Tombstone Tuesday - Beethoven

Beethoven's tombstone at Vienna (Austria) Cemetery. Even in the middle of January, visitors keep it decorated with flowers. Photo taken by Amanda January 2009.

New Header

I received a new header today from Deez of Cemetery Explorers. He has become the go-to header creator for geneabloggers for obvious reasons:-) Thank you so much Deez, I love it!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Lillian Eichhorn Casell

The only picture I have of my great-grandmother Lillian L. Eichhorn Casell

In Memory

Today would have been the 79th birthday of my grandfather, Robert Alfred Casell. This picture was taken approximately March 1983. I am on the left, just over a year old, and my cousin Erin is a newborn. Unfortunately, he died 29 May 1983, seven months before my sister, his 3rd grandchild, was born.

Growing up I would go through his scrapbook over and over and claimed it as my own at an early age (eventually, at least and before my Uncle's ever asked for it...). It has pictures of him, his parents and siblings, his wedding, my grandmother, his children, Erin and I, and the family tree he put together, as well as other ephemera. Upon his death my grandmother added items about his death, such as cards, flower decorations, etc. It is beyond a doubt what got me interested in genealogy, long before I knew what genealogy was. The start he provided from information he got from living relatives has been invaluable to the start of my search.

Happy birthday Grandpa! You're loved and missed.

Family History Center

On Thursday I make my second trip to a Family History Center. The first, many months ago, did not go well, as the volunteers weren't very friendly and I felt like a nuisence. As such, I put off going back, but my experience Thursday was FANTASTIC!

The volunteers were very friendly and helped me with everything I needed. In a few weeks I should receive the following items:

Parish Registers of Halstead (Kent, England) 1561-1900

Bishop's transcripts of Halstead 1813-1898

Abstract Index of books of Chippawa 1796-1955

Registri dello slato civile di Roccaromana 1866-1886

Hopefully, I'll be able to push my Whitehead line back another generation or two with the Halstead items and find Charles Whitehead and Mary Ann Hayman's marriage.

My Eichhorn line should make an appearance in the Chippawa index.

The Roccaromana, Italy records are rather scary for me, as this will really be testing my reading skills. I have my Italian words to know ready, now if only the Casillo's I need are listed:-)

Freedom Isn't Free

Franklin and Lois Bowers, young couple on left

Franklin Bowers fought in World War II, as it was his duty. He died on the beach of Normandy, France, 9 July 1944, just 13 days before his 22 birthday and less thank 5 months after marrying his high-school sweetheart, my great-aunt Lois. According to Lois's mother Vera, Franklin saw the person who shot him and did not shoot back, as he would have been unable to hurt, let alone kill, someone. He was a kind and decent young man.

While I always knew I had an uncle who fought and died in WWII, it was only recently I learnt he died in the battle of Normandy. This battle plays such an important part in history classes throughout school, yet I never even knew it lasted for 24 days, as D-Day was always the topic of discussion. I was never able to understand how some many thousands of young men were able to jump into the water and run onto the beach, all the while knowing that they would probably not make it home.

I dedicate this entry in the Carnival of Genealogy to my great-uncle who died while fighting for freedom and independence.

Photo courtesy of my aunt Barbara.

"Just Make Up Some Lyrics" Challenge

Here is my entry to the "Just Make Up Some Lyrics" Challenge by Bill West:-)
"They're Mine" to the tune of "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

Well, you changed your name and you bet I lost you
I tried to follow but you hid every record
You fell right through the cracks, now I'm tryin’ to get you back 
before the night done run out I'll be givin’ it my best-est 
and nothin's gonna stop me but divine intervention 
I reckon it's again my turn to find that Eichhorn(Eichorn/Eichkan/Eckorn/Thorn)
 
But I won't hesitate no more, 
no more, it cannot wait 
G-G-G-Grandpa Nicholas!
 
Well open up that gedcom and see like me 
open up my email and new cousins for the tree
look into you mailbox and you'll find vital records
listen to my great aunts talk: Sanderson and Whitehead 
They're just perfect as can be
Someday I'll find the truth to those family mysteries
 
So, Anna May/Elizabeth Ann
Sanderson/Lawrence
I'll find you this time i'm sure 
Hiding at every chance, 
Then no tombstone...
 
I've been spendin' way too long checkin' Ancestry in the library 
and changin' all the spellings just to try to find the answer 
But my crazy searches finally worked
and so I drew a new chart and happy-danced
I guess what I'd be sayin' is there ain't no better reason 
to search through old microfilms and in courthouses 
Genealogy’s what we aim to do 
our goal is our history
 
But I won't hesitate no more, 
no more, it cannot wait
I found you!
 
Casell, Casillo, Tross
Acquard, Nuwer, Gress and Bond
look into my gedcom and you'll find lots of family 
listen to me ramble of happy dances and brick walls
ah, la one big family 
even if they're black sheep, they're mine, mine, mine, mine 
  
 
  
But I won't hesitate no more, 
no more, it cannot wait 
They’re mine