#52 Ancestors Charles Friedrich Sternitzky

For this next post, I thought I would keep it in the Sternitzky line and write about Charles Sternitzky, Friedrich's son and my 3rd great grandfather!  Thank you for taking the time to read this & please feel free to leave a comment!

            Charles Friedrich Sternitzky, my 3^rd great grandfather, was born 5 May 1832 in Klein Ujeschitz, Silesia, Germany.  He was the first born child of Friedrich and Helena (Vietz or Dietz) Sternitzky.  At the age of eight, his family (which now included three more siblings) came to America and settled in Buffalo, New York.  After spending a year there, the family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Charles received his education at the Milwaukee German School.

            The family spent fifteen years in Milwaukee before making the long voyage to Clark County, Wisconsin.  They were one of the first settlers in the area.  In his biography he noted that in order to get wheat seed they had to go 65 miles away!  Charles was twenty-four when they moved.  He purchased the 280 acres in the Lynn Township that the family settled on.  After a couple years, Charles struck out on his own and purchased 80 acres of his own land.  According to one biography, he would work in the pineries in the winters and in the summer he would work on his farm.  Eventually he expanded his farm to 120 acres. 

            On 25 February 1861 Charles married Kate Miller.  They had four children:  Albert, Wilhelm, Anna, and Phoebe. 

            Charles continued to farm until an opportunity to open a business presented itself in 1889.  That year Charles entered into the general merchandise business with the Ure brothers.  After a year Charles bought out the brothers and kept the business up on his own.  

            Charles also served the public in many ways.  According to his biography he served on the school board, was Town Clerk, served on Town Board – as president and as treasurer, was the Assessor, Notary Public, he served as Postmaster for nineteen years, and was the Justice of the Peace since the town was organized.  He was also an enumerator for the 1880 census.  He was also an organizer of the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company in 1878.  Charles also served on the Clark County Agricultural Society. 

            On 12 January 1900, Charles was in Neillsville (the county seat of Clark County) attending a session of the county board.  That morning he complained of not feeling well.  After breakfast, he wasn’t getting any better so doctors were summoned along with his family.  Later that evening he passed away.  He had long suffered from heart issues.  He was 67 years old.  His obituary in the Clark County Republican Press stated: “The substantial independence and uprightness of his character stand as a perpetual lesson for younger generations and it will be many years before his influence in affairs of his neighborhood is lost.” Charles was buried in the Lynn Cemetery.

#52 Ancestors Friedrich Sternitzky

Hi everyone!  Now that I am over the flu and a cold I need to catch up on my #52 Ancestors writing!!  I hope this finds you all doing well.  This posting is about my fourth great grandfather Friedrich Sternitzky.  He was the first of this line to come to the United States!  As always, I hope you enjoy and please feel free to leave me any comments!

            My fourth great-grandfather Friedrich Sternitzky was born on 26 October 1806 in Klein Ujeschuetz, Silesia, Germany.  His father died when Friedrich was young.  According to one biography he did serve in the military.  In 1831 he married Helena Vietz (or Dietz) in Klein Ujeschuetz. 

            They stayed in Germany until 1840 before coming to America.  Joining Friedrich and Helena were their children:  Charles, Susanna, Gottlieb (James), and Wilhelm.  On 16 September 1840, they arrived in the Port of New York aboard the Bark Washington.  They made their way to Buffalo, New York, before settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  While in Milwaukee their family added another six children:  Johan, Ernest, Johanna, Julius, Edward and Albert. 

            In 1844, Friedrich declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States.  The family stayed in the Milwaukee area until 1856 when they, along with a couple other families, decided to go north to central Wisconsin and settle in Clark County.  According to the History of Clark County which was published in 1918, it took the family three weeks to make the journey and for the last three miles they had to cut through thick forest to make their way to their land.  Son Charles had purchased two hundred acres for the family from the government.  For his family, Friedrich built a two room, 18 foot by 28 foot log home.  Their nearest neighbor was two miles away.  Friedrich farmed the land until his son Henry (Julius’s nickname) took over. 

            Friedrich was a German Lutheran and when he got to Clark County church services were often held in his home.  Later on, he helped to establish a German Lutheran church in town. 

            The last eight years of Friedrich’s life were confined to bed.  Friedrich died on 25 October 1901 – one day shy of his 95^th birthday.  He outlived four of his children and his wife.  He was a well respected member of the community and beloved by his large family.  At the time, his funeral was the largest the community had ever seen.  Over sixty of his descendants were there and friends came from miles around.  Friedrich Sternitzky is buried next to his wife at the Zion American Lutheran Cemetery in Granton, Clark, Wisconsin.

#52 Ancestors #4: John Clifton Connors

Hello everyone!  I am behind on my #52Ancestors postings!  I have been sick the past few weeks, but wanted to try to catch up a little.  Here's a little biography on my husband's grandfather:

John Clifton Connors was born on 28 March 1917 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts to Patrick James Connors and Isabelle McDonald.   He was the second of nine children, but was one of only two children born in the United States.  Patrick and Isabelle came to the US for a time but then decided to go back to their hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland. 

            John joined the British Army during World War II.  He went overseas to England and in Dunkirk he was injured by shrapnel in his back.  After his tour with the British Army he received his Order to Report for Induction to the United States Army.  He was to report to Fort Pepperrell in St. John’s.  This started his twenty-two year career as a member of the Army Air Corps. 

            In 1947, John received word from The Foreign Service of the United States that the application submitted in his case had been approved and that he was repatriated back to the U.S. 

            On 18 January 1948 while stationed at Fort Pepperrell Air Force Base in St. John’s Newfoundland, John married Rita Fitzgerald.  They had three daughters:  Mary Rosalind, Monica Isabelle, and Agnes Anne. 

            John loved being in the military and was stationed at many different places.  They were stationed in Newfoundland, Alaska, Maine, Montana, and New York.  He rose to the rank of Master Sergeant and at his time of retirement he had received many awards including the Good Conduct Medal with bronze clasp and five bronze loops.  He took a lot of pride in his work and had many letters of appreciation and commendation in his file.  He constantly strove to improve himself by taking classes in everything from American History to Intelligence Operations Training. 

            Heart problems forced him to retire in October 1967 while he was stationed on Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine.  He retired on disability and was not able to work again.  The family lived in Maine until the harsh winters forced them to move a little farther south to New Jersey.  John loved to garden and according to his daughter Agnes, he planted his gardens so there were always flowers blooming.  He also loved to work in his woodshop in the garage. 

            John passed away on 5 September 1984 while he and Rita were living with daughter Agnes and her family.  He is buried in Annville, Pennsylvania.