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Sep 05
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Sep 04
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I received these photos from Becky Kaufman of Seattle who is tracing her lineage from Michigan back to the Knickerbocker family of Rensselaer, New York.
Rebeckah Fonda is buried in Schagticoke, Rensselear, New York in the Knickerbocker Family Cemetery. She was born 14 Apr 1718 in Albany, New York and died 8 Jan 1800 in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., New York. The Find-A-Grave cemetery listing is here.
 Rebeckah Fonda Knickerbocker gravestone. |
 Knickerbocker Cemetery next to mansion in Schaghticoke. |
 Recent picture of the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke. |
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 Oil painting which hangs in the Knickerbocker Mansion. |
 The sketch which appeared in Harper's Magazine in Dec. 1876 (Vol. 54, p. 42) |
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Aug 08
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Out of Our Past
August 8, 2009 – Battle Creek Enquirer.com
100 years ago today, 1909: A race riot on the carnival grounds was averted by Constable Fonda last evening when a gang of Italian laborers, who crowded the grounds, started a rumpus with a Battle Creek lad. There were several car loads of the foreigners on a side track near the grounds and every night they been attending the carnival. Last evening one of these armed with a tickler was amusing himself when a local lad grabbed it. Frenzied for the moment, the laborer seized the boy and in the scuffle the Italian’s coat was nearly torn from his back. From all parts of the grounds, the Italians began to rally to support of their friends. Things looked ominous for a while, but Constable Fonda stepped in, jerked the fellow off and told the American boy to make his escape. – Historical information is provided by local and family history librarian George Livingston of Willard Library.
Newton LaVerne Fonda (Battle Creek Constable)
Note from fonda.org – the bio for Constable (Newton LaVerne) Fonda: b. Pennfield, MI; 1880 Census, Athens, Calhoun, MI; 1907 Battle Creek City Directory; 1900 Census, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co. MI (indexed as La Verne N Ferredy); 1910 Census, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co. MI (indexed as La Verne Fods); 1920 & 1930 Census, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., MI; 1921 Battle Creek City Directory, LaVerne (Nellie) Fondy (under-sheriff); bur Athens Twp., Calhoun Co., MI; o. Hook & Ladder Co. Foreman, Street Car Conductor, Deputy Sheriff, City Constable; [battlecreekenquirer.com – Dec 8, 2006 – Name of officer killed in 1926 to go on memorial – Trace Christenson – The Enquirer – An accidental shooting killed a Battle Creek police officer 80 years ago. Clayton Weed was a patrolman and just 26 when he died April 14, 1926, 15 days after he was shot in the leg inside police headquarters. According to newspaper accounts, Weed and other officers were in the headquarters just before 10 p.m. Weed was sitting when a revolver fell from the holster of officer Floyd Bailey and fired, hit the chair and lodged in Weed’s leg. Officer Bailey was exonerated in the shooting by Chief LaVern Fonda, but the chief ordered that all officers were to carry their revolvers with an empty chamber under the hammer. Weed was not added to the department’s list of officers killed on duty until 1987, after Deputy Chief Terry Tobias researched police records and learned more about the death.]; [World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 – Newton LA Verne Fonda (LaVerne); White; b. 8 Feb 1874; Registration Place: Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., MI] >> www.fonda.org <<
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Aug 08
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Another set of photos… from the Fultonville NY Village Historian… a vault with the name Fonda on the door in the Prospect Hill Cemetery in Canajoharie, NY (about 10 miles southwest of Fonda, south of the Mohawk River). The interior photo is from the outside, looking through an opening above the door. I would expect the cemetery administrators would know the names of those interred, but anyone with information on this vault, please let us know. The locations is at 42.895284749023816, -74.57163870334625. Hint: The only known Fonda’s buried at this cemetery are Marshall H. Fonda (1860-1926) and his wife, Louisa C. Ilse (1862-1906). Also see the Findagrave listing here, which shows headstones for them both which are not in the vault.
Update, October 2013 – Found a prominent person who was buried here: (see Rootsweb, Findagrave)
Canajoharie, Feb. 26 – The remains of Douw H. Fonda of Albany were brought to this village today for interment in the Fonda vault, in Prospect Hill cemetery. Mr. Fonda was one of Albany’s best known druggists and at one time was a resident of this village. Mr. Fonda was ill but a few months, and only a few weeks ago was carried in a helpless condition from a burning building. Mr. Fonda was born at Fonda, September 10, 1834. He received a common school education and then engaged in the railroad business. He soon went to New York as a clerk, but again took up railroading and was for a time ticket agent at Palatine Bridge under the late Webster Wagner. In 1853 he became teller at the Spraker Bank, in this village, and two years latter, became its cashier. He held this position until 1865, when he went to Albany and formed the Wholesale drug firm of Fonda & Gagley. Mr. Fonda became sole proprietor in 1877, and in 1879 he established the firm of D. H. Fonda & Co. In 1899 the D. H. Fonda Drug Company was incorporated and Mr. Fonda has been its president ever since. He has not been active in business for a year. Mr. Fonda was a member of the Holland Society of New York. He served two terms as school commissioner. Mr. Fonda was a member of Temple Lodge. No. 14, F. and A. M. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary A. French of this village, and his second wife was Miss Ellen A. Barker of Barre, Vt. Johnstown NY Fulton County Republican, Thursday, March 12, 1908.
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Aug 05
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Provincie Fryslân is inviting Americans with Frisian roots for a Festival and Friesland Day in New York
Thursday, 18 june 2009
Friesland (one of the northern provinces of the Netherlands) is inviting Frisian emigrants, descendants of immigrants and other Americans with Frisian roots for the Special Friesland Day on September 12th at the New isLand Festival in New York. By logging on to www.fryslan.nl/madeinfriesland interested parties can visit the festival at a discount.
This year the Netherlands are commemorating and celebrating 400 years of friendship ties with America. The province of Fryslân (Friesland) will also participate in the festivities in New York in September. The highlight is the Friesland Day on September 12th at the New isLand Festival on Governors Island off the coast of Manhattan. Frisian emigrants, descendants of immigrants and other Americans with Frisian roots will have the opportunity to visit the festival on September 12th, or any other day. For a pass giving access to the festival site, they do not pay USD 35, but only USD 25.
NYC Governors Island
Friesland Day: September 12th
The Frisian Oerol organization, together with several other organizations, is organizing the New isLand Festival on Governors Island. From September 10th to 20th 2009 the theme on the island will be the best the Dutch (and Frisian) theater and festival circuit has to offer. A number of Frisian artists will be performing. On September 12th Friesland Day will take place. This is a special day for everyone who feels connected with Friesland. During the day a book will be presented on 400 years of Frisian – American relationships. Also Frisian artists will be performing, such as the composer Sytze Pruiksma, fado singer Nynke Laverman and the striking poet Tsjêbbe Hettinga.
Frisian contingent gets sending off to festival in NYC Sept 10-20
Signing up through the website
Interested parties can sign up through the dedicated website www.fryslan.nl/madeinfriesland. Submissions will be treated in order of entry. A limited number of discount vouchers is available. The discount card voucher can be exchanged for a discount on the pass on the day of choice.
Background information
In 2009 it has been 400 years since Captain Henry Hudson with his Dutch East India Company ship the ‘Halve Maen’ visited what is now known as New York. This led to the founding of the colony of New Netherland and the city of New Amsterdam on Manhattan a few years later. These historical facts are cause for various governments and organizations to give a new impulse to the relationship between the Netherlands and the United States. Given the particular historical relationship of Friesland with America, the province will join in the commemoration of 400 years of friendship with America. In February 1782 the Frisian States were the first in the Republic of the United Netherlands to recognize the independence of the United States of America. In 2009 it has also been exactly a century ago that a bronze plaque, the Memorial of Gratitude to the Frisian States was offered by America.
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the slogan ‘Made in Friesland’ the province, together with Frisian companies and institutions, will be presenting the qualities of Friesland. The aim is to strengthen existing relationships and explore new ones. From September 1st to 20th various activities will be organized in New York, such as a presentation on water technology at the H209 Water Forum, the opening of the Fryslân House for entrepreneurs and Friesland Day during the New isLand Festival on Governors Island.
For more information on the New isLand Festival, visit www.newislandfestival.com.