OLD GUESTBOOK
Entries from my first guestbook.
Many of the older entries refer to information which is now located at
Biographies and Historical Sketches of Winona Co., Minnesota. or
The Great Rebellion ~ The American Civil War



Name: Pam Vandenhoff
Email: gevande@attglobal.net
Date: Saturday, 13 September 2003, at 8:30 p.m.
From: Charlottesville, VA

I have been researching the Vandenhoff and Taylor family trees. I would be glad to share information



Name: Helen Timm Henson
Email: hehe826@charter.net
Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2003, at 8:30 p.m.
From: Michigan

I am just getting into genealogy and I am very interested in the work you've done, although I don't see a link between us. I am sending you the link for the info I've found on my ancestors. I enjoyed your site!!

http://members.tripod.com/~deemamafred/wertz.html



Name: James Whit Taylor III
Email: Jim@taylorscastle.com
Date: Friday, 9 May 2003, at 12:53 a.m.
From: Las Vegas

I noticed on your web site that you did not have a discription of the Taylor Coat Of Arms so I thought I would send you this.

Jim Taylor ~ Taylorscastle.com

The Coat-of-Arms is blazened;quarterly, first and forth, azure, on a chief sable, two boars heads argent: second, argent, a chevron ermine between three grayhounds azure; third, argent chevron ermine between three mullets azure.
Crest: A dexter arm embowed in armor, the arm grasping a javelin
Motto: Consequitor quodeunque petit ~ He accomplishes what he undertakes.

The name of Taylor all along the ages has had a variety of forms. For example, Taylefer, LeTellyur, Taillour, Tailyour, which is the old Scottish form, Tailleau, Tayleure,Taylurese, Taylour, Tayller, Taillir, and Taillor. Present day orthography is reduced to the forms, Taylor, Tailor, Tailer, Tailler, and in rare instances, Tayloe.

A COAT of arms is an emblem or a dievice which is displayed by titled persons, persons of royal blood, and their discendants.V Coats of Arms were originally used for purposes of identification and recognition on the field of battle as well as in civil life. It is claimed by some writers that Coats of Arms, in a crude form, were used by Noah's sons after the flood. There are records of other Coats of Arms, in one crude form or another, at different periods of ancient history. Heraldry, however, as we know it today, did not become of much importance until soon after the invasion of England by William the Conqueror, A.D. 1066. Heraldry became or general interest at about the time of the Crusades. The Taylor Coat of Arms is the Arms of Taylor, Earls of Bective and Marquises of Headfort. Coats of Arms very similar to it are used by other great Taylor families, and numerous branches of the family have Coats of Arms resembling it. This is the most widely used of all Taylor Coats of Arms, and has been in existence for many centuries. It is described in BURKE'S GENERAL ARMORY, BURKES'S LANDED GENTRY, BURKE'S PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE, and other reliable works on heraldry, in some cases accompanied by illustrations and pedigrees. In the opinion of established authorities, practically all Taylor families in America claim this Coat of Arms.

HERALDIC LANGUAGE ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
Arms: Ermine, on a chief gules, a fleur-de-lis between two boar's heads, couped and erect or. An ermine shield (white with black spots), bearing across the upper half a red band on which is a fleur-de-lis between two boar's heads, all gold.
Crest: A naked arm embowed grasping an arrow proper. A naked arm, bent at elbow and grasping an arrow, all in natural colors.
Motto: Consequitur quodqunque petit. (Latin) He obtains whatever he seeks.

The boar's head was once the chief dish at Christmas feasts in palace and castle. When England's sovereigns kept Christmas or yore in their noble halls at Guildford, Eltham, Westminster or Windsor, in high estate, arrayed with crown and sceptre, closthed in ermine and surrounded by their wondering subjects, it was brought to their table with great ceremony. The introduction of the great dish was accompanied by music and singing... often by the song reprinted below.

"Caput Apri refero
Reddens laudes Domino.

"The bore's head in hand bring I
With garlans gay and rosemary,
I pray you all sing merrily
Qui estic convivio."

"The bore's head, I understande,
Is the chief servyce in this lande
Loke wherever it be fande,
Servite cum cantico."

