Olga Butt (1913-1999) was my first cousin 3 times removed. Her mother, Margaretha/Marguerite/Margaret, was the sister of my great-great grandmother, Meta Ricklefs Haase. Olga was actually born Olga Cornelius but her father, Oscar Cornelius (who actually comes from a very old Long Island family, like my family on my mother's side of the family) seems to have disappeared pretty early on and I assume Olga was formally or informally adopted by her mother's husband, Sheldon Clayland Butt. Which makes things so much fun when you're trying to do a genealogy search for someone. We've all been there. You know what I'm talking about.
So anyway, this past week I found Olga's wedding announcement, which is fun, since I never even knew her married name, but I don't really know anything about her and finding side branches is fun but not the overwhelmingly exciting kind that is finding someone you're directly descended from. But this announcement actually emphasizes the importance of pursuing those side branches. Why? Because a few of my direct ancestors are actually mentioned in the article - you just never know where people are going to show up!
My great-grandmother, Helen Haase Stutzmann, who I know very little about, was the matron of honor (she and Olga were cousins, and apparently close ones at that). My great-grandfather, Frederick Stutzmann, was the best man - so my great-grandparents were the two most important people there besides the bride and groom themselves (well, & I guess the bride and grooms parents). But my favorite part was reading that Helen and Frederick's 2 daughters, Faith and Helen, were the flower girls. Helen Stutzmann Gorry was my grandmother. She would've been 4 years old as the flower girl. How I would love to see photos of that wedding!!
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