Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Lydia Gibbs nee Smith

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

“Mrs. Harry Gibbs

The funeral of Mrs. Lydia H. Gibbs, of 780 S. Tamiami Drive, Port Charlotte, Fla., formerly of Stewartsville, was held this afternoon in Stewartsville Presbyterian Church.  Mrs. Gibbs was the widow of Harry Gibbs.

Rev. Earl D. Davis assisted by Rev. M.H. Loololan, former church pastor, officiated.  Interment was in Stewartsville Presbyterian Cemetery.  The pallbearers were George Baylor, George Cole, Ernest Hagerty, Frederick E. Hans Jr., James Csovelak and Delroy Smith.”  

OK...I cheated for this one a little.  Since Lydia had a memorial on FindAGrave, I used her birth year (1892) in my search.  I found her and her husband, Harry, in the 1930 census with their 3 children, Cora, William and Doris.  According to FindAGrave her name was Lydia Hanna Gibbs nee Smith. 

Rest in peace Lydia.

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Willis Rhoads

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

“Willis J. Rhoads

The funeral of Willis J. Rhoads, 72, of 18 S. Riverside Drive, Easton, was held this afternoon in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Easton.  Mr. Rhoads died Saturday in Easton Hospital.

Rev. John F. Steinbruck officiated.  Interment was in Easton Cemetery.  The pallbearers were Harry and George Keller, Lester Jones, William Lewis, Irwin Mack and Russell Hartpence.”  

Certainly not a lot of information to go on.  There was no FindAGrave memorial (there is now), but because I'm only seeing the burial/funeral notice on this newspaper page, I searched on Ancestry.com using his approximate year of birth (1892), his state and name.  There were actually a couple Willis Rhoads in Pennsylvania, but I found Willis with his wife Edith in Northampton County (where Easton happens to be) in the 1920 census.  No children were living with them.  No children again in 1930 and Edith was already 42 by this census.  The census records also don't show (by these census years), how many births a woman had.  I miss that bit of information.

Willis' SSDI gave his birth date as July 10, 1891.  After finding this I went to search for Edith to see if she too was in the SSDI (I didn't find her) and I came across Edith in the 1940 census with her husband.  Willis is listed as "Wesley" but everything else fit.  Same city.  Same wife. Same approximate birth year.  You know what else was in the census with them?  A daughter, Arlene S Keller.  There is a correction given for Arlene's last name to be Rhoades.  I guess it'll be a mystery for anyone searching this family.  Was Arlene really their daughter?  She wasn't in the 1920 and 1930 census with them, but she would have been alive then.  If she was their daughter, who was she living with then?  Why was she missed?  There are 2 Kellers that served as pallbearers at Willis' funeral.  We can only hope that the obituary for Willis had much more information.

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Karl A. Morgenthaler

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

“Karl A. Morgenthaler

A Requiem Mass for Karl A. Morgenthaler, 70, Columbia, N.J., was celebrated this morning in St. Jude Catholic Church, Blairstown.  Mr. Morgenthaler died Monday in Monroe County General Hospital, East Stroudsburg.

Rev. Michael Garry was the celebrant.  Interment was in Cedar Ridge Cemetery, Blairstown.  The pallbearers were James R. Snedeker, Howard KaKay, Richard Baumbach and Roy Fostle.

The funeral was conducted from the MacFadden Funeral Home, Belvidere.”  

There is a memorial for Karl on FindAGrave that shows that he served with Co E 132 Infantry during World War I and was a Sergeant.  He was awarded the Purple Heart, was born on November 15, 1893, and is buried with his wife, Myrtle.

Karl's Social Security Death Index information on Ancestry.com showed that his last residence was in New Jersey (which we knew from the obit), but that his card was issued in Illinois.  Oh, how I love the SSDI.  Without that piece of information it may have been much more difficult for someone researching Karl to know that he lived in Illinois!  In fact, Karl's WWI enlistment card was filed in Illinois.  We see from his military marker on his gravestone that he served in WWI and even received the Purple Heart, but did you know that Karl claimed exemption from service on that draft card citing tuberculosis?  Another nice piece of info gleaned from his draft card was that he was single in 1917 when filling it out.  That will help someone narrow down a marriage date.

A possible match for Karl can be found in the 1930 US Federal Census with his wife listed as Irene.  Living next door to a Philip and Katharina Morgenthaler who this Karl lived with in previous censuses.  If this is the right Karl, then he was born in Illinois and lived there through the 1940 census.  This Karl is marked as a veteran of WWI, but that doesn't mean it's him.  There were lots of veterans for that war. By the 1940 US Federal Census this couple had one child, a son, name Karl.  Is this the correct Karl?  Probably, but more research to confirm this would need to be done.

