Wordless Wednesday - Grandpa in his Classroom

My grandpa, Edward Brown Sr, in his classroom at H.F. Grebey Junior High School, Hazleton, PA

Travel Tuesday - The ICBU Convention

I blogged briefly in an Amanuensis Monday post on the Irish Catholic Benevolent Union (ICBU).  There really isn't a lot of literature out there concerning this organization and that's a shame because I know that it was a part of my Pennsylvania ancestors' lives.

In a photo album that I scanned from my aunt there were several pictures over 2 pages that were labeled "I.C.B.U. convention, Kingston, Aug. 19th/13"  I can't find out which "Kingston" this was and I haven't (yet) been able to find out where the ICBU convention was held in 1913.  One of the pictures was also labeled "Saint Patrick's Hall," but that didn't yield anything either.  Kingston is a popular city name and Saint Patrick...well...Irish patron saint...need I say more?

The only book I was able to find so far on the ICBU was a 1953 print dissertation by Sister Joan Marie Donohoe, S.N.D., M.A. from the Congregation of Notre Dame de Namur of Belmont, California.  It was submitted to the Catholic University of America as a requirement for her doctor of philosophy degree.  One of the books I need to dive into after I return my newest pile of library books.  Hopefully, it will help me better understand the pictures in this family album from my Quirk ancestors.

The very bottom picture was particularly interesting.  My Irish ancestors at an Irish Catholic convention of some sorts (and by looking at several of the pictures a parade was held) and there's a British flag.  Knowing the tension between the Irish Catholics and the British Protestants I can only suppose that someone was looking for conflict.

If anyone has any ideas about these pictures, I'd love to hear them!

This photo wasn't labeled ICBU, but was on the same page

A British flag at the ICBU convention?  I guess these two groups just couldn't resist the confrontation.

Amanuensis Monday - Bail of Alleged Pickpocket Forfeited

A little fun tonight.  I'm not blogging on one of my relatives (at least I don't think I am!), but I'm transcribing an article that was on the same page as the obituary I posted last night.  Let's just say it caught my eye.

Easton Express, Friday, 15JAN1926, pg 8

"Bail of Alleged Pickpocket Forfeited

When the name of Albert Smith was called in court at Belvidere yesterday there was no response, and Judge Harry Runyon promptly ruled that his bail bond of $2,500 be forfeited.  Court attaches say that the bond was furnished by a casualty company.  A short time after Smith had been arrested friends came to his rescue, with the result that the bond was accepted and the defendant lost no time in getting away from this vicinity."

I'm sure his friends were not at all pleased at losing such a sum of money.  That's a lot today, but we're talking 1926.  Not cool.  Perhaps this transcription will add a little spice to someone researching Mr. Smith's family tree!

Sunday's Obituary - Anna Blanchfield nee Boyle

Easton Express, Friday, 15JAN1926, pg 8

Continuing on this week with all those Blanchfield obituaries that I've been hanging on to for years without posting.

Anna Blanchfield nee Boyle was the daughter of Manus Maurice Boyle and Alice Monaghan.  A coal miner, Manus left his pregnant wife and daughter, (Bridget) Mary, and went to Australia to mine for gold.  He died in the shipwreck of the Royal Charter on his return voyage on October 26, 1859.  He never got to hold his daughter, Anna (my 2nd great grandmother) who was born 2 months after his departure.

“Mrs. Martin Blanchfield

Mrs. Anna Blanchfield, wife of Martin Blanchfield, died at 9 o’clock last evening at her home, 34 Heckman street, Phillipsburg, from paralysis, with which she was stricken two weeks ago.  During the eight years that Mrs. Blanchfield made her home in this town, coming here from Hazleton, Pa., she made many friends.

Besides her husband the deceased is survived by the following children:  Mrs. Robert Flynn, Misses Anna, Josephine, Lillian and William and Joseph Blanchfield.  A sister, Mrs. Mary Fay, of Hazleton, also survives her.  She was a faithful member of Sts. Philip and James’ Catholic church and the Rosary Society.”

A shame that her two daughters that predeceased her were not mentioned.  Mrs. Abraham (Mary) Turnbach and my great grandmother, Mrs. Edward (Alice) Quirk.  It reminds us that just because we come across an obituary doesn’t mean that the information in it is complete (or in many cases correct).  A shame when researchers get a piece of information like this and stop.

Funeral Card Friday - Russell Mark Anderson

"Russel 'Mark' Anderson, 54, Green Bay, died unexpectedly, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at his home.  He was born Jan. 19, 1957, in Chicago, to Russell J. and Dona (Van Caster) Anderson.  Mark attended Bay Port High School.  He later served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He began his career as a mechanic at an early age.  Mark owned and operated Anderson Motors in Green Bay and later worked at Mr. Outboard as a marine technician.  He was a member of the Waterboard Warriors since the 1980's.  Mark had a love of racing and enjoyed snowmobile and boat racing in particular.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Amanda and Brandon Rusch, Ashley and Nick Golik; a grandson, Wyatt Golik; his father and mother, Russell J. and Dona Anderson; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Rita and Roger Kieselhorst, Rhonda and Paul Knope, Rose and Rick Campbell, Becky and Mike Lindgren; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mark was preceded in death by a brother, Rick Anderson; and his grandparents.

Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday.  A Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Pat Dennison, Pastoral Associate officiating.  To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.

A memorial fund has been established."

Mark's obituary was posted online at the Blaney Funeral Home and had been published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (Jan2012).  Mark was my husband's 2nd cousin.

Rest in peace Mark.  We will remember you always.

Wednesday's Child - Anne Marie Arendt

I was looking through the pile of funeral/memorial cards and came across this one.  Anne Marie was 11 years old when she died.  I don't know how or if she is related.  The card could have been kept because she was a child, but I will be pulling the obituary from the Green Bay Press-Gazette when I get back to Wisconsin next time.  It's always sad to see someone taken so young.  Having a 12 year old son, I cannot imagine what the family went through.

Rest in peace, Anne Marie.

**UPDATE** - Shortly after posting this story my sister-in-law, Karen, told me that Anne Marie isn't a relation, but she was one of her best friends from kindergarten through 4th grade.  Anne Marie passed away after becoming ill from encephalitis when she was in 5th grade.  Her family moved away from Green Bay, Wisconsin shortly after her death.  Anne Marie is still remembered and thought of often.  Thanks, Karen!

Tombstone Tuesday - Alice and Edward Quirk

I've talked about Edward and Alice Quirk nee Blanchfield before, but I realized that I never posted a picture of their tombstone.  I'll have to take another picture when I go back to Pennsylvania this summer.  I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I can't believe that I cut off part of the stone.  There's no information there, but still!

Alice died in 1915.  That's 45 years before her husband.  I thought that I had blogged Alice's obit previously, but I'm not seeing it on my blog.  I'll have to look again when this flu bug gets out of my system and if it turns out I didn't, then I'll have to rectify that.  It's a very sad story (as death usually is), but I will only touch on it today and save the details for when I'm more coherent.

Alice died shortly after giving birth to their second child.  The child also passed soon after birth.  My grandmother, Mary Alice Quirk, was their first-born.  Edward never remarried and he and his daughter lived with his brother and sisters.  Her aunts and uncle raised her like their own daughter and she had a good childhood.

The year Edward passed away, my grandparents lost their fourth child, a daughter, Ann.  She is buried with Alice and Edward.  Their tombstone is located in Saint Gabriel's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

I like sharing information about Alice.  I don't have a lot of it, but when I first began my genealogy research and I ran across others researching the Blanchfields, there were more often than not family trees that had Alice married to someone besides Edward or not married at all.  I felt like I was actually able to help fit some pieces together for some people conducting their research.  I know I always appreciate it.

I feel a special connection with Alice.  I don't know why.  Perhaps it's because I feel for my grandmother having lost her mother when she was tiny and it makes me realize how lucky I am to have my mother even as an adult.

Until next time, have fun tending those roots!