Robert Bell Frederick, Sr. is my maternal granduncle. His birth record has the name of his older brother, William Walter Frederick attached to it. The above record is actually Robert's as Walter was born in 1871. I was able to locate the actual Columbiana County, Ohio Birth Record Book and Alfred Frederick did list the birth to William Walter. Robert Bell Frederick, was born on October 25, 1873 in Franklin Square, Columbiana County, Ohio to Alfred F. Frederick and Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick.
Robert grew up in Franklin Square, Columbiana and Salem, towns in Columbiana County, Ohio. His father was a brakeman with the P&LE railroad and was probably absent much of the week. Living in towns, Robert spent time with friends, in school and many of his relations lived nearby. His was not a rural life.
A very important clue to Bob's middle name, which was always seen as an initial "B", was given to me by his daughter-in-law, Roxanne Anderson Frederick, wife to Robert B. Frederick, Jr. The "B" stood for Bell, an old family friend, and actually a relation. Bob's mother's middle name was also Bell. The Bell's were friends of Lucinda's mother, Nancy Agnes Cannon Orr McCormick. Lucinda actually lived with the Bell's for a time after her father's death. Robert Bell and his wife, Dorothy Betz Bell, are enumerated under the Frederick's on the 1880 census. There is an extended story about them on Alfred and Lucinda's blog.
Roxanne's understanding was that there was a falling out between the two families and although Robert Bell Frederick had been named for Robert Bell, following the disagreement, only the initial "B" was utilized. No documents that I have seen show anything but the middle initial. Without Roxanne's clue, I would not known about the Bells.
I want to note that Dorothy Betz Bell was a cousin to Alfred Frederick's mother, Mary Betz Frederick. it may have been at a family gathering that Alfred and Lucinda met for the first time.
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| Robert Bell Frederick About age 13 |
As far as I have been able to find on the various genealogy websites, the few, precious photographs of the Frederick family from the late 1800's were saved by my maternal grandmother. This group photograph of the Frederick children is in my possession as are the original carte de visites and cabinet cards of parents, Alfred and Lucinda.
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio November 29, 1892 Page 3 |
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio August 24, 1895 Page 3 |
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio October 15, 1895 Page 3 |
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio February 11, 1896 Page 5 |
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio March 18, 1896 Page 5 |
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio March 20, 1896 Page 5 |
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| The Salem Daily News Salem, Ohio March 30, 1897 Page 5 |
Someone, probably Lucinda, Robert's mother, must have had a direct line to The Salem Daily News. Unfortunately, he is the only Frederick sibling who was mentioned in articles. I have used the last article, as well as one mentioning Lucinda in Salem visiting from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, both dated in March, 1897 as the year the entire family had moved to the Pittsburgh area.
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| 1900 Pennsylvania Federal Census Esplen Brough, Allegheny County June 7, 1900 |
Robert is enumerated with his parents on the 1900 Pennsylvania census. His birth is listed as September 1873, age 26, born in Ohio and employed as a flagman for the railroad. By 1900, his father, Alfred had lost a leg in a train accident, one older brother, Walter had died of typhoid fever, his other older brother Albert had married and his older sister, Edna had married.
The Frederick's were living in the borough of Esplen, next to McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The P&LE ran along the Ohio River through Esplen and McKees Rocks.. Both Robert and his father were employed by the P&LE.
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| Railroad Flagman The Iron Road |
Robert, by age 26, had worked his way up to flagman, which was a senior brakeman. He could read, had not been killed in an accident and was competent. He picked up the orders at each station, collected fares from passengers riding in a car on a freight train. The flagman would also be on the tracks waving a flag ahead of a train that had stopped due to an issue, to warn oncoming trains.
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| 1904 Pittsburgh City Directory Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
The Fredericks had moved into the City of Pittsburgh by 1904. Robert is listed in the directory under his sister, Martha (my maternal grandmother). Both are at home with Alfred and Lucinda, 5125 Liberty Avenue. Robert is not listed with a job. Perhaps he is no longer with the railroad and looking for other employment.
United in Marriage thirty two year old Robert B. Frederick and twenty five year old Mary Alice Bradley on June 20, 1906 by Thomas Jefferson Danner, Rector at S. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A second marriage record for Robert and Mary Alice. This one was of interest to me as my maternal grandmother, Martha M. Frederick, signed as a witness to the wedding.
Copies of these two documents were sent to me back in 1994 by Roxanne Anderson Frederick, wife of Robert B. Frederick, Jr.
Mary Alice Bradley Frederick was born on October 1, 1880 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of William Bradley and Mary Elizabeth Pickering Bradley. Interestingly, the Bradley Family also lived on River Avenue in Esplen, Pennsylvania in 1900 not far from the Fredericks. My mother referred to her aunt as Aunt Alice.
Bob and Alice welcomed their first child, a son, William Walter Frederick who was born on April 9, 1907 in Ben Avon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The family lived on Monitor Avenue. Bob is listed as an assistant traffic manager. I'm not certain if this employment is with the railroad or another company. My guess is that Bob and Alice named their son after Bob's brother, William Walter Frederick, who died in 1899.
Another document shared by Roxanne Anderson Frederick. The baptism of William Walter Frederick, first child of Robert and Alice Frederick. The service was performed by Thomas Jefferson Danner, Rector of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
On May 29, 1909, two year old, William Walter Frederick died at home, 14 Monitor Avenue, Ben Avon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Homewood Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Four months after the death of their firstborn, the Frederick's welcomed a second son, Donald Bradley Frederick on September 21, 1909. He was born at home, 416 Forest Avenue, Avalon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Frederick's moved from Ben Avon during the summer. Checking Google maps, there is not a listing for Forest Avenue in Avalon today.
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| 67 Jackson Bellevue, Pennsylvania |
Between the birth of their son, Donald in September and the death of Bob's mother, Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick, on December 15, 1909, Bob and Alice moved into 67 Jackson in Bellevue, Pennsylvania.
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| 1910 Pennsylvania Federal Census Bellevue, Allegheny County May 2, 1910 |
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| 180 Kendall Bellevue, Pennsylvania |
Robert Bell Frederick, Jr. was born on December 2, 1911 in Bellevue, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The family was living at 180 Kendall in Bellevue. Bob is listed as a car clerk. I have no idea what that is--a conductor a new job?
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| 1912 Pittsburgh City Directory page 550 |
The 1912 Pittsburgh City Directory answered my question as to where Robert Frederick was working when his son was born in 1911. The address in the directory is his work address for Heyl & Patterson, Inc., the company where he worked until his retirement.
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| 318 McKinleyAvenue Avalon, Pennsylvania |
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| World War I Draft Registration September 12, 1918 |
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| 1920 Pennsylvania Federal Census Avalon, Allegheny County January 1, 1920 |
318 McKinley Avenue
Robert B. Frederick, head, married, age 46, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, employed as a traffic manager for a contracting engineer, renting the house at 318 McKinley Avenue, Avalon, Pennsylvania.
Mary A. Frederick, wife, married, age 39, born in Pennsylvania, father born in England, mother born in Pennsylvania.
Donald B. Frederick, son, single, age 10, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania.
Robert B. Frederick, son, single, age 8, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania,.
Alfred Frederick, father, widowed, age 83, born in Ohio, both parents born in the United States. My maternal great grandfather.
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| Donald Bradley Frederick |
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| Robert Bell Frederick, Jr. |
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| 732 Taylor Avenue Avalon, Pennsylvania |
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| 1930 Pennsylvania Federal Census Avalon, Allegheny County April 2, 1930 |
Robert B. Frederick, head, owns a radio, age 56, married, age at first marriage 32, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, employed as a traffic manager at construction engineers, rents a house at 732 Taylor Avenue.
Mary A. Frederick, wife, age 49, married, age at first marriage 25, born in Pennsylvania, father born in England, mother born in Pennsylvania.
Donald B. Frederick, son, age 20, single, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, accountant at sheet tin manufacturer.
Robert B. Frederick, son, age 18, single, born in Pennsylvania, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, filing at steam railroad.
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| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania May 15, 1937 Page 12 |
On May 14, 1937, twenty seven year old Donald Bradley Fredrick married thirty year old Grace Olive Hunter. Grace was born on August 14, 1906 in Millvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Harry Hunter and Elsie Dora Nicely Hunter.
A few days shy of two years later, Don and Grace welcomed their first child and Bob and Mary's first grandchild, Donna Lynn Frederick.
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| The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania November 30, 1937 Page 28 |
On June 24, 1939, twenty-seven year old Robert Bell Frederick, Jr. married twenty-four year old Elizabeth Roxanne Anderson at Crafton, Pennsylvania. Roxanne was the daughter of Thomas Anderson, born in Belfast, Ireland and Catherine Malone Anderson born in Antiquity, Meigs County, Ohio.
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| 344 Elizabeth Avenue Avalon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
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| 1940 Pennsylvania Census Avalon Borough, Allegheny County April 4, 1940 |
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| 246 Lincoln Avenue Bellevue, Pennsylvania |
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| 1950 Pennsylvania Census Bellevue, Allegheny County April 18, 1950 |
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| This cute little first birthday card sent by Robert and Mary Frederick to my brother 1953 |
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| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette September 9, 1958 page 26 |
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| 324 South Home Avenue |
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| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette January 29, 1959 page 16 |
Robert Bell Frederick, Sr. died at age eighty-five in January 27, 1959 in the Frederick apartment, 323 South Home Avenue, Avalon, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His death was caused by cerebral arteriosclerosis which began ten years earlier.
Bob was buried in Allegheny County Memorial Park on January 30, 1959. I have visited his burial site and found grave markers for his son and daughter-in-law, Robert Bell Frederick, Jr and Elizabeth Roxanne Frederick, and grandson, Robert Bell Frederick III.
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| 1995 Crafton Boulevard Crafton, Pennsylvania |
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| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette November 20, 1968 page 34 |
Mary Alice Bradley Frederick, age eighty-eight, died on November 18, 1968 at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Alice had arteriosclerotic disease; however a fall at home in Crafton, fracturing a number of bones, admitted her to the hospital eleven days before her death.
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One evening my mother stayed overnight and I taped her responses to family questions. She remembered that her Aunt Alice had sparkling clean windows and that Uncle Bob and her two cousins, Don and Bob had clean white shirts daily. She reminded me that during this time in Pittsburgh, the city was filthy with dark smog from the steel mills. White shirts had to be washed daily and were hung in the basement to dry--not outside. Uncle Bob had nice places to live in Avalon. Aunt Alice was a nice person, Uncle Bob was quiet. Mom remembered that when her family lived on California Avenue (circa 1929 to 1935) in Avalon, both Frederick and Stark family members would visit; however, once they moved to Florence Avenue (circa 1935), only Cousin Don would come for family dinners. (Once Don married in 1937, he lived on Florence Avenue thru 1944).
I grew up never hearing anything about Bob and Alice Frederick. I never met them and was old enough when they died (Bob, I would have been eleven. Alice I would have been twenty-one) to have remembered any occasion with them. My maternal grandmother (Teek) never spoke of her brother which is surprising since he and Alice lived fairly close to her in Avalon. My mother's usual response to any questions about her family was that she had a very small family. Not so! They simply all grew apart.
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| Three Faces George Duncan and Sons Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Other Frederick Blogs on Flipside
Robert Bell Frederick and Mary Alice Bradley Frederick--Tombstone Tuesday
Robert Bell Frederick, Jr and Elizabeth Roxanne Anderson Frederick--Tombstone Tuesday
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