Wedding Wednesday - Villers Laurent

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"Villers-Laurent

 (hand-dated Aug 31, 1963)

A wedding trip to Mackinac Island is the honeymoon planned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Cletus Laurent, who were married at 10 o'clock Saturday morning, Aug. 31, in St. Martin Catholic Church, Tonet.  The bride is the former Miss Ruthann Irene Villers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Villers, Algmoa, R. 2.  Mr. and Mrs. Norman Laurent, Luxemburg, Rt. 3, are parents of the bride-groom.

Maid of honor was Mrs. Wayne Cayemberg, with Miss Shirley Degrave and Miss Mary Ann Malcore as bridesmaids.  Wayne Cayemberg was best man, with Dale Romvald and James Romvald as attendants.  Ushers were Harvey Villers and Francis Queoff.

The newlyweds will return to Luxemburg, Rt. 2, after their honeymoon."

NOTE: This clipping was passed on to me by family in Green Bay, Wisconsin and was in a scrapbook full of old newspaper clippings.  It does not contain any publication information.  It most likely was published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Tuesday's Tip - Inputting Data on the 1870 U.S. Census

1870 U.S. Federal Census

Last time I posted the inputtable census form for the 1860 Schedule 2 (Slave Schedule).  Today, I've got the form up so you can download, input your data and save to your computer information from the 1870 U.S. Federal Census!

No more slavery!  Remember this census was taken a mere 5 years after the Civil War concluded and one of the most noticeable changes (apart from not needing another schedule and not having "Free inhabitants" written at the top) is that last question...good ol' #20, "Male Citizens of the U.S. of 21 years of age and upwards, whose right to vote is denied or abridged on other grounds than rebellion or other crime."

Why was this needed?  Here's the excerpt from the Instructions to Assistant Marshals:

1870 Instructions to Assistant Marshals - U.S. Census Bureau

Since the Civil War had been concluded, what a perfect time for the Federal Government to ensure that those former slaves are not being denied the right to vote via illegal laws (that should have been repealed and are null and void).

The entire 26 pages of Instructions to Assistant Marshals are actually quite interesting, and truthfully all instructions should be read so that you can fully understand the intent of the questions asked as well as the enumerators' responsibilities.  You'll most likely get more out of the census if you do!

These instructions as well as other great information on the 1870 census can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau's website.

Again, 1930census.com gives us the map of the U.S. at the time of the census and a historical chronology for the decade of the census to help put it all in perspective.  Their link for questions asked is empty (bummer!), but we can easily get that information by looking at the census.

The census form I created is in landscape view as opposed to portrait like the original.  I did take a tip from Ancestry.com's sheet (which is also in landscape) when creating this spreadsheet.  It was possible to create one just like the original census, but my concern was that the questions would be too difficult to read and defeat the purpose of the form.  As a result there are only 6 lines to input the family data for an ancestor.  I know...many of our ancestors had more than 6 people in their family, but you can easily continue on another sheet.  The goal is digitization and not so much paper (at least for me).

The spreadsheet is still locked so you can't accidentally type over the form data, but I left the section on the far left unlocked so you can change the numbers to correspond with the numbers for your ancestors.  They are currently numbered 1 through 6 but can easily be changed.

As always, just let me know if there are any problems with the spreadsheet and I'll get them fixed.  The spreadsheet still looks like it's multiple pages in Google Documents, but will be one page once it's downloaded.

Until next week, when I hope to get the 1880 U.S. Federal Census up, have fun tending those roots!

Free Immigration and Travel Records on Ancesty.com!

Well, the Subject line kind of says it all.  For those of you without access to Ancestry.com (or without full access), you can view their immigration and travel records from August 29th (today!) through September 5th.  So this Labor Day Weekend make sure you do some laboring on your genealogy and family history!

Military Monday - Lance Cpl. Dan A. Van Erem

"Lance Cpl. Dan A. Van Erem

Lance Cpl. Dan A. Van Erem, 21, 124 Jacobs St., was killed in action in Vietnam [sic] on January 5.  He graduated from Preble High School in June 1967 and enlisted in the Marines in November 1967.  His mother is the former Myrtle Willame.

Survivors are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Van Erem, one brother, Lawrence Jr., Sheboygan; four sisters, Mrs. Harold (Deloris) St. Thomas; Mrs. Richard (Lorraine) Gay; Mrs. John (Shirley) Hyer; Mrs. David (Nancy) Badeau, all of Green Bay; maternal grandmother, Mrs. John Willame, New Franken.

In state at Malcore Funeral Home after 6:30 p.m. Thursday.  Rosary 8 each evening, Friday by the Rev. Edward Haessly.  Funeral 10 a.m. Saturday, St. Bernard Church.  Burial in Allouez Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established."

"Lance Cpl. Dan A. Van Erem

In State at Malcore Funeral home after 6:30 tonight.  Rosary 8 tonight, and Friday by the Rev. Edward Haessly.  Funeral 10 a.m. Saturday, St. Bernard Church.  Allouez Cemetery.  A memorial fund has been established.  Cpl. Van Erem was killed in action in Vietnam on January 5."


NOTE:  These clippings were passed on to me by family in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  It was in a scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings and had no publication information.  It may have been published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette

Sunday's Obituary - Frank Villers

"Frank Villers, 63, Dies This Morning(hand-dated - Sept 1, 1954)

CASCO, Wis. - Frank Villers, 63, died at 2:30 this morning at his farm home at Rosiere after an illness of four years.

Mr. Villers was born on the Lincoln Township farm Jan. 28, 1891, and was married to Mary LaCrosse May 20, 1913.  he was a member of the Holy Name society of St. Hubert Church, Rosiere.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Louis, at home; one grandson, Marvin; a brother, Joe, of Green Bay, and two sisters, Mrs. Louis Villers and Mrs. William Wendricks, Green Bay.

Friends may call at the Wiesner - Massart Funeral Home here beginning Thursday afternoon, and the rosary will be recited at 8 o'clock Thursday and Friday evenings.  The last rites will be conducted in St. Hubert Church at 9:30 a.m. Saturday by the Rev. Henry Zelinske and burial will be in the church cemetery."

Sadly, this clipping tells me nothing of his parents.  Don't you love it?  Luckily, I can find by looking at the 1930 U.S. Federal Census (Lincoln, Kewaunee, Wisconsin) that his parents, Louis and Emmerance Villers, were living with Frank and Mary Villers.  At least that mystery is solved.  Now to find out where Frank belongs in my tree, because we have Villers, but no Frank, Louis or Emmerance Villers...

NOTE:  This clipping was passed on to me by family in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  It was taken from a scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings an does not have any publication information.  The date written on the article is most likely the date of death and not publication.  The clipping was most likely taken from the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

When the 2010 Census is Released...

In 2082 when the 2010 U.S. Federal Census is released there will be something new on there.  Something that really was never tracked before.  Something that will shed light on families in a new way.  The census will show same-sex couples.

It doesn't really matter what your personal opinion is about whether same-sex marriage is right or wrong.  This is data, and last I checked, we as genealogists/family historians are supposed to deal in facts.  Or at least try to figure out as close as possible what those facts are and how they pertained to our ancestors.  Won't this do that for those researchers that come after us and are researching their ancestors?  Wouldn't you have loved to have known those relationships when looking at old census records?

I wasn't planning on a post tonight.  It's been a hectic week with my kiddos starting school on Monday, but as I was getting ready for bed, I decided to do a quick check of the news and this headline on CNN caught my attention, "Census: More Same-Sex Couples in More Places."  As a genealogist, how could I not click on a census news story?

The article tells us that, "...for the first time the decennial census results report counts of same-sex partners and same-sex spouses, regardless of whether same-sex marriage is legal in their states."  The results won't technically refer to the partner as a spouse but rather as an unmarried partner (marriage wasn't legal in any of the states at the time of the census).

Granted, the article isn't about how useful this will be to future generations of genealogists, but a genealogist/family historian doesn't really need to be told.  Just lead us to the information.  We understand it's significance.  Well, we usually do.

What the census does not record is the sexual orientation of the people enumerated.  Some said that it should have been included in this census and therefore they didn't go far enough.  I'm sure that we'll see it enumerated at some point in the near future.  Maybe in the 2020 census.  Who knows, but no doubt future researchers will enjoy seeing the changes in the census just as we have!

Wednesday's Child - Tamara "Tammy" Laurent

This article was difficult to transcribe.  It's a parent's worst nightmare.  The newspaper clipping was in a scrapbook that was passed on to me by my mother-in-law and had been passed on to her by her mother-in-law.  There is not indication of the newspaper it was published in although it would have most likely been the Green Bay Press-Gazette or nearby newspaper.  The date hand-written in is most likely the date of death rather than the publication date.

Rest in peace little Tammy.

"Struck by Car in Driveway, Child Dies

LUXEMBURG - A 22-month old child, Tamara Laurent, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Laurent, Town of Luxemburg, died about 4:30 a.m. Sunday of injuries suffered about noon Friday when she was accidentally struck by a car being backed out of the family garage by the mother.  The mishap occurred in the Laurent driveway.

The child - Tammy to her family - died at St. Vincent's hospital, Green Bay.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the McMahon funeral home, Luxemburg, and burial was in the Evergreens at Algoma.

The Laurents live on a town road which forms the Brown-Kewaunee county line.  Their home is in the Tonet area.

Mrs. Laurent told Kewaunee county authorities that she had instructed Tammy and another daughter, Sandy, 3, to stay on the porch while she backed the car out of the garage.  She said she started out and felt a bump and then heard sandy call out Tammy's name.  She looked out the car door and found Tammy under the vehicle.

The mother is the former Ruth Ann Villers.

Tammy was born at Algoma Memorial hospital Aug. 9, 1968.

Survivors are her parents; two sisters, Carol Jean, 6, and Sandra, 3; two brothers, Paul, 4, and Daniel, four months; the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Villers, R2, Algoma; the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Laurent, R3, Luxemburg, and great-grandfather, Fred Villers, R1, Algoma."

[Date hand-written, June 28, 1970]

Tombstone Tuesday - Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield

Abraham and Mary Turnbach nee Blanchfield are my great great uncle and aunt.  Mary is my great grandmother's sister.

Abraham was the son of Milton and Bridget Turnbach nee Dugan.  He was born on February 25, 1877 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.  He died on December 9, 1918.

Mary was the oldest daughter of Martin and Anna Blanchfield nee Boyle.  She was born on November 11, 1879 in New York, NY and died in 1919.

Abraham and Mary had at least 8 children (Milton, William, Robert, Mary,  Elizabeth, Ann and 2 unknown children).  Both Abraham and Mary died so close to each other that the first thought that had jumped into my mind was "Flu".  This would have been during the height of the 1918 pandemic (at least for Abraham).  Sometimes guesses are wrong.

Abraham died in a mining accident.  He did repair work in the coal mines and was electrocuted.  It stated on his death certificate that his cause of death was "Electric shock - came in contact with hot wires."

I don't have Mary's death certificate.  The last time I requested it I received notice of a failed search.  I'll have to try again soon or see if one of my genealogy cousins was lucky enough to get a copy.  I suppose it's possible that she could have succumb to the epidemic, but not knowing when in 1919 she passed does put a bit of a damper on that.

What is sad aside from them dying so close to each other?  Their youngest was only about 4 years old.  Luckily (if there can be luck) their oldest was nearly 20 and the family stayed together.

Abraham and Mary are buried in St. Mary's cemetery, Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania.

Military Monday - ARCOM with V Device for Ronald Harrig

[Hand-written 1968, although no specific date given]

"Green Bay Soldier Cited For Bravery in Vietnam

The Army Commendation Medal with V for Valor has been awarded to Sp 4 Ronald W. Harrig of Green Bay for gallantry in action in Vietnam.  Harrig, now stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash., and due to be discharged in July, is the son of the late Eugene Harrig and Mrs. Mary Ann Harrig, 213 Berwyn St.

Harrig, then a private first class in Co. B, 3rd B., 22nd Infantry of the 25th Infantry Division, was cited for bravery during the repulse of a heavy North Vietnamese attack on his company's defensive position the night of April 12, 1968.  His battalion, in a night defensive perimeter during a reconnaissance in force, was attacked by a regiment of North Vietnamese regulars.

While his company pulled back to a secondary defensive position under heavy assault, Harrig held his ground and assisted in disrupting the enemy advance by heavy suppressive fire.  The attack was thrown back.

The 25-year-old soldier was born in Fond du Lac in 1943 and graduated from Preble High School in 1961.  After completing a course in accounting at the Northeastern Wisconsin Technical Institute, he enlisted in the army in July, 1967, and was sent to Vietnam in December.

Subsequent to his heroic action in April, Harrig was twice wounded - in June and again in July of last year."

NOTE:  This clipping was passed on to me by my mother-in-law in Green Bay, Wisconsin (and they had been passed on to her by her mother-in-law).  There is no date on the clipping apart from the year and no newspaper name.  The clipping most likely came from the Green Bay Press-Gazette

Sunday's Obituary - Mary A. Quirk nee Lee

Photo shows Mary's gravesite shortly after the funeral/before the headstone in St. Gabriel's cemetery, Hazleton, PA

Mary A. Quirk nee Lee was my great-great grandmother.  She was born in November 1846 in Ireland.  I don't have an exact location for her, but it is most likely in County Donegal.  County Donegal was listed on her father's death certificate (although not on hers).  I am making the assumption for now that they didn't move much and that she was likewise born in Donegal.  Unfortunately, it's one of the largest counties in Ireland and I don't have any specific location in the county yet.  Still much to verify or disprove!

She emigrated to the United States in 1850 (still looking for her on the passenger lists) and was married to William Quirk on September, 17 1868 in Saint Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Hazleton, PA.  The best I can make out (see earlier post) they had at least 9 children.  Mary died on September 1, 1913 and is buried in Saint Gabriel's cemetery next to her husband, William, her daughter Ella and her mother and father (Edward and Susan Lee nee Phillips).

I wish I knew more about her.  I'm fairly certain I have a picture or two of her in my photo album of unknown people.  I can even venture some good guesses as to which person she is, but since none were labeled, they are just guesses.

Today's Sunday's Obituary is in honor of Mary:

"Died 

QUIRK - In Jeanesville, Monday September 1, Mary A., wife of the late William Quirk.  Funeral on Thursday morning at 9 o'clock from the family residence.  Requiem High Mass at 10 o'clock in st. Gabriel's church, Hazleton.  Interment in St. Gabriels' cemetery.  Cortege by trolley car.  D. Crosby, funeral director."

"The Death Roll 

Mrs. Mary Quirk 

After being ill for the past two weeks, Mrs. Mary Quirk, one of Jeanesville's most esteemed residents, passed away at her home in that town at 1:30 o'clock this morning.  The end came peacefully at the time stated above, with the deceased surrounded by the members of her family.  Mrs. Quirk's pleasant and kind hearted disposition made for her scores of friends throughout this region, who will be grieved to learn of her death. 

The deceased was the only child of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lee and was born in Ireland.  After coming to this country she was married to the late Wm. Quirk, who preceded her in death about 11 years ago.  Her father died at Jeanesville about two years later.  The deceased was a devout member of St. Gabriel's church, this city, where a requiem mass will be offered up on Thursday morning, with interment in St. Gabriel's cemetery. 

The following sons and daughters survive:  Edward of Park View; William, Ella, Kate, Bessie and Mary, all at home."

"Two Large Funerals. 

The funeral of the late Mrs. Mary Quirk of Jeanesville, took place from the family residence where the esteemed lady resided for almost half a century, at 9 o'clock this morning.  The cortege moved by trolley to Hazleton, where a requiem high mass was offered up in St. Gabriel's church followed by interment in St. Gabriel's cemetery.  Many former residents attended the funeral to pay a last tribute of respect to the deceased. 

The funeral of the late Daniel McDevitt of McAdoo, was held from his late home at 9 o'clock this morning.  The esteem in which the young man was held was attested by the scores of people who assembled to pay a last tribute of respect to a departed friend.  A requiem mass [sic] was [sic] offered up in St. Patrick's church followed by interment in the parish cemetery. [No relation to me, but transcribed in case anyone comes looking for him!] 

Attended Funeral. 

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cummisky of Long Island, and Miss Carris Lee of Pittsburgh, attended the funeral of the late Mrs. Quirk today." [I believe it should be "Carrie Lee of Pittsburgh".]

Mary's tombstone is now leaning quite badly

NOTE:  Attached to the inside cover of an old family photo album that was passed on to me were newspaper clippings.  None of the clippings had the name of the paper that they were taken from, but it's safe to say that they most likely came from the local Hazleton area papers (The Standard Sentinel, The Plain Speaker, or the Standard-Speaker).

Follow Friday

A short one this Friday.  I'm about 1,000+ blog posts behind in my queue and I'll be spending some time this weekend catching up.  No doubt next Friday will have a long following list because there are just so many great posts out there! 

Dick Eastman had an incredible blog post called "Controversy: How to Read Unreadable Tombstones".  It's an amazing video and it certainly produces results, but I would agree with Dick that I wouldn't want to personally use it or encourage it's use until I heard from qualified experts as to the long term effects of using flour on tombstones.  Some may argue that the stones are already deteriorating beyond functionality.  I would caution that before you do anything to a gravestone that you first receive permission by the cemetery.

Until next time have fun tending those roots! (Oh, and don't get behind on your reader posts...so not a good sign!)

Wisdom Wednesday - I Live For These Moments!

Buried Saint Gabriel's Cemetery, Hazleton, PA

Have you ever had those moments of genealogical divine intervention where a brick wall that has been laughing at you for months or years finally starts to crumble?  That happened to me yesterday morning.  I woke up early to get ready for a PTA-type morning.  Before falling into PTA induced insanity I relaxed with my morning routine of coffee, checking Facebook, and checking obits from my (and my husband's) hometown.

It was my hometown's obituaries that caught my attention.  An obituary in the Hazleton Standard Speaker for one Rose Marie Dugan.  While Rose is no relative of mine, at least not one I'm aware of, she does share a name with a relative.  Rose Dugan was the second wife of Dennis Dugan.  Dennis' first wife, Elizabeth "Bessie" Dugan nee Quirk was my 2nd great aunt.  So why would I be interested in his 2nd wife?  A little background...

Bessie was one of (at least) 9 children of William Quirk Sr and Mary A. Lee.  Nine children and you would think that there would be lots of descendants around to help me with my research, or heck, just to connect with.  Nope.  Sometimes life throws curve balls at families and they deal as best as they can:

Child #1 - William Quirk b. 09JUL1869 d. before 1880 - I have 2 baptismal records for William Quirk (son of William and Mary Quirk), which indicates to me since this William is in the 1870 census and then is the same age in the 1880 census that he died before 1880 and the parents later named another son William.

Child #2 & #3 - Susan Quirk b. 22SEP1870 d. 13AUG1889 - Why child 2 and 3?  Well, I have a baptismal record for Susan Quirk (child of William and Mary Quirk) showing her birth as 1870.  I have a funeral card for Susie Quirk for 1889.  The problem?  If these dates were for the same person, she would have been almost 19 when she died, but the funeral card (left) has that she was 15 years, 8 months old when she died (wish they had listed the days so I could figure out the exact date).  Doing the math, this Susie was born between December 1873-January 1874.  So was the baptismal certificate transcribed wrong?  Possibly, but that a lot to transcribe wrong...the month and year?  I think it's more likely that the first Susan died sometime before the 2nd Susan was born.  I can understand them wanting to rename another daughter Susan (as they would for William) since Susan was Mary's mother's name.  So the above dates (seem to me to be) most likely the birth for one Susan and the death for the other.

Child #4 - Eleanor "Ella" Quirk b. 15APR1872 d. 01JUL1941 - Ella would have been born between the two Susans, if there were indeed two Susans.  She never married. She was a school teacher and helped to raise my grandmother Mary Ann Brown nee Quirk (mentioned immediately below).

Child #5 - Edward Joseph Quirk b. 08AUG1876 d. 19OCT1950 - Edward was my great grandfather.  He married Alice Blanchfield on 15SEP1912.  They had my grandmother, Mary Ann.  Then Alice died in/shortly after childbirth with their second child (name/gender unknown) on 23SEP1915.  Edward and Mary then lived with Edward's siblings who helped raise Mary Ann.

Child #6 - Catherine G. Quirk b. 24JUL1878 d. 23JAN1961 - "Aunt Kay".  I believe my aunt Cathy is named for her.  She never married.  Just helped take care of Mary Ann.

Unk Hazleton newspaper

Child #7 - William Quirk b. 26OCT1880 d. 16OCT1948** - "Uncle Bill".  He never married.  Lived with his siblings his whole life and can be assumed that he also helped to raise little Mary Ann.

Child #8 - Elizabeth "Bessie" Quirk b. 09FEB1882 d. 14DEC1918 - Bessie was the postmistress in Jeanesville, PA.  She married Dennis Dugan on 02OCT1917.  She would have been 35 when she got married.  Late by standards in the early twentieth century.  She died after a cesarean section (on right).

Child #9 - Mary A. Quirk b. 10MAY1887 d. 02DEC1965 - "Aunt Mary" (shocker, I know) never married.  She helped to raise Mary Ann as well.

Obviously, William and Mary could have had other children that are not accounted for in the census records and that didn't get sent to me from the church in baptismal records.

It's also obvious that little Mary Ann Quirk was taken care of and loved.  I hear those stories from my mom, aunt and uncle.  She may have actually been a little spoiled too, and I say that in a loving, good way.  She probably didn't want for much.  But for William and Mary to have had all those children and end up with only one descendant?  Talk about sad.  I say "one" because no one in my immediate family knows what happened to Bessie and Dennis' child.

1920 U.S. Federal Census - Andrew Dugan household

I became fixated with Bessie and Dennis' child.  Nothing no name for the child in the newspaper, BUT I did find Dennis in the 1920 census.  He was living in Bethlehem, PA with his siblings and his daughter...BETTY!  Named after Bessie!  YAY!!!  Happy dance!  1930 census...well, Dennis is still there in Bethlehem, but he's remarried (to Rose) and with a (step) son...no Betty.  Did she die?  Did she go off to live with other relatives?  I don't know.  Certainly it was a little bit of progress on finding another Quirk.  But happiness at realizing Bessie's daughter survived was slammed down by a nasty brick wall, and Betty wasn't found with her aunts and uncles in the 1930 census.

1930 U.S. Federal Census - Dennis Dugan household

That's where I was before yesterday morning.  Seeing the Rose Marie Dugan obituary made me realize that I had never checked to see when Dennis' 2nd wife died.  If I could find an obituary, maybe I could find a reference to Betty.  I don't k now why I hadn't thought to search through the 2nd wife before, but sometimes it just happens.

So I checked the Social Security Death Index for Rose Dugan...yep.  Right where I expected her in Bethlehem, PA.  Died September 1982.  Good.  Recent is good.  I contacted the local Bethlehem newspaper, The Morning Call, via email and asked for help.  Who has the archived copies and are they available through inter-library loan?  I let them know who I was looking for and when she died (always hoping that they might perform a random act of genealogical kindness) and throwing in there that I'm from northeastern PA but living in Texas near Fort Hood (gotta try for some military lovin'...I'm not beneath that!).

I got a response a few hours later, and while it wasn't with the obituary, it directed me to the libraries with the microfilm and with some additional information.  She told me that their records indicate that there was an obituary published on 14SEP1982 for a Rose Steager Dugan on page B6 under "Local/Region" section.  She said I would need a date to request the information from the library.  I was excited.  Another name...Steager.  So what did I do?  I jumped on Google and typed a search for "Rose Steager Dugan".

I got an obituary for one James J. Steager Sr. published in...The Morning Call!  It mentioned his mother, Rose (King) Dugan and his step-father, Dennis Dugan.  Sadly, no mention of Betty.  Dennis and Rose did have another child (Francis), but he's no relation to me and he passed away as well.

Still, I got a church name...Saint Ursula.  I contacted them for the name of the parish cemetery, Holy Saviour.  I've also got the number for the groundskeeper. I called and left a message asking for Dugan burials.

So now I've got names.  Perhaps a child of James or Francis knows about Betty.  Perhaps they have a picture of Dennis.  I would love to see what he looks like.  I've got so many pictures in an old album that could be him...with an unknown baby...perhaps Betty.

The wall hasn't been torn down, but I think I whacked a brick or two out of it and can see some light on the other side.  The wall will eventually come down.  I'm sure of it.  I'm not hopeful though to find the result I wanted...another Quirk descendant.  If she had lived, wouldn't the she be listed as a step-sister in James' obituary?  Who knows, but I won't stop whacking away at that wall.  I'm determined and new motivation has energized me!

[The news clipping for Bessie Dugan nee Quirk's death has no source information.  It was glued to the inside cover of a photo album with dates penciled in.  The dates are presumably for her death and burial rather than actual publication.  The newspaper is most likely from the Hazleton Standard Sentinel or Hazleton Plain Speaker which predate the current Hazleton Standard Speaker.  It is also possible that the clipping came from a Bethlehem newspaper, but since the rest of the Quirks to which this album belonged lived in/around Hazleton it is unlikely]

**William Quirk is listed in the 1880 census which was enumerated in June 1880...that was before his October birth.  Now they were enumerated on June 21st so unless the baptismal record for William is wrong and he was born February-ish in 1880 there was another baby William that died before the one born in October?  If you look at the 1900 census William is listed as being born in May 1881! We can expect errors in them to some extent though.  Mary Quirk nee Lee is said to have given birth to 9 children 6 still living which is something to go on!