Thankful Thursday....for the kindness of strangers

Katherine Marxer
1862-1935

I posted a query on Ancestry.com's message forum asking for help locating information on several ancestors who all lived in the same community. Yesterday I opened my messages to find this:


"From "The Helena Daily Independent," published at Helena, Montana on Saturday, April 13, 1935:

MARXER ESTATE PROBATED IN COURT.
Great Falls, Apr. 12. -- The will of the late Katharina Marxer, who died January 5 last, was Wednesday admitted to probate in district court following a hearing before Judge W. Neigs. George Marxer of Eden, a son, was named executor of the estate.

The estate has a value of about $13,050, consisting of 1,600 acres of land valued at $10,000, 60 head of cattle valued at $1,500, 7 head of horses valued at $400, farm machinery with a value of $250 and other personal property valued at $900. The heirs are several children and grandchildren.
I was able to find the above article from a paid database, Newspaper Archives. I was unable to find any other articles in reference to the other names you listed. I hope you find the above article of use. I am not related."  
The submitter of this info is known only as volunteerMT. I'm very thankful for people like volunteerMT who take time from their busy lives to help others. 

The Joseph Marxer Homestead

Thankful Thursday – Create a post that expresses gratitude for a person (past or present), resource, family history tool or anything connected to you or your and family history that has had a positive impact on your life. This prompt has been suggested by Carolyn Murphy of Family Tree Gal and has been in use by Mary Warren of Mary’s Musings for the past year.

Amanuensis Monday....Barn Day

Amanuensis Monday – An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin – some we never met – others we see a time in their life before we knew them. A fuller explanation can be found here.

Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

According to Geneabloggers today is Barn Day. I had no idea. This is the barn on the Joseph Marxer Ranch.

The Joseph Marxer Ranch

The Marxer Ranch

"In 1910 Joseph Marxer and the boys started to build the barn. Joe, Andy and Bill were his helpers. Most of the lumber came from the Black Butte area from a lumber mill that Charles Odette operated there. The rocks for all the stone work in the lower part came from hills and coulees west of the house, in pastures. The barn was finished the summer of 1911. With a lot of convincing from the Marxer girls, (Joseph) Marxer conceded to have a barn dance for the opening. An orchestra by the name of Snitzel-Bunk was hired from Great Falls to play the music for dancing. People came from miles away in buggies and horseback, bringing food for the midnight supper and for the night of dancing, which lasted until daybreak. William and Ida Marxer's wedding dance was held in the barn in May of 1915. Later a home talent play and dance was given in the barn to raise money for the Red Cross." 

Excerpt by Edward and Marie Marxer, A Century in the Foothills 1876-1976, A History of the Eden Area, (Cascade Country Montana: 1976),

Page 309 

Wordless Wednesday...Cute little duffer

Wordless Wednesday – a great way to share your old family photos! Create a post with the main focus being a photograph or image. Some posters also include attribute information as to the source of the image (date, location, owner, etc.). Wordless Wednesday is one of the longest running “memes” in the blogosphere and is an ongoing series atGeneaBloggers.

Edward Marxer age 14
circa 1921

This is Grandpa Edward Marxer's confirmation portrait. I love everything about this photo, from the little knickers to the flower in his lapel. So dapper. So sweet. But something tells me that he's wearing hand-me-down shoes. They look huge on his little feet. He was the youngest of 15, so I wouldn't be surprised.

Wordless Wednesday...Grandpa Eddie Marxer

Wordless Wednesday – a great way to share your old family photos! Create a post with the main focus being a photograph or image. Some posters also include attribute information as to the source of the image (date, location, owner, etc.). Wordless Wednesday is one of the longest running “memes” in the blogosphere and is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Edward Marxer circa 1982

This is one of my favorite photos of Grandpa Marxer, taken a couple of years before his death. We were all at the cabin. He loved to sit and watch the little ones run around and play. He was a gentle soul and always had a kind word for everyone.