Saturday, July 24, 2010

Arthur and Anna Adamson

Well here is a little bit of interesting information that I now know: Arthur and Anna married in New York sometime before 1892. And had at least three of their children there: Leo, Mary and Walter. They moved to Pennsylvania for awhile where I think they may have had three more children: Dorothy, Gerald and Russell.

Arthur and Anna migrated to Beach, North Dakota around 1910. Where they built a dugout house and then lived in it for another 10 years. The walls and floors were made of dirt and to make it a little more homey they covered the walls with sheets. It was a one room home that could be divided up by the use of hanging curtains. Here they had two more children: Charles and Margaret. They seen children pass and being born in this extraordinary home.

Sometime around 1920 they moved to Bennie Pierre, which I believe but could be wrong, is in North Dakota. There they spent the rest of their days together till Arthur passed away in 1946. Anna moved to Sidney, MT and then followed Arthur in 1949.

I am hoping that we have yet to hear the end of Arthur and Anna's story. I still am reeling from the fact that they lived in a one room dugout house for almost 10 years. With a small story like that I am sure that we have not heard the last of Arthur and his family. What their day to day life must have been like is so fascinating to me. I hope to learn more and share with you all the back story to these wonderful frontiersmen. Just think we had family that "came out west". What wonderful history. And finding these families is truly what keeps me moving forward in my work.

P.S. I know that I had said I would move forward, or back depending on your point of view, and go on to Minerva's parents but this was so exciting for me that I wanted to share with you all right away. So look forward next time to Dr. and Mrs. Mulford's story.

NEWS!!!!

OK all, here is a little update on what's been going on with my research. First, (and this is very cool to me) ancestry.com has a weekly newsletter that goes out to its subscribers. At the bottom of this newsletter they have a picture spotlight, hehe. And a couple months ago I submitted my photo of Minerva Adamson and the weekend of the 4th of July, she made it. I know to those that don't get the newsletter it's not as exciting but for me who is on there every week this is a major event.

Second, and this is just as exciting as the first if not more so....ok WAY more so. I had sent an email to what looked like a distant cousin a few months ago and last month he replied. So very exciting!! He is related through Ralph's brother Arthur who migrated with Ralph. Or maybe Ralph migrated with him. Well anyway I have been in contact with said cousin and through him one of Arthur's granddaughters, who remembers Arthur and Anna. They told me of a book that had a little excerpt in it regarding Arthur and Anna. So naturally I had to get this book for my own collection.

**Note from Laura: "said cousin" above is the grandson of Margaret Helen Adamson - the youngest daughter of Arthur & Anna**

So I emailed the Mondak Heritage Center which is located in Montana. And they had a copy of this book but also they had a number of obituaries concerning this family. So the nice lady from the Mondak Center emailed them and a copy of the page out of this book. While going over the obits, again hehe, I was able to verify something I have been trying to prove for over 6 months now. Ralph and Arthur mother's maiden name....Kathryn Yost (Kate Adamson). Now maybe I will be able to find Kathryn and her family. This is so exciting for my research. And now maybe I can take our line that way. :)

So out of all that not only was I able to prove a key point in my work but I have made contact with more family. So very exciting!! Arthur's granddaughter lives in Montana so maybe I will be able to stop in and see her soon. But if not they all want to come to next year's family reunion. So everyone needs to start making plans to attend next year. :)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Steven and Danielle Adamson
Mindy, Laura, Steven

The Soares: Matt, Sarah, Casey, Jennifer, Laura, Ahrianna, Natasha

Family Reunion 2010

View from the pool
Richard, Mindy, Lyle
Water Volleyball: Jody, Eric, Selena, Sarah
Talking it over
THE COOKS: Jason, Eric, Steven
Holy Smokes...has it really been almost 2 months since my last post. Goodness, but I am behind lol. Well let's see A LOT has happened since then but well I am going to keep you in suspense until later this weekend....bahahaha. But lets see here something pretty cool did take place that I want to share with you all...the Family Reunion. Oh my gosh but it was so much fun. Even for the kids, whom most spent in the pool and ended up red.

It was so awesome for me to finally, yes finally after all this time get to meet Laura face to face. And her family, whoo, what a bunch of cuties....yes that includes you Matt. lol. We all started filtering in around 10 in the morning and boy did the time fly, because the next thing I know it 9:00. Wow we were tired when we got back to Fallon. Steven and his wife, Danielle (really hope I just didn't butcher the spelling) also came all the way from Oregon. Just to meet this crazy group of people they know get to call family.

Let's see well we talked, we ate, we talked some more, oh ya then we ate some more...lol. Ok enough with the boring...here are the pictures. (P.S. It is totally my moms, hehe, fault that we didn't get a group shot this year. I don't know what she was thinking....again hehe) But got some good candids.


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Minerva Mulford-Adamson

The story behind this picture is actually pretty cool. A school teacher was collecting old picture frames and had a friend that had some that she thought she'd be interested in. The people that had this picture didn't really know who she was and let it go with the frame. The teacher just couldn't bring herself to let the picture go, and held onto it for a few years. This teacher found me on ancestry.com and wanted to know if and how I was related to Minerva Adamson. When it finally got here in the mail was such an exciting day for me....probably the second most exciting day since I started my research.....sometime I'll tell you my most exciting day!! :)

John and Minerva Adamson

Wow...guys I can't believe that it has been almost a whole month since I have updated this. So sorry it's been crazy around my house trying to get the end of school stuff going and getting ready for this craZy summer. Don't forget that the family reunion is coming up soon. If you want information about it and you didn't receive a flyer please email Laura or me. :)

Ok well on we go...as I said before I am still working on Kate's parents and sadly that hasn't changed any still searching. I have undertaken to scan all of the Adamson-Pattee pictures that I have into the computer so I can clean them up and make them ready for if anyone wants digital copies. So thus I haven't had time to delve any further into Kate's past but no fear I am hoping to work on it this summer some more. :)

So John Adamson was born to parents John and Minerva Adamson. John Adamson Sr. was born about 1795 in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, that is as much as I know about the beginning of John's life. I have been unable to find where he was born or his parents. I do know that eventually he made his way up the Tioga River and settled in Steuben County. I have not found anything to suggest that he migrated with his parents but on the other hand I haven't found anything to disprove that either. So John's beginning is a mystery for now. So he settles in Steuben County where he meets Miss Minerva Mulford....the doctors daughter.

Minerva H. Mulford was born 24 July 1805 in what is now Lindley, New York. The Proud Parents were Dr. Ezekiel Mulford and the Mrs. Nancy "Anna" Mulford. The Mulford's had 14 children. What an awesome household that must have been to grow up in! Much more to come on the Mulford's at a later date.

John and Minerva met and married sometime before 1836. They lived in Thurston, New York which was formed from Cameron, New York. They had John Jr. in 1836, followed by their son Mulford born in 1842, daughters Louisa in 1843 and Barentha Edith in 1846. As far as I can tell John was a farmer. I am not sure if he played any part in the opening and running of Adamson Steam Saw-Mill that was located in Campell. The mill was owned by John Jr. but maybe he got help from his father, that is speculation on my part. I like to think that maybe John would talk to his Father about the opening and running of the business. John Sr. died somtime before 1891.

The farther we go back in time the harder it is to find the information I am looking for to give a great description of our ancestors but I will keep looking so as the information gets smaller just remember that I am always looking. And sometimes out of the blue I come across the best piece of information that helps break through that brick wall.

Coming soon to a blog near you.....the story of Dr. & Mrs. Mulford.

How many super-cool people have stopped by?