My Dad, He was a hard-working, loving man and the foundation of our family. He was a great teacher and had a sense of humor. His lessons were simple. Eat dessert first to make sure you have room (make sure you are doing what you want to do), if you eat cake ,eat just half a piece ,the part with the frosting (indulge a little but enjoy it a lot) and life is better with a cookie in each hand (enjoy life to the fullest no matter what anyone else says). He was many things - a husband, father, brother, uncle... But to me he was Dad. Goodbye Dad. Save a half a piece of cake for me - the part with the frosting. I love you.

Thomas Joseph Thorson, age 78, Schofield, passed from this life on Friday, December 9, 2011 surrounded by his loving family at Ministry St. Clare's Hospital, Weston, under the care of Ministry Home Care Hospice. Tom was born on Wednesday, October 18, 1933 the son of the late Joseph and Mable (Buck) Thorson of Wittenberg. He met his life-long love, Viola Mae Swanson in August of 1951 at the Wausau fair. She was looking back at him to see if he was looking back and her and he was looking back at her to see if she was looking back at him. Tom proposed to his bride in the Wittenberg cemetery where he said "it starts here and it will end here". They married on October 4, 1952. In his spare time, Tom enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching the Packers play. He also loved spending time with family and friends. Tom started driving a cattle truck at the age of 12 years old. He also cut meat at the county hospital and retired from Greenheck fans after 25 years of service. He and his wife also owned a janitorial cleaning service for many years. He also sold night crawlers out of his garage in his later years. Survivors include his wife, Viola Thorson, Schofield; two daughters, Kathy (Leon) Howlett, Rib Mountain and Susan Thorson, Wausau; two sons, Dean (Lori) Thorson, Aniwa and Joey (Dawn) Thorson, Wausau; seven grandchildren, Melissa (Randy) Koppenhaver, William (Jenn) Howlett, Emily (Jason) Arendsee, Dana (Kevin) Fliss, Noel Howlett, Thomas Thorson and Roy Thorson; 10 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Jim (Barbara) Thorson, Rothschild, Ronald Thorson and Dennis Thorson, both of Wittenberg; and three sisters, Agnes (Gordon) Schlender, Wittenberg, Pat (Dan) Schulz, Mosinee and Joann (Gene) Preuss, Wittenberg. He is also survived by other loving family and friends. In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by twin infant sons, Randy and Rodney Thorson and his brother, Bobby Thorson. The family would like to give special thanks for the care given to Tom by the staff at St. Clare's and Ministry Home Care Hospice, including, Jamie, Dana, Krista and many more. Their loving care given is greatly appreciated. Visitation: Visitation will be on Wednesday from 9am until the time of services at the funeral home. Service: The Funeral Service will be at 11am on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at Schmidt & Schulta Funeral Home, Birnamwood. Rev. Timothy Coppersmith will officiate. Cemetery: Interment will be in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery, Town of Easton.

Trip to New York

I spent part of last week searching for the Buck's (dead ones haha) in upstate New York. I got a feel for where they lived. By seeing the gravestone of Eppaphroditus and learning from a census the worth of his farm ($7000) I think I can safely say the Buck's had some wealth. Even DeWayne married a person with money which I don't think would happen if the Buck family did not have money. DeWayne's first wife - Betsey Webb Dain (Dane sp?) is buried with other Webb's in a cemetery in Russell, NY next to her first husband. I find this very interesting. First, that her 1st husband was buried with his wife's family (Webb) and second that she left everything (180 acres and other property) to DeWayne to care for her sons (James and Lester) and that she did not want to be buried in the Buck plot which could have included DeWayne if he had stayed in New York. To give you some perspective - Eppaphroditis and Phebe Russ Buck (my great great great grandfather and grandmother) and Hiram Harriet Bloggett Buck (my great great great great grandfather and grandmother} are buried in Hermon, New York along with other Bucks.

Thorson Pictures

I have been busy on a couple of other branches of my tree but want to start with some Thorson pictures. Also, just to let you know I will be digging a little more in to the Thorson/Tallacksen side in the near future.

Some Buck Family History

I thought it may be of interest to some you to know a little Buck family history so here it is. William and Rodger Buck came to America from England in 1635 in the ship Increase. William was 50 years old and Rodger (sometimes spelled Roger in my search) was 18. It appears William was married once or twice in England and Rodger was not his first child. I have listed where our ancestors fell in birth order in their family. Often sons received more than daughters and 1st born sons received the land (with the idea they would take care of the parents). So here is our line:

James b.1555 in England
William b.1585 1st of our line to come to America-probably not 1st born son
Rodger b.1617 4th born, 4th son(of 2nd marriage?)
Epraim b.1646 3rd born, 3rd son, 1st generation born in America (MA)
John b.1679/80 4th born, 3rd son,
William b.1726 7th born(last?), 2nd son,
John b.1763 5th born (last?), 3rd son
Hiram b.1793 2nd born, 2nd son, 1st of the Buck's to leave MA for NY
Epaphroditis b.1820 1st born, 1st son, born in MA
DeWayne b.1856(NY) 5th born, 3rd son,moved to WI(left child of deseased 1st wife in NY)
James Buck b.1885(NY) 2nd born, 1st son moved to WI with his father DeWayne
Mabel Buck Thorson b.1915, 5th born,3rd daughter (child of DeWayne and Agnes Madsen)
insert name of your father or mother here
insert your name here (and so on...)

Keep in mind that this is our direct line to an ancestor that came to America. Each of them married. Some of the wives of the people in the list appear to have come from prominent families. I am still researching all of those lines. If you have any questions on any of this information just email me (khowl@charter.net). I have much more information. Kathy

More old Buck photos

The writing on the back of this photo is hard to read but it seems to indicate it is a picture of 2 grandmothers with their grand children. The person on the far right is Mabel Buck and the woman next to her is her grandmother Madsen. I don't know the identity of the other two people. Anyone have any ideas?

The back of the top photo says "Grandpa Jim Buck's old cow barn - Mabel,Florence, Wilbert, Stanley, Hazel".

James Buck (father of Mabel Buck Thorson and son of DeWayne Buck)

DeWayne Buck and great great granddaughter Kathy 1954

William Buck is an ancestor of Mabel Buck Thorson. He came to this country in 1635. Grandma always told me that our family came here in the "pilgrim days". She was right. Here is some information I just found.

Another Will

This the Last Will and Testament of Betsey E. Buck - 1st wife of DeWayne Buck. The James listed is the son of Betsey Webb Dain (later Buck) and James Dain, Betsey's first husband. The Lester mentioned appears to be the son of DeWayne and Betsey, although I am not 100% sure of this. There is no record of a Lester Buck in Wisconsin. Why didn't Lester come to Wisconsin with DeWayne Buck? I will keep searching. Notice the will is wtnessed by E (Epaphroditis) Buck.

Last Will and Testament

This is the Last Will and Testament of Epaphroditis Buck, father of DeWayne Buck. DeWayne Buck is the father of James Buck who is the father of Mabel Buck Thorson. It provides alot of information and some questions.

Tommy, Jimmy and Agnes Thorson

Beach Hunks

Danny Schulz and Tom Thorson

Written on back of picture - "Eli Thorson"

Children of James Buck and Agnes Mae Madsen

left to right (youngest to oldest) - Mabel Theresa Buck Thorson, Florence Buck Longworth, Wilbert Buck, Stanley Marvin Buck, Hazel Buck Brunner

Amelia Strehlow Thoris (wife of Thomas Thoris)

Happy Family - 1956

New

This the beginning of a new blog (same address). This will be devoted to the Thorson family. Check back occasionally for new "old" pictures and family updates.