Celebrate International Museum Day on May 17, 2014

On Saturday, May 17, 2014, several museums in Sandusky and Milan, Ohio will be free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Read more about it here. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some of our area's great museums, and learn about the rich history of Erie County, Ohio. Participating in International Museum Day in Erie County will be: The Eleutheros Cooke House and Garden, the Follett House Museum, the Maritime Museum of Sandusky, the Erie County Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, the Merry-Go-Round Museum, the Ohio Veterans Home Museum, Edison Birthplace, and the Milan Historical Museum. 

Shopping Saturday: "Good Clothes for Sturdy Boys"

In the May 12, 1911 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal is an advertisement for boys' clothing from the Mayer Lebensburger Company, located on Market Street in downtown Sandusky. One item that was featured was a wash suit. The ad stated, "If the Little Fellow is going to spend the summer in the sand pile, give him two or three of our good Wash Suits- materials of Cheviot, madras, Ginghams, Galateas, Linens, etc. -Russian or Sailor styles, sizes 3 to 7 years.
!1.00, !1.25, $1.50 and $1.75
WASH? Just drop the Boy into the tub, clothes and all, and it won't hurt the clothes any more than it will the boy."

What a clever idea, to wash the clothing with the youngster still wearing it! These vintage ads give us an idea of what type of things our ancestors read in the paper. I wonder if my great grandfathers ever wore a "wash suit."

Wednesday's Child: Leonard Paul Ludwig

Leonard Paul Ludwig was the son of Rev. Leonhard and Helena Ludwig, born in 1925. Rev. Ludwig's family had formerly resided in Sandusky, Ohio. In 1919, Rev. Ludwig answered a call to serve as Pastor of a Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon. On May 11, 1932, seven year old Leonard Paul Ludwig died in Portland, Oregon at Emanuel Hospital. His remains were brought back to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was buried at Oakland Cemetery. References to two passages from the Bible appear on the tombstone of Leonard Paul Ludwig: Job 1:21 and Mark 10:14. Though this little boy passed away over 80 years ago, his memory is still honored with flowers. Rest in peace little one. An obituary for Leonard Paul Ludwig appeared in the June 3, 1932 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Telling a Story with Edgartells.me

At the recent GenEx2014 Conference in Sandusky, Ohio, Thomas MacEntee inspired us to tell our family stories. One of the free tools to do this is found at:

edgartells.mehttp://edgartells.me/stories

The first story I told is about my mother, Joyce Parker Orshoski.

 http://edgartells.me/stories/5364098204f0710b00e51ec4

The second story I told is about my father, Paul R. Orshoski, Sr.

 

http://edgartells.me/stories/5365619f74585b0b00f33b30

Keep in mind that I am a rank amateur at using this "new to me" software. Click on the links below the images to get to the actual stories. Have fun telling your own family story at Edgartells.me !!

David Campbell

David Campbell was born in Cherry Valley, New York on May 3, 1794, and he died in Sandusky, Ohio on July 28, 1861. In 1822, David Campbell issued the first newspaper in Sandusky, called the “Sandusky Clarion.” The “Clarion” was the predecessor of the “Sandusky Register.” (See HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich, for more details about the Press of Erie County.)

David Campbell married Mary Jones Todd in 1817. Mary died in 1855. His second wife was Harriet West, the daughter of Abel and Matilda West.

David Campbell is buried in Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery. On his tombstone are inscribed the words “An Honest Man.”

Fun and Learning at GenEx2014

This week I have been enjoying the many sessions at the 2014 Annual Conference of the Ohio Genealogical Society, known as GenEx2014. The conference is being held at Kalahari in Sandusky, Ohio, and has plenty of room for the several hundred attendees.

Everywhere you look, the Kalahari Convention Center is decorated in an African motif. The sessions are led by "Safari Guides" as we are on the hunt for ancestors.

So far, I have met many genealogists, bloggers, authors, vendors, and librarians, all who have a passion to learn more about genealogy. I have learned of many new resources to dig into soon, in search of even more answers to family tree puzzles. This morning I was even able to snap a picture of one of my "Genea-Heroes," Thomas MacEntee!

Thomas gave us inspiration to tell and record our stories. If you ever get a chance to hear a lecture by Thomas MacEntee, he is funny, inspiring, and so knowledgeable in genealogy and social media!

Thanks so much to the Ohio Genealogical Society, for bringing such a fabulous conference to my home county!

Wildman Mills, 1831-1894

Wildman Mills, according to the Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County (Chapman Brothers, 1884), was born in Erie County, Ohio on September 17, 1831. His parents were Isaac Augustus Mills and Sophia Lyman Mills. Wildman's grandfather was Judge Isaac Mills, one of the co-founders of the city of Sandusky, Ohio. Wildman Mills moved to Sanilac County, Michigan in the 1860s. He was active in several business ventures, including real estate, lumber,  railroads, and farming. The town of Sandusky, Michigan, was named by Wildman Mills, in honor of the place of his birth, Sandusky, Ohio. In  1858, Wildman Mills married Julia Moss, and they had five children. After Wildman Mill died in Croswell, Michigan, his remains were returned to Sandusky, Ohio for burial at Oakland Cemetery.

 

Mills Street, Mills School, Mills Creek, and Mills Golf Course in Sandusky, Ohio, are all named in honor of the Mills family.