Sgt. Major Fred W. Lockwood

Sgt. Major Fred W. Lockwood was a veteran of World War One. Prior to his service in the Great War, he had been in military service in the Philippines. An obituary for Sgt. Major Lockwood is found in the historical collections of the Harris-Elmore Public Library. The transcript reads:

Word of the death at Cincinnati, Sunday of Fred Lockwood was received here Tuesday by Mr. and Mrs.C. B. Lockwood. Mr. Lockwood was the son of the late L. Pitt Lockwood and the former Miss Nannie Smith was his mother. He had formerly resided in this city. He was in the army for many years, having been captain or the home guards at St. Louis, and later amember of the regular army. He had just returned from service in the Philippines when a call for officers for theworld war was made and he went overseas, where he was a member of theofficers’ training corps. The armisticewas signed as he was preparing to enter Germany. Later he resigned from the army because of physical disability. He returned to the home of his mother in Cincinnati after his resignation. Hewas aged 47 years. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at Cincinnati.

Sgt. Major Fred W. Lockwood died on February 17, 1924. His final resting place was at Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. His name is engraved at the top of the monument bearing the names of his parents, L. Pitt Lockwood and Nannie E. Lockwood.

Old Receipts from Grandma and Grandpa Yeager

 

Recently I was given some old receipts from my great grandparents Andrew and Lena Yeager.

A prescription from Fisher Drug cost 1.50. Rent receipts ranged from $55 to $60, from the 1960s. Grandma Yeager's subscription to the Erie County Reporter cost $3.00. It was so fun to come across a "slice of life" from my Yeager great grandparents! Andrew and Lena  (aka Helena) Yeager are buried at the Union Corners Cemetery, just off Route 250 between Sandusky and Milan. Rest in peace Grandma and Grandpa Yeager!

Parker Family Lot at Perkins Cemetery

 

In the Northwest Section of Perkins Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio, is a large stone with the surname Parker. The oldest person with the last name Parker in my family tree is Joshua Parker, who emigrated to the US in the 1850s from Lincolnshire, England, after his wife died. Joshua Parker died in Monroeville in 1899. To date, no tombstone has been found for Joshua Parker. My great great grandfather was Geoge B. Parker (son of Joshua),  who was  a well known farmer in Perkins Township. He was married to the former Marian House. George B. Parker died in a car accident in 1914. 

George and Marian's only son was my great grandfather Leroy Joshua Parker. My "Grandpa Roy" also was a farmer in Perkins Township, and later in his life he and Grandma Ada were concessionaires at Cedar Point. After the US Government purchased several acres of land in Perkins Township for a munitions factory during World War Two, Grandpa Roy and Grandma Ada moved to Sandusky, Ohio.

At the time of the TNT plant going in at Perkins Township, the old Perkins Cemtery had to be moved to its current location off Route 250 in Perkins Township. It is not known whether the large Parker stone was at the old cemetery, or if it was erected when the many graves were relocated to its current location.

Many, many of my uncles, aunts, cousins, and dozens of other extended family members are buried at Perkins Cemetery. When my mother and I would walk through Perkins Cemetery, she often told me stories about the Taylors, and the Houses, and the Lindsleys, and the fun times she recalled at the Parker farm. I am thankful for Mom's love of family, which she inherited from her dearest Grandma Ada Steen Parker. My great nephew has the first name of Parker, which is a nod to his ancestors who hailed from Lincolnshire, England.

Paul Orshoski Jr. and Dorene Orshoski at Perkins Cemetery in the 1960s

Family History Travels with My Mom Joyce Parker Orshoski

All through my life, my mom, Joyce Parker Orshoski, now in Heaven, told me family history stories. She loved going to her grandparents' farm in Perkins Township. She was heart broken to lose her mother at age 11. She cherished a diary that her Grandma Ada Parker had kept.

As time went by, Mom and I wanted to learn more about our family heritage. We traveled to libraries in Milan, Fremont, and Cleveland. 

We trodded through area cemeteries to find the final resting places of those who went before us.

We visited the Hayes Presidential Library, to search for obituaries of our ancestors. 

We talked to cousins, and even cousins of cousins!

Relatives told us stories, which helped us "flesh out" those bare bone statistics on vital records and census records. 

Missing Mom all the time, along with so many other cherished loved ones!  Thank you for the memories Mom!

Flora Mills Johnson Heywood

 

Flora Mills Johnson was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Johnson, of Sandusky, Ohio, born on March 26, 1859.  Flora's father was a prominent businessman, active in the lime business, and he was also the former owner of Johnson's Island. In 1884 Flora Johnson married John Wicks Heywood in Minneapolis. Soon, they had two children, Johnson Heywood and Flora Jeannette Heywood. On April 7, 1894, Flora Johnson Heywood died at the age of 35. Her youngest daughter was only two months old. Funeral services for Flora Mills Heywood were held at her father's home on Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio. Two of her favorite hymns were sung at the funeral, "Abide with Me" and "Jesus Tender Shepherd Lead Me. She was laid to rest in the family lot at Oakland Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio. 

George Cratari

 

Very little is known about George Cratari (sometimes listed as George Catari.) His tombstone at the St. Anthony Cemetey in Milan, Ohio, provides his birth year as 1874 and death year as 1917. His monument was erected by someone named John. The surname of the benefactor named John is illegible. Rest in peace, George Cratari.

Classmates Through the Years

Linda G, Dorene, Jack L.

At my daughter Melanie's Celebration of Life in May, two of my lifelong friends were able to be there. I realized that I have known Jack and Linda since Grade 1 at Venice Elementary School, which then was a part of the Margaretta Local Schools District.

Jack and Linda and I all took College Prep Classes at Margaretta High School. We had Miss Stiller for English Literature, and Mr. Van Orsdall for Biology. We three were members of the Mighty Polar Marching Band, under the direction of Mr. Robert Price. The band bus experience was always a lot of fun.

Linda's mom was a teacher at Venice Elementary. In the Baby Boom years, some academic years, Mrs. H. had her class at Trinity Lutheran Church, down the road from Venice School, because Venice School was overcrowded. On more than one occasion, I was blessed to go on vacation with Linda's family, because her older sisters were working, and they wanted Linda to have someone to pal around with .We went to Washington D.C., and I  got to meet Congressman Mosher. Another vacation was to Atwood Lake Lodge. My parents, who were raising six children, rarely went on vacation, so my trips with Linda and her parents were a delightful treat!

Jack's mom Viola, lived  to be over 100 years old! She was a strong woman, and she had helped raise her siblings, after their mother died young. 

Living in a small community, there are ties with family and friends that stay with you all through life's journey. Thank you Linda and Jack, for being there to help us remember my daughter Melanie, who left this earth at age 47. Niece Tina got me a special journal, in which now I am sharing memories of my daughter. I encourage you to jot down memories on paper, or in a blog. Future generations may enjoy the memories you have.