A Berks County Biography: Frieda Researches Her Parents

As you may know, Fannie was an orphan pup found in the flooded areas of Kentucky six years ago.  She was taken in and fostered until she came into our lives at the age of 8 weeks.  She does not remember her mother, and never met her father.  So, she can relate to this story, told by Frieda Fritz Stiehl.

Alfred and Agnes: The Story of My Immigrant Parents was published in 2016 by Masthof Press.  It is now in the catalog of AncestorStuff.com.

www.masthof.com, 

The author, Frieda Fritz Stiehl, grew up on a dairy farm in Berks County, Pennsylvania.  She researched the past history of her parents, Alfred and Ages, and prepared this biography.  She tells the story of her German immigrant parents who experienced political and social events of the 20th century that pressed them to seek a better life outside of Germany.

After Alfred and Agnes passed away, Frieda realized how little she actually knew about her parents.  She had so many questions to ask of them, but they were not there to give her any answers.  We all go through that stage when a family member dies.  We wish we had that one last conversation with them to get the story of their lives, and learn about what happened to shape them into the people that they became.

Frieda Fritz Stiehl, like most of us budding genealogists, started from what she knew to be true.  Then she started her investigation into the lives of her parents.  She uncovered dark secrets and tells the family stories that had been past down to her.  She also discovers that some of the stories were just lore, and half truths.  But what was real were the struggles that her parents had to endure.  They had dreams, and actually achieved some of them.  And, as usual, to get what  they wanted and needed in life, they had to pay the price.  Sacrifice and love, Optimism and hardship, Big dreams and picking up oneself from failure...that what this story is all about.

This book has a list price of $38.00, with 314 pages, color illustrations, hard covered.

Fannie gives this book Three Paws Up, just for the way that it touched her heart and encouraged her in the quest for digging for her roots. Maybe it will inspire you to pick up your family history and dig deeper for the real stories that you never knew.

Fannie Finds Books For Kids

by Anne Schmidt Koenig, 2013

Kids Books From Masthof Publishers

Fannie found some great books....for KIDS!!! These have been published by one of her favorite publishers...Masthof.  Since 1982, Masthof has printed and published thousands of books, and helped many authors self-publish their compositions.  A second-generation publishing business, they feature life stories, local history and memoirs. They also carry a great selection of Children's Books.  Here are some that Fannie found to be quite entertaining, and recommended for your little book lovers:

by Ross I. Morrison, Sr., 2004

Written for school-age children, this history book's focus is on the early settlers of Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, including transportation, industry and institutions.

by Sharon Durksen Schnupp Kuepfner

These are a series of books that focus on the lives of the parents of the author, Sharon Kuepfner.
These books deal with the lives of children growing up in southern Canada and Pennsylvania, their everyday tasks, the world around them, recipes from their mother's kitchen, games they played and their faith when things seemed to become unfamiliar as the world changed around them.  A great set of books for children, for sure.

by Gerry Kershner, 2006

Here's one for your budding artists.  The Lancaster landmarks in this book include bridges, chapels, train stations, town clocks and historical homes.  Each has a description of the image and it's history. Sure to be a hit with the kids. Fannie rates this as Three Paws UP.

Earl Charles Squirrel, by Anne Schmidt Koenig, as shown at the top of this page, is geared to elementary school children.  Earl Charles is a squirrel who is nuts about genealogy. His story centers on the concept of genealogy, and incorporates record-keeping, in addition to diversity and kindness toward others.  It has basic genealogy vocabulary and family record worksheets.

Felicia the Curious Cow, by Josephine DeWitt, also shown above, is written for the much younger crowd.  Felicia is so curious.  She slips outside of her stall at night to see what goes on in the world outside of her boundaries.  She meets up with various other farm animals and characters, who are just as curious as she is.  A really cute book for toddlers.

These are just a few of the books in the Kids category listings at AncestorStuff.com.  Fannie is so excited for you to browse the on-line database of her bookstore.  Won't you browse it with your little readers, and perhaps you will find some great books to read together.  Reading is one of the best activities you can do with your children.  Fannie will give you an A+ for Parenting.