Damn Yankees

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The Bretthauers and The Weeds

My father, Clifford Henry Bretthauer, was the son of Henry Arthur Bretthauer and Sylvia Marie Weed.  Henry Arthur was the son of German immigrant, George Bretthauer.  As a 16 year old boy, George Bretthauer arrived in Baltimore MD in 1852 on the Bark Anna.  He made his way across the country and settled in Wisconsin where he married Emely Louise Waughtal on December 20, 1862; they were my great grandparents.  George and Emely can be found on every census from 1860 through 1920; they lived in Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Saskachewan Canada, and finally Spokane Washington.  Nine of their children survived to adulthood.  However, my grandfather, Henry Arthur Bretthauer, who was their 5th son became deaf after suffering from cholera.  Henry Arthur was sent to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf where he met and married another deaf student, Sylvia Marie Weed.  Possibly because of their disability, Henry and Sylvia also moved to Saskachewan when my father, Clifford Henry, was a little child; being raised in Canada gave him duel citizenship. 

Grandfather Henry died in 1935 - long before my birth.  However, I had the privilege of meeting my Grandmother Sylvia in 1960 in Vancouver.  Furthermore, in 2006 while researching the Bretthauers, I met online a cousin who lives near Vancouver.  I also miraculously found my father's 88 year old sister, Viola Sylvia, living in Vancouver.  To top it off, I re-found my dear friend, Carol Jean Miller...who also lived in Vancouver.  Obviously, I made the trip and enjoyed once more the company of my great aunt, my previously unknown cousin, and my friend...lovely experience!

Below are some old Bretthauer - Weed family photos and documents.
PS:  My Southern mother would tease my Northern father, calling him a "damn Yankee."