52 Week Challenge –Week 9–Closest to Home– Charles William Leyh

Charles William Leyh 1891-1958

For week nine of “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” the theme is the “Closest to Home”. I can’t think of a closer person to my home to write about than my great-grandpa, Charles William Leyh. I chose him because he lived in the house behind the one I’m currently living in. Charles, along with his wife and son, lived in a house on Sutherland Ave. in Kenmore, Akron, OH, when his son, my grandpa, married my grandma, Vera. They built a house on the next street over from Charles and Gertrude and their backyards are adjacent to each other.

Let me start at the beginning though, Charles was born on February 10, 1891, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Charles Leyh and Elizabeth Schick. Charles was the oldest of six brothers and sisters (three boys and three girls). Charles and his family lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania, until sometime before June 5, 1917. I’m guessing that he moved to Olean, New York, for a job from what I have found during my research but cannot positively say. On June 5, 1917, he registered for the draft. His Draft Registration card¹ states he was living in Cattaraugus County, No 1, New York at 206 Coleman. At the time he filled out his Draft Registration card Charles was working as an Operative at a Silk Mill owned by Dunlop Silk Mills. His mother is listed as being solely dependent on Charles. He was a private in the National Guard for three years. Charles is described as being of medium, slender build with dark brown hair and blue eyes. Below is a picture of him in his uniform. Charles is the one on the left hand side of the picture. I do not know who the other two men are pictured with him. Could they be his brothers, cousins, or friends? I’m not sure.

Charles was an assistant foreman in Olean, New York, at the Silk Mill when he met his future bride, Gertrude Naomi Benedict, who was a silk thrower. They were married on October 10, 1917, by James W. Ashton in Olean, New York. They are listed as the 6692nd marriage to be recorded in the New York County Marriages 1908-1935 ² book. The photo below is of Gertrude and Charles.

In the 1920 Census³, Edward and Gertrude are listed as living in Akron, Ohio, on Carrol Street with Gertrude’s brother, Edward H. Benedict.  In 1926, they lived on Sheridan Ave. and then in 1928, they moved to Sutherland Avenue in Kenmore where Charles would live until Gertrude died in 1955. Gertrude and Charles had one son, Edward Leyh, my grandpa, born in 1923. The photo below is of Edward, Gertrude and Charles.

Charles was a long time member of Hope Evangelical Brethren Church in Kenmore. He was a member of Victory Lodge 649 F&AM the Masonic Lodge also in Kenmore. Charles worked as a Mill Man and Operator Grinder at BF Goodrich in Akron, according to the 1920³ and 1930 Census⁴.

When Gertrude died in 1955 of breast cancer, Charles married his step-mother in law, Anna Benedict, Edward Benedict’s second wife. The photo below is of Charles and Anna. It might have been on their wedding day because they are both wearing flowers and dressed up but I’m not sure.

They weren’t married long before he died on December 8, 1958, in Chenago Fork, New York, of throat cancer. He is buried with his first wife, Gertrude, in Greenlawn Cemetery in Akron, OH. When he died he was survived by his wife, Anna or Nan as she was referred to by family, his son Edward, his two brothers, two sisters, and two grandchildren.

References:

1. “United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KXTK-4VK : accessed 23 February 2015), Charles William Leyh, 1917-1918; citing Cattaraugus County no 1, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,712,289.

2. “New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XVGV-847 : accessed 23 February 2015), Charles William Leyh and Gertrude Naomi Benedict, 10 Oct 1917; citing , New York, United States, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 583,818.

3. “United States Census, 1920,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDTP-431 : accessed 23 February 2015), Charles W Leyh, Akron Ward 2, Summit, Ohio, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 92, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,438.

4. “United States Census, 1930,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X4Z4-35T : accessed 23 February 2015), Charles W Leyh, Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0217, sheet 2A, family 31, line 21, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1880; FHL microfilm 2,341,614.