Barbara Ann Kampe, artist, -2023

 

Barbara Kampe presented me, her sister, with her painting “Three birds in a bush.” In 2001, I worked as an administrative assistant; Barb offered to spruce up my office. Originally there were three birds in the painting not living up to the artist’s sense of design, so bushes grew up and covered the birds. I never learned which bush hid the birds.

Barb was born in Joliet, Illinois, due to an unexpected snow storm in October my mom and baby sister spent a few extra days in the hospital. With this much excitement, I think the rest of her growing up years were “ordinary.” Since my sister and I are twelve years apart in age, I do not know much about her early life. As an adult, Barb moved from Illinois to Florida. Living in Florida offered her an opportunity to relax, enjoy and pursue her interest in painting. She painted everything from landscapes, flowers to horses. Barb’s art provided her an outlet to express her love for the outdoors. 

This blog was written to express my memories and appreciation for my only sister. Amy Johnson Crow has a program called #52ancestors. . Each week a different topic allows us to think about our families. This is in response to week 10 siblings. We can blog, share a note on Facebook on Generations Café or bury the memories and no one will know what we are feeling. My personal feelings for my sister include the fact that I wish we could have spent more quality time together. Barb came to Georgia several times and I did enjoy walking the sandy beach in Clearwater, Florida.

Barb’s life ended too young and too quickly in May 2023. Her memorial was live streamed for the out of town friends and family. Thank you First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin for your thoughtfulness. Barb’s art was on display. Several of her friends offered comforting words. One of her friends articulated that Barb found comfort in Reading her Bible, especially Romans 8:38 “³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This stirred childhood memories and comforted me. Two of my favorites include John 14:6 “⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “And Mathew 6:33 “³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Relationship to me: Barbara Ann Kampe is my only sibling; see my public trees on MyHeritage.com and Ancestry.com

Happy tree climbing and roots digging,

Selma aka Roots Digger

Family Migration

The article with this definition explains 12 Types of Migration (Human Geography Notes) (2025)

My family migration:

Maternal:

SCHULER, Johann Georg, b 1792 Endingen, Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, migrated to U.S.1833, died 1860 in Ohio, his descendants live in Lockport, Illinois today

ZIMMERMAN, Agnes, b 1787 Endingen, Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, migrated to U.S. in 1833 

VonGUNTEN, Anna, b1819 Canton Bern, Switzerland, migrated to U.S. in 1834, married in 1838 Wood County, Ohio, died 1887 in Lockport, Illinois

KEMPH, Magdalena VonGUNTEN, b 1812 Schwanden, Bern, Switzerland, married 1832 in Switzerland, migrated to U.S. in 1834, died1887 Lockport, Illinois, descendants live in Kansas, Montana and other western states

BAUMGARTEN, Lena, b 1842 Oldenburg, Saxony, Germany, migrated to U. S. in 1866, married 1864, raised family and died1916 in Lockport, Illinois

ARMSTRONG, Nathan Nelson, b 1831in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, migrated to New York then to Illinois, descendants migrated to Iowa and west coast, Washington, Oregon, California

Paternal:

KAMPE, Frederick, b 1826 in, Hanover, Germany, migrated to U.S. 1853 first to Mason County then to Will County, Illinois, died in 1908 in Will County, Illinois

ELSNER, Hans Caspar Friedrich “John”, b 1814 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, migrated to Frankfort, Will County, Illinois in 1863, died 1876 in Frankfort, Illinois, after the Civil War, several descendent families migrated together to Iowa KOERNER, LANGE (Long or Lang), ELSNER, late 1800s TENHOFF migrated from Iowa to Minnesota

Many other family surnames will be added to this list as I dig deeper and climb higher on my trees.

Relationship to me: both lineal and collateral ancestors on my maternal and paternal side

Family and friends help me to correct my paper mistakes and to add stories to the family. All of my research papers, photos and other “stuff” will be located in Alabama at a community college associated with a historical society. This collection is open to everyone. Online I am at MyHeritage and Ancestry aka RootsDigger or Roots_Digger.

 

Genealogy: How to find birth data, case study Mildred Louise Schuler, born 1919

 

Genealogy: How to find a birth date and record

When starting genealogy, we ask the question, “How do I find a birth date or a birth record?” Genealogy is all about dates: birth, marriage, death, baptism, confirmation, burial or other events. Family history is about the filling in of the events such as who, what, and where. The dates are the skeleton; the stories are the flesh. Both the dates and stories are necessary to have a well-rounded family narrative. Always work from the known to the unknown; always work from the most recent to the distant.

Suggestions for finding birth dates and records include:

• Ask a family member
• Read newspapers for obituaries, marriages, and birth announcements
• Search census indexes such as familysearch.org orancestry.com or other census sites
• Search Cyndislist.com for specific vital records in specific locations such as “Will County, Illinois birth certificates”
• Search state archives for vital record indexes – remember most states started collecting vital records in about 1916
• Search county records – counties started collecting vital records at different dates
• Search church records – even if not a member, most families had their babies or children baptized
• Find a grave stone inscription

What type of records may be found?

• Colonial period – church, Bible, wills, diaries or other legal documents
• Post 1880 – county records may be available the starting dates vary
• 1916 to present – birth certificates are state records, remember the privacy requirements for the most recent documents

With all of your extensive research, the document may not exist. The dates may conflict between records. Prepare for many challenges; the results are worth the effort. The researchers’ goal is to find a reliable document closest to the time of the event.

Contact Selma Blackmon with your genealogy question.