Saturday, June 30, 2018

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: The Date Your Grandmother Was Born

Randy Seaver has a fun challenge for this week's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun!

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission:  Impossible! music, please!):
 

(1) What day of the week was your grandmother born (either one)?  Tell us how you found out.

(2)  What event was a headline in the newspapers on that date?  Tell us how you found out.

 
(3) What has happened in recorded history on your grandmother's birth date (day and month)? Tell us how you found out and list five events.


(4) What famous people have been born on your grandmother's birth date?  Tell us how you found out and list five of them.

(5) Put your responses in your own blog post, in a comment on this blog post, or in a status or comment on Facebook.


Here's mine:

1.  I chose my paternal grandmother, Anna Gauntt, who was born January 14, 1893, a Saturday, in Westhampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.  Her parents were Thomas Kirkland Gauntt and Jane Dunstan.

Method:  I confirmed Nana's birth date and place by finding her birth registration in Burlington County, New Jersey records.  I found the day by checking http://www.timeanddate.com/.

2.  In the Los Angeles Herald of January 14, 1893, the first story on the front page was "Charges against Carnot / Enemies of the President [of France] Tell Ugly Stories", with a dateline of Paris.

Method:  I looked on Chronicling America for front pages of newspapers published on January 14, 1893.  I wanted to find one from New Jersey, but there weren't any, so I settled for a Los Angeles newspaper, because that's where I was born.

3.  Historical events that occurred on January 14:

• A.D. 1301:  Andrew III of Hungary died.

• A.D. 1539:  Spain annexed Cuba.

• A.D. 1784:  The Congress of the United States of America ratified the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain.

• A.D. 1907:  An earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica killed more than 1,000 people.

• A.D. 2004:  The national flag of the Republic of Georgia was restored to official use.

Method:  I looked up the date on Wikipedia.

4.  Famous people born on January 14:

• 83 B.C.:  Mark Antony, Roman general and politician.

• A.D. 1273:  Joan I of Navarre, queen regnant of Navarre and queen consort of France.

• A.D. 1741:  Benedict Arnold, American-British general and traitor.

• A.D. 1836:  Henri Fantin-Latour, French painter and lithographer.

• A.D. 1919:  Andy Rooney, American soldier, journalist, critic, and television personality.

Method:  I looked up the date on Wikipedia.

I didn't think Nana's birth date was as boring as Randy thinks his grandmother's was.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Ohio-bound in 2019

The Ohio Genealogical Society recently sent out contracts to the speakers chosen for its 2019 conference, "Building a Heritage", scheduled for May 1–4 in Mason, Ohio at the Great Wolf Lodge.  And I was the happy recipient of one of those contracts!  It will be a relatively Jewish conference for me, as the talks they selected are "Jewish Genealogy:  How Is This Research Different from All Other Research?" and "Online Resources for Jewish Genealogy."

I'm already looking forward to the conference.  Not only will I enjoy giving the presentations and learning from other speakers, I'm sure I'll get to visit some extended family members who live in the area.  Plus Mason isn't that far from Cincinnati, and a con man I am researching was from near there.  The last time I was in Cincinnati, I was able to find a lot of information about him, but I left some stones unturned at the time.

So watch out, Ohio!  I'll be seeing you next year!

Saturday, June 23, 2018

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Who Is Your Second-most Recent Unknown Ancestor?

This week's Saturday Night Genealotgy Fun challenge is a rather logical extrapolation of a previous one.

Here is your assignment, if you choose to play along (cue the Mission:  Impossible! music, please!):

(1) Who is Your SMRUA — your Second Most Recent Unknown Ancestor?  The one that you don't have a name for, or any information.  The one completely unknown to you.  


(2) Have you looked at your research files for this unknown person recently?  Why don't you scan it again just to see if there's something you have missed? 

(3) What online or offline resources might you search that might help identify your SMRUA?  What about DNA matches?

(4) Tell us about him or her, and your answers to (2) and (3) above, in a blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a comment on Facebook or Google+. 

NOTE:  We've done Most Recent Unknown Ancestors before.  Feel free to work down your list to someone you haven't written about before.


Here's mine.

I have written previously about my Most Recent Unknown Ancestor, which is my paternal grandfather's biological father.  I have found two close Y-DNA matches to my father, which have led me to the hypothesis that my biological great-grandfather was a Mr. Mundy.

When I looked through my family tree, I was surprised to see that my second-most recent unknown ancestor is . . . Mr. Mundy's father, my great-great-grandfather!  Yes, even though I am Jewish on my mother's side, I have at least a given name for every one of my great-great-grandparents on that side, and I have complete names for most of them, as well as for everyone on my paternal grandmother's line.

Obviously, finding my great-great-grandfather's name is entirely dependent on identifying my great-grandfather first.  I guess this challenge is a hint that I really should get back to working on tracing those Mundy lines backward and then forward in time, so I can try to find some living Mundy descendants with whom to communicate.  Maybe I will be lucky enough to find one or more who have already done autosomal DNA testing, so I can try to confirm my hypothesis that Bertram Mundy was my grandfather's biological father.

Like I always say, hope springs eternal!

Sunday, June 17, 2018

Father and Grandfather

A few years ago I was lamenting the fact that I didn't have any photos of my father and his father together.  Recently, however, as I was doing more unpacking after my move, I discovered two old photo albums with the "magnetic" sticky paper.  I decided I really should take all those photos out as soon as possible, and in doing that, lo and behold!, I found what may be the only photograph of my father and grandfather together.  So here it is, in honor of Father's Day.


Saturday, June 16, 2018

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: What Did Your Father Love to Do?

Tomorrow is Father's Day, so I expected Randy Seaver to make the theme of this week's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun related to that, and he did not disappoint.

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission:  Impossible! music, please!):

(1) It's Father's Day in the USA on Sunday, so let's talk about our fathers.  


(2) What did your father really like to do in his work or spare time?  Did he have hobbies, or a workshop, or did he like sports, or reading, or watching TV?

(3) Tell us about it in your own blog post, in a comment on this post, or in a Facebook or Google+ post.


The two things my father has always loved are cars and music.  He did things with cars both for work and his free time, and he played music in a lot of his spare time.

I don't know how young Daddy was when he first got hooked on cars, but I know he started racing when he was just a teenager.  He told me a story once about how he broke an arm when he was racing but was supposed to be doing something else, and he tried to hide it from his mother (my grandmother).  Years later he discovered that she had known all along that he was racing that day.

Daddy raced in Florida, California, Australia, and Texas, that I know of.  I think he mostly raced stock cars.  I don't know if he raced in New Jersey before moving to Florida.  He has lots and lots of trophies, which he has been threatening to get rid of, although I've told him he better not and that he should send them to me instead.  Somewhere (I have no idea where!) I have a photograph of him working on a car engine and my mother's brother hanging over the engine compartment on the other side.

When my family lived in Southern California, we would sometimes go with Daddy to racetracks, such as Pomona Raceway.  Years ago, while I was still living in Southern California, I was driving east on I-10 and drove through Ontario.  To the north side of the freeway was this massive empty lot with a huge pile of dirt in the middle.  There was nothing identifying the place, but it looked familiar to me.  I kept looking at it as I was driving past, and it suddenly dawned on me that it was the location of the former Ontario Raceway.  I couldn't have been there many times, but I somehow recognized it, even in its stripped-down state.

And Daddy's profession was being a mechanic.  He had shops of his own, and he worked for other people.  When we lived in Australia, he was photographed using a piece of expensive equipment for an ad that ran in the newspaper.  (A friend of mine told me that not any mechanic could use that equipment properly, so my father had to have been a damned good mechanic, which I knew already.)  When we moved back to the States and ended up in Niceville, the garage he had there became our place of refuge during Hurricane Eloise in 1975.  So I grew up around garages and racetracks, and the smell of engine grease is still oddly comforting to me.

My father's other great love is music.  He played guitar for my siblings and me when we were little, and we learned songs such as "Sixteen Tons", "Abba Dabba Honeymoon", and "Mairzy Doats" by heart.  Before he was married, he competed on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour with a swing band (The Court Jesters) that came in second to a very young Gladys Knight.  And he played piano and organ also; he always had a piano or organ in the house.  He recently decided to sell the organ he had, because he can't play anymore due to arthritis in his hands.  That was a sad day.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Events in My Family Tree: June 4

I'm pretty sure this is the first time that the number of births has been less than either that for marriages or deaths.

Births

Ezra Thackeray, son of James Thackeray and Jane Gaunt, was born June 4, 1796 in New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed via the Gaunts.

Catherine Andrews was born June 4, 1942 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  She was married to Richard Bruce Sellers, Sr., son of George Moore Sellers and Bertha Poinsett Eckman, who is my 1st cousin once removed.


Marriages

John A. Gaunt, son of Hananiah Selah Gaunt and Abigail Atkinson, and Hannah B. Smith were married on June 4, 1872 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey.  John is my great-great-granduncle.

Raymond Albert Largess and Dorothy Adelle Allen, daughter of Charles Louis Allen and Marion M. Lauinger, were married on June 4, 1944, possibly in New Jersey.  Dorothy is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Charles Robert Clark, son of Oren Wilson Clark and Anna G. Gaunt, and Dorthea Virginia Lynch were married on June 4, 1944 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Charles is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Sheldon Cohen and Joyce Rene Render, daughter of Bertram Ruthledge Render and Ruth Schumeister, were married on June 4, 1967, possibly in Nebraska.  Joyce is my 4th cousin on my Nowicki line through the Schumeisters.

David M. Stein and Ruth Schumeister (Joyce's mother, above), daughter of Henry Schumeister and Celia Perlmutter, were married on June 4, 1978, probably in Nebraska.  Ruth is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Nowicki line through the Perlmutters.

Timothy Thomas Turner and Stephanie Carol Baker were married June 4, 2005 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.  Stephanie is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gauntt line.


Deaths

James T. Sutton died June 4, 1874 at the age of about 65 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He was married to Margaret Fox, daughter of John Fox and Catherine Fisher, who is my 3x-great-grandaunt.

Rosanna Mack, daughter of John A. Mack and Catherine Layman Aufrance, died June 4, 1940 at the age of 83, probably in Stark County, Ohio.  She is my 4th cousin 4x removed.

Merrill B. Kirk Cann died June 4, 1963 at the age of 67 in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  He was married to Abbie Walton Sellers, daughter of Elmer Ferguson Sellers and Minnie B. Frey, who is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Loving Day



Floyd Richard Williams and Elizabeth Jean McStroul were married on October 5, 1968 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio.

Today, June 12, is Loving Day, and time to celebrate and remember the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia that struck down antimiscegenation laws in the sixteen (Southern) states that still had refused to let them go.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Events in My Family Tree: June 3

I was so close to being caught up, and then the hard drive failed on the computer on which I have my primary family databases.  I'm glad I had a back-up file on another computer!

Births

Harriet Lippincott, daughter of Abel A. Lippincott and Rachel Stackhouse, was born June 3, 1853 in Westhampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my great-great-grandaunt.

Allen Severs Easlick, son of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, was born June 3, 1868 in Chesterfield or Tansborough, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Anna G. Tonkin, daughter of George C. Tonkin and Mary B. Gaunt, was born June 3, 1882 in South Harrison Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Mary Naomi Vaughn, daughter of John E. Vaughn and Bertha Florence Gaunt, was born June 3, 1914 in Kings County, California.  She is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Esther Cohen was born June 3, 1924 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  She was married to Moshe Kardish, son of Dovid Kardish and Etta Gorodetsky, who is my 1st cousin 2x removed via the Gorodetskys.

Carol Lynn Vaughn, daughter of Melville Everett Vaughn and Evelyn Virginia Ballenger, was born June 3, 1941 in Hanford, Kings County, California.  She is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Vaughns.

David Alan Gaunt was born June 3, 1961 in Oakland, Alameda County, California.  He is also my 5th cousin once removed.

Hila Loraine Egyud was born June 3, 1963.  She is another 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line.

Zachary Aaron Moss was born June 3, 1999 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  He is my 4th cousin once removed on my Meckler line.

Ella Leven Rivlin was born June 3, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  She is also my 4th cousin once removed on my Meckler line.


Marriages

George Howard Stirling and Mary Sellers, daughter of David Wampole Sellers and Anna Frances Jaquett, were married on June 3, 1895 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  Mary is my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Peter J. McGovern and Mary F. Gaynor, daughter of James P. Gaynor and Mary Guynan, were married on June 3, 1915 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  Mary is the great-grandaunt of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.

Albert O. Moody and Jane Gaynor, another daughter of James P. Gaynor and Mary Guynan, were married on June 3, 1921 in Manhattan, New York County, New York, on Jane's sister's 6th wedding anniversary (above).  Jane, of course, is also the great-grandaunt of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.


Deaths

Joseph Freeman Rowland, son of Samuel Rowland and Elizabeth Ann Gaunt, died June 3, 1921 at the age of about 69 in Penn, Jay County, Indiana.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Harvey Clarence Gauntt, son of Robert Elwood Gauntt and Elsie May West, died June 3, 1925 at the age of 2 years 9 months.  He is my 4th cousin once removed.

Allen Severs Easlick, son of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, died June 3, 1931, on his birthday (above), at the age of 63 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is still my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Kathleen Loretta Gaunt, daughter of Claude Wesley Gaunt and Florence Manila Brooks, died June 3, 1931 at the age of 30 in Los Angeles County, California.  She is my 5th cousin once removed.

Yetta Braunstein died June 3, 1964 at the age of 65 in Bronx, Bronx County, New York.  She was married to Benjamin Brainin, son of Morris Brainin and Rose Dorothy Jaffe, who is my great-granduncle.

Esther Jane Ellis, daughter of Levi Ellis and Carrie Florence Gauntt, died June 3, 2005 at the age of 90 in Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina.  She is my 1st cousin once removed via the Gauntts.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Your Best Genealogy Research Find in May 2018

Randy Seaver appears to have taken last weekend off for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, probably because he was so busy with everything going on at Jamboree.  We do have a new challenge this week, however:

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission:  Impossible! music), is:

(1) 
What was your best genealogy "research find" in May 2018?  It could be a record, it could be a photograph, etc.  Whatever you judge to be your "best."

(2) Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a Facebook or Google+ post.


To explain why this is a great research find, I have to provide a little bit of background information.

Three of my Jewish family lines go back to an area that was formerly called Grodno gubernia in the Russian Empire, which is now the Hrodna region of Belarus.  During World War II, this was an area where the Nazis and their collaborators were incredibly thorough in destroying almost all archival records relating to the Jews of the area.  There's practically nothing left.  It's entirely possible that the earliest record I may find relating to my great-great-grandfather, who was born about 1858, is a voter list from the early 1900's.

Given that situation, I latch on to any records from this area with glee, just on the off-chance that I might find something about a family member.

While I was on a recent trip to the Washignton, D.C. area to give talks to two genealogical societies, I visited the library at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and asked the librarian (hi, Megan!) about records from Grodno.  She told me about a collection of records from 1940–1944 that had been microfilmed by the museum and which were available to look at digitally there in the library.  I could even download the files if I wanted to.  I was practically jumping with joy!

Of course, I didn't have a flash drive with me that day, but I came back a couple of days later and downloaded as many as could fit on my drive (I ran out of room), along with the detailed finding aid for the collection.  And a friend has volunteered to go to the library and download more of the digitized files for me.  So even though I don't know yet what I might find, I'm thrilled to even have these kinds of records available to search.  I'm hoping that I find something about some, even one, of the family members who, as far as we know, perished in this area during the Holocaust.  And just that possibility makes this a great research find.


Sunday, June 3, 2018

Events in My Family Tree: June 2

Etta Millstein Farbman lived to see her great-grandson born on her wedding anniversary.

Births

Rose Sopher was born June 2, 1909 in Baltimore City, Maryland.  She was married to Morris Gordon (originally Moshe Gorodetsky), son of Victor Gorodetsky and Esther Leah Schneiderman, who is my great-granduncle.

Sara T. Powell was born June 2, 1944 in Washington, D.C.  She was married to Harvey Stephen Gordon, son of Alexander Gordon and Roslyn Rubin, who is my 1st cousin once removed via the Gordons.

Laurielyn Mackenzie Kilgour was born June 2, 1950.  She married Don Leo McStroul, son of Eugene Washington McStroul (originally Strul) and Elizabeth Almira Heath, who is the brother of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Lois Anne Sellers, daughter of Roger Lee Sellers and Helen Eunice Bohn, was born June 2, 1959 in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio.  She is my 7th cousin.

Ross Michael Mirsky was born June 2, 1960 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gorodetsky line.

Teresa Ann Torres was born June 2, 1968 in Texas City, Galveston County, Texas.  She was married to Brian Sellers, who is my 2nd cousin.

Michelle Jodie Chepenik was born June 2, 1970 in Miami, Dade County, Florida.  She is my 2nd cousin on my Gordon line.

Cara Allen was born June 2, 1982.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line.

Cory Richard Gaunt was born June 2, 1984 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington.  He is my 6th cousin.

Jeffrey Lawrence Sarin was born June 2, 1993 in Morristown, Morris County, New Jersey, on his great-grandparents' wedding anniversary (below).  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Gordon line.


Marriage

Murray Farbman and Etta Millstein, daughter of Nathan Millstein and Sarah Gordon (originally Gorodetsky), were married on June 2, 1935 in Bronx, Bronx County, New York.  Etta is my 1st cousin once removed via the Gorodetskys.

Events in My Family Tree: June 1

Apparently, June 1 is not a good day if your name is Mark Lewallen Gauntt.

Births

Baby Boy Sellers, son of Cornelius Godschalk Sellers and Catherine Fox Owen, was born June 1, 1872 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He is my paternal great-granduncle.

Edward Wickham, son of Charles E. Wickham and Martha Elizabeth Bowen, was born June 1, 1892 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.  He is the 1st cousin 2x removed of my half-sister Laurie Sellers via the Bowens.

Katherine Housell Space was born June 1, 1893 in Raritan, Somerset County, New Jersey.  She was married to John Murdock Allen, son of Cyrus Kunze Allen, Jr. and Clara Barton Shinn, who is my 4th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Philip Sellers Stirling, son of George Howard Stirling and Mary Sellers, was born June 1, 1898 in Green Spring Valley, Baltimore County, Maryland.  He is my 5th cousin 2x removed via the Sellerses.

Charles Norman Easlick, son of Allen Severs Easlick and Mary E. Shemeley, was born June 1, 1899 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Edith M. Sellers, daughter of Edwin Ferguson Sellers and Annie Baily, was also born June 1, 1899 but in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

William Woodson Baldwin was born June 1, 1961 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.  He is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line.

Jennifer Rose Dailey was born June 1, 1976 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey.  She was married to Joel Richard Kent III, my nephew on my Sellers side.

Kevin Rahilly was born June 1, 1992.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Sellers line.


Marriages

John Murdock Allen, son of Cyrus Kunze Allen, Jr. and Clara Barton Shinn, and Katherine Housell Space were married on June 1, 1914, the bride's 21st birthday.  As noted above, John is my 4th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Morton Eli Pelrman, son of Louis Perlman (originally Perlmutter) and Jennie Novitsky (originally Nowicki), and Doris Bash were married on June 1, 1939 in Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland.  Mort is my 1st cousin 2x removed via the Nowickis.

Irwin Garfield (originally Garfinkel), son of Jack Garfinkel and Martha Freedman, and Lenore Schachter were married on June 1, 1952 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Irwin is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Cyril E. Holladay and Lois Jean Hutson, daughter of Clifford Ellsworth Hutson and Alta Ada Gipson, were married on June 1, 1974 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.  Lois is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons.


Deaths

Elmer Gauntt, son of Thomas Kirkland Gauntt and Jane Dunstan, died June 1, 1912 at the age of 2 days, possibly in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my paternal granduncle.

Mark Lewallen Gaunt, Jr., son of Mark Lewallen Gaunt and Rhoda Ewing, died June 1, 1958 at the age of 67 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 3rd cousin 2x removed.

Carrie Louise Thackeray, daughter of Selector Thackeray and Louisa Moodey, also died on June 1, 1958, but in Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana.  She is another relative on my Gauntt line, a 4th cousin 3x removed to be exact.

Mark Lewallen Gauntt III, son of Mark Lewallen Gauntt, Jr. and Bertha M. Spangler and grandson of the Mark Lewallen Gauntt above, died June 1, 1982 at the age of 23 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 5th cousin.

Events in My Family Tree: May 31

I'm pretty sure that Abraham Alexsevitz died in some action related to World War II, and I'm still trying to find more information about that.

Births

Lucy Gauntt, daughter of William Bound Gauntt and Rebeecca C. Zulker, was born May 31, 1911 in New Jersey, possibly in Atlantic County.  She is my 4th cousin once removed.

Rubin Meckler, son of Morris Meckler and Minnie Zelda Nowicki, was born May 31, 1914 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He is my maternal granduncle.

Judith Deborah Brand was born May 31, 1955 in Hennepin County, Minnesota.  She married Steven Alan Schumeister, son of Hymen Samuel Schumeister and Freda Gene Grossman, who is my 4th cousin on my Nowicki line through the Schumeisters.

Brian Sellers was born May 31, 1967 in Stratford, Camden County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin.

Elizabeth Lynn McStroul was born May 31, 1984 in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.  She is the niece of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Michael Clouser was born May 31, 1989 in Mount Vernon, Erie County, New York.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gordon line.


Marriages

Elmer W. Sellers, son of William B. Sellers and Sarah J. Buchanan, and Ida C. Lusk were married on May 31, 1889 in Auglaize County, Ohio.  Elmer is my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Louis Amron and Fannie Perlman (originally Pelrmutter), daughter of Maishe Eli Perlmutter and Ethel Nowicki, were married on May 31, 1925 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  Fannie is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Nowickis.

Roger Lee Sellers, son of Loren Floyd Sellers and Dorothy Eilene Crawford, and Helen Eunice Bohn were married on May 31, 1958 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  Roger is my 6th cousin once removed.


Deaths

Abel A. Armstrong, son of Stacy Biddle Armstrong and Lydia Smith Haines, died May 31, 1938 at the age of about 32 in Camden County, New Jersey.  He is my 1st cousin 2x removed.

Abraham H. Alexsevitz, son of Alex Alexsevitz and Frieda Petranovsky, died May 31, 1944 at the age of about 28 in New Guinea.  Abraham is the 1st cousin once removed of Bill Schneiderman, who is my 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Blanche Mildred Sax died May 31, 1989 at the age of 74 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles County, California.  She was married to Samuel Michael Brainin, son of Mr. Katz and Lena Brainin, who is my 1st cousin 2x removed.

Evelyn Buzen died May 31, 2015 at the age of 90, probably in New York.  She was married to Leon Furman, son of Benjamin Furman and Sarah Meckler, who is my 1st cousin once removed via the Mecklers.

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Events in My Family Tree: May 30

The reason Grover Sellers and Addie Sellers have the same last name is because they were 1st cousins once removed.  And I have to wonder if Grover's middle name was Cleveland.

Births

Flossie Kerlister Sellers, daughter of Grover C. Sellers and Addie Myrtle Sellers, was born May 30, 1909 in Auglaize County, Ohio.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Roy Gauntt, son of George D. Gauntt and Lena L. Baker, was born May 30, 1917 in Edgewater, Bergen County, New Jersey.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Earl Leroy Slentz, son of Andrew Earl Slentz and Bessie Florence Landis, was born May 30, 1918 in Drumright, Creek County, Oklahoma.  He is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Slentzes.

Brenda Sue Tessin, daughter of Robert Lee Tessin and Judith Elaine, was born May 30, 1957 in Michigan, probably in Calhoun County.  She is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Tessins.

Robin Lynne Kanovsky was born May 30, 1963 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  She is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line.

Cameron Audrey Catalino was born May 30, 2000 in Newark or Dover, Delaware.  She is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Sellers line.


Marriages

Charles Reeves and Anna Elizabeth P. Gaunt, daughter of Hananiah Selah Gaunt and Abigail Atkinson, were married on May 30, 1861 in New Jersey.  Anna is my 2nd-great-grandaunt.

Abraham Sam Perlman, son of Louis Perlman and Jennie Novitsky (originally Nowicki), and Stella Joffe were married on May 30, 1920 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  Abraham is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Nowickis.

Bruce Morlack and Kathleen Lynn Allen, daughter of William Ledger Allen and Edna Hankins, were married on May 30, 1980.  Kathleen is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.


Death

Sidney Kelly died May 30, 1850 at the age of 69 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 4x-great-grandmother.

Events in My Family Tree: May 29

Two sisters died on this day, sixty-eight years apart.

Births

Elizabeth Sellers, daughter of John Sellers and Maria, was born May 29, 1791, probably in Pennsylvania.  She is my 1st cousin 5x removed.

Sarah Naomi Boone was born May 29, 1855 in Indiana, probably in Franklin or Wabash County.  She was married to James Knox Polk Gaunt, son of Uz Gaunt and Sarah Ann Whitacre, who is my 2nd cousin 4x removed.

