Oct 5 More results from our genealogy research

Another piece of the family "puzzle"...

It has been just since our trip this year, travel and research along the way and information gained at the reunion in Stockertown, that we have been able to pull together the following overview:

The question had been asked...why would your ancestors have left Ohio and moved West ?

Between the September 19, 1879 birth of their son (Orin) and the 1880 Census, Allen Frederick Stocker moved his family from Ohio to Newton City, Kansas.

When we visited there this fall, by chance we visited a Mennonite Museum and happened upon this poster.

If you want a Farm or Home "The Best in the West" Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Lands in Southwest Kansas.

Temperate Climate, Excellent Health, Pure and Abundant Water, Good Soil for Wheat, Corn and Fruit

The Best Stock Country in the World

This poster represented an open offer during the late 1870's and likely shows the reasons why our portion of the family would have begun their westerly migration.

Census records reflect Allen was initially a farmer and later a "teamster" in Kansas.

Allen and Ella remained in Kansas until their deaths in 1922 and 1923.

Their children did not remain farmers but moved into other professions:

• Son Robert worked as a shipping clerk for a plumbing company, perhaps Crane. He lived his entire life and died in Wichita. We located graves of Bob and his wife "Lucy" at another of the Wichita cemeteries.
• Son George was a locomotive engineer. Still tracking where he ended up.
• Son Zellan was a "stenographer" and eventually moved to Colorado.
• Son Harry had mental problems and died at age 53 in a home for the "feeble minded".
• Daughter Edith, married and eventually moved to Oregon, died at age 44 and is buried in Wichita. We found her grave right next to those of her parents.
• Son Orrin (Gary's grandfather) went to work in Newton City as a lineman with the Newton utility company. 1905 Newton Kansas City Directory lists him as a resident. 1910 national census lists Orrin in San Francisco working as a lineman. We are assuming that he was there helping to restore utility lines after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Later he moved to Oregon, installing the power grid lines for the Bonneville Power Administration.

So for those of you not acquainted with genealogy research, it can be quite interesting and fun to put the names, dates and external events together into a logical sequence of events. It's the best you can do if the people are already deceased.

I know I have said this again, but do your grandkids a favor and put some of your life events and stories down on paper. There will come a day when they will appreciate and even treasure them.