Finally...Question Answered! Where do the Remains of Carrie Terry Warner Actually Reside? (Part 2)

 The Ledger

(click on images to enlarge)

Waiting is never an easy thing to do when you know a particular record could hold the answer to a question you are just unable to let go of and you need to wait to see that record.  In Where do the Remains of Carrie Terry Warner Actually Reside? (Part 1) a review was made of all known information about where my paternal great grandmother Carrie Terry Warner was buried and about the family story.  I learned about old ledgers that existed at my cousin's tombstone business from the previous owner.  I hoped these records might hold answers to my nagging question.

The day had finally come and here the ledgers were in front of me.  Finally being able to see and hold the ledgers was so exciting!  My cousin had marked pages he thought I'd be interested in so it was time to see if they actually did hold the answer I was looking for.

The first thing to always look for is an index:

Reminder:  When you are looking at an Index be sure you understand how the Index is set up. While names are all "W" names, they were added as services were ordered.  The names are not listed alphabetically.

The following entry is dated June 15, 1915.   Page 348

OK, the question I had about Carrie having a headstone is now answered!  There was a headstone and this is what it was to look like, it was to be made out of blue marble and cost $12.00.  The date the headstone was ordered is now known and the bill was to go to Carrie & John's eldest son Terry, who at the time resided in Watermill, NY.  Why was the bill being sent to him instead of his father John? I have no idea.  Perhaps Terry was in charge of taking care of this for John and his brothers?  (Terry would have been 22 years old, married and a father at the time.)  I also know that the headstone was for the Baiting Hollow Cemetery which is where Carrie was buried after her death in 1910.  

With additional searching another entry was located.  Be careful!  As I reviewed the pages in the Index I found that the listing is not always under the name of the person that died.  Sometimes the listing is under the name of the person who ordered or paid for the service, in this case Carrie's husband John.  That definitely changes my searching method for future entries.

The following entry is dated June 4, 1910.  Page 236

This is the order for Carrie's funeral.  Wow!  I did not know until this 'find' that the business that was in charge of the headstones was also in charge of the funeral, etc.  

Transcription:

To Silver gray half couch casket and chestnut box for Carrie T. Warner dec'd.

Laying out & Embalming body

Use of chairs

White dress

Hearse

Attendance w/funeral

Pillow of flowers word Mother

(images made using Copilot)

What a wealth of information about my great grandmother's funeral.  Carrie was buried in a new white dress, they used a hearse, the cost in 1910 was $167.00 and there was a pillow of flowers with the word Mother from her six sons.  Again, my heart breaks when I think about my paternal grandfather who was only five years old when this was happening.

But there was still no answer to the question -Where do Carrie's remains actually reside?  Hmm...  Well, I am so grateful for what I have learned but this did not answer that gnawing question.

While I was looking at the ledgers I decided to look for Carrie's husband (my great grandfather) John's funeral and perhaps the headstone that is at the Aquebogue Cemetery. John's funeral was listed.

The following entry is dated June 23, 1920:

Transcription of highlighted area:

Opening grave

Moving body of wife deceased

WOW!! After all these years.  Finally, there is the answer I have been searching for!  Carrie's remains were removed from the Baiting Hollow Cemetery and moved to the Aquebogue Cemetery.  Payment would not have been made had they been unable to move her.  The story I had heard was partially true...her body was moved to the cemetery alongside her husband.

The order for the headstone that is in the Aquebogue Cemetery was also located.  

The following entry is dated October 10, 1921

Payment for the stone was made by Carrie & John's son J. Wesley Warner.  At this time John Wesley was 31 years old and married.  Perhaps he was the spokesman for the brothers?

Whatever happened to Carrie's original headstone in the Baiting Hollow Cemetery?  I have no idea.  Did one of the sons take it after she was moved to the Aquebogue Cemetery? Perhaps.  Was the headstone recycled somehow or just discarded?  I have no idea but I do wonder about this.

The journey to find the answer to my nagging question about where actually my paternal great grandmother is buried has taken many years with several interesting twists and turns.  Looking beyond the commonly found records, often available online, is not always easy to do but if you take the time to search, it's amazing to see what you may find.  Constantly asking people in the area about records has led me to finding records I never would have thought to ask for or that I would be even able to locate.  There are so many records out there that we don't even know exist.  As genealogists we should pursue getting these lesser known records scanned and saved for other researchers and future generations.  If you have any suggestions on who to contact at FamilySearch, Ancestry, My Heritage, or anywhere else, please let me know.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share, I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

40th Anniversary Celebration

My parental grandfather, Olin Warner, Sr. was the 5^th of 6 boys born to Carrie (Terry) and John B. Warner. My grandfather was only five years old when his mother, Carrie (Terry) Warner died suddenly and it was only 10 years later that his father, John B. Warner passed away.  My grandfather at the age of 15 then went to live with his older brother John Wesley and wife Alice (Aldrich) Warner. Olin and Wesley, and later with their wives, continued a close bond.

