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Here, gathered in our beloved South Dakota, are a few members of our Williamson / Mattson Clan. Charles and Luella are to be blamed (be kind, they didn't know what they were doing). We're generally a happy bunch and somewhat intelligent (notwithstanding our tenuous grasp on reality). I'm also proud to say that most of us still have our teeth.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

New Additon to the Family Tree. Our 3rd Great Grandparents McCrillis (Mattson / Dennis Line).

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Tonight we read about our 3rd Great Grandfather Joseph and our Great Grandmother Elmira Swift. Also, I'm adding names to the family tree (top of right side bar) to flesh out the McCrillis line. This line will take you to Francis Cooke, one of our Mayflower ancestors.

I'm hoping all is well with you and thank you for reading.

Simply,
Victor

Joseph and Elmira McCrillis. Our 3rd Great Grandparents.

Our 3rd Great Grandfather Joseph E. McCrillis was one of the early settlers of Crawford County, Wisconsin, arriving in 1874. Joseph McCrillis was born in Topsham, Orange Co., Vt., in 1808. In 1831 he went to Massachusetts, where he worked as a shoe-maker. He moved again to Providence, R. I., in 1837, and in the fall of 1838, went to Taunton, Mass. During this period he was worked as a shoe-maker and peddling. From Massachusetts he moved to Vermont. In 1855 he came to Rock Co., Wis., and in October of the same year came to Crawford county.

He was married in Massachusetts in 1832, to Abigail Rist, who died in August, 1835. His second wife, our GGG Grandmother was Elmira Swift. They married in Providence, R. I., in 1837. Elmira was born in Corinth, Vt. on Jan. 6, 1809.

Joseph McCrillis had one son (Joseph) by his first wife, Abigail. Joseph Jr. was killed near Mt. Sterling, Sept. 7, 1880. Joseph Sr. had five children by his Elmira three sons and two daughters --- John H., who lived in Vernon Co., Wis.; Sally A., wife of Elisha Moore; Robert E., who lived in Hampton, Iowa; Hannah E., wife of H. H. Whaley; our Great Great Grandmother Isabella D., wife of our GG Grandfather J. M. Dennis who lived in Hot Springs, Dakota.

The First Sunday of Lent


From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Our family is a collection of individuals, each approaching God differently. We have a history of fierce religious independence as seen from reading and researching our family's history stretching back hundreds of years. But when all is said and done, we sit together as Christians, believing in the power of God in our lives.

Today is the First Sunday of Lent. At the Fortress I pause a moment to ponder the mystery of God as we approach Easter and the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

A Happy Sunday to All...

Simply,
Victor

(Singing today is King's College Choir from King's College, Cambridge England. I lived in Cambridge for several months and grew fond of this chapel and its world renowned choir. Enjoy)