SUSANNA BOEHM (c. 1775 - 1848)

 SUSANNA BOEHM (c. 1775 - 1848)

Susanna BOEHM - she has been a mystery person as far as parents or childhood information.

Growing up, I was told she was the daughter of Abraham BOEHM/BEAM or that her father was not known. Her mother was named Barbara. It was almost like her life started when she married Jacob RESSLER.

There is another Susanna RESSLER in the family that overlaps some of the same years as my Susanna's life. I have been stumbling over that Susanna for years. Any time I asked questions or looked for documentation that was the Susanna I was directed too. It got very frustrating because that Susanna did not fit with my Susanna. She has been a brick wall.

I was at the genealogy library in Vincennes, IN last month. I got off on a rabbit trail (that never happens to you right?) and looked up Susanna BOEHM on Ancestry. Sure enough, the other Susanna popped up. I scrolled through the first 3 or 4 pages just to see what I could find. 

Suddenly, a family tree popped up that had possibilities. Could this be my Susanna?

I still need to do more research, but it is possible her parents were Johann Balthasar BOEHM and Barbara (last name?). He shows up in records as Balthasar BOEHM and may have been a saddle maker. If this is the correct Susanna BOEHM then she may have been born in 1770, instead of 1775 as my family says. That would make her closer in age to Jacob RESSLER, who was born about 1767. 

Notice this Susanna has a mother named Barbara. And nowhere in this tree is there an Abraham old enough to be her father - although she may have a younger brother named Abraham.

Jacob RESSLER and Susanna BOEHM married in 1793, and proceeded to have numerous children, starting in 1794 with John RESSLER.  I was aware of 8-10 children, but according to this tree there are 15-16 with several who died young. However, according to this tree, Susanna was 50 when she had her last child - which is questionable. So more research needs done.

Per my grandma, Susanna (BOEHM) RESSLER was blind when she died, which may or may not be a helpful clue. Per Grandma, her first name may have been Mary in the family Bible, which I do not have access to.

I always take those family trees as clues, not gospel. Depending on their documentation, and what documentation I can find I will piece together the history based on available facts.

My point is simply that I was excited to find something that may get me on the right track for the correct Susanna. With this information, I may be able to connect her to her actual parents, and grandparents.

Time will tell as I have time to work on it. 

Finding family trees on any website is great but consider it a clue to be proved or disproved - do not think that it is correct just because someone took time to put it together.

My family has many, many repeat names - both from parents to children and from those children to their own children. Unless the details are carefully combed through, it is easy to be looking at the wrong person completely. Or end up combining information from more than one ancestor into one ancestor profile. 

The Susan/Susanna I was constantly finding was from the approximate years of 1820 -1910, which is not even really close to my Susanna. Yes, they had overlapping years and may have even known each other since they are from the same local. But can I say that with 100% certainty? Absolutely not.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION DESERTER?

Source: Bing clip art

AMERICAN REVOLUTION DESERTER?

If you have been doing family research for more than a few days, you have found interesting, funny, or ironic things. I recently ran across the "GRAFF" name in a book titled: He Loves a Good Deal of Rum...Military Desertions during the American revolution 1775-1783...Volume One 1775 - June 30, 1777 by Joseph Lee BOYLE. 

 The title alone caught my attention. Um...I had ancestors in the American Revolution. Would this book have anything about any of them? I flipped to the index and started looking for any familiar name: BOWMAN/BAUMAN, GROFF/GRAFF, BOEHM/BEAM, STOVER, WOLF, METZLER, MUSSELMAN, RESSLER. Some of the names I had to look for alternate spellings. 

Um....GRAFF, Jacob. Maybe a possibility?

The below had been published in the Pennsylvania Evening Post on May 13, 1777:

This is to certify that Frederick Shinkle and Jacob Graff, two militia men of this city, brought me a man named John M'Cartney, the 21st ult. 1777, as s substitute for them, agreeable to a resolve of the Hon. Continental Congress, but the said John M'Cartney proves to be a deserter from another regiment, and of course no recruit, there the said Frederick Shinkle and Jacob Graff can derive no advantage from the resolve of Congress - Joseph Wood, Col. Third P. R.

Could this be an ancestor? Maybe. There were Jacob GRAFF's in Lancaster County. But it will require more research and digging far deeper than I have time for right now.

Source: Bing clip art

However, it made me chuckle because I (actually all of us) have characters in our families that for one reason or another prove that people will try to get out of doing things they don't want to do.

As I dig around in family history, I find that a necessary tool is a sense of humor. While most of them are names and dates to us, they lived as real people with lives. Depending on the documents or memories available, I will never know how my ancestors thought or why they acted as they did. 

Our people were far from perfect. Neither am I. 

What happened to these two men after their "substitute" did not pan out? Would they fight in many battles? Would they just walk off and leave the militia behind? Would they get drafted again at some later date? Would they live thru the war and return home, or die forgotten in some field?

As for the book, it is a fascinating look at how people acted and descriptions of their clothing or personal items when they deserted. Many had rewards of a few dollars on their heads if found or arrested. Note: I found the book at a genealogy library, however, I found several books by this author, including this one, on Amazon.

Family history is not dry and dusty. It is full of people who have stories to tell us. 

All the content writing of this post is my own unless I state otherwise.

Update 03-04-2023 I checked the DAR website to see if Jacob Graff was there. There is a Jacob Groff listed as an ancestor from Philadelphia. Three of the five in the ancestor search are from Lancaster County, PA. This man is ancestor #A048820 with dates of 1751-1824. Probably not my direct ancestor, but he has been used by someone to get membership in the DAR.

JAMES C. FINDLEY 1834/35 to Aug. 1899

 James C. FINDLEY was the grandfather of Reba (RESSLER) GARNER. He has somewhat difficult to track due to the last name being spelled as FINDLEY and FINLEY. The constant spelling issues became a frustration, and I would put his file back in the file cabinet for "another day".

I wish that I had questioned Grandma more about her grandparents, but I failed to do so. Plus, James would have been dead several years when she was born. Whatever she may have known about him would have been told to her by other, older relatives.

I suspect his parents are Samuel and Sarah FINDLEY, but so far have nothing to confirm this for sure. I have found family trees on Ancestry that state Samuel and Sarah (GOOD) FINDLEY/FINLEY are his parents, but none of them have documentation. Um...it does make me wonder if I am on the right track though.

I have not found a Samuel FINDLEY on Find a Grave that is the right age or with the correct spouse in Pennsylvania. This despite trying various years and places within Pennsylvania. However, on Find a Grave, there is a Sarah (GOOD) FINDLEY buried in Glen Run Cemetery of Chester County, PA. She is listed as 77 years old. No spouse is connected to her memorial (#21720749). She might be a possibility to return to later.

So, what do I know about James?

Per the 1850 census, he was 14 and lived in the household of Samuel and Sarah FINLEY. He had siblings: Enos (16), Samuel (13), Mary (11), Lewis (9), and John (7). His father is listed as a farmer, so James would have grown up working hard helping with this. The census says they were in Sadsbury, Lancaster County, PA, which is in far southern Lancaster County.

He must have gotten married in 1859 or 1860, since Andrew Edwin FINDLEY was born in 1860. Per the 1860 census of Colerain Township, James FINDLEY is listed as a farmhand and age 25. Martha is 24. 

In 1863, James was drafted into the 9th Pennsylvania Volunteer Calvary. 

Per Wikipedia, the campaigns for this regiment included: Battle of Richmond, Battle of Perryville, Chickamauga, Sherman's March to the Sea, and various campaigns in the Carolinas. 

Source: Ancestry (James is the first line)

I found this photo on Wikipedia of a reunion for this regiment in 1893 at the same link as above. I have no idea what James FINDLEY looked like so cannot possibly identify him in the photo, if he is there.

The 1870 census lists James FINDLEY as age 40 with Martha his wife as 37. They have children: Edwin (Andrew) age 10, Mary age 8, Sarah age 6, Wilkes age 4, and Ann age 1. The family lives in Strasburg Township. James is a farmer with $1300 value in real estate, and $400 in household goods.

In 1880, James FINDLEY and family are living in Eden, Lancaster County, Penn. The household consists of: James (head), Martha (wife), Andrew (20), Mary (18), Sarah (16), James (14), Martha (12), Clarressa (10), Margaret (8), Susan (6), and Emma (3). 

Notice there is no "Wilkes" but there is a James the right age. I think Ann in 1870 and Martha in 1880 are the same child.

The 1890 census does not exist for this area that I am aware of. 

His life tragically ended on 02 August1899 in an accident. According to the obit, he was hauling wood in a wagon down a steep hill, fell out of the wagon, and the wagon ran over his head killing him instantly. It lists the children noting that there were still three at home. It also lists his siblings: Samuel FINDLEY of Parkesburg, Martin FINDLEY of Mechanicsburg, John FINDLEY of Christiana, and Enos FINDLEY of Quarryville.

Source: Intelligencer Journal Newspaper, Lancaster, PA (Page 1) 3 August 1899

Find a Grave has this photo of his tombstone in Greenwood Cemetery. His memorial is #104526541.  

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

GREAT DEPRESSION TALES

Grandma and Pappy GARNER spoke openly about how hard the Great Depression was and their own survival skills to make it through. I grew up on their stories and memories. 

Many of those same skills I learned and practice routinely. I choose to live frugally and in the current economic situation here in the US, I am sure glad this has been a way of life for many years.

Source: my personal collection

I was reminded of this recently while watching a grandma talk to her adult gr-daughter about ways to make money go further. These tips included food, household tips, gardening, and even car repairs.

Some background:

Nationally here in the US, the Great Depression was from 1929 to 1941. Unemployment, depending on place and year, ranged from 8% to 24%. Inflation rose, banks failed, children were put in orphanages because parents could no longer feed then, and people migrated around the country looking for work.

 At the same time, the Dust Bowl was going on in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. These two factors caused many problems for families, communities, the economy and the US as a whole. No matter who you are, you benefit or suffer by what goes on in agriculture.

Source: Shutterstock

Here are some facts and stories about the Great Depression in Pennsylvania.

Source: Bing clip art

And due to the issues here in the US, the entire world economy was affected in various ways. 

Their own Great Depression Tales:

Food was a huge issue for Grandma and Pappy GARNER. Both were farm kids. And both were from large extended families that helped each other, especially during hard times. 

Clothing and shoes for growing children were a well-known issue for both of them. And making every penny count was just how they lived. Waste of anything was not allowed.

Reba RESSLER (grandma)completed tenth grade and went to work as a live-in maid for a Jewish doctor in Lancaster County. She was 16. At about this same time, she was introduced to Ralph GARNER, and they started courting. 

This occurred at the very beginning of the Great Depression in 1929 or 1930 - grandma could not remember exactly - she just knew she was 16. She remembered that they would meet once a week and go to the movies or out to eat - not both. Grandma remembered being paid $1.50 a week in addition to room and board. She worked there for five years.

A side note here is that grandma learned some interesting Yiddish words during this time, that until her death on occasion, peppered her regular "Pennsylvania Dutch". It added spice to conversations that otherwise occurred in English, German, and PA Dutch - depending on where we were and who was involved in the discussion.

Pappy had been working for a local farmer as a laborer at the same time. He moved around to different family members to live. Money was tight, and if he wanted to marry and have a family he needed a better job - something not easy to come by in that economic situation.

Source: Bing clip art

At some point in these years, Pappy was able to get a job driving a milk truck for Moore's Dairy. It was steady work and paid well for the time. At one point, brothers Ralph, Clyde and Lester GARNER all worked driving milk trucks for the same dairy.

So, Ralph and Reba decided to marry. I really do not know how long they were engaged. I got the impression that possibly Reba's father (Frank RESSLER) was not too thrilled with her decision to marry. However, I am not sure of that. I do know that they waited until Reba was 21 and would not need a parent's signature on the marriage license. Ralph Garner and Reba Ressler married on 30 March 1935 in Carlisle, PA. 

There was no money for fancy wedding or special clothes. Pappy wore his Sunday suit, and Grandma bought (or made) a dress that she would wear for church and special occasions. The money they had for the wedding was spent on railroad tickets to get to and from Carlisle.

According to the Lancaster Directory for 1935, Ralph and Reba GARNER were living on Lemon Street in what in now downtown area of Lancaster. They rented. Neither of them liked living in "the city". I have not been able to find documentation yet, but believe they lived at this address until purchasing the house on Chestnut Street in West Lancaster in 1937.

According to Pappy, the original mortgage was for $4,000 and by the time it was paid off, the total was $6000 because of the interest. Pappy continued to work for the dairy, and Grandma took in laundry and ironing. She also kept a large vegetable garden. The garden supplied their food and allowed Grandma to make some much needed money by selling the extra produce. They also kept chickens - which supplied needed meat and eggs. 

Mom (Pauline) was born in July 1937. Pappy, Grandma, and Pauline are listed as a household in the 1940 census.

Potatoes and more potatoes - 

Source: Bing clip art

Grandma cooked meals from scratch. During the Depression years, my impression from both interviews and overheard conversations that potatoes were a huge part of diet. Left-over mashed potatoes could be made into fried potato cakes for another meal. Soup and stew could be stretched by adding water and more potatoes. 

Grandma grew potatoes in the family garden, but I believe it was not enough to feed the amount of people who could turn up for meals. Even in my lifetime, there was a continual flow of various family members who could and did show up for any meal. Mom remembered Amish men bringing in large burlap bags of potatoes that were taken to the cellar. 

My memories are having mashed potatoes for supper. Then potato cakes with breakfast, and boiled potatoes with lunch. I have no memories of baked potatoes at grandmas, although we ate many of them when mom cooked at home.

During the depression years, it sounds like most meals were meatless or that only Pappy got meat. A chicken might be killed and fried for Sunday lunch.

Grandma kept a container in the fridge and all vegie and meat leftovers went into that. Whatever was in the container was the start of the next soup or stew. Nothing was wasted.

Just as a note here: My sister and I joked as children that peeling and cutting up potatoes would never be a threat of punishment to us as we did so much of it while at grandma's.

Clothing:

Some clothing was homemade while others were purchased. Mom (Pauline) told me she hated playing in a way that might show her underwear. This was because Grandma made slips and panties from old sugar and flour sacks - the writing still showed and how embarrassing to be known as that poor.

Mom's dresses and aprons could be hand-me-downs from older and bigger cousins. Or they might be cut down clothing that Grandma got ahold of used. Some of the nicer and new items were purchased by Uncle John and Aunt Emma REESE, who could not have children but had disposable income to use that way.

Source: my personal collection

Shoes were an expense that could not be avoided. Shoes were worn hard and passed around until there was nothing left. Mom said she usually got new shoes but that she had to wear them until they pinched her feet before she got another pair.

Rationing:

Mom still had a ration card from her childhood until the day she died. Ration cards could cover items like sugar, milk, meat, coffee, eggs and cheese.

Since both sets of parents (meaning the Frank RESSLER and Ben GARNER families) were still on the farm, Grandma said that Pappy saved the gas coupons to use so they could go out to either of the farms to visit and get items like meat and more produce on the weekend. What did people do who did not have gardens or family to turn to for help?

Source: my personal collection

Grandma (Reba GARNER) even mentioned the hobos who would show up at the backdoor and ask to do some work around the house in exchange for a meal. She said she never let them into the house, and Pappy had a list of things that could be done. 

Mom remembered men sitting on the back steps eating hot soup or stew out of a tin can.  If it was baking day, these men may also have gotten a slice of bread and a piece of pie.

According to both Pappy and Grandma, they never did figure out how their house was marked so hobos knew they could get a meal there. 

Source: Bing Clip Art

What they did have was family - 

No one has perfect families or is perfect themselves. But in hard times having a good relationship with family members and close friends can make the hard time pass easier. 

Grandma and Pappy spoke of these hard years with many smiles and good memories. Mom remembered family get-togethers and all kinds of toys and games that involved what was on hand and a good imagination.

Whether it was actual work or help in another way Grandma said no one could get through times like these without others to help with the load.

Personally, I think these lessons are very much a help for the current time. Being grateful, not wasting anything, spending carefully, and helping each other can go a long way to getting through any hard time.

As for the house:

Winter 1955-56. The oldest photo I have of the front of the house at 1747 Temple Ave., Lancaster, PA - Source: my personal collection

The deed was recorded in Nov. 1949 - so they worked hard and paid off the house in 12 years. The previous owners were named Frank and Violet MOWRER. On the deed, the house is listed as being on West Chesnut St - Lot 96, Manor Township, West Lancaster.

I haven't done the necessary research to find out exactly when the address changed. However according to the city directories, I have been able to find, the address of the house changed from West Chestnut St in West Lancaster to 1747 Temple Ave., Lancaster sometime between 1952 and 1957.

I personally only remember the address being 1747 Temple Ave, but I do have several documents that use the old address on West Chestnut Street. Maybe the address change was a way to solve confusion between West Chestnut Street in Lancaster and this short street in West Lancaster. Maybe someday I will do some research on this but for now I understand that the house and/or family did not move - the street was simply renamed.

Pappy died in 1986, and Grandma lived here until 1994 or 1995 when she sold it. She then resided at the Mennonite Home until her death in 1996.

 

All the content writing and photos of this post is my own unless I state otherwise.

INTERVIEW NOTES FROM GRANDMA GARNER

INTERVIEW NOTES FROM GRANDMA GARNER

After writing the last post, I dug out my interview notes from Grandma (Reba GARNER) that happened in Oct. 1986.  She rarely discussed her maternal grandparents, and on this day she was telling me about one of her maternal uncles. We grabbed lemonade to drink, and sat down so she could think and I could write.

So these are my actual notes from that discussion:

Children of Andrew Edwin and Mary C. (REESE) FINDLEY in no order --

Martin

Anna Bertha "Bert" who married Frank Y. RESSLER b. 1885 d. 1953

Elmer - a coal dealer

Edward, single, served in WW1, died when he fell down an elevator shaft

David, single, served in WW1, committed suicide

Clayton died of lung trouble

Esther, married name was REINHART and died of hard work

Joseph, farmer

Myrtle, "not right in head", died of old age maybe this year. Had an illegitimate child by one of the WIGGENS boys. Married twice after that.

She did not want me to take notes on the story she was telling, so I listened only. I did not write it down later and have since forgotten the story. So much for documenting memories carefully.

_____________________________________

I have worked on Andrew and Mary FINDLEY in bits and pieces, but not very seriously since I had more info on other lines. Plus I wanted to interview as many living people as possible while I had time. This line got pushed to the back of  a long list of others.

I was recently contacted by a gr-gr-grandchild of one of the listed children. The questions and comments prompted me to dig out my notebooks and look for these notes above. On the surface, the notes seem to lack a whole lot of information, but the "facts" allowed me to actually find some basic info for these people really fast in a two hour block of research.

Here is the basics of what I added in a quick search on FAG and Ancestry:

John Martin FINDLEY 1882 - 1956. Married Mary E. MUSSELMAN in 1905. Buried at Millersville Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster Co., PA

Anna Bertha (FINDLEY) RESSLER 1885 - 1953 More info and a photo. Buried at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

Edward Harry FINDLEY 1888 - 1927. Per the death certificate, he did die from a fall down an elevator shaft. His job was listed as an engineer. Found him on two rosters as an Army engineer. Census in 1920 shows Edward in Philadelphia. Buried at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

Jacob Clayton FINDLEY 1889-1962. Married to Chella Blanche TRIMBLE. Buried in Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

Charles Elmer FINDLEY 1891 - 1968. He died of heart troubles per his death certificate. Married to Stella PAES. Buried at Conestoga Memorial Park, Lancaster, PA

Esther (FINDLEY) REINHART 1893 - 1969. Married to Harry REINHART. Buried at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA 

Thomas David FINDLEY 1895 - 1930. Buried with his parents at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

Martha Louisa FINDLEY 1897 - 1915. Died of heart and kidney issues per death cert. Buried at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

Andrew Joseph FINDLEY 1900 - 1967. Married to Mabel E. LOUMP. Buried at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

Myrtle B. FINDLEY 1904 - 1985. Buried at Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, PA

The 1900 Census shows the FINDLEY family in Providence Township, Lancaster Co., PA:

Andrew - farmer

Mary C - wife

Martin - son

Bertha A - daughter

Harry E. - son

Jacob C. - son

Charles E. - son

Jenny (?) E. - daughter (I suspect this is Esther due to age)

Thomas D. - son

Martha L - daughter

The 1910 Census in Providence Township, Lancaster Co., PA:

Andrew - farmer

Mary C. - wife

Esther - daughter

David - son

Martha - daughter

Joseph - son

Myrtle - daughter

John Reese - brother-in-law

The 1920 Census in Providence Township, Lancaster Co., PA:

Andrew - still farming

Mary C - wife

Joseph - son and farm laborer

Myrtle - daughter

The 1930 Census in Providence Township, Lancaster Co., PA: 

Andrew - farmer

Mary C. - wife

Myrtle - daughter

Donald - grandson

Mary REINHART - granddaughter

At this point, I am thinking that Donald is the son of Myrtle and the WIGGINS boy. However, he is listed with FINDLEY as last name. Mary REINHART would have been the daughter of Esther REINHART.

I follow the rabbit trail back to FAG and looked up all the FINDLEY names buried in Lancaster County, PA since 1900. Yep, there is a Donald FINDLEY the right age. The memorial says he was the son of Myrtle FINDLEY, no mention of any WIGGINS boys - need to hunt up a death cert.

____________________________________________________

MY SUGGESTION:

Ask people questions and pay attention. Take good notes based on what was actually said. At a later date, use those notes to do real research. 

You can see from my original notes that what was there was very basic.  However, I was able to use that to find more info without really digging.

 Not all the people you interview will have sharp memories - take notes anyway. It is your job as the family historian to sift through all the stuff and come up with the real facts.  

Realize that some of your beliefs or assumptions will change as more facts come to light.  Unless you are writing a fiction story, all of us should want real facts. Most, if not all families, have skeletons in our family trees. In my opinion they make the story more interesting. 

Do not cringe away from finding out about those criminals, crime victims, illegitimate children, military horror stories, slaves, slave owners, prostitutes, shady businessmen, and imperfect people in your family history. All of them are part of your family history. 

Gather the facts of the "good, bad, and ugly" of your family. Each of them was a living person and deserves the chance to speak of their life. 

All the post content writing and photos is my own unless I state otherwise.

JUST MARRIED - RALPH & REBA GARNER 1935

 JUST MARRIED - RALPH & REBA GARNER 1935

One of the things I found tucked away in my many notebooks of notes and interviews with family members was Grandma telling me about her wedding.

I obviously did not know all the questions to ask and so I am still left with some questions, but here is grandma's story:

Ralph GARNER was working on a farm in the Quarryville, PA area.  Reba RESSLER was living and working for a doctor in Quarryville. They met there in town (my notes are unclear whether at a restaurant, or the movie house) and dated once a week for at least a year. 

Working on the farm did not pay much, and they did not make any kind of wedding plans until Ralph got a better paying job at Moore's Dairy driving a milk truck. Grandma said she worked for that doctor for five years starting when she turned 16 or 17.

Ralph GARNER and Reba RESSLER went to the Lancaster County courthouse and picked up their marriage license on 26 March 1935. The license number is #17003.

Source: my collection

Ralph GARNER and Reba RESSLER wanted to be married by a preacher they both liked but had recently moved to Carlisle, PA.  

Two of grandma's siblings Anna and Clarence went along as witnesses.

 All four of them rode the train from Lancaster to Carlisle and were the marriage happened at the preacher's house.

My notes do not include how quickly they all came back from the wedding, but I believe from overheard comments at the 50th Anniversary that it was the same day because all four of them had to go back to work the next day. 

On the marriage license it looks like the preacher was C. C. SMITH.

On 03 April 1935 a small reception was done at the home of Harry & Mary (RESSLER) MILLER in Oxford by Reba's family.

Reba stated to me that the clothing in the photo was what they wore to be married in. 

 The below photo was on a dresser in their bedroom until grandma died and I received the papers and photo from grandma. Now it proudly is displayed in my living room.

Source: my collection

This photo is the Frank & Bertha (FINDLEY) RESSLER family and was also taken 03 April 1935. Anna is missing from photo (maybe she was taking the photos??)

Source: My collection

Just a side note:

For Ralph & Reba's 25th Anniversary they invited Pastor & Mrs. SMITH to the reception.  Here is a photo of the original wedding party.

Source: my collection

Here is at the 50th Anniversary celebrated 17 Feb. 1985.  The SMITH's are dead, but Ralph, Reba, Anna, and Clarence are still looking great.

Source: my collection

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

RESSLER, DANIEL 1801/02 - 1901

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: JD Ressler Ancestry family tree - 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.

To see his memorial on Find a Grave, go here.

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 possession of Reba (Ressler) Garner)

Other posts with info about Daniel RESSLER:

https://lancastercountyfamilyties.blogspot.com/2012/11/resslerrossler.html

https://lancastercountyfamilyties.blogspot.com/2017/12/dar-application-accepted-ressler.html

https://lancastercountyfamilyties.blogspot.com/2019/01/revisiting-jacob-susanna-boehm-ressler.html

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

RESSLER, FRANK AND FAMILY 1952

FRANK RESSLER 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 after the farm was sold.

The girls all married local men (including Aunt Mart).  Their married names were: 

1. Mary MILLER (married Harry MILLER) and after she was widowed she married a first cousin Clair RESSLER - Harry and Mary had three boys.

2. Emma REESE (married John REESE) - no children.

3. Anna HESS (married James HESS) - two children

4. Martha BERBERIAN (married Dr. _________ BERBERIAN) - one child.

5. Reba GARNER (married Ralph GARNER) - 5 children. 

Note: I also have the original unlabeled photo above in my personal collection. 

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

RUNNING WATER

I was recently reading an article titled "Running Water" in A Simple Life (Summer 2019, pages 66-72) The article talks about running water and indoor plumbing in rural America, and some basic facts of when it came about. It reminded me of a couple things to do with my Grandma Reba (RESSLER) GARNER.

Grandma's usual response to the question of "Did you have running water when you were growing up?" was "Yes, it just depended on how fast we ran from the pump with it."

The second thing was the indoor bathroom my grandparents had at 1747 Temple Ave. in Lancaster, PA.  When Pappy and Grandma (Ralph & Reba GARNER) bought this house in 1937, I believe the sale price was $4000 because Pappy told me once that with interest it ended up being $6000, which he found shocking for a house.  

My mom (Pauline GARNER/APPLEBACH) HAHN was the oldest kid and she well remembered the inside bathroom being built - she was 14.  It was summer and hot.  The kitchen was at the
back of the house and a single story (the living room and dining room each had a bedroom above them). 

Source: Bing clip art

Anyway grandma and mom were pressure canning green beans.  The workers had stopped for lunch, but the roof was open to the sky as the roof was being changed to a flat frame of rafters to build another room (actually a small bedroom and the bathroom).  The canner malfunctioned and blew up sending glass and green beans everywhere. My mom still could vividly describe the beans all over the kitchen, especially hanging from the new rafters. She was equally amazed that no one was hurt.

Source: Pinterest

Despite the canner malfunction, the workers were able to complete the project and so came to be a small bedroom and a small bathroom.  I remember the claw foot bathtub.  I also remember that a person could not wait too long to use the bathroom because steep steps had to be climbed to the upstairs bathroom.  Years later a hand held shower would be installed as well.

Pappy kept the outdoor privy in the garage working and usable up until he died.  I have no idea if it was still a working privy when the house was sold by Grandma in 1996.

Source: Bing Clip art

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

MEMORIES OF DEC.7, 1941

Source: Personal collection

MEMORIES OF DEC.7, 1941

Source: Bing clip art

Pauline (GARNER/APPLEBACH) HAHN was about 4 1/2 yrs old when the attack on Pearl Harbor, HI occurred.  Years later she was able to tell people that while she was too little to really understand what had happened, she knew the radio broadcast was bad. 

