January 15, 2013 - Eddie Marvel!

What a wonderful name.  I had first heard this last name as the one that the man who 'discovered' the ax incorporated into the History Museum in Huron, SD.  The ax is believed to be used by both William Daugherty (the father of William Henry) and Abraham Lincoln.  As there are several stories concerning the Daugherty/Lincoln family, I'm sure there is some truth to this finding.  Abe's initials and William's initials are both engraved in the handle.  I'm not sure how this Mr. Marvel relates to Eddie.  The Hazel Cavenee described in the below obituary  is the daughter of Pearl Wilson Cavenee, sister of my ggrandmother Rosetta Wilson Carrington.

This is from a Nov.10, 1981 Newspaper. 

"Eddie (Pat) Marvel, 69, of 1500 Fourth St. SW, died Tues morning at Huron Regional Medical Center (SD).  The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Brooks Memorial Chapel with Loftus H. Ward officiating.  Burial will be in Restlawn Memory Gardens.  Friends may call Wed. afternoon and evening at the chapel.

Eddie Marvel was born July 23, 1912, in Wolsey (SD) to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Marvel.  He attended school in Sand Creek.  He married Hazel Cavenee March 6, 1937, in Tulare.  They lived in Wessington until 1945, when they moved to Huron.  He was employed at Armours until retirement in 1975.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel; a son, Roger of Huron; two daughters, Mrs. Dean (Karen) Stienblock, Huron, and Mrs. Thomas (Barbara ) Smith of Watertown; nine grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; two sisters, Mrs. Ray (Viola) Schwartz, Huron and Mrs. Roy (Velma) Wilkie, Kettle Falls, Wash.; five brothers, Jack Marvel of Sarasota, Fla., Guy Marvel of Wessington, Luverne Marvel of Huron, Robert Marvel of Aberdeen and William Marvel, Huron.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Leonard.

This is Hazel Cavenee Marvel, Addie Brachvogel Spicer, Pearl Brachvogel Gravett, Irene Carrington Daugherty (my grandmother).

 

 

 

January 25, 2013 - McNeely Sisters

I've been writing about the children of Mary Ann Wilson and Henry Brachvogel.  Mary Ann is the sister of my ggrandmother Rosetta.  It turns out that Walter and Frank married sisters: Hazel Marie McNeely and Vernice C. McNeely.  Another of their sisters, Mabel Cavenee, married Lloyd Cavenee, the son of Mary Ann's sister Pearl.  These connections of family members happen a lot in my maternal heritage.

Here is the obituary of Vernice C. Brachvogel (wonder what the 'c' stands for?)  Just found out...Claudia.  Such a beautiful name.  Wonder why it wasn't flaunted?

Redfield (SD) - "Vernice C. Brachvogel, 84, of Redfield died Saturday, Dec. 3, 1988 at Community Memorial Hospital.  The funeral will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the First Congregational Church, Redfield, with the Rev. Scott Cross officiating.  Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery.  Funeral arrangements were announced by Coleman-Thelen Funeral Home, Redfield.

Vernice C. McNeely was born May 22, 1904 in Illinois to Arthur and Hattie (Parish) McNeely.

She married Walter Brachvogel April 15, 1925.  They farmed near Tulare (SD).  In 1957 they retired and moved to Redfield (SD).

She was a member of the First Congregational Church, Turtle Creek Ladies Aid, and the American Legion Auxiliary of Wessington, VFW Auxiliary and the Senior Citizens.

She is survived by one son, Walter Brachvogel of Erhard, Minn; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildre; four sisters, Hazel Brachvogel of Everett, Wash, Mabel Cavanee of Huron, Iris Bouma and Carmen Atteburg, both of Washington.  She was preceded in death by her husband. 

 

 The below photo is of Vernice and Walter.

 

I'll continue with Hazel Marie McNeely Brachvogel's obituary.

Hazel Marie Brachvogel, 87, of Everett, WA, died August 7, 1993, at an Everett hospital.  A memorial service was held August 11 at Purdy and Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home of Everett.  Hazel Marie McNeely was born March 26, 1906 at Taylorville, IL, to Arthur and Hattie (Parish) McNeely.  She moved with her family to Wessington as a baby.

On March 29, 1929, she married Frank Brachvogel.  They lived on a farm north of Vayland until 1950, when they moved to Miller.  He died in 1957 and she moved to Everett shortly thereafter.

Survivors include one daughter, Joyce Withro, Arlington; two sons, Don of Des Moines, IA, and Benton of Lake Stevens, WA; four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren;and three sisters, Mabel Cavenee of Huron, Iris Bouma of Washougal, WA, and Carmen Attebery of LaCenter, WA.  She was preceded in death by her husband.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Regency Care Center of Arlington.

