Thursday, December 6, 2012

Create Your Own Ancestors -- Really?

I Spent some time in an antique store last weekend and found this little basket of goodies. When I searched through the little basket for some indication of price I found this note.

CREATE YOUR ANCESTORS! $1.00 ea.
 While I was glad to pay only $1 the suggestion of creating your own ancestors didn't sit well with me at all.

Are there people who really do that? I know there is bound to be a bad apple in a every bunch.

My goal here is to find old photos and other ephemera that have inscriptions or definite markings of the person who originally owned the lost family treasure so I can at least attempt to reunite them with the correct family members. Therefore, I tend to stay away from photos that are unidentifiable.  I only bought two of those photos, but I might just end up going back and getting them all for fear that someone actually will create their own ancestors!

So this has got me to thinking.  Should I start putting a watermark or something on the photos I post?  Or disable saving images?

This photo has no identifying marks and was found in an antique store
 in the Jacksonville, Fl area.

I hate to think that there is actually someone desperate enough to put someone else's ancestor's face in their family tree. Maybe a watermark will force more communication about a lost family treasure.

I would appreciate your input.


Leslie Ann

Friday, October 19, 2012

Another Lost Family Treasure Found!


I am happy to announce that this book is on it's way to a family member where it belongs.

I posted this book, The Alhambra, back in May. It belonged to Lena Doerfler and was dated Feb 15, 1904.

I was contacted by a grandson of Lena's and he should have this book any day now. He also let me know that the burial information I posted about her was actually for a different Lena. 

This Lena was not buried in Ohio, but Macon, Georgia. She was interred in the William Wolff Cemetery in Macon, Georgia, Section 30, Lot K. She was born Jan 5, 1889 and died Nov 19, 1960. The source is "The Jewish Burials of Macon, Georgia: 1844-1997," by Marian Waxelbaum and Gus Bernd Kaufman.

Now let's see what else I can send home.



Leslie Ann

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Clara Hopwood Allen

 As promised yesterday, here is the only cabinet card photo with a name on the back.

I believe I have found the right gal in the census records.

The photograph was taken in Greeneville, Connecticut which is in New London County.  That is where I started my search.


Name:Clara A. Hopwood
Age:11
Birth Year:abt 1869
Birthplace:Massachusetts
Home in 1880:Norwich, New London, Connecticut
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Daughter
Marital Status:Single
Father's Name:John Hopwood
Father's Birthplace:England
Mother's Name:Mary Hopwood
Mother's Birthplace:Ireland
Occupation:At School
Household Members:
NameAge
John Hopwood38
Mary Hopwood45
Mary A. Hopwood20
John H. Hopwood19
James E. Hopwood17
Clara A. Hopwood11
       
Then I ran a search for Clara Allen and found her married to Benjamin Allen.

Name:Clara A Allen
Age:31
Birth Date:Dec 1868
Birthplace:Massachusetts 
Home in 1900:Norwich, New LondonConnecticut 
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Wife
Marital Status:Married
Spouse's Name:Benjamin H Allen
Marriage Year:1890
Years Married:10
Father's Birthplace:England
Mother's Birthplace:Ireland
Mother: number of living children:5
Mother: How many children:5


Household Members:
NameAge
Benjamin H Allen36
Clara G Allen31
William J Allen8
Mary C Allen7
Benjamin H Allen5
Clara L Allen2
Francis E Allen8/12

I was able to find a birth record as well as a listing in the Connecticut Directory for Clara Hopwood. She was born Dec 1, 1867 in Lawrence, Massachusetts to John and Mary Hopwood.

In 1888 she was a clerk in Norwhich, Connecticut.  

I haven't found any marriage records, but I am assuming that she met up with Benjamin in Connecticut and that is probably where they married.

By 1910 they were living in Lawrence, Massachusetts and they had seven children.  Looks like they spent some time in New Jersey where their sixth child Raymond was born.  Their seventh child, Madeline, was born in Rhode Island.

In the 1930 Lawrence, Massachusetts census Benjamin was listed as a widow.

And speaking of Benjamin, I think this photo might be of him.


According to the census information, Benjamin Allen was born in Rhode Island which brings me to the next photo. It was taken in Providence, Rhode Island by Goodwin's Studio. Maybe it's just me, but I think the man in this next photo looks a lot like the man above.

According to census records and the Rhode Island Directory, James Goodwin was a photographer from 1800-1900. 

So what do you think?  Could these two men be the same person, or father and son?

Let me know what you think. 

If these are your ancestors, please let me know.  Would love to see these photos in the hands of family.

Sources:
  • Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Town Records, 1620-1988
  • Ancestry.com. Norwich, Connecticut Directories, 1887-91
  • 1880 Census Place: Norwich, New London, Connecticut; Roll: 107; Family History Film: 1254107; Page: 248C; Enumeration District: 096; Image: 0778.
  • 1900 Census Place: NorwichNew LondonConnecticut; Roll: 150; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 482; FHL microfilm: 1240150.
  • 1910 Census Place: Lawrence Ward 1EssexMassachusetts; Roll: T624_582; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0338; Image: 1268; FHL microfilm: 1374595.
  •  1920 Census Place: Lawrence Ward 1, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_692; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 94; Image: 298.
  • 1930 Census Place: LawrenceEssexMassachusetts; Roll: 897; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 86; Image: 681.0; FHL microfilm: 2340632.


Leslie Ann

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Fun For All Ages!


While strolling through the Waldo Flea Market a couple of weeks ago I got excited when I saw this old Parker Brothers game.  I had never heard of this game before, probably because I wasn't around in 1896.

When I opened up the box it wasn't the game I found.  Even though I liked what was inside the box, I still was curious about the game.  I was able to find something on Google that explained about the game.




What was in the box? One tin type, one postcard photo, and five cabinet card photos.






I don't know about you, but when I look at this picture the following phrases come to mind: 
  • G-Man
  • Bootlegger
  • Gangster
  • Mobster



Unfortunately none of these photos have inscriptions on them so I don't know who they are. Only one of the cabinet cards had a name written on the back.  I will share her photo tomorrow along with the other two that I think may belong to the same family.

Leslie Ann

Friday, July 13, 2012

Three Year Old Blogger


It was three years ago today I discovered the world of blogging.

I can think of no better way to celebrate than to share my excitement about connecting yet another family treasure with a family member.

Little Avis Anderson is going home!
In fact, she should be arriving sometime today.

It turns out that in 1961 Avis gave birth to a baby boy when she was about 38.  She gave the baby up for adoption.  He has just recently discovered that Avis was his birth mother. Unfortunately she has already passed and there is no chance of them reuniting.  That's why it means so much to me that I found this photo.

I am so thrilled to be a part of placing this family treasure in the home where it belongs.


Leslie Ann

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

1963 Postcard of Logan Pass


This beautiful postcard came from the Eight Flags Antique Market.  I love mountain scenery! This is a shot of Logan Pass, a part of Glacier National Park in Montana.  Here I thought Logan Pass was in Utah.  What do I know.

Did you ever wonder who the people are in postcards and vacation brochures? Do they know they are being photographed?  Were they told that their likeness was going to be passed around?  I have always been curious about that.


The postmark is from East Glacier Park, Mont. and dated Aug 10 11 AM 1963.
It's addressed to Mrs. Ruth Lundin, 4207 S Dale Mabry, Tampa, Florida.

Bonnie & Leo, Jim & Betsy
& I drove to Yellowstone
Park yesterday & then here
we woke up to this view.
We drove from 6:30 a.m.
to 11 p.m. It was 92°  at 
3 P.M. and we had to put 
our sweaters on by 7 P.M.
Wonderful weather here.
     Love E. Win   Box B8. 

I haven't been able to glean much information about Ruth, but I did find her death record.


Name:Ruth Lundin
Death Date:10 May 1991
County of Death:Hillsborough
State of Death:Florida
Age at Death:87
Race:White
Birth Date:12 Nov 1903


Source Information:
Ancestry.com. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998.



Maybe E. Win or Bonnie, Leo, Jim, or Betsy would like to have this postcard.



Leslie Ann


Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Alhambra

A couple of weeks ago hubby and I went to the Ramona Flea Market and my eye spied this old book.  For a book to get my attention while walking up and down aisles in a flea market it has to look old.

If I buy a book from a flea market or antique store, it has to meet just one of the following criteria:

  • It has something to do with genealogy or history.
  • It is older than me.
  • It's something I recognize from my childhood.
  • It's included in the card game called Authors.
  • It has inscriptions from previous owners.


This particular book fits three of those categories.  It's (way) older than me, It has inscriptions, and it's included in the game Authors.

May I introduce you to THE ALHAMBRA, by Washington Irving.  It is an author's revised edition published by The Henneberry Company in Chicago. This publishing company was in operation as The Henneberry Company from 1901-1907.  This particular book was from one of many series that they published.  You can get an idea of what the book originally looked like from the Tom Brown Series.

Since the original owner dated this book 1904, I estimate it was published sometime between 1901 and 1904.

Lena Doerfler
605 Scoville Ave
Cleveland, O.
Feb 15 - 1904
There is also an inscription on the inside front cover probably from the person who gave it to her.  Unfortunately some juvenile neanderthal took it upon himself to write a vulgar rhyme underneath.

He who fights & runs away
Lives to fight another day
(Like Lena)
 I was able to find Lena in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 Ohio Census.

Name:Lena Doerfler
Age:11
Birth Date:Jan 1889
Birthplace:Ohio
Home in 1900:Cleveland Ward 13, Cuyahoga, Ohio
[Cuyahoga] 
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Daughter
Marital Status:Single
Father's Birthplace:Bohemia
Mother's name:Bertha Doerfler
Mother's Birthplace:Prussia

Household Members:
NameAge
Bertha Doerfler52
Samuel Doerfler24
Anna Doerfler21
Mollie Doerfler20
Lena Doerfler11

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Cleveland Ward 13CuyahogaOhio; Roll: 1253; Page: 22A; Enumeration District: 51; FHL microfilm: 1241253.


Name:Lena Jacobs
Age in 1910:21
Birth Year:1889
Birthplace:Ohio
Home in 1910:Cleveland Ward 25, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Wife
Marital Status:Married
Spouse's Name:Phillip Jacobs
Father's Birthplace:Germany
Mother's Birthplace:Germany

Household Members:
NameAge
Phillip Jacobs30
Lena Jacobs21
Philip Jacobs Jr.1

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Cleveland Ward 25CuyahogaOhio; Roll: T624_1176; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 0378; Image: 138; FHL microfilm: 1375189.


Name:Lena Jacobs
Age:31
Birth Year:abt 1889
Birthplace:Ohio
Home in 1920:Cleveland Ward 24, Cuyahoga, Ohio
Race:White
Gender:Female
Relation to Head of House:Wife
Marital Status:Married
Spouse's Name:Philip A Jacobs
Father's Birthplace:Bohemia
Mother's name:Bertha Doerflu
Mother's Birthplace:Germany
Able to Read:Yes
Able to Write:Yes

Household Members:
NameAge
Philip A Jacobs39
Lena Jacobs31
Arthur Jacobs10
Josephine Jacobs7
Leonard Jacobs10/12
Bertha Doerflu72
Mildred Isoma16
Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Cleveland Ward 24, Cuyahoga, Ohio; Roll: T625_1371; Page: 16B; Enumeration District: 467; Image: 500.

I also found her marriage certificate:
Source Citation: Cuyahoga County Archive; Cleveland, Ohio; Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1810-1973; Volume: Vol 70-71; Page: 160; Year Range: 1908 Apr - 1909 Feb
And lastly, I found her burial information:

Name:Lena Jacobs
Hebrew Name:Leah bat David
Birth Date:Nov 1890
Death Date:Jun 1952
Age at Death:61
Burial Plot:Section K Row 5
Burial Place:Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Cemetery:Glenville Cemetery
Cemetery Burials:3724
Cemetery Comments:13009 Shaw Ave., Cleveland, OH 44108

Source Information:
JewishGen, comp. JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
Original data: This data is provided in partnership with JewishGen.org.


My main objective is to get this book in the hands of a descendant of Phillip and Lena Doerfler Jacobs.  In the mean time, this book would be great for story time.

*Update - This book is now in the hands of a grandson of Phillip & Lena Doerfler Jacobs.


Leslie Ann

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...