Same blog, new look!

I'm very excited to re-launch Talking Box Genealogy!  TBG now has a new look and a new home at http://talkingboxgenealogy.com/.  Please update your bookmarks to reflect my new address.  RSS feeds can be updated by using http://talkingboxgenealogy.com/feed/.  No more posts will be added to this blog so please direct all future interactions to http://talkingboxgenealogy.com/.  Thanks for stopping by!

Life Got in the Way

And don't you just hate it when that happens?  I know I do.  I've been noticeably absent from posting on my blog because of it.  But I definitely haven't been idle.  My big project was changing employers.  I usually stay away from talking about work because, after all, this is a genealogy blog.  But I'm so excited about this new position I just couldn't help but mention that I've moved over to a different association where I'm part of the professional development team...education for public works employees.  I've always loved learning new things myself so helping others continue learning is definitely up my alley.

And I haven't been idle on the genealogy front either.  Here's what I'm currently working on:

• I've tried to ramp up working on my sources and citations.  Have I mentioned how much I hate citations?  I know they're not the big deal I'm making them out to be but I'll admit it, I stress out over whether I'm doing them right.  I really need to get a copy of Evidence Explained and read it but it's not in my budget right now unfortunately.  So for now I'll continue to try and figure out my citations using Family Tree Maker and the ProGenealogist Genealogy Citation Guides online.
• Speaking of working on my sources, I've been ordering vital records and finds from the North Dakota State University archives as my pocketbook will allow.  I've got a surprising amount of documents to save/scan, sort and attach to my tree in Family Tree Maker.
• I dug in and worked hard on my organization one weekend.  I'm utilizing the system set out in Eliminating Genealogy Clutter by Sherene Henrie Whiting with one or two tweaks.  I think this is a great system but I don't have a lot of room for binders.  On the other hand, I have plenty of file cabinet space for hanging folders.  I'm not even close to being done but I think I've got a very good start.

Working hard on my genealogy organization and filing!

• The spousal unit and I traveled to Iowa and sat down for a day of genealogy and family time with the Iowa family branch.  We had fun, shared some genealogy and made some VERY interesting discoveries!  Let's just say when my puzzle pieces matched with their puzzle pieces we made a couple of full (or almost full) pictures.  It was very exciting.
• I mentioned earlier that I was the recipient of a RAOGK (Random Act of Genealogical Kindness) when a non-relative happened upon some family ephemera and was kind enough to be willing to return it to our family.  You can read about that RAOGK here.  I was surprised to receive another email from this kind stranger letting me know he'd been contacted by the flea market seller again and had come into possession of one last piece of the family ephemera.  I feel very fortunate that he was willing to be the messenger to pass that last piece to me last weekend and a photo of my first cousin (once removed) has returned home.

A six-year-old Harold Wilkinson returned to the family fold

• The spousal unit and I also dropped in on the North Dakota family branch and got to spend a little time talking with them...which, for me, inevitably leads to genea-talk.  The few hours we had with them turned out to be a few hours too little when we started talking about my father, who passed away a little over a year ago.  It's fun to hear stories and thoughts from other family members about the people you love.  I haven't talked much about my North Dakota family because I was working on my DAR paperwork (which is on the maternal side and not the paternal side, where the North Dakota connection comes in) but North Dakota has become a very special place for me in the last couple of years thanks to the kindness of family and friends there, so I'm sure you'll be hearing about that side of the family in the future.

WHEW!  In between all of that I'm still attending as many genealogy education events as I can.  I've participated in some great webinars recently and I'm hoping to use some of what I've learned very soon.  I've been using the heck out of the Ancestry subscription the spousal unit gifted me and even broke down and put a public tree out there in hopes of getting some nibbles on my tree.

So here's to getting back on the blog-wagon...I can't wait to post some of my recent discoveries!

Tombstone Tuesday: Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Altman) Nohr

Welcome to another edition of Tombstone Tuesday!  Today we're spotlighting my great grand aunt, Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Altman) Nohr.

Tombstone of Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Altman) Nohr
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Minnie was the child of Julius Ferdinand Altman and Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman.  She had five brothers (three older and two younger) and seven sisters (two older and five younger).

Minnie was born 30 June 1872 in Waumandee, Buffalo, Wisconsin.  She married Franz Carl Gottlieb Nohr 1 February 1899 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  Together they had three children (one boy and two girls).

Minnie passed away 17 May 1970 in Shenford, North Dakota.  She's buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Altman) Nohr

 

Tombstone Tuesday: Robert Altman

Hello and welcome to Tombstone Tuesday!  Today we're jumping cemeteries and spotlighting my great grand uncle, Robert Altman (not the movie director, haha).

Tombstone of Robert Altman
Located in Pinecrest Memorial Park

Robert Altman was the child of Julius Ferdinand Altman and Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman.  He had four brothers (all older) and eight sisters (five older and three younger).

Robert was born 16 April 1867 in Waumandee, Buffalo, Wisconsin.  He married Albertina Amelie (Lange) Altman 28 June 1893 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  Together they had seventeen children (five boys and twelve girls).  Among their seventeen children were three sets of twins.  Albertina passed away 28 June 1931 and on 24 May 1936, Robert remarried to Anna Olivia Crabtree in Sandpoint, Bonner, Idaho.

Robert died 9 March 1945 in Sandpoint, Bonner, Idaho.  He's buried in Pinecrest Memorial Park in Sandpoint, Bonner, Idaho.

Tombstone Tuesday: Carl August Froemke, Jr.

Welcome to another edition of Tombstone Tuesday.  Today we're spotlighting the husband of my first great-grand-aunt Augusta Christine (Altman) Froemke, Carl August Froemke, Jr.

Tombstone of Carl August Froemke, Jr.
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Carl August Froemke, Jr. was the child of Carl August Froemke and Henrietta Elisa (Schwarz) Froemke.  It's unknown how many brothers and sisters he had.

Carl was born 5 February 1866 in Orel, East Prussia, Russia.  Nothing is known of his parents at this time.  He immigrated to the United States in October 1880.  He married Christine Augusta Altman 4 July 1888 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota.  Together they had thirteen children (seven boys and six girls).

Carl August Froemke, Jr. and Christine Augusta (Altman) Froemke

Carl August Froemke, Jr.

Carl Jr. died 23 February 1942 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota.  He is buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

 

Tombstone Tuesday: Augusta Christine (Altman) Froemke

Welcome back to Tombstone Tuesday!  After a break for a couple of weeks we're back to visiting the Altman family in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery.  Today we're looking at my great grand-aunt, Augusta Christine (Altman) Froemke.

Froemke family marker
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Tombstone of Augusta Christine (Altman) Froemke
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Augusta Christine was the fourth of thirteen children of Christian Gottlieb Altman and Christina Frederika Sofie (Kolbe) Altman.  She had five brothers (two older and three younger) and seven sisters (one older and six younger).

Augusta Christine was born 2 August 1868 in Waumadee, Buffalo, Wisconsin.  She married Carl August Froemke, Jr. on 4 July 1888 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota.  Together they had thirteen children (seven boys and six girls).  She died 5 August 1947 in Shenford Township, Ransom, North Dakota.  She's buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

 

Carl August Froemke, Jr. and
Augusta Christine (Altman) Froemke

Augusta Christine (Altman) Froemke

 

Tombstone Tuesday: Julius Ferdinand Altman

It's time for Tombstone Tuesday again.  We aren't straying far from last week's spotlight.  Today we're looking at my second great-grandfather, Julius Ferdinand Altman.

Tombstone of Julius Ferdinand Altman
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Julius was the fifth of ten children of Christian Gottlieb Altman and Maria Elizabeth (Neubauer) Altman.  He had seven brothers (three older and four younger) and two sisters (one older and one younger).

Julius was born 11 May 1826 in Neulewin, Markisch-Oderland, Brandenburg, Prussia, Germany.  He immigrated to the United States in either 1854 or 1855 and married Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman on 5 April 1863 in Waumandee, Buffalo, Wisconsin.  Together they had 13 children.  Julius died 3 November 1919 of pneumonia at his son, Ludwig's home.
 

Julius Ferdinand Altman

 

Tombstone Tuesday: Marie Louise Henrietta (Altman) Froemke

It's Tuesday and that means another edition of Tombstone Tuesday!  Today we're still wandering thru Anselm Lutheran Cemetery.  Among the many family members residing in Anselm Cemetery is my second great-grandmother, Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman (a.k.a. Altmann).

Headstone of Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman (a.k.a. Altmann)
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Tombstone of Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman (a.k.a. Altmann)
Located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Marie Louise was the second of seventeen children of John Gottleb Froemke and Efa Rosina (Bair) Froemke.  She had six brothers (all younger), nine sisters (one older and eight younger) and one younger sibling of unknown gender.

Marie Louise was born 5 April 1846 in Buchwerder, Friedeberg, Brandenburg, Prussia, Germany (a.k.a. Welmin, Gmina Strzelce Krajenskie, Strzelce-Drezdenko, Lubusz, Poland).  She died 12 March 1904 in Casey Township, Ransom, North Dakota.  She immigrated to the United States with her family in 1856 and married my second great-grandfather, Julius Ferdinand Altman 5 April 1863 in Waumandee, Buffalo, Wisconsin.  Together they had 13 children.  The inscription on her headstone reads "Asleep In Jesus Blessed Sleep".  She is buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Marie Louise Henrietta (Froemke) Altman (a.k.a. Altmann)

You  may have noticed I have added an also known as name of Altmann.  The family story goes that the Altmann/Altman brothers came to the United States and subsequently had a falling out.  The brothers parted ways, with one changing his last name by dropping one of the N's from the end of the Altmann name.  I personally haven't verified that information but it makes for an interesting story.  Big Brother C has been working on the Altman side of the family and he has much more information than I do, but I'm working on updating my records as he shares his findings.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tombstone Tuesday: Elsa Sophia Altman

Welcome to Tombstone Tuesday!  Today we're looking at the tombstone of my paternal first cousin, twice removed, Elsa Sophia Altman located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery.

Tombstone of Elsa S. Altman
located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Elsa Sophia was the ninth of seventeen children of Robert Altman and Albertina Amelie (Lange) Altman.  She had five brothers (three older and two younger) and eleven sisters (five older and six younger).

Elsa Sophia was born 13 November 1902 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  She died 26 August 1903 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  Her tombstone inscription reads "A little flower of love that blossomed but to die."  She's buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Tombstone Tuesday: Allen Willard Altman

Welcome to another edition of Tombstone Tuesday!  Still making our journey through Anselm Lutheran Cemetery, today's tombstone belongs to my paternal great-uncle, Allen Willard Altman.

Tombstone of Allen Altman
located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Allen Willard Altman was the second of four children of Ludwig Wilhelm Altman and Ida Marie (Krueger) Altman.  He had two brothers (one older, one younger) and one sister (also younger).

Allen was born 1 October 1912 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota.  He died 10 January 1971 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota.  He's buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Allen Willard Altman

Tombstone Tuesday: Laura & Clara Altman

It's Tuesday again and you know what that means!  Time for another Tombstone Tuesday.  Continuing our journey through Anselm Lutheran Cemetery, today's tombstone belongs to two of my paternal cousins, twice removed, Laura and Clara Altman.

Laura & Clara Altman's tombstone
located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Clara was the second of seventeen children of Robert Altman and Albertina Amelie (Lange) Altman.  She had five brothers (all younger) and eleven sisters (one older and ten younger).

