Johannes Fendt 1782 Christening Record

The christening record for Johannes shows that he was christened 18 January 1782, the illegitimate son of Catharina Fendt from Aarmuehle. The witnesses were Johannes Seiler from Boenigen; Johannes Wilhelm from Matten, and Anna ab Buehl. The entry is #8, the second from the top.

Copy of microfilm record received in January .. from Sonja Reid (my 4th cousin 5 generations removed - or something like that).

• Title: Gsteig bei Interlaken Kirchenbuch, 1593-1875
• Author: Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche
• Publication: Microfilmed Staatsarchive des Kantons Bern, 1991
• Call Number: ..438 - ..447
• Page: FHL Film ..439, Christenings 1782, Page 231, Entry #8

Sonja noted that "the interesting thing about the name is the inconsistency in the way it was spelled. It is spelled B'hend, Bhend, Phend, and Fendt. It is often dependent on the time frame in which the information was recorded. Often at the birth of the child it is spelled one way and subsequent entries for the same person or for other children born to the same couple are spelled a different way."

Johannes Fendt, aka Jean B'hend, aka Johannes Phend, was my 3rd Great Grandfather and emigrated to the United States in 1832.

Exploration Day ..

This was a day I was looking forward to since Thursday. Jennifer was sick all week and I was trying not to catch it while saving energy for Monday. The plan was to go climb ice. Steve and I had loosely coordinated on Friday and the initial goal was the North Face of Chair Peak. Temps have been silly cold. (With overnight lows in Seattle in the 20°s.) During the weekend I saw that someone had climbed it on Saturday. We were on. Until it snowed Sunday. Well that wouldn't totally deflate our plans, but being on the dark side of a mountain with the high temp at sea level around freezing sounded really cold to us. That added to the high winds and possible cornices and bombs that would await us at the top of the face. (The wind chill for Monday at Snoqualmie Pass was predicted to be -11°F.) Rather than hike out there and turn around, we decided on Sunday evening to give the South Gully of Guye Peak a try. There was less of a hiking commitment and the route is wind protected.

Heading up on the road

We had a bit of a late start, and arrived in a parking area on the Oberstrasse. The outside temp was 7°. It took a bit of effort to remove our heavy coats and start moving. At least the sun was out although we were in the woods immediately off the road. Soon we got on a forest road and heading in the general direction of the Southwest Rib. We left the road near the end and headed generally east under the rib. Going was not too difficult with bare boots as the snow pack was firm except for the fresh 5" from the previous day. (Steve and I were regretting not going out to ski instead as conditions were nice for that activity.) We finally arrived at what we believed to be the gully and did some checking to confirm this. However, the gully did not have much snow above our location and we started rethinking our plan. We hiked up to the area where there was less snow (which was in the sun.) The going was not as easy as previous with the increased slope angle we eventually donned crampons. We debated a bit, and then made the decision that climbing snowy rock and a possible loose 3rd class gully didn't sound appealing to us on this day. So we turned around.

Our high point in the gully

The hike out was uneventful, but we got a good look at Chair Peak and could see cornices and thanked ourselves for the decision not to head there. We made a plan that once we got to the car we would go take a look for ice at Alpental Falls. We made the short drive and hiked up the Snow Lake Trail to the falls. Most of the ice was there, but looked a bit fragile, or had running water behind it. While there, we heard a few icicles falling. It was midday and they were in the heat of the sun. We assumed they would look better in the morning.

Checking out the ice

We hiked northwest from that location and found a few short solid patches of ice that we would be willing to top rope from trees. (We had only brought three screws for Guye, so we didn't have the capacity to lead.) Steve then searched a gully while I hacked at the ice a bit to see how durable it was. Due to the deep cold, it wasn't as plastic as I would prefer for ice climbing, but it was solid and climbable. We poked around a little more without actually climbing anything and then headed to the parking lot. I took my watch off below the falls (which were no longer in direct sunlight) to gauge the temperature. By the time we reached the parking lot it was a mere 15°. Steve and I got in the car and headed out.

On the way home we checked out some other areas that we knew ice up and investigated their feasibility for later in the week. We will see.

While not the grand goal I had originally planned, it was a fun outing. We now know where to find the gully on Guye Peak and may return when there is better snow cover. For now, I am excited to get out and climb ice while the temps are low and there is no precip in the forecast.

Redwood Canyon

On one of my stops at the Kings Canyon Visitors Center (in the western side, near Grant Grove), I asked the Ranger on duty if he had any favorite day hikes. He suggested Redwood Canyon saying that there was a 2-mile dirt road down to the trailhead without providing any other details besides asking if I had a large RV (and I didn't think to ask either).

So, the next morning I ventured a few miles south to the turnoff to Redwood Canyon. Once beyond the turnoff and around the first curve, there is no turning back! The narrow, steep, winding dirt road was carved out of the side of the canyon. There were several places wide enough for two cars to pass by each other but most of the 2-mile road (using the term loosely) was wide enough for just one vehicle.

I crossed my fingers and said a little prayer that I would not meet any vehicles coming up while I was going down! The dust flew up behind the rear wheels quickly covering the back windshield so that nothing could be seen from the rear. After a 25-minute harrowing drive, I made it safely to the parking lot, which was nearly full (and all of the vehicles had dust covering their rear windows).

The trailhead was easy to find. Going by what the Ranger had told me I took the trail to the right which gradually went up the ridge, through groves of “young” sequoia trees.

I have no idea what kind of pine tree the large cone belongs to but the cone is about 14 inches long. The three small cones belong to the Giant Sequoia. The medium sized cone is about the size of a chicken egg. The largest trees in the world have the smallest cones! But within those cones are hidden several hundred seeds which are released during fires – they require the heat in order to open up. Pretty amazing.

Once on top of the ridge, it was an easy walk through open meadows and pretty vistas. That's Big Baldy across the valley.

Once on top of the ridge, it was an easy walk through open meadows and pretty vistas. That's Big Baldy across the valley.

The trail (a 7 mile loop) went down into the valley via a series of long, somewhat steep, switchbacks. It followed a river for a short distance then went uphill the last two miles to the parking lot. Portions of the hike were somewhat strenuous (especially the last two miles) but it was mostly a nice, easy, pleasant walk through the forest, which I enjoyed immensely. Even though there were a lot of people visiting the area and the parking lot was full, I saw only four people on the trail and that was on the final uphill trek.

Photographs taken June 19, ..

I'm “Home” for the Holidays...

Greetings from Louisiana! I've made it safely to my destination and will be here through Christmas and New Years. It's not “Home” as in Indiana, but it is “Home” in the sense that my friends welcome me as family (we are, after all, distantly related). Mother Nature has not been very cooperative with the weather since I left Utah so it is quite nice to be “settled” in and out of the elements for a few weeks. I can't thank them enough for allowing me to be a part of their family!



To all of my friends and family scattered around the country, and all of the readers of Kinexxions, I offer you my heartfelt wishes for a Merry Christmas.

The Cyclist's Dwelling

When I talk to cyclists who have recently moved or are looking to move house, most admit that bikes influence the location and layout criteria for their new place. Usually this admission is made sheepishly, with some embarrassment that cycling plays such a prominent role in their lives. Me, I don't bother to be embarrassed anymore. Cycling is not the most important thing in my life, but it is up there. It is also more intertwined with the other important things now than it was before. And it is crucial to my sanity. It follows that any place I live must be bicycling friendly.




As far as location, this can mean different things for different types of cyclists. For some it means being in the middle of a city with good bicycle infrastructure. For others it means being close to good roadcycling - hilly country roads, or networks of dirt roads, or mountain bike trails. For others still the ideal cycling location is climate dependent. And for others, it's dependent on proximity to clubs, races, randonneuring groups, "cycle chic" get-togethers, or other types of cycling-specific communities. Of all these things, for me it is easy access to good back roads and dirt roads that is on top of the list. While I love a city with good infrastructure and loved living in Vienna for that reason, I know that I can also function without it with fairly little stress. And while I appreciate a close-knit cycling community, at heart I am a loner and do just as well on my own. But when it comes to access to open roads, it's more than a matter of liking it or appreciating it, it is a matter of needing it. Living on the edge of town in Boston (rather than deeper in the city) is wonderful, because it allows for easy escape from the congested urban tangle. And living in rural Northern Ireland is a dream, because a network of country roads starts straight out the front door. I would not do well living in an area without easy access to good roadcycling.




As far as the layout of a house or apartment, I am pretty easy: I like a ground floor entrance for dragging my bike out the door. While I joke about having a farm with a bike shed, in reality I am quite content to cram my bikes into a small apartment space. But I do want to be able to roll my bikes out the door with the minimum amount of stairs and narrow hallways. As it is, I am covered in bruises from the narrow hallways in my current place - never failing to hit myself on the shin with a pedal or on the thigh with a brake lever whilst getting my bike out the door.




For someone who loves bicycles, I am unusually indifferent to "bicycle art" - cycling themed photos, paintings, sculptures, housewares and such. But I do tend to have bike parts and tools lying around in a way that they become integrated into the very fabric of the house. After two weeks in my current place, my roadbike looks wonderfully at home leaning against the book case. And the random bike parts scattered throughout look natural mixed with the household objects and appliances. It's funny, because I only have one bike in the house right now (okay, and one more out on the porch), but somehow the place still has that "bikes live here and they are important" feel to it.




Grabbing Desdemona, I roll her out the door, and - cursing affectionately as I bang my ankle lightly on the derailleur - I pedal away and head for the hills, thankful for the quiet, cloudy Sunday morning, for the emerald green sea, and for the warm tiny place that awaits me and my bike upon our return.

Come on, Show us What Tickles Your Funny Bone!

The deadline for submitting your "funny photos" to Smile for the Camera :: A Carnival of Images is quickly approaching. It's just a week away - midnight (PT) October 10, ... This edition will be hosted right here at kinexxions!


The word prompt for the 6th edition is Funny Bone. Show us that picture that never fails to bring a smile to your face! An amusing incident, a funny face, an unusual situation. Share! Choose a photograph of an ancestor, relative, yourself, or an orphan photograph that tickles your Funny Bone and submit it to the carnival.Your submission may include as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to describe your treasured photograph. Those words may be in the form of an expressive comment, a quote, a journal entry, a poem (your own or a favorite), a scrapbook page, or a heartfelt article. The choice is yours!

Deadline for submission is midnight (PT) October 10, ...

There are two options for submitting your contribution:

1. Send an email to me, Becky Wiseman. Include the title and permalink URL of the post you are submitting, and the name of your blog. Put 'Smile For The Camera' clearly in the title of your email!
2. Use the handy submission form provided by Blog Carnival.

In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, take a look at these past editions, hosted by footnoteMaven at Shades of the Departed:

• 1st Edition :: Mother Love
• 2nd Edition :: Belles & Beaus
• 3rd Edition :: Celebrate Home
• 4th Edition :: My Favorite Photograph
• 5th Edition :: Crowning Glory

The Estate of Jacob Switzer :: Sale Bill

There were three men (actually four, another has been found) with the name of Jacob Switzer who resided in Columbiana County, Ohio during the 1805-1860 time period. This estate file is for the Jacob Switzer who is my 4th great-grandfather and who married first Catherine Brinker (in 1811, the mother of his children) and second Leathy Bricker (in 1853). Jacob died on November 2, 1859.



The Sale Bill was filed December 10th 1859. Estate of Jacob Switzer. Probate Packet 4962. Columbiana County, Ohio



Text within square brackets [ ] has been added to indicate words that were difficult to read. I did not add up the dollar values that I transcribed to determine if they added up to the total amount of the sale!



=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

A bill of the property sold by Daniel Deemer administrator of the estate of Jacob Switzer, deceased as per [illegible word] vendue Nov 29 1859.

Names of articles 11 one horse wagon 1 Two year old Heiffer 1 Red Cow 1 Red Cow Whiteface 1 Spotted Cow 1 Black faced Cow 1 Red Yearling Heiffer 1 Horse (Fore) Lot Medicine [?] & Pottery Gun Powder horn & Pouch 1 Sleigh 1 Sled 3 Cow Chain 2 Cow Chain 1 Set Buggy Harness 1 Halter Saddle & Bridle 1 Wheel barrow 1 Plough 1 Shovel [illegible word] [???] w two Chain [???] 1 Saythe 3 Forks 1 Grain Shovel 1 Hog 1 Hog (Sow) 2 Small Pigs 1 & 2 [?] choice 1 Small Pig 3 choice 1 Small Pig 4 choice 5 Ton Hay 2 Ton Hay	Names of Purchaser Taken by widow at appraisement Taken by widow at appraisement John Mitchell David Bricker Mathias Fisher Soloman H. Sitler Taken by widow at appraisement Taken by widow at appraisement A B Arter John Deemer Adam Simon [?] Taken by widow at appraisement J J Brinker Taken by widow at appraisement Taken by widow at appraisement [???] Axel Phillip Simon Taken by widow at appraisement Levi Hanna Jacob Keck Levi Hanna Levi Hanna Taken by widow at appraisement A B Arter John Deemer Phillip Bricker Taken by widow at appraisement John Harter John Harter Taken by widow at appraisement Taken by widow at appraisement	$ cts13.0011.0018.0014.2511.0014.378.0065.001.801.005.62.901.30.503.00.504.87.501.00.50.08.28.50.8010.8011.454.003.253.4030.0012.00

First Page of Sale Bill filed December 10th 1859.Estate of Jacob Switzer. Probate Packet 4962Columbiana County, Ohio

Names of articles 1 Ton Hay 1 Ton Hay 1 Ton Hay 1 [???] Buggy 1 Wind Mill Lot old Oat Lot Oats in Straw 30 Bushels Corn 38 Bushels Corn 4 Cider Barrels 1 Log chain 1 clock 1 Bureau 1 Buffalo Robe 1 [have no clue] Lot Corn Fodder 2/57 acres wheat in ground 1 - 2 Inch auger 1 - 1 ½ Inch auger 1 – 1 Inch auger 1 - ¾ & ½ Inch auger 2 Chisels 1 Draw Knife Hammer [???????] 1 Strip Sleigh Bells 1 Horse Fly Net 1 Set old Harness 1 Par Driving lines 1 Axe 2 Bags -	Names of Purchaser Simon Miller Levi Hanna J. B. Everton [?] Taken by Widow at appraisement Levi Hanna Taken by Widow at appraisement Taken by Widow at appraisement Taken by Widow at appraisement David Bricker Simon Arter Andrew Bricker Henry Aldridge Leathy Switzer P. Buhecker W. E. McLaughlin Taken by Widow at appraisement Taken by Widow at appraisement Jona Worman Simon Miller Simon Miller John Walker P. Buhecker A. R. Kelly P. Buhecker Levi Hanna Levi Hanna Levi Hanna Levi Hanna Taken by Widow at appraisement Taken by Widow at appraisement [Total amount of Sale]	$ cts8.508.508.50210.003.005.00212.005.005.32.90.621.253.2153.2153.705.00215.00.40.46.20.34.50.40.801.5537 ½21.215.431.60.30$390.30 ½

The above Sale Bill is correct.

W. E. McLaughlin Clerk of Sale.





Second Page of Sale Bill filed December 10th 1859.Estate of Jacob Switzer. Probate Packet 4962Columbiana County, Ohio