ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ My maternal grandfather, Joseph A. Milne

Today I’m writing about a small article featuring my maternal grandfather, Joseph A. Milne.

He is mentioned as a member of the Alpha Dramatic Club, both as stage manager and floor committee member.

This article is dated 5 May 1901 and was published in the Detroit Free Press.  My grandfather would have been 18 at this time.

Alpha Dramatic Club will give an informal hop at Milburn Hall Tuesday evening, for which music will be furnished by Finney's orchestra. The officers of the club are: President, Miss Bess Mylles Davis; secretary and treasurer, Miss Eva May Curtis; business manager, A. Bruce Atwell; stage manager, Joseph A. Milne. Members: Inez Frazer, Katherine Carroll, Charles Drummons, John J. Heasley. Floor committee: Charles Drummond, John J. Heasley, Joseph A. Milne, A. Bruce Atwell, Roy Baker.

My grandfather was listed as a Typesetter in the 1900 U.S. Federal census.  In 1903 and 1904 he was living with his grandparents and mother at 189 Helen Ave., in Detroit, working as a Clerk.

He and my grandmother, Florence L. Bowden didn’t marry until 11 Apr 1906.

I wonder if my grandmother was interested in the drama club?  I never heard anything to indicate this was an area of interest for her. My grandfather, Joseph, died when I was just 7 years old.  I never got to really know him or ask him any questions.  I do remember him.

There is a particular picture of my grandfather, dressed in a costume, along with others who are also in costume. There is no date on the photo, nor any other identifying information.

Could this have been his drama club group?

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2022   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION 

A WONDERFUL WAY TO BEGIN 2022 ~ A morsel of new information on my brick wall, John C. Gould

 

All of us have them.  Brick walls.  Genealogical mysteries that we are unable to solve……yet.

In my case I’ve written blog posts about my brick walls and you can read those posts here Mystery Monday - Who's Your Daddy - My Brick Walls

The number ONE most frustrating genealogical brick wall for me, is not knowing my paternal 2nd great grandfather’s parents or siblings.  Who were they? Where did they live?

People don’t just drop out of the sky via the stork, so the answers are out there someplace.  But WHERE????? So, John C. Gould, who is your family?

New information to shed light on this mystery has not been easy to come by. In fact, based on my notes in Legacy, which I date, the last little tid bit was about John Gould being mentioned on a deed for Rose Hill Cemetery in Armada, Michigan.

Here is my note

2/27/16 - Located a website for Armada Township today http://www.armadatwp.org/CommunityInformation/Cemeteries.aspx
The site had cemetery information.  Rose Hill, Hadley and Willow Grove Cemeteries were listed.  I contacted the sexton for Rose Hill, Marv Wolak 586-784-5537 and left a message. He called me back and said that he found no actual burials in either Hadley or Rose Hill for John C. Gould or Sarah Gould.  However, he did find a John Gould mentioned on a deed along with Warren Tibbits (1798-1861) at Rose Hill Cemetery.  Warren Tibbits is buried there.  No record of a burial for John is indicated.

Fast forward to December 2021.  Met a nice woman in a Facebook group.  Her name happens to be Melinda Gould. We began communicating trying to figure out if we are related.  Of course, that meant I had to mention that I had no idea of my Gould line beyond my 2nd great grandfather, John C. Gould. She said she would love to help me figure out who his parents were AND that she knows a lot of great researchers in Michigan.

On New Year’s Eve she posted a request “calling all genealogy researchers, especially those with Michigan roots!”

Within a few hours one of the researchers, Deb, had posted a newspaper article about the burial of John Gould at Rose Hill Cemetery! 

WHAT?! Oh my gosh! I had searched newspapers many times and never found this. Did I miss it? Was the newspaper for the particular year and date recently updated?  I don’t know and don’t care. 

The article reads – ARMADA – The remains of John Gould, of Detroit, were brought to Armada for burial, Wednesday. He left many relatives in this community. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Rev. R. J. Chase officiated.

First question I asked – Which newspaper and what was the date of the article?

It was The Times Herald, Port Huron, Michigan and the date the article was published was 23 May 1919.  WOW! I have a death certificate that I’ve always believed to be John’s.  Date of death 19 May 1919.  Port Huron is just north of Armada and Detroit. AND, the article states that his remains were transported on Wednesday to Rose Hill Cemetery in Armada.  That Wednesday date would have made it 21 May 1919, two days after his death.

Conclusion – This is DEFINITELY my John Gould.

He, according to Rose Hill cemetery records, co owned a plot there. Many family members are buried there.  I’ve been to Rose Hill three times on visits back to Michigan.  I’ve looked at every headstone in this small cemetery.  There is no Gould headstone.  However, we know that may mean there wasn’t one, or that it has disappeared, or sunk into the earth.  I have many ancestors with no headstones. Next time I visit, I will try to find out which plot was on the deed and use a device that allows me to poke into the ground to locate sunken headstones.

In the meantime, I am seriously happy to have found a new piece of information in my ongoing search.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

Those Places Thursday – Armada

Those Placed Thursday - Towns or roads in Michigan using the name Gould

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2022   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ Susan Burgess Gillespie–my maternal 2nd great grandmother (1841-1933)

My maternal 2nd great grandmother, Susan BURGESS was born 20 Nov 1840 in England (no specific location known).  She was the daughter of Henry Burgess (about 1812-before 1875) and Elizabeth GAYDON (1813-1884).  She had two known siblings, William and John.

Susan immigrated to the United States on 23 Dec 1862, with her husband Joseph GILLESPE, two infants, and her widowed mother, Elizabeth Gaydon Burgess. This is recorded in the book Passage to American, 1851-1869, page 68, a record of Passenger Agent, Richard Elliott. 

At the time of her immigration Susan was 22 yrs. old, her husband Joseph was 25, infant daughter Susie was 2 years old and her infant son Joseph, 9 months old.  Other than the reference in the book noted above, I have not located an immigration record. 

Susan and her husband Joseph went on to have two more children, born in Detroit. Elizabeth in 1865 and Louise in 1866. 

Susan became a widow on 26 May 1908, when Joseph died at age 71.  She lost her only son, William Henry Gillespie just 3 years later in 1911. He was only 49 years old and left a wife and 3 sons. 

Susan lived for 25 years after the death of Joseph and was 92 when she died.  I am fortunate to have several pictures of Susan. 

Left to right - Joseph & Susan Gillespie with their great granddaughter Dorothy Milne circa 1907, Susan and Joseph with their granddaughter, Irene Milne circa 1910 and photo on far right is Susan age late 80's-90 standing on the left, the young child is her great granddaughter, Betty Jane Roe, the woman with the little girl is someone named Aunt Sally and the woman standing on the right is Susan's daughter, Susie Gillespie Milne 

We each have 16 2nd great grandparents.  Of those, I have pictures of only 5.  I feel quite fortunate to have those.  Depending on your age, you may have more pictures of your 2nd great grandparents.

At the top of this post, you can see the page from the scrapbook where the information about Susan Gillespie’s death was kept all these years.  I visited her great granddaughter Betty Jane Roe in 2009 and she was kind enough to share many family photos and articles with me.

Here is Susan’s obituary and below that, my transcription.

Obituary for Mrs. Susan Gillespie - Detroit Free Press, page 5 - 10 Mar 1933

Funeral services for Mrs. Susan Gillespie, for 70 years a resident of Detroit, will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in the Church of the Messiah, Lafayette Ave. and E. Grand Blvd.  Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Gillespie died Wednesday in the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Forsyth, at 1438 Helen Ave.  She was 92 years old.  Her husband, James [misprint, should be Joseph] died 25 years ago.  A son, William, formerly circulation manager of the Free Press, died 22 years ago.

Surviving are Mrs. Forsyth and two other daughters, Mrs. Clyde Smith of Detroit, and Mrs. James B. Verney, of Toronto.

I searched the Detroit Free Press for any articles that might have included Susan’s name.  Any societies she was a member of, teas or gatherings she attended etc.  I found none.  I have no idea about the details of Susan’s life.  What did she enjoy doing?  Who were her friends? 

I wish I had those answers.

If you are connected to anyone mentioned in this blog post, I’d love to hear from you.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks–Week #4–Elizabeth Gaydon Burgess–1813-1884–My 3rd great grandmother – this post is about Susan’s mother

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ Elizabeth Gillespie Verney–my great grandaunt (1865-1948) – this is Susan’s daughter

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2021   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

ELECTION DAY ~ HEADLINES FROM 1904–1944–How much has really changed?

It’s a BIG day in this country, every four years.  We have the privilege of electing who will be our President for the next four years. In addition many congressional seats are also decided.

It is most always controversial and contentious. With each side wanting their candidate to win.  Much is always at stake.

I thought I would take a look at some headlines from the Detroit Free Press for each election day from 1904 through 1944.  This will consist of 10 front pages.  I am missing the 1932 edition as it has not yet been scanned and added to newspapers.com.  I picked the Detroit Free Press.....well, because I am Michigan Girl, born in Detroit. 

Tell me what you see as you read through this very brief clip of what made the headlines during those ten years? 

I see that the issues really haven’t changed too much. 

• There is encouragement for people to get out and vote.
• I see worry about election fraud
• I see each side predicting their candidate will win

Is this any different than today?  I don’t think so.

Here they are.  Detroit Free Press headlines from 1904-1944.

(Please click on any image to enlarge it)

1904 Detroit Free Press front page

1908 Detroit Free Press front page

1912 Detroit Free Press front page

1916 Detroit Free Press front page

1920 Detroit Free Press front page

1924 Detroit Free Press front page

1928 Detroit Free Press front page

1936 Detroit Free Press front page

1940 Detroit Free Press front page

1944 Detroit Free Press front page

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SATURDAY NIGHT GENEALOGY FUN ~ Where were your ancestors 80 years ago?

An idea from Randy Seaver’s weekly Saturday Night Fun blog suggestions.

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):

1) Determine where your ancestral families were on 1 April 1940 - 80 years ago when the U.S. census was taken.

2)  List them, their family members, their birth years, and their residence location (as close as possible).  Do you have a photograph of their residence from about that time, and does the residence still exist?

3)  Tell us all about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a Facebook Status post.

• My father – Harry Norman Gould, age 27, working as a Statistician at the State Auditors Office, renting a home at 12892 Faust Ave., Detroit, Michigan.  His first wife, Elaine Gertrude Croft, age 21 was living there as well.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)

12892 Faust Ave. Detroit, MI - courtesy of Google Maps ©

 

My mother – Patricia A. Milne, age 15, was living with her parents and older brother at 14156 Strathmore, Detroit, Michigan. My grandfather Joseph A. Milne, age 56 was a salesman, my grandmother Florence Milne nee Bowden, age 52 and my Uncle Robert A. Milne, age 31 working at an automobile factory, were in this household.

14156 Strathmore, Detroit, MI - courtesy of Google Maps ©

• My paternal grandfather – Harry W. Gould, age 51, working as an Assignment Clerk for the Common Pleas Court, was living at 14520 Asbury Park in Detroit, Michigan as was my grandmother, Marie Gould nee Lindsay, age 50.  They owned this home and I went there as a child. 

14520 Asbury Park, Detroit, MI - photo taken by me in 2007

• My paternal great grandmother, Mae Eve Gould nee Thorp, age 77, widowed, lived at 5639 Linwood in Detroit, Michigan in a home she owned.  Her son, my great Uncle Ford, age 50 was living with her.  He worked as a Truck Driver for a lumber company.  Also in the home was my widowed great grandaunt, Catherine “Kittie” Thorpe (her maiden name was Thorp and she married a man named Thorpe), age 75.

This house no longer exists 

• My maternal great grandmother – Susan Anne Milne nee Gillespie, widowed, age 79 was living at 5029 Ridgewood, Detroit, Michigan.  She was living with her daughter Irene Roe and Irene’s husband Everett and their daughter, Betty Jane. 

Ridgewood St in Detroit, MI - courtesy of Google maps ©

• My other maternal great grandmother – Florence Bowden Bell nee Hunter, age 70 was living at 4426 Windsor in Kansas City, Missouri, with her 2nd husband, George K. Bell, age 70.

4426 Windsor, Kansas City, MO - courtesy of Google maps ©

My direct line ancestors who were living when the 1940 census was taken were:

My Father – Harry Norman Gould, Sr.

My Mother – Patricia Anne Milne

My 2 paternal grandparents – Harry Gould & Marie Lindsay Gould

My 2 maternal grandparents – Joseph Milne & Florence Bowden Milne

My paternal great grandmother – Mae Eve Thorp Gould

Two of my maternal great grandmothers – Susan Gillespie Milne & Florence Hunter Bowden Bell

That’s a total of 9 ancestors.   All but one of them were living in Detroit, Michigan at the time of the 1940 census.

This was interesting and fun and I thank Randy Seaver of Geneamusings for the post idea.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Richard Lindsay to become Grand Patriarch of the Odd Fellows organization - 1914

Another in my series of news articles about my paternal great granduncle, Richard Lindsay (1862-1927).

Here are the other blog posts written about Richard Lindsay, so far.  My blogging has taken a hit during this Covid-19 situation.  It’s been difficult to focus and do any research or writing.  Instead, I’ve been cleaning and organizing various areas in my house. Have any of you found it difficult to conduct your research as well?  Or, have you been able to do more?

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Will a sprig of heather from South Africa bring victory to Richard Lindsay at the polls?

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY ~ Did my great granduncle, Richard Lindsay, win that election I wrote about last month?

This particular news article is about a meeting of the Odd Fellows organization.  The meeting took place in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan in May 1914.

I wondered what exactly was the Odd Fellows?  Are they similar to Masons?  I know that Richard Lindsay belonged to both organizations, as mentioned in other articles about him and his obituary.

I used our friend Goggle and found this Wikipedia explanation of the Odd Fellow organization.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows  The answer to my question about them being the same as the Masons would be, they are similar organizations.

Here is the full page of the article which includes photos.  Richard Lindsay being second from the left.

Here is a transcription of the portion of the article about Richard Lindsay.  He was slated to become the Grand Patriarch.

“Reward Detroit Man – There is but little doubt of the re-election of Richard Lindsay, of Detroit to the highest office in the state organization, that of grand patriarch, to succeed Thomas Conlin of Crystal Falls, the present incumbent.  The election of the grand high priest to grand patriarch follows in the natural order of advancement of officers, this being the system adopted by the Grand Encampment in the election of its officers.  Mr. Lindsay is the present grand high priest.  He is a member of Western Lodge of Detroit, one of the strongest in the state.  He is a past grand of that lodge and past chief patriarch of Enterprise Encampment of Detroit.”

Did you have ancestors who belonged to organizations such as these?  I have many in my family who were members of Masonic Lodges and one family involved in Canadian Order of Foresters and Companions of Foresters, among others.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY ~ My maternal 2nd great grandparents–Joseph Gillespie (1837-1908) and Susan Burgess (1841-1933)

Far left is Susan Gillespie, next to her Joseph Gillespie - the larger stone is their daughter, Louise Forsyth & her husband James F. Forsyth - the lone stone on the right is Susan Gillespie's mother, Elizabeth Gaydon Burgess (1813-1884) 

My maternal 2nd great grandparents were both born in Devonshire, England.  Joseph in Tiverton and Susan in Barnstaple. 

They immigrated to the United States in 1862 with their 2 infants, Susan (my great grandmother) and little William.

Joseph died at age 71 on 26 May 1908 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.  His death certificate states the cause of death as Dilation of the Heart.

Susan outlived him by 25 years.  She died of Myocarditis, on 8 Mar 1933 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan at age 91.

They are buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.  I’ve been to this cemetery a couple of times during my visits from California.  There are 32 members of my family at rest in this cemetery.

Here are the photos of their headstones

They are in Section O, Lot 53, Graves 14 & 15. 

You may visit their memorials here Joseph #21177918 and Susan #21177747.

If you are connected to this couple I’d love to hear from you.  Joseph had 9 brothers and a sister so there must be many descendants out there.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

I wrote about Susan’s mother here - 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks–Week #4–Elizabeth Gaydon Burgess–1813-1884–My 3rd great grandmother

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY ~ Did my great granduncle, Richard Lindsay, win that election I wrote about last month?

Last month I wrote about my paternal great granduncle, Richard Lindsay, receiving a sprig of heather from a family member in South Africa.  This was to wish him good luck in his bid to win an election to City Clerk in the City of Detroit.  You can read that post here ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Will a sprig of heather from South Africa bring victory to Richard Lindsay at the polls?

Did he win?  Yes!

Detroit Free Press, 7 Nov 1912, page 1

This article from the Detroit Free Press lists election results for Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Detroit.

CITY CLERK

(162 Precincts)

Lindsay (Rep)………………………….27,205

Nichols (Pro)…………………………..17,327

Henderson (Dem)……………………..16,029

Transcription of the last paragraph in the article:

Another surprise came in the “whopping” run of Lindsay, for clerk.  He led City Clerk Nichols by 10,000 and Henderson, Democratic by 11,009.  Nichols drew more than twice as many votes as Earle and yet was behind his victorious opponent by a figure almost as large as that by which Marx defeated Thompson in the mayoralty race. Thus doth the busy voter wield the ax.

Did that sprig of heather from South Africa play a part in Mr. Lindsay’s victory?  We’ll never know.

Richard was still the City Clerk when he was enumerated in the 1920 census.

 

To read more about this interesting family member please read this post 52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS ~ Post #1 - Meet Richard Lindsay (1862-1937) , my paternal great granduncle–He was City Clerk, Estimator at Large and temporary Mayor of Detroit

Please get in touch with me if you have any questions or are related to anyone mentioned in this post.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FRIDAY FINDS ~ At last! A naturalization record for someone in my tree–Bertha Klinoweit Redcap (1898–1934)

The index card for Bertha Redcap's naturalization record

Funny how things work sometimes.  I had lunch with a friend just last Sunday.  As we were talking, I, of course, was talking about my family tree and genealogy etc.  This friend isn’t a genealogist, but she was kind enough to listen to me.  I didn’t go on too long.  LOL!

One thing I mentioned was that in all my 17+ years of researching, I had yet to find a naturalization record for any of my ancestors. 

Given that 4 of my 8 great grandparents came here mid to late 1800’s, from Scotland and England, you’d think I would have found one already.  They did state in the 1900 census that they were naturalized.  And all of them were living in Detroit, Michigan. 

I might not have located any of their records….yet, but I have located one.  Not a blood relative, but it is a record from Detroit, so I’m happy to know they exist.

The record I have located is for my paternal granduncle’s wife’s brother’s wife.  Yes, that’s stretching it a bit.  My granduncle Roy Gould married a lady named Emma Redcap and this naturalization record is associated with that family.

Certificate of Arrival for Bertha Klinoweit, 3 Apr 1913

Bertha Klinoweit arrived in the U.S. on 3 Apr 1913, according to her Certificate of Arrival for Naturalization Purposes.  She would have been a young girl of 14 years old at the time.  This first page of the paperwork states that she arrived on the President Grant.  I’ll be looking for a passenger list with her name and will share it with you in a later post.

HERE’S THE NEXT PAGE OF THE NATURALIZATION RECORD

YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM

On this form we learn that she calls herself Mrs. Bertha REDCAP.  This gives her address in Detroit, her occupation and her date of birth – 22 Jul 1898.  Best of all it gives her location of birth in Germany as Sanseitschen.  This verifies her arrival in New York on 3 Apr 1913 on the U.S.S. President Grant.  This page also lists her husband, Charles, his date of birth and place and the date of their marriage as 15 Aug 1926.  Doesn't get much better than that for genealogical information.

Bertha signed the page on 10 Nov 1927 and one of the witnesses was my granduncle’s wife, Emma GOULD.  Emma also signed the form and now I have both of their signatures (click here to see the  other family signatures I've collected)

HERE IS THE LAST PAGE OF BERTHA’S NATURALIZATION PAPERS

On this page we see that Bertha declared an oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and denounced the German Reich. She signed this page as well.

The court date is given as 13 Feb 1928 and her Certificate of Naturalization No. is 2728882.

I expect that Bertha was quite proud on the day she took her oath and became a U.S. citizen.

Bertha & Charles had two sons, Edward Charles, born in 1929 and Richard Robert, born 1931.

Sadly, Bertha died at the young age of 36 years, on 24 Nov 1934.  She never got to see her little boys grow up.  The cause of death was listed as Edema of brain – pulmonary thrombosis/fatty pancreas and liver.

Have you located naturalization records for any of your ancestors?  If so, I’d love to hear about them.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Will a sprig of heather from South Africa bring victory to Richard Lindsay at the polls?

I will be writing a series of posts about my paternal great granduncle, Richard “Dick” Lindsay, throughout the year.  I heard a lot about him growing up, as we spent a lot of time with my grandmother, Marie W. Lindsay Gould, who was his niece.

To see my first post you can click here.

This article appeared in the Detroit Free Press on 10 Oct 1912.  It concerned by great granduncle’s run for City Clerk in Detroit.  He received an envelope containing a sprig of white heather.   White heather is considered a talisman of luck to a Scotchman.  The lucky heather had been sent, along with a note from his nephew.

HERE’S THE ARTICLE

Detroit Free Press, 10 Oct 1912, page 16

Here is my transcription

PERHAPS IT WILL BRING HIM VICTORY AT POLLS

Richard Lindsay Receives White Heather in Detroit from nephew in South Africa

Richard Lindsay, the Republican candidate for city clerk, is pretty certain that a letter he received Wednesday from Cape Town, South Africa, contained the limit in surprises.

When he opened the envelope something dropped out which Dick was surprised to find was a genuine white heather.

To the Scotchman, white heather is as great a talisman of luck as finding a horseshoe and along with the silent message it conveyed from that most unexpected corner of the world was a brief note from a nephew of Lindsay informaing him that he had just read a copy of The Detroit Free Press for which he paid 25 cents at Cape Town, informing him of the result of the August primaries in Detroit.

Did the heather bring Uncle Dick the victory? Stay tuned.

Who was the nephew in South Africa?  Seems I have research to conduct.

Stay tuned throughout the year as I continue to write about my Great Granduncle, Richard Lindsay, known to family as Uncle Dick.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

THOSE PLACES THURSDAY ~ Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan - the Lindsays

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS ~ Post #1 - Meet Richard Lindsay (1862-1937) , my paternal great granduncle–He was City Clerk, Estimator at Large and temporary Mayor of Detroit

I will be writing a series of posts about my paternal great granduncle, Richard “Dick” Lindsay, throughout the year.  I heard a lot about him growing up, as we spent a lot of time with my grandmother, Marie W. Lindsay Gould, who was his niece.

Richard Lindsay at his desk - unknown year

Background – Richard Lindsay is the son of William Lindsay (abt 1830-1898) and Mary Wallace (abt 1832-1895).  He was born in Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, the youngest of 6 children.  He began working in the printing industry while living in Dundee. 

According to the records I’ve located Richard came to the United States in 1885 on the ship Circassia.  From that point on, he is found living in Detroit, Michigan.

 

He continued working in the printing industry, finding employment at the Detroit Free Press, according to the 1890 Detroit City Directory.

By 1893 he was elected to the office of Estimator at Large for the City of Detroit.  Five years later, in 1898,  he was appointed as the Clerk of the Justice Court for Detroit. It appears that he held that job until 1912.

In Nov 1912 he was elected as City Clerk for Detroit.  This article was published regarding his election to this office.  Richard would have been 50 years old at the time of this election.

Richard Lindsay elected as City Clerk - Detroit Free Press, Nov 1912

Here is my transcription of the article.

LINDSAY AND INGALLS A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
The election of Richard Lindsay insures for the city of Detroit a business-like and careful administration of the city clerk's office, a thing the municipality has not possessed in several years.  Under the Nichols incumbency the office, so far as its chief is concerned, has been little more than a political headquarters for the hatching of plots to build up machines.  The real work for which the city created it has been left to a few clerks.
Though Mr. Lindsay has held public office for a good many years, he never has been a politician in the objectionable sense of the word, and his election at this time is largely a tribute to his personal popularity and a recognition of the fact that he appears to belive it his duty to give value received for any remuneration acquired in the public service.
In selecting Guy L. Ingalls for his deputy clerk, Mr. Lindsay begins well.  It is a matter of record that Ingalls as a journal clerk under Nichols took charge of practically all the office routine during the months in which the city clerk and his deputy were running here and there, chasing after the Bull Moose rainbow, and that whatever efficiency the office developed was chiefly due to Ingalls' willingness to do hard work.

There is every reason to expect that Lindsay and Ingalls will be honest and conscientious and capable public officials, who will devote their best energies to making their place of trust a credit to Detroit and themselves.

My great granduncle went on to serve the City of Detroit, in various capacaties, until shortly before his death in 1937.

 

I find no record of him every marrying or having children.  I do find that he and his older sister, Elizabeth (she was five years older than him) were enumerated in every census from 1900, until her death in 1931.  She also never married.

Of the six siblings in Richard’s family 4 of them made new lives in America, all settling in Detroit, Michigan. 

• Robert Lindsay, Sr (1852-1911) appears to be the first to immigrate, in 1875.  He became a Detroit city Firefighter.  It’s through his line that I’m connected to one of my cousins, Marian, whom I’m close to.
• Mary Ann Lindsay (abt 1853 – ?)  I don’t know what became of Mary Ann after the 1871 census where she is enumerated with her family, in Dundee.
• John Lindsay (abt 1856 – ?) He married Catherine Milne Oct 1879 and they had four children.  However, I’ve not been able to find his death record.  I believe John did come to the U.S. in 1886 and is recorded in the 1887 and 1888 Detroit City Directory listing.  After that, I have no idea.  I did find his wife and children, back in Scotland by 1891.
• Elizabeth Lindsay (1857-1931), spinster sister who lived with Richard.  They came to the U.S. in 1886.
• William Wallace Lindsay (1859-1931) came to American on the ship State of Indiana in 1886.  His, soon to be, wife, Elizabeth “Bessie” Fitzcharles was on the same ship.  They married in Detroit, one month after their arrival.  They are my great grandparents.

Because of his active involvement in the City of Detroit, there are many newspaper articles featuring or mentioning my great granduncle Richard Lindsay.  I will be writing about them this year.

I’m very grateful to be friends with Lindsay cousins and other descendants from this family.  Several of us are genealogists and we share what we find with each other.  That's me standing in the back in this cousin reunion photo.

Stay tuned to learn more about my interesting great granduncle.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS ~ Week #3–My great grandfather–William Wallace Lindsay 1859-1931 (a bit of a mystery)

WEDDING WEDNESDAY ~ William “Bill” Lindsay & his many wives–the story of my Granduncle Bill

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION