Monday, August 30, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 26

I have looked in lots of places for the marriage location of Ellis Thomas and Carol Morgan, but I didn't get anywhere.  My best guesses are New Jersey, Georgia, and South Carolina.

Births

Phoebe Elizabeth Votaw, daughter of Daniel W. Votaw and Louisa Gaunt, was born August 26, 1885 in Wabash County, Indiana.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Mary Gaunt, daughter of Walter Clayton Gaunt and Lulu May Sherman, was born August 26, 1913 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  She is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Richard William Behr, son of Jack Behr and Sarah Clarice Higgins, was born August 26, 1949 in Butte County, California.  He is my 6th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Higginses.

Donna Caplan was born August 26, 1970.  She is my 3rd cousin.

Isadora Rennie was born August 26, 1992.  She is my 4th cousin.

Marriages

Max Joseph Brainin, son of Morris Brainin and Rose Dorothy Jaffe, and Nellie Doctor were married August 26, 1908 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  Max is my great-granduncle.

Francis John Gaynor, son of John Francis Gaynor and Wally Mary Ruppert, and Eileen Evelyn Mullaney were married August 26, 1944 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.  Francis is the half granduncle of my half-sister Laura Sellers.

Ellis Lester Thomas, son of Samuel Eli Thomas and Esther Jane Ellis, and Carol Annice Morgan were married August 26, 1961.  Ellis is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line through the Ellises.

Death

John L. Claycomb, son of George F. Claycomb and Hannah Holmes Gaunt, died August 26, 1904 in Jay County, Indiana at the age of 42.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 25

There are lots of simultaneous events in this list.  Three marriages on the same day (and all on my mother's side of the family).  Karen Hendren is being born while Milton Hutson is getting married.  Doris Allen is born the same day that Harry Gaunt dies.  Then 1st cousins Milton Hutson and Lyle Snyder choose to marry on August 25, five years apart, and August 25 is Milton's sister's birthday.

Births

Sarah Anna Gauntt, daughter of James Gauntt and Amelia Gibson, was born August 25, 1864 in Buddtown, Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my great-grandaunt.

Mabel Major, daughter of Clayton Major, Jr. and Ida May Lippincott, was born August 25, 1895 in Burlington, Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my 1st cousin 3x removed via the Lippincotts.

Ida Hutson, daughter of Conner W. Hutson and Rosa A. Bultman, was born August 25, 1914 in Indiana, probably in Ripley County.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons.

Luther Edmund Carter was born August 25, 1919 in Lincolnia, Fairfax County, Virginia.  He was the husband of Jacqueline Lee Funk, daughter of Earl G. Funk and Hazel Pauline Gauntt, who is my 3rd cousin once removed via the Gauntts.

William Murphy was born August 25, 1943 in Virginia.  He was the third husband of Patricia Ann Lore, daughter of Clarence Newcomb Lore and Dorothy Mae Sellers, who is my half 1st cousin.

Karen Sue Hendren, daughter of Jack R. Hendren and Mary Scott Selvidge, was born August 25, 1951, possibly in Oklahoma.  She is my 6th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Selvidges.

Doris Allen, daughter of Thomas Gerald Allen and Doris Filer, was born August 25, 1957, maybe in New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Marriages

Clifford Ellsworth Hutson, son of Bateman Hutson and Lorinda Brown, and Alta Ada Gipson were married August 25, 1922 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.  Clifford is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons.

Milton Conner Hutson, son of Conner W. Hutson and Rosa A. Bultman, and Doris Wiedeman were married August 25, 1951 in Penntown, Ripley County, Indiana.  Milton is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons, just as his sister Ida (above) is.

Lyle Carlton Snyder, son of Lyle Oscar Snyder and Gertrude Elnora Gaunt, and Evelyn Hemminger were married August 25, 1956 in North Baltimore, Wood County, Ohio.  Lyle is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Gary Steve Meckler, son of Abraham Meckler and Lillyan E. Gordon, and Tammy Renee Cameron were married August 25, 1985 in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada.  Gary is my uncle.

Rolando Castro Gingras and Yedida Zelda Amine, daughter of Moshe Amine and Florence Meckler, also were married August 25, 1985, but in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California.  Yedida is my 1st cousin once removed via the Mecklers and the 1st cousin of Gary Meckler (above).

Seymour R. Schachter and Janet Beth Podolsky, daughter of Arthur Podolsky and Harriet Farbman, were also married August 25, 1985, but they were in New Jersey.  Janet is my 3rd cousin on my Gorodetsky line through the Farbmans.

Deaths

Allen Gaunt, son of Joseph L. Gaunt and Elizabeth Hopkins, died August 25, 1864 at the age of 27 at the Second Battle of Ream's Station, fought during the Siege of Petersburg in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, during the American Civil War.  He is my 2nd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Solomon Fuller, brother of Lyman Fuller, died August 25, 1886, probably in Warren County, New York, at the age of about 76.  He is the 3x-great-granduncle of my aunt Mary McStroul and her sister Jean McStroul, and 4x-great-granduncle of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

John Miller Gaunt, son of George Horner Gaunt and Emily A. Miller, died August 25, 1909 in Gloucester County, New Jersey at the age of 51.  He is my 4th cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Walter Barker died August 25, 1955 in Muscogee County, Georgia at the age of 53.  He was the husband of Carrie Bell Carwford, daughter of Henry Crawford and America Brooks, who is the great-grandaunt of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Harry Mark Gaunt, son of Arthur Lee Gaunt and Rachel Lavinia Stutsman, died August 25, 1957, probably in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, at the age of 64.  He is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 24

For all the marriages, I'm related to only the grooms, not any of the brides.

Births

Elsie Meckler, daughter of Morris Mackler and Minnie Zelda Nowicki, was born August 24, 1919 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  She is my grandaunt.

Stanley Earnest Taylor, son of Pearson R. Taylor, Jr. and Grace Elizabeth Easlick, was born August 24, 1928 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 4th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Gavin Ryan Kushner was born August 24, 1990.  He is my 4th cousin once removed.

Adam Joseph Brainin was born August 24, 1996.  He is my 3rd cousin.

Marriages

Redden N. Gaunt, son of Joseph Gaunt and Phoebe Emily Severn, and Pauline E. Smoot/Smuck were married August 24, 1843 in Jay County, Indiana.  Redden is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Charles Robert Harris, son of Robert Miller Harris and Blanche Gaunt, and Loretta Brocking were married August 24, 1918 in Peru, Miami County, Indiana.  Charles is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Russell Roberts Allen, son of George N. Allan and Ada E. Mason, and Estella A. Horner were married August 24, 1924, probably in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Russell is my 4th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Your Junior High School (or Middle School) Memories

It's time to think of school days for this week's challenge on Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy Fun!

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

(1) Do you have memories of your junior high school (or mddle school) years?  Please share several of them.

(2) Tell us in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook.  Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your blog post on this post.

Okay, here's mine!

Junior high school holds a special place in my heart because it was the first time I stayed in the same school start to finish.  I attended all three complete years — 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, 1973–1976 — at C. W. Ruckel Junior High School in Niceville, Florida.

I rode the bus to school most of the time.  It was a 10-mile trip from Villa Tasso to Niceville.  Sometimes during the winter it was too cold (dipping below freezing) or too flooded from rain (washing out the "streets") for my brother and me to walk to the bus stop.  Then my mother would drive us in, or we would go in with a neighbor if the water levels were too high for my mother's Corvair.  Water coming up through the floorboards was never a good sign.

I took advanced classes all through junior high school.  For my first year, my 6th-grade teacher registered me for them, leaving one class period for me to choose my own elective, and I continued with them for the following two years.  The advanced classes were math, English, science, history, and probably something else.  I think I took chorus all three years.  I started Spanish classes in junior high school, with Mrs. Lourdes Adams.  Mrs. Arpke was my English teacher.  (Wow, I dragged those names out of my memory!)  I did well in all of my classes.  I probably still have most of my report cards, although they're buried in storage.

I didn't socialize much, partly because of living 10 miles out of town and partly because I wasn't in any of the social cliques.  I was tall, skinny, gangly, unattractive, too smart, and still pretty new to the area.  My only friends were other students in the advanced classes.  My best friend was Eileen.  We met in 8th grade and have stayed friends since, even with each of our moves to various parts of the United States and around the world.  I just visited her last week.

I did not particiate in extracurricular school activities.  My mother often picked us up after school because she was usually in town by that point.  We might run errands with her before heading home and doing homework.

I helped my brother with sorting baseball cards every time he got a new (to him) bunch of cards.  I practiced piano at home and sewed clothing for my dolls.  I don't remember hobbies beyond that.

I participated in Girl Scouts, as a Junior Girl Scout.  At the end of 9th grade, we had a big trip to Atlanta.  The chaperone who drove the car I was in got lost in the city and freaked out because we ended up in the black section of town.  I was the only one who could read a  map, and I got us to the hotel.  We visited Underground Atlanta and Stone Mountain.  I'm sure we visited more sites than that, but those are the ones I remember.

As my 9th grade graduation present, I spent several weeks, maybe a month?, with my grandparents in southern Florida.  They lived in a retirement community, so there weren't kids of my age around.  I hung out in the sun and got sunburnt but had a great time visiting with them.  It was the first time I flew by myself.

Events in My Family Tree: August 23

Today's list has two birthdaqys from my sister's side of the family.

Births

Ner Gaunt, son of Jacob Gaunt and Hannah Holmes, was born August 23, 1810, probably in Ohio.  He is my 1st cousin 5x removed via the Gaunts.

Sarah Ann (Deacon) Lippincott, daughter of Abel A. Lippincott and Rachel R. Stackhouse, was born August 23, 1860 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my great-great-grandmother.

Elizaberth T. Wickham, daughter of Charles E. Wickham and Martha Elizabeth Bowen, was born August 23, 1887 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey.  She is the 1st cousin 2x removed of my half-sister Laura Sellers via the Bowens.

Charles Robert Clark, son of Oren Wilson Clark and Anna G. Gaunt, was born August 23, 1920 in La Fontaine, Wabash County, Indiana.  He is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Ruth Ann Schinnerer was born August 23, 1931 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  She was the wife of Charles Jacob Gaunt, Jr., son of Charles Jacob Gaunt and Clara Rathert, who is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Paul Cary Bregman was born August 23, 1953 in Sault Ste. Marie, probably the one in Ontario, Canada.  He is the husband of Rhoda Brozovsky, daughter of Sam Brozovsky and Ann Kardish, who is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Kardishes.

Mary Ann Lavin, daughter of Paul B. Lavin and Mary E. Murray, was born August 23, 1958 in Hoboken, Hudson County, New Jersey.  She is the half 2nd cousin of my half-sister Laura Sellers on her Gaynor line through the Lavins.

Luke Oliver Ellis was born August 23, 1991.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Marriages

William Michael Gauntt, son of Reuben Lewallen Gauntt and Dorothy Selace, and Susan Fisher were married August 23, 1969, possibly in New Jersey.  William is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line.

Erik Fiks and Gayle Malka Kushner, daughter of Benjamin Louis Kushner and Gladys Shindelman, were married August 23, 1980 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  Gayle is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line through the Kushners.

Barry Paul Sarin and Sheryl Joy Podolsky, daughter of Arthur Podolsky and Harriet Farbman, were married August 23, 1987 in Livingston, Essex County, New Jersey.  Sheryl is my 3rd cousin on my Gorodetsky line through the Farbmans.

Ariel Snyder and Michelle Lee Sinnreich were married August 23, 2015.  Michelle is also my 3rd coudin.

Deaths

Susannah Easlick, daughter of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, died August 23, 1957, probably in Burlington County, New Jersey, at the age of 85.   She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Eugene Washington McStroul, son of Leo Martin McStroul (originally Moshe Leib Strul) and Anna Krebs, died August 23, 1964 in Tucsom, Pima County, Arizona at the age of 54.  He is the father of my aunt Mary McStroul and the grandfather of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Sidney Garfinkel, son of Eliezer Louis Garfinkel and Doba Ajzner, died August 23, 1997 in Monsey, Rockland County, New York at the age of 70.  He is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Friday, August 27, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 22

If your father was named Sherman Tecumseh, I guess you knew what your family's political leanings were.

Births

Clarence Harvey Hutson, son of Sherman Tecumseh Hutson and Emily J. VanKirk, was born August 22, 1899 in Indiana.  He is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons.

Russell Erwin Gaunt, son of Orlan Fay Gaunt and Ruth Irene Waybright, was born August 22, 1915 in Delaware County, Indiana.  He is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Matthew Alan Fowler was born August 22, 1989.  He is my nephew.

Antonio Bradford Rios was born August 22, 1996.  He is my half 1st cousin 2x removed.

Marriages

Paul Avery Gantt, son of Daniel Taylor Gantt and Phoebe Thomas, and Beth E. King were married August 22, 1921 in Douglas County, Nebraska.  Paul is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gantts.

Rudolf William Feil and Jessie Naomi Gaunt, daughter of William Alvin Gaunt and Mamie B. Mitchell, were married August 22, 1938 in Carson City, Nevada.  Jessie is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

John L. Jones and Sarah Dunstan, daughter of Frederick Cleworth Dunstan and Mary Emma Richardson, were married August 22, 1942 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey.  Sarah is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Dunstan line.

Roger Michael Farrier, son of Ivan Francis Felix Farrier and Merlin Veronica Williams, and Janet Briceno were married August 22, 2009 in Assonet, Bristol County, Massachusetts.  Roger is the father of my sister-in-law, Sandra Farrier.

Deaths

Catherine Pettinger died August 22, 1872, probably in Warren County, New York, at the age of 57.  She was the wife of Solomon Fuller (brother of Lyman Fuller), who is the 3x-great-granduncle of my aunt Mary McStroul and her sister Jean McStroul, and 4x-great-granduncle of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Emma E. Githens, daughter of Alfred T. Githens and Margaret Middleton, died August 22, 1889 in Camden, Camden County, New Jersey at the age of 41.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed on my Gauntt line through the Githenses.

Gilbert Ayers Egli died August 22, 1986 in Los Angeles County, California at the age of 84.  He was the husband of Edith Esther Gaunt, daughter of Clarence Meridith Gaunt and Mary Grace Stewart, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Events in My Family Tree: August 21

August 21 certainly seems to be an important day in my aunt's family:  three birthdays and a marriage!

Births

Ephraim F. Gaunt, son of Reuben Lewallen Gaunt and Jane Weatherby, was born August 21, 1848 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my 2nd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Irene Elizaberth Allen, daughter of George N. Allen and Ada E. Mason, was born August 21, 1906 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  She is my 4th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Rachel Lovena Gaunt, daughter of Charles Jacob Gaunt and Clara Rathert, was born August 21, 1919 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  She is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Cathleen Constance Canty was born August 21, 1944.  She is the wife of Michael Leonard McStroul, son of Darwin Monroe McStroul and Rose Bloom, who is the 1st cousin of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Bonnie Lee Mich, daughter of Francis W. Mich and Janet Edna Weaver, was born August 21, 1950, possibly in New Jersey.  She is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Weavers.

Virginia Eileen Gauntt, daughter of David Lester Gauntt and Virginia Carolyn Petersen, was born August 21, 1961, possibly in Pennsylvania.  She is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line.

Jason Dale Preisner was born August 21, 1979.  He is the nephew of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Benjamin Taylor Payne was born August 21, 1992.  He is the 1st cousin 2x removed of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Kylie Hall was born August 21, 2003.  She is my 3rd cousin once removed.

Marriages

Joseph Devalt and Catherine Diane Mallow, daughter of David Wade Mallow and Mary Alice Gauntt, were married August 21, 1982 in Maryland.  Catherine is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line.

Ronald Gregory Myhan and Rebecca Kelly, daughter of Richard J. Kelly and Lois Elaine McStroul, were also married August 21, 1982, but on the other side of the country in Calabasas, Los Angeles County, California.  Rebecca is the 1st cousin once removed of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Deaths

Susannah Horner Gaunt, daughter of Samuel Gaunt, Jr. and Ann Horner, died August 21, 1892 in Pilesgrove, Salem County, New Jersey at the age of 68.  She is my 3rd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Floyd Richard Williams, son of Preston Frank William and Priscilla Crawford, died August 21, 1936 in Muscogee County, Georgia at the age of 26.  He is the grandfather of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Tina Rae Alexander, daughter of Phillip Charles Alexander and Jessie Ozley Easlick, died August 21, 1975 in Maryland at the age of 16.  She is my 4th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Bessie Brainin, daughter of Morris Brainin and Dorothy Rose Jaffe, died August 21, 1979, probably in New York, at the age of about 84.  She is my great-grandaunt.

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 20

I think this is the first marriage outside the United States that I have listed in my family events.

Births

Charles H. Gaunt, son of James Gauntt and Amelia Gibson, was born August 20, 1853 in Buddtown, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my great-granduncle.

Norman Henry Hoyer, son of Rollin Henry Hoyer and Bessie Floreen Schwier, was born August 20, 1910 in Batesville, Ripley County, Indiana.  He is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line via the Schwiers.

Samuel Naglee Ellis, son of Levi Ellis and Carrie Florence Gauntt, was born August 20, 1917 in Lumberton, Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 1st cousi once removed via the Gauntts.

Arthur Podolsky was born August 20, 1935 in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey.  He was the husband of Harriet Farbman, daughter of Murray Farbman and Etta Millstein, who is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gorodetsky line via the Millsteins.

Carol Beth Sellers, daughter of Bertram Lynn Sellers, Sr. and Anita Clarice Loveman, was born August 20, 1954 in Valparaiso, Okaloosa County, Florida.  She is my half-aunt.

Randy Albert Behr, son of Jack Behr and Sarah Clarice Higgins, was born August 20, 1955 in Yuba County, California.  He is my 6th cousin on my Gauntt line via the Higginses.

Tova Lieff was born August 20, 1975.  She is my 3rd cousin.

Michael David Baker, Jr. was born August 20, 1978.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Greg Maahs was born August 20, 1982.  He is the husband of Stephanie Marie Hutchison, who is my half 1st cousin 2x removed. 

Jonathan Randell was born August 20, 1993.  He is the 3rd cousin once removed of my half-sister Laura Sellers.

Marriages

Larry Joe Hawkins and Georgette Helen Bonifas, daughter of Charles D. Bonifas, Jr. and Janell Wilkinson, were married August 20, 1989 in Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana.  Georgette is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Bonifases.

Jacob Vaknin and Amy Ellen Podolsky were married August 20, 1995 in Demona, Israel.  Amy is my 3rd cousin.

Deaths

Phoebe Ann Gaunt, daughter of Reuben Lewallen Gaunt and Jane Weatherby, died August 20, 1872 in Milford, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, at the age of 34.  She is my 2nd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Moshe Amine died August 20, 1989 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut at the age of 83.  He was the first husband of Florence Meckler, daughter of Morris Mackler and Minnie Zelda Nowicki, who is my grandaunt.

Esther Garfinkel, daufhter of Eliezer Louis Garfinkel and Doba Ajzner, died August 20, 2014 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the age of 93.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Tell Your Life Story in Two (or Even Five) Minutes

Talk about ourselves?  No genealogist likes to do that.  We love to talk about our ancestors!  But that's what Randy Seaver wants us to do tonight for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.

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

(1) Everyone has a life story, and mine is still ongoing.  Tell us your life story — start with today and go back to your birth.  Do it in 200 to 500 words, so you could tell it in two to five minutes.


(2) Tell us in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook.  Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your blog post on this post.

And backward, no less!  Let's see how I do.

My name is Janice Marie Sellers, and I am 59 years old.  I live in Gresham, Oregon.  I am not married and never have been, but I have two "stepsons" from a former significant relationship.  Through the older of the two I also have five grandchildren (with very complicated interrelationships that would drive a genogram designer crazy), and I stay in touch with both of my former daughters-in-law, who live in Vancouver, Washington (15 miles away, with three of the grandchildren) and Lebanon, Oregon (95 miles away, with two of the grandchildren), respectively.

My daily activities are family history research, taking care of my two cats and three macaws, and (still!) trying to finish unpacking everything from when I moved to Oregon in 2017.  The latter was delayed because I came here with a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder and then proceeded to tear the cuff in the left shoulder (I guess I wanted a matched set).  After surgery on the left shoulder in summer 2020, I am much more able to move things around again, although I have to be careful not to push it.  I try to get six hours of sleep each night, which I am getting better at accomplishing.

My last regular job was as a train operator at BART in the San Francisco area (that's the job that gave me the torn rotator cuff in the right shoulder).  I was an employee there for five years.  Recent employment before that was transcriptionist, "office manager" (really a door guard) at an upscale daycare in a poor neighborhood, and more than 35 years as an editor for various companies and print publications.  I also was able to travel for business as an editor, primarily in the United States but a few times internationally.

My formal education ended several years ago with courses in computer programming, music, and library science, none of which culiminated in a degree or certificate.  I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (emphasis in French), which functionally was a B.A. in French with minors in Spanish and Russian, from the University of Southern California in 1983.  I attended Niceville Senior High School in Niceville, Florida for my diploma.  I detailed my pre-high-school education for a Saturday Night Genealogy Fun post a few years ago; suffice it to say that I attended schools in many locations.

I was born in 1962 in East Los Angeles at the Los Angeles County hospital (prior to its association with USC), the first child of Bertram Lynn Sellers, Jr. and Myra Roslyn Meckler.  Both my parents were born on the East Coast, my father in New Jersey and my mother in Brooklyn, but they met and married in Miami and then drove to California to start their life together.  My family lived in multiple locations in east Los Angeles County until we moved to Australia in 1971, living there for two years before returning to the United States in 1973 and going to Florida.  In California, we saw my mother's parents often, as they lived relatively close by in Las Vegas.

The highlight of my life has been my grandchildren and their parents.  I did not have children of my own but always wanted a family, and I love being a bubbie (Yiddish for grandmother).  I wish I could spend more time with the kids and parents.

Did I go over my five-minute limit?

Friday, August 20, 2021

FInding My Aunt Carol

I had known about my Aunt Carol for years.  My mother, who cared so much about knowing and staying in touch with family members, made sure of that, even if Carol was my father's sister, not hers.

But the problem my father had was that she wasn't his sister — she was his half-sister.  She was born from the relationship my grandfather had after he left my grandmother, and my father resented that for decades, as I eventually learned.

When my mother compiled a list of all known relatives out to stepgrandparents (yes, really!) for my brother, who was applying for a job with a security clearance, Carol was included.  I knew her full name — Carol Beth Sellers — and her birthday — August 20, 1954.  Mommy thought she was born in Niceville, Florida.  We knew her mother's name was Anita.  And that was about it.

My grandfather died in 1995, as did my mother.  Adelle, my grandfather's widow when he died, went to live with her nephew; she had no children of her own to take her in.  She herself died in 2000.

I still don't know how much of my grandfather's "stuff" Adelle kept with her when she moved to her nephew's home.  (For instance, the whereabouts of Grampa's Shriner's fez are still unknown.)  Apparently, however, some of what Adelle did take with her were a lot of Grampa's papers from when he worked in the Civil Service with the U.S. Air Force and several photos from his marriage to Anita.

The reason the papers and photos became known is that some years after Adelle had died, the nephew contacted my aunt Dottie — my father's oldest sister from Grampa's side of the family — and asked if anyone in the family was interested in those items.  I am so happy Dottie said yes.

Dottie got everything from Adelle's nephew and then sat on the papers and photos for a couple of years before asking my father if he wanted them.  And thus they were passed on to a new caretaker for a while.

My father had them for some time.  He had made plans — he wanted to scan all the Civil Service documents and then share them with other family members, particularly me, the primary one interested in our family history.  He even told me that he had them and was going to share the scans after he had made them.

The problem was, however, that there were a LOT of papers.  Grampa was known for being a little obsessive about keeping things, and his work documents were no exception.

After a while Daddy decided he wasn't going to get around to doing all that scanning and asked if I just wanted the documents, and I could be the one stuck scanning them and sharing with family members.  And of course I said yes.

When he sent everything to me, the first thing I did was separate the work documents from the several photos that were included.  When I looked through the photos, I recognized my father in a couple and my grandfather in several, but I didn't know who the woman and young girl were who appeared many times.  After asking my father and aunt, I learned they were Anita, my grandfather's wife after his relationship with my grandmother, and my aunt Carol, Anita's daughter and Daddy's youngest sister.

My father made it clear he was not interested in the photos in any way — "That is not my sister.  I've never had anything to do with her."  Of course, using his logic, his sisters Dottie and Mildred shouldn't have wanted anything to do with him, as Grampa had left their mother to live with my grandmother (not divorcing their mother until Anita insisted on being able to marry, as I'll explain in a little while), and my older half-sister Laurie shouldn't have wanted to keep in touch with my siblings and me.  And I eventually determined that he was in photos with Carol, debunking what he said.  But that's okay, life has a way of working out sometimes.

There were so many photos, I couldn't let them just be.  I decided I had to find Anita and/or Carol and reunite them with the photos.

I asked my aunt Dottie if she was in touch with Anita or Carol.  She said no.  My only clue starting out was my grandfather's obituary, which included Carol as a surviving family member and had her last name as Ebanks.

This was the early days of genealogy information being available online.  I didn't find anything relevant with searches.  I wasn't finding much of anything with the name Ebanks at all.  I started to think that it might be Eubanks, just misspelled, so searched for that also.  I found more results, just not for the person I was looking for.

I was making a lot of phone calls by searching phone directories for Ebanks and Eubanks.  I don't remember now how I made the connection (this was several years ago), but in calling someone else named Ebanks, she told me she knew about Anita and that she used to work for this one company; maybe they could help me get in touch with her.

I was certainly grasping at straws by that point, so I said, sure, it couldn't hurt to try.  And I called the company.  I'm certain it was against policy, but the woman I spoke to said that not only did she know Anita, who had retired by that time, but she could give me a phone number for her!  I did the genealogy happy dance around the living room.

When I called Anita, she confirmed that she was indeed the ex-wife of my grandfather and the mother of my aunt Carol.  I told her how happy I was to find her and that I had been searching for her so that I could return the photos.  She appreciated the effort I had gone to and was looking forward to seeing them again after all those decades.

She also got chatty and told me a little about herself and her relationship with Grampa.  They met each other working at Fort Dix in New Jersey.  He apparently had been chasing after her for a while.  At some point she told him he would have to prove to her that he was divorced because she was a good Christian girl and wouldn't take up with any married man.  And he did it!  He divorced his wife!  She even went looking in her house for the divorce paperwork, which she had a copy of, so she could tell me what it said.  She found it and read some from it but neglected to tell me the name of the wife!  (I didn't find out until some years later that the divorce was from his first wife, Elizabeth, and not my grandmother, Anna, who had apparently "lived in sin" with Grampa for all the years they were together.  When I did discover that, I immediately called my father to tell him that he was officially a bastard because his parents had never been married.  He thought that was hilarious and broke out laughing.)

I don't remember now if I sent the photos to Anita or to Carol.  I think I sent them to Anita.  I'm sure that I got Carol's address from Anita at that time, and I wrote to her.

A year or so after that, I had plans to be in Atlanta for a convention.  I realized how close that was to where Carol lived and decided I finally had to meet my aunt.  At the end of the convention, the friend who was there in Atlanta with me (coincidentally also named Carol) and I drove to lovely Toccoa (birthplace of DeForest Kelley!) to meet her.  We had a wonderful time, and I am still so happy I made the effort to do that.

When my father was turning 70, I tried to arrange for all four of his children to come to Florida to celebrate.  (Well, three of us made it.)  I also invited Carol, who wasn't able to come, but she asked for Daddy's mailing address so she could send a card.  When I arrived in Florida, the first thing my father did was show me the card that Carol had sent for his birthday, telling him how much she cared about him even though they hadn't spent that much time together during their lives.  He cried when he told me how happy he was that I had helped put him in touch with his sister.

Carol wasn't able to travel much around that time, but at some point she made it down to Florida, and the four siblings were together for one of my most treasured photographs.

Thursday, August 19, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 19

Harvey Joseph Gaunt III died exactly 10 years after his younger brother, Kevin Brian Gaunt.

Births

Abigail Atkinson was born August 19, 1804 in New Jersey.  She is my 3x-great-grandmother.

Arthur Matthew Gaunt, son of Harry Mark Gaunt and Sarah Gayle Kirkendall, was born August 19, 1932 in Waynedale, Allen County, Indiana.  He is my 6th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Erin Kendra Carraway was born August 19, 1966.  She is the daughter of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Michelle Farbman was born August 19, 1972.  She is my 3rd cousin.

Marriages

David H. Gaunt, son of Benjamin Selah Gaunt and Mary A. Allen, and Harriet Cathcart were married August 19, 1905 in Pemberton, Burlingotn County, New Jersey.  David is my half 1st cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Wayne Eugene Ellis, son of Russell Oliver Ellis and Irene Elise Crater, and Gail Ellen Padgett were married August 19, 1967 in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, New Jersey.  Wayne is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line through the Ellises.

Harold Pittinsky and Stephanie Goldberg were married August 19, 1996.  Stephanie is my 3rd cousin.

Deaths

Chester Lewis Appleton, Jr. died August 19, 1968 in Burlington, Burlington County, New Jersey at the age of 52.  He was the second husband of Ruth Carrie Stradling, daughter of Charles Cooper Stradling and Anna Gauntt, who is my half-aunt on my Gauntt line.

Allene Crawford, daughter of Preston Crawford and Annie Mariah Dixon, died August 19, 1991 in Upatoi, Muscogee County, Georgia at the age of 61.  She is the 2nd cousin once removed of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Ralph W. Thomson, son of Watson E. Thomson and Lillie L. Fuller, died August 19, 1998, possibly in San Clemente, Orange County, California, at the age of 82.  He is the 1st cousin once removed of my aunt Mary McStroul via the Fullers.

Kevin Brian Gaunt, son of Harvey Joseph Gaunt, Jr. and his first wife, died August 19, 2002, possibly in Sicklerville, Camden County, New Jersey, at the age of 51.  He is my 3rd cousin via the Gaunts.

Harvey Joseph Gaunt III, son of Harvey Joseph Gaunt, Jr. and his first wife, died August 19, 2012 in Palmetto, Manatee County, Florida at the age of 67.  He is the older brother of Kevin Brian Gaunt and also my 3rd cousin via the Gaunts.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Wordless Wednesday


 

Events in My Family Tree: August 18

I lived in Alameda County, California from 1989 to 2017, but I somehow missed the opportunity to meet my cousin Jeanne Gaunt.

Births

Daniel Gaunt, son of Daniel Gaunt and Mary Githens, was born August 18, 1909 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my 2nd cousin 5x removed via the Gaunts.

Sarah Ann Harris was born August 18, 1842 in Ohio.  She was the wife of Ner Gaunt, son of Benjamin Gaunt and Mary Sheets, who is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Etta Friedman, daughter of Moshe(?) Friedman, was born August 18, 1864 in Romania.  She is the great-grandmother of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Ruth Ann Votaw, daughter of Daniel W. Votaw and Louisa Gaunt, was born August 18, 1871 in Wabash County, Indiana.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Morton Eli Perlman, son of Louis Perlman (originally Perlmutter) and Jennie Novitsky (origiinally Nowicki), was born August 18, 1920 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  He is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Nowicki line.

Arnold Lesser was born August 18, 1921 in Rosedale, Queens, Queens County, New York.  He was the husband of Taube Michels, daughter of Barnet Michels (originally Michelson) and Rose Yudelson, who is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Jaffe line through the Michelsons.

Doris Danuff was born August 18, 1925 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  She was the wife of Samuel Millstein, son of Nathan Millstein and Sarah Gordon (originally Gorodetsky), who is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Gorodetsky line.

Jeanne Ellen Gaunt, daughter of Nolan Sidney Gaunt and Marjorie Ellen Harris, was born August 18, 1943 in Alameda County, California.  She is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Erika Lynn Lederman was born August 18, 1972.  She is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Marriages

Charles Gaunt, son of Lewis Cass Gaunt and Mary A. Kindlesparger, and Pearl E. Cory were married August 18, 1903 in Wabash County, Indiana.  Charles is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Samuel Michael Brainin, son of Nathan(?) Katz and Lena Brainin, and Blanche Mildred Sax were married August 18, 1946 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.  Sammy is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Brainin line.

Stephen Gershwind, son of Irving Lawrence Gershwind and Frances Perlman, and Arline Silver were married August 18, 1962 in Great Neck, Nassau County, New York.  Stephen is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Nowicki line through the Perlmans.

Oscar Phillip Van Hoy and Susan J. Yates, daughter of Charles Yates and Grace Allen, were married August 18, 1973 in New Jersey.  Susan is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line via the Allens.

Richard Wayne Gaunt, son of Jack Lowell Gaunt and Rosemary Ann Trindade, and Cynthia Jean Cook were married August 18, 1979 in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.  Richard is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Deaths

Irene M. Gaunt, daughter of Robert Barclay Gaunt and Harriet Prickett, died August 18, 1950 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania at the age of 77.  She is my 4th cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Clarence Neil(?) Allen, son of Elwood Lambert Allen and Lillian Steel(?), died August 18, 1996, possibly in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey, at the age of 79.  He is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 17

Monroe Crowell died on his mother-in-law's 84th birthday, while she was still alive.  She survived him by four years.

Births

William Irick Gaunt, son of Benjamin Selah Gaunt and Mary A. Allen, was born August 17, 1869 in New Jersey, probably in Burlington County.  He is my half 1st cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Bessie Floreen Schwier, daughter of George Leonard Schwier and Lillie Belle Dorrell, was born August 17, 1891 in Ripley County, Indiana.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Schwiers.

Irwin Garfield (9riginally Garfinkel), son of Jack Garfinkel and Martha Freedman, was born August 17, 1929 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

William Henry Crawford, son of Preston Crawford and Annie Mariah Dixon, was born August 17, 1936 in Georgia, likely in Muscogee County.  He is the 2nd cousin once removed of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Daniel Joseph Ellis, son of Albert Giberson Ellis and Eva Imogene Calvert, was born August 17, 1952 in Indiana.  He is my 2nd cousin on my Gauntt line through the Ellises.

Brian John Omichinski was born August 17, 1953 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.  He is the husband of Sandra Rosanne Rudin, daughter of Raymond Harold Rudin and Ruth Garfinkel, who is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line via the Garfinkels.

Victoria Lynn Reed was born August 17, 1967.  She is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Marriage

Michael A. Pollard and Susan Renee Bonifas, daughter of Joseph W. Bonifas and Delores Gilbert, were married August 17, 1990 in Cannelton, Perry County, Indiana.  Susan is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Bonifases.

Deaths

Edward F. Gaunt, son of Benjamin Gaunt and Mary Elizabeth Sever, died August 17, 1877 in New Jersey, probably iin Burlington County at the age of 3 days.  He is my half 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Adeline Votaw, daughter of Daniel W. Votaw and Louisa Gaunt, died August 17, 1883 in Wabash County, Indiana two days after her twin sister, at the age of 29 weeks, 5 days.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Daniel Dunstan, son of Frederick Cleworth Dunstan and Mary Emma Richardson, died August 17, 1937 in Mount Holly, Burlington County, New Jersey at the age of 3.  He is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Dunstan line.

Zelig Garber died August 17, 1949 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada at the age of about 77.  He was the husband of Ida Mekler, daughter of Eliezer Mekler and Esther Baila, who is my 1st cousin 3x removed via the Meklers.

Monroe Crowell died August 17, 1975, probably in Indiana, at the age of 66.  He was the husband of Lillian May Hoyer, daughter of Rollin Henry Hoyer and Bessie Floreen Schwier, who is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line via the Schwiers.

Monday, August 16, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 16

Since Louis Perlman and Jennie Novitsky were1st cousins once removed, does that make Frances Perlman her own cousin?

Births

Hannah Davis was born August 16, 1834 in Columbiana County, Ohio.  She was the wife of John Gaunt, son of Benjamin Gaunt and Mary Sheets, who is my 2nd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Robert Price Yount was born August 16, 1916 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.  He was the husband of Catherine Allean Hutson, daughter of Earl Morris Hutson and Catherine Corenne Utley, who is my 6th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Hutsons.

Edna Louise Flynn, daughter of Roscoe Sherman Flynn and Edna May Gauntt, was born August 16, 1921 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my 1st cousin once removed on my Gauntt line.

Marriages

Robert Barclay Gaunt, son of Samuel Gaunt, Jr. and Ann Horner, and Harriet Prickett were married August 16, 1862 in Gloucester County, New Jersey.  Robert is my 3rd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Isaac Krebs, son of Simon Krebs and Dorothea Schiffer, and Frederika Weiss, daughter of Simon Weiss and Gütel Goldmann, were married August 16, 1871 in Peiskretscham, Obersilesia, Prussia.  They are the great-grandparents of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Jeffrey David Gordon and Beverlee Kaye Berry were married August 16, 1986 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.  Jeff is my 2nd cousin once removed.

Death

Frances Perlman, daughter of Louis Perlman and Jennie Novitsky, died August 16, 1994 in Great Neck, Nassau County, New York at the age of 80.  She is my 1st cousin 2x removed via the Novitskys.

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 15

Another short life to remember.  It's important that they not be forgotten.

Births

Rachel Gaunt, daughter of John Gaunt and Elizabeth Kirby, was born August 15, 1822 in Salem County, New Jersey.  She is my 3rd cousin 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Raymond Albert Largess was born August 15, 1915 in Worcester County, Massachusetts.  He was the husband of Dorothy Adelle Allen, daughter of Charles Louis Allen and Marion M. Lauinger, who is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Mitchell Yngber was born August 15, 1969.  He's in my family tree, and I'm pretty sure we're cousins, but I haven't figured out yet how we're related.  I think I will find a connection through the Jakowszyckas.

James Herbert Swaim was born August 15, 1982.  He is my 5th cousin 2x removed.

Marriages

George Parson Hutson, son of Thomas Hutson and Ruth Thackeray, and Estella G. Brown were married August 15, 1894 in Union County, Indiana.  George is my 4th cousin 3x removed on my Gauntt line via the Thackerays.

Morris Earl Rufe and Dixie Lee Clark, daughter of Neil Gaunt Clark and Wilma E. Norris, were married August 15, 1964 in Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.  Dixie is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Clarks.

David Kardish, son of Samuel Kardish and Tillie Steinberg, and Joy Schlesinger were married August 15, 1971, probably in Canada.  David is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gorodetsky line through the Kardishes.

Steven Leon Starr and Heidi Kathleen Alexander were married August 15, 1987.  Heidi is my 4th cousin once removed.

Yoram Eisenstadt and Barbara Baker were married August 15, 1991.  Barbara is my 3rd cousin once removed.

Joel Richard Kent III and Lora Lee Beasley were married August 15, 2008.  Joel is my nephew.

Deaths

Evaline Votaw, daughter of Daniel W. Votaw and Louisa Gaunt, died August 15, 1883 in Wabash County, Indiana at the age of 29 weeks, 3 days.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Clara E. Easlick, daughter of Jonathan Easlick and Susannah Sever, died August 15, 1966, possibly in New Jersey. at the age of 85.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Easlicks.

Helen Elizabeth Galbraith, daughter of Lewis C. Galbraith and Dora Ann Kirtlan, died August 15, 1982, probably in Miami County, Indiana, at the age of 79.  She is my 4th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Galbraiths.

Saturday, August 14, 2021

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Three (or More) Things about a Great-grandparent

Today for Saturday Night Genealogy Fun, Randy Seaver has us writing up information about one of our ancestors.

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

(1) Pick a great-grandparent of yours—any one of your eight.  Tell us three (or more) things about him or her.


(2) Tell us in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook.  Be sure to leave a comment with a link to your blog post on this post.

I decided to write about my great-grandmother Minnie Zelda (Nowicki) Meckler (c. 1880–1936).  She was my mother's father's mother.  Like Randy, I'm writing more than three things.

Minnie's original name was Mushe; I don't know if she had a middle name at first.  I don't have documentation of her birth, so 1880 is an estimate based on later records stating her age.  She was probably born in Porozowo, Russian Empire, now Porazava, Belarus.

Mushe Nowicki married Moishe Meckler about 1900, again an estimate.  They might have married in Porozowo or somewhere nearby; it was almost definitely in Grodno Gubernia.

Moishe and Mushe had three children in Russia:  Sora, born about 1900; Simcha, born about 1903; and Hirschel, born about 1905.

Moishe immigrated to the United States in 1906; Mushe came later with the three children.  They departed from Antwerp, Belgium on October 14, 1911 and arrived at Ellis Island on October 23 on the Vaderland.  At some point after arrival everyone Americanized their names and they became Morris (sometimes Max), Minnie, Sarah, Sam, and Harry.  To make their family name sound less Jewish, Morris and Sam modified it to Mackler; Harry used Meeckler.

Minnie gave birth to four more children, all in Brooklyn, New York:  my grandfather Abraham, July 23, 1912 (the firsr-born in the United States, exactly 9 months after Minnie's arrival!); Rubin, May 31, 1914; Florence, December 22, 1915; and Elsie, August 24, 1919.

Minnie died August 4, 1936 (her yahrzeit is 17 Av) in Brooklyn of a cerebral hemorrhage.  She was buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Queens on August 5.

As far as I can tell, Minnie did not become an American citizen.  My great-grandfather Morris naturalized in 1942.

The 1911 passenger list indicates that Minnie was 5'1" tall and had a fair complexion, dark hair, and brown eyes.  I have one photo of her, taken with the three children born in Russia.  Judging by the ages of the children, it was likely taken shortly before Moishe's departure in 1906.

Events in My Family Tree: August 14

I'm branching out!  Almost half of thse are not from the Gauntt family!

Births

Edward F. Gaunt, son of Benjamin Gaunt and Mary Elizabeth Sever, was born August 14, 1877 in New Jersey, probably iin Burlington County.  He is my half 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

William Daily Allen, son of George N. Allen and Irene H., was born August 14, 1881 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 4th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Minnie Caroline Slentz, daughter of James Edward Slentz and Caroline Ella Estella Oler, was born August 14, 1908 in Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan.  She is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Slentzes.

Freda Gene Grossman was born August 14, 1911 in Minnesota, possibly in St. Paul.  She was the wife of Hyman Samuel Schumeister, son of Henry Schumeister and Celia Perlumtter, who is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Nowicki line through the Perlmutters.

Harry Mark Gaunt, Jr., son of Harry Mark Gaunt, Sr. and Sarah Gayle Kirkendall, was born August 14, 1924 in Green, Jay County, Indiana.  He is my 5th cousin once removed via the Gaunts.

Billie Brainin, daughter of David Harry Brainin and Rebecca Harbour, was born August 14, 1929 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  She is my 1st cousin 2x removed on my Brainin line.

Mildred Allene Haddock was born August 14, 1943 in Tulare County, California.  She was the wife of John Charles Gaunt, son of William Alvin Gaunt and Mamie B. Mitchell, who is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Victoria Lackowitz, daughter of Simon Lackowitz and Rose Gordon, was born August 14, 1945 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York.  She is my 2nd cousin once removed on my Gordon line.

David Michael Kirsh was born August 14, 1956 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  He is the husband of Donna Lynn Weinstein, daughter of Irvin Weinstein and Esther Garfinkel, who is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Nina Yvonne Hostettler was born August 14, 1962 in Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio.  She is the wife of Richard Bruce Sellers, Jr., son of Richard Bruce Sellers, Sr. and Virginia Ann Bennett, who is my half 2nd cousin.

Marriages

Simeon Purdy and Mary A. Gaunt, daughter of Isaac Gaunt and Susannah Webb, were married August 14, 1829 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  Mary is my 1st 4x removed via the Gaunts.

Orlan Fay Gaunt, son of David Clinton Gaunt and Martha Sophronia Hartman, and Leona Ketterman Dillman were married August 14, 1965 in Jay County, Indiana.  Orlan is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Joe Leal and Sandra Garfinkel, daughter of Harry Garfinkel and Bella Raber, were married August 14, 1983, probably in Canada.  Sandra is my 3rd cousin once removed on my Meckler line through the Garfinkels.

Glenn Rasmussen and Michelle Myers, daughter of Charles Myers and Donnna Jean Phillips, were married August 14, 2009.  Michelle is my 4th cousin once removed.

Friday, August 13, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 13

The two Allens who each were married on August 13—33 years apart—were 2nd cousins once removed.

Births

Ella Gaunt, daughter of Benjamin Franklin Gaunt and Elizabeth K. Frazer, was born August 13, 1849 in New Jersey, possibly in Burlington County.  She is my 2nd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Lewis Allen Gaunt, son of Lewis Cass Gaunt and Mary A. Kindlesparger, was born August 13, 1887 in Richvalley, Wabash County, Indiana.  He is my 3rd cousin 3x removed via the Gaunts.

Helen V. Naylor, daughter of James Mason Naylor and Martha Ann Murdock, was also born August 13, 1887, although in Southampton Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Naylors.

Lillian Helen Romer, daughter of William Romer and Georgeanna Gaunt, was born August 13, 1913 in New Jersey, possibly in Burlington County.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.

Albert Giberson Ellis, son of Levi Ellis and Carrie Florence Gauntt, was born August 13, 1929 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  He is my 1st cousin once removed via the Gauntts.

Brian David Kanovsky, son of Herbert Kanovsky and Evelyn Golub, was born August 13, 1960 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.  He is my 4th cousin on my Meckler line through the Golubs.

Shawn Allen Brown was born August 13, 1975.  He is the husband of my not-quite-cousin Angela Williams.

Marriages

Amos Williamson and Rebecca Armstrong, daughter of Joel Armstrong and Catherine Stackhouse, were married August 13, 1853 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Rebecca is my 3x-great-grandaunt.

Clarence Allen, Jr., son of Clarence Allen and Agnes Viola Ledger, and Grace Stagnate were married August 13, 1944 in Manhattan, New York County, New York.  Clarence is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Brian Downey and Deborah Jean Allen, daughter of Jack Allen and Gloria Funiccaro, were married August 13, 1977 in Multnomah County, Oregon.  Deborah is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Allens.

Deaths

Emma Armenius Brinck, daughter of Philander C. Brinck and Margaret K. Githens, died August 13, 1925 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania at the age of 77.  She is my 3rd cousin 3x removed on my Gauntt line through the Githenses.

Doris Lavina Rowland, daughter of Joseph Freeman Rowland and Sarah D. Pelham, died August 13, 1972 in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana at the age of 71.  She is my 4th cousin 2x removed on my Gauntt line through the Rowlands.

Henry William Hudson, Jr., son of Henry William Hudson and Jean Wargo, died August 13, 1980 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona at the age of 22.  He is my 5th cousin once removed on my Gauntt line through the Hudsons.

Harold Leroy Davis, Sr. died August 13, 1999 in Chattahoochee, Gadsden County, Florida at the age of 81.  He was the husband of Dorothy Mae Sellers, daughter of Bertram Lynn Sellers, Sr. and Elizabeth Leatherberry Sundermeier, who is my half-aunt.

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Events in My Family Tree: August 12

This may be the first time I've had two events from the English side of my family on the same day.

Births

Martha Winn, daughter of Thomas Winn and Mary Parr(?), was born August 12, 1837 in either Chorlton-upon-Medlock or Manchester, Lancashire, England.  She is my great-great-grandmother.

Irwin Millstein, son of Nathan Millstein and Sarah Gordon (originally Gorodetsky), was born August 12, 1929 in Bronx, Bronx County, New York.  He is my 1st cousin 2x removed via the Gorodetskys.

Robert Reuben Gauntt, son of Reuben Lewallen Gauntt and Dorothy Selace, was born August 12, 1946, probably in New Jersey.  He is my 5th cousin on my Gauntt line.

Lory David McStroul, son of Fred Lincoln McStroul and Belle Silberman, was born August 12, 1953 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California.  He is the 1st cousin of my aunt Mary McStroul.

Wayne Lee Gaunt, son of William Richard Gaunt and Ina Mae Pflueger, was born August 12, 1954, possibly in Indiana.  He is my 6th cousin via the Gaunts.

Shachar Leven was born August 12, 1975.  She is my 4th cousin.

Astrid Erin O'Brien was born August 12, 1980.  She is my half 1st cousin.

Lauren Eileen Dunn was born August 12, 1997.  She is my 2nd cousin 2x removed.

Marriage

Robert Hill and Maria Dunstan, daughter of James Dunstan and Maria Hilton, were married August 12, 1832 in Manchester, Lancashire, England.  Maria is my 3x-great-grandaunt.

Death

Everett Elwin Gaunt, son of Walter Everett Gaunt and Norma Marguerite Prusso, died August 12, 1982 in Newark, Alameda County, California at the age of 62.  He is my 4th cousin 2x removed via the Gaunts.