THE BEERE FAMILY

Those of us descended from James Henry and Cora Mae (Beere) Elting seldom hear about our Beere family connections. The following information is taken from three sources: (1) A record begun in 1888 by Mary Nealey, wife of Alonso Nealey and the daughter of Charles and Anna Beere. Mary and Alonso Nealey lived in Spangle, Washington in 1888. (2)"Descendants of William Beere," no author listed, but possibly Carole (Elting) Logeman as it contains extensive information about her family. (3) Information compiled by Lawrence F. Mulligan for a project of the Jersey Central Power & Light Company in March 1983. None of these sources included documents for genealogical proof.

Note: Often names are spelled in different ways within the same document. I have combined the names thus listed with a /. There is no way to determine from these documents which name is accurate.

While most of our Elting "nationality" centers around France, The Netherlands and Germany, the Beere side history shows our ancestors were born in England and Scotland.

1st known generation:
WILLIAM BEERE: born at Oxfordshire, England
Wife: MARY

2nd generation:
CHARLES BEERE, youngest son of William and Mary. Born in the Burrough of Banbury, Oxfordshire, England on March 5, 1817. He emigrated to the U.S in 1834 landing in New York with his oldest brother William and family.
Married on December 2, 1841 to ANN/ANNE Ruthern/Ruthven, youngest daughter of SYM and MARGARET RUTHVEN/RUTHERN/RUTHREN of Edinburgh, Scotland, by a Forbs Episcopal Minister in New York. She was born August 27, 1820 at Sailsburry Square, Edinburgh, Scotland. They lived in New York until 1846, then moved to Iowa where they settled on a farm near Dodgeville. They had ten children, some born in New York and some in Iowa: Margaret, John, Elizabeth, Amos, Joseph, Mary, Jessie, WILLIAM, Sym, Henry.
Charles died April 13, 1869 near Dodgeville, Iowa. Ann/Anne died September 25, 1912 at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Kline near Mediapolis, Iowa.

NOTE: Elizabeth (Beere) married John Kline. Her brother, WILLIAM, married LIZZIE MAY (ELIZABETH MAE) KLINE, thus creating some confusion.

THE RUTHVEN/RUTHERN FAMILY:
Ann/Anne's father: Sym Ruthven/Ruthern. Born January 8, 1775 at Edinburg, Scotland. (Married first: Margaret Clark. Four children. None married, all deceased by 1888)

Ann/Anne's mother: MARGARET (second wife of Sym). Born April 1, 1788 at Nusselborough, Scotland. Six children: Jessie, Catherine, WILLIAM, John, Mary, and Ann/Anne.

3rd generation:
WILLIAM BEERE: born September 30, 1855 in Iowa. Died June 21, 1929. Married November 29, 1877/1879? in Dodgeville, Des Moines Co, Iowa to LIZZIE MAY KLINE(Elizabeth Mae Kline). She was born in Dodgeville, Iowa on September 18, 1856 to John and Angeline (?)Kline. Lizzie died February 24, 1941 in Burlington, IA. Six children: Annie, William, Jr., CORA MAE, Margaret C., Elizabeth K, Charles E.

4th generation:
CORA MAE BEERE, born Feb. 18, 1885/1886? in Union, Cass Co., Nebraska. Died: December 22, 1965 in Burlington, IA. Married JAMES HENRY ELTING on Wednesday, January 1, 1908 at Sperry, Iowa. He was born November 5, 1884. He died July 1, 1960 in Burlington, Iowa. Nine children: JAMES EVERETT, Charles Leland, Josephine Mae, Ronald Earl, Kathryn Louise, Alys Ruth, Ada Margaret, Cora Elizabeth, Robert William. (All are deceased in 2009).

It's interesting to me that though our Elting progenitor arrived here in the mid-1600s, our first Beere ancestor didn't arrive in the U.S until nearly 200 years later. We probably could find an abundance of family information in the United Kingdom, not to mention Ruthven and Beere relatives there.

Though the following names are not in our direct ancestral lines, they are the names of those whom our relatives married so we may have relatives scattered about the nation with these names:

Hallburgh, Ritson, Manning, Kitchen, Kline, Lines, Nealey, Cockayne, Atkenson, Seymour, Fimmen, Hueschen, Patterson, Moehn/Mochn, Weidhans, Hatcher, Stevenson, Smith, Gray, Nelson,Bentz, Quinty, Gamma, Dooley, Luckenbill, Williams, Thode, Crile, Narem, Mason, Carpenter, Corder, Swygard, Husted, Henderson, Crook, Shaffer, Schmidt, Schieffer, Miller, Pennington,Venderhaar, Pack, Lant, Schwab, Brown, Deeds, Baker (three of Alonso and Mary Beere Nealey's four children married Bakers); Kjack, Ball, Bartfoff, Bussler, Colburn, Rinehart, Paterson, Saxton, Wilson, Snow, Derr, Crosley, Snyder, Botwell, Willaims, Geil, Lines, Leffler, Funk.

If anyone has additions/corrections, etc. to this Beere information, please send them via the commment area below. Also, anyone needing additional information on a Beere descendant not in my direct ancestral line, please let me know---there's lots more in these three documents.

WATCH FOR INTERESTING BEERE INFO COMING SOON!

Huguenot History Featured in "Family History" magazine

If you're interested in Huguenot history, check out the November 2009 issue of "Family History" magazine. There is a great article entitled "The French Connection." that details Huguenot history in Great Britain. The estimated 250,000 of them married into the populace after arriving there in the 1500s and 1600s and it is now reported that 80% of the UK population has Huguenot blood.

There is an excellent synopsis of the persecution of Huguenots in France that caused them to scatter to places as widely diverse as the "new colonies" that became America, to Africa. The writer references the book, Days of the Upright, a History of the Huguenots, in describing the meaning of the word "Huguenot":

"It is a combination of a Flemish and a German word....In the Flemish corner of France, Bible students who gathered in each other's houses to study secretly were called Huisgenooten, or 'House Fellows', while on the Swiss and German borders they were termed Eidgenossen or 'Oath Fellows. Gallicized into Huguenot, often used deprecatingly, the word became, during two and half centuries of terror and triumph, a badge of enduring honour and courage.'

The magazine is published in London, England. I found my copy in the Barnes and Noble store in Eugene, Oregon.

THEY'RE MARRIED!

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Brinton and Ashley Cary of Bend, Oregon. 

Decades ago one of my weekly tasks as a news editor for a small community newspaper was to write the wedding stories.  I had so little patience with the mothers of the bride and bridegroom who wanted every little detail included...from the everlasting description of the bride's dress to the "delicious refreshments," the "gorgeous flowers" and the impressive honeymoon destination. I was certain the women had never had another exciting moment in their lives.  WELL....

It's a good thing that newspaper aren't publishing those kinds of articles anymore because I spent last night writing about my grandson's wedding (thinking it, not actually putting it on paper!) and I am sure that it would have been a 50 page manuscript when completed!  I am now walking in the shoes of those women I found so irritating...and I'm only one of several grandmothers.  :-)

So I will refrain from publishing my version of the wonderful day and simply say that this was a beautiful wedding and my grandson chose well.  All of you in our extended family now have another cousin or niece.

SATURDAY IS THE BIG DAY!

I have an excuse for non-posting for so many days:  I am just too excited that my grandson, Brinton Cary, is marrying Ashley Henderson on Saturday, October 24!! 

It will be a wonderful day with so many friends and family planning to attend that I will never figure out who they all are.

Another lady to add to our huge extended family!  Check back here after the weekend for photos and details!

Are We Related?

The following chart was published in Twigs and Branches in March 1991. It is a great way to explain the reason there are so many "cousins" in our Elting line!

 2 parents
 4 grandparents
 8 great grandparents
 16 great-great grandparents
 32 great-great-great grandparents
 64 great-great-great-great grandparents
 128 great-great-great-great-great grandparents
 256 great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents
 512 great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents
 1024 great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents

That Pesky Final "E"

"...One never knows what will be found in military records. The affidavits filed on behalf of Civil War veterans' widows are especially interesting and usually filled with all sorts of information in their attempts to prove not only that they are the actual widow, but that they are destitute and have not remarried.

The following information appeared in an August 18, 1886 affidavit signed by Mary (Brodhead) Eltinge as explanation for why her last name differed from that of her late husband, Daniel D. Elting. Who would suspect that a comment on the age old 'to E or not to E' dilemma of our family would be found there?

              '...that for a number of years prior to the year 1860 nearly every branch of the Elting family wrote and spelled the family name with the final 'E' and which was the original way of writing and spelling the name in English. That Daniel D. Elting the husband of the claimant always wrote and spelled the name without the final 'E' and the only reason why claimant wrote and spelled the name with the final 'E' on Eltinge was that she considered it the correct way and liked it better and the name when written looked more finished and appeared better.'

One would think that the actual descendant of the Elting(e) family would have the final say, but he died first, so I guess she won. To further complicate the issue for the government, Dr. Edgar Eltinge sent an affidavit re Daniel's death, but listed the name as Capt. Daniel D. Eltinge! That caused the paper to be returned with the the question 'Is Dr. Eltinge clmts brother?' scrawled across the bottom of the page. Poor Mary. Adding that final 'E' to her name just increased her problems. "

                 Originally published in "The Historian" official newsletter of the Bevier-Elting Family Association of New Paltz, NY.  June 2003. Page 2.  By Grace Elting Castle

"The Recipe"

I'm still cleaning my office...and finding amazing piles of paper that there is no reason to keep! But a few treasures are appearing that will be added to this blog in the coming days. The following was published in "On Huguenot Street," the official newsletter of the Huguenot Historical Society of New Paltz, NY, in February 2000. I thought you might enjoy reading about an adventure I had with two of my grandsons.

A Whole Gallon of Yuck

By Grace Elting Castle

Eric Roth's newly-discovered recipe for non-alcoholic beer seemed just the right project for two young Oregon men about to make their first trip to New Paltz and their ancestral stone houses. The ingredients were carefully collected, the recipe decreased to a more manageable one gallon, and the project was begun.

Kyle Utterback, the 12-year-old in charge of most of the cooking during this special three week visit to Grandma's Illinois home, measured and stirred and wondered if this was really the way it was supposed to be done. His 14-year-old cousin, Ty Cary, observed the preparations and was certain that nothing good could come of anything that smelled so badly!

The plan was to save a special bottle of the 'brew' to take to Eric so that he could sample it during Stone House Day and perhaps have his photo taken with the cook and his helper (critic). But, on the morning the trip was to begin, 'the recipe' as it had been dubbed, was smelling so obnoxious that Kyle refused to taste it, and Ty announced that he would not be riding in the same car as the special bottle!

It was left to Grandma Grace to be the official taster---and she has yet to recover! This recipe turned into the most horrible, foul-tasting and smelling concoction imaginable. No, actually, it was unimaginable  and indescribable. Such spitting and sputtering you have never seen. Nor are you  likely to have ever witnessed such hilarity and carrying on as was displayed by the boys as they watched their Grandmother try to recuperate from 'the recipe.'

Needless to say, the brew was promptly poured down the sink, followed with a little prayer that it wouldn't eat the drainpipe, and our faithful archivist escaped having to pretend to like his special bottle of brew. We suspect it was the yeast that created the stench and bad taste---but we're not brave enough to try it again to be certain!

Note: The editor's note that appeared with my article stated that food historian Ms. Peter G. Rose, confirmed that the foul taste was probably due to the increased potency of modern yeast as opposed to the weaker consistencies commonly used in the 19th century. Alterations to the original recipe were also published.

Those Office Cleaning Surprises: Carlisle Notes

Though I don't do it nearly often enough, I love cleaning and sorting the stacks, piles and files in my office. Yes, it's the typical writer's room with just enough (most of the time) room to get to the computer, but this "stuff" is all really important, you know? 

So, recently I've been diligently going through everything trying to get this room to match the rest of the house.  Some months ago I donated a large amount of my books...but alas they've been replaced by new ones.

I've started to ship off files of information collected over the past decades hoping that the new owners will actually get around to writing about the topic that I once thought was "the one!"  I've stopped clipping items from the daily newspaper, except for items that might be used in upcoming articles for PI Magazine.  Good starts, I think. 

A couple of days ago, somewhere in one of the heaps, I found an envelope postmarked "1979" and received from my great-aunt Frances (Carlisle) Lanigan, who has since walked on. Inside was a treasure trove of family genealogy information.  Obviously, it was sent in response to my request when I thought genealogy was my calling.  I've since realized that the family STORIES are what I love to research and to write about, but I am so happy to rediscover Auntie's notes.

My Grandmother Pearl (Carlisle) Smith, Frances' older sister, had often mentioned that "We're related to President Grant."  I had forgotten about this note from Auntie:

            "Dency Ann King's mother was a Grant before marriage---
a relative of Ulisses (sic) S. Grant---the president."

Dency Ann (King) Carlisle was my great-great grandmother, grandmother of Pearl and Frances.

I'll have to check with the family genealogists' records to see what proof there might be, but this is the kind of interesting tidbit that can lead to an interesting family story.

These interesting names and dates were included in the envelope of notes. The persons mentioned are my great-great Carlisle grandparents and their children, including my great-grandfather John Edward Carlisle.  I do not have "official genealogical verification" for these dates, though I have no reason to doubt them.

George Carlisle                                b. Nov. 20, 1831

Dency Ann (King)                            b.  Feb. 28, 1837

                                                          d. Dec. 25, 1912

Children:

Ebenezer Ashley                             b. Oct. 15, 1852

                                                         d. March 1933

Frances Antoinette                         b. Nov. 3, 1855

John Edward                                   b. Oct. 24 or 26, 1857

George Washington

      Dennis                                       b.  Nov. 19, 1860

Ellroy Ellsworth                              b.  Dec. 14, 1862

Archibald                                         b. July 2, 1865

Jeffie & Sister  (died as babies)    b.  June 23, 1867

Minnie Dency                                 b. Aug. 26, 1870

                                                         d. Jan. 11, 1940

Hector Gregor                                b. Dec. 12, 1872

                                                        d. Jan. 12, 1940

It was John Edward Carlisle (above) who married Lillias Ann Horner. Their only child, Pearl Eleanor Carlisle was my grandmother. An earlier entry on this blog sought contact from anyone having information on the late Lillias (sometimes written as Lillian)  Horner Carlisle.

FaceBook Site for Historic Huguenot Street

I've just discovered the Historic Huguenot Street site on FaceBook. Really interesting information and lots more to come, I'm sure. Let's get an Elting presence on the fan group. Nearly 500 people have joined in so far, but I didn't see a lot of Elting names. Of course some of us are kind of "incognito" not having our maiden names included. Check it out and add some comments.

Biennial Elting Reunion

REUNION OF DESCENDANTS OF JAMES AND CORA MAE (BEERE) ELTING: July 19, 2010

Elting cousin Bobbie Soupos has announced a three day cruise between southern California and Ensenada, Mexico as the next reunion of the descendants of James and Cora Elting. Cabins are filling quickly so contact Bobbie at bsoupos@sbcglobal.com or the Carnival cruise rep, Megan Callahan at 888-407-2784, ext. 7103.

We have these reunions every two years at a US location---wherever a cousin will host it. They are always lots of fun, and open to ALL Eltings to participate.

Beere Family

Those Elting family members descended from James Everett and Ethel Grace (Smith) Elting may be interested in the FaceBook group entitled "Are You A Beere?SurnameBeere". I've joined and will be adding some of Dad's (James Everett) mother's family history soon. She was Cora Mae (Beere) Elting. I've never known of any people surnamed Beere other than Grandma's family so it will be interesting to see what connections can be made on this FaceBook site. You can get to it by searching for Beere and then clicking on "groups".

Revolutionary War Era to be background theme for "The Gathering"

Don't forget to calendar the August 13-15, 2010 "Gathering" in New Paltz, NY! It's going to be a great celebration of the history of the original families of New Paltz, with a background theme focusing on the the Revolutionary War period.

Registration and activity information will be posted here as it is developed, but it's never too early to make your room reservations in New Paltz or nearby villages. Availability is always limited in the summer and fall in the mid-Hudson River Valley.

The event, with Saturday as the main activity day, is hosted by the Family Collaboration Committee of the Huguenot Historical Society of New Paltz, NY. Most activities will take place on Historic Huguenot Street or nearby venues.

For further information: gecastle@cluesonline.com

Writing Family History

Have you ever had the urge to put all those little snippets of family history into a book? Perhaps others are urging you to do so as they want to have access to your collection? Or perhaps you have grandchildren who are (or will be someday) interested in the stories that are in your files.

Now is the time to begin! The following tips are derived from preparing for the publication of my book, "Answering the Call! An Elting Military Tribute." The stories and photos from this ten year research project were compiled into a book over the summer of 2008 (stretching a little bit into the fall as I struggled with a computer program formatting the pages).

1. Decide on the topic of your book and stick to it. For "Answering.." of course it was the military history of our family. If this step is neglected, you'll be bogged down in research (though happily) for centuries. It's OK to make copies of everything else family-related as you collect material for your book, but keep it separate and don't allow it to get you sidetracked on yet another topic.

2. Decide on your filing system and stick to it. Writing the book will be so much easier if the research material is carefully organized. File your topic material separately from the other family history treasures you've discovered.

3. Carefully document the source of all materials (Stories, photos, obituaries, newspaper and magazine articles, websites, etc.)

4. Set a deadline for completion of the research. I didn't---and after ten years had to tell myself "Enough, already!"

5. Begin compiling names and addresses (snail and e-mail) of interested persons (relatives, friends, librarians) when you begin the research and build on it throughout.

6. When you find someone with great information or stories, get it immediately. Use a recorder as much as possible. Hire someone to get it for you if you're too distant and can't get it any other way. People have a habit of passing away before we get the stories!

7. Stay abreast of technology. There is a multitude of information available on the Internet, for instance, that I could never have dreamed of when I decided to write this book.

8. Give your book a title from the very beginning of the project. It may not be the one you actually use, but having a title helps focus on the project. With a title you realize that you're working on a BOOK.

9. Be on the lookout for the best printing company. Most family histories will be self-published and you want your book comparable to ones released through the best publishers. Pay attention to who printed the books you purchase in local history venues (libraries, museums, gift shops). Contact the printer and ask all the questions you have. The best printers will happily assist you with each step. (My printer is Maverick Books in Bend, OR. Wonderful company!)

My book? It's 224 pages of Elting military history with photos and information not only on a representative number of the descendants of Jan and Jacomyntje (Slecht) Elting who have served in the US military from the mid-1600s through mid-2008, but also a smidgen of the history of the village of New Paltz, NY. Order at http://www.cluesonline.com/ or e-mail me at gecastle@cluesonline.com

Old New York---Check it Out!

There is a VERY interesting article in the September 2009 issue of National Geographic magazine.

"Before New York, Rediscovering the Wilderness of 1609" discusses the work that has been done to use modern equipment and ingenuity to recreate what New York City looked like in 1609. It's fascinating and helps one to imagine what our Elting ancestor, Jan, found when he arrived there about a half century later.

I had never thought about this topic prior to opening the mail yesterday, and now I can't quit thinking about it!

Answering the Call! An Elting Military Tribute

Answering the Call! is my book honoring Elting descendants who have served in the military during the period between the mid-1600s and mid-2008. There are 224 pages of photos and biographical information on the men (and two women) who represent all the many hundreds (perhaps thousands) of the descendants of Jan and Jacomyntje (Slecht) Elting(e) who have served this nation since before it declared independence from Great Britain!

There is also information on the early history of New Paltz, NY where Roelif Elting, the couple's son, married a DuBois and started an Elting presence in the village that continues today. There's a chapter on early slave activity in the village...including Elting participation.

There are some surprises, including that General George Patton was a descendant, as was Admiral Morton Deyo. Their stories are included. Other surnames range from Bright to Pattou to France, Crispell, Blum, DuBois, Schoonmaker, LeFevre, Gilles, Greeley, Hasbrouck, Fawver, Hite, Houghtaling, Kennoch, Howell, LaDue, Mitchell, Osterhoudt, Peters, Smith, Snyder, VanWagenen, Webb, Wionowsky, Woolsey, Wright, Wygant and Yandeau.

The result of ten years of research, with lots of input and donations of photos and information from Elting(e) descendants, this book is privately published and a limited edition. It's the perfect gift for your family genealogist, historian or history buff!

Order at http://www.cluesonline.com/ while it's still available!!

While you're there, you might also want to order one of the CDs of the Elting genealogy book published by James W. Elting of South Carolina.

Who Knows About Our Lillie (Horner) Carlisle?

One of the mysteries in our family is the story behind the seemingly ill-fated marriage of John Edward Carlisle and his young wife, Lillias Ann (Horner) Carlisle who died in Denver, Colorado. "Lillie" was the mother of my maternal grandmother, Pearl Eleanor (Carlisle) Smith, and apparently died when Pearl was a very young child. Watch this site for additional clues about this story, but if you have "Lillie" in your family tree, please contact me!

"Gathering" Planned in New Paltz, NY

An August 2010 "gathering" is being planned by the Family Associations of the Huguenot Historical Society of New Paltz, NY. Two independent Family Associations are also joining in the exciting and historical event. The participating Family Associations include the Bevier-Eltings, Crispells, Deyos, DuBoises, Freers, Gerows, Hasbroucks, LeFevres, Magnys, Schoonmakers and Terwilligers.

All descendants of the Patentees of the original New Paltz area, their family and friends, as well as others interested in the Mid-Hudson Valley history are urged to mark their calendars for the August 13-15, 2010 weekend. Registration information will be available in a few weeks.