Semmens Family Reunion in Montana

On the weekend of August 1-3, 2025, a wonderful event was held in Hamilton, Montana, for descendants of John Thomas Semmens and Elizabeth Ann Uren Semmens.  Both were born in England in the 1840s.  John appears to have died in England, however, Elizabeth died in Hamilton on May 22, 1907.  The obituary below is from The Western News, Stevensville, MT, May 29, 1907.

John and Elizabeth had seven children, all of whom were born in England.  Two of the children came to the US, immigrating in the 1890s, and both came to live in Montana.  

• Child #1:  Winifred Semmens (1863-1935) married Herbert Vial (1861-1931) in 1895 in Silver Bow, MT.  They had one daughter, Elizabeth Jane Vial, and one son, Herbert DeWitt Vial.

• Child #3:  Edmund John Semmens (1868-1931) married Frances Pender (1866-1923) prior to leaving England.  They had seven children: Ethel, Winifred, Edmund Jr, William, Percy, Elizabeth, and Effie.  Ethel Mary Grace was born in England and came with her mother the year after Edmund.  The remaining six children were born in Montana.

At the 2025 reunion, approximately 30 people attended.  In this case, all were descendants of Edmund and Francie, plus spouses and children.  It was a fun and lively group!  We had two days of conversation, picture sharing, updates on what family members had been doing, etc.  AND great food on both days!

This was particularly interesting for me, as these people are members of my husband's birth mother's family.  MSH (my sweet hubby) did not grow up knowing ANY of these people, although we did meet a few of them in 2019 when we traveled to Anaconda and Hamilton for a very small reunion.  This time there were more "cousins" in attendance.  The picture to the right include three first cousins he now knows.  Wonderful!

If you have followed my travels thru genealogy and learning how to use DNA testing to find people, you will understand how excited I was to meet these people.  Not only does MSH have a blood connection to them, our children and grandchildren do, as well.

If you want to understand "the beginning of the story" please check out my blog posts from the Fall of 2019. 

Have a wonderful week, dear readers!

What's Your Plan for 2025?

Did you start a list of goals or resolutions for 2025?  I always have numerous to-do lists going at any one time, and for 2025 I have made a change in how I will manage my lists and my calendar

During my early full-time teaching and consulting years (1980-1995), I carried a leather notebook which zipped shut... it contained my calendar, a pencil & eraser, and zillions of little pieces of paper with notes on them, stickies, etc.  The zipper was key to keeping things in one place!  I added a Blackberry at one point, but I can't recall why - it must not have made much of an impression on me!

Up to 1995, I taught WordPerfect, Lotus 123, and a few other applications.  When I started teaching the Microsoft Office Suite in 1995, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook became my go-to applications. The Calendar module was a lifesaver.  Each of my 15 or so clients was color-coded so that I could easily identify where I was working on a given day.  I carried a printed copy of the monthly calendar with me during the work day, since my laptop stayed in my home office.

Now that I'm "mostly" retired, I've migrated to Google Calendar because I can see it from the three devices I use daily: (1) my desktop computer, (2) my iPad, and (3) my iPhone.  

The view from my computer desktop looks like this:

My iPad and iPhone have the "mobile app view" which is fine, but but smaller.  AND it does not give me all of the features I can easily see and use at my desk from the full version of Google Calendar.

Also, this calendar program is free!  If you have a @gmail address for your email, you automatically have access to the calendar, as well as Google Docs and Sheets (word processor and spreadsheet).

Another super useful tool, in my opinion, is Google Keep... I use it for my grocery list and reminder notes.  And again, it can be accessed from my desktop, iPad or iPhone.  I hope you are learning new tools in your Genealogy work.  

Have a wonderful Spring, dear readers!  Enjoy!

France 2024 - Week 5 - Paris to Portland

We..are..home. 😊

The trip was wonderful, but home is always best. Smooth flights, easy customs check at Dulles/D.C., then to PDX with an early arrival. 

We loved the many small towns and villages we visited. The food was excellent everywhere, of course. As you might guess, we did lots of walking - over 130 miles. Lots of stairs and a few hills were ascended, including a climb up to the Chateau Galliard. So much fun!

The French countryside was beautiful, but Paris is very chaotic due to the upcoming 2024 Olympics. Traffic is a nightmare, and some locations and sites are closed until after the events are completed later this summer. We did manage a walk to the Arc de Triomphe and croissants on the Champs Elysees, a guided tour of Montmartre, and a cabaret show.

I will leave you with a GREAT TRAVEL TIP from our wonderful Viking River Cruise program manager. It seems that some past guests have forgotten to clean out their room safe before leaving the boat… abandoning things like passports, cash, and other important items. Solution? Put in ONE of the shoes you plan to wear on departure day. You’ll see from our picture that our safe was full, with iPad, 2 Kindles, 2 passports, and our cash envelope - plus one Nike shoe. We didn’t forget a thing.

