The Moose, Toots, Skin, and Boots Mystery

Harry and I called are sisters Moose, Toots, Skin, and Boots, and we knew just who was who. But we've been gone these many years, and there may not be anyone left to tell our grandsons now just who was who, and why we called those girls such intriguing names.

"Boots" and "Toots" may not sound so bad to you; but you might just be thinking, "They must have had good reasons for 'Moose' and 'Skin'. I ask you, "Do brothers need 'good reasons' for names for sisters?" Like I mentioned in an earlier post, "Everyone has a story," and each of these girls has one too. Remembered stories are at the very center of family life, for that's how we remember those we loved.

The photo above is thought to be one of our sisters and the fellow she married -- Fanny Ethel Campbell and Alonzo Studebaker. I never told the grandsons if it was or not, and I didn't leave any names on the back of the picture to help 'em out either, but there's something to suggest they may be correct in going with their "gut feelings", and post it. I hear they have ideas of their own how to go about getting confirmation one way or another. Was it Lon and Fanny's 50th Anniversary picture or not? We'll see! Sometimes "gut feelings" are nothing more than indigestion.

Carleton Island, NY

My family was not anywhere near as large as Bessie's. Where she had thirteen siblings, I only had five -- but five's enough when four of 'em are girls. "Moose, Toots, Skin, and Boots" -- that's what we called them. My half-brother, Harry, and I -- even though we were both older -- were definitely out-numbered.

Harry was born in Canada, June 25, 1882, and immigrated to Michigan in 1887, along with our mom and her Chapman family from Frontenac Co, Ontario, Canada. The Chapmans had lived for many years on Wolfe Island, the largest of the beautiful Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River.

One of my grandsons and his wife visited the area in 2006, and even though not realizing at first, they'd rented a cabin on the banks of the St. Lawrence directly across the channel from an island they thought might be Wolfe. When they asked the owner of the cabin if it was Wolfe, she said, "Oh no, that's Carleton Island." "Carleton Island? That's where my great-grandmother was born", my grandson replied. "I'll have to snap a picture!" (Pictured above)

My mom, Effie Rebecca Chapman, had been born June 11, 1864 on that island. It lies just a little south of Wolfe Island. Much later, after having moved further north to Oso Twp, Frontenac Co, Ontario, she and Harry, along with the rest of her parents family, had traveled to a new home along the Tobacco River in Gladwin Co, Michigan. It was there she met and married my dad, James Bird Campbell.

Four Important Considerations and "Double Cousins"

Just so you don't think me rather tedious, I'd like to mention four important considerations in doing family historical research. -- There really is method to my madness even though a friend once noted with tongue in cheek, that there might be more madness to my method.

First, it's important to know a family member's name as complete as possible -- including nicknames. The picture above, courtesy of Dave Sanderson, Shreveport, LA, is of his grandparents -- Silas Chester and Charlotte Campbell Sanderson. Silas was my wife Bessie's oldest brother, and he married my sister Charlotte. Consequently, that makes Grandson Dave Sanderson and his siblings what I call "double cousins" with grandkids of mine and Bessie's.

Anyway. . . , the family called Silas "Bud", and many friends and acquaintances might only have known him by that nickname. However, one would not find any documents listed under the name "Bud Sanderson" at the local courthouse in Paulding, Paulding Co, OH -- the county where he was born.

Second, it's also important to know the dates, as complete as possible, for events in Bud's life to be successful in locating documents that provide more information about him.

Third, it's crucial to be accurate when noting places -- again, as complete as possible. That way, one would be more apt to find the document he's searching for. Different levels of government hold Information on Bud's life in different states and counties. It just depends on where he lived at the time. And, even though county lines have been established for some time, they haven't always been static. Some of our ancestors may not have moved, but the county line may have. Consequently, records would be filed in the county as they were generated. This can get pretty confusing at times, I know.

Fourth, it's always important to record relationships in a family as accurately as possible, otherwise one might waste lots of time, energy, and money looking for a record that doesn't exist. Bud was a natural son of Francis Marion and Louisa M. Sackett Sanderson, but if he had been adopted, or a stepson, his birth certificate might very well have been filed somewhere entirely different than Paulding Co, OH.

Seven Sanderson Sisters

My bride, Bessie, was born into a growing family from Roselms, Washington Twp, Paulding Co, OH. She had thirteen siblings in all. Her parents, Francis Marion and Louisa M. Sackett Sanderson had a farm there in what had been the Great Black Swamp of Northwestern Ohio. Indeed. . . , Paulding County was one of only two of the counties there which were completely surrounded by the swamp, and it had required years of commitment and arduous work to make the land suitable for planting.

The above photo shows Bessie and her surviving sisters in 1923, the day they laid their father to rest in St. Johns, Clinton Co, MI. The sisters are lined up according to age from right to left: Rosa Marie Rebecca, born March 15, 1880; Sarah Jemima, born March 4, 1884; Iva Lillian, born April 8, 1889; Anna Laurie, born January 17, 1891; Bessie Cordelia, born July 14, 1892; Maggie Marie, born December 2, 1899; and Treeva Matilda Jane, born July 28, 1901.

The surviving sons (not pictured) were also at the funeral: Silas Chester, born February 15, 1882; George Washington, born February 13, 1886; and Ora Russell, born March 7, 1905.

There were four other siblings in the family, but they and Louisa, their mom, had already passed away: Mary, born September 20, 1887; Clara Hazel, born September 19, 1895; Jurlin Steven, born September 6, 1897; and James L[eRay], born circa 1908. (Jimmy's middle name began with "L", and there is evidence which suggests the name was LeRay; however, it has yet to be confirmed.)

Fourteen children in all, and each with a story to tell. I was fortunate to have met Bessie, be part of her family, and share their joys and sorrows.

Everyone Has a Story

"Everyone has a story", and we have ours. Our grandsons, Phil and Tom, have decided to create this blog to tell it. There are actually many stories within the larger one because we started a family of our own, and like any family, each member contributes to the whole in his or her turn -- those who came before us as well as those who came after us.

We are Claud and Bessie Sanderson Campbell, and we met in Warren Twp, Midland Co, MI just after the turn of the 20th Century. We were married on January 5, 1908 there in Warren Twp by Hy Bickerton, a local minister. Half-brother, Harry Campbell, and sister Anne Sanderson stood up with us and witnessed our marriage. I was listed on the certificate as a 20-year old farmer, and Bessie was listed as a 16-year old who did housework.

Looking back now, it's interesting to note how inaccuracies can appear even on a primary source document, but then our minds at the time were on each other and not the details. Our parents were listed as Jno. D. Campbell and Effie Chapman, J. M. Sanderson and Leona Sackett. That's only partially correct. Where in the world did they get that information?

My parents were James Bird Campbell and Effie Rebecca Chapman, and Bessie's were Francis Marion Sanderson and Louisa M. Sackett. Even so. . . , we were just as married, and that's all that mattered to us. I was really only 19 and Bessie 15 too. Neither of our birthdays had taken place that year yet, but. . . , just more technicalities really. We were eager to be on our way and making our own story together.