52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 28 Prompt - Trains

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 28

Prompt – Trains

Bill's Great-Uncle, William Edward Hansen is married to Bill's maternal grandmother's younger sister – Carolina Emily Bachmann.

Bill is William Hansen's namesake. One of Bill's earliest memories is the gift of a “hurdy-gurdy” that Great-Uncle Bill had given him. Apparently Bill was around 2 or 3 years old. 

1955 - Great-Uncle William Hansen With Bill Hoffart

 William and Carolina (aka; Lena) Hansen were married on May 7, 1928 in Melville, Saskatchewan. This is where they resided after the marriage. William (aka; Bill) worked with the CNR (Canadian National Railway). CNR's divisional point was at Melville because it was approximately halfway between Winnipeg and Saskatoon. Tragedy struck Great-Uncle Bill on April 12, 1946. 

April 13, 1946

William E. Hansen

Bill Hansen was fitted for a metal artificial leg at some point after. On one of his visits to the Hoffart household in Saskatoon, young Bill remembers this cute story of Great-Uncle Bill and his artificial leg. It was made of metal and young Bill was looking at it. Bill discovered a hole in the artificial leg. Great-Uncle Bill told young Bill that he had a real problem with that hole because the mice kept getting into his leg. However Great-Uncle Bill told young Bill that it was okay now because he put a mouse trap inside to catch the mice. However Great-Uncle invited Bill to go ahead and stick his finger in it. Bill remembers vividly that he never did put his finger into the hole of Great-Uncle Bill's artificial leg.

I feel stories like this are priceless. It tells me so much more about Great-Uncle Bill.  I'm sure he was a very fun loving fellow who enjoyed his life despite the tragedies that he had to bear. He lost his wife, Lena to cancer in December of 1955. His only child lived in California working as a nurse since 1951. 

I met him once or twice before his death in 1981.  And I know he was a guest at our wedding. Unfortunately I recall very little of him from these encounters.  

William E. Hansen - 1956 circa.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 27 Prompt - Planes

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 27

Prompt – Planes

I wrote this story way back in my first year of blogging. I hope that it is as enjoyable this time as the first time you may have read it. 

Circa 1967 - Uncle Wally, Grandmother McLaughlin and My Mother, Vivian Peters

 In 2006 we had a chance to visit our aunt & uncle in their winter home in Arizona. Wallace McLaughlin is my grandma McLaughlin's third child, a sibling to my mother. Uncle Wally, as we called him, was born in 1927 and died just 3 years after this visit. They lived in Ontario and growing up we rarely saw them. My older siblings know him better than myself. Uncle Wally was an Engineer who at one time was the Dean of Engineering at Waterloo University and in fact was president of The Deans of Canada Engineers. At the time of the visit, I was just starting to put family history together. We asked him if he knew any stories of himself and my mom when they were young.

He unfortunately could not remember many. We did learn that he was a bit mischievous growing up. He said his step-father, Benjamin McLaughlin, was strict and liked things just so, such as no talking at the dinner table. If you broke the rules you were punished by his “razor strap”. Uncle Wally knew if he got in trouble at school and in his words was “caned” at school he would get it twice as bad at home. So on his way home he would find a few layers of cardboard to put in his back so it lessened the severity.

I call this Uncle Wally story - “Have Gun Will Travel”.

It is my favourite story of my quintessential church lady grandmother. Grandmother went to church every week and sometimes more often. She baked cookies and took them to the “old folks shut-ins” She always wore a hat and her handbag was firmly clutched within her hands or hung over her forearm secured tightly to her body.

Sometime in the 1970s or 1980's Grandma McLaughlin decided to go to Ontario to visit Wally and his family. She always travelled by plane. In those days airport security was almost non-existent.

Apparently his mother (Mary McLaughlin) use to own a 32 calibre Browning Automatic gun. What the heck was she doing with a gun in her home. Maybe it belonged to her second husband who had died in 1945. She must have been going through her stuff in the cellar when she found it and probably had long since forgotten about it.

Browning 32 Calibre Browning Automatic Pistol - Similar to this Image

Grandma was quite deaf. In his younger days, Uncle Wally would go down into their cellar, find it and for the heck of it go outside and shoot it at the wood pile. Grandma was non the wiser! So uncle Wally knew she had a gun. He went on to explain that on this particular trip to their home in Ontario, she decided it was “too dangerous” to have around her home. Grandma had decided that she should take it and give it to Uncle Wally because he would know what to do with it. So she put it in her handbag along with all of it's ammunition. She flew with it in her purse as carry on and without incidence. Uncle Wally and Aunt Phyllis were flabbergasted that she took it on the plane. I can visualize grandma surprising them with the gun from her purse. It really paints a bizarre picture. I mean my church lady grandmother pulling a gun from within her purse!

With a hearty laugh and a smile so wide, Uncle Wally said that when he took it from her, he found out that it was loaded and ready to shoot. All I can say is OMG – the angels of Grandma McLaughlin were protecting her in all her innocence. 

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 26 Prompt - Family Gathering

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 26

Prompt – Family Gathering

Georg Frederick (known as Fred) Krikau was born on January 26 1905, in Warenburg, Samara Province, Volga Valley, Russia.

His father was Andreas Krikau born January 20 1879, in Warenburg, Samara Province, Russia.

His mother Mary Katherine Kraft was born on August 27 1879, in Warenburg, Samara Province, Russia.

He had 7 siblings: Andreas, Mary Katherine (my grandmother), Elisa, Georg, Johannes (John), Heinrich (Henry), and Wilhelm.

His wife Alvina Margaret Goeringer was born on June 3 1908, in Rocky Ford, Colorado, USA.

They were married on October 17, 1928 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and they had 2 children: George Frederick Jr., and Margaret.

Fred and Alvina Krikau - November 16, 1941

This was my maternal grandmother's sibling. He was known as Fred. In the early 1920's, the Krikau family moved to Chicago, Illinois. That is. all but my grandmother who was married and her brother Fred. I am not sure why he did not immigrate at the same time as his family. He was a full time mechanic in Winnipeg. He wasn't married . However he did marry on October 28, 1928.

Several years ago while looking through the website – newspapers.com, for any Krikau family news I found the following article. It was written in The Pointer of Riverdale, Illinois on January 19, 1945. Interestingly it was an article about Fred Krikau and his family visiting from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Who knew that the family gathering was so newsworthy?

The Tanis family that they were staying with was Fred's sister, Elisa and brother-in-law.

The other article that I found was dated March 20, 1946 in The Times in Munster, Indiana. 

We learned in this article that Fred Krikau and his family have moved to United States and are living with his parents at this time.

Similarly, I found my grandmother's and Fred Krikau's younger brother, George Krikau in The Times, Munster, Indiana published on June 22, 1944.

The article wrote about all the family gathering for a picnic supper to celebrate George Krikau's birthday which was June 15. The picnic was held on Sunday, June 18.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 25 Prompt - Storyteller

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 25

Prompt - Storyteller 

I started doing these blogs in January, 2018. I had been researching genealogy for more than 10 years at that time. I felt that I had so much information for my and Bill's family trees. The problem was that it stayed on my laptop and unless I was asked something specific that is where the information stayed.

It seemed to me that there has to be something more to genealogy than the birth, christenings, marriage, and death statistics. Thus began the stories that I knew and then the stories of my relatives. I added historical background where I thought it would help the story.

Jackie edited and then compiled them into a book. What a beautiful surprise to see my words put into a book. It wasn't real. We have 2018 and 2019 published. I wait patiently for the next one to be edited and assembled.

I really don't consider myself a “storyteller”. All I can hope is that these blogs / stories help my children, grandchildren and extended family know who our ancestors and families were.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 24 Prompt - Hard Times

2024 

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 

Week 24 

Prompt – Hard Times 

Rochus Hoffart and Marianna Gross are Bill's paternal grandparents. 

Oct. 29, 1934 - Rochus and Marianna Hoffart

Rochus Hoffart was born August 14, 1891 in Malcoci, Tulcea District, Romania. He immigrated to Canada when he was 24 years old. We do not know when he left Romania but we do know that he arrived in St. John, New Brunswick on February 11, 1914. Rochus travelled to Canada from Glasgow, Scotland aboard the ship called Cassandra. The ship departed from Glasgow on January 31, 1914. He then travelled by train to Estevan, Saskatchewan where he met his family. His parents, Jacob and Eva Hoffart immigrated to Canada in the spring of 1913. Apparently Rochus and his two sibling had contracted Measles and could not board the ship at the time his parents and family left. 

Marion Gross was born on July 2, 1892 in Emmental, Tighina, Romania. Her parents were Peter and Barbara Gross. She immigrated from Libau, Russia and arrived in Canada aboard the ship, Dwinsk on April 7, 1914. Marion was 21 when she came to Canada. She came alone without any family. On the ship's list manifest she stated that she was going to work as a domestic for her brother on his farm in Estevan, Saskatchewan. Marion had two sisters and one brother. The brother did not immigrate to Canada until 1948! 

