Thursday, June 30, 2011

Mom and Dad's Wedding Booklet


















My parents, Paul and Joyce (Parker) Orshoski, were married in a small ceremony at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sandusky, Ohio on July 1, 1950. Rev. J. A. Griffith officiated at the wedding. Here is the cover of a small booklet from the day of their wedding ceremony.


















The witnesses were siblings of Paul and Joyce, Sally Parker and Wayne Orshoski.
(Note: The stamp from the National Pension Fund dated May 11, 1983, is an indication that the Pension Fund viewed this item, as proof of my parents' marriage, after the death of our dad in 1983
.)
















Below is a list of the guests who attended the wedding. While I do not recognize every name, most are family, friends, and neighbors of Paul and Joyce and their extended families. Mr. and Mrs. Morris Johnson would later be my godparents.














Here's a listing of the gifts my parents received. The brand names of Sunbeam, Pyrex, and Revere Ware would be found in our family's kitchen for many years to come.














Mom and Dad
are in Heaven now, but it was fun to look through this booklet, to learn a bit more about who was important to them on that very special day in 1950.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Isaac Curtis Brewer, 1868-1933















According to his death certificate, Isaac Curtis Brewer IV was born on January 29, 1968 to Isaac Curtis Brewer III and Sarah Morton Brewer in Conneaut, Ohio.Often known by his initials, I.C. Brewer was a graduate of Cornell. He was trained both as a civil engineer and a chemist. For twenty one years, I.C. Brewer IV worked for the Jarecki Chemical Company. Later he held positions with the American Crayon Company, and the Erie County Highway Department. In 1893, I.C. Brewer IV married Annette Fitch. The couple divorced. Following the divorce, Annette Fitch Brewer left Sandusky with her young son, Isaac Curtis Brewer V. She wrote a book which chronicled her cross country adventure, as well as the child custody dispute.

By 1920. Isaac Curtis Brewer IV had married Martha Anthony. They were living in Sandusky with Isaac Curtis Brewer V, who was age 20 at the time of the 1920 U.S. Census. On June 29, 1933, I.C. Brewer IV fell to his death in Sandusky Bay, near Battery Park. Dr. John Yochem reported that Mr. Brewer, who had a history of heart trouble, had either suffered a stroke and fell into the bay,or else he had slipped and fell into the bay to his death. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Charles J. Andrews Sons' Funeral Home. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery. Active pallbearers for I.C. Brewer IV were: Chester Wagner, F. E. Brumbaugh, Curtis Schaufelberger, W. J. Schaub, Ed Knopf, and William Neumister. Honorary pallbearers were: W. A. Bishop, E. W. Altstaetter, F. E. Alvord, Dr. Charles Merz, Dr. J. K. Douglas, Dr. L. R. Mylander, C. B. Wilcox, George C. Matthes, August Kuebeler, Phil Beery, Carey W. Hord, A.M. Spore, Hewson L. Peeke, John F. Hertlein, John D. Mack, and C. Webb Sadler. A lengthy obituary for I.C. Brewer IV is found in the 1933 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK, housed at the Sandusky Library. A Masonic emblem is found on his tombstone at Oakland Cemetery.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Milan Cemetery












The Milan Cemetery is located south of Milan's Town Square, on South Edison Street in Milan, Ohio. In the image below, the Hastings Memorial Chapel and the Hoover monument can be seen. Isaac W. Hoover died on March 4, 1941, at the age of 96. He is buried along with many members of the extended Hoover family at the Milan Cemetery.

















I.W. Hoover was the inventor of the Hoover Potato Digger, which was an innovative piece of agricultural equipment that was used all over the United States in the late 1800's. You can read more about the Hoover Potato Digger by viewing a vintage catalog at the Internet Archive.














Of course, Milan, Ohio is also known as the birthplace of famous inventor Thomas A. Edison. The streetlights in the town square remind us of Edison's well known improvents made to the electric lamp. While Thomas A. Edison is not buried in Milan Cemetery, several of his family members are buried in Milan.






















An online database of Milan Cemetery Grave Records is a valuable tool for genealogists. To access the database by surname, just enter the surname in the middle search box, and then click Go.











After entering the surname in the middle search box, click on the down arrow in the bottom search box, to view all the individuals with a given surname.

















Below is the burial record of Carlisle S. Edison, the older brother of Thomas A. Edison, who died when he was just six years old. The record indicates the exact location of his burial site, and provides a link to an image of his tombstone as well.























If you have ancestors buried in Milan Cemetery, be sure to check out the online resources of the Milan Cemetery before visiting the cemetery. Having maps and burial locations already determined will make your visit effortless! If you do get a chance to visit the Milan Cemetery, be sure to spend a few moments enjoying the Galpin Wildlife Sanctuary, located at the southeastern portion of the Milan Cemetery.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Database of Burials at Clyde's McPherson Cemetery


















While on my way to look for something else in Clyde, Ohio, I ran into this outstanding database. An alphabetical listing of burials at Clyde's McPherson Cemetery can be found at the web address below:

https://clydeohio.org/Parks%20and%20Cemetery/Cemetery%20Internments%2001-23-2015.pdf


Listed in the database are: Name, Burial Date, Section, Lot Number, and Gravesite. Thank you city of Clyde for this helpful online genealogical resource!

Sentimental Sunday: Concretion in the Park in Sandusky, Ohio
















A concretion made up of sedimentary deposits was found near Mills Street in Sandusky, Ohio was found in 1911. Professor Edwin L. Moseley, who was a naturalist and educator in Sandusky and Bowling Green, asked that the concretion be moved to the park adjacent to the High School in Sandusky, so all could see it. It was partially buried in 1991, so that deterioration could be stopped.

















Moseley Hall at Bowling Green State University was named in honor of Professor Moseley. Several images and documents related to Edwin Lincoln Moseley can be viewed at BGSU's Centennial Memories Online Exhibit.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

J. O. Moss, Banker














While usually referred to as Mr. J. O. Moss,or Jay O. Moss, a listing on Rootsweb sites the name of the person associated with this grave marker as "Jared Joseph Osborn Moss." Jay O. Moss was born on November 8, 1838 to Augustus Hitchcock and Mary Esther Moss in Sandusky, Ohio. Helen Hansen wrote in her book AT HOME IN EARLY SANDUSKY that three generations of the Moss family contributed to the progress of the city in the field of banking, railroads, and other public developments. The Moss Brothers Bank appears in the 1855 Sandusky City Directory.

Jay O. Moss was the unpaid paymaster at Johnson's Island. After the Civil War, he went into the banking business with his father. He eventually became the president of the Moss National Bank, until the business was liquidated. Jay O. Moss also was associated with the Sandusky, Mansfield, and Newark Railroad and the Sandusky Street Railway.

Mrs. Moss was the former Frances Boalt, daughter of Charles L. Boalt. Mrs. J. O. Moss was personally acquainted with Andrew Carnegie. Through her efforts, she appealed to Mr. Carnegie for a donation of $50,000 to be used for the building of a public library in Sandusky. A history of the Sandusky Library is found at the Sandusky Library web site. A photograph of Mrs. J. O. Moss is featured on the Sandusky History web site.

An article about the lovely home of Mr. and Mrs. Jay O. Moss, at 414 Wayne Street, is on page 10 of AT HOME IN EARLY SANDUSKY. Jay O. Moss died on June 27, 1911, and is buried in Oakland Cemetery.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Tragic Accident Which Took the Life of Four Members of the Henrichsen Family in 1924






















A tragic accident took the lives of six Sandusky residents on the morning of June 19, 1924 in Genoa, Ohio. Emil Henrichsen's mother, wife, and two young sons were riding in an automobile with Andrew and Josephine Petersen on the morning of June 19th. They were en route to the home of Mrs. Frank Nims, a relative who lived in Curtice, Ohio. They group had planned to celebrate the 71st birthday of Mrs. Mary Henrichsen, and also the wedding anniversary of Gladys and Emil Henrichsen. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen were the aunt and uncle of Emil Henrichsen.

Andrew Petersen was the driver of the automobile. He was unfamiliar with the roads in the Genoa area, and he did not see the railway crossing. A Lake Shore Electric interurban car hit the Petersen vehicle with full force. Gladys, Mary, Robert, and Richard Henrichsen all died in the accident, as did the driver and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Petersen. Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Henrichsen, wife of Samuel Henrichsen; and Mrs. Gladys Henrichsen, and her two young sons, were held at the home of Emil Henrichsen on Saturday, June 21, 1924. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery.

The inscription on Mary's tombstone, pictured below, is hidden by lichen. It reads:

Mother
Mary B. Ritz
Wife of S. Henrichsen
1853-1924

















The tombstone inscription of the wife and children of Emil Henrichsen, who were all buried in a single grave reads:

Mother
Gladys Henrichsen
1900-1924

Richard - 2 years 5 month
Robert - 10 month
















It is almost unimaginable how grief stricken the two Henrichsen men must have been, Samuel and Emil having lost their wives and the two little boys they must have loved so dearly. Sadly, Samuel Henrichsen would take his own life in 1930, his life never being the same after losing so many family members. Emil Henrichsen went on to remarry, and he lived until 1975. He and his second wife, Bertha Henrichsen, were buried near his first wife Gladys, and his two little boys, Richard and Robert, in Section 93 of Oakland Cemetery.













The funerals of Andrew and Josephine Petersen were also held on June 21, 1924. They were also buried at Oakland Cemetery. Several newspaper clippings about this accident, and the funerals of the six Sanduskians who perished are found in the 1924 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at the Sandusky Library.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Carrie Wild





















According to Ohio Birth Records housed at Family Search, Carrie Wild was born on September 29, 1888 to Jesse and Mary Wild in Erie County, Ohio. Sadly, Carrie Wild died after she was injured in a fire at her home, on June 28, 1897. Carrie was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Her tombstone is in the shape of a heart, with the letters of her first and last name fitting in the upper portions of the left and right sides of the heart. I am sure her parents were deeply saddened at the loss of their young daughter.

(Note: Carrie's tombstone gives 1896 as her year of death, but her death record states that she died in 1897.)

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Still missing you, Dad and Mom!





















Pictured above are my mom, Joyce Orshoski, family friend Bette, my dad, Paul Orshoski, Sr., and family friend Bill, at a school fund raising event in the 1970's. On Father's Day, I am reminded of how kind and compassionate and funny my dad was. He taught us how to live the Golden Rule, but always with a generous sense of humor! From 10 a.m. June 17 to 10 a.m. June 18, several family and friends of Paul and Joyce Orshoski participated in the local Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. (Several cancer survivors were on our team, and we walked in memory of several other cancer victims and survivors as well.) We won best campsite for our "Mash" theme site. Cancer claimed both of my parents, and it was heart-breaking to see them go downhill, because they both had lived life to the fullest. Missing you both, Mom and Dad!

Sentimental Sunday: Bathing Suit ad from 1919
























The styles of swimsuits advertised by Herb & Myers Co. in the June 17, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Register were much more conservative than today's swimsuit styles! In 1919, tourists from all over Ohio, Michigan, and other states traveled by steamer, train, or streetcar to visit the many beaches in the Lake Erie area.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Dad's Brief Conversations with the Head Librarian
















My first job after graduating from college, was working at the Sandusky Library. I was so exited to have a full-time job, with benefits, and I was thrilled at the $6,000 annual salary! On occasion, my dad would stop by the library to see if I could go to lunch with him. Dad was a plumber and pipe-fitter, and he often worked in the downtown Sandusky area. Dad wore a shirt with his name on it. Not only was his collar blue, but his whole shirt was blue! In the family picture below, I am wearing a plaid sweater vest, and standing next to my dad in his work clothes. (My husband and I were newlyweds at this time, and he is standing on the other side of me. Click on the image for a larger view.)












So, my dad, who only went to school until Grade 10, would go up to Miss McCann's office at the library, with no appointment, and he would say to her, "Miss McCann, do you think you could let Dorene go to lunch with me at 11:30 instead of Noon?" Miss McCann, had her Master's Degree, was well known in the community, and she was definitely in charge of the Sandusky Library! Even though my lunch break was scheduled at Noon, she always said "Yes" to my Dad's request for me to have an early lunch break. Dad was not intimidated by Miss McCann's degrees, or by the fact that he was a blue-collar worker, and she was a well experienced professional librarian. It was a simpler time, and I am glad to have had such good, kind folks looking out for me! Both Dad and Miss Mary McCann are gone now, but I have wonderful memories of them both.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Harding Memorial Re-Visited

















When my husband and I visited the Harding Memorial in 2009, the Memorial was roped off with orange tape due to renovations. Now visitors can climb the steps of the Harding Memorial again. The Harding Memorial is the final resting place of our 29th American President, Warren G. Harding, who died in 1923, and his wife, the former Florence Kling, who died in 1924.






















The Harding Memorial was made from Georgia marble supplied from the Georgia Marble Company in Tate, Georgia, and has classical Doric features. If you are ever in Ohio, consider visiting the Harding Home and Memorial in Marion, Ohio. The memorial is an awe-inspiring sight, and a tour of the Harding Home provides many historical facts about our 29th U.S. President and his wife.
















Many thanks to my husband, who is a fellow history fan, and an extraordinary chauffeur!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Titus C. Hamilton















According to his death certificate, Titus C. Hamilton was born on October 13, 1844 to James and Sabra (Titus) Hamilton. In 1888, Titus C. Hamilton married Fredrena Kelley. Fredrena was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kelley; granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Addison Kelley; and the great granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Datus Kelley. During the Civil War, Titus C. Hamilton served in Company K of the Ohio 130th Volunteer Infantry. Sadly, the oldest child of Titus and Fredrena Hamilton, Addison Kelley Hamilton, died when he was just a toddler. Another child of Mr. and Mrs. Titus Hamilton, Frank Hamilton, would become a well known captain of several Great Lakes vessels.

Titus C. Hamilton passed away on June 13, 1913, and he is buried in the Kelleys Island Cemetery along with many other members of the Hamilton and Kelley families. A G.A.R. marker is located next to his tombstone. Mrs. Fredrena Kelley Hamilton passed away in 1946. A great deal of family history pertaining to the Kelley family can be learned by reading the book A GENEALOGICAL HISTORY OF THE KELLEY FAMILY, which is available fulltext at Google Books.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Frank Woolsey






















Frank Woolsey's name appears in the 1860 U.S. Census for Erie County, Ohio as the 11 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Woolsey. Mr. Woolsey and his wife were both age 28, and his occupation was machinist.

On Jun 12, 1862, Frank Lee Woolsey died at the age of 12 years, 4 months, and 14 days. He was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. His parents must have been so sad to see their child's life end at such a young age.

Mr. J. V. Woolsey was associated with the Woolsey Wheel Company for many years. You can read about the business at the Sandusky History website.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History: Clothes

The prompt for Week 24 of 52 Weeks of Personal History & Genealogy, by Amy Coffin of We Tree, and hosted by Geneabloggers, is: Clothes

What types of clothes did you wear as a child?
What was “in fashion” and did your style compare?
























What I remember about the clothes from my childhood days, is that the official dress code for school for girls was, that young ladies were to wear dresses or skirts. On church days, we would wear our dressiest dresses and skirts. Mom loved to dress me and my sister Robin alike, especially for the first day of school, and for Christmas and Easter. By the time youngest siblings Matt and Kellie came along, most children dressed more casually for school. To this day, I still enjoy wearing dresses and skirts!

Friday, June 10, 2011

O.K. Shimansky, Publisher



















According to his death certificate, Otto Karl Shimansky was born on December 20, 1872 in Monroe, Michigan to Otto and Elizabeth (Vogel) Shimanksy (sometimes spelled Schimansky.) The publication Ohio Legislative History: 1909-1912 tells us that Otto Karl Shimansky begin in the newspaper profession in 1892, when he began working at the Sandusky Register. Later, he worked for the Toledo Blade and the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was associated with the United Press Association and the American Press Association. In 1913 and 1914, O.K. Shimansky was the editor of the Ohio Journal of Commerce. In the 1920's, Mr. Shimansky was the editor of the Cleveland Times.

On June 10, 1928, Otto K. Shimansky died as a result of kidney disease. He was survived by his wife, the former Matie Robinson, two sons, and a granddaughter. A young daughter named Enid, had died in 1907. Funeral services for Otto K. Shimansky were held at the home of his father in Sandusky, and burial was in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A brief obituary for Otto K. Shimansky is found at the Cleveland Necrology File.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Seasons of Genealogy

In the Springtime, I am always anxious to get out to visit cemeteries after the long winter filled with snow and ice here in northern Ohio.




















In the summer months, it is easy to drive to area cemeteries...



















and take road trips to research facilities.

















It seems for me that the fall is a time of reflection.






















During the snowy winter days, I often have a chance to dig deeply into online resources, to analyze and strategize my latest genealogical adventures.























