Where My Journey Into The Past Began

(1) Antonia "Tonnie" Helebrant-Stanton, (2) Louis Helebrant, (3) Agnes Kostal-Glodowski, (4) James "Jim" Helebrant, (5) Anna Helebrant-Smaha
(6) Albie Kostal-Psota, (7) James Kostal, (8) Edward Kostal, (9) Josephine Sladovnik-Helebrant-Kostal, (10) Emma Kostal-Psota

          In July of 2006 I took a routine summer trip to Idaho to visit my family. While there, my Aunt Laurel (Fern, as the family calls her) was gracious in parting with some very old family photos. As I entered her home we received a warm welcome and then visited for a while. At one point she handed me a stack of old photos and it was fascinating to see family photos of what seemed to (almost) be familiar faces, and yet I had not a clue as to who they were. We visited for a short while longer and then parted with goodbyes. I then finished my stay in Idaho before returning home. Upon arriving home late in the evening, I couldn't wait another day before looking at the photos again. This time, looking much more closely, trying to make sense of any small clue of finding names that belong to the beautiful people in the photos. All I could really see was the town name and state printed on the front of some of the original photos. Looking back I am so grateful for that tiny bit of information. Where it led me next was amazing.

          I decided then, to try a Google search. I typed in one of our family names, with the town and state. I tried "Helebrant, Revanna NE" and the search came up with the family memories blog. I held in my hands a group family photo (above) in hopes of finding some connection. I proceeded to click on family memories and found myself absolutely speechless for a few moments. There before me on my computer screen was the exact family photo staring at me that I held in my hands. A beautiful blog with very neatly typed names, in order, beneath the photo. A name listed below the photo for each family member.

          Hungry for even more information on the family members I had never known, I emailed the writer (Steve Cornelius) of the blog the very next day. Not too long after (though a painfully long wait), I received an email back. It was just the beginning, but I now knew who the people in photograph were, and I had just met my long lost, long distance, second Cousins.





** Reference for the family members in the photo (above) and their relation to me:

(1) Antonia "Tonnie" Helebrant Stanton (1883-1964) - My Great Great Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great   Grandpa) Sister, John Helebrant and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(2) Louis Helebrant (1884-1971) - My Great Grandpa, Married Josephine "Josie" Novy-Helebrant, and was father to Evelyn Veronica Helebrant-Monroe (My Grandmother).
(3) Agnes Kostal-Glodowski (1890-1985) - My Great Great Half Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Sister, James and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(4) James "Jim" Helebrant (1886-1955) -  My Great Great Uncle, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Brother, John Helebrant and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Son, Married Rose Horak-Helebrant (My Great Aunt and distant cousin).
(5) Anna Helebrant-Smaha (1881-1959) - My Great Great Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Sister, John Helebrant and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(6) Albie Kostal-Psota (1899-1978) - My Great Great Half Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Sister, James and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Daughter.
(7) James Kostal (1863-1948)  - My Great Great Step Grandpa, My Great Great Grandma Josephine's second husband.
(8) Edward Kostal (1893-1967) - My Great Great Half Uncle, James and Josephine Kostal's (My Great Great Grandparents) Son, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Brother, along with Arlene Kostal-Cornelius's Dad and Steve Cornelius's Grandpa.
(9) Josephine Sladovnik-Helebrant-Kostal (1844-1928) - My Great Great Grandmother, Married first to John Helebrant (not pictured) then widowed and ma rried to James Kostal, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Mother.
(10) Emma Kostal-Psota (1896-1919) - My Great Great Half Aunt, Louis Helebrant's (My Great Grandpa) Half Sister.

1 comment: