Jug Balloon

Winter Afternoon on Mink Bay

A recent winter afternoon along the Lake Superior shoreline in Ontario. We had really nice clouds all afternoon and the sun kept shooting rays of light down between the clouds. I really liked the cracks in the rocks shown here, and how they draw your eye into the scene.

Beachcombing #1

Padre Island National Seashore
Corpus Christi, Texas
February 17, ..

Boating and Tubing

We have been so lucky to be able to do boating on Daryl and Diana's new boat. The boat is just awesome and they are so gracious in sharing it with us by inviting us each time they go out in it.



We really appreciate you all and your cool boat! Today we spent a good bit of the day out, enjoying the water and doing some tubing with them.

An osprey and its nest:

Swallowtail and Hawkweed

Wildflowers are blooming like crazy everywhere right now and local insects are loving it! I captured this Swallowtail butterfly enjoying a patch of hawkweed along Esther Lake Road in Grand Portage State Forest recently. Both sides of the road were lined with millions of flowers and it was difficult to pick out a particular patch to photograph. That is, until Jessica noticed a field of hawkweed combined with a large patch of bunchberry! We stopped to photograph the flowers and that's when this swallowtail flew in and began working the hawkweed. I got down on my stomach to get at eye level with the butterfly. There was a constant breeze, so getting a sharp exposure was a challenge as the flowers kept waving back and forth. Eventually I got a good one :-)

Happy Hour

One of the things we looked for when picking out our annual site was a spot that would be able to host get togethers. With our Happy Hour queen, Diane, out west this winter, we figured the rest of us would have to pick up the slack and we wanted to do our part. I'm glad we did because last night we started out this season with our first Happy Hour.





Happy Hours are a time for the pickleball players to hang out off the court and participate in the three "F's": Food, Fun and Friends. We even got Stan and Sally here, even though they are now at Torrey Oaks. Actually we got them to come twice because we moved the date and they didn't get the notice and showed up with jalepeno poppers which we helped them to devour. They were so gracious about the mix-up and came back for the second time when everyone else was here too. (Can somebody teach my husband to zoom out when taking pictures of me! Thank you!)






We had a nice turnout for this time of the year! From top to bottom: Stan and Sally, me and Ava, Austin Lee and Aric, Donna and Rich, Diane and Buddy, Patty and Woody, Carla and Marie, and Keith and John.



It was nice to have time to sit and chat with all that came and the food was wonderful! Hopefully we have many more this season!



Living the life in Florida!

The 1913 Hoffman Family Reunion

This article (and a second one) was brought to my attention a few days ago by Bob Hoffman (see this post), courtesy of the two wonderful ladies who volunteer at the Columbiana County Archives and Research Center.



The Chronicling America website (part of the Library of Congress) shows that The Mahoning Dispatch was published weekly on Fridays in Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio beginning on May 4, 1877 with the last issue printed on April 26, 1968. The site currently has digitized issues available from October 2, 1908 through September 30, 1921. I haven't yet taken the time to go through all of the issues but a search for Hoffman and related surnames provides quite a few hits.



As a side note, there are two options for downloading the images - a high quality, large "jp2" file and a smaller pdf file of lower quality. After downloading the jp2 file I discovered that I didn't have a graphics program that would open the file! A quick search showed that Irfanview along with a JPEG.. plugin will open the downloaded images.



The article consumes the entire first column of the first page and a small portion of the second column so it had to be "clipped" in sections. It includes quite a few surnames, some of which I recognized from information that was given to me in September .. by Stephanie Martin Shively. She is a descendant of Daniel Coy, half-brother of Catherine Coy who married John Hoffman. Catherine and John are my 4th great-grandparents.



Stephanie had some information on all of the eleven children of John and Catherine, more on some than on others. This article contains quite a bit of information on the family of John Hoffman, Jr., which is one of the children for which Stephanie had little information.



