To my sister, sister-in-laws, aunts, cousins and cousin-in-laws;
Happy Mothers Day.

Shirley Howes Gaber Budny

 In remembrance of my mother who passed away in 2003. I miss you. 

This post is number 24 in the series of the #52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge where a group of us blog about a different ancestor for each week of the year.  To learn more about the 52 Ancestor Challenge visit Amy Johnson’s site at Amy’s website.

A life too short – a Father gone too soon

My great grandfather, Ernest Anderson lived from 1882 to 1925.  Born to Canadian immigrants of Irish and English descent, in Bad Axe, MI. That’s near the tip of your thumb on your right hand if you need a visual reference.  He was only 42 years of age when he died from a fall working at a plant in Zilwaukee, Michigan.

Ernest married Minnie White in 1902.  His occupation is listed as farmer on the marriage index.  Subsequently, he becomes a laborer at a foundry.  Ernest’s states he is a fireman working at the Michigan Light Company on his WWI Registration Card.  The Michigan Light Company could be the plant he was working at when he died.

Ernest Anderson World War One Military Registration Card

At the time of his death in January 1925, there were eight children. Ranging in age from 27 to 3 years old.  My grandmother Mildred (Edith) is eight years old.  A ninth child, Betty Jane Anderson was born after he died.  His daughter, Doris, the subject of Doris Anderson #14 52Ancestors died in 1927.

Minnie remarries in December 1926 to William O’Neil.  They have one daughter, Rosetta May O’Neil.  Betty Jane and Rosetta are placed for adoption or possibly with other families by Minnie sometime after the 1930 Census.  Some of the sisters find Rosetta years later.  Rosetta now goes by the name Peggy and marries Robert W. Black.  I don’t have information on Betty Jane.

Ernest’s father, Gordon Anderson was born near Wilmot Township in Ontario, Canada.  Gordon’s parents, immigrated from Ireland in the early 1840’s.  Ernest’s mother is Elizabeth Woods, born in Blenheim, Ontario. Her father James Woods is from England.

Sources

“Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952,” index, Ernest Anderson, 13 Jan 1925; citing Zilwaukee, Saginaw, Michigan, United States; 02844; FHL microfilm 1973077.
Public Libraries of Saginaw:  http://obits.netsource-one.net/

This post is number 23 in the series of the #52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge where a group of us blog about a different ancestor for each week of the year.  To learn more about the 52 Ancestor Challenge visit Amy Johnson’s site at Amy’s website.

I chose Ella Belle McDowell because I wanted to do a quick post and get back to my chores.  I wanted to add some background information so I did a little research on Ancestry.  A couple of hours later…oh my gosh; a familiar name appears and down a rabbit hole I go.  But first, a little info on Ella.

The Second Wife

Ella Belle McDowell is the second wife of my two time great grandfather, John T. Pittman.  I wrote about John in post #9 of this series.  Click here for the story about John. Ella married John in 1900 when she was 29 years old.  Well past the median age of 22 for females back in 1900.  She became an instant mother to John’s three young girls.  John’s first wife, my 2nd great-grandmother, Josephine Woodburn, No. 2 in this series, died in 1892.

Ella’s Background

Ella was born in 1870 in a place called Williams Mill, Caldwell, Kentucky.  Her parents are Daniel McDowell and Sarah Poole.  Sarah Poole is the second wife of Daniel.  His first wife was Harriet Traylor.  It’s her name that sent me down the rabbit hole looking for info.

Harriet’s last name Traylor, happens to be the middle name of my second great grandmother, Catherine Traylor Guy.  Catherine Guy married David Wayne Roll.  Their son, Ollie Roll marries Mabel Pittman, daughter of John Pittman. Traylor is an unusual middle name.  Catherine Guy’s mother is Katherine Hickman.

There could be a Traylor on the Hickman side still waiting to be discovered.  Or, it is possible that the Guy’s knew a Traylor and bestowed the name on their daughter.  Looks like I need to create a diagram and see if I can find crumbs linking them.

Back to Ella

It seems Ella’s life is uneventful, maybe her children would have different stories to tell.  Ella died in 1936 in Central City, Kentucky. My mother and grandparents went down to Kentucky to see Grandpa John in 1940 or 1941.  I am guessing my mother was about five years at that time.  Below are photos of Clarence and Hugh Pittman.  The group photo is of my Aunt Patricia Howes Adcock, my grandparents, Olive Roll Howes and Hugh A. Howes, and Finis Pittman.

John Pittman outlived both his wives.  He passed away in 1956.

L-R Patricia Howes Adcock, Olive Roll Howes, Finis Pittman, and Hugh A. Howes

Sources:
Median Age of Marriage:  http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005061.html

This post is number 16 in the series of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge where a group of us blog about a different ancestor for each week of the year.  To learn more about the 52 Ancestor Challenge visit Amy’s website.

That one elusive female ancestor

I never really had an female ancestor that I couldn’t find a name of the birth parents.  My third great-grandmother, Katherine HICKMAN is the exception.  Katherine (Catherine) HICKMAN is the mother of Katherine Traylor GUY who is the second wife of David Wayne ROLL.  K. Guy and D. Roll are the parents of #52 Ancestors No. 7 – Ollie Cromwell Roll.

In the beginning, there is Katherine Hickman’s marriage record to Clydus Alexander Guy in 1846.  They were married in Grainger County, TN.  The young couple move into Kentucky and raise their family.  All records after her marriage are in her married name.

Death certificates for one of her sons list Martha as the mother’s name.  That could be a clue or an error.  The 1880 Census records that both her parents were born in TN. That’s my starting point in trying to find her family.  Katherine was born about 1826 in Tennessee. I will have to scour the 1830 and 1840 census for Hickman’s to see if a female is listed in her age group on the schedules. Hopefully there are not too many Hickman’s.  Katherine & Clydus children’s names are generic to see if there might be a naming pattern.

One clue could be in my second great grandmother’s middle name of Traylor.  Is it a family name, friends name, or location. Yes, I wrote location.  I have another female with the middle name of Decker.  She was named for Decker Station, Indiana where the family lived when she was born.

I recently upgrade to Family Tree 2014.  I’ll try out the Plan function, similar to creating a project plan or task list.  I will be able to keep track what records or databases I have searched to find out about Katherine Hickman.