COUSINS ~ What treasures can you find when you visit your cousins?

 

I can never say enough about how wonderful cousins are.  Why?

·       They are often your very first friends outside the family circle.

·       If you are an only child, they may be as close as a sister or brother.

·       Later on you can talk about family stories and share memories and photos with each other.

·       If you meet these cousins later in life via your research or DNA or whatever method, they might provide very valuable information about your ancestors.

·       As bloggers, we often call our blogs “cousin bait.”

Here’s my cousin story for this week.

My cousin Paula lives about 3 hours up the coast from me, here in California.  She and I reconnected in 2003, well into our adulthood.  We had last seen one another in 1966.  Since then we have become very good friends and fellow family researchers.  It’s been an interesting journey, with discoveries on both her side and mine.

Our grandmothers were sisters, which makes me and Paula 2^nd cousins.

It had been a couple of years since I’d been to Paula’s home and I knew we were overdue for a visit.  When I spoke to her, she told me that her sister, Shirley, was coming into town for a couple of weeks.  Most of our family still lives in Michigan, including Shirley.

I knew right away that I should make the drive up there, as I had never been able to spend much time with Shirley. 

We cousins enjoyed one another for 3 days. 

A surprise during the visit was that Paula and Shirley’s grand nephew was in town from Michigan.  We were able to have dinner with him.  I’d not met him before.  What a nice young man.  In the scheme of family relationships, he is my 2^nd cousin, twice removed.

During my stay, Paula brought out an envelope of photos that she had gotten during her last trip to Michigan, from her other sister.

As we looked through these mostly black and white photos, we all found treasures.  For me it was pictures of my own grandmother, Marie Lindsay Gould and my grandfather Harry W. Gould sharing moments with Marie’s sister’s family. Additionally, it was seeing a picture of my granduncle Bill Lindsay’s wife Matilda Vera Ena KIDD for the first time.

(Click on any image to enlarge it)

Matilda Vera Ena Kidd Lindsay

Left to right - Marie Lindsay Gould (my paternal grandmother), Shirley Hockster, Edith Curry Jessop, Elizabeth "Betty" Hockster, Paula Hockster, Mary Ortell Hockster and Bessie Lindsay Hockster (Marie's sister)
Shirley, Betty & Paula are my 2nd cousins and Mary is their mother

Back row - William "Bill" Lindsay, Bessie Lindsay, Everett Hockster, Joyce Lindsay, Robert McConnell, Harry W. Gould - Middle row - Marie Lindsay Gould, Matilda Kidd Lindsay, Ellen Hockster McConnell, May (in her lap is Betty Hockster) - Front row - Patricia McConnell, Shirley Hockster and Ralph Hockster

I’d call those things great finds.  Thanks Paula!

Any photo find is always a bonus.  I’m going to put this out there right now.  If you are LINDSAY descendant, belonging to our particular line, and you have photos, we’d love to see them.  We are willing to share any of our own photos with all the cousins out there.

If you are related to or connected to anyone in this blog post, please get in touch.  Let’s exchange information.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl
Copyright ©  2010-2022   Diane Gould Hall
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

THOSE PLACES THURSDAY ~ Towns or roads in Michigan using the name GOULD

GOULD Rd. sign in Bruce Township, Macomb Co., Michigan

Ever curious about my maiden name, I thought I would find out how many places in Michigan have Gould in their name.

I’ve always known about Gould Rd. in Macomb County, Michigan.  I’ve been on the road during a genealogy road trip and I photographed the street sign.  I’ve even contacted the County of Macomb and tried to find out who the road was named after.  So far, no luck with that.

Since my Gould family lived in Armada, Macomb, Michigan it’s a curiosity as to whether this road could have been named for them.  The burial location of immediate family related to these Goulds is at Rose Hill Cemetery (a place I’ve also been), and is 1.6 miles from Gould Rd.

(All screenshots shown here are courtesy of Google Maps)

Gould Rd. near Rose Hill Cemetery where many of my ancestors are buried

This past week I discovered there is a GOULD City in Upper Michigan.  I never knew that.  It looks very rural.  I would love to visit.  I’ve never been to Upper Michigan and it’s high on my list of places to go.

Here’s the location of Gould City and also an aerial view.
There’s even a road in Gould City named S. Gould City Road.



And to my surprise, when I conducted a Google search of Detroit, Michigan, looking for the Gould name, I located a Gould Street.  It’s down along the Detroit River, not too far from Ambassador Bridge.  And, it’s only 12.9 miles, a 20 minute drive from where my grandparents, Harry & Marie Gould lived, at 14520 Asbury Park.

This has been a fun exercise.  I learned things I didn’t know before, and that’s always a good thing.
 
Now to find out, if possible, who these streets and roads and cities are named after.  Are they related to me?  I know here in my small town of Ramona, CA., we have many roads named after people who once settled here and had an impact on our town.
 
Have you ever looked for places named after your family?  I’d love to hear about it.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

THOSE PLACES THURSDAY - Armada, Macomb, Michigan

THOSE PLACES THURSDAY - Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018   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

DID MY GRANDPARENTS “ALMOST” WIN A HOME IN A DETROIT SUBURB IN 1956?

I located this interesting article, about my grandfather, Harry W. Gould, published in the Detroit Free Press, Saturday, May 12, 1956.



The home in question was located at 29060 Lone Elm Lane in Southfield, Michigan.  Here is an aerial view from Google Earth.  This street is located just north of Twelve Mile Rd., a few blocks east of Evergreen Rd.

This home was located about 8.5 miles from where my grandparents home was located on Asbury Park in Detroit.  I remember their home very well. 



The dispute over who won the home, based on their guess of how many nails were used in building the home, took place in 1956.  I would have been six years old and my family was still living in Detroit at the time.  We were at my grandparent’s house a lot.  I have to think there was talk about this around the dinner table, or after dinner in the living room.  Don’t you wish you could go back in time and record every conversation?  The things your grandparents and parents talked about?  I know I wish I could.

Here is another newspaper article mentioning that the dispute will be heard in court.



I kept searching to see if I could find out what the court ruling was in the case, and sure enough I found an article published in the Detroit Free Press on December 18, 1957, page 3. 




According to this article, my grandfather, Harry W. Gould, didn’t get the house.  However, he did get a settlement amounting to $7,500 to be paid in monthly installments of not less than $75.
 
This settlement occurred in December 1957.  My grandparents moved to Pompano Beach, Florida within a year or two of that date.  My parents, my brother and I had moved to Pompano Beach sometime in 1957.  We lived a block away from my grandparents.  Sadly, my grandpa, Harry W. Gould, died in February of 1960.  By 1965 my Dad, my brother and I had all moved to San Diego.  My grandmother sold her home in Pompano Beach and moved in with us in about 1967. 

I calculated the payments of that $7,500, if paid at $75 per month, would have gone on for a little over 8 years.  Assuming that they were continued once my grandfather, Harry, had passed away.
 
This was certainly an interesting find and something I’d never heard a thing about.  I even talked to my brother this morning and asked him if he remembered anything about it.  He did not.
 
What newspaper articles have you discovered about your family?  I’d love to hear about them.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST – More from newspapers

NEW YORK NEWSPAPER LINKS ONLINE

FRIDAY FINDS - Anna M. Bezner hit & killed by street car in Detroit in 1906

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ Harry Whipple Gould–1886-1960–My grandfather

I was only 9 yrs. old when my paternal grandfather died.  We were living in Pompano Beach, Florida.  My grandparents, Harry & Marie lived in a house on the next block from ours.  I was at their home a lot. Prior to moving to Florida we had all lived in Detroit, Michigan.  

I loved my grandpa.  He was always very kind.  I remember that he smoked both cigarettes and cigars.  I have so many questions I’d like to ask him.  But, who asks those questions when they're nine?

Harry Whipple Gould was the second of 6 children born to William “Val” Gould (1859-1924) and Mary “Mae” Eve Thorp (1862-1946).  Harry was born 10 Feb 1886 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.  His brothers were Ford V. Gould (1884-1947) and Roy V. Gould (1888-1971).  Harry also had 3 sisters.  Gladys Lillian (1890-1966), May Adele (1898-1984) and Helen C. (1901-1945).

Here’s Harry in some undated photos, as a young man.


On June 6, 1912, Harry married Marie Wallace Lindsay.  They were married in Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. You can read about my search for their marriage record here WEDDING WEDNESDAY - Where were they married?

Harry & Marie – Wedding photos


Harry and Marie had one child, a son (my Daddy), born on New Year’s Eve 1912.  New Year’s Eve was always a double celebration at our house.

My grandparents both worked for the City of Detroit and/or the County of Wayne at various times.  My grandmother, Marie’s, Uncle Richard “Dick” Lindsay was a City Clerk for the City of Detroit for many years.
 
I ended up spending most of my working career working for municipalities.  First the City of San Diego, then the City of Poway, 29 years in total.  Must be in my blood.
 
Harry and Marie enjoyed swimming.  They had a cottage at Lake Huron in Port Huron, Michigan.  I have many family photos of them at that lake and several other lakes.  I remember going to cottage when I was a little girl.
 

I can identify four people in this photo - bottom right is my grandpa, Harry.  Back row on the right is my Dad, in the striped suit is my Dad's first wife, Elaine and next to her is my grandma, Marie.

Harry Gould relaxing on the couch at their cottage at Lake Huron, Michigan

Harry died just two years short of my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.  I know my grandma Marie missed him terribly.  She lived with us for a few years prior to her death in 1970.

I have dozens more photos of my grandparents, which I cherish.

My grandfather is buried at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan, along with his beloved wife, Marie and other family members.  I visit them every time I go back to Detroit.

You may visit Harry’s FindAGrave memorial here #14481532.


I love you Grandpa and will always miss you.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2016   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SEPIA SATURDAY ~ From Here to There–Visiting Washington, DC in 1917

I am fortunate to have a picture album created by my paternal grandmother, Marie Lindsay Gould (1888-1970).  She and my grandfather, Harry Whipple Gould (1886-1960) only had one child, a son, my father – Harry Norman Gould (1912-1991).

There are 35 pages in this old photo album.  It appears to have been started shortly after my father was born in Dec. 1912.  There are pictures of him as an infant and then as he grew into a toddler and young man.

The photos I’ve chosen for today are from this album and feature my Dad with his parents, visiting the Jackson Monument in Washington, D.C. in 1917.  As the map indicates, the drive on today’s roads is just under 8 hours.

Here are my questions: 

• How did my family get to Washington, D.C.? Car, bus or train? 
• How long did the journey take them? 
• How long were they there? 
• Did they stop at other locations? 

On the left, my Dad with his father and on the right with his mother

You can see my grandmother’s writing underneath the photographs.  "Jackson Monument Washington, D.C." There is writing on many of the pages in this album.  Thankfully my grandma wrote in pencil and much of the writing has survived over 100 years.  I purposely left the rough edges around this photo cropped from my scan of this particular album page.  The black pages are all crumbling now and the album has been scanned and placed into an archival container.
 
I never heard (or maybe never listened), when my Dad or his parents talked about this trip or others they took.  I’m glad my grandmother preserved these memories.

Other Sepia Saturday Posts can be found on the tab at the top of my blog.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2016   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY–William V. Gould, 1859-1924

DETROIT NEWS - 25 FEB 1924

Vivaldo William Gould or as he was better known, William "Val" Gould, was my paternal great grandfather.  I never knew him as he died long before I was born.  However, my father, who was William’s grandson, spoke of him throughout my years of growing up.  My Dad called him Beepa and called his grandmother, Mae, Meema.  I have never heard those names referring to grandparents since my Dad passed.  Have you ever heard those names as nicknames for grandparents?

William “Val” Gould was born on 31 Aug 1859 in Armada, Macomb, Michigan to parents John C. Gould and Sarah M. Hart.  The family moved to Detroit, Michigan between 1870 and 1878.  William “Val” married Mary “Mae” Eve Thorp.  I have not been able to locate their marriage record.  Though heaven knows I’ve been hunting for it for many years.  

“Val” & Mae had 7 children according to census records and her death record.  I know the names of 6 of those children: Ford V., Harry W., (my grandfather), Roy V., Gladys L., May A., and Helen C. I am guessing that one child died at birth or very young, as I can find no record.

From all six of those children there was only one grandchild born who grew to adulthood, my father Harry Norman Gould.  

Back to William V.  He worked in a paint store or as a supervisor at a paint company for all of his life.  He worked at S. H. Hart, which was a paint manufacturing company in Detroit.  He also worked at Standard Paint & Varnish in Detroit.

I am very fortunate to have many photos of my great grandfather William “Val” Gould.  In fact, it is one of those photos which you will often see associated with this blog.

The photo on the left is William V. driving the car, with his daughter Helen in the middle and son, Roy.  In the back seat on the far right is his wife Mae.  I cannot be sure of the identities of the other two ladies.  This photo was circa 1910-1915. 
The photo on the right is William (back row far right) with his wife and six children and his grandson (my Dad) circa 1915-1916.
 
  

William died on 24 Feb 1924 in Detroit.  He was only 64 years old.  His cause of death was peritonitis due to a ruptured gall bladder.  He is buried with his wife and his daughter, Helen at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.  I have been able to visit him twice during trips back to Detroit.

Headstone of William V. Gould - photo taken at Mt. Olivet Cemetery by Diane Gould Hall

Rest in peace great grandfather.  I wish I had known you.  I certainly have unanswered questions about your father, John. 

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY–MY GRANDPARENTS, HARRY & MARIE

HARRY WHIPPLE GOULD married MARIE WALLACE LINDSAY on 6 Jun 1912

  
   

Oh how I miss them.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2014   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION