Elizabeth Menrath Voelkel

A young teen traveled across the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to New York to take a position as a lady’s maid to a well-to-do family in New York City. Her older sister, Anna, who came at an earlier time, arranged for her to obtain this position. Elizabeth was born in Nemecha, Hungary, on December 4, 1897. Elizabeth expected her sister to meet her when she arrived at Ellis Island but Anna was late and didn’t arrive until a day or so later. Elizabeth who didn’t speak any English probably feared she would be returned to Hungary but her sister finally arrived and away they went to a place that would be her new home.

Elizabeth spoke some about her position as a lady’s maid. She learned about fashion, style, purchasing high quality clothing, and taking care of another person’s needs which would serve her well for the rest of her life.

She married Maxmillian Voelkel on 16 Nov 1915 in New York. She gave birth to a son named Max in 1917 but tragically he died in 1921. She was devastated. After little Max’s death, Max took Elizabeth on a trip to Europe to visit family hoping to cheer her up. This was in 1923. While checking the passport application, it states that she was from Ger. Romania.

In 1925 Elizabeth gave birth to Helen. Life became more active and happy. She died in April 1976 in College Point, New York.

Is Reuben B. Davis the father of Samantha?

Many trees I have checked show that Reuben Davis is the father of Samantha. She was born around 1817 and married first to William Simmons in 1837 and then Curry B. Dickson in 1838. A check of the 1830 census shows two females under 5 and one female 5-9. Samantha would have been 13 in 1830. Evidently she was not in this household when the census was taken. There does not appear to be a will for Reuben Davis. In 1998 an email from Jackie Horton states, “I believe Reubin is the father of Samantha because of Reubin’s probate records in Crawford County. For example Curry Dickson was named as guardian of the property of Paschal A. Davis and then is mentioned in other places in the court records …”

Who are the other children of Reuben Davis? How many men in Crawford County, Georgia, are named Reuben Davis? More work needs to be done for sure.

Claude Jackson Kirksey

Claude Jackson Kirksey was an uncle, one of my mother’s brothers. He was born in 6 September 1905 in Taylor County, GA to Ida and Barney Kirksey. Claude grew up working on a farm with his father. He was married to Elizabeth (Betty) Trice. There were no children. He joined the Army and served in the chemical division. He took some great photos during his time in the service and he served in Hawaii. This was in 1932. He became a Mason at some point. After his military service he worked for the Army as a civilian in Warner Robins, GA. He died 28 Dec 1953 from a brain tumor. Was it a result of his work in chemicals during his military service? We will never know. Some of his possessions which include a photograph album, pocket watch, and masonic apron came to me. Here is a sample of some of the amazing photographs.

Photos: pocket watch; Masonic apron; military photos.

Edward Kirksey Timeline Questions

We found a Kirksey in West Jersey in 1686. 

1686 – John assigned a cow to each son – Edward and John.

1734 – suppose Edward was 21 at the time he received the cow.  In 1734 he would have been about 47 or so. (Was he married twice?)

1735 – Gideon or Christopher was born (not impossible)

1768 – Edward sells his property to young Isaac and we do not see him again in the obvious record books.

(Or is my math wrong?)

Of course, the monkey wrench is the Thomas Kirksey in Baltimore MD.  Who is he?

A land record Also in MD, Baltimore County Families 1659-1759 by Robert W. Barnes?)

pg 384 Kerksey, Thomas was in Baltimore Co., by 1692 as a taxable in Spesutia Hundred; on 1 Aug 1693. Thomas purchased 133 1/2 acres Mould’s. Success from Barbara Mould; on 3 Jun 1696, Thomas and wife Sarah conveyed the tract to Edward Boothby.

Ruth Kerksey to William Anniss, 1734, Baltimore MD

Where did Edward Kirksey discussed in an earlier post live before he arrived in North Carolina?

Just pondering. Happy June.

#Kirksey, #Genealogy, #Baltimore, #West Jersey, #North Carolina

Traveling

I write about family but I need to write about myself too and traveling. This has been a very big year for travel. Covid postponed our trips and we made them all up this year. Our first one was to Oberamergau in Germany, and the Passion Play. This play occurs every 10 years. A plague brought it to the world as a promise if the village was spared they would perform this play. Well, Covid caused the play to be halted but the play occurred again this year, although two years later. It was a wonderful trip.

The second make up trip was on the Rocky Mountaineer, a train ride from Vancouver to Calgary. What fun and what a wonderful experience. The Canadian Rockies are beautiful. We learned a lot about the mountain range and glaciers.

The third trip is to Antarctica. Our trip had a number of delays at the beginning and the rough waters of Drake Passage caused a delay in our start but this expedition is unworldly. Viking cruises knows how to do a cruise.

Holidays

I just want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Memories of Fuel Shortages

The gas embargo.  I remember odd and even days when you were permitted to pull into the gas station to get gas for your vehicle.   That was around ’73 or ’74.   We had just moved here and I wanted to go exploring our new hometown but there were so few gas stations that I tended to stay home in fear I would run out of gas on some back road and no one would find me – it was pretty rural here at that time. 

Now we just watch the gas prices rise and wonder if there will be fuel in the near future. The reserve is going down and we’re not refilling those tanks. Europe is in a tricky situation also. I read today that they are collecting wood to burn to keep their homes warm this winter.

Traveling and Finding TidBits of Information

We traveled to Europe in June. This was our 2020 trip delayed due to covid. The highlight of our trip was towards the end in Oberammergau and attending the Passion Play. This was the 43rd year of the 10-year cycle – so the play began over 430 years ago. A pandemic brought the play to life and in 2020 I figured the pandemic would take it out. Fortunately, it was just delayed. It was great.

While we were in Switzerland near Luzern, I found a sign with the name Fielmann. It is a very close match to Filman/Filmon/Philmon and Philemon in our tree. And then there was the Wildenmann Hotel and Restaurant. The Wilderman name was once Wildenmann.

I felt quite at home.

Some of the other places we visited were Austria (Salzburg) the home of Mozart and The Sound of Music and Liechtenstein before we headed to Germany. I have to admit I ate my weight in pretzels (mostly at breakfast) and beer.

I love the flower boxes – they are so colorful and all around these countries.

Memorial Day

I attended an amazing Memorial Day celebration today. It was sponsored by the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia and assisted by the County. There was a short explanation about the meaning of coins left at a Veterans Gravesite. A coin left on the gravesite of those that served in the military is meant as a message to the deceased’s family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect.

A Penny indicates someone visited the grave; the Nickel-the visitor and the Veteran trained at boot camp together; the Dime-the visitor served with the Veteran in some capacity; and the Quarter-the visitor was with the Veteran when he was killed.

There was a presentation of Banners in Memory of our Fallen Soldiers. There were 73 banners in the procession. The pipers played Amazing Grace and Taps was played by a member of Taps for Veterans.

A young woman, a tenth grade student, sang the National Anthem, The Vacant Chair, and How Great Thou Art. She was amazing.

The colors were retired.

While all this was going on I thought about my mother’s cousin, Andrew Jackson Kirksey, who served on the PT109 with John Kennedy. He was one of the two sailors who died that day. I knew his grand daughter, Jackie MacFarland, and later met her father, Jack, through the Kirksey network.

#Memorial Day, #Kirksey, #Chesterfield

Checking out the 1950 census

Have you checked out the 1950 census yet? I’ve been looking for my parents but have not found them. My mother’s sister was listed. I did find my husband’s family. The census searches are improving every day. Machine indexing is amazing but human intervention is going to be necessary.

If you need information on what to expect, here is a good place to start: https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1950 There are a lot of bloggers posting information too.