Wordless Wednesday--D-r-i-p Drop

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Gustave Farschman of Lorain, Ohio

Gustave Julius Albert Farschman is my husbands paternal gg grandfather. He was born on
July 17, 1837 in Leibisholm Koeis, Thorn Reg., Germany.

In Germany, Gustave married Eva Hass. She was born in October 1834 and died in Lorain, Lorain County, Ohio on August 30, 1919.

Gustave and his wife Eva Hass arrived at the port of New York from Germany on March 28, 1882 along with six children. Their seventh child was born in Ohio.

The Farschman's are buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Lorain County, Lorain, Ohio. Gustave and Eva are both buried under the tombstone pictured above, although Eva's name is not listed on the marker. Her record is in the cemetery's office.

-Gustave Julius Albert Farschman and Eva Hass
--son, August C. Farschman married Amanda Agnes Kutza
---daughter, Eva Matilda Farschman married Orison Henry Hiser
----son, Clarence Henry Hiser married Helena Mae Smith
-----son Ted Steven Hiser married Linda Lee Hughes

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

92nd COG: Dance--Dancin' in the Street

The topic for the next edition of the COG will be: Dance! Did you take dance lessons as a child? Did your parents go out dancing every Friday at the Elks Hall? Do you enjoy taking in a good ballet at the theater? Care to share a memory from your high school prom? What role does dancing play in your family history? Come on, let's cut a rug! Thank you to Jasia at Creative Gene for again hosting this event.




Yep....not your grandparents music and dance--or not MY grandparents;-) Just listening to this while blogging is almost causing me to jump up from the computer and dance around the basement. Actually, I didn't cut my dance teeth on Motown ....Motor City music became popular when I was a teen.

First Dance Recital as a Swirling SnowflakeDorothy Woodworth School of DanceJune 15, 1954 at age 7



When we moved to Washington Drive back in 1951, we were fortunate to live beside Dorothy Woodworth and family. Dorothy taught dance in a room in the basement of her house. I began ballet when I was six and greatly anticipated the recital each year in June.


1957

1957

There was an annual trip into the North Side of Pittsburgh to purchase new ballet slippers. When I was older, the same trip was made to purchase toe shoes and the little bunnies to protect little toes. One year I fibbed to my Mom and said I could have toe shoes that were not pink....so we purchased white. Mrs. Woodworth was furious...LOL


1958

In later years, as the school of ballet grew, Dorothy moved her operation to the Borough Hall in Bellevue, PA. I think I took lessons for seven years. The one year, and I emphasize the word "ONE", I had a solo. I was absolutely terrified. When I was first on stage, saw all the faces in the audience, and took a few steps, my mind went blank and I forgot the entire dance. Fortunately, I did not just stand there frozen--I began dancing around the stage making it up as I went. I guess I was just a natural ;-)

1958

When I think back on the years of lessons my fondest memories are of the beautiful costumes--the fittings, the mother's sewing, the floral bouquets, the feather fans. About two months before the recital a woman (can't remember her name) would come to each class and we would see her designs for our costumes.

My dance regret--I never took tap.



I first began listening to the new popular rock and roll on the radio and American Bandstand on the TV in the late 50's. Pajama parties always required bringing along the handled box containing a collection of 45's. Besides watching horror movies late at night we always danced. Junior High dances--boys on one side of the gym and girls on the other watching those brave enough to get out on the floor and dance together. I didn't do much dancing with boys, but we girls would fast dance together back then. And there were the line dances. I know I can still do "The Stroll".

Trip to NYC in 1962Dad made sure I saw the Peppermint Lounge

As I came into my teen years, during the 60's, it was mandatory to learn so many new and unusual dances--the watusi, the swim, the pony, the twist, the monkey, the mashed potato, etc. I did them all.


Then there was Motown--talk about great dance music. It was difficult to even sit still when a Motown tune was played. Several years back I visited Motown's Studio A, and sang and danced with the females in the tour group--Stop in the Name of Love. It was a thrill.

Oddly, the fellow I married was not and never has been a dancer. Throughout our 40 plus year marriage, I can probably count on two hands, the number of times we have danced. He would become somewhat agitated when I would dance with other men on various outings, and it usually annoyed him enough to join me on the floor..lol

I have always loved music....loved to dance. Some of it has to be genetic. My paternal grandparents, George Henry and Sarah VanGilder Hughes were dancers. They loved to dance at Danceland in West View Park, West View, PA during the 30's and even won some of the contests. My Dad enjoyed dancing and his sister, my Aunt Faith, was still dancing and teaching dance well into her 70's.

Did all this dancing make me more agile....more graceful....not even close! Am I still able to "cut a rug"? Nope, I couldn't compete on Dancing with the Stars! Arthritis has put a crimp in my step. Would I still love to jump up on the dance floor....YES. I guess it's just in my blood...it's a Hughes thing!

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Wordless Wednesday--March Crocus Triptych

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Susannah Jury McGovern

Susannah Jury, daughter of Abraham Jury and and Anna Maria Weise, was born on September 17, 1823 in Pennsylvania. About 1841 she married Bernard McGovern probably in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.

The McGoverns lived on a farm south of LeConte's Mills and together they raised eleven children. Susannah is the ggg grandmother of my Michigan Hughes cousins.

Susannah Jury McGovern died on April 7, 1892. The tombstone reads--68 years, 6 months, 21 days. Bernard and Susannah are buried in St. Mary of the Assumption Cemetery, Frenchville, Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.


-Bernard McGovern and Susannah Jury
--daughter, Rosanna McGovern married Bernard Green
---daughter, Clara Green married Michael Joseph McGoey
----son, Francis Regis McGoey married Augusta Mitchell
-----daughter, Barbara Ann McGoey married John Aiden Hughes
------My Michigan Hughes cousins


© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Monday with Mildred

This past Friday, the Tiffin, Ohio Smith clan celebrated the patriarch of the family's 90th birthday with a cake and ice cream gathering. There was almost a 100 % attendance going back several generations. I plan to feature some photographs from the party when I download them ;-)

The birthday boy was Howard Lewis Smith, born on March 17, 1920 in Tiffin, Seneca County, Clinton Township, Ohio. He is the son of Grover Cleveland (seriously) Smith and Mildred Claudine Tate.

Mildred is the subject of this blog.


While I was wandering around snapping photos and chatting with relatives, Aunt Marty, youngest daughter of Grover and Mildred Smith, arrived with a little photograph album. When she spied me, she came over pulling a small photograph out of the booklet and asked if I would be able to scan the photo and then crop it to only show her mother, Mildred Claudine Tate Smith. My response--No problem!

I am ball parking this photo to be circa 1915, before she married Grover on June 5, 1919 in Tiffin, Ohio. Since Aunt Marty could not recognize any of the other folks in the photo, I guess I can assume that her future husband is not in the boat. Marty said that this photograph was taken during a boat ride at Cedar Point, Ohio. Mildred is my husband's, maternal grandmother.

-Grover Cleveland Smith married Mildred Claudine Tate
--Daughter, Helena Mae Smith married Clarence Harold Hiser
---Son, Ted S. Hiser married Linda Lee Hughes
----Two sons, Aric Hughes Hiser and Garrett Bevin Hiser

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females # 18--Shining Star

March 18 — Shining Star: Did you have a female ancestor who had a special talent? Artist, singer, actress, athlete, seamstress, or other? Describe. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.


I am certain that all my female ancestors has shining star qualities. Certainly those of the 19th century were star seamstresses and bakers. Both of my grandmothers were talented with sewing skills. Today I have decided to feature two women. Both I have first hand knowledge of--both were talented in the arts. My mother, Martha Jean Stark Hughes, was a local actress in the community theaters and my paternal Aunt Faith, a talented dancer.

My mother loved theater--both up on stage and attending. She had boxes and boxes of Playbills from every production she ever attended--including the children's theater shows when her grandsons were actors. Acting must be in the blood as both of my brothers enjoyed being up "on the boards" as did Mom's grandsons. That genetic trait did not pass on to me. Always terrified on stage (and I did give it a try) I was much happier behind the curtain as a props mistress.

She was a founding member of the Hiland Players, a local community theater group, in Perrysville, Pennsylvania. As a kid, how I hated going door to door selling tickets to the productions.

Mom first caught the acting bug when she was in high school. It continued throughout college, into her parenting and later adult years. She did it all--acted, worked backstage, wrote the publicity, ushered.

****************************

My Aunt Faith also loved the stage. A talented dancer, she won a scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University (then Carnegie Tech) in the Fine Arts Program, School of Dance, back in the late 1940's.

Always a dancer, Aunt Faith was still teaching line dancing to senior citizens and performing with local senior groups, herself a senior.

Neither of these talented women achieved national recognition until today in my blog.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females # 17--Social Butterfly

March 17 — Social Butterfly? What social organizations or groups did your mother or grandmother belong to? Sewing circle, church group, fraternal benefit society or lodge? Describe her role in the group. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.

