MILITARY MONDAY ~ A Follow Up On My Yearbook Post–These Young Men Didn’t Make It Home to Their Families–Meet Glenn Gillen & Ellis Hart

A few days ago I wrote about finding yearbook photos on Ancestry.  As I was going through the photos I had, they included 2 young men who were in high school during or just before the time of World War I (1914-1918).  They ended up serving our country and sadly, they never came home.  They were killed in action.

Let’s honor those young men, here, today.

The first is Corporal Glenn Clifford Gillen.  Son of Elijah Cecil Gillen & Bessie Etta Cowen.  Glenn was born 1 Jan 1896 in Chesapeake, Lawrence, Ohio. He was the 3rd child of 9 born to this couple.  The second oldest son.  There were 6 boys and 3 girls.  All of his siblings lived to adulthood and, in fact, well into old age, except Glenn.  Glenn is my maternal 2nd cousin 3 times removed.

Glenn attended Independence High School in Independence, Montgomery, Kansas and if he graduated, it would have been about 1913-1914.  He is honored in the 1919 yearbook for this school on a memorial page for those lost during World War I.

Glenn registered for the draft in Montgomery, Independence, Kansas in June 1917.  He gives his age as 21 years, he’s single, and he works as a Laborer.  Physically he was described as tall, medium guild, gray eyes and brown hair.
  

Here is his World War I Registration Card

(Please click on any image to enlarge it) 

Fifteen months after signing that draft registration card, Glenn Gillen was killed during the Meuse-Argonne battle in France.
Corporal Gillen is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial in France.  You may visit his memorial here #55992727.

Used with permission of the photographer

The second soldier we will honor today is Corporal Ellis Collins Hart.  Only son of Hermon Doten Hart & Florence Bell Hakins.  Ellis was born 27 Oct 1927 in Ohio.  He had one sibling, an older sister Caroline Harriet Hart (1926-2006).  Both of the children were adopted according to the 1930 census.
Ellis is my paternal 3rd cousin once removed.

Sadly, Ellis’ father Hermon D. Hart died in 1933, at the age of 44, while saving his daughter, Caroline from drowning.  Stay tuned for a post about that incident.

Ellis attended Jesup W. Scott High School in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio.  The photo I have for him from the yearbook lists his age as 16 in 1944.

Ellis did register for the World War II draft on 27 Oct 1945.  He was single and described as 5’ 8 1/2” tall, 165 pounds with brown hair, gray eyes and light complexion.  His mother, Florence is listed as his next of kin.  He was employed by the A.P. Tea Company.

Ellis enlisted in the Army as a Private on 7 Jan 1946.  This would have been after the end of World War II.  U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

So, Ellis enlisted in the Army in 1946.  Yet in 1950, when he was killed, he was serving with the U.S. Marine Corps, 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Division. 

• What made Ellis change from one branch of the service to another? 
• Is that a common occurrence?
• Was there a draft for the Korean War? I don’t know.  I also have never located any service records for that war.

You can find references to Ellis’ Marine service and his being killed in action on the following links. He was killed by hostile fire on 3 Oct 1950 by gunshot or small arms fire.  He was a ground casualty.

U.S., Korean War Casualties, 1950-1957
U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963
Global, Find A Grave Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current

You may visit his FindAGrave memorial here #194881515

Here is his headstone photo

Photo placed on findagrave.com by Moses and used with permission

I am happy to have honored these young men today.  May they always rest in peace.

If you are connected to any of the family I’ve written about today, I’d love to hear from you.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

SEPIA SATURDAY ~ WAR and PEACE–Corp. Glenn C. Gillen–Killed in Action WW I

A MOTHER’S PILGRIMAGE ~ Bessie Cowen Gillen's visit to the grave of Glenn C. Gillen ~ Killed in action in World War I

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2020   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY ~ The obituary for Isaac Doten Hart–died 2 Sep 1920 in Bay City, Michigan

Published in Bay City Times, 2 Sep 1920, page 3

 A couple of days ago I wrote about Isaac D. Hart having been injured in an accident in 1905, involving a street car.  I said that I located those articles, about the accident and following court case, while searching for his obituary.

Well, I did find his obituary.  It was published in the Bay City Times on 2 Sep 1920, page 3.  This was 15 years after the street car accident and there’s no indication that his death was related to the accident.  His death certificate lists cause of death as Senility

 

Here is my transcription of his obituary:

Isaac D. Hart aged 86, died Wednesday afternoon at the home of his son, Ellis C. Hart, 230 Lincoln avenue, north, after an illness of several weeks.  Mr. Hart, years ago, was a teacher of music in the Saginaw schools.  Later he moved to North Williams, where he lived for many years and for a number of years past he has made his home with his son in this city.  His wife died a little over a year ago.  He is survived by his son, two brothers, Leonard of Lansing and Simeon of Detroit, a sister, Mrs. Arminda Ingram of Saginaw, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  Funeral services will be held at the home at 2:30 Friday afternoon and the remains will be taken to Armada, Mich., for interment Saturday morning.  The family requests that flowers be omitted.

Isaac was predeceased by his wife, Eliza who died in 1915.  Both of them are said to be buried in Armada, Michigan (as stated on their death records).  I have not yet located the cemetery where they are buried.  I looked again this morning, conducting all sorts of searches on FindAGrave and Billion Graves.  I also looked again, for an obituary for Eliza and could not locate one.

If anyone reading this has more information as to the burial location of Isaac & Eliza, I would love to hear from you.  Or, if you are related to this family and perhaps have information to share or want to ask me questions, please get in touch.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks ~ Week #8–Leonard Almanson Hart–My 2nd great granduncle and younger brother of Isaac.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Isaac D. Hart takes Bay City Traction Co., to court for damages - Michigan 1905

Today I was looking more closely at Isaac Doten Hart, the oldest child of my 3rd great grandparents, Henry Hart and Olive Doten.  It’s through Olive’s line, the Doten’s, that I hope to be accepted into the Mayflower Society.

Isaac Doten Hart is my 2nd great granduncle.  He was born 18 Mar 1834, probably in Canada.  He married Eliza Maria Richards on 20 Apr 1860 in Lapeer, Lapeer Co., Michigan.  They had one child, a son, Ellis.
 
I was searching for an obituary for Isaac when I came across a couple of other interesting tidbits.  I enjoy finding newspaper articles about my ancestors that tell me more about their daily lives.
 
In this case, Isaac D. Hart was struck by a street car and thrown from his rig, while delivery butter & eggs in his “wagon.”  The incident took place on 13 Jul 1905 in Bay City, Michigan while he was crossing Columbus Street.  He was not badly injured, but did sustain bruises.

Article 1 – Isaac Hart Dumped out of His Wagon

Bay City Daily Tribune, 14 Jul 1905, page 5

Article 2 – Says he want $2,000 in damages

Bay City Times, 31 Jul 1905, page 4

Article 3 – The case goes to trial and now the damages are $2,500

Bay City Times, 11 Oct 1905, page 3

Article 4 – The jury decides on $50 - I'm sure, a disappointment to the plaintiff, Isaac

Bay City Times, 13 Oct 1905, page 1

I’m happy that no one was seriously injured in this mishap.  I’ve certainly learned that taking people or companies to court is nothing new.  It’s been happening for centuries and usually makes for interesting reading.

Have you found newspaper articles or other references to your ancestors going to court?  I’d love to hear about them.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

WHAT I NEVER KNEW ABOUT COURTHOUSE RECORDS

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

DISCOVERIES ~ Biographical sketch of Henry Gaylord Hart (1874-1919) in The Book of Detroiters

Today’s discovery is from The Compilation of Published Sources on the My Heritage website.  I have 365 references in this one source alone.  I began with the first one.

Henry Gaylord Hart is my 1st cousin 3 times removed. This means that our common ancestors are my 3rd great grandparents, Henry Hart and Olive Doten.

Genealogy blogger extraordinaire, Randy Seaver, recently wrote about this particular record set in his blog Genea-Musings.  It’s from him that I got the idea to check these records and see what I could find.

Here is the source information from MyHeritage:
About this source
Title: Biographical Dictionary of Leading People of Detroit, MI., 1914
Publication date:    1914
Publisher:    Chicago, A. N. Marquis company
Author:    Marquis, Albert Nelson. [from old catalog]
Sponsor:    Sloan Foundation
Tags:    library_of_congress, americana
Notes: some of the pages in this book were stuck together which caused some of the text to be missing page 304 305 318 319 334 335 362 363 380 381 414 415
Contributor: The Library of Congress

Here is the book excerpt

Here is my transcription:

HART, Henry Gaylord; born, Detroit, Oct. 20, 1874; son of Simeon Henry and Emma (Gaylord) Hart; educated in grammar and high schools, Detroit; married, Detroit, Aug. 6, 1907, Emma Bezner; 1 son, Frederick Henry.  Began with the Michigan Central Ry. at Detroit, in purchasing department, remaining for 12 years; then with Gregory, Mayer & Thom Co. for 12 years; treasurer and general manager since Apr., 1910 of Hilton, Hart & Koehn Co., stationers, etc. Republican. Baptist. Club: Detroit Boat. Office: 193-195 Jefferson Ave. Residence: Grosse Pointe Shores.

I’ve done quite a bit of research on my Hart line.  I’ve even been to Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, where Henry and many other family members are buried.

However, finding this piece of biographical information fills in some of his story that I was not aware of.  I think I will go and do a bit more searching in this particular book, for other family members.  After all, I am Michigan Girl and all trails lead back to Detroit for a lot of my family.

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

HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND–HENRY HART FAMILY - PART 1  

HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND–HENRY HART FAMILY–PART 2 

HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND–HENRY HART FAMILY–PART 3 

Happy Hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY ~ Lyman Constantine Hart, my 2nd great granduncle–1835-1888

Lyman Constantine Hart is my 2nd great granduncle on my paternal side.  He was the son of Henry Hart and Olive Glasier Doten.  He was the 2nd child of 9 born to this couple.

Lyman remains a bit of a mystery to me.  He is enumerated with his family in the 1850 census in Armada, Macomb, Michigan.  I have a Civil War Draft Registration for him from Jun 1863 and he appears in the 1870 census living with his parents, one brother and a sister.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

Civil War Draft Registration record

1870 census

I tried again today to find Lyman enumerated any time between the 1870 census and his death in 1888.  I looked for U.S. census records, agriculture records, state census records and city directories. I had no luck at all. I’ve never located a marriage record for Lyman either.
I do know when he died and where he is buried.
His death record lists his name as L. C., his age as 52, born in Canada – all of those being consistent with my records.  His case of death was “cancer of face” and his occupation listed as a Painter.  The date of death on the register is a match to what is on his headstone, so I’m certain this death record is his. 
NOTE:  In looking at this record today, for the first time in a while I notice there is a handwritten note under the place where parent’s names should be, which says “Wayne County Poor House, Further Particulars Unknown.”

Here’s the full death register.



Here is page two turned sideways and enhanced.  You can see that note written where the parent’s names should be.



The Michigan Deaths & Burials, 1800-1995 list the death place as Nankin, Wayne, Michigan.  This leads me to believe he died at Eloise Asylum/Hospital.

Michigan Deaths & Burials, 1800-1995
Name: L. C. Hart
Gender: Male
Burial Date: 
Burial Place: 
Death Date: 15 Feb 1888
Death Place: Nankin, Wayne, Michigan
Age: 52
Birth Date: 1836
Birthplace: Canadian
Occupation: Painter
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Name: 
Father's Name: 
Father's Birthplace: 
Mother's Name: 
Mother's Birthplace: 
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: B59947-1
System Origin: Michigan-EASy
Source Film Number: 1377688
Reference Number: yr 1888
  
Lyman’s father, Henry Hart, had died in 1879.  That left his mother, Olive, a widow, aged 74.  I am unable to locate her in the 1880 census either.  I wonder why Lyman would have ended up in the Poor House?  He had many sisters, brothers and half siblings living in Armada.  Is it possible his mother was also at the Poor House?  She died a year before Lyman.  Her death record does not indicate she was in the Poor House and does give her parent’s names.  So, I’m uncertain where she was living between Henry’s death in 1879 and her own death in 1887.

Lyman and his parent’s are buried in Rose Hill Cemtery in Armada, Macomb, Michigan.  I have been there twice and photographed their headstone.  They are all on the same stone, on different sides of it.

You can visit the FindAGrave memorial for Lyman here #31946730.

I would welcome input from anyone who has more information about Lyman.  If you’re a cousin, please get in touch with me and let’s share information.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

CENSUS SUNDAY–WHO WAS LIVING NEXT TO WHOM? AND WHAT DOES THIS RECORD TELL ME?

THOSE PLACES THURSDAY - Armada, Macomb, Michigan

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FINALLY! Proving the father of my 3rd great grandmother, Olive Doten Hart (1805-1887–WHAT DID I FIND?

Olive DOTEN is my paternal 3rd great grandmother.  She was born in May 1805 in Vermont.  My search for Olive’s parents began early in my research, I’d say about 2005. What were her parent’s names?  Since she is married in the 1850 census, and the census records prior to that only have head of household (usually the men), I needed to find out some other way.

In 2000, I began keeping a spreadsheet to keep track of records I had ordered by mail or online.  This was back when we didn’t have so many records available online.  Because of my spreadsheet entry I know that I sent for Olive and her husband, Henry’s death certificates on 4 Apr 2005, from Macomb County, Michigan, I received them on 22 Apr 2005 and I paid $10 each for them.

(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT) 
 

Yes, I received them, but they were transcribed copies and NOT the original records.  Helpful, but not always accurate, as most of us know.

Here’s her death certificate as received.  We are concentrating on parent’s names so let’s see what the certificate says.  Isaac & Sally DOLERI. 

 
That precipitated a long search for the surname DOLERI in Vermont, where Olive was born and in surrounding states.  I looked in every record you can think of and found nothing for Isaac or Sally Doleri.  In fact, back when I was looking, there were very few records for that surname.

I called the Macomb County Clerk’s office and asked if they would please send me a copy of the original record.  I, of course, offered to pay for it.  They said they could not release it, and the transcribed copy would have to suffice.  Darn!

Back in 2011 based on evidence from information about the DOTEN family in Monkton, Vermont and the name of her oldest son being Isaac Doten Hart, I changed the focus of my search to the surname DOTEN. 

In the meantime, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950 came online and later images were added.  OH BOY!!!  DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?  Her parents listed as Isaac & Sally DOTEN.

Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950
Name:    Olive G Hart
[Olive G Doten]
Gender:    Female
Marital Status:    Widowed
Birth Date:    1806
Birth Place:    Vermont
Death Date:    10 Apr 1887
Death Place:    Armada, Macomb, Michigan, USA
Death Age:    81
File Number:    14
Father:    Isaac Doten
Mother:    Sally Doten

And when the image was added online I was finally able to make my own decision as to what was written.  Look closely at the parent’s name in the right column.  Does that say Doleri or Doten?  A transcriber should always look closely at how all the entries were written.  You can see that this person carried the cross mark on his T’s a little to the side on some of the entries.  He does that in several names like the name Walter, Hebblewhite and Milton.  ALWAYS remember to look at other entries on any record you receive. 

IS THIS PROOF THAT ISAAC & SALLY WERE HER PARENTS?  NO, it’s evidence, but not proof.  My search continued.

Fast forward to 2019.  Last weekend while attending SCGS Jamboree, I had some spare time. You can read about my experience here SCGS JAMBOREE 2019 ~ It was a fun time with friends and lots of learning.

I decided to look on Ancestry for Vermont probate records and look for Isaac DOTEN.  I’d done plenty of background research and had plenty of “possible” Isaac Dotens in my Legacy database.   Had I searched for probate records before?  Yes, but it’s been a few years.
 
I went directly to Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999 and entered Isaac Doten with a death date of 1855 plus or minus 5 yrs.  This was based on my research of the Doten family in Vermont.  No records found.  I tried all sorts of combinations of names.  First name only, last name only, no death year.  You get the idea.  NOTHING!

Now I went into the “general” search “all collections” and tried again. Look at what I entered in the search box d?tin.  We have to try everything.

FINALLY, after many tries I’ve come up with some possibles, in the right place, Vermont, with a matching first name of Isaac.

 
I clicked on the link for Vermont, Wills and Probate Records, 1749-1999 (yes, I had just searched that very database and come up empty). Never give up.  This is what I saw.  LOOK!  This Isaac is in Addison, Vermont, which is the exact county where I’ve located so many Isaac Doten’s.

I began going through the pages of this 26 page will packet and OH MY GOSH!!!!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

On page 5 of the record is the list of Isaac Doten’s daughters AND THESE MUST ALL BE THEIR MARRIED NAMES!!!  I had no idea if Olive had siblings or who they might be.  I immediately recognized the name Hannah Burrell.  I’d found a Hannah Burrell, age 69 living with Henry & Olive Hart & their children in the 1860 census in Michigan.  I’d never been able to figure out her connection to the family (if there was one)……..until now.

Here they are, Olive and her sisters:
HANNAH BURRELL, LYDIA CREED, OLIVE HART & BETSY SUMNER

Here's a close up of that section in this probate record that nearly made me jump up and down at the conference last weekend.

 
Are you doing the happy dance with me?  I was pretty excited. I have now OFFICIALLY proven that my Olive Hart was the daughter of Isaac Doten. This record along with other evidence is my proof.  Additionally, I’ve taken my family back another generation AND I have Olive’s sisters to research.  What will I find?  By the way, there was a brother, also named Isaac.  He was the oldest and was the administrator of the will for his father.

How I am connected to Isaac Doten, Sr.

Isaac Doten, Sr. & Sally Follett – my 4th great grandparents

Olive G. Doten & Henry Hart – my 3rd great grandparents

Sarah M. Hart & John C. Gould – my 2nd great grandparents

William V. Gould & Mae E. Thorp – my great grandparents

Harry W. Gould & Marie W. Lindsay – my grandparents

Harry N. Gould & Patricia A. Milne – my parents

Stay tuned for more posts about my Doten line.

If you are related to the Doten family or anyone else named in this post, please contact me.  I need to find more cousins from these lines.  I am on Gedmatch A918842.  If you match, let me know.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ Roy Jerome Hart (1883-1946) Perry, Shiawassee, Michigan

Published in the Lansing State Journal 16 Sep 1946, page 2

Roy Jerome Hart is a descendant of my 3rd great grandfather, Henry Hart and his first wife, Sarah Sumner.  This makes Roy my half 2nd cousin twice removed.

Transcription of Obituary:

 

PERRY, Sept. 16 - Funeral services for Roy J. Hart, 63, will be held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the Church of the Nazarene, Rev. John Smith, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Oak Plains Cemetery, Shaftsburg.
The body is at Oakes funeral home where it will remain until one hour previous to the services at the church.
Mr. Hart died suddenly about noon Sunday while attending church.  He had just taken up the collection and sat down in his pew when he dropped over dead.  Death was caused from a heart attack.  He had been ill about three months.
He was born March 14, 1883, at Plainfield, the son of Seth and Nettie Hart.  He was married twice, the first wife being Olive Hart who died September 9, 1931, at Shaftsburg.  He was married the second time October 29, 1932, to Mrs. Rose Martin at Shaftsburg.
He had been the manager of the Laingsburg pickle station for 15 years and had resided in Shaftsburg until he came to Perry 11 years ago.
Surviving are the widow; three daughters, Mrs. Lizzie Woodbury of Pontiac, Mrs. Lucille Martin of Rochester and Mrs. Lenna Nanasy of Morrice; three sons, LeRoy Hart of Williamston, Leo Hart of Lansing and Lawrence Hart of Perry; five brothers, Ned Hart, Eugene Hart, Hartley Hart, all of Laingsburg, Robert Hart of Haslett and Harry Hart of Shaftsburg; two sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Southwell of Shaftsburg and Mrs. Mable Richard of Lake City; four stepchildren; 31 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; 13 step grandchildren and 6 step-great grandchildren.

I imagine having someone die in the middle of a church service must have been a shock to all the members.

While I’ve always been interested in my Hart line, that interest was recently peaked when I connected with a 4th cousin via DNA.  She is directly connected to Roy Jerome Hart who is her 2nd great grandfather.

Roy married Olive Venina Hunter on 14 Mar 1901 in Carunna, Shiawassee, Michigan.  They had 7 children together: Lelah May, Vivian “Lizzie”, Leroy Andrew, Lawrence B., Leo George, Lucille V. and Lennah Louise.

Here's Roy & Olive with 5 of their children.  Photo courtesy of Peter Young.

After Olive died, according to Roy’s obituary, he married again to a Mrs. Rose Martin.  Until finding this obituary I had no record of a second wife.

NOTE:  This particular obituary is full of genealogical information, from marriage and death dates and places to names of a lot of family members.  We don’t always get this lucky when it comes to obituaries.  I’d like to thank whoever wrote this one. 

I have located Roy in census records with his parents, Seth Andrew Hart and Nettie Wright and with his wife Olive.  After his marriage to Olive in 1901 he worked as a Farmer, according to the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census records.  I see from the obituary that he managed a pickle station for 15 years. What in the world is a pickle station?

Since Google is our friend, let’s find out.  According to what I learned Shiawassee County, Michigan was a center for the growing and processing of cucumbers into pickles.  Who knew?  I have no evidence at this point that our Roy Jerome Hart was growing cucumbers in his farming endeavors.  However, he is listed in the Shiawassee Farm Journal (published in 1917)  on page 22.

I checked the front of the book to learn what all the abbreviations in the entries stood for and from that I can translate Roy’s entry as follows:

Hart, R. J. (Olive) 5 children, Owns 80 acres with 2 horses and 7 cattle, address of Rural Route No. 1, Shaftsburg Wdhl 48, Ind tel ( I suspect the tel stands for telephone).  I did not find a translation of Wdhl or Ind in the journal.

Roy was only 63 when he died.  He and Olive are buried at Oak Plain Cemetery in Shaftsburg, Michigan.  You can visit their memorials here; Roy #40017951 and Olive #40017952.  There are 39 Hart memorials in the Oak Plain Cemetery.

Update - After finishing this blog post I discovered another child born to Roy & Olive.  A little girl named Edith Pauline, born 29 Jul 1903 and died at age 4 on new year's day 1908.  Her death was a result of peritonitis from an intestinal obstruction.  How sad. I have not found her burial location.

If you are related to any of the people mentioned in this post and want to exchange information, I’d love to hear from you.  Leave me a comment or use the “contact me” tab on the blog.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

HOW I FOLLOW A TRAIL OF RECORDS & ANALYZE WHAT I FIND–HENRY HART FAMILY–PART 3 (from here you can read Part 1 & 2)

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2018   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ The final chapter of Harland B. Hart’s story - He was only 24 years old

Last week I shared with you the the story of Leonard Almanson Hart and his family.  That was followed by a post about his oldest son, Harland B. Hart.  I believed I had located Harland, living in Detroit, Michigan, based on the 1888 and 1890 city directories.  However, I couldn’t be positive it was him.

Thankfully, my cousin, Charles, in Michigan, has found the evidence we needed to finish Harland’s story.  This evidence does confirm that the Harland I located in those Detroit directories, was the correct one.

The following death notice, not only names Harland as the eldest son of L. Hart, but also names T. H. Roberts as his employer, as listed in the 1890 directory.

The following death notice was published in The State Republican, Lansing, Michigan on 18 Dec. 1890.

 

Here is a transcription of the death notice

A dispatch from Detroit this morning announces the sudden death of Harley B. Hart, formerly of Lansing, but for some time in the employ of T. H. Robert, undertaker. Deceased was twenty-four years of age and eldest son of L. Hart of Millets.

A full obituary was published in The State Republican on 20 Dec 1890.



Here is a transcription of the obituary for Harland.  We now have his cause of death.

A dispatch from Detroit, Thursday, December 18, announced the sudden death of Harland B. Hart, formerly of Lansing, but for the past few years residing in Detroit, and in the employ of T. H. Roberts, undertaker.  He died after a short illness of two days, of diphtheria and heart failure.  The deceased was twenty-four years of age and was born in Macomb county.  when fourteen years of age he moved with his parents to this city where he remained until he went to Detroit, where he made many friends.  The deceased’s father, L. A. Hart, left Thursday at 8:30 p.m. and returned home with the remains Friday, accompanied by T. H. Roberts, who kindly conducted the funeral.  Relatives and friends assembled at the D. L. & N. depot to meet the remains at 3:24 p.m. from where the body was taken to Mt. Hope for interment.  He was a bright and promising young man, highly respected by his employer and well fitted for his occupation.  He leaves a large circle of friends both in Detroit and Lansing to mourn their loss.  Rev. Mr. Fox officiated.

While I was happy to learn that I’d located the correct person in those Detroit directories, it is sad to learn of the passing of Harland at such a young age. R.I.P Harland.

NOTE:  Never give up looking for the evidence of proof needed for your conclusions.  The number of cousins that I’ve connected with, since beginning my research have provided me with untold amounts of information, photos and stories.  This is one such example.  Thanks Charles!

You may visit Harland’s memorial here #17839487.  His headstone photo was taken by my cousin, Charles, and is used with permission.



Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

FOLLOW UP FRIDAY ~ Harland B. Hart–son of Leonard A. Hart & Georgia Wetherell

I’d like to present more information as a follow up to yesterday’s post about my 2nd great granduncle, Leonard Almanson Hart & his family.

Leonard and his wife, Georgia had four sons; Harland B., Charles A., L. Clayton and Harry S.

I stated in my post, which you can read here, that I did not know when Harland B. Hart, the oldest son, died.  I learned from looking at the 1900 census that he had probably died prior to that year.
 
Thanks to my cousin, Charles, I now have more information.  

According to some old family papers that are in Charles’ possession, here is what is known:

Harland Benjamin Hart was born 21 Jun 1866 in Armanda, Macomb, Michigan.  He died 18 Dec 1890 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan.  He was buried 19 Dec 1890 at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan, in Section B, Lot 104, Sub 5.  He was removed to Section B, Lot 253, Sub 8 on 4th May 1893.

He would have been only 24 years old at the time of his death.

I’ve created a memorial for Harland on FindAGrave.  You can see the memorial here #17839487.  I’ve submitted a request for a photo of the headstone.

In the meantime, I searched on Newspapers.com, which I know carries Lansing newspapers, hoping for an obituary.  I didn’t find anything for Harland B. Hart.  I also tried Genealogy Bank, with no luck.

Then I went back to Ancestry and updated Harland’s information, based on what I’d learned.  I know that I need more solid proof as to his date of death and burial location.  However, I enter this information on my tree in order to create more hints.  I use the the search feature and the card catalog also.

It worked.  Up popped two City Directory hints for him.  They were Detroit City Directories.  Knowing how many of my family members, including Hart’s were in Detroit, this was not a surprise for me.
 
He is listed in the 1888 Detroit directory on page 660 as follows:

Hart, Harland B., clk E H Patterson, rms 374 Woodward Av.

I could find no other Hart’s in this directory that were listed as living at 374 Woodward Ave.   My next step was to find out what kind of company E. H. Patterson was.

 On page 1049 I located the following listing:

Patterson, Edward H., Undertaker, 374 Woodward Ave., h 308 4th Tel 1414

 Conclusion – Harland B. Hart was working for E. H. Patterson and boarding/rooming at the business.

1888 directory listing for Harland B. Hart

1888 directory listing for Edward H. Patterson, Undertaker

Next I find Harland listed in the 1890 Detroit directory on page 566 as follows:

Hart, Harland B, asst T H Roberts, rms 25 Adams Ave.

Again, I find no other Hart’s in this directory that were listed as living at the same address, 25 Adams.  Let’s see what kind of company T. H. Roberts is.

 On page 934 is the following listing:

Roberts, Thomas H, Funeral Director, 23-25 Adams Ave., h 28 Edmund Pl, Tel office 268, h 4412

Conclusion – Harland B. Hart was working for another funeral home, T. H. Roberts and living on the business premises.

1890 directory listing for Harland B. Hart

1890 directory listing for Thomas H. Roberts, Funeral Director

Thoughts – Could there have been another Harland B. Hart.  Certainly.  And, until I can find his death record, an obituary or a burial record from the cemetery, I cannot be positive this is my Harland.  But, most of us have learned over the years that  when we add A & B together, along with other evidence we can come to a conclusion.

Try as I might, I cannot locate a death record on either Ancestry or Family Search for this young man.  The search continues.

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks ~ Week #8–Leonard Almanson Hart–My 2nd great granduncle

Leonard Almanson Hart, also known as Lenard and L.A. Hart, was my 2nd great granduncle on my paternal side.  Here’s how we connect.

Henry Hart & Olive G. Doten – my 3rd great grandparents

daughter, Sarah M. Hart & John C. Gould – my 2nd great grandparents

brother of Sarah, Leonard A. Hart – my 2nd great granduncle

Leonard was born 8 Aug 1846 in New York.  He was the last of 9 children born to Henry & Olive Hart.  Sometime before the 1850 census, Henry had moved his wife and 9 children to Armada, Macomb, Michigan.  Here are the names of Leonard’s siblings: Isaac D., Lyman C., Sarah M. (my ancestor), Noble A., Betsy R., Arminda A., Simeon H. and Olive P.  All of the siblings lived into adulthood.  To my knowledge the only two that didn’t marry were Lyman and Noble.  So, this family should have quite a few descendants, as all the married siblings did have children.

On 28 Jan 1866 in Macomb Co., Michigan, Leonard A. Hart married Frances Georgia Ann Wetherell.  She was the daughter of Benjamin Wetherell and Eliza Cole.  My first record of their marriage was in the Dibean Michigan Marriage Index.  I also found the marriage recorded in Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995.  No image is available, but here is the index of that record from familysearch.org

Name	Leonard A. Hart
Birth Date	1847
Age	19
Spouse's Name	Frances G. Witherell
Spouse's Birth Date	1847
Spouse's Age	19
Event Date	28 Jan 1866
Event Place	Macomb,Michigan

Indexing Project (Batch) Number	M51858-3
System Origin	Michigan-ODM
GS Film number	979571

Source: "Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCTL-2QS : 4 December 2014), Leonard A. Hart and Frances G. Witherell, 28 Jan 1866; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 979,571.

I’m fortunate to be in contact with Leonard’s 2nd great grandson.  We have been communicating for several years now.  He connected with my via one of my blog posts about the Hart family.

He shared several photos of Leonard and his wife Frances who went by her middle name Georgia.  One of them is at the beginning of this post.  Pictures bring our ancestors to life.

Here are a couple of others.  Thank you cousin Charles.

Leonard & Georgia Hart - unknown year, but obviously portrait photos

Georgia in her later years

I find Leonard in the 1850 and 1860 census in Armada, Macomb, Michigan living with his parents.

 

He is first enumerated with his wife in the 1870 census where is is listed as a Farmer.  The value of his personal estate being $100.  In his household are his wife, Georgia A., son Harland B., age 4 and son, Charles A., age 1.  The family is split on 2 pages.  The second page contains a small snapshot of the farming community in Armada, Michigan at that time.  Six households of family members living adjacent to one another.

 

Here is page 1, with Leonard listed at the bottom of the page. And, his brother, Simeon, further up the page, working for the Shepardson family.

 

Now, here is page 2, with little Charles Hart at the top of the page and all of the other families listed below him.  I have indicated who they all are.  Finding a page like this in any census is a great find.

(PLEASE REMEMBER TO CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

In 1880 Leonard is farming in Armada and has one more son, Clayton.

In the 1900 census Leonard is still farming, but has moved to Lansing, Ingham Co., Michigan.  His oldest 3 sons are out of the house and only his son, Harry, age 17, is still at home.  The census also states that one of the 3 older sons has died as Georgia is the mother of 4 children with 3 still living.  From later research I learned that it is Harland, the oldest son, who died prior to 1900.  I’m still trying to locate his death record or obituary.

Next, in 1910,  I find Leonard & his wife, Georgia are no longer on a farm, but in a house at 601 Shannon Ave., in Lansing.  Information I have gathered has led me to believe that the road name for this home may changed from Shannon to Moores River to Sparrow.  The address of 601 remains in various records, but the name of the street changes.

Here is a picture of Georgia standing on the porch of the home at 601 Moores River Rd.



I cannot for the life of me, locate Leonard and Georgia in the 1920 census.

However, I was able to locate him in two city directories for Lansing, Michigan. 

• In 1916 he and Georgia are listed on page 360 of the directory.  He is working at J. H. Moores and living at 601 Sparrow Ave.
• In 1922, the year before his death, Leonard and Georgia are listed on page 476 as living at 601 Moores River Drive.  No place of work is given.

Leonard died 25 Sep 1923 in Lansing, Ingham, Michigan from some type of Uremic hypertrophy.

Here is his death certificate.

I also found a very nice obituary on newspapers.com.  Here is a screenshot of the article.

Leonard is buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Lansing, Michigan, along with his wife, Georgia who died in 1927.  You may view their memorials at #23205259 and #23204976.  Other family members are also buried in the cemetery.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about Leonard and his family today.  If you find that you are connected with them, please contact me by leaving a comment on this post, or using the “contact me” tab.

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST
Bath School Bombing in 1927 takes the life of 3 Hart children and many others
Michigan Death Records Online - Where can you find them?

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2017   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION