Marilyn Janette (Everart) Kowalski
EMAILS FROM A FRIEND
OF THE GREEN FAMILY

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Editor Don Smith’s Note: I discovered a Green relative on an internet forum in April, 2004. Her name was Mary Foster Ludvigsen. She was interested in finding more out about the Self family. Francis Edward “Dusty” Green’s mother was Fannie Marie Bray (Green). Fannie was sister of John Wesley Bray and John Wesley Bray was the great grandfather of Mary Foster Ludvigsen. That’s how we are related and how we are fairly distant cousins. Mary had been sharing emails with another relative who was interested in the Green family. Her name is Marilyn Janette (Everhart) Kowalski. Her husband, Jerome “Jerry” Carl Kowalski, is the grandson of Willard Davis “Willie/Will” Green, brother of Francis Edward “Dusty” Green and Francis Green was the father of Elsie Elnora Green Self. We have been emailing genealogy information back and forth. Below are several of  Marilyn’s emails which have a mountain of genealogy information about the Green family. The only changes I’ve made to the emails is added information for clarity. For example, I spell out “Missouri” instead of Marilyn’s “MO”. Changes are in  italics.

 


Marilyn’s Email of April 2, 2004:

Hi, Don

     Elsie Self's father Francis Green was my husband’s great Uncle. Elsie was a cousin to my mother in law. I have a copy of the letter that Elsie wrote to a relative in 1949,  if I recall the date correctly. Cousin Mary forwarded your e-mails to her to us. In her letter, Elsie mentions her husband being a contractor. I wonder why he never finished his schooling to be a Doctor? Do you have any pictures of this family of Selfs?  We don’t. What I also find interesting is Elsie's name, Elsie Elnora. My husband’s Grandfather was Willard Davis Green, brother to Francis. Willard named 2 of his daughters Elsie and Elnora. Where Francis had Elsie Elnora. Why did they both choose the same name for daughters? Reckon we will never know?

      I’m glad for the information about Elsie and her family. I am interested in just that line of the Self family. I appreciate your e-mail to Mary and her being able to forward it on to us. I will share the info with my husband’s Aunt (Aunt Minnie Lucille Green, daughter of Willard Davis Green)). Elsie was her cousin. She recalls writing to her, but doesn’t recall ever meeting her. We live in Wisconsin, so that is a ways from Louisiana. That’s probably the reason they never met. Aunt Minnie is the last of her generation of the Green family.

     Would you be interested in a copy of Elsie's letter to Uncle Frank? I just have the one letter, but she does give info on her family.

     Thanks again for sharing. (Editor’s Note: I sent Marilyn the Self Family Genealogy CD)

     Take care.

Marilyn Kowalski

 

Marilyn’s Email of April 4, 2004:

Hi, Don

     Thanks for the info you sent for Elsie Green Self.    I will try to get a copy of Elsie's letter mailed to you on Tuesday.  We have been busy here and time seems to fly by. Jerry and I have 3 children and 6 grandkids. We had a family party today for 1 granddaughter and our 2 sons.  Things should slow down now for a little while!  I am tickled to get the info for Elsie and will gladly share my info on the Greens.

     Jerry and I were married in November of 1961. We have 2 sons and 1 daughter.1 son is married, 1 is single and our daughter is married and has 4 children.  Our younger son and daughter in law have twin girls who were 2 in November, 2004. I was born in Hannibal, Missouri on July 18, 1943. Jerry was born here in Wisconsin on Sept 4th, 1935. We lived in Kansas City, Missouri ‘till 1980 when we moved here to Wisconsin. Almost all of my side of the family is in Missouri. Jerry’s dad and brother and sisters all live in different states. Jerry is retired and I am looking forward to retiring in about 2 years. Hope all goes ok! I work in the deli at a grocery store. Sounds "quiet" but there is always something going on it seems. I had this week end off - pure luck on my part - as we had an order for 700 pieces of fried chicken!

     Jerry’s sister’s (His sister Mabel Ann Kowalski) oldest son-in-law, Dean Edwards, is a math teacher. Dean and his wife Gwen have been living near Kenya, Africa for about 12 years. They are moving back to USA in June. They are Seventh Day Adventist and have been teaching at the Acadamy there near Kenya.  He will be at a academy in Arkansas, near Mabel and Bryan, Gwen’s parents. Both Dean and Gwen have had serious health problems the last year and so they are returning to the USA and hopefully find better health. Gwen will be 41 later this month and Dean is 45 I think. They have lots of things to tell us about living in Africa. Their daughter is having a hard time adjusting to the move back to the USA.  She was 1 when they moved there, so Africa has been her home of course. 