Since obtaining the article two days ago, I have found quite a bit more information on the family of John Jr. and have been able to trace all of his children and some of the grandchildren through census records from ancestry.com as well as marriage and death records from FamilySearch. but still have a few holes to fill in. Several passages have been emphasized in bold and will be discussed in future posts, as will other portions of the article.




The Mahoning Dispatch ~Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio ~Vol. XXXVII

Friday, August 15, 1913




WASHINGTONVILLE

Bright, Breezy Paragraphs Telling

The Happenings in the Village on

Mahoning's Southern

Border.

By Peter M. Herold.




Hoffman Family Reunion.

When we asunder part,

It gives us inward pain;

But we shall still be joined in heart

And hope to meet again.




The largest family gathering held in Washingtonville for many years assembled in town hall last Saturday, when the Hoffman family held their annual reunion and picnic. Other families have had larger gatherings, but they are held statedly in groves especially fitted up for the purpose; while that of the Hoffman family held last Saturday was all under cover and had the privileges of the town property and the school grounds.



The out-of-town members of the family came by electric line and automobiles from Cleveland, Chagrin Falls, Canton, Homeworth, Alliance, Freeburg, Paris, Salem, North Lima and Leetonia - the Washingtonville kinship being divided among the Weikarts, the Bostons, the Hilemans, the Fitzsimmons' and their intermarried relatives, so that when dinner was announced 138 relatives surrounded the tables and partook of a bountiful meal, which none can prepare and enjoy than persons of German extraction. Before adjournment everybody present was served with ice-cream and cake.




Order being restored, the meeting was opened with devotional exercises conducted by Rev. S. Z. Cowgill of Salem, whose mother was a Hoffman. Then followed the following program, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Hoffman, president and secretary of the reunion:
Piano solo..... Marie Weikart


Recitations by Willie Bowker and Ethel Weikart.

Vocal solo..... Thelma Bossert

Recitation........Helen Woods

Song - "Count Your Blessings," by Dr. H. K. Yaggie of Salem, whose mother was a Hoffman.

Recitation....... Mary Grim

Piano duet... Ruby and Marie Weikart

Recitations... Rose Woods and Glen Van Skiver

Piano solo......... Freeda Paisley

Recitation....... Dorothy Woods

Vocal solo..... Mercedes Gilbert




Short talks by Rev. S. Z. Cowgill,J. R. Hoffman and others interested and entertained the audience. Some of these talks were for the benefit of the family historian who is preparing a book of some 800 pages and dates the family tree to Germany in the 17th century, when Adam Hoffman and his brothers Michael and Robert sailed for America, locating in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.Another branch whose paternal head is Didrich Hoffman (first son of Michael Hoffman) was born in Philadephia, Pa., and located in this part of Ohio. He owned the Cherry Valley farm now covered by the coke ovens. The brown stone marker in the Lutheran graveyard at Washingtonville bears the following inscription:



"In memory of Didrich Hoffman who was born June 23rd, 1751, and departed this life on the 10 of March A. D. 1826, aged 74 years, 8 months and 13 days."



His son, John Hoffman, sr., owned the Fairview farm north of town and his son, John Hoffman, jr., resided in Washingtonville; was thrice married, all of whom bore him children - Mrs. N. C. Fitzsimmons of this place being by his first marriage with Nancy Koons. His second marriage was to Tabitha Crane, whose sons were here from Cleveland at the reunion. Of his third marriage with Elizabeth Hess are Mattie and Curtis Hoffman, both married. Mattie Graduated from the Washingtonville high school in the class of 1890, and was afterwards married to Grant Greasel, now of Cleveland. Curtis was in the employ of the Brown-hoist Co of Cleveland and represented his company in Cuba for a while, then in Russia and in Egypt. Both were here Saturday.And inasmuch as many of the Hoffman family attended school here, A. L. Taylor of the school board opened the new school building, and all those in attendance went through the various rooms, and some from basement to bell tower. Curtis Hoffman was one of the Hoffman Bicycle Co. a few years ago, but now resides upon a small farm near Chagrin Falls. When going through the various school rooms on Saturday with his wife and three children he remarked to "Buck" Taylor that after all the carving he had done, getting his name and initials, upon the seats and benches in the old building, it was a pity to have all his labor destroyed by fire. So that it can be seen that C. C. Hoffman was much like the average boy of his day.



