Lake Arrowhead State Park

While we were visiting Jason and Kerry

and the Grands in Burkburnett,

we camped in Lake Arrowhead State Park.

It was about 30 miles south and east of

Burkburnett, to the south of Wichita Falls.

We really enjoyed it there!

I think that it was the solitude that made

the park so nice for us!  

The RV spots are in circles, or cul de sacs,

with 6 spots per circle.

We had our circle to ourselves most

of the time that we were there!

Above is our campsite--the only trees were the short mesquite trees in their winter mode,

the only green on them was the mistletoe!  

This oil derrick was across the road from us, it was often the only sound we heard!
Burkburnett's nickname is Boomtown, and has derricks all over!

The park service has cut in paths to make getting from one spot to another easier.

They also have a few trails.

Danny fishing---not even a bite this particular morning.

Danny has a passion for fishing and he came out to spend a night with us.

We went down to the lake the next morning for him to fish,

and for us to explore a bit.

As you can see in the photo below, Lake Arrowhead is extremely low. 

We asked one of the park employees about the  lake, they said that it was 

at 24%, or 17 feet down. So sad!  So many dead fish along the dry

bottom.  The area of Wichita Falls is in an extreme drought,

in fact, they have begun cloud seeding this month.

Above is the main pier in the State Park.

Danny told us how the water used to be close to the pier walk way.

This Canada Goose (yes, that is the proper term :-) ) was one of many

in the area where we had stopped.  I kept getting closer and closer to it

and taking photos . . . . . . 

It was not a happy goose, squawking as it took off . . . . .

See it's feet tucked up behind it?

He escaped me in the water . . . . . . enjoying it's solitude.

In the photos below were some of our neighbors there at the park!  

Prairie Dogs!  They have a very large Prairie Dog Town there

in the park.

These little guys chirped and barked, ran to their holes,

wagged their little tails in alarm . . .  .

all showing their general displeasure with us being in the area!

They were so fun to watch . . . . running hither and yon, disappearing down 

their tunnels, and then another would pop up in another 

hole nearby!

These little guys and their tunnel openings were everywhere!

 They were very alert little critters . . . . . the one above

looks like he is giving me the "evil eye!"

Isn't he cute!!!!

One of the reasons that they are so alert, is in the photo below . . . . . .

Hawks were plentiful in the park, as their prey was also plentiful . . . . 

snakes, prairie voles, prairie dogs . . . . . .

Isn't it beautiful?  

This little fella above says "So long from Lake Arrowhead State Park!!!!

Come see us!!!"

The dry prairie grasses were so pretty, you can even
see them beginning to green-up!

Hugs!

               Till next time . . . . . . .

52 Week Challenge # 7 Caroline Meyer Dostal

The story of Caroline Meyer Dostal's life that I know

has been handed down to me through

my Grandparents (her youngest son and his

wife) and my Father and my Aunt.

I am going to pass along her story, as it has been

told to us.  Much of it has no formal

documentation, but it is her story, nonetheless.

This painting of Caroline was done from a photo of her.  

Caroline Meyer was born in what she called "Western Prussia" (now Germany)

on March 24, 1855.  It is believed her parents were 

Ludwig Meyer and Anna Gustina.  Caroline had at least

one sibling, an older brother, by the name of John.

Caroline's life was jolted by tragedy as a child.  Her mother

died when she was quite young.  Her father

remarried, however Caroline's step mother did

not give love and acceptance to Caroline.

Caroline's young world was about to suffer an even greater

loss.  She was an adolescent when her father

died, leaving her an orphan in the eyes of her step mother.

Caroline was sent out into the world to make her

own way in the world by her step mother.

Caroline's brother John had already left home and was on

his own, so she decided to set out to find him.

Caroline was found in tears by a kind Polish woman.

This lovely woman took our Great Grandmother home with

her, bringing her into her own family.  Caroline

became part of the family, learning to speak Polish while there.

Caroline Meyer Dostal, circa 1922, with one of her rose bushes.

Eventually, Caroline met and married Karl Dostal,

( http://bobdebbiebiggs.blogspot.com/2014/02/52-week-challenge-6-reat-grandfather.html )

 our Great Grandfather.

(They would have married circa 1876-1878.)

Together they worked very hard to build a life for themselves and

their children.

Caroline and Karl worked for wealthy land owners, I believe for 

most, if not all, of the time that they were in Prussia.

Caroline worked in what she called the "Big House."

She cooked and did cleaning for the land owners.

Her days were long and filled with hard physical labor, just as

Karl's were, out in the fields.

Caroline spoke of making dinner for the family in the Big House,

then coming home and fixing dinner for her own family,

locking the children in the house for safety and

going back up to the House to clean up and get the 

next days' food begun.

Caroline and Karl had contact with Caroline's brother John.  He had

immigrated to America, to a place called Ludington,

Michigan.  Caroline and Karl decided to immigrate as well,

hoping for a better life and future for their children.  

Caroline said that John sponsored them, and they

immigrated in 1884.  

Caroline and Karl Dostal (seated), their daughter Helen (between them), and their son Fred (our Grandfather)
on their farm in Amber Township, Mason County, Michigan.

They entered America at the Port of New York, it was before Ellis Island, and so must

have been Castle Gardens. 

Once again, Caroline had deep sorrow come into her life.

When Caroline and Karl left Germany, they had three 

children, who were, of course, traveling with them, Emil, Herman and Amelia.

The travel in the ship had many difficulties to deal with,

not the least of which, was illness.

Upon arrival, many were quarantined, Caroline said the children were 

separated from the adults.  She was separated from her children

at some point before she left the ship.  

Caroline was told that two of her children had died, Herman and 

Amelia.  She asked to see them, to hold their little

bodies.  She was denied any access to them.  Emil was 

reunited with his parents, without his brother and sister.

Caroline was in a panicked state, as I can only imagine---to be told

of the loss of two children, and not to have the opportunity to hold them once again.

Caroline told how the rumor was that many young children 

who came into port with immigrating parents were taken and sold

to people who wanted to adopt children, especially those

children with blue eyes and blonde hair.  She said that she felt deep in her

heart that is what happened to her babies. . . . . that her mother's heart

would know if they had died.

Great Grandma Caroline bringing milk up to the house---my Father said he walked that path many, many times.

Caroline said that they spent about three months waiting for the

quarantine.  While there, Caroline actually was

able to help with some of the immigrants coming in, as not only did she speak

German, but she also spoke Polish.

They made their way to Ludington, Michigan, reuniting with Caroline's brother

John and his family.  How wonderful the reunion . . . .

According to the 1900 census, Caroline said that she had had thirteen children,

yet in 1900, only five were living.  The children that we know of were:

Amelia, Herman, Emil, Otto, Charles (died in Michigan of Bright's Disease), 

William, Frederick and Helen.

From the left: Caroline and her children: Helen, Fred, William, Otto and Emil.  circa 1923.

Caroline and Karl eventually were able to purchase their own

land and farm the land, having their own livestock and home.  My

Grandmother Evelyn Dostal loved to tell of the great kindnesses that Grandma

Caroline showed, and how she loved children, going out of her way

to be especially kind to them.  (She had personal knowledge of that importance. . . . .)

Grandma Caroline feeding the chickens . . . . .

Caroline wanted all of her children to be able to have a life that was easier than

the ones that she and Karl had lived through.

This is an excerpt from her obituary,

"She was richly content, declaring that her life had yielded her richer blessings

than she ever expected.  She had lived to see her wish fulfilled for

her children, all of them educated for ?? life work, happily married, and

prosperous.  She declared that, though she would be happy to remain longer with 

them she felt that life for her was finished and was content to go."

Above excerpt from The Ludington Daily News, February 12, 1928, 

Page 1, Column 7 and Page 8, Column 3.

Caroline (front and center), her son Otto to her right and his wife, Frieda Schudlich on the left. To Frieda's left, we believe is her sister.

Caroline Meyer Dostal passed away on the 10th of February in 1928.

She died just six hours after the birth of a little granddaughter, Jean Dostal.  Caroline was too 

ill to be able to receive the information.

Caroline Dostal is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Ludington, Michigan, across the 

street from Lake Michigan.  She is buried next to her husband, Karl, and 

is surrounded there by her family.

The love and kindness, not to mention strength, that Caroline showed 

lives on through her descendants, keeping her legacy alive.

This is a photo of Caroline Meyer Dostal (Grandpa Fred Dostal's Mother) and
William H. Gaffney (Grandma Evelyn Gaffney Dostal's Father).  Both
Caroline and Will lived with our Grandpa and Grandma Dostal on the Dostal Farm in Amber.

52 Week Challenge #6 Great Grandfather Karl Dostal

Karl Dostal is my Great Grandfather, my 

father's father's father.

Karl was born October 11, 1849 possibly in

 Danzig, West Prussia, according

to family tradition. His father was 

Michael Dostal and was a "wandering veterinarian."

His mother was Anna Zivarth Dostal.  Karl

had 2 sisters that lived to adulthood, 

Anna and Louise. 

The family traveled together, from
town to town, following the need for a veterinarian.    

 Some of the towns that my Grandfather

 remembers his parents mentioning  were Potsdam,

 Lindenau, Danzig and Liepzig.

Not much is known to the family

about Karl's parents, beyond their names and 

knowing that work was hard and often scarce

for them.  Karl's mother Anna, died when he and

his sisters were pretty young.  The children were put in

other families to be taken care of.

How difficult for the children.  How 

young to learn such sorrow.

Karl Dostal married Caroline Meyer circa 1878.

Together they worked hard to make a life for themselves 

and their children.  Karl and Caroline were

not land owners, or business owners, 

nor did they have wealth passed down through the family.

Karl worked the land for the wealthy

landowners.  It was likely during this time that much

damage was done to  his back and hips.

He carried a yoke across his shoulders that held

 2 buckets (full of water or manure) out to the fields

time and time again . . . . daily . . . . . fertilizing and watering

the fields.  

*My Grandfather told of how his father walked, bent, with his

legs together from the hip to the knees, and the walking

motion coming from the knee to the foot, not the hip.  His 

back and hips gave him great pain, but it did not

hold him back from work.  Grandpa also said that his

father, Karl, was never ill, and worked every day without fail."

With the thought of a better life, Karl, Caroline and their

3 young children immigrated to America in 1884.

(I am still in search of their passage records and Karl's

Naturalization record.)

Caroline had a brother in Ludington, Mason County, Michigan,

and so it was Ludington that was their destination.  It would

be good to be with family.

After stepping onto American soil, it took 3 months before they

were able to get on their way to Ludington. The

processing for their immigration seemed endless.

The early months in America were certainly

not easy . . .  unable to communicate easily, no home, little money.

Maybe it was not the dream that they were hoping it would be.

Karl and Caroline wondered if they

had made a mistake in making the decision to leave Prussia.

Once Karl and Caroline reached Ludington,

Karl began working at the Stave Mill.  They lived

in an area of town called "Smokey Road," where many of the

immigrants lived.

 As time went along,  money was 

 saved and the day came when they were able to

buy their own farm!  I can only imagine how

that must have felt to them---their own farm!

Grandfather Karl was now a Farmer, a Farmer of his own land.  I wonder

if he had dreamed of this day, if he wondered if it would ever come 

to pass.  It was on his farm, out on his land that Karl fell down, 

in great pain and paralyzed on his left side.  He was taken 

carefully to the house, and it was there that Karl left the pain 

of this world to join his Savior.

Karl Dostal died September 23, 1914.

He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery along Lake Michigan, with 

his family.

The Dostal Home.  Karl and Caroline seated in chairs, youngest child, Helen standing, and my Grandfather, Frederick seated on the ground with the dog.  Holding the horses is thought to be their son, Charles.

Visiting in Burkburnett . . . .

Hello from Lake Arrowhead State Park, 

near Wichita Falls, Texas!

The early part of this month, we moved 

north and west a bit from Lewisville (in the 

Dallas-Fort Worth area) to the 

Wichita Falls area to

spend some time with Jason, Kerry, 

Danny

Karen

and 

Ashley Mae.

They live in Burkburnett, Texas,

about 20 miles from the campground that

we are staying at.  Burkburnett is also about  miles from
the Oklahoma state line and the Red River.

This is Danny holding the Texas State Flag at his function. (Taken with phone camera)

Danny is very active in the Jr. ROTC at his High School.  He
is a leader within the ROTC, and loves it. (He began in
Jr. ROTC last year as a freshman down in San Antonio.)

Shortly after we got here,
he had a function to attend. . . .  he was part 

of the Color Guard!  We got to see him in full uniform . . . . .

Wow!  

Danny also runs Cross Country and is part of the Varsity Track Team. 

He has been running for a few years now, but last week we

had the blessing of seeing him run during a Relay Meet.  Danny ran

a relay with 3 other team members, he called it a 

"distance medley relay."  He ran 3 laps and he was the first one of his team

to run, he put the team in a solid 2nd position, and they ended up 

placing 2nd!  He prefers Cross Country to

short runs, but enjoys the camaraderie of being part of the Track Team.  He seems to be a natural motivator to his team mates, and is most always smiling and upbeat.

Grandpa watching the relays . . . . . 

Ashley Mae is growing up to be such a lovely young lady!           She still loves all things Beatles and Elvis . . . .                but her passions are art, and        wolves and drawing.  Above you can see one of her recent drawings.  She has done some amazing pictures.  She recently made a card for her  dad and it had horses, done in a soft and fluid outline, and they were running . . . . . just lovely!   (Like her!)   She also loves to play the video game MineCraft, and often plays it online with her cousin Georgia, who lives in

England!  Ashley loves being a Texas girl, she has a growing collection of cowboy boots and hats, and loves a great belt buckle --- obviously she has GREAT taste!          

The photo above of Ashley, and the photo below of Kerry and Karen were taken

at the Track Meet.  I edited the coloring and some bits on both photos.  We

had a really good time, we got quite chilly after the sun went down and the wind

picked up!   :-)

Karen Lee is our fashionista!  :-)
Kerry says that Karen is the family "Social Butterfly!"

She is also one of our family's many musicians . . . .   She plays 1st chair French Horn

in her school's band.  She plays 2nd chair French Horn in the 

District Band, AND, this winter, she auditioned for,

and became a member of, the Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra.

This weekend she was measured for the gown that she will

be wearing for their performances. How Fun!

Her musical interests do not stop with the French Horn, she also plays

acoustic guitar, electric guitar (plays both beautifully), some drums, and is

beginning the piano.  She has a good ear for music, and it shows 

when she plays.  She also can text faster than anyone I know! ~ smile ~

This weekend, Jason and Kerry had us over for a delicious smoked brisket, with Jason's recipe BBque sauce and their own recipe of Ranch Style Beans.  Yes, we over-ate . . . .  and it was soo good! Wish that you all could have joined us . . . Jason has smoking the brisket down to a fine science, and Bob and I both agreed that we have never had any that good!  It was not fatty and the bark was crisp and delish!  Jason and Kerry have put together a notebook of their own recipes, along with some family recipes that have been passed down.

The day was wonderful---it was in the low 70's, abundant sunshine, lots of smiles and laughter and excellent company, not to mention the wonderful food!

Danny playing with the dogs out back

Ashley in the never-ending wind  :-)

Grizz was peeking at me from under the grill.

Just imagine that heavenly fragrance . . . . . .

Jason made his smoking grills, and this weekend, all of them were working away!

Good night from the Red River Valley!

Till next time . . . . . .

52 Week Challenge: #5 Ruelma Rowe

This is Ruelma Rowe Starkey Barnhart.  Isn't she striking?  Ruelma is Bob's 

Great Grandmother (his mother's father's father's mother's mother).

Ruelma was born circa 1818 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.  We are uncertain of the names of Ruelma's parents, but we do know that she had a sister by the name of Mary Ann R. Rowe.

The parentage and ancestry of Ruelma has been of great interest to the family for 

many years.  

The interest comes from the family tradition of Ruelma being a descendant

of Chief Joseph Brandt.  

