Fearless Females-- #6 Heirlooms

     I have quite a collection of sterling silver spoons that belonged to my Frederick family ancestors. They were probably used for tea service as I have only teaspoons.

     This one is beautifully embellished with flowers and scrolls on the front and back.

     Clearly marked sterling silver and the maker's mark is identified in "Kovels' American Silver Marks" as Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. (1866-1898). Spoons in sterling silver after were made after 1895. The company was located in Wallingford, Connecticut and later became International Silver Company.

     The green star is beside the maker's mark and the red star is beside a letter "D" which would be the year the spoon was made. Unfortunately, my identification book does not give that information. 

Source: Kovel, Ralph and Terry. Kovels' American Silver Marks, Crown Publishers, New York, New York, 1961, page 340. 

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--#5 How Did They Meet

The Marriage of Christian Invart Olesen and Ferdinande Weiss
West Hartlepool, Durham County, England
There are no pictures or stories that have filtered down through the years that I am aware of. Great Great Grandmother Olesen did come to the United States and lived with my Great Grandmother Hughes until her death. I have been told some stories and memories of "Granny Olesen" by my Dad and Aunt....however, none of her husband and marriage.


Looking at the the 1871 England census, Frederick was deceased and Ferdinande had opened up their home as a boarding house. Note that Christian Olesen was a boarder in the Weiss home....maybe the romance began there ;-)

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--#4 Marriage Records

This has been a good one for me to do. After searching around for marriage records and reviewing my previous blogs, I noticed that I have never posted the wedding information of my paternal great great grandparents, Christian Invart Olesen and Ferdinande Weiss. When I opened their file in my laptop....it wasn't in there! I had never scanned it.

Christian Invart Olesen, son of Ole Tonne Olesen of Denmark, was a master mariner and ship's chandler. At the time of their marriage, Christian was eleven years older than Ferdinande. Ferdinande, daughter of Frederick Heindrich Adolph Weiss and Ferdinande Lehman, had lived in West Hartlepool, England for almost fifteen years before she married. Frederick was gainfully employed as a banker or broker.


The wedding took place on August 30, 1874 in the parish church in the area where they lived in West Hartlepool....Christ Church. The church is still standing; however, it now houses an art museum.

Both of my great grandparents were literate and were able to sign their names. The witnesses were: Adolph Herman W. Weiss, Ferdinande's brother and Mary E. Middlemiss, the woman that Adolph would marry.

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--#3 What's in a Name?

   

     Queen Elizabeth Frederick....how regal is that! Queen is my maternal first cousin twice removed. Born on May 31, 1877 in Indiana, she was the daughter of William Jackson Frederick and Emma Hipkins.

     I was able to find this listing of school graduates for Queen and her sister, Edith.

     Queen's father was a well known and respected citizen in Garrett, Indiana. He served as mayor for a time. They had a nice lifestyle with a home in Garrett and a summer retreat at Oakwood Park on Lake Wawasee, Indiana. Queen was at her father's bedside during an illness as evidenced in the news clipping above.

 

     From various newspaper articles that were sent to me, it appears that the Frederick family remained close although separated by distance. There were family reunions and visits to the family homes. Apparently my maternal grand uncle, William Walter Frederick (known as Walter) was a visitor to his uncle William Jackson Frederick's home in Garrett, Indiana and was close with his cousin Queen and her sister Edith.  The newspaper clipping above shows that the two girls took a train to Youngstown to be with Walter when he became ill, only to arrive to late as he died from typhoid fever on February 24, 1899. 

     On October 26, 1901 in Auburn, DeKalb County, Indiana, she married Charles Henry Abell. Two sons were born to this union; Charles Frederick Abell, born on November 8, 1909 in Garrett, DeKalb County, Indiana and William Frederick Abel, born on December 5, 1914 in Garrett, DeKalb County, Indiana. William died two years later and is buried at Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana. 

     Charles Henry Abell was gainfully employed in Garrett as a coal merchant. He served on numerous town committees and events. The family had a summer home in Rome City, Indiana on Sylvan Lake where they entertained family and friends. On May 28, 1928 at the age of 48 he died and was buried at Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana.

Photo used by permission of Kennetta Lemon      

     Queen died on 15 Jan 1978, at the age of 100 at Marion, Grant County, Indiana. She is buried at Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana along with many family members.

-Queen Elizabeth Frederick Abell on Find A Grave 

-Biography of Queen's father, William Jackson Frederick 

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--#2 Photo of Ancestor

I have gone back through two years of blogs and don't think I have posted this photo in the past. Pictured in a glam pose is my mother, Martha Jean Stark Hughes, on Palm Sunday, 1945. The photo was probably taken in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, perhaps on the University of Pittsburgh campus as Dad was finishing up medical school there at that time.

Unlocking a memory: I note that Mom is wearing a corsage to mark the day. Throughout all my years Growing Up Hughes, there was always a corsage from Dad.....special occasions deserved to be celebrated with flowers. If Mom and Dad were going out....church or dinner, it was a corsage, if not, then a bouquet. And, when I was old enough, I had a corsage to wear too.

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--#1 Favorite Female Ancestor

Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist is once again sponsoring Fearless Females honoring female ancestors during Women's History Month. Thank you Lisa.

     This year I have decided to honor my maternal great grandmother, Lucinda Bell Orr Frederick as my favorite female ancestor. I never knew Great Grandmother Frederick and have never talked with anyone who did. Her youngest daughter, Martha Marie Frederick, my maternal grandmother, saved photographs and perhaps some of her mother's jewelry. The photos picture a woman with an engaging face, always beautifully dressed and one shows her holding a small kitten on her lap. What's not to like about that! ;-)

     The Frederick's were the very first branch I researched when I began my genealogy obsession back in the 1990's. Frankly, they were pretty easy. Both the Frederick and Orr families were from Columbiana County, Ohio and that area had a VERY active genealogy club with numerous publications, even back in 1990.

     The marriage record for Lucinda Orr and Alfred Frederick was listed in one of the books as was their final resting place. Columbiana County, Ohio is only about a two hour drive from my house and it wasn't too long after learning more about them, that I was on my way to Columbiana, Ohio.

Lucinda Bell Frederick Orr
Carte d'visite circa 1860

     Lucinda Bell Orr was born in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio on June 29, 1844. She was the daughter of William Morlan Orr and Nancy Cannon. Lou was the youngest child and joined a brother, Matthew Thomas Orr and three sisters; Elizabeth, Mary A. and Margaret C. The Orr's lived on a farm which was part of a parcel of land owned by William's father, Joseph Orr.

     Lucinda's father died on February 11, 1849 when she was only five years old. About one year later, her mother married a farm hand, Elijah McCormick. On March 24, 1859 Lou's sister, Mary died. She was buried beside their father in Carlisle Cemetery, Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

     When interviewing various Frederick family members over the years, I did learn that the Orr and Bell families were once friends. They both lived in Elkrun Township in the mid 1800's. Lucinda is enumerated with a Bell family on the 1860 census and it has only been recently that I found out that her middle initial "B" stands for Bell.

Alfred F. Frederick and Lucinda Bell Orr FrederickCarte d'visite circa 1880's
     On October 22, 1868, Lucinda married Alfred F. Frederick in Columbiana County, Ohio. The couple settled in Franklin Square, Columbiana County, Ohio and began to raise a family, Albert L., William Walter, Robert Bell, Edna May and Martha Marie (my maternal grandmother).

     Alfred was gainfully employed with the railroad most of his adult life. The Frederick's seemed to enjoy a good life. Photographs show nicely dressed individuals and I have a collection of engraved sterling silver spoons that may have been used for tea. There are also numerous pieces of engraved jewelry, pocket watches and glassware.

     I was told by one of my Frederick cousins that Lucinda had an entire collection of Three Faces (also known as Three Sisters, Three Graces, and Three Fates) glassware made in Pittsburgh by the George Duncan and Sons....now highly collectible. When Lucinda died, the collection was given to her son, Robert. His wife did not want the glassware and packed it all up and gave it to the Salvation Army!


     Lucinda never worked outside the home. It is said that she was a good cook and I have a hunch she was also an excellent seamstress. The detail work on all the women's clothing in the family photographs indicate that she was a superior dressmaker. Lucinda's mother, Nancy Cannon Orr, earned a living as a tailoress and her paternal grandfather, Joseph Orr, was a tailor. I know, first hand, that her daughter, Martha, was an excellent seamstress as she sewed for me.

Lucinda and kitten  
     Between 1896-1898, the Frederick family moved from Columbiana County, Ohio to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

     In 1898, Lou's husband was involved in a train accident in Youngstown, Ohio, losing one of his legs. Alfred did survive. The following year, the Frederick family suffered a great tragedy on February 24, 1899 when William Walter, known as Walter, died in Youngstown, Ohio from typhoid fever. He is buried near his parents in Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio.



     Lucinda died on December 15, 1909 in Bellevue, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from heart disease and bronchial asthma. She is buried beside her husband at Columbiana Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio (formerly known as Firestone Cemetery).

     I wish I could have known her.

Other Blogs on Flipside regarding Lucinda:
-Tombstone Tuesday: Alfred and Lucinda Frederick
-Frederick Spoon

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.

© 2011, 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.

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.

© 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. 

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.

© 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, Martha Jean Stark Hughes, 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. Zeigler and Robert B. Quinn . Mary is the only child of Aunt Edna. Edna married twice. Mary's father is the first husband, Harry G. Zeigler . 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

Fearless Females # 7--Favorite Recipe or Meal Memory

March 7 — Share a favorite recipe from your mother or grandmother's kitchen. Why is the dish your favorite? If you don't have one that's been passed down, describe a favorite holiday or other meal you shared with your family. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.

