The stories here are arranged roughly in chronological order. They are more than just accounts of individuals and their families—they offer glimpses into different eras and a wide range of locales. From Midwestern cities like Cincinnati, Dayton, and Sedalia to the rural landscapes of Missouri and Kansas, these narratives capture a rich tapestry of history. They also portray early San Francisco in the 1860s and life in the South, in places like Greensboro and Richmond. What unites them all is their shared lineage—they tell the stories of the descendants of Morris and Etta Lindeman, along with their son Gustave and his wife, Henrietta Okes, the patriarchs and matriarchs of our family.
The document below details the lineage and history of the Scotch-Irish Elliott family preceding Mae Elliott Lindeman’s father, John Bruce Elliott, tracing their migration from Ireland to America. Much of the information was collected by James Bruce Elliott in furtherance of his application to the Sons of the American Revolution. The major research was accomplished and chronicled by Henry Vaughn Elliott, already a member of that organization. Several articles, two from the 1800s, are included as additional documentation.
The “Morris Letters”-Correspondence Between Morris Lindeman (1818-1903) and his sons Gus and Simon
Family Members from all three main family groups who have served in uniform, from the 1700s on. Please use the Contact Page to identify other family members who have served, including when and in what service. If there is a photo of them in uniform available, please send that as well.
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Ed. Note–Much of the narrative and interpretive content in this section is the work of June Koch Cooper Price (1933–2008), the granddaughter of Seeley Lindeman—one of the seven Lindeman brothers—and therefore my great-uncle.
On a personal note, I have a distinct memory of visiting Aunt Pearl and Uncle Seeley at their home near Cincinnati, though there may have been other visits. I remember this particular occasion because it took place on Sunday, December 7, 1941. Though I was just shy of three years old, the stress and tension felt by the adults on that fateful day left an indelible impression on me—a permanent prestige memory.
June was a gifted writer who beautifully captured the essence of the times in which our ancestors lived. Reading her work transports you back to those earlier days, immersing you in the world they knew. She dedicated herself to preserving Lindeman family history, compiling an extensive body of work. In 2002, she published and distributed a bound volume of her research to family members.
The survival of these volumes is uncertain, and it is unlikely that they remain accessible to the newer generations—our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—who have arrived in the past 20-plus years. To ensure her invaluable work is not lost to time, I have chosen to preserve and share her narratives on this site, making them available to all descendants. Having corresponded extensively with June about family history, I am confident she would have approved.
Each instance of her work included here is properly attributed to her. While I have exercised editorial discretion in reorganizing and formatting the material, it remains otherwise unaltered—no additional editing was necessary. Throughout her narratives, June incorporated excerpts from original diaries, reminiscences, and personal accounts. Where available, those original sources are included in their entirety in this section.
Many of the original typed manuscripts that served as the foundation for these narratives were created by Susanne Lindeman Lang (1924–2014), daughter of Harry Lindeman, another of the Lindeman brothers.
As one of the few remaining members of my generation who personally knew family members born and raised in the 1800s, I consider it both an obligation and a privilege to extend the life of these stories. William S. Rosenthal February 2025