Tell us about your favorite ancestor...
 

Gracie, I'm obviously carrying your thread re: grandparents to a larger degree.
Credit goes to your original inquiry.

My favorite ancestor is my Great Grandfather, Philip Meyers (aka Maier, Mayer). He immigrated from Germany in the 1850's and settled in Bethlehem, New York, a suburb of Albany. He enlisted in the 3rd NY Volunteer Infantry and served from 1861-1863. At times he served as Company butcher, so I know he ate well. Most of the time he was a Private, but at some point was promoted to Corporal, but he didn't hold that rank for long. Not sure why he lost it, as his service records don't indicate reason for demotion back to Private. He was not injured during the war, but he was later shot in the hand while serving as a "Court Officer" back in Albany. (I haven't yet been able to locate documentation of how that happened.) Viewing his military pension records, however, did reveal that he claimed a disability due to obtaining "piles" from Chicahominy Swamp. (The modern terminology for "piles" is hemorrhoids.) :laugh:

Besides serving as a Court Officer following the war, he was also a lighthouse tender. My mother would tell us stories of how he lived on an island in the Hudson River. He had pit bull dogs that would catch rabbit and fling them in the air, breaking the rabbits' necks. She'd eat rabbit stew.

I'd love to be able to speak with him and hear his stories. When I meet him in heaven, I will!

Bestmickey....this was so nice....but now I will have to do a little research....know about my grandparents....thankfully had the chance to know all of them!

But beyond that...I have to do some research....good idea...

One of my great grandfathers, Charlie Kehl, was a early movie stage electrician in Chicago and a charter member of the IBEW in Chgo. He passed in his late 90's and family rumor has it that May West sent flowers to his funeral in the mid 50's.

A branch of the family was involved in Theater Union Work, one of his daughter's, my great aunt was president of the stage hands union in Chgo; and some of my father's 1st cousins became TV camera men.

I've always liked the story of my paternal great-grandfather and the day he died.

I know that sounds strange, but it was his 100th birthday. For many years, the family, at his doctor's urgings, had kept him from his favorite vices: roast beef, huge cigars and port wine.

On the occasion of the momentous birthday, he was asked what he wanted, and, of course, said he wanted roast beef, a big cigar, followed by port. The family indulged him, figuring that he was entitled, at least this once!

So, he enjoyed himself immensely, then went up to bed, where he died in his sleep!

To me, that's a grand way to go!

:a040:

SWR

SWR;

That is a great story. We should all be so lucky, although a few of us might make a substitution for the cigar.

Swrinfla, that's a great story! I appreciate your sense of humor.

Favorite Ancestor - Adam! Without his will to survive, I wouldn't be here.