Here is my family:
Descendants of Ole Ottersen


Generation No. 1

1. OLE4 OTTERSEN (OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 01 Jun 1821 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 11 Jan 1894 in Alpena, Alpena, Michigan. He married ANDRINE OLSDTR 28 Jul 1844 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, daughter of OLE HANSEN and KARI OLDSDTR. She was born 11 Mar 1819 in Svangs-eie, Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 08 Oct 1913 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

More About OLE OTTERSEN:
Burial: Leer Cemetery, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan
Christening: 17 Jun 1821, Lier, Buskerud, Norway
Farm Name in Norway: Kopperud

More About ANDRINE OLSDTR:
Burial: Leer Cemetery, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan
Christening: 18 Apr 1819, Lier, Buskerud, Norway
Farm Name in Norway: Svangstrand

Children of OLE OTTERSEN and ANDRINE OLSDTR are:
2. i. OTTER5 OLESEN, b. 28 Oct 1844, Lier, Buskerud, Norway; d. 02 Mar 1931, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.
ii. CHRISTIAN OLESEN, b. 06 Oct 1846, Kopperud, Lier, Buskerud, Norway; d. 08 Nov 1849, Norway.

More About CHRISTIAN OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): Infant; Temple:
Christening: 22 Nov 1846, Kopperud, Lier, Norway
Endowment (LDS): Infant; Temple:
Sealed to parents (LDS): 17 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

3. iii. KAREN (OLESDTR) OLESEN, b. 07 Dec 1848, Lier, Buskerud, Norway; d. 29 Aug 1933, Leer, Alpena Co, Alpena MI.
4. iv. KRISTINE CHRISTINE (OLESDTR) OLESEN, b. 07 Nov 1851, Kopperud, Lier, Norway; d. 27 Mar 1893, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.
v. CHRISTIAN OLESEN, b. 18 Aug 1853, Norway; d. 19 Mar 1856, Norway.

More About CHRISTIAN OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): 04 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Christening: 25 Sep 1853, Lier, Norway
Endowment (LDS): 10 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sealed to parents (LDS): 19 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

5. vi. DORTHEA (OLESDTR) OLESEN, b. 16 Aug 1855, Norway; d. Norway.
vii. CHRISTIAN OLESEN, b. 18 Jun 1857, Norway; d. Infant, Norway.

More About CHRISTIAN OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): 04 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Christening: 05 Jul 1857
Endowment (LDS): 10 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sealed to parents (LDS): 19 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

viii. CARL OLESEN, b. 21 May 1859, Gunerud, Lier, Norway; d. 24 Jun 1861, Norway.

More About CARL OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): Infant; Temple:
Christening: 31 Jul 1859, Lier, Norway
Endowment (LDS): Infant; Temple:
Sealed to parents (LDS): 17 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

ix. CHRISTIAN OLESEN, b. 1861, Norway; d. 1947; m. MARY BRUKMAN.
x. ANNETTE (OLESDTR) OLESEN, b. 23 Apr 1864, Norway.

More About ANNETTE (OLESDTR) OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): 03 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Christening: 12 Jun 1864, Lier, Norway
Endowment (LDS): 10 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sealed to parents (LDS): 19 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah


Generation No. 2

2. OTTER5 OLESEN (OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 28 Oct 1844 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 02 Mar 1931 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan. He married (1) OLINE ANDERSON 1866 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, daughter of OLE ANDERSEN. She was born 03 Jan 1844 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 05 Sep 1885 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan. He married (2) ANNETTE ANDERSON 20 Mar 1887 in Long Rapids, Michigan. She was born 07 Jul 1854 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 23 Sep 1895. He married (3) ANNA ANDERSON 16 Aug 1896 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan. She was born 18 Sep 1865 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 17 Nov 1959.

More About OTTER OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): 04 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Christening: 01 Dec 1844, Lier, Buskerud, Norway
Emigrated: Aug 1867, Buffalo, New York
Endowment (LDS): 10 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Farm Name in Norway: Tveten
Moved to: 1880, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan
Sealed to parents (LDS): 19 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

More About OLINE ANDERSON:
Farm Name in Norway: Sjastad

More About ANNETTE ANDERSON:
Farm Name in Norway: Krodsherad

Children of OTTER OLESEN and OLINE ANDERSON are:
6. i. ALBERT6 OLSEN, b. 23 Nov 1867, Buffalo, New York; d. 15 Jun 1960, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
ii. OLE OLSEN, b. 16 Nov 1869, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 13 Jul 1889, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

Notes for OLE OLSEN:
Died after a kick by a horse.

7. iii. ANNA PAUINE OLSEN, b. 23 Jul 1871, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 20 Feb 1915, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
8. iv. EDDIE OLSEN, b. 07 Dec 1873, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 20 Dec 1954, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
9. v. JENNIE OLESEN, b. 04 Jan 1876, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 05 Jul 1972, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
10. vi. MANDI AMANDA OLSEN, b. 11 Oct 1877, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. Miami, Florida.
vii. NORA OLSEN, b. 15 Oct 1879, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 20 Oct 1959, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; m. HENRY TOLLSON, 02 Jul 1902, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
viii. OTTO OLSEN, b. 24 Aug 1881, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 21 Oct 1953, Traverse City, Michigan.

More About OTTO OLSEN:
Burial: Leer Lutheran Church, Alpena, Michigan

ix. ELIZA OLSEN, b. 12 Sep 1883, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 1950, Miami, Florida; m. PAUL MONSER.
x. OSCAR OLSEN, b. 05 Sep 1885, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 22 Sep 1885, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

More About OSCAR OLSEN:
Burial: Leer Lutheran Church Cemetery, Long Rapids, Michigan


Children of OTTER OLESEN and ANNETTE ANDERSON are:
11. xi. ALTA6 OLSEN, b. 13 Jan 1891, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 17 Feb 1949, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
xii. OSCAR OLSEN, b. 28 Jul 1887, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 25 Jun 1888, Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.


Child of OTTER OLESEN and ANNA ANDERSON is:
12. xiii. ALFRED6 OLSEN, b. 08 May 1897, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.


3. KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN (OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 07 Dec 1848 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 29 Aug 1933 in Leer, Alpena Co, Alpena MI. She met MARTIN OLESEN 02 May 1879 in Norwegian Lutheran Church, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, son of OLE CHRISTENSEN and HELLE HANSDTR. He was born 31 Dec 1854 in Lier, Buskerud, Norway, and died 16 Feb 1923 in Leer, Alpena Co, Alpena MI.

Notes for KAREN (OLESDTR) OLESEN:
Birth record from Syling, Lier, Norway
Karen
born 7 Dec 1848
parents Ole Ottersen and Andrine Olsdtr of farm Kopperud.
Sponsors are Engel Hansdtr from Kopperud
Ingeborg Ottersdtter from Trorseur
Christian Olsen from Osdo
Anders Nelsen Kopperud
Bert Knudson Kopperud
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Notes from Anna Mae Boboltz
1. Karen Olesen, daugher of Ole and Andrine Ottersen came to the USA in 1871 with the Erick Ericksen’s. Mrs. Ericksen was Berte Anderson. She was the sister of Oline Anderson. Online was the first wife of Otter Olesen who was the sister of Karen.
++++++++++++++++++
Marriage certificate for
Martin Olesen and Karen Olesen (maiden name same)
married 2 May 1879
Norwegian Lutheran Church, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan
++++++++++++++++++++++
Alpena Newspaper
29 Aug 1933
Death Takes Mrs. K. Olsen Leer Pioneer
Mrs. Karen Olsen aged 84 years resident of Leer died this morning at 4 o’clock at her farmhouse following an extended illness. Death is attributed to infirmities of age.
Mrs. Olsen was born in Norway Dec 7, 1848 and when a young woman came to the United States locating in Alpena in 1871. She was a devout and active member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church in Leer and lived a life of service for her family and friends. She was always kindly and understanding and stood ready to extend a helping hand to friend’s in need
Surviving Mrs. Olsen are two daughters Mrs. Jacob Houck of Alpena and Mrs. Martin Jensen of Leer, three sons Oscar Olson Alpena, Henry Olsen and Carl Olsen of Leer and one brother Chris Olson of Alpena, 17 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the Olsen home and at 2 o’clock at the Norwegian Lutheran Church at Leer. Rev. O.C. Rolfson of Alpena will officiate. Internment will be in the church cemetery


More About KAREN (OLESDTR) OLESEN:
Christening: 11 Mar 1849, Lier, Buskerud, Norway
Emigrated: 1871, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan
Farm Name in Norway: Kopperud

Notes for MARTIN OLESEN:
Baptismal record for Martin Olesen
from Sylling, Lier, Norway
born 31 Dec 1854
baptised 28 Jan 1855
parents Ole Christensen and Helle Hansdatter
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Marriage certificate for
Martin Olesen and Karen Olesen (maiden name same)
married 2 May 1879
Norwegian Lutheran Church, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alpena Newspaper
WORKED IN ALPENA
SAW MILL, 40 YEARS
AGO, DEAD AT LEER
Martin Olson, aged 66, who for
forty years had cleared and farmed a strip of land one mile and a half from Leer, died at 0 p.m. Friday at his farm home on the same property where he had spent the best efforts of his life. During the previous winter, he was stricken with the flu from which he never apparently recovered. He had been ill throughout the present winter.

The funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday with service at the house, followed by services in the Lutheran Church at Leer, and interment in the Norwegian Cemetery.

In addition to the widow, he is survived by two daughters and three sons: Mrs. Jacob Houck and Mrs. Martin Jensen, both of Alpena, Oscar, Carl and Henry of Leer.

Mr. Olson formerly resided in Alpena and was employed in the saw mill of the Butterfield Lumber company before moving to Leer.


More About MARTIN OLESEN:
Christening: 28 Jan 1855, Sylling Church, Lier, Buskerud, Norway

Marriage Notes for KAREN OLESEN and MARTIN OLESEN:
Transcribed from the printed pages from the small book on the Norwegian Church,
(Grace Lutheran Church Alpena, MI LDS film
By Karen L. Jenter

History of the Congregation

As near as can be learned the first Norwegian people came to Alpena during the year 1869 and from then on their numbers kept increasing quite rapidly. It was also reasonable to assume that from the very beginning after getting settled in their new homes that these people began making plans for the means and a place to worship. Occasional worship services were conducted by two laymen Erick Erlokson and one Andreas, last name unknown, who read sermons out of so-called “postills”, or sermon collections.

Meanwhile they contacted or perhaps were contacted, by the Rev. J. H. Grothem of Green Bay, Wisconsin who had charge of a Norwegian-Danish Lutheran Church at that place, and who visited Alpena in the fall of 1872, and assisted in the preliminary steps towards organizing a Lutheran Church here. The difficult and time consuming travel conditions of those times, as well as the results obtained, made his noteworthy visit, and the congregation was indebted to him forgetting the church started Through his encouragement, Rev. Martin H. Ruh came here in the spring of 1873 and began to gather the people for services in a room in the Union School, where services continued to be held until the first church was built.

The first official records of the congregation are the minutes of a meeting held on May 19 1873. Rev. Ruh was present, and presided as chairman.

The first resolution adopted at this meeting stated that it was the purpose of all the Norwegian peoples, living here to organize a congregation and to call a pastor. It was also decided that the name should be The Norwegian Lutheran Church of Alpena, and that it should affiliate with the Conference for the Norwegian-Danish Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America, popularly called” The Conference”. It was decided that the pastor’s salary, besides offering at the three great festivals and fees for ministerial acts, should be “Twelve Dollars” per year per family, nine dollars for each bachelor and six dollars for each unmarried woman. Resolutions as this first meeting also indicated a deep concern for the religious training of the children and made this matter a special responsibility of the pastor to be called.

Rev. Martin P. Ruh
In conclusion the meeting adjourned to May 23 for the purpose of calling a pastor, resulting in the selection of Rev. Martin P. Ruh, 37 votes were cast, of which 31 was for Rev. Ruh and 6 for Rev. J. N. Grothem. The call was then drafted and forwarded to pastor Ruh, which was accepted, and he began his regular pastorate as of October 1, 1873.

The next undertaking was to procure a building site and to plan for the building of a church and parsonage. At a meeting on October 3 1873, a vote was taken concerning location, when 37 votes were cast, for the South Side of Thunder Bay River and 6 for the North Side. Whatever efforts may have been made to secure a site is not indicated, but the problem was solved, when at a meeting on March 27, 1873, it was announced that a lot valued at five hundred dollars in the center of the city (so it is stated in the records) was offered without cost, which after was gratefully accepted.

At the same meeting, it was decided to erect the parsonage first, if the funds to be collected should not be sufficient for both. The pastor also offered to pay fifty dollars a year rent, until three hundred dollars had been paid.

Members were to be required to contribute up to six day of labor and if anyone failed without valid reason should pay $1.23 per day instead. The parsonage was built and we find that by May 17th same year, it was ready and occupied. It had been built at a cost of $357.36 plus 160 days of donated labor. This parsonage is still in use, except that it has been remolded somewhat and improved several times. To begin with, the living quarters were all on the first floor, and the second story was a hall used by the congregation for various meetings. Services continued to be held at the Union School. The parsonage was built to the rear and to the side of the lot, to leave room for the church in front.

The first church building was built during 1876 and was dedicated on May 27, 1877. There is no record showing when it was first taken into use, but there is evidence that it was in the fall of1876. This building was later moved to the rear and has been used as a Parish House up to the present time.

In checking the records we find 59 charter members listed of the congregation. However, as there are included 23 married couples in this listing, the wives would add another 23 to this number, making in all 82, not including children. We believe it may be of interest to give the names of the charter members. They were:

Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Severest,
Mr. and Mrs. Nils Olsen,
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Johnsen,
Mr. and Mrs. Jakob Andersen
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Alfsen
Mr. and Mrs. Johannes Andersen,
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kristophersen
Mr. and Mrs. Otter Olsen
Mr. and Mrs. Kristian Johnsen
Mr. and Mrs. Andreas Christensen
Mr. and Mrs. Nils Andreas Olsen
Mr. and Mrs. Bjorn Halvorsen
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Gulliksen
Mr. and Mrs. Kristian Pedersen
Mr. and Mrs. Erick Ericksen
Mr. and Mrs. Andreas Kristophersen
Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Gulliksen
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Olsen
Mr. and Mrs. Jens Johannesen
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kjolstad
Mr. and Mrs. Peder Kristiansen
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Andersen
Mr. and Mrs. Ole Olsen
Mr. and Mrs. Johansen Svang
Hans Mathisen
Jorgen Olsen
Kristian Hansen
Andres Larsen Kirkerud
Andreas Larsen
Andreas Pedersen
Bernhard Enger
Bernt Ellingsen
Hans Halversen
Hans Nielsen
Anders Pedersen
Hans Haugerud
Hans Christensen
Svend C. Rued
Herman P. Mork
Torger Bernsen
Ole Nielsen
Anders Larsen Ardah
Kasper Olsen Wahl
Jakob Nielsen
Bernt Andersen
Anders Eversen
Lars Olsen
Anders Ammundsen
Anders C. Bahll
Christian Larsen
Miss Kristine Olsen
Miss Karen Olsen
Miss Marie Gulliksen
Miss Thea Olsen
Miss Augusta Andersen
Miss Oline Andersen
Miss Anne Olsen
Miss Marie Larsen
Miss Oline Gundersen


The Norwegian population increased rapidly as young people from Norway were attracted by the lumber industry, and the membership of the congregation grew to 172 in 1882, and continued its rapid growth for several years.

At a meeting May 25, 1877 Rev. Ruh tendered his resignation as pastor, giving as his reason that the congregation was too small to support him and his family, and it seems that his last service was the dedication of the Church on May 27th.

During Rev. Rush’s ministry both the parsonage and the church had been built, and the minutes of the meetings of the congregation during those years give a vivid picture of the struggles of this young group to raise the necessary money to keep the organization going. This struggle was the more difficult from the fact that it was a time of financial depression generally, following the crash of 1873. If it had not been for such heroic struggles in the beginning the church would not have been built. As we read the records of these struggles, Rev. Ruh is revealed as a strong and effective leader who laid good foundations and built solidly upon them.

Rev. Peder Isberg

The congregation remained without its own pastor until late in the summer of 1878, when Rev. Peder Isberg, who had just been graduated from the seminary at Madison, Wis., was sent to Alpena by Synod President H. A. Preus. Meanwhile the congregation held occasional services conducted by members.

During Rev. Isberg’s ministry of four years, a half lot adjoining the church was purchased for 4162.50 and there was some discussion about erecting a school house, but nothing came of that.

At a meeting in 1881 the question of a parochial school was discussed, but as parents did not want to take their children out of public school it was decided to have Saturday School, and such a school continued as an important agency for Christian training of children for many years. The pastor was also asked to hold cathechisation in church on Sunday It was decided that if children of non-members parents would come to Saturday School, these parents should appear at a meeting of the congregation t ask for the privilege of sending them and should pay two dollars per child per year.

The minutes of a meeting on Oct 2, 1881 gives an interesting glimpse into the inner life of the church at this time. A case of church discipline was a matter of business. Five members were under consideration. Of these two were dismissed from membership, with the statement that fellowship with them should cease and that the ouster resolution should be read in church the following Sunday. One of these it was said that he had not contributed, nor attended services or Holy Communion, and had declared that anyone belonging to the church was a fool. Of the remaining three, two were given one month, or until the following meeting, to consider whether they would mend their ways, and one ask for forgiveness and was reinstated into good standing. His sin was that he was married by a pastor of another church.

Meanwhile, Rev. Isberg announced a call from Perry, Wisconsin offering $600.00per year, while in Alpena he had been getting only $375.00 and at a meeting January 1882 his resignation was accepted with the stipulation that he should remain until late March or Early April. Halvor Christensen was no elected superintendent of the Sunday School, which was established, and he was also asked to read the “texts” in church at the regular hour. He accepted both positions.

Rev. Jens Andreas Wang

From the minutes of a meeting on January 7, 1883, it appears that a letter of call was issued to as student, A. L. Dahl, and there was some correspondence concerning a clause in the letter of call relating to the doctrine of election. Student Dahl did not accept and Rev. J. J. Maakestad who had recently come to Suttons Bay, Michigan was asked to serve the parish at Alpena temporarily and he made a few trips to Alpena to take care of the most necessary services.

At a meeting on Aug 5, 1883, a letter was read from Rev. J.A. Wang stating he had received a call from Alpena and that he expected to arrive in the parish early in September. A committee consisting of E. J. Svang and Hans Olsen was elected to receive the new pastor and Rev. Maakestad, who came with Rev. Wang to install him.

Rev. Wang continued as pastor of the congregation until 1899 and gave able and energetic leadership to the growing congregation. During this time the cemetery was acquired, a choir was organized and other advances made. But the main achievement was the erection of the new church building and the completion of this project makes an interesting story.

At a meeting in 1885 it was decided that non-members who wished to use the church for weddings should pay two dollars and for baptisms one dollar.

It was at the annual meeting in 1886 that the first steps were taken to acquire a cemetery and by October 16th same year, the project was completed as a cost of $175.00 and members were assigned lots by drawing lots.

The New Church

As several meetings during the fall of 1887, the building of a new school house was under discussion and subscription lists were circulated for that purpose. On November 24th was read a letter from one Sam Gilbertson offering a contribution of $15.00 for that purpose providing certain conditions were met, or for a new church in case the old church was converted into a school house. It also appeared at this meeting that subscriptions had been taken for a new church which amounted to $443.00 while for a new school house $49.00 had been subscribed. It was decided to proceed to see what could be done about raising money for a new church.

At a special meeting on April 22, 1888, the congregation voted to build a church and a plan was adopted calling for a church 30 x 60 feet, brick construction, estimated to cost $860. But the matter was dropped when at a later meeting it was reported that such a sum could not be secured. At a special meeting at the home of Oluf Gundersen on Saturday evening June 15th 1889 it was decided by a vote of 8 to 6 to build a church about 40 x 60 feet that a new committee of three take subscriptions, that it should be built of brick vaneer construction if enough money could be had, but otherwise of wood and the materials should be bought and work started as soon as possible. At a meeting on August 25th, it was reported that $1150.00 had been subscribed for a new church and it was decided to proceed with the building and to move the old church to the half lot adjoining which was done at a cost of $70.00

At a meeting on September 15, 1889 a plan was adopted, specifying a church 36 x 60, chancel 12 x 22, with seven foot foundation and 18 foot high walls with a steeple in the corner. It was decided to secure an architect to prepare the plans and that the foundation should be built that same fall. The minutes of the December meeting refer to the corner sone laying service and the total subscription for the church of $1337.00.

The construction of the new church proceeded slowly and it was not until October 23 1892 that it was dedicated. The total cost was $4642.16.

The heroic effort put forth in this project is seen from the fact that before to the end of the following year less than $300.00 debt on the church remained. The records reveal that Rev. Wang was the driving force in this accomplishment and his tact and wisdom is indicated by the fact that not much friction developed in the process.

At a meeting in February 1896 it was announced that the Ladies Aid and the young women’s society had contributed more than nineteen hundred dollars, chiefly to the new church building and a motion was passed thanking them for this great help.

During the years of planning and struggling to build a new church the congregation increased rapidly in membership. New members were received practically at every meeting. References to problems connected with religious training of the children, to services by lay readers when the pastor was absent, to collections for synodical benevolence and to many other details reflect the healthy life in a new growing congregation.

The in gathering of the pastor’s salary was always a problem A committee apportioned to each member his share, but not al paid upon time and we read of ten members dropped from membership at one meeting who were from two to eleven dollars in arrears, of others who were excused, being unable to pay and of others who were given six months in which to pay.

The minutes of a meeting early in 1889 showed plans to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the congregation, May 19-22 the same year.

A very fine church bell was dedicated March 26, 1899. It had been purchased by the singing society “Haabet” with the help of the Ladies Aid and probably others and we find that these societies were given a vote of thanks for this splendid gift at a meeting of the congregation on May 25th same year.

Rev. Wang presented a letter of resignation at a meeting on July 19, 1898 and we can read between the lines of his letter that he was tired from the many years of struggling against great odds to build and promote the church. The letter was accepted with great reluctance after he had agreed to serve until the following spring.

Rev. Lorentz Christian Johnson

At a meeting in December 1898 it was voted to issue a call to Rev. L. C. Johnson from Suttons Bay. The salary offered was $450.00 a year plus offerings at the great festivals. He accepted the call and we find him opening the meeting on July3 1899.

Rev. Johnson had brought with him as a present to the congregation a beautiful baptismal font and at this same meeting a rising vote of thanks was given him for this gift.

Rev. Johnson served for fourteen years. By this time the steady flow of immigrants from Norway seems to have slowed down and for the first time almost, we read of congregational meetings held when no members were received. During this time it seems that pressure from demands for the use of the English language was first felt. This pressure created problems that were among the most difficult to solve throughout the whole Norwegian Lutheran Church. It was a period of financial difficulties.

Problems of a different nature are indicated in a report from the Board of Deacons in which they inquired whether they should take any action against members who participated in drinking, dancing and card parties. At a later meeting the Deacons reported that conditions were a little better.

At a meeting in 1901 it was decided to care for the cemetery lot and grave which belonged to Rev. Wang.

At a meeting in 1902 there was a discussion about a proposition to buy the property adjoining the parsonage. It seems that this matter was discussed again and again for several years until the property was acquired in 1943

The beautiful altar in the church was secured during Rev. Johnson’s ministry and that the times were different then than now is seen from the fact that it was purchased for $125.00.

In 1906 it was decided by a vote of 17 to 2 to build a foundation and basement under the school house, since the Ladies Aid had expressed a willingness to raise the money. The bid that was accepted for this work was for $430.00. At the same meeting Pastor Johnson was given permission to build a barn between the parsonage and the school house.

At a meeting in November 1912 Rev. Johnson presented his resignation to take effect May 1913 as he accepted a call to a charge in North Dakota. After about four years in that charge he retired and returned to Alpena. We find that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were accepted as members of the congregation in January 1918. He lived here until he died in 1925 and it appears that he preached during vacancies and otherwise rendered services from time to time.

Rev. Johnson was an excellent penman and during the later years of his life he copied by hand in ink the whole bible first in Norwegian and then in English and finally in German. Each copy contains about twelve hundred ledger size pages of manuscript bound in a beautiful volume.

Modern Period

With the conclusion of Rev. Johnson’s pastorate it may be said that the pioneer period of the history of the congregation came to an end. The second generation members began to take an active part in the church and the English language was use more and more. The three buildings had been completed and the activities were those of an established congregation.

We shall merely list the later pastors and mention some of the important items of progress.

Rev. Ingval Hustvedt 1913-1917 For his occupancy the parsonage was put on a stone foundation and outfitted with electric lights, gas and bathroom. Financial conditions improved and envelopes were taken into use for the collection of all expenses except for synod. The time of the annual meeting was changed from May to January
Rev. Finn Magelsen 1918-1920 His pastorate was a short one lasting less than two years. During this time an organ fund committee was elected consisting of Martin Martinson, Ole Drag and John Alfsen.
Rev. Nils Edwin Halversen 1921-1925 It was during Rev. Halversen’s pastorate that the Hinners Pipe Organ was installed with necessary changes made in the church chancel. In1923 the congregation celebrated the Golden Jubilee.
Rev. Ole Chelmen Rolfsen 1925-1934 That the old times were now over it seems from the fact that the stable for horses located between the parish house and parsonage was removed at this time. It was also at this time that the sacristy or vestry was built, through the efforts of the Ladies Aid and that “Lyngblomsten” now Grace Guild was granted permission to install electric light fixtures. Extensive improvements were made in the cemetery, additional land secured from the city, trees planted and the hedge planted in front.
Rev. Louis S.Marik served as temporary pastor from Christmas1934 to April 1935.
Rev. Leif H. Roholt 1935-1943 The period of Rev. Roholt’s pastorate was a time of extensive improvements in the church property. Ad addition for a new kitchen and rest rooms was built to the Parish House, the interior of the church was completely renewed, with new walls, new carpet and new windows, the study at the rear of the parsonage was completed and new heating systems installed in the church and parsonage. The purchase of the lot adjoining the parsonage was also negotiated at this time.
Rev. Mikkel Lono was installed in the fall of 1943 and is the present pastor.

Synodical Affiliation

At the organization meeting the congregation voted to affiliate with the so-called “Conference”. But at a meeting November 24,1874 Rev Ruh announced that he wished to resign from that body to join the “Synod” giving as his reason the publication of an article entitled :”Open Declaration” by the professors Oftedal and Wenaas of “The Conference”. Upon Pastor Ruh’s suggestion the congregation voted to follow his example and it remained affiliated with the “Synod” until it resigned during the pastorate of Rev. Wang.

It was at a meeting on November 13, 1887that the congregation voted to sever its connection with the “Synod” after a discussion about the doctrines involved I the Lutheran Church in America.

It was not until 1893that the congregation voted to apply for admission into the “United Church”. It remained a member of this body until the “United Church” was merged with other groups in 1917 as The Norwegian Lutheran Church in America, now known as The Evangelical Lutheran Church with which the congregation is now connected.

Language

The congregation was organized as a Norwegian Church, to serve the Norwegian people of Alpena and the language was Norwegian for several years.

It was not until a meeting in 1913 that it was decided to have one English class in the Sunday School, which seems to be the first use of the English language in the work of this congregation.

There is no record as to when the first public services were held in the English language, but at the annual meeting in 1920 the pastor reported that of 43 services held 23 were in Norwegian 18 in English and 2 in both languages. At that same meeting it was voted to use the English language in the Sunday School

In 1923 it was decided to hold two Sunday morning services one in English at 10:30 and one in Norwegian at 11:30. In 1926 the English services out numbered the Norwegian, in that 49services were held in the former languages and 47 in the later.

The first secretary’s minutes written in English were of a meeting in October 1923 and in July 1927 it was decided that minutes should be written in both languages.

At the annual meeting in 1928 it was decided to change the name of the church from The Norwegian Lutheran Church to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Services in both languages each Sunday as a rule were held through 1943. But beginning with Rev. Roholt’s pastorate in 1935 the use of the Norwegian language was sharply curtailed and after a couple of years it was discontinued entirely. Since then the language of the founders has been used only for a few private Communion Services and in private counseling.

Affiliated Congregations

On March 23,1882 the congregation received a letter from Leer stating that on March 5th the Leer Lutheran Church had been formed and that this congregation now asked the privilege to be served by the pastor from Alpena promising whatever the farmers were able to provide from their farms. This request was granted.

In the minutes of the annual meeting in 1893 we find the first reference to farmers living near Hubbard Lake, when it was decided that these former member of the church of Alpena should not be required to pay the one dollar to have their children baptised in the church but should pay the regular fee of two dollars for church weddings.

At a meeting in June 1894 there was presented a request from Hubbard Lake saying that a regular congregation had been organized there with ten member sand requesting that the Alpena pastor be permitted to hold six services a year for this group. The request was granted at a later meeting, provided the people at Hubbard Lake would contribute thirty dollars towards the pastor’s salary the first year.

The two congregations now Leer Lutheran Church and Caledonia Lutheran Church have been affiliated with the Alpena congregation since that time, with the exception of a period during Rev Rolfsen’s pastorate when there churches were served by Rev. N. B. Ursin.

During the early period these congregations grew rapidly and it was not long before they contributed substantially to the common cause. When the call was issued to Rev. L. C. Johnson it was stipulated that of the $450.00 offered, Alpena should pay $275.00 and Sunken Lake (as Leer was called then) $110.00 and Hubbard Lake $65.00. For a short time somewhat later the pastor’s salary was allocated equally to the three churches.

From references in the minutes it appears that both Leer and Caledonia planned to dedicate their new churches in the fall of 1900.

The comparative strength of these affiliated congregations seems to have reached its highest point at the time of Rev. Magelsen’s pastorate as at that time the pastor’s salary of One Thousand Dollars was apportioned equally to the three congregations
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Transcribed from the hand written notes on the Norwegian Church, Alpena, MI
(Grace Lutheran Church) LDS film
By Karen L. Jenter

In Jesus Name

A short insight in the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church Congregation in Alpena “Co” Mich.

As far as is known the first members of congregation arrived at this place in year 1870. The following year a few more immigrants from Drammon, Norway arrived and in year 1872 was followed by a lot more so it started to be quite populated. This year the Norwegians had a visit from Pastor F. H. Ceratheim, the Danish Norwegian conference in U.S.A. The following year Pastor Martin P Ruh from the same conference visited Alpena, and under his leadership a meeting of Norwegian population was held and organized a congregation under the name of Norwegian Lutheran Congregation of Alpena, Michigan. Also in the same year members voted to join the Danish Norwegian Conference and call it’s own pastor. The 25thof May a congregational meeting was held to call their own pastor and Rev. Ruh and Ceratheim was nominated and Rev. Ruh was elected pastor with 51 votes and Ceratheim 6.
The congregation included the following members:

Married
1. Johannes Severson
2. Niles Olsen
3. Martin Johnsen
4. Jakob Andersen
5. Martin Alfsen
6. Johannes Andersen
7. PederKristoffersen
8. Otter Olsen
9. Kristian Johansen
10. AndreasKristensen
11. Miles Andreas Olsen
12. Bjorn Halversen
13. Martin Gullksen
14. Kristian Pedersen
15. Erik Eriksen
16. AndreasKristoffersen
17. Gustaf Gulliksen
18. Hans Olsen
19. Jens Johannesen
20. Martin Kjolstad
21. Peder Knutsen
Single
24. Hans Marthisen
25. Jorgen Olsen
26. KristianHansen
27. Andreas Larsen Kirkerud
28. Andreas Larsen
29. E. J. Svang
30. Anders Pedersen
31. Bernhard Enger
32. Bernt Ellingsen
33. Hans Halvorsen
34. Hans Nilsen
35. Andreas Pedersen
36. Hans Haugerud
37. Hans Kristiansen
38. Svend C. Reud,
39. Herman Mork
40. Torger Bernsen
41. Ole Nielsen
42. Anders Larsen Ardahl
43. Kasper O. Wahl
44. Jakob Nilsen
45. BerntAndersen
46. Andreas Everson
47. Lars Olsen
48. Andreas Ammundsen
49. Anders H. Bahli
50. Kristian Larsen
51. Kristian Olsen
52. Karen Olsen
53. Marie Gullksen
54. Thea Olsen
55. Augusta anderson
56. Oline Andersen
57. Anna Olsen
58. Marie Larsen
59. Oline Gundersen
Pastor Ruh accepted the call and began Oct 1, 1873. In year 1874 Mr. Hitsheck gave the congregation the lot on which the biggest foundation is now standing. S-E, m2/3 of the congregation property that a parsonage was built on the same property, which put the congregation in debt. As a result a misunderstanding resulted between the pastor and congregation and a lot of members left, as this debt was a burden for many years on the few remaining members.

On Nov24, 1874 Pastor Ruh ended the membership with the Danish Norwegian Conference because of a writing by Prof. Wanard Ofteslal, a writing called “Open Declaration”. Same day the congregation joined the Norwegian Synod., Sunday Aril 1.. The congregation decided to build a church where the foundation already was laid. They started work the next day and may 27th the next year, it was so far progressed that a dedication could be held under L. M. …….from Monitoval,Wis. May26th Rev. Ruh quit his connection with the Alpena church, he had served 4 years. Now the “call” was out and the outlook for a new pastor was bleak indeed. Even $250.00 per year now was hard to come by. But the letter was sent April 27 1878. As an answer to this letter they received a ‘friendly” letter from H. A Prues saying: The church board have decided to send Mr. Isberg from Madison Seminary. Please let me know before May 28th so I can contact the church board. “May God and His mercy look after your congregation”. Yours in Christ. H. A. Prues. This gave the congregation new courage and a substantial amount of money. The members brought in $260.000, also Mr. Petter …. and Mr. Minor …… gave $25 and $20 respectively also Mr. Donly $3.00 so now the problem was solved for this time.

Sept 78 Pastor Ruh held his first sermon. The congregation had been nurturing .a minister for 1-½ years. The 6th of March 1882 a sister congregation was started in Long Rapids, as former Alpena members, who has grown rapidly, and have a bright future in sight.

On May 7th the congregation bought a half lot which was the N-E 1/3 of the property on which the foundation is in at the price of $162.50. Sunday Nov 26th the congregation under the leadership of Pastor J. J. Maakestad accepted the call, a student, as an established pastor was hard to get The Madison Seminary was contacted and the following students were recommended J. A. Wang and A. L. Dahl. Dahl refused because of poor health, as student Wang accepted after finishing exams. His first service was held Sept 16, 1883 and with God’s blessing he has been with us, although and in health to this day.

May 1, 1882 the church decided to buy a church organ. The ladies aid had donated $76.00 for this purpose and Ingeborg Olsen could play same, she has functioned as an organist ever since.

In May 1887, the congregation decided to buy a burial place situated near the city cemetery on the west side of town. Nov 13, 1887 the congregation ended the conversation with the ………

Aug 25th congregation decided to start building a new church and move the old building on the lot for a “school house”, which was sorely needed. On the committee were Stang Larsen, Martin Halversen, Olaf ………. The ……committee started right in and with ……money and peoples help …..days finally …… One Sunday lot 13, $87 the corner stone was laid. May the most faithful God continue to add his blessing on our labor so that this temple will be finished with not so many difficulties and after the finish we like the pillars…….words “This is God’s house and heaven unite” Can we say about our church. The congregation now and before have received much help ladies aid who have always shown their willingness to help. The cornerstone is a gift from the congregation’s children.
1. Carl Pederson
2. Agnst Sorensen
3. Marie Eriksen
4. Jenni Eriksen
5. Martha ………
6. Marie ……..
7. Hanna …….
8. Anna Marie
9. Martin Martinsen
10. Elm Martinsen
11. Tina Martinsen
12. Gustaf Carlsen
13. Hans Carlsen
14. Terry Carlsen
15. Carl Martinsen
























Children of KAREN OLESEN and MARTIN OLESEN are:
13. i. HULDA6 OLSEN, b. 07 Mar 1880, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 25 Feb 1965, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
ii. HENRY OLSEN, b. 28 Nov 1881, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 02 Mar 1987, Alpena, Alpena Co, Alpena MI.
iii. OLAF B. OLSEN, b. 14 Aug 1884, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 03 Aug 1885, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan.

Notes for OLAF B. OLSEN:
OLESEN, OLOF
Date of death: 10-Aug-1885
Ledger Page: 26
Record Number: 902
Place of death: LONG RAPIDS
County of Death: Alpena
Sex: Male
Race: WHITE
Marital Status: Single
Age: 8 months
Cause of Death: UNKNOWN-INFANT
Birthplace: LONG RAPIDS
Occupation:
Father's Name: Olesen, MARTIN
Father's Residence: LONG RAPIDS
Mother's Name: OLESEN, CATHERINE
Mother's Residence: LONG RAPIDS
Date of record: 26-May-1886



14. iv. OSCAR OLSON, b. 23 Jun 1886, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan USA; d. 31 Jan 1971, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.
15. v. ANNA M. OLSEN, b. 10 Jun 1888, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 06 Feb 1980, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
vi. CARL OLSON, b. 22 Dec 1891, Leer, Alpena Co, Alpena MI; d. 14 Aug 1967, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan.

Notes for CARL OLSON:
Alpena Newspaper
14 Aug 1967
Carl Olson
Carl Olson 76, a famer died early today (Aug 14) at his home in Leer.
Born Dec 22, 1891 in Leer, he had been a lifelong resident. He was a member of Leer Lutheran Church and the Long Rapids IOOF Lodge.
Surviving are a sister Mrs. Martin Jensen of Leer, two brothers Henry of Leer and Oscar of Alpena and a number of nieces and nephews. Another sister Mrs. Jacob Houck died in 1963
Mr. Olson’s body will be at the Leer Lutheran Church Wednesday from noon until the service at 2. The Rev. Homer Marsh will officiate. Burial wil be in the church cemetery.
Friends may call at the Wachterhauser Funeral Home after 7 tonight. Contributions in Mr. Olson’s memory may be made to the Leer Lutheran Memorial fund.


vii. ALBERT B. OLSEN, b. 01 Aug 1893, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 24 Jan 1894, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan.


4. KRISTINE CHRISTINE (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN (OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 07 Nov 1851 in Kopperud, Lier, Norway, and died 27 Mar 1893 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan. She married BERNHARD JORGEN JORGENSON ENGER 26 Apr 1878 in Alpena, Alpena, Michigan. He was born 24 Oct 1852 in Rikshopitalets Kuinneklinikk, Oslo, Norway, and died 02 Dec 1933 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

More About KRISTINE CHRISTINE (OLESDTR) OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): 28 Jul 1950, Salt Lake City, Utah
Burial: Leer Lutheran Church Cemetery, Leer, Michigan
Christening: 11 Jan 1852, Kopperud, Lier, Norway
Endowment (LDS): 06 Sep 1950, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sealed to parents (LDS): 17 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

More About BERNHARD JORGEN JORGENSON ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): 28 Jul 1950
Burial: 04 Dec 1933, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan
Endowment (LDS): 04 Jan 1951

Children of KRISTINE OLESEN and BERNHARD ENGER are:
i. JORGEN GEORGE6 ENGER, b. 02 Jun 1879, Alpena, Alpena, Michigan; d. 17 Jul 1966, Posen, Michigan; m. HULDA PEDERSEN, 23 Jul 1907.

More About JORGEN GEORGE ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): 11 Feb 1975
Endowment (LDS): 13 Mar 1975
Sealed to parents (LDS): 23 Apr 1975

ii. OLE ENGER, b. 20 Apr 1882, Leer, alpena, Michigan; d. 03 Mar 1925, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; m. CAROLINE TJERSLAND, 29 Sep 1917.

More About OLE ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): 29 Jun 1961
Endowment (LDS): 02 Dec 1961
Sealed to parents (LDS): 17 Oct 1962

iii. AUGUST ENGER, b. 10 Jan 1884, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 28 Jan 1964, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

More About AUGUST ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): 11 Feb 1975
Endowment (LDS): 13 Mar 1975
Sealed to parents (LDS): 23 Apr 1975

16. iv. HANNAH BREDINE ENGER, b. 11 Aug 1886, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 28 Oct 1923, Chesterfield (Toponce), Bannock, Idaho.
v. AGNES ENGER, b. 03 Jun 1889, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 03 Jan 1957, Detroit, Michigan; m. GOTFRED CORELL.

More About AGNES ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): 30 Jun 1961
Endowment (LDS): 04 Oct 1961

vi. JEANETTE BERHARDINE ENGER, b. 25 Mar 1893, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 03 Sep 1893.

More About JEANETTE BERHARDINE ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): Child; Temple:
Endowment (LDS): Child; Temple:
Sealed to parents (LDS): 17 Oct 1962

vii. KRISTINE ENGER, b. 25 Mar 1893, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan; d. 31 Aug 1893, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

More About KRISTINE ENGER:
Baptism (LDS): Child; Temple:
Endowment (LDS): Child; Temple:
Sealed to parents (LDS): 08 Jan 1952


5. DORTHEA (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN (OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 16 Aug 1855 in Norway, and died in Norway. She married HANS DRAG 04 Dec 1881 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, son of HERMAN HANSEN DRAG. He was born in Norway, and died in Norway.

Notes for DORTHEA (OLESDTR) OLESEN:
Dorthea and Hans Drag went back to Norway to take over the Drag Family farm.

More About DORTHEA (OLESDTR) OLESEN:
Baptism (LDS): 03 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Christening: 04 Nov 1855, Lier, Norway
Endowment (LDS): 10 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sealed to parents (LDS): 19 Feb 1981, Salt Lake City, Utah

Notes for HANS DRAG:
Returned to Norway where he inherited property. The 3 children listed are shown as children in the church record of the Norwegian Lutheran Church,Alpena, now known as the Grace Lutheran church. So it is believed that the children listed were born in Alpena, since Dorthea or Thea came to America unmarried.

When Hans' fathere died in Norway in 1886, Hans was the eldest and inherited the property, so the family returned to Norway.



Children of DORTHEA OLESEN and HANS DRAG are:
i. CARL OSCAR6 DRAG, b. Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
ii. HENRY HARRY DRAG, b. 03 Dec 1883, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan; d. 1905, Norway.

Notes for HENRY HARRY DRAG:
Henry returned to Norway with his parents and sister in 1886. In 1905 he was skating on a lake a fell through the ice and drowned, his body was never recovered. They lake was very deep.

iii. BERTHA ANDREA DRAG, b. 17 Feb 1882, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.


Generation No. 3

6. ALBERT6 OLSEN (OTTER5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 23 Nov 1867 in Buffalo, New York, and died 15 Jun 1960 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. He married KATHERINE LUDWIG 08 Oct 1901 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.

More About ALBERT OLSEN:
Burial: Pleasanet View Cemetery, Spruce, Michigan

Children of ALBERT OLSEN and KATHERINE LUDWIG are:
i. VICTOR7 OLSEN.
ii. WILBUR OLSEN.


7. ANNA PAUINE6 OLSEN (OTTER5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 23 Jul 1871 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died 20 Feb 1915 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She married CARL MARKUSON.

More About ANNA PAUINE OLSEN:
Burial: Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Alpena, Michigan

Child of ANNA OLSEN and CARL MARKUSON is:
i. CLARA7 MARKUSON.


8. EDDIE6 OLSEN (OTTER5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 07 Dec 1873 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died 20 Dec 1954 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. He married MARTHA PEDERSON.

More About EDDIE OLSEN:
Burial: Leer Lutheran Church Cemetery, Long Rapids, Michigan

Children of EDDIE OLSEN and MARTHA PEDERSON are:
i. EDWARD7 OLSEN.
ii. ANNA MAE OLSEN, m. ALFRED BOBOLTZ.


9. JENNIE6 OLESEN (OTTER5, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 04 Jan 1876 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died 05 Jul 1972 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She married OSCAR LARSON 25 May 1897 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.

More About JENNIE OLESEN:
Burial: 07 Jul 1972, Grace Lutheran Cemetery, Alpena, Michigan

Children of JENNIE OLESEN and OSCAR LARSON are:
i. SYLVAN7 LARSON.
ii. ELWIN LARSON.


10. MANDI AMANDA6 OLSEN (OTTER5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 11 Oct 1877 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died in Miami, Florida. She married OSCAR LARSON.

More About MANDI AMANDA OLSEN:
Burial: Leer Lutheran Church Cemetery, Long Rapids, Michigan

Children of MANDI OLSEN and OSCAR LARSON are:
i. SYLVAN7 LARSON, b. Mar 1898.
ii. ELWIN LARSON, b. 20 Apr 1904.


11. ALTA6 OLSEN (OTTER5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 13 Jan 1891 in Long Rapids, Leer, Alpena County, Michigan, and died 17 Feb 1949 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She married GEORGE ANDERSON 19 Mar 1910 in Long Rapids, Leer, Michigan.

Child of ALTA OLSEN and GEORGE ANDERSON is:
i. MARGARET7 ANDERSON.


12. ALFRED6 OLSEN (OTTER5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 08 May 1897 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan. He married MABEL KYSER 1929 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan.

Children of ALFRED OLSEN and MABEL KYSER are:
i. ROBERT7 OLSEN, b. 1929; d. 1938.
ii. WILLIAM OLSEN, b. 1933; d. 1976.
iii. DALE OLSEN.


13. HULDA6 OLSEN (KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 07 Mar 1880 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died 25 Feb 1965 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She married JACOB B. HOUCK. He was born 1875 in Michigan, and died 01 Mar 1962 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.

Children of HULDA OLSEN and JACOB HOUCK are:
i. JUSTIN7 HOUCK, b. 1905.
ii. BERNICE HOUCK, b. 1911.
iii. CLARENCE HOUCK, b. 1911.
iv. VERNON HOUCK, b. 1914.
v. MILDRED HOUCK, b. 1917.
vi. FRANCES HOUCK, b. 1920.
vii. THELMA JEAN HOUCK, b. 1923.


14. OSCAR6 OLSON (KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 23 Jun 1886 in Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan USA, and died 31 Jan 1971 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan. He married LOIS MARIAN MCDONELL 03 Jun 1914 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan, daughter of ALBERT MCDONELL and ELLA STAFFORD. She was born 01 Jun 1894 in Black River, Alcona County, Michigan, and died 10 Feb 1956 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Alpena MI.

Notes for OSCAR OLSON:
Oscar's surname was originally (Olesen) Olsen. However as a young man, there were two Oscar Olsen's in Alpena, and he changed the name to Olson. All of the children were known as Olson.


Alpena Newspaper
20135 OLSON, Oscar 84
31 Jan1971
Oscar Olson, 84 of 119 E.
Crapo, died at 3 a.m. Sunday at the Pierce Nursing Home.
Born June 23,1886 in Leer, he was a lifelong resident of Alpena County, except for seven years service in the U.S. Coast Guard.
He had been employed by the Besser Company as a layout man until his retirement in 1955.
He was married to Lois McDonnell on June 3 1914. She died in 1956.
Surviving are four daughters, Joyce and Beatrice at home. Mrs. Julius (Norma) Senchuk of Alpena. Mrs. Ronald (June) Jenter of Manchester, five sons, Howard, Albert, Gerald, Gordon and Kenneth of Alpena, one brother Henry of Leer and one sister Mrs. Anna Jensen of Leer.
One sister Mrs. Jacob Houck and one brother Carl preceded him in death.
Friends may call at the Wachterhauser Funeral Home where funeral services will be at 2p.m. Wednesday with Rev. Douglas F. Soley of Grace Lutheran Church officiating. Eventual internment in Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials to the Intensive Care Unit of Alpena Hospital


More About OSCAR OLSON:
Burial: 03 Feb 1971, Evergreen Cemetery, Alpena MI

Notes for LOIS MARIAN MCDONELL:
Alpena Newspaper
Mrs. Oscar Olson
10 Feb 1956
An illness extending over four years culminated in the death of Mrs. Oscar Olson at her home, 119 Crapo.
Lois Marian McDonnell was born June 3, 1894 in Black River, and had been a resident of Alpena the past 55 years Her marriage to Mr. Olson took place June 3, 1914 in Alpena.
Surviving are her husband, four daughters. Beatrice, Joyce and Mrs. Julius Senchuk (Norma) of Alpena. Mrs. Roland Jenter (June) of Manchester, Mich.; five sons. Howard, Gordon, Albert, Kenneth and Gerald all of Alpena, 11 grandchildren, two sisters. Mrs. William Baillet , Tower and Mrs. William Klien LaMesa, Calif. and a stepsister Mrs. Maud Howard, Roscommon.
The body is at the Wachterhauser funeral home. Service will be Monday at 2 at the funeral home , the Rev. Mikkel Lono Officiating, internment at Evergreen Cemetery.


More About LOIS MARIAN MCDONELL:
Burial: Evergreen Cemetery, Alpena MI

Children of OSCAR OLSON and LOIS MCDONELL are:
17. i. HOWARD OSCAR7 OLSON, b. 09 May 1915, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 09 Sep 1995, Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan.
18. ii. ALBERT MARTIN OLSON, b. 28 Aug 1917, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 08 Jul 1986, Presque Isle County, Michigan.
iii. BEATRICE MARIAN OLSON, b. 25 Aug 1919, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 07 Jan 1996, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.
19. iv. GERALD HENRY OLSON, b. 06 Sep 1922, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.
20. v. JUNE LUCILLE OLSON, b. 27 Jun 1924, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.
21. vi. NORMA CATHERINE OLSON, b. 19 Jun 1927, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.
vii. JOYCE LOIS OLSON, b. 08 Feb 1929, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 26 Sep 2000, Alpena, Alpena Co, Alpena MI.
22. viii. GORDON JAMES OLSON, b. 15 May 1934, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.
ix. KENNETH WALTER OLSON, b. 06 Dec 1938, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 30 Dec 2002, Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan.

More About KENNETH WALTER OLSON:
Burial: 03 Jan 2003, Evergreen Cemetery, Alpena, Michigan


15. ANNA M.6 OLSEN (KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 10 Jun 1888 in Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan, and died 06 Feb 1980 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She married MARTIN J. JENSEN 18 Jul 1918 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan. He was born 19 Dec 1887 in Norway, and died 21 Mar 1965 in Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan.

More About MARTIN J. JENSEN:
Immigrated to US: 1909

Children of ANNA OLSEN and MARTIN JENSEN are:
i. CLARA J.7 JENSEN, b. 02 Jun 1919, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan; m. VINCENT HANKS.
ii. HENRY M JENSEN, b. 06 Jun 1921, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan; d. 14 Aug 1944, Saipan.

More About HENRY M JENSEN:
Burial: Leer Lutheran Church, Leer, Alpena Co, Leer MI
Military service: Bet. 1942 - 1944, Sgt. Active Duty was Oct 13, 1942-Aug 14, 1944 Killed in Action on the Island if Saipan

23. iii. ALMA MARIE JENSEN, b. 07 Apr 1924, Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan.


16. HANNAH BREDINE6 ENGER (KRISTINE CHRISTINE (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 11 Aug 1886 in Leer, Alpena County, Michigan, and died 28 Oct 1923 in Chesterfield (Toponce), Bannock, Idaho. She married WALFRED EMANUEL SIDWIN LARSON 19 Jul 1905 in Long Rapids, Alpena, Michigan. He was born 18 Oct 1881 in Animskog, Alvsborg, Sweden, and died 28 May 1972 in Troutdale, Multnomah, Oregon.

More About HANNAH BREDINE ENGER:
Burial: 30 Oct 1923, Chesterfield Cemetery, Chesterfield, Idaho

More About WALFRED EMANUEL SIDWIN LARSON:
Baptism (LDS): 19 Jul 1897
Burial: 02 Jun 1972, Finley's Sunset Hills Cemetery, Portland, Oregon
Endowment (LDS): 05 Dec 1973, Oakland, California
Sealed to parents (LDS): 11 Jan 1978

Child of HANNAH ENGER and WALFRED LARSON is:
24. i. MILDRED AGNES7 LARSON, b. Apr 1906.


Generation No. 4

17. HOWARD OSCAR7 OLSON (OSCAR6, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 09 May 1915 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan, and died 09 Sep 1995 in Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan. He married EDNA HIBNER 06 Jul 1949 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She was born 15 Jun 1917 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died 06 Jan 1988 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.

Children of HOWARD OLSON and EDNA HIBNER are:
i. JACK8 OLSON, b. 1952.
ii. MARK OLSON, b. 1956, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.


18. ALBERT MARTIN7 OLSON (OSCAR6, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 28 Aug 1917 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan, and died 08 Jul 1986 in Presque Isle County, Michigan. He married MARCIA SPRAGG. She was born 04 May 1912 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan, and died 22 Nov 2006 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.

Notes for ALBERT MARTIN OLSON:
Alpena Newspaper
9 Jul 1986
ALBERT OLSON
Albert Olson, 68 of 217 E. Wisner died at his Presque Isle County Cottage Thursday (July 9) following a heart attack.
Born in Alpena Aug 28, 1917 he was a lifelong area resident except for the time spent in service during World War II. He and the former Marcia Spragg were married in Alpena Dec 24, 1938.
Mr. Olson was employed for 42 years as a toolmaker with Besser Co retiring in 1979. He was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons and the senior adult group of First Baptist Church.
Surviving are his wife, a daughter Marlys (Mrs. Jerry) Rossowski of Alpena, two sons, Jere of Troy and Rick of Spruce; four sisters Beatrice Olson, Joyce Olson and Norma (Mrs. Julius ) Senchuk, all of Alpena, and June (Mrs. Roland) Genter of Manchester. Four brothers, Howard, Gerald, Gordon of Alpena and Kenneth of Texas. And five grandchildren. Friends may call after 7 tonight at Bannan funeral home where the funeral is 11 a.m. Friday. Internment Evergreen Cemetery.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Social Security Death Index Record
about Albert Olson
Name: Albert Olson
SSN: 370-01-7518
Last Residence: 49707 Alpena, Alpena, Michigan, United States of America
Born: 28 Aug 1917
Died: Jul 1986
State (Year) SSN issued: Michigan (Before 1951 )
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++





Notes for MARCIA SPRAGG:
The Alpena News

Marcia Olson

OLSON, Marcia May, 94, of 217 E. Wisner Street, Alpena, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, at Sally's Care Home.

She is survived by one daughter, Marlys (Jerry) Roznowski of Alpena; two sons, Jere (Elaine) of Troy, Rick (Linda) of Spruce; three sisters-in-law, Hazel Spragg, Norma Senchuk, June Jenter; one brother-in-law, Gordon (Elaine) Olson; five grandchildren, Kevin, Terri, Doug, Samantha and Josh Olson; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at the Bannan Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-8 p.m. Visitation will continue Monday at Alpena Free Methodist Church from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 11 a.m. with Rev. Luke Bedtelyon officiating.

Interment: Evergreen Cemetery
++++++++++++++++++++++
Marcia May Olson
Marcia May Olson, 94, of 217 E. Wisner Street, Alpena, passed away Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 at Sally's Care Home.
Born Marcia May Spragg on May 4, 1912, to the late John "Ed" Sprayy and Maude *Kingsley) Spragg. She married Albert M. Olson on Dec 24, 1938 in Alpena, and he preceded her in death on July 8, 1986.

Marcia, who was also known as "Grandma" at Sally's Home Care Home enjoyed summers with the family at the cottage on Long Lake, the fall days at their spratt Hunting Camp and the cold winter afternoon snowmobiling in northern Michigan. she also cherished her travels with her husband to most states in the U.S. and southern Canada as well as throughout Michigan.

In later years to keep active you could also find Marcia creating decorative yarn covered hangers for many friends and family members.

Bingo also was one of her favorite games that she liked to play especially at the Alpena Senior Center and over at Sally's.

She was a member of Alpena Senior Citizens Center, AARP, N.E. Doll Club and attended Alpena Free Methodist Church.

Surviving are one daughter, Marlys (Jerry) Roznowski of Alpena, two sons Jere (Elaine) of Troy, Rick (Linda) of Spruce, three sisters in law, Hazel Spragg, Norma Senchuk, June Jenter, one brother in law Gordon (Elaine) Olson; five grandchildren Kevin (Lynne) Roznowski, Teri (Roger) Keyes, Doug (Jeanne) Roznowski, Samantha Gerke, and Josh Olson; five great grandchildren, Adam, Ashley and Aaron Keyes, Wade Roznowski and Kaleb Gerke and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were four brothers: Jasper "Ted", Arthur "Buzz", Clarence and Norman and two sisters: Manatee Eagle and Jane Spragg.

Visitation for Mrs. Olson will be at the Bannan Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-8 p.m.. Visitation will continue Monday at Alpena Free Methodist Church from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 11 a.m. with Rev. Luke Bedtelon officiating.

Internment: Evergreen Cemetery

Memorials: Hospice of the Sunrise Shore, Alpena County Library, and Northland Library.


Children of ALBERT OLSON and MARCIA SPRAGG are:
i. MARLYS8 OLSON, b. 27 May 1940.
ii. JERE OLSON.
iii. RICKI OLSON.


19. GERALD HENRY7 OLSON (OSCAR6, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 06 Sep 1922 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan, and died in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan. He married (1) MARIE. He married (2) MARIE A. BRUNETTE 17 Oct 1942 in Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan. She was born 29 Sep 1925 in Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan, and died 25 Sep 1968 in Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan.

Children of GERALD OLSON and MARIE BRUNETTE are:
i. JEANNE8 OLSON, b. 1960, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.
ii. RODNEY OLSON, b. 1952, Alpena, Alpena Co., Michigan.


20. JUNE LUCILLE7 OLSON (OSCAR6, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 27 Jun 1924 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan. She met (2) RONALD ARTHUR JENTER 05 Oct 1947 in Emanuel Evangelical & Reformed Church, Manchester, Wasytenaw Co, Michigan, USA, later to become Emanuel United Church of Christ, son of ARTHUR JENTER and CORA GROSSMAN. He was born 04 Jun 1921 in Manchester, Washtenaw Co, Michigan, USA, and died 26 Mar 2006 in Chelsea, Washtenaw Co., Michigan.

More About JUNE LUCILLE OLSON:
Education: 1943, Alpena High School, Alpena MI
Faternal Organization: American Legion Auxiliary Post 119
Faternal Organizations1: Order of the Eastern Star

Notes for RONALD ARTHUR JENTER:
Jenter Funeral Home Time Line
1861 Oct 27 Birth of Ernest Christian Jenter to Christian Jenter & Anna Maria Maier
1867 Sept 8 Birth of Anna Dorothy Schaible to Frederick Schaible & Elizabeth Katharina Kuebler
1886 Founding of E.C. Jenter Funeral Home
1890 Oct 23, Marriage of Ernest Christian Jenter & Anna Dorothy Schaible
1894 Aug 4 Birth of Arthur Ernest Jenter to Ernest Christian Jenter & Anna Dorothy Schaible
1894 Sep 16 Birth of Cora Edna Grossman to Johann Georg Grossman & Catherina Elsabein Feldkamp
1916 Jan 18 Marriage of Arthur Ernest Jenter & Cora Edna Grossman
1921 Jun 4 Birth of Ronald Arthur Jenter to Arthur Ernest Jenter & Cora Edna Grossman
1924` Jun 27 Birth of June Lucille Olson to Oscar Olson & Lois Marian McDonnell
1927 Feb 8 Death of Ernest Christian Jenter
1947 Oct 5 Marriage of Ronald Arthur Jenter & June Lucille Olson
1948 Sep 19 Birth of Karen Lois Jenter
1951 Mar 31 Death of Anna Dorothy Schaible Jenter
1951 Oct 14 Birth of James Arthur Jenter to Ronald Arthur Jenter & June Lucille Olson
1963 Dec 31 Retirement of Arthur Ernest Jenter
1964 Jul 18 Death of Arthur Ernest Jenter
1983 May 4 Ronald Arthur Jenter honored as 40 year Licensee by Michigan Funeral Directors Assoc.
1986 July Jenter Funeral Home celebrates 100 years in the Manchester Fair Parade
1989 Dec 31 Ronald Arthur Jenter retires & sells Jenter Funeral Home to Martin Braun
1990 Feb 28 Death of Cora Edna Grossman Jenter
1990 Mar Ron, June, Karen & Jim enjoy vacation in Marco Island, Florida
1990 May Retirement party held for Ron & June Jenter
1993 May 6 Ronald Arthur Jenter honored as 50 year Licensee by Michigan Funeral Directors Assoc.
1997 Oct 5 Ron & June Jenter celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary
1998 Dec 5 Death of James Arthur Jenter
2000 Sept Martin Braun sells Jenter Braun Funeral Home to partners Borek, DeJeu & Jennings
2003 May 8 Ronald Arthur Jenter honored as 60 year Licensee by Michigan Funeral Directors Assoc.
2003 May 31 Jenter family honored and flag pole dedicated to Ronald Arthur Jenter by Borek Jennings Funeral Home & Cremation Service
2003 Jun 1 Funeral Home named changed to Borek Jennings Funeral Home & Cremation Service Jenter Chapel




More About RONALD ARTHUR JENTER:
Burial: 29 Mar 2006, Oak Grove Cemetery, Manchester, Washtenaw Co., Michigan
Confirmation: 1935, Emanuel Evangelical & Reformed, Manchester, MI later to become Emanuel United Church of Christ
Education: 1939, Manchester High School
Education1: Wayne State University
Education2: Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI
Faternal Organization: American Legion Post 117 Emil Jacob Manchester, Mi
Faternal Organizations: 1943, Free & Accepted Masons State of Michigan
Military service: Bet. 1943 - 1946, Active Duty 6/27/43 through 05/18/46 Served aboard the USS New York, Engaged in battle for Iwo Jima
Occupation: Bet. 1943 - 1990, Funeral Director and Embalmer

Children of JUNE OLSON and RONALD JENTER are:
i. KAREN LOIS8 JENTER, b. 19 Sep 1948, Tecumseh, Lenawee Co, Michigan, USA.

Notes for KAREN LOIS JENTER:
PILGRIMAGE TO ISRAEL
KAREN L. JENTER
FEB 1998

There were 38 of us from our church who took the journey. We left our church after our Sunday morning service on Feb 15, 1998 at 11:30am. We had a bus pick us up and take us to Metropolitan airport in Detroit, which is about 1 hour from Manchester. My roommate on the trip was a very dear friend of mine; she is a retired nurse, who lost her husband a couple of years ago. She sings in the choir and plays in the hand bell choir with me. Once in Detroit, we boarded United Air Lines and flew to Dulles airport in Washington DC. We arrived there and changed planes and got on another United Air Lines plane and flew from Dulles to Heathrow Airport in London England. We were really lucky, Mae, my roommate and I got bulkhead seats, and we were the first row in the tourist section, which means we had a lot of legroom. This was good, because Mae is a large women and last summer she had her right knee replaced, so she could stretch out her legs, which I enjoyed doing, too. We flew all night, as we gained 6 hours. We arrived in London England at 6:30am on Monday morning, where a bus and tour guide met us and took us on an all day tour of London. One of the first things we did was stop at an exchange place where we could all exchange some of our American money for British Pounds. It just so happened that right across the street was a MacDonalds, and since it was about 7:00am in the morning, we all piled in there for breakfast. I had stayed away from MacDonalds for about 10 months; it was not on my diet, but the Egg MacMuffin sure tasted good, real English muffins, in England. We really saw a lot of really interesting places. We got a tour of Westminster Abbey, which was really interesting, our guide was good, and showed us where Elton John and the grand piano was during Princess Di’s funeral. You cannot take pictures inside of the Abbey, but we did take some on the outside. There were quite a few groups touring the Abbey that day, but our guide was very good, and all in all, we spent about 1 ½ hours on the tour. All very interesting. We went to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. Our tour group leader was really good, we stopped the bus a ways from the Palace and we actually got a “back stage” view through the fence of the incoming guards. This is were they are all inspected, shoes shined, coats everything checked. Then they marched out, with the royal band, and changed guards. There are a lot of building around the Palace area, all connected with the royal family or their office, some way or another. One of the buildings was the residence of the Queen Mother, who had recently fallen and broke her hip and was due to be released from the hospital within a few days. We saw a lot of sights of greater London that day, London Bridge, Big Ben. We knew that on the way back from Israel we would be spending 4 more days and nights in London. We probably saw more than the usual tourist saw. One of the sights of particular interest hat we saw, was the spot in London where Sir William Wallace was tortured for freedom for Scotland back in the 1300’s, depicted in “Braveheart” with Mel Gibson. Of course, there is a building on the spot now, but they did erect a plaque.

After touring London all day, we were taken to a Motel near Gatway Airport and we were all pretty tired, We had been traveling in the same clothes for over 24 hours and after a really nice dinner in at our Motel we all looked forward to hot showers and a good night sleep. I had trouble figuring out the English system of plumbing, I could not get the water in the tub to come out of the shower part, I thought I might have to call the front desk to have some cute English plumber come fix it, by Mae finally figured it out, I kept telling her to call the front desk and send up a cute plumber, but she managed to fix it, and we both took hot showers. We woke the next morning, refreshed, and had breakfast at the motel. We had a little time before our plane left for Israel, so we started the first of many postcards we would send home to family in friend, and then visited a little Church next to the Motel, it was outside of London in a rural setting, so we got to explore the church grounds. The church was locked, they were doing a log of renovation to it, but it had a really pretty little church cemetery and the flowers were coming up and the grass was green. The Church was called St Michael and the Angels. It had a lot of old grave stones, and I got some really nice pictures of the outside of the Church and the grave stones. One of the stones was a tiny grave of an infant, it was really old, and the name and year and been worn off. They have had a mild winter in England, too, like we have had in the United States. We then gathered in the lobby of the Motel to await the time to board our bus for the trip to the airport and our flight to Israel. It was then that we learned that one elderly gentleman traveler in our group, had to be taken to a hospital in the middle of the night. Our pastor, church secretary and one of our travelers, who is a registered nurse. The gentleman had been in the hospital about 1 ½ weeks prior to leaving on the trip with bleeding ulcers. His doctor had told him he was well enough to make the trip. But the 8 ½ hour plane ride the day before to England had really tried him out and it was felt that it would be best if he stayed in the Hospital for a few days and not make the rest of the trip. Of course, he was very disappointed. His daughter was called back in the United States, and she and our tour group, Good Shepherd, made arrangements for her to fly to London the following day to escort him home. We learned after we arrived back home that after a few days stay in a London Hospital, he did return back home in fine shape. He is eager to be a traveler, next year in 1999 on our trip to Germany. We then left for Gatway airport for our flight into Israel. We were flying El Al Airlines and even though I am not all that young, I was one of the younger member of our group, there were a lot of our travelers who are senior citizens, my parents age, in their 70’s. They really have extremely tight security to get into Israel. We could tell this the moment we entered El Al Airlines area at the airport; there were English policeman and Israeli solders all over, each with a machine gun pointed at the travelers. They asked us younger members of the group, why we were going there, did we know anyone in Israel, did we know anyone who had been born in Israel, were we caring anything in our luggage that could be used as a weapon, did we pack our own luggage. The older members of our group were not grilled as extensively as us younger travelers. All in all, we went through about 6 security areas. Each time I went through one of the checkpoints the buzzer went off and I had to be frisked. I kept saying to our group, not to the officials, that if I had to be frisked, couldn’t I at least be frisked by some really cute guy, but it was always female. My asthma inhaler in my pocket kept setting off the alarm, and also, I had my film in my carry on luggage in a lead bag, and the El Al Israeli detectors are more sophisticated, I guess than in the US, because it They told us the day before that the only policemen in England who carry guns, are those who are guards at the airport. There was a lot of security at El All, a lot of British and Israeli policeman who all had machine guns at the ready. Before our last checkpoint, we were standing in an area with a lot of other travelers to Israel. There were a number of Jews, probably returning to their homeland. Older people, the women, with the typical wig, the men in traditional long coats, with their prayer shawls, and the tall fur hats. We were standing by ourselves, our own group, talking very quietly, minding our own business. The older Jewish ladies were giving us dirty looks, talking among themselves. I thought to my self, Americans in great numbers visit Israel, Christians and Jews alike, we spend a lot of money in the country, and we were one of the first countries in the world to support Israel when they declared their independence in 1948. We finally got through our last checkpoint, again I set off the alarm, and when I was asked if anyone had given me anything, I almost said, dirty looks, but thought better of it, I did want to make sure I got into the country without any problems. It just kind of disturbed me; we Americans spend a lot of money in their country. Finally, we were ready to board the plane. We flew out about 3:30pm and it took about 6 hours to get to Ben Grunion Airport in Tel Aviv. We arrived about 9:00pm and had to go through Israeli customs there too. One thing that was different, the planes land way out on the tarmac at the air port, they bring portable stairs up to the plane and you walk down the stair onto the tarmac and you then take a shuttle bus into the air port itself. The Israeli customs was not as strict once we got there, all we had to do was show our passports, and collect our luggage, which lucky for us, everyone’s did arrive. There were Israeli soldiers all over the airport with guns, something we got used to seeing all over the country. We were met at the airport by our guide and our bus driver and our guide.

We then began our journey to our first stop up to Caesarea, which is in the north of Israel on the Mediterranean Sea. The trip took about an hour, and even though it was dark out, I was amazed at all of the electrical wires and electrical towers there were in Israel. Most of our wires in this country are now buried underground. Also there weren’t any freeways, mostly 2 lane roads. We did travel part of the way from Tel Aviv to Caesarea, on a 4 lane, but it did change into a 2 lane. We could tell that everything was very green, and there were flowers blooming all over. The Middle East and Europe had a mild winter too, like we did in the US. We arrived at our hotel after 11:00pm, and were met in the lobby by someone from the hotel who gave us all cups of hot, spiced drink, to me it tasted like mulled, hot, sweet cider, but probably was apple with some citrus. We were all hungry so the hotel opened their coffee shop and made grilled cheese sandwiches for all of us. We finally went to bed after midnight, eager to sleep and begin our journey. I did not sleep very well, the night before in London, because I drank diet pop on the plane, but it was not caffeine free, I thought my Tylenol PM would help me sleep, but it didn’t, so I cut out all caffeine pop. We found pop all over Israel so every time we went some place I bought bottles of diet 7-UP or diet Sprite. I brought a couple of the bottles home, they are only 10 oz, and shaped different then our pop bottles. I sure slept that first night in Israel; I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

We awoke bright and early the next morning, to beautiful weather, in the 70’s. We packed our bags, got them ready to be put onto our bus headed for breakfast at the hotel. Each morning, if we were leaving the Hotel for a new destination, we put our luggage outside our room doors, and they collected our luggage and loaded it on the bus, while we were eating our breakfast. We had special tags that identified our group, and never had any problem with luggage; it was always there, at our next stop. We are not used to the European continental breakfast they have, but had no problem with eating tomatoes, olives, cheese, and bologna, in addition to the traditional United States breakfast of cereal. Then we were off on our first day in Israel. We first visited the ancient City of Caesarea, which was built by King Herod. They have done a lot of excavations and it was really impressive. We were still in awe, believing that we were finally in Israel. The weather was beautiful, shirt sleeve weather, in the mid 70’s. The religious sites in Israel won’t allow you to wear shorts, but jeans and good walking shoes are a must. In the ruins in Caesarea, we sat in the amphitheater and could just imagine what performances took place there in Herod’s time. We also visited an ancient aqueduct there that he built too, right on the Mediterranean Sea. It was really something; it runs for over 6 miles right along side the shore line. We also had a chance to walk on the beach and pick up sea shells and stones to save as a remembrance of our trip.

From Caesarea, we went next heading south, into the area of Tiberias. It is very dessert looking here. This is where Jesus spent a lot of his time, of his time, after he left Nazareth. One of my favorites was the Church of the Beatitudes, where Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount. It is a beautiful church that has a balcony on the second level that overlooks some magnificent scenery. We could hardly believe that were viewing and walking in the same places that Jesus did so many years ago. It overlooks the Sea of Galilee. We also visited the Church of the Multiplication where Jesus performed one of his miracles by changing the 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread into enough food to feed the flock of 5000 people. We also went to a small, very pretty church in Cana, where Jesus performed another of his miracles of changing the water into wine at the wedding feast. This church was not as big as some of the ones we visited, but it was very pretty. It contained some of the same stone jugs that Jesus would have no doubt used when he performed his miracle there. There are two churches in Cana; one is a Greek Orthodox, the one we visited, and a Roman Catholic Church. In the back of the Greek Orthodox Church, was a bell tower about 12 feet high with about 6 bells on it, There was a chain hanging down from the bells, and one of our fellow travelers took a hold of it and rang the bells, while we snapped his picture. I don’t know if The local countryside thought we were calling them to church, we left before we could find out if anyone arrived.

We also went to Capernaum where Jesus went to begin his teaching and preaching. It is also a sight that has had extensive excavations, and some of the pillars and other things they have unearthed were beautiful. It was hard to believe that they have stood the test of time and was still here for us to see. While we were there, we saw a very large, ancient stone olive press, that was used in Jesus time to press the oil from the olives. There were olive trees all over Israel. I bought a beautiful olive wood Nativity scene in Bethlehem that I am having shipped home. The area at Capernaum is on the shores of the Sea of Gailee and affords a beautiful view of the Sea. And across the Sea, you can see the countries of Syria and Jordan. Just on the shores of the Sea of Gailee is a very beautiful onion domed church to Saints Peter and Paul. The domes are painted a hot pink and the church itself is a white type of stone. It looks very beautiful from the excavations of Capernaum. And you get an excellent view of it sitting along the shore, when you are out in the Jesus Boat. Capernaum also has areas where you can gather with your group and hold a worship service. Pastor Vince was always prepared and with his ever present Bible, read passages from it at each site we visited. We also all had a booklet of favorite hymns that was made especially for our trip and we also enjoyed singing at the various sites. Sometimes you could hear singing in many different languages. We were told that there were over 40,000 other pilgrims touring the Holy Lands when we were there.

We went to the Sea of Gailee and rode the Jesus boat. It was a large boat that probably looks much like the ones that Jesus and his disciples used on the same sea. We took the boat out to the middle of the sea and had a church service, lead by our pastor and the pastor of a church group also from the United States from Barrow Alaska. There were 18 in their group and they were with the same Tour Company we used Good Shepherd. They stayed at the same hotels we did in Israel. From the Jesus boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, you could look across the sea and see the countries of Jordan and Syria. And because they also had a mild winter, it was beautiful green land. Most of the group from Alaska are Eskimo background, and during our service, we shared our hymn booklets with them. They enjoyed singing in English with us and even favored us by singing some of them in their native Eskimo tongue. One of the gals on our trip was celebrating her birthday that day and they even sake happy birthday to her in Eskimo. From the boat, we got a wonderful view of the Saints Peter and Paul, pink domed church, along with several other churches that dotted the shore line. Again, it was a splendid day for photographs with your camera. The area all around the Sea of Galilee was very green and fertile, no doubt due to El Nino, and their mild winters. The roads running through the interior of Israel travel up and down hills, and we got some wonder views of greenery all over, and flowers were all in bloom. After our ride in the Jesus Boat, we were take to a place for lunch, where they served St Peters Fish. A lot of the people in our group order it and said it was very good. They had a huge salad bar, with over 40 different kinds of salads, and along with some really good home made soup, and the ever present pita bread, we enjoyed lunch and the chance to reflect on the day.

We went to a very beautiful are called the Mount of Temptation, which is a wilderness area that Jesus spent for 40 days being tempted by the Devil, where he said, “Man Does not Live by Bread Alone? This is in the area called Tiberias. It is a place of rock; sandstone colored rock for as far as one can see. Very dry, yet still beautiful to look at. We took the bus to a high point after we left the two lane road, out in the interior of Israel. At the top of this high point, you can see for miles. It is so quiet, you can almost hear a pin drop. Out of this rock from the rock a Monastery has been carved that is inhabited by Monks. How they blasted though this rock almost 1000 years ago, without modern equipment, one will never know. I imagine it is much like the pyramids in Egypt were built. I don’t think I have ever seen any thing so breathe taking. Solid masses of sand colored rock, with a monastery carved right out of the stone. You can look for miles and miles in any direction and see nothing but stone. At the top where we were, there was a bell l tower, standing all alone, and hundreds of feet down the cliff and across the valley, you see the massive monastery. While we were taking in this view, we were approached by one of the many souvenir hackers. They are Bedouins who live in the are. With them was one Arab, dressed all out in native garb leading a camel, wanting each of us to pay him $2.00 to ride his camel. Pastor Vince told us that one slip of the camels foot while riding it, would send us careening down thousand of feet of cliff, so we opted to wait for our camel rides, until we got to the area in Jericho, where we were to have lunch. Tagging along with the Arab and the camel, was a little boy of about 5-6 years of age. When anyone tried to take his picture, he stuck his hand out demanding money. We were told not to give money to any of the children, or we would be bombarded with hundred of them. I waited until his back was turn, and still got a good shot of the camel. The weather this day was beautiful, very sunny and warm probably in the mid 70’s. It was a perfect day for picture taking, and we were afford with some excellent views and opportunities. We stopped for lunch in the Modern City of Jericho, after we had toured the ancient ruins and excavations of the old city of Jericho. Before we went in side to have lunch, we all got the chance to ride a camel. They kidded us on the bus, that it cost $2.00 to get up on the camel and $20.00 to get down, but it was only $2.00. Just about everyone rode camels, my room mate, Mae decided not to, so I handed her my camera, and she took a lot of pictures of us on the camels. One lady in our group is 80 years of age, and even she rode a camel. The complex we ate lunch at also featured one of many huge souvenirs places, where we all enjoyed browsing and spending our money. It was in this gift shop that I bought a few of the numerous silver charms, that I brought home, too eventually have made into a necklace. Outside of the lunch complex, was a wonder fruit market, and many of us bought large bags of fresh oranges? I enjoyed an orange every evening before going to bed, while I was in Israel. Also, I picked up several tubes of hand lotion made from the minerals, and mud of the Dead Sea. I brought home 4 tubes of the hand lotion and a bottle of their Shampoo. I have to say this is probably the best hand lotion I have ever used, and I wish now I have taken advantage and bought one of their larger packages. The shampoo is also a dream to use, and I use it sparingly, to make it last. I also bought several of the numerous silver charms that I will have made into a necklace along with the coins I have of Israel. The city of Jericho is the oldest city in the world and is about 1300 feet below level. This is the Jericho of Joshua fame. This city has probably been to war and been conquered more than any other place in the world. . Again, here as in most of the sties we visited extensive excavation have been undertaken, and we saw parts of the ancient walls. Again, because the weather was so beautiful and sunny, we got excellent chances for picture taking. I can say the camera my parents gave me for Christmas, sure was getting a workout. If my pictures turn out half as good as the sites, they should be magnificent. In the modern city of Jericho, we stopped for another photo opportunity. This is where the ancient sycamore tree is, that Zechaus climbed to see Jesus. The tree is over 2000 years old. There is a little fence around the tree, and you can get a good shot of the tree with a modern building in the background.

We went to the River Jordan to have a baptismal service. Our pastor said nothing could be taken away from our baptism as an infant, so this was called a re commitment service. The place is really nice. This is quite near the spot where John baptized Jesus. They have several areas built up, so a number of different groups can do their service at the same time. It is kind of a mini stadium, where they have stone and cement seats, and an area that leads down into the River Jordan. There were about 12 of us who were re committed by total immersion, in our group. Mostly the younger people. A lot of the senior citizens stood along the shore and had were re committed without going fully into the water. Our pastor kidded us in the bus on the way there, that there were several ways he could perform the baptisms in the water. One, to dunk us under 3 times and bring us up twice, he could do this by laying us back, which is kind of hard on the back, get the joke, dunk 3 times, bring up twice, or we could stand in front of him in the water, take hold of his hands and lower our selves under, which we opted to do We were very lucky the weather was beautiful, warm about 72 degrees. We were all given a white robe to change into; we had our swimming suits on underneath, and a towel. We walked along the entry way that has a railing and approached Pastor Vince; the area is built into a semi circle, when we reached Pastor Vince the water was about waist deep, very calm, beautiful. . He held on to our hands and we lowered ourselves under the water and came up. This was the very River Jordan that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. The weather was again beautiful, sunny and in the mid 70’s. The water was not cold at all. Quite a change from last years trip, when the day of their immersion, it was probably only in the 50’s. This year Pastor Vince did not have to worry about his lips, and the rest of him turning blue. Again, it was a great day and event for photographs. Then when we were all finished we had our picture taken. A lot of the people who were not totally immersed stood above us and took out pictures as we were re committed, since the sun was out and it was such a beautiful day, we all knew we would have some fantastic pictures of ourselves.

After touring the northern part of Israel for about 4 days, we finally entered the city of Jerusalem. The first day, we stood at the Mount of Olives and had a group picture taken overlooking the beautiful, old city of Jerusalem, I got a great picture of Jerusalem, using my panoramic mode on the camera. Jerusalem is a very hilly city, much as San Francisco or Rome. We traveled along many of its streets, and at times we wondered how our bus drive, Anis, would get the bus around some of the hairpin curves and corners without bumping into something. He was a great drive, has been doing this for 17 years, and he was the same bus driver the group from our church had in 1997. Because of the mild winter in Israel, like in the United States, everything was very green, there were flowers blooming all over, and we enjoyed much warmer temperatures on our trip than they did on the 1997 trip. Overlooking the Mount of Olives is the largest Jewish cemetery in the world. Jews from all over the world want to be buried here, and everyday someone’s remains are picked up at the air port in Tel Aviv for this. There is a special man, whose job it is, to go to the air port in Tel Aviv to accept these remains and arrange burial for them. You don’t see much grass in the Jewish Cemetery. Everything was all rock, with the graves covered by what looked like concrete slabs. You notice stones sitting on the concrete. This means that someone has visited the grave and left the stone as a tribute or remembrance. I know that Oskar Shindler of Shindler’s List, who save thousands of Jews from the Holocaust, during the Second World War, is buried in Jerusalem, but we were never able to find out where he is buried. I remembered at the end of the movie, Jewish survivors, whom he had saved, came walking down the hillside and placed stones on his grave. The Jewish cemetery looks much like it did in the film. We were told that there are Christian and Arab Cemeteries equally as large in other parts of the city. From there we went into Bethlehem, where our hotel was and where we would spend the next 4 nights. Bethlehem is about 6 miles from Jerusalem, and while Jerusalem is controlled by the Israeli’s, the city of Bethlehem is controlled by the Palestinians. We stayed in all Palestinian hotels and ate at all Palestinian places. Our Tour, Good Shepherd, uses all Palestinian accommodations; they feel they are safer than Israeli ones. The hotel in Bethlehem was beautiful, about 15 floors, all lavender, pinks and purples. It had been all redecorated since last year. The tour from the church last year stayed in the same place. They even had a picture of President Yassar Arafait hanging in the lobby. Each time we crossed from one city into the other, we had to go through a check point, that had lots of military soldiers with lot of machine guns. However, there was not one time, during the entire trip to Israel that I did not feel safe. There are not a lot of freeways, mostly just 2 lane roads, and once you get out of the city, it is deserted. You see kibitzes and groves, but also a lot of wide open spaces. Jerusalem and Bethlehem are another matter, very large modern cities. However, you cannot really tell when you leave Jerusalem and enter Bethlehem, a distance of about 6 miles. You really would not know you had left one for the other except for the border patrols. Along the interior or the country, every few miles you will see a lonely bus stop, for people to wait at for buses into various areas of Israel. At each one of these bus stops is stationed 24 hours a day, armed Israeli solders in full combat military dress with machine guns. There are on duty there for so many hours and then are relieved by others. This goes on 24 hours a day every day of the year. .

The first day we were in the Jerusalem area, we visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This was built over the sight where Jesus was born; we got to kneel down an touch a Silver Star on the floor that is said to be where the stable was, and the manger. Most religious sites in Israel have churches built over them now. And they are very large and beautiful, although they can be somewhat dark. Lots of incense burning, candles and such. In a lot of them, you weave your way through, up and down narrow stairway passages. We had to go down a flight of very narrow stairs to get to the Silver Star site, which marks the places where the stable and manger stood. It really is impressive. Also we visited the towns of Nazareth, and saw where Jesus grew up, where His Mother Mary was born, and where His father Joseph had his carpenter shop. Some of the churches at these sites are Roman Catholic; some are Greek Orthodox, and other different groups. The Church of the Annunciation, where Mary learned from the angel that she would be the mother of Jesus, is also, very beautiful. There is a well there called the Virgin Mary’s well, that was the same well that Mary went to. On the wall outside of the church, there are mosaic tiles in many languages of the Magnificent.
This was very special, because we have sung this in our choir many times in our church.

We visited the town where John the Baptist was born, and were the Virgin Mary, visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was Johns mother. The Church there is called the Church of the Visitation. It too, is very beautiful, on the outside of the church and on some of the inside walls, are beautiful paintings that depict Mary, and Elizabeth, her cousin, before the birth of Jesus and John. The inside of the church has a baptismal font that is still used to this day. I took a lot of pictures of the painting on the inside of the church, as well as the beautiful paints on the outside.

We went to the little town of Cana, where Jesus performed the miracle of changing the want into wine at the wedding feast. There are two churches in Cana, and we visited the Greek Orthodox Church. It is just a small church, but also very beautiful. In the church are some stone vessels that held wind and are said to be the
Same kind used when Jesus was there, and to be at least 2000 years old. Outside the church around to the back is a bell tower, probably about 20 feet high, and it has about 6 bells on it. One of the members of our group took a hold of the rope chain and rang the bells.

After touring around the small villages just outside Jerusalem, we finally were able to actually go into the city. We say the largest Jewish cemetery in the world that is on a hill that overlooks the old city. There are 8 gates into the ancient walled city of Jerusalem. Of the gates, 7 of them are open and the 8th gate called the Golden Gate, was sealed the Muslims many, many years ago. It will open again, when Jesus Christ, makes his second appearance on earth. Most of the times, we
Went into the ancient walled city, we parked the bus, and then walked, as the streets are very narrow, and busses could not pass on them. We entered the Dung Gate on Friday afternoon, which was the Jewish Sabbath. Near this gate is the plaza that lead to the Western Wailing Wall, the most sacred places of Jews. It is believed to be the only remaining structure left of the 2nd temple, built by Kind Herod. On Fridays, you cannot take pictures, but we could walk up to the wall. Most of us had written prayers and had them folded very tiny, and we placed our prayers in the cracks in the wall. There is a mend side and a women’s side and they are separated by a screen. All men who approach the wall must weal a yamakuah, even if they are not Jewish. When you are done, you back away from the wall. During the wan in 1948 after the war of independence, the Jews were forbidden by the Arabs from entering the city of Jerusalem, and they could not pray at the wall. During the 6 day warn in 1967 the Israeli’s re took the city of Jerusalem and again controlled it. This was the first time since 1948 that they were able to go to the Wall. Shortly after that they built a large plaza there, which can hold several thousand people. On one of the buildings near the plaza, there are 6
very large blue Stars of David, which honor the memories of the 6 million Jews killed in the second world war. There are a lot of excavations going on around the wall.

Very near the Wall, is the Temple Mount, sacred to the Muslims. The mosque there, is very beautiful, the one you always see when you see pictures of Jerusalem, it has the gold dome. Inside the mosque is the rock that they believe Mohammed ascended to heaven from. To the Moslems, the city of Jerusalem is the 3rd most sacred city in the world, just behind Mecca and Medina. The outside of the mosque is very beautiful, mosaic, blue and gold tiles. Near the Temple Mount is a very ancient fountain, with water spigots and little stools at it. Here is were a Muslim must wash his head, hands and feat, before entering the mosque to pray. From the mosque, there is an arch, and in the distance there is a beautiful Onion domed Russian Orthodox Church, which I got a very beautiful picture of.

We visited the Pools of Bethesda, and the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray, just before his crucifixion. The olive trees in the garden are over 2000 years old and the Church in the Garden is very beautiful also. We saw an Arab riding a camel very near this church. From here we went to the Via Dolorosa, the Street of Sorrows, the street Jesus bore the cross on the way to Calvary. This street has 9 of the Stations of the Cross that the Roman Catholics honor. The other 5 Stations of the Cross are inside the Church of the Holy Seplechure. The street of Sorrows is still much like it was during Jesus time. Very narrow, some places, very dark. It weaves along. The buildings where there are shops located on the ground floor, are the same ones occupied by merchants during Jesus time. With their dwelling on the second floor. The only thing different there now, is they do have electricity and water now. Also, there, there are pickpocket thieves, so you have to
watch yourself. I carried my small purse, inside my clothing and coat, but one man in our group had a camera bag with zippers on it, and a man tried to open one of his zippers on his case, lucky for him, another man in our group saw what was happening and chased him away. On one of the Stations of the Cross, is a
place in the wall where Jesus faltered with the cross, and put his hand on the wall, you can also put your hand on the same spot, it is very worn down from
age. Leading into the courtyard of the Church of the Holy Seplechure is a stone stair case, where our group gathered on and we got another group picture taken.
The Church itself, is a very large complex, built on to many, many times. There are 6 different religions that hold place inside of the Church. The Roman Catholics, the Greek Orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, the Armenians, and the Coptics. And each one of them know what territory belongs to them. There is even a sect of Ethiopians living on the roof. No one wants to give an inch. Anyone is welcome to come into the Church. . It is very dark, inside and very large, Lots of tiny stone steps leading down and in and out different places in the Seplechure. Lots of gold hanging lights, incense burners, very beautiful. You come to the place of Calvary, where the Cross stood, over it is built an altar, but the exposed rock is still there. Our pastor kneeled down and each one of us, one at a time was helped down to our knees by him and we were able to say a prayer and put our hands into the hold in the rock in which the cross stood, much like we did when we kneeled at the silver star at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. There are a lot of little coves inside and we were able to go into a small one and hold a worship service. The last 5 Stations of the Cross are inside. There is a large stone slab that is said to have held the body of Jesus after He was taken down from the cross. Also inside is what some thinks is Golgotha., the Scull, where some think contains the tomb where Jesus was buried. Over this are is built a huge wooden structure, that is very tall, long and narrow. You can look into one end of it and see a shrine built, is contains a slab that is said to have been used to lay the body of Jesus, when he was removed from the cross.

We also visited a place not far from the Church of the Holy Seplechure. This is where some people Jesus was buried and not at the site in the Church of the holy Seplechure. The Garden Tomb is the Old Walled City of Jerusalem. In the 1890’s, an English Colonel was visiting Jerusalem and noticed that an area of rock, resembled a skull, and in the side of the rock were several tombs carved out of the rock. At one of them is a track like chiseled are, that look like a large rock once stood there, but has since been rolled away. They think that this is the tomb of Joseph of Aramethia, who lent the tomb to be used to lay Jesus body. An English Group purchased the land in the site and developed the garden there. It was very beautiful, full of flowers that were in bloom. There are several areas set aside for worship that are quite and have benches. We had a communion service here, and they gave each of us a little olive wood cup that held our wine for the communion, we got to keep the cup as a remembrance. One of the ladies in our group had written a poem, called, Remember Me and she read it during our service. The sun was shinning and it was very calm and peaceful there.

Each night we returned back to our Hotel in Bethlehem. We had breakfast every morning at the hotel and came back for dinner each night. There serve an European breakfast here too, and we got used to having olives, tomatoes, bologna, pita break, cheese and things like that. They also had hard boiled eggs, and cereal and juice for us. The had something sweet that tasted something like the butterscotch cookie dough my mom makes. She rolls the dough into a log shape and then wrapped it in waxed paper and puts it in the refrigerator. Then she slices it and bakes them. This tasted something like these cookies, was sweet, and sliced. It was good, I liked. We were surprised because all over Israel there are a log of banana trees, but we never got any bananas. We asked them about it and they said that in Israel, bananas are a delicacy, they are used in desserts and they export the rest. They finally gave us bananas to eat the last day we were there. They had really good oranges that are grown in Haifa. When we were in Germany in 1971, we had a log of oranges there that came from Israel. When we were in Tiberias, where we rode the camels, outside the restaurant where we had lunch, they had a huge fruit marked, and we all bought big bags of oranges. Every night before we went to bed, I ate an orange, they were so good. One night I had to eat about 3 of them, because we leaving for England the next day and we could not take the fruit into England with us.

Everyday, when we were out touring, we would go to different places for lunch. Jerusalem is a city of hills, Like San Francisco is in California and like Rome is in Italy. One day we saw a railroad car that looked like it was perched on the side of the hill, we asked our guide what it was and he said it was a railroad CAR like the ones that the Jew were transported to the death camps in World War II, and that it was at the Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vasham. We went there for lunch one day, but we did not get to go to the exhibits. It was one of the places I wished we could have gone. From what I have read about the museum, there is a room in there that mourns all of the children killed during the Holocaust. The room is made up of nothing but mirrors, and there is 1 candle placed in the room, this one candle is reflected in every mirror in the room.

The food in Israel was different, they serve a lot of salads, different kinds of fresh vegetables and a lot of middle eastern food, humus, couscous. Also we were not used to an European breakfast that she served American tourists also. We had things like olives, tomatoes, sour cream, peppers and things like that, in addition to cereal and hard boiled eggs. There was a lot of ice cream in Israel, all different kinds of it. The texture was a little different than the ice cream is her in the United States. I liked their drum stick, it was vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone, with chocolate and nuts on it, wrapped up in a paper cone. We ate at a lot of cafeterias for our lunches each day. They had a variety of foods to choose from. Some times I would only get some pop to drink and an ice cream of some sort. Even though I ate ice cream, I still managed to loose 2 pounds on the trip, because we did so much walking. Almost everyone who went also lost some weight. Every night we returned back to our hotel for dinner, and we had breakfast there every morning. The food at dinner was good. We had a variety of meats, beef, chicken, and usually had some sort of rice dish in addition to many salads. When we got to Jerusalem and stayed at the Bethlehem Hotel, their dining hall was very nice. Each table had a linen table cloth, sometimes pink, sometimes lavender and in each goblet at each place was a linen napkin of contrasting hot pink or purple. The dining hall for dinner was very large and there were always a lot of different pilgrim groups eating and staying at the hotel. The dinning hall probably held 500 to 600 hundred people. The food was presented very well, the main entrée and rice or potato was brought out by waiters and waitresses to each table and each diner was served. They also came around with a beverage cart and served you your choice of beverage. Dessert usually was an apple, or orange, but the last night we were given a banana, which is a delicacy in Israel.

One night we went to a show at the YMCA in Jerusalem. It was put on by young people of different ethnic backgrounds from all over Israel. It was a lot of
singing and dancing in their native tongue and costume. It was a good show. Also, we got to see a lot of Jerusalem at night. The Dome of the Rock and all of the different sights looked pretty with the light on. This was on Saturday night.

One Sunday we ate breakfast at the Hotel an then headed south of Bethlehem and Jerusalem to Masada, the sigh where King Herod built his fortress and here was where the Jews held off the Romans for 3 years before the Romans finally captured them. When they got to the top they found that all of the Jews were dead, they picked 10 men to kill everyone one, men, women and children and then from the 10 they picked one to kill the other 9. We had to take a cable car up to Masada, and then it was another climb that took another 10 minutes to reach the summit. It was a beautiful sight form up there. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. From the top you could see all over the Dead Sea Area. From the top you can see 8 different areas where the Romans camped. They have done a lot of excavation of the area, and we saw beautiful paintings that were on the wall of the palace of King Herod, and the Bath House and such. All of the member of our group took the cable car ride up their, but a lot of the senior citizens did not make the climb to the top. It was well worth it though. From Masada, we drove to the area of Quamran, where they found the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. The area is all stone rock formations, with a lot of different caves, and the scrolls were bound by a Bedouin shepherd boy. They found scrolls in about 50 different caves. The scrolls now are in a special museum in Jerusalem. From here we went to a resort on the Dead Sea, where we changed into out swimming suits and went into the Dead Sea. There is no forms of any life in the sea, and it is so full of salt and minerals that you float, you can not sink. It was really an amazing feeling. We had a really fun time. Also the mud from the bottom of the sea is very good for your skin. They make all kinds of beauty products, shampoos and lotions from it and all of us brought home a lot of the products.

After we swam in the Dead Sea, we headed for an area in the Judean Dessert to have worship service. Pastor Vince asked our bus driver if he was taking us to the same place, he took the group who went to Israel last year? And he told him, no I have a different place. We were in the country side of Israel on a 2 lane highway, up in the hills, very desert looking, a few kibbutz’s once in a while, also we say bunkers once occupied by Jordanians, now Israeli territory after the 1967 6 day war. All of the sudden the driver drove the bus off the road, into the grass area, and we did not know where he was taking us, then up ahead of us out of no where appeared an area that had been build to resemble a small semi circular stadium, that would hold about 100 people, it over looked the Judean Hills, and here we held a worship service. It was time in the afternoon, so we would have our service the same time our own church would be having their Sunday morning service back in Manchester. It was so quiet there, and was a magnificent sight to behold. We sat there in awe, at the beauty and splendor, but yet the rugged lay of the land, knowing that we had truly walked in the footsteps of Jesus.

On Monday, our last full day in Israel, we returned back to the old walled city of Jerusalem. We all wanted to go again to the Western Wailing Wall, as we could not take pictures there when we were there on Friday. On Mondays and Wednesdays they hold Bar Mitzvah services at the wall. While we were there, several of them were going on. We cot to again approach the wall, touch it, and we took turns taking pictures of each other at the wall, as a lasting memory of our visit to Jerusalem. We again left the bus a ways away, and had to walk to the Wall through the Dung Gate. When we can out, there was a vendor selling very large loaves of bread that resembled large bagels, we bought several of them and shared them on the bus, they were warm, had the texture more like home made bread, rather than bagels, and were covered with sesame seeds. They were really wonderful. Before we returned to our hotel in Bethlehem, we went to an area about 2 miles outside of the old walled city of Jerusalem to a place called Shepherds Field. It was here that the shepherds, grazing their sheep, first heard from the angel about the birth of the infant Jesus. It is a beautiful area, where Ruth had followed her mother in law Naomi , then Ruth married Boaz. There was a shop here, that we were able to purchase souvenirs, and I bought some things to bring home, to remember my trip. One good thing about the souvenirs, I bought a lot of small stuff, jewelry, pins, olive wood crosses to hand on the wall, so they would be easy to pack in the suitcases, but still my cases would be full. There is a small church here, called the Shepherd Field church and it is built over a cave like grotto that shepherd actually lived in and sheltered their sheep in while grazing out in the fields.

We went back to our hotel in Bethlehem and had our evening meal, went back to our rooms and packed our suitcases, ready to depart Israel the following day, all of us were sad at leaving such a beautiful land and having experience a lifetime of memories, but, we did look forward to returning to London and 4 more days of touring, before we finally headed for home. We all talked about the trip to the air port in Tel Aviv, we wondered if we would have to go to a lot of checkpoints to get out too. And we found out that , getting out of Israel was almost as difficult as getting into the country. We again went through several immigration check points, making sure, we had nothing in our luggage that could be used as a weapon.

The flight back to England took about 4 hours. We had Kosher lunch on the plane, El Al Airlines and we arrived at Gatway Airport just outside of London in early afternoon. We were all kind of apprehensive about going through English customs, as we thought we would all have to open all of our luggage, but it was not the case. All we had to do was show our U.S. passports and we were on our way. We were met by our bus and were taken to our hotel the Forum, in downtown London, in the Kennsington area. This is the area where Princess Diana lived with her 2 sons after her divorce from Price Charles. Our hotel was beautiful and we all went to our rooms, to unpack and relax before dinner. Since we were on our own that night for dinner, we decided to try a casual restaurant in the hotel. We were all hungry for “Western” food after being in Israel for over a week. I ordered an very large hamburger, French fries and all the trimmings, so went my diet. But it sure tasted good. We then went to bed, for a good night sleep, but not until after viewing television in English. We got very little news coverage in Israel, it was hard to find both television and radio stations in English, and we so no newspapers in English, we were anxious to see what was happening in the Olympic games. We were all pleased to see that Tara Lipinski had won the women’s gold in figure skating. Tara lives and train in Detroit, Michigan, about 1 hours from Manchester so we consider her a home town girl.

On Wednesday, which was Ash Wednesday, about ½ of our group took an optional tour of Windsor Castle. It is about 1 hour outside of London. It is where the Queen resides when she is not in London or Scotland. Before we left for the tour our Pastor held a brief Ash Wednesday service on our bus for us. Windsor is a beautiful area. We viewed the crown jewels and saw a lot of the buildings there. The crown jewels were beautiful, we all wanted to try on some of the crowns, but I guess they sort of frown on that. The different pieces of silver in the collection that was used for various coronations was magnificent. In several of the displays there were very large silver spoons, even larger than serving spoons, all very ornate. We could not imagine what spoons were used for in a coronation except may be have someone taste the royal food to see if it was fit for royalty, so we asked one of the guards there. He said that during coronation, they use oil to anoint and the spoon is used for this, seen a little strange, but whatever works best in England. We saw the royal christening gown, most recently used for Princess Di and Prince Charles sons. Also, there were a lot of thrones around, but they were all roped off so you could not try them out. It was there about 5 or 6 years ago that there was a huge fire that burned a lot of one of the buildings, but it has now all been restored. From several areas in the grounds of Windsor castle you get an excellent view of surrounding countryside, including Eaton College. We were able to shop for souvenirs in the town of Windsor, before our bus took us back into the hear of London, were we returned in time to have dinner with the rest of our group at the hotel.

On Thursday, we bid good by to about ½ of our group, who were flying home to the United States. The rest of us had 2 extra days to spend in London. After we had breakfast at the hotel, about 12 of us, of the 20 or so that were left in London, went to the tube station and bought an all day pass to ride the under ground subway. We headed for the Tower of London, where we toured all of the tour. We saw where Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned with his family for a time, where the beheaded people, we toured a museum that was dedicated to a group of English militia, that had been existence for many hundreds of years, had our pictures taken with the Beef Eaters, the Queens own guards. From there, we got on the underground subway again, and rode into downtown London where we went shopping at the famous Harrods department store. I was able to find some books there, in their book department, that I was not able to obtain in the United States, and I had them sent home for me. there were of dramas that I had seen on British Television, that we have access to in the U.S. We returned back to our hotel via the subway and decided we all wanted a really English Fish and Chips dinner, so we asked at the hotel were we should go. They told us there was a really good place just around the corner from our hotel, so about 8 of us went there. It was just a little take away place, with tables for about 15. We all ordered some kind of fish and had the traditional chips, French fried potatoes with it. It was really good. After stuffing ourselves with fish and chips, we just happened to notice that there was a Hagen Das Ice Cream place right next door, so we all went in and to get ice cream, which really blue our diets. But, it sure was good. And we finished our ice cream cones as we walked back to our hotel, for another good night sleep.

On Friday, after having our breakfast in the hotel, we boarded our bus for a trip to Chichester and Brighton England, which are bout 2 hours south of London, on the coast. They are both resort towns. Today, was the first day that it was cooler outside, and we were glad, once we got to both Chichester and Brighton that we had jackets and gloves with us, as it was quite windy, although the sun was shinning. We shopped all over the little shops in Chichester first and then drove on to
Brighton. Which is like Chichester, only a lot bigger. We had lunch of Pizza in an Italian restaurant, we were free to go where we wanted, so a group of about 6 of us ladies stayed and shopped together. After shopping all day, we met the rest of our group back at our bus for the drive back into London, where we arrived to have a wonder dinner at our hotel, then back to our rooms to pack our suitcases, wondering how we wee going to get all of the souvenirs we had bought in Israel and London in them. I found a really nice fabric shop in Brighton and bought enough material, a plaid gabardine to make myself a kilt shirt and vest out of. Somehow we managed to get our suit cases packed, and headed off to bed.

On Saturday morning, we had breakfast in the hotel, returned to our rooms to retrieve our luggage, assembled in the lobby of the hotel to check out and boarded our bus tot he ride to Heathrow Airport. Was it ever crowded, we had to stand in a long lone to check into United Air Lines that seemed to take for ever. We were beginning to wonder if we would ever get through the customs and then to the waiting area to await our flight. But, somehow we all managed to make it and were finally boarded our plane that would file us back tot he United States to Dulles Air port in Washington DC, for a trip that would last about 8 ½ hours. It was a good flight. Our meals were very good and we all enjoyed at least 3 movies in flight. The best was “Home Alone 3”. We each had our own little screen in our tray tables and we all watched movies. We arrived at Dulles airport about 5:30pm in the afternoon after having lost 2 hours from Israel back to England and another 6 hours from England back to the United States. We weren’t sure when we got back to the United States what time or day it was. We only had a short wait in Dulles for our flight back to Detroit. It took about 1 ½ hours and we arrived back in Detroit, to be greeted by our Pastor Vince and his wife Molly, who had flown home on Thursday with the first group, while we stayed the 2 extra days in London. We had no problems what so ever in Dulles going through U.S. Customs, in fact, we did not have to even open our suit cases. We boarded a bus at the airport and it took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive back home to Manchester, and we arrived a little after 8:oopm. My parents had brought my car down to the church parking lot, as we were not sure what time we would get back, so all I had to drive was drive from the church parking lot home, which takes me about 3 minutes. It was good to be home, but we were all sad that our trip had ended. We had such a wonderful time.

We got up Sunday morning and our choir anthem we sang was entitled “Remember Me” which was very fitting music for Lent. We sang up in front of the congregation on the steps to the chancel area, with our grand piano, instead of in the choir area, with the organ. Having just been to the Upper Room in Jerusalem a few days before and actually walking in Jesus footsteps, the 5 of us in the choir who had just made the trip, had a hard time singing without getting a few tears in our eyes. All in all, we had a most fantastic time, and we look forward to our trip to Germany in June 1999. I will be able to tell you more about it, as we make our plans.















































Family History Capers, Vol. 21, No. 2 Fall 1997

Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County Michigan
A SURNAME, "RELATIVELY SPEAKING"
Submitted by Karen L. Jenter, Manchester, Michigan

If your surname is Jones, or Smith or even Macdonald, you are probably not related to every other Jones, or Smith or Macdonald in the United States. My family name Jenter is a name that is claimed by less than 200 people in the United States. In the two and a half years that I have been doing Jenter Family genealogy, I have made some amazing discoveries.

I guess you could say I have always been interested in antiques, and family history. From the time I was a young girl, I remember my great Aunt Emilie Jenter Spafard, who was my grandfather Arthur Ernest Jenter's older sister, talking to anyone who would listen, about her genealogy research. I guess I was the only great niece who really listened and showed an interest in the family history and before she died in 1972 she gave me the folder containing the research she had done on the Jenter Family. In 1972 my grandmother, my mother and father, my father's older brother, my brother and myself were the only ones in Michigan who still had the Jenter surname. We always knew there were a few more Jenter's out there but did not know who or where they were. The folder sat on my bookcase for 18 years and survived a move to a new home in 1990.

In January of 1996, I received a letter from Harry Jenter from Sterling, Virginia. Harry had contacted a genealogical source and had written letters to the 37 households in the United States with the Jenter surname. Within a ten-day period Harry had heard from 32 of us. He was able to determine that the Jenter's in the United States were concentrated in seven areas-our family in Michigan, Harry's family from Ohio, a family in the New York-New Jersey area, some in Pennsylvania and some in Ontario, Canada who winter in Florida and the largest group in and around South Dakota. In the majority of the letters that Harry received, the writers had included their family tree. Yes, we all seemed to be interested in genealogy research and those who hadn't, promised to get their trees to him shortly.

I had done just a thumbnail sketch of my family, taking me back to my great, great grandfather Christian Jenter, thanks to Aunt Emilie's records, and sent this with my first letter to Harry and I promised him that I would weed through the 25 pages of notes that Aunt Emilie had left, and send to him a more complex tree as soon as possible. During the next several weeks, I spent many hours going through boxes and boxes of family photographs, documents and letters that we had brought to our home after Aunt Emilie's son passed away in 1993. With the help of her diligent research, the documents she had saved and the records of family births, deaths, marriages and confirmations in our family church, Emanuel United Church of Christ, formerly Emanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church in Manchester, Michigan, I was able to piece together our family tree back to 1750, when Aunt Emilie had noted our earliest ancestor, Johann Martin Jenter was born. I knew that my records could be documented as I had the church records and documents kept by Aunt Emilie, but where did Aunt Emilie get the information about my great, great grandfather Christian Jenter, my great, great, great grandfather Gottlieb Jenter and my great, great, great, great grandfather Johann Martin Jenter?

Well it was time I bit the bullet and began searching for records. Harry gave me a crash course of the records kept by the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, and how to use their library. And knowing there was a branch of the LDS library in Ann Arbor, I began my research, which in itself was no small feat, since I could not read German, let alone Old German Script. I knew my family came from Zillhausen, Germany from Aunt Emilie's research and Harry helped me locate the town of Zillhausen on the map. Zillhausen, Wuerttemberg, Germany, had been incorporated into the town of Balingen, about one hour's drive south of Stuttgart, Germany.

Now, armed with a book on how to decipher German and with the help of the volunteer staff at the Ann Arbor LDS Library, I ordered my set of microfilm records from the Evangelische Church in Zillhausen. I eagerly awaited its arrival. Once the tape arrived, I anxiously started viewing the records. All of the sudden, after about an hour of looking at the old German Script, there it was, the family of Johann Martin Jenter, born in 1750. Also listed were his wife, and all of his children. From there I also found baptismal records for all of the children. I was able to make photocopies of the records, and having found a lady in Virginia who could translate German Script, I sent my records off to her. Within a short time, back came her translated record. I actually had a family now and I knew that Johann Martin Jenter had not been born in Zillhausen, but had been born in Heselwangen, just a short distance away. He had married a girl from Zillhausen and had settled there to raise his family. Johann Martin's son was Gottlieb, who son was Christian Jenter, my great, great grandfather who came to America in 1852.

Over the next several months, I eagerly ordered the tapes from Heselwangen and spent many a pleasant Sunday afternoon, finding my family' records, from those so carefully kept by the Heselwangen Evangelische Church. By carefully tracing each generation back, I found all kinds of church records back to Laux Jenter, born in Heselwangen in 1654. About that same time, I had begun to correspond with several other Jenter's in the USA, who had originally responded to Harry Jenter, Rob Jenter in New York and Shirley Norman who lived in Colorado, who was the granddaughter of Emma Jenter Norman, one of the South Dakota Jenter's. We exchanged family trees, and suddenly all the pieces fit. In each case, they all had great grandfather's (that's a lot of greats added on) who were actually brothers to my great grandfather. This convinced us that all of the Jenter's in the USA were related, because someone from each of the seven areas could link their family into this giant tree. Rob actually was able to send me records going all the way back to Laux Jenter, born circa 1580 in France, who was a French Huguenot, who escaped France and settled in Heselwangen Germany because of religious persecution. Shirley Norman was also able to plug her family into the same tree.

At the same time I was researching my family, my faithful translator in Virginia suggested I write a letter to the Pastor of the Evangelische church in Zillhausen, Germany, telling him a little about myself and my research into the Jenter name and requesting that if he still had members of his congregation surnamed Jenter to pass my letter along to them. This letter was sent to him in June 1996. I had no idea if the letter would reach the church or if it did, if I would hear from anyone. Then on September 19, 1996, which was actually my birthday, I received a large envelope from the Wilhelm Jenter family of Zillhausen-Balingen, Germany. Wilhelm and Anita Jenter wrote that Pastor Gross had passed the letter to them, and they sent wonderful pictures of their family. They also sent Wilhelm's family records, taken from old Bibles in his family. Suddenly there was another link, Wilhelm's great, great grandfather Jakob was the older brother of my great, great, great grandfather Gottlieb, whose son Christian, was my great, great grandfather, the one who came to America from Germany in 1852 and settled in Ann Arbor. Wilhelm was also able to tell me that he is related to every other Jenter in the Zillhausen-Balingen area in Germany. There are another 200 households in Germany, all living within a 20 mile radius of Zillhausen, who share the Jenter name. And since I could plug Wilhelm into my family tree, I pretty much knew we were all descendants of Laux Jenter born circa 1580 in France.

So far I have not been able to determine if there are records anywhere tracing Laux born circa 1580 in France back any farther. But if there are records out there, I know that somehow we can find them. To this day I continue to correspond with the cousins in Germany. We have so much in common. I know that my church will be making a trip to Germany in 1999 to trace the Reformation Movement and our German Heritage. My Jenter family in Germany already knows that I will definitely be on that tour, and we will be arranging to meet and I will be able to see all the places my ancestors lived. In fact, Anita has already told me what wonderful German food she will cook for me. As long as this includes a lot of sauerkraut, I will be one happy German.




















































Family History Capers, Vol. 27, No. 1 Summer 2003

Genealogical Society Of Washtenaw County Michigan
A SURNAME, "RELATIVELY" SPEAKING PART II

Submitted by Karen L. Jenter, Manchester, Michigan

Many of you may remember Part 1 of my story that appeared in Vol.
21, No.2 the Fall 1997 issue of Family History Capers. In Part II I would like to tell you a little bit about m trip to Germany and the visit with my Jenter family.

After a wonderful 12 days in Germany, following Martin Luther and The reformation movement, 79 members and friends of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Manchester, Michigan met for breakfast in our Hotel in Heidelberg Germany, met for our final breakfast as a group on a bright and sunny morning of June 25, 1999. Most of the group would soon be boarding the bus for the trip to the Frankfurt Airport and their flight home. Several of us would be staying for additional adventures in Germany. I was off to spend 5 days with my Jenter cousins' in Zillhausen, which is about 1 hour south of Stuttgart.

Arrangements had previously been made for my cousin Uli, (Hans-Ulrich) Jenter to pick me up between 8:30am and 9:00am in the lobby of our hotel. Here I eagerly waited with my roommate Lorraine and about 40 other members of Emanuel Church, all who had their cameras and videos ready to record the historic moment. I had seen pictures of Uli but they were about 15 years ago, taken at the weddings of his two older brothers, Jörg and Thomas, but I was sure I could recognize him. Just before 9:00am in walked a very tall thin young man of about 31 years of age and 2 young girls. I knew immediately it was Uli. We greeted each other with hugs and kisses, while 40 different cameras recorded the moment. Then Uli introduced me to Anja and Carmen, his nieces, Jörg and Sabine's daughters. I said goodbye to roommate and we loaded my luggage in Uli's car, and headed out of Heidelberg to the Autobahn. Uli is a manufactures representative for Regine Elastic, based in Albstadt. They make all kinds of elastic for luggage straps, sporting sweat bands, clothing, and also they sell a lot to American manufactures of pajamas, so Uli travels all over Europe and was somewhat familiar with the city of Heidelberg. We headed for the Autobahn for about a 1 and ½ hour trip to Zillhausen to the home of Uli's parents, William and Anita Jenter.

Along the way I got to know Uli more and Anja and Carmen, who were ages 9-12. Being the typical kids, like their American counterparts, they were both in love with the Back Street Boys, and they enjoyed the music Uli had on the radio. Uli told me that we should arrive at his parents home in time to freshen up and change our clothes as we would be going to the wedding of Wilhelm's sisters son, at the Evangelische church in a little village not far from Zillhausen. Since Wilhelm great great grandfather Jakob was the brother of my great great great grandfather Gottlieb, the groom would have been a relative of mine also.

We enjoyed our ride back and all too soon we arrived in the village of Heckening, to drop off Anja and Carmen at their home. I had a brief few minutes to meet Jörg and Sabine and Sabine's father. Jörg and his father in law were adding an addition on to Jörg and Sabine's home. A few minutes later we arrived in the village of Zillhausen and were soon turning onto 13 Oberer Worth and the home of Wilhelm and Anita Jenter, Uli's parents. Wilhelm and Anita were standing on their second story balcony home ready to great me. Wilhelm with camera in hand to record the moment. Their home was a beautiful home, much in the style of an enlarged chalet and I was to learn that Wilhelm had built the home on land that had been in Anita's family for hundreds of years. Wilhelm and Anita as with Uli, Anja and Carmen, Sabine and Jörg could not have been more cordial and welcomed me with open arms into their family and home and I knew my visit would be most enjoyable.

After freshening up and a change of clothes, Wilhelm, Anita, Uli and I were off to the nearby village of Pfeffingen to the small Evangelische church for the wedding of Wilhelm's sister's son. The bride wore the typical white wedding gown but the attendants both make and female were dressed in traditional German costume, including leather lederhosen for the men. Following the wedding the guests were invited to drive over to the house that the bride and groom were renovating and then we were off to the local gymnasium for the wedding reception, where we toasted the bride and groom and feasted on wonderful German good.

Arriving back home in the early afternoon, we changed clothes again and it was back in the car and Wilhelm, Uli and I were off on a drive up into the mountain's to look down on the surrounding villages. It was here that I got a wonderful, panoramic shot of the village of Zillhausen. The enlarged print now graces the wall of the computer/sewing room. I could see why so many German ancestors had settled in Washtenaw County, Michigan. This area in Germany with it rolling hills and small farms looks just our home area in Michigan. Back home again we ate a wonderful German meal cooked by Anita. It was soon time for Uli to leave for his own apartment, but he promised to be back Sunday for the "meeting" his mom keep referring to.

Sunday morning we were up bright and early, off to church and then before we knew it, we were back home again, where it was revealed what the "meeting" was. Although Anita spoke English very well, I was as a loss as to what this "meeting" was. After Uli's arrival, all was revealed to me. The "meeting" was to be a surprise party for me, to be held across the street in the banquet hall of the bakery owned by Wilhelm’s sister Elfriede (Jenter) and her husband Paul Hassis. Now I knew where all the wonderful pretzels we had enjoyed at the prior days previous meals came from. And I also knew why Anita had opted to stay at home while Wilhelm; Uli and I had gone up into the mountains the day before. Anita brought out several wonderful looking salads and the most delicious looking German Torte Cake I had ever seen that she had prepared on Saturday afternoon.

After loading the car with the wonderful food and Wilhelm's overhead projector, it was across the street to the bakery we went. The upstairs of a lot of bakeries in Germany are banquet halls used for all sorts or parties and gatherings. Within a few minutes, people began to arrive. I soon realized that many of the people I had met at the wedding the day before were arriving for my part and that everyone here and those still to come were all Jenter relatives. I was overwhelmed and very excited. When everyone had arrived there were about 40 Jenter relatives, the most Jenter's that I had ever seen. I was introduced to everyone again, and I spoke to the group through Uli my trusted interpreter.

Wilhelm had brought along his overhead projector and screen and he showed several ancestral charts he had made, how the Jenter family was related to the Jenter's in Germany. I had brought along many pictures of my Jenter ancestors and my own family, church and Manchester and everyone enjoyed looking at them. We could all see a striking resemblance in the males. Looking at Wilhelm and a lot of the Jenter family in Germany made me feel I was looking into the face of my own father and grandfather. The elder Jenter relatives related to me several stories about the Jenter family. I had known previously that my earliest Jenter ancestor was Laux Jenter, he was born circa 1580 in France. He was a Huguenot who fled persecution in France and fled into German and settled in Heselwangen in the early 1600's. Heselwangen, our ancestral village, is right next door to Zillhausen. It seems that my great, great, great, great grandfather Johann Martin Jenter was born in Heselwangen and he got into a fight with the burgermeister and soon found himself kicked out of town, on the end of a broom, wielded by the angry burgermeister's wife. He ran to the town of Zillhausen next door, settled there. Another story related to me was about my great, great grandfather Christian Jenter born in Zillhausen in 1825. He left Germany in 1852 through the port of Le Havre, France, and arrived in the USA in New York in August of 1852 and immediately traveled to Ann Arbor. It is believed that Christian left to avoid military service and once he left he never again corresponded with any of his siblings or his parents. The Jenter family in Germany never knew what happened to him. My visit to Zillhausen in June of 1999 was the first time in 147 years that the Jenter family in Germany had been reunited with my Jenter family from Michigan. One special note to add was that Pastor Frederick Gross of the Zillhausen Evangelische church, who was instrumental in getting me together with Wilhelm and Anita, was a very honored guest at my party. The afternoon and early evening was spent with a wonderful family, enjoying wonderful food and company and singing songs. All too soon it was time to wrap up the party.

The following days of my visit were spent in a whirlwind of activities including an honored visit to the Zillhausen Evangelische church with Pastor Gross. Since the church is very near the home of Anita and Wilhelm, Uli and I walked to the church. We probably walked in the same footsteps our ancestors had done for 100's of years. It was while I was at the church that Pastor Gross showed me my original letter to him, asking him to pass my letter to any Jenter family who might still be members of his church. I also was honored to hold in my hands the actual church records containing several hundreds of years of Jenter family records. I was also privileged to visit our ancestral village of Heselwangen and the Evangelische church there. Unfortunately the pastor was away that afternoon, but the wonderful church secretary was gracious and most accommodating in showing us around and getting out church records for me to look at. All of which was recorded in many pictures taken of the events.

Rounding out my visit were trips to Regine Elastic where Uli works. Knowing my love for sewing Uli and Wilhelm had arranged for a visit to an antique sewing machine museum. We also visited Wilhelm and Anita's oldest son Tomas at this feed mill, where they not only sell food for cattle and pets and all types of farm and gardening supplies, but they also sell all kinds of pasta, including dried spaetzle and cereals for humans. Wilhelm, who is now retired, worked for a subsidiary of Ralston and Purina. I had met Tomas and his wife Elfriede and their oldest daughter Anne-Beatrice at the party on Sunday. We spent a most enjoyable evening and meal at the home of Jörg and Sabine and their daughters Anja and Carmen. The last night of my stay we visited with a cousin of Wilhelm's and also mine, in the town of Albstadt. They were unable to come to the party on Sunday as Horst Jenter had recently retired as the administrator of the local hospital in Albstadt and his retirement party was the same day. I enjoyed my visit with his family and the lovely supper served by his wife Inga and meeting their daughter who is a nurse and also seeing again their son Hagan, who they sent as a representative to my party on Sunday. We enjoyed looking at the incredible scrapbooks kept by Horst's father who was an officer in the Germany Army during the Second World War. I was surprised to see Hagan wearing a German Military uniform when he arrived home. He had been in the Germany army for about 6 years. He was attached to a NATO unit very near his home and served with many American servicemen and women. He was able to live at home and still enjoy his mother's great cooking.

Before I knew it Wednesday morning had arrived and soon my visit with my wonderful Jenter family would be over. Jörg was taking me to the airport in Frankfort to meet up with another couple from my church who had also extended their stay to visit in one of their ancestral villages, which was in what was East Germany before the unification. It was with tears and sadness that I bid farewell to Wilhelm and Anita. I could not thank them enough. My stay with them and their wonderful hospitality was like a dream come true. Soon Jörg and I were motoring along the autobahn for our 3-hour drive to Frankfort airport and the end of my visit. Before I got into the car, Wilhelm handed me a sack containing a baker's dozen pretzels, fresh from Elfriede and Paul's bakery. Jörg and I enjoyed them on our drive and I also shared them with my dear friends Doris and Bill, once we met up at the airport.

What a wonderful family I discovered in Germany. We still to this day correspond frequently and with the computer and the Internet this makes it all the easier. I can do instant message chats with Sabine, Jörg and their girls Carmen and Anja. And seeing pictures of Tomas at his mill are just a click away. Like my own parents Wilhelm and Anita have not yet embraced the computer, but we can still write letters and cards. Since my visit, I have continued my search the worldwide for more Jenter relatives. Unlike many surnames, the Jenter's worldwide all seem to be related and Heselwangen, Germany is their ancestral village. I now can boast Jenter relatives in about 5 states in the USA and Canada, in England, Zurich Switzerland, several other villages very near Heselwangen and Zillhausen and even a Jenter cousin in Sydney, Australia. Research continues with other Jenter's in other parts of Germany and also in France. So, "Relatively Speaking" I can honestly say the Jenter Family is alive and well the world around!!!











































I Have a What In My Family Tree???
By Karen L. Jenter
March 2006
Manchester, Washtenaw Co., Michigan

I have been a genealogist for about 14 years now, researching my dad’s side of the family. My dad is 100% German, both maternal and paternal lines came from the Wuerttemberg area in Germany, to Michigan, in the mid 1850’s.
Researching my mom’s family has always been on the back burner for me. For one thing, I am the typical stubborn German. I grew up in a German family in Washtenaw County, we go to a church in Manchester founded by my German great great grandparents, and I am a 5th generation member. I cook, bake, and eat German food. I am related to just about every other person of German ancestry in Washtenaw County. My grandfather’s older sister, my great Aunt Emilie Jenter Spafard was the family genealogist. I was the only one of her nieces and nephews who listened when she talked about the family. At her death, her son Richard passed on to me her research into the Jenter family. I knew a lot about my dad’s side, I did not know all that much about my mom’s side.

My mom, June Lucille Olson, was born and raised in Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan. She left there in 1943 after graduating from high school and moved to Ann Arbor to work in the Michigan Bell Telephone Company. She met my dad just before he was released from the U.S. Marine Corps after serving in the Pacific Theatre during the Second World War. They married in our church in Manchester in 1947. My mom found herself among a whole bunch of German’s.

As children, my parents took my late brother Jim and I to Alpena just about every summer to visit my mom’s family. My mom was the middle kid of 9 children. My mom’s father’s family was 100% Norwegian. They came from the Lier Valley in Norway; their name was Olesen, changed to Olson by my grandfather. My maternal grandmother's maiden name was McDonell so I suspected they were Scottish. My mom knew very little about her mother’s family but she did know her grandfather Albert E. McDonell came from Canada and may have been married prior to his marriage to my great grandmother, Ella.

In early November of 2005, I decided I had to bite the bullet and start on my mom’s family. It had gotten to the point where I had researched about 8-9 lines of dad’s family and because of the excellent record keeping skills of the German’s I have evidence of their lives through their birth, marriage and death found in the Evangelische Church records in Germany, back to the mid 1500’s. It was either do a couple of distant, female lines on my dad’s side or begin to search my maternal lines.

My mom has a cousin in Alpena, she has extensively researched our Olesen and our Ottersen Norwegian lines. She has shared her research with me, so here was no need to redo those lines. I began questioning my mom about her mother Lois. She did know that she was born in Black River, Michigan, which is in Alcona County. She also knew her grandfather was Albert E. McDonell, from Canada and she thought that Albert had been married twice. Things began to make sense. Several years ago, my mom’s younger sister Norma had given me some pictures of the family. Included were pictures of Albert and Ella McDonell, parents of my grandmother Lois. The first thing I did was request Lois’ birth record. Much to my dismay, when it arrived it listed her mother as Ella McDonell, her married name not her maiden name and thus my first brick wall.

Several years before she died in 2000, my mom’s younger sister Joyce had given me three sheets of paper with family information on them. I had filed these in a folder that contained pictures I had from my mom’s side of the family. Two of the sheets had information about my mom’s Norwegian side; the third sheet was neatly typed, and entitled “Entries in Beatrice’s Bible Book.” Beatrice was my mom’s older sister and she died in 1996. In the listing was information about my grandmother Lois McDonell and her siblings. They include older brother Walter Gordon, Lois Marian, Henry Samuel, Eleanor Alice Lu and Alberta Grace. It also gave their birthdates and places of birth in Michigan, Walter and Lois were born in Black River, Samuel, Roe Lake, Elenor in Alabaster and Alberta in East Tawas.

Now with information that included Albert and his wife and their children, I set out to see what I could find, to chisel away some of that brick wall. My first stop was ancestry.com to check the 1900 census records. I quickly found the family living in Alabaster, Iosco Co., Michigan. There was Albert with Ella and Walter age 8, Lois age 5 and Samuel age 1. The last entry for their house was for Nelson D. Stafford; he is listed as a brother in law to Albert. It also showed that Nelson was 20 years old and was born in Michigan. My first clue and a possible crack in my brick wall. Nelson had to be Ella’s younger brother so her maiden name was probably Stafford. Place of birth for Ella was also listed as Michigan.

