John J. Fitzpatrick, Died in a Railroad Accident

John Fitzpatrick was fatally injured in an accident in Sterling, Ohio on September 12, 1890, when he lost his grip while boarding the caboose of the Cleveland, Wheeling and Lorain Railroad. He had resided in Sandusky until a bout 1885, when he moved to Lorain, Ohio.  Mr. Fitzpatrick left behind his parents and a young wife. John Fitzpatrick was buried in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. An obituary for John Fitzpatrick appeared in the September 13, 1890 issue of the Sandusky Register.


Note: While his tombstone lists his name as John Fitzpatrick, the obituary in the Register listed his name as John F. Patrick. 

Rev. Patrick Henry Brown, 1834-1878

Rev. Patrick H. Brown was born in 1834. In the 1850 Census, Patrick Henry Brown was residing in Clinton County, New York, with a large family. Most likely his parents were David and Bridget Brown. In 1860, Patrick Henry Brown’s name was listed on the census record as Henry Brown. He was age 25, residing in Cleveland, Ohio . His occupation was “Roman Catholic student.” In 1870, the U.S. Census lists Henry Brown, age 35, in the same residence as David Brown, age 67. His occupation was clergyman.

According to the website of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Ravenna, Rev. Brown was assigned to the Catholic church at Hudson, Ohio in 1860, and he later served churches in Ravenna and Kent as outreaches of the Hudson church. Father Brown worked earnestly on raising funds for the building of a church in Ravenna. In the 1870s, Father Patrick H. Brown moved from the Catholic church in Ravenna to the St. Columba Catholic Church in Youngstown, Ohio. Father Brown became sick and died in late September of 1878. His remains were brought to the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Members of the St. Columba Church erected the beautiful monument in memory of Rev. Patrick H. Brown. This inscription is located on the side of the monument which faces north. Father Brown died while he was still in his forties.

Father Brown is credited with bringing the Ursuline Nuns to St. Columba during his years of ministry in Youngstown. He wanted the nuns to teach in parochial school at St.Columba. A picture of Father Brown can be seen at the website of St. Patrick Catholic Church, from his years of ministry in Kent, Ohio.

Tombstone Tuesday: Eckert Monument at St. Mary's Cemetery

Frederick and Elizabeth Eckert were both natives of Germany. They were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sandusky. Frederick Eckert died on November 4, 1914 in Lucas County, Ohio. Mrs. Elizabeth Eckert died on May 20, 1916. The Rev. J. S. Widmann officiated at the funerals of Mr. and Mrs. Eckert, according to their obituaries. Burial for both Mr. and Mrs. Eckert was at St. Mary's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. An obituary for Elizabeth Eckert appeared in the May 22, 1916 issue of the Sandusky Register. Mr. Frederick Eckert's obituary was in the November 6, 1914 issue of the Sandusky Register.  A beautiful monument created by Conrad Keim honors the memory of Frederick and Elizabeth Eckert. Christ on the cross and a scroll adorn the grave marker of Mr. and Mrs. Eckert.

Daniel G. Donohue Answered the Final Summons

Daniel G. Donohue was born in Oswego, New York in 1858. He moved to Sandusky, Ohio about 1882, after having worked in Elyria in the railway department of the U.S. Postal Service. After moving to Sandusky, Mr. Donohue was self-employed as a book salesman. Daniel G. Donohue was known for his unfailing good humor, as evidenced by this headline which appeared in the January 10, 1908 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.

Mr. Donohue was well known in political circles, and he worked for a time as a guard at the Ohio Penitentiary. Daniel G. Donohue died on January 9, 1908, on his fiftieth birthday. Mr. Donohue was survived by his wife and three children. He was a faithful member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Daniel G. Donohue was buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: 5th Grade Memories

Randy, at Genea-Musings, has given this assignment today:

1)  Remember when you were 10 or 11 years old and in fifth grade at school?  Was that one of the best times in your life?  Or not?

2)  Tell us about your fifth grade memories and the highlights of that time of your life - in your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook or Google+.

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When I was in the 5th Grade, I attended this building in Castalia, a part of Margaretta Local Schools. 

My teacher was Mrs. Hacker. I thought she was the most beautiful lady I had ever seen! (And she even knew my neighbor Johnny.)In the 5th grade, our big field trip was to Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. It was so much fun! We got to go to Dearborn on the train, and he had to bring both a packed lunch and supper. I don't recall a lot of what we learned, but we had the basic classes: math, social studies, music, language arts, science, and physical education. Also, I enrolled in band for the first time in Grade 5. I played trombone, and later switched to alto clarinet.

Image courtesy commons.wikipedia.org

For one six weeks term we actually got to go swimming in the school's pool. One special memory I have is that when I was in the 5th grade, my mother announced she was going to have another baby. I was so excited that I told my teacher, and everyone in my class. Matt wasn't born until I was in the fall of Grade 6, but he was so special. I honestly cannot recall ever having a real argument with Matt. Because I was 11 when he was born, I was like another mother figure to him.

Now the old school serves as a Middle School. Matt is all grown up, with four children. His oldest recently got married. Thanks for sparking these terrific memories, Randy!

Wednesday's Child: Gertrude Schenk

According to her death record, at FamilySearch, Gertrude Margurite Schenk was born on January 12, 1915 to Henry and Catherine (Herber) Schenk. She died of pneumonia shortly after her first birthday, on February 12, 1916, and she was laid to rest at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A dove adorns the tombstone of young Gertrude Schenk.

William Hall, First Known President of the Charitable Irish Society Founded

Photo by T. Renwand.

On a recent trip to Boston and New York, my nephew took some pictures at the Granary Burying Ground. Above is the tombstone of William Hall, who was a leather dresser by trade. He is also believed to have been the first president of the Charitable Irish Society, founded in Boston in 1737. William Hall died on August 16, 1771, at the age of  75. A head with wings adorns the top of his tombstone. The Old Granary Burying Grounds are on the Irish Heritage Trail in Boston.