The above photo is Hazel and Frank with their children Donny, Joyce, and Benton.

January 24, 2013 - On to Walter Brachvogel

Going through news articles probably from Wessington Times, SD.  Walter is another son of Henry and Mary Ann Wilson Brachvogel. 

Here's a short one from 1957...

"Walt Brachvogel will hold his farm sale this Friday, Dec. 6.  For sale will be 21 head of cattle, a complete line of farm machinery, some hogs, chickens, grain and hay.  For a complete listing see his sale bills."

And his obituary, dated Jan. 1969

Walt Brachvogel Dies; Rites held Tuesday

Walter Brachvogel, 74, well known in the Wessington area, died unexpectedly last Saturday morning at his home in Redfield (SD).

The funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Congregational Church in Redfield, with the Rev. Paul Opsahl officiating.  The Bryson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements; and interment was in the Greenlawn Cemetery.  Military graveside rites were conducted by a unit of the National Guard.

Brachvogel, a retired farmer and veteran of World War I, was born Dc. 2, 1894 in Omaha.  He married Vernice McNeely at Redfield on April 15, 1925.  He had been a  resident of Spink County 43 years, residing in Redfield the past 11 years.

He was a member of James Valley WWI Barracks and Paul A. Schleher Post of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Redfield, and of the Watson-Krauter American Legion Post, Wessington.

Survivors include his widow; one son, Walter, Lennox; two sisters, Mrs. Cecil (Mabel) McNeely, Redfield; Mrs. Pearl Gravett, Huron; one brother Albert, Chicago; and three grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by three brothers.
 
Notes from Charlotte Paulsen - Book "In the World War" - 1917-1919, Beadle Co., SD is a picture of Pvt. Walter Brachvogel at Huron Public Library. Served in FRance in 18th Infantry. Wounded in battle Nov. 6, 1918. 

Below: Vernice, Walter, and Walt Brachvogel. 

January 24, 2013 - Albert Brachvogel Dies

Pearl, age 12 and brother Albert, age 14

Notice the differing spelling that the Wessington Times (SD) uses for this family?  I have in my possession the article describing Albert's father, Henry's death.  I believe I've already included it in my blogsite, though I'm not able to find it at the moment. The below obituary might have been written in Chicago and sent to Wessington Times, with the Times adding the last paragraph.  Notice the lack of SD after Redfield & Huron. I have no information of Albert's descendents after his death.  Note to self: Find the article concerning Henry Brachvogel's death and include it in this Blogsite.

"Albert Brachvogel passed away Nov. 10, 1973 in a Chicago hospital, following a heart attack.  Services were held Wed., Nov. 14 with Rev. C. Melone officiating.

Mr. Brachvogel was born April 30, 1905 near Wessington to Henry and Mary (Mary Ann Wilson) Brachvogel.  He served with the Air Force in the Mediterranean area in WWII.  He married Helen Lamb in Chicago, June 9, 1945.  To this union 3 children were born.

He is survived by his widow, Helen, one son, Frank, 2 daughters, Mrs. James (Maureen) Webb, Mrs. Michael (Theresa) Jones, 2 granddaughters, Lauri and Linda Webb, all of Chicago, one sister, Mrs. Pearl Gravett, Huron, and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers and one sister.

Relatives from away attending the funeral of Albert Brachvogel in Chicago were Mrs. Pearl Gravett, Huron, Mrs. Vernice Brachvogel, Francis McNeely, Redfield, Walter L. Brachvogel, Laurel, Neb., Don Brachvogel, Atlanta, Ga., Mrs. James Whitman and Mrs. Gerald Stevens, Minneapolis, Mn.

January 24, 2013

Newspaper Clippings - Mrs. Mary Brackvogel

Yesterday I shared some clippings concerning Frank Brochvogel (Brackvogel, Brachvogel).  Today I'd like to share the obituary of his mother, Mary Ann Wilson Brachvogel, the sister of my Great Grandmother, Rosetta.

"Mrs. Mary Brackvogel passed away at her home in York Township, north of Vayland (SD), about 6 o'clock on Friday evening at the age of 58 years, three months and 11 days.  She had been ill with influenza and complications set in which she was unable to withstand. 

Mary Ann Wilson was born in south central Iowa on September 17, 1870.  She removed with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.W.Wilson to Dakota Territory in 1883 locating with them on a homestead 12 miles north of Wessington.

On her twentieth birthday, September 17, 1890, she was married to Henry Brackvogel.  Seven children were born to this union, as follows: Harry, William, Walter, Frank, Mabel, Albert and Pearl.  The children are all living except William who gave his life in the service of his country on the battlefields of France during the World War.  His body was brought back to Wessington and interred in the cemetery here.  The husband died 17 years ago and his body, too, is resting in the Wessington Cemetery where the wife and mother was laid last Sunday.

With the exception of about 12 years, which were spent in Omaha, Mrs. Brackvogel has resided in the Wessington vicinity since her arrival here as a small girl in the early homestead days.

Besides the children, she leaves three sisters; Mrs. Rosetta Carrington, Mrs. Rosella Brackvogel and Mrs. Pearl Cavanee, and several grandchildren.

A short service was held at the house on Sunday afternoon and then the body was brought to the church in Wessington where the main service was held.  Rev. E. Claude Smith, paster of the church at Beulah, near the Brackvogel home, having charge.  There was a large turnout of people from the north country, attesting by their presence to the high esteem in which the deceased had been held by her neighbors.  She was a good woman, a faithful wife, and loving mother.  She has been the mainstay of the family since the death of her husband.  She will be greatly missed."

The below picture is of Mary Ann Wilson.  Notice the beads around her neck.  The second picture is of my ggrandmother Rosetta Wilson.  She was two years older.  Same beads...same hair style. I wonder what became of those beads.  Again, I'm assuming that the above abituary is from the Wessington Times.

January 23, 2013 
Odds and Ends of Newspaper Clippings

I wonder how many well-intentioned blogsites have long periods of silence from their originators.  I always felt that I was above that.  Well, it turns out that there are times when there is nothing left to say, that hasn't been said.  Yet this blog has shown the way to "new" family members or close connections to them making me realize the importance of reaching out to other interested "researchers".

Today I am working on my Prairie Roots Newsletter.  It won't be sent out until March, but in this cold, somewhat unfriendly month of January, family history is the best medicine.  I am starting my 7th year of quarterly reaching out to over 120 households...family and friends.

Included in each newsletter is this blogsite.  So I'm determined to keep a high profile with my blog.  I see that things have changed in the many months since I've written, but there's always time in the future to learn new methods.  For now I'M GOING TO WRITE!  Feels Good.

I have gotten several news articles from many readers, and especially Charlotte, from Huron.  This lady keeps an amazing memory book of the Wilson/Carrington side of the family...without the help of anything resembling digitalius.  I was very honored to have received her historical data on loan last summer.  Can you imagine the honor of taking this valuable information out of her home and bringing it across two state lines?  Needless to say I had my good friend at Oh Ship, in New Richmond, carefully box and send it back to her with kid gloves. 

I wish that some readers of Prairie Roots would realize the huge value of old newsclippings and handwritten letters.  I'm wondering how many are just sitting in boxes, with no future plans on what is to be done with them at the demise of their owners.  The newsprint gets older and more brittle, the 'page two's are becoming unattached, and we can't even fathom the destruction from moisture or critters.

My promise and pledge to people willing to loan me their information...I will return it, after an extensive scanning and then taking those scans and saving both the copies in loose-leaf notebooks ( I have 39 of them) and in my Family Tree program (backed up by Carbonite).

The above mentioned notebooks are divided into family names, but that's about as far as it goes.  Each page has a protector, and I add any sort of dialogue I have with people, or any bit of verbage that might add to the total knowledge of that branch of the family tree.  Nothing pretty...but information that can be given to the next generation. 

Well, let's take a look at what Charlottle has found.  Thanks to that dear lady!

January 23,2013 - Frank Brackvogel Rites Held Today

As I mentioned, Frank Brachvogel/Brackvogel was the son of Mary Ann Wilson and Henry Brachvogel.  We'll continue with his obituary published by Wessington Times (an assumption), March 1959.  This obituary is not complete.  I will give you what I have.

" Funeral services were held in March 25th at 8:30 p.m., Frank Brachvogel, 57, who died of a heart attack suffered about noon Saturday while in a Miller business place.  Rev. Hume Ward officiated at the services held in the Presbyterian Church.  Brachvogel was born Nov. 29th, 1899 in Omaha, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brachvogel.  He came to South Dakota at the age of three settling with his parents on a farm north of Wessington.  In March, 1929, he was married to Hazel McNeely, and they continued to farm until 1950 when Mr. Brachvogel retired and..."  This is as far as I have.

From this point it looks like Frank moved to St. Lawrence, then to Miller (SD).  I don't have a death date for Hazel, but I do see that she was a resident of Everett, Washington.  They had three children, Donald Franklin, Benton Elroy, and Arlene Joyce.  Arlene was also a resident of Everett, so perhaps her mother came to live with her after the death of Frank. 

Of all these children,  I really have no current contacts with their descendents.  I have spouses of them, and three children of Arlene ( Withrow).  Note to self...I need to find out more about Arlene's children, and of course Donald and Benton's.  Maybe Charlotte would know. 

This must have been Frank and Hazel's wedding picture as it is dated 1929.