Wordless Wednesday: The Frisco Club, Buffalo

The Frisco Club, Buffalo, NY.  Marked are Elizabeth (Fink) Gress with her children Chester and May.  In the background are the words “Blackrock Market.”

“Lois – Grandma at the Frisco club, she help the boys – Chester, Walter + Howard.  they belonged to it + the mother’s always helped.  I was about 14 years old, thought you might like it.”  Assuming this was written by May, the photo is from  approximately 1904.

Photo scanned from original owned by my great Aunt Lois 25 May 2009.

Research Plan: Where is Sophia's town of origin?

 

Sophia Possehl/Passel Gress is my 3rd great grandmother.  Here is my problem analysis and work plan, Elizabeth Shown Mills style, to find her town of origin in Germany.

Written by: Amanda E. Perrine (amandaeperrine@gmail.com)

Report to: Own Files

Date: 17 May 2012

Subject: Sophia Possehl/Passel's German town of origin

Question: What town in Germany was Sophia Possehl/Passel born in?

Known Facts

Information	Source
She immigrated from Germany, arriving in NYC 16 Nov 1859. 1. Joh. Passel, farmer, 56, male. 2. Dorothea Passel, wife, 46, female. 3. Friedricke Passel, daughter, 19, female. 4. Joh. Passel, son, 16, male. 5. Sophie Passel, daughter, 14, female. 6. Carl Passel, son, 7, male. 7. Line Passel, daughter, 3, female.	database, CastleGarden.org (http://www.castlegarden.org : accessed 16 Jun 2009), Sophie Passel; citing Port of New York records.
Birth: 29 Jan 1849 in Germany. Death: 27 May 1928 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. In US 72 years [1856]. Father: John Possehl, born Germany. Mother: unknown, born Germany. Informant: Louisa Schultz, daughter.	New York Department of Health, death certificate 3417 (1928), Sophia Gresz; New York State Department of Health, Albany.
Age: 23. Born: Prussia	1870 U.S. census, Erie County, New York, population schedule, Buffalo, p. 154, dwelling 1119, family 1088, Joe Grass household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Aug 2008); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 935.
Age: 33. Born Mecklenburg. Parents born Mecklenburg.	1880 U.S. census, Erie County, New York, population schedule, Buffalo, enumeration district (ED) 168, p. 215, dwelling 225, family 236, Joseph Gress household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 26 May 2004); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 831.
Birth: Jan 1849 in Germany. Immigrated: 1865	1900 U.S. census, Erie, New York, population schedule, Buffalo, enumeration district (ED) 212, sheet 2A, p. 195 (stamped), dwelling 26, family 26, Sophia Gresz; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Aug 2008); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1032; listed as Jan 1846.
Age: 63. Born: Germany. Immigrated: 1870.	1910 U.S. census, Erie County, New York, population schedule, Buffalo, enumeration district (ED) 179, sheet 13B, dwelling 219, family 263, Sophia Gresz household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Aug 2008); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 946.
Age: 73. Immigrated: 1858. Naturalized: 1881	1920 U.S. census, Erie County, New York, population schedule, Buffalo, enumeration district (ED) 201, sheet 15B, dwelling 254, family 346, George Eddy household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed Aug 2008); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 1107.

Kin and Associates to be included in search:

Father: Joh. (b. ~1803)

Mother: Dorothea (b. ~1813)
Siblings: Friedricke (b. ~1840) Joh. (b. ~1843), Carl (b. ~1852), Line (female) (b. ~1856)

Spelling Variants:

• Possehl
• Passel
• Persales
• Pobehl
• Pabel
• Passehl
• Pabehl

Research strategy

1. Search for Sophia and her family in the 1860 census. Hopefully this will tell where they settled in the US. Note: Sophia's husband's family had settled in Eden, Erie Co., NY.
2. Search for Sophia and family in the 1865 NY census
3. Check the Mecklenburg census records on Ancestry.com for possible matches of Sophia's parents.
4. Trace parents and each sibling as much as possible. Include vital records, census records and obituaries for each.
5. Search for church records in Buffalo and Eden, NY, as well as any other towns found to be associated with the Possehl's.
6. Do basic internet search for the family, including
1. Google
2. FamilySearch
3. Ancestry
4. RootsWeb
7. Ask Forest Lawn cemetery, Buffalo for their records for Sophia.
8. Search for naturalization record of Joh. Possehl/Passel

1940 Census: Maternal Grandmother

My main goal for the 1940 census was to find all of my grandparents, as this is the first time any of them were listed on a census record.

