Leaves & Branches

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

April Family Birthdays, April 1 - 15

Is your birthday coming soon? Happy Birthday!

Maybe you share your special day with someone in our family who came before. Look below and see. I posted this series back in 2011. This version has been updated with more information. I hope you find it as much fun as I do.

Even if it is not your birthday, look at the highlighted SURNAMES. Maybe you will see a name from your family & learn a little more about them.

Click on the links to learn more about the people & places.

1 April

1709 Johan Adam DICK was born in Germany. He came to America on the Ship Rob & Alice, arriving in Philadelphia on 11 September 1738 with his wife, Anna Ottilla Knack, and their daughter, Appollonia, who had been born during the voyage. The family settled in York County, Pennsylvania. They belonged to the German Baptist Church in Abbottstown. Johan Adam Dick is my 6th great grandfather.

1836 Nancy I. FORTENBERRY, daughter of Calvin Kennington Fortenberry

1878 George Washington MARK, son of William Mark & Elidia Rebecca Ritter

1883 Walter Lee BLADES

2 April

1808 James Graham BROWN was one four children of Moses Brown & Sarah Robertson. He had 4 children: John, William, Mary & Joseph. He died 1849.

1876 Felder Fletcher ALFORD, son of Ira Payne Alford & Mary Hughes Parker

1881 Harriet Emma WOLF, daughter of William Henry Harrison Wolf & Sarah Forst

1889 James Luther THORNHILL, son of James Miles Thornhill & Violette Eliza Fortenberry

3 April

1899 Lillian Pearl ELLZEY, daughter of William S. Ellzey & Amanda Adarene Fortenberry

1917 Ethel May ESCHLIMAN married Samuel Martin Mark Jolliff, son of Samuel Martin Jolliff & Margaret Maude Mark. Ethel had 3 children: Robert, Marilyn & Thomas.

1928 Delbert Karl LEBER, b OH; husband of Joanne Grace Maurer

4 April

1870 Rephenia Cathern GRUISSY, b OH, daughter of Augustus Ceaser GRUISSY & Esther Barbara WOLF. She married Willis Nichols. They had one son, Richard Ray Nichols. They lived in Michigan but often returned to Ohio to visit family there. Letters between Rephenia & her sister, N. Regina Gruissy Mark remain in the family.

1900 Bernard I. BRADY , born in New Jersey

1908 Carl WOLF, son of Wesley Wolf

1927 Donald BOGAN

5 April

1770 Henrich KECK, born in PA, son of Georg Keck & Elanora Catherine Schaut

1828 Isabell FISHER, b in OH, daughter of John and Catherine Fisher. She married Isaac Ritter in 1878. They had 12 children. Isabell was my 2nd great grandmother.

1850 Burrell Franklin FORTENBERRY, son of Calvin Kennington Fortenberry & Narcissa Simmons; husband of Mary O. Bilbo

1893 Guy Napoleon WOLF, son of Charles Albert Wolf & Anna Kisshing

6 April

1816 Lidda SMITH, daughter of Jeremiah George Smith & Joanna Dillon

1879 Lottie Irene BRUMFIELD, b MS, daughter of Isaac Nelson Brumfield & Sara J Smith. She married Jesse Monroe Conerly. She’s my 2nd cousin 3x removed.

7 April

1783 Henrich KECK, son of Johannes Keck

1804 Joseph FRANTZ was the son of Henrick Frantz & Margaretha Ritter. He married Salome Roth.

1819 Christian WOLF, son of Andrew Wolf

1869 Eliza Cordella WOLF, daughter of William Henry Harrison Wolf

8 April

1843 Amanda M. BRUMFELD married Solomon B Ritter, son of Martin Ritter & Anna Margaret Bogert. She died in 1911 in PA.

1848 Charles D. OTT, born in LA, son of Charles Ott & Margaret Ann Tate

1862 Mary Hollander BLADES

9 April

1751 John Henry RITTER, son of Martin Ritter

1824 Sarah BRUMFIELD, daughter of Willis Brumfield & Nancy Virginia Holmes

1831 Christina Minerva FORTENBERRY

1878 Roy Edward NEE, b TN, son of Henry Nee & Matilda Millan.

1896 Ruth Naomi HAWK, b OH, the daughter of William Hawk & Elizabeth Ritter. She married Milton Guy Currier.

1925 Robert E. FEGAN

10 April

1779 Henry RITTER, son of Martin Ritter

1853 Franklin P. MARK, b OH, son of Abraham MARK & Mary Isabella Heffelfinger. He married Laura M Miller. Their children: Minnie, Emma, Lloyd & Glenn. Franklin was a carpenter.

