Flipside

My maternal granduncle, William Walter Frederick, son of Alfred F. Frederick and Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick was born in Franklin Square, Columbiana County, Ohio on October 2, 1871. He was the second child born to the Frederick's and joined his older brother, Albert L. Frederick.

I believe the boy was referred to as Walter. He grew up in Franklin Square and later to Columbiana and Salem, all towns in Columbiana County, Ohio. He was used to his father not being at home as Alfred Frederick worked for the railroad. Walter had two brothers and two sisters, attended school, played with neighborhood friends, helped with chores, attended church and spent time with a large extended family living in the Columbiana County area.

Frederick Children circa 1886

William Walter Frederick

This is the only photo I have of Walter. He would be about fifteen, although he looks younger to me.

There are very few records and documents for Walter. Another case where the 1890 census would be helpful.

Railroad Fireman

The railroad fireman fed and stoked the fire in the steam engine train. Early engines burned from 40 to 200 pounds of coal per mile. The fireman was also responsible for keeping the wheels lubricated.

Walter followed his father into work with the railroad. From an article featuring Alfred Frederick in a Pittsburgh newspaper, I learned my maternal great grandfather worked for forty years with the P&LE Railroad. I am not certain which company Walter was with since the tracks all met in larger towns and a person could switch trains.

Walter would have been twenty six in 1897. I have used this article to determine when the Frederick family relocated to the Pittsburgh area from Salem, Ohio. Certainly he would have been employed with the railroad by this time and was probably visiting old friends and family in Salem.

Probably over a decade ago, another researcher sent me this obituary. My mother and I had already visited the Columbiana Cemetery and located the Frederick's buried there. I knew Walter had died at a young age. The obituary gives a glimpse into Walter's personality--a young man that made friends easily, personable.

The W.J. Frederick mentioned was Walter's uncle, William Jackson Frederick, his father's brother. William Jackson Frederick was a successful business man and for a time, was elected mayor of Garrett, Indiana. The two women mentioned, Edith and Queen, were Walter's cousins, Mary Edith Frederick and Queen Elizabeth Fredrick.

The tracks that Walter traveled the final days of his life belonged to the B&O Railroad. Garrett, Indiana was a stop on their track. I am not certain the the P&LE Railroad also used those tracks; however, the P&LE did run from Pittsburgh to Youngstown where Walter would have made a connection to go home.

It was from Walter's Mahoning County, Ohio death information that I learned he followed his father into railroading as a railroad fireman. The medical diagnosis of his death was typhoid fever.

William Walter Frederick, age twenty seven, died on February 24, 1899 in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. He was buried in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana, Columbiana County, Ohio. His parents were laid to rest beside their son.

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© 2021, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Edna Mercedes Frederick Zeigler Gween
circa 1922

My maternal grandmother's sister and my maternal grandaunt, Edna Mercedes Frederick. Edna was the fourth child born to Alfred F. Frederick and Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick.

Edna was born on August 24, 1876 in the town of Columbiana, Columbiana County, Ohio. Edna's father, Alfred Frederick reported the birth.

The Frederick family may have moved to Salem in Columbiana County in the mid 1880's and stayed there until the move to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On the 1880 Ohio Federal census, Edna's father, was employed with the railroad. He was probably not at home for long stretches of time. They had to live in towns where the railroad station or the rail yard was easily accessible for his work.

Frederick Family Children
Circa 1886

I never met my grandaunt; however, my mother, had memories of her when Aunt Edna would visit in the 1920's and early 1930's. Apparently, Edna and her sister, Martha Marie Frederick (my maternal grandmother) were not that close. They would talk on the telephone. My mother's Aunt Edna would bring her presents, dolls and stuffed animals when she was young. She remembers her as having a somewhat domineering personality; however, also had a giving nature. I wish I had more photographs of her. I wish I had met her.

Pittsburgh Daily Post
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 3, 1899
Page 13

The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 3, 1899
Page 16

On September 6, 1899, twenty four year old Edna May Frederick married twenty seven year old Henry G. Zeigler at her parents home on River Avenue, Esplen, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Henry G. Zeigler (sometimes referred to as first name as Harry and surname as Ziegler) was born on March 31, 1873 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Stewart B. Zeigler and Alethea D. Gunning Zeigler.

1900 Pennsylvania Federal Census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
June 6, 1900

The newly married Ziegler's moved in with Henry's parents at 5018 Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh. They are enumerated there on the 1900 Pennsylvania Census report, June 6, 1900. Henry (listed as Harry) was a clerk in the shoe department. Henry's parents are running a boarding house.

Into Henry and Edna's early married life came two tragedies. I never knew of these two births and deaths until I subscribed to the newspaper portion of ancestry. My mother certainly did not know her Aunt Edna had two additional children.

Pittsburgh Daily Post
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
November 12, 1900
Page 5

Alethea Marie Zeigler, infant daughter of Harry G. and Edna M. Zeigler, died on November 11, 1900 at the residence, 5018 Liberty Avenue. The baby was 4 months, 14 days old, having been born on June 28, 1900. She is buried in Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along with numerous Zeigler relations.

The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
17 April 17, 1902
Page 13

Two years later, the Zeigler's lost another infant, Robert Caldwell Zeigler on April 16, 1902 at 5018 Liberty Avenue. Robert was born in December, 1901 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Robert is buried at Allegheny Cemetery Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, with his infant sister.

Mary Alethea Zeigler was born in 1903, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania to Henry and Edna Zeigler.

5703 Callowhill Road
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1910 Pennsylvania Federal Census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
April 19, 1910

Edna Frederick Zeigler is again enumerated with her in laws along with her young daughter. They are living in a rental property at 5703 Callowhill Road, in the Highland Park neighborhood near the Pittsburgh Zoo. She is listed as single and employed as a telephone operator. Henry G. Zeigler is enumerated on April 20, 1910, as a roomer in Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio and employed as a shoe salesman. He lists himself as married 11 years.

From the two censuses, it is somewhat unclear as to their marital status. They do divorce and Edna remarries; however, I was not able to find the date.

By September 12, 1918, Edna had married William Clinton Gween. Bill was born on April 16, 1876 in Redstone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of George Gween and Eliza Jane Harris Gween. He was employed at Westinghouse as a machinist. This was the first time I had seen Edna's middle name listed as May. On her death certificate, it is listed as Mercedes. The personal information was given by her daughter.

838 Sheridan Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1920 Pennsylvania Federal Census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
January, 1920

William C. Gween, head, rent a house at 838 Sheriden Avenue, age 43, married, born in Pennsylvania, both parents born in Pennsylvania, employed as a foreman at an electric company.

Edna M. Gween, wife, age 43, married, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, employed as a clerk in a brokers office.

Mary A. Zeigler, step daughter, age 16, single, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio, attended school.

The Gween home is in the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh, near the Pittsburgh Zoo and near the street where Edna and Mary lived with the Zeigler's in 1910.

Aunt Edna Frederick Gween and Cousin Mary Alethea Zeigler make a visit to see, Martha Jean Stark, my mother, circa 1922. When I identified the photos, I misnamed Aunt Edna as I did not know she was married to William Gween back in the 1920's.

I had this photograph dated circa 1923. Upon further inspection, I wonder if women were still wearing semi high top boots/shoes then? My maternal grandparents are on the far left hand side of the photo. Martha Marie Frederick Stark second row and behind her, Charles Edward Stark. In the back row on the far right hand side are Mary Alethea Zeigler and her future husband, Robert Bruce Quinn.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
23 January 23, 1924
Page 8

This was an interesting find. I was wondering why I could not locate Edna and Bill Gween in Pittsburgh after 1920. Now I know why. They moved to Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 26, 1925
Page 8

On November 4, 1925, Mary Alethea Zeigler married Robert Bruce Quinn in a ceremony at Emory Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Robert was born on July 7, 1898 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Thomas Brown Quinn, Sr. and Margaret Frances Wells Quinn.

Mary Zeigler Quinn was employed by the Joseph Horne's Company in Pittsburgh and performing in a Christmas holiday program.

1930 Pennsylvania Federal Census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

April 16, 1930

Edna M. Gween, age 52, married, born in Pennsylvania, both parents born in Pennsylvania, employed as a telephone operator for an auto company, renting a room at 224 South Negley Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I have not been able to locate Bill Gween on a 1930 census. I wonder if Edna gave the information to the enumerator or the owner of the house? Edna and her parents were all born in Ohio, not Pennsylvania. Is she still married to Bill Gween?

426 Lamar Avenue
Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania

No listing for William Gween with Edna so far in the 1930's. I think they simply separated. Did not divorce. Edna's current residence is a multi family apartment. She may be renting the single bed and bath on the first floor front. I will note that in a 1936 obituary for George Gween, William's father, that William is listed as living in Pittsburgh.

