Francisco-Young Monument at Oakland Cemetery

David Francisco was born in New York in the 1790s, and settled in Groton Township. It appears that David died some time between 1840 and 1850. His wife Semanda lived until 1872. The Franciscos had three children, Frances, George J., and Maria. Frances Francisco (1829-1891) was a harness maker in Sandusky. George J. Francisco (1821-1893) moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was the superintendent of the stables for the Express Company for many years. Maria Francisco married John Losey Young, who died in his forties in 1869.

 

The son of John Losey Young and Maria Francisco Young was Merritt Francisco Young, who was born in 1849. Merritt worked as a clerk in the United States Express Office in Sandusky in his teenage years. Later he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was a bookkeeper at the Gibson Hotel. While at the hotel, he became acquainted with James A. Bailey, the well known circus manager. Mr. Bailey saw Merritt Young’s aptitude for business, and hired him to handle the business affairs of the Cooper and Bailey Circus in the 1860s. When James Bailey and P.T. Barnum merged to become the Barnum and Bailey Circus in 1881, Merritt Young became treasurer of the well known circus.

Photo source: Wikipedia

After becoming very ill in Chicago, Illinois, Merritt Young passed away on June 16, 1897, at the age of 48. His remains were returned to Sandusky, Ohio for burial at Oakland Cemetery.

Masonic funeral services were held for Mr. Young, with Rev. Clement Martin of the Presbyterian Church officiating. At the grave site, were his grieving mother, along with officials from the Barnum and Bailey Circus, members of the Masonic Lodge, and several friends of the Young family.  The casket of Merritt Young was adorned with many floral tributes. The ticket agent of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and James A. Bailey were among those sending flowers. It was said that whenever the Barnum and Bailey Circus visited Sandusky for a show, flowers were placed at the grave of Merritt Young at Oakland Cemetery. Merritt’s mother, Mrs. John Losey Young died on October 28, 1901. She was laid to rest at Oakland Cemetery in the family lot, which she had visited often.

 

C. Elizabeth Poppenborg

 

Not much is known about C. Elizabeth Poppenborg, except that she was most likely of the Catholic faith. Records from St. Joseph's Cemetery indicate that she died in 1847, and was the daughter of Conrad Poppenborg and Lucy Burnan.

By doing a search on FamilySearch.org, I located a Maria Lucia "Lucy" Burmann. Maria's first husband was Casper Anton Ruenbusch Windau, who died in Germany in 1831. At some point Maria emigrated with her many children to the United States. She then married Conrad Poppenborg/Poppenburg, who worked on the Mad River Railroad.

Though C. Elizabeth Poppenborg is not listed in the family group on FamilySearch, I do believe she is a daughter of Conrad Poppenborg and Lucy, and she must have died quite young. 

Thank you to my friend Joel M., for finding this treasured tombstone at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio!

McGoldric Lot at St. Joseph's Cemetery

During the summer of 1849, several Sandusky residents died of cholera. In the McGoldric lot at St. Joseph's Cemetery are several members of the same family who lost their lives to the deadly disease.

Looking from left to right are tombstones in the McGoldric lot:

John McGoldric, died July 23, 1849

Ann McGoldric, died 1894 (Ann lost her spouse and several children in 1849.)

Patrick Gordon, died in 1849 (Most likely member of the McGoldric family allowed him to be buried in the McGoldric lot, as they were all members of Holy Angels Church.)

Jennie McGoldric, died February 28, 1864 (Jennie lost her father and several siblings in 1849.)

The final stone, at the far right, is illegible today, but St. Joseph's Cemetery records indicate that this stone marks the final resting place of children of John and Ann McGoldric: Ann, John Jr., William and another child whose name is unknown in the cemetery records.)

It is remarkable that these tombstones have remained at St. Joseph's Cemetery for so many, many years, though it does appear that the tombstone of Patrick Gordon may have been placed there some time after the other stones in the McGoldric lot. Rest in peace McGoldrics and Mr. Gordon.

Note: The surname McGoldric is sometimes listed as McGoldrick.

Photo Credit: J. Mazza

Mrs. Catherine Robina Souter

According to her death record, Catherine Robina Souter was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1819, to Thomas and Bell (Winchester) Hickley.  By 1850, Catherine was married to David Souter, and they lived in Sandusky, Ohio with their three young children.

After 1850, the name of David Souter disappears from census records and city directories. To date, no death record for David has been found. The 1855 Sandusky City Directory lists Mrs. C.R. Souter as a dressmaker, residing on Market Street. Mrs. Souter’s son James W. Souter moved west, and he worked for the American Express Company. Her daughter Frances married Thomas Morris, and moved to Toledo, Ohio. Daughter Mary Souter died at the age of 21, in 1864.

Mrs. Catherine Robina Souter died at the age of 91 on November 3, 1910. She was buried at St. Joseph’s Cemetery with her daughter Mary. Mrs. Souter’s father had been born in Scotland, and her mother was born in England. She lived a long life in Sandusky, Ohio, far from the place of her birth. Rev. William F. Murphy officiated at Mrs. Souter’s funeral and burial. In a few years, Rev. Murphy would officiate at the marriage Knute Rockne and Bonnie Skiles in Sandusky, Ohio.

Wordless Wednesday: Carl E. Stonerook Jr. at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio

 

John Gordon, Irish Immigrant to Sandusky

John Gordon was born in Ireland. His wife was the former Catherine Grinley. In 1855, the Sandusky City Directory listed John Gordon as a watchman for the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad. Later he held the same position for the Cincinnati, Sandusky and Cleveland Railroad (a predecessor of the New York Central Railroad.) 

John and Catherine were members of Holy Angels Church. Their many children were christened there, according to Diocese records. Two of the sons, John J. Gordon, and George H. Gordon became well known reporters for New York newspapers. Their youngest daughter, Mary Louise Gordon, was a suffragist and she served as the Women's Page editor of the New York Herald Tribune in the 1930s and 1940s.

Sadly, in August of 1883, John Gordon's body was found at the foot of Columbus Avenue. He had suffered a serious head injury. At first it was thought they he may have been murdered, but Erie County Coroner. Dr. Elwood Stanley, determined that he died from an accidental drowning.

John Gordon was laid to rest in the family lot at St. Joseph's Cemetery. His wife moved to the east to reside with her daughter. She died in 1916, and her remains were brought back to Sandusky for burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery. 

The Gordon family hoped for a better life in America, and sadly John Gordon's life was cut short. The names of the Gordon family are carved in stone at St. Joseph's, and their obituaries appeared in Sandusky newspapers. The Gordon family was indeed a part of the "melting pot" of America.

Remembering Ajaish and Mary Alice Rather

Ajaish and Mary Alice Rather are buried in Section S in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. They raised seven children together and were both active in community and church activities.

In 1967, the baseball diamond at Jaycee Park was renamed "Rather Field" in honor of Ajaish "Butch" Rather. An article in the August 14, 1967 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that Mr. Rather had been a member of the Board of Recreation for several years, and he helped hundreds of area youngsters in youth baseball programs. Ajaish Rather passed away in 1967, before his son David Elmer "Bo" Rather began to play college football at the University of Michigan. Later Bo played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.

Mrs. Mary Alice Rather was active in Ebenezer Baptist Church. She was past president of the Sandusky Chapter of the N.A.A.C.P. She was a member of the the Board of the Erie Metro Housing Agency, Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, and the Human Relations Commission of Sandusky. For several years she was the executive director of the CAC in Sandusky. She worked tirelessly for the civil rights of the residents of Sandusky and Erie County. Mrs. Rather died on June 6, 2006. An obituary for Mrs. Mary Alice Rather appeared in the June , 2006 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Rather for your many years of service to your community!