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Of all the funeral cards, that circulate out there, I wonder how many ever find their way back to the families of origin. A simple funeral card is the summation of a life lived.
Enjoy the discovery process.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Mrs. J. Van Artsdalen

Ever gone fishing and the fish were not biting?  So, you think it is the worm and change for another from the worm box.  Well, that is somewhat the feeling I had when I began this search.  Anything, I write about Mrs. J. Vanartsdalen today is at the formative stage of research and is not solid.  Often times, genealogists rely on a hunch and move in that direction.
In this particular instance, I suspect that the initial "J" may be the woman's given name.  Even as I write this I am not completely comfortable with the above statement.
Ebay seller, bagatelles, describes the funeral card as, "Vintage Memorial Card (1890) – Mrs.Vanartsdalen, Philadelphia." Further, the seller continues with identifying the publishing company – Memorial Card Company, Philadelphia, PA.  This seller is from Monmouth County, New Jersey across the state line nearby is Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Of Dutch origin, Vanartsdalen is unusual with less than ten messages on the Surname Message Board.  A contribution made by Donna Bluemink to USGenWeb Archives of The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Chapter XIII, by W. W. Davis states: "The Vanartsdalens of Southampton and Northampton are descended from Simon, son of Jan Von Arsdalen, from Ars Dale, in Holland, who immigrated to America in 1653, and settled at Flatbush, Long Island."  Family migration followed to Pennsylvania.  In Chapter XXI, Mr. Davis knew the Vanartsdalen family personally and wrote, "the Vanartsdalens . . .numerous fifty years ago, but few are left in the male line."
From this lineage, Theodore M. Vanartsdalen emerges.  I propose his wife M. Jennie (maiden name unknown) as the best candidate for the funeral card.  Bear in mind, the search was based on the correct spelling of the surname, 1880 Census result.
No fish for supper this evening.  Tonight, I will ponder on tomorrow's story. . .the Chicago Mafia member's funeral card.

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