Boothill Cemetery

The Clanton's and McLaury's are not related to me, but I visited Boothill Cemetery in Tombstone Arizona on a family trip once. The gunfight at the OK Corral happened on 26 October 1881, which was 131 years ago today.

The Haunted Mansion Picture

In our family we have a number of portraits of relatives that have been handed down. A few of them are rather large and have thick golden frames. We joke around that they look like portraits that might be seen in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. One of them in particular looks scarier than the others. It is oval in shape, and is of an old woman in black with a stern look on her face.

The portrait is of my 3 great grandmother, Teitje Dirks Reitsma. She was born 176 years ago today, on 13 October 1836. I looked it up and it was not on a Friday, but rather Thursday the 13th when she was born. She was, however, married on October 31st, 1863. Her husband was Hendrik Tjeerd Visbeek.

Today this portrait can be seen in one of the guest bedrooms of my parents' house, hanging on the wall opposite the bed, so she can watch you while you sleep.

Wordless Wednesday - The Grand Canyon

Catherine Dopp

Catherine Dopp (Hawver) was my wife's 5th great grandmother. She passed away on this day 146 years ago, 6 October 1866, and is buried in Big Foot Cemetery in Harvard, McHenry County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Johannes Dopp and Ann West (Weist). She married Johannes Hawver in 1811 in New York. Here is a link to her grave on findagrave.com

Lewis Orrell Killed In Car Accident

Lewis Orrell died on this day 48 years ago. He was killed as he was walking down the road when a car hit him.