2012: A Challenging Year

 

The year 2012 was definitely one of the most challenging years of my lifetime. My husband was in the Intensive Care Unit last June with bilateral pulmonary embolisms. The  staff at our local hospital literally saved his life. When we thought things were getting somewhat back to normal, our son took his own life after a long battle with depression. Our family faced other serious issues as well.

Thank you so very much to my family, friends, co-workers, and my genealogy family for all your prayers, words of encouragement, and so many other acts of kindness. You all helped me to get through a very difficult year!

Fred H. Smith, Monument Dealer

 

According to the book History of Huron County, Ohio,  (S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1909), Fred H. Smith was born in Sandusky, Ohio on February 27, 1860. When Fred was only fifteen years old, he began learning the marble cutter's trade. As a young man, Fred H. Smith worked for A.T. Davis, R.R. King, the Lake Shore Railroad, and the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad Company. In 1883 Mr. Smith formed a partnership with W.V. McKnight. Mr. McKnight and Mr. Smith operated a successful marble business for several years. After the death of W.V. McKnight, Fred H. Smith operated the business as the Smith Monumental Works. One of the most well known monuments created by the Smith Monumental Works was the Fries Mausoleum, at the Milan Cemetery.

In 1895, Fred H. Smith married Katherine Burger McKnight, who was the widow of Mr. Smith's business partner. On August 9, 1950, Fred H. Smith passed away at the age of 90. He was survived by his two stepsons, and a brother, Adam J. Smith of Sandusky. Mr. Smith was buried next to his wife in the McKnight Smith family lot at Norwalk's Woodlawn Cemetery. An obituary for Fred H. Smith appeared in the August 10, 1950 issue of the Sandusky Register Star News.

Mary L. Mcneil

Mary L. McNeil died in 1852, and she was buried in Block 25 of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Though her tombstone is now partially underground, I was able to learn a bit about her from her Oakland Cemetery Interment Card. The card states that Mary L. McNeil died on November 19, 1852; however, the C on her tombstone may read as Dec. 19, 1852. Mary was aged 24 years, 9 months, and 28 days at the time of her death. The inscription at the bottom of her grave marker has the inscription:

Sleeps in Jesus

The 1850 U.S. Census lists Mary L. McNeil as age 22, born in New York, and residing in the household of Albertus McNeil in Portland Township, Erie County, Ohio. Rest in peace, Mary.

Gram Irene on a Snowy Sandusky Day

 

It is a snowy day here in Northern Ohio. Pictured above is my great grandmother, Irene Larkins Risko, near the Erie County Courthouse in Sandusky, Ohio in the winter of 1952.  The Erie County Courthouse was the place where many of my ancestors applied for marriage licenses. Gram Irene often walked from her home in Sandusky to the downtown area, so she was very familiar with the many seasons that Ohio has to offer!

 

I'm thinking of Gram Irene today as the snow continues to fall!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay!!

Mrs. Amanda Reber

Amanda Reber, who was born Amanda Boalt, was the first wife of Sandusky attorney George Reber. She died on December 19,1847,at the age of 31. Amanda Boalt Reber is buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.


















Below is genealogical information about George Reber from the book GENEALOGY OF THE REBER FAMILY DESCENDED FROM JOHAN BERNHARD REBER, 1738, available fulltext at the Internet Archive.


















Sallie Reber, a daughter of George Reber from his second marriage, was a well known popular light opera singer.

Military Monday: First Sergeant Alfred W. House

Alfred W. House was the son of Selah and Mary House, born in Perkins Township on April 18, 1839. He served as First Sergeant in Company B of the 176th Ohio Infantry during the Civil War. On December 18, 1864, Sergeant Alfred W. House died in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. His name appeared with the names of several other officers in his unit in HISTORY OF THE FIRE LANDS, by W. W. Williams (Leader Printing Co., 1879).

The remains of Sergeant House were returned to Ohio. He was laid to rest in the old Perkins Cemetery. An inscription on the tombstone of Alfred W. House reads:

 "Soldier rest thy warfare o'er 
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking 
Dream of battle fields no more 
Morn or toil, or night of waking."

Wreaths Across America

Click here to see the Sandusky Register's gallery of images showing area volunteers placing wreaths on the graves of Veterans buried at the Ohio Veterans Home Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Wreaths Across America, an event which pays tribute to our deceased Veterans of military service,  takes place all over the United States.

Dr. John P. Siegfried

According to Dr. John P. Siegfried's death certificate,available at Family Search Labs, he was born on June 3, 1855 to John Siegfried and Anna Margaret Wolf Siegfried. His obituary, which appeared in the December 14, 1915 issue of the Sandusky Register, stated that Dr. Siegfried died on December 16, 1915, in the same house in which he was born, at 220 East Monroe Street in Sandusky, Ohio.

Dr. Siegfried moved from Sandusky to White Pigeon, Michigan in 1889, and then he was called to be a physician in Ashtabula, Ohio,in 1893. Dr. Siegfried was survived by his wife,the former Theresa Fuchs; a daughter Irene Elizabeth, and a son Rudolph Siegfried. He was also survived by four sisters, who all lived in Sandusky, and a brother, Henry Siegfried, of Lemore, California. Dr. John P. Siegfried was buried in the North Ridge section of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Mr. and Mrs. William E. Chapman

William Edward Chapman was born in Sandusky in 1844. He was an 1862 graduate of Sandusky High School. His father, William P. Chapman, was an early settler of Sandusky, involved in several business ventures in the city.

In 1872 William E. Chapman married Julia Mills. Julia was the daughter of Judge William Mills, who was a driving force behind Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. (A very interesting article about a cemetery tour featuring William Mills is found online at the web site of the Yellow Springs Historical Society.) William Mills was the grandnephew of Isaac L. Mills, one of Sandusky's original proprietors.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapman eventually moved to Cleveland with their family, where William was associated with a shipping business. They had three children, Winifred, Margaret, and Mills Chapman. William E. Chapman died in 1925, and Julia Mills Chapman died in 1917. They are buried in Oakland Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio. See Helen Hansen's AT HOME IN EARLY SANDUSKY to read more about the Mills and Chapman families of Sandusky.

Conrad Voigt, 1830-1909

According to the 1880 U.S. Census, Conrad Voigt was born in Hanover, Germany in 1830. In 1880 he was residing in Sandusky, Ohio, with his wife Regina, a native of Prussia. The Voigts had a large family of five sons and three daughters. They resided on Clinton Street, and Conrad stated his occupation simply as "laborer." On December 10, 1909, Conrad Voigt died of "acute indigestion." The death certificate of Conrad Voigt was signed by Dr. H. C. Schoepfle.

Conrad Voigt was laid to rest at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. His tombstone bears the mark of Conrad Keim, a well known monument maker in Sandusky, Ohio.

Stephen H. and Maria Rogers

In THE HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, edited by Lewis Cass Rogers, we read that Stephen H. Rogers was born in 1838 in Margaretta Township, Erie County, a son of Stephen and Eliza Hartwell Roger. The younger Stephen helped his father run the family farm. In October of 1861, Stephen H. Rogers enlisted in Company A of the 72nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served as a Corporal. After the Civil War ended, he married Maria Bardwell, a daughter of Salmon and Lucy White Bardwell. They had four children: Addie A.Rogers, Carrie Rogers, Henry S. Rogers and James G. Rogers.

Stephen H. Rogers died on February 17, 1933 at the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home at the age of 95. His obituary, found in the 1933 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at the Sandusky Library gave details of his military career. In July of 1863 Rogers was detached for special duty as a carrier of dispatches. He served in that capacity under General Ralph P. Buckland, General Asboth, General James M. Tuttle, Gen. Joseph A. Mower, and General McArthur. The funeral for Stephen H. Rogers were held on February 20, 1933, under the auspices of the McMeens Post of the G.A.R. and W.R.C. He was buried in Graves Cemetery, south of Castalia, with his wife Mrs. Maria Rogers, who had passed away in 1926.

While the military record of Stephen H. Rogers, as listed in the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System as a Corporal, the tombstone and obituary of Stephen H. Rogers refer to him as "Major Rogers."

Arthur Peebles

In the 1860 U.S. Census, Arthur Peebles (listed in the census as Arthur Peables) was age 49, a native of Ireland, and was employed as a Quarryman. Also residing in the household were: Eliza, age 16, John age 10, Annette, age 7, and Sarah, age 5.













The 1867 McKelvey's Sandusky City Directory listed Arthur Peebles as a stone cutter. His home was located at the northwest corner of Scott and Warren Streets.

An Arthur Pebbles was age 60 in the 1870 U.S. Census. He was still living in Sandusky. In the Peebles household at this time were: Ann, age 35, John, age 20, Nettie, age 18, and Sarah, age 16. By 1880, Mr. Peebles' first name was listed as Atha in the U.S. Census, and the only other person in the household was a female named Mary. Arthur Peebles died on December 5, 1893. He was buried in Block 60 at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. The inscription at the base of the tombstone of Arthur Peebles reads:

May he rest in peace

Sentimental Sunday: 1966 Christmas Picture of the Six O's

 

My mom, Joyce Parker Orshoski, really liked taking pictures of her family. Pictured above are the six children of Paul and Joyce Orshoski in December, 1966. As a sophomore in High School, I loved the idea of being "big sister" again. Pictured are Dorene, holding Kellie; Robin in the red, white and blue dress; Paul, Jr. in the beige sweater; Todd in the red sweater; and youngest brother Matt, with the bow tie.  Now that Mom is gone, we really enjoy looking at the hundreds of old photos she left us!

Stillman Eastman

Stillman Eastman was born in 1812 in New Jersey. His occupation was listed as carpenter in the 1870 U.S. Census for Milan, Erie County, Ohio. Ohio marriage records accessible at Family Search show two marriages for Stillman Eastman. On May 14, 1831, Stillman Eastman married Hannah Webber in Huron County, Ohio. I am guessing that the first Mrs. Eastman must have died young, as on February 1, 1847, Stillman Eastman married secondly Hannah Cherry. In 1870, Stillman and Hannah Eastman were living in Milan with their two sons Henry and George. Stillman Eastman passed away on December 1, 1876. He was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Mrs. Hannah (Cherry) Eastman died on August 9, 1901, according to a brief biography in the Firelands Pioneer.

Past Perfect Online

 

 Past Perfect Online is an online searchable group of databases that features items in the archival collections of museums, libraries, universities, associations and historic homes.  You can search by geographic region, or by specialty. You may also go directly to a specific collection. The various facilities which have archival collections on Past Perfect Online can be accessed by viewing the alphabetical list underneath the phrase Browse These Collections on the home page.

The artifact search on the upper right corner of the home page is also quite helpful. Here are some types of searches that you may choose to select.

Genealogy

Location (I chose Ohio)

Surname (I selected Parker)

Cemetery

Industry (I chose Steel Industry)

Have fun exploring this outstanding collection of databases of archival collections. You may even find some treasures that relate to your family or location. Happy hunting!

Moses Szakal

Moses Szakal was born in Hungary. In 1920, he was residing in Bay Bridge, Ohio, an unincorporated area of Margaretta Township, adjacent to Sandusky Bay. Moses was listed as one of several boarders in the Steve Hurak residence. Other persons living in the Hurak home were Mr. Hurak's wife and daughter, both named Elizabeth; an infant named Louis Orshoski, and two other men of Hungarian descent, Joseph Liptok and Ignasz Varga. The Bay Bridge Medusa cement mill employed many young immigrant men. Mr. Szakal passed away on November 23, 1957, and he was buried at the Castalia Cemetery.




Moses Szakal is pictured below in a photo of several longtime employees of the Medusa Cement plant in Bay Bridge, Ohio. He is the first man in the second row, with 38 years of service. It is estimated that this picture was taken in the early 1950's. (Click on the image for an enlarged view.)



In 2005, the Erie County Historical Society placed this historical marker near the site of the Medusa Portland Cement plant, which closed in 1960.

Wednesday's Child: Rosa Moltz

Rosa Mina Moltz was born on November 21, 1890 to August L. Moltz and the former Kate Prediger. Sadly, just before her first birthday, little Rosa Moltz passed away. She died on November 19, 1891, and she was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A lovely lamb sculpture honors the memory of Rosa Moltz.

Heinrich Wengrowsky alias H. Schoenfeld

The 1880 U.S. Census listed Henry Schoenfeld, age 45, as a gunmaker who resided at the Schlenk House in downtown Sandusky. Henry stated that he was born in Alsace, and his parents had been born in Poland. After Henry Schoenfeld died on November 19, 1894, he was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. The tombstone inscription for Henry Schoenfeld, who was also known as Heinrich Wengrowsky reads:

Heinrich Wengrowsky
alias H. Schoenfeld

Died Nov. 19, 1894

71 yrs.

The tombstone inscription for Heinrich Wengrowsky/H. Schoenfeld reflects his rich diverse cultural heritage.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: "Grandparents Are Important Because"

Randy at Genea-Musings challenged us to write a story using the phrase "Grandparents are important because" in 100 words. My parents spoke so highly of their grandparents, and they were wonderful grandparents to my children as well. I only knew one set of my grandparents, but I loved them so very much!

Here is my story in one hundred words:
==================================================================

Grandparents are important because they show love and support to their grandchildren. They can give hugs, when hugs are most needed, and they seem to be able to show love to their grandchildren even when the members of the younger generation are acting mischievous. Grandparents take such joy in the accomplishments of their grandchildren, and they have pride in the accomplishments of their grandchildren, whether the accomplishments are big or small. Grandparents are wonderful resources for learning about "the olden days" and they especially help out when school assignments call for one to interview a person from an older generation.

==================================================================

 Pictured below are my twin daughters with their grandfather, Paul R. Orshoski, Sr. about 1982.

 

My son Joel, and several other grandchildren of my mom, Joyce Orshoski, are in the picture below, taken on Mom's last Mother's Day, in May of 2010.

 

Thank goodness for grandparents! 

xoxoxo

Marie Beecher

According to her death certificate, Marie Beecher was born in Sandusky, Ohio on December 7, 1896 to Jacob and Mary (Endle) Beecher. (Note: Marie's tombstone reads 1895 as her birth year.) Her occupation was stenographer at the Lake Shore Printing Company. Sadly, Marie Beecher passed away from tuberculosis at a tubercular sanatorium in Warrensville Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio in her 27th year. Marie Beecher died on November 18, 1924, and she was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. The facility where Marie Beecher died was later known as Sunny Acres, and eventually become a part of the MetroHealth System.

Great Grandma Yeager Had Ties to St. John's Lutheran Church at Union Corners

 

In the April 25, 1928 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal, is the following brief article:

Ladies' Missionary Society of St.

John's Lutheran church, Union

Corners, will meet at the home of

Mrs. Andrew Yeager. Officers for

the coming year will be elected at

this time.

My great grandparents, Andrew and Lena Yeager were very active in the congregation of St. John's Lutheran Church, located in a rural area of Erie County, near the spot where Milan, Oxford, Huron and Perkins Townships meet, known as Union Corners.  In their later years, Grandma and Grandpa Yeager attended Zion Lutheran Church in Huron, Ohio. The Yeager children were all baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith, and several members of the Yeager family were buried in the Union Corners Cemetery, just off Route 250, between Sandusky and Milan. 

Click here to read about the rich history of the St. John's Lutheran Church. Many of the earliest members of this congregation were German-Americans. Every time I drive by St. John's Lutheran Church, I recall spending time with Great Grandma Yeager. She was under five feet tall, and had a gentle spirit. She was wise in so many ways, and I wish I had asked her more questions about her days as a young mother.

Hosmer Merry

Hosmer Merry's tombstone is found in the Bloomingville Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio. Six pointed stars are found on either side of a lovely weeping willow on his grave marker. Hosmer Merry was a pioneer settler of Milan, Ohio. Below is a transcription of a tribute to Hosmer Merry, which appeared on pages 28-29 in the June 1867 issue of "The Firelands Pioneer."

Hosmer Merry was born at Kinderhook, New York, in 1783. At the age of eleven his father moved to Genesee County. At the age of 17, he with his brother Ebenezer started for the then Far West, stopping at Mentor, Lake County, Ohio, at which place there was then no town. When he was 21, he returned to Genesee County remaining about one year, at which time he returned again to Mentor.


Feb.28th, 1807, he was married to Miss Sarah Frost, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut, Oct. 28th 1787. In Dec. 1810, he came to what is now called Milan, locating on a farm one and one-half miles below the village on which he built a log house. He did not however move his family there until in Feb. 1811. There they remained most of the time, during the exciting times of 1812 & 1813, seeking refuge and protection in case of alarm in the block House at Camp Avery, which was situated some 2 miles from his farm. In 1812 he was drafted for six months. He entered his team and went as teamster, and as such was engaged in transporting supplies for the army, and was frequently at Fort Croghan. He with two or three companions started the next day after the engagement on Lake Erie, from Huron, with a boat load of provisions to go to the fleet. On arriving near the fleet, they could see the red uniform of the British about the American vessel, and were in doubt as to whether they had better go ahead or retreat, when they were hailed from the fleet. On their being assured that Commodore Perry was victorious, one of the men in the boat by the name of Harvey, an old Revolutionary hero, sprang to his feet swinging has hat and calling on his comrades to “Row boys, for God sake row.” They were the first to board the fleet after the engagement.

In the spring of 1833, he moved to Oxford township. His first wife died August, 1825, leaving six children, viz: Ebenezer O., Henry F., Fanny, George A., William W., and Betsey P., all of whom are now living except Betsey, who died Sept. 2d, 1843. He was married the second time in 1826 to Sarah Reed, who is still (at this date) living in Milan. By her he had two children Mary A., and Stephen. He was Justice of the Peace of Oxford township, at the time of his death, which occurred August 23d, 1835. Age 52 years.

Note: While the tribute to Hosmer Merry indicates that he died on August 23, 1835 at the age of 52, Hosmer Merry's tombstone states that he died on August 25, 1835 at the age of 55.

Corporal Edward W. Weyl

Edward W. Weyl was the son of Sandusky residents Mr. and Mrs. Philip Weyl. He served as a Corporal in Co. M of of the 1st Ohio Infantry during World War One. Records at Ancestry Library Edition indicate that as a result of injuries during the war, Edward Weyl was admitted to the U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton in 1925. Edward W. Weyl passed away at the Soldiers Home in Dayton on December 18, 1927. He was buried at Oakland Cemetery.

At the time of his death, Edward Weyl was survived by three sisters-in-law, Mrs. Nettie Weyl and Mrs. Mary Weyl of Sandusky, and Mrs. M.N. Weyl of DeSoto, Missouri. An obituary for Edward W. Weyl is found in the 1927 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at the Sandusky Library.

Avery Button, Fifer in the War of 1812

Avery Button was born in 1782. By 1820, he was residing in Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio. Ohio Marriage Records, accessed at Family Search, indicate that Avery Button married Sarah McMillan in Geauga County, Ohio on February 8, 1812. The roll of Captain Clark Parker's Company, states that Avery Button was a fifer in that company during the War of 1812. Avery Button died in 1855, and he was buried in the Castalia Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio.

"Welcome Home Miss America" Program at Sandusky Library

 

On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at Noon, a program will be held at the Sandusky Library entitled "Welcome Home Miss America." Miss Jackie Mayer was "Miss America" in 1963. Featured will be original objects and photographs about Miss America from the collections of the Follett House Museum and the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center. Jackie Mayer herself will be in attendance, and no registration is required. If you live close enough to Sandusky to attend this program, it is sure to be a delightful event!

Many Thanks for Your Words of Encouragement

Thank you to the Genealogy Blogging community for the prayers, kind words, and good thoughts you have been sending to me and my family as we try to cope with the sudden loss of our son Joel. As genealogists, we value family so very much, and I appreciate your kindnesses immensely.

In Loving Memory

JOEL THOMAS PAUL

 

February 8, 1983 - October 31, 2012

John T. and Mary Garland, Natives of England

John T. Garland was born in England in 1825, and his wife, the former Mary Quick, was born in England in 1843. The couple resided in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, in 1880, with their children, also named Mary and John Garland. By 1892, John T. and Mary Garland had moved to Detroit, Michigan. Mr. John T. Garland died in Detroit on November 4, 1892. The following obituary appeared in the Sandusky Register on November 7, 1892:

Obsequies of John T. Garland

The funeral of the late John T. Garland, of Detroit, a former resident of this city, was largely attended yesterday at the residence of Mr. E.S. Cooper, 125 Monroe Street, a fitting token of respect in which he was held in this community as well as by the Congregational church, of which he had been a consistent member for many years. The services at the home and at the cemetery were conducted by his pastor, Rev. R.R. Davies, who in a short and fitting manner told the story of the pure and Godly life just ended. The floral offerings were tokens of love from friends and relatives. The pall bearers were representatives of the church, the Y.M.C.A. and the Sandusky Tool Company, of which he had been a faithful employee. They were F.E. Davis and J.M. Farrar from the church, President C.A. Judson and Secretary C.T. Otdroyd of the Y.M.C.A. and George A. Church and H.H. West of the tool company. The selections from gospel songs were among those he loved and many voices joined in singing the. Mr. Chas. J. Krupp had the funeral under his direction.

Burial was at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Mrs. Mary Garland passed away at the residence of her daughter in Detroit on October 29, 1903. Mrs. Garland was buried beside her husband at Oakland Cemetery.

Lucius Spencer Graves

The 1870 Erie County Census lists the Lucius Graves family in Margaretta Township,with these family members:

Lucius S., age 37, born in New York, occupation farmer
Emily, age 28
William, age 9
Etta, age 6
Anna age 5
A farmhand named John Wick also resided with the Graves family

In the book GENEALOGY OF THE GRAVES FAMILY IN AMERICA, by John Card Graves, we read that Lucius S. Graves was the son of Spencer and Ann Mills Graves, who moved from New York State to the Castalia area of Margaretta Township in Erie County, Ohio.

Lucius Spencer Graves was the youngest son of Spencer and Ann Graves, born on August 24, 1833. Lucius S. Graves married Emily Caswell, a daughter of Calvin Caswell, in 1858. Lucius S. Graves died in October, 1884, and he is buried in the Graves Cemetery.

Worthy and Estella Brown

Worthy R. Brown was born in Port Clinton, Ohio on March 17, 1884. He was the first person to operate charter boats for reel fishing on Lake Erie. He founded Channel Grove in East Harbor, and for many years operated "Sandy Beach," now known as East Harbor State Park. In 1904, Mr. Brown started Worthy Brown & Sons, Inc., which was later known as Brown's Marina. He started Brown's Boats, Inc. in Sandusky about 1929. On March 31, 1959, Worthy R. Brown passed away suddenly, at the age of 85. He was survived by his wife Estella, and two sons from his first marriage. His first wife, and a son who died during World War Two predeceased him. Mrs. Estella Brown followed her husband in death in September, 1959. Worthy and Estella Brown were buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A lengthy obituary for Worthy R. Brown appeared in the March 31, 1959 issue of the Sandusky Register. Mr. Brown played an active role in the development of the area of north central Ohio known for years as Vacationland.

Genealogy Lock In

Last evening I had the privilege of working at our local library's second "Genealogy Lock In." It was so much fun!  We started off with a few computer glitches, but those got worked out quickly. Luckily, the local chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society provided several volunteers to help us assist in guiding the attendees research their families. We helped folks locate death records, obituaries, and census records. One lady got so excited that she broke out in hives! The bonus of having free printing for the evening delighted all those in attendance. We had a few mishaps, a crying infant distracted some people, and there were a few questions which remained unanswered...we could not  track down the hometown of a German immigrant from the 1860s, and we were not sure just which "Mr. Moore" was the ancestor of one of our ladies. If you are associated with a library, I recommend trying out a "Genealogy Lock In" in your library! One of our volunteers said she wished the Courthouse would let us have a lock in there! (Well it can't hurt to dream, can it?)

Thanks to all those who attended the Lock In, and thanks to all the terrific staff and volunteers who helped make it a success!

Edwin S. Wild

Edwin S. Wild was born on October 28, 1891. His parents were Thomas R. and Elizabeth Wild of Sandusky. Mr. Wild worked as a cooper in Sandusky, according to the 1900 U.S.Census for Erie County. Young Edwin died on November 14, 1900, of croup.

A touching tribute to Edwin S. Wild is found at the base of Edwin's tombstone. It reads simply "We loved him."

Genealogy Lock In at Sandusky Library on October 19, 2012

Join us at the Sandusky Library on Friday evening, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for another Genealogy Lock In. Library staff and volunteers from the Erie County Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society will be on hand to assist with your family history questions. The computer lab will be open, along with access to hundreds of local history books, historical newspapers on microfilm, and a finding aids which highlight historical photographs and primary sources held by the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center. To register, call 419-625-3834 and press 0 for the switchboard operator, or  select Option 6 to leave a message.

Memories of the Girl Scouts

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America.  From the time I was in Grade 2 through Grade 12, I was a member of the Girl Scouts. Through those many years, I made many wonderful memories. We made crafts, had festive parties, put on skits, and  sang fun songs. As I got older, we got to go camping, and have special learning opportunities. We learned how to hike, how to cook over an open fire, and work as a team. As a teen, we attended cooking school at the Gas Company, and toured a beauty college. We went to series of classes on "Home Nursing," where I learned health and safety facts that I still recall to this day. A special overnight trip during my high school years was a trip to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. We got to stay in a dorm, and the staff there saw that we went to breakfast via a hay ride. 

During several of my years in Scouts, my leader was Mrs. Winifred Sessler. Mrs. Sessler worked at the school cafeteria, and had a family of her own, but she still devoted many hours to being a Scout leader. For a special treat, she used to invite us to her own kitchen, and taught us how to make homemade "all day" suckers. Thanks for your years of service to the Girl Scouts, Mrs. Sessler! In May of 1980, Mrs. Sessler passed away at the age of 67. She was laid to rest in the Venice Cemetery, not far from her home, and the Venice School, where we had many a Scout meeting!

 

(Note: Image of  Girl Scout emblem from Wikipedia.)