Gus aka Bette Louisa Brown

 I am posting this as part of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks series (for 2025) and you can follow along on her Generations Cafe Facebook Page. Each week we receive a writing prompt which helps us share our genealogy stories. This is week 3 - Nickname

Jeff's grandmother was such a beautiful lady.  Her nickname "Gus" didn't fit her at all.  

1922 Bettie and Bessie Brown

When my husband's sister Leslie was little, one day she came home from school and called her Grandmother "Gus".  No one remembers why and I certainly don't know why it stuck, but that is what she was known as until her death!!  

When I had children, I asked Gus what she would like her great grandchildren to call her because she had told me that she didn't like the name Gus.  She said she would like to be called GG (for Great Grandma).  We tried to refer to her by GG but none of the extended family members knew who we were talking about.  So we had to keep explaining who GG was;  it didn't take long before we gave up and went back to calling her Gus. 

Bette Louisa Brown

1921-2019
Jeff's Grandmother 

Bette Louisa Brown
1921-2019

Jeff's Grandmother

My Grammy - Margaret Elise Schuster

I am posting this as part of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks series (for 2025) and you can follow along on her Generations Cafe Facebook Page. Each week we receive a writing prompt which helps us share our genealogy stories. This is week 2 - "Favorite Picture" 

This is a picture of my Grammy - My Mom's Mom. It is a picture taken one Christmas and just shows joy. For me it is a reminder of our family Christmases. And now that I'm a Grandma it is a reminder to be a part of my grandchildren's' lives. It is so important.

Margaret Elise Schuster

I called her Grammy; others called her Munsey. 

1907-1988

Online Family Tree

We are Jeff and Lisa McCown and we enjoy researching family history together.

http://sites.rootsmagic.com/McCownandBrandsborg/index.php

Here is my family tree. Have fun browsing through the names and stories of my family.  I love to meet relatives and share information.  Just contact me.

Charles Schuster

 I am posting this as part of Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks series and you can follow along on her Generations Cafe Facebook Page.   Each week we receive a writing prompt which helps us share our genealogy stories. This week is "In the Beginning" 

I started into genealogy after talking to my Mom about her relatives.  She had done a hand written family tree when she was in school and she also had some family Bibles.  Wow, to see those names from long ago!!!  I wanted to know more about them.  

And I love a good puzzle too, so genealogy has been a really good hobby for me!  Over the years, Mom and I have shared stories and information as we have built her tree.

Pop in his garden

One of my favorite people to research has been my great grandfather Charles Otto Schuster 1873-1959.  He was born in Austria as one of 7 children.  In 1899, he left Germany and came to New York.  He was married 3 years later to Elise Soltesz.  

Charles and Elise Schuster about 1901

By 1910, after being in this country for just about 10 years, he purchased a house in Brooklyn, NY that he lived in until his death.  

Charles and Elise had a family of 4.  And my mother fondly remembers growing up with the Schuster cousins who were more like siblings then cousins.  They remember meals at Pop's house, exploring the garden that was next to the house, and lots of fun times together.  

1912 Charles Schuster Family

 He had a successful landscaping business. And it is rumored that he patented a rose that he created when he worked for Perkins & Rose. As a matter of fact, my Mom is an excellent gardener and has passed that gene on to her kids and grandchildren.   Pop had a horse named Prince and he would plow the sidewalks!!  And Prince lived in a stable built right next to the house.  

Pop and Prince plowing

Elise in front of the stable next to the house

Can you imagine the changes he saw in his life?  I would love to have been able to talk to him and hear his stories!  

Happy Hunting! 

Lisa.

Charles Schuster in my tree. 

#52ancestors 

Jan. 5, 2025

Our Family Trees

 Jeff and I enjoy genealogy - me for the puzzle to solve and Jeff for the travel excuse!!  But seriously, it is a great hobby for us to enjoy together.

I source my tree extensively and have lots of pictures to share.  We have both also had our DNA done and I am making connections with those results.  I love working on the DNA puzzle.

Here is a link if you would like to explore our family tree.
http://sites.rootsmagic.com/McCownandBrandsborg/index.php

For Mom

I (Lisa) have recently been tracing the Willliams line of my tree.  I have been learning how to research Wales information online which is a new adventure for me.
And now I'm diving into the Brandsborg and Stelljes branches which are taking me to Germany and Denmark!  So exciting!

My side of the tree consists of names such as Brandsborg, Williams, Schuster, Stelljes, and Woods.

Jeff has recently been tracing the McCown line of his tree.  It has taken us on some interesting trips to Williamson County, Illinois where the McCowns lived for some time.
We would really love to find the connection across the pond and go and visit there!!

Jeff's side of the tree consists of names such as McCown, Brown, Mason, and Wolfe.





Here is a link if you would like to explore our family tree.
http://sites.rootsmagic.com/McCownandBrandsborg/index.php