Johanna Larkins McClain

Johanna Larkins was born about 1842, the youngest daughter of Daniel and Johanna (Skehan) Larkins. Originally from County Tipperary, Ireland, Daniel Larkins and his family settled on farmland in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio prior to the younger Johanna's birth. The family was Irish Catholic, and Johanna had several older brothers and sisters.

By 1880, Johanna Larkins had become married to Thomas McClain of Bellevue, Ohio. Thomas was a widower with two young daughters, Nora and Bridget.  Thomas and Johanna would have another daughter to add to the family, Mary McClain, born about 1877, according to U.S. Census records.

Thomas McClain died on January 10, 1891. He was buried at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Bellevue, Ohio. In the early 1900s, Johanna Larkins McClain moved to Cleveland, where she resided with her daughter Mary.
Joanna died on May 9, 1909. She was laid to rest beside her husband Thomas at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Bellevue, Ohio. How I would have enjoyed talking with her, and asking her about the early years of her life! She was the baby sister of my three times great grandfather Patrick Larkins.

My great grandmother, Irene Larkins, always carried on the family tradition of hospitality, offering coffee and cake to visitors. I am sure Johanna shared that same tradition. Another tradition in the Larkins family was to visit the graves of loved ones often, and remember them by placing flowers on  their tombstones.

Very Simple Timeline for My Mother Joyce Parker Orshoski

Randy at Genea-Musings has challenged us to create a timeline in today's edition of Saturday Night Genealogy Fun.

Below is a very simple timeline marking just a few highlights in my mother's life.

I created this timeline at Teachnology.com. It was free and very easy to use, but it did not allow for many details. My mom packed a lot of life into her years on this earth. 

She had six children, twenty grandchildren, and many, many great grandchildren. I think she worked at least fifteen different jobs. She went back to work after becoming a widow in her fifties. I miss Mom every day, and am thankful she told me so many family stories!

Horace Aplin, 1805-1871

According to the 1850 U.S. Census, Horace Aplin was born in the state of New York in 1805. In 1850, he was working in Sandusky, Ohio as a grocer. An article in the Firelands Pioneer  records the date of Horace Aplin's marriage to Julia E. Peck as January 21, 1840 in Norwalk, Ohio. Rev. Alfred Newton of the First Presbyterian Church in Norwalk officiated at the wedding. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich, states that Horace Aplin was a trustee of Portland Township (Portland Township eventually became a part of the city of Sandusky) in 1849, 1854, and 1855. In 1858, Horace Aplin became a Justice of the Peace. On October 9, 1871, Horace Aplin died in Sandusky, Ohio. He was buried in the North Ridge section of Oakland Cemetery. After Mrs. Julia Aplin passed away in 1903, she was buried next to her husband in Oakland Cemetery.

My Baby Brother Matt Orshoski, 1962-2019

My youngest brother, Matthew Steen Orshoski, passed away peacefully this morning, after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Matt and I never had cross words. He was supportive of me through all the ups and downs of life, which were many. Since I was 11 when he was born, I literally saw him grow up!

One of my first memories of Matt was before he was born! I told my Aunt Betty, who lived next door, that I wanted to give my mom a baby shower, even though it was her fifth baby. Well Aunt Betty's mom Audrey owned the Log Cabin, a restaurant in our small community. Aunt Betty paid for everything, I am sure, and she arranged for a lovely baby shower for my mom, in a the special party room at the Log Cabin. Everyone had a wonderful time.

The summer Mom was expecting Matt, a family friend, Bill K., used to drop off fresh sweet corn and tomatoes to our house, on his way across the Sandusky Bay to make a delivery to a farm market. Mom loved that fresh produce so much! Matt loved sports, and he practically grew up on the ball field in Bay View, where my Dad coached baseball.

Matt and his wife wanted to have a family, and it was quite some time before that happened. They went on to have four children, three grandchildren, and another baby on the way. Matt loved his family SO much!

The last several years, Matt's health declined more and more. He spent over three years in a nursing home. Having been a coach, a plumber, and active in the church and community, it was frustrating for him to be so idle. His greatest joy was when loved ones would visit. More than one person has said that they went to see Matt to cheer him up, but it turned out that Matt cheered up the visitor instead! Matt is at peace now, and since singing was one of his favorite pastimes, I can picture him singing in a Heavenly choir!!! We are glad he will be reunited with our mom and dad.

Love you Matt O., and thanks for all the memories!!

This link takes you to the obituary of Matt Orshoski.

John E. Nolan, Corporal in Company B

John E. Nolan's name appears in the 1880 U.S. Census. He was the nine year old son of John and Teresa Nolan, and the family resided in Sandusky, Ohio.  John E. Nolan served as a Corporal in Company B of the Ohio Sixth Infantry during the Spanish American War. This unit received a warm welcome when they returned home to Sandusky. Sadly, John E. Nolan died in Cleveland, Ohio on March 19, 1914. He was buried at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

Lettie May, 1878-1931

In the 1880 U.S. Census, there is a Letta May, age one, listed with Julian and Mattie May in Gentry County, Missouri. By the time of the 1900 U.S. Census,  Lettie May was a student at the Normal School at Madison Lake, South Dakota, now Dakota State University. She was 21 in 1900. A very brief article in the July 23, 1920 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal stated:

Miss Lettie May of Washington D.C., is spending three weeks with Miss Waye Wonnell of S. Columbus Ave.

On August 21, 1931, Lettie May died in Brooklyn, New York. Her occupation was listed as accountant, and her parents were Julian May and Martha Black. Lettie's remains were returned to Sandusky, Ohio for burial at Oakland Cemetery.  These brief obituaries are found in the 1931 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at Sandusky Library.

So far I have not been able to determine exactly when Lettie May resided in Sandusky, but the fact that she was buried at Oakland Cemetery indicates that she most likely did have ties to the area.

Dora Hutchins, 1862-1882

Dora Hutchins was born on May 15, 1862. Her parents were Charles and Electa Hutchins. Sadly, she passed away from consumption as a young woman, on August 20, 1882. Dora Hutchins, who had a brother named Charles L. Hutchins, was buried at Sandusky, Ohio.