Ok, so clearly I suck at this blogging thing. Seems there is so little time for everything. I have been very busy working on my genealogy over the past few months, but had little time to post anything here. So I'll post a quick update.
Most of my research is focused on the Dederick-Herrin side, although I have also done some work on my mom's side of the family. She herself knew little about her family, as her parents died when she was 12 and 13. I learned years ago that my gr-gr grandfather on her side had been a fireman in the city of Milwaukee. He died while fighting a fire in March of 1888. I had always meant to contact the fire department to see if they could tell me anything at all about him. Well I finally got around to doing that just before Thanksgiving. When I spoke to the man in charge of these old records, he told me that my gr-gr-grandfather's name sounded familiar, and in fact he thought that he might have a picture of him. I almost fainted. I have just one picture of my grandfather, nothing older than that. Sure enough in 2 days he sent me this.
Wow. He didn't have any other information for me, but just to see the face of this man is incredible. Oh, and after joining Ancestry.com recently, I also found out that he served in the Civil War, for about 3 years. He certainly felt a sense of duty to serve and protect. What a wonderful man he must have been. According to various census records he was born in Prussia, in about 1838. So here's my mom's family.
Patricia J. Westfahl
Parents
Herman Westfahl
Born Jan. 31, 1886-Milw. WI
Died Oct. 22, 1944-Milw. WI
Minnie Itzakowsky
Born July 1, 1888-Germany
Died Feb. 16, 1943-Milw. WI
Grandparents
Henry Westfahl
Born Nov. 12, 1863-Milw. WI
Died Jan. 28, 1925-Milw. WI
Clara Maria Lecher
Born Nov. 13, 1867-Milw. WI
Died May 29, 1939-Milw. WI
Gustave Itzakowsky
Born Aug. 22, 1849-Germany
Died July 3, 1906-Milw. WI
Wilhelmina Kuep
Born Jun 3, 1850-Germany
Died July 1, 1928-Milw. WI
Great-Grandparents
Hans (Johan) Westphal
Born Dec. 26, 1827-Mecklenburg, Germany
Died Jan. 4, 1886-Milw. WI
Elizabeth Seeman
Born Feb. 25, 1834-Mecklenburg, Germany
Died Oct. 26, 1918-Milw. WI
They immigrated to the US sometime between 1855-1863
Hermann G. Lecher
Born about 1838-Prussia
Died March 15, 1888-Milw. WI
while fighting a fire as a city of Milwaukee Fireman
Herman immigrated to the US sometime between 1853 and 1860 with his mother, and possibly his father, and his 5 brothers and sisters
Elizabeth Schaeffer
Born Sept. 26, 1846-Germany
Died Feb. 2, 1909-Milw. WI
Great-Great-Grandparents
Hans H. Westphal
Maria ?????
???? Seeman
???? ????
Martin Lecher
Johanna (Jane Christiana) Schulz
Born May 16, 1813-Prussia
Died Dec. 10, 1897-Milw. WI
Philip Schaefer
Gertrude Mueller
I still have some research to do here in Milwaukee, to see if I can find any information on Philip and Gertrude Schaefer, parents of Elizabeth Schaefer Lecher, as I presume they immigrated here with their daughter. But other than that, I am mostly at a dead end of now trying to trace these lines back to Germany, which probably won't be easy. So far I haven't found any immigration information at all. But one step at a time. I've come a long way in what I've learned about my mother's family. What a strong German heritage.
I am still working on my dad's side too, and learning more all the time. Will post some more about that as soon as time permits.
Anyway, if you find your way here and have a Dederick, Weaver, Herrin or other relative that you think might be a relative, I have started a family tree on Ancestry.com. I am still filling in information on that too. Like I said at the beginning of this post, so much to do, so little time.
Until later....
Cheryl
