Friday, March 28, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #12 - Walter Eric Carlson


Walter Eric Carlson is my great grandfather.  Walter was born on October 11, 1898 in Massachusetts.  to Erick Andrew Carlson (1873-1925) and Lena Marie Hokans (1871-1932).  Walter was the second of four children:

By 1910 the family was living in DeKalb, Illinois.  Walter married Charlotte Marie Natchigall on March 21, 1929.  Walter and Charlotte had four children

  • Rita (still living)
  • William (my grandfather; still living)
  • Charles (still living)
  • Richard Allen (1937-2010). 
According to the 1930's census, Walter worked at a line man for the electric company and would still hold that job when the 1940's census was taken.  Walter died on July 6, 1963 at the age of 64.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Spring Break Bonus Ancestor - Edith Kermit Carow

I am currently on spring break and thought I would offer up a distant relative who I wouldn't profile during the 52 Ancestors challenge.

Edith Kermit Carow who would marry Theodore Roosevelt is my 5th cousin 7x removed.  Our common ancestor begins with John Gorham (1620-1676) and Desire Howland (1623-1683).

Ancestry Line from Edith to my great grandfather Chester Walton Greene.  The last names that are in caps are my direct relatives.


Edith was born on August 6, 1861 in Norwich, Connecticut to Charles Carow (1825-1883) and Gertrude Elizabeth Tyler (1836-1895).  Edith was the second of three children but her older brother Robert Kermit died as an infant before Edith was born.  Edith's younger sister, Emily followed in 1864. 

Edith grew up next door to Theodore Roosevelt and his family even attending his wedding to first wife Alice Hathaway Lee.  Alice would pass away on February 14, 1884 at the age of 22 after giving birth to daughter Alice, due to kidney failure that was masked by Alice's pregnancy.  Theodore would also lose his mother on the same day to typhoid fever.  Edith and Theodore reconnected in 1885 and were engaged on November 17, 1885 but delayed announcement.  Edith and Theodore were married on December 2, 1886 at St. George's Church of Hanover Square in London, England.  The two enjoyed a 15 week honeymoon in Europe.  Edith and Theodore had five children: Theodore (1887-1944), Kermit (1889-1943), Ethel Carow (1891-1977), Archibald Bulloch (1894-1979) and Quentin (1897-1918).

Theodore was elected to the office of Vice President of the United Stated in 1901 and after just six months would become President in September 1901 after William McKinley was assassinated. Edith's time as first lady helped turn the White House into the social center of the land.  Edith did an extensive remodel of the White House costing $475,000.  

Edith would outlive three of her five children.  The youngest Roosevelt child, Quentin died in aerial combat in France during WWI on July 14, 1918 less than six months later husband Theodore would die on January 6, 1919 at the age of 60.  Edith and Theodore's eldest child: Theodore also died in France but during WWII and of a heart attack on July 12, 1944 he was 56.  Edith and Theodore's second child: Kermit committed suicide by gun shot on June 4, 1943 at the age of 53.  Edith was not told it was a suicide but a heart attack.

Edith died on September 30, 1948 in Oyster Bay, New York and is interred next to her husband at Youngs Memorial Cemetery near Oyster Bay, New York.


Roosevelt Family - L-R: Quentin, T.R., Archibald on knee, Theodore III, Alice, Kermit, Edith, Ethel.


SOURCES:


Friday, March 21, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #11 - George Deo Firman


George Deo Firman is my second great grandfather.  George was born on March 19, 1887 in Lansing, Michigan to George Rood (1864-after 1930) and Sarah Jane Stevens (1864-1948).  George was the couples fourth child: Horace E. (1883-1924), Della H. (1885-?), Harriet A. (1886-?), Dana Carter (1889-1972) and Dale (1896-1964).

George married Adeline Viola Norman and they had five children: Garnet Adele (my great grandmother: 1913-1997), Ronald G. (1915-1980), Charles D. (1919-1994), Betty Jane (1926-1992) and Nina (1928-1994).  George lived in Michigan for a large portion on his life according to the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 census living in Detroit and Royal Oak.  Adeline died in 1935 in Chicago so sometime between 1930 and 1935 they moved to the Illinois area.  I have been unable to find several family members that would of been living at the time of the 1940 census and George is one of them.

George passed away on November 18, 1973 at the age of 87 in Loves Park, Illinois.

George and his daughters: In front - Betty, George.  In back - Nina, Garnet.




Sunday, March 16, 2014

Interesting Connections....

Have you ever found famous or historical individuals in your genealogy research?  This weekend I found that a famous celebrity is a distant relative of mine.  I previously have found that a President married a distant cousin of mine as well.  These both came from my father's mother's side of the family.

Friday, March 14, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #10 - Alice Mabel Nelen

Alice is my great grandmother.

Alice Mabel Nelen was born on February 23, 1905 in Footville, Wisconsin to John Nelen (1857-after 1940) and Mary Jane O'Rourke (About 1870-After 1930).  Alice lived in Spring Valley, Wisconsin most of her life before eventually marrying Chester Walton Greene (1905-1967) and moving to Pecatonica, Illinois.  Alice and Chester had four children:

  • Paul (1933-1977)
  • Robert (1934-2008) 
  • two daughters who are still living.  One of those daughters is my grandmother.  
Alice died on January 4, 1988 at the age of 82.

Ancestry 


Saturday, March 8, 2014

52 Ancestors Challenge: Week #9 - Celestia Alabama Caldonia Reese

Donie is my 2nd great grandmother.

Photo from 1902 or 1903


Celestia Alabama Caldonia Reese was born on January 26, 1872 along with her twin brother Richard Huston, in Newburg, Arkansas to William M. Reese (1817-1901) and Aseneth Cenia Mullins (1839-1882).  She went by the name Donie her whole life.  According to the 1880's census, Donie is lived in Kings Prairie, Missouri.  In 1882, Donie's mother dies and three years later her twin brother dies in 1885.  Donie had four other full siblings:
  • Celia Eveline (1870-1958)
  • Lela E. (1871-?)
  • Benjamin Hall (1874-1925)
  • James F. (1878-1955).  
Donie's father had been married to a woman named Celia before he was married to her mother, they had 10 children:
  • Eliza J. (1841-?)
  • Tabitha (1842-?)
  • William A. (1843-?)
  • Bryd H. (1844-?)
  • Samuel A. (1845-?)
  • Richard (1849-?)
  • Charley (1850-1925)
  • Mary S. (1853-?)
  • Alonza (1857-?)
  • Edward (1860-?).
Donie married Josiah Converse Carrico on December 19, 1892 in Wild Cherry, Arkansas.  They had seven children:
Donie and her family lived in Arkansas throughout her life mostly in Wild Cherry.  Donie passed on March 3, 1948 at the age of 76 and is buried at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Calico Rock.

Donie and Children: Claud, Bessie in lap, Arval

Family Photo about 1902 or 1903: Bessie, Arval, J.C. holding Ida, Donie, Claud


Ancestry