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 |  A sporadic account of my reaction to life. |
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Over the years I have sporadically attempted to keep a journal. Each attempt has failed miserably. I think they expired because I established rules that were too ridgid for them. So, this attempt will bring with it very few rules. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** There are many incredibly kind and thoughtful people in WDC. One of them is zwisis. Out of the blue she sent me this flower gift. It reminds me of the Bluebonnets of Texas. Thanks, Sarah. And, I must not forget the very talented katherine76 who created the flower...thank you. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Well, it appears that my blog is going to the dogs. It aslo seems as if folks have gotten me pegged as a dog lover....they're right. Our very own Anyea   has gifted me with this Valentine card. Now I ask you, "How sweet is that?" Thanks, Anyea  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I have been fortunate to encounter many generous and kind people during my tenure in WDC. Debi Wharton is one of them. She gifted me with the following sig. It shows how sensitive and caring she is. It also shows that she read some my entries. She'll never know how much I appreciate the gift and the attention to my blog. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| In light of the heightened attention given in this country today to immagrants, both legal and illegal, I introduce you to one of my own. Ernestine FREISTHALER, was my wife, Linda's, great-Grandmother who was born on 16 Apr 1867 in Germany, at least according to a delayed birth certificate issued in 1948 to her daughter, Annie. In addition there are multiple listings on censuses recording her birthplace as being Germany. Her parents were Daniel and Kate Freisthauler, at least according to her Iowa marriage record. However, her father's name is questionable since her Oklahoma death certificate lists J Feisthaler as being her father. Of course, there is a possibility that both are correct, and his name is Daniel J Feisthaler or J Daniel Feisthaler. Her mother’s maiden name was not given; only the name Kate was provided, which seems to me to be more Irish than German. Ernestine has been a mystery. Searching for the existence of her family in the censuses or other public documents have proven totally unproductive, causing one to doubt if they were in fact in the United States at any time. A total assumption is that they did not immigrate to America with Ernestine, which causes one to assume that she possibly immigrated as a child with another family member or under a different name. Known facts are that her name was Ernestine, she was born in Germany on April 16, 1867, and she at one time lived in Des Moines County, Iowa. Using those facts as parameters for a search, I discovered an Ernestine Filter who lived in adjacent Hancock County, Iowa. The Iowa State Census for 1885 lists her as being a member of the David Bonar household, consisting of four members. Ernestine was listed as a single female, eighteen years of age, of German birth, and living with her sister and husband in Madison, Iowa. Of the several Ernestine’s possible, this was the only one who fit all the parameters. The only conflict was the name Filter. Nevertheless, realizing the frequent confusion often associated with names and the censuses, I am inclined to accept this as our Ernestine. On August 9, 1886, Ernestine married William Yeager in Bloomington, Iowa. The marriage record indicates that both parties were residents of Des Moines County, Iowa. Four years later she appeared in the 1900 US Census as living in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) as William Yeager’s wife and the mother to three female children. She was shown to have had three daughters: Anne (12), Katie (6), and Sarah (2). She had been married fourteen years, which would put her at being 19 years at the time of her marriage. Her husband, William, is ten years her senior. According to 1910 Census record, he immigrated to the US in 1873 from Switzerland. According to these records it confirms that William and Ernestine did not immigrate into the US as a married couple but rather separately, finding each other in this new country, both coming originally from Euroupe. The 1910 US Census does not enumerate Ernestine; she is missing from all census accounts. Her husband, William, is recorded as living in a household comprised of two people, consisting of himself and his brother. Ernestine’s children are shown as living elsewhere with other family members. The 1910 US Census indicates seventeen-year-old Katie was the wife of William Gustafsen, who was thirteen years Katie’s senior. She was indicated as being married for less than a year with her nine-year-old sister, Josie, living with her. Ernestine’s oldest daughter, Annie was married and in the household her husband Oscar F. Echols. Her twelve-year-old sister Sarah was living with her and Oscar. This accounts for Ernestine’s children. However the whereabouts of Ernestine is unknown. Ernestine apparently was terminally ill with tuberculosis. It appears it was sufficiently severe to require her separation from her family. Most of the last decade of her life was lived under the shadow of the disease. Eventually, she died of tuberculosis on 2 Feb 1917 at the age of forty-nine in Osage, Osage Co., Oklahoma. She preceded her husband, William, in death by eight years. Ernestine and William were buried next to each other in Osage Cemetery, Osage, Osage Co., Oklahoma--a very long way from Germany and Switzerland. |
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