     I will have to look for the original. I'm "bad" at looking at a picture and not always putting it back where I had it. I am fairly sure I have a picture of Francis Green. I will send a copy when I find it!  I also have one of his mother Fanny.

     Well, I’d better send this on and make myself a list of things to do after work tomorrow. Copy the letter and look for the picture of FrancesMy husband Jerry has a cousin named Francis.

            Take care

Marilyn Kowalski

 

Marilyn’s Email of April 6, 2004:

Hi, Don

     Sorry I've been longer than I planned to, in looking for and finding this picture of Francis Green. I'm going in town in a few minutes and make a copy to mail to you by regular mail. The Kmart store in town has a photo copy machine that makes good reprints on photo paper. I am in hopes you can make copies from it. I'll e-mail you a copy of the back of this photo too. My husband’s Aunt gave the photo to me. I've shared it with the family. I'm thankful to have it to share with others. I'll also e-mail a copy his mother photo, and I’ll send it by regular mail also.

     My husband has 3 sisters; and I think one looks a bit like the grandma, Fanny Green. Mary (Mary Ludvigsen), who lives in Seattle, is kin to this Fanny, through Fanny’s brother .

     Take care

Marilyn and Jerry K.

 

Marilyn’s Email of April 8, 2004:

Hi, Don

       Fanny was Francis' mother. Sorry I never got that said. Glad you got the pictures OK. I copied the 2 in town. I'll try to get the copies of the pictures in the mail tomorrow. I have copies from a snap shot of Jerry’s grandpa and another brother, Willard Davis Green and John Maxwell “Jack” Green. Willard was my husband’s grandfather. I'll share what info I have on the Greens. It just may take me awhile to get it copied. I don't have it on the computer. Maybe one of these days I will manage to do that! I enjoy tracing our "lines" and tend to "jump" from "tree" to "tree".

       One of Jerry’s nieces is getting married (2nd marriage) in June in Arkansas , and I have started an album for her of pictures of the family, of the Green and Kowalski families. I still work full time too and of course enjoy all 6 grandkids; our own "kids" too of course.

       I'll send this on and get busy here. We just got home from baby setting the twins. Our daughter in law had to leave for work before our son got home from work, so we baby sat about an hour and a half.  The girls play well together and are easy to watch.

       Take care

Marilyn, Jerry

 

Marilyn’s Email of April 9, 2004:

Good Morning Don

     I have some info written down on paper, but this is from memory. I'll mail it this a.m. anyway, and then do another listing when I have my info handy. I am enclosing a snap shot of Jerry’s grandfather, Willard Davis Green and another brother of his, John Maxwell Green.  John was called "Jack" and was visiting Will. They hadn't seen each other in years. I forget if Aunt Minnie said 30 or 40! A very long time though. This makes one other brother, George Green, to someday find about his relatives and maybe a picture of him too. George died in an explosion of a boiler while he worked at a prison in Georgia, time and place unknown.

     Aunt Minnie is Jerry’s mom’s sister, last of that line of the Greens. Willard was her father. Davis and Maxwell are also family names. Willard’s grandfather was Maxwell Bray and  Maxwell's father in law was Dave Davis. It will take me awhile, but I will share this info I have with you. I don’t have it on computer, so have to copy what I have.

     Right now, I need to finish getting ready for work.

     Take care

Marilyn, Jerry

 

Marilyn’s Email of April 13, 2004:

Hi, Don

     We received the CD and it works fine. I am surprised at all you have on it! I haven't begun to look at it all, but have seen quite a bit. I was tickled to see the info on Francis Green. I didn’t have his birth date or death date or that he was called ‘Dusty”. Do you know who the other 2 wives were?

          I thought I had a copy of Elsie’s letter in my book for the Greens, but I have taken it out and will have to look for it or a copy of it! I will mail it as soon as I find it.

     Willard Davis Green was born May 31, 1860 Erie county, Pennsylvania. He died January 16, 1946 in Taylor County, Wisconsin. Another brother was George Green. I have his birth year as 1863 - no death date- except Macon, Georgia. He was killed in an explosion from a  steam engine (Motor) in a prison there. This is what I have heard. So far I have no proof on this. John Maxwell Green was another brother.  I have the birth as 1870 and death 1949 for him. I have a bit more info on him. I'll try to get it copied soon too. I know he lived in Michigan. There was a sister, Nettie, who was born in 1873 and died at age 10, so 1883. I know the "boys" were born at Erie County, Pennsylvania, and know that the family got land in Wisconsin and then later homesteads. Again, no dates handy but it’s in the land office records. Robert Green and Fanny Green and Maxwell Bray and Dolly Bray lived in Trempealeau County, Wisonsin. Also then Robert died, but I have no date. Maxwell died too. The next records I find is marriage for Fanny to Horace Rockwell in Howell County, Missouri in 1899. Dolly is alone there in the 1900 Howell County, Missouri Census. Then in about 1903, Willard and Ollie moved to Wisconsin. So it’s places to look for more info. Ollie was born in Howell County, Missouri in 1880.

     I will have to look up ALL my info and send it correctly to you, plus I have copied pictures from Mary of Maxwell Bray and his father in law, Dave Davis.

     Well, time to send this on and write to my cousin too. She's probably wondering why she hasn’t heard from me in weeks! Thanks again for the CD of family info! Bet it took you awhile to make it!

     Are you married? Any kids? We have the 3 children, and 6 grandkids, 4 girls and 2 boys. Three of the 4 girls were born premature. Maranda is Diana's

oldest. (Note: Diana is Marilyn’s daughter, Diana Marie (Kowalski) Sigmund) and was born December 10, 1992. She was due March 21,  1993. She weighed 1 lb and  8 oz and 13 inches long. She's smaller than her sister Korissa, who was born April 6, 1994. I forget what the twins weighted. They were about 7 weeks early. All the kids are fine and dandy.  We have lots to be thankful for.

     Take care

Marilyn, Jerry

 

Marilyn’s Email of April 14, 2004:

     Hi, yes, the twins are Kaitlin Nicole Kowalski and Alexis Breanna Kowalski. They were born on Nov 12, 1991 (Note: She means 2001). The other grandkids are Maranda Rae Sigmund,  born December 10, 1992, Korissa Lynn Sigmund, born April 6, 1994, Johnathon Walter Sigmund, born February 29, 1996,  Curtis Leon Sigmund II, born December 22, 1997. Our own 3 children are John William Kowalski, born April 1, 1963, Jerome Carl Kowalski Jr, born March 28, 1967 and Diana Marie Kowalski (Sigmund), born May 18, 1974. Diana married Curtis Leon Sigmund Jr., March 26, 1992. Jerome Jr (Romie) married Heidi April Pernsteiner April 13, 1996 (I'll actually have to look to be sure 1996 is correct!). John isn’t married - never has been. Jerry and I were married November 11, 1961 in Miami, Oklahoma. We met the first of September and eloped in November. Jerry is Jerome Carl Kowalski, born Sept 4, 1935. I'm  Marilyn Janette Kowalski (Everhart ) born July 18, 1945 at Hannibal, Missouri. Jerry was born here in Taylor County, Wisconsin. Curt's (Diana’s Marie (Kowalski) Sigmund’s husband, Curtis Leon Sigmund, Jr.) birthday is August 10, 1970.  Heidi's (Jerome Carl Kowalski, Jr.’s wife, Heidi April Pernsteiner) is April 28, 1974.  

     My mother’s mother (grandmother) was named Etta Myrtle Howard. She married John Calvin Libbee. My mom was Mary Etta Libbee. I always wished that my middle name was Janetta! Ha. Oh well!

     I recall when I found Mary's (Mary Ludvigsin) query on the Greens’ forum at Howell County, Missouri.  It was late night and Jerry had gone upstairs to bed. I got excited and called for him to "come here!"  Rather loudly of course! : )  He thought something was wrong  I had looked for info on the Brays, Greens, etc and this was my help I needed. WOW! Plus I knew things she never had found out.  So, we have helped each other over time. It’s fun!

     My dad’s side of the family have lived in the same area of Missouri for years. The neighbor down the road, and dad said that they were kin, but they had no clue how. I finally found it, but Dad had already passed away. Their great grandmothers were sisters. No wonder they never knew how they were related!

     I will look again for Elsie's letter. I know its here! Just not sure where at the moment !

     Good Night !

Marilyn, Jerry K.

 

Marilyn’s Email of September 7, 2004:

Hi, Don

     Guess what! I finally found a copy of Elsie Self's letter to Uncle Frank Green. It’s a copy; still haven't discovered where I "tucked" the original letter! I will copy the copy tomorrow and mail it then. It’s an interesting letter to read again.

     Hope things are good with you. We are OK here. Jerry’s father, John Frank Kowalski,  passed away the 12th of July. He would have been 95 the 6th of August. We are expecting another grandchild in November. Our son (Jerome Carl Kowalski, Jr.) and his wife are expecting their 3rd. They have the twin girls who will be 3 the 12th of November. This baby is due the 21st of November.

     My husband’s mother was Martha Green Kowalski, cousin to Elsie and sister of Frank Green (Francis Willard “Frank” Green). Martha died in 1961 of heart problems.

     Well, I will send this on and copy the letter tomorrow. I will try our scanner first. If that doesn’t work, I'll take the letter to town and copy it for you. It’s 3 pages long, written on a regular size writing tablet, not the computer size paper we seem to be using nowadays.

     Take care

Marilyn Kowalski

 

Marilyn’s Email #1 of October 2, 2004:

(Editor’s Note: The following three emails were in response to an email I sent Marilyn as to the identity of “Cousin Frank” to whom Grandma Elsie Elnora Green Self wrote a three page letter. I correctly guessed that it was Francis Willard Green, an uncle of her husband.

 

Hi, I wonder if I have confused you more than I have helped?

        Willard Davis Green, John Maxwell Green, Francis Green, and George Green were all brothers. Willard Married Ollie Mae Yours. We are really unsure of the correct spelling of her last name. She was born in Sept of 1880. Her mother died when she was small and her father left her with a neighbor and took off for who knows where. Or perhaps he intended to return and never did. She was raised in Howell County, Missouri. Aunt Minnie says the family who raised her was McGoldsmith. The census lists a Mach Goldsmith. Ollie learned when she was a bit older that she had a sister. The sister was raised by other neighbors. Ollie was 17 when she married Willard. So, she had to get permission to marry. A man took out guardianship papers on her and gave her permission to marry. All those papers have the same date. The guardianship papers have a notation that she had not seen her father since she was 5 years old, and that was in 1885. Her last name is listed as Ures. Her sister got married in Howell County, Missouri  also. Her last name is listed as Eurs. Jerry’s Aunt Minnie says the name was spelled “Yours”. So it’s some “sur” name that sounds like “yours”. I have looked and looked but found nothing. Oh, Ollie’s father is listed as “Gus”. No name for the mother. And I forget just who's death certificate I looked at. I have different places for where she was born. I believe one certificate even had Arkansas. One was Springfield, Missouri.  (Ollies, Franks, Martha's Obs I think ) Matilda Emmaline was the sister who married John Oliver who had a son not much older than Matilda, according to Aunt Minnie. Her marriage license gives her name as Lena. It’s been a search that so far hasn't gotten me anywhere on this line!

                 Back to Willard and Ollie. They had 7 children:

                 Althea Emmaline   (Aldie)

                 Elnora Alice      (Norie)

                 Elsie Mae          (Elsie)

                 Francie Willard  (Frank)

                 Martha Ann         (Martha)

                 Leslie Howard    (Leslie   or Les )

                 Minnie Lucile   (Minnie)            

 

     Aunt Aldie had 14 children, but 7 died young, 4 from scarlet fever I believe.  Her husband was Edward Kautzer. 

     Aunt Elsie was married twice. 1st was to William Strebe. He was killed; he was up in a tree, hunting and someone shot him. Claimed they thought he was a bear. They had 1 daughter. Aunt Elsie married Albert Rogers next. I'd have to look to see how many kids they had. There was Nina, Lucy, Carla, seems like 2 other daughters, and 2 or 3 sons. There was George and Jimmy. Never realized I couldn’t name them all! ha!  

     Aunt Norie married Elmer Kautzer, brother to Edward Kautzer. They had 5 kids: Marie, Josephine, Sue, Ken and Keith.Wrong order of birth but right names! 

     Frank married Joyce Rogers; they had: Anna Mae, Frances, Terry, Kathy, Sally. Frances is a girl. 

     Martha married John Frank Kowalski they had  6 kids; they lost 1 as a baby. There was: Jerome Carl, Esther Ellen, Leslie Arthur,

Arvilla Ann (deceased), Mabel Ann and Caroline Florance. 