Always keep in mind that just because someone filed for an exemption from military service didn't mean that they didn't serve, especially when Soldiers were in demand.  Thank you for your service, Karl and rest in peace.

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - John H. Heater

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

“John H. Heater

The funeral of John H. Heater, 71, of 48 N. Delaware Drive, was held this morning at the Adams Funeral Home, Easton.  Mr. Heater died Saturday night in Easton Hospital.

Rev.  Martin Tornallyay of First United Church of Christ officiated.  Interment was in Easton Cemetery.  The pallbearers were Richard Heater, Robert Newman, Russell Sickles and Raymond Lutz.” 

A short burial announcement, but it was enough to tell me where John was buried and there was a FindAGrave memorial there for him...and 3 others!  His wife, Hattie, is on the tombstone as is his son, Harry, but there is another on there...Mary.  I'm guessing Mary is Harry's wife, but that would have to be verified!

A quick search in the 1940 US Federal Census gave me John and Hattie, with John's mother, Ida, widowed and living with him as well as his sons, John and Harry, living at home.

Not a bad bit of information that you can pull with a quick online search.

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Golden Little

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

A short one for tonight, but a unique name.

“Golden Little

Golden Little, 53, of 102 Center St., Clinton, died this morning in the Hunterdon Medical Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.” 

Not a lot of information in this brief announcement, but a rather unusual name so hopefully the information would be able to help someone search a few days forward for the full obituary or burial announcement or narrow down a death certificate request.

From a quick Ancestry search of "Golden Little" in New Jersey, I came up with a match in Clinton, New Jersey. In the 1930 census Golden is living with his parents, Howard and Jennie, and his sister, Gladys.

According to FindAGrave (he has a memorial there) he is buried in Locust Grove Cemetery.

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Eugene McCarty

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

"Eugene McCarty

The funeral of Eugene J. McCarty, 229 S. 2nd St., Lehighton, will be held tomorrow at the Zimmerman Funeral home, Lehighton.  Mr. McCarty, a former Lehighton borough councilman, died Monday at his home.

Mr. McCarty was the father of Mrs. James G. Halliday of East Stroudsburg.  he was a locomotive engineer for the Lehigh Valley Railroad.  He retired in 1959 after 48 years with the railroad.

Survivors include his widow, the former Edna Goldsworthy; a brother and a granddaughter."

Mr. McCarty was a veteran of World War I.  His daughter's name (here listed as Mrs. James G Halliday) was Laura and his mother, Emma, was a widow and living with the family during the 1940 census.

Sadly, no burial information for Eugene was given and there is no memorial for him on FindAGrave.

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - A. Austin King

Easton Express, 15APR1964, pg 38

"A.  Austin King, 84, Ex-Mayor Of Netcong

A. Austin King of 93 Allen St., Netcong, a former borough mayor, died yesterday after a long illness.  He was 84.

King, a Democrat, served as mayor for several years before 1925.  He was also a school board president in this community.

Survivors are a son and three daughters.

Services will be held tomorrow."

His FindAGrave memorial can be viewed here.

A quick search of the 1920 census shows A. Austin King with his wife, Grace, and children Albert, Elizabeth, Grace and Catherine.  His wife had been "Mary" in other census records and on FindAGrave. Hopefully, this little clip will find a loved one someday.

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - Horatio Harris

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

"Horatio Harris

Horatio P. Harris, 92, of 309 Sussex St., Shimer Manor, Pohatcong Township, died last night in Easton Hospital where he was admitted Saturday. Before that he was a guest at the Northampton Convalescent Home since March 16.

Mr. Harris was a drill press operator at Ingersoll-Rand, Phillipsburg, for 28 years, retiring in 1954.

His wife, the former Mabel Tomey, died in 1968.

Born in New York City, on Jan. 17, 1884, he was a son of the late Charles R. and Emma Redfern Harris.  He lived in Shimer Manor 44 years.

He was a member of Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, a former trustee and elder of the church, and taught its Adult Bible Class for a number of years.

Surviving is a daughter, Miss Elsie L. Harris, with whom he resided.  Two sons, Charles and Franklyn, died before him.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Greenwich Presbyterian Church.  Interment will be in the Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery.  Arrangements were made by the Rupell Funeral Home, Phillipsburg."

These are the sorts of articles I love to share.  So much great genealogical information.  A well-written obituary and well worth having for anyone searching for Mr. Harris!

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Nell G. Waltman

Easton Express, 07SEP1959, pg 16

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

"Mrs. Raymond I. Walman

Mrs. Nell G. Waltman, widow of Raymond I. Waltman, of 1635 Briggs St., Harrisburg, formerly of Easton, died early today in Harrisburg General Hospital.

Mrs. Waltman was a daughter of the late John and Aurora Clark.  She was a native of Easton.

She was a member of Grace Methodist Church, Harrisburg.

Surviving are a son, Everett, Paxtang, Harrisburg; a sister, Mrs. Sallie Kiefer, San Fernando Valley, Calif.; and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Shillinger Funeral Home, Easton."

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Paul A. Warren

Easton Express, 07SEP1959, pg 16

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

"Paul A. Warren

Paul A. Warren, 60, of 102 S. Lehigh Ave., West Catasauqua, died Saturday at his home after an illness of more than eight months.  He was the husband of Roxie Nonnemaker Warren.

Mr. Warren had been employed in the Bethlehem engine terminal of the Central Railroad of New Jersey for the last 31 years.

Among his survivors is a sister, Mrs. Ruth Rising, Portland.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Oliver S. Burkholder and Son Funeral Home, Catasauqua."

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Elizabeth Myers

Easton Express, 07SEP1959, pg 16

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

"Miss Elizabeth Myers, Former Teacher, 88

Miss Elizabeth A. Myers, 88, a former teacher in the Phillipsburg school system, died Saturday at Christ Hospital in Jersey City.

Miss Myers resided with her sister, Mrs. Helen Shipman, at 3663 Hudson Blvd., Jersey City.

She was a daughter of the late Samuel and Martha Myers.

Her sister is her only immediate survivor.  She also leaves a nephew, Dr. Robert T. Shipman.

A viewing will be held at noon on Wednesday at the Hagerty Colonial Home, Phillipsburg, with interment at 1 p.m. in Phillipsburg Cemetery."

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - John E. Mount

Easton Express, 07SEP1959, pg 16

Because we all have collateral information surrounding those obituaries and news articles we copy for our records.  Let's share them and hope that they benefit someone researching their genealogy.

"John E. Mount

John E. Mount, 66, of 15A Morris St., Phillipsburg, died yesterday at the Veterans Hospital, East Orange, N.J.  He was ill three weeks.

Mr. Mount retired a year ago.  Born in Flemington, he was a son of the late Theodore and Mary Buchanan Mount.

Surviving are his widow, the former Josephine Megargel; a step-son, Harry D. Megargel, Alpha; four brothers, Joseph, Phillipsburg; Clyde, Buffalo, N.Y.; Theodore, North Plainfield, N.J., and Milton, Flemington; four sisters, Neva Gahan, Trenton, N.J.; Mrs. Marjorie Hurlbert, Buffalo; Mrs. Frances Castner, Phillipsburg, and Mrs. Mamie Gahan, Bellefontaine, Ohio.

The funeral will be held at 8:15 a.m. Thursday at the Finegan Funeral Home, followed by a requiem High Mass at 9 a.m. in Sts. Philip and James Catholic Church."

Random Acts Of Genealogical Kindness - Millard L Hawk

Easton Express, 07SEP1959, pg 16

Usually when you scan/print an obituary you get the surrounding information on that page of the newspaper.  We crop down the article and file it, but what about that other information on the page that doesn't necessarily pertain our your lines?

I was glancing over obituaries that were on one such page and thought that it's such a shame not to share them. Someone out there might be looking for these people and many of the obituaries are very interesting even if the people don't belong to me.  So I decided that I'd take time to transcribe these obituaries and post them on my blog. Hopefully, some of them will find interested family members.

"Millard L. Hawk

Millard L. Hawk, 65, of 815 Pitman Ave., Collingdale, Pa., a native of Easton, died yesterday while riding in a car in Newtown Square.

Mr. Hawk was a window decorator for the Philadelphia Wholesale Drug Co.

He was married to the former Lela Hutchison.  He was a son of Mary Stamets Hawk, Glen Gardner and the late Raymond B. Hawk.

Surviving in addition to his widow and mother are a son, Jack, Springfield, Pa.; a sister, Mrs. Bessie Dunlap, Bloomsbury; a brother Paul, Chicago, Ill., and two grandchildren.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Williams Funeral Home, Califon Heights."