My grandma's "birthday book", as I believe she called it, included sayings for each day of the year and a place below the saying to write important dates. This book is little with dimensions of 4 inches by 2.5 inches. It is titled "Christian Forget-Me-Not" by Rev. Hugo W. Hoffmann, M. A., Ph. D., Brooklyn, N.Y. The publisher was Ernst Kaufmann, New York, 7-11 Spruce Street. The book was printed in Germany.
This book belonged to Dorothy Marie Borchers. Her married last name was Flanagan and she was my grandma.
The dedication for the book is rather well done and I'm quoting it as follows:
"If stories of dry and learned lore we gain,
We keep them in the memory of the brain;
Names, things, and facts - whate'er we knowledge call -
There is the common ledger for them all;
And images on this cold surface traced
Make slight impression, and are soon effaced.
But we've a page, more glowing and more bright,
On which our friendship and our love to write;
That these may never from the soul depart,
We trust them to the memory of the heart,
There is so dimming, no effacement there;
Each new pulsation keeps the record clear;
Warm, golden letters all the tablet fill,
Nor lose their lustre till the heart stands still."
I've glanced through this book on many occasions including when my grandma was still alive. The book was kept in a drawer in the china cabinet in the dining room of my grandparents home. The entries are all in my grandma's handwriting for the most part. The book was likely a confirmation gift.
The Bible quotes are all fine and nice. What is more interesting are all the names entered in to the book along with birth dates, some death dates, and some anniversaries. My grandma entered most any family member or relative in this book. In fact, there are many living relatives still in it.
I am not sure how many names and dates that I will transcribe here but I thought that I'd give it go. I will not be listing currently living people, however.
January
2 - Albert Borchers 1888
6 - L. Deffner - 1862
7 - Dorothy Borchers - 1921
9 - Martha Henke - 1920, died March 1985
9 - Friz Polzin
12 - Nancy Polzin
17 - Esther Wagner - 1910
17 - Ann Scoville
26 - Brian McGuire - 1944
28 - Mrs. Cassayre - 1903
February
2 - August Gruenhagen - 1903
8 - Perry Swift - 1860
11 - Dorothy Burtis - 1921
10 - Julius Mueller - 1884, died Nov. 27, 1983
22 - Leonard Borchers - 1913
28 - Ruth Nowantgey (spelling?)
March
2 - Leonard Carl Gruenhagen - 1926
3 - Marsin Swift - 1890-12 Feb 1964
10 - Edna Marie Vienop - 1929
19 - Elean Hunter - 1922
20 - Laura M. Borchers - 1915
24 - Adella H. Vienop - 1901 - June 1956
25 - Charlie Harney - Died Aug 3, 1959
27 - Walter Schafer - 1891
30 - Joseph Fratessa - 1907-Feb. 1, 1982
30 - Helen Krenke - 1920
30 - Louie Reidenbach - Died Oct. 8, 1967, age 77
April
1 - Kay Fritter
5 - Paul Cassayre
7 - Delia Swift - 1896 - Sept. 4, 1991
14 - John Wagner
15 - Mrs. Peterman
19 - Ramona Ratto
19 - Emma Archer
26 - Eleanor Minnie Reidenbach - 1927
28 - Martha Borchers - 1917
28 - Louis Ruffino - 1924-Dec. 23, 1977
30 - Clara Wright - 1903
May
2 - Karen Borchers - 1964-1986
7 - Martha Ann Gruenhagen - 1932
8 - Kay Fratessa - 1908-1995
17 - Minnie Flanagan
30 - Leona Louise Reidenbach - 1927
June
9 - Janet Hudson - 1961-1980
15 - Saddie Wunker - 1903
18 - Grandpa John H. Veinop, Sr. 1862
20 - Jerry Stark - 1930
27 - Henry Becker - 1914
29 - Clara Gruenhagen - 1895
29 - Ellen Flanagan - 1905-Sept. 28, 1988
I will finish the list in my next post but have some comments at this point.
When I look over the list above, I know who about half of the people are. Some of them I knew personally and some appear on my family tree. I can also identify who some of he others are based stories from the past. My great grandma worked for the Cassayre's. She cleaned their house and took care of their children. If I recall correctly, this was after she had raised her own children.
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