Last, but not least, is Grandparent number 4 (according to my pedigree chart), Marlyn Whitehead.  She was also the last one I found, which is pretty ironic considering she was the one I most wanted to find.  My Gramma Casell has been with me every step of the way on my genealogy journey and I was very excited to find her on a census and show it to her. 

She took a while to find as the address I had for her parents in 1943 from a SS-5 form was not where they were living in 1940.  After asking her for other recommendations (after all, she should totally know where she lived at age 4), I learned that Ancestry.com’s personal subscriptions have city directories that library subscriptions do not.  One 2 week trial later, I had an address: 87 Ullman, Buffalo, Erie Co., NY.  She is listed with her parents, William and Vera (Gress), her five sisters and her grandmother, Elizabeth (Fink) Gress.

Source:

1940 U.S. census, Erie County, New York, population schedule, Buffalo, enumeration district (ED) 64-472, sheet 12B, dwelling 87, family 257, Wm. H. Whitehead household; digital images, National Archives and Records Administration, 1940 Census (http://1940census.archives.gov : accessed 3 Apr 2012); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T627, roll 02837.

Legacy Genealogy Cruise: Days 1 & 2 (Morning)

Day 1 of our cruise was spent driving to New Jersey, checking in and having a quick safety drill.  We followed this by dinner and an early bed time after a long day.

Day 2 was a full day at sea.  For me, this meant a full day of genealogy classes.  The first class, given by Geoff Rasmussen of Legacy,  was on timelines.  A key item in any genealogists toolbox, timelines give hints of how to further research your ancestor in a way just looking at a family group or pedigree chart cannot.  Looking at a chronology report can show you possible problems, such as if an ancestor had a baby at 11 (unlikely) or which piece of conflicting information looks to fit in better than another.

Looking at this piece of the chronology report for my great-great grandfather, I can see that I am missing the birth place for two of his daughters and one son.  I can assume that they were born in Buffalo looking at when the other events in his life occurred.  This gives me a starting place for research into their birth records.

 

 Timelines can also be interesting when you insert historical data around your ancestors life.  What happened when great-great grandpa was 7?  Using Our Timelines, a site Geoff recommended, I found out that the telephone was invented, the Battle of Little Big Horn was fought and Colorado entered as the 31st state in the Union all during the American Centenial year of 1876, which also happened to be when my great-great grandfather Jacob Gress was 7.

The timelines lecture was followed by one titled "Sources Made Simple, Standard & Powerful", also by Geoff.  He discussed why sourcing is important and how to write a good citation.  The easiest way to create proper citations in Legacy is by using the SourceWriter.  SourceWriter offers templates using Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained.

What most excited me about this class was learning about the source clipboard.  In the past, I have gotten extremely frustrated entering the same detail information for a family of 12 in a census record.  Using the source clipboard, I can enter the information once and then easily apply it to every person in the record.  I am glad I learned about this prior to entering in all of the census records of my father's family, as they all had a lot of children, and this would have been very time consuming!

In the afternoon, we learned about "managing your genealogy data" and "building a research toolbox" with Thomas MacEntee, then had our first formal night.  I will post on these tomorrow!

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: May Gress McMahon

May Gress McMahon. May 30, 1911

 

Gress Civil War Draft Registrations

[caption id="attachment_955" align="aligncenter" width="625" caption="Joseph & Michael Gress"][/caption]

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, I have the newly-found Civil War Draft Registration of my great-great-great grandfather, Joseph Gress:

• Residence:  Eden [Erie County, NY]


• Name: Joseph Gress


• Age 1st, July 1863:  22


• White or colored: White


• Profession, occupation or trade: Farmer


• Married or unmarried: Unknown


• Place of Birth: New York [sic: Germany]


• Former Military Service: [Blank]


• Remarks:  [Blank]

and Joseph's brother Michael:

• Residence:  Eden [Erie County, NY]


• Name: Michael Gress


• Age 1st, July 1863:  25


• White or colored: White


• Profession, occupation or trade: Farmer


• Married or unmarried: Married


• Place of Birth: New York [sic: Germany]


• Former Military Service: [Blank]


• Remarks:  [Blank]

Source (Same for Michael, who is 1 line lower): "U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865," database and images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Apr 2011), Joseph Gress, Class I, Congressional District 30, Erie County, New York; citing Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865. NM-65, entry 172, 620 volumes. Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110. National Archives, Washington D.C.

