Surprise...Your Grandmother Had How Many Siblings?

The other day I was looking for an obituary for my grandmother and/or grandfather and I found an obituary for Dorothy Wertman's sister Ruth.

The following is her obituary from the Norristown Times Herald, published 29 Sep 2005:
Ruth Lucas

Ruth E. "Nanny" (Wertman) Lucas, 77, widow of John M. "Poppy" Lucas, of Gilbertsville, died on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 at her daughter's residence in Stowe, after a long illness.  Born in Norristown, she was a daughter of the late John and Lydia (Hayberry) Wertman.

She and her husband owned the former Carol's Candles in Bridgeport.  She was a member of Saint Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Stowe.  She enjoyed spending time cooking.  She was devoted mother and loving grand- and great-grandmother.  Family and friends were most important in her life.

Mrs. Lucas is survived by her son: John C., husband of Elizabeth Lucas, Wichita, Kan.; daughters: Carol A., wife of Gregory Gaugler, Stowe, Sharon A., wife of Dino Raso, Gilbertsville.  Grandchildren: Jennifer L., wife of Sean Levengood, Pottstown, Danielle A., wife of Jared Payne, Wichita, Kan., Tammy, wife of John Brehm, Douglassville, Jacqueline C. Lucas, Wichita, Kan., and Lauren N. Raso, Gilbertsville.  Great-grandchildren: Sara, Rachel and Katlyn Levengood, John T. and Conner Brehm, Brooklyn Payne.  She was the last surviving of ten siblings.

Woah....wait....10 siblings?  I only have 8 accounted for!  I have Alice D. (b. ~1908), Mamie A (b. ~1909), Naomi (b. ~1915), John A (b. ~1919), William W (b. 27 May 1921 d. 26 Dec 1998), my grandmother, Dorothy Elizabeth (b. 26 Jul 1922 d. 9 Nov 1967), Ruth E "Nanny" (b. 17 Mar 1928 d. 28 Sep 2005) and Earl (no dates).  By my count that is 8....somewhere I have 2 more relatives that I need to find.  (Along with dates for Earl and solid birth and death dates.)

Oh, those elusive Wertmans!

How It All Began

First, let me explain how this all began.

Years ago on a family vacation to Gettysburg we became enamored with the Pennsylvania monument.  If you are not familiar it has the name of all the soldiers who fought for Pennsylvania at Gettysburg in the Civil War.  (Pictures: http://www.dcmemorials.com/index_indiv0007000.htm )  We had noticed a Samuel Haws listed.  We knew Samuel was a family name and always wondered if it was a relation.  At the time online records were not easily accessible.  Not to mention the fact that we didn't know much about Dad's side of the family in terms of having enough generations back to make it to the Civil War.

After a trip to Gettysburg last year, my interest was renewed.  I determined that as the internet has grown there must be more access to information to get me back to the Civil War era.  Sure enough I ended up buying a subscription to Ancestry.com.  It was well worth it.

I found that Samuel Haws form the 1st PA Cavalry is indeed related.  Samuel's parents are Frederick S. Haws and Isabella Mason.  They happen to be my Great-great-great Grandparents.  Frederick also served in the Civil War, as a Cavalry officer, along with another son Charles Lewis Haws.

Since then, things have went along swimmingly.

Welcome

As I go along, I plan to pick people in the family tree and give information on them. As I find new information that will get added in as well. Check back for updates on people and see how far I've gotten!