About

My genealogical research began in November 2009 and concentrated on the immediate descendants of Sebastian Walby, my paternal great grandfather. Surfing the Internet, I discovered minutes for family reunions posted by Peter Walby at www.walbyfamily.org.  These go as far back as 1929 and are loaded with lots of names.  Also found was a list of Walbys and other relations buried at the St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio provided by Carolyn Reinbolt.  These two primary sources expanded the family tree to include a population exceeding 7,000 persons by June 2010.  The result can be seen on www.ancestry.com in the “Sebastian Walby Family Tree.”

This blog is dedicated to the extended families of Sebastian Walby, Mary Jane Meyer Walby and their 14 children, as shown at the very top of this page.  The family is gathered on the farmhouse porch in Millersville, Jackson Township, Sandusky County, Ohio (see highlighted map below for location). 

Presumably, everyone was gathered in 1904 to commemorate two sons leaving for homesteads in Canada.  Front Row from left to right:  Aloysius “Ollie”, George Thomas, Peter Michael, Sebastian, Rudolph “Rudy”, Mary Regina “Mary Jane”.  Back Row:  Romance, Edward Ambrose, Joseph, Louis, Andrew, Frank Anthony, Josephine, Matelda, Elizabeth Anna, Rosa Cecilia.

Brief biographies can be found here – along with life stories and anecdotes about their ancestors and descendants.  In many cases, I have woven the few details we have with historical and geographical facts. Much appreciation is given to Robert Bischoff for several facts about Anton Wallpe’s life – Sebastian’s father.  Also used were the stories of other German-American pioneers during the same time period – as their experiences will be quite similar.  Some creative license was used here to bring Sebastian and early Wallpes back to life for descendents living in the 21st century.  If you enjoy my posts, or know more, be sure to leave comments and return to this blog often.  For more information, send an email to marywalby@yahoo.com.