Friday, September 30, 2011

Happy Birthday Mom (Elinore Lee Cork, aka Nori)

September 30 is a busy birthday day on the blog (see the other two postings).  Nori was born at Akron City Hospital to Dwight Cork and Eunice Jewett Cork.  She grew up in the Cuyahoga Falls/Stow Ohio area.  She is the middle daughter.  

She is an amazing Wife and Mother.  She always shown her love and support to us.

She is the BEST GRANDMOTHER EVER (sorry all you other Grandmothers).  The kids have always adored her but have grown to appreciate her sense of humor as they have grown up
She loves her Atlanta Braves although they let her down lately!
Click on the pictures to read the kids' shirts.
This was taken at a Birthday outing to the Braves game
with seats in the Owner's Box.
She is a great and caring friend.

She loves her Church and is giver of time and talent.
Join me in wishing her a very happy day!



Guest Post: Mark Riley's Birthday


We are lucky to have a post authored by Ray Riley in memory of his brother Mark's birthday:

Today, September 30th, would have been the 81st birthday of my beloved brother Mark.  He died eight  years ago after a seven year struggle with respiratory problems.
Mark, the fourth son of Sid and Selma Riley, lived his entire life in Akron.  He loved Akron and would send me pictures, books,  and tapes about Akron.  When I returned to Akron to visit Mark would drive me around for hours past homesteads, schools, haunts and historical sites. 
Mark married Minnalu Brewer while in the army.  After a tour of combat duty in Korea he worked at the  M.Oneil Company where he worked his way up to General Merchandising Manager.  Mark got a business degree at Akron University by going to night school and squeezing in classes during  his lunch hour.  Minnalu would meet him at the store entrance with the motor running and a bag lunch and drive him to class.  His boss was quiet impressed with the M &M team and mentored Mark.  Apparently Akron University was also impressed with Mark because after graduation he taught marketing at night. Mark finished his career at M&M's Galleria's store.  I started what became a chain of stores without any retail experience other than the advise and guidance of Mark.
Mark's legacy is  his love for his wife, children, friends and brothers.  Mark was the definition of a supportive and loving big brother.  He and Minnalu were there for me at very event and turn in my life.  He is missed.
          Ray Riley
Join me in wishing Nori, my wife of 54 years whose birthday is also today, a happy birthday.  Talk about being blessed, I am one lucky man. 
Ron. Mark & Ray

First Birthday of the Day

Mary Ruth Bostwick was born on this day in 1922.  She was the youngest daughter of Grace Riley (daughter of Thomas & Lizzie) and William Bostwick.  She would have been 89 this year. She was the wife of James Addy.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

From a printed History of Sangamon County IL (Springfield)

1881 HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Inter-State Publishing Company
Chicago, Illinois, 1881

Page 690
CHARLES H. LONG, baker, grocer, and dealer in garden and field seeds, 225 South Fifth street, has been active in business in Springfield since 1857, first starting in the bakery business where the old Jefferson House now is. In 1863, he erected the brick building he now occupies, three stories high, twenty by seventy-four feet, of which he uses two floors and the basement for his trade, the bakery being in another building. Soon after locating in his present quarters, he put in a stock of general groceries, and ten years ago added the seed departments, of which he makes a specialty, and it is now a leading feature of his business, and runs over $10,000 a year. His entire sales in the various branches amounted in 1880 to $40,000.
Mr. Long is a native of Germany, born in 1838; came to the United States in the spring of 1854, settling immediately in Springfield, Illinois, and has been a citizen of Sangamon county since. In 1863, he married Miss Louise Nagel, in Springfield, who was also born in Germany. Their family consists of two sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Long are members of the German Lutheran Church. He was one of the first Board of Trustees of concordia College, of this city.\

Charles must have been a prominent citizen to have a part of this book.  It is gives us a good description of the building in yesterday's post. He built this building only nine years after he came here from Germany. I thought he came here somewhat later than what was reported here.  In any case, he was only 25 years old when he built this building. 


I looked at other listings and they contain TONS of personal information like parents' names with death locations and dates.  Some listings even include the political preference of the subject.  It is too bad that we didn't get parental info on Charles.  

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Charles Long's Store in Springfield

I haven't written about Charles Long (aka Carl H. Lange) and his business in a while (here is my previous post).  Ray, Nori, and Max visited Springfield some time ago and took this picture of the building that his store was in.  The address is 215 S. 5th Street. According to Public Records, they have been in business for 63 years (at this location).  I think it is still owned by the same family.  I am not sure what happened to Charles' store after 1898 as that is the last city directory I have.
Max and Ray
Here is a view of the store with Charles out front.



Monday, September 26, 2011

Back to the 1910 Census Series

I know the blog has been a little Brueggeman heavy lately.  The direction of the blog is usually a factor of birthdates and anniversaries and what I've been working on. I cannot subtract well because earlier I miscalculated the Anniversary date of this couple and the picture that included Meta.  It could easily have been taken at either occassion, 1909 or 1914.  I guess the young boy in the picture would be the key to figuring out which is the correct date.  




I've been in contact with Chris Bennhoff Flynn in San Diego so I thought I'd cover her Great Grand Parents, Louise (Brueggemann) and Wilhelm Bennhoff today.


Thanks to David Reinhardt, we have a picture to share (dated 1865, a year after their marriage):
It looks like they were living at 3929 Lorain Ave. in Cleveland.  It looks like the street had a lot of duplexes and there is another family listed at the same address.  Living with them, was the widow of their son Heinrich Ludwig Bennhoff and their grandson, Paul.  If you remember, I wrote about this before.  Heinrich died just a couple of weeks after his son was born (1896). Paul is Chris' father.  She was 64 at the time of the census and he was 67.


His profession is listed as a Blacksmith for a wagon maker.  Neither Louise or the daughter-in-law was employed.  They owned their home without a mortage.  The family listed at the same address are listed as renters, presumably from the Bennhoffs.


She was listed as having five children with three living.  It's nice when the census matches to the records I have.  In addition to the son who died as an adult, they lost a daughter as an infant.


Most of the neighbors were of German ancestry and there were quite a number of Hungarian families as well.  Most were working class (laborer, bar keeper, barber, etc.)




Sunday, September 25, 2011

Joanne Darkow Greive's Birthday

Today is the birthday of Joanne Darkow (daughter of Lydia Brueggeman).  Here is a picture of the Darkow siblings with their mother.
Here is a family pictures of the Greive and Martin family from the 2009 Reunion.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Family Picture with Meta Brueggemann

Again David Reinhardt came to the rescue with a picture of Meta Brueggeman.  Actually, I had this picture and wasn't identified.  He thinks it was taken at the Golden Anniversary party in 1894 of Louise Marie Brueggeman and Heinrich Bennhoff. 


If the picture is properly identified, I think it was probably taken at Clamor's funeral.  Meta was born in 1890 and she is too old in the picture to be 1894.  The young lady seated on the left is Stella Reinhardt.  She was born in 1892.  If taken in 1909, Stella would be 17 and Meta 19.


Here is Meta in this picture:

Friday, September 23, 2011

Happy Birthday Minnalu Brewer Riley

Today is the birthday of Minnalu Brewer Riley.  She's the wife of Mark Riley (son of Sid Riley and Selma Brueggeman).  Minnalu was born in Akron.


As I mentioned Spring Break Trips before, here is a picture of Mark, Minnalu and Max from one of those trips.
Join me in wishing her a very happy day!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

A Quick post tonight

I have been swamped today on a time sensitive project.  So I just going to post a picture tonight.
This was taken at O Mile Post Alaska in 1952 when David and Ray Riley (and two others)  made the trip from Akron to Alaska in an old hearse.  I will have to get Ray to write about the trip there and his exciting trip home.  They were hoping to get high paying jobs.  Ray turned 18 while on the trip and in fact, he registered for the draft in Fairbanks.  It was quite an adventure.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Birthday of Meta Marie Brueggeman

Today is the anniversary of Meta Marie Brueggeman.  She was the daughter of Louis and granddaughter of Clamor.  She was born on this day (Sept 20th) 1890 in Cleveland.  She never married.


David Reinhardt provided these notes to me that were written by Eugene Brueggeman (her nephew):


She was a graduate of the Cleveland School of Law in 1915, was admitted to the bar but never engaged in private practice.  I believe she worked as a law clerk to a judge in the Common Pleas Court of Cuyahoga County.  She was fired when the Democrats took over in 1932.  It was said she refused to play the political game and make a contribution to the party or something like that.  By that time she was well enough off not to work again at a regular job.  She traveled in Europe at least once sometime in the middle of the thirties.  She never married and loved to play the piano and sing opera (which was a rather excruciating experience for those who had to listen).  [Eugene inherited her Steinway].  She had a domineering personality and was in many ways far ahead of her time.  She was one of those people who made a lasting impression on people-especially her nephews and nieces who still talk about her whenever they get together.  She was a constant presence in her family, and spent all the holidays with Rudolph's family.


She certainly was an interesting woman!
I could find that she made two European trips, one in 1928 and again in 1932.  I would love to find her passport application as they often include pictures but they are only available on-line through 192 and she doesn't seem to have applied before 1926.  You can get copies from the State Department but it cost $150!!!.


Anyone have a picture?

Monday, September 19, 2011

More on Selma's Vacation Trip to Zanesville

Monday:
In the afternoon Emma went with me to buy my coat, we went to Webers but did not get to see Mr. Sam Weber so did not get much of a cut price on it.  The coat cost me $50.00 and it was not anything extra either.  I met Florence (Bischoff) and went to her house for supper.  After supper she took me to the show "The Great Love", it cost 25 cents a piece, and then I treated her at Bailey's Drug Store.  While I was waiting on the street car I saw Edith Howard, a girl who I used to play forward with on the basketball team, and we had a nice long talk together, the Mrs. Schmid comes and talks to me and pays my way on the car.


Downtown Zanesville 1935
Woodlawn Ave in Zanesville with Street Car Tracks
down the middle of the street
Decade the Teens





Sunday, September 18, 2011

Sunday Special: More pictures of Brandywine WV Church

Max and Ray often took Spring Break trips.  One trip included a visit to the Brandywine WV church the EA Brueggeman first preached at.  I came across these pictures today and wanted to share them.



Saturday, September 17, 2011

Happy Birthday Alexander Morgan Riley King

I didn't have a hard time finding something to write about today.  It's the 25th birthday of our son, Alex.  Alex is a kind hearted soul and is still finding his place in life.  He's made great strides in the last year and has recently moved into his own Condo.  Alex works for UPS and is a super star employee.  We are so proud of him!
With his Great Grandmother, Eunice Cork

Friday, September 16, 2011

Family Picture Friday: Selma and Emma Louise

One of the highlights of Selma's vacation in Zanesville was spending time with Emma and Walter's daughter, Emma Louise.  Selma speaks often in her diary about this cute little girl.
This was taken 1914
Selma, Emma and Emma Louise
July 1917
Louise, Selma and Emma Louise




Thursday, September 15, 2011

Selma's Diary: More on her vacation to Zanesville in 1918

Monday:
When I got up and dresses and ate breakfast, it did not take long before I went to Emma's.  Emma asked Victor how he liked Florence and he said that she was too much of a lady...




Tuesday
Emma wanted me to go down town and pay her light bill, which I did and bought several trivial things....At the table Walter suggested that Emma take me to a new show called "The Liberty".  He did the dishes and Emma went with me to the show and paid my way, which I did not like very well.  She also bought a quart of ice cream, she paid 40 cents for it, in Akron, a quart of cream costs 50 cents.  The show was real good and enjoyed the evening.  Walter was very nice when we arrived home again, and tonight I got to stay all night at Emma's house.


Friday
Emma went to the Dollar Sale and bought several house dresses , 50 cents a piece, and bought me some handkerchiefs.  In the afternoon, I went to Heinle's where I had been invited to supper, I bought a petticoat for a dollar, 2 pairs of white silk gloves for a dollar and gave Emma a pair.  Anna treated me very nice and they had a good supper.





When I mentioned the Ice Cream prices to Ray, he told me that Lawson Dairy was selling a double scoop for 10 cents and quart was 22 cents (when he was a kid).  He said that Lawson was hated by other dairies for his prices and was fired bombed at some point.















Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Grace Riley in Coshocton

I always thought Grace Riley married and then moved to Coshocton.  I happened on this newspaper article today (April 12, 1913):





Grace was 18 at the time and didn't marry for three more years.  The paper also stated on May 18th, she was spending the weekend with her parents.  This time the paper listed her address as North Eighth Street.  These newspapers in small towns are a great source of information to help to piece together what family members were doing.  In January of 1913, Grace was a member of a sewing club made up of mostly single ladies.  The paper reported on one of their meetings (and meetings in subsequent months too).  She held a dinner party with Florence Powelson for young ladies at the Standen Hotel. She attended a dance at Dennison and then went home to visit her parents.


I still don't know why she moved to Coshocton but she seemed well established at the beginning of 1913.   There was another paper in Coshocton that had records from before 1913 and I looked through those (Coshocton Daily Age).
In December 1911, she was a guest at a dinner.  It looks like her friend Florence Powelson was in attendance.  Another article mentioned that the Powelsons' lived in Eighth Street.  In yet another paper, it stated that she was having a visitor for New Years 1911. She was at a Leap Year Dance in Feb, 1912 and it didn't mention that she was from out of town.  Was she living there then?   Was she attending college?
Before she married in 1916, she was back living at home in Dover as she was shown to be a frequent visitor to Dover.







Monday, September 12, 2011

Selma's Diary: Her vacation to Zanesville this week in 1918

Reading this, I can picture Selma on her journey to Zanesville and how excited she must have been to returning to Zanesville and to spend time with old friends and her beloved sister, Emma.


Saturday:
I left for Zanesville, I was overflowing with happiness at the prospect of going back to the little town, which I have not seen for nearly a year.  Linda walked to the station with me, and carried my "truck", which was very kind of her.  I do not know how she carried it so far.  My ticket to Canton was 59 cents, it seemed a long time before I arrived to Canton, and in Canton I had a wait of about two hours.  From Canton to Zanesville cost me $2.75, I arrived in Zanesville about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.  There were a few changes that I had noticed but not many.  I was a little disappointed when nobody was there at the station, when my train pulled in, for I was thinking that my cousin Victor would be there.  I boarded a street car, the fares were now a nickel straight, ask for transfer for the Greenwood car line.  The town seemed very quiet to me to my surprise for this was Saturday.  I formerly when I lived there I always thought the streets to be very crowded on Saturday.  When I was coming from the Greenwood car line, I saw running out of the house to meet me, she told me to stay at her house all night, and that I should bring my clothes to her house, which I did.

I could not wait until I arrived at Emma's house.....

Sunday:
...Victor preached the same sermon he had preached in Akron, but the Zanesville congregation gave him $15.00, he had also preached an early morning sermon in German.  Emma had a splendid dinner, and the whole family of Schmids were over, and they also stayed for supper, we played cards in the afternoon, but it was not a very interesting game...After supper we all went down the street for they had a big doings about the Third Liberty Loan, all there was down the street were lots of people and I can see that in Akron.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Thoughts from a professional on today...


This was in the Ancestry.com newsletter today and thought it was worth sharing....



By Juliana Smith 07 September 2011

 
This morning I took my breakfast out to the back porch to enjoy a crystal blue sky and a beautiful early September morning. With the September 11th anniversary upon us, I couldn’t help but remember that on the morning of 9/11 the air had a very similar feel to it. Crisp, clear, and with no hint of what was to come. My daughter was in Kindergarten and I remember running to school to pick her up, wondering how to explain to her what had happened. The other day I asked her about it, because I wondered what the memories would be like from her perspective. It was interesting to hear the things she remembered and what stood out to her.
As family historians, we go back in time and learn about the things that happened to our ancestors and if you’re like me you wonder what it was like for them. The immigrant ancestor crossing an ocean to a new world, the Civil War soldier preparing for battle, the housewife finding a way to support her family when her husband is unable to work—what was it like from their perspective?
Sometimes we get lucky. We may have correspondence, a diary, or perhaps some pieces of the story passed down through the family. Or maybe we find insights into a time or event as it was recorded by our ancestors’ contemporaries—a neighbor’s diary, or a letter written home from a soldier who fought in the same battle as a relative. Too often though, we have to satisfy ourselves with small clues found in records and by reading a generic and impersonal history. Don’t you wish your ancestors were like you and had left some sort of legacy in their own words?
Some of you, like me, may have felt a little guilt twinge there. It’s time. I am determined to leave my stories for my daughter and her children—and their children. I don’t want future generations wondering, “What was that like?”
I have several journals lying around where I’ve recorded a handful of memories, news from our family, and reactions to events in the world around us. Too many of them begin with, “Today I will get organized and start recording my personal history.”
Today is that day, and I’ve got some ideas to make it work this time.
Use What You HaveIn this day and age, we may not realize it but we’re journaling all the time—probably more so than in years past. Our Facebook status updates, Tweets, emails to friends and family, blog posts, calendar entries, holiday letters—all of them chronicle our lives. Even if they’re not detailed, they can form a framework we can work with. Make a habit of copying and saving relevant electronic updates into a document on your computer.
To organize these mini-entries of sorts, start a folder and just add to it as you go. Begin the name of each document, photo, or other memory with the date like this: 20110911Trip. That way if you sort by file name, when you look into that file your memories will be in chronological order.
Break It DownWhen you look back at your entire life, the prospect of putting it on paper can be daunting. Break down the task into segments—perhaps a decade at a time. Use photographs and timelines to prompt you. Pretend you’re one of those ancestors you’d love to know more about. What would you like to ask them? Then ask yourself that question. (See today’s second feature for a list of even more questions to get you started. )
Don’t feel like you have to do it in order. Let your memories take you where they will and enjoy the ride. When you’re reminded of something or a memory comes flooding back, just take a few minutes to capture it. It doesn’t have to be edited and ready for public consumption at that moment. When you get more time, go back to it and fill in the blanks, making it into a story. As you continue to collect the stories in this way, soon you’ll realize you’re on your way.
Find It a HomeOne of the biggest challenges I have is finding the right medium. I’m one of those people caught between the paper and electronic world, wanting the best of both. The small journal I can curl up with in the yard and the computer where I can quickly copy and paste all those emails and Facebook posts both have a place in my journaling world. What I need is a place where paper and electronics can live happily together. I have a lot of stories in those unfinished journals, and I have electronic notes that I’ll need to bring together when I begin compiling a more cohesive story. In the case of my journals, I may have to go in and weave those words into stories I have in electronic form. In some cases, I may take the easy way out and scan a few pages. After all, how cool is it to find great-grandma’s words in her own handwriting, right?
For the compiled version of all the stories and thoughts I’ve collected, I’ve just created a word-processing document. It’s easy to edit, add photos and images when I’m inclined, and I can rearrange portions easily without worrying about format problems. I can also export sections. For example, a story about me and my grandma can be copied into the Stories section of my online tree and attached to both of us.

Remembering 9/11/2001



It seems only appropriate today to remember the awful day ten years ago.  It certainly was one of those events that you will always remember where you were and one that defines a generation.  I think it is important that your thoughts and feelings on what happened on that horrible day ten years ago are shared and remembered.


It occurred to me that my youngest son (who was 11) probably doesn't really remember us not being at war.  


My "story" is that Judy, Ray and I were in Charleston, SC at our annual managers' meeting.  We were in large meeting room cut off from the media.  I noticed that Ray and two other employees left the room and didn't come back.  I was kind of annoyed that they weren't staying in the meeting.  After a while, I went out and checked to see if something was wrong and found out what had happened.  I didn't see the buildings fall, only the aftermath.


Our New York buyers were with us. I don't know if they would have rather been in the city or with us in SC.  They had a heck of a time getting home.  After a day or so, they found a rental car to get home.


Anyway, remember today.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Happy 86th Birthday Marie Krausman Glawe

Today is Marie's 86th birthday.  She is the daughter of Otto Krausman and Louise Brueggeman.  Marie is their third child and first daughter.  Her son, Rev. David Glawe, kindly sent me these memories of Marie and an update on her health to share with you on her birthday. Keep her in your prayers...



Yes, Marie, my mom will turn 86 on September 10.  She is bedbound but dad and the grandchildren are taking care of her.  Her mind is not as good as it was but better than it had been for a while.  she is prepared for her call to the Lord, but it just has not happened.  Here are a couple of stories if you want to use them.
 
1960 &1961 were a stressful years for Marie.    In the spring of 1960, Louise, her mom, was diagnosed as having bladder cancer.  They operated but the technology of the time meant that Grandma Louise had to go back to the hospital every 6  months to have the growths burned off.  Marie visited her mother in the hospital every day, because although Aunt Louise, Marie’s younger sister, and Uncle Mike were also close, they only lived 2 1/2 miles from us Louise had a younger family and she did not drive at that time.  In February 1961, my dad, Frank, just about cut his thumb off with the table saw.  They were abled to sew it back on and he spent no time  in the hospital.  However, on Easter, dad collapsed because the stress of healing the thumb had weakened the body’s healing of an ulcer which then had bled out so that there was almost no blood left in him. They filled him with blood and then has to remove 3/4 of his stomach. Dad did not come home for three months.  Mom went to be with him every  day.  I went to school at the same school as Mike and Louise’s oldest daughter, Valerie, and arrangements were made for me to go there  after school on the bus.  While dad was in the hospital, Grandma Louise’s scheduled hospital visit occurred.  Marie faithfully visited both of them each day even though they were in different hospitals that were about a half-hour apart and at least a half-hour from our home.  Marie kept the spirits up of her mother, husband, sister, brothers, and her two children during this entire difficult time while driving a fair distance daily to visit those in the hospital..  I was only 9 years old and according to the hospital rules I could not go to see my dad until just three weeks before he came home.
 
A story of my Confirmation.  Part of the Ritual of Confirmation was that the Sunday before there was Question  Sunday.  We were given 400 questions covering all the material from both years of instruction. These questions were asked by the Pastor in a random manner.  Your name would be called, you stood up and the Pastor asked you one of the 400 questions, you answered and then sat down.  There were 17 in my class.  On Saturday we had a full blown rehearsal and we were told that no confirmand would be getting the same questions on Sunday.  The last question on Saturday, which fell to me. was, “Name the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer and give their explanations.  I answered it, however on the way home I told mom, Marie, that I knew the answers I just had trouble getting them out.
 
Sunday morning and the church is packed.   The Questioning Service is the late service so that there was time to go longer.  As we are getting into our robes we learn that one of the girls in the class had come down with the Measles over night. The questioning would be different.  We go through the questioning when the Pastor calls my name and says,”You weren’t suppose to get this one since you had it yesterday, but, Name the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer and give their explanations.” Now even going through this smoothly, this is not a short answer.  The church was quiet as I gave the answer.  As I finished and sat down we all heard a long, loud sigh of relief.  If I had been any longer Mom might have passed out because she had been holding her breathe during the entire answer because she had been concerned. 
 

Friday, September 9, 2011

Family Picture Friday: Thomas Percy Riley & Thomas Bowen Riley

Alice Addy Neal sent this picture recently and didn't know who was in it.  It is Thomas Percy Riley and his wife Jessie (on the couch), on the floor is Thomas Bowen Riley with their three children Robin (the baby), Ty and Dave. Marquerita is on the couch between Tom and Jessie.  My guess this picture is from the late 50's or very early 60's.


It is nice to know that it could be identified and I will be forwarding the original onto Robin.  Don't forget that you can click on the picture to look at it bigger.



Thursday, September 8, 2011

1910 Census Anna Marie Brueggemann Huesmann

Anna Marie was the first child born in Ohio. of Clamor and his second wife.  She was born about 11 months after their arrival.  I can imagine their excitement of the birth of their first American child.

She was living in St Louis at the time of the 1910 Census.  She was 50 years old at the time (she died just five years later).  Her husband, August Huesmann was 56.  Other members of the household:
Louise E. Age 20, son  (Really this is Louis Johann Adolf)
Ernst F.  Age 20, son  (Full name Ernst Heinrich Friedrich)
Elsa Age 14, daughter (Full name Elsie Emilie Louise)
Katherine Huesmann, Age 54 -Sister of August



The rest of their four children had left home by 1910.

I have always wondered how August and Anna met.  This Census lists his birth place as Missouri and his sister's birth place as Ohio.  I wonder if his family went back and forth between Missouri and Ohio.  

August was listed as a "Transferer" for a Lithography Company.  The twins were clerks, one in Real Estate and the other is unreadable.  Their home was owned outright with no mortgage, at 3416 Ohio Ave.  The house is no longer standing as it is in the middle of  a large medical complex.  One thing I did notice is that the house may have been next door (or a very close neighbor) of Holy Cross Lutheran Church.  I imagine this was their home church.  The Church was built in 1858 and was next door to Concordia Seminary. 


They lived in a very German neighborhood, as all of surnames on the Census are Germanic.  Neighbors included a Seminary professor, a detective at Detective Agency, a Brewer, and a millright for a Car Company. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Today is Birthday of Ann Hay Bostwick

Ann Hay Bostwick would have been 94 today.  She was born in 1917 in Ohio to William Wallace Bostwick Jr and Grace Amelia Riley.  She was the first of three daughters.  

At some point in time, she bought Tom & Lizzie's house on St. Leger Avenue in Akron.  

She died in 1985.
Thanks to Alice Addy Neal for this picture

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Happy Birthday to Eugene V. Brueggeman

Gene was born at home in a bed that his great grandfather, Clamor, made. His father was Rudolph, son of Louis.  The Reverend Brueggeman lives in Boulder Colorado.  He still has the bed he was born in.  Still trying to get a picture of it to share.


He also has an interest in Brueggeman family history and has provided much information to David Reinhardt.  He also has "the old man's" (Clamor) diary that was written on his journey to the United States.  




Here is his biography from his current church's web site:


Pastor Gene was called to serve Trinity in its program of senior ministries, with special  emphasis on visitation of those who are unable to worship regularly with the  congregation. Pastor Gene began this ministry in January 2006 on a part-time basis,  having retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 1991. He graduated from Concordia  Seminary, St. Louis, in 1950, and served as both parish pastor and campus pastor until  retirement, when he served part-time at a congregation in Fort Collins. Pastor Gene has  Masters in Divinity degree in a combined program from Northwestern University .
Pastor Gene and his wife were married in 1951 and have five children, three in  California, one in Forest Park, Ill., and one in Trinity (Priscilla Murphy), and two Murphy  grandchildren.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Memories about the House on W. 93rd Street

Gene Brueggeman sent me the following memories about the house on W. 93rd Street that I posted about here.


I remember the house from my childhood. It was still in the family's possession and was rented out as the family moved farther west into Lakewood, which is where I was born 85 years ago on Labor Day (the 6th). Dad used to collect rent and I went along. My brother Dave and I located it a few years ago; he had never seen it. It is run down considerably from what it was and is in a mixed-racial neighborhood. The Old Man built it and gave it to my grandfather on the condition that he could live in it the rest of his life. I have the legal contract that they made with each other. So my dad grew up in that house with his parents and the Old Man, his grandfather. Dad told us very little about his childhood memories, which was typical of that generation. It was sadly typical of my generation that we didn't do more to get him to talk. Dad did say that his grandfather would invite him to walk (spazieren in German) and that always meant going to the neighborhood saloon for a bucket of beer. He also told us that the Old Man had lost an eye in an accident,whichd is why the formal picture we have of him is a profile of the face with the good eye.



Saturday, September 3, 2011

More Biographical Info on Edwin Louis Brueggeman

I had limited first hand info on Edwin when I posted here and here.  His grandson, Gary, recently provided this nice bio on Edwin:



  • Edwin was born on June 19, 1893 in Grand Haven, Michigan. Since he was the oldest son, he was expected to quit school after eighth grade to send his siblings to school. After his siblings were taken care of, he worked his own way through Carnegie Technical Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of his 'jobs' during school was as a chauffeur. He chauffeured people like Henry Ford and Bendix (inventor of the Bendix spring). After graduation in 1915, he was invited to teach math at Carnegie, but he declined the offer.

    While in Pittsburgh, he built bridges across the various rivers. He came to Akron, Ohio to construct the Portage Lakes and Dams. Some other of his projects in Akron are still standing. He formed the Brueggeman Building and Wrecking Company while in Akron. Ed built the Summit County Garage, AC & Y Railroad Bridge that crosses Cuyahoga Valley, the Bell Tower Building, and other bridges. He also worked on the Cleveland Terminal Tower.
    Ed was married on June 12, 1923 in Seymour, Indiana to Esther Caroline Emma Grelle. They had six children and lived in Akron, Ohio.

    Ed was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Akron. Whenever he was asked to help with some project at Zion, Ed was always willing to share his skills. Lois says that every Sunday the whole family would go to church and Sunday School and then were off to Sand Run Park where Ed prepared his famous fried chicken and Esther supplied all the other parts of the delicious meal.

    Ed served in both World War I and II. He was in the Army during World War I and the Navy in World War II. Ed held the rank of Navy Chief Petty Officer and was stationed on the Admiralty Islands north of New Guinea. The story goes that when Ed Jr. was drafted, Edwin remarked that if the government was going to take kids as young as his son, that he would try to enlist and see if they would take someone as old as he was. Esther said, "Go ahead", thinking that the government would never take Edwin. She was wrong! One beloved picture is that of Ed with Lois and Marge wearing the grass skirts he brought home for them! He also sent home banks and candle sticks all made from ammunition shells. Another memory is that of the Army Duck that Edwin used to give rides on Sandy Beach Drive.

    Edwin was a faithful Christian, a strong patriot of the United States and deeply loved and cared for his dear family. Edwin went to be with his Savior on July 19, 1965.
 


Friday, September 2, 2011

Family Picture Friday: Group Picture

Selma identified this picture from 1912.  She shows herself and Lydia labeled along with her three younger brothers.  I have no idea who the older boy and girl are as well as the little girl between Elmer and Karl.  I have other pictures with the children in the same clothes.  I imagine it was taken when family visited them in Zanesville.  
This picture looks to be from the same "photo op".  I cannot read the name on written in on the girl on the right.  Mark studied it for a long time and is sure it is Ro something, probably Roch.....
I cannot figure out who this might be.  It is likely that the girl is the eldest child of the family visiting, followed by the boy and then by the little girl with the pig tails.  I don't think they are from the Long family as none of Emma's siblings children fit into this pattern (as they either had all girls or all boys). 


Do my readers have any ideas?