My mother, Martha Jean Stark Hughes was a 5 star organization woman. From my earliest recollections, Mom was engaged in various local organizations. She was always a member of one of the church circle groups, volunteered her time with hospital auxiliaries, was involved in her kid's organizations and "in her free time" was an actress with the local Hiland Players.

She never missed any of our parent day activities. I can remember how disappointed she was that she could not attend my initiation into Rainbow Girls as only parents who were members of a fraternal group could come.







When she moved from Pittsburgh to Lakewood, Ohio she continued joining new local organizations--College Club West, Wooster College alumni club, The Women's Board of Lakewood Hospital and the Women's Committee of Great Lakes Theater Festival.

Mom was always active and she felt it was her way to give back.


© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Wordless Wednesday--George Henry Hughes at Stonehenge

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

St. Patrick's Day

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

My Irish roots:

Orr
McElroy

Tombstone Tuesday--Bernard McGovern of LeConte's Mills, Pennsylvania

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I am featuring one of the many Irish immigrants of my Michigan Hughes cousins--Bernard McGovern. He would be their maternal great great great grandfather.

-Bernard McGovern and Susannah Jury
--daughter, Roseanna McGovern married Bernard Green
---daughter, Clara Green married Michael Joseph McGoey
----son, Francis Regis McGoey married Augusta Mitchell
-----daughter, Barbara Ann McGoey married John Aiden Hughes


Bernard, a carpenter and farmer in Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, was born in Ireland in 1815. By about 1840 he married Susannah Jury in Pennsylvania. Between 1853-1854, Bernard is listed on the Military Men Listing for Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.


The 220 acre McGovern farm was located south of LeConte's Mills, Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania where they raised eleven children(Caldwell, 191).

Bernard died on March 09, 1892 in Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania and is buried beside his wife, Susannah, in Saint Mary of the Assumption Cemetery, Frenchville, Girard Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.


Sources:

-Caldwell's Atlas, 1878, Clearfield County, Girard Township, Pennsylvania, page 191

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females # 15--Six word memoir

March 15 — Write a six-word memoir tribute to one of your female ancestors. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.

Martha Stark Hughes (my Mom)

courageous, lovely, theatrical, educated, social, understanding
© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Treasure Chest Thursday--American Brilliant Cut Glass Nappy

American Brilliant Cut Glass Period1876-1917
Another heirloom piece from the estate of my maternal grandmother, Martha Marie Frederick aka Teek. I actually have several glass (actually leaded glass) serving pieces from the American Brilliant Period. This one is called a nappy. It is small, about 5 inches across, used for serving sliced lemons, olives, candy, --smaller items. I can only speculate as to the original owner of this piece. It could have been a wedding gift to my maternal grandparents (Charles Edward and Martha Frederick Stark), or it may have been owned by my maternal great grandmother (Lucinda Orr Frederick) and following her death in 1909, been passed on to her daughter, my Teek.

The American Brilliant Period began in 1876 at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia as American companies showed their stunning new wares. Up until that time there was a high demand for European glassware, however American ingenuity had developed a new "brilliant" form of glass cutting and the world's eyes now turned to American glass makers.

From this perspective you can see the various hand cut, intircate designs created by master craftsmen of the period . The nappy has pinwheels, buzz stars, fans and hobstars.

From the bottom view the depth of the cuts are visible. It is easy to see why the pieces had to be thick to incorporate such deep cuts.

By 1908, there were less and less companies in America producing Brilliant Glass. High labor costs and inexpensive pressed glass made to look like cut glass began to flood the market. During the declining years there were some skilled craftsmen who were producing some of the best designs to date. The years from 1908 to 1915 have been dubbed the Era of Super Glass.

Sources:

-Boggess, Bill and Louise, American Brilliant Cut Class," Crown Publishers, New York, 1977.

-Kierkus, Christopher and Marie Kierkus, American Brilliant Period Glass: Affordable Victorian Elegance.

-Roesel, John C., American Brilliant Period Glass, 1876-1917, American Cut Glass Association.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

52 Weeks To Better Genealogy - Challenge #10--Family Search Pilot

Investigate Family Search Pilot, which is part of FamilySearch.org. This is a wonderful collection of records which literally grows every day. In the middle left of the page is a link that says “Browse our record collections.” Click it and pick a region. Search collections outside your research interest. Investigate the types of records collected all over the world and see how they differ from those with which you are familiar. If you are a genealogy blogger, pick a type of record from another country and share your observations about it.

This search engine is not new to me, but I did not find it on my own. My husband's aunt, a genealogist from way back, introduced me to it back in the fall. She does not own a computer; however, she is a member of the local genealogical society where is lives and there was an article about the site in her newsletter. Thankfully, she passed it along to me.

Living in Ohio and researching numerous Ohioans from the past, this site has been a HUGE help to me as all the early to mid 1950's death certificates are on line. Granted I sometimes have to play around with the spelling of the names to find the documents, but detective work IS a BIG part of genealogy, isn't it! West Virginia is another state I work in and they have also put a death certificate website on line. I wish other states would follow suit.

To be honest, until this challenge, I had not looked to see what other information was out on the Family Search Pilot. I do have family from England, so I decided to poke around those records. I did not have any success finding my family.

So, I am searching back in the good old USA--Columbiana County, Ohio since there are early tax records and I have NEVER seen those before. WOW....this is a HAPPY DANCE time....here is one of the records I found.


Lindsay Cannon or Lindsey Cannon is my maternal ggg grandfather. I had found an early Columbiana County newspaper article years ago mentioning that he was the owner of a mill in St. Clair Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. There is in that area a village called Cannons Mills, which I had to believe was named for his mill. Here is a tax record that proves he DID have a mill in St. Clair township--a gristmill, distillery and sawmill. I need to explore more of these tax records for Lindsey as well as for other ancestors in the Columbiana County area.

COOL BEANS!

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Wordless Wednesday--H-e-l-l-o Kitty

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Joseph Orr

My great great great grandfather, Joseph Orr, is buried under the shade of a very old and sprawling tree in Carlisle Cemetery, Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. He is at one end of a row of Orr tombstones. Joseph, his wife Jane, son Franklin Orr, son William Morlan Orr, granddaughter Mary A.Orr and two grandsons killed in the Civil War, Benjamin F. Orr and Joseph F Orr.

Joseph Orr was born in Ireland on December 15, 1788 and died in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio on October 26 1857.

Joseph and Jane raised twelve children. Joseph's first Columbiana County, Ohio records show the family living in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Joseph was employed as the town tailor. By 1826 the Orr's moved one township over to Elkrun, where Joseph owned property in Section 30 and 31 and a portion in Section 19. He was enumerated as a farmer in 1830 and 1840. In 1850, his last census, Joseph is running a hotel in Elkrun.

Joseph was elected to a one year term as a trustee in Elkrun Township. His wife Jane died on December 28, 1847 and Joseph had two unsuccessful and marriages in 1849 to Elizabeth Bowman and in 1850 to Elizabeth Cushman. His third marrige to Elizabeth Cushman ended in divorce a month before he died.


© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females #8--Journal

March 8 — Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal or collection of letters? Share an entry or except. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.



BABY BOOK OF MARTHA JEAN STARK HUGHES

This is my mother's baby book. Her mother, Martha Marie Frederick Stark--aka Teek, kept it from birth until about age 6 1/2. My grandmother was a stenographer before she married and must have owned a typewriter as her journal is typed and the pages are glued into the baby book.

This is typical of each page.

I enlarged these two entries. The first is the story of my Mom's first outing to downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to meet her Dad and have lunch. After lunch they met my Mom's Aunt Edna (Edna May Frederick Gween) for a little shopping trip. Note the prices--2 pairs of children's shoes for $6.25 and a little bonnet for $4.00. The second entry gave me a good laugh--my little 2 year old Mom somehow locking her Mom in a closet!

Here is an entry mentioning Mom's Uncle Mont Munger, Lucy Wilma Stark Munger and Junior (Mont Munger, Jr.) Note that they needed a ride home in Uncle Mont's machine....my grandmother's term for a car.

This was interesting--the wedding of my mother's cousin, Mary A. Ziegler and Robert B. Quinn . Mary is the only child of Aunt Edna. Edna married twice. Mary's father is the first husband, Harry G. Ziegler . Edna married second, William Clinton Gween .


One of my favorite "finds" in this little book was the note above. It is handwritten by my maternal great grandmother, Wilhelmine Catherine Schwarz Stark, aka Granny Stark.

Mom's Baby Book has been a reference I poke into when I need to source something in my Mother's early years. Additionally, there are numerous references to her aunts and uncles who lived in and around the Avalon, Pennsylvania area. Also, my grandmother has a variety of memorabilia attached to the pages--a little handmade valentine card, my mother's first lost tooth !, a lock of her hair, first picture drawn at school, a little Christmas Toys book made by my Mom when she was 6 years old, plus a listing of Mom's "Firsts".

Thank you Teek.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser