FINDING A LETTER FROM MY GRANDMOTHER–Florence Bowden Milne 1888-1986

As genealogists, there are many things that make us go WOW!  But, for sure one of the biggest ones for me is finding correspondence from one of my beloved grandparents.  In fact, the ONLY correspondence that I have in my possession happens to come from my maternal grandmother, Florence.  I do remember that she and I wrote back and forth quite often in the 1970’s and early 1980’s.  I sure wish I’d have saved every letter.

Here’s a screenshot from my Legacy tree.  You can see that I have a HUGE problem on my grandmother’s paternal side.  I used to ask her questions about her family.  Trouble is, I didn’t write everything down.  One of her responses to my question about her father, Robert Bowden’s parents was that she didn’t know their names.

 (CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT)

However, my grandmother, Florence, was our family historian and left me a LOT of ancestor information.

Anyway, while cleaning out boxes in our garage yesterday I did come across a letter from my grandmother to me.  The other letter I have from her is dated 1978, this one is 14 Sep 1980.  AND, it’s in an envelope!!  Future DNA testing may be possible from the envelope so I’m thrilled with that find.



NOTE:  Still having trouble inserting images as Open Live Writer is not working properly and using Blogger directly is less than satisfactory.  So forgive any misaligned images etc.


Here’s the letter itself.

Here’s my transcription of this treasured letter.  I explained a couple of things, which I’ve highlighted in red.

hands shaking and writing awful (my grandmother wrote this at the top of the page)
                                                                                Sept. 14, 80
Dear Diane: – You must think I am a very neglectful grandmother but it just seems like so many things come up and people coming in. So, if you can forgive me I will try to do bettr.  Joan (she is my Aunt, Florence’s daughter) is slowly recovering then just as we are having a breathing spell she over does and she gets the shaking inside again.  You know that the last bad time in hospital she stopped breathing and in their efforts to revive her they broke 3 ribs. So that complicated everything but it is all coming out well.  We have a very nice apt. in a big complex, quiet and beautiful grounds.
I don’t know if I shall ever get rested but the Lord provides the strength we need.  I used to knit bed socks for Red Cross in Houston but Red Cross (she means in Livonia or Detroit) has no such thing so when the most of the confusion etc. died down I didn’t have a project on hand but Joan’s church has a lady has 3 homes orphans and others she supplies with bed socks, but told church members she needed knitters.  She supplies the money for yarn!  So I am in business again.  I finally got toenails & eye glasses fixed but need to have lower plate repaired.  Joan can drive now so my gson does not have to do my needs.  I finally got a letter from Pat (Pat is my mother, Florence’s youngest daughter). I was worried about them and in the letter very little news but – Bless you my dear for writing.  Love for you and Norman
Grandma

I tried to leave the transcription exactly as the words on the page are written.

My Aunt Joan died 5 years later on 2 Dec 1985.  I don’t have her cause of death and need to ask my cousin if he has a copy of her death certificate.

The letter has a return address of 31189 Morlock Apt 519, Livonia, Michigan.  I looked on Google Earth and found that the apartment complex still exists, at least according to Google Earth’s view.
 

3119 Morlock, Livonia, MI - courtesy of Google Earth

The ancestor surnames associated with my grandmother Florence’s family are: BARROWCLIFF, BOGGS, BOWDEN, BOWEN, BURGESS, CRITCHFIELD, DEAVER, DENSLER, FRAMPTON, GAYDON, GILLEN, GILLESPIE, HUDSON, HUNTER, LUNSFORD, MARTIN, MILNE, RITCHIE, RUMMELSPACHER, WUNDERLICH

To see more items from my grandmother Florence, you can click on this tab on the top of my blog My Grandmother's Journal.

PLEASE CONTACT ME AGAIN IF YOU HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS TO THE SURNAMES I’VE MENTIONED.  
Let’s see if we’re cousins.

Happy hunting, 
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks–Week #4–Who Would I Like to Talk to?

Isn’t that a question we often ask ourselves?  If only we could talk to _______fill in the blank.  Maybe we could get answers to our family mysteries or just a better background on who, what, when and where.

Since the theme for this week doesn’t say we have to pick just one person, I am going to name a few of my beloved ancestors and why I’d like to (need to) speak to them.  If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you will recognize these names. I apologize for bringing them up again.  However, we all know that it only takes one person/reader to say “hey, I know the answer to that question!”  It’s what we all hope for.

William "Val" Gould - my great grandfather, son of John C. Gould

FIRST AND DEFINITELY AT THE TOP OF MY LIST – My paternal great grandfather, William V. Gould (born Vivaldo William Gould) (1859-1924).  I know, from many sources, who is father & mother were.  HOWEVER, I am completely stuck as to who his paternal grandparents were.  Who were the parents of John C. Gould?   What could William tell me about his own father?  Did he know who his paternal grandparents were?  Did he ever meet them?  What stories did his father tell about the family?  And lastly, why doesn’t there seem to be a single photo of his parents in family pictures?  They were alive until 1911 and probably 1919.  And, the next question would be – is the John Gould on the death certificate I’ve located, the correct person?  Is this William’s father?

I’ve written about this nearly two decade brick wall mystery and you can read it here MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? John C. Gould 1833-1919?

THE NEXT ANCESTOR I NEED TO TALK TO – My maternal great grandfather, Robert Edward Lee Bowden, 1863-1906.  Who were his parents?  Did he have siblings?  I know absolutely nothing about his family.  

Interestingly, it was his daughter, Florence Bowden (my grandmother) who was the family historian/genealogist before me.  She kept meticulous records of family births, marriages and many deaths.  She drew a family tree by hand.  However, back in the 1970’s she wrote me a letter and in that letter is a response to a question I’d asked about her family.  Who were her father’s parents?  She could only say that she thought Robert Bowden’s mother was named Susan and that she died when my grandmother was 4 yrs. old, which would have been about 1892.  Since Robert and his wife divorced when my grandmother was about 11 yrs. old and he died when she was just 18 yrs. old, there may not have been a time when she could ask questions. Robert was a railroad brakeman and I expect he was often gone from the home.
  

 I’ve never found a picture of him and surely there must have been one taken at some point.

 
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but I’ve also written a blog post about this brick wall and you can read it here MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Robert L. Bowden 1863-1906

Catherine Dorsey - my 2nd great grandmother with her children Annie & Horace Jr.

NEXT ON MY LIST -  My paternal 2nd great grandmother, Catherine C. Dorsey about 1842 – 1898.  She, by all records I’ve obtained, was born in Dublin, Ireland about 1842.  Her death cert lists her parents as Jno and Mary.  She lies in an unmarked grave at Mt. Elliott Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan.  

She was the wife of Horace Henry Thorp (1836-1907) and the mother of 10 children.  I have a picture of her.  I also have most of the information on 9 of her 10 children.  When did she arrive in the U.S.?  Was she really born in Dublin?  What were the full names of her parents and did she have any siblings?  How did she meet Horace?  
As you might guess, I’ve also written about her before and you can read it and see her picture here - MYSTERY MONDAY - WHO'S YOUR DADDY? Catherine Dorsey about 1842-1898

My Dad - Harry Norman Gould

AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST – My own Dad, Harry Norman Gould 1912-1991.  He absolutely loved to tell family stories and talk about when he was growing up.  He was an only child, and the grandchild of William & Mae Gould (although they had 6 children, he was the only grandchild).  I did listen to his stories growing up and when I became an adult.  I did ask him questions and we sat down and I had him label family photos for me.  But, you know how it goes.  Until we begin doing actual family research we don’t know what questions we should have asked.  

I didn’t begin my genealogy journey until 12 years after he died.  Now I have a hundred questions that I would be willing to bet he could answer for me.  And, we would have such a good time, laughing and talking about his beloved Mema and Bepa (what he called William & Mae Gould), his grandparents.  If only…….if only. 

There are dozens more ancestors that I’d love to sit down with, but for now, I’d settle for all or one of the four I’ve mentioned here.

Who would you like to talk to?  And why?
  
If you find that you are related to anyone mentioned in this post or have information for me, please get in touch.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ William H. Thorpe–1862-1909–Detroit, Michigan

Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar 1909, page 4

William H. Thorpe was the husband of my great grandaunt, Catherine “Kittie” Thorp.  Yes, you read that maiden name correctly.  Catherine THORP married William THORPE.

Did that cause a little confusion in my research at the beginning.  Oh yes!  But, between my cousin Bonnie (married to a Thorp descendant) and me, we figured it all out.

Here’s a transcription of his obituary.
William H. Thorpe, steward on the D. & C. and the C. & B. lines for the last 20 years, died at the Marine Hospital Saturday of Bright's disease, from which he had been suffering for six months. He was 48 years old. Besides his widow he leaves three daughters, Mrs. W. Hayes, Mrs. J. Stanton and Miss Blanche Thorpe. He will be buried today at 2:30 o'clock from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. J. Stanton, 568 Fifteenth St. Interment will be at Elmwood cemetery.

William was only 46 years old when he died.  His widow, Catherine never remarried and lived another 32 years without him.
I haven’t done a lot of research on the Thorpe (with an “e”) line of the family.  I have William’s parents names from his death certificate as Hamilton Thorpe and Jane (maiden name not given).
Catherine and William married in Detroit on 9 Mar 1884.  They had 5 children, only 3 of whom lived to adulthood.  The children were: William G. born and died 1884, Mabel Catherine 1886-1958, Grace M. 1889-1945, William 1891 to before 1900, Blanche, 1892-? (Blanche married at least 3 times and I haven’t located her death record yet).

It appears that William and his family moved to Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio for a short time.  They were enumerated there in the 1900 census.  What precipitated the move?  Was it his work?  However, by the time of William’s death in 1909, the family was back in Detroit.

Let’s try to fill in the years between their marriage in 1884 and his death in 1909 by checking some city directories.

I have located William in Detroit city directories for 1888, 1889, 1905, 1906 and the year of his death in 1909.  According to the index, in each of the listings William is working in some capacity for the railroad.

NOTE: Although I’ve been trying for the past 2 hours to bring up the images of the city directories on Ancestry, I’ve had no luck.  Even switching browsers didn’t help.   I will continue this search another time, and also try my luck on Fold3.

Here is a photo of William (courtesy of my cousin, Bonnie).  A little blurry, but it's all I have.

 
William and Catherine are buried in different cemeteries.  According to Elmwood Cemetery staff, there is no headstone for William.  However, I have created a memorial for him and you may visit it here #149488550.

If you are related to either of the THORPE or THORP families mentioned here, I’d love to hear from you.  I’m always eager to hear from new cousins.

OTHER POSTS THAT YOU MAY FIND INTERESTING

THOUGHFUL THURSDAY - Why don’t I have a death date or record for William H. Thorpe? (this was a particularly interesting afternoon of research that you may find helpful)


Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS–Week #3–Unusual Names

There’s certainly no shortage of unusual names in our ancestry.

I had written a blog post about this last July and you can read it here - Unusual Ancestor Names - How many are in your family? Where did they originate?

When speaking of given names, what we consider unusual today, was common 100, 200 or 300 years ago.  As to surnames, there are some that I’ve found in my research and I think “how did they come up with that?”

One of my more recent finds is the wife of a 1st cousin once removed, William Allen Lindsay. He married a lady named Edith A. SIDEBOTTOM.  I’d certainly never heard that surname before.  We also know that sometimes a surname is used as a middle name or even a first name.  Many Biblical names were used by our ancestors. Achsah, Bethsheba, Barnabas, Cornelius, Ebezezer, Ezekiel, Moses, Theophilus etc.

What are some other unusual names that I’ve run across over the years? 

Here’s a list in no particular order and just a sample.

• Okla Allen (1912-2004)
• Mahala Armstrong (1822 – ?)
• Wild Auten (1895-?)
• Cemanthe Avery (1831-1899)
• Sophie Baerbalck wife of Homer Clay Smith
• Pheriba Barbour (abt 1840-1879)
• Renick Beverage (1874-?)
• Burritt Blakeslee (1800-1866)
• Freada Emma Meta Fink (1895-1981)
• Eglatina Blodgett
• Ovde Boggs
• Awilda Booth (abt 1854-?)
• Rebecca Plybon (abt 1790-1873)
• Elzina Power (1899 – ?)
• Eunishba Rosette (1798-1872)
• Albert Edward Schmadel (1870-1945)
• Qiuelletta Scovell (1846-1922)
• Lavancha Searls (1847-1923)
• Fred Woodfin Siler

That’s just a sample from my database of 5950 individuals. I’m sure I’ve missed a few and I’m sure other bloggers will have some great names to share.

Do you have an unusual first, middle or surname in you family?  I’d love to hear about them.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS ~ Detroit PD - Sgt. William Hayes Confiscates Weapons - 1924

Detroit Free Press, 2 Jan 1924, page 5

I always enjoy newspaper articles featuring family members.  The newspapers of yesteryear were the social media hubs for our ancestors.  From wedding, birth and death announcements to social gatherings and out of town visits.  The newspapers covered many events.

This particular article is about the confiscation of weapons during the first hour of 1924, in Detroit, Michigan. Sgt. Hayes was married to my 1st cousin twice removed, Mabel Catherine Thorpe.

Here’s what it says:

Roundup of Suspicious Persons is Made New Year’s Morning
Twenty-on revolvers, a shot gun and 500 rounds of ammunition were seized by police of the first precinct during the first hour of 1924.  The firearms were taken in a general roundup of persons with suspicious bulges in their clothes at points where the bulges would not ordinarily indicate hip flasks or quart bottles.
The first prisoner to be taken in 1924 was Edison Green, 22 years old. When halted on Gratiot Avenue he was found to have a revolver up his sleeve, held in place by a rubber band.  He was charged with carrying concealed weapons.
The guns were confiscated by Lieutenant Charles Wiggle, and Sergeants William Hayes, George Ludwig and William Maloney.

I wondered what else was going on in Detroit on January 2, 1924.  The cost of the paper was 3 cents, the weather was cloudy and the top headline is about a Rich Oil Man being Shot.

Here’s the front page from that day. 
(Click on any image to enlarge it)
 

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

ANCESTORS IN THE NEWS - Patrolman William Patrick Hayes Discovers Huge Warehouse Fire – 1907


You can see all my Ancestors in the News Posts here.

Happy hunting,
Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

SUNDAY’S OBITUARY ~ My Grandaunt Helen C. Gould–1901-1945

Transcription of obituary - GOULD - Feb 17, 1945.  Helen C. suddenly at residence, 5639 Linwood, beloved daughter of May E and the late Wm. V., dear sister of Ford, Harry and Roy Gould, Mrs. Chas. E. Smith and Mrs. Myron A. Sine of Grants Pass, Oregon.  Funeral service from Floyd L. Hamilton Funeral Home, 12th near West Grand Blvd. Wednesday at 9:15.  St. Leo's Church 10 a.m.  Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Here is Helen pictured with some of her family.

Helen Gould with her parents Mae & William - circa 1920

Helen C. Gould

Helen Gould on the right and her older sister Mae Adele on the left - circa 1913-1915

Helen C. Gould was the youngest of my grandfather’s siblings.  The family had 3 boys; Ford, Harry (my grandfather) and Roy.  Then they had 3 girls; Gladys, May “Adele” and Helen.

Helen was born 12 Mar 1901 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan.  She was living at home with her parents, Wm. Val & Mae Gould in the 1910 and 1920 census.  In 1920 she was working as a Stenographer at a motor factory.  Working in the auto industry was a common thread for my ancestors in Detroit during this time when the auto business was booming.  By 1930 she was living with her married sister, Adele (now Mrs. James Conner) and working as a Stenographer at a trust company.

I have found no evidence that Helen ever married or had any children.  Her brother, Ford, also never married.  Of the 6 children born in this Gould family, only one of them had a child and that was my grandfather, Harry.  Talk about not having collateral family to research.  Helen seemed to be a good looking, well dressed woman.  I always wonder why someone doesn’t marry.  It was much less common back then than it is now.

Strangely, I cannot locate Helen in the 1940 census.  Her place of death, 5639 Linwood is the home where her mother lived from before 1930 until her death in 1946.  In the 1940 census, Helen’s mother, Mae Gould is living in the home on Linwood, with her son, Ford and sister Catherine Thorp.  So, where is Helen?

Helen was only 43 years old when she died.  I don’t have a copy of her death certificate.  I either need to order it and pay the fee or wait 3 more years for it to be released to the public.

 

However, thanks to my cousin, Marian, I do have the information contained on the certificate.  You see, Marian was doing some transcribing/indexing for familysearch.org when she came across Helen’s death certificate.  She didn’t grab a screenshot, but wrote down most of the important items as follows:

• Certificate #333216
• Address – 5639 Linwood Ave., Detroit, Michigan
• Date of birth - 12 Mar 1901
• Date of death – 17 Feb 1945 at 11;30 p.m.
• Occupation – Stenographer for Frisbee Insurance Co.
• Date of burial – 21 Feb 1945 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan
• Cause of death – Cardiac failure following chronic myocarditis and acute dilatation pyogenic nephritis
• Informant – Gladys L. Smith (sister) of 3729 14th St., Detroit, Michigan
• Funeral director – Floyd L. Hamilton at 7334 Twelfth St., Detroit, Michigan

Until doing this review for Helen, I had forgotten that I don’t have a place of residence for her in 1940 or a copy of her death certificate.

 

Helen is buried with her parents at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.  I visited their gravesites when I was there in 2007 and took the following photos.

You may visit Helen’s FindAGrave memorial here #32439516.

If you have any further information to share about Helen, I’d love to hear from you.  I’m always looking to connect with anyone who has information about my Gould family.

 

OTHER POSTS THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST

Did My Grandparents Almost Win a Home in a Detroit suburb in 1956?

Sunday's Obituary - Harry Whipple Gould, my grandfather and Helen's brother (1886-1960)

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

IT’S BLOGIVERSARY TIME ~ I began this journey 9 years ago

It’s been 9 years now since I began this blogging journey.  WOW!  It’s sure been wonderful.

 

I’m a better genealogist because of my blog.  When you are putting something out there for all to see, you realize it better be correct.  As I write about each ancestor I see where the holes are in my research.  I take the time to go back and find missing sources and that will often lead to more records.

 

I’ve made many wonderful friends along the way.  Bloggers are a generous group and we all enjoy helping one another and welcoming new bloggers to the fold.

Each year I have all my blog posts printed into a book or books.  I use Blog2Print and they make it super easy to do.  My current book is in the printing process right now, so here’s a display of my books so far.

The first 3 years I didn’t write much so that white soft cover book on the left covers 2010, 2011 and 2012.

 

I’ve written 515 posts so far and have had well over 1000 comments left by readers.  Blogger stops counting at 1000.  I have responded to each and every comment.

What does the future hold for my blog?  I hope I continue to write posts that people enjoy reading and that I continue to get feedback and make connections with family.

Here’s to a really productive 2019!

Happy hunting,

Michigan Girl

Copyright ©  2010-2019   Diane Gould Hall

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.  NO USE WITHOUT PERMISSION