Thanks to all of you who have read these posts over the past month. I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about our adventures. Have a lovely summer!

Team Sorensen 

France 2024 - Week 4 - Normandy

It was a sunny and beautiful day on Sunday as we visited the American Cemetery at Normandy where more than 9,300 of our military soldiers and sailors are buried. Ceremonies for the 80th anniversary of D-Day were held on June 6, with President Biden and President Macron attending to honor the men and women who served. We had a small ceremony which included a wreath laying by the military members of our tour, followed by a walk on Omaha Beach.

Dunny lost two uncles in WWII, a younger brother of his adoptive mom and an older brother of his birth mom. His birth father also served in the Navy in that war. I had great uncles who served and returned home afterwards, and as both a “military brat” and a Navy mom, this trip was very important to me.

Last week we had an historian come aboard and talk about the French Resistance, and one afternoon we had a visit to the home and gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny - a very busy little town! Dunny and I pedaled to Giverny and back to the boat with a guide and several others on super heavy bikes, making me anxious to get home for “a proper bike ride” (a term used by our Belgian program manager referring to hikes we took).

Today we’ll visit the Chateau Galliard, a fortress built by Richard the Lionhart in the 12th century. Tomorrow will include Napoleon’s Château de Malmaison followed by the Palace of Versailles - a very long day.

Bonne journee from the Seine River west of Paris!

France 2024 - week 3 - Sailing on the Rhone

This is one very long river - the full distance from the Alps in Switzerland to the meeting with the Mediterranean is just over 500 miles - and our trip from June 12-19 was more than 200 miles, from Arles to Lyon. Along the way we passed thru 12 locks going up river, and being on the “front deck” while the boat moves into the lock, waiting while the water goes up or down, then sailing out, is fascinating.

France has 101 departments, which are similar to our counties, and we have spent time in Bouches-du-Rhone (Marseille), Vaucluse (Nyons and Avignon), brief stops in Ardesche and Drome, and Rhone (Lyon). Most of our days have consisted of shore outings in cities and villages, The Pope’s Palace in Avignon, Roman ruins of many types, and lots of shops. Sunday morning’s tour was a hike in the department of Ardesche, beginning with a short coach (bus) ride to the top of a hill for a walk down thru vineyards. Unfortunately the bus broke down and we had to walk to the start of the official hike, an addition of 1.25 miles, for a total of five miles. 

Our guide gave a great history of the area as we walked, so it was all worthwhile.

We have six new friends from Oregon! One couple from Klamath Falls and two couples from Portland area. While we didn’t know them before this trip, we have friends and work associates in common with two of the couples. Such a small world!

We’ve now been in Lyon for two days. Our boat, the Viking Hemdal, has been parked on the east side of the Rhone, allowing easy access for bus and walking tours. Today we are transferring to another boat on the Seine River, which requires a train ride from Lyon to Paris. Off we go!

Pont du Gard

France 2024 - Cars and Food

 France 2024, Week 2…

We have been settled in our Nyons apartment since June 1, enjoying this lovely town and all it has to offer. The area is beautiful, very green, with a river on the edge of town.

Driving from Avignon was off to a rocky start when we were given a stick-shift Citroen, which I named “Midget”. It’s been many years since we’ve had manual shifting vehicles, but we didn’t see a problem, and off we went with Dunny at the wheel as I navigated (our standard mode of travel). He struggled with the vehicle, which I think was due to having such a lovely Mercedes for the past five years, with all the safety features, etc. The MC is so easy to drive but the Citreon is not. I’ve driven on our recent outings, which has been fun - much like the ice cream scooter I drove summer after 10th grade! Added benefit is that Dunny has been able to enjoy the scenery.

One of the many joys of France is the food - all fresh, and so delicious. While we have eaten at some wonderful restaurants, we have often cooked at home after visits to farmers markets in Nyons and Vaison La Romaine. On Thursday we drove to Orange for lunch and a tour of the ancient Roman Theater.

Today, June 9, we visited the walled town of Sablet, drove past a second walled town (Roaix), and accidentally drove thru another tiny hill-town…. So small my little car was a tight squeeze thru the main street! We then met Jean-Claude at the archaeology museum here in Nyons for a private tour. His limited English and my limited French were an equal match.

Bonne journee, dear readers!

Travels in France 2024

 MSH and I are in the “travel mode” and we have begun our big adventure for this year — 

France 2024 - week 1

We left PDX on Sunday morning, May 26. Connecting at O’Hare, a Lufthansa rep sabotaged our “carry-on-only” plan by insisting we check our bags. Off we went to Munich, arriving at 1pm on Monday. After a short flight to Marseille, we arrived Monday evening...however, my bag decided to stay in Munich. 

My new favorite travel accessory is Apple AIR TAGS. I was able to watch my bag for the next 24+ hours, first sitting in terminal 2, then moving to the building with shops & gates, then to the tarmac (baggage cart? plane?). After no location update for 2 hours, the tag arrived at the Marseille airport!

 

We are in Marseille for two days, including Notre Dame de Garde (views from the hilltop) and Chateau d’If (Count of Monte Christo). The Bouillabaisse was wonderful. Took a train to Avignon on Thursday, then drove a tiny Citroen to Nyons, our base for the next 11 days.

Friday we walked and had lunch in Vason de Romaine with friends from Eugene, then evening drinks with new friends from Scotland.

Time for Bike Rides!

With my sweetie

My bikes have both been sitting in the office, one in mine, and the other in MSH's office space.  He keeps his bike in his office, too.  Why are they inside, you might ask?  Because we now live in a 4th floor condo with no garage.  We do miss the space that a garage gave us for all those years, but giving that up also resulted in no more yard work.... which pleases us both.

My favorite cycling buddy is MSH, but as he has many other activities keeping him busy, I've had to figure out other riding options.  Most often I go out with my friend Jana.

Yesterday, April 2, we were able to get in a 21 mile to the north of Eugene - we call it "Bottom Loop" because it involves riding on that road north of Coburg.  We try to fit in multiple rides each week, when the weather permits and when we're both in town.  

Fellow cyclists Dave, Rex, Jana, Karen, me, MSH

Rides in the 20-35 mile range are just right, taking a couple of hours out of my generally very busy days.  Cycling is the perfect exercise for me, and I'm planning to ride as much as I can over the coming months. 

I have knee problems (and who, at this stage in life, doesn't...), but what I've found is that cycling does not hurt in the way that walking does.  

Take care of yourselves, dear readers, and I wish you a happy Spring!

The Importance of Volunteering

I'm finding myself extremely busy as we wrap up the FIRST QUARTER of 2024.  Two major changes are happening in my life:

• After 40 years of being a computer trainer and consultant, I am wrapping up my "paid career" in this field.  I have loved almost every minute of this wonderful opportunity which landed in my lap in 1984, when the City of Eugene decided they needed someone to teach WordPerfect for staff.  They asked me, and the rest is history.  Thanks to ALL of the local government organizations with whom I was blessed to work over the past four decades.
  
  
• 
  In November 2023, I was elected new governor for the Oregon Society of Mayflower Descendants (OSMD), at a lovely Compact Day Meeting at The Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon.  More than 85 Oregon Society members attended the luncheon.  We were especially blessed with the visiting of Governor General Lisa Pennington from Plymouth.  She spoke to our group on the importance of sharing our Mayflower history to keep the story alive, and she also inducted those of us who were new officers.
  

I have served on a variety of boards in the past, both arts, non-profits, and elected positions.  What I've discovered about this new position is that it's a full time job right now!  I'm loving working with the people on the board and those who are members of this organization. 

We will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of OSMD in 2028, so we're already thinking about that event.  Meanwhile, both May 2024 and November 2024 meetings and luncheons are on the schedule, with places reserved, and I've begun preparing our agenda for the Spring event.  

The title of this post is the importance of VOLUNTEERING, both in our communities and at further distances.  I hope every reader of this article is already volunteering, even if you are still employed. If you are not volunteering, please think about where you can contribute. There are so many tasks in our communities which would NOT get done if it were not for volunteers. If you ARE a volunteer already, 

 Thank You!

I'm a Williams!

 

Cecil Williams and
Mildred Bassham - 
wedding day 1929

Having been married for over half a century, there are many people who assume Sorensen is my given name.  When correcting people's spelling of SorensEn (not SorensOn), I have been known to say that I never experienced people misspelling Williams.

I realized recently that I have rarely mentioned my paternal family in this blog, and today I want to fix that.  My father's family settled in Tennessee and Alabama, with deeper roots in Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas.  Much like my maternal line, these people arrived in the US centuries ago, fought in the various wars of our nation, and mostly farmed and raised large families.

Cecil & Mildred
with Opal (age 3) and
my dad Theo (about 1 yr)
Top left is Mildred's sister

My paternal grandparents, Cecil Williams and Mildred Bassham Williams married in 1929.  They raised six children, four girls and two boys, and my father was the second child and older son.  The family lived in Lawrence County, Tennessee, and I remember many fun times at the farm when I was a child, playing with my brothers and cousins, helping feel the animals, bringing in eggs, collecting produce from the garden, and learning to make biscuits with grandma.  

Cecil & Mildred, probably in the 1950s

Four generations:
Mildred, Cecil, Theo, with
Shawn (9 months) and me

I really enjoyed my grandparents and the love and attention they gave us. 

Grandma lived until 2002, when I was 48 years old, and my last visit with her was the summer before she passed at her home in Illinois.  She was in good spirits, cleaning her home, insisting on cooking for me, and giving me more information about our family, providing pictures, and sharing stories and memories.  It was a wonderful visit.