It should have been stated in the proper connection that the elder John Hoffman and his wife Catharine are also buried in the Lutheran grave yard with the following inscriptions:

"Catharine, wife of John Hoffman died Feb. 10, 1857, aged 77 years."

"John Hoffman died Feb. 8, 1869, aged 80 years, 3 months."



John Hoffman, jr., was buried in the Odd Fellows (or Oakland) cemetery west of town; his first wife having been buried in the Methodist grave yard. His third wife was at the reunion on Saturday and enjoyed the day's proceedings with her children and grandchildren.



A business session was held near the close of the reunion. The old officers were retained for the coming year and Washingtonville was unanimously chosen as the place of next meeting to be held the second Saturday of August, 1914. A collection was taken and enough money was raised to pay for the use of town hall and other incidentals, leaving $6 in the hands of J. C. Weikart, treasurer of the Hoffman Reunion.



Relatives visited both church yards after adjournment, and while they found the names and dates they sought for, they found neither grave yard in an inviting condition. They may get some needed attention before next year's reunion.

Random Laurel Highlands trail running and training

The bearded Woodz Ninja @ Middle Fork overlook

The weeks are flying by and I've been running as much as I can. Training has been improving with my increased intensity. The last couple of weeks have been productive as recent runs reflect. I've begun light weight work on my shoulder without any pain. Lots of time to get it healthier before the ice begins to form later this year. I feel like things are setting up for continued running and a good winter climbing season (weather permitting).Running has been a lot of fun lately. Miles have been blurring together, each run more fun than the last. I've enjoyed sharing trail time with my wonderful girlfriend Laura. We spent a few days hiking on rest days from separate solo runs. Several days were spent in Quebec Run on the great trails that reside there. Hill training has become a staple once again. I love climbing, rocks, ice whatever. It's only natural that I like the climbs in running as well. My focus has been on the larger vertical rises in the region. I've spent a few heart pounding days doing hill repeats (4 mile laps) down and up "Heart Attack Hill" on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (mile 8 to 6 then back up to 8). Great for building hill climbing efficiency and endurance. "Heart Attack" along with many other up and down runs are helping a lot.



Statistics for July:

Miles - 185

Duration - 40:48

Elevation - Gain 39,362' - Loss 38,539'



Miles per week is down, but elevations have greatly increased.



Some run highlights since last post:

July 19

Bear Run Nature Reserve, I went and ran the super fun 5 mile trail sprint we call the "Tiny Tulip Traverse" This was my second time running this challenge. I lowered my record to 44:16 from 45:41. A slight improvement.



July 22


Ran 14 miles of the LHHT. Gate to 7 and back in 2:46 for a pace of 11:51. Elevation: gain 3700' loss 3700'





July 25

On a whim, I enjoyed a nice long run from Ohiopyle to Hickory Flats Road (38miles). Thursday night around 11:00pm I was talking to Laura, telling her I wanted to do a long run, but was uncertain where I wanted to go. Laura offered the idea that I should run as much of the LHHT as possible, she'd support along the way. I quickly accepted and stayed up a few more hours. With 3 hours of sleep, Laura lovingly dumped me in Ohiopyle the following morning. Early on I could feel my elevation workouts paying off. I starting slow and calm, but couldn't help kicking it up a notch on the long climbs. A 15 minute or so emergency bathroom stop and chaffing had me burning and doubting early. This was around Maple Summit. Luckily an emergency Vaseline tube kept things only slightly uncomfortable until Laura saved the day with some Mission Anti-friction cream and replacement shorts at Route 653 trail head. The rest of the run I ran at a comfortable pace enjoying the views, cooler temperatures and empty trails. I was expecting to get water at 7 Springs, but upon arrival the faucet was damaged and running. The continual flow was spewing nasty, orange iron water. Skipping the refill and stretching what I was carrying sent me to Route 31 parking area and Laura with clean water. My 50K time was 6:18 despite my breaks. A slight discomfort was developing in my left foot. I was aware, but not concerned. I refilled and continued on as did the pounding on my left foot. I met Laura at Hickory flats Rd. (MP 38) where my foot was considerably more tender than before. Fearing that continuing might lead to missed running days ahead, I finished there and ended with an elapsed time of 7:45. I was happy with how fresh and spry I was feeling, but disappointed random pain kept me from continuing. A good nights sleep and a couple easy days had my foot back to normal and doing "Heart Attack Hill" repeats again. In retrospect it was a good call! Here are some photos from my run. It was one of the sunniest, driest days in the last couple weeks. It was great to enjoy a long section of the trail on a glorious uncrowded weekday. Elevation: gain 7100' loss 5500'

Clouds over the Youghiogheny River valley

Overlook of Middle Fork at mile 21.3 on the LHHT

Turnpike bridge over the PA Turnpike mile 36.75

Trail sign at Firetower Rd., Rt. 31 intersection.

July 28



I recently signed up for Strava GPS run tracker and have been having fun with their "segments." Runtastic is my normal GPS of use. (I find both equally inaccurate, but help in tracking elevation). I'm new to using Strava so I don't understand all of it, but segments appear to be short challenges (segments) created by Strava based on runs by users. You can compete against all others that have completed each "segment." Many segments exist along the LHHT due to Laurel Ultra racers using Strava on race day. I decided to set my sights on some of the current Strava records for local "segments". The segment I was excited to try was named "Conn Rd Climb." This segment starts at Bidwell Rd. and climbs 1.6 miles and 1,264' of elevation to Conn Rd. It has an average grade of 15.4%. There have been 19 recorded users on the segment. The record of 25:27 was held by Jim Trautmann of Pittsburgh. He set the record on June 12, . Seventeen runners have done the segment since him. I would be number 18 to try. I parked at Conn Rd. and walked to milepost 8 to begin. I did 2 slow warmup laps of MP 8 to 6 to 8 repeats sans GPS. I used my watch to clock splits. On my way back up on repeat 2 (mile 7.25) I stopped and grabbed my phone. I started it at mile post 8. My third time down to 6 I picked up the pace increasing my cadence as well as stride adjusting to the high turnover about to commence for my record attempt up. I turned around at milepost 6 and started the long grind up with vigor. I ran close to red line for quite a while until I broke to a power hike. I kept attacking "Heart Attack." The grade backs off just before MP 7. I picked back up into a sprint at the shelf and continued past 7 and up to the next steep section. I ran all I could from MP7 up to the finish at Conn Rd. I wasn't sure where it ended, so I kept my effort up all the way to MP8 where I ended my lap. I uploaded my run and it was official. I squeaked by the old Strava record for Conn Rd. Climb. My time was 24:56. A minor record, but still cool in my eyes. I'm sure its been run faster by others. It would be cool to get a King of the Climb going on for "Heart Attack Hill" Mile post 6 to 8 which I officially clocked (with a watch at mile posts) 27:56. After spending some time looking around Strava I've noticed that Jim did quite a few quick trail runs on the trails in the Laurel Highlands. How cool! Hope to see you out there some day...



July 29

I decided to run the Route 31 to Route 30 section of the LHHT. Another glorious day with plentiful sunshine and temps around 68°. I had the trail to myself. I passed one lone hiker on this roughly 15 mile section. This time I went with limited water, no electro replacement capsules and only 1 gel as a slight handicap. The whole section went well and I cruised along at a good pace finishing the section in 2:35. Elevation Gain 2805', Loss 3202'. The trail was recently maintained in this section and is in wonderful condition where thick spots usually exist.




So many good runs recently, I could mention them all. To end this and save you from a longer post. I'll leave with some recent photos. Happy trails!

First Copperhead I've ever seen on the LHHT! I can't believe it...

Quebec Run, Hess trail

Quebec Run, Hess trail, Photo L. Hahn

Laura and Elmo
Grove Run Trail head, Linn Run State Park

Meadow

this the nice meadow that Teakettle Rock is in.

The Flight 93 Memorial

Thursday - September 6, .. - - The small town of Shanksville, a few miles south of U.S. 30 in the rolling 'hills' of central Pennsylvania, made headline news eleven years ago on 9/11. In the midst of so much confusion, disbelief, and all of the horror of that day a group of courageous people stood up and prevented what could have been an even greater disaster.



Knowing that their lives were likely already lost, they forced the plane down before it could do further damage to our nation. To them we will be eternally grateful and for them and their families this memorial has been created on the site of their deaths to honor and remember them. It is a very simple memorial but very moving and profound at the same time.





Exhibits depicting the events on the site on 9/11/.. are displayed in the front 'courtyard' and the entrance to the Memorial area is along a long walkway through a portal. The black, sloping wall along the left side extending into the background marks the northern boundary of the greater crash site.





The walkway extends about a quarter mile to the wall of names, shown in the background.





Within the wall are several niches where visitors can leave mementos of remembrance, if desired.





At the end of the bordering wall and to the left of the wall of names is a gate.



Beyond the gate, off in the distance, is a boulder marking the location of the crater and the approximate location of the impact site. After the crash investigation was complete, the crater was filled in. The remains of the flight crew and passengers are buried in a small cemetery just beyond the boulder. I believe this area is off limits except to family members.





The wall of names begins to the right of the gate. The names are engraved on individual panels and are listed in alphabetical order. Family members and friends sometimes leave memorial bouquets as shown in front of the memorial for Lorraine G. Bay. to the right of her is the memorial to Todd M. Beamer.





There are 40 panels inscribed with the names of the flight crew and passengers who died in the crash. We remember few of their names individually, but we will always remember them collectively.





The wall of names approximately follows the direction of the flight path... on top of the hill to the far right there was a huge tent. They were preparing for ceremonies to take place on 9/11, just five days after my visit.



The memorial is still a work in progress, but a diagram of the completed area can be viewed on the National Park Service Flight 93 Memorial Website.

Highway Sights

These are sights seen going down the highway on the way home after being on Mt. Tayler for the day. Some are blurry as they were taken from the pickup truck window as we were going about 70 mph. Some of the lava rock beds that are near the highway. Good for another days outing. Again there were lots of big trucks on the road. There was a cute little church on a hill of a village that I would really like to check out some day. The Sandia mountains hiding Albuquerque as we came in from the west. And last a truck that said England on it. Was it lost? If so it was a long ways from the country. An ocean away.

Change in Guardianship for the Fisher Children - 1847

In the will of Michael Fisher, signed by him on March 19th 1845, he appointed John Shear and Christian Grosman as guardians for his children. This record changes the guardian to Robert Reed. These records were located back in the mid 198Os when I was just starting research on my families and I don't recall now whether I couldn't find additional records at that time or if I just didn't look any further. It seems like there should have been additional records since the guardians were supposed to make periodic reports to the courts. I need to investigate to see who John Shear, Christian Grosman, and Robert Reed were and to see if they are related to the Fisher family in some way. There should also be a record of the sale of the property that Michael willed to his wife Christenia. Lair Fisher is most likely the daughter Leah who was named in Michael's Will. The oldest daughter, 18 year old Louisa, is not mentioned in this guardianship record. She would marry Jacob Phend on August 27th 1847, eleven days after this record was dated.

Spelling and punctuation retained as in the original. Paragraph breaks added.

Carroll County, Ohio Probate Record C August Term 1847

page 52 (The top portion of the page is concluding another case, signed by WR Lloyd, Clerk)

Caroleine Fisher. Catherine Fisher. Sophia Fisher. Rachel Fisher. Samuel Fisher. Lair Fisher. Solomon Fisher. Lydia Fisher} Minors.

Be it remembered that heretofore towit: at a Court of Common Pleas began and held at the Court House in Carrollton, within and for the County of Carroll and State of Ohio, on Monday the 16th day of August AD 1847. on the first day of said Term. Caroline Fisher & Catherine Fisher came into Court and chose Robert Reed to be their Guardian who is approved as such by the Court, and on motion the Court appoint Said Robert Reed to be the Guardian of Sophia, Rachel, Samuel, Lair, Solomon and Lydia Fisher. Thereupon Said Robert Reed gave bond to the State of Ohio in the sum of One Hundred Dollars Conditioned according to Law with John Reed his Surety who is accepted as such by the Court.

Thereupon Letters of Guardianship issued to said Robert Reed, as follows, to wit.

The State of Ohio Carroll county } By the Honorable John

page 53
Pearce. President of the Court of Common Pleas for the fifth Circuit in Ohio. Thomas Cummings. John Ebersole and John S. Hunter Esquire, Associate Judges of said Court in and for the County of Carroll, To Robert Reed. Greeting! Be it Known that the Said Judges, confiding in your care, prudence and fidelity have by these presents, Appointed Robert Reed Guardian for Caroline Fisher, Catherine Fisher, Sophia Fisher, Rachel Fisher, Samuel Fisher, Lair Fisher, Solomon Fisher, Lydia Fisher, minor children and hers at law of Michael Fisher late of the county of Carroll, deceased investing you the said Robert Reed with full power and authority for them and to their use, to ask, demand, sue for receive and take into your possession and Custody all and Singular, such parts and portions of Estate both real and personal, which is or may be coming to them as heirs to the Estate of the Said Michael Fisher deceased. or which by any other way or means whatsoever doth of right belong them the said minors, and to manage, employ and improve the same for the best advantage and profit during their minority. and to do all and whatsoever May be Necessary to be done in and about the premises As fully and Effectually to all intents and purposes. As they might or could do personally, being of full age.

In testimony Whereof, I William R. Lloyd Clerk of Said Court have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court at Carrollton, this 16th day of August, Anno Domini, one thousand Eight hundred and forty Seven. W R Lloyd Clerk, By Geo F Kenedy, D. C.

Ceci N'est Pas une Bicyclette: a Peek at the Brooks Two Wheel Display

Has anyone else noticed that mystery bike Brooks of England uses to display their wares? You know the one - It's army green and you can see glimpses of it in their catalogues and advertisements, though never enough to identify what the bike is? Turns out, Harris Cyclery now has one of these up on display. Last time I was there, they were kind enough to get it down and even let me drag it outside for some photos - extracting a promise that I wouldn't attempt to ride it.






Because you see, it is not a bicycle. It is a two wheel display ("Warning: Do not ride!") What makes it unridable is mainly the lack of brakes, though I suppose there might be other issues. It felt very bike-like to roll.






Usually this bicycle is laden with panniers and stuff in the basket, so being able to examine it bare was quite a treat. It is an odd bike with no manufacturer markings I could find.Lugged steel frame with unicrown fork. Same colour of powdercoat as the Bella Ciao I used to have. Step-through frame, the top tube at a slightly shallower angle that the downtube. Fenders, rack and chaincase powdercoated to match. And of course Brooks saddle, grips and basket.






The Brooks advertising panel is painted on a thin sheet of metal and affixed between the top and down tubes.Notice that the clips holding the banner in place are part of the frame. The head lugs are unusually filigree-esque for a transport bike, but there is nothing fancy about the frame otherwise.






The rear rack resembles the rack on the Bobbin Birdie.






The chaincase looks identical to those used by Abici.






The wire and wood Hoxton basket affixes to the handlebars via a quick-release system.






The leather washers on the handle are a nice touch.






The obvious benefit of the Brooks "Two Wheel Display" is that it allows them to demonstrate their products on an actual bike, without associating themselves with any particular bicycle manufacturer. I do wish the bike was ridable though. In general, it would be neat if bikes with advertising panels came back into style: Local shops could use them for errands, advertising their business along the way. I still don't know what exactly the Brooks bike is, when it appeared, how many of them are out there, etc. - but it was fun to examine it up close.