EXCITING UPDATE

In 2022, I posted a video on TikTok asking for help finding the children of Grandma E. Virgina (Kaelber) Fifer's youngest brother, Alvin “Manny” Kaelber. Earlier this week, I was in contact with one of Alvin’s grandchildren. (TikTok video update here.) I can't say how excited I am & wish that Grandma were here to know. 

L-R: Alvin “Manny” Kaelber , Virginia “Bid” Kaelber, Florence “Sis” Kaelber, Belle “Toots” Kaelber, & James Kaelber

Thanksgiving 2015 - in pictures

Larry Fifer's retirement party

19 June 2015

talking with Grandma

As I said in my first post, I love stories. After Grandpa Robert died & Grandma Virginia moved to Spokane Valley, I have had the opportunity to look through Grandma's old pictures & records. And, of course, I've had the chance to ask Grandma questions. Below are two YouTube "videos" of talks that I've had with Grandma. (They were done in 2012 or 2013.) The first is regarding an obit, the second is regarding a photo.

Myrtle Denman Kaelber - obit c. 1943

Bill Fifer - photo c. 1945

Mrs. Fifer's retirement party

On 15 May 2014,
a retirement party was held
for my mom.

B. Jill (Dyck) Fifer started teaching

at the Inchelium K-12 school around 1980.

While there, she taught high school English,

worked as a school counselor

(after receiving her masters degree),
& then taught 2nd grade.

Before she worked in Inchelium,

she taught high school English

at Kettle Falls School District #212.

* * *

Inchelium is in Ferry County, Washington (State), USA.
Kettle Falls is in Stevens County, Washington (State), USA.

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"Kaelber" is tagged on this post
because my paternal grandma  
- E. Virginia (Kaelber) Fifer -
attended the event.

Sinclair family mystery

There is a family mystery that I would like to solve. It involves the relationship between my great-grandmother Mary Ann (Sinclair) Kaelber & her mother Susan (Sylvester) Sinclair or [a possible] step-mother Susan (Morse/Morise) Sinclair.
 

Here is the family lore:

For as long as Grandma Virginia or Dad can remember, my great grandma Mary always said that Susan (or "that woman" as she put it) was not her mom. The legend goes that, as Daniel Sinclair lay dying from blood poisoning c. 1911, he told Mary that "she's not your mom" and that she was to "get out of [there]".

As you can tell from my first paragraph, based upon my research so far, I have come up with two names: Susan Sylvester & Susan Morse (or Morise).

Great Grandma Mary's death certificate (1900-1999) lists her mother as Susan Sinclair. (However, it also lists her occupation as nurse. In searching the Washington State Department of Health's Provider Credential Search, it appears that she was not a licensed nurse or nurse aide.) The death certificate of John Sinclair (1902-1920), Mary's younger brother, lists his mother as Susan Morse. (However, if their older brother Joseph Sinclair [who is listed as "not of sound mind" on his 1917 draft card] were the one who had provided the information, it is possible that it wasn't correct.)

 

Since John Sinclair was born in 1902, one would assume that the 1910 Washington State census could indicate a different woman than did the 1900 Wisconsin census. However, that's not the case!

In looking at this information, one could wonder if Daniel Sinclair had had an affair - and a child - with a woman named Susan Morse ... and that Daniel's statement had actually been about Susan Sylvester not being John's mom (vs Susan Morse not being Mary's mom).

But then what would I make of this 1915 marriage document (from Spokane County, Washington) which lists the bride as a widow named Susan Morse Sinclair? (And Spokane County does not necessarily seem strange, as this page from the 12 June 1915 edition of The Colville Examiner and the 1920 census' [here & here] suggest that Susan was not living with relatives in Ferry County in 1915 or 1920.)

* * *

In order to shed more light on the situation, I need to get the birth certificates for both Joseph Sinclair and John Sinclair. (Mary's birth certificate lists her mother as Susan Salvesta.) I would also like to get the marriage certificate for Daniel Sinclair and Susan Sylvester and the possible marriage certificate for Daniel Sinclair and Susan Morse (although general online searches have not indicated the existence of such a document).

 

 

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If you have any information, please leave a comment on this post

or click on contact Dawn, above.

 

Robert Fifer on Fold3

I recently realized that my grandpa, Robert V. Fifer, is listed on Fold3.

I just added two photos of him, which can be viewed here.

 

photo book - grandparents home on Lake Roosevelt

I just finished a photo book
- Robert & Virginia's home along Lake Roosevelt -
for Grandma Virginia.

 

She's been living in Spokane County for the last [approximately] 2 years.

I know that she misses Ferry County; I hope that this helps.

an 1850 census, an obit transcription, family notes, cemetery listings, & Google Books

I spent some time at my Grandma Virginia's place today. We looked through some of her slides, which she is wanting to get regular photo's of. We then spent some time looking through some of her family history stuff.
 

For Christmas I had received a portable scanner. Luccily, I had taken it with me & was able to scan some things, which I will include below.

1850 census - Clark County, Missouri - Fifer

Ida Boyer - 1961 obituary transcription

Denman family notes

Kaelber & Denman family notes

Green Mountain Cemetary



Something I was able to copy were images from a book that seemed to be titled History of Marion County and Representative Citizens. It included the names and information on some of my ancestors & relatives: the Kaelbers.

 

I just did a Google search for . I was able to see that the true name of this book was History of Marion County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens ... and was able to see some of the same pages (as shown below) on Google Books! (The pages viewable on Google Books, of course, are not written on.)

Family Photo Friday

I have shared family photos in several past posts (introduction, Family Old Photos, "Inchelium Couple Adopt Girl"). Lately I have had the wonderful opportunity to go through the photo collection of my Grandma Virginia (my dad's mom). Since I am amassing quite a collection (& hope to come by many more), I have decided that it would be fun to christen Friday as “Family Photo Friday.”

wedding photo

Mary Ann (Sinclair) Kaelber

Frank Kaelber

(Kaelber) sibling photo

(l-r) Alvin, E. Virginia, Florence, M. Belle, James

 

* * *

 

These photos have both been added to Family Old Photos

& the first has been added to Dead Fred (where all individuals must be deceased).

Family Old Photos

A few months ago, I discovered Family Old Photos,
which is a free site for sharing ... old photos!

 

You can follow me on this site by clicking on the following link. 

Family Old Photos: Photos Submitted by Dawn Fifer

 

Below are the photos that I have uploaded ... so far.

 

 

 

* * *

 Growing up, I heard that I looked like my parents.
If I was with my mom, I was told "you look like your mother".
If I was with my dad, I was told "you look like your father".

I think that I have my mom's general look, but my dad's eyes & nose.

In looking at these photos, I could take the above statement a step further.
I have my maternal grandmother's general look
(who got her look from her dad).
I have my paternal grandfather's eyes & nose.
(My mom, however, always said that my dad looked like his mom. IDK!)

I will definately have more photos
along with what I think are resemblances.