What Kind of Cousin Are You?
Posted on August 6, 2008 - Filed Under Pulskamps Today, World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
Generally, a cousin is a person who shares with you a common ancestor. Specifically, we use the word cousin to describe the children of your parents’ siblings (your aunts and uncles). That was not always the case. Prior to the Civil War, the term “cousin” referred to any relative or to friends and neighbors you knew well enough to greet with a kiss.
FIRST COUSIN
You are first cousins if your common ancestor is your grandparent. Your parents are siblings, brothers or sisters. This is the easy one. Most of us probably know our first cousins. (I don’t have any first cousins in the Pulskamp family because my dad’s brother and sister had no children.)
SECOND COUSIN
You are second cousins if your common ancestor is your great-grandparent. For example, my great-grandparents were John Bernard Pulskamp and Mary Klei Pulskamp. They had seven children, four of whom had children. Barry Edward Pulskamp is my second cousin. His dad, Eugene, and my dad, John Joseph, were first cousins so we are second cousins.
THIRD COUSIN
You are third cousins if your common ancestor is your great-great grandparent. For example, my great-great-grandparents were Henry Theodore John Pulskamp and Frederika Louise Schaefer Pulskamp. Megan Christine Pulskamp is my third cousin. Her dad, Vincent is my dad’s second cousin. Her grandfather, Vincent Joseph Pulskamp, is my grandfather’s first cousin. Her great-grandfather, George Henry Pulskamp is my grandfather’s uncle.
FOURTH COUSIN
You are fourth cousins if your common ancestor is your great-great-great-grandparents. Now were getting some distance here! For example, Stacia Anne Foss is my fourth cousin. Her mom, Mary Ann Doll Foss, is my dad’s third cousin. Stacia’s grandmother, Leona Doll, is my grandfather’s second cousin. Her great-grandfather, William Joseph Pulskamp is my great-grandfather’s cousin. Her great-great-grandfather, Gerhard George Pulskamp is the brother of my great-great-grandfather, Henry Theodore John Pulskamp.
What’s this “removed†business all about?
The degree (first cousin, second cousin, third cousin, etc.) is determined by the shortest distance from the common ancestor. The level of “removed†is determined by the distance between the generations of the two cousins.
COUSIN ONCE REMOVED
Where does the term “once removed†or “twice removed†come in? Cousins who are “removed†are from different generations of the same family. For example, Patricia Gallagher O’Hara is my second cousin, once removed. Our common ancestors, Henry Theodore John Pulskamp and Frederika Louise Schaefer Pulskamp are Patricia’s great-grandparents and my great-great-grandparents. Patricia and my dad are second cousins. Patricia’s children are my third cousins, but Patricia and I are second cousins once removed.
COUSIN TWICE REMOVED
Cousins who are “twice removed†are two generations apart on the family tree. For example, Victor J. Pulskamp is my second cousin twice removed. Our common ancestors, Herman Heinrich Pulskamp and Maria Katherine Steinke Pulskamp (the parents who brought the family to Indiana in 1845) are Victor’s great-grandparents and my great-great-great-grandparents. My grandfather, Henry John Pulskamp, was Victor’s second cousin.
For some reason, the software will not allow this image to be displayed on the blog, so you will need to download it and use Adobe Acrobat to view it. To do so, just click the link below.
WHAT’S A KISSING COUSIN?
This is a term with several different meanings.
A “kissing cousin†is a cousin who is far enough apart on the family tree to allow marriage. Generally, marriage is allowed for fourth cousins.
Or, a “kissing cousin†is a relative you know well enough to greet with a kiss.
Pulskamp in a Word
Posted on August 6, 2008 - Filed Under Pulskamps Today, World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
At the World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps last week, (August 1-3, 2008) we had a large sheet of paper for folks to jot down a word or two that sums up the character of a Pulskamp. Below are the comments we received.
* Unpredictable
* Honest
* World class
* Integrity
* Determined
* “Good German stock” a continual refrain from my parents
* Intelligent
* Super
* Passionate
* Amazing
* Resourceful
* Fine people
Do you see yourself or other Pulskamps in those words?
Huge success!
Posted on August 3, 2008 - Filed Under Pulskamps Today, World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
The World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps was a huge success! About 220 Pulskamps participated! We talked and laughed and had a wonderful time. The food was great, the weather was perfect, and no one wanted to go home. We visited the original farm that the family bought in August of 1845 as well as the other property in Franklin County, Indiana which is still in the family. Some of us also visited Oldenburg, IN where the street signs are in German. We had a very special mass at St. Marys-on-the-Rock, the family parish.
I’ll have more stories later, but many thanks to all who made this weekend so special.
Late Registrations
Posted on July 24, 2008 - Filed Under World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
Late registrations for the World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps are coming in fast and furious! Just yesterday we were at 156 registered and today we are at 174! Wow! What a grand party we shall have!
It is not too late to register, but it would be most wonderful if I could have all your information (name, mailing address for the person responsible and names of all the people in your group -even the babies, as well as which day(s) they will attend- Friday, Saturday, or both) by Saturday, July 26. That’s because we leave Sunday morning for Cleavland, where we will visit my niece and her husband. Tuesday we will drive to Columbus, where we will visit their Germantown, to get into the spirit of the weekend. Wednesday we will arrive in Cincinnati and check into the Hampton Inn Fairfield.
I’ll be traveling with my husband and older daughter, Jennifer, and my mom, Kay Pulskamp. I will have my computer with me, but it would sure help to have all the registrations by Saturday so I can print nametags at home. (Yes, I know, Pulskamps don’t like to wear nametags, but in this case, it really will help us all figure out how we are related. Humor me, after all the effort I have put into this weekend.) If you are really a procrastinator (We seem to have a lot of that in this family.) my future son-in-law will be at our home to check the mail for me, so send in the registration anyway. If you get it to my before Saturday, via email at least, I can get you the confirmation packet that includes the maps you need to find us.
World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamp, update
Posted on July 23, 2008 - Filed Under World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
As of today, July 23rd, we have 156 Pulskamp family members registered for the World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps! This includes eleven from the family which currently owns the farm in Merzen, Germany, 27 from the family of the oldest son, seventy-two from the family of the middle son, and forty-six from my line, the family of the youngest son.
We have folks coming from Germany, California, Colorado, Minnasota, South Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Iowa, New Mexico, and of course, from Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.
Join us! This is going to be a very special event!
Pulskamp Cookbook
Posted on July 23, 2008 - Filed Under Family history, Pulskamps Today, World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
We have decided to create a Pulskamp Cookbook in celebration of our World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps. Birgit Pulskamp, a young teacher in Germany, will compile all the recipes after our event and we’ll figure out how to publish the book so everyone who wants one can get a copy. I am pretty sure the Pulskamps are all pretty fond of tasty food, so it should be fun. I have already received some recipes, and one complete cookbook created by Mary Elizabeth Ryan Pulskamp some years ago. (Mary Elizabeth is the wonderful person who wrote the book about the family of the youngest son.)
If you want to send a recipe or two, you can include it here as a comment and I will send it to Birgit. It would be wonderful and special if you would include a picture of the person who gave you the recipe. For example, I will contribute my Mom’s Hot Applesauce Cake and a photo of her. I’ll probably also include my grandmother’s Irish Coleslaw with a photo of her, Agnes O’Keefe Pulskamp.
World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps Registration Data
Posted on July 7, 2008 - Filed Under World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
As of today, July 7, we have 113 firm registrations for the World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps. I am expecting another dozen or so in the next few days. We need to get the final count for the caterers by the end of next week, so if you plan to come, and want to eat, now’s the time to act. Plus, I ordered some thermos water bottles with our logo which will go to the first folks to register. I will not be able to get any additional thermos bottles, so don’t miss out by procrastinating.
Here are some details on the registration:
From the German family, which still owns the farm in Merzen, Germany, we have 11 people registered. (6 coming from Germany and 5 who live in the Cincinnati area)
From the family of Herman Heinrich Pulskamp, the oldest son of the family who came in 1845, we have 15 people registered, but I am expecting a few more.
From the family of Gerhard Pulskamp, the middle son’s family, we have 57 registered
From the family of Henry Theodore Pulskamp, the youngest son, we have 28 registered, but I am expecting a few more.
Missing? Anyone descended from the nephew, Bernard or any of the Dickman family, descended from Catherine Pulskamp and Anton Dickman. Also, we have no idea of the fate of the other two Pulskamp daughters and the niece who also came in 1845. If you have any information on these cousins, please let me know.
Not everyone is coming for both events, Friday at the Kolping Grove in Cincinnati and Saturday at St. Mary-on-the-Rock in Indiana, but most folks are making it work. We should have a great time! Hope to see you soon!
Pulskamp Swimmer to Compete at Olympic Trials
Posted on June 23, 2008 - Filed Under Pulskamps Today
LEXINGTON, KY.–Nine University of Kentucky swimmers will travel to Omaha, Neb., to compete at the United States Olympic Team Trials, June 29- July 6. As the sole chance for swimmers to earn a spot on the elite team that will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, the meet is a fierce competition between the nation’s best swimmers, all battling for just two spots in each event.Only the swimmers who finish in the top-two in each event in Omaha will earn a trip to Beijing, while the top six finishers in the 100-and 200-freestyle will join the U.S. Olympic team as members of the 400-and 800-freestyle relay squads.
“This is the largest contingent of UK swimmers to qualify for the Olympic Trials,†said head swimming coach Gary Conelly. “We have trained hard for this moment and are looking forward to racing for a spot on the [Olympic] team.â€
Representing the Wildcat women in Omaha are NCAA All-Americans Heather and Jenny Bradford and Megan Pulskamp. All three women were a part of the 200-freestyle relay team that placed a school-best eighth at this year’s NCAA Championships in March.
Pulskamp just completed an outstanding sophomore year with the Wildcats, highlighted by an 11th place finish in the 100-fly at the SEC Championships and a trip to the NCAA Championships as part of the record-breaking 200-and 400-free relay teams. Dubbed the “Most Improved Swimmer†of the 2007-08 season by the UK coaching staff, she currently holds the fifth fastest time in UK history in the 100-fly and ranks fourth on the all-time list in the 200-fly.
Pulskamp will be joined by former swimmers Heather and Jenny Bradford in the 100-fly on the first day of competition at the Trials.
Let’s all wish her well!
Photo of first American Pulskamp
Posted on May 30, 2008 - Filed Under Family history
Cousin Jim Bueltel recently sent me this photo of Herman Heinrich Pulskamp (1804-1891). He brought his family (wife, seven children, niece and nephew) to America in 1845. The photo is believed to have been taken about 1888. Thanks for sharing, Jim!
Hotel for World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
Posted on May 30, 2008 - Filed Under World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps
We have a lot of folks from out of the Cincinnati/Indiana area coming to the World Wide Gathering of the Pulskamps, so choosing a hotel where we can all stay can make the weekend even more fun.
Cousin Michael Davis has arranged for a group rate at the Hampton Inn Fairfield, located at 430 Kolb Dr., Fairfield, OH, 45014. The location seems to be pretty close to the Kolping Grove property. The rate is $99 (plus tax) for single or double occupancy per nite.
They have set aside rooms with one (King) or two (double) beds. The price includes free parking, free hot breakfast, along with each room having a microwave and small frig. The rooms also feature the new Cloud 9 bedding with duvets and choice of pillows.
Reservations can be made in three ways. Call the hotel directly at 513-942-3440 and ask for the Pulskamp Reunion rate. Or by referring to the group name when calling 1-800-Hampton(426-7866) OR by using the group code “PUL” when visitng hamptoninn.com. Rooms will be held until July 1. After that, the rate is good IF rooms are still available. The rooms are cancelable if necessary.
Thanks for taking care of these arrangements for us, Michael!
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