52 Week Challenge –Week 25–Elias Emminger (1735-1787)

The optional theme for week 25 was The Old Homestead. I did not have an ancestor to fit that theme. I decided to write about my 6th great grandfather, Elias Emminger. I have found a few references to him as Johann Elias Emminger, but most references refer to him as Elias. Johann seemed to be used often in direct line. His father and one brother both shared the first name Johann but went by their middle name.

Elias was born in 1735 in Germany to Johann Conrad Emminger and Anna Maria Kuntz. Elias was one of four children as far as my research has shown. Elias came to America on September 24, 1751 on the ship Neptune whose captain was John Mason. The ship left from the Port of Rotterdam. Elias met and married Susanna ?. They had two children, two daughters followed by two sons.

I do not know much more about him. I did some more research for writing this post but did not find much more information.

52 Week Challenge –Week 24–Heirloom- Vera Emminger (1925-2008) and Edward Leyh (1923-2008)

Week 24 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge’s theme is “Heirloom”. I thankfully have many items to call heirlooms but I decided to write about my maternal grandma, Vera Emminger’s wedding dress along with Vera and Edward’s marriage for this post. I will focus more on Vera for this post and Edward in another one.

Vera was born in Tylersburg, Pennsylvania on January 3, 1925 to Claude Emminger and Edna Mentzer. Vera could be considered both Claude and Edna’s eighth child but also their first. How you might ask? Vera was born one year almost to the day after seven of her brothers and sisters, cousin, and grandpa died in a house fire. If you would like to read more on the house fire, click here. If those children would have lived, she would have been their eighth child, but since sadly they did not she became their first. Vera was followed by three brothers Owen, born ten months after Vera, then Keith, and last Joe.  Out of the eleven children only three were girls.

Vera and her family moved quite frequently between Pennsylvania where she was born and her extended family lived and Ohio. The family finally decided on Ohio by the mid-1930s. The Emminger family lived on Bell and Boulevard streets. Vera went to but did not graduate from South High School. She dropped out in the tenth grade. Vera used to enjoy going skating at the local skating rink at Summit Beach in Akron, Ohio. The skating rink is where Vera met her future husband, Edward Leyh.

http://akron.thomconte.com/summit-beach-park/

Vera always enjoyed telling the story of how Edward and she met. The announcer told the skaters that it was ladies choice, so Vera skated over to this handsome gentleman that had caught her eye and asked him to skate. This man told her no. Edward, who standing next to the man who happen to be his friend also, told Vera, “I’ll skate with you”. Vera said, “I’m not skating with a dirty old man”. Edward was only two years older than Vera, but that day he was unshaven and smoking a cigar. Edward and Vera’s first meeting did not go so well. Edward was not easily dissuaded though and he kept after Vera. Vera finally said yes to the skate and as some say the rest is history.

My grandparents, Edward and Vera, were supposed to be married in January 1947 but Vera’s grandma, Almaretta Mentzer, fell gravely ill and they decided to postpone. Vera and Edward married on May 18, 1947 at Hope Evangelical Brethren Church in Akron, Ohio where they both continued to attend until they could no longer due to health issues. The ceremony was performed by Dr. Harry G. Deeds. Edward was employed as a Drill Press Operator and Vera was a Clerk. Once Edward and Vera were married, Vera no longer worked outside of the home.

Edward and Vera’s marriage license. (ancestry.com)

Above is a picture of them and their wedding party.

The wedding picture above was taken at a local photographers studio. The man on the far end, William “Tink” Holman, a dear friend of the family told me they had so much fun taking the pictures. They danced and laughed. The best man was John Powers, the man next to him is my Edward’s dad, Charles Leyh. The third man over is Vera’s brother, Joe. The ring bearer, Paul “Butch” Holman, is William’s brother. The matron of honor was Madeline Powers. Unfortunately, I do not know who the other two women arre in the picture.

Edward and Vera set out to build their house on the land directly behind Edward’s parents’ house. Edward and Vera had two children, Beverly Ann, my mom, born in 1951 and Paul Edward born in 1953. Vera and Edward had a happy, loving marriage. Edward worked and retired from Firestone. Vera took care of the home. Edward and Vera were very active at Hope Church. They loved to watch sports together and go to gospel singings. Edward was an avid gardener and loved to walk. He was a member of a mall walkers group that met at Rolling Acres Mall in Akron, Ohio.

Vera and Edward on my wedding, June 5, 1999.

This is one of the last pictures taken of Vera and Edward together where Edward remembered what they meant to each other.

Edward and Vera celebrated their 50^th anniversary on May 18, 1997 with family and friends. Edward and Vera had such a great time. Unfortunately for their 60^th in 2007, Edward was suffering from Alzheimer’s so no festivities took place. Vera died on July 17, 2008 at the age of 83. Edward died on September 13, 2008 at the age of 85. They were never apart for long in life and where not apart long in death. Vera went to be with her Savior first and six weeks later Edward joined them. Edward and Vera are buried in Greenlawn cemetery on Romig Road in Akron.

When my grandma passed away in 2008, I found her wedding dress in her cedar chest. It is still in perfect condition. Nowadays, we send ours to the dry cleaner and get them sealed in a box, not my grandma she put it in a cloth bag and placed it in her cedar chest.  Unfortunately, I was unable to fit in my grandma’s wedding dress when she married but I would have been honored to wear it. It’s a shame it sits in her cedar chest still today. Unfortunately, I don’t know what ever will be done with it but I hate to think it will just be trashed some day

52 Week Challenge –Week 23–Wedding- Leonard Few (1920-1994) and Ruth Jenkins (1923-2013)

Week 23 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge’s theme is “Wedding”. I was torn between writing about my maternal grandparents, Edward and Vera Leyh, or paternal grandparents, Leonard and Ruth Few. I decided to write about my paternal grandparents, Leonard Few and Ruth Jenkins. I intend to use my maternal grandparents for the theme “Heirloom” in my next post.

Leonard Few was born August 22, 1920, in Sharon Center, Ohio to Frederick Few and Sarah Anna Collett (who I wrote about for the week 22 post). Fred and Sarah were both from England and had four boys and one girl. My grandpa, Leonard, was their second child. By the 1930 census, Leonard’s parents had packed up, left Sharon Center, and moved to Ravenna, Ohio. Leonard’s dad, Fred, purchased a farm that is still in the family today.

Ruth was born on November 30, 1923, to Thomas Jenkins and Clotilda Huber. Thomas was from England and Clotilda from Canada. They had two children, a girl and a boy. My grandma, Ruth, was their first child. In the 1930 census, the Jenkins’ were listed as living on Bettes Avenue in Akron, OH, which is the home my grandparents lived in for much of their married life. The house was in our family until 2013.

Leonard married Ruth Jenkins on August 22, 1944. I was told they met because Ruth’s father, Thomas, worked for Leonard’s dad, Fred, on his farm but I could not find any proof of this information. They were married at St. Martha’s Catholic Church on Tallmadge Ave., by Father Farr. At the time of their marriage, Ruth was listed as being a secretary and Leonard’s job was listed as U.S. Army. Leonard joined the military on October 12, 1942.  Leonard was discharged from the service on October 27, 1945. Ruth was a secretary for the majority of her working life and Leonard worked at one of the rubber factories in Akron.

Leonard and Ruth had two boys, one of which is my dad, Gary and my uncle, Terry. Gary was born in 1949, their eldest child. Leonard and Ruth lived in Akron, Stow, and Florida. They were snow birds for a long time. Leonard and Ruth would leave for Florida around Halloween and would be back in Akron by Mother’s day. Leonard was a Mason, a member of the Yusef Kahan Grotto in Tallmadge, loved fishing, watching sports of all kinds, and camping. Ruth loved reading, playing bingo, casinos, camping, and crocheting. At one point she told me that she had read over one million pages. She counted pages instead of books.

Leonard died about a month and a half after I graduated high school on July 17, 1994. He came to my graduation and graduation party, which was the last time I saw him alive. He is buried in Crownhill Cemetery. Ruth moved to Florida permanently in the early 2000s. Ruth was diagnosed with cancer two different times over her years down there. She became gravely ill in 2011 and was brought home to Ohio. Ruth was told she would probably not live more than 8 weeks but she proved everyone wrong and lived for another 2 ½ years. I didn’t have much of a relationship with her for a long time, but we got to mend our relationship and spend many days together over the 2 ½ years she lived after returning to Akron. She died August 28, 2013, ten days after my birthday and is now buried beside her husband.

Once Ruth passed, her family gave me bags and bags full of yarn because, like her, I have a love of crocheting. It is what I found in those bags that I truly cherish and the reason I chose to write about her and Leonard’s wedding. I don’t know much about the wedding itself. I have never seen pictures. I don’t know who was in it but buried deep in the bag of yarn was a surprise I never expected to find. Ruth kept her yarn in a cedar chest and I’m guessing that is how this item came to be among the yarn. In the bottom of one of the bags there was a heavy item, way too heavy to be yarn, so I pulled this foreign object out of the bag and found the top to Leonard and Ruth’s wedding cake. I was so happy, I couldn’t believe my luck. It is now in my curio cabinet with my collection of snow globes where I can keep it safe. I will cherish it forever, as I do the yarn, that I am using to create new things that will always remind me of her.

52 Week Challenge –Week 22– Commencement- Fred (1895-1982) and Daisy Few (1898-1989) with Sarah Anna Collett (1891-1973)

Fred (1895-1982) and Daisy Few (1898-1989) with Sarah Anna Collett (1891-1973)

Week 22 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge’s theme is Commencement. I thought about it as the beginning of a new era. I decided to write about a brother and a sister, Fred and Daisy Few, and Sarah Anna Collett. Fred, my great grandfather, and many of his brothers and sisters left their homeland of England to come to the United States. Sarah is my great grandmother and at some point in my story she will marry good old Fred but not until after their arrival in America.

Fred was born on February 8, 1895, in Potterne, Wiltshire, England to Frank Few and Ada Elizabeth Hoddinott. He was their tenth child. Daisy, who was Frank and Ada’s eleventh child, was born November 5, 1898. Frank and Ada had a total of 14 children. When Fred was 18 and Daisy 17, they boarded the Olympic Ship owned by the White Starline. They left for America from Southampton, England on June 25, 1913, and arrived in New York on July 2, 1913, making their way through Ellis Island on June 25, 1913. Fred and Sarah have their names engraved on the wall at Ellis Island thanks to their daughter. Fred and Daisy were not the only ones on that ship, of course there were many others, particularly one Sarah Anna Collett. Sarah was born to Ida Page and John Ball Hoddinott on October 9, 1891, in Broughton, Gifford, Wiltshire. Sarah was the second of four children. She boarded the Olympic to make her way to America on the same day as Fred and Daisy.

What happened on that ship? Did Fred look across the boat, see Sarah and fall instantly in love? If they fell in love on the boat why not marry as soon as they arrived? Were they trying to get established? Did Fred and Sarah already know each other? If they knew each other from England why not marry before coming to America. Fred, Daisy, and Sarah landed in America in 1913. I know Fred and Daisy arrived in Sharon Center but I’m not sure if Sarah was with them. Fred and Sarah married on January 22, 1916, in Medina, Ohio.  They had five children; four boys and their youngest, a girl. Their second son, Leonard, was my grandfather. Daisy married Ralph E. Blakely. Daisy died on February 24, 1989, in Akron, Ohio.

Fred and Sarah stayed awhile in Sharon Center and then finally moved to Ravenna where they lived on a farm. Sarah died February 26, 1973, in Ravenna, Ohio. Fred died June 20, 1982, in Ravenna, Ohio.

52 Week Challenge –Week 21–Military– Solomon Ellsworth McManigle

Solomon Ellsworth McManigle 1830-1912

Week 21 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge’s theme is “Military”.  I have a lot of people in my family tree who served this great country in War of 1812, Revolutionary, Civil War, World I and II, and Desert Storm. I decided to focus on Solomon Ellsworth McMangile for this posting.

Solomon was born on Feb 13, 1830 to James McManigle and Susanna Baecker. He was one of eleven children. Solomon was christened on May 27 1830. When Solomon grew up, he met and married Mary Jane Mason in 1857. They had eleven children, four girls and seven boys. Three were born before Solomon went into service and the rest were born after.

Solomon joined the Union Army in 1861. He was recruited in Brookville by Captain John C Dowling as a Private, 105^th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company B. Solomon’s company participated in every battle from September 11, 1861 when he joined the war to when he mustered out on June 11, 185 in Washington D.C as a Wagoneer. A wagoneer drove a wagon that transported supplies food, equipment, and regimental baggage (civilwartalk.com).   Some of the battles they are participated in were Yorktown, Sailor’s Creek, Malven Hill, Gettysburg, and Mine Run just to name a few.

He was treated for a lung condition on the field in Virginia.  Solomon also took the oath to reenlist while on the field in Virginia. On July 2, 1863, he was stationed to the right of the Sherfy House. The Sherfy house was owned by Revered Sherfy. It was located on Emmitsburg Road in Pennsylvania and included a famous peach orchard.

Solomon came home from the war and had eight more children. He lived to be 82 years of age when he died on March 4, 1912. He was buried on March 6, 1912 in Butler Cemetery, Section A, Row 10. At the time of Solomon’s death he had outlived four of his children; Esther, Walter, John J, and Mary Jane.

52 Week Challenge –Week 20– Black Sheep

Week 20 (May 14-20) – Black Sheep

Week 20 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge’s theme is Black Sheep. Black sheep is defined as a member of a family or group who is regarded as a disgrace to them (urbandictionary.com). I could not think of anyone to give his nefarious title to so I picked my first cousin three times removed. His name is Pious Sylvester Emminger. Pious is defined as having or showing a dutiful spirit of reverence for God or n earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations (dictionary.com).

Pious was born in March 18, 1881 to Michael Emminger and Anna Anderson. He was one of six children two of which were boys. Pious registered for World War I on September 12, 1918. Pious dies July 31 1939 in East Brady, Pennsylvania. He had Chronic Nephitis and also Myocarditis.  Pious was single when he died. Pious’ jobs included Spinner at a Knitting company and Flap machine operator at Rubber Works.

52 Week Challenge –Week 19– There’s a Way- Elijah Graham

Elijah Graham 1772-1854

Week 19 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge’s theme is “There’s a Way”.  For this theme, we were supposed to think about a sticky situation or migration, transportation. So I thought of Elijah Graham and migration. Elijah was my fourth great grandfather on my mother’s side.

Elijah was born on Oct 19, 1772 in Dauphin Co Pennsylvania to John Graham and Martha Ann Miller. When he became an adult, Elijah began running masts for ship building down the Susquehanna River to Havre de Grace.  I chose Elijah and migration because in 1794 he was one of the original explorers of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. He surveyed under Department Surveyor Broadhead from May until the middle of October 1794. Elijah and his brother Elisha were one of nine men in the party including Broadhead.  Elijah and Elisha were chain-carriers. The group crossed streams on logs, encamped in huts, and carried their provisions on pack horses from Franklin, PA to Westermoreland County, PA. The party was six month on the survey and only saw Native Americans. There was not another “paleface” to be found.

In 1797, a colony was formed in Dauphin and Lycoming counties, called the “Big Emigration,” for the purpose of locating on French Creek, Crawford County, Elijah Graham joined this expedition. They loaded their effects in canoes and transported them to a point on the Sinnemahoning, where they were taken overland by pack-horses to the Allegheny River, and again loaded on canoes and carried down the river to French Creek, and up that creek to a point near Meadville. [1]

Elijah lived with his father until 1804 when he returned to the wilderness in Port Barnett, and went to work for Joseph Barnett, working on the mill, running lumber, for three years. There were only seven or eight families living in the area at the time. He was married to Sarah Ann, eldest daughter of Mr. Barnett on March 30, 1807. He was the first court courtier and served in various township offices.¹

In 1821, he moved on to a farm in Union township now owned by Sheridan McCullough, where he remained until 1830, when he removed to Eldred township, where he resided until his death in 1854. Mr. Graham came very near having to be a soldier as he was “pressed into service” by Colonel Bird in 1812, but after being detained at Waterford some two weeks, was allowed to return home. His venerable widow survived him until October 1885, having lived to the great age of ninety-five years.”¹

Elijah and Sarah had ten children, Jane, John, Louisa, Eliza, Joseph, Bethuel, Thomas, Isaiah, Milton, and Juliette (my third great grandmother). Elijah died in 1854 at the age of 82 years in Eldred, Jefferson, Pennsylvania, United States

[1] http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=lkwjcmo&id=I409v

52 Week Challenge –Week 18–Where There’s a Will– William Durwood Spitzer

William Durwood Spitzer 1913-1978

Week 18 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge’s theme is, Where There’s a Will. I have not used any Wills to find anything out about my ancestors as of yet. I also could not think of any ancestors who used their “will” to solve a problem. So, I decided to pick an ancestor with the name William or Will. I chose William Durwood Spitzer.

William Durwood Spitzer was born in Akron, Ohio, on July 25, 1913, to William Philip Spitzer and Clara Mentzer.  He was the youngest of Clara’s children. She had two boys, Howard and William, with William Philip Spitzer.  Clara also had a girl, Almaretta, by a previous marriage.  William is my first cousin twice removed, which means that there is a two-generation difference. (You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother’s first cousin are first cousins, twice removed) (http://pgsnys.org/research/what-is-a-first-cousin-what-does-removed-mean).

                                                                                          

 

Will was a Private-Branch Immaterial-Warrant Officer and enlisted on October 16, 1942. According to his United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, his education stopped after Grammar school.  According to the 1940 Census, he completed one year of high school.  After his time in the service, Will met and married Josephine Anello on December 14, 1946, at St. Anthony’s by Father Trivisonno. They had one son.  Will was a rubber worker. Will died in 1978 at the age of 65 in Akron, Ohio.

 

References:

“United States Census, 1940,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KWGB-6LZ : accessed 27 April 2015), William D Spitzer, Ward 6, Akron City, Akron City, Summit, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 89-146, sheet 8B, family 161, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 3178.Marriage Record.

“United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8PM-T29 : accessed 27 April 2015), William D Spitzer, enlisted 16 Oct 1942, Akron, Ohio, United States; citing “Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946,” database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 126323, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

What is a first cousin what does removed mean (http://pgsnys.org/research/what-is-a-first-cousin-what-does-removed-mean).

52 Week Challenge –Week 17–Prosper– Martin Luther Geer Sr.

Martin Luther Geer Sr. 1796-1818

Week 17 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge’s theme is “Prosper”. For this week, I’m writing about Martin Luther Geer, Senior. I wrote about his son earlier when we were asked to write about a King. Martin Luther, my fourth great grandfather, was born in August of 1796 in New London, Connecticut to Roger Geer and Keziah Tucker. It appears his family moved to Pennsylvania but I cannot find a record of when. Martin Luther was one of twelve children born to Roger and Keziah. The family consisted of seven boys and five girls. Martin Luther took part in the War of 1812. He was part of Captain Albro Tripps’ Company, New York.

Martin Luther met and married Nancy A. Spiers in 1818. Martin and Nancy had thirteen children, eight boys and five girls. In 1888, only nine were living and all but one lived in Pine Creek. The first child being born prior to 1818 and the last in 1843. Martin Luther started with his family on March 15, 1833, from Indiana County to his destination of Jefferson County on March 18, 1833. Martin Luther was a millwright and carpenter. He helped to put a roof on the grist mill built by Robert Barr. He then moved to Clarion River where he build the Grant Mill. Martine Luther moved again, this time to Brookville and finally Pine Creek where he died August 15, 1875. In 1888. He was residing with his wife in his son, Lawson’s house. He is buried in the Bethel Geer Cemetery.¹

 From Jones Family Bible, author unknown, handwritten notes: Live for many long years in the rank of Satan, but in his old age he united with the church. Several years confined to room. 8 months confined to bed because he fell from his chair and dislocated and fracture his hip. 9 o’clock he dies. Leaves a companion, many children unto the third generation. Died @ Lawson’s house. 2 miles from Brookville, Pa.²

pwfields

1. Recorded in Kate Scott’s 1888 History of Jefferson County, PA
2. Jones Family Bible, Unk. Author

52 Week Challenge –Week 16–Live Long– Florence Barnhart

Florence Barnhart 1902-1997

Week 16 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge’s theme is “Live Long”. I decided to pick Florence Emminger Barnhart for this week. She is my first cousin twice removed. I never realized when I was younger how “old” she was but we spent many years with her in Pennsylvania when I was growing up.  I had no idea she was born around the turn of the century. Of course, I would have never asked her age or my grandma would have knocked me out!

Florence Emminger was born on April 4, 1902 in Donegal, Butler, Pennsylvania to Michael Emminger and Julia Silvis. Her grandfather was Ephraim Emminger  whom I wrote about last week. Florence was a very petite woman and one of the kindest people you would meet. She was not only my grandma’s cousin but one of her dearest friends too. Florence had four sisters and one brother. Florence met and married George Hutchison Barnhart in 1920. In the 1920 Census, Florence and George are listed as living with his parents. By the 1930 Census, they are on their own with four of their children, Paul, Emmabelle, Robert, John, Gloria. They had another son Gerald “Tom” born in 1940, and an infant son that passed. I’m not sure when the infant was born or died.

Florence, George, and son

Florence, her brother, and sisters

Florence, George, her brother, sisters, and spouses.

I remember spending our summers in Fenelton, Butler County, Pennsylvania, when I was young with Florence, George, and their family. Three of the children were her neighbors. When  we drove down the road they lived on,  we passed Emmabelle’s, then Paul’s, then Florence and George’s, and last Gloria’s better known to most as Peg. John died before I was old enough to remember him. Robert and Tom lived in the area, but not on the same road. Florence outlived two of her children and her husband. George died in 1986. John died in 1979 and Paul in 1994.