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Guarding Lincoln: Private Bruno Albaugh, Co. K, 150th Pennsylvania Infantry

Mary Todd Lincoln, Robert Todd Lincoln, and Tad Lincoln surround Abraham Lincoln. A portrait of Willie, the Lincolns' deceased son, hangs on the wall. 1 I've been noodling about my Aunt Sharon's family tree the past few weeks, extending her family back a couple of generations. This week, I discovered an unknown family story: that of her great-grandfather, Bruno Albaugh , a German immigrant from Meadville, Crawford Co., Pennsylvania.  Bruno, born about 1836, enlisted in the Union Army on 15 August 1862 in Meadville. 2 He may have seen notices like the one shown below pasted around town and like many other men of his age and condition, 26 years old and unattached, he heeded the call to arms. Perhaps it was patriotism that spurred him or a longing for adventure away from his farming life in Meadville. Maybe he wished to join forces with  his friends and neighbors who also enlisted that day from his community or felt passionate about the Union's cause. The bounty offere...
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BEGINNINGS

Sunrise, 28 Dec. 2020. Photo by N Gilbride Casey


By Nancy Gilbride Casey

I must admit, I do like turning the page on a new year. Everything seems fresh to me, and the possibilities are enticing. It doesn't hurt that I'm writing this with sunshine streaming through my window, which always puts me in a positive frame of mind.

"Beginnings" is the first theme of the 2021 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge by blogger/podcaster Amy Johnson Crow. I participated in this challenge last year for a bit, but in the midst of the pandemic, my writing fell by the wayside. Weightier thoughts occupied my mind: 

"Will my family stay safe?" 

"How do I go back to work with all those kids?" (I work at a high school.) 

"What happens if one of us gets sick with COVID?" 

I am certain I am not alone in this; many of my genealogy writing pals suffered the same fate, and just getting though the day-to-day of life was an accomplishment in itself on any given day.

That's why a little challenge I saw on Facebook so appealed to me to start off the New Year: 

Post on social media one document, photograph, heirloom, etc., for each day of January, following the various suggested themes—a birth record, a death record, a treasured heirloom, etc. 

Perfect! This I can do. 

Writing a post on social media feels a lot less stressful than writing a blog post for some reason. Most posts are meant to be brief, usually just a paragraph or two. I have so much research, so many photos, documents, etc., which I've accumulated through researching family history, this is the perfect way to get back into the swing of things, without breaking too much of a sweat.

So far, I've chosen and written about the first 4 items, and have ideas for several others...so far so good. Some posts have even generated some discussion, a delightful development.

Coincidentally, the first theme was the ultimate "beginning," a birth record. I chose the birth/baptismal record of my great grandmother Anna Tatar Simonik, born in 1883 in Slovakia. In case you're not on Facebook, I will also be adding these posts to this blog.

As in 2020, I believe any accomplishment in 2021—big or small—is important. 

So, here's to beginnings, yours and mine. All the best to you and yours in the New Year.

Until next time...

 

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