 

Fearless Females: Vera Gress

In honor of National Women’s History Month Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

March 19 — Have you discovered a surprising fact about one of your female ancestors? What was it and how did you learn it? How did you feel when you found out?

When I was beginning my genealogy search, I order birth and death certificates for all of my know ancestors.  There were no surprises until I saw the birth certificate of my great-grandmother, Vera Gress[ref]City of Buffalo, New York, birth certificate no. 148 (1900), Vera Louise Gress; New York State Department of Health, City of Buffalo, Buffalo.[/ref]

I had long know that her full name at birth was Vera Julia Gress.  My mom, Julie, was named for her.  Or so we thought.  It turns out that at birth, Vera's middle name was Louise, after her Aunt Louisa (I am guessing).  When did she change it?  Prior to her marriage when she was 20[ref]Tom Tryniski, "New York State Historical Photos & Newspapers 1817 Thru 2007," database, Old Fulton Post Cards (http://www.fultonhistory.com : accessed 23 Jun 2009), Whitehead-Gress; citing The Illustrated Buffalo Express, 30 January 1931, p. 4, col. 2. [/ref]

My grandmother and her sisters were all surprised and my grandmother says Vera never said anything when my mom was born and named for her.  My mother wasn't quite sure what to think, as she apparently was named incorrectly, which was quite a shock.  We will probably never know when and why Vera changed her name, but it is definitely an interesting story.

Fearless Females: Marriage Records

In honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogistblog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

March 4 — 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.

As both of my grandmothers are still living and probably wouldn't want this information on my blog, I will focus on my great grandparents for this post.

Alfred Marco Casell and Lillian L. Eichhorn married 11 July 1928 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.  Al was 22, Lillian, 19.  Witnesses were Al's father Marco and Frank J. Condon.

William Herbert Whitehead married Vera Julia Gress 28 March 1921, also in Buffalo.  He was 24, she was 21.  Witnesses were Bill's brother Hobson and Alberta Suess.  Their wedding announcement was:

Whitehead-Gress.  The marriage of Miss Vera [piece ripped off] daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. [also ripped; Gress] of Forest avenue, to Mr. William H. Whitehead , took place Easter Monday night at 8:30 o'clock at the home of the bride's parents, the Rev. J. Ward officiating.  The attendents were Miss Alberta Suess and Mr. Hobson Whitehead.  Mr. and Mrs. W. Whitehead will be home at 173 Forest avenue after a trip to New York, Washington and Baltimore.

Florian Dana Acquard and Stanislawa Frances Karpinski married 28 December 1932 in Bennington Center, Wyoming County, NY.  Florian was 33, Stella was 16.

Albert Emil Nuwer married Edna Agnes Roll 22 June 1932 in Alden, Erie County, NY at St. John's Roman Catholic Church.  He was 26, she was 21.

[caption id="attachment_814" align="aligncenter" width="235" caption="Al and Edna's Wedding"][/caption]

This is the only wedding picture I have for my great grandparents.  I love the "Just Married" sign on the car.  I had calla lilies as my wedding flowers,just  like they did.

Sources

Erie County marriage certificate (short form), 4024 (1921), Whitehead-Gress; Erie County Clerk's Office, Buffalo.

New York State Department of Health, marriage certificate 2251 (1928), Casell-Eichhorn; WNYGS Erie Co. Clerk's Office Marruage Licenses microfilm 132.

"Whitehead-Gress," (Buffalo) Unknown Newspaper; Article owned by Barbara Mueller.  Copied from her home by Amanda E. Perrine 23 May 2009.

 

 

Fearless Females: Photograph Edition

In honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

[caption id="attachment_809" align="aligncenter" width="254" caption="Sophia Passel Gress"][/caption]

This is a tintype of my great-great-great grandmother Sophia Passel Gress.  Born in 1846 in Germany, this picture was probably taken around the turn of the century in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.  This is one of my favorite photographs of my ancestors for a variety of reasons.  I love how regal she looks; that it is a tintype that has been handed down in the family through the generations; that if you didn't know better you could think it was my great grandmother or my grandmother or one of my great aunts, due to the stong facial resemblance.