So is explained the significance in the Taylor Coat of Arms of the golden boar's heads on either side of the fleur-de-lis, ancient symbol of nobility. Sir Bernard Burke, of Heralds College, London, said "Heraldry is prized by all who can show honorable ancestry or wish to found honorable families." Besides its family significance this Coat of Arms makes an excellent mural decoration and inspires the admiration and comment of all who see it. It is quite appropriate that members of the Taylor family who have a pride in their ancestry should display the family Coat of Arms, in proper colors.



Name: Mary Louise Timm
Email: annea@bmicrovar.com
Date: Thursday, 5 December 2002, at 8:43 p.m.
From: Minnesota
I was born September 13, 1959. Please contact me.



Name: Marcos Toukacz
Email: toukacz@hotmail.com
Date: Monday, 4 November 2002, at 8:41 p.m.
From: Brazil
Well, I am brazilian and i'm studying in londo for a while,and i really apreciate if i could get any suggestions of how to find the origin of my surename, been told that it could be austrian but i doubt, so if is there anyone whom knows any bit about it i will be thanksful



Name: Martha Youngblood
Email: maky@mlecmn.net
Date: Sunday, 8 September 2002, at 11:46 p.m.
From: Garrison, Mn.
Very interesting! I am Leonard Koska's daughter, James S. grandaughter. We have the newspaper articles from that fire that killed Jim's first wife, Martha Klescz, and baby son , Edmund. My dad is the one who survived with terrible burns- he was only 3 then. Uncle Bill still living. Just turned 85, always like to hear he and Dad talk about when they were kids. Noticed a few mispelled names and little discrepancies, let me know if you want to hear about them. We would love to sit and visit with you, also with Mary (Veronica) Koska- I remember Dolly and Richard- have often wondered what they are up to- how life turned out for them. Very good job on your web site. If you want to know what happened to my husband, please look at my web site http://www.cpinternet.com/~maky Sincerely, Martha Youngblood



Name: Kit Leitch
Email: Doug.Leitch@dougleitch.demon.co.uk
Date: Sunday, 1 September 2002, at 11:27 a.m.
From: Solihull UK
My grandmother was Mary Jane Chinnock from Somerset. I may have the ancestor of James Hobbs Chinnock. PLEASE contact me, Kit



Name: Marlene Miller
Email: kwmthree@bigplanet.com
Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2002, at 11:33 a.m.
From: San Diego County, CA

Enjoyed your website. My maiden name is Timm. I grew up in Eastern Nebraska; thought it was a weird name then, as I didn't know any other Timms. If you ever find a connection to a Lewis or Mary Timm who came from Germany to Three Rivers, Michigan, please let me know. Believe they would have arrived in the mid-1800's. Thanks!



Name: Craig Timm
Email: ctimm@qwest.com
Date: Thursday, 27 June 2002, at 3:57 p.m.
From: Moorhead, MN

Very interesting site! I guess I fall in line like this- Rudolph Timm (My Great Great Grandfather), Adolph F.Timm (My Great Grandfather), Curt Timm (My Grandfather), Harry Joseph Timm (My father). My identical twin, Chad, was killed in a farm accident in 1991. I have another brother, Steve Timm, who lives in Baudette, MN.



Name: Ashley
Email: Baby_Gangstar4U@hotmail.com
Date: Friday, 19 April 2002, at 7:06 p.m.
From: Canada

My last name is rosebush!! hahah tee hee



Name: BJ Allred
Email: bj_allred@msn.com
Date: Thursday, 10 January 2002, at 2:51 p.m.
From: Boise, Idaho

I am very interestd in learning more about your family. As I have been researching my RUSSELL family line from William Russell b. 1746 and married Ruth Russell. William had a second wife Edith Smith also. Taylor is a family name also. I am researching Timothy Taylor from Bucks Co, PA. He died abt 1836 in Loudoun Co, VA and married Ascha Johnson. Their son Timothy Taylor married Harriet B. and lived at Round Hill, VA. I will have to come back to this site and study it more. You Have Done a Great Job! BJ Allred



Name: hillary koska drain
Email: psyfur5@hotmail.com
Date: Tuesday, 18 December 2001, at 7:02 a.m.
From: germany now

hi aunt barbara and kin, i am so happy to see that there is a family tree started.i do believe i also have pictures of grandpa,grandma alice,dad,uncle mike,uncle arlun,aunt nat,and uncle clem.let me know where to send them.i am also married now to bradley drain and have a baby boy named get ready... brady tommy delroy drain.he is almost 8 months now.since we are stationed in germany i will go ahead and claim the inheritance,haha.i have also discovered a few koska's here through the telephone book.i do not speak enough german to speak to them.maybe i will before we leave. take care and god bless all my love hillary



Name: Tammy Jacobson
Email: impressions2000@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, 9 August 2001, at 2:05 a.m.
From: Wisconsin

I saw your tid-bit on "Digging up Electa" and it cracked me up. Electa (Wildman) and John Wilhelm were my gr.gr.gr.gr. grandparents. Because of your site I was able to find the cemetery where John is buried (haven't found Electa yet!) Thanks for your information. I have more information on this branch of your family if you'd care to contact me. Tammy :)



Name: John Charles Koska
Email: John.C.Koska@lexisnexis.com
Date: Thursday, 12 July 2001, at 3:15 a.m.
From: Albany, NY area

John C. Koska, John Andrew Koska, Peter Nicholas Koska, Sr.



Fabian Koska:

I don't have my records here in Albany, but when I get a chance I will drop a note as to what my grandfather (Peter Nicholas Koska, Sr) told me of the family history. He was part of the Austrian-Hungrian Royal 1st Calvary. His hometown was Engelsbrunn, now in Romania, near Arad.



Name: Penelope A. Barrott
Email: penh@igrin.co.nzz
Date: Monday, 21 May 2001, at 2:57 a.m.
From: New Zealand

Re: The Wolcott Sailing, you mention Benedictus Alford who was the brother of Alexander Alvord. I have a theory as to how they came to America on the Mary&John on my website. I thought you might be interested in it. Here it is:

http://www.igrin.co.nz/penh/index.html



Name: f wallace
Email: fwallace@twcny.rr.com
Date: Saturday, 21 April 2001, at 6:17 p.m.
From: New York State

Found this site by accident. My grandmother came from Minnieska and moved to NY when she married in 1890. In her memoirs of childhood she mentions names of people in the Minnieska area. Among them are Timm and Williams. Her maiden name was Taylor. If you would like some of this information, please contact me and I will be pleased to reply. Sincerely,Florence Eames Wallace



Name: Nancy Oliver
Email: Nansea2u@aol.com
Date: Friday, 23 March 2001, at 5:49 a.m.
From: Tacoma, WA.

My Father, Fremont Ashley Oliver once told us a story about the "antler stool" which he claimed was made by his gr.gr.gr.grandfather from a stag he shot on his way home from the civil war. I just found him on this website in the 8th infantry. He was a wagoneer. His name is James Ashley Oliver. Thankyou so much!



Name: dale hundt
Email: dfhundt@chorus.net
Date: Thursday, 15 March 2001, at 10:41 p.m.
From: madison, wi

mailed a big addition to your file yesterday. the wisconsin mahler file



Name: Michael Ruddy
Email: mruddy@usit.net
Date: Thursday, 15 March 2001, at 1:35 a.m.
From: Union City, TN

Very Nice site BEST PART: you are transcribing the book that I have been looking for: History of Wabasha (1884) Mike




Name: Kathy Dullea
Email: Gopfher@aol.com
Date: Saturday, 17 February 2001, at 11:08 a.m.
From: Georgetown, MN

Searching for Poncelet, saw the bio on Paul Conrad married to Catherine Poncelet. Already have that info.



Name: Bill Wisen
Email: wewnjw@aol.com
Date: Saturday, 6 January 2001, at 4:34 p.m.
From: Beloit, Wi. born St Paul, Mn. grandparents, parents formerly from Lake City

Hi Just checking out your site to see if any of my ancestors appears on it. My ancestors were the Wisens from Lake City, the Eggenbergers and Mathew Bergs family from several places in Wabasha Co. I used to stay with my grandma and uncle in Lake City when a little boy during summer vacation. Relatives are buried in Lake City, Theilman, West Albany, and Winona. I'll try to check out yoursite preiodically to see what you might have added. By for now. Bill Wisen



Name: barb Caudle
Email: bcaudle@att.net
Date: Friday, 29 December 2000, at 12:59 p.m.
From: Shoreview MN

Thank you for putting the Wabasha county biographies on your site. Two of my ancestors are listed: Jacob French and Stephen Struble.



Name: Bill Jewell
Email: wsj@newton.berkeley.edu
Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2000, at 3:39 p.m.
From: Orinda, CA

Hi BT! A great job! How about adding the Plainview Twp/Village "history" next? :-) At the moment, your Civil War icons are not loading? Also, how about more location information for your photos and engravings? Bill



Name: Linda Hinslea Nelson
Email: bren@gate.net
Date: Monday, 11 December 2000, at 7:57 a.m.
From: Florida

Very interesting. Thank you for the information on John Lyon. I have filled it away in my notes. Good luck on your research.



Name: Donald W. Winters
Email: dwinters@mosquitonet.com
Date: Saturday, 25 November 2000, at 7:10 p.m.
From: Fairbanks, Alaska

I think I have found a missing link in my quest. F.W. Winters but there would be more children. this gives me something more to look into. Thanks Don.



Name: Robbie
Email: simontree@webtv.net
Date: Saturday, 25 November 2000, at 11:05 a.m.
From: MN

Thank You for all the time you have put into your site..you have done a wonderful job. I am searching for SIMON~WHEELER~family connections. Robbie



Name: Dawn Card
Email: dnrcard@ecol.net
Date: Friday, 24 November 2000, at 4:19 p.m.
From: Eau Claire

You have done a wonderful job! Keep up the good work. I have booked marked your site and will keep checking the biographies. My husband's family lived in Wabasha County for about 20 years from the 1860's to the 1880's.



Name: Judi Regan
Email: jregan@maine207west.k12.il.us
Date: Monday, 13 November 2000, at 3:45 p.m.
From: Illinois

Keep up the great work, Barbara. You're the best!



Name: Carolyn Davis
Email: Budsmum@aol.com
Date: Monday, 13 November 2000, at 12:36 a.m.
From: Seattle

Hello: Researching Wabasha Co., MN for my ancestors: Israel Nicholas Wilson & Roseanna Lane-Wilson. Israel's mother was Susan (Nichols) Wilson. The family came from Clearfield, PA after 1855 (I believe). Arrive by 1860 in Minn. Associated families: Lamb, Davis, Hites, Ritchie, Clifton



Name: Douglas Musty
Email: rigger@customcpu.com
Date: Tuesday, 7 November 2000, at 11:17 a.m.
From: Anchorage, AK

Thank you for the wenderful information on Peter Musty.



Name: Tammie Gorman
Email: Lightning455@hotmail.com
Date: Monday, 6 November 2000, at 11:00 p.m.
From: North Carolina

The Lord knows where to send you when you need something. My daughter is in the end stages of a 3 year fight with a form of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Then I saw your link to the Arthritis Foundation. It reminded me I'm not alone in this. Thank You. All of my Koenig line is from Wabasha. So far I can't find a link to your family. I'll keep looking. God Bless Tammie



Name: Francis Passe
Email: fpasse@rconnect.com
Date: Wednesday, 1 November 2000, at 4:29 a.m.
From: Minnesota

We have a lot of Wabasha County Records.



Name: Mary [Veronica] Koska
Email: Rolyat9999@gateway.net
Date: Sunday, 29 October 2000, at 2:36 p.m.
From: Rice, Minnesota

I enjoyed your information so much.Thanks for sharing it.I am the fourth child of Bert Koska. I am lookimg for information on Bert'a parents John and Mary.let's keep in touch. Mary L



Name: Me
Email: dougt@cyberportal.net
Date: Sunday, 22 October 2000, at 6:43 a.m.
From: NH

My idea of a great site. enjoyed it.

Regards, Me



Name: Jerry Walsh
Email: jerry_walsh@msn.com
Date: Sunday, 15 October 2000, at 9:14 p.m.
From: Yorba Linda,CA



Name: Mary Stewart
Email: mary@theriver.com
Date: Friday, 13 October 2000, at 10:14 p.m.
From: Benson, Arizona

I was looking for the "rest of the story" about Matthew Kinsella and Catherine Finley. I'm pretty sure that their son, John b. 1860, ended up in Bisbee, AZ, around 1894. I've been trying to connect Matthew to my Kinsella line from Tullow, Co. Carlow, Ireland. Very interesting bio on Matthew.

Thanks, Mary Stewart



Name: Sue Cancio
Email:cancios@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday, 4 October 2000, at 12:01 a.m.
From: Phoenix, Arizona Nice page, and enjoying all the detours



Name: Mark Timm
Email: matimm@cisco.com
Date: Monday, 2 October 2000, at 7:12 p.m.
From: Born in Toledo, Ohio

I would like to build a family tree. Any suggestions?



Name: Wanda Shea
Email: wandajonesshea@cs.com
Date: Sunday, 1 October 2000, at 12:02 p.m.
From: Grew-up Hampton NH_live Orlando, FL

I was glad to see the name Champion on your site. I've been looking for this name and any connections to the Champions in my tree not sure if yours is relaited to mine but I was glad to see the name does exist,because it's a hard name to find.Wanda Shea and the many surenames of Colonial New England.



Name: Joel Braaten,USAF (ret)
Email:jbmi_2000@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, 29 September 2000, at 1:17 a.m.
From: Gulfport, Mississippi

Nice to see me and my brothers Dave, Jim and Tom Braaten on your site



Name: David Roland Braaten
Email: Cataract33@hotmail.com
Date: Saturday, 16 September 2000, at 8:43 p.m.
From: circle pines

I was shocked to find my father and grandmother (David Hans Braaten and Jane Braaten) in your online family tree. Thanks I appreciate it.



Name: Jerry Gulden
Email: guldenjd@prairie.lakes.com
Date: Thursday, 24 August 2000, at 10:58 p.m.
From: N. Mankato MN/New Ulm originally

Enjoyed your web pages, music was a really good touch and sound. Also thanks for having German Bohemian site on your links. We need all the advertisement we can get, membership ~ 500 and growing.

Thanks Again ~ jerry



Name: Terri
Email: RWFonkenMN@worldnet.att.net
Date: Thursday, 27 July 2000, at 12:12 a.m.
From: Minnesota (This was an e-mail response to a query of mine - Barbara)

Hi Barbara, Great site. I really like how you laid it all out.

Yes, I can put the obits in our Archives. The ones after 1923 I will have to abstract but what I can do is use you URL as a link on the TOC instead of your email address as submitter (hope this makes sense). The

USGenweb MNArchives are a great source for people since it has its own "search engine" and is a repository or "electric library" as some like to refer to it.

I do have a suggestion which would help me when I put the obits in the archives and that is to put the year of birth and death under each name or even the whole dates. That helps date the newspaper article also. The only information I can put into the archives are documents, records and such, extracts from census/birth/death/marriage/wills/plats/ and things of this nature. I did make an exception to this for a man in Sweden whose ancestors came to Minnesota because this was all he had to offer "family and photos." I could not open the "photographs" at all. I just checked your site again and check the "Notables". It is really great. I love the little stories. They are wonderful. So Are the Poems. There are a few links throughout that pull up a "404 not found". But the whole site is great. Good Job.

You can cut and paste part of this into your "Guestbook" if you like. :-) Let me know if I can go ahead and copy the obits and if you have any other records you would like to submit.

There is a page for Home pages with Minnesota roots. The page is at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mngenweb/families.htm. With a link on top for submitting your site. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Thank you, Terri



Name: Dick Koska
Email: rkoska@mninter.net
Date: Wednesday, 26 July 2000, at 9:25 a.m.
From: Minneapolis
Under Koska photographs, You have a picture marked as Dad and Pal. That is Clem's younger brother Vernon with him.

Nice Web Site. Dick Koska


Backgrounds Courtesy of "Backgrounds By Marie"
Roses Courtesy of "Vintage Flower Art"




Russell/Taylor Lines
Koska/Diedrich Lines
Mahler/Lehmann Lines
Timm/Boehlke Lines
Notable and Notorious
IBBSG (Black Sheep)
Barbara's Mainline
Family Obituaries
History and Maps
The Wolcott Sailing
Castles In The Air
Poems & Things
Coats of Arms
Name Origins
Photographs
Links & Rings
Queries
Home