Benjamin Harold Deacon, Jr., son of Benjamin Harold Deacon and Sarah, was born May 29, 1926 in Pennsylvania, possibly in Philadelphia.  He is my 3rd cousin 2x removed on my Fox line through the Deacons.

Mildred Marian Gauntt, daughter of Mark Lewallen Gauntt and May Ethyl Lake, was born May 29, 1927 in Moorestown, Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my 4th cousin once removed.

Dale Edward Travis was born May 29, 1962 in West Virginia.  He is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line.

David R. Blum was born May 29, 1963 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.  He is the 2nd cousin once removed of my cousin Esther Garfinkel.

Mary Erin Reilly was born May 29, 1967, possibly in New Jersey.  She is the 1st cousin once removed of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.

Caroline Jill Horn was born May 29, 1970.  She is the 2nd cousin of my half-sister Laurie Sellers.

Jessica Yao-lan Persoff was born May 29, 1982 in Berkeley, Alameda County, California.  She is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Schneiderman line.


Marriages

Samuel Sellers, son of David Sellers and Sarah Ruth, and Barbara Ann Wampole were married on May 29, 1832 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  Samuel is my 2nd cousin 5x removed.

Daniel Sellers, son of Joseph Sellers and Leah Crumrine, and Louise Beeler were married on May 29, 1879 in Auglaize County, Ohio.  David is my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Willet Ford and Edwina Sellers, daughter of John Wengard Sellers and Mary Malissa Conkle, were married on May 29, 1881 in Allen County, Ohio.  Edwina is also my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Logan Thackeray, son of Selector Thackeray and Louisa Moodey, and Virginia Steele were married on May 29, 1910 in Cameron, Clinton County, Missouri.  Logan is another 4th cousin 3x removed, but on my Gauntt line through the Thackerays.

Claude John Gauntt, son of Robert Elwood Gauntt and Elsie May West, and Mary Lou Damico were married on May 29, 1965, possibly in New Jersey.  Claude is my 4th cousin once removed.


Deaths

Elizabeth Mack, daughter of Alexander Mack and Elizabeth Neis, died May 29, 1770 at the age of 7, probably in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 5th-great-grandaunt.

Anna Margarethe Mack, daughter of Alexander Mack and Elizabeth Neis, died May 29, 1838 at the age of 72, probably in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  She is my 5x-great-grandmother and died on the same calendar day as her older sister Elizabeth (above).

Louisa J. Armstrong, daughter of Joel Armstrong and Catherine Stackhouse, died May 29, 1881 at the age of about 48 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey.  She is my 3rd-great-grandaunt.

Lilliam May Easlick, daughter of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, died May 29, 1908 at the age of 34, possibly in New Jersey.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Edwin Bunting Eckman, son of John Eckman and Martha Johnson Atkinson, died May 29, 1954 at the age of 41 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He was married to Catherine Marie Sellers, daughter of Cornelius Elmer Sellers and Laura May Armstrong, who is my paternal grandaunt.

Friday, June 1, 2018

Events in My Family Tree: May 28

This list has too many instances of "possibly" and "probably" for my taste, but I just can't find the information I need online.  I'll need to follow up with offline research to get the answers I want.

Births

Laura T. Gaunt, daughter of Hananiah Selah Gaunt and Margaret S. Scott, was born May 28, 1872 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  She is my 1st cousin 3x removed.

Joseph Henderson was born May 28, 1940 in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.  He was married to Carol Beth Sellers, daughter of Bertram Lynn Sellers, Sr. and Anita Clarice Loveman, who is my paternal aunt.

Pamela Facenda, daughter of William George Facenda and Mabel Ellen Elizabeth Brickel, was born May 28, 1948, possibly in Virginia.  She is my 3rd cousin on my Armstrong line through Mabel Brickel.

Mark Kardash waas born May 28, 1968 iin Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gorodetsky line.

Jennifer Turner was born May 28, 1976.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gaunt line.

Christiana Hunter was born May 28, 1979.  She is also my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line.

Stuart Clouser was born May 28, 1985 in Mount Vernon, Erie County, New York.  He is my 3rd cousin on my Gordon line.


Marriages

Irwin Alexander Sellers, son of Alexander Sellers and Lavinia Coppelberger, and Catherine Shellenberger were married on May 28, 1878, probably in Pennsylvania.  Irwin is my 3rd cousin 3x removed.

Franklin Sherman Sellers, son of Samuel Sellers and Elizabeth Barton, and Mary Elizabeth Ritchie were married on May 28, 1885 in Auglaize County, Ohio.  Franklin is my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Gabriel William Lederman and Shirin M. Zarqa were married on May 28, 2000, possibly in New Jersey or New York.  Gabe is my 3rd cousin on my Gordon line.


Deaths

Sameul R. Claycomb, son of George F. Claycomb and Hannah Holmes Gaunt, died May 28, 1929 at the age of about 65 in Jay County, Indiana.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Ervie Vernon Higgins, son of Ervie Oscar Higgins and Elizabeth Opal Gaunt, died May 28, 1991 at the age of 70 in Live Oak, Sutter County, California.  He is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Beulah Anna Elizabeth Bozarth died May 28, 1998 at the age of 79, possibly in Mount Holly, Burlington Count, New Jersey.  She was married to Vinton Thompson Easlick, son of Allen Severs Easlick and Mary E. Shemeley, who is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Events in My Family Tree: May 27

Another unfortunate confluence of dates:  Elmer Gaunt died on his sister-in-law's birthday.

Births

Samuel Longanecker, son of Daniel Longanecker and Sarah Mack, was born May 27, 1815 in Ohio.  He is my 3rd cousin 5x removed via the Macks.

Jerome B. Walton was born May 27, 1833 in Franklin County, Ohio.  He was married to Susan Sellers, daughter of John Leonard Sellers and Elizabeth Wenger, who is my 3rd cousin 4x removed.

Arthur Sellers, son of William Sellers and Nancy L. Derr, was born May 27, 1874, probably in Pennsylvania.  He is my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Louise Freda Stoner was born May 27, 1893 in Nebraska.  She was married to Charles Clark Gaunt, son of James Knox Polk Gaunt and Sarah Naomi Boone, who is my 3rd cousin 3x removed.

Irene Elise Crater was born May 27, 1925 in Gladstone, Somerset County, New Jersey.  She was married to Russell Oliver Ellis, son of Levi Ellis and Carrie Florence Gauntt, who is my 1st cousin once removed via the Gauntts.

Victor Kardish, son of Israel Kardish and Eva Feldberg, was born May 27, 1955 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Kardishes.


Marriages

Gersham M. Core and Anna Jane Sellers, daughter of John Wengard Sellers and Mary Melissa Conkle, were married on May 27, 1883 in Allen County, Ohio.  Anna is my 4th cousin 3x removed.

Leo Martin Todd McStroul, son of Fred Lincoln McStroul and Belle Silberman, and Nancy Lenore Ornstein were married on May 27, 1972 in North Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California.  Leo is the 1st cousin of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Daniel Joseph Ellis, son of Albert Giberson Ellis and Eva Imogene Calvert, and Patti Montgomery were married on May 27, 1974 in Oklahoma.  Daniel is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line through the Ellises.

Allan Zindler and Elaine Lorie Freitag, daughter of Benny Freitag and Dobby Kushner, were married on May 27, 1990 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  Elaine is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line through the Kushners.


Deaths

Michael Darstein, son of Abraham Darstein and Catherine Sellers, died May 27, 1841 at the age of 64 in Hilltown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed via the Sellerses.

Eliza Bullock, daughter of Joseph Bullock and Elizabeth Harris, died May 27, 1898 at the age of 87 in Thurman, Warren County, New York.  She is the 2nd-great-grandmother of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Elizabeth Malone, daughter of Charlie Malone and Harriet Crawford, died May 27, 1926 at the age of about 17 in Midland, Muscogee County, Georgia.  She is the 1st cousin 2x removed of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Elmer Boone Gaunt, son of James Knox Polk Gaunt and Sarah Naomi Boone, died May 27, 1941 at the age of 66 in Marin County, California.  He is the brother of Charles Clark Gaunt (above) and is also my 3rd cousin 3x removed.

Martha W. Lawrence, daughter of Alfred Lawrence and Harriet Rebecca Eckman, died May 27, 1950 at the age of 56, probably in New Jersey.  She is the 1st cousin 2x removed of my 1st cousin Albert Lore.

David Kern Hite died May 27, 2015 in Ogden, Weber County, Utah.  He was married to Carol Lee Howe, daughter of Bernard M. Howe and Katherine Ruth Garrity, who is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Garritys.