52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 47 Prompt - Discovery

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 47

Prompt - Discovery

Andreas and Maria Krikau

My maternal great-grandmother is Maria Katherine Kraft. She was born August 27, 1879 in Warenburg, Russia. She married Andreas Krikau on June 15, 1898 in Warenburg, Russia. They and their family immigrated to Canada in the fall of 1911. They came through New York and then by passenger train to Saskatchewan and joined Andreas Krikau's cousin in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. By 1913 Andreas and his family moved on to Winnipeg, Manitoba and by 1924 they immigrated to The United States.

When I first started this genealogy I went through my mother's photo album and came across this newspaper obituary.

I ignored it at first sighting. This person died in Nebraska. As far as I knew my great-grandmother had lived most of her life in Chicago. I did not know who this was and did not think that it was my great-grandmother. This assumption is not hard to believe because so many ancestors inherit the same name as their mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin etc. I thought that it was perhaps a distant cousin of my great-grandmother. As I was soon to figure out, my great-grandmother had married a second time. It was to someone called Philipp Hartwig and he lived in Scotsbluff, Nebraska.

Maria's first spouse, Andreas Krikau died December 29, 1946 in Riverdale, Illinois. Riverdale is a suburb of Chicago. Andreas and Maria were both 67 years old and married approximately 48 years.

I next decided to start looking into Maria Krikau's second marriage. I was intrigued that she married someone from Nebraska. How did she know this person? I did not know when she married him. Why did she die in Nebraska but was buried in the same cemetery as her first husband in Illinois?

My great-grandmother's obituary stated that her husband, Phillip Hartwig outlived her. I started to research Philipp Hartwig. I came across his obituary. 

 

 

Mary Katherine (Trippel) and Phillip Hartwig

I started to put together some pieces of my puzzle. He was born in “Verndurg” Russia on October 6 1876. I did not recognize the city name from Russia. He was born around the same time of my great-grandmother. Eventually and through other sources I found out that he was born in Warenburg. The obituary stated he married his “first wife” , Mary Katherine Tripple in Russia in 1899. They immigrated to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1901 and eventually settled in Scottsbluff, Nebraska in 1911. The name of Tripple sounded familiar to me. In the 1913 failed U.S. Border crossing of Andreas and Maria and family had listed the closest living relative was a sister of Andreas named Barbara Trippel. Andreas did have a sibling named Elisabeth Barbara. I had no further information on her other than she existed. Possibly she could have married a Tripple.

Going on from the Philipp Hartwig's obituary I found out that his first wife, Mary Katherine died September 20, 1950. 

 

I tried to do more research on Mary Katherine Hartwig (Tripple) but soon found out that my great-grandmother's name was so similar, Marie Katherine Hartwig (Kraft). Let me say I spent days collecting and sorting and re-sorting out sources where I had mixed them up between the two. It was a nightmare.

Philipp Hartwig married my great-grandmother sometime in 1951 and she died July 25, 1953 Her second husband outlived her. 

Marie Krikau (Kraft) and Phillip Hartwig. Circa Jul 1953.

 It is my belief that my great-grandmother, Maria Krikau (Kraft) remarried to Philipp Hartwig because of family connections. Maria's sister-in-law was Barbara Tripple (Andreas' sister) and when Mary Hartwig / Tripple died a connection was forged between Maria Krikau (Kraft) and Philipp Hartwig. They were about the same age and were born in the same village in Russia. Hartwig / Tripple married 1899 where Krikau / Kraft married in 1898, both in the same village. Maybe the two married couples knew each other from “the old world”. Also their spouses both died within a few years of each other.

My great-grandmother died in Scottsbluff but was buried close to her first husband in Illinois just as Phillip Hartwig was buried next to his first wife, Mary Katherine Hartwig (Tripple) in Nebraska. I guess that makes sense.

Facts that run amok.

My great-grandmother's name is Maria Katherine Kraft. She often went by Mary. The first wife was known as Marie Katherine Trippel, but often went by Katie. Note also the maiden name is found both as Tripple and Trippel.

