Grandfathers Who Served

Today is Memorial Day and I thought it timely to recognize my grandfathers who have served our country.  I'm sure this list is not complete as there is ALWAYS ongoing research. Their sacrifice leaves me with lasting gratitude.

Civil War (1861-1865)

John Thielen, circa 1869.

Civil War (1861-1865) 

John Thielen (1843-1929)

 Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 34th Regiment, Company D.  Enlisted November, 1862 at age 19 and discharged April 16, 1863 due to disability (no details).  John  immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1854 and had only been in this country for 8½ years before his enlistment.

Christian G. Hiller (1844-1918) 

Michigan 9th Infantry Regiment, Company H.  Enlisted February 10, 1864 and discharged September 28, 1865 in Jackson, Michigan.  Christian was a Germany immigrant as well, arriving in the United States at the age of 13 in 1857.  Seven years later, age 20, he would be a Union soldier.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

Timothy Barton (1732-1791) 

 Massachusetts Militia.  Private in Captain David Chadwick's Company marching to Bennington on alarm.  Service 5 days, discharged September 23, 1777.

Oliver Burton (1740-1813) 

Connecticut 16th Regiment.  Enlisted and served 3 months.

Samuel Kenyon (1720-1801) Noyes' Regiment, 

Rhode Island Militia, service date 26 August 1778.

John Clarke (1740-1836) 

Lieutenant and captain with Rhode Island troops.  Enlisted in Richmond, RI and served as a Lieutenant, May 1776-May1778 and Captain under Colonels Dyer and Maxon, May 1778-May1883.

Solomon Fuller (1757-1847) 

Private and sergeant with Vermont Militia.  Served as a private in Captain William Dyre's Company, October-November 1780 and sergeant in Captain Bigelow Lawrence's Company, Colonel Walbridge's Regiment.  Four days service, July 1781 and ten days service with the same company October 1781.

Elijah Fuller, father of Solomon (1724-1799)  

Vermont Militia. Private in Green Mountain Boys, Captain Brownson's Company, Colonel Warner's Regiment.

Edward Preston (1733-1823) 

Massachusetts Militia.

William Brown, Jr. (1740-?)

Massachusetts Militia, 17 April 1776.  Private in James Patch's Company of Minute Men who marched on alarm from Ipswich to Mystic.  Four days service.

Soda Crackers and Coffee, breakfast of champions?

Surprises! That's what I love about genealogy and family history.   Whether it's meeting distant cousins in Slovenia and Michigan, locating a headstone or cemetery, adding another name on the family tree or hearing about favorite family recipes these are what I consider to be the true pieces to the genealogical puzzle.   Discovering stories that bring "life" to my ancestors and then sharing these with my family will always be my purpose for continuing to search.  This month, a mighty "thank you" to my Mom and her twin sister for sharing this memory!

My attempt at "soda crackers and coffee".

Although I wouldn't consider this a "recipe" as such,  my Mom and Aunt recalled that their Grandfather, Anton Penne, frequently consumed "soda crackers and coffee" for breakfast, mixed together with a lot of sugar!  Yep, he had a "giant coffee cup" where all ingredients were mingled together and then eaten with a spoon, slurping followed.  Of course, I had to try it, with cream as well, and quickly gave it a thumbs up.  As strange as this breakfast may sound, after online researching, it really isn't at all. Soakey, Coffee Sop, Coffee Soup was a staple during the Depression Era and Latinos have a long tradition of adding "galletas de soda" to their coffee or hot chocolate as well.   During the American Civil War soldiers would soften their daily ration of hardtack (basically a cracker made from flour, water and salt) in their morning coffee. In fact, I have found a television commercial and a blog touting the delightful deliciousness of soakey!

Did Great Grandpa Penne's breakfast tradition originate in Slovenia or after he immigrated? Maybe during the Depression? I don't think anyone ever bothered to ask but this breakfast choice surely  made a lasting impression on his grand daughters.  I too remember sitting at the breakfast table with my grandparents, watching them add evaporated milk to their coffee while eating toast with strawberry jam scooped and spread on with a spoon.  Childhood memories are like snapshots, small bits and pieces that don't seem to have a beginning or end and maybe the most focused snapshots occur first thing in the morning after a long night's rest and that's why they are so easily recalled even years later.

Additional reading here and here if you're still curious!

Lost Memories: A Lifetime in Twenty-Nine Years.

How do I find the words to write about a life lost too soon?  While attempting to create a timeline of my great grandmother, Martha Kenyon, I realized that when you only live 29 years the task at hand becomes limited.  However, since genealogy is ongoing and never-ending I've decided to share the information I've collected thus far and reserve the right to make additions.

My great grandmother Martha Kenyon Hiller died during childbirth in 1912.  In the 1900's, for every 1,000 women 6-9 died of pregnancy related complications and approximately 100 infants died before the age of 1.  Currently, 15 women per 100,000 die in pregnancy or childbirth (1).   Although a great improvement, currently for women aged 20-34 "pregnancy complications" is still the 6th leading cause of death in the United States (2).  After studying Martha's death certificate it's clear that today she would have received a Cesarean section for her transverse pregnancy, antibiotics for her sepsis and she and her baby would have survived.

My great grandmother's tragic death is every pregnant woman's worst fear.  I'm saddened by the fact that she not only left behind a 3 year old son (my grandfather Don Hiller) and husband but grandchildren and great-grandchildren yet to be born, like me.  Martha would have been 79 the year I was born.

Martha's story can be found on the here.


1.  http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pmss.html
2. http://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/2013/womenall_2013.pdf

Martha Kenyon Hiller

Martha Kenyon

Martha with her siblings.  She is at the far left, then clockwise Raymond, Delbert, Nathan, Frank, Susie holding baby Dorothy, Allena, Charlie and Florence. Randall died in 1898 at age 1.  Circa 1900

Martha was born in Holland, Michigan on 16, 1882 to Henry and Mary (Fuller) Kenyon.  She was their third child and second daughter (Mary had a child prior to their marriage named, Delbert). Over the years there would be seven more children joining the family for a total of eleven! Sometime between 1898 and 1900 the family relocated to Sebewa Township in Ionia County, Michigan.   

The years between 1900 and 1908 are lost until June 19, 1908 when Martha is married to Ernest J. Hiller in Sebewa Township (just east of Odessa Township)  however it has been suggested that she was possibly a teacher.  Martha's sister Florence and Ernest's brother Archie were witnesses.  Ernest had previously relocated from Lake Odessa in Ionia County, Michigan to Charlevoix and was working as a book keeper at the lumber mill.

Martha and Ernest Hiller's marriage record entry on the bottom line.  

Postcard received by Martha & EJ after the birth of Don.

After the wedding the couple made their home at 304 Antrim Street in Charlevoix and in April, 1909 Martha gave birth to their first son (my grandfather) Don C. Hiller.   During this time, Charlevoix was also undergoing plenty of change moving from a lumbering community to a summer tourist destination.  People began arriving by rail in 1892 which sparked the development of luxury hotels (The Inn and The Beach) train depots and summer associations (Belvedere Club, Sequanota Club and Chicago Club).

Photos obtained from a souvenir book published by W.C Bellinger Curio Store in Charlevoix, Michigan.  The book was given to me by Dorothy Hiller Mather.

Unfortunately, this is where Martha's story becomes tragic.  On May 3, 1912 during the difficult delivery of her second child her daughter, Opal, was stillborn.   By May 16, Martha succumbed to a uterine infection that brought about a septic blood infection.  At the time, this was known as "childbed fever".  She may well have survived with antibiotics, however, it would be another 16 years before they were available.

My great grandmother's story has always touched me.  I continue to wonder how many lives would have unfolded differently if she had not passed so young.  Her husband and parents no doubt were devastated, however, my heart really went out to my grandfather, Don, who was much too young to understand his loss.

As with everyone I write about in this blog, as long as I continue to tell their stories a part of them and their history is with us.  So, this is Martha Kenyon Hiller's tribute and hopefully someday I will be able to make additions to her story.

Thoughts of Chrismases Past

Both sets of grandparents (Red & Anne Hiller, above) have a special place on the Christmas tree each year.

As a child, every holiday season my parents would pack the station wagon with children, luggage and Christmas gifts and brave the eight hour journey from Michigan to our grandparent's home in Milwaukee.  My Dad would wake us early, carry our pajama-clothed bodies to the warmed car and nestle us into cozy sleeping areas he made for each of us.  No seat belts back then just comfort and, yet, somehow we managed to survive the trip. Not too far into the trip my Mom would open a thermos of coffee which instantaneously wafted throughout the vehicle.  Each year, I would ask myself and sometimes even out loud "

Am I old enough to drink coffee out of that red thermos cap while driving to Milwaukee?"  

And the answer was always "kids don't drink coffee".  WELL....someone failed to inform my Grandma because   upon arrival she would let me pour the Carnation Evaporated Milk from a can in the refrigerator into her hot, black cup of coffee, the creamy white swirls entrancing me and when she deemed the coffee "cool enough" I would get a sip.  I decided waiting for Grandma's brew was much more satisfying anyway.

Harry & Marie Atwell.

Christmas Eve was always reserved for Dad's side of the family, usually held at his brother's or sister's home.  Christmas Day was celebrated with Mom's side Grandpa and Grandma Hiller's and kicked off by attending mass at St. John The Evangelist Church and trying to understand Father Goulet's Slovenian accent.  Both visits were magnificent - uncles, aunts, cousins, gifts, cookies and plenty of laughter and merriment! I only remember two occasions we didn't travel to Milwaukee, once when my siblings and I all had the chickenpox and the other when we were much older and thought we should stay at home.  Both times we were miserable and disappointed we "missed out".  So, I guess the moral of the story is to value our remaining holidays and the time we have left together so as not to feel like we "miss out" ever again.  Merry Christmas! 

Christmas card sent out by my great Grandpa & Grandma Penne, circa 1950's.

My great Grandma's handwriting.  She never learned to speak English, only her native Slovene.

Ernest James Hiller; Businessman and Civil Leader

Ernest James was born (1878) and raised in Lake Odessa, Michigan.  His parents, Christian and Isabella (Henderson) Hiller were immigrants, arriving in Lake Odessa with their perspective families within a year of each other, 1857 and 1856.

EJ Hiller's high school commencement program, 1899, (given to me by Dorothy Hiller Mather).

EJ was one of 5 students to graduate from the 6th graduating class at Lake Odessa Public Schools on June 20, 1899, their class motto was "Rowing, not Drifting".

Choosing college instead of working the family farm, EJ went on to attend business school at Ferris Institute, now Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.  After graduation, he was employed as a bookkeeper by a logging company, Gibbs and Sons of Kingsley, Michigan.  After one season there, he returned to Lake Odessa and then in 1907, relocated to Charlevoix, Michigan and became the bookkeeper at the Charlevoix Lumber Company (established in 1868).

EJ & Martha (Kenyon) Hiller on their wedding day.

Ernest Hiller and Martha Kenyon were married June 19, 1908 and by 1909 their first child, my grandfather Don C. Hiller, was born.  In 1912, the complicated delivery of their first daughter, Opal Ruth, resulted in her being stillborn on May 3.  Martha developed an infection and lingered for another 18 days before succumbing from septicemia.

Both the Kenyon and Hiller Families helped tremendously in raising Don while his father worked at the lumber company, however, by 1918 EJ was married to Christine Peterson and she took over that role.  They added 3 children to the family, Ernest James "Jim" in 1919, Lee Christian in 1921 and Annabelle in 1924.

304 Antrim Street about 1911. L-R: Isabella Hiller, Barbara Hiller, EJ holding Don and Christian Hiller.

EJ advanced from lumber company bookkeeper to manager in 1923 and eventually owner of Charlevoix's oldest business (until the time it was sold).  After World War II, he was joined by his son Jim who eventually took over the business.  EJ walked the eight blocks to work every day - 304 Antrim Street to the lumber mill near the bridge on Round Lake.  Over the years my great grandfather

Charlevoix Lumber Company safe, now housed a Harsha House Museum in Charlevoix.

served as Second Ward alderman, a member of the school board, deputy city clerk, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Charlevoix County State Bank.  He was also a member of the Charlevoix Lodge No. 282 and the Freemasons.   Community was important to him as displayed by his level of service in city.  In 1967 when EJ was 89 years old the city honored him at the Venetian Festival naming him Charlevoix's Top Citizen of the Year.  The newspaper quoted him as saying "It's been interesting being a spectator in these changing times", no doubt commenting on the past 60 years he had lived in Charlevoix. 

Even after he had retired and his eyesight failed he continued to visit the lumber company every day, walking of course. (See above video, taken by my grandfather in the 1960's.) At home, his flower garden was his pride and job and many hours were spent there hoeing and planting.

My great grandfather died in 1969 and since I never knew or met him, this writing is based on research alone.  I would like to thank my Mom and Aunt for answering my MANY questions and my family for indulging me while I make my yearly visit to Charlevoix.  The Charlevoix Lumber Company is long gone and the Edgewater Inn now occupies that area, just north of the bridge on the shores of Round Lake.  Regardless, I feel drawn to that area and love to stand on the bridge where I have a clear view of Round Lake and Pine River/Round Lake Channel, the lighthouse and Lake Michigan.  My great grandfather must have loved the view too, 62 years worth.

Great Grandpa Hiller

EJ Hiller at Charlevoix Lumber Mill, date unknown.  (Sure wish I could read the date on that calendar.  Note:  See comment below)

I was 8 years when my great grandpa died and his was the first funeral I attended.  The contrast of the church service and burial and crying with the light-hearted conversation and children playing in the yard at the luncheon afterwards was very confusing.  I remember thinking that I should be sad and the realization that people I loved were sad and crying, but I never knew him and I don't think had ever met him until I saw him in that casket.  Maybe that's why I spend so much time with genealogy - to get to know the ancestors I never had a chance to meet.

Not unlike most people, Ernest James Hiller's life was filled with joys and sorrows, great sorrows.  Surely, losing a child then a wife within a week could be called the greatest life tragedy one could possibly endure.  But he did endure.  He continued to work, raise his son (with the help of family), remarry and have three more children

Telegram EJ Hiller sent to his son, Don (my grandfather), informing him of his brother's death.

only to have his world heaved again in 1943 with the death of his son Lee.  Like I said, great sorrows.  And endurance.  For most of us, we won't dare let our minds wander to these thoughts.  We just thank the Lord and pray it never happens in our lives.

Over the years, as I have researched my great grandpa and his story and collected death certificates, telegrams, photos and even the old pot-belly stove from his home in Charlevoix, I am truly amazed by the strength of this man I never met.  However, I really shouldn't be as his father and his father before him have equally inspiring stories which I will share in due time.  If only I knew at 8 years old what I know now, there would have been tears that day.

See EJ Hiller's full story here.

Don "Red" Hiller, A Sailor's Story

Don Hiller, circa 1909

Born in 1909 in Charlevoix, Michigan my grandfather's first three years of childhood were traditional.  But in 1912, his mother and sister both died shortly after childbirth leaving his father to raise a toddler alone.  Not much is known about who cared for him while his father worked but my guess is that his great Aunt Barbara did at least part-time.  Her home was in Lake Odessa, Michigan (also the hometown of my grandfather's parents) and she was unmarried and could have been available on sudden notice.  Interestingly, my grandfather has a photo of himself with Aunt Barbara, taken before his mother's death (shown),  but I have yet to find one with him together with his mother.  My grandfather named his own daughter Barbara, so his aunt must have held a special place in his heart.  Don spent his childhood summers in the Lake Odessa area working and playing on the farms of his mother's siblings, rotating through them all during the summer.

Catherine Barbara Hiller & Don C. Hiller, Sept. 1911

His education ended at 6th grade and at some point he joined the United States Lighthouse Service on the Great Lakes working on maintaining lighthouses and buoys.  

A sailor walks into a bar.....and meets his future wife.  It's no joke, that's how it happened!  My grandma, Anne, was working part-time at Frank & Mary's Place  (a tavern owned by her sister and brother-in-law) and he was a sailor who....well....enjoyed drinking.  They married in July 1935 and by 1936 had a son.  When Anne became pregnant again in 1937 with twin daughters,  Red's sailing days were over.  In an effort to find a career more suited to a family man, he attended technical school and was eventually hired in 1938 as a welder for Allis-Chalmers working for a time building equipment for the Manhattan Project.  

"Red Sky in Morning, Sailors take Warning, Red Sky at night, Sailor's delight" Red Hiller, middle, with shipmates aboard the Sumac.

Unlike today's standard, he spent his entire career at Allis-Chalmers eventually retiring in the early 1970's.  After retirement, to keep busy, he and my grandma attended church daily followed by lunch with friends afterwards.  

I remember my grandpa as a happy-go-lucky, easy-going man who enjoyed a good time, his family and friends, and beer.  Always helpful in the kitchen, he was my grandma's eager assistant while making strudel or potica for the holidays or a church bake sale.  There were many Yahtzee and card games at their kitchen table and if my grandpa wasn't playing he would always walk in and ask "Who's cheatin' the most?"  My grandparents and their homes, Walker Street and 88th Street, have special memories for me that I still recall today.

Grandpa Hiller

I cherish this photo of my Grandpa and me and clearly remember the day it was taken.  I was about 9 years old and in the backyard of my home.  My Grandpa and Grandma were visiting from Milwaukee and my Grandpa asked Mom to take a photo of us together.  It seemed an usual request to me at the time since my Grandpa was never very demonstrative with his feelings and I didn't think he noticed me much.  Usually my Grandma made requests for photos with her grandkids.  Before this day, I always felt a closer to my Grandma than my Grandpa, I think most kids do.   Maybe that's why he asked for the photo and chose this pose.  At first, I felt a little awkward being so close to him but then it was just......comfortable.  My Grandpa and me-the family's blueberry pancake eatin' redheads!

The story of his dramatic childhood can be found on the Hiller Family page.  

Hiller Family Immigration

Le Harve 1850's

On August 11, 1857 Katherine (Sindlinger) Hiller arrived at Castle Garden, Port of New York with her 5 children; Elizabeth 15 years, Christian 12, Leonard 11, Barbara 7 and Wilhelm 5 and three wooden trunks holding all their possessions. Their journey began in Kehl, Germany with stops in Strasbourg, Paris and eventually boarding the "Chase" in Le Havre, France.  Katherine's husband, Johann Leonard Hiller, died in Germany prior to to their voyage, however details are still  unknown.  Katherine must have been a brave and courageous woman to make the decision to travel with 5 children and join her brothers, Jacob & Christian Sindlinger, in Sebewa, Ionia County, Michigan who immigrated in 1855.

The "3rd trunk" given to me by Christian's great granddaughter.

Family Lore

In the 1980's, I was given a copy of a letter written to my grandparents, Don and Anne Hiller, from his cousin Connie.  She states that the Hiller's arrived "with all their possessions in three trunks.  Dottie (Christian's great granddaughter) has one and Oda (Christian's granddaughter) has the other.  No one seems to know what happened to the 3rd trunk".  My curiosity was peeked and I have wondered, investigated and researched to find that trunk for years.  Last year, 2013, I found the 3rd trunk.  It ends up Connie was wrong, someone did  know where it was all along.  Dottie had two trunks and she lived about an hour from my home in Michigan!

I have Ancestry.com to thank for finding Dot.  I have been a member, with a public tree, for many years but last year Dot decided to join and make her tree public as well.  She messaged me about a name correction, we shared email addresses and agreed to meet in Lansing.  The meeting was remarkable; we talked and exchanged family photos for 3 hours.  I gave her a copy of the letter from Connie (who was her aunt) and we talked about the missing 3rd trunk and that's when she dropped the bombshell that she had two and was giving one to me!  The trunk has a home in my family room and I am reminded daily of the sacrifices my ancestors made to immigrate to this great country.  Last May, and again this year,  Dot and I met at Lakeside Cemetery in Lake Odessa to plant flowers on our common ancestor's grave - Christian Gottlieb Hiller - my 2nd great grandfather.

Citations

"Gustave Le Gray:  The Imperial Yacht La Reine Hortense, Le Havre"(2005.100.273).  In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History.  New York:  The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000-.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2005.100.273.  (October 2006)

http://thebattery.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/history5.jpg