11 April

1809 John Franklin WOLF was born in Pennsylvania, son of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer. He married Elisabeth Burkholder. They had 9 children. He died 10 March 1883, at the age of 73. He was my 3rd great grandfather.

1857 Courtney Rebeccca BRUMFIELD, b LA, daughter of Elijah Brumfield & Charlotte Temple Ott. She lived 81 years.

1813 Narcissa SIMMONS, wife of Calvin Kennington Fortenberry; mother of 12

12 April

1858 Mary Ann ALFORD, b LA, daughter of Reverend Warren J Alford & Celia Ann Lewis. She died 6 January 1894, at the age of 35.

1873 Alexander Griffin BRUMFIELD, son of Isaac Nelson Brumfield

1881 Lucy May BRUMFIELD, b MS, daughter of Jessie Alexander Brumfield & Martha Elizabeth Alford.

1915 Herbert Phillip MULLEN Sr.

13 April

1818 Milevey SMITH, b MS, daughter of Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon. She married Don Harvey.

1844 Christianna Euseba FORTENBERRY, b MS, daughter of Gasua Chapman Fortenberry & Sarah Brown

1862 Margaret Jane BRUMFIELD, born in MS, daughter of Isaac Nelson Brumfield & Sarah Jane Smith; wife of Samuel Matthew Foil

14 April

1811 Samuel OTT, b in LA, son of Jacob Ott III & Margaret Jackson

1824 Sarah Ann CHRONISTER

1894 Albert Rowlen MORRISON, b OH, son of Seth Benner Morrison & Margaret Jane Gruissy. He married Dora Morrison. Their children: Helen, Edward & Jean.

1908 Ayleen Ellzey FORTENBERRY, daughter of William S. Ellzey & Amanda Adarene Fortenberry. Wife of Seab Fortenberry

1912 Fletcher Mead BRUMFIELD, b MS, son of Fletcher Boyd Brumfield & Mattie Hannah Brumfield, husband of Diane D. Payne

15 April

1747 Maria Elisabeth KECK, b MS, daughter of Henry Keck & Hannah Peterson. She married Johannes Ritter, Sr. and had 11 children. She was my 5th great grandmother. She died in 1813 at the age of 66.

1917 Eva Lena Moseley MARK

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Wedding: Ritter & Evans, 1893 PA

This brief wedding notice gives just the basic information but it does support data I had gathered.

John T. Ritter

born 7 Jan 1869, Leighigh Co., PA

Son of Samuel Ritter & Hannah E. Koch

My 4th cousin, 3 x removed

Margaret Evans

Married 30 March 1893

Sources:

Newspapers.com

The Morning Call, Allentown, PA

21 March 1893, page 1

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Wedding: Mark & Huff, 1947 OH

This is a very nice article about an Ohio Wedding.

Lucile Marguerite Mark

Daughter of Charles Forest Mark & Bertha Flickinger

My 1st Cousin, 2x removed

William Alered Huff

1 Jan 1926 OH - 1 Jan 1979 OH

Son of Russel Huff

Married

9 Mar 1947, Chester, Wayne, Ohio

Repeat Vows of Double Ring Ceremony

The Rev. Hayward Kehl performed the double ring ceremony in the Emanuel reformed church of Chester township, uniting in marriage Miss Lucile Mark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mark, of Wooster, Rt. 6, and William Huff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Russel Huff, of Dalton.

Eighty attended the wedding that took place Sunday, March 9.

Miss Carol Jean Martin, the pianist, played the traditional wedding marches by Wagner and Mendelssohn, and also ”Clare de Lune,” “Barccalle”, “I Love You Truly”, “To each His Own”, and “Liebestraum”.

For her wedding, the bride wore a white satin gown made with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt which was gathered at the waist. Her floor – length veil was made of net. She wore the groom’s gift, a two – strand pearl necklace, and carried a bouquet of American beauty roses.

The bride’s maid of honor was Miss Betty Huff, who was dressed in pink. She carried a pink and white carnation bouquet. Bridesmaids were Miss Anna Steele and Miss Dorothy Emerson. They wore pink and blue gowns respectively, and their flowers were also pink and white carnations. Miss Betty Mark, junior bridesmaid, wore pink and carried a bouquet similar to the other attendants.

Best man was the bride’s brother, Joseph Mark. Ushers included James Martic, Ralph Huff, and Robert MuCullough.

A reception for fifty guests was held at the home of the bride. The bride’s table was centered with a three – tiered wedding cake topped with a miniature bride and groom.

The bride’s mother wore a navy blue polka dot dress and a corsage of sweetpeas. Mrs. Huff was dressed in navy blue. She also wore a sweetpea corsage.

For going away Mrs. Huff wore a two – piece fuchsia suit, a gray pinstripe coat and black accessories. After a short wedding trip in the east, the couple will live in Orrville.

Mrs. Huff is a graduate of Chester school and Mr. Huff graduated at Newscomerstown.

Source:

Newspapers.com

The Evening Independent, Massillon, Ohio

19 March 1947, page 6

Sunday, March 16, 2025

March Family Birthdays, March 16 - 31

Is your birthday coming soon? Happy Birthday!

Even if it is not your birthday, look at the highlighted SURNAMES. Maybe you will see a name from your family & learn a little more about them.

Click on the links to learn more.

16 March

1857 Aaron Reese BROWN, son of Moses Brown Jr. & Elizabeth Monroe

17 March St. Patrick's Day & My Birthday!

1739 William Stark KELLY, born in Ireland, husband of Mary F Durham; Revolutionary War Soldier; He was my 5x great grandfather.

1869 Patrick MULLANE was born in Tipperary, Ireland, son of Daniel Mullane & Brigid English. He died 29 Aug, 1881 at the age of 12. He was my 2x great uncle.

18 March

1787 Andrew WOLF, b in PA, son of Johann Jonas Wolf & Appollonia Dick. He married Catherine Dick. They had 11 children. He was my 4th great grand uncle. He lived to be 80 years old.

1835 Joel H. GOOD, son of Isaac Good

1873 James Elmer MESSMORE, husband of Emma D. Ritter

1882 Daniel Joseph MULLANE Jr., b in Ireland, son of Daniel Mullane & Brigid English, lived 86 years. He was my 2nd great uncle.

1938 Milo D. MESSMORE, husband of Elizabeth Alice Parker

19 March

1804 Elizabeth WOLF, daughter of Adam Wolf

1856 John NEE

1861 William Henry MESSMORE, husband of Susan Isabel Ritter

1900 Marion COYLE was born in New York City, daughter of Michael Coyle & Mary Josephine Mullane. She married James Joseph McCall. She died 9 January 1991, at the age of 91. She was my grand aunt. Visiting her in NY City was always a treat.

20 March

1909 Milton Wallace RITTER, son of William Isaac Ritter

1921 Jessie Miles HALL in Mississippi. He married Sylvia Rayleen Brown in 1942. Rayleen was the daughter of Roy Jessie BROWN & Mary Thelma Ellzey.

21 March

1832 Julia Ann ALFORD, daughter of Edwin Barksdale Alford

1903 Glenn Aaron SPICE, born in OH, son of Arther Spice & Emaline Floy Moore. He married Genevieve Quinlin Wilson. Their children: Philip, Joanne & Gary.

22 March

1825 Harriet Jane ALFORD, daughter of Edwin Barksdale Alford

1853 Jessie Crawford FORTENBERRY

1902 James Alton BALL b in LA, son of James J. Ball & Mattie Dennison. He married Mildred Olga Brown. They had 10 children.

1931 Lola Mae BALL, daughter of James Alton Ball & Mildred Olga Brown

23 March

1853 Jessie Crawford FORTENBERRY, son of Calvin Kennington Fortenberry & Narcissa Simmons; husband of Susan A. Ryals

1938 Alice FORTENBERRY , daughter of Roy Luther Fortenberry & Zelda Marie Alford.

24 March

1861 Seth Benner MORRISON, b in PA, son of William Hiram Morrison & Emily Benner. He married Margaret Jane Gruissy in 1890. He was a farmer.

1866 Matilda Jane RITTER, daughter of Isaac Ritter & Isabell Fisher, wife of Smith Sebastian Boney

1883 Lena Bella MORRISON, daughter of Seth Benner Morrison & Margaret Jane Gruissy; wife of Delbert Milton Swagler

25 March

1802 Martha P. SMITH was born in South Carolina, daughter of Jeremiah Smith & Joanna Dillon. She married Edwin Barksdale Alford. They had 13 children, all born in Mississippi. She was my 3rd great grandmother.

1842 Martha Jane ALFORD, daughter of Warren Jackson Alford & Celia Ann Lewis

1925 Ephrum Jessie BRUMFIELD, son of Henry J. Brumfield & Mary Crawford

26 March

1784 Johannes RITTER, son of Martin Ritter & Anna Margaret Steininger

1815 Reuben B. RITTER, son of Martin Ritter & Anna Margaret Bogert

1922 Julius Robert FORNEA

1928 Alberta Joy GARDNER born in New York City, daughter of Nathaniel GARDNER & Helen Francis COYLE. On 8 August 1948 She married Delbert Keith Brown, son of Roy Jessie Brown & Ivy Mark. This is my mother who inspired my longing to learn more about my Irish roots and who is never far from my heart.

1929 Eva Grace JOLLIFF

27 March

1832 Charles Dawson BRUMFIELD, son of Willis Brumfield & Nancy V. Holmes

1935 Edith Rose BALL b in LA, daughter of James Alton Ball & Mildred Olga Brown. She married Charles Kay Hutchinson. Their children: Kimmel, Charles & Thomas.

28 March

1860 Francis Jonas WOLF, son of John Jonas Wolf & Sarah Ann Chronister

1879 Thomas Malachi FORTENBERRY, son of George Washington Fortenberry & Emily Pittman; husband of Rosa Elizabeth Fortenberry; father of 7 children

1927 Mary Nell BRUMFIELD, daughter of Watson W. Brumfield & Cora Laseter

1931 William BRADY was the son of Thomas Joseph Brady & Eileen G. Banks. He died in January 1975.

29 March

1860 Thomas BRADY, son of Thomas Brady & Catherine Gibney

1915 Kenneth Edward KNOX, b in OH, He married Helen Pearl Ritter, daughter of William Isaac Ritter & Louise Sophia SCHULTZ. Their son, Larry Dean Knox has written a detailed history and genealogy of the Ritter family.

30 March

1834 Louisa WOLF was the daughter of Frederick Wolf & Louisa Goetz.

1896 Mary Isabell RITTER, daughter of Anthony Casper Ritter & Emma A. Mowrer

1906 Myrle D. SIMMONS

31 March

1834 Willis Nathaniel BRUMFIELD, son of Willis Brumfield & Nancy V. Holmes

1867 Richard Silman BRUMFIELD, son of Isaac Nelson Brumfield & Sarah J. Smith

1891 Peter BRADY, son of Patrick Brady & Ellen Reilly, husband of Laura Sincock

1938 Geraldine POWELL was the daughter of Ross Powell & Edna Margaret Wilson. She married Quinton Floyd. She’s my 5th cousin.

Fletcher Mead Brumfield & Diane D. Payne

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Twins Born 1944 MS

This birth announcement is filled with genealogical information.

John Hugh & Gwendolyn Jane

Brumfield

b 5 March 1944 in Mississippi

Children of:

My 2nd cousins, once removed

Twins Born to Mr. and Mrs. Brumfield of Tylertown

Mr. and Mrs. Mead Brumfield, of Tylertown, are the proud parents of twin babies, a boy and girl, born at the McComb Infirmary, Sunday, March 5, 1944. The boy, who weighed 7 ¾ pounds, has been named John Hugh. The girl’s name is Gwendolyn Jane. Her weight was 6 ¾ pounds.

Mr. and Mrs. Brumfield have two other children, Terry and Meadette, who are happy over the arrival of the twins. The mother was the former Diane Payne.

The maternal grandparents was Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Payne, of Atlanta, Ga., and the paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Brumfield, of Tylertown.

Source:

Newspapers.com

McComb Daily Journal, MS

9 March 1944, page 3