Clan Pictures Ottilie from the Anna Marie Ilsebein (Maria) Branch

 

Ottilie and Fred Barlag

The picture above are the descendants of Anna Marie Ilsebein Brueggemann.  Left to right:  Hannah Oswick, Barbara Keske-Fronczak, Brennan Oswick, Kristin Oswick.

Anna Marie Ilsbein (Elizabeth) Brueggemann (Maria) was bron August 18, 1855 in Hannover, Niedersahen, Germany.  She came to the United States with her father, Clamor, arriving in 1858.  On December 22, 1870 Maria married Friedrich John Barlag and remained in the Cleveland area.  Fred and Maria had 7 children:  Ludwig; Theodore, Ottilie, Louise, Anna, Frederick and Edwin.  Theodore, Ottilie, Fred, Louise and Edwin lived to adulthood.  The 1910 census shows Maria living with her husband and three children:  Julia, Fred and Edwin. 

She passed away March 14, 1917 at the age of 61.  Her daughter, Ottilie Keske was the administratrix of the estate, which was settled on October 3, 1918.  Probate records indicate that Ottilie wanted her estate to be divided equally among her children.  The record indicates that her son Fred was also the guardian for his father, Fred Barlag Sr.

Ottilie was born December 13, 1876 in Cleveland.  On June 17, 1901 she married William Fredrick Keske.  The Keskes remained in the Cleveland area.  Their first children (twins!), were born January 4, 1902.  Unfortunately, Justine passed away that same day and baby Ottilie the next day.  Edmund, William, Cornelia, Walter, Louise, Paul, Arthur and Robert were all born by 1916.  

The 1910 Census has the Keskes living at 1830 Corning Avenue, SW in Cleveland.  It is now a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom 1024 square foot bungalow in the Tremont area.  It is one of the smaller homes on the street.  County records also show the home being built that year. While both Frederick and Ottilie were born in Germany, they both spoke English and could read and write.  Frederick was employed as a Bookkeeper at Steel and Wire Co.  By 1920, the family lived at, and owned, a house Wood Street, Euclid, Ohio and Fred was a clerk at the Steel Co.  By 1940, the Keskes were living in South Euclid (I assume the street and town name changed, that they did not move again).  The 1940 census indicates that both Ottilie and Fred had an 8th grade education.

Fred and Ottilie remained in South Euclid until her death on Aril 4, 1959.

GROUP PICTURE AND SAVE THE DATE!

Dear Cousins,

One hundred sixty one cousins signed the book.  Last year we had about 83 cousins in attendance.  We sure showed up!

Our 101st Reunion will be JULY 14, 2024 at Wingfoot Lake State Park, Pinetree Lodge, in Mogodore, Ohio.  We will gather officially at 11.  There will be a hotel block, I'll update you with that information when it's made.

I can not express the joy I had at the reunion.  10 of 11 Ernst August clans were present (I have no addresses for Linda's clan).  We had a Sophia Alexander descendant (shout out, Fred Reinhardt for being so brave!  It had to be intimidating to be the only representative of an entire branch!).  We also had two Louis Henry clans (Edward and Rudolph) present and a Mary Louise Elizabeth (Ottillie clan) join us.

It has only been a day, but I am inundated with the messages from our cousins, who had a great time.  I've seen several post to their more immediate family, inviting them to join us.  It was, for me, the most beautiful reunion I can recall.  

Cousins, if you weren't there, you were sorely missed.  I know that sounds silly since there were so many of us, but I know I looked around wishing there were faces I haven't seen in too long present.  I was overjoyed to meet so many that I've only talked to (or typed to), and I also wished some were able to be with us.  We, certainly, understand that life happens and prevents us from doing things we'd like to do, and we hope you join us next year (or soon).

There's so much I want to say, so many pictures to share.  I won't be home until the end of the week.  My husband and children will need me to be very present for them, so I won't share as quickly as I'd like, but I will share.

Cousins, we were a true family.  So many people helped in so many ways.  Many of them were present with us, but even those who couldn't make it helped make our vision a reality.  Inviting each other, those that you miss and would like to see, showing up, that's the biggest thing!

Oh, and if anyone knows who made the curry side dish, could you please contact me?  I'd love the recipe!

We are abundantly blessed.

Love,

Christina

 

This is going to be a BIG one! A new Saturday thing!

A century of gathering once a year is a mighty celebration.  This year there is more excitement than I've seen in a very long time about our reunion.  We're filling more than 10% of an Embassy Suites!  Cousins are coming from so many states I've lost track (and some from other countries).  We're looking forward to seeing those we are close to, and to getting to know those we don't know as well.

On Saturday, there will be a conference room at the Embassy Suites open from 9 am to 11 pm.  I will have the family artifacts there (including the big sign in book if you wan't to look for someone's signature), photos, and the posters I've made explaining the family.  I'll also have a deck of cards and someone to smile and greet you.  If you need a place to meet up, you're welcome there.  

Hopefully, having the pictures, sign in book, other artifacts available the day before will cut down on the crowd near them during the reunion.  We will have significantly more cousins gathering this year, so I'm thinking crowd control.  What a wonderful thought!

Cousins have called to let me know they can't make it this year.  Some have said they'll be joining us next year.  I'm so glad!  I've attended about 45 reunions.  When I was young, there were people I knew I'd see that I only saw once a year (Bob with his cigars, bunnies, pride and joy was certainly one of many I looked forward to seeing).  Every time my Uncle Billy chose me as his partner in the water balloon toss was special (I was horrible at it and Uncle Billy liked to win, it was a true show of affection!).  Some of the cousins I looked forward to seeing annually are no longer with us on earth, and the reunion is no less special for me.  There are still cousins I look forward to seeing each year, and there are cousins I wish I saw each year but see randomly.

The before and after the reunion were also important in my younger days and still are.  Having my closer cousins drive up, stay with my parents, talk before hand, gather before and after brings such joy.  I'm hoping that having the room available to gather at the Embassy Suites leads to laughter and a deeper sense of family love and support, a deeper sense of our amazing family!

INVITATIONS ARE OUT! a reminder and a cool story!

 

THE INVITATION HAS BEEN MAILED!

If you, or one of our family members you know, does not receive an invitation that looks like this one (in various colors) every year, it means I do not have the correct address.

PLEASE e-mail me at brueggemanreunion@gmail.com with those addresses!

Now for the story.

One of my first cousins, once removed, was at the Cleveland Clinic in downtown Cleveland with his wife.  The nurse who was checking his wife in asked if he was related to an Oscar Brueggeman.  He responded that he wasn't sure, and asked if the nurse was aware of the Brueggeman reunion.  She was!  She told him that her sons get invitations, and they're planning on coming this year.

We have no clue who the cousin he spoke to is.   Hopefully it'll be a happy surprise on July 9th!

A reminder:

Now, we have quite a few cousins staying at the Embassy Suites.  If you're staying there, please book your room by June 17th to get our group rate AND email me (again, brueggemanreunion@gmail.com) because there are a few perks for staying at the hotel.  

Recipes for our Cookbook!

 

Dear Family,

One way we can celebrate our 100^th anniversary is to join together and create our Favorite Brueggeman Family Recipes.  Some of our favorites may have been passed down throughout the generations while others are relatively new and enjoyed by individual families.  Afterall, a big part of our reunions is food along with fellowship! 

Please take time and either type or write out at least one favorite and either mail it to me or send it via email. My address is:  6328 Waterwood Drive

Westerville, Ohio 43208 and email is mbruegge@insight.rr.com.   Include the following:

*Name of item

*Ingredients

*How to mix

*Any extra “hints” for success

*origin of recipe  (clan, if passed down, from whom)

*your name

We need to have recipes sent no later than May 15.

Blessings!

Marti (Brueggeman)

Clamor Ludwig Viktor's travel papers!

 Clamor left Germany April 19, 1857 and arrived in New York September 14, 1858.  I can't imagine being on a boat for almost a year and a half.  His wife and children accompanied him.  Gerhart would have been 16 when they left.  Marie Louisa was 11, Johann Frederick 7, Anna Marie Ilsebein was just 2.  I can't even fathom that trip!  Five more children were born in Cleveland, Ohio.  Why Cleveland?  I'm not sure yet, but I have some theories.  I'll attack that in anther post.

Let's skip a few generations for a moment.  Clamor's grandson, Edwin was born in 1893 and died in 1965.  His wife, Esther, lived until 1984.  Edwin and Esther had six children.  When Esther passed away, their daughter, Majorie lost her battle with cancer in 1987.  Margie and George Vasilev had 3 sons.  Their oldest son, Tom, married Joyce. Tom is my first cousin.

A few days ago Joyce called and told men she'd found a box of old pictures.  She started texting me pictures of the pictures.  We could identify SOME of the people in the pictures, but not all.  We started a group text and put a small amount on our Facebook group.  That helped identify more.  Joyce found pictures of Edwin's siblings on their wedding days!  She found a picture of Esther's mother!  There was a post card and some certificates.  More on those later.

She also found this:  

I could read just a few words, so I started using google translate and called my mother (who grew up speaking German at home).  I'll work on a full translation, but it definitely appears to be his travel papers!

Combining our brains and resources is helping me figure out our family so much more!

Nagging for addresses! Family tree!

 I just sent out a mailing giving our cousins the information posted here (tee shirts, hotels, recipes, pictures of your clans).  I mailed 354 letters.  They were dropped off at the post office yesterday.

TODAY my mother gave me an updated address and I found at least 5 addresses on ancestry (someone had posted a very old address list.  Amazingly, I had a few of the addresses.  I searched for the cousin with the city and state, a few seem like they could still be valid).  

I also have been working on a family tree poster.  It appears that Clamor Ludwig Victor Brueggemann had 54 Grandchildren.  I'm cleaning up my ancestry account to be sure because I have quite a few mistakes.  Our clans are named after his grandchildren.  I'm wondering if we don't need to add tribes (and maybe families). . . for example, 

I am the daughter of James, son of Edwin, Clamor's grandson.  Edwin is Ernst August's son.  I could be the Ernst August Tribe, Edwin Clan, James Family.  Edwin was my grandfather.  he has 17 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren.  The great-grandchildren have many children (I think 28 so far, but there's a new one being added this month!), and the first great-great-great grandchild was born last year.  

Clamor had 9 children, who all had children.  When he passed away, he had almost 100 descendants.  That was in 1909.  More than 100 years later, I have no idea how many descendants he has.  Five live in my home!  (Me, obviously, and our 4 teenagers).

What does this have to do with addresses?

I can not invite our cousins to the reunions if I don't have addresses.  Please, if you're reading this and you, or one of your relatives, does not receive a piece of paper from me every year, email me!  brueggemanreunion@gmail.com.  I have over 350 addresses, but I'm quite sure that's just a drop in the bucket.  Only two clans have provided me with complete information!  That information changes, too.  About 10% of my mailing comes back to me each year.  I update the contacts and reach out.  I try to figure out our family tree and find new addresses.  I also nag.

It may not seem important to you.  However, some of our cousins have started coming to the reunions because they're getting invitations.  We lost track of people.  In 100 years, that happens.  I'm trying to come up with a system that is sustainable for the next 100 years.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?  a 200th annual reunion.

Cousins, PLEASE send me your addresses.  Please update the family!

Information for our 100th reunion July 9, 2023

Hello, Cousins! It’s FINALLY almost here. This year is incredibly special.

We have a bit of information for you to use in planning to join us. The regular flyer will be out in a few months.

First, ordering T-shirts: T-shirts are available in every size. They are a very soft unisex style t shirt in a beautiful blue. To order, please contact John Riley. $10 each. He will need to know how many to order and in what sizes. He can be reached by phone at 614-595-5101 or by e-mail at jomriley@gmail.com. John will let you know how to pay by check, venmo or cash.

Next, recipes: send heirloom and holiday recipes to Marti Brueggeman at mbruegge@insight.rr.com. You can also call (423) 596-5131 or send in the mail (6328 Waterwood Drive, Westerville OH 43082).

We are asking that each clan make a poster with pictures of all descendants of that cousin. If you’re unsure of your clan, PLEASE just ask! I’d be happy to help.

Finally, hotels! Blocks of rooms are reserved at two hotels. The rates are good for July 7 - July 9 (checkout on the 10th). You can stay all the nights or just one. Just
ask for the Brueggeman Family Reunion block: prices cover July7 to July 9.

Comfort Suites, Hartville (choice brand) is 9 minutes from Wingfoot Lake State Park. The phone number is 330-587-4347. The block’s price is variable, as it’s 10% off the current rate when booked. You must book by June 7 to get the rate. 10 rooms are being held, 5 King and 5 with two queen beds. One is fully handicapped

accessible.

Embassy Suites Akron/Canton is 24 minutes from Wingfoot Lake State Park . The phone number is 330-305-0500. The rooms are $155. 15 suites (all King with a pull out couch in separate rooms, includes breakfast) are in the block. Rooms must be booked by June 16th to get the block rate. You can call or use the

following link: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/brueggemanfamilyreunion2023/ 

Embassy Suites also has a meeting room that can be rented for a full day, should any clan need a dedicated meeting place on Saturday.

Love,

Christina Brueggeman-Blow (brueggemanreunion@gmail.com; 614-704-8094

Not really an update update

 Hi, Cousins!

I love the excitement so many of you have for next year.  T shirts are being designed, key chain made, cookbooks planned, hotels explored and so much more.

We will inform you all when we have our information together.  The plan is to make things easy for you, and that takes a bit of background work.

If you are providing something we'll need to reimburse you for (we'll pass on the cost to those who want whatever you have), please email Brueggemanreunion@gmail.com before August 1.  

If you have pictures of ANY reunion, please also e-mail those!  If you know when the picture was taken and who is in it, that's wonderful, but even if you don't, that's ok!

c

The First Generation

 Clamor had nine children.  I’ve named that generation “The first generation “ because their children are our clan names.  Only 3 of the nine were alive in 1924 when the reunion began.  Cousins and siblings had moved to various parts of the country.  My best guess is that those cousins felt a deep bond and knew that our parents hold our family together.  By gathering once a year, they would stay in touch and their children would know each other.  I wonder if they hoped their great-great-great grandchildren would continue the family bond and the tradition.

About half of the original 9 were born in Germany.  They all came with Clamor to America.  

Gerhart H. Brueggemann (1841-1867)

Marie Louise Brueggemann Bennhoff (1842-1919)

Johann F. Brueggemann (1850-1909)

Anna Mary Ilsbien Brueggemann Barlag (1846-1924)

Anna Louise Brueggemann Hueseman (1859-1915)

Louis Henry Brueggemann (1861-1922)

Ernst August Brueggemann (1846-1937)

Sophie Brueggemann Reinhardt (1864-1925)

Rev. Johann Brueggemann  (1870-1927)

These 9 children bore more than 50 children, 45 of whom survived and bore children.

This photograph has all of the nine except Gerhart.  

Wonderful!

 The 99th annual Brueggeman Family reunion is one of my favorite reunions (I’ve been to at least 40 of them).  While we missed many of our cousins, the more than 80 Brueggemans who gathered were excited for next year.  So many offered their skills, time and talent to help make next year’s a huge success.

You could FEEL the joy and family bonds growing, feel the gratitude, the respect and deepening understanding on how exceptional our family is.  We, my dear cousins, have an incredible legacy.

Jerry Smith took whole reunion and clan pictures.  Snag them!  I will add more in another post.