Searching for Victor Crumbaker

I was contacted by a cousin from a line in my family, specifically the Coblentz line, which is on my paternal side. She is working on an extensive project trying to find all the descendants of a common ancestor, John Phillip Coblentz b. 1730. I was thrilled to be included in the group she had put together researching this and even more thrilled when I began to receive daily emails with information on family within that line! 


I offered to help and was assigned Elizabeth Ann Coblentz (b. 1830 in Ohio), her husband Andrew Myers (b. abt 1828 in Ohio), and their descendants. I found information easily enough on this first couple, including some newspaper articles using Google News Archives (luckily The Youngstown Vindicator was one of the newspapers they had digitized before shutting the project down). Things became slightly more difficult (on the newspaper side of things anyway) with their first child Martha Catherine Myers (b. 1851 in Ohio) who married Benjamin Franklin Crumbaker (b. 1844 in Ohio) in 1868. They had moved to Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio sometime between 1880 and 1900. I was able to find some things with my GenealogyBank.com membership, but not very much. 


Regardless, I finished what I could on their union and started working on their first child, Victor Orville Crumbaker, born 23 Nov 1869 in Springfield, Mahoning, Ohio. This is the man who has started my frustrations. I immediately found a birth record, death record and 3 marriage records. His first marriage record to Mary E. Hall in 1893 had the application filled out, but it didn't have the actual marriage information completed. I could only assume they did not go through with the marriage. His second marriage record to Katie Selzer in 1909 showed that he had been previously married, but that he was divorced. Was this to the first Mary Hall? Or was there another marriage that I had not found? His last marriage record to Mrs. Martha E. Rupp in 1927 indicated he had only been married once before and that she was deceased. This was true as Katherine Selzer Crumbaker had died on 17 Mar 1918 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.


I found the 1910 and the 1920 census without much effort since they came up pretty easily in the index search. In 1910, Victor was living with his first (second?) wife Katherine in Brooklyn, Cuyahoga, Ohio. In 1920, he was living again in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, but this time with his niece Winnafred Hoffman, age 28. They are both listed as single, even though he was technically widowed. I also found him in a 1925 Cleveland Ohio City Directory and an 1896 City Directory.

I started searching for Victor in the 1900 census thinking it would shed some light on whether he actually married Mary E. Hall or what he was doing at that time. I found his parents and youngest brother Harry living in Cleveland City. Not only did Victor not come up in a simple index search, but neither did his two middle brothers, Curtis L.A. and Perry Calvin Crumbaker. I started with searching the same E.D. as his parents and youngest brother. No luck. Searched in the E.D.'s according this the 1910 census for each of the brothers. No luck. I noticed that in his wife's Find a Grave Memorial it indicated his name was Ora and it was also how he provided his name as the informant on her death record. Searched under that name. No luck. Searched under the address from the 1896 directory. No luck. In total, I searched 8 different E.D.'s page by page and COULD NOT find Victor or his two brothers in the 1900 census!!! It was and is SO frustrating!

I decided to give myself a break and start searching for him in the 1930 census. No hits on an index search... I was sensing some deja vu and I was not liking it. At this time, he should have been living with his wife Martha E. Smith Rupp Crumbaker. They were married in 1927 and Victor died in 1932. On their marriage record, it showed they were living at the same address in Cleveland. I started there. I'm going to digress for a minute and say that I love Stephen Morse's website One-Step Webpages. Honestly, I hadn't used it much until the 1940 Census came out and I started searching for people by finding E.D.'s on his site. But it has been invaluable while trying to look up all these addresses for other census years too! Anyway, I looked up the address and there was a different family living there. I searched the rest of the E.D. just to be safe and there were no Crumbakers there. So, I moved on to the address on his death record. His brother, Perry C. Crumbaker, was the informant for his death record. It indicates he was married, but there was a question mark on the name of his wife. I thought this was strange. His own brother didn't know the name of his wife? I don't know if this indicated some type of estrangement or if it was just an error. Plus, he had lived in Cleveland this whole time, but had died in Akron, Summit, Ohio. Perry was still living in Cleveland. I looked up the E.D. for his address on the death record and searched the entire thing. There was a different family living at the address, however, it was a rental so that could explain why.

Unfortunately, my story does not have a happy ending. I have decided to move on to the other siblings, but I'm hoping that looking for information on them will maybe unearth something on Victor. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Census Saturday - 1910 Federal Census - Joseph & Frances Legge Household

This week we are still following Harry A. Legge. He was living with his parents in Hays City Ward 3, Ellis, Kansas in the 1910 Federal Census.

Joseph and Frances Legge household

Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910 - Population; State: Kansas; County: Ellis; Hays City; Supervisor's District No. 6; Enumeration District No. 19; Sheet No. 9 B; page 1451 (handwritten); Enumerated by me on the 22nd day of April, 1910. Jur. H. Freesa, Enumerator. Street: West Perry Avenue; Lines 68-72; Dwelling 199; Family 204. 
Joseph Legge, head, male, white, 62 years old, married for 33 years, born in Germany, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, immigrated in 1868, naturalized, speaks English, occupation is own income, able to read and write, owns his own home free of mortgage. 
Frances Legge, wife, female, white, 50 years old, married for 33 years, gave birth to 15 children, 10 were living, born in New Jersey, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, speaks English, no occupation, able to read and write. 
Louisa Legge, daughter, female, white, 13 years old, single, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, speaks English, no occupation, able to read and write, attended school.
Harry Legge, son, male, white, 10 years old, single, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, speaks English, no occupation, able to read and write, attended school. 
Tresia [sic] Legge, daughter, female, white, 6 years old, single, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, no occupation, [education information blank].


Harry is living with his parents and the youngest of all his siblings. There was a child between Louisa and Harry named Helena "Lena" Legge, but she died in 1901 at the age of two. His mother, Frances (Franzika), noted that she had given birth to 15 children, however only 10 were living at the time of this census. Another interesting piece of information is that "own income" is listed as the occupation for head of the household, Joseph Legge. I'm not sure if this means he is retired or self-employed, but I would think they would specify self-employed if that were the case. He does own his home home though with no mortgage. The two older children are attending school. It is also noted that they live on West Perry Avenue, however, I was unable to locate this street on a map, so it's possible the name of the street was changed at some point.

Source: 1910 U.S. census, Ellis, Kansas, population schedule, Hays, enumeration district (ED) 19, sheet 9B, p. 1451 (handwritten), dwelling 199, family 204, Joseph Legge household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Sep 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 438.

Census Saturday - 1930 Census - Harry & Veronica Legge

This week I am going back another decade with Harry & Veronica Legge. In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, they were just married and she was pregnant with their first child, Harold, who would be born in July of that year. They were living in Fairview, Rush, Kansas on a farm.

Harry & Veronica Legge Household

Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920 - Population. 
State: Kansas; County: Rush; Fairview Township; Supervisor's District No 7; Enumeration District No 214; Sheet No 4A; Enumerated by me on the 27th day of January 1920, Wm Crotinger, Enumerator. Lines 20-21; House number: FM; Dwelling No. 56; Family No. 56: 
Harry Legge, Head, rented house, male, white, 19 years old, married, did not attend school since Sept. 1 1919, able to read, able to write, born in Kansas; father born in W-s--ollin [crossed out] Germany, mother tongue German; mother born in New Jersey, able to speak English; trade of farming on general farm; Farm schedule 57. 
Veronica Legge, wife, female, white, 17 years old, married, did not attend school since Sept. 1 1919; able to read; able to write; born in Kansas; father born in [illegible crossed out word] Russia, mother tongue German; mother born in Kansas; able to speak English; occupation none.