The scan below is what is written on the back of the above photo.  It is presumed to be

written by one of Ruelma's grandsons.

"Reulma Row Starkey Barnhart  Died in year 1885 Sept. 16th

---------------------------------

PS) Born among the Wyndott Indians east of Lafayette Indiana

her Mother was Cheif Joseph Brants Daughter

he was a mohawk Indian from New York.

her Father was a scout for Mad Anthony Wayne

at fallin timbers about ?? miles east of Fort Wayne, Ind.

the present City wher the Fort Harmar was

located"

The search continues for documentation . . .  perhaps down the road, 

DNA testing will help to answer some questions.  

In May of 1842, Ruelma married Ingham Starkey in Tippecanoe County, Indiana.

Together they had 3 children:

Harriet "Hat" (who married Daniel Dewitt Cole)

John W.

Mary Elizabeth "Lib"

On the day before Christmas in 1853, Ruelma's husband Ingham died. Harriet

would have been 10 years old and Mary Elizabeth, the youngest, 6 years old.  I am 

sure that the children must have been such a comfort and a help to Ruelma 

in the years right after Ingham's death. 

Ruelma met a German immigrant by the name of Peter Barnhart.

They were married August 30, 1858.  

Soon the Civil War would erupt and both Ruelma's 

son John and his stepfather Peter, would go off to war. 

 Peter came home, but John did not.  

John was severely wounded during the Battle of Mission Ridge

 in Tennessee. 

He died on March 14, 1865 of small pox in one of the "small pox hospitals" in 

Huntsville, Alabama.

Below is a photo of Ruelma and her 2nd husband, Peter Barnhart.

Ruelma lived to the age of 67, dying on the 17th of September in 1885.

The search for her story goes on    . . . . . .

52 Week Challange: #4 Hiram Hart

Hiram Hart

Hiram Hart is the father of my mother's mother's father's mother (whew!)

Or, my 3rd Great Grandfather on my mother's side.

His parents were Rodman Thomas Hart and Lorinda Granger Hart.

Hiram was born about 1816 in Junius, Seneca County, New York, about

a year and a half after his parents moved there from Farmington, Ontario County, also in 

New York.  His father had purchased a 50 acre farm.

Hiram's mother died when he was just 7 years old.  Rodman Hart remarried 5

months after his wife Lorinda died.  He still had young children in the 

household. Hiram had one sister, Rebecca, the eldest of the 

children, and 5 brothers, 3 elder, Haddasha, Henry and

Samuel, and 2 younger, Jacob and Gahazi.

Not much has been discovered about Hiram's younger years.  I would

imagine that he helped his father and brothers with the 

farm.  

Circa 1839 he met and married Angeline Cushman, the daughter

of Solomon and Salina Cushman of Floyd, Oneida County, New York.

Together they had at least 4 children, William H., Lorinda Rebecca, 

Thomas Rodman and Clara S.

In the 1840 U.S. Census, Hiram and family are living in Junius.  In the

1850 U.S. Census, Hiram and his family are living in Rose,

Wayne County, New York.  Hiram is farming there.  We 

find the Hiram Hart family in Rose again in 1860 with 

Hiram still farming.  The Rose city directory from 1868

states that Hiram is a farmer and also a shingle maker.

The lure of moving a bit westward . . . . . .

so many families left the familiar, family and friends to head west.

Hiram, Angeline, their daughter, Lorinda and her daughter, 

Myrtle are next found in the 1870 Census in  Charlotte,

Eaton Co., Michigan.  In October of 1870, Hiram and 

Angeline sold their land in Rose to Henry Garlick.

September of 1873 brought sorrow to the Hart household when 

Angeline died.  Two years later, in March of 1875, Hiram

married Angeline's youngest sister, Susan P. 

Cushman.  This was Susan's first marriage.

Susan and Hiram had 5 short years together.  Hiram fell ill with typhoid

pneumonia, and died in March of 1880, leaving Susan 

widowed. 

Hiram is buried in South Center Eaton Cemetery in Eaton County,

Michigan.

The photo below was taken in Lyons, New York, not far from Rose.

It is a photo of Hiram and Angeline Cushman Hart.

How I love this photo!  I look and look, trying to see little hints of 

"who they were."

The Quadrangle on Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas--September 2013

This past September, we spent the greater part of the month
camping at the

campground on Fort Sam Houston.
We were there in San

Antonio helping Jason, Kerry and the kiddos get ready for 

their move to Burkburnett.

While we were there, we had the
opportunity to spend a 

bit of time being tourists on the Army Post.
When we lived here

in the 1980's, we did not have the chance
to check out

Fort Sam----apart from the great amount of time

that we spent at BAMC
(Brook Army Medical Center).

Mary Ellen had 2 major surgeries there, and many,

many minor procedures.

This is the Old BAMC.  This is where Bob, myself and MaryEllen spent many hours, and several nights.  The building is still being used, just not in the Medical Field.

It was fun having the time to poke around a bit!

Wow! What an amazing and history-laden post!  I wanted to share with 

you all some of the photos from there, and especially from the 

beautiful Quadrangle, right there on Fort Sam.

Above is the view from outside the Quadrangle, by the parking lot.  There are several static
displays of artillery, helicopters, tanks, etc.  The palms were such
a beautiful backdrop, and some were so tall!
The construction of the Quadrangle began in 1876 and one year later the Quartermaster
Depot moved into it.  The Quadrangle was the original Fort Sam Houston and is
the oldest building on the Army Post today, and is still in use.

The following photos  show a few of its wildlife residents . . . . .

I loved this goose, we dubbed her/him "Mother Goose!"

There is food for the wildlife for sale inside the Quadrangle.  They all expected that everyone would be passing out food!

This is a beautiful live oak tree in one corner of the courtyard inside the
Quadrangle.  It was so very peaceful the day that we went,
and it was lovely to sit on the benches provided by the tree and just
enjoy God's goodness!

This guy was a hoot!  He was not shy or skidish, he posed so nicely for me!

And yes, there were deer right there grazing.  They would come right up to you to take the
grain from your hand.  They were wary, but not fearful.  Beautiful!

The courtyard of the Quadrangle had many peaceful areas, we loved this one above.  As we were walking away, we saw that there were chickens under the foliage!  (It was a hot morning, and they were seeking shade.)

In 1886, Geronimo, the Apache Chief, and about 40 of his tribesmen, were held there at Fort Sam Houston (which was the Quadrangle at the time) before their exile to Florida.  Some say that the tradition of the animals in the courtyard started then, that soldiers brought wildlife into the courtyard for Geronimo and men to "hunt."  That is not validated, but the story
continues on . . . . .

Above is the water/clock tower in the Quadrangle.  It is 90 feet in
height and used to hold the water tower and
a watchman's station at 60 feet.
Another tale of Geronimo is told in conjunction with this tower.
The tale says that Geronimo had climbed to the top windows of the
tower and was going to jump to his death, not wanting
to be a prisoner of the "white man"--wanting to have
control over his own life and death.
Hence, when a young person jumps from a place of some height
they call out "Geronimo!!"

Below is one of the plaques by the tower:

Below was one of the plaques within the Quadrangle . . . .

If you ever get to San Antonio, and enjoy history, a brief tour of 

Fort Sam Houston is well worth your time.  President D.W. Eisenhauer

was once stationed here, as was General Pershing.  Both of those homes

are on the driving tour.  President Teddy Roosevelt was

also a visitor to the Post.

There is also a Museum of Military History to include much of Texas'

military history as well, undergoing a major upgrade.  We had the pleasure to

be able to visit with the curator for a bit one Sunday afternoon. 

Texas sky after a bit of rain---so beautiful!

This sculpture is amazing!  The detail provokes emotion---seeing the rifle used to hold the IV bag for the wounded . . . . Took my breath away.  This is in front of the Medical Museum on the Post.

Bob, Grizz and Bailey checking out some of the vehicles from the past, also at the Museum.

And I HAD to get a photo of the M.A.S.H. copter!

Wish you could have been there with us!  

Till later . . . . .