turned!

Attention Coyotes!

Maremma pup

We have decided on a Maremma to guard our flock and farm!  Yes, a Maremma!  So, the question is; What is a Maremma?  First the name its pronounced as is Mare Emma.  A Maremma is a Livestock Guard Dog (LGD) from the same ancestral blood line of the Great Pyrenees.   For centuries it was bred and used to guard sheep in Italy.  

Once we decided on looking for a LGD, the Pyrenees was the one that first came to mind.  However, hours of research later, I've learned that there are many breeds out there from different countries that all have the same ancestor; Great Pyrenees, Maremma, and the Akbash.  If you are interested in learning more about LGD, here is a good site; Livestock Guardian Dogs.  Then, it wasn't until I came across a breeder to the west of here about 125 miles, that I start reading more about the Maremma's.  The Maremma is a little smaller than the Pyrenees, but still near a 100lbs. They also doesn't seem to have the roaming tendencies of the Pyrenees. And will guard all critters that on the farm, including its humans.

So, on Jan 7th 2012, after traveling west towards Devil Lakes ND and returning home, I will announced to the local coyotes, coons, skunks and neighbors dogs that a Maremma is the new sheriff in town.  Sure, it will take months of growth and training to get the pup ready, but why wait to start spending the word.

And this is what the Coyote, Coon, Skunk, Dog or burglar is going to meeting if misdeeds are on their minds.

Both images are borrowed from the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America.

Looking for Alice

John Johnson, Alice and Margaret Russell
James Johnson
1935

Alice was a bit of a wonder to me for some time now.  Well, actually  less than a year ago I came across the death certificate for a cousin; William Dingle Watters¹ that stated his wife to be a Alice Russell. Keep in mind, I am just finding out about the Watters family branch, so I didn't know much about William or the rest of his family.  But, now I have conflicting information, for I thought William was married to Margaret Howard, of which I had information about.  So, the solving mystery of Alice had to be discovered and adding to the tree.

First a little about Alice. She is the twin daughter of Calder Russell and Margaret Kingan.  The Russells are from Scotland prior to relocating to Nova Scotia in the 1800's because of all the available mines and the lure of a better life.  Alice and her twin Margaret were born in the mining town of Drummond Mines now called Westville in Jan 1909.   The photograph is of the twins at the age of 26 and two men are brothers; John and James Johnson which was taken in 1935 at  Upper Stewiacke, Nova Scotia.  In 1933, Alice marries a Athol Stewart of Trenton, Nova Scotia. Then something happens to Athol, which I know not, for Alice remarries my cousin William Watters in 1939.  To the best of my knowledge to date, Alice had no children from either marriage.

In searching for more information about Alice, I've discovered a few records about her birth and made contact with Alice's first cousin Myrtle².   The first document is Alice's birth certificate in which I found Calder's employment of great interest; a Stableman.  Also, the comment of Twin was very important latter in adding Margaret's passing to Alice's ancestry tree.  The second document is my discover was a sign declaration by John (brother) to Alice's birth and middle name; Savage.
I find these bits and piece very interesting, along with being very important in piecing family information back together some 80 or more latter.  Not to mention thousand of miles of separation and lack of initial family information in the first place.

With all this information in hand, I still didn't know what happened to Alice after William's death.  Somewhere along the line I found a tidbit of information that Alice may had died in the Winnipeg, but that turn out false.  Then, just this past week I came across an old post on one of the many genealogy forums which had some information about Alice.  The presented information wasn't much, but it was enough for me to try the associated email.  The post was dated 2007, so what is the possibility that the email was still be used.  I sent an email to the address and less than an hour, Myrtle replied.   Through our conversations, Myrtle confirmed that Alice passed away in Westville and is resting in the same plot with William; Brookside Cemetery, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, though the marker doesn't have Alice's passing³.  The headstone marking her passing is to be found in the Auburn Cemetery Westville, NS.

Watters
Alice S Russell
Jan 1909- Dec 1967
Wife of
William D Watters

1  William Dingle Watters parents were James L Watters and Margaret McNulty.  I mention this because there are more than one William Dingle Watters in the family tree.
2   Myrtle supplied the pictures of the four siblings, the headstone for Alice.
3  Myrtle will be, if not already, be adding Alice's passing to the Watters headstone in the Brookside Cemetery.

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