Saturday, March 30, 2019

Newspaper Research




Newspapers are full of family information!
I have found many great things at Newspapers.com.
Here are links to a few of my posts that were based on newspaper articles.

Obituaries

               Colonel Aaron Brown
               Rose Ella Brumfield Brown
               Sarah Jane (Smith) Brumfield, Oldest Citizen
                Mittie Fortenberry Simmons 

Birthdays

            Keith Alford’s 1stBirthday, 1943 MS

Engaged/Wedding

              Ernest & Ella Married 1920 Ohio

Anniversaries

            Colonel Aaron Brown

Reunions

            Civil War Veterans Reunion, 1926 MS

Military

            Promotion for P. K. Alford, 1945

Miscellaneous 

             Shoot Out in Ohio, 1929
             Fatal Shooting in Ohio, 1953
             Yellow Fever


Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to remember our ancestors and their families through this task: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I completed ’52 Ancestors’ in 2014 & here I go again. This post is in response to that challenge. The topic for this week is IN THE PAPER

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Obituary: Henry Lucius Alford, 1949 MS

 Henry Lucius Alford

10 Jun 1884 MS - 4 Jun 1949 TX
Son of Needham Edwin Alford & Mary S. Stafford
My 2nd Cousin, twice removed




Lucius Alford Rites Monday; Passed at 64

Pike Native Had Lived for 15 Years in San Antonio
Barber by Vocation


Many relatives and friends in this region joined in mourning the passing in death of Henry Lucius Alford, which occurred Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Remains of Mr. Alford, a barber by trade, were brought back to his native Pike County, and funeral services were held at 2:30 Monday afternoon with Rev. S. C. Moody officiating and Reverands J. A. Bryant and W. A. Greene assisting.

Mr. Alford was 64, having been born near Holmesville June 10, 1884. He had been living in San Antonio for about 15 years. He was a member of Travis Park Methodist Church in the Texas City, and was active in affairs of his chapter of the International Barbers’ Union.

Pallbearers were Messrs. Joe Brent, H. J. Alford, Louis Alford, J. A. Alford, Robert Hollingsworth and C. W. Alford.

He leaves two sisters, Mrs. R. T. Hollinsworth and Miss Annie Alford, both of Como, Miss.; five brothers, Rev. J. M. Alford, Shreveport; B. P. Alford, Holmesville; Rev. J. A. Alford, Minden, La.; H. J. Alford, San Antonio, Texas, and Rev. C. W. Alford, Tampa, Fla., and many other relatives.

Interment was in Alford Cemetery with Hartman Funeral Home in charge of services.

Source: Lucius Alford Rites Monday; Passed at 64. (McComb, MS: Enterprise-Journal, 6 June 1949) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed December 2018.



Related Posts:
  1. Alford: A Family of Ministers 
  2. Obit: Rev. N. E. Alford, Pike MS



Saturday, March 23, 2019

12 Surnames





Here are 12 surnames that are close to my heart; 12 surnames that I have been researching for a long time. With each surname are a couple of my direct ancestors with that surname. The links will lead you to more information on the names.

Do you connect to any of these names?
I'd love to hear from you.


1. Brown
            Roy Jesse Brown 8 March 1802 MS – 12 May 1956 MS; Mill Wright
  Moses Brown 7 Feb 1777 NC – 27 Feb 1838 OH; Farmer

2. Gardner/Gartner
            Nathaniel Gardner 21 July 1882 NY – 7 Dec 1944 NY; Telegrapher
  Markusz S. Gartner 1826 Poland – 15 May 1888 Hungary

3. Mark
            Ivy Regina (Mark) Brown 8 June 1908 OH – 18 Sep 2003 NY
  Abraham Mark 12 Nov 1812 PA – 7 Apr 1872 OH; Carpenter

4. Coyle
            Helen F. (Coyle) Gardner 9 January 1897 NY – 13 Oct 1965 NY
            Patrick Coyle 20 May 1814 Ireland – 21 June 1925 CT

5. Brumfield
            Rose Ella (Brumfield) Brown 18 July 1867 MS – 2 Oct 1948 MS
            Charles Watson Brumfield c 1745 VA – c 1820 SC

6. Gruissy
            N. Regina (Gruissy) Mark 31 Jan 1879 OH – 24 May 1959 OH; Mother of 7
            Christian Gruissy 1811 Switzerland – 7 Jan 1907 OH; Cooper

7. Dillon
            Richard Dillon 7 Oct 1745 VA - 7 Oct 1833 MS; Revolutionary War Soldier
            James Theopilous Dillon b c 1719 Ireland

8. Mullane
            Mary Josephine (Mullane) Coyle 3 Aug 1867 Ireland – 17 Dec 1927 NY
  Daniel Mullane Jan 1838 Ireland – 25 March 1930 Ireland

9. Smith
            Wyatt Smith 31 Aug 1809 LA – 16 Feb 1894 MS; Farmer
Jeremiah George Smith 23 Dec 1773 SC – 1843 MS; Farmer

10. Ritter
            Isaac Ritter 1823 – 5 Aug 1880 OH; Carpenter
  Heinrich Ritter c 1715 Germany – Jan 1797 PA

11. Wolf
            John Franklin Wolf 11 Apr 1809 PA – 10 March 1883 OH; Stone Mason 
            Johann Jonas Wolf 27 Dec 1739 PA – 21 Sep 1787 PA; Revolutionary War Soldier

12. Brady
            Margaret (Brady) Coyle b 1855 Ireland – 22 Nov 1934 CT; shop keeper
            

            
Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to remember our ancestors and their families through this task: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I completed ’52 Ancestors’ in 2014 & here I go again. This post is in response to that challenge. This is the 12th week of this challenge and the topic for this week is ‘12’




Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Double Funeral: Alford & Simmons, 1942 MS

This obituary holds double the information. But there are unanswered questions also. R. L. Simmons died first. What happened to him? There is nothing about his cause of death. Was Mrs. Alford there because her son-in-law died or because of the family gathering? And, then, what was the cause of her death? How did her poor daughter make it through the grief of losing her husband and mother within hours of each other? I checked other issues of the newspaper but found nothing else about this family tragedy.


 Double Funeral Services Held at Progress Church

Mrs. J. D. Alford and R. L. Simmons Are Laid to Rest



Joint funeral services were held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the Progress Baptist Church for Mrs. J. D. Alford and R. L. (Rob) Simmons [Robert Lee Simmons], one of her sons-in-law, in whose home she died. Mr. Simmons death preceded Mrs. Alford’s passing only a few hours.

The Rev. Wyatt R. Hunter, the Rev. J. E. McGraw, the Rev. F. W. Gunn and the Rev. A. A. Pardue officiated at the rites.

Immediately following the funeral services the body of R. L. Simmons was interred in the Progress cemetery and the body of Mrs. J. Doe Alford was moved to her old home now occupied by her son, C. A. Alford, interment pending the arrival of her son, D. C. Alford of Washington, D. C. and her daughter, Mrs. Luther Byrne of Selma, California, and burial followed in Silver Springs cemetery.

Mrs. Alford. Mrs. Luminda James Fortenberry, was 86 years of age. She was born December 22, 1856 at Progress, where she was raised during her entire lifetime. In 1874 she was married to the late J. Doe Alford. [My records show her name as Olevia Luminda Fortenberry Alford and her husband as Jeptha J. Alford.]

Serving as pallbearers were Fred Fortenberry, D. T. Alford, Rex Simmons, Walter F. Simmons, Jr., Bonney Schilling and C. A. Simmons. 

Mrs. Alford leaves the following sons and daughters, G. H. Alford [George Howard Alford], Mrs. R. L. Simmons [Lillie Dale Alford Simmons], Y. S. Alford [Yarborough S. Alford] and C. A. Alford [Claude Anding Alford], all of Progress; D. C. Alford [Delis Collier Alford], Washington, D. C.; Mrs. Luther Byrne, Selma, California; Mrs. Hollis Ball, Columbia, Miss., and the late Mrs. G. O. Simmons [Carrie Lee Alford  Simmons] of Progress. Another son, L. A. Alford [Luther Alvin Alford], of Newark, New Jersey, passed away several years ago. She leaves 38 grandchildren and 36 great grandchildren. This was the first time that all her children had been together in 40 years.

Early in life she became affiliated with the Baptist Church and remained a faithful member of until her death. As was said by one of the ministers at the funeral service, “She hath done what she could.”

Catchings Funeral Home was in charge.

Mr. Simmons. A farmer of the Progress community, Mr. Simmons was a member of the Silver Creek Masonic Lodge. He was born on February 12, 1876, at Progress where he also resided during his entire lifetime. He was married to the former Miss Lillie Alford.

Serving as pall bearer were members of the Silver Creek Masonic Lodge. Following the services the body lay in state in the old home and interment followed in the Progress cemetery.

He leaves his wife [Lillie Dale Alford Simmons]; two sons, Lt. Joe Simmons and Lt. Clyde Simmons of Camp Rucker, Alabama; two brothers, G. O. Simmons and W. T. Simmons, a sister, Mrs. G. H. Alford, all of Progress; one brother, Judge E. J. Simmons, Magnolia, and a sister, Mrs. L. V. Brock of McComb.

Mr. Simmons was a son of the late Dr. W. F. and Annie Hall Simmons of Simmonsville, now the Progress community, and was a member of the Progress Baptist church.

Ginn Funeral Home of Tylertown was in charge.

Source: Double Funeral Services Held at Progress Church. (McComb, MS: Enterprise-Journal, 8 Dec 1942) 1; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed December 2018.



Saturday, March 16, 2019

LARGE FAMILY





What is considered a large family? It depends on the year, the generation. My brother & I have three children each. My father & most of his siblings had four children each.  I went to my families on my Family Tree Maker Program and looked for the largest family in each generation in my direct line.

My Grandparents:

Nathaniel & Helen (Coyle) Gardner                                       1 child, my mother
Roy Jesse & Ivy (Mark) Brown                             7 children, my father was the Oldest

My Great Grandparents

Leopold & Fannie (Edelstein) Gardner                                  5 Children
Michael & Mary Josephine (Mullane) Coyle                           7 Children
Jasper Pascal & Rose Ella (Brumfield) Brown                     9 Children   
Thomas K, & N. Regina (Gruissy) Mark                                  7 Children

My Great Great Grandparents

Markusz S. & Devorah (Horn) Gartner                                  7 Children
Adolph & Netty (Grofs) Edelstein                                         6 Children
Patrick & Margaret (Brady) Coyle                                       11 Children
Daniel & Brigid (English) Mullane                                       11 Children
Allen Moses & Emmaline (Smith) Brown                               3 Children
Jessie A, & Martha E. (Alford) Brumfield                             9 Children
William & Elidia Rebecca (Ritter) Mark                            12 Children**
Augustus C. & Esther B. (Wolf) Gruissy                                 5 Children




**William Mark also had two more children, with his first wife. 



Follow the links to learn more about these ancestors.

Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to remember our ancestors and their families through this task: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I completed ’52 Ancestors’ in 2014 & here I go again. This post is in response to that challenge. The topic for this week is ‘LARGE FAMILY.

            






Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Alford: A Family of Ministers

To Preach at Family Meet

Rev. J. M. Alford Oldest of Four Brothers, 
All Methodist Ministers



The Rev. J. M. Alford pastor of the Texas Avenue Methodist Church, has returned from Ida where he has been engaged in a revival meeting for the last 10 days. He reports a successful meeting, there being 18 new members added to the church as one of the results of the campaign. Large congregations attended and the house could not accommodate all who were present at the last service. Beside the pastor, the Rev. W. E. Akin, the Rev. R. T. Ware of Vivian, and the local Baptist pastor were present the last day of the service.

Mr. Alford will leave Tuesday to visit his old home in Pike county, Miss., where there will be a reunion of his father’s family. The father, the Rev. N. E. Alford [Needham Edwin Alford], will celebrate his eightieth birthday and his nine living children, seven sons and two daughters, with their families, will all be present. There are six Methodist ministers in this immediate family; the father, four sons and one son-in-law. Rev. J. M. Alford is the oldest and has been appointed to deliver a sermon at the reunion. The oldest daughter of the family is a licensed deaconess of the Methodist church and is a graduate of the Scarret Bible school of Kansas City.

The ministers of this family are serving pastoral charges as follows;

·     The Rev. J. M. Alford [Joseph Martin Alford]. Texas Avenue, Shreveport
·     The Rev. J. A. Alford [Jason Abraham Alford], St. Marks Hall, New Orleans
·     The Rev. L. F. Alford [Louis Flemon Alford], Meridian, Miss.
·     The Rev. C. W. Alford [Caldwell Wellman Alford], Safety Harbor, Fla.
·     The son-in-law, [married to Martha Elizabeth Alford], the Rev. R. T. Hollingsworth, Killmichael, Miss.
·     The daughter, Miss Annie Alford, has a station in St. Louis

Others of the children live at Del Rio and Dallas, Texas and Holmesville, Miss.

Source: To Preach at Family Meet. (Shreveport, LA: The Times, 14 July 1925) 14; digital image, Newspapers.com: accessed January 2019.

[Notes in green are my notes.]








Saturday, March 9, 2019

BACHELOR UNCLE?




My Great Uncle, Thomas Coyle b circa 1904 NY City
Son of Michael Coyle & Mary Josephine Mullane
Was he a bachelor?


I'd like to know if Thomas Coyle was a BACHELOR UNCLE.
 I do'nt know if Thomas married or had children. I do'nt know what happened to him.  

Michael Coyle & Mary Josephine Mullane, my great grandparents, seven children: five girls and two boys. I know quite a bit about the girls but the boys are a different story. The first boy, Francis Patrick Coyle was born July 1898 and died 7 December 1899 New York City. It took some time to discover his death date and burial location & I'm happy to have those dates for him now. Thomas Coyle was born circa 1904. Michael Coyle was a baker. In 1920 the family was together in Manhattan. Thomas, 16, was a helper in an electric shop.


Soon, the family fell apart. Michael's bakery failed due to financial problems and Michale left his family. He was not seen again. I don't know what happened to him.  In 1927 Mary Jo died. The oldest daughter, Helen F. (Coyle) Gardner, [my maternal grandmother] was married. The other sisters lived together. But where was Thomas? 

Thomas, Bottom center

At some point he was in the Navy. 
The proof is in the photos I have of him, labeled by his sisters.


Thomas, center


I have not been able to find him in military records. I looked for him in World War I in New York State. He may have lied about his age to enlist. He may had gone to nearby New Jersey or over to Connecticut, where his grandparents lived, to enlist. I have found no military records as proof of his service.


There are also family stories about him "running with a bad crowd' and being in trouble with the law. No proof there either.


There is a 1930 US Census for Manhattan that gives Thomas Coyle, b c 1904 with a wife, Veronica and a baby, Helen [Helen was my grandmother's name. his oldest sister].  He was working at 'Machine Repair' in a 'Bake Shop.' He probably helped his father in the bake shop when he was a boy. I'd like to believe this happy, married Thomas Coyle is our Thomas Coyle. Are those coincidences proof? 

He gave a birthday card to his sister, Kathleen, in 1930. I have the card. That is the last he was seen by his sisters. 

Maybe he was a BACHELOR UNCLE but I am not certain.




Related Posts:

Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to remember our ancestors and their families through this task: 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. I completed ’52 Ancestors’ in 2014 & here I go again. This post is in response to that challenge. The topic for this week is BACHELOR UNCLE.