MICHIGAN FAMILY TRAILS : May 2019

Sunday, May 19, 2019

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS- Week 13 ~ A fire at the Witchell shoe factory 16 Oct 1900 in Detroit–Horace Thorp, my 2nd great grandfather mentioned in an article

Honoring those who were killed and injured in this fire

Alonzo D. Ireson, age 63 – died

Ernest Lizzote, age 28 – died

Charles O’Connor, age 63 – injured

Joseph Pullare, age 21 – injured

Jennie McTaggart, age 16 – injured

Augustino Sufurto, age 28 – injured

Charles H. Dessottell, age 55 – injured

Daniel Cardinal, age 45 – injured

Mabel Straight, age 14 – injured

Minnie Corbett, age 22 – injured

Sometimes when we run our ancestor’s names on the newspaper websites we find surprises. Whether it’s general articles about visiting family, a car being stolen or a court case, I’m always intrigued.

In this case I was trying to find out more about my 2nd great grandfather, Horace Henry Thorp (1836 in New York to 1907 in Washington), married to Catherine C. DORSEY and together they had 10 children.

I found this article mentioning him. It said he worked next door to the Witchell shoe factory which caught on fire and injured several people and killed two. I know from Detroit City Directory listings that Horace, indeed, did work at the laundry next door to the shoe factory.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct 1900, pg 2

I went on to find a couple of more articles referring to the fire. It’s very sad to think of those who lost their lives and those who were injured.

Detroit Free Press, 17 Oct 1900, pg 1 and 24 Oct 1900, pg 4

From the article published 24 Oct 1900, page 4, in the Detroit Free Press, we can read that there was an “open verdict” as to the cause of the fire. What they had at that time was a probability and some evidence on how it may have begun.
Was there further investigation? If so, what was the conclusion or verdict?
I located this article about one of the fire victims, Jennie McTaggert, who died of shock from another incident just 2 years after the fire. Here is the article about her death.

Death of Jennie McTaggert - Detroit Free Press 2 Dec 1901, pg 5

It seems to me the families would have wanted to know more about how the fire started which injured and killed family members. I have not located any other articles.

If you know anything more about this incident, I’d love to hear from you. If you are connected with anyone mentioned in this article, please contact me.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ~ Charles J. Thorp & Clara Peterson–3 Jun 1899 in Spokane, Washington

Honoring the marriage of Charles J. Thorp & Clara C. Peterson

Charles J. Thorp is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. He’s the son of Monson Thorp, Jr. (my 2nd great granduncle) and Eudora Louise Searls. He married Clara C. Peterson on 3 Jun 1899 in Spokane, Spokane Co., Washington.

Charles worked as a Merchant at a woodyard, a Foreman at a dairy farm and as a Laundryman at a laundry, according to the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census records.

He and Clara had the following children: Monson, born 1900, Perry E., born 1903, Glenn H., born about 1915, Verris, born 1917 and Wayne M. born about 1922.

I have not yet located a death record for Charles Thorp. However, he is enumerated in the 1930 census and by 1940, Clara is living with two of her sons, Monson and Wayne, and listed as a widow.

If you are connected to anyone mentioned in this post, please contact me. I’d love to learn more about this family and exchange information with you.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ~ William Ritchie & Agnes Craigmile–my maternal 2nd great granduncle and aunt–17 Mar 1839, Midmar, Aberdeen, Scotland

Celebrating the marriage of William Ritchie & Agnes Craigmile in 1839

William Ritchie, my 2nd great granduncle descends from my 3rd great grandparents, Archibald Ritchie & Margaret Ewen of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

He was about 21 years old when he and Agnes married. Agnes was about 27 years old. They were married on 17 Mar 1839 in Midmar, Aberdeen, Scotland¹ a month after the birth of their daughter, Margaret. I wondered if perhaps, Agnes had been married prior to William? Two reasons to ask this question are: She would have been about 27 at the time of marriage which is “older” at that time in history. And, their daughter was born, according to birth records, a month prior to the banns being filed. I have searched for another marriage for Agnes and not found one.

William worked as a shoemaker in the census records for 1841, 1851 and 1871 and as listed on his death record on 21 Aug 1879². Agnes had died just a year earlier on 18 Jul 1878.

This couple had 7 known children – Margaret born 17 Feb 1839, Alexander born 17 Sep 1840, William (1842-1868), David (1844-1928) who married Louise Henrietta Frey, Agnes born 13 Jun 1848, Andrew born 6 Jul 1850 and Mary Anne born about 1854. All the children were born in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Both William & Agnes are buried in Glentanar Kirkyard, Aboyne, Aberdeen, Scotland. You may visit their memorials here #135839094 and #135839168³.

Sources: 1 – Scotland’s People ©Crown copyright and copyright brightsolid ltd: Genealogy, family history and family tree information. A partnership between the National Records of Scotland and the Court of the Lord Lyon enabled by brightsolid. 2 – Scotland’s People; 3 – https://www.FindAGrave.com.