Susanna Stähli: The Woman in the Polka Dot Dress (52 Ancestors #14)

Posted on April 7, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Von Allmen Family

Friedrich and Susanna (Stähli) Von Allmen (ca. 1895)

Alright, so it isn’t truly polka dot, but I’m not sure what to call it. This is one of the family photographs that has always intrigued me. I often find myself wondering about Susanna Stähli. I love her dress. I also get the impression that she must have been stern, based on her expression here and how tightly her hair was pulled back.

I haven’t really researched my Von Allmen line, as I have a cousin who has done extensive research on them. I tend to research the other side of my family more. Almost everything I know about Friedrich and Susanna (Stähli) Von Allmen is thanks to my cousin, Shirley.

Friedrich and Susanna lived in Wilderswil, Switzerland and immigrated to America in 1883 on the S.S. Canada.

Von Allmen home in Wilderswil, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

S.S. Canada, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

S.S. Canada Passenger List, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Friedrich and Susanna had eleven children traveling with them, so I can see why Susanna would need to be stern. They purchased land in Floyd County, Indiana to start a dairy. It’s interesting to me that it looks as though they lived at the bottom of a knob in Switzerland and purchased similar land in Floyd County.

Floyd County land, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Gray-Von Allmen Sanitary Milk Company Truck, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Ewing-Von Allmen Dairy Products Bottle, in my possession.

According to St. Mark’s Baptismal Records, Friedrich and Susanna had two more children. As I mentioned before, Shirley has done extensive research and found that there was another child who did not live long.

St. Mark’s Baptismal Records, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Susanna died on December 16, 1898 of stomach cancer.

New Albany Evening Tribune, 17 December 1898, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Kraft Funeral Home Records, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Tombstone of Friedrich and Susanna Von Allmen at Atkins Cemetery, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

This may sound strange, but this is, coincidentally, one of my favorite tombstones. It’s a very unique stone in the Atkins Cemetery and I was always drawn to it as a child attending the church.

I do intend to do my own research on the Von Allmens at some point, as I have lots of questions. One thing I often wonder is whether Susanna worked in the dairy or had another job. They immigrated in 1882 and she died in 1898, so there is no record of it on any Census. Certainly, if the dairy was as successful as it seems, she would have needed to be involved in the dairy work.

Von Allmen Family Crest, courtesy of Shirley Wolf, Von Allmen Family File, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

George William Rakestraw: The One with the Confusing Timeline (52 Ancestors #13)

Posted on April 1, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Rakestraw Family, Research Process, Tombstones

George William Rakestraw was the brother of my great great grandmother, Zerilda Rakestraw Springer. Unlike his sister, he is very well documented. Even so, I’ve had a difficult time researching him. He had an uncle who was also named George William, so he went by William or Willie, but he also had a son named William, who seemed to go by Willie as a child. Willie also had a son, Charles Marion and a cousin, Charles Marion. I understand wanting to honor family members, but at some point, it’s just too much. After hours upon hours of searching, deciphering, and some math, I have Willie mostly figured out.

George William Rakestraw, circa 1900.

George William “Willie” Rakestraw was born on August 20, 1873 in New Albany, Indiana, to parents Francis Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Rakestraw. He had dark hair and blue eyes. He was the baby of the family, as his sister was five years older.

An article appeared in the New Albany Evening Tribune, saying that Willie had married a Mamie Haine on February 2, 1891.

New Albany Evening Tribune, Tuesday, 3 February 1891, p. 4, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

I could not find a marriage record for them in Floyd county, surrounding counties, or Illinois, where I though Mamie might be from. Willie would’ve been seventeen at the time, so he also would’ve needed parental permission to marry.

I did find that Willie married Mamie Haney in Floyd County, Indiana on October 9, 1891. It also appeared in the paper the following day.

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Vol. 10, p. 55, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 10 October 1891, p. 4, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

It seems their honeymoon period was short-lived because the paper on October 24, 1891 reports that Mamie had filed suit against Willie for support.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 24 October 1891, p. 8, columns 2-3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

I couldn’t find what became of that suit, but I believe that Mamie went to Illinois without Willie and was pregnant at the time. I’ve looked at several family trees that say Mamie gave birth to Otto William Rakestraw in Mound City, Illinois on December 25, 1891. I have a copy of a photo of Otto Rakestraw that I got from my grandfather, but I have no proof of his relationship. I’ve sent letters out to try and obtain a copy of a birth record and I hope to hear from someone soon. Willie is listed as being in New Albany in both the 1890 and 1892 Caron’s City Directories, which is how I know he didn’t go with Mamie.

Here is where the timeline gets messy. That’s right, it wasn’t messy before. On October 8, 1893, William W. Rakestraw was born, the son of Willie by Lillian Margaret Bennett. At least, according to both of William W.’s marriage records (1917 and 1933). The 1900 Census and the transcription of the Rakestraw Family Bible both give October 8, 1894. I’m inclined to believe the marriage records, as Census are often wrong and I don’t have access to the original Rakestraw Family Bible to know if there were any transcription errors. There is no birth record on file for him, and his death record gives his birth date as October 8, 1898 (I’m thinking this was written by the informant as 1893 and misread by the clerk as 1898). I’m still holding out hope for a primary source to prove one or the other.

In those same family trees that mention Otto’s birth, it is written that Willie and Mamie were granted a divorce from Mound City on October 23, 1893. I have inquiries out on this as well, but it seems logical to me that infidelity would cause Mamie to file for divorce.

Willie married Lillie Bennett on April 14, 1894 in Floyd County, Indiana.

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Vol. 10, p. 363, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

There are articles (I’ll get to them in a bit) that give marriage dates of January and April 1893, but since Willie and Mamie were still married that wouldn’t be possible, or at least not legal. I also couldn’t find any marriage records for Willie and Lillie on those dates.

Charles Marion Rakestraw was born on January 22, 1896 in New Albany, Indiana. He is the second son of Willie and Lillie.

Things go downhill for Willie and Lillie the following year. On April 9, 1897, Lillie filed suit against Willie for maintenance. The suit was dismissed on June 11, 1897.

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 9 April 1897, p. 7, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 11 June 1897, p. 7, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Lillie then filed for divorce on December 1, 1897. This must have been a long process. It was listed on the court docket on January 14, 1898 and then again on October 1, 1898 and still the divorce was not granted.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Wednesday, 1 December 1897, p. 4, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 3 December 1897, p. 5, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Weekly Tribune, Friday, 14 January 1898, p. 7, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 1 October 1898, p. 4, column 5, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

On February 20, 1899, Louise Rakestraw was born. Three weeks later, Lillie petitioned to dismiss the divorce case.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Tuesday, 14 March 1899, p. 4, column 4, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

On May 24, 1899, Willie filed for divorce and it was granted by the court on June 17, 1899. He asked for and was granted custody of William and Charles.

New Albany Daily Ledger, Wednesday, 24 May 1899, p. 4, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Public Press, Wednesday, 31 May 1899, p. 4, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Saturday, 17 June 1899, p. 4, column 1, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Lillie and baby Louise went to live with Lillie’s mother. Willie, William, and Charles moved in with Willie’s parents and his niece, Mildred Springer.

On June 5, 1902, Willie married Lorena Bender in Louisville, Kentucky. By 1910, Willie and Lorena were living in Madison County, Illinois, but William and Charles were still living with Willie’s parents. Charles did spend some time in Illinois with his dad, as this letter, dated December 15th, indicates.

Willie and Lorena moved to Louisville at some point after 1918 (Willie’s draft registration shows he was still in Illinois). Willie and William ran a music store in Louisville until Willie’s death in 1935.

Tombstone, Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, George William Rakestraw, 1874-1935, photo courtesy of Rob M, Findagrave.com

I still have to wonder about Otto and Louise. Why did Willie not seek custody for either of them? Why didn’t he even acknowledge them? With all of my grandfather’s stories that had been passed down through the Rakestraw family, I had never heard of either one until I started researching Willie. William’s obituary said that he was survived by a sister, Louise, so I suppose he must have had some contact with her. I guess these are questions to which I may never know the answers.

Louise Von Allmen: Jovial and Social (52 Ancestors #12)

Posted on March 23, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Stories, Von Allmen Family

Louise Marie Von Allmen was born on August 5, 1903 to parents Edward and Louise (Seewer) Von Allmen. Louise was the first of eight children. She married George Herman Schroeder, who was from Ohio. They had three children. Louise (Von Allmen) Schroeder died on June 26, 1977.

The Von Allmen children.
Back row (left to right): Frederick, Theodore Adrian, John Edward, Louise Marie.
Front row: Victor Emmanuel, Robert Alfred, Margaret Elizabeth, Lena Mae.
Photo courtesy of Angela Grant, Ancestry.com

I never knew my great grandmother Louise. She died before I was born. I had seen photos and my grandpa said she liked to talk. That was really all I knew about her. I was named for her and my other great grandmother, Marie Neider, so any time I have the opportunity to learn more about her, I’m more than happy to do so.

From the handful of photos I have seen of Louise to this point, I feel that I resemble her somewhat, especially when I put my hair up when I dress as Mrs. Butterfield (our library’s first librarian).

George and Louise (Von Allmen) Schroeder

Melissa Wiseheart dressed as Olivia Butterfield, October 2013.

In July of 2011, I was visiting with a new friend, Viola Toby. She lives on a farm neighboring Louise’s parents’ farm. I didn’t know until that day that she had known the Von Allmens. That day in July, Viola complimented me on the dark color of my hair. I thanked her and said it must be the Swiss, from the Von Allmens. It prompted this:

The Von Allmens… they used to live right here on the corner, you know. They were such wonderful singers. They used to have parties on the 4^th of July and they’d go all night. They really knew how to celebrate, I tell you. They’d sing and dance and Ed would play the… what’s that called you play and squeeze between your hands… the accordion. Ed used to play the accordion. He played so well, it was really beautiful. And they’d just go all night. One time, they had all the neighbors over for a dance. Can you imagine? They had a dance in their house and Ed played the accordion. You don’t see anyone play the accordion anymore.

She went on to talk about Lena Mae, whom she knew best of the bunch. I was very excited to hear this from Viola because it’s one thing to hear from the family stories that have been passed down, but it’s another thing to hear how your family was perceived by members of their community.

As I was preparing to write about Louise, I talked with my dad. He said he and his family used to visit with George and Louise every Sunday after church at their house on Renn Road. Louise always had soda and candy for the kids. He said that Louise was a very social, very jovial person. She liked parties and dancing, she liked food and conversation. Dad also said that she liked to debate.

Hearing this description, my first thought was that she and my other namesake probably would’ve gotten along well had they ever met. My second thought was that I’m more like Louise than I originally thought. I don’t really care for dancing, but I’d say I have a fair amount of the rest of it.

Louise Marie Von Allmen (1919)

Zerilda Rakestraw: Almost a Ghost (52 Ancestors #11)

Posted on March 17, 2015 by melissawiseheart under 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, Documents, Family History, Genealogy, Photographs, Rakestraw Family, Springer Family

If I had only official documents to go on, I’d know next to nothing about my great great grandmother. Using the usual vitals, census, and obituary, her life could be summed up as follows. Zerilda Eleanora Rakestraw was born circa 1869, the daughter of Francis Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Rakestraw. She married Frank Springer on February 28, 1892. She gave birth to Mildred Gertrude Springer on November 20, 1892. She died of consumption on June 13, 1894 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery.

The biggest hurdles I had in my research were the lack of official documents. The state of Indiana didn’t require birth records until 1882. There was no birth record. The 1890 Census would’ve been the first census to list her occupation. There is no surviving copy of the 1890 Census for Indiana. For reasons I can’t fathom, her death was never reported to the city or the county Health Department. No death record. Another hurdle was that Zerilda changed her name, and not legally.

Fortunately, I had some good information from my grandfather, who had heard it from Zerilda’s mother. There are also a handful of more unconventional records for her. Additionally, the Rakestraws saved a lot of things, for which I am eternally grateful. And now, I present the life of Zerilda Rakestraw, as complete as I believe it will ever be.

1868

Serralda Ella Nora Rakestraw was born on June 5, 1868 in New Albany, Indiana to parents Francis Marion and Mary Elizabeth (Gilliland) Rakestraw. (This is according to a transcription of the Rakestraw Family Bible. I don’t know where the Bible is currently located. I have been spelling it Zerilda Eleanora based on the official documents that bear her name. I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should change how I write it).

1870

She appears on the Census, with her parents, as Zerilda, age 1.

1880

On the Census, she is living with her parents and her younger brother. She is listed as Elnora, age 11.

1890 (ish)

Here, I have no documentation. My grandfather said that she taught school in Louisville for a year or so before she married. I could not find any mention of her in New Albany or Louisville City Directories. He also said that she hated her first name and, as an adult, decided to go by Ella Nora Rakestraw. This may have started before adulthood, since she seems to have gone by her middle name(s) on the 1880 Census. I have a couple of photos to share here.

Zerilda Eleanora Rakestraw (ca. 1890)

Grandpa said this is the photo she had taken for the school. Presumably for a yearbook or similar type of thing.

Zerilda Rakestraw’s desk bell. Purchased circa 1890.

1891

By December of 1891, Ella had met Frank Springer. It would seem that they were long-distance courting by this letter from Frank, dated December 17, 1891.

1892

Frank and Ella were married on February 28, 1892.

Frank Springer and Ella Rakestraw Marriage License

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Volume 10, p.114, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

New Albany Daily Ledger, Monday, 29 February 1892, p.4, column 6, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Within a week, Frank and Ella had moved to his brother’s farm, outside of Paoli, Indiana.

Paoli Republican, Wednesday, 9 March 1892, p.3, column 5, NewspaperArchive.com

Ella’s mother, Mary, wrote to her on March 23, 1892. After receiving this letter, Ella wrote back, saying that she was very sick. She had weak spells and was often sick to her stomach.

In April, Ella received a letter from her cousin Othela, congratulating her on her marriage to Frank and expressing concern for her illness.

Sometime in May, Ella had gone back to New Albany to stay with her parents, probably having realized that she was pregnant and would need her mother’s help. Frank wrote to her shortly after her arrival.

It seems that Frank visited from time to time, but didn’t stay long. From a letter written circa June 1892 and a letter dated July 3, 1892, it is evident that Ella’s mother did not want Frank around.

On November 20, 1892, Ella gave birth to a daughter, Mildred Gertrude Springer. Frank was present for the birth of his daughter, as this letter dated November 27, 1892, suggests.

In December, both Ella and baby Mildred were sick.

Zerilda Springer, circa 1892.

Unfortunately, I’ve only been able to find this photocopy and not the original. Since the quality is so bad, I cannot tell if this is just Ella, or if Mildred is perhaps in a bassinet to the left.

1893

In a letter dated January 22, 1893, Frank writes that he is sorry to hear that Ella and the baby are both still sick. He also writes that he will come for them when the weather is better.

New Albany Evening Tribune, Thursday, 23 March 1893, p.4, column 2, NewspaperArchive.com

Here the letters have stopped and it would seem that Ella was home with Frank from here on, however, she must have gone back to stay with her parents before the end of May in 1894. And, in researching Frank’s story, I learned that he did leave home sometime in 1893 for the World’s Fair in Chicago, so it makes sense that Ella would not stay alone on the farm with the baby.

1894

New Albany Evening Tribune, Friday, 25 May 1894, p.3, column 2, NewspaperArchive.com

New Albany Daily Ledger, Friday, 26 May 1894, p.5, column 3, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

This one should read “adoption of Mildred G. Springer,” but as we all know, the papers sometimes get things wrong.

On June 13, 1894, just two and a half weeks after her parents adopted Mildred, Ella died of consumption. She was buried at Fairview Cemetery in New Albany, Indiana.

New Albany Evening Tribune, Thursday, 14 June 1894, p.4, column 2, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Receipt from The Northern Cemetery (Fairview Cemetery) for payment on grave preparations.

Fairview Cemetery Index, Volume 4, p.71, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

It took me quite some time to find her in Fairview, as her tombstone reads “Ellen N. Springer” and Frank is not buried there.

Tombstone of Ella Springer, Fairview Cemetery, photo courtesy of Douser, Findagrave.com

So ends the short life of Zerilda Eleanora (Rakestraw) Springer.

Why Don’t You Just Use Ancestry?

Posted on March 5, 2015 by melissawiseheart under Family History, Genealogy, Musings, Research Process, Tips & Tricks

I get asked that question a lot, and in light of what’s been going on with the proposed Indiana state budget, I thought I’d take an opportunity to discuss why local history and genealogy departments cannot and should not be replaced by Ancestry. I’ll be focusing on Floyd County, Indiana, as that is where I am.

The first thing I want to talk about is access. Most of our library’s (New Albany-Floyd County Public Library) patrons, and this is probably true of most people, can’t afford the subscription to Ancestry. They come to our library to access Ancestry Library Edition. While this service would continue without the library’s Indiana Room (for local history and genealogy), the vast majority of the patrons who use it do so in the Indiana Room. Why? Because the Indiana Room staff know what databases are available through Ancestry and how to perform a search to yield the best results. It’s true that this training could be given to Reference or Circulation staff, but, as genealogists know, if you aren’t into genealogy you aren’t going to provide the best genealogical services for your patrons.

This brings me to my next point. Patrons utilize the Indiana Room because they can get help and advice from staff members. We offer beginning genealogy courses at our library and are just starting to implement genealogy for kids, genealogy for teens, and more specific classes, such as Irish genealogy. This allows first-timers, or those who just want a refresher, to get an idea of what is involved in the process and get one on one time with someone has been doing genealogy for years. We also assist walk-ins and schedule one on one time with patrons.

It may be that you are researching someone who served in the Civil War. You’ve typed his name in the search box on Ancestry and you’ve found him listed in the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana and maybe a couple of other things. Is that all there is? Probably not. At the library, we have microfilmed local newspapers with an online index. Your ancestor’s obituary might include his military service. We also have Floyd County Civil War soldier records on microfilm (I have yet to find these on Ancestry, but maybe someday). In some instances, we might have an archive collection that has information or even artifacts. These are all things you wouldn’t know if you didn’t have someone to ask, and as great as Ancestry may be, contacting them is difficult at best. Some of these things are also things that Ancestry just doesn’t have, at least not yet.

Another issue is that sometimes you can view an image and sometimes all you get is a transcription. I searched for “Rakestraw” in the Indiana Marriages collection on Ancestry.

I clicked on the marriage record for Adalino Rakestraw and Henry Hardy, and this is what it showed.

The problem with this is that there is no original image. Adaline Rakestraw married Henry Hardy, as the image from the microfilm at the library will show.

Floyd County, Indiana Marriages, Vol. 3, p.101, Stuart Barth Wrege Indiana History Room

Ancestry is a wonderful tool, but it really needs to be viewed as a virtual library. The same rules apply to it that apply to libraries nationwide. Every library is unique. While some libraries have duplicate information, such as Census, each library has something that other libraries do not have. In our case, we have quite a bit, but to name just a few:

Asylum Records, 1866-1900
Cemetery Records
Church Records, 1816-1990
Cornelia Memorial Orphans Home Records, 1877-1954
Diaries & Journals
Family Bibles
Letters
Newspapers, 1817-2015 (with online index)
Yearbooks

Should you use Ancestry? Absolutely! Just don’t forget to visit your local library, historical society, or genealogical society. As genealogists, it is our responsibility to be thorough in our research. This means we need to use all repositories at our disposal for research. At present, no single repository contains every piece of genealogical information available.

A Wise Heart's Journey

Finding ancestors one step at a time.

Tag Archives: Floyd County