Good Evening,

Recently I asked Paula Sassi, Certified Master Graphologist to analyze the handwriting of my Paternal Grandfather, Robert N. Shane.  I had only a limited sample, a signature on the probate record for his Mother, Bridget (Hogan) Shane who died in 1896.  Even with such a small  sample Paula was able to provide fascinating insights on Robert, and since I never knew him it gave me a better understanding of his personality traits and how he interacted with his world.  Here’s the sample and Paula’s analysis:

“The following handwriting analysis is based upon the signature of your paternal grandfather, Robert N. Shane.  The signature represents the public self image of the writer or how he wants to project himself to the outside world.

Robert Shane’s signature indicates that he was a down-to-earth individual who had a moderate degree of self confidence.  As the oldest son in the family, he was willing to take on responsibility for others.  His t-cross shows that he could be domineering and willing to take charge when necessary.  His a’s and o’s show that he was discreet in his communications and could even withhold information if he felt that it was not necessary to reveal certain points.  He could be logical and quick minded and was responsive and somewhat extroverted, but anxiety and skepticism may have held him back from being too overtly open to others.  He writes his first name larger than his last indicating that he saw himself as an independent individual.  The loss of his father may also be the reason that his last name is not written as large or as clearly as his first name.  The ending stroke of the “e” also shows that he was feeling sad and depressed at the time of this signing which is not surprising due to the nature of the document.

From these indicators, we can infer that he was a responsible individual who most likely assumed leadership as the oldest male child.  He had a dominant nature, but probably was not harsh or overly requiring.  He kept his secrets and used common sense to get him through life.

Respectfully submitted

Paula A. Sassi, Certified Master Graphologist”

If you’re at the point where you’re interested in finding out about an ancestor’s personality traits I’d highly recommend that you contact Paula Sassi at her website or via Email at hci@hotmail.com.  You’ll benefit by what you learn and might have a surprise or two in the process!

*Analysis reprinted with the permission of Paul Sassi, Certified Master Graphologist

Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, WA, 98252  December 28, 2009, All Rights Reserved.

Good Evening,

My sister Pat gave me a wonderful gift the other day:  Two books that belonged to our dad, Frank Shane.  The books were stored in an old trunk that was shipped from Iowa to Portland, Oregon, probably when my dad’s aunts moved there in the early 1900’s.  I’ll post a picture of the trunk one of these days.  Anyway, I didn’t know these books existed so am excited and honored to have them.  The books are “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriett Beecher-Stowe with a publication date of 1897,, and “The Christmas Fairy” by John Strange Winter with a publication date of 1900.  ”The Christmas Fairy” book also contains “Not Quite True” by Mrs. Molesworth, and “In the Chimney Corner” by Frances E. Crompton.  According to Google Books “The Christmas Fairy” book is now out of copyright.

“Uncle Tom’s Cabin” is in pretty tough condition but contains “over 100 illustrations from Original drawings by celebrated artists” so it’ll be fun to share some of those illustrations in future posts. But tonight the post will be about “The Christmas Fairy”

According to Wikipedia, John Strange Winter was a pen name for English novelist Henrietta Eliza Vaughn Stannard, born January 13, 1856 in York.

“Henrietta was the daughter of Reverend H. V. Palmer, rector of St. Margaret’s, York and wrote fiction for magazines, producing sentimental stories, chiefly of army life. Two of these, “Booties Baby” and “Hoe-p-la” which appeared originally in “The Graphic” in 1885 established her reputation and she became a prolific novelist, producing some sixty other light and amusing books, the best of which deal with military life.  An indefatigable journalist on matters affecting women, she was the first president of  The Writer’s Club (1892) and presided from 1901 to 1903 over the Society of Women Journalists. In 1884 she married Arthur Stannard, a civil engineer.”

Dad’s copy of  ”The Christmas Fairy” bears an inscription “Frank from Raymond” so most likely was a gift to dad from his cousin, Raymond Samels. I’m not convinced that Raymond actually wrote the inscription as it appears to be adult handwriting and this is definitely a child’s book. Dad later added his own name and address to the same page.

The story deals with two boys in a boarding school who are unable to return to their homes for the Christmas Holiday and are very sad about it.  But they’re eventually “rescued” by the Aunt of one of the boys and so will have their holiday after all.

I’m sure this was a book that a youngster would have enjoyed, and dad and his family lived in for a time in Minneapolis where his Samels cousins lived as children, so might this have been a Christmas gift during the time the Shanes lived in Minneapolis?   Or perhaps it was a farewell present, or it might have been mailed to dad later after the Shanes moved to Oregon.  We’ll never know the answer, but I’m grateful to my sister for the gift of this lovely little book and the knowledge that our dad must have treasured it.

Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington, December 13, 2009.  All Rights Reserved.

Photographs are the sole property of Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington

Just as soon as Evelyn announced the prompt for this month’s postcard, I thought of this one I inherited from my mom’s things.  It’s   a picture of an ice castle  built in Bemidji, Minnesota in January of 1932 for the Bemidji Winter Sports Carnival.  Just the perfect card, thought I…. then looked at the back and found, much to my chagrin,  that it’s not a postcard at all, but only a picture!  So Evelyn you need not post this, but I wanted you to have a look at it anyway….  it could have become a beautiful  postcard don’t you think?

Written for the Carnival of Postcards, December 13, 2009.  Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, WA.  All rights reserved.

Picture is the sole property of Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, WA

All good things come to an end, don’t they?  We’ve known for five months that our 10 year old Springer Spaniel Rider, had cancer…. specifically Hemangiosarcoma, a deadly cancer that arrises in the spleen and gradually becomes more and more engorged with blood finally rupturing causing the dog to bleed to death.  Because of his age and the uncertain prognosis for successful surgery we decided not to subject Rider to surgery  to remove the tumor.  Feeding into the decision is the fact that even with successful surgery, many dogs die quite soon, sometimes within a couple of weeks and we simply didn’t want Rider to live his last days in recovery from major surgery. Hence the decision.

Canines usually die within a few weeks of diagnosis anyway, but  Rider lived just past five months. And for that five months we’re very grateful.  He wasn’t in pain, had a good appetite, was generally happy and full of pep.  His only symptom an enlarged abdomen.

On Tuesday night, November 3rd Rider suddenly quit eating and later in the evening vomited a couple of times.  He began to weaken and didn’t want to move around much, and his breathing started to be more labored.  We knew then that the end was near.

Throughout the night I stayed with Rider, petting him and talking softly to him.  He seemed quite comfortable and even wagged his tail several times.  About 6:30 Ed awoke and wanted to spell me so I could get some rest, but before I even dozed off Rider collapsed and in short order died.  Both Ed and I were there with him as he went to sleep for the last time.  We cried together.

Ed buried Rider with his favorite toy out in the forested part of our property called “The Island.”  He’s right next to Muffin, our old cat who died a couple of weeks ago. We lost a great friend when Rider crossed the Rainbow Bridge… but we just know he must be frolicking with his canine buddies now.  His journey is over.

Susan Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, November 5, 2009, All Rights Reserved.

This article, like the one that follows was provided to me by the Public Library in Crosby, North Dakota.  Publication date and news media are unknown.

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Aged Lady Died December 18th at Powers Lake

Mrs. Theresa Shane, one of the pioneers of the Stady area, died at St. Olav’s Home in Powers Lake, Thursday December 17th, at the ripe old age of 97 years.  She had been making her home at Powers Lake for something more than two years.  Funeral services were held from the Catholic Church at Williston and the remains were brought to Fortuna for burial in the family plot in the Catholic cemetery there, beside her husband and two sons.  Rev. Fr. Daniel F. Flavin of Crosby officiated at the committal services at Fortuna.

Born at Cascade, Ia., on August 15, 1867, her span of life almost reached the century mark.  She grew to womanhood in the Cascade area, where in June, 1888, she was united in marriage to James Shane.  They lived for some years at Larimore, N.D. and in 1907, moved to the Stady area, where they homesteaded and where she made her home for more than 55 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, two sons and a brother, Tom McDonough, all of whom lived in the Stady area and for whom she cared in their declining years.

Mrs. Shane was always friendly and hospitable and was a willing worker in her church and club.  She was a charter member of the Sioux Trail Homemakers Club and had served as its president.

Only survivors are several nieces and nephews, of whom Mrs. Helen Kalil of Williston is numbered.

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SOURCE:  Unknown, probably the Fortuna Leader newspaper.

Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, October 25, 2009.

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Theresa (McDonough) Shane was the wife of James Shane, my dad’s uncle. The Public Library in Crosby, N.D. sent me this lovely article about Theresa, evidently  from a book about the Powers Lake Catholic Nursing Home.  The year of publication is unknown.

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MRS. THERESA SHANE

On 1908 or 0′09, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Shane came to what is now Alexandria Township and took up a homestead a mile east of Stady.  Theresa’s maiden name was McDonough, and her mother and three brothers homesteaded in the same township.  They came from Cascade, Iowa, where Mr. Shane’s doctor had found he had tuberculosis and recommended the dry climate of Dakota for health improvement.  They had two sons, Frank and Glenn (Thomas).  Mr. Shane lived until 1918, and Glenn passed away in 1922, at the age of 23 years, of the same ailment as his fathers.

Because her husband could not help with the work, Mrs. Shane and the boys did the farming.  Her neighbors remember her driving horses, making hay or anything else usually thought of as man’s work.  Both boys were fond of athletics, and were members of the Stady baseball and basketball teams for years.  One of Mrs. Shane’s prized possessions still hangs in the living room, an oval photo showing both boys in basketball attire.

In the early years (1915-16-17), Mrs. Shane delivered children to Lee School No. 1 for $40.oo per month.  The Soby chiuldren were among those on her route.  Always deeply interested in advancement and education, she served as President of Lee School Board.  Students remember her regular twice-a-year visits to the schools, and on Arbor Day she always supervised the planting of a tree.  Frank Shane was School Treasurer for 15 years, from 1937 to 1952.

Frank died in 1957, at the age of 63.  Mrs. Shane still lives, and is a resident of the Powers Lake Catholic Nursing Home.  Born in 1879, she will soon mark her 95th birthday.  While she still resided on her farm, which she did until 1959 or ‘60, her birthday party was an annual event to her neighbors, Father O’Leary, and members of Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church of Hanks, where she was an active member.

A true pioneer, Mrs. Shane will long be remembered in the Stady area.

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SOURCE UNKNOWN – Appears to be an article from a book about the Powers Lake Catholic Nursing Home.

Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, October 25, 2009

“The funeral of Jas. Shane of Stady, who died last Sunday was held from the Catholic Church in this city conducted by Rev. Fr. O’Sullivan, on Tuesday of this week and interment made in the Catholic Cemetery south of the city.  Mr. Shane was born in Sand Springs, Iowa in November 1964.  Here he lived and grew to manhood.  He was united in marriage to Miss Tessie McDonough, to which union was born two sons, Frank and Glen, who with the wife remain to mourn the loss.  He also leaves two sisters and one brother in Oregon.  A large number of friends from Stady were present at the funeral.  Mr. Samuelson,* of Minneapolis and Mrs. Leo Brady, of Comer, Mont., were out-of-town relatives who were present.

*  Probably Ray Samels, sister of Susan Samels.  Ray Samels is named in the estate of Theresa Shane

SOURCE: Fortuna Leader, June 12, 1918

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Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington, All Rights Reserved

Wedding of James Shane and Theresa McDonough

My grandfather’s brother James Shane married Theresa McDonough on February 13, 1889 in Sand Springs Iowa.  The Delaware County Courthouse provides a detailed record:

Affidavit by:    Dennis Kehoe

Groom:     James Shane, Sand Springs Iowa, Occupation: Farmer, Age: 24, caucasian, born in Sand Springs.

Parents:  Robert Shane and Bridget Hogan.  First marriage.

Bride:   Theresa McDonough, age 19, caucasian.

Parents: Frank McDonough, Mary Keyes, first marriage.

Married at: Sand Springs, Iowa, Date: February 13 1889

Witnesses: Joe Shane, Mary McDonough

Married by:  I. McCormack, Catholic Priest

Recorded February 15, 1889

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Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls Washington, October 16, 2009, All Rights Reserved.

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James P. Shane was born in Sand Springs Iowa in 1864/1865, the third child of Bridget Hogan and Robert Shane.  At the age of 25, James married 19 year old Theresa McDonough, daughter of Frank McDonough and Mary Keyes. Theresa and James were the parents of two sons, Frank Earl and Thomas Glen Shane and in 1900 the family was living in Lester Township, Black Hawk County, Iowa, west of Delaware County.  The city of Waterloo is located in Black Hawk County as is LaPorte City where James’ siblings John, Mary and Frances were living.

James at some point became a victim of Tuberculosis and was advised by his doctor to leave Iowa and move to a drier climate in North Dakota.  Now it could be argued that the climate in North Dakota was probably not advantageous to combatting the ravages of  TB, but nevertheless on the doctor’s advice James, Theresa and their sons did make the move to North Dakota, first settling in Larimore, Grand Forks County.   In 1907 the family moved further west to Stady, Divide County, in the Northwest corner of North Dakota where they homesteaded. A copy of their land patent is transcribed below:

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Patent Number 144215

United States of America

Williston, 010769

Whereas, James P. Shane has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Willistopn, North Dakota, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said James P. Shane according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820 entitled “An Act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands,” and the acts supplemental thereto, for the southwest quarter of Section thirty-three in Township one hundred sixty-one north of Range one hundred west of the Fifth Principal Meridian, North Dakota, containing one hundred sixty acres, according to the Official Plat of the Survey of the said lands, returned to the GENERAL LAND OFFICE by the Surveyor General, which said Tract has been purchased by the said James P. Shane:

NOW KNOW YE, that the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the several Acts of  Congress in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said James P. Shane his heirs the said Tract above described; TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said James P. Shane and to his heirs and assigns forever; subject to any vested and accrued water rights for mining, agricultural, manufacturing, or other purposes, and rights to ditches and reservoirs used in connection with such water rights, as may be recognized and acknowledged by the local customs, laws, and decisions of courts, and also subject to the right of the proprietor (sic) of a vein or lode to extract and remove his ore therefrom, should the same be found to penetrate or intersect the premises hereby granted, as provided by law; and there is reserved from the lands hereby granted, a right of way thereon for ditches or canals constructed by the authority of the United States.

The document is signed in the name of  William H. Taft President of the United States of America……

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the FOURTEENTH day of JULY, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and TEN and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and THIRTY-FIFTH.

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As James became more and more ill with tuberculosis he was unable to work on the farm so Theresa and her sons picked up the farm work.  According to neighbors Theresa was often seen driving the horses, making hay and doing other farm chores.  James succumbed to tuberculosis on June 9, 1918 and is buried in Fortuna Catholic Cemetery.

SOUCES:

1870 US Census, Delaware County, Iowa, population schedule, South Fork Twp, p. 206, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com: accessed 7/26/2007)

1880 US Census, Delaware County, Iowa, population schedule, South Fork Twp.,  p. 531, dwelling 8688, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com: accessed 7/26/2007)

1885 Iowa State Census, Delaware County, Iowa, population schedule, South Fork Twp., p. 294 dwelling118, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com: accessed 7/26/2007)

1900 US Census, Delaware County, Iowa, population schedule, South Fork Twp., p. 76 (supv. district) dwelling unknown, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com accessed 3/29/2009)

1910 US Census, Williams County, North Dakota, population schedule, Twp 161, dwelling 15, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com, accessed 3/28/2009)

1915/1925,  North Dakota State Census, population schedule, Twp., Alexandria, dwelling unknown, Line 14, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com, accessed 3/28/2009)

1920 US Census, Divide County,  North Dakota, population schedule,  Alexandria Twp., line 14, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com, accessed 4/5/2009)

1930 US Census, Divide County, North Dakota, population schedule, Alexandria Twp., dwelling 36, digital image, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com, accessed 3/28/2009)

Gravestone records, Fortuna, Divide County, North Dakota, digital image, Find A Grave.com (http://www.findagave.com, accessed 5/16/2009

North Dakota Death Certificate #  Frank Shane,  Alexandria Twp. Divide County, North Dakota

Obituary, Thomas Schane (sic) Crosby Journal, April 28, 1922, Crosby, Divide County, North Dakota

Obituary, Theresa Shane, unknown newspaper

Article re: Theresa Shane, unknown publication

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Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington, October 14, 2009, All rights reserved

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Robert Shane’s Obituary, September 25, 1884 as printed in the Monticello Express

Robert Shane was my great-grandfather, not to be confused with Robert Nolan Shane (1863-1918) who was my grandfather. Robert Shane (the first) was born in Limerick, Ireland about 1816-1822.  There’s some confusion about his birthdate because Census records vary significantly about that piece of information.  It’s possible he simply didn’t know.

For some time I’d been wondering why it is that the 1870 Federal Census for South Fork Township, Iowa clearly lists Robert as head of the household with Bridget’s occupation listed as “keeping house.”  But just ten years later the census for South Fork lists Bridget first with an occupation of “Farmer” and Robert listed just after the family, living in a separate household.  Apparently Bridget and Robert were separated.

Shane Family in 1870

Shane Family in 1880

Both of these census documents show my grandfather, Robert Shane along with his siblings, children of Robert and Bridget. The family enumerated “next door” to them is the Quirk Family, and Johanna Quirk is believed to be the sister of Robert Shane.

I’m not sure how much this obituary and census information clarify the status of the Shane Family except that the obituary solves a question that’s been nagging at me for some time… i.e., why was Robert Shane enumerated in a separate household in 1884?  One more mystery resolved…  hundreds yet to go!

SOURCES:

Iowa, Delaware County, 1870 U.S. Census, population schedule.  Digital image. Ancestry.com.  http://www.ancestry.com.

Iowa, Delaware County, 1880 U.S. Census, population schedule.  Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://www.ancestry.com.

Iowa, Jones County, The Monticello Express, September 25, 1884. Jones County Genealogical Society.

Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington, All rights reserved.

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