I got a GIFT today ....

When I opened my mailbox today I got SUCH A GIFT .....  I have a couple photos of my Grandparents (on my Mom's side) ....  but I'm not sure where they are right now.  My Mom had brought over a few things for me to scan of my grandparents, including a couple photos of my Grandmother. 

But today ..... I got a gift .... photos of my Grandfather who I had this major bond with .... 

My Grandpa was adopted ... his parents, William and Olga Thalacker had both contracted Tuberculosis while Olga was pregnant with my Grandfather.  My Grandfather was born in July of 1921 and William died in November.  My Great-Grandmother wasn't allowed to keep the baby, she thought she was dying.   William had set things up with his sister, Lucy. 

Louise "Lucy" Magdaline Thalacker was born January 3, 1889, in the town of Albany, Pepin County, Wisconsin and she died on June 25, 1951.   (Can I put a note in here that my birthday is June 25th! Eeps!)  .... She married Gail Day on the 15th of September in 1915 in Eau Claire, WI ... and they made their home in Rock Falls, Dunn County, Wisconsin.  Gail operated a meat locker business.  Gail was born April 7, 1891 in Rock Creek Township, Dunn County, Wisconsin and died on June 6, 1964.  Both Lucy and Gail died in Rock Falls.

The house they had still stands in Rock Falls.  

Lucy and Gail adopted my Grandfather, in 1922.  He was their only child.   He loved them greatly.  So much that he and my grandmother buried the son that they lost, Lynn, at their feet. 

My Grandmother was born on May 5, 1922 .....  I often laugh because my Mom was born Feb. 2, 1955.  5-5-22... 2-2-55 ....    

Anyway - my Grandmother, Berneil Eva Wheaton, was born in Bridge Creek, Wisconsin.  (Augusta)...  my grandparents got married on June 10, 1949.

I know that my Grandmother and Grandfather - both - served in the military during World War II.  I remembering once, asking what my Grandmother did, and she told me that she typed ....   I'm not sure the extent of my Grandfather's service.  Hopefully one of my family members does. 

You know how they tell you in school to ASK your grandparents about their past .....  well, you really need to.  Before it's to late.   At this point, I really regret not prying more ...... asking more questions, and learning as much as I could .....

It's funny when it excites you when you find out that your Great-Grandfather (adopted) had a meat locker business - because it's something you never know that.....

My Grandparents had 9 children.  I also know that my Grandmother had at least one miscarriage, but I believe it was more than one. 

Dana  ....   he is married with two children.  His son just recently got married...
Melayne (my mom) ....  has me, I'm married with four kids and one step-daughter
Ricki ... he has one daughter
Randy .... he is married with four children
Clark ....  he is married with three children (and many step-kids, I think five?) ... his oldest daughter is married with one son
Lance .... he is married with two boys, one of them is married with three kids... 
Lynn ..... he was Lance's twin brother who died at 2 days old.  My Grandparents were told Lance was the weaker of the two, and they needed to get him baptized right away.  So they got someone in to baptize them ... and Lynn was the one that passed.  He ended up aspirating :(
Peter ..... he is married and has two children
Tracy ....  he has five girls...  two of which have two children of their own....

So ....... they had nine kids, eight of which survived ....  20 Grandchildren (I feel like I'm missing some?) ... and so far...... 11 Great Grandchildren .... 

Anyway - I totally got off what I was even doing.  I wanted to share the photos I got of my Grandfather. 

First, here are two of my Grandmother........ Berneil

Here are the photos I got of my Grandfather ..... Lawrence

1933

1938

1938

And with that - I am going to bed!

Clarifying Email....

I got an email from my Grandfather's Sister's Daughter (did you follow that?) yesterday ....  I had sent her an email asking her a bunch of things and this is what she sent me......

I'm going to type out the excerpt from the book that Kathern Thalacker printed.

DESCENDANTS OF LOUIS THALACKER;

III2) Wilhelm (William) Fredriech Thalacker was born Jan 14,1882, in the Town of Albany, Pepin Co WI. and died Nov 2, 1921, in Eau claire, WI. He was a carpenter, and made his residence at Mondovi, WI. On Nov. 2 1905 he married Hattie Gueldner; they had one daughter,1) Marion. Sometime later he and hattie were divorced.

William was remarried at Wabasha, Mn, on July 29th 1919, to Olga Johnson. Olga was born January 31,1900, in Buffalo Co. and died Nov 14, 1924, in that county. When Olga was pregnant the second time she developed tuberculosis, and when the baby was born she was not allowed to keep it. Because Olga and William were both ill, William arranged for his stster Louise to adopt the baby. Iver and Theodora Johnson, Olga's parents, raised the older child(Irene). Olga married Palmer Larson in 1923, she died the following year from tuberculosis. The children of William and Olga are 2) Irene, 3) Lawrence.

IV1) Marion Thalacker; B. Feb. 6th, 1908 in Eau Claire WI. Dies Aug. 11 1965 In Watsonville, CA. Married, Roy Harris, in Nebraska. They had no children.

IV2) Irene Lucille Thalacker; B. Oct 13th, 1919, In Eau Claire, WI. Married in Salinas, CA May 15th 1942 to Lawrence Raymond Crawford, B. 12/25/1915 in Mondovi, WI, d. Dec. 16/1996. They had 3 children, Raymond, Steven, Terry.

It's nice to have that all cleared up :) Now I have to change the information on my tree :)  And add a few things..... 

more on.... Olga Johnson Thalacker Larson

So....  I don't know much about Olga.  I wish there was more to know, really.  I know she was born in Mondovi (Buffalo County) Wisconsin on January 31, 1900.

Olga is the little girl in the middle infront of her homestead with: her father, Iver Johnson (Iver Janson Veum), her brother: Albert Johnson, and on the other side of her, mother, Theodora (Christopherson) Johnson, and sister Mabel (Johnson) Uschan in front of their house that use to be on their farmin Mondovi, WI.

I know she and my Great Grandfather, William Thalacker, married July 19, 1919 ... only a few months before baby Irene came into the world on October 13, 1919.  (Shotgun-Wedding anyone?) 

I know that at some point both her and my G-Grandfather contracted Turberculosis.

At that point in time - there wasn't much hope with those who caught TB.

They started running campaigns around the time my G-Grandparents caught TB.  These are from Chicago.

This one from Virgina .... (I couldn't find anything from WI, and I tried!)

There are hospitals that were opened just for those with TB. 

Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, KY

Like Waverly Hills Sanatorium ( and another interesting link) in Louisville, KY....which I've had a big interest in since the history with my family (and my interest in ghosts)... and others like St. Agnes Sanitarium,  location unknown... and I found this link of some guys exploring old abandoned structures ....   this one they happened to explore a TB Hospital....

One part of the therapies would be cold air exposure....  for adults, kids, and babies.  (both these were taken from the websites linked in the paragraph above.  Top one from the extra Waverly link, the other from the St. Agnes one.)

There were surgeries, and weird-odd experiments to try to cure...  but it was a long time before there was a vaccine.   (A little TB History Timeline)

So I'm not sure if Olga and William got pregnant with my Grandfather before, or after, they contracted TB.  At the very least, they got it while she was pregnant as my G-Grandfather died 5 months before my Grandfather was born from it.  ** Note: After talking to my Grandfather's Sister's Daughter (did you follow that?).... I found out the second date I saw for William's death was the correct one and he dided November 2nd 1921 ... not Feb 2 .... so he died when my Grandfather was almost 4 months old)**  Olga thought she was dying so she gave my Grandfather up right away (it seems)....  we know he was adopted by William's sister and her husband when he was an infant. 

After my Grandfather was born, Olga met a man, Palmer Larson, and married him.  This is their wedding picture.

Olga (Johnson) Thalacker Larson and her 2nd husband Palmer Larson's wedding. From left: Olga's brother, Albert Johnson, Palmer Larson, Olga, and an unknown lady

Here she is (in the middle) with her sister and a friend & dog infront of her Dad's Saloon ...

Mabel (Johnson) Uschan, Olga (Johnson) Thalacker Larson, and unknown lady and dog by Iver's Saloon, Mondovi, WI

There was also a post card that was found, that was sent to her and her mother....

Back of postcard sent by Mable (Johnson) Uschan to her mother Theodora and sister Olga. It's Addressed: To Olga and Mamma .... It says: Hello Mamma. How are you? I am fine. Me and Mrs. Brooks was out riding yesterday all over Chippewa and in the park too, we hitch up and go whenever we want to and have a good time. I inclose with Best Wishes From Mable Johnson. Answer soon.

And when she passed away .... 

She was buried in Mondovi ... between her Mother and her Sister Mabel.... 

My Roots are Interesting.....

**REPOSTED FROM  ... My Main Blog**

So I have always been interested in my heritage.  I grew up believing I was mostly Irish.  Found out, I'm mostly Norwegian, then Irish.... then German .... with some Holland Dutch, Swiss, and various other Northern European in me.  I have been drawn to Ireland since I was little, so I found it slightly disappointing I wasn't as Irish on one side as I thought....

See.  My Grandfather was my "Daddy" ... in ways.  My Dad didn't get to raise me - through circumstances beyond his control.  My Mom wanted us to stay with family, and he was a Navy man.  He got a divorce from his first wife, and met my mom - they had their relationship - he joined the Navy.... came home on leave, saw my mom .... had to go back and my mom found out she was pregnant.  By then he was being stationed and assigned....   and he met his current wife.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Dad, my Step-Mom and my siblings that I didn't get to grow up with ....   but my Grandpa ...  he was the first love of my life.

(My Mom hiding) Grandpa and I. <3

 I have to add ...  I went through this phase when I was little.  Because I didn't have a Daddy I would be-raid my mom with crap. I remember all this.  I confronted her one day, actually I think it was more than once.  I had it all FIGURED OUT!!!  I didn't have a Daddy because....  da-da-dum! (that was a drum-roll-ish type thing in case you were wondering) ....  I WAS OBVIOUSLY ADOPTED!!!

My mom just rolled her eyes and pulled out my baby book and said ....  See - this was you when you were born.

Um........ really?   That's me ....

With lead to a whole new conspiracy theory ...  I WAS SWITCHED AT BIRTH!!!!  That baby is too dark, and black hair?  No way is that me. Did you see the picture above that?  I was about a year old....  ghostly pale skin, blonde....  really?  No way... 

Well, I've come to accept it ...  that is me .... trust me, I gave birth to that 32 years later....

My little Mini-Me.

Regardless.  After I moved on from that theroy ....  I moved onto greater pastures.   MOMMY WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A BABY????  I WANT A BROTHER OR SISTER!!  Oh Lordy, I had some spunk didn't I?

My Mom got in contact with my Dad and Step-Mom.  Found out I had a baby brother who was 3 years old (to my 5 yeas old) ... and we got to meet!  First time I met my Daddy was when I was 5.

My Mom, Me (age 5), Dad, My Brother (age 3), & My Step-Mom

I would also end up with a little sister, and found out I had two older sisters.   Which I thought was super cool!!  My Mom, well, she wasn't going to have anymore kids.  Infact, right after I was born she told my Grandma that she wasn't going to get anymore kids from her, she better start bugging her sons.  She did have seven of them....  living.   My Uncle Lance had been a twin and they lead my Grandma to believe my Uncle Lance would die because he was the weaker and smaller of the two babies....  being back in the early 1960's ... they didn't have the same technology that we do now...   but... my Uncle Lynn ended up aspirating which caused him to die at 2 days old.

My Dad and I had a distant but ... I think.... great relationship.   One reason being any anger I had, was my issue - not his.  I knew he was doing the best he could.  I knew my sisters blamed him for a lot.  My Grandparents (his parents) didn't even want to see me because I was the illegitimate mistake that happened between his marriages.  I was.... am....  the bastard child.

So what, I embrace it....  I mean really.   I know all parties involved were just doing what they felt was right.  They did the best they could.  Why hold onto such things and let them define you when only YOU can define you.  And my Dad really puts a lot of blame onto himself, and I don't think it's necessary ....  I KNOW he did the best he could.  That's fine.  I'm good with what I got :)  It's better then what a lot of kids get....   all I needed to know was he loves me :)  And I do know that.

Regardless... it's not the way I wanted to be defined.   So I would suck up any attention I got from my Dad and love it.  We would talk on the phone, write.... etc.  I think - today - we have a great relationship.  It's not ideal but I love him dearly.  I love my step-mom and she has embraced me as her own in ways. It's much the same way I feel about the Princess.   I may not have gotten the honor to meet my step-daughter yet - but I love her.  She's part of our family - the boys know about her, she's not referred to as the "step-sister" or "half-sister" but their SISTER.  Period.

I always wish I was closer to my siblings.  I always longed for that sister relationship.  SO I seek it out with my best friends. 

Anyway - back to my Grandpa.... I got off on a wild tangent there.

So ....   originally I thought the following.

My Grandfather was adopted.  - TRUE....   he was adopted by his Father's sister ....   so why?

Well, I thought (had been told) that my Grandpa's parents died when he was a baby.   also TRUE....  Only I thought his Mom died first and then his Dad.   I knew that - at least - his Mom died of Tuberculosis ...  and I suspected that his Dad did too.  Upon some research (mostly done by another family member - thank you Dawn!) ....  I found out this was untrue.   Well.... at least part of it.  My Great-Grandfather died before my Granfather was even born!  Yep.... he never got to meet his son.

I also found out - when I was younger - that my Grandpa had a sister, Aunt Irene....  which I thought was super cool and didn't realize until I was older that's where the relationship was to all these 2nd cousins I had (that were my age).  I also found out he (my Great-Grandfather) was married before to a Hattie M. GUELDNER - who was born in 1887 and they had a daughter they named Marion,  I don't know much about Hattie, I can't find any info on her.  I'm not sure if she died and that's why my Great Grandfather remarried or what...  but it's interesting.  Oh I do know she was born in Nebraska and her father was born in Wisconsin and mother was born in Iowa .....  but that's it.  I'd like to know more. 

Anyway - My Grandpa was born 5 July 1921 and my Great-Grandfather William died 2 Feb 1921 ** Note: After talking to my Grandfather's Sister's Daughter (did you follow that?).... I found out the second date I saw for William's death was the correct one and he dided November 2nd 1921 ... not Feb 2 .... so he died when my Grandfather was almost 4 months old)** of Turberculosis.... my Great-Grandmother Olga also had it.....  (huh, I put together he died on my Mom's birthday......)  Well into the pregnancy, but not  even close to when he was born.  Aunt Irene was only about 16 months old. 

So after my Grandfather was born, my Aunt Irene was given to one of Olga's relatives and my Grandfather to my Great-Grandfather's sister.... Louisa and her husband Gail.  They raised my Grandpa since he was a baby....  My Great-Grandmother Olga thought she was dying of Tuberculosis, so she gave my grandfather up right away, and his sister.  My Great-Grandmother ended up living a few more years.  She got re-married in 1923 and ended up dying from Tuberculosis on November 14, 1924. 

So my Grandfather was adopted and raised by his aunt and uncle.  I knew this growing up (might have heard some facts wrong) but .....  I was really interested in his biological parents, of course...  because that's where the heritage comes from.  I found out the Irish I thought existed with him - didn't.  William was German (and upon reading more into the Thalacker side, which is going to be next to impossible to find out about - is also most likely Swiss.)   And Olga is - of course - 100% Norwegian.

We had never seen pictures of William or Olga (at least I didn't) growing up.  Now - thanks to a website called Find A Grave, I saw my Great-Grandfather William for the first time.

William F. Thalacker 1882-1921 - My Great-Grandfather ...

My Mom and I both looked at it and thought that my Grandfather favors his Dad .... The picture is a little distorted due to it being on his gravestone.  Which is.....

And then today - I saw my Great-Grandmother Olga for the first time.  My (cousin whatever removed) Dawn shared these pictures today .....  the pictures she sent were orange - so I did the best I could to bring out some detail and more appealing....

 Great-Grandma Olga is the little girl smack dab in the middle.

and then it dawned on me why I couldn't find her grave - since I had completely forgotten that she had remarried the year before she died.  So I managed to find that - also.  Dawn confirmed this is her gravestone. Olga Johnson (Thalacker/Larson)

Which I realize she also has a picture of...

And Dawn said she was going to try and locate some of the older pictures of Olga she has.  So I'm really excited to see those too. 

I think I may need to create a Genealogy Blog since I'm finding a lot of neat stuff.  And - I'm doing my ex-husband's line also - so that my older two kids know their heritage on his side.  (Not to mention Calahan is learning about it in school and super interested in his German side right now)....

For example:  I found out that my older two boys are the direct decedents of King Henry III of England, King Edward the I of England, King Edward the II of England, and King Edward the III of England.... (Some of these Kings were also entitled "Lord of Ireland" also)  a ton of other nobility and a few other kids (and more I haven't uncovered) .... including a French King ... 

Yep, I think it's time to create another blog to my collection....