Family Trees

 

During my initial conversation with the Salvage store owner, she mentioned a hand drawn family tree which excited me greatly. I have poured a lot of time and effort into tracking down Kuck descendants over the years in hopes of finding pictures to replace the ones likely lost by my great grandparents in the missing semi incident. After maybe 25 years of searching, I found what I was after in a salvage shop of all places but I am not complaining. Another reason for my excitement is that despite all this research, one branch on this side of my family tree remains the shortest one on my entire tree. I have mentioned it many times on here but my third great grandmother, Mary Meyer Kuck, John Kuck's first wife, died young along with five of her children of diphtheria and left very few records behind, so few, I have never been able to identify who her parents were. My hope was that perhaps this hand drawn family tree might identify her parents. 

Above is the very hand drawn family tree that caused all my excitement but sadly, it didn't solve any questions or really tell me much new information, at least along my branch of the family tree. It did open up a mystery that likely will cause me to do a lot more research along another branch. The tree lists John Kuck's father Henry Kuck but not his wife Anna which I find a bit odd since she outlived him by over a decade. It also lists five of Henry's children that came over to the United States after the death of their parents. Dietrick, John, Anna and Frederick I knew about and have researched much over the years but Henry was a new one for me. I had Henry's name but according to a German genealogist years ago, he was listed as having died in 1843. But the writing on the family tree clearly states that all the children came to the United States and that Henry died in the Civil War. This is news to me and something I'll have to look into.

Other things of note is that it shows my great grandfather Victor though not his wife Grace whom he married shortly after his return from World War I. It also mentioned the hoarder's name in whose house this very family tree was found and came to be now in my possession. Also, the paper that the family tree was drawn on was rolled into a tight roll. In order to flatten it, I had to use some industrial type magnets to hold the parchment against the back of a cookie sheet in order to photograph it since it is much too big for a scanner.

Below is another hand drawn family tree though of Adam Brandau, the father of John Kuck's second wife Elizabeth. Since they aren't blood relation to me, I have not put forth a lot of effort into researching it but I do have descendants I've been in contact with whom I will send it too knowing it will be much appreciated. 



Comments

  1. One trail leads to a dead end, but yet another trail is discovered! Just the fact that you got your hands on that tree is amazing all by itself!

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    1. I’m still amazed all this didn’t end up in a Colorado landfill.

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  2. Even if it doesn't add much new information, it's kind of neat to have a family tree drawn and written by the hands of an ancestor.

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    1. I wish I knew who wrote these down. I suspect Beth, daughter to Bertha and niece of Clara did but haven’t confirmed that yet. I would need to study handwriting to make a more accurate guess.

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  3. Interesting. I guess a family tree is only as authoritative as the person who drew it. Maybe the tree is mistaken about Henry and his fate? It's too bad we don't know exactly when or where he died, as that would make it easier to find him. I guess there aren't too many Kucks, though.

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    1. I’m guessing it is a solvable puzzle but likely not until this winter when I have more time.

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  4. The older generation of Japanese in Hawaii were very reserved and did not share much family information. Actually, the best source of information was at a local mortuary - with handwritten records on index cards as to relations gathered at funerals. Currently, my kids don't have much interest in the old - and are happy enough having each other.

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    1. My eldest is showing some interest but it is too early to know if she will someday take up the mantle of family historian.

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  5. The 'Family Trees' post was a great read! I love that you’re embracing the troublemakers in your ancestry—it definitely explains where the 'unruly' spirit comes from! Fingers crossed that the historical society visit breaks that 3rd great-grandmother mystery wide open. Enjoy the hunt!

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    1. From studying my family tree, I have seen every generation has its warts, unruly people and those that inspire others.

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  6. Isn't that the way of it. Tidbits of information that yield more mysteries than answers. You have your work cut out for you!

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    1. It is sometimes like walking uphill in sand.

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  7. There are so many interesting stories in our family histories and we'll probably never 100% know what happened. I've rattled several skeletons in the closet through genealogy and the surprises fascinate me!

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    1. I’m always thrilled to hear a new to me story of an ancestor, warts and all.

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  8. What a great find, you are so lucky !

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    1. It is definitely a first for me to find not one but two family trees drawn by someone quite a ways down my own family tree.

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