Peter J., Part 2

~ marestales

It was 1993, maybe ’94, when I found the first records of my Brinkman ancestors. My daughter attended BYU tennis camp that summer, so I spent four days at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. It was my first trip there, and I wasn’t disappointed.

I spent hours, days even, poring over microfilm, combing through census and vital records, searching bookshelves. The dead ends were definitely frustrating, but every new bit of information I found quickly refueled my enthusiasm to keep on searching. The genealogy bug had bit me big time.

I returned from that trip loaded with documents and new information, eager to share it all with my father. Among the items were his grandfather Kobus Brinkman’s naturalization document, pages from a volume of Germans to America showing Kobus Brinkman as a passenger from Bremen with his siblings and his father arriving in New York in 1873, and an entry for Kobus Brinkman in a Sibley, Iowa death register. I was so excited to have found such treasures, but wasn’t sure whether Dad would share my enthusiasm. As it turned out, he was moderately interested, more than I expected. As I recall, these records caused him to open up a little bit. If only I had written down what he told me that day, but alas…

52 Stories

~ marestales

In 2013, Steve Anderson posted an article on the Family Search Blog entitled, “52 Questions in 52 Weeks: Writing Your Life Story Has Never Been Easier.” (https://familysearch.org/blog/en/52-questions-52-weeks) There is a link at the bottom of the article to twelve printable pages, one for each month, each with a different theme, that expands on the 52 questions idea. Each printable has 12 questions relating to the theme of that page, giving a total of 144 questions. What a great way to help our elderly family members and friends write, record, or share their life story!

I have recently spoken with an aunt (about 88 years old) and a neighbor lady (about 90 years old) about writing their life stories. I wasn’t surprised when they told me they hadn’t started this yet. Pretty common story, unfortunately. But they are such unique and amazing women in their own right, it would be a shame for their stories to be lost forever. Their descendants deserve to know about their ancestor. I have given the list of 52 questions to my neighbor and have told her daughters about them. Needless to say, her daughters sounded very excited about the idea and were eager to help her get it done. Now to get them to my aunt!

One of my goals as I move forward is to incorporate into this blog some, if not all, of the “52 Stories” questions with regards to my life and/or the life of my ancestors, as far as I can discover them. I encourage you to do the same. What a great way to “Show Your Tale!”

A Legacy of Reading

~ marestales

Reading has always been a part of my life. I remember the first books my mother shared with me. They contained pictures of birds, songs for children, stories of all kinds, crafts, and more. There was also the Bible Stories  book, my first introduction to scripture stories. My mother had a collection of novels, but I don’t remember watching her or my father read much, except the newspaper.

I was an avid reader growing up. I loved to read biographies of historical figures, like presidents, inventors, statesmen, great men and women of all kinds. My favorite childhood novels were Island of the Blue Dolphins and A Wrinkle in Time.

This past week my five-year-old granddaughter brought home her first book from kindergarten, excited to share her new skills with the family. My daughter was thrilled to share the news, and my heart was overjoyed to hear it. I had shared my love for reading with my daughter, and now that legacy was continuing with her daughter.

Sharing hobbies and talents is just another way to “show your tale.”

Peter J.

~ marestales

Family secrets, mysteries, untold stories. These can be like catnip to a curious mind. They drive us crazy until we can puzzle them out to our satisfaction. They can also be great motivators for digging into family history.

My father was given the name Peter Jakobus at birth–Peter, after his father, and Jakobus, after his grandfather. However, he always went by Pete, or Peter, or Peter J. I learned my father’s middle name when I was a child. I believe my mother told me. The first time he heard “Peter Jakobus” come off my lips, however, I was told, in no uncertain terms, calling him by his middle name was strictly forbidden. He told me it was his dad’s father’s name and never wanted to hear it mentioned in his house. What Dad said was law, but I always wondered why he held such a grudge against his grandfather.

In fact, he held a grudge against his father’s whole family. He never spoke of them. We grew up, my sisters and I, never knowing the Brinkmans of Sibley, Iowa. He often said that he felt abandoned by them, but I never understood why. The question lingers with me even today.

I am discovering more and more of the truth behind this tale, however, through my own research efforts. Will I ever know the whole story? Probably not, since they are all gone. One thing is for sure, though. Just like the many thought-provoking puzzles Dad would challenge me with as a little girl, I am determined to puzzle this one out, too.