Re: Theron Ackerman
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In reply to:
Theron Ackerman
David Nielsen 9/21/02
There is little information I know regarding the Ackerman family.But I happen to be the great, great grandson of Theron and Augusta Ackerman.Their daughter, Myrtie, was my great grandmother who married Melville Bryson in New Westminster, B.C.I was told that Theron and Augusta's son, Nelson, was shot and killed by a stray bullet when he was just a young boy.I'm not sure where this happened, either when they were living in Colorado or California.I was also told that they lived in Seattle before finally settling in New Westminster.
My great aunt, Barbara Bryson, is their only surviving grand daughter, she is now 86 years old and living in a nursing home.It's unfortunate that her memory is mostly gone.So what information I have I got from her from several years ago.I remember her telling me that some of Theron's brothers and sisters also moved to New Westminster.I have no documentation to verify this, but it's what she told me.
Theron become a prominent citizen of New Westminster and became that city's fire chief.An amusing family story is that, while the family was away on holiday, the city burned down (how convenient for my great great grandfather, the fire chief!).We also understand he belonged to the 'Knights of Phythias', but we are not sure what kind of organization this is.We imagine they're something like the Masons.
Theron and Augusta's only daughter, Myrtie, married Melville Bryson in 1897.Myrtie and Melville had 5 children.
Theron Bryson (my grandfather, died in 1968), Beth Bryson (died in 1909), Margaret Bryson (died 1995), Ruth Bryson (died 1978), and Barbara Bryson (survives).Only Theron Bryson married and had children (including my mother Beth Bryson Zubitis).
There is some debate in our family as to what ethnic heritage this Ackerman family came from.My great aunt told me they were Dutch, though my mother thinks perhaps they came from Jewish heritage.I tend to believe the former.My great aunt also told me she remembered an Ackerman uncle spent much energy on trying to prove that a big part of Manhattan belonged to the Ackerman family and he wanted compensation!
Any information that someone else may have would be useful.
Michael Zubitis