     Leslie married Eva Appel, again, not sure of kids - sorta lost track of them. There was one girl, Martha. and one 1 boy, Steve,  died a few years ago. There is a Sammy and a Howie seems like there is one more boy, yes Willie.

     Mxxxxx married Henry Arthur Becker and they had 2 children, Robert David (“Bob/Bobby’) and Judy Lee. Bob lives in Australia since 1968-69. He’s married and has 3 children. His wife is also named Judy. 

     George Green is said to have worked in a prison in Georgia and died there. A steam driven engine blew up and killed him in the blast. I have no more info on that. Jerry’s sister Mabel has what the family calls a Mother’s box, a wooden box lined in velvet. It was something that George had a prisoner make. George gave it to his mother. My mind goes blank as to her name! (Note: Fanny Marie Bray) Anyway, Jerry’s grandma Ollie (Ollie Mae Ures Green) got the box next, and then Jerry’s mom, Martha (Martha Ann Green), got it and then Mabel (Mabel Ann Kowalski) got it. I should have Mabel’s son in law take a couple pictures of it for me to have.

          I will try to write soon and give you dates, etc and also more info on the older ancestors.  

Night, Marilyn 

 

Marilyn’s Email #2 of October 2, 2004:

 Hi, I thought this was the easiest way to see that you shared e-mail addresses.

     Zoe, Don Smith is a relative on Francis Greens line of the Green Family. As you are on John Maxwell’s line. John and Francis were brothers to my husband’s grandfather, Willard Davis Green. Willard was also known as W.D. Green in "write ups" in the local paper here. 

     I thought you may enjoy sharing info, and I would enjoy being in the threesome too!  

     Zoe, I haven;t written to Mary in ages, so haven’t gotten to tell her, or you, that Jerry’s father, John Frank Kowalski died July 12 of this year. His first wife, was Martha Green, daughter to Willard. Martha was my husband’s mother.

     We also are expecting another Grandchild in November. I am in hopes of a boy. But mostly I hope that all goes OK! My reason  for a grandson is to carry on the Kowalski name. My father in law was an only son. My husband has 1 brother who never married or had any children. We have 2 sons, only one married, and father of twin girls. Our single son doesn’t have any children, so if this baby is a boy, the Kowalski name goes on. Other wise, our branch is drying up! To carry on the name I mean.

     Supper time. I'll send this on and it would be good to hear from you both. It was Good to hear from you today, Don.

Marilyn Kowalski

 

Marilyn’s Email #3 of October 2, 2004:

Good Evening , Don

     I can see where you are confused! Yes, Cousin Frank was a brother to my husband’s mother, Martha. He was Frances Willard Green.  I'll have to look up his birth/death dates. He was named for Willard Davis Green and Willard’s brother Francis. I can never seem to remember which “Francis” spelling is correct for males/females! Francis Willard Green also has a daughter Frances Green!Francis Willard was always called “Frank”. I have never heard of  "Your" Francis being called “Dusty” by the relatives here. It’s good to know to add that name to his info I have on him. Thanks. There was also a brother of Francis Willard Green who was Leslie Green. Jerry has a brother Leslie but he is Kowalski. My husband Jerry’s sister has a son Leslie; he's a Txxxxx. Names seem to repeat! Willard Davis Green is Davis after a Great Grandfather. I'd have to get my papers and look at the ancestors. Also there was a brother to Willard Green, Francis Green and George Green who was John Maxwell Green. Maxwell is after a Grandfather. John Maxwell was also called “Jack”. The Maxwell was after Maxwell Bray, father of Fannie Marie Bray (Green).

          I'll try to get you a tree written out this week end! I can’t think right now of who goes with who! But my husband’s Uncle is the "Cousin Frank" in the letter. Uncle Frank was born in 1905 I think, and died in 1950 or so. He was allergic to bee stings, and got stung in the woods and passed out. The tree cutting crew threw cold water on him to bring him to, not knowing about the bee allergy. Anyway, between it all, he died. Probably more from the bee sting than the water. Several in the family are allergic to bee stings.

        It’s good to hear from you. I also have an e-mail address from a descendent of John Maxwell. I'll look it up and sent it to you. I haven’t written to her in ages and never e-mailed her much even. So, I’m not sure if the address is correct or not. I don’t have any

connection to George Green family. I tried to see what I could tie together from your Elsie's letter, as she gives some info for them, but had no luck finding anyone.

          Take care

Marilyn K.

 

 

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