This marriage took place just a few months after Marianna arrived. They married on July 22, 1914. It may have been an arranged marriage but I am not sure on this point. 

During the early years of their marriage there was much movement back and forth across the U.S. Border and North Dakota or Montana. Rochus was not sure about farming because of the many failed farms he saw upon his arrival. He found work in Brown, North Dakota working for the railroad building roundhouses. 

Between 1917 and 1918 there was a compulsory WWI draft registration in the United States. Rochus filled his out on June 5, 1917. Rochus had served his compulsory 3 years in the Romanian Army plus 5 years in the militia. It is surmised that shortly after this time when the war in Romania was imminent that Rochus decided to immigrate to Canada. The family said that after filling out the U.S. Draft card he decided to move to Canada permanently. 

Two years later on June 7, 1919 that Rochus filled out his application for his homestead in Saskatchewan. On June 24, 1919 Rochus and family crossed the border at Big Muddy Crossing to take up residence in Canada. 

He homesteaded in Saskatchewan around Big Muddy Lake (NE 27-2-21- W2) . He gave up this homestead because part of this land was in the lake. In 1929 he got his second homestead (NW 34-2-21- W2). It was further north and according to the family, mostly arable. 

Rochus and Marion had eight children; Eva, Peter, Jacob, Barbara, Anton (Bill's father), John, Regina and Henry. Eva and Peter were born in the United States. 

1951 - Rochus and Marianna Hoffart and Adult Children

 

In 2017 Bill and I met with his first cousin once removed – John Hoffart. He lived in Regina and had been working on Hoffart family genealogy. Through meetings and further emails we slowly got some family stories we never heard about. John was the one who told us the story of Rochus' two homesteads and the reason why he took a second one. 

In 2015 John Hoffart visited Rochus and Marion's only living child – Regina (Reg). It was Reg who filled him in on how they ended up on a farm in Neudorf, Saskatchewan. Reg told John that the drought on the homestead was so bad in in the early 1930's that their cattle were dying due to lack of feed. Rochus sent out his two sons, Peter and Anton to search for good pasture lands and winter feed for the cattle. They searched in The Qu'Applle Valley. They found a farm that they could rent just 5 miles south of Neudorf, Saskatchewan. Reg remembers that she was 10 years old when they moved to that farm. That means 1937. 

Six years later in 1943 Marion experienced health problems and the family moved to Regina and purchased a house at 2325 Cornwall Street. And in 1947 they moved to 2118 Halifax Avenue. In Regina, Rochus was employed by the city and worked building new cement sidewalks and repairing old ones when needed. 

Marion Hoffart died on Dec 3, 1957 in Regina, Saskatchewan at the age of 65. 

Easter 1959 - Bill, Grandpa Rochus and Elaine Hoffart

Rochus Hoffart remarried on April 2, 1960 in Regina. His new wife was Agatha Margaret Miller. 

Circa 1962 - Agatha, Elaine, Bill and Rochus Hoffart

Agatha Hoffart died on November 5, 1966 in Regina at the age of 76. Rochus was now twice widowed. He died on April 8, 1970 in Regina, Saskatchewan at the age of 80. 

This history of Bill's paternal grandparents is not unlike all of our other family immigrants. They all worked hard to live in the new country called Canada. Was the hardship of starting over worth it? Rochus Hoffart was leaving because of the imminent outbreak of war in Romania. Then less than  4 years later he left the United States because of their draft registration to WWI and its imminent outbreak of war. 

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 23 Prompt - Health

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 23

Prompt – Health

Mary McLaughlin - June, 1988

I was looking through photographs (as I often do) and found this photograph of my maternal grandmother – Mary McLaughlin. It was dated June 1988. I did not take the photograph and in fact I can't remember how it became mine.

I vaguely recalled that she suffered a stoke sometime in the summer of 1987. Thus when I saw this dated photograph of June 1988 she seemed to be using both hands to cut the strawberries. I didn't think that was possible. I realized I did not know how grandmother McLaughlin's last few years had unfolded. I had lived away from home for over 10 years. I was busy with my young family. I decided to ask my sister, Bonnie about it. Could she fill in grandma's story of her last few years for me?

Mary McLaughlin (nee: Krikau) was born on June 8, 1903 in Warenburg, Samara Province, Volga Valley, Russia. In January of 1987 Mary lost her daughter, Vivian (my mother). It had to be difficult for her.