Mr. Hartwig is known most by the name Philip Hartwig. But on several family trees he is listed as Johann Phillip Hartwig. His gravestone lists his name as Philipp Hartwig. Note the one “L” and two “P”s.

The city of Scottsbluff, Nebraska is often written as Scotts Bluff, Nebraska. 

In the obituary of Maria Krikau / Hartwig it states that she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mary McLaughlin and Mrs Elisa Tanis.  These are in fact her daughters. 

So many details that can lead one away from true sources of their family tree. 

I hope this is not too confusing. I am still working on these families to see if any other discoveries come forward to show more of their story. 

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 46 Prompt - Progenitor

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 47

Prompt – Progenitor

“Ancestors refer to those who came before you in your family tree. Progenitor refers to the originator or initial founder of something or the direct ancestor of a person.”

I consider my family tree progenitor Aron Peters (1746-1802). This is as far back as I can go in the Peters line.

Aron Peters was born in 1746 in Pietzckendorf, Pomerania, Prussia. He died January 1, 1802 in a founding Mennonite Colony in Southern Russia known as Schoenhorst, Chortitza Colony. The name of his first wife is unknown but did have two children with her; Elizabeth (1768) and Helena (1774) and both born in Prussia. Aron Peters married his second wife, Helena Krahn on September 1, 1780. They had 7 children.

Aron Peters and his family were among the first 6 families that left Prussia for Southern Russia. They settled in Schoenhorst, Chortitza in 1789. By 1797 about 500 more families moved from Prussia to Southern Russia.

Then between 1874 – 1880 tens of thousand Mennonites immigrated to Canada and in particular to Manitoba. Over the next 20 years many left Manitoba colonies for Hague, Saskatchewan or Swift Current, Saskatchewan. In the 1920's their was a further immigration to Mexico. Swift Current Colonists went to Cueuhetomoc, Chihuahua, Mexico and the Hague Colonies went to Nuevo Ideal, Durango, Mexico.

My father was from the Hague area colony but his family was one of many that did not go to Mexico and stayed in Hague, Saskatchewan. 

 

Wendy 

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 45 Prompt - Colourful

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 45

Prompt – Colourful

My Heritage added to it's website the ability to take our photographs and have them enhanced, colourized and animated or some combination of the three edits. I have played with this for the past few years. I do not like the “animate” edit. It takes still portrait and allows the head to turn slowly from one side to the other. It really creeps me out. Enhanced has been very helpful for most of my old photographs. It really takes the old photographs and clears them up, removes wrinkle lines etc, The colourizing is pretty cool. Most of my photographs that I have done this to is quite nice. However I do realize that the original photograph is always the best for genealogy. I will give examples of my colourizing efforts in some of my photographs. 

 

 1918 Photo of Bill's Great-Grandparents, Grandma and Great Aunts.

Lt to Right: The Bachmann Family

Dorothea, August, Ida (Bill's grandmother),Wilhelmina and in front in white dress is Carolina. 

August and Wilhelmina are Bill's great-grandparents.

 

Colourized Photograph of Bachmann Family.

1944 - Jahnke Family

Back Row: Clara (Bill's Mother), Herb, and Elsie

Seated: Arthur and Ida Jahnke (Bill's Grandparents).

1940's - My paternal grandparents.

1935 circa: My maternal great-grandparents. Andreas and Maria Krikau.

 

My Parents on Their Wedding Day. 

Jake and Vivian Peters

November 1938.

 Wendy

 

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 44 Prompt - Granduncle

 2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 44

Prompt - Granduncle

I don't believe that I have ever met this granduncle. Andreas Krikau is my maternal Grandmother McLaughlin's older brother.  I recall my grandmother speaking of him.  However I do not have any specific stories.  This is his story that I pieced together using documents, passenger lists, my grandmother's photographs, Canadian and American census records, border crossing records, city directories and his United States Naturalization Papers.  

Andreas (Andrew / Andy) Krikau Jr.
10 Mar 1901 – Aug 1968

Andreas Krikau is the oldest child of Andreas and Maria (nee Kraft) Krikau.  He was born March 10, 1901 in Warenburg, Samara Province, Volga Valley, Russia. His birth date is mentioned in the 1916 and 1921 Canada Census and the 1930 & 1940 U. S. Census. His birth date is also written up in his US Illinois Federal Naturalization papers filed on July 12, 1939. The Michigan marriage index has him born "about 1901". His 1924 border crossing from Winnipeg to Detroit at 22 years of age has his birth as "about 1902". Andreas' September, 1923 record of Aliens pre-examined in Canada for the U.S. states his birth date as "about 1901". The Krikau Parochial Certificate from Warenburg, Russia lists his birth date as March 10, 1901. This is the most accurate account of his date and place of birth. His name was listed as Andrew Krikau on all of his American and Canadian documents.
Andreas was 10 years old when he and his family left Russia. They immigrated to Canada under the sponsorship of Phillip Krikau, a cousin of Andreas Krikau Sr. Their destination was Rosthern, Saskatchewan, Canada. The sailed from Libau to New York aboard the ship, Birma. They went through Ellis Island before taking the train on to Saskatchewan, Canada. According to the Ellis Island document the address in Rosthern was Box 111, Rosthern, Saskatchewan.
On 29 August 1913 Andreas and family attempted entry to the US with the intended destination of Sanger, CA. where they were joining "friend" Jacob Smith. The family was denied entry by American authorities upon examination in Winnipeg. Documentation shows that while tickets to Sanger had been paid for by Smith, Andreas did not have sufficient cash to satisfy US requirements. They stayed in Winnipeg after that.
Andreas Jr. was the first of the family to go to the United States, entering the United States in April 1924. According to the crossing his occupation was auto mechanic. He was single. He was joining an Uncle ? in Detroit, Michigan who lived on 6069 Widewood Ave. Detroit, Michigan. In this particular crossing documentation it indicates that his home was Rosthern, Saskatchewan and his father's address was also Rosthern. However the 1916 &1921 Census has the Krikau family including Andrew Krikau Jr. living at 107 Eaton Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
In his Petition for Naturalization it states that he entered the United States for the purpose of permanent residence on September 15, 1923 at Noyes, Minnesota from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada.
On September 15, 1924 in Detroit, Michigan he married Tillie Clara Ellen Trudell.
In a 1926 U.S. City Directory we have Andrew Krikau Jr living at 814 Pearl, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. His recorded occupation at this time is "salesman". His spouse is Clara Krikau.

Ca. 1932 - Tillie and Andy Krikau

The 1930 US Federal Census lists him as living in Riverdale, Cook, Illinois, USA in a rented home at 13831 Edgebrook Avenue. We learn from this census that he is a white Russian-born male who was first married at the age of 24 and is still married to the same spouse. They have 3 children; Clara, Andrew, and John. He never attended school but can read and write. His language was German. He did not own a radio set. His occupation was automobile mechanic working in a garage and he was employed at the time of the census. He had also filed his first papers for naturalization.

 

Ca. 1932 - Maria, Clara (daughter of Tillie and Andy), Tillie and Andy, Andreas Krikau Sr.

On July 12, 1939 he received his naturalization.
In the 1940 United States Federal Census, Andreas Krikau is a white male Russian-born head of the house in 14706 Spaulding, Dolton Cook Illinois where he was also living in 1935. The house was rented and he pays 23 dollars monthly. He is naturalized citizen. He did not attend a school or college but has attained Grade 4 education. He worked as a auto mechanic in a private work site earning 1536 in 1939 where he worked a total of 40 weeks that year. He now has 4 children and the fourth child is Richard. Incidentally the transcription for his last name in this US census is "Krikav".
On September 28 1953, Andreas Krikau was remarried to Rose J Cairo at Cook County, Illinois. I have no records of a divorce from Tillie. I do not have a photograph of Rose and Andy Krikau.
In a US City directory of 1955 Andreas and Rose Krikau reside in Orlando, Florida, USA. His
occupation is still mechanic.
On 5 August 1968 he died in Orange, Florida, USA.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 43 Prompt - Lost Contact

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 43

Prompt – Lost Contact

My mother's brother was Wallace Alvin McLaughlin who was born May 5, 1927. My mother was 5 years older than her brother. They were never close to each other. In fact I would say that they were indifferent to each other. My mother married when she was 16 years old and Uncle Wally was only 11years old. 

Vivian Sullivan and Brother Wally Sullivan ca. 1933

Uncle Wally went to university and got his Civil Engineering degree. Uncle Wally and Aunt Phyllis married in 1950. They had 5 children over the years. They lived in many different places within Saskatchewan, Illinois, California, Brazil and eventually settled in Waterloo, Ontario. I feel because of this we rarely visited with them. As a child I remember maybe two times that they came to visit us in Saskatoon. As cousins we really had very little in common. None the less they were our aunt and uncle and cousins. Uncle Wally and Aunt Phyllis did visit Bill and me and the kids while we lived in Regina. I think about 1987. Their mother, my grandmother, Mary McLaughlin died on August 1,1989. They came for the funeral where once again we reconnected. 

The next time I heard from them was when my cousin, Debbie contacted me in fall of 2000. She was organizing a Golden Anniversary party for her parents and had invited me and my siblings to come out to Waterloo to celebrate. Unfortunately none of us was able to make the trip.

Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Wally wintered in Arizona every year. In 2006 we travelled down to Casa Grande to visit them. This was my sister Betty and her husband John, my sister Bonnie and myself. We actually had a pretty good time together. I told them about my beginning work on our family tree and asked Uncle Wally if he could add any stories of him and our mother when they were kids. There were a few but in the end he said he really didn't remember much about that time with his sister. Fair enough.

April 2006 - Uncle Wally and Aunt Phyllis

 

April 2007 - Bonnie, Betty, Aunt Phyllis, Wendy and Uncle Wally

After this Aunt Phyllis and I shared some letters back and forth. Maybe one or two during a year. She would let me know how they were getting on and about her kids. She kept me in the loop when Uncle Wally needed his heart bypass surgery. And when they discovered he had lung cancer. Then a few years later in July 2009 she called me to tell me that Uncle Wally had passed away. It was a two and 1/2 hour conversation about his illness, decline and death. She felt the health system let him down by not allowing him to take radiation or chemotherapy or operate on the tumours. I listened and she poured her heart out about everything.

Shortly after that she sent me a parcel that she boxed up for me which was all grandma McLaughlin's photos, documents and certificates that Uncle Wally had. She said since I was doing genealogy that some of the things might be of interest to me. Other wise she would just throw them out. Oh goodness me the items were birth certificates, marriage certificates, naturalization papers, a letter about grandma's second husband being a “foundling” and other equally impressive family heirlooms. 

My Grandmother's Documents, Bound Leather Books and Envelope with Letters

 Over the next few years Aunt Phyllis and I had a few phone chats which were never less than an hour or two. I always wrote notes on the conversation and then sat afterwards writing it out. She did eventually tell me family things that I had not heard before but long suspected. He was really my half-uncle. None the less over the next decade our phone chats were less and less. She developed macular degeneration and couldn't write or read very well. Eventually she moved closer to her daughter, Debbie who could assist her. I did not have Debbie's address or phone number so I really lost contact with them. After a decade I started looking for her obituary in newspaper.com. And for many years I did not find one. Oddly enough as I was preparing for this blog I thought of how I had lost contact with Aunt Phyllis. I checked one more time and found her obituary. I was saddened by this but deep down knew she must be gone. 

The sadder part was that in the obituary she mentioned that she was predeceased by her eldest daughter, Dawn (born 1952). I definitely was not expecting this. I have spent the past few days checking on line for an obituary for Dawn. I only found a possible grave site in Ontario which had no birth date or death date on it and thus can't verify it. I did track down another person's family tree that included Dawn and all that was written was 2021. That is all I know for now. Since Aunt Phyllis died November 10, 2021 she must have died just before in that year. I wonder if it was related to COVID? I will continue to look into it.

Sadly I lost contact with my aunt who had given me so many family insights over the past 20 years or so.

Wendy

 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 42 Prompt - Family Gatherings

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 42

Prompt – Family Gathering

This past summer while visiting in Saskatoon, my sister, Bonnie invited us to a barbecue at their home. She said she would invite her kids so they could catch up with their Aunt Wendy and Uncle Bill. It had been sometime since we have been together with their kids. Sounded like a great idea.

Bonnie and Doug have four children. Murray (b.1981), Matthew (b.1983), Lynn (b.1987) and Michael (b.1989). Her three sons live in Saskatoon however her daughter, Lynn lives in New Zealand with her husband and two children. I knew that Lynn and her family would not be at the barbecue. It would have been so much fun to add another 4 family members to this gathering. Sadly we  missed you Lynn, Steve and kids.

August 2024 - Cuthbertson Family Barbecue

 Lt to Rt Around the table: Doug and Bonnie Cuthbertson, Marie-Louise M.(Michael's significant other), Erin Lindsay C. and  Matthew C., Julian C (Michael's son) ., Michael C., Vanessa L and Murray C., Wendy H. 

I was surprised that Bonnie had two tables set up in the dining room for a sit-down supper. This brought back all the memories of our Peters family gatherings in mom and dad's small home. And by small I mean 900 square feet, 3 bedroom and 1 bathroom. It was usually at Christmastime. 7 kids and their spouses, 5 or so grandchildren depending on the year, mom, dad, grandmother and sometimes her border. So many conversations at the same time. It was happy chaos. I look back at those gatherings as a happy time.

At the barbecue there was 11 of us sitting together, passing the food around the table. It was listening to conversations. Bonnie and Doug's sons and their significant others were full on adults. Our conversations were enlightening, fascinating and it was such a wonderful gathering with them all together. I was catching up on their lives. And I guess vice versa for them. Although goodness only knows what young adults would find interesting in their 70 year old aunt and uncle. Bill was so happy that he had a few of them interested in seeing the Tesla. He even took them for a short ride. It made his day. 

December 25, 2023 - The Cuthbertson Family

Lt to Rt

Back Row: Erin Lindsay C, Emily M., Matthew C., Vanessa L, Murray C., Steve M., Doug C., Michael C., Marie-Louise M.,

Front Row: Bonnie C., Jonathan (Jonty) M., Julian C., Lynn M.  

Please forgive me if I have misspelled any names. 

Family gatherings come in many sizes and shapes, some happy and some not so happy. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays and funerals are some of the family gatherings I think back on. It is during these times that we reunite with our old selves and reconcile them with our present self. And pray that we can have one more gathering in the near future. 

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Weeks 40 & 41 Prompt - Least and Most

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 40 & 41

Prompt – Least and Most

Lately I have been looking at my Ancestry DNA results. I still do not fully understand some of the results I have. Or maybe, more specifically, I do not understand DNA. According to my DNA results I have 6 ancestral regions. They are as follows. 

63% of my DNA is from the Germanic European Region. Although I am told this could range from 48 to 70%. It is a region from the Dutch and German Lowlands along the North Sea through to the forested uplands to the Austrian Alps. The people in this region are primarily located in: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland. But also can be found in Czech Republic, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovenia.

Of the 63% DNA from the Germanic European Region,  I received 38% from my father and 25% from my mother side of my family tree. 

I always thought there would be some Irish in my DNA.   After all my mother's biological father was apparently Irish whose parents immigrated from Ireland.  I understand that this still could be possible seeing how random DNA is passed down from your parents.  50% from your father and 50% from your mother. The 50% from my mother could mean that I inherited everything except her Irish DNA.  

The totals that I received from each parent are as follows.

Of the England and Northwestern European region my mother contributed 17 % of the 19% DNA from that region. My mother contributed nothing from the Sweden region however my entire 6% came from my paternal side.  Similarly, I received all 6% of Scotland from my mother's side and nothing from my father's side for Scotland. The 4% from Central and Eastern European region came from my father. The 2% of my DNA from The Netherlands came from my father's side and nothing from my mother's side. Mennonites were thought to have originated from The Netherlands - Anabaptist. 

When you put this all together it does seem to match some of my research of my ancestors.  So I guess that I am going in the right direction in my family tree's ancestors. 

Wendy