Wordless Wednesday - High School Reunion

My mom and dad heading to my mom's 10-year high school reunion. Love the car and the dress!

Matrilineal Monday - Christine Potterf

Christine Potterf is my 3rd great grandmother on my father's paternal side. She was born May 8, 1835 in Preble County, Ohio, the eleventh of 13 known children of Joseph and Elizabeth (Kesling) Potterf. That is a lot of kids.

Joseph was a fairly prosperous farmer in Preble County, Ohio. He was born around 1797 in Virginia and died at 62-years-old. Elizabeth was also born in Virginia in 1796 and she died in 1872. Both are buried in Old Town Cemetery, West Alexandria, Ohio.

Christine Potterf married John C. Ozias March 6, 1851 in Preble County, Ohio.

The couple had ten children.

Sometime around 1855 the couple moved from Ohio to Byron, Buchanan County, Iowa. John was a farmer and Christine was a housewife. The family lived in Iowa for nearly 20 years, but by 1875 they were in Nemaha County, Kansas, after having made a long enough stop in Missouri to have their last child.

1875 Kansas State census, Nemaha County.

I'm not sure what drove the Ozias family to hop through four different states in a twenty-year period. I have found no evidence of "wrong doing" so I can only assume that it was either an internal need to keep moving or an attempt to find better farming acreage.

John Ozias died just a couple of years after they settled in Kansas. It appears that their son William took over the family farm and Christine continues to run the house. Christine died January 20, 1899.

Mrs. Ozias, who was taken suddenly ill with the grip last week, died Friday morning at 9 o'clock. Her funeral was held at the M.E. church at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Her son William made his home with her for some time. Two sons, Joseph and Ernest, are members of the 20th Kansas Vol. Inf. now at Manila. Three daughters attended the funeral.
Printed in The Seneca Tribune, January 26, 1899.

Her sons, Joseph and Ernest, were a part of the "famous" 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which I wrote about here. Both Christine and John Ozias are buried in Centralia Cemetery in Centralia, Kansas.

Findagrave.com, photo by L. Hinrichsen

Findagrave.com, photo by L. Hinrichsen

Like most of my female ancestors, I don't know much about Christine other than the basic facts. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I can assume that family was important to her, having come from a large family and having a large one of her own. She lost two children at young ages (1 and 3) and she lost her husband fairly early so she was no stranger to heartache. She had to maintain the family after her husband's death and keep everything afloat without a man in the house, which wasn't as easy in 1876. Based on what I've found here I have the following "due-outs" on Christine:

1. Try to determine why the family moved so often.
2. Determine where the family lived in Missouri.

This post is part of my on-going goal of 2013 to research each of my 32 3rd great-grandparents more in-depth. Christine is #4 on my list.

Sources:

• Jordan Dodd, Liahona Research. Ohio, Marriages, 1803-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. John C. Ozias and Christian Potterf, 6 March 1851. Original data: Preble County, Ohio Marriages, 1808-1900. County court records located at Eaton, Ohio. Family History Library film #0564963 & 0564858 - 0564859 & 0564963.
• Genealogical & Historical Records of Preble County, Ohio. John C. Ozias and Christine Potterf marriage, 6 March 1851. Preble County District Library, Ohio.
• Ancestry.com.. Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. J.C. Ozias and family, Illinois Township, Nemaha County, Kansas, page 2 of 8. Original data: 1875 Kansas State Census. Microfilm reels K-1 – K-20. Kansas State Historical Society.

Happy Easter!

Here's hoping that you have a wonderful Easter!

Follow Friday - Favorites for March 29, 2013

Favorites is my weekly list of favorite genealogy, history and random finds from across the Net.

What did Revolutionary Soldiers carry in their pockets?
I'm not a scrapbooker, but I thought this kit looked awesome for saving family memories
John at Filopietism Prism asks: Have you ever seen one of these?
Lessons in genealogy collaboration
Help tell the story of American agricultural change
Mary at Growing up in Willow Creek found a message in a bottle
Are My Roots Showing says: "You say A.D.D. like it's a bad thing!"
650 WACs Defy the Subs at Climbing My Family Tree
For Heaven's Sake Stop it, a message from the Lost  Battalion
Bon Jovi is a treasure, too!
German Easter traditions at ABT UNK
Nancy at My Ancestors and Me implores you: read newspapers
Wendy shares about her mom's best friends
The waitress, the girl and the broken hamburger

Treasure Chest Thursday - Our National Parks

Pea Ridge National Military Park

A couple of days ago I heard a report on NPR regarding the effects of the sequester on our National Parks. I must admit that I was sad to hear that the National Park Service has to cut more than $150 million from their budget. While the story stated that the amount is only 5% of the NPS budget, it will mean visible changes to visitors. You may see grass not cut as often at cemeteries, limited staff or limited hours. Plan your trip ahead of time to avoid missing the park you want to see.

Now seems like a perfect time to do what we can as historians to support the parks. Go visit a local historic site or one that your ancestor was at. Or make a donation through your time or wallet. Visit The National Parks Foundation on more ways to help our national parks in these tough times.

Workday Wednesday - A pail of dung, or workday fun

I found this little gem in some of my father's papers. We've all worked at a place like this...I couldn't help but share.

Fearless Females - Education

My mom's graduation May 25, 1972

Throughout the history of my direct ancestor lines it appears that education was more of a male achievement. My mother and my grandmothers all graduated from high school. My mother attended Richmond High School in Richmond, Missouri, and my maternal grandmother graduated from Hardin High School in Hardin, Missouri. My paternal grandmother, Lois Burnett, attended Westport High School in Kansas City, Missouri. She graduated in 1938.

My high school graduation on May 26, 1995.

To date I have found no female ancestors in my direct line that attended college. Which makes me the first! Even though my female ancestors did not attend college, I learned long ago that higher learning can not replace common sense. I learned as much from my female ancestors as I did from the males. Education is more than just books!

Fearless Females is a series of blogging prompts began by The Accidental Genealogist honoring National Women's History month.