In the beginning

Agnes, as she came to be known, was born in Dewitt Township, Clinton County, Michigan to German immigrant parents George and Kate Keck.^[1] She was known in her family as Aggie. Her date of birth was recorded as February 5, 1872, but Aggie was mightily annoyed by this. She insisted that she was born February 4 and observed her birthday on the fourth. She corrected the birth certificate issued by the Clinton County Clerk’s office about a month after her husbands’ death.

I came by this birth certificate after a visit to Dad’s Uncle Joe Springsteen and his wife Aunt Mary. This letter conveys a bit of context:

Aggie was born on the Keck family farm a mile south of Gunnisonville. She was raised there with older siblings Jacob, George, Eva, Henry and Charles, and younger sister Anna.^[2]

Aggie married L.D. (Loyal Davis) Springsteen in her family home March 2, 1892.^[3] Her father gave a family Bible to L.D. and Aggie that was used to record special events. My Uncle Hud (Harold A. Springsteen), Dad’s brother, was in possession of this Bible before his passing.

L.D. And Aggie’s family

In the Bible birth records, note the German spelling of Aggie’s middle name, Kathrein, which was actually her first name. German naming tradition often gave children a first name which was honorific and a rufname (call name) by which they were generally known. Aggie’s first name was apparently in recognition of her mother Ann Kathrein (Kurtz) Keck, who was known as Kate. Uncle Joe recalled Aggie’s father addressing her as Agat’ in his gruff German voice.

L.D. and Aggie took up residence in Springfield Township, Oakland County where L.D. was working on his uncle Jerome Howe’s farm. L.D. and Aggie lived in the tenant house on the farm with their two oldest sons Aden and Clinton (Joe).^[4] L.D.’s mother Mary Springsteen was living next door caring for her aging mother Susan Howe. Jerome Howe, Mary’s brother, lived across the road in Groveland Township.

Aggie’s brother-in-law Ed Heeb sent a one-cent post card to Aggie in 1900 explaining that Anna would not be able to come for a planned visit:

L.D. and Aggie had returned to Clinton County by 1904 when their youngest son Harold was born. After the death of L.D.’s sister Emma Allen he and Aggie took in Emma’s daughter Lucy. I met Lucy Davis in the early 1980s living as a very independent widow in her nineties. Her neighbor had seen her recently cleaning the gutters on her roof. L.D. and Aggie were recorded in DeWitt Township in the 1910 census. L.D.’s brother Marvin, his wife Eliza, and Emma’s son Ray Allen lived next door.^[5]

The 1920 census found L.D., Aggie and Harold in Watertown Township, Clinton County. I think they were renting the Brink farm on what is today known as Airport Road, the west boundary of DeWitt Township. Dad’s family was living on the Brink farm when he was born there in 1924.^[6]

In 1930 L.D. and Aggie were living at 418 West Maple Street in Lansing, just south of Clinton County. L.D. was working in the garbage department of the City of Lansing.^[7] They were at the same residence in 1940.^[8]

L.D. died October 12, 1943, at their home on Maple Street. He was laid to rest in the Gunnisonville Cemetery.^[9]

In 1950 Aggie was living with her granddaughter Lorna Raczkowski’s family in Lansing.^[10]

Aggie died April 13, 1963, and was laid to rest with her husband.

Family photos

Note that L.D. had lost part of his right index finger, perhaps in a farm accident.

Scrapbook news

Aggie kept cards, newspaper clippings and ephemera in scrapbooks. I left two scrapbooks with cousins in Michigan. This first item might have been in her family Bible, but the rest were from Aggie’s scrapbooks.

Following are a few of the many newspaper clippings that Aggie collected in her scrapbooks.

Yes, potato vacation was a thing in Montcalm County, Michigan. School was suspended for potato harvest.

According to Dad, his sister Lorna was embarrassed by their grandmother at one of these birthday celebrations. When someone asked Aggie if she had ever been bedridden, she responded “Oh, my, yes, hundreds of times, and twice in a buggy.”

Dad also reported that when Grandma Springsteen was visiting, she would sneak out to the porch to smoke. As a good German daughter, she certainly enjoyed her beer. When the family was playing cards, they could tell when Aggie had been cheating because she would chuckle quietly to herself.

Here is a birthday card note to Dad from his Grandma Springsteen, probably around 1950.

Fred and Verda were my grandparents. Aden Springsteen, my grandfather, died after a traffic accident in 1941. My grandmother, Verda, married Fred Olsen in 1945. Hud and Dot were Dad’s brother and his wife. The twins were Grandpa Olsen’s daughters Marian and Marie. Madge and Dude were Dad’s sister and her husband. Dude (Durward) Pontius had been dad’s shipmate on the U.S.S. Essex during World War II. Lorna was Dad’s older sister. Ed would have been Ed Heeb, Anna’s husband. Lois and the boys were my family.

My great grandmother was a bit of a character. In retrospect, I wish I had shared more time with her, but I was too young to fully appreciate how much I could have learned. I think some of my cousins might have a few more stories to tell.

Notes

^[1] Birth registration, Catherine Agatha Keck; Michigan, Clinton County, birth returns, 1872, page 410, record 2957; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQN2-94C, accessed August 14, 2024.

^[2] 1880 United States Census, George Keck household; Michigan, Clinton County, DeWitt Township, sheet 342C, lines 30-37; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWS9-JQ6, accessed August 19, 2024.

^[3] Marriage registration, Loyal D. Springsteen and Aggie K. Keck; Michigan, Clinton County, marriage registration, 1892, page 70, record 1020; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCNC-4TY, image 79 of 359, accessed August 21, 2024.

^[4] 1900 United States Census, Loyal D. Springsteen household; Michigan, Oakland County, Springfield Township, sheet 2B, lines 63-66; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS92-BQM, accessed August 16, 2024.

^[5] 1910 United States Census, Loyal D. Springsteen household; Michigan, Clinton County, DeWitt Township, sheet 9B, lines 78-83; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLPY-NSX, accessed August 19, 2024.

^[6] 1920 United States Census, Loyal D. Springsteen household; Michigan, Clinton County, Watertown Township, sheet 1B, lines 90-92; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZS2-LP8, accessed August 19, 2024.

^[7] 1930 United States Census, Loyal D. Springsteen household; Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing Ward 4, sheet 3A, lines 3-5; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQY1-LD4, accessed August 19, 2024.

^[8] 1940 United States Census, Loyal D. Springsteen household; Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing Ward 4, sheet 14A, lines 26-28; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4LD-G2G, accessed August 20, 2024.

^[9] Certificate of death, L.D. Springsteen; Michigan State Archives, Lansing, Michigan; online at https://michigan.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_5e5e4490-9032-4803-a8c0-19f261effc12/, accessed August 20, 2024.

^[10] 1950 United States Census, Alexander R. Raczkowski household; Michigan, Ingham County, Lansing, sheet 03871; online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6JJ4-DMN2, accessed August 19, 2024.

European records are a challenge. I was wrong about this one.

Understanding European records

I have investigated my deep American ancestry for decades and still have much to share from my findings. Several years ago, I finally took the dive into my wife Dee’s European ancestry. I have posted articles previously about a few of my discoveries.

It helps to have some awareness of history and geography. This is certainly true in America, and more important in European research.

One of Dee’s grandfathers was an immigrant from Flanders in Belgium, where his family appears to have been resident for centuries. Flemish Belgian records are in Flemish Dutch, French and Latin.

Dee’s other three grandparents were children of immigrants from the Bohemian region of the Austrian Empire. Czechoslovakia, which did not yet exist, was one of the nations created when the empire was dissolved at the end of the Great War (World War I) in 1918. The term Bohemia is the English rendering of Germanic Böhmen, which in Czech is Čechy. Bohemian records are in Czech, German and Latin. Reading these records is further complicated by the old German handwriting and typeset that was unlike our familiar rendering of the alphabet.

We have much to learn from European records. I can assure you that this entails a lot of work.

Help is available

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a good place to start. The wiki offers research information about European countries as well as links to many online records. Wikipedia is a helpful source of information about European nations and history. I have listed several links to European resources on my Research links page. While I have mixed feelings about Facebook, I have found focus groups there to be helpful.

The following discussion pertains to Czech research but could be helpful for working with records in other countries.

Searching for a birth record

Dee’s five-times-great grandmother Alžběta [Elizabeth in English], wife of Bartoloměj Prochaska, died September 28, 1792, in house 2 of Běštín in the Beroun district of Bohemia, at that time part of the Holy Roman Empire. Alžběta was reported to be 64 years old at her death.^[1] Her death registration is provided online by the State Regional Archives in Prague.

I set out to find a record of Alžběta’s birth, which would have occurred around 1728. Birth records for her children appeared to identify her as Alžběta Rodizuw or something like that. I couldn’t find an entry close to this name in the Bezdědice birth record index for 1664-1733. Because these indexes are subject to omissions and mistakes, I browsed Bezdědice church records for 1721-1733 looking for an Alžběta Rodizuw. After a few iterative page views, I found a potential record in September 1727, containing Alžběta and something like Rodizuw. but I was not able to understand much of its content. I decided to look for help in the Czech Genealogy group on Facebook.

We shouldn’t expect volunteers to do extensive work, so I asked for very specific information. With permission of other participants, I am sharing edited bits of the ensuing discussion as I think it is instructive.

