Family Challenge

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

Here we are just a few days before Christmas and not long before we celebrate the arrival of the New Year --- 2017. My original plan for this week's article was to fill you in with all the events and records of the next person on cousin Ed Ostrom's Family Names List. A realistic look at that plan reminded me that this was a very busy time of the year. That you too would probably like a shorter, less detailed article to read.

So, I am setting aside the original plan and instead I want to suggest a challenge for you to participate in during the next few days. This challenge is a good item of discussion for you as you visit with family too.

The following is a photograph of Toline Ostrom née Paulson (1846-1934) while sitting at her spinning wheel. Toline was accomplished at using her spinning wheel and would use it for making clothes for her family. There are stories told by her descendants that Toline would collect sheep's wool that collected on the wire fencing of sheep's pen. This loose wool she would clean and then spin up into yarn using her spinning wheel. From this yarn she would knit socks, hats and mittens.

IMAGE: Toline Paulson at work making yarn on
her spinning wheel. Circa 1920. From the family
photograph collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

Now as the story goes, Toline brought this spinning wheel with her from Norway. That is possible; but I have nothing to substantiate that portion of the story. I understand that this spinning wheel was handed down to someone in the family and that it still exists... but where?

Your challenge is to find Toline's spinning wheel, to photograph it and send this photograph to me or someone you can count on who will get it to me. I would like to post an updated color photograph of this family heirloom to share with everyone in a future blog article. Along with this photograph, information on how it came to be with its current owner is also hoped for. As an extra bonus, if any of you can add to the story of how Toline would come to have this spinning wheel, please share that with us too.

I am in general an optimistic individual... so I look forward to sharing with everyone the responses that I receive. Wouldn't it be fun to solve this mystery? I know cousin Ed and I have unsuccessfully asked here and there about this spinning wheel. A good word about it now would be amazing!

As I close this post, I would like to invite you all to have a very Merry Christmas, with emphasis on having a joyous time, enjoying family and friends. Hoping too that you will join me here again soon after. A few days away from the computer is anticipated, but I'll will be back after the holidays, with more documents and stories to share. Looking forward to 2017 with you right here.

--  --  --

The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/12/family-challenge.html.

Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens

Amanuensis Monday - Obituary for Louise Jorgensen (1842-1927)

Dear FOLKS,

For today's transcription project I am sharing with you the obituary and funeral notice of Louise Jorgensen, née Lovise Wilhelmine Petersdatter, who was born on 20 April 1842 in Dragerup, Holbæk, Denmark and died on 30 May 1927 in Monterey, California. Louise was my father's paternal grandmother, or my great-grandmother. She moved from Denmark in 1902, at the age of 60. I recently wrote about her entry found on a passenger list and here is the link to that article.

Within this transcription, my comments are shown surrounded by square-brackets [ ].

IMAGE: Obituary for Louise Jorgensen
printed on 31 May 1927 in the
"Fresno Bee," Fresno, California.[1]

-------- transcription begins --------

Mrs. Louise Jorgensen
       Dies at Coast City

     Mrs. Louise Jorgensen, 85; mother of Mrs. L. Lauritzen of 1425 Blackstone Avenue, died yesterday at the home of another daughter, Mrs. J. Johansen in Monterey where she had been living since leaving Fresno one year ago. Besides her daughters, she leaves five sons, Carl and Andrew Jorgensen of Fresno, Peter Jorgensen of Minnesota, William Jorgensen of North Dakota and Chris Jorgensen of Denmark. Mrs. Jorgensen was a resident of Fresno twenty-four years, coming here in 1902. She was a native of Denmark. Funeral Services will be held in Fresno, the time and place to be announced later.

-------- transcription ends --------

A few days later a funeral notice was printed in another Fresno paper announcing the day, time and location of the event.

IMAGE: Funeral Notice for Louise
Jorgensen printed on 2 June 1927 in the
"Fresno Morning Republican," Fresno,
California, page 13, column 6.[2]

-------- transcription begins --------

Vital Statistics -- Deaths --

JORGENSEN --


At Monterey, Calif., May 30, 1927, Louise W. Jorgensen, dearly beloved mother of Marie Johansen of Monterey, Mrs. Anna Lauitzen [sic – s/b Lauritzen], Carl and Andrew Jorgensen of Fresno. William Jorgensen [sic] of North Dakota, Peter Jorgensen [sic] of Minnesota and Chris Jorgensen of Denmark; native of Denmark, aged 85 years.  Friends are invited to attend the funeral services, which will be held at the chapel of the Mission Undertaking company, North Broadway at Belmont, this (Thursday) at 3:30 o’clock.  Interment will be in Mountain View cemetery.

[Note. Louise's sons Louis and William used the surname JOHNSON instead of Jorgensen.]

-------- transcription ends --------

SOURCES:

1.) "Mrs. Louise Jorgensen Dies at Coast City," Fresno Bee, Fresno, California, USA, 31 May 1927, page and column unknown. Provided by California GenWeb volunteer, M Hoftiezer, mailed to this researcher on 25 November 2015.

2.) "JORGENSEN," The Fresno Morning Republican, Fresno, California, USA, 2 June 1927, page 13, column 6. Fresno County Public Library, San Joaquin Valley Heritage & Genealogy Center, 2420 Mariposa Street, Fresno, California, USA, phone 559-600-7323. [Visited by this researcher on 11 October 2015.]

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the roses," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand.

Wishing you a good day and a great week. It's a pleasure to have you stop by.

-- -- --

The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/12/amanuensis-monday-obituary-for-louise.html.

Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens

Goodbye to Olaus Ostrom (1850-1924)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

We are back this week to learn more about cousin Ed Ostrom's ancestors. Recently we have been learning about Olaus Ostrom (1850-1924), who was one of Ed's paternal great-grandparents. Olaus was my 2x great-grandfather.

Here are relationship lists so you can read the differences; cousin Ed's in BLUE and mine in RED:

1. Edwin Junior Ostrom, son of    
2. Edwin "Tom" Ostrom, son of      
3. Oscar Ostrom, son of            
4. Olaus Ostrom            
                           
1. Darlene Marie (Johnson) Steffens, daughter of
2. William Richard Johnson, son of
3. Olena Marie (Haner) Johnson/Culbertson, daughter of
4. Anna Malena (Ostrom) Haner, daughter of
5. Olaus Ostrom

As we have learned, Olaus was born in Norway in 1850 and he arrived in the U.S. in 1872. He was married in 1873 and homesteaded in Minnesota. It is in his older years, where we find ourselves now wondering what became of him. Unfortunately there are only two known photographs of Olaus, or Ole as many called him. I have shown you both. There is a photo that was taken circa 1924 that shows Olaus' wife Toline, surrounded by many of their children. It appears to have been taken while in North Dakota as they are standing in front of their son, Oscar Ostrom's home. Oscar homesteaded in Ward County, North Dakota. The purpose of their gathering is not known, unless it is to come together for a visit shortly after Olaus has passed away.

IMAGE: Tolina Ostrom, surrounded by some of her children,
ca. 1924 shortly after husband's death. Taken in Ward Co.,
ND at the home of Oscar Ostrom.

The individuals in this photograph are:

Left to Right:

1.   Olina Ostrom Ehlers

        b.5-8-1882 d.11- 9-1962

2.  Theodore Ostrom

         b.8-29-1880 d.4-5- 1961

3.  Tolina G. Paulson Ostrom

        b.3-9-1846 d.6-26-1934

4.  Oscar Ostrom

         b.2-29-1884 d.5-22-1973

5.  Anna Malena Ostrom Haner

         b.7-16-1877 d.12-13-1959

6.  Paul Bertil Ostrom   

         b.2-16-1888 d.1-15-1962

It is reported that Olaus sustained a broken back in February 1920. He was in bed one winter and remained unable to work for two years while it healed. When he was well enough, one day he went to cut thistles, and while out in the pasture, he suffered a stroke. He had this stroke on 20 July 1922. He then lived two more years, dying on the 17 July 1924.

IMAGE: Olaus O. Ostrom's death certificate,
provided by the Minnesota Department of Health.
I purchased this copy in Feb. 2003.

Format of the transcription is that it is a "fill-in-the-blanks" form. The entries that are added to the form are shown in RED and my comments are surrounded in square-brackets [ ]. His death certificate states:

--------transcription begins --------

Ostrem

State  of  Minnesota

Division of Vital Statistics

  4861[stamped]

certificate of death

Registration no.

no. in Registration Book 2

(Above numbers to be filled in only by local registrar or his deputy.)

1.  place of death

     County Grant

     Township

     Village Elbow Lake

     City      No. ,   St.,   Ward.

     (If death occurred in a hospital or institution, give its NAME

      instead of street and number)

2. Full name Olaus O. Ostrom

(2) Residence No.  St., Ward

     (Usual place of abode)

     (If nonresident give city or town and State.) 

    Length of residence for city or town where death occurred

        -yrs. 9 mos. -ds.

     How long in U.S if of foreign birth?

         53 yrs. -mos. -ds.

Personal and statistical particulars

3.  Sex Male

4.  Color or race White

5.  Single, married widowed divorced (WRITE the word)

      Married

5a. If married, widowed or divorced

        HUSBAND of Mrs. Tolline Ostrom

        (or) WIFE of

6. Date of Birth (month, day, year) Sept 30-1850

7. Age  years 79  Months 9  Days 17

       If LESS than 1 day, ___hrs. or ___min.

8. Occupation of deceased

     (a) Trade, Profession or particular kind of work

             retired farmer

     (b) General nature of industry, business, or 

         establishment in which employed (or employer)

     (c) Name of employer

9. Birthplace (city or town)

    (State or country)

       Norway

10. name of father Ommund Ostrom

11. birthplace of father (city or town)

    (State or country) Norway

12. maiden name of mother Bertha Knutsdatter

13. Birthplace of mother (city or town)

    (State or country) Norway

14. Informant Mrs. John Ehlers

     (Address)

15. Filed 7-19-1924 Thomas Casey REGISTRAR

 Medical  Certificate  of  Death

16. Date of Death (month, day and year)

       July 17,1924

17. I hereby certify that I attended deceased from

       Jan 1 1924 to July 15, 1924 and that I last saw him on

       July 15, 1924 and that death occurred on the date stated

        above at 10:40 P.-

THE CAUSE OF DEATH was as follows:

     Cerebral Hemorrhage, duration 1 yr

Contributory (SECONDARY)

  Arterio Sclerosis

(duration) -yrs, -mos -ds

18. Where was disease contracted

    if not at place of death? --

                     

Did an operation precede death? no
Date of --

Was there an autopsy? no

What test confirmed diagnosis? --

    signed E.T. Reeve, M.D.

    7/17,1924

    address E.T. Reeve

*  State the DISEASE CAUSING DEATH, or in deaths from

   violent causeS, state (1) MEANS AND NATURE OF

   INJURY, and (2)whether ACCIDENTAL, SUICIDAL,

   or HOMICIDAL. (See reverse side for additional space.)

19.  PLACE OF DEATH, CREMATION, OR REMOVAL
     Elbow Lake, Minn

     DATE OF BURIAL July 20 1924 

20.  UNDERTAKER
     John Sether
     ADDRESS
     Elbow Lake

Received AUG 6, 1924 [stamped]

-------- transcription ends --------

Olaus' funeral was held on July 20, 1924. It is not known how many of his children were able to arrive in time for his funeral service as there was only three days from his death until his burial. We know that some were there. His daughter Oline (Ostrom) Ehlers signed the death certificate as its informant. Daughter Elsie (Ostrom) Nims, lived in town as that is where Olaus and Toline (his wife) were living at the time. This information was included in an earlier article that contained Olaus' transcribed obituary. You can read that by clicking here.

His remains were buried in the Ness Cemetery, close to Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and near the farm that he worked on for 42 years. I am including a snapshot of his grave marker and family stone. I have scheduled a future article that will be dedicated to the entire Ostrom family plot that at Ness Cemetery. Olaus' grave marker has a simple "Father 1850-1924"engraved on it.

IMAGE: Olaus Ostrom's grave marker at
Ness Cemetery, Elbow Lake, Minnesota

IMAGE; Ostrom family stone at Ness
Cemetery,Elbow Lake, Minnesota.

It is now time to end our story of Olaus and next week introduce you to the next member of the Ostrom family. As our Norwegian folk would say "Hvil i fred Bestefar," ... Rest in peace Grandpa.

--  --  --

The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/12/goodbye-to-olaus-ostrom-1850-1924.html.

Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens

Amanuensis Monday - Homestead Proof for Warren Haner (1873-1938)

Dear FOLKS,

It is always fun to transcribe a new type of document from our family's collection of originals. Today I am working with one item within a land entry file. A land entry file is a collection of completed forms and other documents related a piece of Public Land that was offered and now claimed to become a homestead . Family historians will request a copy various Land Entry Files from the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. These files are important to a historian for the riches they contain family history.

The land file I am discussing today contains 23 pages. The file for an eighty-acre section of land in Spring Lake Township in Ward county, North Dakota. The applicant is Warren Warner Haner, one of my paternal great-grandfathers. Today I want to share with you one page from within this land entry file, It is a Homestead Proof document. In my opinion Proof documents have the highest amount of genealogical information, more so than most other pages within the land file.

There can be any number of Proof Documents within a land file, usually one for each of the claimant's witnesses and one for the claimant him/herself. This number may depend on the homesteading requirements at the time. Today I will transcribe the Testimony of Claimant provided by Warren himself as it claims more family related information. And I think you'll enjoy it too.

This document is a fill-in-the-blanks form. I'll type the handwritten entries in red and any of my comments will be in square-brackets [ ].

IMAGE: Page 1 of Homestead Proof -
Testimony of Claimant by Warren
Warner Haner, part of file #55145.[1]

IMAGE: Page 2 of Homestead Proof -
Testimony of Claimant by Warren
Warner Haner, part of file #55145.[2]

-------- transcription begins --------

[page one]

4—369
117543
0829

HOMESTEAD PROOF—TESTIMONY OF CLAIMANT

Warren Warner Haner, being called as a witness in his own behalf in support of homestead entry No. 41770, for W1/2 NE1/4 Sec 17 Tp 151 R84 testifies as follows:

Ques. 1—What is your name, age and postoffice address?
Ans. Warren Warner Haner age 34 yrs Douglas ND

Ques. 2—Are you a native-born citizen of the United Stated, and if so, in what State or Territory were you born?
Ans. Yes  Iowa

Ques. 3—Are you the identical person who made homestead entry, No. 41770, at the Minot ND land office on the 21 day of May, 1906 and what is the true description of the land now claimed by you?
Ans. Yes. W1/2 NE1/4 Sec 17 Tp 151 R84

Ques. 4—When was your house built on the land and when did you establish actual residence therein? (Describe said house and other improvements which you have placed on the land, giving total value thereof.)
Ans. July 10, 1906. House 14x16 built of lumber shingle roof  good floor value $150\  Barn 14x18 built of lumber " [value] 75\  Well 14 ft deep value $25\  Pasture 28 acres fenced $50\  15 acres broke $100\  Total value $400\

Ques. 5—Of whom does your family consist : and have you and your family resided continuously on the land since first establishing a residence thereon? (If unmarried state the fact.)
Ans. Myself, wife and three children  I resided continuously

Ques. 6—For what period or periods have you been absent from the homestead since making settlement, and for what purpose ; and if temporarily absent, did your family reside upon and cultivate the land during such absence?
Ans, I left in fall 1906 and went to S. Dak to get my family and horses and machinery and returned April 30, 1907 and since April 30, 1907 I was not absent

Ques. 7—How much of the land have you cultivated each season, and for how many seasons have you raised crops thereon? If used for grazing only, describe fencing, state number and kind of stock grazed and by whom owned.
Ans. 1907— 6 acres 1908—15 acres  Raised 2 crops  Fence built of 2 wire posts age one rod apart. 8 head of cattle, 4 head horses owned by myself

Ques. 8—Is your present claim within the limits of an incorporated town or selected site of a city or town, or used in any way for trade of business?
Ans. No

Ques. 9—What is the character of the land? Is it timber, mountinous, prairie, grazing, or ordinary agricultural land? State is kind and quality, and for what purpose it is most valuable.
Ans.—Rolling.  Most valuable for grazing   part farming

Ques. 10—Are there any indications of coal, salines or minerals of any kind on the land? (If so, describe what they are and state whether the land is more valuable for agricultural that for mineral purposes.)
Ans.—No

Ques. 11—Have you ever made any other homestead entry? (Is so, describe the same.)
Ans.—No

Ques.12—Have you sold, conveyed, or mortgaged any portion of the land; and if so, to whom and for what purpose?
Ans.—No

Ques. 13—Have you any personal property of any kind elsewhere than on this claim> (If so, describe the same, and state where the same is kept.)
Ans.—No

Ques. 14—Describe by legal subdivisions, or by number, kind of entry and office where made, any other entry or filing (not mineral), made by you since August 30, 1890.
Ans.—I did not file elsewhere

I have given the above testimony without any actual knowledge of any statement made in the testimony of wither of the others.

(Sign plainly with full christian name)  Warren Warner Haner

*(In case the party is of foreign birth a certified transcript from the court records of his declaration of intention to become a citizen, or of his naturalization, or a copy thereof, certified by the officer taking this proof, must be filed with the case. Evidence of naturalization is only required in final five-year homestead cases.)

[page two]

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing testimony was read to the claimant before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 18 day of September, 1908, at my office at Max in McLean County, ND

[See note below.]        [signed] HR Freitag
                        [stamped] U.S. Commissioner,
                               for Dist. of N. Dak.

NOTE—The officer before whom the testimony is taken should call the attention of the witness to the following section of the Revised Statutes, and state to him that it is the purpose of the Government, if it be ascertained that he testifies falsely, to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.

Sec. 5392. Every person who, having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath ro be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true, is guilty of perjury, and shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment, at hard labor, no more that five years, and shall, moreover, thereafter be incapable of giving testimony in any court of the United States until such time as the judgment against him is reversed. (See § 1750.)

-------- Transcription ends --------

If you are interested in the additional pages from this document, please contact me.

This document also contains a clearly digitized copy of Warren's signature. I enjoy seeing how my ancestry's wrote. In Warren's case, His name is very easy to decipher, as if he was sensitive to having his name easily identified.  Here is his signature enlarged for you to see.

Sources:

1.) Minot, North Dakota, Land Office, Cash Entry Files. Record Group 49: Records of the Bureau of Land Management. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Land Entry File for Warren Warner Haner, Serial Patent Number: 55145.

2.) Ibid.

Amanuensis Monday is a weekly blog theme that was started by John Newmark, the author of TransylvanianDutch blog. John defines Amanuensis as "A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." I also appreciate the good work and format examples of San Diego genealogist Randy Seaver of the blog Genea-musings. Thanks guys.

Transcribing helps me to learn what a document contains. I have learned over time that I have a tendency to "skim" over an item; a bad trait for a researcher who needs to learn even the smallest details documented records contain. Transcribing helps me to slow down and "smell the roses," and to capture all aspects of the paper in hand.

Wishing you a good day and a great week. It's a pleasure to have you stop by.

-- -- --

The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/12/amanuensis-monday-homestead-proof-for.html.

Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens

Remembering Kenneth G. Brakke F3c, USN (1920-1941)

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

Today we are observing Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Since it is also the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I thought it appropriate to discuss an individual from cousin Ed's family tree who was there on that fateful day.

Kenneth Gay Brakke, son of Andrew H. and Inga (Kjarstad) Brakke was born in Seattle, Washington on 04 December 1920. Ed's paternal grandmother was Anna Brekke. Ed's grandmother, Anna, and Kenneth's father, Andrew, were siblings. This in turn made Kenneth and Ed first cousins, 1x removed.

IMAGE: Kenneth G. Brakke (1920-1941), age
about 19. From the family photograph
collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

Kenneth did all the normal things a kid would do while growing up in Seattle.  His father was a street conductor for the city and his mother stayed home to care for Kenneth and his three siblings; his older sisters, Alice and Ruth and younger brother, Arnold. When Kenneth entered high school, the Brakkes were living in the Wallingford district, a neighborhood in north central Seattle. Here he attended Lincoln High School and graduated with the class of 1939.

After graduation, Kenneth found it difficult to stay grounded. Perhaps he tried various small jobs that didn't work out or maybe he just hung out with his friends. It doesn't really matter as that is not part of today's story. What is an important part is that with encouragement from his parents, Kenneth decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy. On 05 November 1940, Kenneth said "Goodbye," to his family and started off to naval basic training.[1]

When basic training was complete he was sent to catch up with his shipmates. The date he was first received on a ship was 11 January 1941. The name of his duty ship was the USS Arizona (BB-39). [2] While on the Arizona, he would earn the rank of Fireman Third Class (F3c).

That brings us to the morning of 7 December 1941, just eleven months later. Kenneth and many of his shipmates were on board ship that Sunday when Pearl Harbor was attacked. On this day 1177 crew and officers lost their lives.

"At 0810, fifteen minutes into the attack, an 1800-pound armor piercing bomb struck the Arizona between its #2 gun turret and bow, creating a 100-foot wide gap penetrating the deck and exploding in a fuel storage tank. A fire flared for 7 seconds then traveled through the open hatches to the forward magazine where it touched off 1.7 million pounds of explosives. A fountain of flame and black smoke shot skyward. The Arizona jumped from the water. Its foremast pitched forward, and its deck opened like a flower...flaming body and body parts were blown skyward. Naked sailors, limbs and letters home landed on nearby ships...."[3] 

Family files do not tell how Kenneth's parents learned of their loss. At the time it was common practice to get news from the military through a telegram. However they heard officially, I suspect that they had already come to learn of their loss through the media coverage. Sometime later the family was given a purple heart that Kenneth had earned posthumously. What the files do contain is a transcribed article from a Seattle paper.

     "Seattle Youth, Navy Fireman, Lost in Hawaii -- The Navy Department yesterday notified Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Brakke 5528 that their son, Kenneth, 21 years old, has been missing since the attack on Pearl Harbor December 7. Young Brakke, fireman, third class, had been in the Navy one year. He was graduated from Lincoln High School two and one half years ago. Other relatives of Brakke living in Seattle are Mrs. Warren A. Priem, 12045 First Ave. N. W., a sister, and Arnold Brakke 15 years old, who lives with his parents. Another sister Mrs. Carroll Greenleaf, lives in Edmonds."  -- Source: The Seattle Daily Times, Seattle, Washington, 22 December 1941, pg 7.

I was saddened when I learned that Ed's family had lost a relative on the USS Arizona that day. So many young were lives lost while serving their country. Cousin Ed was able to have two of Kenneth's first cousins share their experience when thinking about Kenneth and Pearl Harbor.

In a 2000 audio-taped conversation with Harvey W. Roberts (1911-2005):

     "We were walking there that day when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Andrew Brakke's son Kenneth, was getting a little bit wild in Seattle. So his parents had him join the Navy. He was stationed on the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor.
     So when we got home uncle Andrew's other son Arnie was goin' on, "He was on that, he was on that! Arnie was going on like that. Yah, he was on it. They had a letter from him [Kenneth]. It was mailed before he had KP that day. He was sleeping on that ship in the morning when the Japanese attacked. He didn't have a chance. He was entombed in that ship. I saw his name listed on the memorial above the sunken ship. Every part of that ship above the waterline was a mangled mess and was removed after the war."

In a 2002 audio-taped conversation with Ione Peterson Schooler (1920-2005):

     "After I came out west I went up and lived with my uncle Andrew [Brakke] in Seattle. Kenneth, his son, was more or less my age so I went with him. I knew him very well. We went out a lot Ken and I. When Pearl Harbor was bombed I was out at Auntie [Anna] Ostrom's house in Woodburn, OR. I didn't know where Pearl Harbor was at that time. I remember I was sitting on the floor listening to the radio and that's when they announced that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. I guess I didn't realize then that Kenneth was on this particular ship, the Arizona. Kenneth was down in the lower part of the ship. I don't even think they found his dog tags. That was such a bombing. They said it went straight down into the middle of the ship and blew everything apart. It as a bad day for Uncle Andrew and Auntie Inga."

Now and then a member of the family has the opportunity to visit one of the two memorials in Hawaii where Kenneth G. Brakke is honored. One of the memorials is part of a cenotaph that makes up the "Courts of the Missing : World War II," at the Honolulu Memorial. This white marble wall of names is engraved with "Brakke Kenneth Gay | Fireman 3C | USN | Washington." The Honolulu Memorial is located within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in an extinct volcano, known locally as "The Punchbowl" and is located near the center of Honolulu. [4]

The second and most known memorial is the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor's South Channel near the shore of Ford Island. This memorial is operated by the National Park Service and is accessible only by a U.S. Navy boat. This memorial straddles the sunken hull of the Arizona without touching it and the names of those who died that day are engraved on white marble wall within the white enclosure. Kenneth's name shows as, "K. G. Brakke | F3c." Nearby there is also a small pacque that contains the names of the crewman who survived that day. If desired the ashes of the survivors can and have been interred within the wreck by U.S. Navy divers. This is done by special celebration and one of those celebrations is happening during this 75th anniversary.

This past summer one of Kenneth's "cousins" went to the USS Arizona Memorial to pay her respects. Lauren Hoy and her father David took the day to visit the memorial while in Honolulu . Lauren and Kenneth are 1st cousins 3x removed. I am so pleased that Lauren shared these photographs of their visit that day. With these we all can see the memorial.

Image: On approach to the memorial is the
mooring pad for the USS Nevada (BB-36).

IMAGE: The USS Arizona Memorial and
that ship's mooring pad.

IMAGE: USS Arizona, a barbette of one of the
main gun turrets shows above the surface of the water.

IMAGE: Lauren Hoy standing next to cousin,
K.G. Brakke's name on the USS Arizona Memorial.
The Brakke name is on the second list, just
above Lauren's shoulder..

IMAGE: A close-up showing  the name of
K.G. Brakke F3c on the engraved marble wall.

Sources:

1.) "U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 December 2016), Kenneth C. Brakke aboard the Arizona (BB-39), 30 September 1941.

2.) ibid.

3.) Thurston Clarke, "Pearl Harbor Ghosts," (New York: William Morrow & Co., 1991). Taken from Edwin J.Ostrom's notes in family file.

4.) "Find A Grave: Honolulu Memorial," Findagrave.com. (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed December 6 2016.) Cemetery Lookup: Honolulu Memorial.

To the brave people who died aboard the USS Arizona and elsewhere in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, we celebrate your memory. To those who have fought and stand ready to keep us safe today, we thank you.

Thank you again to Lauren and her dad David Hoy for sharing their photographs. It was a real win-win that you were going to be in Pearl Harbor and were able to make the visit to the memorial just at the right time to include them in this article about Kenneth Brakke during the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

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