Jacob Crecelius

Hewson L. Peeke wrote in his 1916 edition of A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, that Jacob Crecelius was born in Germany, and was married to Catherine Erf. He came to the United States in 1850, first settling in Huron County, Ohio, and then moving to Erie County in 1852. He was a farmer in Oxford Township, Ohio. Mr. Peeke stated, "Jacob Crecelius was a man of no little prominence in Oxford Township, served as trustee and for a number of years as a member of the Oxford Township school board, and was not only keenly interested but an influential and helpful factor in matters of local progress. He was a democrat in politics, and in every way public spirited." Mr. Jacob Crecelius was the father of Jacob J. Crecelius,who was also a farmer in Oxford Township. The younger Jacob Crecelius served as an Erie County Commissioner for several years.
















An obituary for Jacob Crecelius, the father, who died on June 14, 1899, appeared in the Sandusky Star newspaper on June 16, 1899. Jacob Crecelius was buried at St. John's Cemetery, near the intersection of Mason and Thomas Roads in Oxford Township, Erie County, Ohio. Many surnames of German descent can be seen on the tombstones of individuals buried at the St. John's Cemetery.

SNGF: What Did Your Father Love To Do?

Randy, at Genea-Musings, challenged with this latest edition of Saturday Night Genealogy Fun:

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.

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The favorite past-time of my dad, Paul R. Orshoski, Sr., seen at the far right in the picture above, was to coach Little League baseball, most often at the "atom league" level. He and several friends from Bay View, Ohio helped to raise funds to get a baseball field started in Bay View, Ohio in the early 1960s. Here is a picture of one of his teams from 1963.

 














The assistant coach was dad's cousin, Frank "Sonny" Orshoski. My brother Todd, and cousins Scott and Craig Orshoski were all on this team. Little brother Matt Orshoski is in the front row. Matt used to try to carry bat when he was not yet two years old! A family friend told me that Dad was considered the "pied piper" of baseball in Bay View. If he saw a youngster in Bay View who was not signed up for a ball team, he did his best to persuade that youngster to sign up! I think he felt that a busy young person would not have time to get into trouble, so he saw baseball as a positive force. Later on, Dad even coached a girls' team, with baby sister Kellie on it! 

I miss Dad so much each Father's Day, but he gave us lasting and wonderful memories! Even though I have never been on a ball team, and have no athletic ability, I was at more ball games than I can recall, and I loved holding the Cokes of some of the players as they sat on the bench, and rooted enthusiastically for the team.  Dad had teams that played very well, and some that were not so great, but he saw to it that each player learned the fundamentals of baseball, and had a good time, and learned to work together with others on the team. Miss you Dad!!

 

Mrs. Fanny Van Alstyne

Mrs. Fanny Van Alstyne is buried in the North Ridge of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. She passed away on June 13, 1867. Her tombstone notes that she was the wife of Pierre Van Alstyne. Fanny was born in New York on May 11, 1843. According to FamilySearch records, Fanny was the daughter of Julius Bellamy and Sarah Jane Barney. In the 1860 U.S. Census, there is a Fanny living at the household of Freeland T. Barney, the brother of Sarah Jane Barney. Helen Hansen wrote in AT HOME IN EARLY SANDUSKY, that while Mr. and Mrs. Freeland Barney were childless, they adopted several children. Fanny Bellamy may have been adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Freeland Barney, but no official records have been found to confirm that fact.

Fanny Van Alstyne had a son, also named Pierre Van Alstyne. He was born in Tennessee about 1866, per U.S. Census records found on Ancestry Library Edition. In the 1880 U.S. Census, Pierre Van Alstyne is residing with Mrs. Mary Barney, the widow of Freeland T. Barney. Pierre is listed as Mary's grandson. Pierre worked at the Barney family's hardware business in Sandusky. While do not know all the details of Mrs. Fanny Van Alstyne's family connections, or what happened to her spouse, it is clear that Mr. and Mrs. Freeland T. Barney dearly loved Fanny, and took care of her young child after her death.

Military Monday: Joseph Hower, Civil War Veteran

Joseph Hower was born in Baden, Germany in 1843, and he came to the U.S. in 1858. After residing in the state of New York for a brief time, Joseph settled in Sandusky, Ohio in 1859, where he worked as a cabinet maker. In 1861, Joseph Hower enlisted in the 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served under R.B. Hayes, who would later become the president of the United States. Joseph Hower served in the Civil War for three years and three months. He was discharged from military service in 1864. From about 1870 to 1898, Joseph Hower ran a restaurant in Sandusky. On June 9, 1907, Joseph Hower died after a lengthy illness. He was survived by a daughter and son, his wife having preceded him in death. Mr. Hower had been a member of the G.A.R., the Union Veterans' Legion, the I.O.O.F., and the Knights of Pythias. Funeral services for Joseph Hower were held at the family residence, with Rev. A.N. Slayton officiating. Hundreds of friends and fraternal associates attended Mr. Hower's funeral, and he was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A G.A.R. marker adorns the tombstone of Joseph Hower. Obituaries for Mr. Hower appeared in the Sandusky Register of June 10, 11, and 13, 1907.

Walter J. Gorey

Walter J. Gorey, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gorey, was born in Ohio in 1867. In the 1880 U.S. Census, he was age 13, and residing with his parents and brother and sister in Huron, Erie County, Ohio. Records at Erie County Probate Court indicate that Walter J. Gorey, of Huron, Ohio,  married Anna Schipley, of Ceylon, Ohio, on December 1, 1892. After being married less than one year, Walter J. Gorey passed away from pneumonia on June 6, 1893. Walter J. Gorey was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. An inscription on the front of Walter's tombstone reads:

MEMORY CLINGS TO THEE

An obituary for Walter J. Gorey appeared in the June 7, 1893 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Everett N. Bennett, M.D.

Everett N. Bennett was the son of John and Eliza Bennett, born in Sharpsville, Indiana in 1886. In 1915, Everett N. Bennett earned his medical degree from the Western Reserve University in Ohio. That same year he married Wilma Wick, a native of Sandusky, Ohio. During World War One, Dr. Bennett served with the Medical Corps. A biographical sketch of Dr. Everett N. Bennett is found in the book HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR.

Dr. Everett Bennett practiced medicine in Kokomo, Indiana for a number of years. He served as Commander of the American Legion post in Kokomo, and was instrumental in the formation of the Sons of the Legion chapter. On June 2, 1938, Dr. Everett Bennett passed away after suffering a heart attack. His remains were brought to Ohio from Indiana on the Nickel Plate Railroad. Funeral services for Dr. Everett were held at the Frey Funeral Home with Father William Armitage officiating. Dr. Everett Bennett was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. An obituary for Dr. Everett N. Bennett appeared in the June 4, 1938 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.

Sentimental Sunday: Note pad from Famous Supply

This sheet of paper from an old Famous Supply notepad reminds me of my life in Bay View, on Martin's Point Road, where I lived from age 5 until 21. For most of those years, my dad, Paul R. Orshoski, Sr., worked as a plumber and pipe fitter. Dad often stopped at Famous Supply in Sandusky, Ohio,  to get parts for work. He got to know the district manager, Thad, very well. My brother even got a job at Famous Supply. The note pad was the "go to" spot for writing phone messages, grocery lists, Sunday School notes, and to do lists. I cannot remember a day at the old family house in Bay View that I didn't see one of these note pads. Thad and Dad and Mom are all gone now, but this note paper from Famous Supply, with the"F" forming a wrench, brings back many happy memories!