Flower in the River: A Family Tale Finally Told
Welcome to all the new listeners, especially those from Ireland! Since there are so many new folks, I provide background on the origin of my podcast, which is tied to my book Flower in the River about the 1915 Eastland Disaster in Chicago. I also talk about the power of world building in genealogy and how understanding our ancestors' times can help us understand them and us better.
In the segment “From eBay to Eastland,” I recount finding an Eastland Disaster court document listed for sale on eBay...for a lot of money! I then located the same document on Google Books--for free! In the case of public domain documents, you might want to make Google Books your one-stop shopping place.
A name on the court document led me to research two Eastland Disaster victims who were new to me. Meet William Ristow and his brother Herman Ristow — and learn about their lives and the aftermath. Serendipitously, I found ancestral connections to the Ristow name.
I summarize William Ristow’s estate’s lawsuit contesting the ship owner’s limited liability. This took place 19 years after the Eastland Disaster. After appeals, the court ruled in favor of the owner. I reflect on justice denied to victims’ families.
Public Domain books
Using Google Books
Photos
Forest Home (Waldheim) Cemetery and Haymarket Memorial
Music (Artlist)