Genealogy Class at the Bellevue Public Library on May 13 and 15

Don't miss a great opportunity to learn the basics of genealogy at the Bellevue Public Library!
Sessions will be held on May 13 and May 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room at -224 East Main Street in Bellevue, Ohio.

Mrs. Laura Helen Wilcox Sloane, 1872-1909

Laura Helen Wilcox was born on January 5, 1872 to Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Wilcox. R.M. Wilcox was the proprietor of a popular dry goods and department store in downtown Sandusky. An article in the January 31, 1891 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that Laura Wilcox had recently accepted the position of organist at the Presbyterian Church in Sandusky.  In 1892, Laura Helen Wilcox married Frank G. Sloane.

In 1900, Laura and Frank Sloane's daughter Esther was born. She was to be their only child. On April 30, 1909, Laura Helen Wilcox Sloane died from tuberculosis at the age of 37 years. She was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. She left behind her husband Frank, and her young daughter Esther. Funeral services for Mrs. Laura Sloane were held at the family residence on Franklin Street. Though Laura's life was brief, she touched many lives and had a rich, full life.

Mappy Monday: Big Map Blog

While browsing around for maps online, I came across the Big Map Blog. Click here to read more about the Big Map Blog. You can browse all maps, or search by location. One of my favorite maps at this site is Ruger's Map of Sandusky, Ohio from 1870.

Use the zoom feature for a closer look of a specific portion of the map. In the close up view below, Number 7 is an image of Emmanuel Church, Number 6 is the Sandusky High School, and Number 13 is Grace Episcopal Church.

Check out the Big Map Blog, and you may find maps of interest from your family's hometown! Contact the curator of the Big Map Blog if you are interested in ordering prints of the maps found at this terrific website.

Sibling Saturday: Parker Brothers

Pictured above are the three sons of my great grandparents, Leroy and Ada (Steen) Parker about 1910. From left to right are Steen Parker, my maternal grandfather, and his brothers baby Paul Parker, and Glenn Parker. This picture (a digital copy of a photocopy) was taken before their baby sister Janet Parker was born. These little boys grew up on a farm in Perkins Township of Erie County, Ohio. Grandpa Steen Parker  died before I was born, but I fondly remember my great uncles, and Aunt Janet too. Uncle Paul Parker was married to Aunt Maribel, and he was always jovial, with a funny story to tell. Uncle Glenn was a longtime employee of Barr Rubber, and he also drove bus for Perkins Township schools. Uncle Glenn seemed more serious, and he took his responsibility as a Perkins Township Trustee very seriously. Below is a family group sheet for the Parker family.

My great grandparents, and all of their children, are buried in the Parker family lot at Perkins Cemetery.

Tombstone Tuesday: De Witt Clinton Ruff

According to HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO,  De Witt Clinton Ruff was born on February 12, 1858 in Canada, to Christopher and Emma (Ayling) Ruff. Christopher Ruff moved his family to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was in the furniture and undertaking business for several years. In 1878, De Witt Clinton Ruff became a partner in his father's business. The advertisement below appeared in the January 15, 1890 issue of the Sandusky Register.

After losing the business to a fire in the 1890s, both Christopher and De Witt Clinton Ruff moved to the state of Minnesota. Pictured below is a page from the Ramsey County, Minnesota State Census in 1895. D.W.C. Ruff is residing in St. Paul, Minnesota with his mother, his wife, and a servant. At this time, Mr. Ruff was working as a real estate agent, and his mother was a widow by this time.

The Florida Deaths database at FamilySearch lists the date of death of Dewitt C. Ruff as April 22, 1937, in Duval County, Florida. His remains were returned to Sandusky, Ohio for burial at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Using Pinterest to Organize Cemetery Pictures

Though I am an amateur at both blogging and at creating Pinterest Boards, I found images of angels and sculptures from cemeteries around the Sandusky Bay area to created a themed Pinterest Board. The url for this board is:

http://www.pinterest.com/dfromohio/angels-and-cemetery-sculptures-in-erie-county/

You could create your own Pinterest boards with your cemetery pictures, and sort them by cemetery, surname, or other themes. Pinterest is also a great tool to use for sorting vintage family photos by surname as well! Happy pinning!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from the Graveyard Rabbit
of Sandusky Bay!