Illness - My Covid-19 Story

I decided to write a short blog about my Covid-19 illness for my future generations to find and learn what I went through. I am going to give just the facts, and it isn't an endorsement of vaccines and wearing masks or an opposition of vaccines and wearing masks or the effectiveness of either choice. 

I got my first symptoms of Covid-19 around May 26th. Up to this point I was fully vaccinated and received my second booster about a month prior in late April. 

My husband and I had a planned a trip to Alaska, by dream trip because this was the last state for me to visit, having been to 49 other states prior to this trip. 

Even though I brought masks, we didn't wear them. We had pretty much kept our social activities to a minimal but we were starting to enjoy going occasionally out to eat. Keeping our distance from other people while shopping, avoid crowded events and such.

Anyway, 24 hours before our flight left for Alaska, my hubby and I took a home Covid test and it came back negative.

Our trip was great. We took a few small tours that meant we were around about ten other people. We still kept our distance from others, watched what we touched, and washed our hands often. It wasn't until the last leg of our journey that things got complicated. We were suppose to take a train ride from Denali National Park to Fairbanks, but a landslide prevented the train from going. We ended up taking a bus and it was jam packed. The two hour drive took 4 hours because the bus broke down. I don't remember hearing anyone coughing on the bus. We all appeared healthy.

Once in Fairbanks we took a spur of the moment river boat tour, and even though it was a large crowd, we were able to keep our distance from others. Plus the stop was at an outdoor tour and again, we could keep our distance.

Our flight was a late night flight and I remember eating at the airport and feeling good. It wasn't crowded where we ate. However, we had a 6+ hour flight home and let me tell you, there were many people coughing on the flight. That was an overnight flight on May 24th, that landed early May 25th. Travel days are always hard on me, and I remember starting to get a Migraine headache, which isn't unusual for me.  I took some over the counter medicine and it appear to be working, at first. By May 27th, my headache got worst and the medicine wasn't working. It was my hubby's birthday and we went out to eat.

I enjoyed the cold items from the salad bar but my fish tasted bland. I didn't think anything of it, because it is not unusual for me to not enjoy food while experiencing a migraine headache. It also is not unusual for my headaches to last days. 

The next day, my throat was getting dry and cough drops were not working. So I decided to take a home Covid test and it came back negative. I started taking Dayquil at night, Nyquil is too strong for me. 

I wasn't feeling any better and by Monday the 30th, my entire head was congested. My jaw bones were sore and I decided to take another home Covid test. It almost immediately came back positive. I took a full dose of DayQuil and slept on and off most of the day. For lunch I had chicken noodle soup and for super I made myself some eggs, sausage and toast. I didn't notice any lost of taste. However, my husband purchased some saltine crackers and on Tuesday when I ate them with my soup, they tasted supper salty. I ate some after having Covid and they were not that salty. So perhaps my sense of taste did get affected by Covid.

I took a Covid Test on Wednesday and it came back positive. It was about here that I felt like it was the turning point for me. My head didn't hurt as bad, the head congestion was clearing and I was able to stay awake more often. On Friday the test was still positive. It wasn't until Sunday that my fist test came back negative. I took another test on Tuesday and it came back negative. My husband never got Covid. We did sleep in separate beds once I tested positive until my first negative test. I also limited where I went. I washed my bedding on Wednesday and again on Sunday. 

My major symptoms were a dry, scratchy throat, a massive headache that never really went away, my head was heavy and it hurt to sit straight up, severe congestion. I had a little cough and felt a little in my lungs and if I talked alot, I became short of breath which caused me to cough while talking. My voice was a little horse, probably because my throat was so sore. Cold items felt good. Plus I lacked energy. Sleeping was easy, staying awake took energy. 

I think I got Covid either from the bus ride or the plane ride. I am grateful I didn't get severe symptoms. It took several weeks after the negative test before I started feeling normal. I forced myself to do a little more each day. I don't know if I am a 100 percent back to normal because I do seem to get extremely exhausted in the late afternoon and I just have to a nap. I can't keep my eyes open. 

So this is my experience and I know everyone who gets Covid symptoms will have their own experience.  So I suggest to my fellow genealogist. document your symptoms so that future generations can understand what you went through.

Week 29: Fun Fact (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

This week's theme is "Fun Fact." Not everything in family history has to be serious. This week, think of something fun you've found during your research. Click here to check out all the themes for 2022

When I hear the phrase, Fun Fact, my mind goes to the TV Show “The Big Bang Theory” because the character Sheldon was always saying “Fun Fact” and then gave useless facts to his friends. This is similar to when as the family historian/genealogist we share facts with our family.