Alice (Aldrich) and John Wesley Warner

My paternal grandmother, Agnes (King) Warner was known for the lists she kept.  Whether she was getting ready for Christmas or planning a 40^th Anniversary party you can be sure Grandma had a list going.  Several years ago while visiting my cousin Diane in Colorado she shared with me a small green leather notebook of my grandmother’s.  While enjoying my grandmother’s familiar handwriting and looking through the notebook I found a variety of lists, recipes, etc. One of the lists that caught my eye was the following:

click on image to enlarge

How exciting to find this list of information for the 40^th anniversary celebration of Alice and Wesley Warner from 1958!  Alice and Wesley were married on 9 November 1918 and made their home in Riverhead, New York. 

This was a typical list of my grandmother’s.  Grandma was obviously in charge of planning the party and she listed everything out to the smallest detail.  It’s so interesting to see the menu and the cost of the party back in 1958.  McCabes was a stationary store in the town of Riverhead, so, I am guessing that was for purchasing the invitations.  There were also flowers and hmm…prizes. I am guessing that the ‘clock’ was the anniversary gift for the happy couple.

 I do have some questions though:

• what was the ‘Hall’ where the party was held?
• is this a complete list of those who actually attended?
• was the party actually held on the 8^th of November instead of the 9^th, their anniversary?

Thinking about the details of this list got me to wondering, if, like so many other events in my grandparent’s lives, was this recorded in the local newspaper?  Growing up I remember that on Monday mornings the local reporter, Laura Rodgers, for the area where we lived would call my grandmother and ask what the family had done over the last week.  Was there anything to record in the newspaper?  I am so grateful today, as I search for family information to fill in the daily lives of my ancestors, that so much was recorded in the local newspapers.  Was this event recorded there also?  Could the newspaper account answer some of my questions and give me more details of this event?

When searching for old newspapers for Suffolk County, New York my first stop is usually the free online newspapers through New York Historic Newspapers.  The newspapers I was looking for in Suffolk County only go as far as 1940.   So, that didn’t work.  While visiting Riverhead, New York this summer I decided to see what I could find in the local newspapers for 1958.  Surely the local newspaper had copies somewhere?  The current local newspaper, The Riverhead News-Review, directed me to a nearby library (Mattituck-Laurel Library) where I found out they only had a few years and not the one I was looking for.  Disappointing!  A second call to the local newspaper told me they were in the process of digitizing all their editions so they had nothing available at the newspaper office but directed me to the Riverhead Free Library where they should have the microfilms of the years I was looking for.  A trip to the library finally yielded the microfilm for 1958.  Yea, success for step one!  Then I began searching for the newspapers for November and December 1958.  I was sure I would find something under the ‘Riverhead’ news section since my great Uncle and Aunt lived there.  I searched through several weeks and kept thinking Grandma, don’t let me down.  The party HAS to be in the paper.  Finally, I found the article I was searching for as a general article in The News Review, Thursday, November 13, 1958 edition on page 9:

Transcription:

J W Warners Observe 40^th

Mr. and Mrs. J Wesley Warner of Riverhead were pleasantly surprised by their friends, neighbors and relatives on Saturday evening, Nov 8, at the Aquebogue Congregational Church dining room. The occasion was in honor of their 40^th wedding anniversary.

A buffet supper was served climaxed by the “bride and groom” cutting a beautiful wedding cake.

Mr and Mrs Warner were the recipients of numerous lovely and useful gifts.

Present were Rev and Mrs Robert Samuelson, Mr and Mrs Abe Denholz, Mrs Berger, Mr and Mrs Robinson Goodale, Mr and Mrs Robert Dillilngham Sr, Mr and Mrs Lawrence Hulse, Mr and Mrs Roscoe Palmer, Mr and Mrs Halsey Penny, Mr and Mrs Henry Vail, Mr and Mrs William Vail, Mr and Mrs Raymond Young, Mr and Mrs William Young, Mr and Mrs Horace K. Hallock, Mrs Hulda Diamond, Mrs Milie Downs, Mrs Roswell Corwin, Mrs Florrie Mammen, Mrs Ted Breiling, Mrs. Addison Whitman Sr, Mrs Robert Guy Sr, Mrs Iona Wright, Mr and Mrs Milton Warner Sr, Mr and Mrs Hollis Warner, Mr and Mrs Olin Warner Sr, Mr and Mrs Olin Warner Jr and Mr and Mrs Allen Farrell.

We don’t often get to know how our ancestors celebrated this type of occasion or who our ancestors’ friends were or who would have been at a party like this.

What fun to look back in time and see what was done, say for an anniversary party, in 1958.  As for my questions I now know:

• the “Hall” that was rented was at the Aquebogue Congregational Church
• the party was on a Saturday night (8^th) and wasn’t on their actual anniversary on the 9^th.   Renting of a church ‘Hall’ would make sense that the party was on Saturday night instead of Sunday.
• the clock was one of many gifts given

The newspaper article gives a little more information but is very close to the account found in my grandmother’s list.  What fun to add the newspaper article to my grandmother’s list.  This helps the event become alive for me and I feel like an observer of the 40^th anniversary party.

If I had been able to search for this online it would have been difficult to find without just using the word 'Warner' and searching through pages and pages of findings.  I would never have thought to look for ‘J W Warner’.  A good reminder not to limit yourself when searching in online databases.

Was the picture above found amongst my grandparent’s photos a picture of Alice & Wesley from this party?  I have no way of knowing.  It could have been.  What a handsome couple! Alice and Wesley never had any children, so, I am honored to remember them here today. 

Happy Anniversary Alice and Wesley!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share, I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,

Debby

Making Meaning out of a Pile of Family Photos

Frequently, as a genealogist, I wonder how to best present the information I have found on my ancestors for others to enjoy.  This summer I was so excited to find pictures (from Ella Terry Billard), many from the 1870s.  WOW!!!! These are the oldest photos I have ever been able to find on my ancestors. 

As I looked at the labeled (Thank-you Great Aunt Ella Terry Billard for doing this) photos in the beautiful burgundy colored album I quickly realized they were from the Robinson and Terry lines.  I could see the connection immediately and realized the importance of this discovery.  (See post Seven Generations of Photos).  Many of the people in the photos were mentioned in Carrie’s Letters. (See posts on Carrie’s Letters)

My dilemma was how to present the photos to my cousins so that they were more meaningful then just a group of pictures.

After cropping the photos and cleaning them up in MyHeritage’s new photo enhancement program I decided to put each family group together with the parents at the top of the page and the children, with spouses, on the rest of the sheet.  The album the photos were in was also very important to me as it held this amazing collection of photos safe for so many years.  After working in Adobe Photoshop I thought the following might be a more meaningful way to display the photos of the Robinson family and the connection they share within the family:

 

and the Terry family:

 

What do you think of this as a way to display the photos?  Unfortunately, there is no photo of Eliza, the matriarch, of the Terry family.  

By displaying the photos in this manner I noticed several things I hadn’t noticed before. 

• Three of the Robinson men married women with the maiden name ‘Raynor’. 
• Two Robinson men married women with the maiden name ‘Wells’.  I couldn’t help but wonder... if the Raynor women were sisters or cousins perhaps?  What about the Wells women?  More research to do.  
• I had previously known that two of the Terry brothers had married 2 of the Robinson sisters. 
• Enlarging the pictures and carefully examining the photos showed that several of the men seem to be wearing the same jacket and/or vest.  Did the photographer have the vest and jacket that the men wore in the photo or did one of the men own it and the others just ‘borrowed’ it?  The rug in many of the pictures is the same.  Perhaps the photos were taken at the same time?  Young Arthur and Carrie Robinson were both standing next to the same table with a lace tablecloth.  The same chair appears in many of the photos.  Young Arthur Robinson has a jacket on that is way too big for his young body with rolled up sleeves.

 

Several of the photos in this group were unidentified.  These photos have to be members of either the Robinson or Terry families since they are part of this collection.  Hopefully, someone will see this and be able to help identify the following pictures that are not labeled so they can be added to the correct family group.  

click on photos to enlarge

Have you ever seen any of these photos of our Robinson and Terry families?  Thank-you cousin Rebecca for sharing these photos!

Hopefully, for my Robinson and Terry cousins, these photos will help solve the mystery of what some of their ancestors looked like.  If you have photos of someone in the family that I haven’t found yet, please, share them with me so I can add them to the sheets.  I wonder how many we can find?  If anyone would like a copy of an individual photo please email me directly and I am happy to share this magnificent find.

Maybe over your Holiday Celebrations someone will remember old photos that are tucked away and need to be found again.  Merry Christmas to all and a very Happy New Year of wonderful finds to add in the knowledge of your ancestors!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

 

Seven Generations of Photos

     Does having a picture of your ancestor change the way you look at their life story?  While I am researching I am always hopeful that I will find photos of my ancestors, unfortunately, I rarely find them.  I can tell their stories with the facts I can find but I still want the photos.  So, I keep searching.

     This Summer I was amazed at the number of photos on my Robinson and Terry lines that were found at my cousin's house.  Rebecca has bins of things that belonged to her great-grandmother Ella Terry Billard.  When we got together this Summer, while I was visiting, I was astounded at the number of photos we found and how old they were.  Working with these photos I am learning so many new things about the family.  One of the first things I realized is that these are the oldest photos I have ever been able to see!  As I thought about this I also realized I have seven generations of photos with this find.  Photos from my son all the way back to Stephen Robinson (3x great grandfather) which was taken no later then 1871.  As you look at the generations of photos, what family resemblances do you see among the photos?  What else do you notice in the photos?

(click on image to enlarge)

I wonder if Caroline's closed "smile" was due to a lack of teeth? I wonder if there was a permanent photographer in the Riverhead area in the 1860s and 70s?  What was the occasion for the photos taken of Stephen and Caroline?  What was the occasion for Almeda's photo?  I believe Carrie's photo was taken in New York City during her time in college (1880-2).  My grandfather's picture was taken from a family photo probably taken in the 1940s.  My father's picture was taken at my second marriage in 2012.  Mine was taken in 2018 when I received my General Society of Mayflower Descendants certificate and my son's was his senior picture in college.  (Be sure to click on the bold names above if you'd like to find out about the life stories of the people in the photos.)

Seeing a picture of my ancestor really brings them to life for me.  I may have many facts about them but actually seeing what they looked like definitely makes them "real" for me.  How about for you?  What an amazing find this was!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

The 1871 Will of Stephen Robinson

Wills can hold such interesting pieces of information about our ancestors and frequently generate additional questions.  Stephen Robinson is my paternal 3x great-grandfather.  Last Spring I wrote what I had been able to learn about his life (see Blog post Celebrating the Life of Stephen Robinson).   Now I wanted to look at his last wishes as recorded in his Will.

At the time this Will was written Stephen was 66 years old and had been married to Caroline Overton Robinson for 46 years.  They had the following children all still living at the time: Barnabas O., George W., Perry S., Almeda V. (my 2nd great-grandmother), William S., Arthur M., Alonzo M., Dolisca, Huldah J., and Carrie E.  [I have underlined family names within the following transcribed Will.]

Stephen’s Will was written 6 days before he died.

(click on image to enlarge)

Transcription:

Will

In the name of God, Amen. I, Stephen Robinson, of the Town of Riverhead, County of Suffolk and State of New York being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this life, do therefore, make, ordain, publish and declare, this to be my last Will and Testament; That is to say,

First, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, I give, bequeath-To my Son Alonzo M. Robinson, my Homestead Farm Consisting of one Hundred and Seventy-five acres the same more or less-Situate at Manorville in the said County of Suffolk and Bounded as follows-first piece on the North by the Lands of Thomas G. Osborn, on the South by the Peconic River and on the West by the Lands of Jonah Raynor.  Second piece-On the North by the Land of Louis Worthington, on the East by the Land of Jonah Raynor, on the South by the Branch of the Peconic River and on the West by the Land of George O. Raynor.  Together with the hereditaments [something capable of being inherited] and appurtenances [belonging to something else, ie. the land] or in otherwise thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to have and to hold the premises above described to the said Alonzo M. Robinson his heirs and assigns Forever-

I give and bequeath to my son William S. Robinson all that certain piece or parcel of Land Situate at Manorville in the said County of Suffolk, Containing seventy acres be the same more or less and Bounded as follows on the North partly by the Highway and partly by the Land of Sally Ann Sweezey on the East by the Lands of Sally Ann Sweezey and Albert Terry on the South by the Land of Isaac Raynor and the old School House Road and on the West by the Land of O. H Oc’t(?), together with the hereditaments and appurtenances hereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining to have and to hold the premises above described to the said William S. Robinson Forever-

I give and bequeath to my son Arthur M. Robinson Two Hundred acres of land near Manorville in the said County of Suffolk and bounded as follows-first piece on the North by, the Long Island Rail Road on the East by the Land of Isaac C. Hulse and the Heirs of Elegin Dayton in the South by the Land of Joel H. Raynor and on the West by the Lands of J. Minor Raynor and by Jab. Raynor- Second piece lying near Manorville in the said County of Suffolk and Bounded as follows on the North by the Land formerly of ?Yosing & Roger on the East by the Land of Warren Raynor on the South by Peconic River, and on the West by the Lands of Benjamin R. Woodhull and Bertha Caffee Zuba-To have and to hold the premises above described to the said Arthur M. Robinson Forever-

I give and bequeath to my son Barney O. Robinson the Sum of one Thousand Dollars in Money.

