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

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

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

Tombstone Tuesday - Antoinette Frantel (1877-1956)

Antoinette P. Frantel grave marker

Mother

Antoinette P.

Frantel

1877-1956

 

Antonia (tombstone lists her as Antoinette) Prochazka Capek Frantel was born 1877 (according to her grave marker) in Bohemia. She immigrated to America when she was 17 and married Joseph Capek, also from Bohemia. She had two daughters with him and then lost him in 1908 to influenza. Five years later, she lost her youngest daughter, Antonia, as well. She remarried Leo Frantel and moved to Elmira, New York where she spent the rest of her days. She now rests in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY.

Source: Antoinette P. Frantel tombstone, Section BB, Woodlawn Cemetery, Elmira (Chemung County), New York; read and photographed by the writer, 26 Jun 2010. 
© copyright Monica Palmer, 2011