Research Leads: The Wise Homestead in Leesport, Pennsylvania

Last night, I was looking over a packet of photos that I've seen before, from the Wise and Harkema families of my great-grandmother, Gertrude Alyce Wise. While I was most interested in the photos of Gertrude's father Fred Edwin Wise Sr., who was electrocuted in 1927, two photos in particular stood out to me. 

One was captioned "Reading, PA., July 1927. Erma Sterner, Edna Wise, sisters. Cousin Kate Sell in the chair." I do not know currently who any of these people are, but they're definitely relatives and could be research leads. Regardless, it shows some of my relatives were still living in Pennsylvania as late as the 1920s. It reminds me of the vibrancy of the Pennsylvania Dutch people, and the continued existence of our people in eastern Pennsylvania.

The most interesting one was captioned "Wise Homestead, Leesport, PA." It's a small, seemingly two part building surrounded by a big tree and looks like some crops. When looked at closely, it looks like there's a porch on the side of the home. I wonder if this is where Gertrude's paternal grandfather, John Harter Wise Sr., a Civil War Veteran, grew up. While he was born in Reading, the county seat of Berks County, in 1846, in the 1850 Census the Wise family is listed as living in Alsace, Berks County. In 1860, they're in Ontelaunee, Berks County. John's father, Abraham Wise, is recorded as living in Ontelaunee in 1870 and 1880 as well. His probate file also lists him as residing in Ontelaunee. However, he died in Leesport in 1896, and was buried there, at Saint John's Gernants. His obituary states he was "residing near Gernant's church", and worked for many years for the Leesport Iron Company as a Blacksmith. In 1884 a newspaper article notes that thieves broke open Abraham's corn crib and stole corn, and that he was "near Leesport". Google Maps shows that it takes around 8 minutes to drive from Ontelaunee to Leesport, although it'd definitely take more time to walk. So my theory is that the Wise Homestead pictured may have been purchased by Abraham between 1850 and 1860, and may be the location of the Wise family in the 1860-1880 Censuses. Of course, this is all speculative for now. More research is needed. 

The Wise family has always been one of my favorite families to research, and one of the most frustrating as well. John Harter Wise Sr. is one of my personal heroes, because of how much he endured in the Civil War, when he was only around 18-19 years old. Younger then I am now, and I'd never be able to do the same thing. The Pennsylvania Dutch people are fascinating to me, and it is a great source of pride for me that my true surname, Saddler, comes from this community. Pennsylvania is a Rust Belt state just like my home state of Michigan, and imagining Abraham Wise the Blacksmith is a great source of interest as well. Someday, I'd like to visit Berks County, and walk where my ancestors once walked. To see the Keystone State in all her glory. 

Photo Perspectives: Elizabeth Maddox (c. 1814- c. 1860)

One of my most frustrating brick walls is the Freels and Maddox family of Hardeman County, Tennessee. All I know is that my 4th great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Freels, was born on Christmas 1846 to Thomas and Elizabeth (Maddox) Freels, who appear on the 1850 and 1860 Censuses as illiterate farmers in Hardeman County, western Tennessee. This county borders Hardin County, Tennessee, where they seem to show up in the 1840 Census, as well as Tippah County, Mississippi, where their son moved to in 1870, before returning to Tennessee. One of my most valuable finds in my genealogical research, is a photo of Elizabeth, the mother of Thomas J. Freels: 

I have a lot to say about this photo of my 5th great grandmother. First of all, it is definitely very old. She probably died between 1860 and 1870, and I would assume this photo was taken around then, due to her apparent advanced age in this photo. Honestly, this photo is kind of creepy. It looks like it was taken on the porch, and she appears to be sitting in an old rocking chair. The building is probably their farmhouse, and it looks like it's a very old wood house, possibly a log house. There are a few trees in the background which add to the creepy, haunted area feel of the photo in my opinion. She's wearing a very big, thick jacket with a hood, which makes me think this photo was taken in winter, because there's no way she would be wearing something like that in the dead of summer, down in Tennessee. Her facial expression seems very serious and kind of angry- she strikes me as one of those strict, authoritative Southern mothers. I don't think I would want to disobey her. Also, I wonder what that is on her lap? Maybe she was sewing or knitting something? Obviously on the farm she would have had a role in the domestic aspects of the Freels household, so maybe she was making clothing. 

Here, for interest's sake, is a colorized version of the photo from MyHeritage: