Snell-Zimmerman-Timmerman
Fall Newsletter 2011
November
8, 2011
By Sarah
Timmerman Israel
& Nancy Timmerman Cioch
Dear
Kindred Folks:
Fall is a
beautiful time of the year. The colors of the trees create a great scenic view
of the Mohawk Valley, but alas the first frost comes
and the leaves fall from the trees. It tells us that winter is on the way.
Summer seems shorter each year as the years go by in the valley, because
everyone tries to fit all the activities going on into a short two months -
historical events, anniversaries, reunions, and re-enactor events. It doesn’t
leave much time for outdoor activities of fairs, antique shows and traveling
the Adirondack Lakes
and Mohawk and Hudson River
Valleys.
The
Snell-Zimmerman-Timmerman family tries to fit everything in especially our
family reunion. Each year we usually average over 100 members that come from
far and wide representing many States and Canada. The first weekend in August
is the time we hold our reunion every year. The Klock
Reunion is held every other year at the same time. They suggested that we try to combine the two
reunions so that there are more events for people traveling from afar for the
gathering. For 2012 this would be starting Friday with a chili supper cooked
over an open fire at Fort
Klock.
Saturday’s breakfast menu would be eggs, waffles & pancakes at Ft. Klock for those camping on
those grounds. Then we could go as a group to tour General Herkimer’s Home
during the day followed with a catered dinner at Fort
Klock and
ending with the ice cream social at Snells Bush
Church Saturday night.
Sunday morning would be the Snells Bush
Church Service &
Reunion & catered luncheon. Lots of genealogy information will be available
for research all weekend. August 6 will be the 235th Anniversary of the Battle
of Oriskany and the annual commemoration service will
be held at the Battlefield.
General
Herkimer Home is a beautiful place and we are struggling to have the state keep
it open to visitors. This coming year
the Friends of Herkimer Home will be in charge of the activities and the park
will be a “satellite” of Gimmerglass
State Park in Cooperstown.
They will oversee the grounds and buildings as they did in 2011. Full time
staff on site will be the responsibility of the Friends of Herkimer Home, a
volunteer group. Funds will need to be raised to keep it open to the public and
make sure the collections are secure. Many artifacts from our ancestors are
stored there.
2012 is the
bicentennial of the War of 1812.—the war that everyone forgets. The War of 1812
was a conflict with the British government trying to take back our
independence. The English took sailors
off of US ships, tried to take back the land along the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes in the north while other things happened in
other parts of the country. SZT family ancestors were forced to defend the New York State border as all men were required to
be in the militia. Most of our ancestors were in the militia and they marched
to Sacketts Harbor to defend America. It was a terrible march from the valley to Sackets Harbor in the cold muddy wet snowy fall,
winter, and spring. The war in the winter only stopped when the lakes froze
over. Most of the militia only served a short time usually 1 to 3 months but it
was a terrible time. When they got to Lake
Ontario, Lake Erie and the St Lawrence River they had to fight the British who were
mostly on ships. The British would sail into an area and come ashore attack and
leave. Our men slept in trees to get out of the muddy swampy areas and when
they came back from their tour of militia time most of the soldiers had medical
issues that lasted throughout their lives.
We need to honor our ancestors who fought in this conflict with the
English. Try to mention this war in your communities where you live to remind
everyone that freedom is not something easily won but it has to be won over and
over again, just as it is today.
Our family
cemeteries have many soldiers that fought in the War of 1812 as well as the
Revolutionary War. Many soldiers that fought in the Revolution also fought in
War of 1812. We have been getting new markers for these soldiers as the old
grave stones were unreadable and it is important to make sure when visitors
come to our cemeteries that they know that these soldiers fought in the wars to
defend our country. Each year we re-dedicate two markers for our soldiers in Snells Bush cemeteries. SZT board is looking into having a
fence built around the lower cemetery in 2012. This has been on the agenda and
needs to be completed.
Snells Bush
Church looks good but the unique windows
need work - many do not open, all need new glazing. This would be a very expensive project. There
may be an opportunity for a grant. We need someone who knows how to write for a
grant. Some additional painting is needed on the interior and we would like
volunteers to help with this project. The mowing was the biggest expenditure
this past year. We did not have any weddings but with more weddings comes more
wear on our old building.
Snells Bush
Church was part of a Herkimer County
Historical Society project, “Climbing Your Family Tree”. This was taped by Herkimer Community College
staff and gave Steve McMurray, News Director for Channel 2, WKTV, Utica, NY
his connection to SZT! He is a George Timmerman descendant and he never knew
about that connection.
Nancy &
I are always working on genealogy and family history. If you have updates on your immediate family
please send them to us so we can keep our records up to date. We forward all
genealogy updates to Ray Kuehne who updates the
website with the assistance of Pat Babcock. www.szt-genealogy.org. SZT has genealogy books on the family that can
be bought for a small fee. They make
excellent gifts and they contain many interesting family stories that can not
be gotten on the computer web sites. The books may not be up to date but they
give early information not found anywhere else. You can always contact us at
SZT Reunion Inc P O Box 623 Little Falls NY 13365 or e- mail Sarah Timmerman Israel at sarahtisrael@yahoo.com or Nancy
Timmerman Cioch at ncioch@yahoo.com.
We like to hear from you.
A special
“thank you” goes to all who have helped in any way this past year.
Best wishes
for the Holidays! (SZT has Christmas cards –photos of Snells Bush Church
$1 each).
Sincerely
Sarah
Timmerman Israel
& Nancy Timmerman Cioch