Proven: A private railroad car for L. F. Slaker

A family story is proven! Many years ago, I was told a similar story by two older relatives. Last night I found the proof of the story. The story was that my Great Granduncle Louis F. Slaker was so important with the Omaha railroad (Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Omaha  Railway) to have his own private railroad car. I have researched and documented much about the Slaker (Schleicher) family in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, California, Washington and other places. Louis served the railroad in many capacities, including several division supervisory roles. Louis' sister Emma Slaker Stuart is one of my paternal great grandmothers. Louis is usually found as L. F. Slaker.

Newspapers in many localities reports railroad activities and also local news related to railroad personnel. It's been a great way to follow other Slaker and Stuart family members through their movements in Wisconsin and Minnesota as they worked at various railroad jobs. L. F. Slaker appeared more than other family members due to his job level.

Earlier tonight I found that aforementioned proof. A local news item in one newspaper mentioned his private railroad car. I also found other mentions of this car, visiting family, job changes, vacations, and more in local news columns.

Worthington Advance [MN], 24 February 1905, page 5, column 2

The full article newspaper can be viewed at the Library of Congress' Chronicling America website.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Christmas Cards

My mother always sent Christmas cards and I loved those that arrived at our house when I was growing up. I loved to look at the return addresses and see where people lived. Very few people included a letter telling about their year and the family. Now when I receive one of those from a relative I read every word -- looking at it from a genealogical standpoint. It's amazing how much detail can be found in them. So, don't groan when you receive one of those -- just be ready to cull info from it. Those births, deaths, marriages, divorces, graduations, and illnesses can all find a place in your genealogy software!

For most of the years I was married, I always sent cards and kept my list from year to year. In fact, I still have those lists. What a kick (and sad at the same time) to go back and remember neat people that are no longer on this earth.

I am lucky to have two Christmas single sided postcard size cards that a relative Marie Slaker sent to her son and daughter in 1915. This is a collateral line and I am not quite sure which Marie it is. The cards don't have the names of the son and daughter!























I also have a card sent to someone in the family by William H. Rohr of Watertown, Wisconsin. No year is given but he died in 1919. He is the half-brother of my Great Great Grandmother Marie
(Fisher) Slaker.

Tombstone Tuesday -- only because of a kind student

Back in the 1990s I was teaching a class at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy. That was pre-PowerPoint days! I don't remember what the class topic was but it included an overhead of a letter from a cemetery I had contacted in the 1980s.

It was from Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. A lady in the class, Shirley, said that this cemetery was right by her house. As the years have passed, Shirley and her cohorts from Montana have become special friends of mine.

Fast forward to 2002 when the Federation of Genealogical Societies was to have its conference in Ontario, California. Shirley gave me an offer I could not resist -- when I arrived there she would drive me to the cemetery to visit the graves and take pictures. The graves are of a great granduncle Frederick Slaker and his family. Frederick is a brother of my great great grandmother Emma Slaker Stuart. The other sibling was Louis Slaker. The are Germans who settled in Wisconsin. Fred and Lou and their families ended up in the Los Angeles area.

More than just drive me to the cemetery, Shirley went there ahead of time, got a map, and scouted out the area where the graves are located. All this because I taught a class.