So here goes, “FUN FACT”, when my mom was pregnant with me, I was supposedly due around July 22nd. When August 1st rolled around, my grandfather, her father-in-law asked my mother what was she waiting for, his birthday? My mother said, sure when is it, and he told her August 21st. My mom agreed to have me August 21st. However, my grandfather then said his birthday was actually August 23rd. My mom agreed to have me on August 23rd. My grandfather kept changing his birthday and finally my mother said, I will have this baby on August 22nd. YEP, my birthday is August 22nd.

I did find out, later, that my grandfather did celebrate his birthday on both days and didn't really tell anyone which was correct. I wondered why this was. I don’t have a birth record for my grandfather, however on his World War I draft registration card, he listed his birthday as August 23rd, 1899. His mother’s birthday is August 21st and I wonder if he was really born on her birthday and perhaps, they didn’t want to share the day. 

In the 1900 US Federal Census for Calamus, Dodge County, Wisconsin, I find my great grandfather, David married to my great grandmother Amelia and only one child is listed, their son Frederick age 4. However, it states that Amelia had two children and only one is living. So, if my grandfather was really born in 1899, shouldn’t he be listed in the 1900 Census? 

By the 1910 US Federal Census for Beaver Dam Ward 5, Dodge County, Wisconsin, David and Amelia have five children living with them and she is listed as having seven children and only five are living. Fred is 14, Elise is 11, Lawrence (my grandfather) is 9, Ruby is 8 and Marie is 6. I found a birth record for Elise showing she was born Oct 15, 1898 in Columbia County, Wisconsin. However, the birth record I found is only a transcription and I don’t actually see the record, thus I am unsure when the actual record was issued. This could be a late registration. Otherwise, shouldn’t Elise be listed with her parents? Even if Elise was born in 1899, she should be on the 1900 census.

Many in my family believe that my grandfather was born in 1900. And thus being 9 in 1910 would make sense since his birthday is in August and the census date was earlier in the year. Thus, he didn’t turn ten yet. His social security death record lists his birthday as Aug 23, 1900 however, his Find A Grave record listed it as Aug 21, 1900. Even though, the gravestone doesn't have the complete date, I am unsure where they came up with this date. 

Now to another “FUN FACT” my grandfather has three grandchildren all born on September 7th, different years. Each of his three children, have a child born on September 7th. First my aunt, her oldest is born on September 7th. Then my father, had a child born on the 7th and the very next year, his brother had a child born on the 7th. I am sure this happens in other families too. 

So, I decided to see how many people share my birthdate of August 22 and I found 38 in my database of 18000+ people.

Next, I decided to see how many people share my sister’s birthdate of September 7 and I found 39 in my database.

What “Fun Fact” have you found in your research. 

Remember to have fun and to Just do Genealogy! 

Week 28: Characters (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

The theme for Week 28 is "Characters." Every family has a person who might be described as a "character." But that's not the only way you might interpret this theme. What about someone named for a famous character, working through a language that uses characters other than what you're used to, or deciphering a character on a tombstone? Be creative and have fun! Click here to check out all the themes for 2022.

We all have characters in our family. Heck, we might be the character in our family. This week I decided to pick a relative who actually portrays characters, she was an actress. She is my mom’s 3rd cousin and thus she is my 3rd cousin once removed.

She was born Donna Belle Mullenger on Jan 27, 1921 in Denison, Crawford, Iowa, USA. The daughter of William Richard Mullenger and Hazel Jane Shives. Her grandparents were William George Mullenger and Mary Ann Johnson. Her great grandparents were William Reform Mullenger and Mary Tyler. Our common ancestor is her 2nd great grandparents of Peter Tyler and Sarah Anderson. Peter Tyler was born about 1798 in Buckinghamshire, England, on Oct 24, 1820 in England he married Sarah Anderson, born about 1801. Peter died in 1883 in Middlesex, England. They had 9 children. Their daughter Mary was their 6th child and she was born Nov 26 1835 in Buckinghamshire, England. While, I descend from their 7th Child, George William Tyler who was born May 14, 1839 in Buckinghamshire, England. George died on Jun 3, 1928 in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, USA. 

George married Sarah Agnes Long who was born Dec 27, 1842 in Canada. She died Nov 18 1915 in Mason City, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, USA. They had 8 children. I descend from John Albert Tyler their 3rd child who was born May 4, 1870 in Sheffield, Franklin, Iowa. On Feb 22, 1894 in Lincoln, Cerro Gordo, Iowa, He married Isabel Bonson Pedelty who was born Aug 2, 1870 in Lincoln, Cerro Gordo, Iowa. She died on Feb 16, 1934 in Granada, Martin, Minnesota and he died on May 23, 1935 in Granada, Martin Minnesota. They had 5 children. I descend through their son Vern E Tyler, who was born Mar 4, 1903 in Buffalo Center, Winnebago, Iowa. He is the biological father of my mother. My mother was born out of wedlock and I don’t know if she had any contact with him, especially since she didn’t know about him until she turned 18. See my other blog post “My mother’s Secret” to learn more. 

Anyway, Donna Bell Mullenger was an American actress. Her career spanned more than 40 years. Donna planned to become a teacher but was unable to pay for college. She moved to California to attend the Los Angeles City College on the advice of her aunt. Even though she had no plans to become an actress, while attending college she did performed in various stage productions. However, after receiving several offers to screen test for studios, Donna eventually signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). She insisted on completing her associate degree before she signed with an agent.

In 1941, Donna made her film debut in “The Get-Away” opposite Robert Sterling. She was billed as Donna Adams.

MGM soon changed her name to Donna Reed as there was anti-German feeling during World War II. The rest as they say is history. I know Donna from her role as Mary in the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”. I also remember watching reruns of the Donna Reed Show that ran from 1958 to 1966. 

Back row: Tony Owen and Penny Jane 
Seated from left to right: Tony Jr, 
Mary on Donna's lap and Tim.

From 1943-1945, Reed was married to make-up artist William Tuttle. Her second marriage was to producer Tony Owen and they raised four children together. The two older children were adopted. They divorced in 1971. In 1974, she married Grover Asmus and they remained married until her death in 1986. 

Remember to have fun and to Just do Genealogy!

Week 27: Extended Family (52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks)

The theme for Week 27 is "Extended Family." We often focus on those people from whom we descend. But what about their siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins? They played a role in our ancestors' lives, just like those people play a role in our own lives. This is a good week to explore the lives of these other people in the family tree. Click here to check out all the themes for 2022. 

My father once asked if I found the relative who threw his wife down a well. This was one story I decided to promptly to look into.

Thomas E Goodwin, my 1st cousin 3x removed (my paternal grandmother’s side) had thrown his wife, Mary Biel down a well on the night of May 29, 1900. Thomas was born Dec 18, 1957 in Wisconsin the son of Edward Goodwin and Mary Delaney. Thomas’s grandfather Thomas Goodwin was my 3rd great grandfather. 

Thomas E Goodwin was a saloon keeper and came home intoxicated and she helped him to bed. About a half an hour later came to her room where she lay asleep and told her that a horse was sick in the barn and that he wished her to hold the lantern while he attended to the animal. However, when they were near the old well, he grabbed her and after a struggle, threw her into it. Mrs Mary Goodwin screams brought help and she was removed from the well by her brother, Lewis Biel and several others. 

Mary Goodwin was granted a divorce on Nov 21, 1900.

During the trial, it was mentioned that Mr Goodwin had made an attempt to commit his wife to an insane asylum a few weeks previous to the alleged attempt to murder her. Also, Mr Goodwin tried to show that his wife, if not insane, was in a highly disturbed and hysterical mental condition and had either wandered to the region of the well and fallen in or had attempted suicide. The trial shown that the couple had domestic troubles. 

In Dec 1901 Thomas Goodwin was sentenced to five years in Waupun State Penitentiary. The judge that sentenced him in the attempted murder trial is the same judge, Judge Dick that granted the Divorce request by Mary Goodwin back in Nov 1900.

Thomas Goodwin took the appeal to the Supreme court and in the meantime was released on bail. In Oct 1902, he was found guilty a second time, this time the case was held in Janesville Wisconsin. This time he was sentenced to ten years.

However, in Dec 1907, Governor Davidson paroled him on the recommendation of the state board of control, having served only five years of his sentence. A new law in placed required that before a prisoner is paroled, one half of the full term must be served and employment for at least one year must be guaranteed and a monthly report made on the conduct and condition of the paroled prisoner. 

Thomas and Mary had married on May 29, 1890 had five children born between 1891-1899. It was on their 10th wedding anniversary that Thomas threw Mary down the well. Thomas was previously married to a Catherine McMahon on Oct 26, 1881 and they had two children. Catherine died Nov 1, 1885.

When I looked up more information on Catherine, who might also be my 1st cousin 3x removed on my paternal grandfather’s side, I found that her death was questionable. 

She was found dead in bed Sunday Morning, Nov 1, 1885. Marks of violence were plainly visible on the neck, and her death is supposed to have been caused by strangulation. An inquest was held and it was determined that her death was from natural causes. 

I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but I really suspect Thomas had something to do with Catherine’s death. 

Mary died on July 24th 1921 and Thomas died Dec 26, 1927. Thomas and his first wife are buried together in Lost Lake, Dodge County, Wisconsin while Mary is buried in Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wisconsin.

You never know what you might find out about your extended family.  Remember to have fun and to Just do Genealogy!