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."

Wednesday's Child - Charles Alford

Easton Express 07SEP1959, pg16

When I was transcribing my great grand aunt's obituary a few days ago, I saw this obituary right above hers.  These are always sad, but the precious little one left behind a twin brother who I hope is still alive and thriving.

"Alford Infant

Charles Alford, 1, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Alford, 226 Reynolds St., Easton, died Saturday night at Betts Hospital.  The child was admitted the day before with pneumonia.

He was born in Easton on Aug. 10, 1958.

Surviving, in addition to his parents, are a twin brother, Clarence Jr.; two sisters, Maxine and Roseann; his maternal grandfather, Dempsey Theadford, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Willie Alford, all of Easton.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Pittenger Funeral Home, Wilson."

Little Charles has a memorial posted on FindAGrave, but no picture of the tombstone has been submitted yet.  His memorial is listed as being in Easton Cemetery (plot 17).  The memorial appears to have been created by his twin brother (or father), Clarence.

Rest in peace little one.

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."

Military Monday - William Turnbach Jr

Bill Turnbach was one of the first people I came in contact with when I began my genealogy research over a decade ago.  He was also one of the first people I lost since doing genealogy.

I never got to meet Bill.  I spoke to him through email and snail-mail only.  He was so kind and helpful.  He touched so many of us researching the Blanchfield line.  He was always ready to send photos, disks with information, and pretty much anything else you could want.  I was in Hawaii when we began to correspond and when I found out that he had passed the loss was tangible.

Bill helped me so much when I was first starting out and I realized I knew so little about him personally. We get in contact with distant cousins and we're so excited about comparing genealogical information that sometimes we neglect to get to know the person we're collaborating with.

I was trying to remember when Bill passed and since I was on Ancestry.com already it was easier to do a quick search than open my genealogy program.  When doing so I came across the following:

I never knew the Bill had been in the military.  Being a veteran myself this is very special to me.  I wish I had a picture of him in uniform (or a picture of him period) so I could include him in my Veterans Day tribute.  Maybe a genealogical angel will deliver one to me before November.

So this Military Monday I want to remember a veteran and cousin (2nd cousin once removed) that I wish I had gotten to know better.  Rest in peace, Bill, and thank you for your service.

Sunday's Obituary - Josephine Blanchfield

Easton Express, 07SEP1959, pg 16

Another Blanchfield that I've unintentionally neglected!

"Josephine Blanchfield

Miss Joesphine Blanchfield, of 65 Glen Ave., Phillipsburg, died at her home last night after a long illness.

Miss Blandhfield was employed in the beauty salon of Orr's department store in Easton.  She retired two years ago.

Born in Beaver Meadows, she was a daughter of the late Martin and Anna Boyle Blanchfield.  She lived in Phillipsburg about 42 years.

She was a member of Sts. Philip and James Catholic Church, Phillipsburg.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Robert Flynn, Phillipsburg; and Miss Lillian Blanchfield, at home, and two brothers, William and Joseph Blanchfield, both of Phillipsburg.

The funeral will be held at 9:25 a.m. Thursday at the Finegan Funeral Home, Phillipsburg, followed by a Requiem High Mass at 10 a.m. in Sts. Philip and James Church."

Josephine was my great grand aunt.  Although it is not mentioned in her obituary, she is buried in the church cemetery in the Blanchfield plot.  Only the surname is on the marker.

Josephine was 72 years old when she died.  I do have a copy of her death certificate from the state of New Jersey but they redacted the cause of death when issuing it to me.  Sad, but true.  One of the pitfalls in researching sometimes.

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.