Previously Unidentified, their identities are now known!

Another contact has been made... this time with a Wiseman Cousin on the order of 3rd cousin once removed. And, as a result, several of my "Mystery Photos" that were posted a few years ago have been identified!



I've been in touch with Nancy, who left comments on two posts yesterday. She recognized one of the photos because it is the same one hanging on a wall in her hallway! Nancy is the great-granddaughter of Nathaniel Howard Wiseman whom I knew as "Uncle" Howard (he died when I was 8 years old). Howard was the son of my great-grandfather's brother, thus my 1st cousin twice removed.



Back in January .. I posted Little Darlings! Who are you? and was way off on my estimation of the date of the photos. Once it was determined, with help from a few readers, that the pictures were taken in the 1908-1909 time frame, I don't know why I didn't "connect" them with Howard's children. His daughter, Lucille, was born November 12, 1904 and his son, Robert was born August 4, 1907 - both in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Lucille is Nancy's grandmother.





Robert Wiseman, about 18 months to 2 years old, and Lucille Wiseman, about age 4. This is the photo that Nancy has hanging in a hall in her home.




I think this photo is also Lucille.


This photo was originally posted with the other two but I don't think it is Lucille and Robert - the style seems a little older to me - but I could be wrong ;-)



Anyway, two out of three is fine with me! And I'm very happy to have made contact with another cousin too.

Leavenworth Givler's Dome ..

Adam and I discussed an outing, but I had to be back in town in time for my class. So cragging was an obvious choice. I wanted to do something that involved placing gear and not just clipping bolts, so I convinced Adam to head to Leavenworth. Being that it is November we didn't get an early start, as it is usually a little too cold in the mornings to make climbing not fun. When we arrived in the Icicle, the temp was around 36° and clouds/fog were keeping us from direct sunlight.

November morning in the Icicle

Our plan was to hike up to Givler's Dome to climb Givler's Crack. This extra 45 minutes of hiking would give us more time for the day to warm up. Within ten minutes or so we were above the fog and receiving the warmth of the sun. We got off route a few times on the way up and had to scramble a bit to get back on track, but eventually made it to the base.

Since Adam was not up to leading the route, I would lead both pitches. And for whatever reason, the first pitch scares me. Perhaps because I flailed on it the first time I climbed the route. I've climbed it twice since then with no problems though. I placed a nut high and started up. I found the hands difficult as I had placed the piece where it interfered where I wanted to put them. I down climbed to the ground and restarted. After a few moves, I placed a second piece which then interfered with further hands. But I was able to move past it and continue. I finished the pitch feeling like it was the worst I had ever climbed it.

I brought Adam up and he had to hang on the rope to remove my stuck #4 from down low. He then climbed the second half of the pitch not using much crack technique for his hands. He arrived at the belay stating the first section wasn't as hard as I made it look.

Adam on the first pitch

We exchanged gear, and I was off leading the next pitch. I don't recall how I previously climbed it, but this time I wanted to try and keep my feet in the crack as much as possible. This proved a bit uncomfortable, but I persevered. Instead of going all the way to the top, I set up an intermediate belay once the angle eased, so I could see Adam climb. Unfortunately, the best spot for a comfortable belay did not offer a good view of the pitch, and I only got pics of him on the last portion of the pitch.

Adam on the second pitch

When Adam arrived at the belay, he kept going to the top finishing with the easy section to the boulder. We quickly hiked down to our packs. We took a lunch break and basked in the sun before heading to another destination, Rare Earth.

Adam finishing the route

For the second time this year, the Rare Earth crag has eluded me. Adam and I hiked around trying to find it, but wasted all of our time. Even consulting the newer guide book was unhelpful as it shows the crag to be down and right of Mastodon Roof. Turns out it is really down and left of it. After almost two hours of scrambling, hiking and bushwhacking, we found it but not with enough time to complete it and get back to Seattle. So we made note of where it was at, and hiked out.

It was great to be out on such a beautiful November day. It was a bummer that we only climbed one route. And even though we pitched it out to three pitches, it really is only two. I think we'll have a better idea of how to find Rare Earth the next time as well. I think this trip satisfied my urge to get out and rock climb, and perhaps my next trip this year will be to climb snow or ice.

Big Cloud

We saw this really big nice looking thunderhead cloud on our way home from the Jemez

On the Way Home From the Tournament

We saw this:



Pretty cool, huh?

Domestic Bike Share

In an unexpected turn of events, the Co-Habitant has hijacked the Urbana bike that's temporarily in my possession. Well, not hijacked exactly. It's more like we now share it. I keep the bike locked up outside, which makes it considerably more convenient to use than my other bikes, and one day it just happened. "Listen," he said, "I don't feel like dragging my Pashley out. Can I take that bike on a quick errand?" Somewhat surprised that he was willing to be seen riding a U-frame, I replied "Sure, just use the quick relea..." But didn't get to finish, as it only took seconds for him to adjust the seatpost.



The Co-Habitant is just over 6' tall, whereas I am 5'7", but making the adjustment back and forth is easy.



I rode a bike with a quick release seatpost in Austria in early , but found the lever to be stiff and difficult to use. My experience with the Brompton quick release was similar. In comparison, the lever on the Urbana bike is smooth and easy to operate.



And so, this is now our shared errand bike - though he rides it a bit differently from the way I ride it. Why do I suspect that this whole "errand" business was just an excuse to practice curb hopping?

It's pretty weird to see pictures of us both riding the same bicycle. I am of course more upright, because the saddle is lower.



Despite the U-frame, I don't think the Urbanalooks "feminine." The Co-Habitant says that he does not feel self-conscious riding it, and just sees it as a practical utility bike.



As a result of this experience, I've changed my mind about the usefulness of bicycles with adjustable unisex designs - such as the Workcycles FR8, the Urbana, and similar concepts (fill me in - what are the other popular bikes that allow for this?). I did not think we would have a need for a joint bike and I did not plan to share the Urbana, yet here we are both using it. For us, the aspects of the bike that make sharing it easy are the quick release seatpost, the low stepover U-frame, the ability to carry loads with minimum fuss, and the durability that allows it to be kept outdoors and within easy reach. A domestically shared errand-bike can be a worthwhile addition to any cycling household.

The Visionaries

Finding the pictures of the Nature Preserve the other day also reminded me that I said I would come back and share some more sculptures with you from the Botanical Gardens that we visited in Myrtle Beach.



This one features the couple that founded the gardens.





A poem written by the husband of the couple:



And another nature shot because I took hundreds of them that day.



So pretty, isn't it? I could have easily spent days in those gardens. We spent two days there and felt like we were rushing to see all there was there. Just a beautiful, peaceful place to be.



Living the life in Florida!

Salvaging Style with Hats, Scarves and Argyle

Spending what seems like all day trekking back and forth over hills, then dragging our loaded bikes to photoshoot locations across dunes and marshes... frankly I have abandoned all hope of appearing fresh or presentable. Cycling-condusive clothing and tangled, sweaty hair hidden under caps are the new me for the time being.



Well, at least the hats themselves can be nice. I have many, and am often asked where I get them. The sources are usually a mix of unidentifiable small shops, and uninspired places like Target and Urban Outfitters. This one is actually from the Army-Navy store in Provincetown, bought a few years back. It is a heavy wool "newspaper boy" type hat that, surprisingly, can be worn even in hot weather.



I have also finally mastered the art of tying a scarf around my disobedient hair, thanks to this post on Knitting Lemonade.

This is the first scarf-tying method that has worked for me so far - staying put all day, rather than sliding back off my head when I least expect it.



Thanks to the headscarf, my gaunt exhaustion is semi-disguised as glamorous fatigue. The blue fabric also matches the bruises on my legs rather nicely.



As for the Co-Habitant, he chooses to express himself with socks.

Here is another pair.Yes, argyle socksandSPD cycling shoes.Sure, things can get silly. But what better way to sweeten a long ride?

The Huffman/Hoffman Kinexxion :: John & Dietrich

As mentioned in my previous post, the father of Susannah (Huffman) Berlin was found to be John Huffman. Based upon cemetery transcriptions in the “Henry R. Baldwin Genealogical Records” published in 1963, his date of birth was November 1779. On page 131 it states that the transcriptions were taken on June 21, 1907 for Washingtonville Cemetery in Green Township, Mahoning County, Ohio. Washingtonville actually lies partly in Mahoning County and partly in Columbiana County (Mahoning was created from Columbiana in 1846). The record shows that John Hoffman was “born 1779 died Feb. 8, 1860 age 80 years 3 mos.” and his wife Catharine was “born 1780 died Feb. 10, 1857 age 77 yrs.” with a notation that she was “age 77 yrs. 10 mos. 10 days given in another notebook”.



Other researchers with whom I've had contact, as well as numerous online family trees show that John's parents are Detrick and Susannah (Alder) Hoffman. Of course, there are no or few sources provided in those online trees. John was reportedly born in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He was married to Catherine Coy on October 24, 1801 in Washington County, Maryland. Catherine's sister, Mary, was also married in Washington County, Maryland - on November 19, 1803 to Michael Huffman, reportedly the brother of John.



But there is a slight problem with the presumed parentage of John Huffman – one that other researchers I've been in contact with in the past did not mention - and this is where my heart sinks and my stomach gets tied up in knots - In looking at deed records, tax lists, and census records for Columbiana County, I found that there was more than one man named John Huffman/Hoffman living in the county during the same time period, 1808-1860.



Tax lists prior to 1816 are not available at the Family History Library. However, volume 1 of “Index Ohio Tax Lists 1806-1810” edited by Ronald Vern Jackson has the following entries in Columbiana County for the Hoffman surname of various spellings (Hoffman, Hufman, Huffman and possibly Huffan). The township was “Not Listed” except in 1808 when it was given as Springfield. The index does not provide any other information so there is no way of knowing, without looking at the originals, where the land was located or even if there were absentee landlords. Just because they were taxed on land doesn't mean they were actually living there.

1807: Detrick p5

1808: Derick p63*, John p62*

1809: Oedrick p13, John, p11, John, p12, Nicholas, p12

1810: Derrick, John p24, John p27, Michael, p27

On December 19, 1807 Michael Hofman purchased 101 acres in S10 T16 R3 (Green Township) from Daniel Ruigle and his wife May (v1 p316). All parties were of Columbiana County. This land was sold on April 27, 1819 by a Sheriff's sale to David Coy, John Clinker, Daniel Coy, Nancy Coy & Susanna Coy for a judgment of debt and damages. (v5 p418).



The first land record I found for Detrick Huffman was on March 6, 1809 when he purchased 81 ¾ acres in the NW 1/4 of S12 T15 R3 (Salem Township) from Christopher Bair and his wife Susana (v2 p28). He owned this land for the remainder of his life.



How many John Hoffmans were there? Two? Three? or more? It's hard to say for sure...



On the 8th of March 1808 John Hoffman of Washington County, Pennsylvania purchased Lot 189 in the town of New Lisbon from Gideon Hughes and his wife Rebecca (v1 p349). Three years later, on March 10, 1811 John Huffman and his wife Elizabeth, of Washington County, Pennsylvania sold Lot 189 in the town of New Lisbon to George Huffman (v3 p346).



On April 14, 1808 John Hoffman purchased 155 acres in S6 T8 R1 (Unity Township) from John Snook and his wife Catherine. All participants were “of Columbiana County” (v1 p382). On the same day, John Hoffman and Elizabeth his wife of the county of Columbiana, sold that land to John Whitmore (v2 p463). Columbiana County marriage records show that a John Hoffman married Elizabeth Shnok on May 26, 1808 (v1 p37). Several online databases show her name to be Snook. Anyway, the marriage was a month after the sale of land so it can't be the same John and Elizabeth. It could be the John and Elizabeth who were of Washington County, Pennsylvania in the March transactions. There were additional purchases by a John Hoffman in Unity Township – he was taxed on 85 acres in the NE 1/4 of S6 from 1816 through 1833.



June 4, 1808 John Hoffman purchased 160 acres in S36 T16 R3 (Green Township) from John Roller and wife Catherine, all were of Columbiana County (v1 p404). On the same day, John Huffman and Catharine his wife sold a portion of that land to David Coy “said section was confirmed to John Hufman by John Roller and his wife Catharine by deed dated June 4, 1808... the part now sold... containing 60 acres (v1 p399). David Coy was a half-brother of Catharine.



On August 24, 1811 John Hoffman of Columbiana County purchased 17 acres in S31 T9 R1 (Springfield Township) from William Chain and his wife Nancy (v3 p12). In 1819 Adam Hoffman purchased 124 acres in that section. In 1822 Jacob Hoffman purchased land in that section. In 1823, Adam Hoffman sold his 124 acres to John Hoffman. In 1826, John and Elizabeth Hoffman sold 60 acres to the five children of Henry Harmon and 64 acres to Christian Hilt. In 1828, John Hoffman (no wife listed) sold 6 acres to Jacob Hoffman. And there were other transactions by Jacob and John Hoffman in this section... it makes your head spin!







In 1846, Green Township and Springfield Township became part of Mahoning County. From the map above you can see that Springfield township is directly north of Unity, while Green Township is directly north of Salem. The land of John & Catherine was in Green Township north of Washingtonville while Detrick's land was in section 12 of Salem Township on the south side of Washingtonville. This places them in relatively close proximity to each other but does that mean that Detrick and "my" John are father and son?



To be continued... see The Huffman/Hoffman Kinexxion :: Detrick

Viennese Cyclists

I have finally gotten up the nerve to go beyond photographing parked bicycles, and to capture cyclists in actions. Here they are, on the streets of Vienna.

These photos were taken over the course of several days, along my normal walking routes.

Looking at these now, I am struck by how distinctly un-picturesque the surroundings are -- something that is actually quite difficult to achieve when photographing Vienna! But the cyclists sure look nice.

I did not have a chance to be selective and pretty much photographed whomever my camera was quick enough to capture. So this is a good sampling of what commuters here look like.

As you can see, the bicycles are mostly hybrids and comfort bikes, fitted with fenders, racks, baskets, etc. Lights are mandatory, so all bicycles here have them.

It is pretty common to see elderly persons cycling, often faster and more skillfully than younger ones.

Bicycles are allowed into most parks and courtyards including inside the Museum Quartier (a maze of court yards where many of Vienna's museums are located, as well as outdoor cafes and small gardens).

So there it is; my first bout of cyclist stealth photography. Granted, cycling culture in Vienna is not as dramatically stylish as in Amsterdam or Copenhagen, but overall still pretty cool -- at least compared to the US, where hunched over lycra-clad cyclists remain the norm.

Yellowstone :: Grand Prismatic Spring

Wednesday, August 31st - - Upon leaving the West Thumb area I stopped to see Old Faithful. I waited a little over half an hour for the old fellow to erupt. I'll just say it was less than spectacular. Old Faithful can have eruptions that last from a minute and a half to over four minutes. I happened to be there during one of the short eruptions in which it does not reach its maximum height. The next eruption, 90 minutes later, would probably have been a long one but I decided to go on to the next site on my list of “must see” things.





This diagram shows the features within the Midway Geyser Basin, the largest of which is the colorful Grand Prismatic Spring.





The water from the springs and pools in the area eventually makes its way to the Firehole River flowing below. Even here you could feel the heat from the water as it passed by. The sulfur smell was quite strong also.





A boardwalk trail meanders through the area giving you an “up close” look at the pools and springs. This is at the lower edge of Excelsior Geyser, which is currently dormant.





A panoramic view of Excelsior Geyser from its northern side (as with all photos, double-click on the image to view a larger version). Water flows from the geyser pool, down the hill, and into the Firehole River.





Water from the Grand Prismatic Spring flows into the Excelsior Geyser.



A view of Excelsior Geyser from its southwestern side.



Looking to the west toward the boardwalk around Grand Prismatic Spring from the boardwalk on the west side of Excelsior Geyser. The water is only a few inches deep between the two features.





The Grand Prismatic Spring. Colorful tendrils are formed by the heat-loving microorganisms where the water flows over the edge of the spring.





Looking back toward Excelsior Geyser.



The Opal Pool. You can just barely see Firehole River in the upper center of the photograph and the mountains way off in the far distance.





It was late in the evening when I headed back to the campground. This photo was taken along the western side of the southern loop in part of the Hayden Valley – that's the Yellowstone River flowing through the valley.



It had been a great day despite a few quick moving rain showers. The temperature was in the upper 60s and lower 70s all afternoon – great weather for sightseeing and playing the tourist!