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Emails for September 2002

Enjoys "Summer Kitchen" article

Hi Dave, Just wanted to say I enjoyed your editorial "Sign Your Name Please" - I have to say I am not one that likes change - just because it is easier to do the familiar - but the new format is interesting...I especially also enjoyed the "Summer Kitchen" article - look forward to more.

I never get bored with hearing about your ancestors - it usually brings to my mind something from my own past to enjoy. I have had the experience of trying to get on the web site - and told too many on right then - but - hey - I just try later! The site is definitely worth the wait!

I appreciate all the time and effort you put into what it must take to keep up the site!!!

Thanks, Martha Lyons from Secor

Feels closer to "roots"

Dave, it is refreshing to read your comments and views on Minonk. My mother, Ruth Borden, would have been proud of you. You also remind me of Mr. Samuelson in your direct and unabashed approach to issues and topics facing Minonk. I have never felt you were promoting the "Dave Uphoff Show". I have always been impressed with the impartial approach you have taken to issues.

Having been away from Minonk since the early 70's, I look forward to reviewing the website weekly and feel much closer to my "roots". It is amazing how many people I recognize that have slipped from my memory.

Thanks for all you do. It truly appears to be a labor of love. Keep up the good work.

John Borden

Enjoyed visit to Minonk

We had a great time in Minonk and the surrounding area as we had a chance to visit with many of our relatives. It was a great time for all. We even got the opportunity to tour the old Schneider homestead on Seventh Street east of town. Thank you for your hospitality.

Steve Schneider, grandson of Henri Harri Schneider/Maggie Memmen Schneider

More data on Ostfriesland

Dave, I have some info about the people leaving Ostfriesland by the way of Bremen. My 53 year old gr. gr. grandmother Danekas came this way as a widow with 3 children ages 14,16,18. They left Bremen Sept. 1852 and arrived at New Orleans Nov. 1852. I have a copy of manifest of Bremen Bark Kepler......ship master was S. J. Krudoph. This was found in National Archives Microfilm Publications. Microcopy No 259. Passenger lists of vessels arriving at New Orleans 1820- 1902.

If Sherry or anyone else wants more info about this, e-mail me at chezerz@maxiis.com.

A genealogist who has done alot of digging......Emily Zivney

Looking to correspond

Hi, my name is John Baker, Bonner is my brother. Born and raised in Minonk. Have lived in Sparks, NV since early seventies. Am retired and spend MUCH time on line. Always glad to exchange "smiles" and chat about what ever.

Regards, John
email: Roadking95@netzero.net

Likes Miners' Park name

Hi Dave,
I like the idea of naming the park after the Miners of Minonk - and adding the history and background of mining to the park. I wonder if you were to ask some of our young people today what a lump of coal looks like and they would probably have no idea. There is something beautiful in a lump of coal - shiny black yet different shades of color when you hold it to the light. Growing up, I took the coal for granted - we had it delivered to the house and for fun one time, my brother and I slid down the pile (this was the smaller chunks that came later). Yes, we were covered with the black dust, but I don't remember mother scolding too much. It was only later that I understood the price the miners paid for all that coal!

Thanks again, Dave for all the interesting 'stuff'.

Martha from Secor

Weeds can be scary

I enjoyed your article and picture of roadside weeds. It made me think of the news item in the July 25th Boston Globe about the giant hog weed found in rural Massachusetts. It is originally from Asia and when they tried to hack it down the sap caused severe burn like sores. Now, some how I found that much scarier than the shark attack stories. You can stay out of the ocean, but it seem we are always out in our yards hacking out the weeds. And they always seemed 15 feet tall.

Sincerely,
Pamela Wilkey, Millis, MA

Votes for Miners' Park

I would like to thank Mr. Weistart for his educational piece on the Minonk Mine. I had no idea that the miners were treated with such indignity. Growing up, I can remember the miners, but was unaware to their plight. This was a most informative article. If I had a vote, I'd vote for "Miner's Park" without question.

Art Kettelhut

Miners' Park a good idea for tourism

Mr. Weistart's editorial is "right-on". In addition to preserving Minonk's diverse heritage, naming the park in such a fashion will also create a vehicle by where the park could be developed in a way that will attract people off of I39 and into our economic mainstream. Imagine a place where weary travels can park, stretch their legs while viewing preserved relics of our mining past. (Coal cars, locomotives, rail sections, a re-created coal miners house, etc.) The Garden Club might also become involved, and help create and maintain the landscaping. Other local organizations could lend a hand, and the park could truly become a tourist attraction.

Perhaps Mr. Weistart could be prevailed upon to develop such a proposal, and try to get the council to support it.

Joe Limbaugh

Appreciates rural photos

Dave, Your pictures Golden Fields and After the Rain on the Home page reminds me of the lines of "America the Beautiful". "Oh beautiful for spacious skies
for amber waves of grain"
We are so lucky to be living in America every day but especially during harvest, a favorite time of the year when the farmers put the land to rest for winter. Thank you for seeing the beauty in simple things of this rural neighbor hood and sharing them with the rest of the world through Minonk Talk. We appreciate your talents and hard work.

Ruth Ann Meierhofer

Likes new Dollar General store

Hi Dave, I read your editorial. First I want to say the new format is really nice. I like it. Easy to navigate, looks more professional to me. I do not get tired of hearing about your ancestors. I help the elderly in their homes. I have printed out some pics and articles and taken to Ida O'Brien, as she can remember most of the people, and she really enjoys it. I think you are doing fine, no one else would know how or a very few is my belief. ...and as far as Minonk talk being a one man show, well we would not have it at all if you had not started it, so it is your baby for sure, so waa waa to the nay sayers I say. It takes all kinds so do not let anything anyone says get you down. I am glad we have Minonk Talk. I also love the Dollar store and it has really cut down on my Pontiac trips. Now I go to the groc. here also, as why make a trip to Pontiac for only one place...when I used to go to the groc. and the Dollar store and Wal-Mart over there. Now it's a lot fewer trips to Pontiac for me. I love it. I hope to see more things go up out at our 39 exit too. It seems to be stagnant. However it took a long time to get what we do have there. Every time I go past it, there is a lot of traffic there. I can not send in any pics. of my ancestors because they were all from the deep South and would not mean a thing to anyone here and that is just the way of things.

Wanda Patterson

Model T's came in on Santa Fe

Your web site is really great and such a joy to look at. I have tried for several years to get a web site going for Washington IL but can not get the help I need with the locals. Many younger folks are not interested in history as we folks are. Just turned 63 and have seen the town change a lot in the last 50 years.

In one picture you have Motel T's unloading at a train station. It was stated that it was not known if it was Santa fe or I C C here in Washington. All the Motel T's came in by Santa FE were unloaded and taken uptown a distance of about 7 blocks. Do not know if there is a connection but Santa FE was a bigger road with faster freight at the time.

Tom Finson
Washington IL

Remembers grandparents also

Dave...

Your editorial on Grandparents Day conjured up old memories of my Grandma Kettelhut and Grandpa Seggerman. They both lived with us at 311 Maple Ave.

In those days, we took care of our own. Grandparents were not sent to a nursing home, unless the situation could not be handled in the home. I remember Saturday mornings. That was baking time. Our house was filled with the aroma of German Coffee cake and apple strudel, which Grandma looked over with loving care. On those mornings, the wonderful aroma, woke me from my sleep, and I eagerly jumped out of bed, into the kitchen to savor that warm, sweet coffee cake. Of course, you had to have that coffee to "dunk" it in. My Grandpa was a saucer drinker, as most old German men were..He'd fill the saucer with coffee and drink it down. I never could do that, I kept spilling it. No sense of balance on that one, I guess. Yes, the work ethic was strong. Grandpa had his garden with tomatoes, radishes, onions, and other garden delights.It was his "Victory Garden" which most folks had during the war. And, there was the grape vines that stretched across our back yard. The fruit from those vines produced some of the finest jelly and jam I have ever had. It put Smuckers to shame. You mentioned your Grandma mowing..We had an old push mower as well, but Grandpa mowed the lawn. He also has a work shop in the basement where he was always tinkering, and repairing items around the house.

Aren't we lucky to of had such an upbringing? It was a magical time for me, growing up in Minonk, surrounded by loving people and a home filled with caring.

Thank you for your wonderful editorial, and for your excellent efforts with MinonkTalk. Enclosing a picture of Grandpa Seggerman, his push mower, and me, when I was a youngster.

Art Kettelhut

Says "warsh" also

Thank you for including the term "warsh" in your recent editorial "Our German Origins". It served to renew the ribbings I receive from my now grown children who have long wondered ...."where did that come from?"

As a former employee of Henry Harms, I too remember his ability to respond to many incidents in his native tongue....German. Do I remember he also taught us the term "dum kopf"....a term used to describe a third person who had not demonstrated common sense? Henry provided many of us young employees with opportunities to demonstrate both our willingness and capabilities along with common sense.

Thanks for the editorial.

Gerry Schmidt

Wants more info on Ostfriesland

Hi Dave,
I really enjoyed the article about your great grandmother and also the article "Our German Origins".

I have some questions that you could perhaps answer about the Ostfriesland area, as all my ancestors also came from Ostfriesland. Could you tell me about the weather and the crops that are grown in the area? Is this perhaps an area with a lot of dairying? Is afternoon tea still a custom in Ostriesland, and do they still use green tea? If so, what do they serve with it? My grandmother and my mother always served afternoon tea to guests. Do you know what port in Germany that your great grandparents left from?

The Uphoffs came to the U.S. in 1855 and the Janssens in 1868 and I wonder if steam ships were used that early. I also do not know where they entered the U.S. or how they got to Illinois.

Did your great grandparents tell about their train trip to California? I read somewhere that you often had to change trains and railroads in travelling across the country in the early days.

Thanks again for a wonderful site that gives so much information. I hope that you will write more about your ancestors. How about a story about your aunt Adalin Bauman?

Sherry Lindeman

Editor's reply: I remember that Ostfriesland had a lot of holstein dairy cows. I think my ancestors left from the port of Bremen on the North Sea. I don't have the answers to the other questions yet, but maybe somebody else out in internetland can respond to your questions.