NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

Greetings to Family and Friends,

Well into our summer in Washington State I am reflecting on how much we have to be thankful for. The weather here on the Peninsula has been at various times unseasonably warm, and typically wet! Even though I am working at two jobs this year, and Pete’s construction business is booming, we have found time to kayak, entertain guests from Arizona and California, and continue our outdoor beautification projects.

And, after fourteen years and many, many prayers, we have finally made contact with my Grandson, Stanley Layton. We hope to be reunited this fall, perhaps in Arizona or in Stanley’s home state of Nevada. His presence in our lives, after all of these years, has made me a very happy Grandma! He just graduated from High School and plans on continuing his education in the Veterinary Medicine field.

Sister Mary came for her annual visit again this year, but only for two days, so we didn’t have much time to visit. It took almost an entire day to pick her up at the Amtrak station in Longview, and another day to make the return trip. Next year we will have her spend part of her vacation with us in Arizona instead. News from California via Mary is that Jan and Dennis are doing well, as are their children Jill and Matthew. Other news Mary shared about family; Moonkyung spent three weeks in Korea while Mary stayed with Michael to help watch over William. William is doing very well at softball and has even been written up in the local newspapers. Mary says that Caitlen is home from College for the summer and that Helen’s family from California and North Carolina will be coming to Oregon to celebrate Christmas with her this year.

In June Pete and I had the opportunity to be a part of a ceremony dedicating the new Lower Columbia Water Trail. We were part of a group of kayakers that paddled from Cathlamet to Skamakowa as a part of the dedication. It was an exceptional experience! In September of this year we will be in the first Baker Bay Kayak and Canoe Race, which takes place on the Columbia River near the town of Ilwaco.

Pete’s brother and his family visited with us for three weeks in July. They spent a good deal of that time sightseeing all over our Washington and North Oregon coasts, but we celebrated an old-fashioned 4th of July here on the Peninsula, complete with fireworks, parade and campfire cookout.

Fran and Bob are spending the latter part of August in Kamiah again. We are hoping that we can spend some time with them at a point halfway between our home and Idaho. New is the wedding of Tifaney and Ryan has been postponed.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit with Stan and Mike for four days in central Oregon. Stan and Wendy and Mike and I went out together for dinner and had a very enjoyable time. The snow-capped mountains, blue skies, sun and warmth made me remember why I love that area. It is a beautiful part of the world. Mike and Stan still live on opposite sections of their 84 acres of property there.

Still hoping to get back to work on my genealogy research this winter in Arizona. Stanley Layton has expressed an interest in helping me update the website and continue researching his grandfather’s ancestry. Pete is leaving Washington at the end of September - just six weeks away. Six weeks after that I will be joining him in Arizona.

Birthdays for August & September are: Grandson Johnathon on August 3, Grandson Cody on September 3, Ken on September 20, Michael C on September 25, and Matthew on September 18. Happy Birthday wishes to all of you!

My next newsletter will be from Arizona!

Namaste, Caroline

May 2004 Newsletter

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!

Here it is, mid-April, and Pete and I are once again getting ready to make the move North for the summer. Arizona started getting hot several weeks ago…in the 90’s…but then it cooled down to more comfortable 60-70 degree temperature. It rained quite a bit in the last month too, and the Sonoran Desert is now a panoply of color. Every cacti, shrub and tree is in bloom and the Superstition Mountains create a breathtaking backdrop of greenery to the abundant color here in Gold Canyon. What a beautiful place to be in the springtime!

Our new home here has provided us with new friends, adventure and recreation. It is good to be further away from the city, and the wildlife abounds in Gold Canyon; Javalina, a wide variety of birds and hawks, coyotes, roadrunners, desert cottontails, bobcat, and numerous small reptiles. From our back yard we are witness to their daytime and nocturnal visits.

Next weekend is Easter and the traditional Easter lamb dinner will be held here in Gold Canyon with our family. We are also celebrating Pete’s brothers’ birthday that day, and Pete will be performing in an Easter church service in Sun Lakes too, so it will be a busy but joyous day. I wish each and every one of you a very happy and blessed Easter celebrated with your families and friends.

I will be flying into Redmond on May 4 to reunite with my sons, Michael and Stan before retrieving my truck from storage and driving back to Washington. Pete will be driving back, meeting up with me in Redmond for one night before we continue on to Washington. My position at the retreat has been guaranteed again this year, so I am looking forward to another season – my 4th – of kayak instruction and recreation management.

Birthdays for March were: Rob on March/27 and Ryan on March/29. April Birthdays were Robert on April 22, Jill on April 18 and Emily on April 16. May Birthdays are: Charlotte on May 17, and Linda Jean on May 22. My mother would have been ninety seven years old this May 20th! Birthdays for June: Caitlen on June 15, Cyrus on June 18, and Pete on June 23. Birthdays for July: Bill (Willie) on July 1, Stanley Layton on July 10, Stan Jr and Jennifer will both be celebrating on July 25, Margaret on July 22, and Dick on July 11. May each and every one of you enjoy a healthy and prosperous year!

As a reminder, if any family member has a genealogy or family website they would like me to link, send me the URL and a description of your site. There have been well over 3,000 visitors to this site since its inception in 1998, and the site continues to get favorable comments from genealogists and potential family members all over the world.

Love and Light,

Caroline

November 2003 Newsletter

Happy Thanksgiving to Friends and Family!

After what seemed like a very short time in Washington State, we are back ‘home’ in Arizona.

Pete left the peninsula late in the month of September, however I stayed to work at my seasonal job with Ocean Spray after my seasonal job at the retreat ended on September 15th. That job ended on November 2nd and I left for central Oregon the following day. I had a very enjoyable visit with Stan and Wendy and Mike before flying into Phoenix from Redmond.

Temperatures in Washington were getting down into the 30’s before I left, so it is nice to be in 60-70 degree weather again. The area we live in has winter temperatures that are comparable with SW Washington’s summer temperatures.

BIRTHDAYS for September and October were: Cody on September 2nd, Matthew on September 18th, Michael C on September 25th, Dennis on October 17th, Scott on October 20th, Ed on October 23rd and Lynise on October 29th. Happy belated birthday to all of you!

November and December birthdays are: Michael G on November 7th, Steven on November 15th, Christina on November 29th, William on December 3rd, Fran on December 10th, and Helen on December 27th. May you all continue to be blessed with loving families, good health and happiness!

Although he is no longer with us, December 23rd, two days before Christmas, would have been my father’s birthday.

We will be spending our holidays with Pete’s family, Thanksgiving at our home, and Christmas at Pete’s brother Donald’s home. Hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season with your families too!

TIDBITS OF OTHER NEWS:

· Stan’s health is slowly improving. He found a specialist who has been able to gradually help him recover.

· Mary took a trip to Oregon and Washington this summer, staying with us and Helen and Charlotte as well as with Michael and family. We had a brief but enjoyable visit with Ed and Helen when we rendezvoused in Seaside during Mary’s visit. Mary went on to spend the following week with them and their family.

· Caitlen started college this fall. We wish her much success as she continues her education.

· Margaret and Dick are planning a visit with us for one week in January. We are looking forward to seeing them and also to visiting with Bill and Matilda during their stay too.

· William has become quite the football star! Congratulations William on your success. Way to go!

That’s it for the quarterly newsletter! I will be mailing out a special newsletter for Christmas

Love and Light, Caroline

June 2003 Newsletter

Hello Friends and Family!

Here it is, the end of June and we have already been back in the Pacific Northwest for a month and a half.

Pete and I visited with cousin Bill and his wife Matilda in Laughlin, Nevada on our trip home and had a very enjoyable time with them. They are both well, looking great, and enjoying life in rural Arizona.

Work started for me at the Retreat two days after we arrived, so I have been busier than usual - working about 25 hours a week – twice as much as in Arizona. I am now managing all of the recreation and aquatics programs for the summer camps and enjoy it very much. We took our first group kayaking in the bay today – 10 students and teachers from a private Christian school. We couldn’t have asked for better paddling weather and were blessed with temperatures in the high seventies and lots of sun. I also volunteer to instruct aqua aerobics one day a week at the local swimming pool, instruct yoga one day a week at the activity center, and tend the herb garden at the retreat.

We just returned from three days on Vashon Island where we paddled in Puget Sound in between my NAA course, which certified me as an archery instructor.

Pete’s new construction business has been keeping him busy also, but neither of us is too busy to enjoy our many leisurely pursuits together. The wood and fiberglass kayaks we built over the winter have seen, and will see many more, adventures this summer.

The big news this spring was that Rob, Stan’s half-brother made the news. Oregon State Governor Kulongowski honored him in a special ceremony last month for his design of a State recognized central Oregon Tartan. He had spent the last year or so on the project which culminated in a parade in his honor, a full page article and photos in the Bend Bulletin, state-wide recognition, and an Oregon State resolution crediting Rob for his contribution. There was also a special reception in his honor. I hope to include his photo and more information about the story in the Fall 2003 Newsletter. Congratulations Rob! You made it to the big time!

BIRTHDAYS FOR MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST: Charlotte’s birthday was on May 17, my late mother’s birthday was on May 20, and Linda Jean’s birthday fell on May 23. In June Caitlen celebrated a birthday on the 15th, Cyrus on the 18th, and Pete on the 23rd. July birthdays include Stanley Layton on the 10th, and Stan Jr. on the 25th. Johnathon will be celebrating his birthday on August 3rd. Happy Birthday to all of you! May you all continue to be blessed with loving families, good health and happiness!

TIDBITS OF OTHER NEWS: · Fran is recuperating from surgery. Although we have not spoken with her recently, she was recovering nicely as of last month.

· Mary is tentatively planning a trip to Oregon sometime this year, and we are hoping to have her visit us in Washington during her stay.

· Stan is recovering slowly from his illnesses. It has been a very hard year for him so far but his spirits are up. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.

· Caitlen just graduated from high school and her family had a celebration in her honor. She will soon be off for college – one year early. · Mike is doing fine and seems happy to be living on the 84 acres of rural and scenic property.

· Ryan is now eleven years old and is well ahead of his classmates in school! ‘Way to go! Congratulations Ryan!

· On a visit with Stan and Mike last week, we camped out on the 84 acres on the Crooked River. Our purpose for the visit was to re-roof the rental house, but we were rained out, a very unexpected outcome for central Oregon!

· Dick, Margaret’s husband, is recuperating from surgery. Keep him in your prayers.

· Dawn and family are enjoying their new home. She is now working as a principal at an alternative high school, and loves her work, her garden, and life in a small community near her mother.

That’s it for the quarterly newsletter! I will continue working on the updated website and will notify everyone when it is completed.

Love and Light, Caroline

March 2003 Newsletter

Happy Spring! Happy Easter!

It has been brought to my attention that I have been negligent in my duties. It has been over a year since my last newsletter entry on the Gayk/Seibert website. This was due to several factors: the loss of information on my windows program (Microsoft!) and what I had perceived as a lack of family interest in the website. To rekindle some interest in the site I will enhance it with more information this spring.

Last year we celebrated some happy times, including the birth of a new baby daughter to Ron and Shawn in North Carolina. They named her Charlotte Jewell.And Linda Jean in Idaho became a Grandmother (and Fran a first-time Great-Grandmother!) for the first time with the birth of Nyah to Ryan and Tiffany. Thank you Tiffany for keeping us all up to date with photos of your beautiful addition to the family.

My sister Mary celebrated her 80th birthday with us in Arizona this year. We had a birthday party celebrating three birthdays – Pete’s father’s birthday – he turned 82 on February 2nd, my 60th birthday, and Mary’s – a total of 222 years! Our celebration included traditional homemade German fare – sauerbraten and gravy, potato dumplings, red cabbage and apples, Pete’s German potatoes, and a wonderful Schwartz Walden Kirsch Torte which Pete’s brother Donald, and Yvonne’s son Eric created. Celebrating Mary’s birthday on the following day, Cousin Bill (Willie) and his wife Matilda drove down to dine with us. It had been about 40 years since Mary had seen her first cousin. It was quite a happy occasion. I will try to get photos of us on the website when I update it with this newsletter.

And our family also mourned. In 2002 Steve and Sandra from Southern California tragically lost Brian, their infant son shortly after his birth. Cousin Margaret and Dick lost a family member also, with the passing of Dick’s father last spring. And Cousin Magdalena (Lenchi) in Illinois lost a son also. Mere words cannot express the sadness felt at these losses.

IN THE LIVES OF PETER AND CAROLINE: Last September Pete left Washington State to return to Arizona by himself for symphony rehearsals. I stayed to work for Ocean Spray as their Lead Berry Receiver for the cranberry season. This was a new experience for me, since I had to acquire my forklift operator certification and learn a trade that I was totally unfamiliar with. However, it proved to be a wonderful experience and I will be returning to this same job when my regular summer job at the Retreat ends next fall. Here in Arizona I have also found work as an aquatics instructor in a women’s spa. I only instruct during the hours I chose to, and it is nice to be able to ‘work’ at things I love to do.

Pete is now seasonally working for a local firm grading math examinations and he is also building garden gazebos and playing in the symphony. In our spare time we are building our own kayaks, getting in lots of hiking in the southwest, traveling, and enjoying our leisure time together.

BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH AND APRIL: Birthdays include Rob (Stan’s half-brother) on March 27, and two Ryan’s; Dawn’s son Ryan on March 29, and Linda Jean’s son Ryan on March 4. April birthdays to be celebrated are: Bob‘s birthday on April 22, Jill’s, on April 18, and Emily’s on April 16. Happy birthday to all!

IN OTHER NEWS: Dawn and her family moved from Southern California to Oregon, near Charlotte. Dawn is working as a principal in an elementary school there and Caitlin is attending college. In January I had the opportunity to spend a day hiking at Picacho Peak with my childhood friends Gisela and Julie. Although I see Gisela regularly, I had not seen Julie in about 50 years. In Sea Cliff, her family and ours were the best of friends, introduced to each other by Gisela and I. Together we recalled our childhoods, reminisced about other childhood friends and neighbors, and shared our adventures. Pete and I spent two weeks in Florida earlier this year, canoeing in The Everglades, Biscayne, and the Juniper Springs run in the Ocala National Wilderness. Canoeing by ourselves near Biscayne we saw our first American Crocodile in the wild! We also had the opportunity to visit with Fran and Bob on our way to Key Largo and had a wonderful two days together.

Please check out the website for other new genealogy information and photos. I will attempt to get these newsletters out quarterly for the remainder of this year.

Caroline

Fall 2001 Newsletter
(July, August, September)

Once again, greetings to family and friends!

What a wonderful summer we have had here on the coast of southwest Washington. My cottage makeover is complete with a new gazebo including a pond, waterfall and goldfish, a new deck with skylights and a hot tub, and new cedar siding on the exterior of the house. Inside the gazebo are hanging begonias and various ferns, scented geraniums and sages, ivy, miniature roses, succulents, pond water lilies and iris, and annuals. Wisteria, crocosmia, hops and kiwi are planted around the gazebo along with crocosmia, and multi-colored rhododendrons. Various kinds of hydrangea, plum trees, daffodils, canna and cala lilies, Asian and ornamental lilies, ornamental grasses, sedges, carex, wildflowers, ajuga, iris, pampas grass, forsythia, bridal veil, gladiolas, geraniums, along with various herbs, are planted in different sections of the front gardens and in berms. Corsican mint is growing around the stone steps to the gazebo. Around the back deck Niagara grapes are spreading their tendrils around the railings, and red grapes are beginning to climb around the carport trellis. Camellias, roses, azalea, butterfly bushes, ferns, heather, annuals, and newly propagated rhododendrons thrive in the marine climate and protection of the ocean side of the house. Crocosmia and pampas grasses and newly propagated roses are growing on the south side, and camellias, hybrid tea roses, wisteria, and butterfly bushes are on the north side. It is hard to believe that last March there was not one flower or shrub other than sea grasses growing on this property.

Last month we purchased the lot next door to us and in the spring when we return from Arizona, we will be constructing a greenhouse there. Other than cedar and pine trees and native ferns and shrubs, this area will remain natural and park-like.

I have been working most of the summer at a camp and retreat center in SW Washington as the aquatics manager. After becoming re-certified as a lifeguard and taking kayak classes I worked leading kayak tours on the bay, lifeguarding on the ocean beaches, and taking classes at retreats. There has not been a dull moment. Never having attended a summer camp in my childhood I have been most fortunate to spend the last five months at camp! It has been an unforgettable experience and I am happy to have been asked to return to work in the spring.

Most of my summer has been spent enjoying life and the beauty of this special wild place. A 12-14 mile hike to Leadbetter Point in the Willapa Wildlife Refuge was a highlight of my summer hiking. At the farthermost point of the peninsula Black bear and Roosevelt Elk tracks were etched in the ground of the Reserve and numerous Great Blue Herons, Caspian Terns and Brandt were on the shoreline near the closed Snowy Plover areas. I plan to take a kayak trip from Nahcotta to the north part of the preserve before leaving for Arizona.

Peter’s parents stayed the summer with us in our mild 68 degree temperatures but will be returning to Arizona tomorrow. After avoiding the hot Arizona temperatures for three months we will all soon be in 106 degree weather. Not something to look forward to – and I miss Washington already!

My sister Mary reports that she had a wonderful August vacation visiting with her son Michael and sisters Charlotte and Helen in Oregon, and with me in SW Washington and in Ashland. She arrived safely home this afternoon.

Just a reminder that my genealogy album is complete now and I would be happy to share it with any of you via digital camera and e-mail attachments. My genealogy progress is almost at a standstill now and will soon be put on hold until next spring. The only thing I have to report is a recent contact from a Michael Gayk in Rochester New York. ( the name of my great grandfather on my father’s side) I will be doing some research on information he sent which may lead to another family tie. Genealogy is much like detective work!

Birthdays: June birthdays included Caitlen, Cyrus, and Peter. July birthdays celebrated were: Stanley Layton, who turned 15 years old, and Stan Jr. In August my grandson Johnathon celebrated his 14th birthday. Happy belated birthday to all!

This month my grandson Cody has a birthday as does Mary’s son Michael and her grandson Matthew. In October Tim has a birthday, as does Mariah, Dennis, Ed, my granddaughter Lynise, and Scott, Linda Jean’s son. Happy birthday to all!

If anyone wants to reach me during the next 5-6 months I will be in Scottsdale and can be reached via my genealogy address carolinegayk@hotmail.com or at carolineharding@hotmail.com, which is my permanent traveling e-mail address! Until Christmas or early in 2001, blessings to all of you!

Caroline

Greetings to family and friends!

What a wonderful spring we have had here on the coast of Washington State! The weather has been very cooperative with my gardening and landscaping plans, and my cottage here on the beach has become a place of real enjoyment. I am planning to make a trip to Arizona in June to visit friends, and probably again in the fall/winter to celebrate the holiday season.

I have been taking classes related to the history of the Ottoman and Austria–Hungary Empires and I also manage to work a few hours each week on our genealogy. I now have a family history center a few miles from me, and after mid-term exams, I hope to spend some time at the center researching records.

Sister Charlotte recently made a trip to see her California family and is home once more. She reports that her family is doing well, and that she took her grandchildren to Disneyland while she was there. Sister Helen also made a trip south to see her family around Easter time.

Grandson John spent a few days here in Washington during his Spring Break. I took many digital photos during the visit. We took advantage of the wonderful weather here to do some hiking on the bay and beach, kayaking and biking, then traveled to Lincoln City to visit Grandma Marilyn. We stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory on our way to Lincoln City and had a wonderful weekend there.

My genealogy album is complete now and I would be happy to share it with any of you via digital camera and e-mail attachments.

I have been trying all month to access the new Ellis Island archives without success, but this week I have been able to do some extensive searches. Finally, I have found the manifest for the ship, on which my mother and her siblings, parents, and her betrothed Ignatz Kapp arrived! They sailed from Le Havre France on the La Lorraine and arrived in New York City on January 3, 1921. Listed as relatives were cousins of Mathias’ with the name of “Stein”. From the manifest it also appears that this same person was Ignatz’ Uncle. Another area to research! As for the Gayk branch, the only Gayk’s I have been able to find a record for are Wilhelm, Charlotte’s half-brother, and his wife Dorothea, who arrived in 1914. There is nothing like a little success to make one search harder!

The ship manifest lists everyone on board and the place of origin for each passenger, so it is easy to see all of our relatives who traveled together…the Kapps, Seiberts, Stefans, and Webers.

The Ellis Island website is a difficult site to access, and because of the volume that is processed and the number of people attempting to access the site, it becomes frustrating at times. I hope that I will be able to access information that is more recent as it made available.

Birthdays: May Birthdays include my mother, Helena Seibert, was born on May 20. Born in 1907 she would have been 94 years old this year. She is always with me in my memories. Charlotte’s birthday is on May 17…Happy Birthday Charlotte! Linda Jean is celebrating her birthday on the 22nd of this month. Linda is also recovering from a surgery she had last week. Please keep her in your prayers. Get well soon and happy birthday Linda! In June, Charlotte’s granddaughter Caitlen, and my step-grandchild Cyrus both have birthdays – I wish you both a very happy birthday and many happy returns.

Until later this summer, or until I have more news to report,

Caroline

Spring Greetings to Family and Friends!

I hope you enjoy the new addition to this Newsletter Archive - weather conditions here on the coast of Washington! Just click on it for lots of information on our maritime weather here.

The long winter months are almost over, and spring has arrived on the Washington coast! Busy with remodeling and landscaping, I’ve also started my vegetable and herb gardens in raised cold frame beds outdoors. The maritime weather is teasing me to begin my planting early. It may be a mistake.

Not much family news to report in this newsletter. No recent news from relatives in southern California – what’s happening down there?

Sister Charlotte has been doing some major remodeling of her home and is planning a trip to see her family for Easter. Sister Helen will be making a trip to see her family in April also. Charlotte recently had some family members up for a visit and is expecting her daughter Dawn to spend some time with her after Easter. For those of you who have asked about my son Michael, I have recently heard from him and he is doing fine in Texas. I am planning to have my grandson John here on the coast for spring break next week. It will be a week of beach-walking, kayaking, birding,and hiking.

My genealogy album is complete now and I would be happy to share it with any of you via digital camera and e-mail attachments. Please let me know if you want to view it in this manner. An alternate way would be for me to place photos of the album on the Internet – specifically Snapfish - for all to see. That option would not take up valuable space on personal computers. Technology is wonderful! Just a few years ago I would have had to make copies of all of the photos and make individual albums for everyone.

March birthdays include Stan Sr.’s son Rob. Happy Birthday Rob! Ryan in southern California, and Ryan in Idaho, both have birthdays in March– I wish you both the best! In April, Robert in Florida, and Jill and Emily in California, all have birthdays – I wish you all many happy returns.

Until the next newsletter!

Caroline

Wishing all Friends and Family happy holidays and cheer! With the extra time I have had on my hands since I am no longer working, I have been doing some traveling – mainly to the southwest, Florida again, and Mexico – and had the opportunity to visit a first cousin in Arizona. This newsletter will let everyone know how my search for relatives in the Gayk and Seibert families is progressing, and of my recent contacts with relatives. I have moved from the state of Oregon to Washington State – and will now have more time to devote to the family genealogy research. Please e-mail me if you would like my snail-mail address and phone number.

I received a very nice Christmas card from Corpus Christi with photos of my granddaughter Lynise Joy. At three years old, she is talking a lot, is potty trained, and is now sleeping in a big bed! Mariah sent photos of my grandsons John, Cody and Cyrus from central Oregon. They are all growing like weeds and doing well in school. My sister Mary in southern California is well and recently returned from a trip to Toronto, Canada. She is 78 years old now! From our family in Chicago, I received a nice Christmas photo of “Oma” Magdalena, Lenchi, Steve, Susi and Erich. First cousin Margaret in California sent a beautiful photo of her and her daughter Jennifer. Linda and her boys from Idaho report that they are all doing well. We are in touch frequently. In Oregon, sister Helen and her husband Ed are both still working full time. They just planted 11 new fruit trees on their property in Oregon. From our Florida relatives, Fran, Robert, Jean and Bob, it is reported that everyone there is fine. Sister Charlotte in Oregon is remodeling her home and had her family from California up for the holidays. Also, nephew Michael and his family from southern Oregon visited there during Christmas holidays. That family is also doing well there and William, my Godchild, just turned 6 years old.

While in Arizona during December and January I visited with Mathilda and my first cousin Bill. I had not seen Bill since I was about 10 years old. When my father died in Indiana Pennsylvania it was his father, my Uncle Martin, who came to pick us all up and take us back home to Sea Cliff. Bill was in the service during this time, and we moved to California several years later, so we had not seen each other in many years. His accent in still there – very strong - and he looks like his father. I could also see the Seibert family resemblance to my Mother, sister Mary, sister Charlotte, and brother John. We had a very nice visit with them in their home and had lunch where Mathilda works. We had hoped to get together for a second visit in Sedona Arizona where we were staying for the week, but a snowstorm prevented us from traveling. We plan on keeping in better communication in the future.

If anyone in the family would like me to e-mail photos or address of distant relations, let me know. I will have photos online at Snapfish by the time the Spring 2001 newsletter is out.

Happy birthday to all of you who celebrated a birthday in December: William, Fran, and Helen. And happy birthday to the those who celebrate a birthday in January---Dawn, Mary, and Tammy. Ron has a birthday in February and I wish him a very special day also!

Until the next newsletter!

Caroline

Greetings Friends and Family! This newsletter will serve to bring everyone up to date on what has been going on in my search for relatives in the Gayk and Seibert families. I’m working full time again at a regular job, but took a one-month vacation to visit Florida relations in January and February, so my research has not been as perseverant as previously. I’ll probably work through May of this year, and then be able to have more time to devote to the family genealogy research.

As many of you are aware of, some of our Seibert relatives are living in Illinois. I have photos of my mother’s first cousin and her family there if any family members would like me to scan and send them. I have located second, third and fourth cousins living in the Eastern states and can now trace Seibert family history back to 1837 in Gakova, as far back as the Catholic church has recorded births, deaths, and marriages of Seibert relatives there. My great-grandfather, Grandfather Matthias Seibert’s father, was also named Matthias. He was born in 1837 in Gakova and married Theresia Sehn my great grandmother.

Also, I have strong reason to believe that I have located living relatives of my grandmother Charlotte Gayk in the Eastern United States. There was a family feud between Charlotte Gayk and other Gayk relatives many years ago. Whatever the cause for the fighting and breaking of family ties, the reasons are strong enough in the mind of the now elderly relative, to keep him from talking about it or acknowledging that he is related to Charlotte Gayk. Anyone have any clues as to what happened? I was too young to remember, but I do remember that Charlotte was feuding with other relatives from Germany. I’ve sent for some death records and hope to find a link there. I have family photos of this branch of the Gayk family. If anyone else has unidentifiable family Gayk photos and would like to compare them, I would be happy to scan these and send them via e-mail. Any help is always appreciated!

March, April and May “Gayk” & “Seibert” birthdays: Robert Kapp, Jill Marie Crowley, Emily Bonsall, Charlotte Archer. Magdelene (who is 93 years old this year – same age as my mother would have been) and Linda Conant. Happy birthday to all!

Until the next newsletter!

Caroline

Greetings Friends and Family! This newsletter will serve to bring everyone up to date on what has been happening in my search for relatives in the Gayk and Seibert families.

Also, I have a new physical address, so be sure to give me a call or e-mail me for an update.

Just a reminder - Be sure to note the "Website Navigation" at the top of this page and you may click on the highlighted links throughout this site for more detailed information. I have received many requests for information from people who are researching their family names. I have already done a lot of research and have made a good part of it available on this site, but NOT on the first page.

For instance, there are several pages devoted to the Gayk family history, Seibert family history, the Donauschwaben people, and the Donauschwaben Crest. There is also an archive of the past years newsletters, some of which have a lot of detail about our heritage. So be sure to check out the entire site. I always welcome your comments and questions and please sign the guest book before you leave!

I recently added twelve more relatives to the descendant charts for Seibert; also, two new family names - Erg and Rath. My mother's second cousin sent me a letter several weeks ago saying that my first cousin once-removed (my mother's first cousin) remembers distinctly when, as a child, my mother was severely burned by hot fat in a kettle on their farm in Gakowa. Her memory, although she is 92 years old, is clear. She stood next to my mother when her brother (Uncle Martin) pushed her into the hot fat. She says Martin got a big spanking and was not liked by the family much after the accident!

We are fortunate to have living relatives that remember these events. Looking at photos of the Gayk family, my cousin said that I looked like Helen Seibert did as a little girl in Gakowa. How precious and wonderful to be in touch with this family again!

Please remember our extended family members in your prayers in the upcoming months, as I have been informed that some are experiencing health problems. If any relatives would like the addresses of family members, or other information, please e-mail or write to me and I will get you the information you need, as I can not post it on this site for obvious reasons. It would be especially nice for all of us to remember our extended family during the upcoming holidays. I have photos of some of them and would be happy to share them with you also!

On the Gayk side of the family it looks like there may be a connection between the Gayks of Pennsylvania, California, and Michigan. The California and Michigan families are looking for more information on the Pennsylvania branch of the Gayk family---Charlotte Gayk's brother's family. As yet, although I have sent photographs, we have not made a definite family connection. The living son of William (Wilhelm ?) remembers that there were angry feelings between a "Charlotte" and his father, and that his father, William, came from Essen in Germany where our branch of the Gayk's emigrated from. Even though it seems likely we are related, I will need more data to make a positive connection.

Cousin Margaret has helped me a lot with Seibert family names and addresses of living relatives. Many thanks! You will all be getting a Christmas card from me with this website address on it! Hopefully, during the long upcoming winter months, I will be able to get my database current.

Happy November birthday to Stephanie, my son Michael, Steve and Christina!

Happy December birthday to my Godson William, sister-in-law Francis, and my sister Helen. December 23 of this year would have been my father Dagobert's 92nd birthday.

And, a happy January 2000 birthday to Dawn, my sister Mary, and Tammy!

Bis nachster Monat!

Caroline

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BACK TO PAGE #1

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For More Detailed Family History Information, Click On The Links Below

GAYK FAMILY HISTORY--------------SEIBERT FAMILY HISTORY

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For Danube Swabian Coat Of Arms Information, Click On The Link Below

DANUBE SWABIAN COAT OF ARMS

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To Visit "The Map Page" Click On The Link Below

THE MAP PAGE

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To View Images Of Family Members, Click On The Link Below

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

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Personal/Genealogy Pages

Katherine Flotz Homepage---Personal Experiences In Gakovo...

The Bonsall Family Homepage---Steve And Sandra Bonsall...

Donauschwaben Homepages---Links To Danube Swabian Researchers...

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Send Mail To: carolinegayk@hotmail.com

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