My Great-Great Grandmother

My Great-Great Grandmother

Jul 11, '12 3:31 PM for everyone

Catharine Viele was born on April 16^th 1836 in Illinois,

Her parents were James Boyd Viele 1809 – 1895 and Lucinda Emerson 1816 – 1867

On April 23, 1856 she married Christopher Potter, a Civil War Soldier.

*Potter, Christopher, married Catherine Vela on April 23, 1856. License #1053. Stephenson County, Illinois. Volume B, Page 65.

Sept. 2, 1863 her daughter, Ada Frances Potter was born

In 1865 she traveled by wagon train, moving with her family from Illinois to Colorado and they arrived in Boulder on August 1^st.

Family stories say that she was the first woman in Boulder, possibly even in Colorado to have a legal will drawn up. In the will, she left her daughter Ada, a sizable amount in property, but when Catharine remarried, the estate reverted to her new husband and Ada spent the rest of her life telling friends and family that she was cheated out of her inheritance.

Christopher Potter, Catharine’s first husband married Rebecca Wakman on December 9, 1866

Potter, Christopher, married Mrs. Rebecca Wakman on December 9, 1866. License # 00005208. Rock Island County, Illinois. Volume 00C, 0081.

February 11, 1866 Catharine married David J. Goodail in Boulder

Charles Dabney J. P. D. A. Robinson Wit. Book E Page 235

Boulder County  Marriage Records

May 7^th 1867 Lucinda Emerson (Catharine’s mother) died.

On June 4, 1868 in their Boulder home, Catharine and her husband David Goodail hosted the wedding of her sister, Rosetta to Frederick W. Kohler.

June 8, 1868: Albert, Catharine’s younger brother, moved in with their sister, Rosetta and her husband on the Kohler ranch.

1869 A son was born to Catharine and David; they named him George.

1870 census: David J. Goodail. He was 33 at that time, a carpenter born in Vermont. Value of personal estate: $250. Value of real estate $500.

1870 census: Catharine in the home of David J. Goodail. Age 33 Occupation: keeping house with real estate value of $350. This is the inheritance that Ada was to receive but reverted to David at the time of Catharine’s death. 

1870 census: Ada, age 5 born in IL – George age 1 born in CO

Catharine died on August 14, 1874.

According to the Boulder Genealogical Society and the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation site:

She was pregnant and they had to operate; she survived 18 hrs. and was buried in Columbia Cemetery. 
Block Book 2 map of B57 has Mrs. D.J. Goodail in grave #3 in B57 NW. This map was drawn very early on, probably by an early sexton. Her marker is in the east half of B58, the lot just south of B57. A photo of her marker and the marker to the north, George Harris who d Nov 1884, was taken pre 1966 by Muriel Wolle, Art Professor at Univ of Colorado. In 1971 the marker to the north was missing, only a base was there. Her remains may have been moved to the SE of B58 from NW of B57.

Following her mother's death, Ada went to live with her Aunt Rosetta Kohler on the Kohler ranch.

David J. Goodail married 31 Dec 1894 Emily J. Williams, teacher of Union Grove, Whiteside Co, IL, in the east. They returned to Boulder a few days ago. (Boulder County News 22 Jan 1875:3) 1880 Fulton, Whiteside Co, IL: David Goodail 44 M carpenter VVT VT VT, Emily 26 IL IL IL, George 11 CO VT IL, Birdie 4 CO VT IL.

In 1876 a daughter, Birdie was born to David and his second wife, Emily. By the 1880 census they had moved to IL

1880 census: Ada Goodail, age 16, was living with her aunt and uncle Rosetta (Viele) and Fred Kohler in Boulder in 1880.

1880 census: David Goodail age 44. Residence: Fulton, Whiteside, IL

Spouse: Emily Goodail age 26

Child: George Goodail age 11

Child: Birdie Goodail age 4 born in CO

1900 Census finds Christopher Potter in the Kansas State Soldiers’ Home in Dodge City, Ford, Kansas. According to information from Records of the Deaths and Burials at the Kansas State Soldiers’ Home in Fort Dodge, Ford County, Kansas he died on January 10, 1901

Happy Tenth Birthday Suki!

Happy Birthday Suki!

Jun 23, '12 7:49 PM for Julie's contacts

Today, my dear little friend turns ten years old!
When my mother moved here she begged me to help her find a dog. I decided it would be good for her to have the companionship, so, not having any money to spend, I put the word out and her landlady knew of someone that needed to find this little girl a new home. I was thrilled! She was small and easy for my mother to handle and care for, but the first time I laid eyes on her I was in love. She seemed to have a connection to me right away too because whenever I went to visit, she couldn't wait for me to pick her up so she could give me a hug. Yes, she hugs!
It wasn't long before my mother would become so confused and often angry that she could no longer care for her and one day Suki ran away. I put an ad in the paper and sent one to the radio station, the pet clinic and the shelter. I can't remember if was three days or four before we received a phone call from a woman who said she had seen the ad and thought she was in her backyard. The woman said she'd keep an eye on her until we arrived. When Hubby and I drove up I was afraid she'd bolt, but she slowly began to realize who I was and she came to me. I scooped her up and hugged her close, I thanked the woman and I believe I cried tears of joy all the way home. It took several days for her to recover following her ordeal. After that day I realized she'd have to come live with me.


She's had a bit of a rough life. When we took her, she was spared being put down simply because she didn't get along with the other dogs in her previous family. She has a pedigree and had already begun training to be shown. I don't think her time with my mother was the most pleasant, and shortly after she came to our house, one of our large dogs didn't get along with her and was able to take a swipe at her face and actually popped her eye out of the socket!! It was a tearful, emergency ride to the vet where she was put in surgery, her eye fully removed and the area stitched closed. She has done very well with only one eye, only bumping into a door frame on occasion. She now has a cataract in that eye and may be facing blindness at some point. She also has recently been diagnosed with a heart murmur that we will have to keep close tabs on.

Her favorite toys are a stuffed fish and a rubber ball on an elastic string. She loves going to the bank drive-through window where the tellers give her treats. She enjoys being outside and she follows me everywhere and is always laying close by no matter what room I'm in or what I'm doing. We take at least four short walks together every day and sometimes she goes shopping with me and waits patiently in the car. She knows my routine and when it varies unexpectedly, she gets so confused and tries in her own little way to tell me something isn't right. She hates going to the vet - what dog doesn't. I trim and groom her myself...she hates it, but she'll allow me to do anything I need to and she trusts me.

I'm so glad my mother decided she wanted her because now I have a very dear, faithful friend who has stayed by my side and kept me company when at times, everyone else seems so far away and distant.

So Happy Birthday dear, sweet Suki...may we have many more years of fun and friendship ahead!

I LOVE YOU!

Recital Week

Recital Week

Jun 2, '12 9:01 AM for Julie's contacts

I spent all week preparing for this years spring student recital. Because of the short week, I had to cram 5 days worth of lessons into 2 days. Evenings were spent going through each students file and deciding who the recipients of awards would be this year. Thursday night was the recital and for the most part, it went well. The worst part was me having to get up in front of all those parents and talk!!!

I have probably said this before, but I have been so very blessed with excellent students...ones who want to come and really want to learn to play piano. I am very proud of each one, even though their performances weren't perfect, as a matter of fact in most cases, they played their music much better earlier in the week. Almost everyone had some sort of memory failure, but they kept their cool, picked up a book if necessary, and tried again. I've decided for next year I'm going to revamp my memory award. Currently, the award is given to any student who successfully plays all their recital pieces from memory at the recital. Because of nerves and whatever else gets in the way, I'm thinking I will set a goal of a certain amount of pieces to be played by memory by a certain date in order to earn the award. If they play them by memory for the recital, great, but if they played them before the recital by memory and yet it fell apart at the recital, the award could still be earned. Thoughts??

I have a bad habit of quickly getting attached to my students. One such young man, 8 years of age going on 15, joined my studio this year. He is very bright and asks intelligent questions. Recently, l learned he and his family will be moving this summer and so he will not be returning next fall. It has been obvious he is not pleased with the prospect and he came up to me at the reception and said: "I just wanted to thank you for being my piano teacher...without you, I would be in gymnastics right now"! I wanted to laugh, but he was so serious! I told him he was doing well and that I hoped he would continue his piano studies and let me know how he's doing. I'm going to miss him so much. I made him this card and included some music stickers for him.

These are most of my students from the studio this year. There were three that didn't feel prepared for their first recital experience and one who couldn't make it.

A dear friend of mine came to support me last night. I made a comment to her about how much I miss having my mother attend the recitals. She would love to attend just to support my efforts and because she was proud of me. She would also help set everything up with me and help with the clean up afterward. Anyway, my dear friend decided to come and she served punch at the reception so I could mingle with parents and students and then she stayed to wash dishes and pack everything up afterward. What a blessing that was!! I was out of there about an hour earlier than I normally am!

I made this treat out of Twix.

Today is my son's 28th birthday. I sent a check in a card, even though I hate doing that because it seems so impersonal, it is what he needs most right now. I miss the days of planning parties and making special cakes. I remember the year I attempted to decorate the cake like a hockey rink.

Hubby is spending today on the trails...it's National Trails Day. I'm behind on all my housework and so I hope I can muster some motivation to get caught up on some things around here.

I long to do something fun...something totally irresponsible...maybe even a little crazy. I just need something to perk me up.

Well, I'm off to chase dust bunnies...have a wonderful weekend all.

Organ Practice - I Did Not Want to Come Home

I Did Not Want To Come Home

May 7, '12 7:08 PM for everyone

Today was organ practice day on the pipe organ. My mentor and I spent some time talking about how he now has the pre-sets set up and organized and why. Then I spent most of the time practicing a piece I learned several years ago but haven't played in a long time called Morning in the Garden. It's a tone poem and well suited for the French organ. It begins with the strings in soft meditation and then switches to flutes. It stays in the flute family for a while, emoting between pianissimo and mezzo forte before it grows fuller and the diapasons take over. The diapasons ramp up the intensity and prepare us for the other voices to rejoin the chorus as the sun makes it's appearance on the horizon. The organ swells again, as the sun continues to climb and finally in full chorus I get to throw on the Bombarde in the pedal and rattle a few pews in fortissimo as one can almost feel the warmth and see the color splash across the morning sky as the sun spreads it's rays in triumph. A new day has begun!

It's truly a gorgeous piece and I long to play it publicly someday, but I don't know if that will ever happen. I am planning a tour for my piano students and their parents and I thought this piece would be a perfect choice to showcase the instrument. I am also planning to invite PastorT and his family. I hope they can come.

All students have cancelled for the afternoon, I guess the stomach flu seems to be going around. I could have stayed and practiced longer had I known no one was coming today. Oh well. I get to relax this evening and watch the season finale of my favorite show.

I hope your day was as good as mine or better.

My Mother's Ring

My Mother's Ring

Mar 6, '12 4:35 PM for Julie's contacts

This was my mother's ring. I apologize for the blurry image, it's the best I could get. She inherited it from her uncle John who was her mother's brother; they both had birthday's in October and it was their birth stone. Over the years she believed it to be a genuine opal, but after receiving my first genuine opal and comparing the two, I was pretty sure it was fake. I never told her that though because it probably would have broke her heart. She loved this ring and wore it all the time. I rarely if ever remember seeing her hand without it on her finger. She always promised me someday it would be mine since I also have a birthday in October.

When I moved her here from Colorado, she had lost so much weight that it was always falling off, so I took her to a jewelry store to see what could be done. She refused to let him size it down - altering it was out of the question, so we bought the kind of size adjusters that fit inside the ring and that worked for a while until her memory lapse caused her to forget why it was there and she removed it out of frustration and lost it. I couldn't see the point in trying that again. I kept an eye on it as much as I could, but when she got so bad that I had to place her in the nursing home I knew somehow I would have to get the ring away from her or risk losing it forever. I was torn. I absolutely hated myself for convincing her to let me take care of it, yet I knew in my heart as soon as it was off her finger, she'd most likely forget all about it and I knew it was for the best. Still, it was so very hard and not the way I wanted to inherit the ring. I hoped that one day she would make a gift of it and give it willingly, but that didn't happen - still I know she wanted me to have it and I would have felt just as bad if not worse had it gotten lost at the home somewhere, or one of the other residents took it from her. I hold on to the promise that it was to be mine and the truth that had she been in a better mind-set she would have given it willingly some day.

Shortly after the ring became mine, I began to wear it and as soon as I did the band split in back. I took it to the jeweler and had it repaired, but it wasn't long before it happened again and I took it back. This time he did a much better job and I haven't had that problem again. I was amazed when he returned it to me because he also shined the silver and polished the stone which had seen much abuse over the years. It was beautiful!

The ring is now a connection to my mom that I can't even express in words. I wear it on special occasions - those times in my life when my mom should be by my side, like organ events and piano recitals and my daughter's wedding. Some days I wear it for no other reason than I need her to comfort me and somehow the ring makes me feel as though she is here with me. It wraps around my finger like her arms used to wrap around me in an embrace of love. I wear it today for that reason - the last couple of days I have felt so out of place - like I don't belong anywhere, I don't fit in, I'm discouraged and frustrated with things I'm trying to do, I feel disconnected from everyone I care about and love. Everyone seems so far away. I need that connection to someone today...I need someone to wrap their arms around me and tell me they will always be there for me no matter what and that they will support me. My mom always did that for me.

Despite how this sounds, I'm not having a pity-party - just trying to describe my heart and this very special ring and all it means to me.

Bobby Sings

Bobby Sings

Feb 11, '12 9:41 PM for Julie's contacts

Brisk walk, build a fire, make the bed, and Bobby sings. Hey Little Woman, email check, eggs for breakfast, happy birthday and Bobby sings. La La La, sweep the floors, start the laundry, wipe up the bathroom, empty the trash and Bobby sings. Seattle, check the fire, check the mail, snow falls, walk the dogs, shovel the snow, wrap the gifts and Bobby sings. She's A Lady, wardrobe check, organize jewelry, soup for lunch, text and Bobby sings. Cried Like A Baby, "good", "excellent", "awesome", Pinterest, flip the laundry, stoke the fire and Bobby Sings. Julie Do Ya Love Me, gift tags, exercise, card creations, Wives for Wakando, last adventure out in the cold, good-night and Bobby sings.

Twas the Week Before Christmas

Twas the Week Before Christmas

Dec 19, '11 10:03 PM for Julie's contacts

and in between lessons, menu plans are being formulated and grocery lists made, the last of the presents need wrapping and cards and letters are in the midst of going out. Due to busy schedules people are canceling lessons, classes and practice times. Perry Como sings in the background and I think of my dear mother with love...I miss her so much at Christmas. There is no squelching that ache in my heart. I look forward to having all my children home but also find myself concerned about not allowing comments and attitudes to get to me.

I had a Christmas recital/party for my students on Saturday and it sucked up my entire day. I had to run to the store in the morning to get some last minute things I forgot, then I got to the church about 12:30 and ate a Subway sandwich while setting things up - making coffee, heating cider, finding ice and something to put it in and a pitcher for water. It just seemed to take so much longer than it should have. I found myself really missing my mom. She used to love to go to all my student recitals and she would be so helpful in preparing and setting up and cleaning up when it was all over. I would go back and forth from feeling really lonely like she should be there to feeling like she was there with me. I really didn't think it would be so complicated this time! Anyway, it started at 2, was over about 3 and I was home a little after 4. Then I had to stop at the store again for something quick for supper, come home walk dogs, put away all the leftover recital stuff, fix supper and prepare enchiladas for Sunday's lunch. It was a long day, but that's all I'm publicly responsible for this year.

The piano was being difficult, if a repeated note was called for it didn't want to re-strike and it was hard to get a clear tone. Oh well. One of the kids had been working long and hard on his piece and was doing quite well with it at his lesson, but it totally fell apart. I felt bad for him.

Well I guess it's back to work on that menu and grocery list. I'm trying to work with my daughter on it...she and her hubby eat gluten free, dairy free...sometimes I think everything free. They are very close to being vegan which is all well and good, but it makes planning food a little difficult since I'm not used to it.

Special Treat! Field Trip!

Special Treat!

Dec 13, '11 1:49 PM for Julie's contacts

I had a very busy day yesterday. I did my usual cleaning and had to cook supper before noon, then headed down the hill to practice the organ but my mentor caught me before I got inside and said we were going on a field trip! One of our local churches was forced to close and in it was a pipe organ. We all worried about what would come of it, but another church in Houghton adopted it, had it installed and gave it the TLC it needed, then yesterday called saying it was ready to play and my mentor wanted me to see it. We got in his car, had a nice conversation on the way down and was amazed at what we saw when we arrived. It is gorgeous! They have really done a wonderful job in both making it sound and look great. Here is a picture of what it looked like in it's former home, before the work had been done. The cabinet has been stripped and will be refinished and the facade pipes are now a copper color with silver mouths. The pedals have all been re-capped so they look new and the key-desk also has been refinished. What a treat to be able to sit up there and play it. It's a tracker organ, which simply put means it's all mechanical action, no electronics, so it can be difficult to play from a physical standpoint, but they did a great job on it and my mentor said I handled it very well. I must say, I did surprise myself. I had played it before and once in a recital and didn't do as well. I only got to practice one thing, but what a treat! To say I needed that is a big understatement!! I wish I had known ahead of time and I would have taken my camera. Hopefully we can go back soon, then I'll post pictures of before and after. Oh what I wouldn't do to be able to play that at our church every Sunday! The priest was even impressed and he did ask if I played anywhere on a regular basis, my mentor thought I could have a job LOL. It's out of town though, which means it would be difficult at best to get there in the winter and it's a Catholic church, so I'd have to learn the liturgy...it would be hard work and would take me away from my own church which Hubby won't stand for.

After I got home I had three students to teach. One of them afforded me the opportunity to really teach. The young man is 13 and struggles with a sort of panic thing. I don't know if it happens in every aspect of his life or just his music, but it is holding him back. He can't seem to relax and just let the music come out of him. Having a mild form of this myself, I recognized it right away and we talked about what he could do to make the music sound like music. IT WORKED! For two pages he sounded like a totally different pianist, then he turned the page and all his old habits came back. Fortunately, his mom decided to sit in on the lesson yesterday and she was amazed at the difference. Now I just have to get him to check himself and make the corrections he needs to all the time.  

Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 24, '11 10:00 PM for Julie's contacts

Last Saturday I helped our new associate pastor's wife host a scrapbook event at our church with the goal of getting to know some of the women in the community. It was a success for the first attempt and considering there were all kinds of craft sales and other events going on that day. We had about 10 women actually participate and several people come in and check it out to see what it was all about. One of the jobs I was given was to make a bulletin board of tips for those new to the craft.

Our associate pastor's wife had asked me to make cookies and I had to decline because my oven and given up. The stove top still worked and I was getting by with my crock-pot. Anyway, she told her husband, who decided no one should be without a working oven so he went to the deacon board who had been sitting on some money for awhile. He believes that money in the church should be used and so he approached them with the idea of buying us a new stove! They agreed to $450.00 toward a new one and when he handed Hubby the envelope with the check in it, there was an extra $50.00 that we are sure came from the assoc. pastor and his wife. We got a great deal by getting in early on the black Friday sale at Sears. Retail the stove was nearly $1000.00 and when it was all done we bought it for $700.00 - so only $200. out of pocket. Such a blessing to have a near top of the line appliance! I never would have dreamed we could have something so nice. It is black and stainless steel and is self-cleaning and has a 5th oblong burner in the middle. It also has 4 burners all of different sizes, tow of them are power burners of different sizes and one is a simmer burner. I made whole-wheat cranberry pancakes on the oblong 5th center burner and pumpkin pie, oatmeal pie cranberry bread and turkey breast in the oven.

I've been healing up from a shoulder/upper back injury - it's a mystery as most of my ailments seem to be. I just woke up one Sunday morning a couple of weeks ago unable to move my neck or arm. It's getting better thanks to my chiropractor, however I'm supposed to go back for another appointment, but I can't afford it right now. Maybe in a week or two I can get another check up.

 

Good news! I have 2 new students that started this week. They are two sisters that are home-schooled. They are sweet, polite and intelligent young ladies and I'm so excited to be working with them.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Despite our struggles this year we are so blessed.

The Unexpected Gift!

The Unexpected Gift

Nov 2, '11 5:32 PM for Julie's contacts

What is it about the unexpected surprise or gift that makes it just that much more special?? We have come to expect cards and gifts on our birthdays and at Christmas and they are usually wonderful and appreciated, but what is it about a gift that comes that is totally unexpected, and not even on our "wish list"?

That happened to me today and I'm deeply touched beyond words right now! This afternoon a package arrived via UPS that was addressed to my son. Often our kids continue to send their packages here since their current living conditions can't really be trusted for such things, so I sent him a text letting him know whatever he had ordered had arrived. He said it was for Hubby and me so I assumed he was getting his Christmas shopping done early. He said no, that he wanted me to open it. I unwrapped this lovely little book called the Gardener's Organizer.

The description at Amazon is as follows:

This beautiful retro-style journal is somewhere to plan, develop and record your garden, and chart your growing successes. In My Garden, record and sketch your plot as it is now, and ponder what your ideal garden would contain. Next, in Planning & Inspiration, draw up designs for beds, features and planting schemes (on special graph-paper pages), make plant lists, and paste in pictures and photos that you love. A section called The Garden Year provides space for you to note down tasks for every season, while four themed chapters (The Kitchen Garden, The Flower Garden, Trees, Shrubs and Climbers and a chapter for other plant groups such as ferns and aquatic plants) help you note what you planted and when, record pruning and growth development, and what the year's crop or blooms were like. Finally, a useful Resources chapter gives you an address book, space to document gardens you have visited and somewhere to list useful books.

It's certainly nothing I would have thought to search for, much less buy for myself, but at the same time it is something that is right in keeping with me and my personality. Hubby is just now preparing the ground for our first garden and I plan to make good use of this journal/planner. I love the retro look of the pictures inside - they are so pretty and calming - certainly indicative of a more simple time.

Best of all I think, is the fact that it isn't something I asked for, not something I was wanting or something I expected, but it is a gift from my son's heart, for no reason other than he thought of us when he saw it. It's something he thought we would appreciate and something that he knew was in keeping with my taste and style. He knows me...he understands me...and in that alone I find comfort.

He was thinking of me...and that perhaps, is the very best gift of all!!

Family Day on Lake Superior

My Weekend...the abbreviated version

Aug 28, '11 8:37 PM for Julie's contacts

greetings
grocery shopping
salad lunch
downtown walk/browsing
Mi H - Black and Bleu Walnut Burger
KBC - an evening out
interrupted sleep
coffee!!
blueberry pancakes
pasty run
maple nut rolls
rummage sale
CH - browsing 
DW- crazy kids!!

assessing the leap:

Daughter #2:

Son taking his jump:

Daughter #1 too afraid of heights to jump off:

Not letting her fear win:

Hubby:

more maple nut roll
pasty supper
Six Days Seven Nights
Mad Gab
coconut drops
Second Hand Lions
Apples To Apples
bed zzzzzzzzz
good byes
church - hymn disaster
Subway
another good bye
filthy house - what a weekend! Now it's time to rest and prepare for a busy week ahead.

Sunday by the Shores of Lake Superior!

Sunday by the Shores of Lake Superior!

Aug 1, '11 4:28 PM for Julie's contacts

When our children were little it became a tradition for Hubby to make pancakes for breakfast every Sunday morning and also any time we visited his mother for the weekend. The kids always loved his pancakes. He rarely does it any more, but when he was out walking the dogs Sunday morning, he found a bush that was full and decided blueberry pancakes with freshly picked blueberries sounded great for breakfast and I wholeheartedly agreed! It was also much easier to get my daughter out of bed by promising her some of her Daddy's famous blueberry pancakes!


I needed to make a run to camp for my daughter but I decided to take some time for myself and enjoy the beach before returning home. It was a gorgeous day! This is the first view of the beach.


Nothing like a foot soak in the Lake!