She remembered sitting beside her mom (Reba RESSLER) GARNER listening to the radio at their home on then West Chestnut Ave (later Temple Ave) in Lancaster, that the black-out shades were closed. While Pappy (Ralph GARNER) shook his head in disbelief, her mom cried.

Her memories of the actual war years were vague and mostly what others in the family had told her about that time, but her memories of the radio announcement of Pearl Harbor did not dim over the years.

Source: Personal collection

Both of the photos on this post were taken when Pauline was 4, so 1941-42. This was what she looked like when she heard the Pearl Harbor radio announcement.

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

OBITS OF DANIEL & MARY RESSLER'S CHILDREN

OBITS OF DANIEL & MARY RESSLER'S CHILDREN:

So far these are the only obits I have personally or have been able to get copies of.

New Era (Lancaster, PA) Sept. 17, 1926

Lancaster Examiner-New Era Feb. 23, 1923

New Era (Lancaster, PA) April 13, 1915

New Era (Lancaster, PA) Feb. 9, 1925

New Era (Lancaster, PA) April 1, 1925

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

REVISITING JACOB & SUSANNA (BOEHM) RESSLER

In the January 1993 issue of Mennonite Family History Magazine was the below article on the family of Jacob & Susanna Ressler focusing on the line of Samuel Ressler (1804-1876). To be truthful, I am not very familiar with this line as I am descended through the next older boy, Daniel (1802-1901).  However, there are a couple things in the article I would like to correct or add to, so please continue to read below the nice article.

1. The first couple paragraphs is about Johann Heinrich ROSSLER/RESSLER and his immigration. “He was accompanied on the ship by two other ROESSLERS: Johann Georg ROESSLER and Conrad ROESSLER”  Per the response to a Nov. 1963 letter of Nina BRIEDENTHALL (translated by E. JAEGER) asking about the ROESSLER roots in Wunsiedel, Germany “I would guess that the 3 brothers ROESSLER, that came 1750 to America, were descendants of Pastor Christoph ROESSLER in Kirchenlamits…” I have posted the translated letter in its entirety the blog here:  (http://lancastercountyfamilyties.blogspot.com/2018/07/breidenthall-letters-concerning-ressler.html). Per METZGER (pg. 5) the 3 brothers came to America on the ship Priscilla which went from Rotterdam to Cowes, England and arrived in Philadelphia on Sept. 12, 1750. All 3 took Oaths of Allegiance as required.

2. The list of children of Jacob & Susanna basically matches what I have from Grandma GARNER.  However, here is where I want to make the correction: their son Daniel was born March 24, 1802 (METZGER pg. 16 and RESSLER pg. 1) and died Dec. 18, 1901 (not 1875 as per the 1993 MFH article).  In the 1900 census he was living with single daughter Hettie (who died later that same year) and was listed as 98 years old. He is memorial on FAG #61218182.  Here is his obit from the Intelligencer (Lancaster, PA) on Thursday Dec. 19, 1901 – on the front page:

3. Children of Daniel & Mary (METZLER) RESSLER, who married Dec. 12, 1833 (RESSLER pg. 1-2, METZGER pg. 154 – 171, and RESSLER article above): 

Child	Born	Died	Spouse
Hetty	Oct. 6, 1834	Oct. 11, 1900	Single
Amos	April 7 1836	March 28, 1862	Unknown
Barbara	Nov. 6, 1837	1889	Jacob F. ANDREWS
Henry	Aug. 4, 1839	Feb. 8, 1925	Annie LEFEVER
Christian	May 10, 1841	April 13, 1915 (not 1951 as in 1993 article)	1) “Lizzie” C. MILLER 2) “Sally” PARKER
Martin	Dec. 18, 1843	Oct. 1, 1847	Single
Maria	July 6, 1846	Sept. 16, 1926	Single
Susan	March 14, 1848	Feb. 22, 1923	Single
John	Nov. 28, 1850	March 31, 1925	Anna Elizabeth YOST
Emma	Aug. 15, 1853	March 23, 1873	Single

On a personal level, I am descended thru Daniel and Mary's son John.

PLEASE NOTE: 
ALL PHOTOS AND WRITTEN CONTENT ARE MY OWN UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.