• Ron: I’m having a heck of a time today with this penmanship. What is Alžběta’s second name and family name and her father’s given name in this birth record in the second entry on the right page?: https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3968/184
• Mary: A snip to help us out [she provided the image]. I see the first line (repeated in all the records) as saying something like “I, XXX, baptized”. I could be wrong, but it’s a stock phrase, so it doesn’t matter. Then the word in front of Alžbeta looks sort of like “jmeno” in Czech, which is name. Ok, then her surname is on the second line. I really wanted to see “Mazour”, because that’s a known name where I’m from, but it’s not. It could be Mazera. Or maybe it’s Marya… The word after that sort of looks like the word that means family, born of, etc. and Vrba follows it. Or maybe that’s the father’s given name, and it’s Vit, and it’s genitive case. AH! the word that follows IS genitive for Vesely! And he’s a kovář. So this record IS in Czech, not Latin. Sorry for the long analysis, but this is an example of how us non-experts have to think things through.
• Ron: I was reading some semblance of Mayrna as her second name and couldn’t make anything of her father’s given name. It looks to me like her mother was Kateryn. Was their family name Rodyizur?
• Virginia: I think the second name is Marzena, not a surname, then a standard word meaning born of (?Rodjczur?), then Wyta (?Vit?) Weselyho kovarz…unless Kovarz is the surname…and materze (mother) Katerzyna.
• Ron: Is there no family name given in this record?
• Virginia: I’m not sure if it’s the Vesely word or the Kovař. Both are Czech surnames in my home county. Kovař could be an occupation. I’d lean toward Vesely being the surname. You’ll need to check indexes to see if it occurs in this area. Maybe some Czechs will look before they head to bed, unless they’re all asleep now.

There was, however, a little problem with my request for clarity in this birth record.

• Michaela: it’s not a birth/baptism record…

Oops!

• Michaela: Dne 17ho Zaržy Pohrzbeno ditie Gmenem Alžbieta Maržena Rodycžuw Wyta Weßelyho Kowarže a Materže Kateržyny gßa Zywo na Swietie 2 leta Umrželo na auplawiczy
• Michaela: so, on 17th September was buried a child named Alžběta Mařena of parents Vít Veselý, a blacksmith, and of mother Kateřina, being alive in this world for 2 years. She died of dysentery.

This record was, in fact, a death record for a two-year-old girl!^[2] Thinking this was a birth and baptism record, I unintentionally misled volunteers trying to help me.

Note that Michaela first transcribed the record, interpreting the characters, and thus the written words, in Czech. Then, with a typed transcription in hand, she translated the record to English. This is good methodology.

Note also how much richer the record is when we can read the whole thing.

What can we learn?

It certainly would have helped if I had recognized the capitalized term after Alžběta Prochaska’s name in her children’s birth registrations. I’m familiar with the term rozená (nee) in more recent records but I didn’t recognize the old term used here. Syn (son of) and dcera (daughter of) were also used in later centuries. Here is a guide to common terms used in Czech records: Czech-English parish books dictionary.

I should have been more careful in looking for records around 1728. Some church books contain only birth, marriage or death records, which must have been what I had in mind here. Other books, including this one, include all three events in separate sections, with births at the beginning of the book. In gauging my starting point for browsing records I failed to account for marriage and death records in the parish register. I must have initially landed in early death records and moved forward in time by increments from there.

Now what can I do?

I have found Bartoloměj’s birth record in 1728.^[3] I have identified four sons and a daughter born to Alžběta and Bartoloměj but I have not located their marriage record. Birth records of four of their children mention her maiden name, which I now understand to be the word after the term I thought to be her maiden name.^{[4] [5] [6] [7]} My best guess after reexamination is that Alžběta’s maiden name might have been Podánzik. The birth record of their youngest son doesn’t give Alžběta’s maiden name but identifies the estate (Wohsoviensi?) to which Bartoloměj and Alžběta were subject.^[8] Alžběta might have been born in another town belonging to the same estate and they might have been married there. I think my next step might be trying to identify the estate and looking further afield for their marriage record.

Final thoughts

It is important to spend time with European records to become familiar with common terms, handwriting, families and occupations. With patience and translation tools like Google Translate, it is possible to plumb records in unfamiliar languages, places and times. It is very much worth the effort.

Addendum

Further communication with Michaela revealed that the birth records of Bartoloměj‘s and Alžběta’s older children also indicated the estate (Osov) to which they were subject as serfs, not her maiden name. These were in Czech whereas the reference in their youngest child’s record was in Latin. An 1848 compendium of Bohemian estates confirms that Běštín was in the Osov estate.^[9] I found the marriage record for Bartoloměj and Alžběta^[10] and then her birth record^[11] in the Osov parish.

Notes

^[1] Death registration, Alžběta Prochaska; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Deaths, 1784-1806, page 110, house 2; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/4051/112,accessed August 3, 2024.

^[2] Death registration, Alžběta Mařena Veselý; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Deaths, 1721-1733, September 17, 1727, Radausse; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3968/184, accessed August 5, 2024.

^[3] Birth registration, Bartoloměj Prochaska; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Births, 1721-1733, page 141, August 28, Biechczyna; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3968/76, accessed August 6, 2024.

^[4] Birth registration, Josef Martin Prochaska; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Births, 1734-1757, page 301, October 29, Biechczina; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3969/154, accessed August 6, 2024.

^[5] Birth registration, Jan Krtitel Prochaska [Dee’s direct ancestor]; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Births, 1734-1757, page 346, May 31/June 1, Biechczina; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3969/177, accessed August 6, 2024.

^[6] Birth registration, Ondrej Prochaska; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Births, 1734-1757, page 394, November 19, Biechczina; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3969/201, accessed August 6, 2024.

^[7] Birth registration, Anna Dorota Prochaska; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Births, 1758-1784, page 41, December 10, Biechczyna; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3970/24, accessed August 6, 2024.

^[8] Birth registration, Jakub Prochaska; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Bezdědice Births, 1758-1784, page 117, April 29, Biechczin; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/3970/62, accessed August 6, 2024.

^[9] Popis Králowstwí Českého Čili Podrobné Poznamenání V Jazyku Českém I Německém, pages 269-270; online at Google Books: https://books.google.cz/books?id=C94BAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover, accessed August 10, 2024.

^[10] Marriage registration, Bartoloměj Prochaska and Alžběta Havelik; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Osov Marriages, 1747-1771, page 238, November 25, Biechczin and Lazovitz; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/10731/123, accessed August 10, 2024.

^[11] Birth registration, Alžběta Kateřina Havelik; Czech Republic, Beroun District, Roman Catholic Church, Osov Births, 1727-1746, page 6, November 16, Chlumetz; online at https://ebadatelna.soapraha.cz/d/10729/7, accessed August 10, 2024.

As a frame of reference, Belgium consists primarily of Dutch Flemish provinces in the north and French Walloon provinces in the south. Brussels, the capital city, lies between the two regions. French and Flemish are both used in official Belgian records. Civil registration records, which are helpful in family research, were instituted by the French First Republic at the turn of the nineteenth century.

Who were the children’s parents?

• Frans Lodewyk [think Low-duh-vike] Van Sande [think Fon Zon-duh] was born February 6, 1851, in Buggenhout, East Flanders, Belgium. He was the son of Joseph Van Sande and Maria Josepha Van Riet.^[1] The Van Sande family had lived around Buggenhout for generations. Joseph was the son of Jan Baptist Van Sande,^[2] the son of Jean Van Sande,^[3] the son of Henri Van Sande.^[4] Jean and Henri were likely known by Flemish names. Lodewyk married Francisca Annaert November 25, 1874, in Buggenhout.^[5] After her death, he married Monica Meert January 14, 1888, in Steenhuffel, Brabant, Belgium.^[6] Lodewyk’s French name in Belgium was Louis, a name easily portable to the United States. As Louis Van Zandt, he died February 3, 1892, in Cook County, Illinois at just under 41 years of age.^[7] He died at the Cook County Hospital and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Evanston, Cook County.^[8]
• Francisca Annaert was born July 13, 1853, in Buggenhout.^[9] She was the daughter of Jan Frans Annaert and Maria Ludovica Hofmans. She died December 8, 1886, in Buggenhout.^[10]
• Monica Meert [think Mairt] was born April 13, 1852, in Steenhuffel.^[11] She was the daughter of Judocus Franciscus Meert and Joanna Francisca Verbelen. As already noted, she married Lodewyk in 1888. After his death, she married Bruno Van Hecka or Van Hacke April 16, 1893, in Chicago.^[12] Monica died in Chicago January 14, 1901, at 48 years of age.^[13] She was also buried in the Calvary Cemetery.^[14]
• Bruno Van Hacke was born October 13, 1863, according to his death record. Census records report that he was born in Belgium. He appears to have had three children from a previous marriage, including a son named Charles, mentioned later. Bruno died October 11, 1931, in Illinois, apparently in Cook County.^[15] He was buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County.^[16]

Lodewyk and Francisca’s children

• Joseph Van Sande was born May 11, 1876, in Buggenhout.^[17] He died there July 10, 1876.^[18]
• Jan Baptist Van Sande was born October 14, 1877, in Buggenhout.^[19] He was later known as Louis Van Zandt.
• Petrus Josephus Van Sande was born July 16, 1879, in Buggenhout.^[20] He died there December 3, 1879.^[21]
• Karel Van Sande was born June 23, 1881, in Buggenhout.^[22] He was later Charles Van Zandt.
• Irma Francisca Van Sande was born August 6, 1883, in Buggenhout.^[23] She married as Emma Van Zandt.
• Maria Van Sande was born August 8, 1885, in Buggenhout.^[24] She died there January 16, 1886.^[25]

Monica’s Belgian daughters

• Jeanette Elizabeth Meert was reportedly born in March 1880 in Belgium. I have not yet found her birth registration, but the 1900 census (see below) reported her month and year of birth.
• Maria Josephina Meert was born August 8, 1883, in Mechelen, Antwerpen, Belgium.^[26]

Lodewyk and Monica’s children

• Richard Joseph Coleta Van Sande was born October 14, 1888, in Buggenhout.^[27]
• Joanna Helena Van Sande was born February 7, 1890, in Grembergen, East Flanders. Her father was reported away in Chicago.^[28] She died June 4, 1890, in Cook County, Illinois.^[29]
• Willie Van Zandt was born July 19, 1892, after his father’s death, in Cook County, Illinois.^[30] He died there September 9, 1892.^[31] Willie was the only child born with the Van Zandt surname.

Bruno and Monica’s children

• Marie Louise Van Hacke was born January 24, 1894, in Chicago. Her birth was registered in Chicago in 1944.^[32]
• Frank Van Hacke was born in June 1896, probably in Chicago. His birth month and year were reported for the 1900 census (see below). Given that his sister Marie’s birth wasn’t recorded until decades later, Frank’s birth might never have been recorded.

Coming to America

Lodewyk and his former brother-in-law Joseph Annaert arrived at the Port of New York August 16, 1889, aboard the Belgenland, sailing from Antwerp. Both were listed as farmers bound for Chicago.^[33]

Monica Van Zande [sic] arrived at the Port of Philadelphia April 16, 1890, aboard the Belgenland, sailing from Antwerp. Several related families sailed with Monica, all bound for Illinois. Monica’s family was recorded on the manifest as follows:^[34]

• Monica Van Zande, adult
• Jeanette Meert, age 10
• Karell Van Zande, age 8
• Anna [apparently Irma] Van Zande, age 5
• Josepha Van Zande [Josephine Meert], age 4
• Richard Van Zande, age 1 ½
• Helene Van Zande, infant
• Johannes [Jan Baptist?] Van Zande, age 10.

Returning to America

Monica arrived with her family at the Port of New York March 8, 1899, aboard the Westernland, sailing from Antwerp. They had been residing in Hombeck [spelling?], which might be Hombeek, on the outskirts of Mechelen. Monica’s brother Ludovicus lived in Hombeek in the 1880s and perhaps beyond. Monica was returning to her husband Bruno at 606 14^th Street in Chicago. Her family was recorded on the manifest as follows:^[35]

• Monica Van Hecke, age 46
• Josefine Van Heck [Meert], age 11
• Karl Van Heck [apparently Richard Van Zandt, but could this have been Bruno’s son Charles?], age 8
• Marie Van Heck, age 4
• Frank Van Heck, age 2.

Bruno and Monica’s family, 1900

Monica and Bruno’s family was enumerated in 1900 on East Sixth Street in St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois. They were listed with the surname Van Nack, apparently a misunderstanding of Van Hacke or Van Acke. They were recorded as follows.^[36]

• Bruno Van Nack, head of household, born March 1852 in Belgium, naturalized citizen^[37]
• Monica Van Nack, wife, born April 1852 in Belgium, mother of seven children, two [not] still living
• Jennie Van Nack [Meert], stepdaughter, born March 1880 in Belgium
• Josephine Van Nack [Meert], stepdaughter, born August 1884 in Belgium
• Charles Van Nack [clearly Richard Van Zandt], stepson, born October 1888 in Belgium
• Mary Van Nack, daughter, born January 1894 in Illinois
• Frank Van Nack, son, born June 1896 in Illinois.

Lodewyk and Francisca’s children, 1900

The household of Alfred [Alfons] Verest was enumerated at 606 West 14^th Street in Chicago. This is apparently the home Monica returned to in 1899. The Verest household is of interest because Mary Verest was Monica Meert’s younger sister. Furthermore, and of particular interest, the Verests had taken in Louis Van Zandt’s children from his first marriage sometime after their father’s death. As I have previously discussed, there were other connections between the Verest and Van Sande families. The Verest household was recorded as follows:^[38]

• Alfred Verest, head of household, born January 1862 in Belgium, provisions dealer
• Mary Verest, wife, born March 1862 in Belgium, mother of four children, three still living
• Lillian Verest, daughter, born January 1890 in Illinois
• Raymond Verest, son, born July 1894 in Illinois
• Jennie Verest, daughter, born May 1896 in Illinois
• Emma Van Zandt [Irma Van Sande], boarder, born August 1883 in Belgium, grocery clerk
• Louis Van Zandt [Jan Baptist Van Sande], boarder, born October 1877 in Belgium, printer
• Charles Van Zandt [Karel Van Sande], boarder, born June 1881 in Belgium, printer
• Charles Millman, boarder, born January 1858 in Belgium, porter.

What became of the children as adults?

As we have seen, several of Louis’s and Monica’s children died in infancy. Frank Van Hacke, Monica’s last child, died April 22, 1913, in Chicago at the age of sixteen.^[39] I know of seven children who lived into adulthood. Six of them were born in Belgium and immigrated with Monica in 1890. The Van Sande surname became Van Zandt in America.

Jan Baptist Van Sande (Louis Van Zandt)

• Jan Baptist was not the first of that name in his family. His paternal grandfather and an uncle were also Jan Baptist Van Sande. Sometime after immigrating to the United States, he adopted the name Louis, perhaps after the death of his father.
• As Louis Van Zandt, he served as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War.^[40] He was granted a partial invalid pension in 1904.^[41] Louis had been reported as a naturalized citizen of the United States in the 1900 census, perhaps in connection with his military service.
• Louis married Carolina Catharina Van Staey September 29, 1906, in Chicago.^[42] Louis and Lena raised Richard Van Zandt’s daughter Evelyn and sons Richard and Louis. They were the grandparents Dee knew in her childhood.
• In 1910 Louis and Lena were recorded at 1928 West Huron Street in Chicago. Louis was working as a press feeder in a printing house.^[43]
• In 1920 Louis and Lena were living on Second Street in Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois with Lena’s stepfather and her mother Alfons and Marie Quirrynan. Louis was working as a printer in a printing company.^[44]
• In 1930 Louis and Lena were living at 408 Second Street in Elmhurst. Louis was working as a press feeder in a printing company.^[45]
• In 1940 Louis and Lena still lived at 408 West Second Street. Their nephews Louis and Richard Van Zandt were living with them. Louis the elder was working as a printer and his nephews were working in nickel plating.^[46]
• In 1950, the year of the most recent published census, Louis and Lena were again recorded at 408 West Second Street.^[47]
• Louis died July 14, 1972, at age 94 and was buried in the Elm Lawn Memorial Park in Elmhurst.^[48], [49]
• Lena died at age 104 on January 20, 1991, in DuPage County.^[50] She was presumably buried with Louis.

Karel Van Sande (Charles Van Zandt)

• Charles’s life somewhat paralleled that of his brother Louis. He adopted the middle name Louis in America, perhaps in memory of their father. Charles and his brother Louis both worked as printers and lived most of their adult lives in close proximity to each other.
• Charles became a naturalized citizen October 3, 1902, in Illinois.^[51]
• Charles married Josephine Dorothy Baxa June 5, 1906, in Chicago.^[52]
• In 1910 Charles and Josephine were living at 1635 South 40^th Court in Chicago. Charles was working as a printer.^[53]
• In 1920 Charles and Josephine were recorded at 405 Second Street in Elmhurst with daughter Bernice and son Harvey. Charles was working as a printer.^[54]
• In 1930 Charles and Josephine were recorded again at 405 Second Street with Bernice and Harvey. Charles was still working as a printer.^[55]
• In 1940 Charles and Josephine were living at 405 West Second Street with Bernice and Harvey. Louis was working as a printer and Bernice was a clerk in a real estate company. Harvey was unable to work.^[56]
• In 1950 Charles and Josephine continued to live at 405 West Second Street. Herman and Bernice Wendland lived upstairs. Charles was working as a printer for a daily newspaper [The Chicago Tribune].^[57] Harvey had moved to the State Hospital in Elgin.^[58]
• Charles died in January 1963 and was buried in Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery.^[59]
• Josephine died in September 1977 and was buried with her husband.^[60]

Irma Van Sande (Emma Wille)

• Emma Van Zandt married Fred Wille August 1, 1906, in Chicago.^[61]
• In 1910 Fred and Emma were recorded at 1130 Francisco Street in Chicago. Fred was working as a turner at a plumbing company and Emma as a waitress in a restaurant.^[62]
• In 1920 they lived at 3910 Wilcox Avenue with Fred’s mother, brother, and nephew. Fred was driving a milk wagon and Emma was a waitress.^[63]
• Emma died in Chicago November 18, 1922, and was buried in Oakridge Cemetery.^[64]
• Fred died in Chicago as a widower June 14, 1960, and was also buried in Oakridge Cemetery.^[65]

Jeanette Meert (Jeanette Barrett)

• As Jennie Van Zandt, Jeanette married George Lake Barrett October 14, 1903, in Chicago.^[66]
• In 1910 George and Jeanette were recorded at 421 Drake Avenue in Chicago with children Lillian, Walter, and Trudie Barrett. George was working as a building contractor.^[67]
• In 1920 they were living at 405 Drake Avenue with children Lillian, Walter, Gertrude, and Laurence. Bruno Van Hecke was also living with them. George was working as a carpenter.^[68]
• In 1930 George and Jeanette lived at 9112 Washington Street in Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois. Gertrude and Laurence were living in their household. George was working as a carpenter.^[69]
• In 1940 they were recorded in the same home with Lawrence [sic] in residence. George was a carpenter and Lawrence was a printer.^[70]
• George died December 11, 1943, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park, Cook County.^[71]
• In 1950 Jeanette was recorded as a widow in the household of her son Lawrence at 9112 Washington Street. Lawrence was working as a freight clerk in the railroad industry.^[72]
• Jeanette died in 1964 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.^[73]

Josephine Meert (Josephine Kent)

• In 1920 Josephine Meert was recorded as Josephine Joos, divorced, with her daughter Bernice Joos at 6242 South Park Avenue [apparently now South Martin Luther King Drive] in Chicago. Philip Kent (Theophile Kint), a janitor born in Belgium, was living with Josephine as a lodger.^[74]
• In 1930 Josephine was living at 6238 South Park Way [again, South MLK Drive] with Phillip, listed as his wife. Bruno Vanack lived with them.^[75]
• Phillip was naturalized in Chicago June 29, 1939.^[76]
• In 1950 Phillip and Josephine lived at 1333 South Kimbark Avenue in Chicago. Phillip was working as an apartment building janitor.^[77] I have not found Josephine or Phillip in the 1910 and 1940 censuses.
• Phillip and Josephine were married November 20, 1950, in Chicago.^[78]
• Josephine became a naturalized citizen June 26, 1951.^[79]
• Josephine’s left leg was amputated and buried in 1961.^[80]
• Phillip died April 8, 1964,^[81] and was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, River Grove, Cook County.^[82]
• Josephine died about November 1965 and was buried December 2 in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.^[83] I suspect that she died outside of Cook County because I haven’t found her in Cook County death records. Might she have been living with her daughter?

Richard Van Sande (Richard Van Zandt)

• Richard Van Zandt married Emma Hrobar (aka Robash) September 23, 1916, in Chicago.^[84] Richard and Emma were Dee’s actual grandparents. I posted an article recently about Emma.
• In 1920 Richard and Emma were recorded at 1750 West 14^th Place in Chicago with their daughter Evelyn. Richard was working as a teamster in the coal industry.^[85]
• In 1930 Richard and Emma were living at 1319 14^th Place with six children: Evelyn, Richard, Louis, Janett [sic], Anna, and Elizabeth. Richard was reported as a truck chauffeur for the city but was unemployed in 1930.^[86] Louis was Dee’s father.
• Richard left their home, probably in the early 1930s, resulting in the dissolution of his family. I have found no further record of Richard. 
• Emma died in Chicago in April 1972.^[87]

Marie Van Hacke (Marie Pedersen)

• In 1910 Marie Van Hacke was listed at 1310 Hasting Street in Chicago with her father Bruno and brother Frank.^[88]
• Marie married Roy Wesley Pederson June 5, 1915, in Chicago.^[89]
• In 1920 Roy and Marie were recorded at 168 Cortland Street in Chicago with son Roy Jr. and Josephine’s twice-counted daughter Bernice Joos. Roy was working as a milk driver.^[90]
• In 1930 Roy and Marie were living at 4427 North Melvina Avenue with sons Roy Jr. and Robert, as well as their niece Bernice Joos. Roy was working as a brokerage clerk.^[91]
• in 1940 Roy and Marie were recorded at the same address with Roy Jr., Robert, and Richard Van Zandt’s daughter Elizabeth, who was listed as their daughter Betty Lou. Betty later assumed the name Elizabeth Marie, perhaps in appreciation of Marie Pedersen. Roy was working as a salesman in the freight trucking industry.^[92]
• In 1950, Roy and Marie were living in their son Robert’s household at 1426 Austin Boulevard in Cicero, Cook County.^[93] Marie was working as a coil winder in electrical appliance manufacturing.
• Roy died June 6, 1951, in Chicago and was buried in Irving Park Cemetery.^[94]
• Marie died in December 1978 and was buried with her husband.^[95]

Further thoughts

Shifting family structures complicated reporting of children. Limited knowledge of stepchildren was sometimes an impediment in providing information for public records. As noted in the 1900 census enumeration, Monica was further limited by illiteracy and not being conversant in English. Sorting out Monica’s children poses additional challenges due in part to changing surnames. Her children were subject to acquiring surnames from stepfathers after Monica married and remarried. Jeanette, for example, sailed from Antwerp to Philadelphia as Jeanette Meert but married as Jennie Van Zandt. Josephine and Karl [Richard] were called Van Hacke in the Westernland manifest of 1899. Jennie, Josephine, and Charles [Richard] were all listed as Van Nack in the 1900 census.

Lodewyk’s and Monica’s grand family still poses puzzles to be discovered and understood. There’s always more to investigate and learn.

This picture from Christmas, 1952, shows Louis Van Zandt, Lodewyk’s oldest child, seated in the armchair with Lena at his side. Might Louis’s brother Charles have been the man on the couch at left? Louis and Lena’s nephew Richard was on the right in back with his wife Rosalie. Dee’s mother Dorothy was to the left of Rosalie. Louis and Lena’s niece Evelyn was on the left in back and her husband Melvin Radenz was the younger man on the couch. Who was the woman next to Lena? If you know any of the people in this picture, please identify or confirm them in comments.

Notes

^[1] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1842-1859, FamilySearch, image 355 of 638, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-MGS6-9S, accessed March 14, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1851, record 14.

^[2] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1801-1822, FamilySearch, image 299 of 648, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-MJ7Q-T, accessed April 16, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1812, page 15.

^[3] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Deaths, 1843-1862, FamilySearch, image 294 of 559, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-688Q-L8F, accessed April 16, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Deaths, 1853, record 18.

^[4] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Deaths, 1802-1822, FamilySearch, image 338 of 588, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-63N3-138, accessed April 16, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Deaths, 1814, page 3.

^[5] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Marriages, 1872-1878, FamilySearch, image 438 of 593, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGVR-97X2, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Marriages, 1874, record 35.

^[6] Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, Brabant, Marriages, 1885-1889, FamilySearch, image 613 0f 759, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-WB9D-D4, accessed March 16, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, Brabant, Steenhuffel Register of Marriages, record 1.

^[7] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7VJ-Y38, accessed March 18, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[8] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989, FamilySearch, record of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-CDQ7, accessed April 8, 2024; from burial card, Louis Van Zandt.

^[9] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1842-1859, FamilySearch, image 449 of 638, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-MGSZ-1F, accessed March 26, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1853, record 71.

^[10] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Deaths, 1879-1888, FamilySearch, image 772 of 852, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PD3-SBT, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Deaths, 1886, record 100.

^[11] Belgium, Brabant, Civil Registration, Steenhuffel, Births, 1852-1857, FamilySearch, image 8 of 648, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-68T9-F5L, accessed March 14, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, Brabant, Steenhuffel Register of Births, 1852, record 12.

^[12] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Monica Van Zands, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N76L-W6K, accessed March 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[13] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Monica Van Hacke, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MQ-48B7, accessed March 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[14] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1889, FamilySearch, record of Monica VanAcke, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-C8ZP, accessed March 19, 2024; from burial card, Monica VanAcke.

^[15] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Bruno Van Hacke, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M8-99JT, accessed March 26, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[16] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989, FamilySearch, record of Bruno Van Acke, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-S735, accessed April 8, 2024; from Interment Register, Mount Carmel Cemetery, page 139.

^[17] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1873-1881, FamilySearch, image 118 of 593, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GVR-9SSP, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1876, record 85.

^[18] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Deaths, 1873-1877, FamilySearch, image 81 of 1001, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGVT-RQB, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Deaths, 1876, record 58.

^[19] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1873-1881, FamilySearch, image 168 of 593, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GVR-99LG, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1877, record 121.

^[20] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1873-1881, FamilySearch, image 253 of 593, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9GVR-99RS, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1879, record 93.

^[21] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Deaths, 1879-1888, FamilySearch, image 527 of 852, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPD3-3R3, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Deaths, 1879, record 94.

^[22] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1873-1881, FamilySearch, image 349 of 593, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GGVR-9728, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1881, record 93.

^[23] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1882-1884, FamilySearch, image 80 of 155, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPDW-NFV, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1883, record 104.

^[24] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1885-1888, FamilySearch, image 29 of 852, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PD3-9QR, accessed March 15, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1885, record 93.

^[25] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Deaths, 1879-1888, FamilySearch, image 747 of 852, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPD3-S15, accessed March 15,2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Deaths, 1886, record 2.

^[26] Belgium, Antwerpen, Civil Registration, Mechelen, Births, 1881-1883, FamilySearch, image 1236 of 1456, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95QT-9LRS, accessed March 16, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, Antwerpen, Mechelen Register of Births, 1883, record 51 (stamped 1051).

^[27] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1885-1888, FamilySearch, image 202 of 852, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPD3-Q5B, accessed March 17, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1888, record 154.

^[28] Belgium, East Flanders, Civil Registration, Buggenhout, Births, 1889-1903, FamilySearch, image 58 of 639, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P67-9MJC, accessed March 18, 2024; from Belgium State Archives, East Flanders, Buggenhout Register of Births, 1890, record 20.

^[29] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Helene Van Sante, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7K2-22C, accessed March 18, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[30] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch, record of Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQR5-QYV, accessed March 18, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[31] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Willie Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M3-RKDS, accessed March 18, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[32] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch, record of Marie Louise Van Acke, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q239-8T5T, accessed March 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[33] New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957, Ancestry, record of L Van Sande, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/7263147:7488, accessed March 17, 2024; from List of Passengers, Port of New York, Belgenland arrival August 16, 1889, Steerage passenger 7.

^[34] Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1798-1962, record of Monica Van Zande and family, Ancestry, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/99973:8769, accessed March 18, 2024; from List of Passengers, Port of Philadelphia, Belgenland arrival April 16, 1890, Steerage passengers 233-240.

^[35] New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957, Ancestry, record of Monica Van Hecka, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4041730512:7488, accessed March 19, 2024; from List or Manifest of Alien Immigrants for the Commissioner of Immigration, Port of New York, Westernland sailing from Antwerp, February 25, 1899, page 61, passengers 11-15.

^[36] United States Census, 1900, FamilySearch, household of Bruno Van Nack, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSW2-24L, accessed March 19, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1900 United States Census, Saint Charles, Kane County, Illinois, Enumeration District 114, Population Schedule, sheet 3A (stamped 322A).

^[37] Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950, FamilySearch, record of Bruno Van Hecka, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKP7-272, accessed April 7, 2024; from U.S. District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois.

^[38] United States Census, 1900, FamilySearch, household of Alfred Verest, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS33-N4R, accessed March 23, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1900 United States Census, Chicago Ward 9, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 230, Population Schedule, sheet 9A (stamped 224A)

^[39] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Frank Van Hacke, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M7-YDBN, accessed March 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[40] United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, FamilySearch, record of Louis Van Zandt,  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDP-YG5F, accessed April 6, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

^[41] United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933, FamilySearch, record of Louis Van Zandt,  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJD3-DYD5, accessed April 6, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

^[42] Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925, FamilySearch, record of Ludovicus Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2YM-2H4T, accessed March 25, 2024; from St. John Berchmans Chicago Marriage Records.

^[43] United States Census, 1910, FamilySearch, household of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKC5-KDB, accessed March 25, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1910 United States Census, Enumeration District 684, Chicago Ward 14, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 230, Population Schedule, sheet 12B.

^[44] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of Louis Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJWL-ZM5, accessed March 25, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Elmhurst Ward 2, York Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 30, Population Schedule, sheet 20B.

^[45] United States Census, 1930, FamilySearch, household of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSY9-LHN, accessed March 25, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1930 United States Census, Elmhurst Ward 2, York Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 22-3, Population Schedule, sheet 19B.

^[46] United States Census, 1940, FamilySearch, household of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW42-VZ9, accessed March 25, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1940 United States Census, Elmhurst Ward 2, York Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 22-4, Population Schedule, sheet 29A.

^[47] United States Census, 1950, FamilySearch, household of Louis Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6J4H-6G3Y, accessed March 25,2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1950 United States Census, Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 22-11, Population Schedule, sheet 15.

^[48] Find a Grave Index, FamilySearch, record of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q23Y-DMSQ, accessed March 25, 2024.

^[49] Illinois Soldier Burial Places, 1774-1974, FamilySearch, record of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVYM-TF99, accessed March 25,2024.

^[50] United States Social Security Death Index, FamilySearch, record of Lena Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J2T3-PTY, accessed March 25, 2024; from U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, Alexandria, Virginia.

^[51] Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950, FamilySearch, record of Chas L Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKP7-G44, accessed April 7, 2024; from U.S. District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois.

^[52] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Charles L. Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N74B-TXV, accessed March 28, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[53] United States Census, 1910, FamilySearch, household of Charles Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK8V-JHM, accessed March 28, 2024; from U.S, National Archives and Records Administration, 1910 United States Census, Chicago Ward 34, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 1478, Population Schedule, sheet 12A.

^[54] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of Charles Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJWL-ZMJ, accessed March 29, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Elmhurst Ward 2, York Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 30, Population Schedule, sheet 20A.

^[55] United States Census, 1930, FamilySearch, household of Charles Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSY9-L4N, accessed March 29, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1930 United States Census, Elmhurst Ward 2, York Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 22-3, Population Schedule, sheet 19A.

^[56] United State Census, 1940, FamilySearch, household of Charles Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW42-FLQ, accessed March 29, 2024; from U.S.  National Archives and Records Administration, 1940 United States Census, Elmhurst Ward 2, York Township, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 22-4, Population Schedule, sheet 28A.

^[57] United States Census, 1950, FamilySearch, household of Charles L Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6J4H-KKYS, accessed March 29, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1950 United States Census, Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois, Enumeration District 22-11, Population Schedule, sheet 72.

^[58] United States Census, 1950, FamilySearch, record of Harvey Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X16-MND9, accessed April 8, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1950 United States Census, Elgin State Hospital, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, Enumeration District 45-150, Population Schedule, sheet 20.

^[59] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989, FamilySearch, record of Charles Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HF-6MH6, accessed March 29, 2024; from burial card, Charles Vanzandt.

^[60] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989, FamilySearch, record of Josephine Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HF-6MC4, accessed March 29, 2024; from burial card, Josephine Van Zandt.

^[61] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Emma Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7HM-JB9, accessed April 6, 2024; from Cook County Clerk.

^[62] United States Census, 1910, FamilySearch, household of Fred Willie, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKC5-FQZ, accessed March 29, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1910 United States Census, Chicago Ward 13, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 668, Population Schedule, sheet 7B.

^[63] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of Fred W Wille, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ32-6G8, accessed March 29, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Chicago Ward 13, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 769, Population Schedule, sheet 5B.

^[64] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Emma Wille, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MD-4HT9, accessed March 29, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[65] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Fred Wille, FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9N-GCJY, accessed March 29, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[66] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Jennie Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7HK-J84, accessed March 27, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[67] United States Census, 1910, FamilySearch, household of George L Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK8G-QH8, accessed March 27, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1910 United states Census, Chicago Ward 35, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 1526, Population Schedule, sheet 8A.

^[68] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of George Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ3P-57X, accessed March 27, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Chicago Ward 14, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 868, Population Schedule, sheets 8B and 9A.

^[69] United States Census, 1930, FamilySearch, household of George L Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSTF-Z3D, accessed March 27, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1930 United States Census, Brookfield, Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 16-2167, Population Schedule, sheet 1A.

^[70] United States Census, 1940, FamilySearch, household of George L Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW4H-KBQ, accessed March 28, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1940 United States Census, Brookfield, Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 16-254, Population Schedule, sheet 19A.

^[71] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of George L Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MH-4YV2, accessed March 28, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[72] United States Census, 1950, FamilySearch, household of Lawrence F Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1L-VBNB, accessed March 28, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1950 United States Census, Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 16-364, Population Schedule, sheet 74.

^[73] Find a Grave Index, FamilySearch, record of Jeanette E Barrett, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6LX4-PNSF, accessed March 25, 2024.

^[74] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of Josephine Joos, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJSR-LBH, accessed March 25, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Chicago Ward 6, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 872, Population Schedule, sheet 11A.

^[75] United States Census, 1930, FamilySearch, household of Philipp Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSL2-K7T, accessed March 30, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1930 United States Census, Chicago Ward 17, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 16-629, Population Schedule, sheet 13B.

^[76] Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950, FamilySearch, record of Phillip Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKGH-FJT, accessed April 7, 2024; from U.S. District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois.

^[77] United States Census, 1950, FamilySearch, household of Phillip Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1F-4K9L, accessed March 30, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 103690, Population Schedule, sheet 2.

^[78] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Josephine Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7WG9-63N2, accessed March 25, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[79] Illinois, Northern District (Eastern Division) Naturalization Index, 1926-1979, FamilySearch, record of Josephine Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H5P-QG8, accessed March 30, 2024; from District Court for the Chicago Division of the Northern District of Illinois, Petitions for Naturalization, compiled 1906-1991.

^[80] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989, FamilySearch, record of Josephine Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-WJ9Q, accessed March 30, 2024; from burial card, Josephine Kent.

^[81] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Phillip Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M6-1LV9, accessed March 30, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[82] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1889, FamilySearch, record of Phillip Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-WJ3M, accessed March 30, 2024; from burial card, Phillip Kent.

^[83] Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989, FamilySearch, record of Josephine Kent, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HN-WJ9P, accessed March 24, 2024; from burial card, Josephine Kent.

^[84] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Richard Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7ZK-5XT, accessed March 24, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[85] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of Richard Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ3X-XQ8, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Chicago Ward 10, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 10, Population Schedule, sheet 7B.

^[86] United States Census, 1930, FamilySearch, household of Richard Vangandt or Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSG6-JBV, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1930 United States Census, Chicago Ward 26, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 16-925, Population Schedule, sheet 4B.

^[87] United States Social Security Death Index, FamilySearch, record of Emma Vanzandt, Cook County, Illinois, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J21P-4ZS, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File.

^[88] United States Census, 1910, FamilySearch, household of Branno Wenleck, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKC6-NKN, accessed April 2, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1910 United States Census, Chicago Ward 10, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 523, Population Schedule, sheet 12B. 

^[89] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch, record of Roy Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7ZZ-TJD, accessed April 1, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[90] United States Census, 1920, FamilySearch, household of Roy Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ7G-QZY, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1920 United States Census, Chicago Ward 33, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 2082, Population Schedule, sheet 8A.

^[91] United States Census, 1930, FamilySearch, household of Roy Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSP1-5TL, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1830 United States Census, Chicago Ward 41, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 16-1527, Population Schedule, sheet 6A.

^[92] United States Census, 1940, FamilySearch, household of Roy W Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4M8-5X3, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1940 United States Census, Chicago Ward 41, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 103-2618, Population Schedule, sheet 1B.

^[93] United States Census, 1950, FamilySearch, household of Robert Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1F-KSJK, accessed April 1, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1950 United States Census, Cicero, Cook County, Illinois, Enumeration District 105-16, Population Schedule, sheets 4-5.

^[94] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch, record of Roy Weseley Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M4-2CC8, accessed April 1, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[95] Find a Grave Index, FamilySearch, record of Marie L Vanacke Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6PX6-82XF, accessed April 1, 2024.

When I married my wife Dee, she came with a small family. Raised as the only child of an only child, Dee had lost contact with her father’s family after her parents divorced in her childhood. Dee remembers her Grandpa and Grandma Van, but they weren’t her biological grandparents.

Dee’s father Louis was the son of Richard and Emma Van Zandt. Dee never knew them and might never have known that they existed until I asked her mother Dorothy about family history. I took a few notes from my conversation with Dorothy about her knowledge of the Van Zandt family. The grandparents Dee knew were Louis and Lena Van Zandt. They took in some of Emma’s children after Richard left her with six children and limited means of support. The elder Louis (Grandpa Van) was Richard’s older half-brother.

Richard had experienced considerable family instability as a child. He was a year and a half old when he arrived in the United States with his mother to rejoin his father in Chicago. An infant sister survived the voyage but died within a few months after arrival. Richard’s father died less than two years later, followed by Richard’s infant brother born after their father’s death. Richard’s mother remarried and had additional children, but she too died when Richard was twelve.

Emma’s family background

I learned that Emma’s last name before marriage was Robash. This later proved to be phonetically close but incorrectly spelled. Nevertheless, Robash was frequently used in records. Emma’s parents, Rudolf and Alžběta Hrobař, had immigrated to Chicago from Bohemia, at that time part of Austria-Hungary. Google Translate reveals that their family name sounded a bit like Robash. When asked about their name, people were likely to record what they heard unless they asked for spelling. In Czech, a hrobař was apparently a gravedigger. Emma’s parents’ names were rendered as Rudolf Hrobar and Alzbeta Strakova when their marriage was recorded by the Cook County Clerk on January 22, 1889.^[1], [2]

The 1900 United States Federal Census recorded their family at 2248 51^st Place in Chicago.^[3] They were listed as follows:

• Rudolph Robash, age 30, was born in December 1869 in Bohemia. He was reported as a naturalized citizen, having immigrated in 1885. He was a metal polisher by trade and had worked six months in the previous year. He owned his home free and clear. He could read and write and spoke English.
• Lizzie Robash, age 30, was born in October 1869 in Bohemia. [Elizabeth corresponded to the Czech name Alžběta.] She had reportedly immigrated in 1887. She had been married ten years and was the mother of three children, all still living. She could read and write but did not speak English.
• Annie Robash, age 10, was born in August 1889 in Illinois. She was a student, and could read, write, and speak English.
• Rudolph Robash, age 5, was born in July 1894 in Illinois.
• Emilie Robash, age 3, was born in March 1897 in Illinois.

When the next census was taken in 1910, Emma’s family was living at 2148 W. 51^st Place.^[4] Upon examination of the neighborhood in multiple censuses, this appears to have been their 1900 residence, which might have been misnumbered by the 1900 census enumerator. Emma’s father was renting part of the house in 1910 to recent immigrants from Germany. Emma’s family was recorded as follows:

• Rudolph Robash, age 42, was reported as born in Bohemian Austria. He was working as a machinist in the cutlery manufacturing industry.
• Lizzie Robash, age 42, was born in Bohemian Austria. She had reportedly immigrated in 1884. She could read and write but spoke Bohemian. Rudolph and Lizzie had reportedly been married for 24 years. She was the mother of four children, all living.
• Anna Robash, age 20, was born in Illinois. She worked as a moulder in pottery manufacturing.
• Rudolph Robash, age 16, was born in Illinois. He worked as an action maker in piano manufacturing.
• Emma Robash, age 13, was born in Illinois and attended school.
• Bessie Robash, age 10, was born in Illinois and attended school.

Building her own family

Emma married Richard Van Zandt on September 23, 1916, in Chicago.^[5] Their first child, Richard or Robert, was born two days later^[6] and died four days after birth.^[7] Both father and son were apparently recorded as Richard in his birth record and as Robert in his death record. I have not yet seen the original records. I wonder whether Richard and Emma would have married and created a family if not for this first child.

Emma’s and Richard’s second child, Evelyn, was born October 17, 1917, in Chicago.^[8]

The 1920 census found their family renting a home at 1750 West 14^th Place in Chicago.^[9] They were recorded as follows:

• Richard Van Zandt, age 30, was identified as an alien (not naturalized), born in Belgium, who had immigrated in 1890. He worked as a teamster in the coal business. He could read, write, and speak English.
• Emma Van Zandt, wife, age 22, was born in Illinois. She could read, write, and speak English.
• Evelyn Van Zandt, daughter, age 2 3/12, was born in Illinois.

Emma’s and Richard’s third child, Richard, was born June 15, 1920, in Chicago.^[10]

Their fourth child, unnamed at birth, was Dee’s father Louis. He was born October 24, 1921, in the Cook County Hospital, Chicago.^[11] Louis filed a supplemental report of birth in 1945 to add his name to his certificate of birth.^[12] At the time of Louis’s birth, his father Richard was living at 2816 Arthington Street in Chicago and was working as a teamster. Emma was recorded as living at 2248 W. 51^st Place, apparently her parents’ home. She was working as a feeder in a printing shop. Emma was reported as the mother of three children, including this child, all still living.

Emma’s and Richard’s fifth child, Jeanette, was born December 29, 1923, in Chicago.^[13]

Their sixth child, Dorothy Ann, was born November 21, 1926, in Chicago.^[14] She was initially named Isabelle, but Emma changed her name on December 3, 1926. Note Emma’s signature authorizing this change.^[15]

Their seventh child, Elizabeth, was born December 3, 1929, in Chicago.^[16]

In 1930 Emma and Richard’s family was recorded at 1319 14^th Place in Chicago:^[17]

• Richard Vanzandt, 44 years old, rented their family home, valued at $15. He was reported as naturalized, having been born in Belgium where his native language was said to be German [actually, it was Flemish]. His occupation was chauffeur of a city truck, but he was currently unemployed. I have not seen naturalization records for Richard.
• Emma Vanzandt, 34 years old, was born in Illinois but recorded as naturalized.
• Evelyn Vanzandt, age 12, attended school.
• Richard Vanzandt, age 10, attended school.
• Louis Vanzandt, age 9, attended school.
• Janett Vanzandt, age 6, attended school.
• Anna Vanzandt, age 4, did not attend school.
• Elizabeth Vanzandt was age 0.

Emma’s scattered family

Richard left the family home sometime in the 1930s. Dee’s mother Dorothy thought Betty [Elizabeth] was an infant at the time. Dorothy didn’t meet Dee’s father until around 1943.

It’s hard to imagine how Emma could deal with this. She apparently tried to keep her oldest children, Evelyn and Richard, while Louis, Jeanette and Ann were placed in a Catholic orphanage and Betty was taken into foster care. Dee’s Grandpa and Grandma Van, Louis and Lena Van Zandt, took in Evelyn and Richard. Dee’s father reportedly lived with Louis and Lena after Evelyn left their household.

In 1940, Emma was living with her widowed father at 2148 W. 51^st Place in Chicago.^[18] Emma’s sister Bessie Souhrada and her husband Ernest rented part of the house as a separate household. Emma worked as a stuffer in the meat packing industry and had received $588 in wages the previous year. She had lived in the same house in 1935. Emma was recorded as married, but I know not where Richard was.

Emma’s children were recorded in 1940 as follows:

• Evelyn was living with her husband Melvin Radenz at 3123 Augusta Boulevard in Chicago.^[19] She had been living in Elmhurst, DuPage County, in 1935.
• Richard and Louis Van Zandt were living with Louis and Lena Van Zandt at 408 W. Second Street in Elmhurst, DuPage County, Illinois.^[20]
• Jeanette and Anna Van Zandt were lodgers in the household of Ella McEvoy at 2019 Racine Avenue in Chicago.^[21]
• Betty Lou, age 10, was living as a daughter of Roy and Marie Pedersen at 4427 N. Melvina Avenue in Chicago.^[22] Marie was Richard Van Zandt’s younger half-sister and thus Betty’s aunt. Marie’s and Richard’s mother was born Monica Meert.

The last trace of Emma’s husband Richard Van Zandt that I have heard of or seen occurred sometime in the 1940s. Dee’s mother recalled being at a baseball game with Louis when he spotted his father. According to Dorothy, she and Louis abruptly left the ballpark.

In 1950, Emma lived downstairs at 2148 51^st Place in Chicago.^[23] Her sister Bessie Souhrada lived upstairs with three children. Emma was recorded as Emma Banzandt and Bessie as Bessie Douhard. Emma’s marital status was ‘separated.’ She worked as a meatpacker in the wholesale meat industry.

Emma was in the news in April, 1952, when a young man apparently attempted to rape her. Fortunately, a passing police officer witnessed the struggle and put an end to it.^[24]

Emma died January 20, 1972.^[25] Her death notice leaves more questions. It mentions children Jeanette Balter, Ann Heichert, Louis Van Zandt and Evelyn Van Zandt, and a grandchild named Robert McNichols. Jeanette, Robert’s presumed mother, might have provided this information, but her only child living in 1972 that I know of was Michael L. McNichols. Interestingly, Michael had married a McEvoy, born in Ireland. Was she related to Ella McEvoy, Jeanette and Ann’s landlady in 1940? Jeanette might have been estranged from the McNichols family, having acquired a Balter husband and child before 1950. Was Ann the source of this information? Jeanette’s and Ann’s married names were known, but Evelyn’s married name was not given. Whoever provided this information seemed to have no knowledge of what had become of Betty. Louis, on the other hand, had participated in Betty’s wedding.

How many of Emma’s grandchildren ever knew her? That is one of many mysteries. Her family had been scattered and fractured, but Emma should be remembered.

Notes

^[1] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch.org, record of Rudolf Hrobar and Alzbeta Strakova, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7D2-6QH, accessed March 4, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[2] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current, record of Rudolf Hrobar and Alzbeta Strakova, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/325877079:62116, accessed February 13, 2024; from Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, January 23, 1889, page 8, column 4.

^[3] 1900 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 30, Enumeration District 924, sheet 24A and B, lines 50-54, household of Rudolph Robash, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6P47-JNL, accessed February 13, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1900 United States Census, Enumeration District 924, Chicago, Ward 30, Cook County, Illinois, Population Schedule, sheet 24A and B (stamped 318).

^[4] 1910 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 29, Enumeration District 1287, sheet 7B, lines 83-88, household of Rudolph Robash, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RV2-NXX, accessed February 13, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1910 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 29, Enumeration District 1287, Population Schedule, sheet 7B.

^[5] Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968, FamilySearch.org, record of Richard Van Zandt and Emma Robash, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7ZK-5XT, accessed February 14, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[6] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch.org, record of Richard Van Zundt [sic], https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N795-HDQ, accessed February 14, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[7] Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998, FamilySearch.org, record of Robert Vanzendt [sic], https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MQ-BYVG, accessed February 14, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[8] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch.org, record of Evelyn Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N79Q-W4Y, accessed February 16, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[9] 1920 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 10, Enumeration District 633, sheet 7B, lines 57-59, household of Richard Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ3X-XQ8, accessed February 16, 2024; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1920 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 10, Enumeration District 633, Population Schedule, sheet 7B.

^[10] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch.org, record of Richard Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7QG-79B, accessed February 16, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[11] Illinois, Cook County, Registration District 3104, Certificate of Birth, Registered Number 47372, unnamed Van Zandt; certified copy from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[12] Illinois, Cook County, Registration District 3104, Supplemental Report of Birth, Registered Number 47372, Louis P. Van Zandt; certified copy from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[13] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch.org, record of Jeanette Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV3G-F7QT, accessed February 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[14] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch.org, record of Dorothy Ann Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKMW-DL6X, accessed February 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[15] Illinois, Cook County, Registration District 3104, Certificate of Correction, Registered Number 53567, Isabelle Van Zandt; uncertified copy from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[16] Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1949, FamilySearch.org, record of Elizabeth Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKDC-L36N, accessed February 19, 2024; from Cook County Clerk, Chicago, Illinois.

