Treasure Chest Thursday - Signature of John B. Wastell

Below is a photograph of the actual signature of John B. Wastell. It was taken from the Marriage Bond Books located at the Louisville Metro Archives in Louisville, Kentucky. He signed this on 26 February 1856. The cosigner on the bond was John W. Watt.

John B. Wastell married Victorine Catharine Zulime Brandebourg on 28 Feb 1856 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky at the home of Edmund F. Jones. Catharine Brandebourg was a witness.

Photo Essay of Sulfur, Crawford, Indiana

Jean Gabriel (aka John G.) Brandebourg purchased two 80 acres tracts of land in the northwest corner of Section 36 in Union Township in Crawford, Indiana on 10 October 1854 from the US Land Office in Vicennes, Indiana. The land patent was issued on 1 July 1857. Research indicates that John G. Brandebourg may have died in 1857 prior to receiving his land patent.

The following photos were taken in the nearby town of Sulfur, Crawford, Indiana as it looks today.

Tombstone Tuesday

Grave Marker for Lewis Brandenburg

Old St. Croix Cemetery

St. Croix, Perry, Indiana

Born Louis Brandebourg in 1837, Metz, Moselle, France. Died 1896 in Crawford County, Indiana.

Small marker "A. J. F."

Obituary of Professor John B. Wastell

PROF. WASTELL DEAD

The Famous Old Dancing Teacher

Gives Up the Ghost After a

Long Illness.

Prof. John B. Wastell, the well known teacher of dancing, died this morning at 11:15 o’clock at the family residence, 2005 West Market street. His demise was not unexpected, for it has been apparent for some weeks past that his days were numbered. About four months ago, after giving a lesson to a number of members of the Louisville Light Infantry, he was taken ill of a complication of disease. Daily he grew worse and the best medical attention failed to relieve him. For the past few days he had been unconscious, experiencing no pain, but slowly dying.

A few moments before his death he opened his eyes, looking lovingly at his family who were gathered about his bedside and then breathed his last. The funeral arrangements have not been made, but the interment will be at Cave Hill cemetery.

Prof. Wastell was one of the best known men in Louisville, and everybody will be sorry to learn of his death. He was born in London in 1819, and after receiving a first class education, his parents placed him in Her Majesty’s Theater, where he served a seven years apprenticeship. Then he left the stage and began giving dancing lessons. One of his classes was the Dickens Club, composed of twelve members, of which Charles Dickens was the President. Thackeray also belonged to it.

The new world offered bright inducements to the young men of the mother country and finally Prof. Wastell came to this country. After teaching in Canada, New York and Chicago a friend persuaded him to come to Louisville. This was thirty-seven years ago and since that time he had constantly been teaching. At a recent exhibition of his classes were ladies and gentlemen whose mothers and fathers he had taught to dance. They had also learned from him and he was ten teaching their children.

Among his pupils who acquired greatness on the stage were Charlotta Grisi and Tonlona. During Jenny Lind’s career before the public he was frequently called upon to assist at rehearsals and often appeared upon the stage with her himself. In addition to being highly educated in the area of Terpsichore he was also possessed of literary talent and frequently contributed to the daily press. He composed the “Tout le Monde quadrille” which he sent to France and it became very fashionable there.

He left a wife and three children, Miss Menie E., Ernest C. and Louis W.

The Louisville Times
Wednesday, Jun 12, 1889

Tribute to My Revolutionary War Patriots

Here is a partial list the Revolutionary War Patriots in my family:

Paul Pendexter (Pindexter), Massachusetts
John Murphy (Murphey) Pennsylvania
John Leach, Massachusetts
Lemuel Southworth, Connecticut

My direct ancestor, Sarah (Sally) Hancock, was the second cousin of John Hancock, signer for the Declaration of Independence.

They sacraficed much to give the freedoms that we enjoy today.

Happy Fourth of July!!

The above photo came the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.

Title: The flag that has waved one hundred years--A scene on the morning of the fourth day of July 1876 / Fabronius ; E.P. & L. Restein's oilchromo, Phila. ; National Chromo Co. pub., Phila.

Creator(s): Fabronius, Dominique C.,
Date Created/Published: c1876.
Medium: 1 print : chromolithograph, color.
Summary: People raising American flag, with U.S. Capitol in background.
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-pga-03448 (digital file from original print) LC-USZC4-6287 (color film copy transparency)

Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.



Call Number: PGA - Restein--Flag ... (D size) [P&P] [P&P]

Other Number: 12892G

Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA