One family and the month of October

Things are finally settling down with work and life that I finally have had time to get back to genealogy and my forgotten blog.  While looking at my family and trying to figure out what to write about something slapped me upside the head when I looked at my grandfather's family.  October was not such a great month for this family!

Vern John Plymesser 

and 

Frances Hazel Brackett Plymesser

My great grandfather was Vern John Plymesser.  Vern was born 6 December 1893 in Glidden, Carroll County, Iowa.  His parents were John Willis Plymesser and Mary Anna Dickey.  Vern married Frances Hazel Brackett on 30 April 1913.  Frances was born 23 March 1893 in Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa.  Her parents were  Benjamin Franklin Brackett and Martha Anne Truesdale.  

This is a scan of the Certificate of Marriage that was found in pieces in a box that my grandmother Margaret Hanson Plymesser had when she passed away.  Some pieces were not located but enough were found so that I could put it together and then scan with a Flip-Pal.  I then stitched it together so we will always have a copy!

Vern and Frances had 6 children.  

John Vern born 3 January 1914 in Churdan, Greene County, Iowa. 

Mildred Martha (Mick) born 2 June 1915 in Cedar Township, Greene County, Iowa.  

Lillian Maxine (Mac) born 10 June 1917 in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa.  

Dale Franklin born 30 December in Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa.  

Doris Arline (Arline) born 24 March 1922 in Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa.  

Donald Albert born 4 March 1924 in Center Grove, Dickinson County, Iowa. 

The weird part now comes in to play with October.  My grandfather John was the first to pass away on 5 October 1958 in Summit, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  He left 7 children ranging in ages from 20 to a one year old.   Vern was next in this family to pass away.  He passed away on 12 October 1966 in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  .  Frances did not live long after and passed away on 29 October 1967 also in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  So right now three people of the same family have all passed away in October.  This might be a bit scary for those that are superstitious.  

The family had a respite though for a bit until 5 January 1973 when Donald passed away in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  So maybe the "curse" was over and it was just a coincidence.  

Alas that was not to be on 5 October 1975 Dale passes away  in Tripoli, Oneida County, Wisconsin.  So now not only October but the fifth of October seems to be a day for holding your breath!  

The family once again gets a bit of a reprieve until Arline passes away in 1994.  However she passes away on 5 October 1994 in Fort Atkinson, Jefferson County, Wisconsin.  I can remember my Aunt Mac talking about dreading October and especially the fifth of October years before Arline passed away but especially after.  

The family once again does not have long before another family member passes. On 13 March 1995 Mic passes away in Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida.  It is truly a sad day for me as I was close to Mic and Mac.  Mic always came to see us when she came up to Florida.  Her and husband Luverne would come up and stay in the local motel in Oconomowoc.  They had the clothes hung in the back seat on the bar that would go from one back door to the other.  They would drive up to see the family in Wisconsin and then family in Iowa.  It was always a great time and they would always bring their dog with them.  However with Mic's passing this now left only Mac.  

Mac would be with us until 10 March 2006 when she passed away in  Milford, Dickinson County, Iowa. While I was sad to learn of Mic's passing the world seemed to drop out from underneath me when we heard about Mac.  We would drive to Iowa and get Mac and then drive her back to our house so she could stay with us. I always had to wash her hair for her as she could not do it.  She was a wonderful great aunt but we never called her that she was just Aunt Mac. She told great stories about growing up that would include her family but also my grandmother.  Mac was my grandmother Marge's friend.  My grandmother Margaret Hanson married John Vern Plymesser.  So Mac's stories were a double treat!  We would go see her in Iowa and of course have to go to the Gingham Inn for dinner.  There was always at least one stop at the Dairy Queen for a peanut buster parfait (even though she was not supposed to have them).  A trip to Okoboji to the park for fudge.  

So October was not the best month for this family but it does make those of us still here think about the awesome people that made us who we are.  It also provides us with so many ways to remember the family!  

Three Marriages and Two Wives: Figuring It All Out

Samuel F. Brackett was born 1 August 1827 in Limington, Oxford County, Maine.  He is the son of Samuel Brackett and Susan Foss.  He grows up in Maine and marries Elizabeth Libby on 20 October 1848 in Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine.  Elizabeth is born 26 June 1823 in Scarborough, Cumberland County, Maine.  She is the daughter of Cyrus Libby and Lois Libby (yes they have the same last name!!!).  Elizabeth and Samuel have a son George A born 6 June 1854 in Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  Their next child is Benjamin Franklin and he is born 31 January 1856 in Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin.  By 1860 the family is in Richmond, Shawano County Wisconsin.  The last child is Alice Abbie born May 1862 in Wisconsin.  By 9 August 1862 Samuel enlisted at Shawano County in the Civil War.  He was in Company I 32nd Infantry Regiment.  7 February 1863 finds him mustered out.

On 21 August 1866 Samuel married in Port Huron, St. Clair County, Michigan to Lucy Maria Ficke.  Lucy Maria Ficke was born 8 June 1847 in Canada.  Here's where things get a bit dicey!!!  In 1870 Lucy and Samuel are living in St. Anthony, Hennepin County, Minnesota by themselves.  There are no children and I have not seen where Elizabeth passed away.  So maybe a divorce?  On 1 March 1873 Samuel and Lucy once again marry in Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska.  If they married in Michigan why on earth would they marry again in Nebraska????  On 4 August 1875 they have a daughter Esa Pearl who is born in Iowa.

Not being able to find any information about Elizabeth I sent away for the pension record of Samuel.  In his interview he gives the name of his wife Lucy M Fick and that they were married in 1866 in Port Huron. How interesting though that the license he submits for proof of the marriage is from Nebraska!! When asked if he was previously married he said yes to Elizabeth Libby in Scarboro (sic) Maine.  He states the names of his children but the years are all wrong for all of them.

In 1905 Samuel dies and Lucy applies for a Widow's Pension.  Her declaration also confirms the 1873 marriage date in Nebraska.  However she gives a bit more information on Elizabeth that she died July 1870. So now I have a date but it doesn't help me find her.  Elizabeth is still among the missing.  If Elizabeth and Samuel divorced I have not found that either.  Did she die in Wisconsin or in Maine??

In 1870 Elizabeth and Samuel's daughter Alice is living with Elizabeth's sister Lydia and Lydia's husband Phineas Foss.  She continues to live with them in 1880 and she is called their granddaughter.  Benjamin cannot be found in the 1870 census (YET!) but is living with his father and step-mother in 1880.  He eventually marries Martha A. Truesdell and they in turn have a daughter named Frances Hazel Brackett who is my great grandmother.  George is married in 1878 in Greene County, Iowa to Sarah Roberts.  Still no sign of Elizabeth.

So hopefully someone else will see this blog and maybe help find out where Elizabeth went after her and Samuel split up.  Until then keep digging and trying to bring her story to life!