Tombstone Tuesday - February 8, 2011

Hans Andersen  1859 – 1946

I have been scanning in photos from my Mother and Father’s trip to Norway from 1973. Some of my siblings will be visiting us in March and I am trying to get them photos scanned in so we can look at them while they are here. I have come across a great Tombstone Tuesday photo for today. It is the grave stone for Hans Andersen, my Great Grandfather in Norway.  It appears that he was born in March 25, 1859.  The month is hard to read on the stone.  I suppose that it could also be an 8 so it could be August. I will try to clarify that.  He died on June 15, 1946.  We had hope to go to this cemetery when I visited Norway this summer but there just was not enough time.  My next visit the I will have enough time to go visit it!

He is buried with his second wife, Matilda.

I believe that this cemetery is located on and island just off the coast of Norway in the Olso Fjord south west of Oslo.  The island in called Tjome and it his the birth place of Hans, my grandfather, Andrew and his brothers, Hagbart and Haakon.

Meet the Densmores

Charles Densmore was born in Dec 23, 1864 the fourth child of John C. and Sarah Louise (Reynolds) Densmore in Mount Clemens, Michigan. On March 27, 1890 a 25 year old Charles would marry Mary Morgan Hayner, daughter of Robert Wesley and Dorothy Ann (Morgan) Hayner who was 18 and born in Port Hope Michigan. They were married in Port Lampton, Ontario. Charles occupation is listed as farmer on his marriage license.

By the 1900 Federal Census, Charles and Mary have three living children, Addie, Charles Ray and Elizabeth and live in East China, St Clair County, Michigan. According to our family records, Mary and Charles had a son born on February 26, 1893. He died on March 18, 1893. The census record indicated that Mary has had four children and three are living. Charles occupation is listed as a day laborer and they have two boarders living with them in a rented home.

In the 1910 Federal Census, Charles and Mary are living in Cottrellville, St Clair County, Michigan. They have eight children living with them and their son-in-law. The children are listed as; Ray C, Elizabeth, Dorothy, (Jay)Morgan, John, Harry, Mary, son-in-law, Andrew Anderson and daughter Addie Anderson. Charles is a farm laborer and they are renting their residence. Ray Charles was a farm laborer also. Andrew is a wheelman on a steamer. (Great Lakes Ship)

In the 1920 census, Charles and Mary live in Marine City and own their home. His occupation is listed as a carpenter who works in the ship yard and builds homes. They have seven children living at home and Mary’s Mother, Dorothy who is widowed and is 78 years old. The seven children are: Charles Ray, Morgan, Dorothy, John, Harry, Mary and Allan.
 

Back row LtoR: ( Jay) Morgan, Elizabeth, Ray Charles, Addie, Dorothy
Front Row LtoR: Mary, Mary Morgan (Hayner), Harry, Charles holding Allan, John

In the 1930 Census, Charles and Mary are listed in Marine City and his occupation is sexton of the Marine City Cemetery. They have three children, a son-in-law and a grandson who live with them.  They are Ray Charles, Allan and their daughter Mary, her husband, Arthur K Kamer and their son, Richard.

I believe that I acquired my love of cemeteries from Charles Densmore, my Great Grandfather.  He managed the Marine City Cemetery for many years and would later pass the honor down to Andrew, his son-in-law, and my Grandfather.  Ironically neither of these men would be buried in the Marine City Cemetery. They were buried in Rose Hill, which is in East China Township, St Clair County, Michigan.

Love,

Jan

Remembering Mom...two years later...

It was two years ago yesterday that Mom joined my Dad in heaven!  Thought of her often yesterday, a bit more than a normal day. Over Thanksgiving, Greg and I stopped at the cemetery to say “Hello”  and take a few pictures. I miss her.  I miss her laugh, her smile and her faith that everything will work out!  "It always does!'  I can hear her say...It was her explanation for everything!  Some days I need a reminder of that and today is one of them I guess. So I went looking at her photos and I decided to share a few of her with you today.

Leah -  1931                                           Leah's Engagement Photo 1950

She often had a smile. She was so pretty!  When Dad met her,I can understand how he fell in love with her!

Christmas 1955

When she was with her children, she often had a big smile on her face. She was the best mother and loved her 6 children! Her family was always her most important priority.

Easter 1966

This is one of my favorite photos of Mom because she was not a fighter!  She would not have known how to start a fight. She was a gentle, non-confrontational person.  That is not to say that I could not make her mad.  I could and I did but she was quieter when she was mad but you knew you really messed up!  It was the “wait until I tell your father” mad!  And you knew that you were in deep trouble.  I talked back to her once!  When Dad got home…I was in trouble. A yard stick across my backside one time(because it broke) and I never did that again! They did not yell nor did they strike us. We had a really gentle household. Noisey, loud and crazy because there were so many of us but no fighting and when there was it was between us kids….

Teaching Mark how to fight in 1967.

Leah and some of her Grandkids - Brad, Madison, Kelsey, Zach and Gabe

Lead reading to Shawn and Kyle in Arizona.

The boys were all trying to get down to Mom’s level.  She had commented that the boys were all too tall and that the picture would look funny because she was so short! So they helped her out to make the picture look good. Then she decided that they were all being very silly! We all had a very good laugh over this one!

And even near the end, she had a smile on her face often and she was so thankful to have the love and support of a close family.  She was amused by the simpler things in life, like a new had for her birthday! 

One last camping trip and time at the beach!  All I can say it I love you!. I miss you!  I am trying to learn to have the steadfast faith that you always had!  Etched in my brain is the phrase " It will always work out"!  God will always be there to take care of us!

Love, Jan