^[17] 1930 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 26, Enumeration District 16-925, sheet 4B, lines 69-76, household of Richard Vangandt or Vanzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSG6-JBV, accessed February 20, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1930 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 26, Enumeration District 16-925, Population Schedule, sheet 4B.

^[18] 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 15, Enumeration District 103-1001, sheet 10B, lines 71-72, household of Rudolph Hrobar, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWYB-FWL, accessed February 20, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 15, Enumeration District 103-1001, Population Schedule, sheet 10B.

^[19] 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 31, Enumeration District 103-1990, sheet 1B, lines 78-79, household of Melvin Radenz, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW1F-C3Q, accessed February 20, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 31, Enumeration District 103-1990, Population Schedule, sheet 1B.

^[20] 1940 United States Census, Illinois, DuPage County, Elmhurst, Ward 2, Enumeration District 22-4, sheet 29A, lines 15-18, household of Louis Van Zandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW42-VZ9, accessed February 20, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1940 United States Census, Illinois, DuPage County, Elmhurst, Ward 2, Enumeration District 22-4, Population Schedule, sheet 29A.

^[21] 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 43, Enumeration District 103-2712, sheet 11A, lines 4-6, household of Ella McEvoy, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4MX-RZR, accessed February 20, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 43, Enumeration District 103-2712, Population Schedule, sheet 11A.

^[22] 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 41, Enumeration District 103-2618, sheet 1B, lines 43-47, household of Roy W Pedersen, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4M8-5X3, accessed February 20, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1940 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Ward 41, Enumeration District 103-2618, Population Schedule, sheet 1B.

^[23] 1950 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Enumeration District 103-1533, sheet 12, line 5, Emma Banzandt, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X12-TCFJ, accessed February 21, 2024; from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1950 United States Census, Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, Enumeration District 103-1533, Population Schedule, sheet 12.

^[24] Newspaper clipping, Newspapers.com, ‘Held to Jury in Attempted Rape of Widow,’ Chicago Tribune, April 25, 1952, page 38, column 2, https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-attempted-rape-of-widow/132628923/, accessed February 21, 2024; from Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, April 25, 1952.

^[25] Newspaper clipping, Newspapers.com, Death notice, Emma Van Zandt, Chicago Tribune, January 25, 1972, page 25, column 5, https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-death-notice-emma-van-z/132676791/, accessed February 21, 2024; from Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, January 25, 1972.

My aunt Dorothy passed from this life recently, leaving the world with a great family. Some of them were gathered at her home in 2015 to meet her great grandchild.

Hud (Harold) and Dorothy’s family grew up next door to mine in Sheridan, Michigan. Many reunions and informal gatherings took place between our houses, and we almost felt like one family.

Aunt Dorothy, widely known as Dot, was the last of Dad’s siblings and their husbands and wives to leave us. We all knew it was coming, of course, but it is still a challenge to absorb.

Dee and I didn’t make it to Michigan for her life celebration, but a friend shared the experience: 

Just got home from Dot’s celebration; so, so good to see everybody! The service was lovely, not contrived, just people talking about Dottie. [A family friend] was more emotional than any of the family, lots of memories for him too. I wish you could have come. They all stood up and sang the Springsteen Song, which was a riot; haven’t heard that since I was in my twenties! Lots of good memories with your family and I treasure every one.

Remembering Dorothy

Aunt Dorothy was certainly representative of her generation. May she be eternally blessed. Her obituary tells a bit of her impact: https://www.simpsonfamilyfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Dorothy-M-Springsteen?obId=30850424

Postscript

Here for your listening pleasure is a performance of the Springsteen Family song for Aunt Lorna’s 90^th birthday celebration in 2012. My brother Ed and cousin Mike apparently crafted this ditty from the old Dutch Company song, probably with guitars and beer at hand.

We have enjoyed time with our family and friends this year as well as time for quilting and pursuit of family history. We hope you are well, and we wish you blessings in this holiday season and in the new year.

Mary and her husband Nicholas Yaner lived in Crystal Township, Montcalm County, Michigan, near my hometown. Nicholas and Mary were my great-great grandparents. Nicholas, an immigrant from Württemberg, had been one of the earliest settlers in Crystal Township before he wandered down to Ohio and met Mary. I recently set out to learn more about where Mary came from. It’s not that I’ve had no information about Mary or her potential family. I had seen census records for Nicholas and Mary in the late 1800s but hadn’t looked much further.

Where do I begin?

Mary Yaner’s death record tells us that she was the daughter of Peter Bowers.^[1] Nicholas didn’t know Mary’s mother’s name, nor did he know the birthplace of either parent. He reported that Mary was born in Ohio on January 16, 1844. Although he wasn’t a witness at her birth, he understood this to be her birthdate. Mary’s death resulted from tuberculosis, a malady that seemed to follow her family. Two of her children had already died of tuberculosis. Her grandson Coyne Kidder, my grandfather, died of tuberculosis at age 32 when Mom was six.

I found that Mary was known variously as Mary Ann, Mary A., Marietta, Mary Ette, and Mary E. Bowers or Yaner. Note that she was identified as Mary E. Yaner in her death record.

Looking for Peter Bowers in the 1850 census of Ohio, I found his household in Coventry Township, Summit County.^[2] Mary was reported to be seven years old. Her mother was not listed and was likely deceased. Daniel Bowers, Catharine Bowers, and Gristona [Christina] Row appear to be Mary’s siblings. Sarah Powles, in the next household, was of an age to potentially be a sister.

Peter Bowers subsequently married Elizabeth Gunsman on September 9, 1855.^[3] Mary A. Bowers was listed in their household in the 1860 census of Coventry Township.^[4] Amanda and Louise would have been Mary’s half-sisters. Perhaps Mary had her sister in mind when she named her daughter Louise Ellen Yaner in 1877. I remember this daughter as my Great-Grandma Kidder.

Mary Ann Bowers married Nicholas Yaner in Summit County, Ohio on or about February 25, 1865.^[5] Her father Peter had died October 25, 1864.^[6]

Expanding the family

The 1870 census of Ontwa Township, Cass County, Michigan reveals more useful information in this search for Mary’s family.^[7] Nicholas and Marietta Yaner are listed at the bottom of Page 1, with children following at the top of Page 2. On line 22 of Page 2, we find Isaac P. Bowers followed by his wife and children. Isaac, age 44, turned out to have been an older brother who had left his father’s household by 1850. The birth record of Isaac’s daughter Catharine reveals that Isaac’s middle name was Powles (see image 253 in the original document).^[8] Remember that surname from the 1850 census? Powles was sometimes spelled Powless in other records, perhaps a hint at its pronunciation.

Researching Isaac’s family, I found that he remarried after the death of his wife Sarah. The registration of this second marriage identified his parents as Peter Bowers and Susannah Powers (again, read the original document).^[9]

At last, I had discovered Mary’s mother’s name. Thank you, Isaac. Let’s pause for a moment, though. Might Isaac have been misunderstood in providing her name? Might his middle name have been a tribute to his mother’s family? That was not an uncommon practice. I suspect that she was in fact Susannah Powles, but I really don’t know.

Peter Bowers

Mary’s father was Peter Bowers, but where did he come from? The short answer, based on the 1850 and 1860 censuses, is Pennsylvania. I learned more about Peter’s family from the 1840 census of Summit County.^[10]

As in 1850 and 1860, I have found one household for a Peter Bowers in Summit County in 1840. U.S. Federal Censuses taken before 1850 reported statistical information for the household, naming only the head of household. We can’t be certain that this is the same family, but I think it is likely. Remarks in the following table indicate my thoughts about who might be represented in various age ranges. Note that children’s ages didn’t exactly correspond to ages reported in 1850, and there were children I haven’t yet identified. Did Peter have a good grasp of his children’s ages for the 1850 census?

Summit County was created in 1840 from portions of Medina, Portage, and Stark Counties.^[11] A Peter Bower household was recorded in Marlboro Township, Stark County, Ohio in 1830.^[12]

Peter’s neighbor, John Powles, had a larger household consisting of one male aged 50-59, one female 40-49, three females 15-19, one male and one female 10-14, one male and one female 5-9, and one male and one female 0-4. Might this be Susannah’s family?

Peter Bowers reported in the 1850 and 1860 censuses that he was born in Pennsylvania. His stated ages indicate birth about 1800. His son Isaac, born about 1826, also reported Pennsylvania as his birthplace. This suggests that Peter moved to Ohio between 1826 and 1830.

I couldn’t find a twenty-year-old Peter Bowers household in the 1820 U.S. Census of Pennsylvania. I can tell you that there was no shortage of Bauer, Bower, and Bowers families in Pennsylvania, and Peter might still have been in one of those households, not as head of household, for the 1820 census. Bauer, by the way, is the German word for farmer.

Another Peter Bowers

I did find an older Peter Bower in the 1820 census of Woodberry (now Woodbury) Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.^[13] John Bower on the next line might have been Peter’s brother. An 1821 Pennsylvania census of Woodberry lists Peter Bower and Peter Bower junior, as well as Michael, George, and John.^[14] While senior and junior designations at that time did not indicate relationship as it does today, these Peters could be father and son. Who were Michael and George? This census didn’t enumerate households, so they might have been in one or more nuclear families.

