It has been five months since I wrote my last Virtual Hike update. There are multiple reasons for this. One is that my mind has wandered to other topics, but probably the biggest reason is that I have not been walking as much. I need to really start walking every night as I have in the past.

My last update was from Rome, Wisconsin. See: Virtual Hike to Rome

This leg of the Virtual Hike started at the farm of my 4th great grandfather Orsamus Braman.

From Rome it took me south to Dundee Township, Illinois. The main reason that I chose Dundee Township as the next destination was that it was where my 3rd great grandmother Mary C. Goff was living in 1850.

Sometime before 1858 she married Isaac Braman who was the son of Orsamus. As you can see they lived about 70 miles apart. I am still trying to figure out how they may have met. In 1860 Isaac and Mary were living in Wisconsin with the Braman’s, and the Goff family was still in Illinois.

I am still trying to figure out the Goff family. I know that Mary’s parents were David Goff and Elizabeth Tubbs. But, there were several Goff families in the area, with more than one David who is the right age. I was again checking a few facts and records, but need to stop and get this finished. I can get back to researching the Goffs later.

This picture from Google Street View helps me imagine what the area may have looked like back in the mid 1800’s.

The Virtual Hike now heads to the east and the next stop will be in Indiana at another place with a family connection.

Steven