Stories of My Ancestors

One of the things I love about genealogy is being able to make a big discovery by piecing together tiny discoveries. As I mentioned in a previous post, William and Olive Rathkamp are the only great grandparents of mine for which I have no pictures.  Not a single picture that I know of has made… Read more: Adding a Face to the Name (Well, Hello There Willie!)

In October, 2009 I wrote THIS POST about my Great Grandmother, Olive (Hassel) Rathkamp, my dad’s grandmother. Olive died in 1926, 16 years before my dad was born.  Until last week she and her Swedish ancestors continued to be a complete mystery.  I’ve accumulated some anecdotal evidence, but nothing concrete.  Here’s what I suspected: That’s… Read more: The Swedes Come Out of the Weeds

For as long as I can remember, family get-togethers on the Rathkamp side of my family have been gut-busting experiences.  Every time we get together, somebody reminds me of the time one of the dogs crapped on my brand new white tennis shoes.  My dad, Bill, and my Uncle Dave are both really funny guys… Read more: Rathkamp Brothers Take on Samson, the Famous Lowland Gorilla

I found this gem last night searching through the Google News Archives.  The “young lad” is my grandfather, my dad’s dad.  The article is from June 15, 1915.  While it states my grandfather’s age is 10, he was actually soon to turn 6.   “While watching the circus parade at Thirty-second and Clybourn streets, Monday… Read more: Circuses and Beer Wagons

You have not been telling the truth and I’m calling you out.  You’ve also been holding out on me, and I want information.  Now. My last post about Esther Rathkamp got me thinking about all the discrepancies and mysteries surrounding her parents William & Olive Rathkamp, my great grandparents.  Genealogists are used to dealing with… Read more: Willy & Olive, What’s Your Story?

Last week, my cousin Paul asked via FaceBook if I’ve dug up any “Dead Rathkamps” lately.  The answer was a simple “no”.  I’ve been so busy with other stuff that I haven’t really been working on any genealogy projects lately.  One of my favorite nightly rituals is to log on to Google Reader and peruse… Read more: Esther Just Before Easter

March 13 marked the 24th year since the passing of my maternal grandfather, George Joseph Niesl.  We’re all very fortunate to have family members who had the foresight to document the lives of our ancestors.  My cousin Kari knew I had this recording in my possession and asked to make a copy.  I thought it… Read more: Dodge and Emma

It’s not an over-exaggeration to say that if ever there was an angel on this earth, it was my Grandma Emma. Emma Nathalia (Walz) Niesl was born to Fredrich and Sophia (Bischke) Walz on May 2, 1913. Both Fred and Sophie, along with their respective families, came to America, settling on the harsh plains of… Read more: Oma Emma

Since moving to Ripon a few months ago, I’ve been looking for opportunities to volunteer my time.  Sometimes opportunity can show up in the most unlikely of places.  During the annual Dickens of a Christmas early in December, my family and I visited the Ripon Historical Society where I met its president, Bill Woolley.  I… Read more: Giving Back

Saturday was our last full day in Germany and was supposed to have been pretty laid back and uneventful.  It turned out to be far from true. During our trip, we had been communicating via Facebook with Anja Rathkamp from Delmenhorst.  Anja found me on Facebook about a year ago, and while we have yet… Read more: New Friends, New Family

I’ve been ridiculously delinquent in writing about our last two days in Germany, but sometimes life throws a couple curve balls and you just have to react.  Actually, I can handle the curve balls, it’s those inside pitches that tend to sting a little. I can’t speak for Korey, but I think Friday was the… Read more: Chasing Chickens in Oeftinghausen

My cousin Matt died this morning. His life was full of struggle and pain, but he fought to make the best of it.  Matt was born about six months before me.  I feel fortunate to have been Matt’s friend during our childhood.  We were very close, having lived in the same house for a while… Read more: Mugs

I met Friedhelm Wessels via email about three years ago while I was trying to locate my Rathkamp ancestors.  I’m glad I did.  At that time, I knew my ancestors came to Milwaukee in 1868 and I had a very rough idea of the location they may have been from in Germany, but that was… Read more: A Day With Herr Britannica

Wednesday afternoon we ventured over to the Museumdorf Cloppenburg to continue our history lesson.  The museum simulates a 16th to 19th century Niedersachsen village.  The buildings on display have been dismantled from various locations around Niedersachsen and have been meticulously restored and rebuilt on-site.  I think both Korey and I got more out of this… Read more: Niedersachsen Social Studies

We started Wednesday by visiting the Kleinenkneter Steine and the Pestruper Burial Grounds at Wildeshausen.  The burial grounds are situated on a heath moor and are visible as far as the eye can see.  The Kleinenkneter Steine is basically one of Germany’s versions of Stonehenge, on a smaller scale.  As I understand, these burials took place… Read more: Chased by Druids

Notice how the fruit remains in its pristine, untouched state.  That’s my boy!

On our third day in Germany, we visited the Deutsches Auswander Haus (German Emigration Museum) in Bremerhaven, then traveled to Bremen to see the old part of the city.  I wish we would have had more time in Bremen because it’s a very cool city with a very unique history.  My camera’s battery was dead,… Read more: Germany, Day Three

What a great trip.  A perfect week with the only exception being the debacle in the Hotlanta airport.  Das Flughof ist ein Klosterfock! We met some incredible people, ate some awesome food, drank some delicious beer, and saw some really remarkable things.  It’ll take me a while to organize my thoughts and pictures, but I’ll… Read more: Auf Wiedersehen Deutschland!

This happened today, 3 blocks from our hotel and across the street from the “Kebap Salon” we ate at. [singlepic id=63 w=320 h=240 float=center]

Today has been a fun day.  We slept in pretty late and then took the tour bus through Hamburg.  Getting on a bus is a story in itself, but I’ll spare the details.  Let it be said that our mono-linguistic paralysis puts us at a slight disadvantage. Here are the pictures: [sthumbs=66|64|61|59|58|47|46|44|43|42|41|40|39|38|37|36|34|30|29|23|8|6|4|1,160,max,n,center,]

We paid good money to see Germans, where the hell are they? I think Korey and I have been up for three days straight, at least it feels like it.  We had most of our trip planned pretty well, but we didn’t put any thought into how we were going to get from the airport… Read more: Where The Hell Are All The Germans???

[singlepic id=51 w=320 h=240 float=left]Over the last 2 years or so I have devoted this website to relaying stories of my ancestors and preserving these stories for my kids.  But the fondest memories I have are those my kids themselves have provided over the years.  26 years ago tomorrow, my journey as a father began… Read more: Liza

Last night, my wife made her soon-to-be-famous Breakfast Cookies- a hearty cookie which includes whole wheat flour, rolled oats, milled flax seed, pecans, applesauce, and about 47 other ingredients which elude me.  She’s scoured the internet and has combined some ingredients from this recipe with some ingredients from that recipe.  This is the third or… Read more: What Do You Think the Poor People are Doing Tonight?

[singlepic id=46 w=320 h=240 float=left]I’ve been spending time working on my set of 3rd great grandparents, stemming from my paternal grandmother, Alice (Waege) Rathkamp.  Lately I’ve been on a bit of a roll, discovering some of their home towns in what was then Pomerania and now is part of Poland.  Originally, this post was going… Read more: Kissin’ Kuzzins?

Over the last week or so, I’ve noticed somebody from Germany using the following search string to find my site: familie rathkamp, Öftinghausen. If you are a relative, please contact me at toddrathkamp@gmail.com We’d love to visit with you during our trip on August!

[singlepic id=45 w=320 h=240 float=left]Last night was a good night for genealogy in the Rathkamp house.  My third great grandparents, August and Henriette (Viergutz) Wesenberg were the first of my ancestors to emigrate to America.  They arrived in New York on August 10, 1846.  I’ve never put a lot of time into this branch of… Read more: Working Sideways

[singlepic id=35 w=320 h=240 float=left]My maternal grandfather, George Joseph Niesl was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  It’s hard to write about my grandpa, not only because I miss him, but also because he was a walking paradox; the original Renaissance man.  There is no single human being who has touched me in more ways than he… Read more: Dodge

[singlepic id=34 w=320 h=240 float=left]Most of our ancestors were common people just like most of us are common people.  The stories that get handed down from generation to generation are important within the scope of our family histories, but are usually only anecdotal in the scope of world or American history.  Stories about our grandparents… Read more: Witch Way to Andover?

Val’s always poking fun of some of the names of my German ancestors. She’s pretty sure there’s a Friedrich Heinrich Johann Jakob Jingleheimerschmidt in my tree somewhere. I thought I’d share some of the gems I’ve uncovered from her side: [singlepic id=31 w=320 h=240 float=right]Minerva Belle Tobey Charity Mack Mindwell Mack (there were actually a… Read more: What’s in a name?

[singlepic id=30 w=320 h=240 float=right] Sometimes when the branches you’re working stop bearing nuts, it’s time to chase the squirrel up another branch.  My wife is rightfully very proud of her Puerto Rican roots and I’m sure there will be some very colorful stories of her ancestors that will come out of her next trip… Read more: Normandy to Exeter to Jamestown to Fond du Lac

[singlepic id=29 w=480 h=360 float=center]From the Milwaukee Sentinel, March 25, 1878: “Joe Niesl and John Becker got into a street fight and one had drawn a jack knife to make mince meat of the other when Officer Huller and his assistant pounced on them.  They were no sooner collared, however, when friends of the belligerants… Read more: Hey Joe, Where You Goin’ With That Knife In Your Hand?

[singlepic id=28 w=720 h=540 float=right]Here’s a bit of  family memorabilia that’s sure to raise some eyebrows.  This hair wreath was given to me by my dad and my step-mother Doris a few months ago.  They got it either from my grandmother Alice “Pat” (Waege) Rathkamp, or from my great-aunt Grace (Waege) Larson.  My dad and… Read more: Paulina on My Wall

[singlepic id=23 w=320 h=240 float=left]This past Sunday being Valentines Day, my wife and I ventured to Milwaukee where we were fortunate to see a great concert:  Dawes opening up for Cory Chisel.  Both of us came away feeling the state of American song writing is in good hands with either of these acts.  But the other… Read more: Of Sound Mind in a Sound Body

[singlepic id=20 w=800 h=450 float=center] From left to right, starting from the front row (my grandparents):  Bill Rathkamp, Alice “Pat” (Waege) Rathkamp, George Niesl, Emma (Walz) Niesl 2nd row (my great grandparents):  Wm. Waege, Ida (Brockhaus) Waege, George Niesl, Katherine (Dachs) Niesl, Fred Walz, Sophia (Bischke) Walz 3rd row (my great great grandparents):  Wm. Waege,… Read more: The Photo Tree and the Missing Branch

[singlepic id=19 w=320 h=240 float=left]Here’s another picture from the archives.  I’m guessing this picture was taken sometime in the ’50s.  From left, my grandmother, Alice “Pat” (Waege) Rathkamp, unknown friend, and my grandfather, Bill Rathkamp.  The tavern most likely was somewhere on the north or west side of Milwaukee. Seeing a picture of my grandfather… Read more: Bill & Pat’s Excellent Adventure

My blogging software has a feature that shows me search strings people use to find my website.  Some of the search terms are pretty entertaining.  Like last week when somebody somehow found me by searching “pic of an old German family having a fight”.   Other times, I can see Google doing its job by… Read more: Mr. Rath, Meet Ms. Kamp…the origins of the Rathkamp Surname

[singlepic id=17 w=320 h=240 float=left]It’s hard to imagine the conditions our ancestors faced in Europe and even harder to imagine what finally happened in their lives to ultimately get them to commit to leaving their homes and families.  I’m sure there had to be the promise of opportunity, but this was a much heavier decision… Read more: Did They Come Alone?

When people visit downtown Milwaukee, a lot of them comment on how many old buildings they see.  Actually, what they see is a fraction of what once was.  Milwaukee has managed to replace its history with parking structures, sports venues, and bland concrete buildings.  I still love my home town, but the remaining buildings only… Read more: Fun With Google Maps, Part 1

[singlepic id=16 w=320 h=240 float=right]Hearing about the current shortage of the H1N1 flu vaccine, I’m reminded of the fact that this is not by any stretch the first nor the most severe flu epidemic in our country’s history.  My great grandfather, Fredrich Walz was one of the many victims of the Spanish Influenza in 1918.… Read more: He Left the Horse Out in the Yard

I have a lot of family history pictures that originally belonged to my great aunt Grace (Waege) Larson.  Just the other day I realized that out of all these pictures, the pictures I have of my Great Grandmother Ida (Brockhaus) Waege are the only pictures I own that do a really nice job of spanning… Read more: The Ida Brockhaus Time Machine

[singlepic id=7 w=320 h=240 float=left]These are two of my favorites from my collection of family pictures.  The first picture was taken on the porch of the Brockhaus family farm nearl Campbellsport, Wisconsin in about 1913. Seated from left to right in the back row are my Great Great Grandparents William and Pauline Brockhaus, their son-in-law… Read more: Brockhaus Family Pictures

If I am the trunk of my genealogical tree, Olive Hassell is the closest branch with the most mystery surrounding it.  Olive is my paternal great grandmother, married to William J. Rathkamp.  I know almost nothing specific about her other than her date of death.  I know she was born in Sweden (my only non-German… Read more: The Swede in the Weeds…Such a Hassell

It’s amazing what you find when [singlepic id=1 w=320 h=240 float=right] really look closely at a census sheet. The genealogy software I use is Family Tree Maker which is owned and developed by Ancestry.com.   One of the nice things about this software is the “shaking leaf” it shows on a family member when it… Read more: Neighbors

Last week I received an email from Annemarie Schrimpf.  It turns out Annemarie and I are third cousins 1x removed.  Her GG Grandfather, Johann Dachs, is my GGG Grandfather.  Annemarie still lives in the area of Bavaria that was the ancestral home of my 2nd Great Grandfather, Alois Dachs.  Alois came to Milwaukee in about… Read more: Pirates, Badgers, and The Dachs Family Singers

My maternal grandmother, Emma (Walz) Niesl was born in Freeman, SD in 1913 to Fred Walz and Sophie Bischke.  The Walzes and Bischkes were German, but we had always been told as kids that they had lived in Russia or Ukraine.  This seemed to make our family history just a little exotic, almost as if… Read more: The First Walz

A few weeks ago I visited the Milwaukee Public Library and found they had a variety of “fire insurance” maps going back to the 1880’s.  These maps were produced by the Sanborn Company in order to provide insurance underwriters detailed information relative to the construction and fire risks of buildings in designated areas.[singlepic id=2 w=320… Read more: Fritz & Dora Have Courtside Seats

Time to shift gears a little.  I’ve spent most of the last 6 months researching and compiling Rathkamp family information, just because there’s been a flood of it, thanks to Friedhelm Wessels.  The truth of the matter is that researching other parts of my family has been a little easier. I think most families have… Read more: From Rathkamps to Waeges

My friend Herr Wessels from Bassum, Germany has been a great source of information over the last couple months.  He’s also taken the time to teach me a lot about the region, naming practices, and has given me a glimpse into the society my ancestors lived.[singlepic id=4 w=320 h=240 float=left] Originally, his thought was that… Read more: When the Levee Breaks

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve been spending some time at the Golda Meir Library on the campus of The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.  For whatever reason, the library was chosen to archive all or most of Milwaukee’s vital records.  Some of these records can be found on Ancestry.com, but are very incomplete.   From what… Read more: Tapping into a New Source

For Christmas two years ago, my wife bought me a test kit from the Genographic Project, sponsored by National Geographic.  The purpose of the project is to track the migratory history of humans through the study of genetic data.  After I received the kit, I quickly (and nervously) followed the instructions, scraping the insides of… Read more: Having a Hard Time Getting into These Genes

I just received an email from my friend Ernst-Dieter from Bassum.  He just checked the Sudwalde church records and was unable to find Friedrich Rathkamp, b 1834.  He searched a year before and a year after this date and still came up dry. Herr Wessels recently sent me some lists of Rathkamps from Diepholz which… Read more: Neubruchhausen…not

This is WAY cool!  Today I was sending emails back and forth to my friend Ernst-Dieter in Bassum.  Ernst-Dieter sent this picture of the house built by Johann Heinrich Rathkamp in Neubruchhausen in 1822. I’m still not sure what my connection is to Johann Heinrich.  It’s possible he’s my GGG Grandfather, but I have to… Read more: Rathkamp Wappen

I would think that every genealogist, especially the hobbyist with emotional ties to the subject, has a “Holy Grail”- that one person or family who eludes and consumes them.  It’s only fitting then that my first post touches this subject. A little history first… I first became interested in genealogy at about 12 or 13… Read more: The “Holy Grail”…at least for now