540 Aspen Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

1940 Pennsylvania Federal Census
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
April 10, 1940

Edna Gween, renting an apartment at 540 Aspen Street, head, age 63, married, born in Ohio, lived in the same house in 1935, employed as a telephone operator at an automobile dealership, salary is $1,107.00.

There is no 1940 census for William C. Gween. He has gone off the grid and from his obituary, returned to Fayette Township, Pennsylvania and was living alone in a rural house in New Salem.

611 Aurelius Street
Swissvale, Pennsylvania

Edna's daughter and son-in-law were living in Swissvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1940. Mary, age 37 was not working outside the home and Bob, age 43, was employed as a assistant metallurgist at a steel mill. They lived in Swissvale in 1935, but not in the same house. Bob's salary is $2,160.

It appears on the census that Bob rents the house at 611 Aurelius Street; however, I think he owns it with a mortgage. Actually the Quinn's lived at 611 Aurelius in 1935, taken from his World War I Veterans Compensation Files.

1610 Oak Grove Street
Swissvale, Pennsylvania

In 1942, Bob was employed by the Heppenstall Steel Company and he any Mary were living at 1610 Oak Grove Street in Swissvale. This information was taken from Bob's World War II Draft Card.

For the remainder of the 1940's I have found no information for Edna or her daughter and son-in-law. I do know at a point in time, Edna moved in with Mary and Bob.

Although my mother had little contact with her Aunt Edna and Cousin Mary, they did send a congratulatory card to her on the birth of her son and my brother. I believe they were all living together in 1952.

William Clinton Gween, age eighty one, died in his home, a rural residence in New Salem, Fayette County, Pennsylvania on November 11, 1957. The death certificate indicates he had lived there for ten years. Edna M. Gween is listed as his wife.

Bill's death was heavily covered in the local newspapers. Edna M. Gween, of Pittsburgh, is listed in all three obituaries, as his wife. In one, step daughter, Mary Quinn, is mentioned.

Find A Grave photograph

He was buried on November 14, 1957 in Pleasant View Cemetery, Smock, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. There is a Gween family plot, with his parents and siblings also buried there.

Home of Robert Bruce Quinn and Mary Zeigler Quinn
824 Alpine Boulevard
Wilkins Township, Allegheny County

Edna Mercedes Frederick Zeigler Gween, age eighty four, died on January 22, 1961 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, 824 Alpine Boulevard.

The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
January 24, 1961
Page 26

Edna's sister, Mrs. Charles E. Stark, is my maternal grandmother. My nickname for her was "Teek". When Aunt Edna died, I was thirteen. I never heard anything about the death. Teek, age eighty one, was somewhat crippled with rheumatoid arthritis and never learned to drive a car. I wonder if she was able to attend her sister's funeral?

Edna was buried on January 25, 1961 at William Penn Gardens of Remembrance, Churchill, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Possibly no grave marker.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 7, 1969
Page 28

Find A Grave photograph

Mary Alethea Zeigler Quinn, age sixty six, died on October 4, 1969, probably in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was buried on October 7, 1969 in William Penn Garden of Remembrance, Churchill, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania., . I have not visited the cemetery to know if she is buried beside her mother, Edna Mercedes Frederick Zeigler Gween.

The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
September 27, 1971
Page 39

Robert Bruce Quinn died on September 24, 1971 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. I wonder why Bob chose Woodlawn as his final resting place? I have not seen any relations buried there and his wife of forty four years, is buried in William Penn.

I did not cover Bob's service in World War I. He enlisted as a private in the Aviation Reserve Corps in Ithaca, New York on January 5, 1918 and served until June 12, 1918 when he was discharged as a private first class. Second he enlisted as a Marine on June 26, 1918. He was promoted to corporal on October 25, 1918 and honorably discharged on April 15, 1919 at Paris Island, South Carolina.

Children of Henry G. Zeigler and Edna Mercedes Frederick Zeigler:

Alethea Marie Zeigler, born on June 28, 1900, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, died on November 11, 1900, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Robert Caldwell Zeigler, born on December, 1901, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, died on April 16, 1902, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Mary Alethea Zeigler, born 1903, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, died on October 4, 1969, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Married Robert Bruce Quinn on November 4, 1925, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. No children.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published. PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.