Lancaster County Family Ties

 I have been asked several times recently what I think of the website Find A Grave  (FAG)for helping with family research. Honestly, I think it is a wonderful tool.  Plus if you have a desire to volunteer on your own schedule it is a great way to give back by taking photos in cemeteries or adding your own research. However, just like on-line family trees, be careful.  Some people are very careful with the content and photos - others seem to just put anything on the memorials.  I personally think some people "collect" memorials like baseball cards.  Use the information on any memorial as a clue for more possible information. I strongly recommend that if you will be using this site a lot to set up a free account.  While you can look around all you like without an account, if you want to add photos, request corrections, or ask that relatives memorials be transferred to you an account is necessary.   This is how the homepage looks today (below).  The photos change based on the se

 AUNT MARY GARNER – the "scandalous" relative we do not discuss  Every family has at least one. The relative we do not discuss…   I recently had a chance to do some research on my great Aunt Mary Garner.   I did not find her to be particularly a scandalous person, but for her time I can just imagine the gossip.   Mary’s parents were Ben & Cora (Groff) Garner, who married in April 1906.  (See my blog for that story: https://lancastercountyfamilyties.blogspot.com/2020/05/garner-ralph-hoopla-around-his-birth.html ). The children of this union were: **Ralph 1906-1986 **Mary 1908-1966 **Ella 1910-1994 **Clyde 1913-1956 **Lester 1915-2012 I do not find much, even photos for gr-aunt Mary in either my mom’s or grandma’s photos or papers.  However, my mom had a lot of memories of visits with her, so I did not get the feeling Mary was some sort of social outcast. At least not an outcast at my grandparent’s home (which should surprise no one considering the family gossip about my g

 MY THOUGHTS FOR ON-LINE FAMILY TREES I have been asked several times recently what I think of on-line family trees and how do I personally use them.  First we all need to remember that on-line family trees are done by people - some do the research, and some just put on whatever they feel fits, with no research or sources.   Second, I do look at on-line family trees, HOWEVER , I use them as clues for where to look for sources. They are great to find clues and tips, but do not take them as "fact" until you do your own research and have found enough sources to back up what is there. Obviously, some trees are well done and have sources attached - this is very helpful.  Sometimes it can even confirm your own research. Just as obviously, some trees are just thrown up there with no research and what appears to be little thought. I recently saw one for my own family where one set of the great grandparents had married when they were in the single digit ages - obviously there is a big

RESSLER, DANIEL 1801/02 - 1901 Daniel RESSLER was the son of Jacob and Susanna (BOEHM/BEAM) RESSLER.  At the bottom of this post are several links to other posts on this blog with more info on them and their family. I wanted to share a photo that I found posted on Ancestry this week titled "Daniel B. RESSLER before 1901".  I have never seen a photo of Daniel.  I wanted to believe it was really a photo of him, but I am all about "proving" it.  Source: Ancestry - titled Daniel B. Ressler before 1901 After comparing the photo to his son John both as a young man and as an elderly man, I do think that this is a photo of Daniel RESSLER.  Wow, what a find - thanks so much to the person who posted it. Here is a photo of Daniel's son John both as a young man, and then as an elderly man with his living children in 1915. Source: my personal collection (previously in the possession of Reba (RESSLER) GARNER) Source: Personal Collection (previously in p

APPLEBACHSVILLE, PA IN THE NEWSPAPER 21August 1949 and SOME INFO ON THE TOWN ITSELF This is the second article involving Applebachsville, PA that Aunt Fran gave me.  It was in the Philadelphia newspaper. Following the article is info on Applebachsville from a book. The article is titled: Latvian Refugees Find New Life in Bucks County Community The article basically speaks of how the small village is going from Pennsylvania Dutch (with associated names) to a place of refuge for Latvian refugees after WWII. The article is interesting and well worth reading. ******************************************************************************* Info on Applebachsville - according to the book, "Place Names in Bucks County Pennsylvania" by George MacReynolds on page 8-10: Applebachsville is a village on the Bethlehem Road in northwestern Haycock Township.  The land the village is on was apparently originally named Stokes Tract or Stokes Meadow as it was owned by the

LAZARUS WOLF - 1870 AGRICULTURE SCHEDULE Source: pg.71 of Agriculture Schedules and Federal Census Schedules 1850-1880 by James E. Frey 1997 Lazarus is listed as having:  45 acres improved land valued at $2300 Farm machinery valued at $50 Total wages paid $10 2 horses, 2 milch (milk) cows, 1 other cattle, 4 swine valued at $315 131 bushels wheat, 100 bushels Indian corn, 260 bushels oats, 25 bushels Irish potatoes, orchard products valued at 5200 pounds, butter, and 6 tons of hay Animals slaughtered valued at $98 Estimated value of farm production $962

GARNER, Ralph - Hoopla Around His Birth 1906 It was certainly no secret in our family that "Pappy" (Ralph Garner) had been conceived out of marriage by his folks. So the story goes like this: When Cora GROFF found out she was pregnant in the early spring of 1906, she told the father of said pregnancy Ben GARNER. His response was to take off for Ohio to hide with Mennonite or Amish cousins there. Cora complained to her parents, who complained to Ben's parents.  Ben's father (and possibly brothers) went to the cousin's home in Ohio and drug Ben back despite his protests and made him marry Cora.  Remember they were both minors and Ben admitted that the baby was his. Notice on the below marriage license that both fathers had to give permission for the wedding to take place. Source: my personal collection While I never personally witnessed any unkindness toward my grandfather due to the hoopla of his conception and birth, from comments made in my heari

As a teenager, my Aunt Fran gave me 2 articles about Applesbachsville, PA that had been in the Philadelphia newspaper in the 1940's. The first one is this one about an auction that Tillie APPLEBACH had on Nov. 12, 1949 at her home in East Rockhill Township (Bucks Co, PA).  The article says that she is 77 and that she needed to get rid of a few things. The article goes on to say that she is the widow of Oscar APPLEBACH. Page 1 of Article - click to enlarge The article is a very interesting read of personalities, local culture, and a list of various items that were sold. Page 2 - click on to enlarge In the book, Six Afflerbach Emigrants Who Came to Pennsylvania and Their Descendants 1750-1930, by Jane K. Thompson is listed an Oscar APPLEBACH who was born in 1867 and later married Matilda ______ (pg. 73). According to the book, he was the son of Levi and Rachel (GREEUP) APPLEBACH. Per the above listed book (pg. 103-104) Oscar is also stated to die in 1923.  He m

PHOTOS FROM THE GARNER FAMILY 1940's I have been trying to utilize the last few days while required to stay home (due to corona virus pandemic) to go thru family photos and papers. Just thought I would share a few photos from the 1940's from my album of photos for the Ben GARNER family. Clyde GARNER died in 1956 from cancer.  His widow was Martha (LANDIS) GARNER and their two children were Linda and Larry. Pauline (GARNER) APPLEBACH/HAHN 1937-2016 was four years old in the above photo.  Several photos were taken the same day so I think there must have been a family gathering at my grandparents house. The note on the back of the above photo says it was taken at the Ben GARNER farm. This photo was taken in the backyard at 1747 Temple Ave, Lancaster, PA.  The small white building to the left of the photo was the old chicken house converted into a "play house" for the children of the growing family.  I am not sure exactly what year this was

This photo is of Mary, Ben, and Cora GARNER.  No date written on photo but from clothing guessing in the late 1940's or early 1950's.  The scenery could be the Ben Garner farm. Mary was the oldest daughter of Ben and Cora (Groff) GARNER. Photo given to me by R. Schneider, who was the grandson of Mary (Garner) Schneider.  That Mary was the sister of Ben GARNER.

RESSLER, FRANK AND FAMILY 1952 This picture was take on Feb. 7, 1952 for Frank's 65th birthday.  Frank and Bertha had nine children.  I never heard any talk growing up about stillborns, miscarriages, or small children who died - so as unusual as it is, I have to believe there were only nine children and all grew to adulthood. Seven of the nine lived their entire lives in Lancaster County, PA.  The exceptions were Victor who remained in Texas after the Army, and Martha "Mart" who was a registered nurse and spent many years in California. Martha is buried in Lancaster County. I do not remember ever meeting Uncle Vic, but saw Aunt Mart many times on trips to Lancaster County. Frank RESSLER sold the farm in New Providence, PA in Dec. 1944.  My understanding was Frank and Bertha moved into a house in New Providence, but I have done no research yet to find out where they moved exactly after the farm was sold. The girls all married local men (inclu

APPLEBACH, ABRAM (or ABRAHAM) - 1860 AND 1870 CENSUS Abram/Abraham APPLEBACH was born between 1848 and 1851 depending on the document you are looking at. His father was definitely Henry Applebach.  His death certificate says his mother was Catherine Stahr, which is entirely possible.  However, I have also seen her name as Catherine Corner. His death certificate says he was born in  Feb. 1851 and he is not on the 1850 census. His mother appears to disappear from sight about the time of his birth.  His siblings appear in the 1860 census as living with other people. In 1860, Abram was living with Samuel and Harriett Miltenberger in Monroe County, PA. He is listed as 10 years old and has been in school that year. Source: Family Search In 1870, Abram is listed as living in Northampton County, PA with Sam and Catherine Shimer.  He is 22, and a farm laborer. I do not have any information on how Abram APPLEBACH ended up in Lancaster County, PA by Dec. 1872 when he marrie

JAMES & VADA APPLEBACH Source: Ancestry 09/27/2022 Finally, I found the marriage certificate for my father and his second wife Vada. She was a sweet lady, and I enjoyed her happy spirit. My parents divorced on June 24, 1983. James APPLEBACH married again on August 26, 1985 to Vada JONES. I was no longer in Montana when he remarried and chose to not attend. I find it interesting that they were married by Pastor TANNEHILL, who was a friend of both my parents.  No doubt mom felt very betrayed by that when she did find out. It is interesting to me the untruths on the certificate that James gave. Birthplace of his father was listed as "unknown" - he was well aware of where Taylor Z. APPLEBACH was born. He is also listed as completing high school, but according to the high school records he dropped out during his senior year and did not go back. James did have some college, but it is unclear whether he did finish that.  He would become an ordained minister in 1964. Mom told me

James Applebach graduated from a Bible college in Omaha, NEB in 1960.  The first church he was accepted at was in Kilgore, NEB in early 1964. I was actually looking for info on my mother-in-laws family who passed through Nebraska in the late 1800's from Missouri to Montana.  Imagine my surprise when I came across a listing for the church records on microfiche of the Kilgore Baptist Church.  The local library here helped me order it and the below images are mostly from that microfiche of the church records. Source: Personal Collection I only found mention of my parents on a few pages in the later part of the records, but combined with photos and documents that I already had, I felt like I knew a little bit more about them at this point in their lives.  Jan. 26, 1964 if accepted, would church support him? Feb. 7, 1964 - he is accepted as pastor.   Feb. 16, 1964 - his first sermon as new pastor. The same day, James' name appears in the notes