Create a Genealogy Bucket List

I love Jack Nicholson movies. No one delivers the line "Here's Johnny!" like he did in The Shining. The other night I was channel surfing and came across Jack and Morgan Freeman in The Bucket List and it got me to thinking about my own bucket list... my Genealogy Bucket List.

My Genealogy Bucket List

What would be on your bucket list if you had unlimited resources or a time machine? While it is not complete, here are some of the ideas I had.

1. Travel to Sterbitz Germany, home of the Schwemm Family. While I would love to find all the birth and christening records what I would really like is to see Sterbitz and learn a bit about its history.

2. Organize a Keteri/Johnson Family Reunion. This is my mother's family and the majority live in Michigan and Minnesota. Since I am one of the older cousins there are many younger cousins I have not seen since they were young children or never met.

3. Track down the descendents of Gustav Blum's wife, Elsa. Gustav may have been my great grandmother's half sibling. Elsa was in an insane asylum when he killed their two children and himself. I would love to find out more about this tragic event and possibly some family photos.

4. Speak at a National Genealogy Conference. While I realize I have a lot of work to do to be considered for such a spot, it is on my bucket list.

5. Win a spot on Family Tree Magazine's top blog list.

6. Time Travel. If this becomes possible in my lifetime I would love an hour with Matilda Mueller Strunk Blum Schumacher. She may or may not be my great great grandmother. While I am fairly certain she was Gustav Blum's mother (see number 3) I have not been able to prove her relationship with Johanna Wilmeir Pahlke, my great grandmother. Johanna and Gus are referred to as half brother and sister, but I have nothing to prove the relationship. Plus, having been married 3 times, she probably has some great stories!

7. Research at the Salt Lake City library for a week. While I have been there before I find that just being there is inspiring and allows me to focus. I love libraries and that is the ultimate library!

Why Start a Bucket List?

I think atarting a Bucket List helped me focus on what I really want out of my genealogy. Sure, I would like to find every birth, death and marriage certificate for every relative but I would also like to connect with living cousins.

On a personal level I enjoy writing this blog and doing presentations so it is natural to want to kick it up a level or two. Listing it on my bucket list makes the goal more real.

So, sit down and do it - create your Genealogy Bucket List. It will help you focus and set goals for yourself and your research.

Take Care,
Pattie

Unknown Woman, Johanna Pahlke (standing) Florence Schwemm Pahlke sitting with son Newton Pahlke

Sunday's Obituary - Sophie Dehmlow Schwemm

Mother: Marie Doss
Father: Christian Dehmlow

Married: William David Schwemm - Dec 2, 1893

Crystal Lake Herald - January 3, 1957

Funeral Services for Mrs. Sophie Schwemm, 83, of Crystal Lake, sister-in-law of Mrs. John Schwemm of Liberty Street and Mrs. William Schnetlage of North Avenue, were held on Monday.

She was born March 2, 1873 at Bassendorf, Germany, the daughter of Christian and Marie Doss Dehmlow. The family came to this county and became early settlers in Algonquin when the deceased was nine years old.

In 1893 at Algonquin she married William Schwemm, who died four years ago. They farmed in the Algonquin-Crystal Lake-Cary area. Mrs. Schwemm's interests centered in her home, her family and her lovely garden. She was an earnest church worker and a 'good neighbor'.

Surviving are a daughter, Esther, Crystal Lake; seven sons, Edwin, Alvin, Raymond, Leslie and Howard, Crystal Lakel Emil, Cary and Gordon, Lake Geneva, Wis., and four grandchildren. A son, daughter, two brothers and a sister preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held at the Warner Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Monday and at 2 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church with the Rev. Fred Duever officiating. Burial was in the Algonquin Cemetery.

Sunday's Obituary - Gustav Pahlke

Father: Christian Pahlke
Mother: Elisabeth Knoblach

Married: Caroline Justine Gerber - March 3, 1887
Married: Johanna Wehmeier - February 21, 1891

Gustav Pahlke of North Avenue died suddenly Monday of Heart failure, in his seventy-first year. Funeral Services were at Foelschow's funeral home, then a church service at St. Paul;s Evangelicial Church. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

Gustav Pahlke was born October 16, 1859 at Mechlenburg-Schwerin, Germany.

He came to America in 1880 settling on a farm near Barrington. He was married to Lena Gerber on 1885 and they were the parents of one son, Alvin. His first wife died in 1889, and he was married in 1890 to Johanna Blum who survives. Two sons, Arthur and William and a daughter Mrs. Anna Nordmeier survive this union.

Besides the four children, Mr Pahlke also leaves two sisters, Mrs. Anna Schuster of Chicago and Mrs. John Friedland of Elgin, and six grandchildren.

Mr. Pahlke moved into Barrington with his family fourteen years ago and has since resided here.

News Items About Gustav in the Local Papers

Barrington Review - December 10, 1892
Mr. August Pahlke received severe injuries at the gravel pit last Friday, the gravel caving in upon him.


Daily Herald - March 3, 1905
Local News - Schaumburg
Aug. Pehlke and wife of Palatine, on their way to Elgin, visited Fred Salge, during the snowstorm. Fred hooked up two broncos and delivered them safely at Roselle.

Barrington Review - October 8 1908
August Pahlke had a runaway Sunday noon. He was thrown from his buggy and sustained slight injuries.


Barrington Review - December 7, 1916 pg 7
Auction Sale
Williams Peters, Auctioneer

Having decided to quit farming, I will sell my entire farming outfit on my farm located 2 miles southeast of Barrington, 4 miles northwest of Palatine and 3 miles south of Lake Zurich known as the old John Schoppe farm.

Barrington Review - Tuesday, December 12, 1916
Commencing at 10 o'clock a.m., the following described property:

28 head of Livestock

10 cows, 2 with calves by their sides, balance springers and milkers;
13 two year old Holstein heifers;
6 spring Holsteins.
Five Head Horses - 1 black gelding 12 years old wt 1300; 1 gray mare
14 years old,;
One driving horse 6 years old, pair mare colts coming
2 years old.
Two fat hogs.

Large amount of farm implements,
Hay and Feed: 17 ?, tame hay, 30 acres corn in shock, 50 bushels of wheat.

Self-feeder heating stove
Usual terms of sale with 6 months' time of bankable notes.

Free Lunch at noon.

August Pahlke, Proprietor

Barrington Review - December 14, 1916
The August Pahlke farm sale southeast of town was held on Tuesday. The family will move at once to Barrington and occupy the Mundhenke house near North Hawley Street.

Barrington Review - December 21, 1916
August Pahlke and family moved Tuesday from Palatine township to North Hawley Street, after thirteen years of residence on the Schoppe farm.