Daniel T. Larkins, 1838-1905

According to U.S. Census records, Daniel T. Larkins was born in the state of Vermont in 1838. In 1870 Daniel Larkins and his wife Bridget resided in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, with their children Mary and James. Mr. Larkins was employed at the spoke factory. Son Daniel P. Larkins was born in 1872.  In the 1880 U.S. Census, the Daniel Larkins family was living on Jefferson Street in Sandusky, and Daniel, the father, was employed as a gas fitter. Both of his parents were listed as natives of Ireland. According to an article from the February 1, 1905 issue of the Sandusky Register, Daniel T. Larkins died at his home at 606 Pearl Street on January 31, 1905, after a lengthy illness. He was 66 years old. Mr. Larkins left behind his wife and one daughter, Mrs. John Powers, and two sons, James Larkins, engineer on the Big Four, and Daniel P. Larkins, a steam fitter. His funeral was held at Holy Angels Church and burial was at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Most of  the Larkins family from Sandusky were of Irish Catholic descent, and had family members employed in the railroad, and most attended Holy Angels Church. Many of the members of the  Larkins family are buried at St. Joseph Cemetery. 

Vintage Pictures of Grandpa Steen Parker and His Brothers

Tonight we had a family get-together, and my Aunt Pat on my Mom's side shared some pictures with us, that she allowed me to scan. What fun! Below are some pictures of my maternal grandfather, Steen Leroy Parker. He is just an infant in this one, taken about 1908 at the Bishop studio.

Grandpa Steen Parker is a toddler in this picture, taken at the Bishop studio about 1910.

Steen is pictured here with his older brother Glenn Parker, and his younger brother Paul Parker. Baby Janet had not been born yet.

Thanks so much for sharing these treasures Aunt Pat!!

Robert and Mary Ann Carter, Natives of England

This tombstone honoring the memory of Robert and MaryAnn Carter is located in Block 5 of Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery. Mrs. Mary Ann Carter died from heart disease in 1879, just a few days after the birth of her youngest child. Robert Carter died from consumption in March of 1889. According to the death record of William Carter, his father Robert had been born in York, England. Mary Ann Carter, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Harrison Spencer had been born in Nottingham, England. A listing in Hellrigle's 1876 Sandusky City Directory listed Robert Carter is residing in Sandusky, Ohio, and his occupation was “plane maker.”  Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carter had six children, including a son William who was a printer for the Sandusky Register. Four of the Carter daughters, Lucy, Frances, Minnie and Amelia (sometimes known as Millie) became school teachers. Another daughter, Emily Carter Siggens, was the mother of Ernie Siggens, who was a football star at Sandusky High School, and went on to serve as Sandusky’s Mayor. 

Katharina Strohmeier, 1829-1891

According to her tombstone, Katharina Strohmeier was born in Neulussheim, Germany on September 9, 1829. In 1885, Katharina/Catharine Schmitt married Fred Strohmeier in Erie County, Ohio. On June 1, 1891 Katharina/Catharine Schmitt died at the age of 61.  She was buried in the Schmitt family lot at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. A small inscription at the base of the tombstone which honors the memory of Katharina Schmitt Strohmeier indicates that it was created by the Brost brothers.

William Sherman Taylor, 1864-1930

William Sherman Taylor was born in Perkins Township on June 5, 1864, while the Civil War was still being fought. His parents, Charles W. and Caroline (Wright) Taylor owned a farm in Perkins Township. William's great grandparents, Joseph and Lois Taylor, Sr., were pioneer residents of Erie County, coming west from Connecticut by oxen train in 1815. William's grandfather, Nelson Taylor, served on the first Board of Erie County Commissioners. According to a biographical sketch in A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, William Sherman Taylor grew up on the old family homestead. He was a farmer and  stock raiser, and he also worked as a dealer in foundry and molding sand. William Sherman Taylor suffered a heart attack as he was driving an automobile on January 21, 1930. Funeral services were held at the Taylor residence, and burial was at Perkins Cemetery. An article about Mr. Taylor's death was featured in the January 22, 1930 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.

Michael Tracey, Pioneer Resident of Sandusky, Ohio

Michael Tracey  was a pioneer resident of Sandusky, born to Irish immigrant parents. In the early 1900s, Mr. Tracey sold coal and wood on Warren Street in Sandusky, Ohio.

On January 18, 1940, Michael Tracey died at the home of his son Alfred, after a brief illness. Mr. Tracey was survived by three daughters, four sons, twenty grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He was buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio, where many of his family, friends, and former customers had also found their final resting place. He had outlived two wives, both who had the first name of Mary.  An obituary for Michael Tracy is found in the 1940 Obituary Notebook at the Sandusky Library.

Wordless Wednesday: St. Mary's Cemetery