So, whether it is springtime, summer, fall, or winter, for me it is always time for genealogy!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Betty Ferrall Orshoski


















Betty J. Ferrall was born to James E. and Audria Flick Ferrall in Galion, Ohio, on July 15, 1932. After her parents divorced, Betty moved with her mother to Bay View, Ohio, where Audria owned and operated the Log Cabin Inn Restaurant.(Audria would later remarry, becoming Mrs. Frank Deme.) Betty graduated from Margaretta High School in 1950. She was a good friend of Joyce Parker's, and the two friends would eventually marry brothers. Wayne and Betty Orshoski lived next door to Paul and Joyce Orshoski in Bay View in the 1950's and 1960's.During those baby boom years, Betty and Wayne had three children, and Paul and Joyce had six children.

Betty used to pack up her children, along with the nieces and nephews next door, into the Jeep, and off they would go to the beach, the park, or the dairy queen. Betty was a wonderful listener, and her door was always open for company. When the family dog named Tarzan had a litter of puppies, they quickly re-named the dog "Tarzana."

Sadly, Betty died at the age of 64 on June 8, 1997. She is buried with her husband Wayne at Meadow Green Memorial Park in Huron, Ohio. Known to many as "Aunt Bets," Betty Ferrall Orshoski will long be remembered as a loving person who had a wonderful sense of humor.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Letters Between Elmer and Dot in the 1930's

A local collector recently allowed me to browse through a collection of letters between a young banker in Sandusky, Ohio, named Elmer A. Pimsner, and his girlfriend Dorothy Durkee, who lived in Cleveland, Ohio. In the letters, Elmer wrote fondly of his love and devotion to Dorothy, whose nickname was Dot. They wrote letters back and forth, often discussing plans for future dates, and by the fall of 1933, they were making plans to get married. Sometimes they worried about their jobs, their parents, their future, and they discussed activities with family and friends in their letters. Once in awhile they had little spat, but they always made up very quickly.

In this letter from Dot to Elmer, dated October 3, 1933, Dot wrote about roasting moose meat. This was her second letter to Elmer within a week, and she was hoping he had received her most recent one.























In the last portion of her letter to Elmer, Dot sends a kiss, and tells Elmer to think of her.


















On October 18, 1933, Elmer tells Dot how lonesome he is without her, and says, "Now that we have made up our minds to get married, the time can't come too soon to suit me." He says that he will try to make Dot happy, "even in Sandusky." He vows Dot to "do everything humanly possible to make life sweet for you."


















Elmer wrote about his busy day at the bank that day, and hoped to see Dot on Saturday. He was worried about his ailing mother, and thought that they should soon tell his mother about their plans to marry.























This bridal shower card was in the box of letters. It accompanied a gift to Dorothy from her friend Margaret.














An article in the January 10, 1934 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal reported that Elmer Pimsner and Dorothy Durkee were to be married at the Old Stone Church in Cleveland on January 10, 1934. After a short Eastern trip, they were to reside in Sandusky, where Elmer was a cashier at the Western Security Bank. By 1945, Elmer Pimsner became executive vice-president of Western Security Bank, and in 1950, he was appointed bank president.

On September 6, 1971, Elmer A. Pimsner died after suffering a heart attack, while traveling in Blackburn, England. An obituary for Elmer A. Pimsner appeared in the September 7, 1971 issue of the Sandusky Register. Elmer was a graduate of the Cleveland Law School and the Rutgers Graduate School of Banking. He was a former president of the Erie County Red Cross, and he initiated the blood program during World War Two. He was a past member of the Rotary Club, former president of the Sandusky Chamber of Commerce, trustee of the Good Samaritan Hospital, and on the board of directors of Biro Manufacturing Co. and the Industrial Nut Corp. He was also a member of the Plum Brook Country Club, the Ohio State Banking Association, and Grace Episcopal Church. He was survived by his wife of thirty seven years, Dorothy, and a son. Funeral services for Elmer A. Pimsner were held at Grace Episcopal Church, and burial was in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Mrs. Dorothy Pimsner lived to the age of 91. She passed away on May 10, 1997 at Parkvue Health Care Center. She was buried beside her beloved husband Elmer at Oakland Cemetery. Dorothy never remarried, after the death of her husband. She was survived by a son, three grandchildren, and a great grandchild. Dorothy had lived a rich, full life, having been a member of the Plum Brook Country Club, PEO, and Grace Episcopal Church. She was a volunteer nurse's aide at Good Samaritan Hospital during World War Two.


Though I never met Elmer or Dorothy Pimsner, it has been a privilege to read their letters, and to get to know two individuals from Sandusky's past who shared true love, and to follow their lives from their youthful romance to their rewarding and successful adult lives.