It is hard to believe that this year is nearly over. As I write this report, one can not help but think back on the life-changing events of this year. In a way, we think of the days prior to September 11th as the ?good ole days?.
We are making progress on some of the Mower lines. Trudy Schenk has been researching the origins of the Brill family members in Germany and we have been able to tie the family down to a particular geographical area in Hesse, but not to a particular village yet. The reason for this is that the village parish records for this area of Hesse are not microfilmed. This means that repeated trips to Europe to view records are about the only option. Trudy went for us this year and viewed many records and eliminated several parishes as possible places of origin for Martin Brill. Basically we are in a process of elimination. We are of course optimistic that eventually we will come across the parish we are seeking. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, and we are certainly proving that statement.
A part of the family is researching the lines of Amelia Augusta Anderson, wife of John Lisbon Mower. Specifically, the family line is in Sweden and is moving along very well. The Swedish records are available and microfilmed. Recently 118 males ancestors of this line have been identified and although the women of this line haven't been counted, an equal or greater number have been identified. Linda Larson, a certified genealogist in Swedish records is researching this line in Salt Lake for us.
I am very busy extending lines and filling in descendants of Michael Maurer, our immigrant ancestor, Martin Brill our immigrant ancestor, Charles Geissinger, our immigrant ancestor and John Amick, the Blacksmith who lived in Bedford, Pa. I am doing this by internet. I receive on the average, around 10-15 emails per week from people who tie into our lines. I communicate with these people. I share our information with these people. They share their information with me. I correct some of their information. They correct some of my information. Who would have believed just 10 years ago we would be doing research this way? It is rather incredible. I have found many descendants of the above mentioned ancestors this way and included them into our data base. For those who were born 110 years ago or earlier, I am submitting them to the Church so that they will show up on the LDS ordinance records. This is a data base that people from all over the world can tap into via the internet and thus contribute more to us about these ancestors or their descendants.
For those of you who wish to do temple work for ancestors and help out in the work, please contact me with your current name and address if we don't have it and we can send you some names of ancestors. For those of you who want to help us keep the research going, we will never turn you down. Thank you so much.
Some have inquired as to what is happening in our personal lives and I will include just a brief note about our family:
We are still living in at 615 County Road 123, Bedford, Wyoming 83112. We currently have 3 sons serving missions for the L.D.S. Church.
Daniel is serving in Malaga, Spain. Matt is serving in Sochi, Russia (on the Black Sea), and Chris is serving in Ipala, Guatemala. What a great experience for them, and for us to receive 3 missionary letters per week. My job is to send copies of their letters to other relatives and to their siblings serving in other missions? thus keeping everyone informed.
Our daughter Holly, is a senior in high school. She was lead in the school play this fall, ?The Sound of Music?. Her plans are to go to college next fall. Tedi Jeen and I are healthy and happy. I am in my 29th year of teaching school. Old teachers never die you know, they just eventually lose their class.
Thanks to all who support this great work. We are making a difference in the lives of many of our ancestors and for our descendants too, who now can know about their ancestors. Please check out our web site:
www.mowerfamily.org
Thank you,
Jerry and Tedi Jeen Mower
Bedford, Wyoming
jmower@silverstar.com