I've learned that Harry & Veronica were living and working a farm they do not own. I learn that both of their mother were born in America and their fathers born outside of the country. What I find most interesting in this census is that the enumerator had written down a specific location within the country their fathers were born in. Unfortunately, they were badly written and then crossed out so I am unable to read them. Harry's brother was living in the same town and has the same crossed out name, but that is difficult to read as well.

Source: 1920 U.S. census, Rush, Kansas, population schedule, Fairview, enumeration district (ED) 214, sheet 4A, p. 751 (handwritten), dwelling 56, family 56, Harry Legge household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Sep 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 547.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History - My Second Grade Teacher

When I was growing up I loved school. I loved learning, seeing my friends, getting new school clothes and school supplies. Teachers, especially in elementary school where you only had one all year, were important and could either enrich your school experience or make you miserable for nine months. I know there were teachers I didn't care for in high school, but luckily you didn't have to spend all day with them and I learned fairly young that if you just figure out what they are looking for and give them what they ask, the year would go by pretty smoothly. In general though, my feelings were usually lukewarm for my teachers.

My all-time favorite teacher, however, was my second grade teacher Mr. Anderson. I loved him! He was young and handsome and had a beard, so that probably made him cool in our eyes. He also played guitar and he would bring it in and teach us songs like Yellow Submarine and Puff the Magic Dragon. I can remember the giant notepads that teachers used where he had written the words to the songs so that we could memorize them. Looking back, I'm not sure how it all fit into our lesson plan, but at the time we loved it.

One specific memory I have about him as a teacher is just a little snippet, but it's funny that it stuck with me. We must have had an increase in writing exercises in second grade because I developed the callous that you get on your knuckle that comes from writing with a pencil. I remember it hurting and going to him and telling him I had this injury expecting to be sent to the nurse. He just smiled and said that it comes with writing. Then he showed me that he had the same callous on his finger, only his was huge. Then he sent me on my way without a band aid or anything! It makes me laugh now because I remember walking away confused because he hadn't given me a bandage for my wound and what was I going to do now!?

Another memory I have of him is just an image... but a pretty vivid one, I must say! My mom taught an aerobics class at the school and one day I went into the gym where her class was and realized that Mr. Anderson was in the class. He was wearing a full body leotard. I remember being shocked that he was wearing that outfit and a little embarrassed. That image was forever burned in my brain and I can't think of Mr. Anderson without thinking of him in that outfit!

If my memory serves me, Mr. Anderson only taught the one year, however, when I think about it, I don't really know for sure if he taught before our class. I feel like I remember him saying it was his first year teaching although that might have been his first year at our school or teaching second grade. I do know, however, that it was his last year teaching at my elementary school. He was going into the Peace Corps. It made the end of the year all that much more sad because he wasn't coming back. I remember sitting at my desk the last day of school and we were singing Puff the Magic Dragon. I cried through the whole thing. So did many of my classmates. I don't know how he made it through the song with a bunch of second graders crying! I remember I couldn't look at him because it hurt too bad. My other classmates that I've contacted through the years still remember him and his songs and they all loved him too!

When I was pregnant with my son and thinking of names, I was having a hard time coming up with a middle name. I wanted it to be meaningful, but I hadn't started doing genealogy yet so I didn't have a vast resource of family names to choose from. A friend of mine suggested thinking of someone who influenced you in your life in a positive way to come up with a middle name. It's funny because he's the first person I thought of. It seems sad in hindsight that I didn't have more positive male influences in my life, but I knew his first name was James and it fit perfectly with my son's first name. My son today still loves to hear the story about why I picked his names for him. It blows my mind how much impact one person can have on a kid's life... even if just for one year.

Census Saturday - 1925 Kansas Census - Harry Legge Household

This week I am looking at the Kansas State census of 1925. The Legge family is still living in Fairview, Rush, Kansas and only have the first three children living with them.

State: Kansas; County: Rush; Township: Fairview; Post Office: La Crosse; Page 1 (stamped); Lines 10-14; Name or number of street, avenue, rural route, etc. 2; Number of house or box, if on rural route: 52; Dwelling number 3; Family number 3.
Harry Leggle, head, male, white, 24 years old, married, born in Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, able to read and write.
Veroniga [sic] Leggle, wife, female, white, 22 years old, married, born in Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, able to read and write.H
Harold Leggle, son, male, white, 4 years old, single, born in Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, not able to read and write.
Ralph Leggle, son, male, white, 2 years old, single, born in New Jersey, from New Jersey to Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, not able to read and write.
Dorethy Leggle, daughter, female, white, 1 year old, single, born in New Jersey, from New Jersey to Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, not able to readn and write.


First, the surname is spelled wrong. I had to look for them manually in the database on Ancestry because they weren't coming up in a simple search. Harry's name had been indexed incorrectly as Marry. The rest is just the incorrect spelling by the enumerator. Little Dorothy is only one year old and was born in New Jersey, so the family must have moved back sometime in the year and a half prior to this census and after she was born. Another interesting notation on this census is that there is no profession listed for Harry. I'm not completely positive this was an error, but it seems unlikely that he wouldn't have been working while trying to provide for a small family. It's also possible he was between jobs.

Source: 1925 State Census, Rush County, Kansas, population schedule, Fairview, p. 1 (stamped), dwelling 3, family 3, lines 10-14, Harry Leggle household; digital images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Sep 2011); citing Kansas City Historical Society, Microfilm Reel K131.

Wednesday's Child & Wordless Wednesday - Sarah "Sadie" Barrows

Little Sadie (Sarah) Barrows was about three years old when she died in 1887. This may be the only photo of her and looks like it was taken when she was maybe one or two years old. She is such a beautiful child and it is heartbreaking to know that she didn't live much longer when this photo was taken.

Tombstone Tuesday - Sarah A. Barrows (1884-1887)

Sarah A.

1884-1887

Sarah A. Barrows is buried near her parents, William and Minnie Barrows, and shares the same stone as her sister, Althea C. (Barrows) Thayer. She is buried in Lockwood Cemetery in Lockwood, NY.

Source: Sarah A. Barrows gravestone, Lockwood Cemetery, Lockwood (Tioga County) New York; photographed by Monica Palmer October 2010.

Census Saturday - Harry A. Legge Household, Fairview, Kansas

This week I am moving to a different side of the family... the Legge family. This family is in my maternal line. In 1930, the Legge family consisted of two adults and six children all under the age of ten. They were living in Fairview, Rush, Kansas.

State: Kansas; County: Rush; Fairview Township; Enumeration District No. 83-9; Supervisor's District No. 8; Sheet No. 2B; Page 0151 (handwritten); Enumerated by me on April 17, 1930, Walter H Nickel, Enumerator. [actual census taken April 18th according to left margin] Lines 58-65; Dwelling 36; Family 38.
1) Harry A. Legge, Head, home rented, owns radio set, family lives on a farm, male, white, 29 years old, married, aged 18 at first marriage, did not attend school, able to read and write, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, able to speak English, Farmer, General Farm, Own account, not a veteran, farm schedule no. 39

2) Veronica M Legge, Wife of head, female, white, 27 years old, married, aged 16 at first marriage, did not attend school, able to read and write, born in Kansas, father born in Russia, mother born in Kansas, able to speak English, no occupation.

3) Harold Legge, son, male, white, 9 years old, single, did attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

4) Ralph Legge, son, male, white, 7 years old, single, did attend school, born in New Jersey, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

5) Dorothy M. Legge, daughter, female, white, 6 years old, single, did attend school, born in New Jersey, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

6) Edward Legge, son, male, white, 4 years 7 months old, single, did not attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

7) Robert Legge, son, male, white, 3 years 1 month old, single, did not attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas.

8) Alfred Legge, son, male, white, 1 year 3 months old, single, did not attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

I noted several things from this census. There are pretty exact ages listed for the youngest three children, which leads me to believe that it was the mother, Veronica, who was giving this information to the enumerator. It's possible that it was the father, however, it seems more likely the mother would be tracking this information more closely. The ages given match the time frame I have for the known birth dates of these children as well. The birthplaces of both Harry and Veronica confirm information I already had. I also learn that they married at relatively young ages of 18 and 16 years old. Two of the older children were born in New Jersey, so it appears the family moved there for a period of time, possibly to be closer to his family. I will be looking into that time and place to see if I can locate any records of their time there.

Source: 1930 U.S. census, Rush County, Kansas, population schedule, Fairview, enumeration district (ED) 9, sheet 2B, p. 0151 (handwritten), dwelling 36, family 38, Harry A. Legge household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 Mar 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 718.

Wordless Wednesday - Althea Barrows & Omar Abram Barrows

July 27, [19]07.

Althea Barrow

14 years

Omar Abram Barrows

10 weeks old

Tombstone Tuesday - Althea C. (Barrows) Thayer

Althea C. (Barrows) Thayer is buried in Lockwood Cemetery in Lockwood, New York. She is buried by her parents, William and Minnie Barrows, and shares a stone with her sister, Sarah Barrows.

Source: Althea C. tombstone, Lockwood Cemetery, Lockwood (Tioga County), New York; photographed by Monica Palmer, October 2010.

Wordless Wednesday - The Capek Sisters (Updated)

In March, I posted a copy of this photo (see previous post here). I had been asking where the original was and my mother-in-law knew someone had it, but couldn't remember who it was. We kind of forgot about it until it was unearthed in a batch of photos lent to me by a cousin on that side of the family! I was so excited to see it and it's amazing how much detail you could not see on the previous copy I had, such as the two girls holding hands. It is such a sweet gesture captured in this photo, especially since this little sister would later die when she was eight.

Tombstone Tuesday - Wilmina "Minnie" M. Tannery Barrows (1861-1923)

Minnie T. Barrows - 1861-1923

Wilmina "Minnie" M. Tannery Barrows was born in 1861 according to her grave marker in Waverly, Tioga, New York and she also died there in 1923. She is buried in the Lockwood Cemetery alongside her husband, William, and two daughters, Sarah and Althea C. Thayer. Lockwood Cemetery is located in Lockwood, Tioga, New York.

Motivation Monday - Getting Back on Track

I just took a week off from everything genealogy. I put my volunteer projects on hold, stopped reading any blogs or genealogy related books, didn't touch any records, put off starting my genealogy class, and even stopped looking at my email account that I have devoted to genealogy purposes.  I was feeling overwhelmed and a little burnt out with everything that I had on my plate. In short, genealogy had started to feel like a chore and that's when I knew I needed a break!

It's summertime and my son is home all day. That means more mess, more "Can't we go SOMEwhere Mom??", and more whining from my daughter as they get sick of playing with each other. And we are only halfway through! I find myself torn between different activities I've committed myself to. Time management has always been a struggle for me. So I decided to take a week off to clear my head and re-prioritize.

At first, it was really difficult getting past the "I should be doing [fill in the genealogy activity]." I have to admit that after about Day 3, I was enjoying my time off although I was having a hard time finding things to do during the hottest part of the day when I don't want to do anything that is going to make me hotter. My son was shocked that I was taking a week off and when I told him the reason he gave me some wise and simple advice: "Mom, treat it [time worked on genealogy] like money. You only have so much of it, so you budget it. Figure out how much time you want to work on genealogy and when you run out, you're done." It was pretty good advice for a 9 year old!

So today is Monday and my week off is over. I've had a chance to prioritize and hopefully I can make it stick. I'm taking my son's advice and am going to budget my time so that I can get chores done around the house, take my kids' to fun activities, and still get stuff done in my beautiful land of genealogy. First thing though is cleaning house. Literally. My house is a mess. I'm also going to have to focus my volunteer efforts on only one thing right now. I have a couple of things going that I will finish up and then I am going to focus on one main project, which is my other blog Southern Tier Cemeteries.

To keep it simple, I'm focusing on these projects:

1. My blogs: This one and Southern Tier Cemeteries.
2. I'm in the process of revamping my filing system and syncing it with my genealogy software and Ancestry.com trees.
3. Genealogy classes through NIGS.

Before I can do anything though, I need to get some order in my office. So my efforts this week are going to be focused on the following:

• Cleaning my office 
• Going through the paper piles and putting them where they need to go
• Finish scanning some family photos so I can get them back to their owner (and there is a family reunion in 2 weeks that I need to have them done by!)
• Finish up a volunteer project so that I don't have that hanging over my head.
• Start my class!
• Continue working on organizing my cemetery photos for my other blog.

I think that is plenty to work on for this week! We are also doing some home improvement projects around the house, so I should be plenty busy!

Does anyone have any other advice (other than my son's) on how they manage their genealogy time in their busy daily lives?

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Census Saturday - 1920 Census - Rienerth Family

Today we are going back 10 years from the previous 1930 Census for the George Rienerth household and looking at the 1920 census. They were living in Boardman, Mahoning, Ohio on McClurg Road. This is most likely the same home they were at in 1930. In this census, their last name is misspelled as Rienherth and Regina's first name is listed as Virginia. Another change on this census is the date of immigration for Regina. The 1920 census indicates she immigrated in 1903 and the 1930 census lists 1905. The native tongue for both George and Regina was German, however, both could speak English.

1920 US Census - George Rienherth Household

Department of Commerce - Bureau of the Census

Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920 - Population

State: Ohio

County: Mahoning

Township or Other Division of County: Boardman Township

Supervisor's District No. 265; Enumeration District No. 105; Sheet No. 6B

Enumerated by me on the 12 day of January 1920. Levi P. Good, Enumerator.

Street: McClurg Road; House Number: X; Dwelling No: 136; Family No. 144

Lines 89-95

89) George Rienherth, Head, Owns home, Mortgaged, male, white, age 36, married, immigrated in 1903, naturalized in 1914, able to read and write, born in Austria and mother tongue was German, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, able to speak English, Mason in the brick layer industry, Wage earner.

90) Virginia Rienherth, wife, female, white, age 34, married, immigrated in 1903, naturalized in 1914, able to read and write, born in Austria and mother tongue German, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, able to speak English, no occupation.

91) Hilda Rienherth, daughter, female, white, age 12, single, attended school, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, able to speak English, no occupation.

92) Carl Rienherth, son, male, white, age 10, single, attended school, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, able to speak English, no occupation.

93) Herman Rienherth, son, male, white, age 8, single, attended school, born in Ohio, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, no occupation.

94) Paul Rienherth, son, male, white, age 5, single, born in Ohio, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, no occupation.

95) George Rienherth, son, male, white, age 3, single, born in Ohio, father born in Austria and mother tongue German, mother born in Austria and mother tongue German, no occupation.

Source: 1920 U.S. census, Mahoning, Ohio, population schedule, Boardman Township, enumeration district (ED) 105, sheet B, p. 6, dwelling 136, family 144, George Rienherth Household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 02 Jun 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 1412.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Wedding Wednesday - Ezra Barrows and Rose Frantel

Ezra Canfield Barrows and Rosie Capek Frantel met around 1923 in Elmira, New York. They both worked at American Sales Book Company in different departments. According to their daughter, Rose may have known someone in the department Ezra was working in and was visiting that person when she first noticed him and thought he was handsome. He must have noticed her too at some point along the way because he sent her a note at work asking her out. Up until this point, everyone called her Rosie. Ezra addressed her as Rose and from then on, that is the name she went by. He signed his note "I.K.E." His nickname was Ike, but since he wrote it like they were initials, she initially couldn't figure out who had sent it to her. She must have asked someone who it was because they started dating.

They did not have a formal wedding. They got their marriage license the same day and went into a church and had the minister marry them. They chose the Erste Deutsche Evangelische Kirche [First German Evangelical Church] in Elmira, New York.

By Lvklock (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Their marriage record confirms this and even shows witnesses to look into. The family story is that it was only the minister and his wife who witnessed the marriage, however, there are two witnesses and neither of them bear the same name as the minister.

Record of Marriages, page 180

No. 10888

Column 1: For the Groom

Name: Ezra Canfield Barrows

Residence: 1005 Gr. Central Ave. Elmira, NY

Occupation: Paper Cutter

Birthplace: Lockwood, N.Y.

Father: Wm. Barrows

Birthplace: U.S.A.

Mother: Minnie Tannery

Birthplace: U.S.A.

Color: White

Age 26

No. of Marriage: 1st

Column 2: For the Bride

Name: Rose Anna Frantl

Residence: 210 Washington St. Elmira, N.Y.

Occupation: Packing

Birthplace: New York City

Father: Joseph Capek

Birthplace: Austria

Mother: Antoinette Prochaska

Birthplace: [blank or illegible in copy]

Color: White

Age: 22

No. of Marriage: 1st

Date of License: Oct. 11- [19]24; Date of Marriage: Oct 11 [19]24; Place of Marriage: Elmira, N.Y.; Official: R. Vieiveg; Profession: Minister; Witness: Nellie A. Garrigan & Samuel C. Fabletta.

I also have a copy of their wedding certificate given to them by the church, which is actually quite beautiful.

This Certifies That Ezra C. Barrows of Elmira, NY and Rose A. Frantl of Elmira, NY were united in Marriage according to the Ordinance of God and the Laws of the State of New York on the 11th day of October in the year of Our Lord 1924 One Thousand Nine Hundred twenty four. Witnesses: Samuel C. Falletta, Nellie A. Garrigan. R. Vieweg, Pastor. [Seal] Erste Deutsche Evangelische Kirche [First German Evangelical Church], Elmira, NY.

Ezra and Rose's wedding gifts to each other were professional portraits of themselves. There are no photos of them together on their wedding day and it is unclear if these photos were taken before or after their marriage. Either way, they were most likely taken close to their marriage date, circa October 1924.

Ezra Barrows

Rose Capek Frantel Barrows

This marriage produced five children. They were married until Ezra passed away in 1987. His last years were spent in a hospice and she walked over to visit him every single day. She lived on to be 102 years old.

Sources:
Marriage Record: Chemung, New York, Marriage Records, 1908-1935, 3: 180, Barrows-Frantl, 1924; FHL microfilm 849,271, item 10888.
Marriage Certificate: Erste Deutsche Evangelische Kirche (Elmira, New York, USA), Heirloom Marriage Certificate, Ezra C. Barrows & Rose A. Frantl (1924), issued 1924; Erste Deutsche Evangelische Kirche, Elmira; Color copy of marriage certificate in author's possession. Original held privately.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Sunday's Obituary - William S. Barrows

WILLIAM S. BARROWS died Thursday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles J. Gartenschlager, 1005 Grand Central avenue, aged seventy-three years. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Gartenschlager of Elmira, four sons, Frank of Auburn, Ezra of Elmira, Ray and Mitchell of Lockwood. The funeral will be held at the family home at Lockwood this afternoon at 1:30 o'clock. The Rev. M. Logan will officiate. Burial in the Lockwood cemetery.

 

William died approximately one year after his wife, Minnie. It has not been verified if he moved in with his daughter after her death or if he was just visiting. There is most likely a more informative obituary in the Lockwood/Barton area since he lived there for a good part of his life, however, since he died in Elmira there was a short mention of it.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Harry J. Frantel (1915 - 2001)

Harry J. Frantel

May 10 1915

Sept. 1 2001

WWII Veteran

Harry J. Frantel was the oldest son of Leo J. Frantel and Antonia Prochazka Capek Frantel. He was born in New York and he passed away in Sebastian Florida. He now rests in Woodlawn Cemetery near his parents.

Source: Harry J. Frantel gravestone, Section Y, Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira (Chemung County), New York; personally read and photographed by author on 26 Jun 2010.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Census Saturday - 1930 U.S. Federal Census - Rienerth Household

My favorite records since I started my pursuits in genealogy have been census records. It is exciting to see your ancestors' names in these records and it is like looking at a snapshot of their lives with all the information it includes. I am starting this series on my blog to keep a record my family's census entries.

The 1930 United States Federal Cense finds my great-grandparents George and Regina (Konnerth) Rienerth living in Boardman Township in Mahoning County, Ohio. They had all of their children living with them at this point and were most likely living in the house that my great-grandfather built himself. He was listed as being a self-employed brick layer. His oldest daughter, Hilda, was still living at home and working as a teacher at a grade school. His oldest son was also working as a laborer at the steel mill. His youngest 3 boys (including my grandfather) were attending school.

1930 US Federal Census - George Rienerth household

 

Department of Commerce - Bureau of the Census

Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930

Population Schedule

State: Ohio

County: Mahoning

Township or other division of county: Boardman twp (part)

Enumeration District No. 50-100

Supervisor's District No. 10

Enumerated by me on May 5, 1930 Stephen A Burl, Enumerator.

Street, avenue, road, etc: McClurg Rd.

House Number: [blank]

Number of dwelling house in order of visitation: 858

Number of family in order of visitation: 889

Lines 24-30

24) George Rienerth, Head, Owns home valued at $3,500, Radio set, not a farm, male, white age 46,  married, 23y old at time of first marriage, did not attend school within year, able to read and write, born in Austria, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, language before coming to the U.S. was German, immigrated in 1903, naturalized citizen, able to speak English, occupation was brick layer in the industry of contracting building, E[mployer], actually at work, did not serve in US armed forces.

25) Regina Rienerth, Wife of head, female, white, age 44, male, 21 years at time of first marriage, did not attend school within year, able to read and write, born in Austria, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, language before coming to the U.S. was German, immigrated in 1905, naturalized citizen, occupation none.

26) Hilda Rienerth, daughter, female, white, age 21, single, did not attend school within the year, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, able to speak English, occupation teacher in grade school, W[age earner], actually at work.

27) Karl Rienerth, son, male, white, age 19, single, did not attend school within the year, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, able to speak English, occupation labor in steel mill, W[age earner], actually at work, did not serve U.S. armed forces.

28) Herman Rienerth, son, male, white, age 17, single, attended school within the year, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, occupation none.

29) Paul Rienerth, son, male, white, age 15, single, attended school within the year, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, occupation none.

30) George Rienerth Jr, son, male, white, age 13, single, attended school within the year, able to read and write, born in Ohio, father born in Austria, mother born in Austria, occupation none.

Source: 1930 United States Federal Census, Mahoning County, Ohio, population schedule, Boardman Township (part), Enumeration District 100, p. 36A, dwelling, 858, family 889, George Rienerth household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Oct 2009); from National Archives microfilm publication T626, roll 1841.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Hetrick Sisters

Ruth Ertzinger, Arlene Rienerth, Herman Rienerth

This photo is of Ruth (Hetrick) Ertzinger, Arlene (Hetrick) Rienerth, and Herman Rienerth. They are in Tucson, Arizona most likely at the home of Herman and Arlene Rienerth. The photo was most likely taken sometime in the early 1970's.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday - Leo Frantel (1883-1943)

 

Father

Leo Frantel

1883-1943 

Leo Frantel, 1883-1943, was the second husband of Antonia Prochazka Capek. They were married about 1914 in an unknown location, although it is probable that it was in New York. After her first husband and youngest daughter died in New York City, she moved to Elmira with Leo. It is presumed that she married him in New York City, although I have not verified this. They had two children from this marriage. They rest together in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, New York.

Source: Leo Frantel gravestone, Sec. Y, Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira (Chemung County), New York; personally read and photographed by the author on 26 Jun 2010.

© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011