Unfortunately, no family recipes have been passed down. My maternal grandmother lived alone and did not entertain. When I enjoyed a meal with Teek, it was usually out somewhere. My paternal grandmother was QUITE a cook. She took after her own mother; however her mother was a boarding house owner--cooked whatever came into her mind and could s-t-r-e-t-c-h the pot to feed any number of hungry mouths.

Grams was just such a cook. My grandfather would bring guests home for dinner and Grams would just do the "stretching the pot trick" and feed the entire table. I remember with fondness her meals....always meat and potatoes....always wonderfully delicious.

She is not the one I am choosing to blog about today. Actually, it is my other grandmother Teek....the one who didn't cook or bake....that is the subject of this memory.

Martha Marie Frederick Stark aka Teek, was a cook and baker as a wife and mother. After my Grandfather Stark died and my mother left home to set up her own family, Teek's need for making "meals" ceased. She lived alone and probably cooked the occasional dinner, but primarily relied on prepacked foods.

Now you are probably wondering why in the world I would feature her in this blog. It was her holiday fruit cocktail. For as long as I can remember, Teek would bring a holiday fruit cocktail as the appetizer to the meal. She always packaged it in two large glass jars with screw top lids. The ingredients were simple.....orange slices, grapefruit wedges and maraschino cherries. The juice was a combination of the orange and grapefruit juices....heavy on the grapefruit. You can probably see where I am going here.....the fruit cocktail was a lovely presentation; however VERY SOUR!


There it is....the fruit cocktail in the fancy wine glassesand yes, that is me...the one with the sour face!
From about age 4 or 5, I can remember sitting down to Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, seeing that little bowl of Teek's fruit cocktail and dreading spooning it into my mouth. We three Hughes kids would just force it down. Even today when thinking about Teek's Fruit Cocktail we usually make a sour face--teeth clenched.

For fun, several Christmas' ago, I decided to put together the infamous fruit cocktail as a surprise for Ken and Jeff and to give my family a little taste of their ancestry. Oddly, my two sons thought it pretty good. Go figure!

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--# 4--Marriage Record

March 3 — Do you have marriage records for your grandparents or great-grandparents? Write a post about where they were married and when. Any family stories about the wedding day? Post a photo too if you have one.. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.

Alfred Frederick and Lucinda Orr Frederickcarte d'visite

I have decided to feature my maternal great grandparents marriage records for this blog. I noticed that I was deficient in scanning many of their records two weeks ago while participating in the 2010 Winter GeneaBloggers Olympics. In fact, their marriage records were two items that I scanned and added to the external hard drive.

Alfred Frederick and Lucinda Orr were born and raised in Columbiana County, Ohio--Lucinda in Elkrun Township and Alfred in Franklin Square, Salem Township. Alfred was the son of Joseph C. Frederick and Mary Betz; Lucinda was the daughter of William Morlan Orr and Nancy Cannon. How they met is unknown, although there are other marriages in the area between the Frederick and Orr families, so perhaps they met at a mutual family gathering.

Alfred and Lou were issued a marriage license in Columbiana County on October 19, 1868 by Solomn J. Firestone, Probate Judge. They were married on October 22, 1868 by Rev. James Reinhart in Columbiana County, Ohio.

The Marriage Record was obtained by me through the Columbiana County, Ohio records office. The Marriage License was kindly sent to me by another Frederick descendant who had it among her family records.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Fearless Females--Prompt #3--Name Game

March 3 — Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors? Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern. If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree. Thank you to Lisa over at The Accidental Genealogist for supplying a month's worth of prompts celebrating Women's History Month.

     I was not named for anyone in my family tree. The Linda came from a popular song in 1947 and the Lee, probably because it went nicely with Linda. Although my paternal grandmother used to say, with a big smile on her face, the Lee is because you have ancestors from West "By God" Virginia. I guess that was a reference to Robert E. What I never understood was her reference...although he was a southerner, West Virginia did not consider itself a southern sympathizer.

     I am choosing an unusual female name from my ancestry. BATHSHEBA Griffith Ferguson, my paternal great great great great great great (yes, 6th great) grandmother. Occasionally I see her name as Barsheba. She was born in 1739 to Samuel Griffith, Jr. and Anne Skinner in Calvert County, Maryland.

     About 1755 she married John Ferguson in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The Fergusons had seven children and all but one removed to Monongalia County, (West) Virginia with their spouses.

     Bathsheba died in 1800 in Monongalia County, (West) Virginia. I do have a copy of her will and also the disposition of her worldly goods following her death. The documents show that the Fergusons were plantation and slave owners, even in Monongalia County. They had a sizable piece of property and pages and pages of items to be disposed of following her death. My guess is that Bathsheba lived a pretty prosperous life and had plenty of servants to do her bidding.

     I imagine that Bathsheba and her husband, John, were buried in the old cemetery in Morgantown, West Virginia. Due to the expansion of the town and West Virginia University, many of those buried in that cemetery were removed to East Oak Grove. There are numerous old tombstones on the hill and less than half are readable. The Fergusons are probably among them.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser