Wordless Wednesday - Helen E. Ross in a dress

This is another photo of Helen Ross (1903-1990), possibly from the 1920s. I scanned it from Clara (Ross) Fowlie's photo album. last fall, but for whatever reason, I never posted it. Helen was Clara's youngest sister and she was my great grand aunt. Helen's niece married Elvis J. Brassfield, and that is the connection to the Brassfield surname.

Some readers might not realize this, but at the bottom of each post there are labels, by clicking the Helen Ross label you can see other posts on this blog about Helen Ross. Sometimes I put locations with posts as well so you can look at maps by clicking the location links, though this post does not have a location listed. If you received this via e-mail, you miss out on seeing the labels, so you have to click on the link at the bottom of the e-mail to see the full post on the blog.

Tombstone Tuesday - Ira Wood

This is the tombstone of my third great grandfather, Ira Wood at Woodville Cemetery, Town of Deerfield, Waushara County, Wisconsin.

Ira Wood was born August 25, 1834 to Betty and Issac Wood of Vermont. The 1900 US Census says Ira was born in New York, but the tombstone indicates Vermont. Ira was married to Louise Firman October 19, 1856. According to my notes they had 4 children, all born in Wisconsin, Anna Belle, Andrew, Geneva and Hannah. Anna Belle (Wood) Parker is my 2nd great grand mother.

I don't have a lot of details about Ira, but he was in the Civil War. According to Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, he was drafted November 25, 1863, and he served in the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry Regiment, Company F. He mustered out June 30, 1865. 15% of the 1st WI Cav Regiment did not return home from the war. There is a list of movements of the 1st WI Cav in A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer. It's public domain now, so I may analyze it and post an explanation later.

Ira Wood died September 29, 1909, most likely in Waushara County, Wisconsin.He was buried at Woodville Cemetery, Town of Deerfield, Waushara County, Wisconsin.

The connection to the Brassfield surname is that his 2nd great grand daughter married a Brassfield.

Sunday's Obituary - Helen E. Ross-Whitted

Helen Ross

Unfortunately I don't have any information on what newspaper published this obituary. I simply have a photocopy without publication date or newspaper, though it was probably published in late August 1990 by a newspaper in Sac or Calhoun County, Iowa.

Helen E. Whitted

Funeral services for Helen E. Whitted, 86, of Lake View were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, 1990, at Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Lake View. Pastor Jerold Irvin officiated. Mrs. Whitted passed away at Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City on Tuesday, Aug. 14.

Music was by organist Mrs. Nancy Fertig and congregational singing. Mrs. Ervin Thorpe and Mrs. Ethel Wagner were in charge of floral arrangements.

Pallbearers were John Galbreath, Roger Glasnapp, Dana Glassnap, Ray Von Ahn, Donald Tiziani, Michael Stotts and John Whitted. Interment was made in Lake Creek Cemetery at Rockwell City.

Helen Elizabeth Whitted was born Oct. 15, 1903, in Calhoun County, Ia. the daughter of John F. and Mary Statler [sic] Ross. She married Harold Whitted in Sundance, Wyo. on July 24, 1939.

Mrs. Whitted had spent the past five months at Twilight Acres in Wall Lake, after residing for 30 years in Lake View. Prior to that, she had lived on a farm near Lake City.

Mrs. Whitted was an attorney. She retired from practicing law in the mid-1940's.

She was member of the Drama Department of the Lake View Women's Club, the Garden Club, the Fine Arts Club and the National Society of Arts and Letters. She was a past president of the Methodist Women's Society and was active in planning programs for the church, women's groups and clubs. She was an avid reader.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Lake View.

Survivors include a sister, Clara Ross Fowlie, and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; four brothers: George, Mason, John and Oliver; and a sister Mary. A. Ross Gillespie.

Mary Stotler's last name is misspelled Statler above. The photo is from Clara Fowlie's photo album, but it is undated, possibly from the 1920s. Helen was my great grand aunt.

