Finding my ancestors

I need something to do this winter; I decided to check out my family tree.
I know nothing about my grandfather’s family and next to nothing about my grandmother’s family on my mother's side. I decided to start with my grandfathers family, Erna S Bartow. My grandfather died when I was 10. I remember him playing solitare, making things in the shed and the Collie he had named Callie. I remember he had an orchard. He took me out to the orchard once and picked a pear off the tree and gave it to me to eat. I had never had a pear before. I didn't like it at all. I didn't like the texture of it in my mouth. I still don't like pears. Whenever I see a pear I think of my grandfather. (weird I know)

I started last night on Ancestory.com, I am not even sure I am headed in the right direction. My mother died in 1980 and my Uncle is the only one left that can give me any information. I haven't really had a lot of contact with my Uncle Jack since my mother died. I always have the fondest memories of him when I was growing up. He always bought the coolest presents. One of the Christmas presents that I remember was he bought all of us girls an album. The one I got was "Peter and the Wolf". I also remember the "nesting" dolls he brought back from Russia, I wish I still had them. Anyway I called my Uncle Jack. It was really nice to chat with him. I really need to get over and see him.

He gave me lots of information and is mailing me a few things. I am excited to get started. I jotted down a few notes, hopefully I got them correct. They are fascinating.

My grandfather's mother was born in Oslo Norway her maiden name was Carrie Halverson she came the United States when she was a child. Her family settled in Wisconsin. Uncle Jack is not sure how she made it to Colorado, I think he told me her mother died when she was young but I am not positive he told me that. They settled in Manzanola, Colorado which is where she died when she was 98 or 99. I have been in Colorado all my life and have never heard of Manzanola. She was married to Thomas Jefferson Bartow. He died when he was in his 40's from a kidney infection. She never got over it. Uncle Jack says he remembers her taking him and my mother to the cemetery to visit their grandfather’s grave, telling them that this is where she would be buried. She never remarried. My grandfather took over his father's canning factory business when he was 14 and supported the family.

My grandfather had one brother Earl and two sisters, Alberta and Ester. He remembers playing with Alberta’s children Lois and Don in Delta, CO when he was growing up. There was another brother but he was older. I just jotted down notes so I hope I am getting this correct. If not I will fix it later when I make sure it is correct.

Some of the fascinating things he told me -There is an aunt - Theodosia that was married to Aaron Burr and something about she had a child, her and the child died in a boating accident but where never found. She was somehow in love with or fascinated by either Meriwether or Clark the explorers.
There is a book written by Anya Seton called My Theodosia this gives some historical account of the Bartow family.
Uncle Jack has something on his wall that he is going to send me a copy of about a 9 acre mansion that was built in 1664 by Thomas Pell in New York City. It was purchased from him by John Bartow back in 1790. It is now a museum Pelham Park. I just googled Pelham park and it says “Like many of New York City's parks, the land on which it sits has a long and intricate history”
When I get a chance I’ll read some history on it.

Uncle Jack has a German friend that is into history that told him the Bartow’s were Prussian slaves then immigrated to Russia then France then the US.

I wrote down Robert Bartow built a house, not sure what that was about.
Uncle Jack is going to jot down somethings he remembers and send them to me. I am excited to get started.