Ancestry DNA

I had a tremendously exciting event the other day - I found a 2nd cousin once removed through the DNA feature of Ancestry.com. We are now Facebook friends and I am learning about her life and family.
Her mother is my second cousin. Her mother has met my grandmother, and presumably, my mother, too, though no one really remembers that. My mother and my new FB friend/cousin's grandfather are first cousins. They, of course, know one another, but had lost touch. (Thank goodness for Facebook. I mean, what a wonderful way to stay in someone else's life without being totally intrusive.)
An additional twist to this story is that my newly found cousin is adopted - though she knows both her biological parents. Her father is also adopted, so if and when she gets another hit and finds a relative of his, that could be really exciting and scary for her.

On another incredibly fun note, my DNA-found cousin's biological mother, my second cousin, is moving very close to where I live and we are all going to get together. How wonderful is that? Additionally, I don't have much information on that branch of the tree, so I am hoping she will have photographs and stories to tell. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Reviews

So, I dined with an old friend the other night and the service was terrible (ok, inexperienced, untrained and young). I was busily thinking about the review in my brain and then I remembered something I heard a book critique say; I think it was Oline Cogdill who said it on a podcast. She said that people remember the book titles, but perhaps not whether it was a worthwhile read, so she never writes a bad review. She would hate for a reader to read the book and waste that precious time in their lives. I thought, Hmmmm. That is probably wise. There is too much bad press or blogs out there as it is, why add to the cacophony? So, the conclusion I have drawn - and let's see if I can stick to it - is only recommend places that are worth checking out so that no one wastes their valuable time.
So, on that note, I am not going to write a review of the restaurant I tried the other night. Thank goodness the company was exceptional.

Arthur K. Drake

I have discovered that Mr. Drake did survive and I believe he went on to marry and have children. I am letting the information I added to Ancestry.com percolate so maybe some more green leaves will start shaking at me.

I gathered these images from the Ancestry page:

We can see he is from Bay Shore, Long Island in Suffolk County. He claims he was rejected by the Naval Reserves. And we can also see that he helps support his mother.

Arthur was captured, as we already know from Herb's report, but we see that he was released in December 1918. He seems to have spent a fair amount of time in the hospital. I suppose we will never know exactly what happened to brave Mr. Arthur K. Drake; maybe a relative of Mr. Drake's will see this posts and make a comment. Wouldn't that be grand?

It seems Mr. Drake came from a large family. I see this from the census documents. I wonder what his letters home looked like? I wonder what he talked about in his letters. I wonder if his brothers got in to any trouble that Arthur needed to straighten out. I wonder if he sent money home to help support the family. (I think Arthur might have been the youngest.) I wonder what he and Herb would talk about. Were they close? Was Arthur a nice, kind man or a bully? (Was Herb a bully, for all that matter? I suspect not, but that may be a bias on my part.) I suppose I will never know the answer to these questions.

French kissing and bacteria

So, I went to grab a story from my favorite magazine - the Week - and I discovered that they have changed their on-line presence and I can no longer grab an article from a certain amount of time backwards... Darn. Either I have to be on the ball to grab the article - and I believe I am giving proper credit - or I lose the chance to share with you, the universe.

In any event - it was an article about sharing the bacteria in our mouths with the people with whom we are most intimate and how that is, in fact, a very healthy thing. So there you go. This little tidbit was in the December 5th edition of the Week Magazine.

1918 May Report

Here we can see what Herb himself reported to the Brass about the activities of his Section. Seems like a pretty tough go. Evacuating under gun fire; loosing two men; at this point, unknown what happened to them. Russell C. Harrison and Arthur K. Drake .(I suppose I should see if I can find them in Ancestry.com.....)

Ekologic of Troy, NY

Ok, so I am seriously behind in my blogging - and I am especially aware of this oversight because I have been thinking about this this wonderful recycled clothing company. Kathleen Tesnakis sold me a fabulous recycled cashmere cardigan at the Bethesda Row Arts Festival this past early autumn. First off, let me just say that the Bethesda, Maryland Arts Festival is quite something - they have some seriously skilled artisans presenting and selling there on the two days in the fall. In 2015 the festival will be held on October 17th & 18th.

But back to Kathleen and her cashmere sweaters...

Here is a little something I took directly from their web site to describe their mission:

`e ko logic is a life philosophy based upon a sustainable way of living and creating. Every item in our clothing and accessory line is handmade in Troy, New York by recycling post-consumer used garments. We believe that you are much more than a consumer and we enjoy creating wearable art from recycled materials that speaks to your individual style. Together we can change the world…one garment at a time.

Here is blurb from the web site about the fiber artist, Kathleen:

Textile artist and designer Kathleen Tesnakis created `e ko logic in 1996 as an exploration in reuse. The creativity that recycling requires has provided years of inspiration. Every item she makes must be hand cut and combined like a collage as her raw material is multifarious in nature. Kathleen’s sustainable philosophy is deeply rooted in the `e ko logic studio where every bit of scrap waste is identified and resorted to develop future products. All of these actions take time but it is this very intention that resonates throughout the `e ko logic designs. You may have seen Kathleen’s work on the cover of Organic Style magazine, read about her in Daily Candy or seen her ‘fingerless mittens’ in Time magazine, to mention a few. This year, look for Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, rockin’ out in an `e ko logic recycled cashmere sweater, aptly named ‘Lee’. Currently, Kathleen operates `e ko logic with the help of her husband Charlie, bulldog Jasper and the studio team.

All products are handmade by recycling post-consumer used cashmere sweaters into one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories. In the 18 years since `e ko logic, Inc. was founded, over 7 tons of used clothing has been rescued and transformed. Kathleen chooses to use natural fibers because they allow your body to breathe and will eventually breakdown when landfilled. All `e ko logic products are made in their hometown of Troy, NY. This allows Kathleen to provide like-minded individuals with jobs they can put their hearts into. The garments used to create their raw material are discards from the NYC region. Reusing clothes as a raw material has many benefits; it decreases dependence on the water and chemicals required to make new materials, reduces the amount of used clothing being landfilled (85% of all used clothing is landfilled) and transforms a discarded product into something beautiful and functional that has the quality to last a second lifetime.

I believe i bought a version of the Julie Cuff in gray and blue. I wear it all the time. I swiped this from their web site, so let me give credit where it is due.

They make hats and sweaters and dresses, to name a few products. I like the idea a lot, and I am so happy to see a fashion business blooming in little, old Troy, NY.

On a side note, the folks at Wild Fibers Magazine have sponsored a Cashmere Community Center in India and Linda Cartwright, the journalist and founder of the magazine, leads trips to India to visit and promote this first community center for the nomadic peoples of this region. Pretty amazing stuff.

February 3rd, 1917

I was curious about today, roughly 100 years ago, and this is what the History Channel has provided me.

On this day in 1917, President Woodrow Wilson speaks for two hours before a historic session of Congress to announce that the United States is breaking diplomatic relations with Germany.

Due to the reintroduction of the German navy's policy of unlimited submarine warfare, announced two days earlier by Chancellor Theobald von Bethmann Hollwegg, Wilson announced that his government had no choice but to cut all diplomatic ties with Germany in order to uphold the honor and dignity of the United States. Though he maintained that We do not desire any hostile conflict with the German government, Wilson nevertheless cautioned that war would follow if Germany followed through on its threat to sink American ships without warning.

Later that day, Count von Bernstorff, the German ambassador to the U.S., received a note written by Secretary of State Robert Lansing stating that The President has directed me to announce to your Excellency that all diplomatic relations between the United States and the German empire are severed, and that the American Ambassador at Berlin will be immediately withdrawn, and in accordance with such announcement to deliver to your Excellency your passports. Bernstorff was guaranteed safe passage out of the country, but was ordered to leave Washington immediately. Also in the wake of Wilson's speech, all German cruisers docked in the United States were seized and the government formally demanded that all American prisoners being held in Germany be released at once.

On the same day, a German U-boat sunk the American cargo ship Housatonic off the Scilly Islands, just southwest of Britain. A British ship rescued the ship's crew, but its entire cargo of grain was lost.

In Berlin that night, before learning of the president's speech, German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann told U.S. Ambassador James J. Gerard that Everything will be alright. America will do nothing, for President Wilson is for peace and nothing else. Everything will go on as before. He was proved wrong the following morning, as news arrived of the break in relations between America and Germany, a decisive step towards U.S. entry into the First World War.

I read an interesting, but poorly written book, entitled The German American Experience by Don Heinrich Tolzmann which communicated to me that in fact the US had more German immigrants/citizens than citizens of English descent during this time - something like 25% Germans to 16% English, though we absolutely think of ourselves as an English nation. I thought that was an interesting point.

No News is Good News & Mother's Day

This is fun... Aunt Em and Uncle Harry are Oliver Lee's brother and sister-in-law. Rob is their only child. Clearly he is working at Banker's Trust. I assume perhaps he is not Herb's favorite cousin, as Charles certainly must hold that estimable position. Hmmmmm. Charles and Robert are also first cousins.... but Charles is 12 years older than Robert. I think we can assume Robert did not serve in the military... Uncle Harry - Horace - is a butcher according to the 1905 NY Census. Charlie's father was also a butcher... I believe they worked together and perhaps that is how Charlie's father John met Oliver's sister, Ida.
I am having a bit of difficulty deciphering the handwriting in additional censuses, but I think by 1920 both Uncle Harry and Robert are working in a Can Company. By 1925 it seems Uncle Harry has passed and Robert is living at home and working as a Machine Switcher. By 1930 Robert is married and working as an engineer at New York Telephone; his mother Emma is still living with him. By 1940 Robert has two children, a son and a daughter, and he is working as an Engineer in the communications industry; presumably still at New York Telephone.
Interestingly, though, the 1930 census says that Robert did serve in the military. Hmmm. Better see if I can find a trail.

I love the idea that another story was told about Robert and he was 'practically the adopted son of a millionaire.' Too wonderful.

Is this 'Saving Private Ryan' stuff? Three brothers are already serving so the government won't require another son? What might "it" be? Draft? Death? Injury? I wish I knew.

Who are the Westwoods? I suppose I should be firing up Ancestry.com and doing some research in Troy, New York. Lord knows there is probably enough information to do some research on the White Family.

Oh, look at that, Herb mentions the discussion we just had about context.



May 11 (1918)
Dearest Mother,
What happens to my letters is certainly enough – but try not to worry when you don’t hear from me. No news is good news, you know and never more so that now.

Your letter of April 21st came to-day. Of course, I didn’t know about Harry when I wrote him at Effingham but I’ve had your letters explaining the situation. Much as I hate to say it I’ve an idea that you’re taking Chas. all wrong. I’m going to tell you quite frankly what I think of the situation because I think I can see both sides of it. You put him in a very awkward position when you ask him to do something which he honestly believes is a very unwise thing to do. Please don’t think that I’m lacking in a family spirit when I say that I think he is quite right in believing that Harry is better off out of New York. I’ve told you, myself, that I don’t think it would be a good thing and that is still my opinion. I’ve told Harry so as well. It’s all right to talk about starting in the bottom in New York, but I’m not ashamed to say that I wouldn’t tackle it. I think you make a mistake in quoting Rob as any shining example, of course, I don’t know what may have developed in the past five months, but the last time I was in Banker’s Trust I saw for myself + Chas told me as well that he didn’t expect anything of Rob. The only reason he was in the Bond Department at all was because he happened to be at the head of the page list at the time when the enlargement of the Bond Department made necessary a boy to post clippings – which is exactly what Rob is doing. If Aunt Em or Uncle Harry have been telling you any glowing tales, I’d sprinkle a bit of salt on them. It wasn’t so long ago, you know, that Rob was practically the adopted son of a millionaire.

So, under the circumstances, Chas’ position wasn’t very pleasant. He had either to do something he considered inadvisable or else to seem very ungrateful. But that’s enough destructive criticism. It’s Harry’s game, of course, but if I were he, I’d try for some manufacturing line. At any rate I’d keep away from the “Street’ and especially the bond business. I don’t think he has an analytical brain. My faith, I wish I were where I could talk instead of writing. I don’t mean that an analytic brain is better than the other kind but I do mean that if you haven’t got it, there’s no use trying to compete with those who have at their own game. With the passion that he’s consistently had for photography and such things it isn’t at all likely that he’d ever make a good statistician or inside worker, and I think he’d be flying in the face of Providence to try it. It’s like trying to make a lawyer out of a born engineer or chemist – it just can’t be done.

I do hope I haven’t hurt either your feelings or Harry’s – I’ve tried not to, at any rate I hope you’ll take what I’ve said with the spirit that I’ve written it. I feel sure you will. At any rate, I felt I had to say something, and, over here I can do nothing but offer the best advice I’m capable of.

I hope that you could get down to visit Mrs. White. She did catch it rather hard and I can well believe that she’s rather broken up about “it”. I hardly believe they’ll take Howard since Lester, Edwin and Raymond have already gone.

I think by now I’ve gotten practically all your letters that have come due, though some of them have taken a good long time in arriving.

What are the Westwoods going to do now. [sic]

It was nice of Mr. Blake to come up to tell you about me. I haven’t seen Herb since and I don’t know where he is now.

Besides your letter in to-day’s mail I had one from Karolyn and also one from Ren Fleming as Secretary of Mt. Zion lodge – a very nice letter.

The weather is rather better lately. Not too warm but warm enough to go without a coat most of the time. We got an indoor baseball and bat from the Y.M.C.A. and manage to have at least one game a day. With the daylight saving plan it’s bright enough to play until going on nice o’clock.

I dare say you know more about the military situation than I – English papers are never very lavish of details. It looks favorable to me, so long as the U.S.A. continues to rush man + food and supplies. That’s what counts. The sooner we can put an immense army in the field the sooner it will be over, with the Allies victorious. I rather think we won’t be found lacking.

Best love,
Herb

May 12
Dear Mother,

Today is Mother’s day, but it seems to have had a bad effect on the weather. I’d like to go to church but there isn’t any except the French Catholic one in the village. I shall be thinking of you, though I can’t go to church with you.

Your affectionate son,
Herb.

Context for May 1918

I went to the History Channel's web site to see what was happening in the War at this time and this is what I found, word for word... so let me give credit to the History Channel here. It is interesting to contemplate as Herb seems oblivious to what is going on at the highest levels as he talks about daylight savings and poslam ointment here.

On this day in 1918, in a conference of Allied military leaders at Abbeville, France, the U.S., Britain and France argue over the entrance of American troops into World War I.

On March 23, two days after the launch of a major German offensive in northern France, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George telegraphed the British ambassador in Washington, Lord Reading, urging him to explain to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson that without help from the U.S., "we cannot keep our divisions suppliedfor more than a short time at the present rate of loss.This situation is undoubtedly critical and if America delays now she may be too late." In response, Wilson agreed to send a direct order to the commander in chief of the American Expeditionary Force, General John J. Pershing, telling him that American troops already in France should join British and French divisions immediately, without waiting for enough soldiers to arrive to form brigades of their own. Pershing agreed to this on April 2, providing a boost in morale for the exhausted Allies.

The continued German offensive continued to take its toll throughout the month of April, however, as the majority of American troops in Europe—now arriving at a rate of 120,000 month—still did not see battle. In a meeting of the Supreme War Council of Allied leaders at Abbeville, near the coast of the English Channel, which began on May 1, 1918, Clemenceau, Lloyd George and General Ferdinand Foch, the recently named generalissimo of all Allied forces on the Western Front, worked to persuade Pershing to send all the existing American troops into the fray at once. Pershing resisted, reminding the group that the U.S. had entered the war "independently" of the other Allies—indeed, the U.S. would insist during and after the war on being known as an "associate" rather than a full-fledged ally—and stating "I do not suppose that the American army is to be entirely at the disposal of the French and British commands."

On May 2, the second day of the meeting, the debate continued, with Pershing holding his ground in the face of heated appeals by the other leaders. He proposed a compromise, which in the end Lloyd George and Clemenceau had no choice but to accept: the U.S. would send the 130,000 troops arriving in May, as well as another 150,000 in June, to join the Allied line directly. He would make no provision for July. This agreement meant that of the 650,000 American troops in Europe by the end of May 1918, roughly one-third would see action that summer; the other two-thirds would not join the line until they were organized, trained and ready to fight as a purely American army, which Pershing estimated would not happen until the late spring of 1919. By the time the war ended, though, on November 11, 1918, more than 2 million American soldiers had served on the battlefields of Western Europe, and some 50,000 of them had lost their lives.

And a little shout out to my friend, Marcy, who is celebrating today.

Still Quiet

What a nice son to send his money home.
As I write this, and I am not sure I mentioned it before, but Herb dies of lung cancer. Pretty sad when you think it started here. (I say that, but would need to go back and see if that is true... It has been so long since I have spent time with Herb that I have forgotten, though I believe at the outset of these letters there was some discussion with his Mom about the cigarettes he was receiving and how many he was smoking at any given time....)
Because Herb is surprised, the Mount Zion Lodge seems like an unlikely source for a gift, so I assume no family connection with the lodge; I am going to guess that researching there would not be fruitful. I do have some other documents for Masons lodges, but they have never contacted me back, which is disappointing.
Tom, if we recall is Tom Nial, mentioned here.

May 10, 1918
Dear Mother,
I’ve had no letter from you for some time, but I did have one from Karolyn day before yesterday.

I had two packages a few days ago. One was the cigarettes that Karolyn sent by Dad and the other was from – of all people – the Welfare Committee of Mt. Zion Lodge. I thought it was a mistake at first but my name + correct address was on it in several places so it must have been all right. There was quite a bit of tobacco + cigarettes in it and a couple of handkerchiefs. Rather decent of them, I thought. I suppose Dad must have handed in my name.

I find that I’ve more money than I need over here. You see my foreign service bonus pays my insurance premiums and so I have thirty a month clear. In francs that’s a good bit of money – more than I need, so I’ve made an allotment to Dad of $15 a month. Of course you probably won’t get it for a good while. There’s a bit of red tape and such things are slow moving so don’t worry about. After you get the first installment of fifteen it will come regularly every month. Please put it in the bank – under that old account of mine. It may be quite a bit before I get around to using it. Anyway I’ll need new clothes + things when I get back and it will provide for them.

Everything is just as ever here. I’m quite well, as usual, and the weather is a bit better. Things are still quiet and look as if they might continue so.

How is Tom making out?

I had a letter from Mr. Ferguson this week which I have not yet answered.
Love to all.
Your affectionate son,
Herb