Kelleys Island To Get Historical Marker

Above is an image of Kelleys Island from Google Maps. Read here to learn more about the historical marker which will soon be placed at the site of the former German Reformed Church.

Baptism Record of my Dad and His Sister Alberta

While browsing through church records on Ancestry Library Edition, I came across the database entitled Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Records, 1875-1940. In this record group, I found my father and aunt's baptism records from Zion Lutheran Church in Huron, Ohio from the 1920s. Rev. William R. Lucht was the minister who baptized my dad and his older sister.

My aunt, Alberta Marie Orshoski, was born to Stephen and Emma (Yeager) Orshoski on October 31, 1926, and she was baptized in November of 1926. Her baptismal sponsors were Emma's parents, Andrew Yeager, Sr. and Lena (Piehl) Yeager. My dad, Paul Orshoski,  was born to Stephen and Emma (Yeager) Orshoski on December 1, 1927, and he was baptized on April 1, 1928. His sponsors were Andrew Yeager, Jr. and Dorothy Yeager, the sister and brother of his mother Emma. Alberta's record is number 12 on the image below, and Paul is found at number 17.

Below is a picture of my paternal grandparents and their first three children, Alberta/Bertie, Paul, and baby Wayne, about 1929.

While I did not learn any earth-shattering new information from these baptismal records, it was wonderful to see the record. It is hard for me to imagine this lovely family as being so young, since now all in the picture are deceased. I knew each and every one, and they were special to me, each in their own way.

Sentimental Sunday: Plaque Honoring Professor E.L. Moseley at Sandusky High School

This plaque which honors former science teacher Edwin Lincoln Moseley is on display at Sandusky High School. Mr. Moseley, known most often as Professor Moseley, taught science at Sandusky High School from 1889 to 1914. He often took his students out on field trips to learn more about the flora and fauna of the area. In 1914, Professor Moseley was named to the faculty of the Bowling Green Normal College, now Bowling Green State University. One of the earliest buildings on campus at BGSU was named for Professor Moseley.

Professor Edwin L. Moseley was on the science faculty at BGSU from 1914 to 1936. He  passed away on June 6, 1948. He is buried at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Bowling Green, Ohio. To learn more about Professor Moseley, see these resources.

• Ohio Prairie Hall of Fame
• Finding Aid at BGSU Center for Archival Collections
• Sandusky History

An outstanding biography, entitled Edwin Lincoln Moseley : Naturalist, Scientist, Educator, was written by Relda E. Niederhofer and Ronald L. Stuckey in 1998.  Professor Moseley was an amazing individual! After his death, it was learned that Professor Moseley had left a generous amount of money to BGSU, for scholarships for deserving college students at his beloved Bowling Green State University. A concretion which is still located in Sandusky, near Adams Junior High School,  was discovered by Professor Moseley near Mills Creek in 1911.

Oakland Cemetery Bandstand: A Community's Tribute to the Defenders of Our Country

Early this morning I took a look at the bandstand at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. For several decades, a speech is delivered here during the Memorial Day services. Around the top of the bandstand is the phrase:  A Community's Tribute to the Defenders of Our Country. Here is a view of the bandstand from the southwest.

This panel indicates that the bandstand was put in place in 1925.

The flag is at half staff, to honor the memory of the Marines and Sailor who lost their lives in Tennessee recently.

I Accidentally Found My Great Uncle's Birth Record!

While browsing through the newest databases in Ancestry Library Edition, I came across one called Virginia Birth Records, 1864-2014.  I entered my maiden name, as I recalled that some of my great uncles were born in Wise County, Virgina. The birth record looks as though it was re-created at a time later than Uncle Nick Orshoski's birth, because it stated that his mother was deceased. Of course, Great Grandma Julia Orshoski was alive when she gave birth to her son in 1912 in Wise County, Virginia.  The record appears to have been re-created from Uncle Nick's baptismal record from Sacred Heart Church. Even if you think you have every record that exists for a particular surname in your family, new records are being added all the time. Every now and then, run that name through a genealogical database, to see what new resources are now available!

Wordless Wednesday: Oakland Cemetery, "Experience Your Own Existence"

Why It Sometimes is Good to Order the Vital Record

For a couple years, I have been assisting my co-worker Ron work on his New York roots. We determined that his great grandfather, Harry R. Davidson, was born about 1866 in New York City, and that Harry's father was John Davidson, a native of Scotland.

John Davidson is found in the 1870 Census with a wife named Hannah, and two sons, Henry, born about 1865 or 1866, and Frank, born about 1868. Moving ahead to the 1880 U.S. Census, we find John Davidson with sons Henry and Frank, ages 14 and 11. In this particular census year, his wife is listed as Johanna, and there are two other children, Caroline age 4, and Martha, age 2. This caused us to consider the possibility that between 1870 and 1880,  John Davidson's first wife died, and that he re-married, and had two more children.

A marriage record at FamilySearch.org, retrieved a marriage record that listed John Davidson marrying a Johanna Boole in Manhattan on March 25, 1875.

This leads us to the marriage record of Harry R. Davidson and Mary Crinnion.

They were married in the state of New York on December 7, 1883. If you look closely at the words next to the line mother's maiden name, it says that Harry's mother died years ago, but his stepmother was named Johanna Boole!

This leads Ron to a whole new line of members of the Davidson family that share his DNA! Hopefully the cousins can connect, and each line will have a more complete family tree. If you have the patience to wait for it, it may be very beneficial to you to order the original vital record for your ancestors, if possible.

Family History at a Wedding Reception

Photo by K. Kenniston

At the wedding reception of my niece Katie to Ryan last weekend, they displayed wedding pictures of their parents and grandparents. What a beautiful expression of family history! Congratulations to Katie and Ryan!

The bride and groom took time out to get a picture with Katie's father and all of his siblings.

Photo by K. Kenniston

Our mom, Joyce Parker Orshoski, often said that though she was not rich or famous, her contribution to the world was her six kids. She took pictures of us all together at every major family event. In her memory, the tradition continues. Miss you Mom!

Sentimental Sunday: Historical Marker Honoring Good Samaritan Hospital

Now a part of Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky's Good Samaritan Hospital was established in 1876. All of the six children of my parents, Paul and Joyce (Parker) Orshoski, were born in Sandusky at Good Samaritan Hospital. Most of the babies were delivered by our beloved family doctor, Dr. Watson Day Parker. Dr. Watson (we called him that to distinguish him from his brother, Dr. Lester Parker) said that delivering a baby in our family was like running a printing press, because we all looked alike!

We visited the hospital SO many times! To see someone who had just had surgery, or take one of the boys to the emergency room, or to have yet another set of tonsils removed. My dad lived his final days in Good Samaritan Hospital. He was racked with pain from lung cancer, and he got to know all his caregivers there. After Good Samaritan Hospital became a part of the Firelands Regional Medical Center, my mom worked at the information desk. She got to know doctors, nurses, visitors, and even the dietary staff and the cleaning crew! She said she enjoyed "telling people where to go."

After Mom's death, the flag at Firelands Regional Medical Center was at half staff, in memory of Mom. Such a fitting tribute! Good Samaritan Hospital and Firelands Regional Medical Center have played an important part in the lives of so many of my family members.

Sentimental Sunday: City of Sandusky's Founding Honored on a Manhole Cover

Embedded in the sidewalk near the lovely Schade-Mylander Plaza, this manhole cover honors the founding of the city of Sandusky in 1818. A waterfront scene shows a vessel, waves on Sandusky Bay, seagulls, and a structure near the dock, causing us to recall the importance of Sandusky's natural harbor, which enabled the early transporting of necessary goods in and out of our fair city. Click here to read an article entitled "Sandusky, Pioneer Link Between Rail and Sail," by Leola Stewart. This article is archived on the website of the Ohio History Connection. The city of Sandusky will be celebrating its Bicentennial in 2018!

Treasure Chest Thursday: Baptism Record of Patrick Larkin/Larkins

Listed on Number 21 on the image above is the baptism record of Patrick Larkin, who was the son of Daniel Larkin and Johanna Skehan of County Tipperary, Ireland. Patrick was baptized on March 21, 1827. These records are from the Killenaule parish. His baptismal sponsors were Patrick and Sally Graham. Thank you Malcolm for sharing this precious piece of family history with me!  "It's a long, long way to Tipperary," but with the computer age, this record finally found its way to me! Patrick Larkin/Larkins is my three times great grandfather. He came to the U.S. about 1830, and made his way to Sandusky, Ohio where he worked on the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, and later at Hubbard's lumber yard. Patrick and many of my Larkin/Larkins ancestors found their final resting place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

I am so thrilled to learn this piece of the puzzle of my Irish ancestry!

Tuesday's Tip: Get to Know the Historic Graves Website

An exciting online project is found at historicgraves.com.  Primarily devoted to gravestones of Ireland and the United Kingdom, the project aims to digitally record and publish historic graveyard surveys and stories. This slideshare presentation tells more about the project:

http://historicgraves.com/graveyardsmap

Once you are at the Historic Graves site, you can do a "family search" under the search tab. You can limit the search by surname, keyword, and by a specific graveyard.

To read even more about the Historic Graves community based project, see:

HistoricGraves 2012: the Project

While I was unable to locate any of my own Irish ancestors at Historic Graves, it was wonderful to be able to see the graves and epitaphs, and learn more about the cemeteries throughout Ireland. I encourage you to take some time exploring this excellent site!

Julius House used Hibbard's Family Pills in 1836

In a recent search at the Fulton History website, which features thousands of historical newspapers from the state of New York, I found this fascinating testimonial from my ancestor, Julius House:

Perkins, Huron Co., July 4, 1836

I have used Hibbard’s Family Pills in my family, and do not hesitate to

give them the preference to any we ever used. They are much esteemed

by all who have tried them in our neighborhood.

Julius House

This article is found underneath an advertisement for Hibbard's Pills in the Troy New York Daily Whig newspaper in 1837.  It was amazing to find such a small piece of information about an ancestor of mine who lived in the Firelands area so long, long ago!

Julius House was an early settler to Erie County (then Huron County) and he died in 1871, and was buried in the Perkins Cemetery.

Rev. Frank A.Seidel, Early Lutheran Minister in Sandusky, Ohio

Rev. Frank Anton Seidel was born October 17, 1831 at Koprieben, in Pommerania. He studied at the University of Halle. In 1855, F.A. Seidel was appointed the vicar of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sandusky, Ohio. In 1856, he was called to the pastorate of the congregation. According to a history of Zion Lutheran Church, housed at the Sandusky Library, Rev. Seidel was "a man of fine, energetic Christian character and of splendid mental and oratorical gifts." He was a good leader, and the church had the highest hopes and expectations. In February of 1856, Rev. Seidel became sick, and he died on March 7, 1856. He was laid to rest at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. His flat tombstone is in Block 17 of the cemetery.