52 Ancestors Week 12: Misfortune

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On 27 March 2018

In 52 Ancestors

Misfortune can mean many things. I’m going to focus on my 2nd great-grandfather, whom I had heard many stories about while growing up, but I was never sure how accurate it was and how much was just hard feelings from over the years. However, as I began to research, I could understand how his misfortunes created the man he was rumored to have become.

We’ll start at the beginning: Gard Witherell was born 21 October 1882 in Michigan to Gard and Lillian (McLeod) Witherell. ((“Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950,” database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 March 2018), index, Gard C. Witherell, 21 Oct 1882, no. 031286; citing Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing, Michigan.))

This was likely taken around 1884, before his younger brother was born. It’s a tintype and I have a similar one from the same time that has his mother and another female relation in the picture.

In 1885, Gard (the elder – he was never called senior) and Lillie welcomed Ostrom into their family. ((Saginaw County, Michigan, Record of Births Book F (1885-1886): 58, entry for Ostrom C. Witheral; Saginaw County Clerk’s Office, Saginaw.))

This is definitely one of the many times I wish the 1890 census still existed! I would love to know what the young family was doing at that time. Especially because the first tragedy (well, the first recorded tragedy) happened in 1895.

Lillian, the two boys mother, died in 1895 of stomach issues – specifically, paralysis of bowels. ((Saginaw County, Michigan, Death Book D (1895-1898), 1895 entry for Lily Witherell; Saginaw County Clerk’s Office, Saginaw.))

By 1900, the boy’s grandmother was living with them, likely because trying to work and raise two boys at the same time was incredibly different for the elder Gard, even with Gard the younger being 13 and Ostrom being 11, I’m sure he needed extra help. ((1900 U.S. Census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw City Ward 15, ED 71, sheet 4A (penned), dwelling 68, family 74, Gard Witherell household; image and index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 March 2018); citing NARA microfilm T623))

So in comes Grandma Martha (Wolcott) Witherell Curtis:

 

Things go well for a while. By 1910, Gard has married a woman named Fanny McGriff and they have two children: Glenn (my great-grandfather) and Jack. ((1910 U.S. Census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw City Ward 1, ED 47, sheet 26A (penned), dwelling 648, family 503, Gard Witherell household; image and index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 March 2018); citing NARA microfilm T624, roll 672.))  Thomas, their third son, comes in 1911. ((Social Security Administration, “Social Security Death Index,” database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Thomas D. Witherell, 1990, SS no. 368-07-7183.))

In 1911, Martha, Gard’s grandmother passes away. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Martha Curtis, 14 Jan 1911, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 33. )) The elder Gard’s sister, Jane, had died prior to that in 1902. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Jane McWatters, 27 June 1902, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 322. ))

In 1915, the rest of Martha’s children (there were four that lived to adulthood) pass away:

  • Uncle John, 10 July 1915: died of a heart attack in a park ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for John Witherell, 10 July 1915, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 439.))
  • His father, Gard the elder (who went by Chas) 1 Sept 1915: died of a heart attack in a park ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Chas G. Witherell, 1 Sept 1915, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 528.))
  • Aunt Frances (the last of his father’s siblings) 1 Oct 1915: died from pneumonia ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Frances Wardell, 1 Oct 1915, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 593.))

By this time too, his brother had moved out of the state and was in Minnesota. ((“Second Brother Dies in City Park,” (Saginaw), Saginaw Courier Herald, 2 September 1915, page 2.))There were still many cousins around in Saginaw, although how close they all were is anyone’s guess. The McGriff family was also quite extensive, but had moved out of the area by this point. ((1910 U.S. Census, Snohomish County, Washington, population schedule, Sultan River Precinct, ED 364, sheet 7B (penned), dwelling not numbered, family not numbered, Archie McGriff household; image and index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 March 2018); citing NARA microfilm T624, roll 1669.))

1915 was a tough year for the family. And by 1919, it got even worse. Fannie, Gard’s wife, dies from pneumonia, which could have been caused the by flu epidemic of 1918 as she died in January of 1919. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Fanny M Witherell, 28 Jan 1919, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 88)) According to family stories, she was incredibly well loved by everyone, and this death hits the small family straight in the heart.

Here is where the family stories come in. At this point, Gard doesn’t take this death well. The McGriffs are back in the area for a short period of time, likely for Fannie’s funeral and maybe just taking care of the boys a bit, but they aren’t there for too long. ((1920 U.S. Census, Genesee County, Michigan, population schedule, Flint City 1st Ward, ED 13, sheet 14B (penned), dwelling 209, family 249, Archie McGriff household; image and index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 March 2018); citing NARA microfilm T625, roll 764.)) Glenn was 10, Jack 9, and Thomas 7.

Family story has it that there was a friendly neighbor who took care of the boys. I found this to be true quite by accident when I saw a picture of a woman named Cassi Wilson pictured with my great-grandpa:

When I asked about it, my great-aunt told me the story that this family took them in and cared for them as Gard could not. It was hinted that Gard was drinking and gambling quite a bit.

Glenn, being the oldest boy, did his best to take care of his family. Thomas was a celebrated athlete in the family and joined the military, traveling all over the world. This left Glenn and Jack to look after their father. Jack, sadly, died in 1931. The death certificate states he died of a fractured skull due to an automobile accident. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1921-1947,” database and images, Library of Michigan, (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 27 March 2018), entry for Jack O. Witherell, 31 Oct 1931, citing Michigan Department of Community Health, certificate register no. 849))

From what I know, Jack was a well-loved brother and I wonder if this was when Glenn was done was his father. Although he was never totally done, but his children did not know their grandfather. According to my grandfather, he remembers a man coming by the house often and his dad (Glenn) giving him food and/or money. He also remembers sometimes stopping at a houseboat to do the same thing. It was years before he finally knew that this man was his grandfather, which says a lot.

In March 1952, a body was found in the Saginaw River whom the police believed to be Gard Witherell (which was later confirmed), who had gone missing nearly a week prior to him being found. ((“River Yields Body of Man,” Saginaw News, 27 March 1952, pg. 39)) There was no obituary – just a single line in the paper under deaths: Gard C. Witherell, 69, Saginaw ((“Deaths” Saginaw News, 28 March 1952, page 27.))

The family story here is a bit different from just an accidental drowning. As I mentioned, the rumor was that he was gambling at this time. It was told to me that the family believes he may have been murdered due to debt. Those living near him claimed this to be true, but those who were living on the houseboats in the river weren’t considered very credible people. They tended to be those with drinking and gambling issues among other problems. Perhaps that was why it was never investigated, or it was assumed that he had been drunk and fell into the river that way. It’s hard to know all the facts of the case so many decades later!

Either way, Gard’s misfortune seemed to have come early and continued to hit him throughout life. He didn’t cope very well with it and the result was how he died, according to family story. How true is this? Well now, that I’m not sure on. But what can be shown is that there was plenty of misfortune that happened throughout his life, to say the least.

 

 

Friday Finds 23 March 2018

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On 23 March 2018

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52 Ancestors Week 11: Lucky

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On 19 March 2018

In 52 Ancestors

This is a tough one! I feel like this one needs more of an ancestor’s actual story than could be told by records alone. With that, one story came to mind. It’s more personal and more recent than others on my tree as well.

These are my grandparents. My beautiful grandmother worked hard to fit into that dress! I can’t remember what the waist size was exactly  (10 inch waist? Was that even possible??) but she did some extreme dieting. I remember her telling me it was a coffee and cigarette diet, which she then followed with a very stern and serious –  “Never do that.”

My grandmother claims is was this that caused her to fall seriously ill a few years after their wedding with Insipidus Diabetes. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, of course, but my grandmother firmly believed this was the cause.

What this meant was that she had to take a nasal spray everyday to keep everything in balance along with the fact that she always seemed to be very thirsty (or so I saw – she was always sucking on ice chips and had water close by). It also caused problems with her getting pregnant. This was the early 1950s and the doctors told her she would not be able to have children. However, as my grandmother once told me, she had always wanted to be a mother. She knew it was what she was supposed to do on this earth. With that mind set, I can imagine her look when the doctors told her she should not try. She, of course, did anyway. That stubbornness is definitely a family trait!

She had two miscarriages and her doctors urged her to stop trying as it was very hazardous to her health. She persisted, however, and in 1952, my aunt was born. Then my dad came along in 1954! The doctors proclaimed them both miracle babies!

My grandmother had her two children, a girl and a boy, and was quite happy! There was another pregnancy that happened, however, in 1965. That one ended in a very sad still birth. He’s buried with my grandparents and was named Glen A. (which is my grandpa’s dad’s name). My dad remembers that day very sadly as he had finally had a brother.

My dad and aunt were the miracle babies that my grandmother always wanted, but had been told she would never have. Without her persistence and risking her own health, my siblings and cousin (and the next generation) would not be here at all. To me, that makes us all very, very lucky.

 

 

52 Ancestors Week 10: Strong Women

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On 18 March 2018

In 52 Ancestors

I have a number of women I’d call strong women in my genealogy. I’m picking one not at random, but also understanding that there are other strong women in my tree too.

Today, I’m focusing on my 3x great-grandmother: Anna (Dexler) Hagerl. She’s actually one of the women in my website’s header:

She’s sitting in the front row, 2nd from right. Her husband, Frank Hagerl, is in the front row 3rd from the right. Surrounding them are all of their children (my 2nd great-grandmother is in the back row, 3rd from the right).

Anna was born in Germany, likely Bavaria, on 23 Nov 1849. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1921-1947,” database and images, Library of Michigan (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 15 March 2018), entry for Anna Hagerl, 20 Feb 1932, state office no. 73 4155, Michigan Department of Community Health.)) Her mother was also an Anna – Anna (Stockner) Dexler, but I’m not sure who her father was just yet. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 15 March 2018), entry for Anna Dexler, 18 Jan 1901, registered no. 21, Michigan Department of Community Health.))

She met and married Frank Hagerl sometime in Bavaria and before the birth of their first son, Andrew, in 1872. Then came Mike in 1875, Anna in 1876, Frances in 1878, Joe in 1880, and Margaret in 1886. ((1900 U.S. Census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, James Township, ED 37, sheet 1, page 237 A (stamped), dwelling 4, family 4, Frank Hagerl household; image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 March 2018); citing NARA microfilm T623.)) Whew!

I’m still not sure what drew them out of Bavaria. Where they ended up in Michigan had a large Bavarian population, so it’s likely they had friends and neighbors who helped pull them to the area.

Either way, it is likely that Frank left first. He’s not on the passenger list with Anna and the children, so it’s very likely. On 25 September 1889, Anna arrived with her children in tow in Baltimore, Maryland. The record shows that:

  • Anna Hagerl, 40, female, wife – from Germany and Baltimore was her destination.
  • Andreas – 14, male [he would have been closer to 17]
  • Michael – 11, male [he would have been closer to 14]
  • Anna – 11, female [she would have been closer to 13]
  • Frances – 10, female [she would have been closer to 12]
  • Josef – 8, male
  • Marget – 3, female

Anna and her family were in steerage, which was a likely crowded and without much fresh air. Steerage has never been shown to be a fun nor easy way to travel. But it was cheaper and with a large family, it was likely their only option.

The family had 3 pieces of luggage total. Here you are, completely removed from not only your family and friends, but your entire country, language, and customs and thrown into a new world. Voluntarily, of course, but that had to be a large shock. They left everything behind that didn’t fit into three pieces of luggage. ((“Baltimore Passenger Lists, 1820-1948,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 March 2018), entry for Anna Hagerl, aboard Main, Breman to Baltimore.))

Can you imagine what that must have been like? Six children with you? The youngest only three? Grant it there were older children to help take care of the others, but what a journey!

Thanks to the 1900 census, I do that Anna’s mother made the journey around the same time as she did. I have yet to find her passenger list! And I know that two more children came after she arrived – John and Thresa. She was 41 and 43 when she had those last two!

Besides making that journey, leaving behind everything she had ever known and coming to a new country, she faced more tragedies after she arrived. Out of four of her daughters, she lived to see three of them buried.

Her oldest daughter, Anna, died in 1914 from shock following a tonsillectomy. ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 15 March 2018), entry for Anna Breidenbach, 28 July 1914, registered no. 468, Michigan Department of Community Health.))

Six years later, her daughter Margaret (my 2nd great-grandmother) died of puerperal septicemia, which was common after childbirth.((Michigan, “Death Records, 1897-1920,” database and images, Library of Michigan (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 15 March 2018), entry for Margaret Ann Almy, 26 July 1919, registered no. 545, Michigan Department of Community Health.)) There was no child mentioned though (no death certificate either), so perhaps she had gone into labor much too early. Although my great-grandmother did talk about her siblings and family often, there wasn’t any mention of what happened here.

Lastly, Francis died in a horrible accident in 1921. She had been run over by an car and killed. The cause of death on her death certificate states: “every bone in [the] upper part of her body was broken.” ((Michigan, “Death Records, 1921-1947,” database and images, Library of Michigan (http://seekingmichigan.org : accessed 15 March 2018), entry for Frances ryder, 28 Nov 1921, registered no. 807, Michigan Department of Community Health.))

Anna, however, lived to be 82 and died in 1932, in her adopted country and home in Saginaw, Michigan.

The things this woman had seen and been through make her my spotlight for strong women. Although I’m sure to her it was just what you did in life: carried on, kept going, stayed strong, etc. I also got the impression that they were a large and loving family through the stories from my great-grandmother. That, to me, shows a lot more of her strength of character than these records can really do justice.

Besides being on my website as they are, my great-grandmother always made these amazing lebkuchen cookies every Christmas that I know have a suspicion may have been her mother’s recipe and could have even come from Anna. I have to see if I can track that down…

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