Tombstone Tuesday - February 21,2017- Gabriel Miller

Gabriel Miller was the son of John and Hannah (Smith) Miller. He was born on June 7, 1829 in Darke County, Ohio. John and Hannah had five children; Charles(1825), Gabriel(1829), John H(1833), Catherine V.(1835), Mary Ann(1836)

John and Hannah Miller moved to the Nine Mile area in Allen County, Indiana in about 1847 along with other family members. Gabriel met and married Ann after arriving Allen County, Indiana. They were married in 1850 or 1851. They had three daughters; Isabel (Belle)(1852), Catherine(1856), Laura Alice(1862). Belle was born in Indiana and Catherine and Laura (Alice) were born in Iowa.

In the 1860 Census, Gabriel, Ann and the first two daughters are living in Webster Township, Hamilton County, Iowa. Gabriel's occupation is listed as carpenter. By the 1870 Census, they had settled in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa and he is still doing carpentry with two of the daughters still living at home. Catherine is of age and is a seamstress. In the 1880 Federal Census, they are still living in Knoxville and the youngest daughter is still at home and a 28 year old nephew is also living with them. Gabriel and his nephew are carpenter.By the time of the 1900 Census, Gabriel is no longer working as a carpenter. He is a janitor. He and Ann have a boarder who is a minister. His name is Preston Hart. He does not seem to be related. At the age of 80, both Ann and Gabriel are still living in Knoxville during the 1910 Federal Census. They have been married for 59 years.

Gabriel died on February 21, 1918 at the age of 88 years old. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery in Marion County, Iowa next to his wife, Ann. She died 93 days later also at the age of 88.

 Rest in Peace, Gabriel and Ann,

Love, Jan

Tomvbstone Tuesday - February 14, 2017- Herbert William Anderson

Herbert William was the son of Andrew and Addie (Densmore) Anderson, born on February 6, 1930 in Marine City, Michigan.  Andrew and Addie had eight children; Olga Marie(1911), Ray Densmore(1916), Robert Wesley(1920), Andrew Fredrick(1922), Charles Henry(1925), Leah Mae(1928), Herbert William(1930), John Hayner(1932).

Andrew Anderson Family 1938

Seated in the front is Addie Densmore Anderson, John Hayner, standing next to her, Andrew Anderson, Leah Mae standing next to him, Olga Marie, with Herbert William standing next to her. Standing in the back row is Andrew Fredrick, Robert Wesley, Ray Densmore, Charles Henry (Uncle Moon).  Herbert was eight years old in this photo.  I am sad to say that I do not know very much about Uncle Brett (as they called him). I can only remember seeing him a handful of times and they were all after he had married Donna. They lived in Almont, Michigan. 

Herbert married Mildred Smith. They had a daughter named Darnese. Herbert and Mildred divorced. His brother Andrew Fredrick died in 1968. Herbert married Andrew's widow, Donna Anderson. They had a son, Kyle Anderson. Herbert and Donna would divorce also. He eventually remarried Mildred Smith Anderson.

He died on February 14, 1992 of a heart attack. I will try to find out where he is buried and get a photo of the tombstone to add at a later time. 

Rest in peace, 

Love, Jan

Tombstone Tuesday - February 7, 2017 - Perl Edward Foster

Perl Edward Foster was the son of Rolland (Rollen) and Myrtie (Wright) Foster born in Birch Run, Michigan on December 6, 1896. Rolland and Myrtie Foster had three children; Perl(1896), Ruth (1899), Ida (1900). Rolland, Perl's Father, died on October 29, 1900 leaving Myrtie a widow. She married Edwin Losee on August 11, 1909.

In the 1900 Federal Census, Perl is living with his parents in Birch Run, Michigan. Ruth, Perl's sister died of Diphtheria on March 28, 1901. In the 1910 Federal census, Perl and his sister Ida, are living with their Mother and Edwin Losee in Flint, Michigan. Myrtie contracted Typhoid Fever on February 25, 1911 and died on March 1. Perl and Ida are suddenly orphans.

I can not be certain who raised these children. It may have been Myrtie's parents George and Celia Wright or their Uncle Lester Wright, who had married in 1899.  I searched for but did not find Guardianship papers and nine years later at the time of the next census, both children are living on their own.  Ida has married Julian Levan and Perl lives in Detroit. I think it was unlikely that Edwin did because he and Myrtie had only been married a short period of time. This marriage was Edwin's first marriage. Edwin and Myrtie ran a boarding house and he worked for the Auto Industry as a sheet metal worker.

In Perl's 1918 WWI draft record, his name is spelled Pearl and he is employed in Ecorse, Michigan for the Great Lake Engineering Company. His address is 208 Bellevue, Detroit, Michigan. He lists his nearest relative as his sister, Ida Levan, she lives at 130 Brown Street in Saginaw, Michigan. Perl married Rose Finkelstien on May 15,1926 in Detroit Michigan. Rose immigrated from Russia in 1914 and became a naturalized citizen. In the 1930 Federal Census, Perl and Rose are living in Ferndale and Perl is a brick layer. According to the Michigan State marriage records, Perl and Rose, married a second time on September 19, 1936.

On his WWII draft, his name is spelled Perl Edward Foster and he is now living in Gross Point Woods, Michigan. He lists his nearest relative as Lester Wright, his Uncle who also lives in Gross Point Woods.  Seems odd that his wife is not listed as his contact. It appears that Rose and Perl divorced in Florida in March of 1974. He died on February 7, 1976 in Pompano Beach, Florida. I have not been able to find a tombstone but decided to write this blog anyway.I can always keep looking for his tombstone.

Rest in Peace, Pearl / Perl.

Jan

Note: Who names a son Pearl or Perl?