Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – Two Degrees of Separation

1. 1. My STEWART line: I met my grandfather, James Edward STEWART (1910-1972). He would’ve known his grandparents Augustus L MERRILL (1848-1920) & Sarah Jane (EASTWOOD) MERRILL (1848-1923) as they all lived in Pennsylvania.
   2. My PETERS line: I knew my grandmother, Hazel Lucille (PETERS) STEWART (1910-1975). She lived in the same small town as her grandfather, Josiah Randolph COPPENBARGER (1844-1934).
   3. My KAECHLE line: I knew my grandfather, Sherman Joseph KAECHLE (1907-1987). His great grandmother, Marya “Mary Ann” (REUTER) KARBACK (1825-1914) lived until he was about 7 years old. He lived in Detroit, Michigan while she lived in Huron, Ohio. They are only 120 miles apart so I am pretty sure they would have met.
   4. My DICKSON line: I knew my grandmother, Ethel Evelyn (DICKSON) KAECHLE (1915-2004). She was raised by her grandmother, Sallie Harriet (DICKSON) WARD (1860-1960) who lived to be 99 years old.

Mary Ann (Reuter) Koerbach/Karbach’s death certificate from FamilySearch

So, my ‘oldest’ family member that I can connect to by two degrees of separation is: Marya “Mary Ann” (Reuter) Karback/Koerback who was born on the 4th of May 4th 1825 in Germany in about 1850. I wrote about Mary Ann in a post titled “Aged Woman Answers Summons.”

What I find most interesting about this challenge is this: my grandmother only died in 2004 and probably at least knew about her great grandmother if she didn’t actually know her. What could she have told me that I didn’t know to ask? It’s a great reminder to talk to the oldest living members of our families!

Do we share common ancestors? I’d love to talk! Please email me at drleeds@sbcglobal.net.