1987 was the year that Bonnie recorded her oral history about the Krikau family and how they came to Canada from Russia.

It seemed like grandmother was quite healthy in the early part of 1987, In June 1987 she turned 84 years old and celebrated at her son - Uncle Wally, Phyllis and family in Ontario. 

Mary McLaughlin - June 8, 1987 - 84th Birthday

 Bonnie wrote this about our grandmother.

 

In July while Bonnie's family was getting ready for Lynn's baptism, Bonnie was informed that grandmother was being taken to St. Paul's Hospital for incontinence and confusion. Grandmother had suffered a stroke. Grandmother would never go back to her home after this. Shortly after she was transferred to University Hospital Geriatric Care. Bonnie said she had gone to visit grandma and a pile of wash clothes were on a table in front of her and she was struggling to fold them. Bonnie also realized at this time that the stroke had taken grandma's language.

Several weeks after being in the University Hospital she was transferred to a private home with 24 hour nursing care. Bonnie said that it was a bi level home and “the with it clients “ were upstairs and grandmother was downstairs. It was believed by Bonnie and Uncle Wally (grandmother's son) that she was receiving very little care. She became combative. Thus Uncle Wally decided to put her in Parkridge Nursing Home in Fairhaven. It happened to be 6 blocks from Bonnie's home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On August 1, 1989 Mary McLaughlin died. She was suppose to have surgery to remove her gangrene leg. However as Bonnie put it “God had mercy on her and took her home. She had lots of fight in her up until they locked her in a nursing home. She slowly faded away – she lost her voice, she lost her mobility and totally lost her mind. That good and faithful servant of God's suffers no more.”

Bonnie said that she really misses grandma but know she is probably busy baking cookies for “the old folks” in heaven.

I don't remember much of this. I did go once to Fairhaven to visit her but it must have been a good day. I do remember that she didn't speak much and did not recognize us.

Bonnie feels that the photograph of grandmother cutting strawberries was a posed photograph from the first private nursing home so Uncle Wally could see how well she was in their care. Who knows?

Her health declined rather quickly – from baking cookies to being spoon fed; from lucid to non-communicative; from travelling independently on buses to bedridden.

All so sad.

Wendy

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 22 Prompt - Creativity

 2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 22

Prompt - Creativity

1980 circa - Anton (Tony) Hoffart

 

 In Tony Hoffart's obituary it states that he had many talents and shared them often with his family, friends and churches.  His woodworking skills are even enjoyed now long after he is gone. 

Shortly after his marriage to Clara he made a cedar chest for her as a Christmas present.  

1958 -  Cedar Chest Built by Tony Hoffart For His Wife

Tony and Clara's daughter, Norma has inherited it. The cedar chest was not one of the pieces that Clara couldn't move to her new residence.  Norma brought it to her home and has the daunting task of going through all the paperwork that has been stored in it over the years. Notice that there is also a drawer in the bottom. 

In 1953, Tony made this entertainment centre long before they were common home pieces of furniture. Notice the record player in the top left corner and a space for his radio right next to it fitting like a glove. I believe that is the speaker underneath it. He made the vertical shelves for the records. 

1956 - Bill (in Bow-Tie and Suspenders) and His Friend Pose on Top of Coffee Table That Tony Made.

1965 - Tony Hoffart Built His Garage in Their Park Avenue Home

1967 circa - Tony bought a kit to make a boat.  Bill recalls that the boat appeared in the basement during the time that Clara and the kids were out at a church Lenten service. Tony started to pre-assemble it in the basement but of course it was not built there. The boat was named "Norma". 

Norma, Great Great Uncle Henry and Bill Hoffart

1979 - Jill is Sitting In Front of TV Stand That Tony Made For Us

1980 Christmas - Jill is trying out her new doll bed that Grandpa Tony made for her.

1985 Christmas Day - Grandpa Tony made Jill and Jackie toy boxes for all their toys.  Sorry grandpa but their toys would not all fit in these two toy boxes.

The China Cabinet is my favourite piece that Tony made. Clara had given him the exact design that she wanted for her special dishes, silverware and table linens.  It was so beautiful. In 2011 when Clara moved from her 3 bedroom apartment to the Luther Tower she gave it to Jill and Chris.  

1983 - Jackie Waiting For Christmas Dinner Next to China Cabinet.

The China Cabinet.

Photograph taken today.

 

 

Wendy