The elder Peter was active in Huntingdon County in 1832, as indicated by this list of collections at Clover Creek for building a new church:

This document, which was page two of an agreement to build the church, appears following page 382 in Genealogy of the Brumbach Families [hereafter “the Brumbach book”] by Gaius Brumbaugh.^[15]

Probate records of Huntingdon County for the estate of Peter Bowers in 1844 identify several heirs, none of them our Peter.^[16] The older Peter was likely related, however, having died in Summit County, Ohio, in 1843. Note connections to the Rhodes and Fouse families. Members of these families were living near Mary Yaner’s father in the 1850 census. We should also be mindful that this probate was initiated by a creditor looking for compensation from the deceased Peter’s estate, calling for known heirs to settle financial claims. This probate was not opened by named heirs producing a will. We should not assume, then, that the cited heirs-at-law were necessarily Peter’s children, or not all of them. The named heirs and next of kin were:

• John Bowers
• Michael Bowers
• Adam Bowers
• William Fouse, husband of Susan Fouse
• John Acker, husband of Elizabeth Fouse

Probate for the estate of Peter Bower had in fact been opened the year before in Summit County, Ohio. I found an estate notice in the Summit County Beacon of April 5, 1843.^[17]

The Brumbaugh connection

The elder Peter Bowers lived among Brumbaugh, Acker, Clapper, Rhodes, and Fouse families in Huntingdon County. The previously mentioned Brumbach book names a Peter Bowers as the husband of Susannah Brumbaugh. Their family was documented beginning on page 451 of this book.^[18] Bearing in mind that the Brumbach book is a secondary source, it provides a wealth of information. Peter was thought to be born in September 1760 and reportedly died January 3, 1843. No birth or death dates were given for Susannah Brumbaugh Bowers. Their listed children were:

1. Elizabeth, who married John Acker and resided in Blair [previously Huntingdon] County, Pennsylvania.
2. Catharine, born April 29, 1813, married Joseph Strunk, who was reportedly born in Tritts Mill, Summit County, Ohio.
3. Jacob, born December 28, 1814, married Elizabeth Rhodes and reportedly moved to Marlborough Township, Stark County, Ohio in 1842.
4. Adam, born December 11, 1818, married Elizabeth Clapper and lived in Blair County.
5. Abraham, born January 6, 1822, married Anna Richards and resided near New Portage in Summit County.
6. Sarah, born December 28, 1824, married Jacob Powles. They lived in Summit County and later moved to Kansas. Remember them in the 1850 census?
7. Isaac, born April 19, 1828, married Phoebe Dreher and lived in Summit County until his death August 17, 1857.

Susannah Brumbaugh’s sister Elizabeth’s family with John Bowers, possibly Peter’s brother, is also documented in the Brumbach book beginning on page 455.^[19] John died June 26, 1886, near Roaring Spring in Blair County. John and Elizabeth’s documented children were:

1. Mary, born May 30, 1812. She married David McGee. At some point they moved to Iowa and later to Kansas.
2. Catharine, born in July 1813, married Abraham Solliday in Blair [at that time Huntingdon] County, Pennsylvania. They moved to Wayne County, Ohio about 1838.
3. David, born January 18, 1815, married Ann Hoover in Huntingdon County. At some point they moved to Wayne County, Indiana.
4. Susan, born August 24, 1817, married William Heitchew. They lived in Huntingdon County until her death in 1840.
5. Sarah, born November 23, 1818, married George W. Hueston. They lived in Huntingdon and then Blair County.
6. Peter (another one), born April 13, 1820, married Sarah Hatfield. He reportedly died June 26, 1886, apparently with his father.
7. Esther, born December 1, 1822, married William Heitchew after her sister Susan’s death.
8. Amelia, born October 8, 1825, married John H. Sorrick. They moved to Summit County, Ohio.
9. Abraham Brumbaugh Bowers, born September 29, 1827, married Savilla Ann Brown. They lived in Iowa and Kansas.
10. William died young.
11. George died young.
12. Alexander K., born June 19, 1834, married Celia A. Dupray. They lived in Iowa. 

John Bowers, Michael Bowers, and Susan Fouse, named in the 1844 citation of heirs, weren’t listed in the family of Peter Bowers and Susannah Brumbaugh. Susan, described as the daughter of Peter Bowers, is named as the wife of William Fouse on page 398 of the Brumbach book.^[20] She was reportedly born in Blair [sic Huntingdon] County May 29, 1797. If Susan’s father was the elder Peter Bowers, either Susannah Brumbaugh was born well before the 1790s, as has been reported, or she wasn’t Peter’s first wife. A biographical sketch of Samuel Bowers, grandson of Peter and Susannah, indicates that Susannah Brumbaugh was in fact Peter’s second wife.^[21] A bit of further investigation suggests that Mary Yaner’s father Peter Bowers, Michael Bowers, Susan Bowers Fouse, and the John Bowers listed in the 1820 census of Woodberry were probably children of the elder Peter and his first wife, whoever she was. The John Bowers named in the 1844 estate might have been an unmentioned younger son of Peter and Susannah Brumbaugh Bowers. He was living in the 1850 household of his apparent brother Isaac with Isaac’s mother Susannah.^[22]

The journey from here

Shared DNA can sometimes lead to research by other descendants. A distant DNA relative named Barbara, who lives in Virginia, has traced Bowers ancestors to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. I have communicated briefly with her since 2015. Other testers on multiple platforms share the same segment of DNA that I share with Barbara. Unfortunately, I haven’t found much documentary evidence of our shared ancestors in their posted trees. One of Barbara’s shared DNA matches does indicate Rhodes ancestors, so that might be helpful in sorting out potential connections. MyHeritage DNA projects the most likely relationship between Barbara and me is fifth cousins, sharing great-great-great-great grandparents. I see a few connections with other testers on Ancestry who are descendants of Isaac Powles Bowers.

Mary, I’ve found a few of your people, but this puzzle just keeps getting more interesting. Much of my discovery is speculative, but I know far more than I did before beginning this exploration. I might need to be thinking of a trip to Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Notes

^[1] Death Records, 1903, Montcalm County, Michigan, Mary E. Yaner, Digital File 515005, https://michiganology.org/uncategorized/IO_7aa2433c-0d0d-496c-b975-f1096cb4d2c6, accessed December 9, 2023; from Archives of Michigan, Deaths, 1903, Montcalm County, record 4 (stamped 66).

^[2] United States Census, 1850, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, record of Peter Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX7H-C1C, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1850 United States Census, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, Population Schedule, page 172, line 42.

^[3] Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016; Summit County, Ohio, record of Peter Bowers and Elizabeth Gunsman, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD7T-5MV, accessed December 9, 2023; from Summit County, Ohio, Marriages, 1855, page 634, record 149.

^[4] United States Census, 1860; Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, record of Peter Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCL9-V5B, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1860 United States Census, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, Population Schedule, page 125 (stamped 191), line 38.

^[5] Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016; Summit County, Ohio, record of Nicholas Yaner and Mary Ann Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDWS-5VS, accessed December 9, 2023; from Summit County, Ohio, Marriages, 1865, Volume C, page 285, record 900.

^[6] Find-a-Grave memorial 15484646, Peter Bowers, Kyser Cemetery, Barberton, Summit County, Ohio, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15484646/peter-bowers, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[7] United States Census, 1870; Ontwa, Cass County, Michigan, record of Nicholas Yaner, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHHX-Y35, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1870 United States Census, Ontwa, Cass County, Michigan, Population Schedule, page 1 (stamped 133), line 40.

^[8] Michigan Births, 1867-1902; Cass County, Michigan, record of Catharine Ujene Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQ49-LVL, image 253, accessed December 9, 2023; from Michigan, Department of Vital Records, Lansing, Cass County, Births, 1869, page 30 (stamped 258), record 449.

^[9] Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925; Cass County, Michigan, record of Isaac P. Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQWK-G12, accessed December 9, 2023; from Michigan, Department of Vital Records, Lansing, Cass County, Marriages 1889, Volume 1, page 12 (stamped 264), record 608

^[10] United States Census, 1840, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, record of Peter Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTT-LXS, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1840 United States Census, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, Population Schedule, page 282, line 1.

^[11] Summit County, Ohio Genealogy, Boundary Changes, https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Summit_County,_Ohio_Genealogy, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[12] United States Census, 1830; Marlboro, Stark County, Ohio, record of Peter Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5X-MXZ, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1830 United States Census, Marlboro, Stark County, Ohio, Population Schedule, page 242, line 24.

^[13] United States Census, 1820, Woodberry, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, record of Peter Bower, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG6-1FJ, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1820 United States Census, Woodberry, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, Population Schedule, page 36, line 23.

^[14] Pennsylvania Septennial Census, 1821, Woodberry, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, record of Peter Bower, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/701387:2702, accessed December 9, 2023; from Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

^[15] Genealogy of the Brumbach families: including those using the following variations of the original name, Brumbaugh, Brumbach, Brumback, Brombaugh, Brownback, and many other connected families, by Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh, published 1913, F. H. Hitchcock, New York, available on Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbrumb00brum/page/382/, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[16] Probate of Peter Bowers estate, April 11, 1844, Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1751611:8802, accessed December 9, 2023; from Huntingdon County Wills, Volumes 3-4, 1822-1847, Page 363.

^[17] Notice of Peter Bower’s estate, The Summit County Beacon Archive, https://www.newspapers.com/image/228852069/, accessed December 9, 2023; from The Summit County Beacon, Akron, Ohio, April 5, 1843, Page 3, column 6.

^[18] Genealogy of the Brumbach families, https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbrumb00brum/page/451/, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[19] Genealogy of the Brumbach families, https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbrumb00brum/page/455/, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[20] Genealogy of the Brumbach families, https://archive.org/details/genealogyofbrumb00brum/page/398/, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[21] History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, by William Henry Perrin, published 1881, Baskin & Battey, Chicago, available on Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/historyofstarkco00perr/page/920/, accessed December 9, 2023.

^[22] United States Census, 1850, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, record of John Bowers, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX7H-FTM, accessed December 9, 2023; from U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), 1850 United States Census, Coventry, Summit County, Ohio, Population Schedule, page 187 (stamped 94), line 26.

Agnes, by Emily and Morgan:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow, by Morgan: