TODAY IN OUR FAMILY ~ It’s my great grandmother, Florence Hunter’s birthday–she would have been 150 years old today

Happy birthday to you Florence Hunter.  You were born 150 years ago today!

You are my maternal great grandmother.  I feel as though I know you from all the research I've done.  I’m blessed to have many pictures of you.

You were born on 7 Aug 1869 in Newport, Campbell, Kentucky to James Gillen Hunter (1832-1894) & Susan Caroline Boggs (1842-1913).

You first married Robert Edward Bowden on 10 Mar 1887, at age 17, in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.  You and Robert had two daughters, my grandmother, also named Florence, born 31 Jan 1888 and Edna, born 1 Jan 1890.

You and Robert divorced in 1899 and you next married George Keatley Bell (1870-1952), on 16 Oct 1904.  You were married until your death in 1946.  He died 2 Nov 1952.

I remember my grandma telling me that you ran a boarding house.  In fact, it was at that very place that she met my grandfather, Joseph A. Milne.

One of the earliest photos I have is actually a 4 generation portrait taken sometime around 1907, after the birth of your first grandchild, Dorothy Irene Milne.

Back row-L-R - Florence Hunter and her daughter Florence.  Seated is Florence Hunter's mother, Susan C. Boggs and baby Dorothy Milne, her first grandchild

The next picture is a lovely group picture of you and five of your six sisters.

Here are several more photos I have put together in a video.  

(You can enlarge the video to full screen in the lower right hand corner)

Click twice if the video doesn't begin

You died 4 years before I was born, on 27 May 1946 at Osteopathic Hospital in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri.  You were 76 years, 9 months and 20 days old.  You died after a fall at home that fractured your right femur.

I wish we could have met.  I have SO many questions I need to ask you.  How fun it would be to sit down and chat.  I bet you would have many stories to tell me.  Your daughter, my grandmother, was the original family historian and passed that love along to me.

 

Rest in peace great grandmother.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SEPIA SATURDAY ~ Today’s theme is STUDIOS : BACKGROUNDS : GROUPS : HATS–I had so many photos to choose from

WHAT IS SEPIA SATURDAY?
“Launched by Alan Burnett and Kat Mortensen in 2009, Sepia Saturday provides bloggers with an opportunity to share their history through the medium of photographs.  Historical photographs of any age or kind (they don’t have to be sepia) become the launchpad for explorations of family history, local history and social history, in fact or fiction, poetry or prose, words or further images.”

My grandmothers, great grandmothers and aunts, all wore hats.  Some of them were born in the mid to late 1800’s and came of age at the turn of the 20th century.  Hats were all the rage back then.  This trend continued into the 1950's.  The men also wore hats.  In fact, I had so many pictures of my ancestors in hats, it was difficult to choose which ones to use.

My paternal grandmother, Marie Lindsay Gould had her photo taken with hats on more than one occasion.  I didn’t know my grandma until she was in her 60’s.  By then it wasn’t fashionable to wear hats.  I wonder if she missed those times?
 
Marie Lindsay Gould, her sister Ellen Lindsay Pickard and their husbands.

Marie Lindsay Gould, my paternal grandmother

Fred Pickard, his wife, my grandaunt Ellen Lindsay, my grandfather, Harry Gould and my grandmother Marie Lindsay Gould

My grandaunt, Ellen Lindsay Pickard

Now to my maternal grandmother and great grandmother.  Florence Hunter Bowden Bell is my great grandmother.  Born in 1869 in Kentucky and died in 1946 in Missouri.  She had two daughters, the oldest, a name sake, Florence Lee Nora Bowden (my grandmother) and Edna Mabel Bowden.
 
Here’s my grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne, about 1909, with her little girl Dorothy and her son Robert.  Notice that all of them are wearing hats.

My maternal grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne with her first two children, my Aunt Dorothy (1907-1920) and my Uncle Robert (1909-1969)

Here is my great grandmother, Susan Gillespie Milne Smith (1860-1947) and her daughter, Irene Milne (1893-1989) showing off their hats.

My maternal great grandmother, Susan Gillespie Milne Smith

My grandaunt, Irene Milne, daughter of Susan Gillespie Milne

In times past newspapers would take pictures of people walking in downtown areas and publish them.  I don’t know how many of you have photos like these?  If you do, please share.

Here’s my great grandmother, Florence Hunter Bowden Milne Bell, mentioned above and her daughter, my grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne standing downtown together.  And a separate one of my great grandmother, in foreground.  I don’t know if these were taken in Detroit (that’s the most likely place), but they could have been elsewhere.

My grandmother, Florence Milne with her mother (my great grandmother) Florence

My great grandmother Florence Hunter Bowden Bell

I’ve covered groups and hats.  Let’s post one of my favorite photos of my grandmother, Florence Bowden Milne sitting in a studio in a rocking chair.  Her Aunt, Grace Hunter married Charles Henry Fenner.  He and his brothers, Nicholas & William Fenner owned a couple of photo studios in Ohio.  Many of the pictures I have from my family have the Fenner studio name on them.  I feel very fortunate to have had a photography studio connected with my family.

My grandmother, Florence Bowden

Let’s not leave the men out of this story.  They wore hats too.  Here are both my grandfathers and my Dad sporting their hats. And lastly, my great grandfather William Val Gould (1859-1924), always debonair.

My maternal grandfather, Joseph A. Milne - circa early 1950's

My paternal grandfather, Harry W. Gould - circa 1912

My Dad, Harry Norman Gould in front of the house I was brought home to when I was born 16814 Winston, Detroit, MI

My paternal great grandfather, William V. Gould circa 1920

I had to stop here or I could go on all day with this particular theme.  Thanks for enjoying these memories with me.

TO SEE OTHER SEPIA SATURDAY POSTS, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

MADNESS MONDAY ~ The sad story of Albert Charles Hungler 1860-1893

In researching my great grandaunt’s family, I discovered the sad story of Albert Charles Hungler.

My great grandaunt, Myra Hunter (1859-1938) married on 6 Oct 1880 Johan Jacob Seigle (1849-1930).  Johan had a sister named Rosina Seigle born about 1835 in Germany and died 18 May 1903 in Ohio.  She married John Richard Hungler.  To this couple was born 3 boys and 4 girls; Teresia about 1855, Albert Charles 1880, Elizabeth about 1862, Anna about 1865, Charles about 1868 and William H. 1869, Margaret about 1877.

Albert Charles Hungler became a minor league baseball player.  It looks like he played from 1887 at age 27 to 1890, age 30 for eight different teams.
 

I found reference to him on these websites.

Baseball Reference.com – statistics for Al Hunger
Vintage Card Prices.com – Al Hungler baseball cards

Here’s a image of one of the baseball cards, used with permission from my cousin.



Here’s the obituary for Al.



Al Hungler was only 33 years old when he died.  His cause of death is listed on a cemetery/burial card, as Marasmus.  According the the dictionary this is a lack of nutrition associated with infants. “severe undernourishment causing an infant's or child's weight to be significantly low for their age (e.g., below 60 percent of normal).”
 
Here is the cemetery card.


NOTE: What could cause Marasmus in an adult?  I have my own thoughts on this.  During my research I have found that syphilis was not uncommon in our ancestors.  This disease often affected the brain.  I actually have one ancestor whose cause of death was “brain syphilis.”  Could this be what caused the mental deterioration and eventual death of Al Hungler?
  
Albert Charles Hungler is buried at Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.  You can visit his memorial here.

FAMILY NOTE:  This must have been a horrible time for Al Hungler’s family.  His father, John Richard Hungler had passed away at age 47, in 1880, of Typhoid Fever.   A few months prior to Al’s death had been the death of his younger brother William H. at age 23 due to Disease of lungs.

If you are related to this family I’d love to hear from you.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

SIBLING SATURDAY - The Hunter Sisters

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2016   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

MYSTERY MONDAY - Who's Your Daddy? Brick Walls Post #3–Rev. Isaac C. Hunter 1798-1842

This is the third post in my series about brick walls in our family. You can find the other posts here:

Mystery Monday-Who's Your Daddy-Post #1 - John C. Gould
Mystery Monday-Who's Your Daddy-Post #2-Robert Lee Bowden

Bio for Isaac C. Hunter
Rev. Isaac C. Hunter is my 3rd great grandfather on my mother’s side.  From all accounts he was born 30 Aug 1798 in Bellefonte, Mifflin, Pennsylvania.  By 1828 he had moved to Lawrence County, Ohio where he married Emily GILLEN on 11 Sept 1828.  They had 5 children: Susan, James, Martha, Isaac C. Jr. and John E.  Isaac was an itinerant preacher in the Ohio and Michigan territories.  He died 27 Jun 1842 in Gallipolis, Gallia, Ohio at age 43.

Finding any records in Pennsylvania in those early years is not easy.  I’ve not yet made a trip to Mifflin County.  However, I have been in contact with their historical society volunteers and they were not able to find anything about Isaac C. Hunter’s birth.
 
By the 1830 census we find Isaac C. Hunter living in Burlington, Lawrence, Ohio with his family.  In the 1840 census he and his family are in Perry, Pickaway, Ohio.
Here are those census records:
(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

Rev. Isaac C. Hunter was a Methodist Episcopal Preacher.
Quite a lot has been written about the Rev. Isaac C. Hunter and his ministry.  He seems to have been quite well respected.

A history of his ministry:

·        Age 20 -  7 Aug 1819 – Admitted to trial to Methodist Episcopal ministry at the annual conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Appointed to the Beaver circuit.

·        Age 22-23 – about 1921 – Became a Deacon in the church

·        Age 23-24 – about 1823 – Became an Elder in the church

·        Age 24-43 – Was an itinerant preacher throughout the Ohio & Michigan territory

Here are some of the many documents I have regarding Rev. Isaac C. Hunter and his ministry. 

THESE FOUR PAGES ARE ARTICLES FROM THE IRONTON REGISTER IN OHIO

Methodism in Gallipolis

Obituary from Methodist Episcopal Conference 1843

THESE NEXT FIVE PAGES ARE THE OBITUARY WRITTEN BY A FELLOW PREACHER

ARTICLE ABOUT REV. ISAAC C. HUNTER IN THE WESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE - 1843

As you can see, I have quite a few publications and articles about my 3^rd great grandfather, his ministry and his death.

Sadly, none of them mention his parents.

Here is the family group record in my Legacy database.

 Some SURNAMES ASSOCIATED WITH Rev. Isaac C. Hunter

Boggs, Bridwell, Frampton, Gillen, Lunsford, Pope, Stover, Trail

 

It is difficult to locate records from the late 1700’s and early 1800’s in Pennsylvania.  Actually, it’s difficult in most states during that time period.  Church records can be a great help.  In this case, you'd think there would be a church record.  I have not exhausted all sources at this time and hope to continue this search at the FHL in June.

I have tried the following research methods to locate any possible records:

• Searched land records and located one at the BLM land site for Isaac Connely Hunter in Ohio.  Certainly could be our Isaac C. Hunter, but I cannot prove it.
• Searched the 1790 & 1800 census records for any Hunters in Mifflin or surrounding counties.  Located a couple of “possibles” but, again, have yet to find proof.
• Googled “Isaac C. Hunter” and found several book references, but none mention his parents.
• Posted message to online forums in Pennsylvania and Ohio on Genealogy.com
• Searched the Mifflin County Historical Society webpage and located a few Hunter men, but have not connected them.
• Looked through images of Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 for Gallia, Journals & Wills 1831-1844 and 1841-1849 and found no Hunters.

What would you do next?
What have I missed, short of traveling to Mifflin County?

I welcome any and all suggestions from my very knowledgeable readers.