Laura was the third of seventeen children of Robert Altman and Albertina Amelie (Lange) Altman.  She had five brothers (all younger) and eleven sisters (two older and nine younger).

Clara and Laura were both born on 14 March 1895 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  They died 15 March 1895 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  They are buried together in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  Their tombstone inscription reads: "There we shall meet again."  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Tombstone Tuesday: Florence Bertha Irene Altman

Welcome to Tombstone Tuesday!  Today we're still looking at family tombstones in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  Today's tombstone belongs to my paternal first cousin, twice removed, Florence Bertha Irene Altman.

Tombstone for Florence Bertha Irene Altman
(tombstone only reads Irene B. F. Altman)
located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Florence Bertha Irene was the eleventh of seventeen children of Robert Altman and Albertina Amelie Lange.  She had four brothers (three older and one younger) and eleven sisters (six older and five younger).

Florence Bertha Irene was born 16 December 1905 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  She died 28 May 1907 in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota at the of 17 months old.  She's buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Tombstone Tuesday: Clarence Harvey Altman

Welcome to another edition of Tombstone Tuesday.  Continuing with the family buried in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery, today's tombstone belongs to my paternal great-uncle, Clarence Harvey Altman.

Ludwig, Ida and Clarence Harvey's tombstone
located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

Clarence Harvey was the first of four children of Ludwig Wilhelm Altman and Ida Marie (Krueger) Altman.  He had two brothers (both younger) and one sister (also younger).

Clarence was born 14 April 1907 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota and died 18 April 1933 in Ransom County, North Dakota.  He is buried next to his parents, Ludwig and Ida Altman, in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tombstone Tuesday: Ludwig Wilhelm Altman

Welcome to another edition of Tombstone Tuesday.  Today we're jumping states from Missouri to North Dakota and jumping families, as well, from my maternal side to my paternal side.  Located just over an hour west of Fargo, North Dakota and 15 minutes west of Lisbon, Anselm is a small unincorporated farming community.  I'm sure if I was able to go to one of the local libraries or a genealogical society in that area I'd be able to find some history on Anselm but not having had the forethought to do that before I started my blog and not having the time now to head back up there to look I had to settle for what I could find on the internet.

Piecing together what I've observed with what I could find on the internet (which, obviously right now, is purely my theory supported by a few facts), Anselm was a small community of people, probably from the German/Russian region of Europe.  This theory is based on the names in the cemeteries and the fact that my paternal family resided (and still resides) in that area.  It's a strongly Lutheran/Catholic area and active farming community.  It also has some connection to the railroad community.  Currently the Canadian Pacific Railway has a network location there (it was rather interesting to see on their network location map that they also had locations in Enderlin, Fingal and Valley City which are all names I remember my father and grandmother talking about).

Years ago, as a child, I was introduced to Anselm Lutheran Cemetery and told that I had family buried there.  A few years ago, while in North Dakota for a family reunion, we re-visited Anselm and I realized - WOW!  I really DID have family there.  Over half the cemetery has some connection to my paternal family, whether direct line or distant cousins.  My visit there was enlightening to say the least.  So for the next few Tombstone Tuesday posts I'll be highlighting those family members who are buried here.

Anselm Lutheran Cemetery sign

Ludwig, Ida and Clarence Harvey's tombstone
located in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery

So today's tombstone belongs to my paternal great-grandfather Ludwig Wilhelm Altman.  Ludwig was the tenth of thirteen children of Julius and Marie Louise (Froemke) Altman.  He had four brothers (all older) and eight sisters (five older, three younger).

Ludwig was born 12 May 1880 in Shenford Township, Ransom, North Dakota and died 22 August 1968 in Lisbon, Ransom, North Dakota.  He is buried along with his wife, Ida Marie, and son, Clarence Harvey, in Anselm Lutheran Cemetery in Anselm, Ransom, North Dakota.  The cemetery borders what used to be family farmland.

Ludwig Wilhelm Altman

 Thanks for stopping by!