200th post

My first post here was on August 17, 2010 and this is the 200th post. I'm, still mostly posting pictures that I'm scanning from old photo albums. Hopefully they are interesting to the family. I still intend to do some actual blogging about genealogy stuff, but right now it seems like I only have time to post the photos I have scanned.

I'm trying out Flickr, but none of the photos are public right now. Maybe I'll give that a shot in the future.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowisbrassfield/

My goal for the near future will be to continue to post two or three times per week. I'm taking some online classes right now, so I would expect that to take up a significant part of my time in the next 8 weeks. I will continue to post photos I have scanned from albums, until those run out and then I'll have to find time to scan more. I also have a few dozen tombstone photos left to post as well. So that's what you can expect in the near future. E-mail or post a comment if there is something specific you want me to post about, otherwise I will continue like I have for the past 200  posts.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Brassfield Milk Bottle Cap

This artifact is a scan of a Brassfield Grade A Milk bottle cap from the 1930s. Floyd Gipson Brassfield had a trucking business in Lake City, Iowa and delivered ice and milk among other things. See also: Good Morning, Business Card and Delivery Truck.

Wordless Wednesday - Mason and Daisy Ross 1966

This one is captioned "Mason & Daisy May 1966". It is a photo of Mason Hiram Ross (1892-1980) and Daisy L. Barham-Ross (1890-1972) sitting on the couch at Frank and Clara (Ross) Fowlie's home in Lake View, Iowa. Mason was Clara's brother and he would be my great grand uncle.

Tombstone Tuesday - Woodville Cemetery

This is a photo of the entrance to Woodville Cemetery, Town of Deerfield, Waushara County, Wisconsin. My third Great Grandparents, Ira Wood (1834-1909) and Louise (Firman) Wood (1830-1881) are buried here.

The connection to the Brassfield surname is that their 2nd great grand daughter married a Brassfield.

Mystery Monday - Who is the man in the middle?

I found this 8x10 in one of my grandmother's albums. It is Ward Gillespie (1889-1978) at left and Mary Ada Ross-Gillespie (1894-1987) at right aboard the SS President Roosevelt. Unfortunately, I have no idea who the person in the middle is. I think he must be a politician or actor of the 1960s.

SS President Roosevelt served the American President Lines from 1960 to 1970. President Roosevelt apparently sailed the Pacific Ocean from California. That's about all I know about this photo.

Who am I?

Sunday's Obituary - Fannie Stotler

Sarah Francis (Fannie) Stevenson-Stotler, 1920

I found this obituary in an envelope in one of my Grandmother's boxes. It is the obituary for the 2nd(?) wife of my 3rd Great Grandfather, Hiram A. Stotler (1838-1920). I am a descendant of his first wife, Hannah Argo. Hannah died in March 1871 and Hiram married Sarah Francis Stevenson in December 1871. They later divorced. The article to follow is dated October 28, 1920 and probably from a newspaper in the Piatt County, Illinois area, though that part is missing from the article. The obituary omits details on their divorce, but Hiram had moved to Indianapolis by the 1900 census and he died in Rockwell City Iowa in June 1920. Fannie was listed widowed in 1900 and 1910 and divorced in 1920. They were probably divorced prior to 1900 and the census taker recorded widowed by mistake or misunderstanding. The 1900 census also lists 3 children, zero living.

FOUND DEAD IN CHICKEN PARK

Mrs. Fannie Stotler Found Dead Thursday Afternoon After Being Dead Several Hours

Word spread through the village on Thursday of last week that Mrs. Fannie Stotler, a familiar character about town was found dead in her chicken yard.

Mrs. Stotler lived alone for many years, and on the day of her death she was missed about the house by her neighbors, but they thought she was in town until in the afternoon when Mrs. Wells and Mrs. Skeels went to the house, but found her still absent and in a short time Mrs. Wells found her lifeless body in her chicken park where she had gone to feed her chickens. In a short time a large crowd had gathered and the lifeless body was removed to the undertaking parlors of Wm. House, where the body was prepared for burial.

Coroner W. J. Porter of Montecello came to Mansfield Saturday morning and empaneled the following jury, A. R. Ross, foreman, Chas. Slater clerk, Garret VanMeter, Robert Bateman, Sr., A. F. Smothers and Dr. Young, who returned a verdict of death from natural causes. (A.R. Ross may be a descendant of a sibling of my 3rd Great Grandfather Henry Ross)

OBITUARY

Sarah Francis Stevenson was born in Cable county W. Virginia, August 1, 1844 and died in Mansfield, October 28, 1920. She was left motherless when a few weeks old and was taken into the home of James Mathews, where she grew to womanhood. In 1852 she accompanied her foster mother to Fayette county, Ohio, and in 1885 [This must be a typo in the newspaper, probably 1855 or 1865] the moved to Illinois, December 28, 1871 she was married to Hiram Stotler. In 1880 they came to Mansfield where she has since resided.

She was converted in early life and united with the Methodist church and lived a constant christian life in her peculiar way, often saying it was the grace of her Lord that carried her thru.

Funeral services were held in the M E. church Sunday afternoon, conducted by the pastor Rev. J. E. Evans. In addition to the floral offerings of friends there was a large boquet [sic] of flowers plucked from the garden of the deceased. The body was laid to rest in the Mansfield cemetery.

Sports Center Saturday - Elvis J Brassfield and the Football Team

This is a photo of the 1937 or 1938 Lake City, Iowa High School Football team. Elvis J. Brassfield is standing next to the middle row on the right side. The coach is listed as Viggo Peterson.

 Elvis John Brassfield (1920-2006) was the son of Thelma Sarah (Hunt) and Floyd Gipson Brassfield. He was also my Grandfather.

Ross sibling Group Photos October 1974

This photo is of the Ross siblings from an October 1974 gathering at the Fowlie home on Black Hawk Lake, in Lake View.From left to right, Mason Hiram Ross (1892-1980), Mary Ada Ross-Gillespie (1894-1987), Helen Elizabeth Ross-Whitted (1903-1990), Ward Gillespie (1889-1978), Clara Bernice Fowlie (1897-1994), Edna L. Moeding (1912-2007), Frank Fowlie (1892-1977). I'm told that Edna was a friend of John Ross Jr., she is buried in an adjacent cemetery plot. Based on the black and white photo below, John is probably taking the color photo above.

Here is another view of the same group on the same day, probably taken by Edna. From left to right, Mary Ada Ross-Gillespie (1894-1987), Mason Hiram Ross (1892-1980), Helen Elizabeth Ross-Whitted (1903-1990), Ward Gillespie (1889-1978), Clara Bernice Fowlie (1897-1994), John Franklin Ross Jr. (1899-1976), Frank Brown Fowlie (1892-1977).

Here is a third image from the same day, from left to right, Mason Hiram Ross (1892-1980), Mary Ada Ross-Gillespie (1894-1987), Clara Bernice Fowlie (1897-1994), John Franklin Ross Jr. (1899-1976), Helen Elizabeth Ross-Whitted (1903-1990).

Clara Ross-Fowlie is my great grand mother and the others are her siblings. Clara's daughter married Elvis J. Brassfield and that is the connection to the Brassfield surname, the normal subject of this blog.

Irish Roots?

On the eve of St. Patrick's Day, I'm looking through my database for people born in Ireland. All that I can come up with are Patrick Haney and his wife, Margaret Foley. If I found the right people via the 1870 census, they are my 4th great grand parents. According to my notes, Patrick was born in Ireland, moved to Canada and then Wisconsin. I have very little detail on him. The census says he was born about 1813 and I am guessing that he died between 1870 and 1880. Margaret Foley-Haney was born about 1813 in Ireland and died after 1880. The last time she shows up is the 1880 census for the Town of Shields, Marquette, Wisconsin.

Their son James Haney married Minnie Polenske. Their daughter Maggie Haney married Gilbert Alexander. Their daughter Norma Elizabeth Alexander married Lloyd Ira Parker and their grand daughter married a Brassfield. So Happy St. Patrick's Day from an American, English, Prussian, German, Scottish, Irish descendant (and probably a few others I'm forgetting).

Wordless Wednesday - Mason Clara and John

This photo is captioned Mason, Clara, John 8/12/72. This photo is Clara (Ross) Fowlie (1897-1994) with two of her brothers, Mason Hiram Ross (1892-1980) and John Franklin Ross Jr.(1899-1976). Looking at the high res scan, I can tell you that the sign on the house says "Mason Ross". This is somewhere in Iowa, probably Calhoun County, does anyone remember where Mason lived in 1972? Update: I'm told that this house was on a farm northwest of Lake City possibly 3409 Harris Ave. in Jackson Township, Calhoun County, Iowa.

I have some tombstone photos from last weekend's trip to Lake Creek Cemetery and Rosehill Cemetery over on Flickr, but I'll be posting them in future "Tombstone Tuesday" posts.

Clara is my great grand mother and the others are great grand uncles. Clara's daughter married Elvis J. Brassfield and that is the connection to the Brassfield surname, the normal subject of this blog.

Tombstone Tuesday - Polsfuss plot at Westfield East Cemetery

This is a photo of the three tombstones in the Polsfuss plot at Westfield East Cemetery, Westfield, Marquette, Wisconsin. From left to right are Edward W. Polsfuss, Hulda A. Polsfuss and Gottlieb Polsfuss.

Sports Center Saturday - Elvis Brassfield and the Basketball Team

This is a photo of the Lake City, Calhoun, Iowa basketball team in 1937. Elvis John Brassfield is in the back row, left side. The coach is listed as Viggo Peterson.

 Elvis John Brassfield (1920-2006) was the son of Thelma Sarah (Hunt) and Floyd Gipson Brassfield. He was also my Grandfather.

New section of US 20 in Calhoun County

Looks like Google Maps has the new stretch of US20 on their maps. It came as a surprise to me to find the brand new road open yesterday. It looks like it terminates at Hwy 4, NW of Rockwell City, for now.


View Larger Map

Chrstmas 1971 with the Ross family

Harold, Frank, Daisy, Mason and Clara

This one is captioned Harold (Whitted), Frank (Fowlie), Daisy (Barham-Ross), Mason (Ross) and Clara (Ross-Fowlie) at Buster's Christmas Day 1971. According to my notes, Daisy (Barham) Ross, wife of Mason Ross. died in August 1972. Harold Whitted is the husband of Helen (Ross). Oliver Ross is the given name of "Buster".

The connection to the Brassfield surname is Frank and Clara Fowlie's daughter married a Brassfield. They are my great grand Parents and the others are great grand uncles and aunts.

Wordless Wednesday - Reunion photo of Harold, Ward, Mary and Mason

Harold, Ward, Mary and Mason

This photo is from a mid-1970s Ross family reunion. Harold Whitted (husband of Helen (Ross) Whitted), Ward Gillespie, Mary (Ross) Gillespie and Mason Ross.Ward died in May 1978 and John Ross Jr., who died in March 1976, is absent from the photos. So I would date this photo as summer 1976 or 1977, but I would favor 1976 if forced to pick one. I believe this reunion took place in Lake View, Iowa. Mary, Helen and Mason are siblings of Clara (Ross) Fowlie.

The connection to the Brassfield surname is Clara's daughter married a Brassfield. These would be my great grand aunts and uncles.

Tombstone Tuesday - Edward Polsfuss

This is the tombstone of Edward W. Polsfuss located at Westfield East Cemetery, Westfield, Marquette, Wisconsin. He was the brother of Alma Marie (Polsfuss) Schauer and he was my Great Grand Uncle.

According to my notes, Edward W. Polsfuss was born December 1892 in Wisconsin to Gottlieb and Hulda A. (Schulke) Polsfuss. He died in 1927 and was buried at Westfield East Cemetery. His mother and father were buried in adjacent plots several years later.

Mystery Monday - What happened to the Wood Family of Washara County Wisconsin?

I spent the last day or so reading about the Wood family, starting with Ira Wood my 3rd great grandfather and his descendants. When I started, all I knew was that his daughter Anna Belle married Valois Parker, the rest of the details about her siblings was a mystery. Now I have some more answers and a few more questions.

Ira Wood was born in New York, probably in Gainesville, Wyoming County, New York, in August 1834, to Isaac and Betsy Wood of Vermont. Census records indicate he had at least three siblings, Randell, Ann and Dyer Wood. His family moves to the town of Deerfield, Washara County, Wisconsin after 1850 and Ira is married to Louis Firman October 19, 1856. Louis/Louise/Lois Firman was born in New York state to Benjamin Wise Firman (Furman?) and Abigal Rawley (Rowley/Raleigh?).

Thelma and Floyd Brassfield 1940s

This photo is captioned Thelma and Floyd Brassfield @ Hanson place Lake City, Iowa 194-. Thelma and Floyd Brassfield are my great grandparents.

Irene Brassfield Graduation Photo

This photo is captioned Irene S. Brassfield, Grad. Irene Shirley Brassfield was born June 11, 1924 In Cherokee, Iowa, so this photo is from around 1942.

She was the third child of Floyd Gipson Brassfield (1898-1961) and Thelma Sarah (Hunt) (1898-1976) and was my grand aunt.

Irene Brassfield Nursing Cadet 1944

This photo has the following caption on the back: Irene Shirley Brassfield, Cadet Nursing, Sioux City, IA, 1944.

I posted this information in an earlier Wordless Wednesday post: Irene Shirley Brassfield (Terzo-Ireland) (1924-2010) graduated from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa (now St. Luke's College). According to her obituary, she went on to receive a BS from Western Connecticut State College and a Masters of Education degree from Columbia University, specializing in mental health and psychiatric nursing.

She was the third child of Floyd Gipson Brassfield (1898-1961) and Thelma Sarah (Hunt) (1898-1976) and was my grand aunt.

Happy New Year 1972 from the Ross family

5 of the Ross siblings, Jan 1, 1972

I wish I had scanned this photo closer to the new year, I would have used it on January 1, 2011. Maybe I'll reuse it on Jan 1, 2012 and point out the 40 years ago angle.

This photo is captioned: John, Mason, Clara, Helen and Oliver at Mason's Jan 1, 1972. It depicts 5 of the 7 Ross siblings alive in 1972. George and Mary were absent from this photo.

According to my notes, John Franklin Ross Jr lived from May 1899 to March 1976. Mason Hiram Ross lived from April 1892 to July 1980. Clara Bernice (Ross) Fowlie, from Jun 1897 to October 1994, Helen Elizabeth (Ross) Whitted, from October 1903 to August 1990. Oliver Henry Ross, aka Buster, from January 1906 to June 1988.

Clara is my great grand mother and the others are great grand uncles and aunt. Clara's daughter married Elvis J. Brassfield and that is the connection to the Brassfield surname, the normal subject of this blog.

Wordless Wednesday - July 1930 Floyd Brassfield and children

This photo is captioned July 1930, Floyd Gipson Brassfield, age 32, Elvis John Brassfield, age 9, Betty Brassfield, age 7 and Irene Brassfield, age 6. It looks to me that Irene is the one at center and Betty is at right. This photo was probably taken near their home in Lake City, Calhoun County, Iowa.

Floyd Gipson Brassfield was my great grandfather and Elvis J. Brassfield was my grandfather.

Tombstone Tuesday - Hulda Polsfuss

This is the tombstone of Hulda A. Polsfuss located at Westfield East Cemetery, Westfield, Marquette, Wisconsin. She was the mother of Alma Marie (Polsfuss) Schauer and she is my 2nd Great Grandmother.

According to my notes, Hulda A. Schulke (or Schuelke) was born 1866 in Posen, Prussia to Wilhelm and Caroline Schulke. She was naturalized in 1876. She married Gottlieb Polsfuss July 7, 1885 and they had at least 8 children. She died in 1946 and was buried at Westfield East Cemetery near her son Edward, who died in 1927 and her husband Gottlieb.