If you think you might be related, even remotely, to anyone mentioned in this blog, please contact me!

OTHER POSTS THAT YOU MAY FIND INTERESTING
SIBLING SATURDAY - The Hunter Sisters
DEATH CERTIFICATE OF Joseph Jackson Hunter - age 25

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2015   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

AMANUENSIS MONDAY - BIRTH & DEATH DATES FROM MY GRANDMOTHER'S JOURNAL - SEPTEMBER

What does Amanuensis mean anyway?

To put it simply, it means a “person employed to write what another dictates or copy what has been written by another.”

As many of you know from reading previous posts on my blog, my maternal grandmother left a spiral notebook, which I call her journal.  In it she left recipes, a list of 183 family members and their birth dates and some death dates, a list of anniversaries and other various lists or things that were important to her.  It’s a treasure that I cherish. 

Today I’m going to be transcribing her list of names & dates from September.

For the previous posts transcribing January through August, please click on these links.

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal - January

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – February

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – March

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – April

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – May

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – June

Amaneunsis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – July

Amanuensis Monday - Transcribing my grandmother's journal – August

Here is the page from her journal.  This journal was begun when my grandmother, Florence L. Bowden, married my grandfather, Joseph A. Milne, in 1906.  She was just 18 years old at the time.  This journal is very old and falling apart.  I have digitized all the pages and have the original stored in a safe, archival box.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

Here is my transcription of this page, with some annotations.  I have indicated the family connection in brackets, even thought it’s not part of the document.  I thought you’d like to know who these people are to me.  And, for any cousins out there reading this, maybe you’ll find it helpful.

I don't know what the numerical figures in the upper left hand corner mean.  Obviously some math done by my grandmother.

I’ve added whatever photos I have of the family members named in this list. (See below)

ADDITIONAL NOTE:  I REDACT THE BIRTH DATES & FULL NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO I’M AWARE OF, THAT ARE STILL LIVING, FOR THEIR PROTECTION. 

September

Catherine Forsythe  Sept 2  ‘93  [1st cousin twice removed]

*  Nellie Smith Anderson     Sept 2  ‘94  died 

*  Edward Ardner   Sept 3  ‘13

*  Gretchen Sue Hibberlin     Sept 2  ‘38

*  Bob Searls   Sept  12  ‘33

*  Mary Margaret Donaldson  Sept 12  ‘39

Norman Harry ______   Sept 2 [my brother]

Florence N. Verney  Sept 18  ‘85  Dec 21  ‘68  [1st cousin twice removed]

Anne Gillespie Forsyth Fields  Sept 19  ‘19 [2nd cousin once removed]

Eleanor Louise Diebel  Sept 22  ‘15   [2nd cousin once removed]

*  Frances Noggle  Sept 20  1919  June 12  ‘59 

Dorothy Trestain Milne  Sept 12 1913  June 5  ‘65  [wife of uncle]

Harold Coker  Sept 2  1889

Shields    died Sept 26  ‘24   Sept 26  ‘23  [probably George 2nd cousin once remove]

67  Stella Hunter E. L. F. Pfeiffer  Sept 30  1867  died May 6  1947  [great grandaunt]

That’s a total of 15 names, (including the name that is lined out).  I am very fortunate to have this kind of list from my grandmother.
I have placed an asterisk * next to the names I have not yet connected to our family. 

SIX of the names are still waiting for me to find their connections.  I have them in my Legacy database as unlinked individuals. 

In the lists from the other 11 months of the year, there are also names that aren’t yet connected.  I keep looking from time to time and link them as I identify them.



This month I have photographs of two of the people listed. 

  
          Harry Norman                                                       Stella Hunter E. L. F. Pfeiffer

Here is a post I wrote about the Hunter sisters and them being featured on Maureen Taylor’s article for Family Tree.

SIBLING SATURDAY - THE HUNTER SISTERS

Please contact me if you recognize any of the names with asterisks or if you are related to any of these family members.  I’d love to hear from you.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION