Facts, Assumptions, and Outright Guesses

We are all guilty of it, and we know it!

I mean it's just human nature, right?!

Whenever we start something new, we always start off with the easier steps first. And, genealogy is no different!

You have seen my many posts about the Hillmans and Moores of Moores Hill area so far, and that is because their history goes back to early statehood years here in Indiana. You have not seen any posts about their East Coast years, because I have hit a brick wall at the moment.

And that is when we all switch over to another line of the tree, isn't it? Or is that just me? LOL

So, on to the Schrader line...

With Schraders, Schmidts, Langes, Steffens, Haessigs, (etc. etc.) taking up a lot of room on my family tree, I have had to learn a lot of German history to even begin my research into these lines. And how does that history tie into the specific dates and places of my ancestors?

Schrader/Lange

Before I even begin looking at my German history notes, I have to remember that my paternal great-grandfather, Albert Cordt, changed the spelling from Schroeder to Schrader. And, it was his father, Cordt Albert, and mother, Margaretha (Lange) that came from Germany in the late 1850's (1857, I think).

Here is where I am getting a little stuck, as I am trying to knock one brick at a time out of this brick wall.

And here, is where I have a combination of the facts, assumptions, and outright guesses that I was referring to in my title.

According to my research into German history, I have discovered that in 1848-1849 there were uprisings and riots. However, I was not able to find where these took place in Germany. I only am curious because it leads to some questions that I cannot answer just yet.

• I will have to look closer at my notes, but this is only approximately 8 years before the Schraders bought their land outside of Batesville.
• When did they leave Germany?
• Where did they leave from in Germany?
• I know where the German church is that much of the congregation of Adam’s Lutheran Church originated. This would be Heiligenfelde, that you see on the map below.
• And since they have been a member of this church since arriving in Indiana, I would have to assume they are from same area. This assumption is based on several factors:



• On census records, they are listed as being from Hannover, Westphalia, and from Prussia.
• This is consistent with where the church is located.
• This is consistent with the location names for the area. Hannover is still a town.
• Researching German history, Westphalia and Prussia are names of this region during this time period.

And, this is all I have. Just a bunch of facts, assumptions, and outright guesses!!

If anyone reading this post happens to know much more about Germany (or this area
specifically), I would love some help!

Thanks so very much! Brick walls are so very much easier with a little help
along the way!!

Family Tree, Boxes and Blogs

The Family Tree 

What would possess someone into starting a family research blog when much of her research is still in boxes?  But possessed I must have been! 

Our neighbor, a military man, had just been assigned ‘somewhere else’ for the next 1-½ years.  Since his family was planning to join him, we were asked to farmsit/housesit for them. This was a win-win situation for us.  We had a comfortable house to live in, as we were getting prepared for our own house on our property.

The only negative was that most everything stayed in the boxes.  I was able to do a little downsizing; but overall, the boxes stayed packed. 

However, even with everything in boxes, I felt the need to start this blog. And, I am so glad that I did!

I have met a new cousin online, and learned new information from her about my great-grandfather.  Cousins that I have known my whole life, are asking questions and leaving comments about our shared ancestors.

And, all of this with most of my info still in boxes!! Lol  

Just wait until everything is unpacked soon, then we will be off and running!

Where to Find the Family Tree

One important thing that I wanted to pass on to all of my relatives today, is to let you know about my family tree being online.  I have started the tree on Familysearch.org, and have also added photos to my tree.  I am also slowly, but surely, making sure that I have added my sources, too.  By doing this, you will be able to find these records for our shared ancestors yourself, if you would ever need them.

If you are related (whether you want to admit it or not! ~ Lol), you are more than welcome to take a look. The tree starts with my mom and dad, so you can start your research there to see what else that I have.

Familysearch.org allows you to add relevant information to another person’s tree.  I have no problem with that, but I do ask for a favor.  When you add information to my family tree, please be sure to add the corresponding proof to it.  I would like for the tree to be as accurate as possible; and without primary sources, or even secondary ones, it can’t be used by others as well.  

So, if you can show the sources, please feel free to add.  But, as our math teachers always taught us, you need to show your work!

And I will be grading with my red pen, too!! If it is not obvious how someone belongs on our family tree, has no sources, or I have no way of contacting the person who added it...I will probably cut that branch of the tree.

If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to comment below or email me at mypassionroad@gmail.com.

Mystery Photos from Grandma!

~  ~ Calling all relatives...I need your help!!!

My grandmother had a Victorian photo album that I always liked looking at when I went to her house.  Growing up, I loved looking at all of these old photos.  

Grandma's photo album

As a child, I was curious who all these people were, but never really got around to asking my grandma about them.  She either was busy, or my cousins talked me into putting down the album and playing with them.

Oh, how I wished I would have asked!!  

There were names on a few, and I will be sharing them in the future.  

But, for now, I would like to know who the following people might be.  I am sure that most of them belong to the Schrader, Haessig, or Hillman families.  There may be one or two that are not.

Please help me out here!  If you happen to know any of the people in these photos, I would be eternally grateful!  I know that I started to ask about some of these a long time ago on FB, but I would like to see if I can get all of the answers in one place on here.  I have also found new relatives (new to me!) that might not have seen them earlier.

Thanks, in advance, for any help that you can give me.  I am numbering them in the captions, so that it will be easier to comment on them.

Thanks!

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