Letters 5/5/2020
WHAT ARE YOU DOING DURING THE PANDEMIC?
—————————————————————————————————
SENT BY: Diana VanNice Stephens (new cousin)
My family has ancestors buried at the Old Mud Meeting House near Harrodsburg. From there they emigrated to Indiana, in Hendricks County near Danville. The next step was to Lucas County, Iowa, and my great-grandfather farmed at Strasburg, Saskatchewan, coming back to the United States for his sons to enlist to serve in WWI. That put our family in Marion County, Missouri, where my great-grandfather, grandfather, parents, and myself all farmed, though not all on the same land. I have a daughter and her family still on our family farm, along with my mother.
I am an elementary reading teacher (my second career) in my husband’s hometown, and am one of very few people here who do not trace their lineage directly to the British Isles, so seeing the old Dutch names on the website warms my heart. I also descend from many German and Swiss names with some Irish grandmothers thrown in, but I identify with my maiden name, most.
Thanks,
Diana Stephens
Title I Director / Reading Teacher
Hutsonville Elementary and Junior High School
——————————————————————
SENT BY: Doug Demaree
Looks like Bill and I share some common ancestry….. thank you for the pictures.
——————————————————————
SENT BY: Kim Allison Ross
Please share with them. James Andrew Westerfield (actor) (b. 1913 d. 1971) is the son of Brasher Omier Westerfield (b. 4 April 1882) & wife Dora Elizabeth Bailey. He’s of the Cornelius Westerfield & Rebecca Cooper line.
James Andrew->Brasher Omier->Joseph Cooper->Cornelius & Rebecca Cooper Westerfield.
——————————————————————
SENT BY: Curt Biehn
Boy, Carolyn, my ancestor’s names are all over in your articles. Some of me originated in the Brower and the Stagg line, but so many names and places mentioned here are also involved. Stay safe, my cousins!
——————————————————————
SENT BY: Lillie Martin in Syria
Dear Suzie Ditmars, of San Diego, CA You said:
My ancestors went from New Netherland to New Jersey where they seemed to have stayed until my great grandmother moved to Manhattan about 1895.Enjoy some of the letters that you receive.
I am eligible for DAR and the Holland Society of New York since they are admitting women.
I need to find a genealogist who can get it all together on the form for HS.
And thanks
Suzie I am willing to help you get your Holland Society application done. You can email me all your ancestry and I can help.
Best regards,
Lilly Martin
——————————————————————
SENT BY:Judith Smith Cassidy: Keeping busy doing revisions and rewriting a book about the grandsons of Captain Luke Vanarsdale who left Shelby County after the death of their father Cornelius and moved first to Leake County, Mississippi where Lucas remained although William moved to Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The book is also about their slaves and everyones descendants. It is a mutual contribution of all descendants. William was murdered for his gold in 1867 and his five children were his slaves. I will publish it on Amazon. We have a Face Book Page titled Vanarsdale Lineage administered and moderated by Isis Abdul who is a graphic artist at the Portland Museum.
Additionally I have gotten my niece and nephew interesting in writing up our families history, so packed up all those documents up and sent them to the next generation as so often when someone dies or becomes elderly family papers are simply not read but tossed out. People now have the time, so I am taking advantage of this.
——————————————————————
SENT BY: Kim Allison Ross
Please share this. James Andrew Westerfield (actor) (b. 1913 d. 1971) is the son of Brasher Omier Westerfield (b. 4 April 1882) & wife Dora Elizabeth Bailey. He’s of the Cornelius Westerfield & Rebecca Cooper line.
James Andrew->Brasher Omier->Joseph Cooper->Cornelius & Rebecca Cooper Westerfield.
———————————————————
SENT BY: Pam Ellingson
Gladys Lucille Westerfield Dorrell, born 1925 died 2 May 2020. Gladys and her husband Homer were in charge of the hospitality at a number of Dutch Cousins gatherings. She was a wonderful person and first cousin to my Mom. Gladys and Homer were such delightful cousins. Always so willing to help anyway they could. I think everyone loved them.
—————————————————————————–
SENT BY: Norma Bechtold
Subject: Luyster, Brazelton, Westerfield.
This is my husband Paul T. Bechtold side of the family.
Paul Thomas Bechtold and Norma Jeannine Bechtold
Paul W. Bechtold and Meta Mable Lister
LeRoy Lister and Hannah Temple Gilliland
William Henry Harrison Lister and Minerva Lister
Joseph Lister and Martha Brazelton
Joseph Lister parents were Elias and Mary Lister. Joseph first married Susanna and went by Suky Luyster and they had one child. He married Martha Brazelton on Dec 22, 1831. they had Elizabeth ,Susan, Priscilla, Julia Ann, William H.H and Richard. third he married Mary Ann “Pelly” Sanders. and had four more children.
I am wondering if Martha was the daughter Catherine Westerfield who married John Brazelton.
My husband and I with his cousin came and to Harrodburg back when the new court house was being build. We went to the Library and they were very helpful. But we never did find where Joseph and his wives are buried I would like to fine this information out. also I would like to know the fees for to belong and the cost for the new paper you put out. If their is any information that you would want for your files on the Lister just let us know.
I have the Low Dutch Cousin on my computer and check it off and on. would like to make a trip back there but not sure because of our age. Have a nice day an looking forward to hearing from you.
—————————————————————————–
SENT BY: Darrell Kitchen
May I have the address where contributions can be sent…relating to the Conewago Low Dutch Cemetery on Swift Run Road near Gettysburg.
Thank you (and say safe),
Darrell Kitchen (Kitchen, Bercaw, Van Dyke, Van Arsdalen, & and many others…)
——————————————————————
SENT BY: Eddie Price
HI, Carolyn
Love hearing from you guys! Tamara approached me at the end of last year’s program and asked if I would be available the for the next gathering. I gave her my card (I think) and would love to hear from her as I am already getting bookings for 2021. I always enjoy your gatherings!
Thanks!
Eddie Price
——————————————————————————————————
SENT BY: Pat Mickunas
April 30
I just got a response from Malcolm {Banta} and he is still in the VA in physical therapy. He can only stand for 5 minutes at a time after 2 months of therapy. He was paralyzed at first.—————————————————————
