Benjamin Drake Tilden, Cholera Victim

Benjamin Drake Tilden was the son of Dr. Daniel Tilden and his wife Nancy, born in 1815. According to the book CHOLERA VICTIMS OF 1849 IN SANDUSKY, ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, by Katharyn L. Wunderley, Benjamin Drake Tilden died of cholera on July 27, 1849. He was only 34 years of age at the time of his death. In the newspaper, the Daily Sanduskian, dated July 27, 1849, an article gave this account: "Benjamin D. Tilden, attorney and counsellor at law, died this afternoon, after an illness of 16 hours, leaving a wife and children, etc. Up to the time of the attack, he had been active in administering relief to the sick."

Benjamin D. Tilden was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Block 20. In the 1850 U.S. Census for Erie County, Ohio, the widow of Benjamin, whose name was Jane, and his young son Thomas, were both residing in the household of Dr. Daniel Tilden.

Victory Loan Rally at the Brick Church in Perkins

A Victory Loan rally was held at the Perkins Methodist Church on April 24, 1919. Below is a transcription of an article which appeared in the April 24, 1919 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Perkins township people are to whoop it up tonight at the Perkins brick church when a Victory Liberty loan rally and community sing will be held. School Supt. Edmund, chairman of the speaking committee, will preside. He will introduce Capt. Guy House, an old Perkins boy, who will tell of us his experiences over there as a member of the 12th ammunition train. Miss Mary Wright will have charge of the community sing. She will be assisted by Perry Null. Leo B. Keller will give instructions to the Erie County War League workers. Two automobile loads full of Sanduskians will make the trip.

The special speaker for the rally was Guy House, who served as a Colonel with the 112th Ammunition Train in France during World War One.

Guy House was a first cousin to my great grandfather Leroy Parker. The old brick Methodist church was the place of worship for many of my Parker and House ancestors. Guy House, Leroy Parker, and many of their family members and neighbors were all laid to rest in the Perkins Cemetery.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Childhood Memory

Randy, at Genea-Musings has given us this challenge for tonight's edition of Saturday Night Genealogy Fun:

1) Have you written your memoirs yet? If so, please share with us one story from your childhood. If not, then start your memoirs! The story could be a memory of your family life, your schoolwork, your neighborhood, etc. It doesn't have to be a certain length - just something you recall.

 2) Tell us about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a post on Facebook or Google Plus.
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 Here is one of my fondest childhood memories:


 













In 1959, my mother packed up her four children, and we drove from Erie County, Ohio, to the farm of Clifford and Leona Lindsley in Sandusky County, Ohio. We played with the kittens, made tunnels in the hay loft, jumped off the sides of the spring house, and enjoyed our visit to the farm. On the way to the farm, outside of Bellevue, Ohio, we would enjoy the hills on Route 269, and could hardly wait to see what adventures would await us during our visit.

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Lindsley were neighbors of my Parker ancestors, all of whom had prosperous farms in Perkins Township, Ohio for many years. In 1941, after the U.S. Army bought out a large section of land in Perkins Township for a munitions factory for the war effort, the Parker and Lindsley families had to re-locate. My great grandparents, Leroy and Ada Parker, moved to Sandusky, Ohio into an apartment, and continued to work at Cedar Point during the summers. Cliff and Leona Lindsley moved to a farm in Sandusky, County. The families whose farms were bought out stayed in touch, and had annual "Old Neighbors" picnics every summer.

While I never lived on a farm, so many of my ancestors before me did. Going to see "Uncle Cliff" and "Aunt Leona" at their lovely farm helped me to get a sense of what being a child on a farm would have been like. Those memories are so precious to me!  

(Note: This memory appeared in a previous blog post at Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay.)

Milan Family Monument at St. Joseph's Cemetery

This lovely monument at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Sandusky honors the family of Thomas Milan. The cross and seats on each side of it resemble a church altar. Several monetary gifts were given by the Milan family towards the stained glass windows at Holy Angels Church in Sandusky.


Hewson L. Peeke wrote in his book A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, that Thomas and Cecelia (Rowan) Milan were natives of County Galway, Ireland. They came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Ohio. Mr. Milan found employment with the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Milan left their three children, Thomas, Patrick, and Margaret back in Ireland with Cecelia's sister Nora. In 1851, Nora (sometimes Honora) Rowan brought her sister's three children to America.

Sons Thomas and Patrick J. Milan were both associated with various railroads. Thomas was with the National Railways of Mexico and later he became president of the Vera Cruz and Pacific Railway. Thomas also was a captain in the Texas State Militia. He never married. Patrick J. Milan was associated with the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railway, the Central Railway of Georgia, and was in charge of the Pan American Railway for some time.

Mrs. and Mrs. Thomas Milan, their sons Thomas and Patrick, daughter Margaret are all buried in the family lot at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Mrs. Ryan's sister Honora Rowan, and Mrs. Patrick J. Milan are also buried in the family lot. The individual stones are arranged in two rows to the west of the main monument in Section C of the cemetery.

The inscriptions for the individual stones are:

Their Son
Thomas Milan
1847-1916












Their Son
Patrick J. Milan
1843-1926















Father
Thomas Milan
1808-1896















Mother
Cecelia Milan
1806-1872














Their Daughter
Maria Milan
1846-1914














Margaret Wife of
Patrick J. Milan
1845-1913














Aunt
Honora Rowan
1814-1880














While it appears that there are no direct descendants of the Milan family who remain, this monument reminds visitors to the cemetery today of the hard work and determination the Milan family showed in uprooting the family from Ireland to make a new life in the United States. The male members of the Milan family made an important contribution to the railroads in the United States and in Mexico. I am sure that Mr. and Mrs. Milan were eternally grateful to Honora Rowan for her role in caring for the children in those early years.

Mrs. Martha Vair: "She Made Home Pleasant"

Martha Weideman Vair was born on October 30, 1862. In the 1880 U.S. Census, she was 18 years of age, and lived with her parents, John and Fannie Weideman, in Sandusky's Third Ward, where her father ran a hotel. Both of Martha's parents stated that they had been born in Bavaria, Germany. Erie County Probate Court records indicate that Martha Weideman married George O. Vair on October 11, 1883. By 1890, George and Martha Vair were living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On April 10, 1893, Mrs. Martha O. Vair died from consumption. She died at her parents' home in Sandusky. An obituary which appeared in the April 11, 1893 issue of the Sandusky Register stated that Martha had left behind a husband and two children. She was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. The inscription at the base of Martha Vair's tombstone reads:

She made home pleasant.

This simple statement says a lot about Mrs. Martha Vair, who died well over a hundred years ago, at such a young age. May she rest in peace.

Sentimental Sunday: "It Beats a Spring Tonic"

While browsing around Google Books looking for information about Sandusky natives, I ran into this adorable advertisement for Campbell's tomato soup, from Collier's magazine of April 17, 1915. The ad reads, in part:

As sunshine bright, and balmy air
    Set flowers springing free,
So this delicious Campbell fare
    Put spring inside of me

It beats a "spring tonic"

Campbell's soups, in the red and white cans, have been a staple of my family for many, many years, especially when colds and flu strike. Campbell's chicken noodle soup seems to soothe the sniffles as well as any other remedy. And what would a grilled cheese sandwich be without Campbell's tomato soup? Thanks for being on our supermarket shelves for all these years, Campbell's soups!

Michael and Bridget Mulaney

Records from Erie County Probate Court, accessible at Family Search, show that Michael Mulaney and Bridget Stapleton applied for a marriage license in Erie County, Ohio on January 21, 1870.

By the time of the 1880 U.S. Census, Mike and Bridget Mulaney, both natives of Ireland, were residing in Sandusky, Ohio. Mike listed his occupation as farmer. The Mulaneys had a large family which included:

John, age 9
Mary, age 8
Mikael, age 6
Katie, age 3
Nora, age 1

Sadly, Michael Mulaney, the father, died in August of 1884, at the age of 52. His death record is part of the Catholic Parish Records from Holy Angels Church in Sandusky, Ohio, available for viewing at Family Search.

Mrs. Bridget Mulaney passed away on April 6, 1899. An obituary from the April 8, 1899 issue of the Sandusky Register, reported that Mrs. Mulaney (spelled Malaney in the newspaper) had died at the family residence on the Columbus Pike (now Hayes Avenue or State Route 4). A funeral for Mrs. Mulaney was held at the family home, followed by services at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Sandusky. Michael and Bridget Mulaney were both laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

Tuesday's Tip: Accessing the Genealogy Resources at Cuyahoga County Public Library's Website

Recently I acquired a free library card from the Cuyahoga County Public Library. While the library card from my local library is my favorite library card, I enjoy browsing through  the websites of other libraries in Ohio, especially to explore their genealogical offerings. The Genealogy page at the website of the Cuyahoga County Public Library is a springboard to a wealth of information! There is a section of Premium Online Resources. Two of these resources are accessible for free from your home computer.

Below are just a few of the selections from the "Must-See Websites for Genealogists" section from the Genealogy page of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

Towards the bottom of the page are links to essentials forms, including:

Must-Have Forms

• Pedigree Chart
  
• Family Group Sheet  
• Research Log 
  
  
  
  
  Other features of the Genealogy page of the Cuyahoga County Public Library include resources for Genealogy in Cuyahoga County and beyond, Immigrant Ancestors, and Making Connections. If you have Ohio ancestors, please visit the Genealogy page of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. Click here to learn more about applying for a library card from Cuyahoga County Public Library. Happy hunting!
  
  

Frank W. Schneider, First Permanent Waver in Sandusky

An advertisement which appeared in the November 24, 1925 issue of the Sandusky Register stated that Frank W. Schneider, a barber, was the first permanent waver in Sandusky. Mr. Schneider was a licensed "Nestle Lanoil" waver, having established that service in Sandusky in 1923. His shop was the corner of East Monroe and Meigs Street. In 1925, the holiday special for a permanent wave was $10. On December 3, 1970, an article about Frank W. Schneider was in the Sandusky Register. He had been interviewed by the Register women's editor, Sue Shively. Mr. Schneider told the reporter that the way to keep wrinkles away was to dry your face briskly with a Turkish towel every time you washed your face. He  felt that this technique caused new skin cells to be regenerated. He also suggested buffing  fingernails with a brush every day to keep them strong and healthy. Frank W. Schneider told Sue Shively that his first permanent wave machine  was an electrical apparatus which cost $75. 40 heating rods were attached to the customer's head.  He tested the amount of curl of a customer's hair with a "textometer." In 1923, he charged $12.50 for a permanent wave, but prices went down during the great depression. After operating a barber shop for many years, Mr. Schneider later served as the barber for the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Erie County. On April 6, 1988, Frank W. Schneider passed away at the age of 98. He had been preceded in death by his wife and parents, and was survived by a son, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral services for Mr. Schneider were held at the Quick-Park and Nye Funeral Home, burial was at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: "Where I'm From Poem"

Randy over at Genea-Musings has given us this challenge for the April 6 edition of "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun".

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!): 

1)  Write a poem about "Where I'm From" using the template found at the websitehttp://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm

2)  Tell us about it in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or in a Google Plus or Facebook note.

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Here is my "Where I'm From" poem:

I am from  Sandusky Bay; from Toft's ice cream, and "breakfast by the bay."

I am from the a house filled with kids, with chocolate cake in the oven, and practical jokesters. 

I am from the Cottonwood tree, burs on my socks, forsythia bushes,  maple trees, and geese flying over the marsh.

I am from huge family dinners,  big bear hugs, from  Gram Em and Grandpa Joe, and Aunt Sal and Aunt Bets.

I am from going to town on Friday night, and to church on Sunday morning; from baby showers, weddings, graduation parties, and Scout camp.

From "kill them with kindness" and  "good things come in small packages."

I am from shouting Methodists, catechism learning Lutherans, Catholics filled with hope, and church potluck dinners.

I'm from the Buckeye state, the feisty Irish, the sedate British, ornery Hungarians, and stubborn Germans; from weiner stew and giant sugar cookies. 

From  a double dose of hyperactivity, from early risers, and hard workers, and nurturing women folk, from "I never met a stranger" and a great big dose of curiosity and unconditional love.

I am from  family pictures, scrapbooks, and lining up

to get the family photo taken. 

Thanks for this fun edition of SNGF, Randy! It was great to take a walk down Memory Lane! 

Louis and Mary Hall

Louis Hall was born on October 13, 1872. He was a masonry contractor. Mr. Hall passed away on June 17, 1933. The tombstone of Louis and Mary Hall at Oakland Cemetery features two brick pillars which were created by a mason. It is not clear whether Mr. Hall crafted this memorial before his death, or whether someone built it in his memory after his death. Even several years after the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Hall, the memorial honoring their memory is beautiful, and stands tall, causing cemetery visitors to take note.

Mrs. Mary Hall died on November 16, 1938. Mr. and Mrs. Hall were the parents of four sons and two daughters.

Angelic Post at Cemeteries and Cemetery Symbols Blog

Check out Joe Beine's delightful and informative "Interview with an Angel" post at Cemeteries and Cemetery Symbols! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Tombstone Tuesday: Julia E. Moore, 1842-1873

According the to the book ERIE COUNTY, OHIO CEMETERY CENSUS BEFORE 1909, Julia E. Moore was born on September 19, 1842, and she died on April 1, 1873. The Oakland Cemetery interment card indicates that Julia E. Moore died of consumption at the age of 30. She was laid to rest in the family lot at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A lovely vine adorns her tombstone. You can read more about the Moore family in the book HISTORY OF THE BUELL FAMILY IN ENGLAND (Society Library, 1881). Pages 321 and 322 of this book provide the names of Julia's parents: P.C. Moore and Julia Buell Moore. Julia also had three brothers, Samuel, William and John Moore.