John Blanchard Norris, 1828-1856

John Blanchard Norris was born in New Hampshire in 1828 to Nicholas and Elizabeth (Blanchard) Norris. By 1850, he was residing in Erie County, Ohio. An advertisement from the February 20, 1856 issue of the Sandusky Register states that J.B. Norris and G.L. Peck were partners in a produce and commission business in Sandusky and Springfield.

John Blanchard Norris died on March 24, 1856 as a young man. He was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Sarah Sprague Alvord, 1837-1864

Sophia Sprague was born on May 28, 1837 to Nehemiah and Sophia Sprague. When she was young Sophia's father died. Mrs. Sprague and several of the children moved to Ohio. In 1862, Sophia Sprague married Frederick W. Alvord. Sadly, Sophia Sprague Alvord died on October 6, 1864. She was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Mr. Frederick W Alvord married the sister of Sophia, Caroline Sprague. Mr. Alvord and his second wife went on to have three children.

Henry Beatty, M.D.

According to his death record, Henry Browning Beatty was born in Queensland, Ireland in 1861 (though his tombstone reads 1859.) His parents were Henry and Mary Beatty. After emigrating to the United States, Henry B. Beatty graduated from Cincinnati Medical College. Dr. Beatty was associated with the hospital at the workhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio. Later he assisted in the yellow fever epidemic in Florida, where many physicians and others lost their lives. About 1891 Dr. Henry B. Beatty moved to Sandusky, where he established a medical practice. He was the doctor for many different local companies, including the Lake Shore Electric Railway. He was the fleet surgeon for the Sandusky Yacht Club as well. On June 19, 1924, Dr. Henry B. Beatty died following a lengthy illness. He was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. You can read more about Dr. Beatty in the June 19, 1924 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal, and the June 20, 1924 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Who Were the Three Sons of Thomas Arthur Larkin

In the obituary of Thomas Arthur Larkin, he is listed as having three sons. However, my Great Grandma Irene only ever mentioned one, named Jimmy! So who were these three sons?? My mom and I were never sure. After many years have gone by, I found a death record for John Patrick Larkin. Below is the top portion of that death record.

By doing some research on FamilySearch, I was able to solve the mystery. John Patrick Larkin was the son of Thomas Arthur Larkin and his second wife Opal.

James Larkin, the nephew of whom Gram Irene spoke of, was the son of  Thomas Arthur Larkin and his first wife Audrey.

Russell, was the son of Opal Larkin from a previous marriage, but the Uncle Art's obituary listed him as a son and not a stepson.

John Patrick Larkin was just an infant when his father died, and I think after the death of Thomas Arthur Larkin, my great grandma lost track of the family.

Though Mom and Gram Irene are gone now, it is wonderful to have the mystery solved!!

Below is some family information about Thomas Arthur Larkin from FamilySearch.org.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*********************
Clip art images at top courtesy http://sweetclipart.com/line-art-little-boy-running-1697

MIchigan Obituaries available at FamilySearch

A database that is very helpful to researchers with ancestors in Michigan is
"Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006," available online at FamilySearch.org. This database features obituaries from several different libraries and repositories in Michigan. Some were  on 3 x 5 note cards originally, and some are newspaper clippings. If you have Michigan ancestors, be sure to check it out!

On this note card about Rachel Parker, there is a great deal of family history information provided.

William E. Sloane was once a protege of Alexander Graham Bell. He died in a grade crossing accident in 1935.

Check out this database, and hundreds of  others, available at FamilySearch.org.

One of Mom's Favorite Quotes

Inside one of my Mom's family history notebooks is this quote:

"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die."


My mom, Joyce Parker Orshoski, is in the picture at the left, at her great grandfather's house on Shelby Street in the 1940s.  She always told me she heard that quote in the pilot of the Waltons, but I found it attributed to Thomas Campbell. Mom loved family history, and we often visited cemeteries and had talks about our ancestors, and what life was like in the "good old days."

Recently my niece, who was very close to her Nana O., had this quote tattooed on her leg!

Photo shared with permission

Mom may not have totally understood the tattoo culture of today's young people, but I know

she would have been delighted to be remembered!! Niece Julia lost both her dad and her grandma in the last ten years, but they both truly love on in her heart...and in all of our hearts! Miss you Mom and Matt O.!!

Tombstone Tuesday: Jane Lizar

Jane Lizar died on October 6, 1868, and she was buried in Block 5 at Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. A reasonable search of census records and Sandusky city directories did not turn up any relatives. Her surname may be a spelling variation of other last names in Erie County, possibly Leser. There is an inscription on the tombstone, but it was too weathered to be legible. Rest in peace Jane!