Ivan III Vasilievich was known as "Ivan the Great" (1440-1505) was the Grand duke of Muscovy from 1462 to 1505. His victories against the Tartars laid the foundations for eventual Russian unity. Tsars, Emperors of Russia, started with Peter Romanovs 1682-1725, known as "Peter the Great", took title of Tsar in 1721. That is the area I'm looking for information. My chart begins in 1680. Peter ruled in uncertain times with a huge military force. Peter controlled huge armies who defended his land with a force that rivaled no other. But he was unhappy. His armies were winning in the open plains to the east. They defended the land to the west and there was little opposition from the south. Though they seldom lost any battles with the likes of Genghis Khan, he was unhappy because he lost 2000 men defeating their 1000. Peter the Great wanted to modernize his armies. He was jealous of the muskets the Barbarians used. He wanted the long knives for his officers. He wanted modern farm equipment, better facilities, modern methods. His people resisted wanting to hold on to the age old ways their fathers tough them. They wanted to remain the way they had been for hundreds and hundreds of years. The people resisted any change to their closed in, secure life. The council also resisted the new ideas. The military leaders preferred the safety of outnumbering any enemies rather than risk change and possible defeat with new ideas. This, of course, ran contrary to the Czars wishes. As in all governments, there was a faction of the council which deeply resisted the modern changes sought by the Czar. Fearing the rapid modernization of the army would undermine their determination to acquire power, they secretly plotted a rebellion. The history books are not clear about this particular attempted overthrow. Almost all the recorded history of the time was kept by monks whose primary aim was to point out the need for spiritual improvements.
The Tschirkys were always in the Canton of St Gall, Mels and the surrounding hills. They had several name variations because of marriages between different nationalities such as Romans, and Greeks. Though I believe the Russian name was actually CHIGORIN which translates to Tschirgi easily. In a book I prize given to me By Dr. Robert Tschirgi there is a quote about where Tschirgi came from. The book includes a story relayed to him from his Grandmother. I quote, "... that my ancestor was a Russian general by the name of Tachirgorian, and by the time the Republic of Switzerland was formed, he, together with his company of soldiers, fled from the despotic government of Russia to the promise of freedom in the mountain fastness of the Alps and of Switzerland. In this harbor of safety the name Tachirgirian was changed to Tschirgi, omitting the letters which would betray the Russian identification. I suppose this is why so many have a difficulty in determining the nationality of the name, calling it Italian, Japanese and whatnot." The Russian General in finding a name so close to his own might have decided to stay in the area."
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to see some pictures of Weistannen, Switzerland.
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In the 1900 census, Fred (right) is living with his mother in her house with his little sister Mammie. His mother, Anna dies 25 January 1902. He marries Amelia Doerrer on 14 October 1902 at 26 years old. He is my Great Grandfather who left Dubuque around 1913 to work as a printer for his older brother Anthony A. Tschirgi in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Fred and Amelia have 3 boys; Fredrick Harry, Raymond Henry, and Arnold Joseph. Anthony by the way, owned Russell's Railway Guides now Russell's Guides Inc and is still directed by Ruth Tschirgi Berry. My Grandfather was about 5 when they moved. My Great Grandmother died when grandfather was about 13. It was a devastating event for the family. Fred took care of his two little brothers Ray and Arnold. When the youngest was old enough to take care of himself, grandfather joined the Army. The middle brother Ray joined the Navy and was in Pearl Harbor when it was bombed in 1945. After the Army grandfather worked with the Armor meat packing company where Bessie worked as a clerk. Grandfather was sent to Woodward, Oklahoma. He had to quickly marry my grandmother Bessie Wiblishouser on 16 December 1925 but they could not tell. Back then married women did not work outside of the house. Great Grandfather Fred bounced between Fred and Ray till he died October 1949 at age 73, 31 years after his wifes death. The middle brother Raymond spent 30 years in the Navy. He married the former Mary Ann Cavazza in 1932. They settled in Daily City, California when he retired until his death in 2000. He had one son Raymond born 1934. Raymond has 2 daughters, Laura Nichols and Vicki Gainni. Arnold married Paulene Someone in July 1938. They adopted one girl. I don't know much about Arnold. I think he died in Cedar Rapids. Sadly, that information is gone. |
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When Freds enlistment in the Army was up he worked for Armor Creamery near Woodward,Oklahoma.
My father was born in Woodward during the Great Depression in 1932. Grandad threw in with a
carpet salesman and moved to Houston, Texas about 1935. He didn't do to well selling carpet.
He took night classes when you could monitor classes and passed his Certified Public Accountant
exam. Back then you didn't need a degree to have a CPA certificate. My father married my mom
Nancy Ruth Payne of Houston in 1953 and was drafted into the Army.
The story is one of the Johnston Testers owners had work done on his house and charged it to the company. Very illegal. Grandad turned him into the IRS. I don't know what happened but they moved to Taylor, Texas about 1956 and Grandad worked for Taylor Bedding till he retired. Life in small town Texas is good. The water in Taylor is horrable but country living, if you want to put your life on idle, is great.
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Smoking took 33 years from my mother’s life. Both of her parents lived past 85. Mom died of lung cancer at 57. My father smoked and suffered from emphysema. He did not enjoy his life much after moms death 12.5 years before. He died 13 years early because he smoked. Both of his parents were past 85 when they died. I feel I have lost some lung capacity due to my smoking for 14 years 15+ years ago. Who knows how many years I've shaved off my life. When I run I believe I could go further if I could get more oxygen to into my system. Direct result of poor judgement on my part.
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January 16, 1932 to March 27, 2004 Dad and I were strangers who knew each other very well. |
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My younger sister Lynn Spicer was born in 1957 in Houston and is married
to Duane Spicer in El Cajon, California. They own a ranch up in the hills
where they raise and board horses.
Click HERE for a picture of Lynn and her Friesian in a parade in San Juan Capastistrano, Califonnia, 25 March 2006 Click here to email Lynn. |
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My youngest sister, Jeannene was born in Midland, Texas in 1960.
She has one daughter from a previous marriage named Jocelyn
born in 1981. Today, Jeannene lives in Yucca Valley, Ca and is
engaged to John Collins, pictured here on a day trip to Idyllwild, Ca.
Click here to email Jeannene. |
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Jocelyn Standhardt Works as an office manager of a dentist and really enjoys her job. She is currently living in Beaumont, Ca with her boyfriend, Dan Green and helps to take care of his 2 children, Taylor and Nickolas. |
Dad said, "HAHA, very funny." So I sent him this one. Notice I couldn't get the kids to go.
Still crazy after all these years. As I remember it was about 20 below
but it was no wind which makes all the difference. I couldn't convince Elaine
that she was having a good time. She was - she just didn't know it at the time.
I retired honorably in 1995 at the rank of Master Sergeant. My final job title was Chief, Air
Traffic Control Training. Air force retirement put me in the wonderful position
of being able to pursue a new career. I graduated (3.9 GPA) in
June 97 with my second degree in electronics from Devry. I found work as
a network manager at Irving Independent School District. I had a house
built just the way Elaine wanted it in Grand Prairie. That is where we
make our home.
We're still having fun and she's still the one.
Life is good here on the far side of the bell curve.
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He married Crystal Lynn Sumner 12 November 2004. They are stationed in North Carolina.
Dan and Joy Cowen, Fred's good friends' parents, me and Elaine,
Click
HERE
for a little movie. It will take a little time to download unless you have |
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