I give and bequeath to my son George W. Robinson the sum of one Thousand Dollars in Money.

I give and bequeath to my son Stephen Perry Robinson the sum of one Thousand Dollars in Money-

I give and bequeath to my son William S. Robinson the sum of Three Hundred dollars in Money-

I give and bequeath to my wife Caroline Robinson the sum of Eight Thousand dollars in Money-

I give and bequeath to my daughter Caroline E. [Carrie] Robinson the sum of Three Hundred dollars in Money-

I give and bequeath to my daughter Almeda V. Terry the sum of Two Hundred dollars in Money-

I give and bequeath to my daughter Dolisea Terry the sum of Two Hundred dollars in Money-

I give and bequeath to my daughter Hulah J. Hawkins the sum of Two Hundred dollars in Money-

All the residue and remainder of my Estate-both real and personal I give and bequeath to my sons Barney O. Robinson, George W. Robinson and Arthur M. Robinson to be equally divided between them.

Likewise, I make constitute and appoint my Wife Caroline Robinson, to be my Executrix and my son Barney O. Robinson to be Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, the fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and Seventy one.

Stephen Robinson   (L.S.)

Witnesses

Richard T. Osborn, Riverhead

George F. Homan, Riverhead

 

Since the Will was written so close to the time of his death I wonder if Stephen was seriously ill at the time?  Unfortunately, there are no death certificates that would have recorded the cause of his death.

I notice that Stephen leaves more money to his youngest daughter Caroline "Carrie".  I believe this is do to her age only being 17 at the time the letter was written.  She was a minor and still at home at the time.  Stephen's other three daughters were married at the time the Will was written.

I am curious about why property was left to some of the sons but not all of them?  I wonder if property was not left to sons who already owned their own land?  When I looked back at what Stephen farmed according to the US Federal Non-Populations Census-Agricultural Blog post I had written I saw a decline from 1850-1860 in the acreage that Stephen farmed/owned.  I was unable to locate Stephen in the 1870 US Federal Non-Populations Census-Agricultural.  Had he stopped farming by 1870?  I think some further investigation into Stephen's land sales are definitely needed.

The handwriting in the Will, at times, was difficult to decipher.  There may be errors in the spelling of some of the names mentioned as owning land bordering Stephen's property holdings.  

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

A Time to Remember

How do you remember those you love that have passed away? Any time we lose someone we love there is a hurt that never heals. When we lose children, that loss seems unbearable. How do you survive the loss of a child? I’ve listened to parents say that a child should never die before a parent, it’s just not right. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. Whether it’s from disease or an accident, the hurt never leaves us.

My youngest brother, David, passed away after a tragic car accident when he was only 18 years old. This was in the summer between his junior and senior year of high school. Another student, also died tragically that summer. After my brother’s funeral my father had a memorial made that was placed in a peaceful spot near the home we grew up in. Over 40 years later my parents were downsizing and moving to a new home. The question was raised about what to do with David’s memorial.

My father remembered that several years ago, while attending a concert at Riverhead High School in Riverhead, New York,

we were early and we had to wait outside the back of the high school for the doors to open. As we walked around that night we noticed memorials in the gardens near the entrance to the auditorium.

Was this area a possibility for my brother’s memorial? After contacting the High School Principal, Sean O’Hara, we found out that yes, this was definitely a possibility. I worked with Mr. O’Hara and Madlyn Davis to set things up. My brother Michael, my father Olin and step-mother Beverly and I took the memorial to the High School in June. They showed us the spot available for David’s Memorial. The custodial staff would place the memorial and let us know when completed. The memorial is now in place with special thanks to Mr. O’Hara, Madlyn Davis and the custodial staff at Riverhead High School.

David James Warner (1960-1979)

My son graduated from this high school and I told him what we were planning. He remembered a fellow classmate that had died while he was in high school also. This made me curious about the other stones I had seen in the memorial garden. Do people know that this garden is there? Do they remember the other students as they walk into the back entrance of the high school? How did this garden come to be? I wanted to remember all the students who have memorials in the garden, as well as my brother.

Ever the genealogist and researcher I began to learn about the garden. Here is what I learned from the following stones:

Vincent “Vinny” Nasta (1961-2008)

I searched for articles and learned on Riverhead Local “Vinny’s Garden” was a memorial to beloved Art teacher Vincent “Vinny” Nasta who perished tragically from a plane crash in 2008. Riverhead Local reported, “Students and teachers also set up a memorial garden in the courtyard at the high school, outside Nasta’s classroom.”  

Other parts of the garden, I am told, started long before Mr. Nasta’s untimely death.

The following are the memorials for students and what I was able to learn about them:

Anthony Matuza

Terrence Sumpter (1978-1996) age 18

Everett “E-Dubb” Wilson (1987-2005) age 17

Joseph “Joey” Chew (1988-2006) age 18

Ryan Hautsch (1989-2007) age 17

Danielle “Danie” G. Lawrence (1998-2015) age 17

Tristin Q. Krueger

Brieanne Reichel (1986-2002) age 16

Michael P. Smith (1962-1979) age 17

My thanks to the custodial staff for placing my brother’s memorial in the garden and maintaining the area. Thank-you to everyone reading this for taking time to remember all the lives who were cut tragically short. If you are in the area, perhaps, you can also take a moment to walk through this special garden at Riverhead High School and remember…

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

The Adult Life of Gerald Gilbert Warner

In my previous post (The Childhood of Gerald Gilbert Warner) the letters written by Gerald’s mother played a major role in giving me a glimpse of his childhood. I still had many unanswered questions about my Great Uncle. So, I asked my father and several of my second cousins and I was able to gather some more information. What I learned was Gerald went to college in Ct, met someone from South Dakota and decided to move there. He was a farmer and never married.

I always like to use these family stories as starting points. I thought that must have been very adventurous of him in the early 1900s to just pick up and leave his family and move to South Dakota. I’m guessing he mainly communicated via mail. Then I dove into online data bases and newspapers. Here is what I was able to learn about the man that Gerald became:

• In The County Review dated 19 May 1911 in an article entitled Good List of Entries for Athletic Meet-Twelfth Annual Field Day in Riverhead Promises to Break all Records- Riverhead’s Many Entries-Splendid Lot of Trained Athletes From Several High Schools Will Take Part in Numerous Contests I find Half-Mile Run-Harold Downs, John Burgess, Jr., Francis W. Reeve, Harrison Tyte, Gerald Warner, Riverhead…”. Interesting to learn that Gerald was an athlete and participated in distance running.
• In The County Review dated 12 April 1912 under Baiting Hollow “Mrs. Harold W. Young entertained a large party of friends at Rose Manor, last Thursday evening, in honor of her sister, Miss Viola A. Downs, of Killingly, Conn. The evening was pleasantly spent playing games and dainty refreshments were served. Among those present were the Misses Amy Prince, Marjorie Young, Ada Wells Prince, Marjorie Young, Ada Wells, Emma Munro, Florence Munro, Eleanor Warner, Clara Culver and Josephine Howland. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Robinson and Messrs. Harrison Tyte, Claude Hulse, Dan Warner, Gerald Warner, and Charles Fordham.”
• In The County Review dated 31 May 1912 under Baiting Hollow “Miss Louise Volecker entertained a party of friends at the home of her sister, Mrs. John J. Wicks, on Wednesday evening, of last week. Music, dancing and games were enjoyed until 11:30, when dainty refreshments were served. Among those present were the Misses Sadie Wells, Ada Wells, Gertrude Squires, Amy Prince, Clara Culver, Emma Munro and Josephine Howland. Messrs. Claude Hulse, Charles Kuff, August Lewin, Austin Luce, Gerald Warner, Daniel Warner and Kenneth Terry.” How interesting to see that Gerald was out at social events (until 11:30 at night, oh my goodness) and to see who was also at these parties.
• When Gerald was 18 years old according to The County Review 30 August 1912 under Baiting Hollow, “Stanley Munn and Gerald Warner left this morning for Mt. Hermon, Mass., where they will attend school the coming year.” When I searched Mt. Hermon, Mass. I found a school entitled The Northfield Schools. At the time there was a school for boys and one for girls. Founded by the Protestant evangelist Dwight Lyman Moody. Moody viewed Christian religious education as an essential objective of his schools. I wonder if this is where Gerald went and for how long? What did he study? This may have just been a prep school for boys.  Hmm, further investigation is needed.
• In The County Review dated 1 August 1913 under Baiting Hollow, “The Christian Endeavor society will enjoy a basket picnic at Roanoke beach, Thursday afternoon, August 7,…Christian Endeavor meeting at 7.30 p.m. Topic, The Ideal Christian-His Perseverance. Assigned leader, Gerald Warner.” The Christian Endeavor Society was the first national church youth organization.
• The 1915 South Dakota, State Census lists Gerald as 21 years old, Single, Race- White, Nationality-American, Arrival year in State-1912, Religion-Congregational. I find it interesting that it states he arrived in SD in 1912 when above it states he was going to school in Massachusetts, hmm?
• 5 June 1917 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Card Gerald Gilbert Warner, Marital Status-Single, Birth Date-15 August 1887, Age-29, Farmer, Self-Employed, Birth Place-New York, Residence Place-Kimball, Brule SD, Do You Claim exemption from draft (specify grounds)-Bad eyes, near sighted, Tall, Slender build, Eyes-Brown, Hair-Brown, Bald-no. Interesting that the year of birth is written as 87 when it should have been 84.
• The US Federal Census 17 March 1920 for Plummer Township, Brule County, South Dakota lists Gerald as Single, 30 years old, able to speak English, Farmer, General Farm Industry, worked for himself, Rented his home and had a 62 year old boarder named Henry Bickner.

Gerald’s father, John B. Warner died on 20 June 1920 in Aquebogue, New York. John was reported ill for about six months before he died.

• In The County Review newspaper on 2 July 1920 under Aquebogue, “Gerald Warner, of South Dakota, is spending a few days with his brothers in this place, having come east to attend the funeral of his father, John B. Warner. Although unable to reach Aquebogue in time for the funeral, he was present at the burial, which was postponed until his arrival on Thursday.”

I have had and known about a picture of all six brothers for as long as I can remember. I never really thought about when the photo was taken until I started working on writing about the life of Gerald.

back left to right : Olin, Hollis Gerald

front left to right: J. Wesley, Milton, Terry

One of my cousins has a copy of the photo with 1920 written on the back. I was able to find no record in the local newspaper of Gilbert visiting the family in 1920 before he came for his father’s funeral in June 1920. Was the picture taken then, after the burial, when all the brothers were together or some years earlier? I cannot find any mention of Gerald visiting his family after he left for South Dakota until he came for the burial. Brother Terry would die tragically in October 1921. It is possible Gerald came and it was not recorded in the newspaper. Are all the issues available online? My grandfather (Olin-back left) was 15 years old when his father died. I think he looks younger than that in the photo? Milton (front middle) would have been not quite 13 years old in 1920.  Or I wonder if it was taken perhaps years earlier when Gilbert left for South Dakota?  I wonder what the lapel pins are that Milton and Olin are wearing?

• 17 December 1920 in The County Review newspaper under Aquebogue states “Gerald Warner, of South Dakota is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Hollis Warner.”
• The 1925 South Dakota, State Census lists Gerald as 34 years old, Single, Race-White, Ethnicity-German, Years in the State 13, Arrival Year 1912, Religion-Congregational, parents’ birthplace-New York. Well, the Ethnicity is definitely not correct.
• The US Federal Census 18 April 1930 for Plainfield Township, Brule County, South Dakota lists Gerald as Single, 43 years old, can read and write, a Farmer, in the General Farm Industry, works for himself, is not a Veteran, number of Farm Schedule 17.
• The 1935 South Dakota, State Census lists Gerald as 47 years old, Single, Event Place Plainfield, Brule County, South Dakota, Post Office-Kimball, South Dakota.

                          

• The US Federal Census 16 April 1940 for Plainfield, Brule County, South Dakota has Gerald as 51 years old, Single, Highest grade completed College-2^nd year, Farmer, property is a Farm, Hours worked the previous week-38, Weeks worked in 1939-52, yes-Income from other sources, Rented his home and is living with a 58 year old laborer named Fred French. Number on Farm Schedule 7. I wonder what the other income was? Investments, perhaps?
• 27 April 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Card lists Gerald with a birth date of 15 August 1890, and 52 years old, Residence-Plainfield, South Dakota, Mailing Address R. F. D. 3 Kimball, SD, Self Employed, Height-5’10”, Eye Color-Blue, Hair Color-Brown, Weight 196, Complexion-Ruddy, Name of Person Wo;; Will Always Know Your Address-Olin Warner, Calverton, NY. Again the birth year is wrong?
• The 1945 South Dakota, State Census lists Gerald as 54 years old, Single, Parents both born in New York, Event Place-Plainfield, Brule County, South Dakota, Post Office-Kimball, South Dakota.
• The Country Review reports on 8 April 1948 under Calverton “Gerald Warner of Kimball, SD, spent a few days last week with his brother, Olin Warner and family.” This was also at the time of the wedding of Gerald’s niece Betty Warner who married Robert McMurtrie.
• 16 November 1949 the Argus-Leader newspaper in Sioux Falls, South Dakota reports in an article entitled Shrine Class Here Biggest Since 1920 and that there were 186 men initiated by El Riad Temple at their Fall ceremony held the night before and that this was the largest according to Masonic officials. Among the candidates listed was Gerald Warner, Kimball. This would explain the picture I found among my grandparents’ things:

I wonder if El Riad has any information on Gerald?

• 30 March 1950 in The County Review newspaper under Aquebogue states “Gerald Warner of Kimball, S. D. who has been spending the Winter in Florida, has been visiting his brothers in this vicinity before returning to his home. He spent Wednesday night with his brother Wesley and since has been with his other brothers. Mr. Warner who has been living in South Dakota for some time, operates a large ranch there.” and “Gerald Warner of Kimble, S.D., visited his aunt, Mrs. George Billard [Ella Terry Billard] part of last week, after spending the winter months in Florida.”

Gerald died in 1951 in ?. The Florida Death Index has a Gerald G Warner Death date 1951 with Death Place as Palm Beach, Florida. I also find a South Dakota Death Index with a Death Date as 24 March 1951 and a Death Place as Brule, South Dakota.

• Which one is right? Definitely more research needed on this mystery.
• I did a little ‘quick’ digging and I did find a Gerald G Warner listed in the City Directory for 1944 living in St. Petersburg, FL with an occupation of US Army. That is definitely not my ancestor and may answer the confusion about the 2 death listings.
• I was told a family story that Gilbert left SD for FL and became ill. Did he go back to SD or did he make it to FL and die there? If he died in FL would both states issue death certificates? I think I need to get a copy of the SD death certificate.

2 stories I was told Uncle Gerald shared were:

• The snow in South Dakota got so high one winter about 10-15 feet that Gerald had to go out the second story window in the house and across the snow and go in the upper door of the barn to get to the animals so he could feed them.
• Gerald took his horse and wagon in to town to do things.  When he was headed home he would wrap up in a blanket and lay on the floor of the wagon out of the wind and elements and even sleep.  He would tell his horse to go home and let the horse go on his own to take them home.

These stories give me a little more of about his daily life in South Dakota.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Tombstone Tuesday–Merritt Howell Jr.

My 4th great-grandfather Merritt Howell, Jr. died in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York on 4 December 1857 at the age of 74.  (See previous post The Life of Merritt Howell, Jr. and The Will of Merritt Howell, Jr.)  He had outlived his wife and several of his children.

Merritt Howell

Died

Dec. 1, 1857

AE. 74 years 4 days 

(there is an inscription at the bottom that is, unfortunately, very difficult to now read)

Riverhead Cemetery, Riverhead, New York

The photo for FindAGrave, added by Joy Ann Strasser in 2013, shows the writing as much clearer.     It is astonishing to note the deterioration that has occurred in 6 years.

• I noticed the death date on the stone as 1 December and I have found it listed elsewhere as 4 December.  Hmm...I need Church records and perhaps a Family Bible?
• After I read Codicil One where Merritt directed “As for the tombstones for myself and my said wife it is my will that my Executor shall pay forty dollars for each and that he shall enclose our graves and that of my deceased child Elenor Ann with a substantial iron fence” I looked again at the photo and realized there was no iron fence.  On the ground I can see what might have been part of a stone base and stone posts and wonder if perhaps an iron fence one day had been connected to that?
• I hadn’t realized until I was recently researching Merritt that he was buried in the Riverhead Cemetery.  While visiting New York during the Holidays I decided I ‘needed’ to go to the Cemetery and find his grave, as any good Genealogist would need to do, in order to get my own photo and pay my respects.  (Yes, there was already a photo on FindAGrave but I needed my own photo.)
• My father, step-mother and I set out on a quest to find the grave.  How difficult could that be?  His grave was listed as Grave #1 for the cemetery and my father knew where the original entrance had been.  I drove in to the cemetery and parked.  We fanned out in different directions looking for a stone that said Howell.  We walked and walked only to realize, eventually, that Merritt's grave was right next to the right bumper of the car.  Without realizing it I had parked right next to the Howell plot.
• I found it very interesting that as I stood there behind his grave and looked up, this is what I saw 

there in the background stood the school (Pulaski Street School) I had worked at for 11 years, right there adjacent to the cemetery!  For most of those years I even had classrooms on the side overlooking the end of the cemetery where my ancestors lay.  You just never know the connections you may have to a specific area.


If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby