Sidney Riley Family 1940 Census

Ancestry.com has uploaded all the 1940 Census forms!  They are not indexed (which means they are not searchable by name yet) but they are working day and night to get it done.  They have finished Delaware and Nevada.  They are currently on District of Columbia.


If you know the street and a cross street, you can look up using the Enumeration District.  Fortunately, I knew the street address where my father's family was living in 1940.  I had to search through two districts.  They weren't in the first (26 pages) and found them on page 20 (of 36) of the second.  Sidney and Selma are at the bottom of this page, with three sons and the youngest three sons are on the next page. 


It is a little hard to read, remember you can click on the picture to make it bigger.

They lived at 504 Gage Street.  Sid was employed for 40 hours a week at a Rubber Company (we know it was Goodyear) in the Experimental Department.  He made $2400 per year in 1939 and worked 52 weeks.  Selma was not employed.  They owned their home, valued at $2000.  He was 42 and Selma 41.  My dad, Ramon, was five at the time the census was taken.


If you want me to find any 1940 Records for you, email me with the city, state, street and cross street (you can find the cross street by looking at Google Maps) and I'll see what I can do for you.

Pearl Harbor: 70th Anniversary

I cannot add much to mark the 70th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor that hasn't already been covered today by the News outlets.
I can post a couple of things you may wish to listen to.
Click below to listen to one of the radio announcments:

Click below to listen to the "Day of Infamy" Speech:

I asked Ray what memories he had.  He said since he was only seven, he didn't have but one.  He remembers all six boys lined up in his parent's room and being told what had happened.  He also said that David was at the movies when the theater lights came on and the manager told the audience what had happened.

Some More Info on Veterans

Life got in the way of my posting more regularly on Veterans.  I am working only from what records I can find on-line.  PLEASE SHARE MORE INFO if you have any one to add.  It would be great if we could compile a complete record.  This is part one covering Ernst August Brueggeman's children and grandchildren and Martin Brueggeman's grandchildren.


Russell Krausman (son of Louise Brueggeman)  Russell W. Krausmann, a 20 year resident of Sierra Vista (1968-1988) died in Tucson. He was committed to serving his country. He joined the Navy for a four-year hitch following the bombing of Pearl Harbor: He served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, retiring as a SmSGT. He was a 35-year Department of the Army civilian, retiring as one of the "best known and loved" personalities in Greely Hall in 1987.

Russell W Krausman
Gender:	Male
Birth Date:	23 Jan 1922
Death Date:	11 May 2005
SSN:	577204733
Branch 1:	NAVY
Enlistment Date 1:	5 Jan 1943
Release Date 1:	27 Nov 1945

Russell and his wife, Mary

Muster Roll Records show that he boarded the USS Takanis Bay on 21 Jun 1944 and was still on board on 14 Sept 1945. 

After shakedown, Takanis Bay operated out of San Diego with Fleet Air, West Coast, through the end of hostilities with Japan in mid-August 1945. She tested pilots for carrier operations, and between 24 May 1944-28 August 1945, she qualified 2,509 pilots.


Harold W. Bischoff (son of Emma Brueggeman) He was part of the ASTP program that I wrote about here.


Edwin L. Brueggeman (son of Ernst A. Brueggeman). 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 L. Brueggeman Jr (son of Edwin Brueggeman) I wrote about him here.


William Wade Brueggeman (son of Edwin Brueggeman). According to his obit, he was an Army veteran and was in the Army Reserves.   He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Given his age, I would guess he served in Korea.


Paul R. Brueggeman (son of Gus Brueggeman). Look for posts earlier this week.


Norman O. Riley (son of Selma Brueggeman). I have written about Norm's service.
David T. Riley (son of Selma Brueggeman). Served in the Navy.

David on the right

Ronald E. Riley (son of Selma Brueggeman). Served in the Army and I know he was stationed in Germany.

Mark A. Riley (son of Selma Brueggeman).  Served in the Army during the Korean War.

Ramon C. Riley (son of Selma Brueggeman). Served in the Army.

Thomas R. Riley II (son of Selma Brueggeman).  Served in the Army.

Harold W. Darkow Jr. (son of Lydia Brueggeman)

U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 about Harold W Darkow

Name: Harold W Darkow Gender: Male Birth Date: 5 Dec 1925 Death Date: 14 Dec 2006 SSN: 278229329 Branch 1: NAVY Enlistment Date 1: 15 Mar 1944 Release Date 1: 24 May 1946

 Navy Muster Rolls show him on board the USS Burns in June 1944 -  June 1946.  It looks like he spent a very brief time in June 1944 on the USS General H.L. Scott.

 USS Hugh Burns (DD-588), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Captain Hugh Otway Burns (1775–1850), a privateer in the War of 1812.

In Shanghai, China November 30, 1945 doing mail runs between China and Korea

Vernon L. Brugge (son of Rev. Victor Brugge)

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 about Vernon L Brugge

Name: Vernon L Brugge Birth Year: 1924 Race: White, Citizen (White) Nativity State or Country: Missouri State of Residence: Tennessee County or City: Shelby Enlistment Date: 9 Oct 1943 Enlistment State: Tennessee Enlistment City: Camp Forrest Branch: No branch assignment Branch Code: No branch assignment Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: 3 years of high school Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 04 Weight:

Warren M. Brugge (son of Rev. Victor Brugge)

U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 aboutWarren M Brugge

Name: Warren M Brugge Gender: Male Birth Date: 15 Aug 1929 Death Date: 5 Apr 2008 SSN: 414368112 Enlistment T

Otis Frederick Brugge Jr (son of Otis Brugge)
He shows up on the Muster Rolls of the USS Patterson in June 1945 until Nov 1945 and then on the USS Kerstin through June 1946, then USS Waldron through Sept. 1947.

Copies of a couple of Marriage Licenses from Summit County

From Ancestry.com:

About Summit County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1840-1980

Contained in this database are Summit County, Ohio marriage applications and licenses from 1840-1980. The county probate courts of the state of Ohio have kept marriage records since the county was founded from a portion of the Connecticut Western Reserve in 1840. Later records may contain additional information such as age, birth date, birthplace, occupation, parents’ names, and the like.

Kathi Sittner writes that marriage ceremonies previous to county regulation “were performed by clergymen who may or may not have been the heads of established churches. Many records found in church books have been published either as records for a particular church or in compiled early marriage indexes for the state.” In 1888 Ohio required that a marriage license actually be obtained from authorized county officials before the ceremony could be performed. Although regulation of marriage licenses varied from state to state, eventually laws requiring medical examinations or waiting periods between obtaining a license and the marriage ceremony became more standardized.

Here are two that I found recently.  I really like these records as it gives us so much information about couple at that point in time.  It would be great if Cuyahoga County started to release these kinds of records.

Ramon C. Riley and Elinore L. Cork:

Mark A. Riley and Minnalu Brewer:

Don't forget you can click on these to make them bigger.

Family Picture Friday: Pictures from Norm's Memorial in August

Norman Riley's memorial was held in August in San Jose.  I don't have a lot of pictures to share.

David and Ron Riley

Joseph Riley (Norm's Grandso)
Eric Riley (Norm's son and Joseph's father)

Ray and Nori Riley
I forget who they told me who the man on the left is

Bella Savon (Norm's Great Granddaughter)
James Savon (Norm's Grandson)
Henry (Norm's Great Grandson, grandson of Cheryl)
Amy and Kyle (Henry's Parents, Amy is grandson of Norm)

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.

Anniversary Time Around Here...

Ray & Nori, Mark & I, and Tony & Judy all have celebrated our wedding anniversaries over the last couple of days.  All three couple got married on what was then Labor Day Weekends.


Ray and Nori
August 30, 1957
Kent, Ohio

Sid & Selma Riley with the Bride & Groom

Mark & Lynne King
August 30, 1980
Ann Arbor, Michigan


I cannot find a scanned photo of the wedding to include but here is a picture from the time period.

Tony and Judy Raymer
August 29, 1987
Atlanta, Georgia


I cannot believe that I don't have a picture to share.  I received a picture of their wedding back from Theda but I gave it to Judy before scanning.  Judy, send me one and I'll add to the post!

The Riley Boys

This picture of the Riley boys was taken just before Norm left for the service.  Ray, Dave and Ron will be traveling to San Jose next week to join with Norm's family and friends for a Memorial Dinner in honor of Norm.  They are looking forward to sharing their memories with Norm's children and grandchildren.  

There is a funny story about this picture.  Ray stuck the bow tie on as the picture was taken.  No one knew he had done it until the picture came back from the photographer.

Family Picture Friday: On the way to Alaska in a hearse!

I thought I'd post this picture as a teaser.  Ray ended up joining Dave on this adventure.  It is a great story and I'll let this picture serve as the beginning of the story.

July 1st is a Birthday Day here on the blog

July 1 is a busy birthday day in the Riley Family.


Bonnie Way Riley, wife of Ron Riley, is celebrating her birthday.  They live in the Orlando, Florida area.  She is the mother of four sons:  Russell,  Greg,  Kent,  and Troy.

Taken in 1957

The second birthday being celebrated today is my cousin, Liz Riley Marshall.  She is the daughter of Mark and Minnalu Riley.   I don't have early pictures of Liz (hint hint Katie).


The final birthday is that of my father, Ray Riley.  He is the fifth of six Riley boys.  Sidney Riley was his father and Selma Brueggeman was his mother.  He is the biggest fan of this blog.  I feel like I'm giving him a gift everyday.  If he was the only reader ( and maybe my Uncle Dave ) it would be totally worth it.  LOVE YOU DAD!

Family Picture Friday: Some Riley Boys

There aren't many pictures of the Riley boys.  I thought I'd share this one that includes Tom, Ray, Mark and Ron.  If you know them as adults, it is pretty easy to pick out which one is which.

L-R  Tom, Ray, Mark, Ron

Same day, different pose

Tom, Ray, Ron and Mark

Letter from Ray to Norm about his service

Dad and I were talking about Norm's story the other day.  Mom remembered she had a copy of a letter Ray wrote Norm about this and with his permission, I will share it with you today:


March 19, 1997


Dear Norm:
The other day while traveling and listening to Public Radio, I came across an interview of the author of the enclosed book.  (Editors Note: The Short Life of the ASTP by Francis Inglehar)....


....I am not sure if you were involved in the same field of battle.  The timing and Vosque Mountains seem to connect..  In any case reading the book brought back a flood of feelings and memories, an appreciation for you and the others who went through hell for us.


Nori and I discussed at some length (as best as we could imagine) what it must have been like for a barely 19 year old who had limited life's experiences, never held a gun, never traveled more than a days drive, never had been away from family to be faced with and be a part of that war.


For one who has never missed a meal, had a serious health problem, had empty pockets or threatened in any serious way, it may be hard to imagine the real effects of your experiences on you.


No day in my pre-adult life holds more memories than the day we found out you were wounded.  A very small, kindly man came to our door with a telegram that contained the news.  My reaction, my brothers, my classmates and most of all Dad's are clear to me.  I can still picture Dad sitting a small wooden chair in the middle of the living room staring at the telegram for what seemed like hours.  He was also and helpless to know more or to anything for his injured son.  This was the only time I ever saw Dad in a position of helplessness.  He showed the depth of his love and from that moment,I was always sure that I could count on him to be there for me if needed.


This was truly a family crisis......
....Love, Ray

Following My Own Advice on Labeling Photos

This was a picture in the envelope Theda Hill sent me.  It was taken at the funeral of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Maybury Riley in September of 1946.  I had Ray identify everyone for me but I tried to figure out the best way to record the info.  I used Photoshop (filters>stylize>find edges) to outline and then painted the faces white, typed numbers on the faces.

There has to be a quicker way.  I messed with picture way too long.  It does make an easy to read guide to the picture though.  I should add to the outline the date and occasion information to make sure the record is complete.  I can place these two pictures on one page for you so you can print at home. Leave me a comment and I'll email you the file.