If Grandpa Joe Orshoski Had Not Taken that Long Trip on a Ship

Recently I learned that an Orshoski cousin has written a book. Another Orshoski descendant is the author of several children's books. It got me to thinking that if Great Grandpa Joe Orshoski had not gotten on that ship and come to America, we would not be here!

Grandpa Joe worked in coal mines in two states, before moving to Bay Bridge to work at the Medusa Cement plant. In 1919, his first wife died and left him with several sons.

 

He then married again, and had two daughters, and inherited a stepdaughter. The second marriage lasted over 50 years!

Orshoski descendants have worked in a variety of fields, including:

Education

Travel

Sales

Libraries

Physical therapy

Plumbing

Construction

Nursing

Restaurant management

Electrical engineering

Engineering

Law enforcement

Cement production

Sanitary engineering

Military

Banking

Hospitality and Entertainment

just to name a few. It is mind boggling to think that we all would not be here if Grandpa Joe had not made that long, long voyage in the early 1900s! We honor our Orshoski ancestors and thank them for their bravery and work ethic!

*Note: Of course each of us have many different lines from which we descend! The Orshoski family was just "in my heart" today!

Young Children of Richard H. and Lucy Tucker Rogers

Photo courtesy Find a Grave 245732530 

At the Sandhill Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio are graves for several young children of Richard H. Rogers and his wife, the former Lucy Tucker.

From left to right at the grave site are:

May and Fay, Twin Infants

Jerusha, who died at age 8 days old in 1845

Amanda, who died at 8 years old in 1842

Mary, who died at 5 years old in 1840

Emily, who died at 5 years old in 1842

It must have been so heart wrenching for Mr. and Mrs. Rogers to lose so many children. They did have two children who survived to adulthood, Richard Hart Rogers Jr. and Mrs. Lucy Hayes.

According to Manford's Magazine, vol. 39 , Richard H. Rogers Sr. went on to marry again, to Rebecca Smith of Wisconsin. They had two sons.

Rest in peace Rogers children.

 

Grace Estella Lindsley

 

Grace Estella Lindsley, the oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lindsley, died on October 26, 1905, shortly after her 4th birthday. A lovely poem appeared in the local newspaper, written by Mrs. Lizzie Ferguson. Grace was first buried in the old Perkins Cemetery. Afer a munitions plant went in near the old Perkins Cemetery, all the graves were re-interred at the current Perkins Cemetery.

It reads:

There is many an empty cradle

There is many a vacant bed

There is many a lovely bosom,

Where joy and life has fled.

For think in every graveyard,

The little hillock lies:

And every hillock represents

An angel in the skies.

Rest in peace, young Grace.

Veteran Donald McClellan

 

Donald McClellan was killed in action while serving in Okinawa during World War Two. He died on May 23, 1945 at the age of 33. Thank you for your service! Donald McClellan is buried at Oakland Cemetery near his father, Rev. Henry Lincoln McClellan, former rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in Sandusky, Ohio.

Hortense Herman, Journalist

Hortense Sophia Herman was born in Clark County, Ohio in 1908 to Henry L. Herman and his wife, the former Jennie Schadel. For almost fifty years, H.L. Herman owned and operated a jewelry store in downtown Sandusky.  Hortense Herman graduated from Sandusky High School in 1926.

Image from 1926 SHS Fram

She went on to study at the Ohio State University. She was a well known journalist in the Chicago area for many years. Below is a transcription of an obituary for Hortense Herman Kaye, which appeared in the Chicago Tribune of October 11, 1999. 

Hortense Herman Kaye, age 90, dear sister of Ruth Ach Bernard; preceded in death by one brother. David Herman; and her parents Henry and Jenny Herman; also survived by her loving nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends. Services Monday, October 11, 1999, 4 p.m. at The Piser Chapel, 5206 N. Broadway, Chicago. 

Interment will take place in Sandusky, OH. Mrs. Kaye was an accomplished journalist and a pioneer in her field. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her work in newspaper journalism. Among her credits include The Chicago Tribune "Feminique" section (which she co-developed); the Chicago Editor for Home Furnishings Daily, Architectural Digest and House and Garden Guide.

Hortense Herman Kaye, aka Hortense S. Herman, was buried at the Oheb Shalom Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio, near her father and mother.

Photo credit: J. Mazza

 

Mary Steen Hill was Postmistress at Berlin Heights, Ohio

 

Mary Steen Hill (1849 - 1936) was my 2nd Great Grand Aunt on my Mom's Steen line. I was browsing through online records of the U.S. Post Office at the  National Archives online, and came across a document that had her name listed as the Postmaster at Berlin Heights, Ohio. The document was issued by the Post Office Department, and was dated December 18, 1902.

Mary Steen Hill died long before I came along, but she probably got to know several members of the Berlin Heights community during her time at the Post Office. 

More historical records from the U.S Post Office can be found online at the National Archives.

Cora Akins Casselman

 

Cora Belle Akins was born in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio in 1877 to Frank A. Akins and his wife, the former Martha Eddy. She married Edward S. Casselman in 1917. Edward worked for the U.S. Government. Some sources list him as a fish culturist, while others list him as a construction engineer. In 1920, the Casselmans resided in Vermont. By 1930, they moved back to Erie County, Ohio. Edward S. Casselman died in 1933, after a lengthy illness. Cora continued to live in Sandusky, residing with her stepmother, Alice Akins. Cora Akins Casselman died in 1944, and was buried in the Akins family lot at Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.