Wordless Wednesday: Gress Siblings

Here are the oldest 5 of 7 children of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fink) Gress: Chester, May, Walter, Elsie, Howard.  It was taken approximately in 18671868, prior to the birth of Beulah in 1898 and Vera (my great-grandmother) in 1900.  I darked the photo as the original is quite faded.

Surname Saturday: Gress

Each Saturday this year I am posting one of my surnames, going in alphabetical order.  This weeks surname is Gress.  The names in red are my direct line ancestors.

<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Joseph (b. 1806) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->1-Joseph GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->b: about 1806, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Eden " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->d: 1860, Eden, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe ":Caroline (b. 1810) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->+Caroline
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany:Baden " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->b: about 1810, , , Baden, Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Eden " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->d: 1870, Eden, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Margaretha (b. 1834) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Margaretha GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about 1834, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Georg (b. 1837) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Georg GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about 1837, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Michael (b. 1841) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Michael GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about 1841, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Joseph (b. 1841) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Joseph GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: calculated 9 August 1841, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        d: 18 February 1899, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "PASSEL:Sophia (b. 1846) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . +Sophia PASSEL
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany:Mecklenburg " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: January 1846, , , Mecklenburg, Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        d: 27 May 1928, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Louisa (b. 1867) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . 3-Louisa GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                b: February 1867, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "SCHOULTZ:Theodore (b. 1863) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . +Theodore SCHOULTZ
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                b: December 1863, , , New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Jacob J. (b. 1869) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . 3-Jacob J. GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                b: 26 January 1869, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                d: 11 August 1932, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "FINK:Elizabeth L. (b. 1867) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . +Elizabeth L. FINK
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                b: 6 July 1867, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                m: Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                d: 24 April 1957, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Chester E. (b. 1888) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Chester E. GRESS
                        b: June 1888
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:May (b. 1890) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-May GRESS
                        b: 19 September 1890
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                        d: 11 June 1970, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Walter L. (b. 1891) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Walter L. GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                        b: 6 December 1891, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Elsie (b. 1894) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Elsie GRESS
                        b: 13 May 1894
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Howard J. (b. 1896) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Howard J. GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                        b: 18 March 1896, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Beulah (b. 1898) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Beulah GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                        b: 27 January 1898, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                        d: 7 May 1968, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Vera Julia (b. 1900) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Vera Julia GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->  &nbs
p;                     b: 11 January 1900, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Cheektowaga " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->                        d: 2 February 1976, Cheektowaga, Erie, New York, USA
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Carolyn M. (b. 1871) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . 3-Carolyn M. GRESS
                b: about 1871
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "WILLIAMS:Ralph " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . +Ralph WILLIAMS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "WILLIAMS:Ethelyn " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ethelyn WILLIAMS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:John (b. 1873) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . 3-John GRESS
                b: about 1873
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Eli (b. 1875) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . . . . . 3-Eli GRESS
                b: about 1875
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Jacob (b. 1845) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Jacob GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about 1845, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Barbara (b. 1848) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Barbara GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about 1848, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:Johann (b. 1850) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-Johann GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about 1850, , , , Germany
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "GRESS:George (b. 1852) " \f A<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->. . . . 2-George GRESS
<!--[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]-->        b: about February 1852, , , , Germany

Smile for the Camera - Give Their Face a Place

For the women's history month Smile for the Camera, "Give Their Face a Place," I wanted to show the family resemblance of the Passel line.  I would love to know how far this goes back, as it is amazing to see yourself in photos of your ancestors.  Beginning at the top is my great-great-great grandmother Sophia Passel Gress, her daughter Carolyn Gress Williams (my gg aunt), her niece Vera Gress Whitehead (my g grandmother), her daughter Marlyn (my grandmother), her daughter Holly (my aunt) and me.  Can you see it?

SNGF - The Best 2009 Genealogy Moment

For this weeks SNGF (which I'm actually going on Saturday this week!) Randy asks:
1) "What was your best Genealogy Moment during 2009?" This could be a research find, a fabulous trip, a found family treasure, etc. Your choice!



My best genealogy moment was, beyond a doubt, going to Florida with my grandmother to visit two of my great aunts and their families.  I had an amazing time hearing stories, viewing and scanning photos and documents and getting to know my extended family (whose blogs I now follow!).  My favorite find, while there, was a tin-type of my ggg-grandmother Sophia and seeing the strong genes she had, which we passed to her granddaughter and all of her daughters, my Aunt Holly and myself.  It is amazing to see a photo of an ancestor, born almost a hundred and forty years before you, who you can see yourself in.

Wordless Wednesday - Jacob Gress

Photograph in possession of my great aunt Lois (It would be her grandfather, my great-great grandfather).  I scanned during my trip to Florida last spring.

Goals for the New Year

In 2010, I hope to accomplish the following:

• Interview my grandmothers, parents and great aunts, uncles and cousins on video ASAP!
• Goal is to do this by the end of February for my grandmothers
• Update each of my lines sideways and forward.
• I usually do well with my information about my ancestors siblings, but I have not done so well finding cousins in more recent generations.
• Focus my search for my German lines so that I can visit their hometowns while I am in Germany for 4 1/2 months
• I will therefore focus on the Eichhorn, Gresz, Fink, Weiss and Tross lines for the next two months
• Stay in touch with my relatives searching my fathers side of the family.
• I research my mothers side as I have great aunts and uncles who research my fathers.  I will be helping my Aunt Dottie with her search in Poland for the Karpinski's (my great-grandmother's line)
• Complete Dear Myrtle's finally get organization checklist from 2009
• Start researching my fiancé's line (at the very least, get the information he knows into my file)
• Blog: Participate in Surname Saturday each week in order to get my surnames out there and find new cousins!  I plan on going alphabetically though all my surnames.

SNGF - My 16 great-great-grandparents

From Randy over at Genea-Musings: Here is your SNGF assignment for the evening (if you choose to accept it - this is not stump the genealogist or even Mission Impossible):

1) List your 16 great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

2) Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

3) Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

4) If you don't know all 16 of your great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

5) Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

1. Joseph Francis Eugene Acquard, Jr.: born 17 Jan 1855 in Cheektowaga, Erie, NY; married 15 Oct 1878 in Bennington Ctr., Wyoming, NY; died 10 Sept 1943 in Bennington Ctr., Wyoming, NY. FRENCH
2. Mary Ann Kollin: born 15 Oct 1878 in Bennington Ctr., Wyoming, NY; died 5 Feb 1938 in Bennington Ctr., Wyoming, NY. 1/2 GERMAN and 1/2 BELGIAN
3. Franciszek Karpinski: born 16 Sep 1880 in Poland; died 22 May 1943 in Erie or Wyoming, NY. POLISH
4. Jozefa Szydlik: born 26 Sep 1886 in Poland; died 4 Apr 1973 in Warsaw, Wyoming, NY. POLISH
5. John George Nuwer: born 21 Mar 1869 in Lancaster, Erie, NY; married 19 Apr 1893 in Lancaster, Erie, NY; died 1 Feb 1948 in Alden, Erie, NY. FRENCH
6. Anna M. Zaepfel: born 28 Sep 1874 in Elma, Erie, NY; died 7 Aug 1943 in Alden, Erie, NY. 1/2 GERMAN & 1/2 FRENCH
7. Edward Roll: born about 1888 in Alden, Erie, NY; married 22 Jun 1910 in Alden, Erie, NY; died 12 May 1941 in Alden, Erie, NY. FRENCH
8. Lidwina Agnes Pautler: born 16 Jan 1888 in Alden, Erie, NY; died 11 Oct 1975 in Batavia, Genesee, NY. FRENCH
9. Marcantonio Casillo: born 11 Jan 1868 in Italy; married 5 Sept 1901 in Buffalo, Erie, NY; died 26 Nov 1937 in Colden, Erie, NY. ITALIAN
10. Carolina Izzo: born 3 May 1876 in Italy; died 2 Oct 1934 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. ITALIAN
11. William Fred Eichhorn: born 22 Jun 1874 in Chippewa, Ontario, Canada; married 14 Jun 1899 in Buffalo, Erie, NY; died 9 Mar 1931 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. GERMAN
12. Augusta M. Tross: born 6 Sept 1877 in Germany; died 1 Jan 1939 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. GERMAN
13. Charles William Whitehead: born 12 Jun 1872 in Burlington, Ontario, Canada; married prior to 1896; died 27 Dec 1927 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. ENGLISH
14. Anna May Sanderson: born 17 Jun 1871 in Burlington, Ontario, Canada; died 29 Apr 1928 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. ENGLISH
15. Jacob J. Gress: born 26 Jan 1869 in Buffalo, Erie, NY; married prior to 1888; died 11 Aug 1932 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. GERMAN
16. Elizabeth Fink: born 6 Jul 1867 in Buffalo, Erie, NY; died 24 Apr 1957 in Buffalo, Erie, NY. GERMAN

That gives me 31.25% German; 28.125% French; 12.5% Polish; 12.5% Italian; 12.5% English ; and 3.125% Belgian. The French and German parts are hard to tell as most of my fathers family came from the Alsace-Lorraine region which kept changing hands. The fact that my 3rd great-grandmother was born in Belgium (like the waffle) has always been cool to me. Oddly, I most identify with the Italian part of my heritage, even though it is way down on the list.

Tombstone Tuesday - Joseph and Sophia Gresz

Joseph J. and Sophia Gresz buried at Forest Lawn cemetery in Buffalo, Erie Co., New York. They are my great-great-great-grandparents. This is the nicest stone I've found so far for my family. I am amazed it is in such great shape considering its age. If only Sophia had made sure her maiden name was on it...

Amanda's Excellent (Genealogical) Adventure (Day 2)

Last Thursday began in Buffalo, this time I was spending the day with my Grandmother. We headed out to Forest Lawn in between rain storms and hoped for the best. The man at the desk was tremendously helpful and found the location of Gottlieb Finck and Joseph and Sophia Gresz. We walked over to the Gresz stone first, as it was located right behind the office. It is a large, very nice stone. We then drove to the end of the cemetery and found Gottlieb's, which matches his wife Barbara's. We were trying to find Barbara's (we had found it on our last trip, it's in the same area). After a couple minutes of searching I returned to Gottlieb's, as in front of it I had seen a granite Mason symbol. Hoping it belonged to him (maybe there was an arrow...) I started pulling the grass and weeds away... and found another tombstone for him! This one was older and had the same dates, but had his last name as "Fink." Why does he have two stones? This is a mystery for another day...

After our adventure it was time for me to head back to Syracuse, as 3 of my FamilyHistory Center films had come in. I arrived before the volunteers and anxiously waited in my car. Upon the center opening I put in film one of Halstead, Kent, England parish records and hoped to find the baptismal record of Thomas Hayman. Much to my amazement, it was the first one! With that good omen, I kept reading the records, which are filled of my Hayman and Whitehead relatives! The man next to me was impressed by all the writing I was doing and I just said "He was the first one!!!" Small English CoE parish records are my new favorite genealogy records, as I have about 30 pages of written notes from the parish records and two bishop's transcripts for the area. I just finished the second microfilm as they closed. I can't wait to go back Wednesday to check out my Ontario land records and go over the parish films again.

Currently, I am trying to figure out how/if all of these people are related. The earlier records (early and mid 1700's) were really difficult to read, so I skipped over them to the early 1800's, and I have to feeling a lot of the answers I need lie in them. Following the lead of the man next to me on the microfilm reader I will be bringing a magnifying glass... I also have 2 more films that should be arriving soon, another of Halstead records and my Italy records, which will really be testing my skills.

Wordless Wednesday - Ralph, Carrie (Gress) and Ethelyn Williams

Ralph, Carolyn M. (Gress) Williams and their daughter Ethelyn. Carrie was born approximately 1871, so I would guess this picture was taken around 1900. I like the glasses on Carrie (hopefully footnoteMaven will, too:-)) and her dress.

Carrie is my great-great grandfather's younger sister. This photograph is in possession of my Aunt Lois and was scanned during my recent trip to Florida.

Family Lines: Maternal Branches

Thank you to Becky for this wonderful idea!

I mostly research my mother's family, as my father has an aunt and uncle who have traced a lot of his line. Here is where I am at currently. As you can see, I am currently trying to find many of my immigrant ancestors' parents. I am hopeful that next week when I go to Buffalo, I will find obituaries that assist in this. Please leave a message if you would like further information:-)

THE LINEAGE OF MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER (Mom's Father)

Casillo/Casell

Alfredo Marco Casillo (Alfred Marco Casell) [1906-1981] and Lillian L. Eichhorn [1908-1938] ~ Buffalo, Erie, New York

Marcantonio Casillo (Marco Antonio Casell) [1868-1937] and Carolina Izzo [1876-1934] ~ Italy > Buffalo, Erie, New York

John or Peter Casillo [Unknown] and Angelina Unknown [Unknown] ~ Italy

Both Alfred and Marco legally changed their name to Casell. I am not entirely sure who Marco's parents are, these are the names I have found so far. According to my grandfather's family tree, Marco was from RocRoma, Caserta, Italy. No one in my family has been able to find this place, however, familysearch.org has many Casillo's listed under Roccaromana, Caserta, Italy, so this is a possible search option.

Eichhorn/Eichorn

Lillian L. Eichhorn [1908-1938] and Alfred Marco Casell [1906-1981] ~ Buffalo, Erie, NY

William Fred Eichhorn [1874-1931] and Augusta M. Tross [1877-1939] ~ Ontario > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Charles Herman Eichhorn [1848 - ~1905] and Katharine Weiss/Wise [1869 - ~1905] ~ Germany > Chippewa, Welland, Ontario > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Nicholas Eckorn/Eickhan/Thorn [~1799-1878] and Dorothea Unknown [Unknown] ~ Germany > Ontario

Nicholas and Dorothea are still under investigation, but evidence keeps accumulating.

Izzo

Carolina Izzo [1876-1934] and Marco Antonio Casell [1868-1937] ~ Italy > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Peter Izzo [Unknown] and Catherine Donufrio(sp?) [Unknown] ~ Italy > NY

Tross

Augusta Tross [1877-1939] and William Fred Eichhorn [1874-1931] ~ Germany > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Wenzel/Wesley Tross [Unknown] and Marie/Mary Crosshein(sp?) [~1843-~1913]~ Germany > Buffalo, Erie, NY

THE LINEAGE OF MY MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER (Mom's Mother)

Bond

Emma Bond [~1812-1877] and Charles Whitehead [~1811-1887] ~ Knockholdt, Kent, England > Halstead, Kent, England

Richard Bond [Unknown - Bef. 1841] and Mary Unknown [~1798-1862]

Fink/Finck

Elizabeth L. Fink [1867-1957] and Jacob J. Gress [1869-1932] ~ Buffalo, Erie, NY

Gottlieb Fink [1838-1910] and Barbara Fleeman [1846-1929] ~ Württemberg, Germany > Buffalo, Erie, NY

John Finck [Unknown] and Barbara Killster [Unknown] ~ Württemberg, Germany

Fleeman

Barbara Fleeman [1846-1929] and Gottlieb Fink [1838-1910] ~ Buffalo, Erie, NY

Adam Fleeman [~1820-1889] and Barbara Gris [~1824-1870] ~ Hesse, Germany > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Gress/Gresz

Vera Louise Julie Gress [1900-1976] and William Herbert Whitehead [1896-1965] ~ Buffalo, Erie, NY

Jacob J. Gress [1869-1932] and Elizabeth L. Fink [1867-1957] ~ Buffalo, Erie, NY

Joseph Gresz [~1841-1899] and Sophia Persales/Possehl [1846-1929] ~ Germany > Eden, Erie, NY > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Joseph Gresz [~1806-~1865] and Catherine Unknown [~1810-~1875] ~ Germany > Eden, Erie, NY

Hayman

Mary Ann Hayman [1845-1877] and Charles Whitehead [1840-1902] ~ Halstead, Kent, England > Ontario

Thomas Hayman [~1799-1867] and Susan Whitehead [~1802-1867] ~ Halstead, Kent, England

Whitehead

William Herbert Whitehead [1896-1965] and Vera Louise Julie Gress [1900-1976] ~ Buffalo, Erie, NY

Charles William Whitehead [1872-1927] and Anna May Sanderson [1871-1928] ~ Ontario > Buffalo, Erie, NY

Charles Whitehead [1840-1902] and Mary Ann Hayman [1845-1877] ~ Halstead, Kent, England > Ontario

Charles Whitehead [~1811-1887] and Emma Bond [~1812-1877] ~ Halstead, Kent, England