Probable Steps in the Process of Anglicizing the Name Ziebarth
In Ed's Book, he details the following important facts uncovered in his research on the Ziebarth family history. He has established that Grandfather August died while he and his wife Louisa were living on what was known as the Ben Hall Place, which was located southeast of the town of Emerado, about half way between the towns of Thompson and Emerado. He was buried from the German Evangelical United Brethren Church, in the Holms Cemetery. This lovely cemetery sire is located about 22 miles southeast of Emerado. (As I stood before that historic monument sensing the natural beauty and serenity of the place, and aware of all the remarkable and fascinating family history symbolized in that marker, cold chills ran up my spine; and I offered a silent prayer to God for the wonderful heritage of which I was the recipient. AWS)

It was brother Ed who discovered that this beautiful monument was not placed on the family burial plot until a year or so following Grandfather August's death; at which time the Ziebarth family was then living on what was known as the Spafford Place, located a mile or so west of the Ben Hall Place, where Grandfather August had passed away. Now, it is my personal theory that at Grandfather August's funeral gathering, when all of his living children were presumably present, that consideration was given to the various problems listed above regarding the family surname. According to the recollection of Uncle Fred and Ella Henrietta, it was Uncle Will (William Henry, twin brother of George Henry), who made the suggestion that the family's surname be anglicized to Seebart . If agreement to change the name was not arrived on this occasion, the it must have been reached within the year or so between the burial of Grandfather August and the placing of the monument which bore the name, Charleya Seebart.

It would be logical to assume that the decision was reached at the funeral gathering, rather than at some later gathering or by the taking of a poll during the intervening months. It is very interesting to note that the decision to put the words "Charleya Seebart" on Grandfather August's grave marker represents an almost complete break with the past; insofar as the family's surname is concerned. Grandfather August was almost never referred to as Charleya, or even by the nickname Charley. He was known to everyone as August. No wonder brother Ed had great difficulty in getting answers to his questions when he went into the above-stated communities to trace the family history. The people know and remembered only August Ziebarth. They knew nothing of Charleya Seebart.

For the record, it should be noted here that Grandma Louisa (August's wife), who died in 1899, and the youngest son of this family, Emmett, are also buried in this family plot in the Holmes cemetery; however, neither one of them has a grave marker. Procrastination and a lack of leadership are probably responsible for this regrettable neglect. How about keeping the record in these days when cremation is so common?

I have often wondered how life might have been changed for the members of the Emerado Seebarts children had Ella Henrietta married Bill instead of Hank. It is possible, but not likely, that none of us children would ever have been born. It is more likely that the two youngest members of our family, namely ma sister, May (Mae), the youngest and myself, would not have been born. So I, for one, am thankful indeed that Ma married Pa. (Had it not been so, it is very unlikely that I would now be writing this manuscript.) It has occurred to me, on more than one occasion, that Ella Henrietta might have been much better off economically and socially, had she married Bill: for he was always a much better earner and manager and Hank; and a much more imaginative and ingenious sort of person when it came to getting along in the world. In many respects, indeed: we are children of fate.