Knowing that very little of the 1890 census exists, my next step was to see if I could find Nelson and Ella and their family in an 1880 census. Turning to ancestry.com again, I found Ella and her brother Nelson enumerated in the family of Ellen Stafford living in the Harrisville, Alcona Co, Michigan. Ella age 11 and brother David N. shown as 6 months, so that matches the ages and estimates of year of birth for Ella and Nelson in the 1900 census. This was my family and David N is the Nelson D. in the 1900 census. Also listed were 3 more siblings, Joseph W. age 7, Lydia age 6, and Samuel H. age 4.

With a few clicks of the mouse a few minutes later I was looking at the 1870 census for Harrisville, Alcona Co., Michigan, and there was the family. Head of household Samuel with Ellen and another Ellen age. 1. Samuel Stafford was the father of Ella and Nelson. The Ellen listed as age 1, in 1870, was my great grandmother Ella. Through the years, she would be known as Ella, Luella, Ellen and Eleanor. More clues emerged. Samuel was shown as estimate year of birth 1841 in Pennsylvania and age 29 in 1870 and Ellen estimate year of birth 1849 in Pennsylvania and age 21 in 1870. Was it possible to go back and find Samuel enumerated in a Pennsylvania family in 1860 and maybe 1850?

I was unable to find Samuel Stafford age19-20-estimate year of birth in 1841 in the 1860 census in Pennsylvania, or in any other state. However, I was able to find Saml Stafford age 10 estimate year of birth 1840 in Brecknock, Berks Co, Pennsylvania. Was this my Samuel? The age and estimate date of birth were very close. In a matter of a few more clicks on the mouse and I am looking at a very bad image of the 1850 census. But with the help of a good light and some maneuvering with the color print on my computer I was able to find the Stafford family headed by John age 50, Lidia (also known as Lydia) age 40, and followed by John age 11, Saml age 10, James age 8, Solomon age 6, Joseph age 1, Sarah age 14 and Keziah age 4. This had to be Samuel and his family. I also found John and Lydia, and Samuel’s siblings listed in the 1860 census in Brecknock, Berks Co., Pennsylvania. No Samuel, but the dates for his parents and siblings matched those of the 1850 census.

Since there is a great interest in genealogy and so many sources of information on the Internet, I thought I would try to find out if anyone else had done any research on the Stafford family. Family trees at ancestry.com might yield some more information. We all know that family trees on the Internet researched by someone else have to be taken with some hesitation. I prefer to do my own research, verifying data with actual records, census images, films from the LDS, etc, but trees posted by other’s can be great sources and will give you clues on other avenues to research. I soon found John and Lydia Stafford. Lydia’s maiden name was shown as Eshelman. “ESHELMAN” I said to myself, “That sounds German”. Another few hours of research on the Internet and I did indeed find Lydia’s ancestors, all the way back to Peter Aeschelman born in 1608 in Switzerland. More research into the family on various other sites and I learned that the Aeschelman’s were Mennonite’s from the Bern area in Switzerland. The Mennonite’s were forced out of Switzerland and resettled in the early 1500’s in the Palentine area in Germany, which is the Baden-Wuerttemberg area, the same area that my dad’s ancestors came from. Several generations later the Mennonite’s began leaving Germany and made their way to America.

A little more online research and I learned that Peter born in 1608 had a grandson Peter Eshelman born in 1683. He and his wife Magdalena left Europe in 1733 on the Ship Good Hope and landed in Philadelphia. They made their way to Brecknock, Berks Co, Pennsylvania. Peter and Magdalene’s grandson Martin and his wife Catherine Eckert, another German name, had a daughter Lydia born in 1811 and she married John Stafford. I found out John’s parents were James Stafford (Staffert, Staffort, still trying to figure out if they were German) and Christiana Boehm, (another German surname) and they were married on 19 Jan 1797 in the Schwartzwald Reformed Church, Exeter Township, Berks Co., Pennsylvania. Son John Stafford was born 19 Apr 1799 and baptised in the Schwartzwald church on 17 Sept 1799. The Schwartzwald Reformed Church is now Schwarzwald United Church of Christ. Suddenly my dad’s ancestor’s and our family church Emanuel Evangelische and Reformed Church, in Manchester, now part of the United Church of Christ and my mom’s Stafford/Eshelman family had a common German religious background. In a matter of a few days and some online research, I had found a lot of information on my mom’s family.

Time to move on and see what more I could find on Samuel Stafford his wife Ellen and her family. My next step was to find out what had happened to Samuel Stafford. He was in the 1870 census, but not in the 1880 census where Ellen is shown as the head of the house in 1880. Therefore, he must have passed away after the 1870 census and before the 1880. How was I going to find this out without actually going to Alcona Co, and looking through 10 years of vital records? Knowing that there are volunteers all around the country who do genealogy research in their area and that Samuel and Ellen and family lived in Alcona County, Michigan, I set out to see if I could find a someone who might be able to search for his death record. This led me to the Alcona County Genealogical Society online database. Generous volunteers have transcribed thousands of records including death, marriage and birth, and Alcona County Newspapers, and they are available online. You can search by surname or dates in birth, death, marriage and descriptions in newspaper articles. I put Stafford in the surname section of the newspaper transcriptions. Suddenly on my screen is a newspaper article on the death of Samuel Stafford. He died at age 38 in Feb 17, 1879 of a brain stroke, leaving wife Ellen and 5 young children. It also said he was born in Berks Co., Pennsylvania. After conferring with a cousin about death research, I learned about US Federal Census Morality Schedules. Samuel is listed in the 1880 census Morality schedule for Alcona County and also listed is a baby son John H. Stafford who died 3 months later, on 18 May 1879. Further research in the newspaper transcriptions and there was an article about son John’s death. From there, I went to the Michigan Department of Community Health, Genealogical Death Indexing System. It includes the years 1867 and goes for about 30 years. I found Samuel and his son John H. listed in Alcona County for the year 1879.

The newspaper article about Samuel’s death said that in the early part of the war (Civil) he went to Indiana and enlisted with the 101st Indiana Regiment and served his country. Knowing that it was possible to obtain military service records, including those of the Civil War, I went to the NARA, the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington DC, I was able to order his military records. About 2 weeks later they arrived in the mail. The records verified that he was born in Berks Co., Pennsylvania and was 21 when he enlisted in 1862. So this verified other information I had found. I was shocked to learn that after enlisting in August of 1862 he deserted in November of 1862. I have since learned that he quite possibly was wounded and lost from his regiment. He may have joined up with a new regiment and remained with them until the end of the war. This is something I am still pursuing. The newspaper article on his death also said that in 1866 he made his way to Saginaw County, Michigan. In 1868 married Ellen and moved to Harrisville where he owned and operated a farm about 5 miles from town, until he died in 1879.

As I mentioned, the online Alcona County database contains lots of information including marriage. I entered the Stafford surname in the marriage section and found the marriage of Albert E. McDonald (McDonell) and Ella Stafford, daughter of Samuel and Ellen. They were married 30 Mar 1890 in Harrisville by the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I also found Albert’s first marriage in 1879 to Josephia Gibson and his divorce from her in 1889. My mom had remembered correctly, Albert had been married before his marriage to Ella, my great grandmother. I found even more clues from Albert and Ella’s marriage record. Albert’s parents were Angus McDonald and Maggie Pickering. Parents of Ella were shown as Samuel Stafford and Ellen Cady. Now I had Ellen’s maiden name. Knowing I would probably have more luck in pursing the Cady line then McDonell/McDonald line, I set off to see what I found find on Ellen Cady and her family.

Having had good luck with the Alcona County online database with the Stafford surname, I thought I would see what I could find with the Cady name. There was nothing in the 1850 or 1860 census that was promising. However, in the 1870 census I found Charles L. Cady and wife Sarah. Charles is age 79 born about 1791 in Massachusetts, a carpenter, and Sarah, age 54 born about 1816 in Pennsylvania, keeping house. Children were Margaret age 26 born about 1844, at home also born in Pennsylvania, David age 20 born about 1850-works on a farm and born in Pennsylvania. Is it possible that Charles and Sarah are parents of Ellen Cady Stafford? Knowing I need to go backward to see if Ellen is enumerated in the same family I go to ancestry.com and check the 1850 census records. I soon find Ellen (Ellen Marriah Cady) enumerated in the family of Charles L. Cady. They are living in Union, Fayette Co., New York. There is Charles L. Cady age 58 born about 1792 in Massachusetts, Sarah Cady age 34 born about 1816 in Pennsylvania, Deborah Cady age 12 born 1838 in Pennsylvania, Ellen Marriah Cady age 3 born about 1847 in Pennsylvania and David Cady age 0 born in 1850 in Pennsylvania. So far, the info for Charles, Sarah and David matches with the 1870 census in Harrisville. In addition, the information about Ellen closely matches with her census info in 1870 and 1880 in Harrisville. Was I pressing my luck, could I find Charles and family in the 1860 census? With a bit of searching in ancestry.com again I find Charles, Sarah, Margaret J., Ellen M, and David in the 1860 census living in Washington, Van Buren Co., Iowa. The ages, approximate years of birth and birth places match. Also living in Washington, is the family of Henry Cady age 31 born about 1829 in New York. Could this be another son of Charles, possibly by another wife? .

By the 1880 census, I know that Ellen was the widow of Samuel Stafford and she is living with children including my Ella, in Harrisville. I also know that in 1870 Charles and Sarah are living in Harrisville too. Are Charles and Sarah in Harrisville in 1880? Into the Alcona online database again looking for the surname Cady in the 1880 census. I find Sarah Cady age 64, born in Pennsylvania, marital status widow. So, sometime between the 1870 census and the 1880 Charles had died. There is no Charles in the Alcona database death records. In checking the newspaper transcriptions, I hit the jackpot. No Charles but I do find the death of Sarah Cady on 3 Aug 1887, widow of Charles L. Cady. She was living in Springport at the time of her death. It said she was 70 years old so that matches her information in the census record. Another article posted a few days later was a note from David Cady and his sisters, thanking friends on their recent bereavement. I found another article dated 24 Sept 1896 that noted the death of Dave Cady, former resident of Alcona Co. He was killed in a logging accident on 29 Aug 1896 while working in Skamokawa, Washington

I still had not proved the death of Charles L. Cady, sometime after the 1870 census and before the 1880. I went again to the Michigan Department of Community Health Genealogical Death Indexing System and I found Charles L. Cady. He died 20 Sep 1874, in Flushing, Genesee Co, Michigan. The only discrepancy is that it showed he was born in New York. I checked with a cousin living in Ypsilanti, and she verified that this is our Charles and that he was born in Massachusetts not New York. I also checked the same database for the death of Sarah Cady, but I did not find her. So with information about my Cady line, it was time to check to see what else I could find on the family.

Back to the internet sites of family trees. I am very particular in my genealogy and I have documents and proofs to back everything up. I soon found a tree with Charles Lewis Cady born 28 Jul 1791 in Brookfield, Worchester Co., Massachusetts. Two spouses are shown, both named Sarah. Listed under his second wife Sarah is his daughter Ellen Marriah Cady, my great great grandmother. The tree shows I can go back and view the parents of Charles. His father is Stoddard Brimfield Cady and his mother is Abigail Marsh. Stoddard’s father is Ezekiel Cady Jr. and he was born and died in Pomfret, Windham Co., Connecticut. The tree lets me go back more generations, until I am back to Nicholas Cady born 1588 in Suffolk, England. I am thinking I have enough information to take up permanent residence at my local LDS library just ordering and reviewing microfilms of records the Mormon Church has in their vault in Salt Lake City.

I find myself going forward again, through the generations, reading notes other researchers have posted on various Cady family trees. In my earlier research, I was shocked to learn my mom’s German Eshelman’s, came to America in 1733 and beat dad’s German’s who came to American in the mid 1850’s. Now I am even more shocked to learn the Cady’s came from England to America between 1640 and 1650. I am back to reading notes on Stoddard, the father of my Charles Lewis Cady. Information posted again shocks me and I almost fall off my chair. I HAVE A WHAT IN MY FAMILY???? Notes posted for him say that Stoddard was a Revolutionary War patriot who fought for the state of Massachusetts. I am a direct descendant of a Revolutionary War patriot, and I am eligible to join the Daughter’s of the American Revolution.

So I have found someone else’s tree on my Cady family. Now I have to find documentation to back all of this up. I have all kinds of birth, marriage, death and census records already, so, what else am I going to need? I can prove my relationship to my mom June Olson, , my mom to her mom Lois McDonell, my grandmother Lois’ relationship to her mom Ella Stafford , my great grandmother Ella’s relationship to her mom Ellen Marriah Cady and my great great grandmother Ellen to her father Charles Lewis Cady. I know from the notes I read on the tree about the Cady family that Stoddard Brimfield Cady, father of my Charles, fought for Massachusetts. I email my friend in Florida who I know is a DAR member. She responds almost immediately with a number of suggestions. First is to find proof of his military service, and that leads me back to ancestry.com. A few minutes later, my printer is spitting out documentation published in Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution in 17 volumes. In volume 3 on page 8 and 9, is proof of Stoddard’s Revolutionary War service. These are pages from the actual book, not just someone’s transcription of it. My friend also suggests I go into the National DAR site and use their query system to see if someone else has already used Stoddard for membership into the DAR. I type in Stoddard’s name, birth information, and dates of his service in Massachusetts. A few days later information comes back that someone has already joined under Stoddard’s service through another son of Stoddard’s who was a brother to my Charles. I can send for a copy of that application. It arrives about 10 days later.

With military service documentation in file, my next step is to prove that Charles Lewis Cady is the son of Stoddard Brimfield Cady. The copy of the application I received from the DAR alludes to the published Vital Records of Brookfield, Worcester Co., Massachusetts where my Charles was born. So into an internet search engine to look for Vital Records for Brookfield. The results lead me back to ancestry.com. In a few minutes I am looking at the actual pages of a book published in 1909 of the Vital Records of Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts, it shows Charles Lewis is the son of Stoddard and Abigail Cady born 28 Jul 1791. Also documented are the births of 3 of his other siblings. In more books in ancestry.com, I also find the record of Stoddard’s marriage to Abigail Marsh in Brimfield, Hampton County, Massachusetts on 12 Feb 1778. Nothing is found on ancestry.com for Pomfret, Connecticut, so back to the internet and I soon find the Vital Records of Pomfret, Windham Co., Connecticut where Stoddard’s birth is recorded as 04 Jul 1752. I also find the birth and death dates of his father Ezekiel Cady Jr. Another site and I have the Vital Records of Douglas, Worchester Co., Massachusetts where Stoddard’s mother Abigail Marsh was born. Her birth is recorded as 23 Jan 1754. I can hardly believe it, I have found so much information online in just a matter of a few weeks. I have a Revolutionary War patriot in my lineage and I have all the documentation I need to prove it.

Jump ahead to Saturday, February 18, 2006. I am attending the DAR meeting of the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of the Adrian Michigan Daughter's of the American Revolution. My mom and I are both new prospective members. The documentation of our lineage is all there and now we begin the formal application process. It is hard to believe just a few short months ago, I knew very little about my mom’s maternal side of the family. I now have 3 ring binders set up on my Stafford, Eshelman, and Cady families and enough paper documentation to stretch from Michigan to the Revolutionary War battle fields in Massachusetts and back again. I still have much to do, more films to order to document internet family information that I have found, and then there is still my great grandpa Albert E. McDonell and his Canadian and Scottish roots. I certainly have enough research yet to do to keep me up in my family tree for a very long time!!!!











































More About KAREN LOIS JENTER:
Baptism: 23 Dec 1848, Emanuel Evangelical & Reformed, Manchester, MI later to become Emanuel United Church of Christ
CHURCH: EMANUEL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, MANCHESTER, WASHTENAW CO, MI
Confirmation: 1962, Emanuel United Church of Christ, Manchester, Michigan 48158
Education: 02 Jun 1966, Manchester High School, Manchester, Washtenaw Co, Michigan, USA
Education 2: 1970, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co, Michigan USA
Ethnic Background: German, Scottish, Norwegian
Faternal Organization: ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR
Faternal Organizations: AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
Occupation: 1971, Federal Employment with Social Security Adminstration
Retirement: 02 Aug 2002

ii. JAMES ARTHUR JENTER, b. 14 Oct 1951, Tecumseh, Lenawee Co, Michigan, USA; d. 05 Dec 1998, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co, Michigan, USA.

More About JAMES ARTHUR JENTER:
Burial: 10 Dec 1998, Oak Grove Cemetery, Manchester, Washtenaw Co, Michigan, USA
CHURCH: Emanuel Evangelical & Reformed, Manchester, MI later to become Emanuel United Church of Christ
Education: Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan USA
Ethnic Background: German, Scottish, Norwegian
Funeral: 10 Dec 1998, Emanuel United Church of Christ, Manchester, Washtenaw Co, Michigan, USA
Membership: Manchester Men's Clug, Manchester, Michigan
Religion: Protestant


21. NORMA CATHERINE7 OLSON (OSCAR6, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 19 Jun 1927 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan. She married JULIUS SENCHUK.

Children of NORMA OLSON and JULIUS SENCHUK are:
i. LAURIE8 SENCHUK, m. UNKNOWN MOORS.
ii. JULIE SENCHUK, m. UNKNOWN STANAWAY.
iii. JANICE SENCHUK, b. 1949; m. UNKNOWN RAY.


22. GORDON JAMES7 OLSON (OSCAR6, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 15 May 1934 in Alpena, Alpena Co, Michigan. He married ELAINE STAPANSKI.

Children of GORDON OLSON and ELAINE STAPANSKI are:
i. JANET8 OLSON.
ii. KATHY OLSON.


23. ALMA MARIE7 JENSEN (ANNA M.6 OLSEN, KAREN (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born 07 Apr 1924 in Leer, Alpena Co, Michigan. She married MELVIN ARLINGTON WONG. He was born 13 Mar 1924, and died 10 Dec 2000.

Children of ALMA JENSEN and MELVIN WONG are:
i. RONALD8 WONG, b. 1947.
ii. SANDRA WONG, b. 1950.
iii. ALLEN WONG.


24. MILDRED AGNES7 LARSON (HANNAH BREDINE6 ENGER, KRISTINE CHRISTINE (OLESDTR)5 OLESEN, OLE4 OTTERSEN, OTTER3 OLESEN, OLE2 CHRISTENSEN, KRISTEN1 RASMUSSEN) was born Apr 1906. She married MR.BABB.

Child of MILDRED LARSON and MR.BABB is:
i. WINONA8 BABB, m. ZALE ARCHER.