Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Baby Boy Travis

Well folks, I've had to edit my earlier post, titled "The Travis Clan", to include a child  of Hank & Nina Travis that I missed. I hope you understand. 

Little know fact: Probably the only ones who know this would be Hank & Nina's kids, but I may be wrong. On 12 April 1948 Hank & Nina had a premature son who was stillborn. I don't remember hearing Nina, or anyone, talk about this little boy. My "then husband", Joseph Travis, was the one who told me. What I remember being told was that he would have been younger than Joe, and was supposed to have been named Richard.

Now I'm not a big fan of taking what anyone has on their family history as gospel. I'm referring to the "Family Trees" you see on all sorts of genealogy sites. I learned the old fashioned way, meaning you take the clues and find the documentation to prove the fact. 

First of all, and most important, Joe and his siblings would have been there at the time this child was born and could remember this. Second, A few years ago I took Joe's clue and began to search but came up empty handed. Third, doing an online search of microfilmed records I finally found a microfilm of the "General Index And Register Of Deaths - Wetzel County, W. Va." Unfortunately this death index does not give a burial location.


[Records microfilmed by "The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints], better known as the Mormon Church.

This little boy is listed on the 3rd line from the top. [It is ironic that the death of his grandfather, Everett Luther Travis, is listed on the 1st line. The information reads:

Surname:  Travis
Given Name: - - -
Race - Sex:  W - M
Date of Death - Age: Apr 12 1948 -   ---
Place of Death - Cause of Death:  New Martinsville - Premature-Stillborn
Names of Parents: James Travis   Nina Lee Underwood
Consort of, or unmarried - Person giving information: Unmarried - Mrs James Travis

I have edited my original post to include this missed information. You can see the post by clicking on this link. The Travis Clan


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Hank & Nina

Who still remembers these two terrific people?

 

Yep... Hank and Nina Travis - Pa-paw and Ma-maw. I know at least 2 grandchildren never got to know Hank because, sadly, he died before they were born. The ones I know of are Sharon Travis, Joe's daughter, and Loretta Spears, Josephine's daughter. I know Theresa Travis, Bob's daughter,was a baby so she wouldn't have memories of her own. I'm not sure about Gary's youngest.

I have soooo many good memories of them. Hank was loads of fun and loved Roller Derby, so he watched that every Sunday. Nina was loads of fun too, and was the best cook ever. I still make a couple of her recipes.

If you are one of Hank & Nina's grandkids... make sure to pass your memories on to your kids and grandkids. You may have been too young to have your own memories, but I know you've heard the memories. If you're a little dusty in the memory department then ask your parents. Each one of their 4 kids has tons of memories to pass on... just ask!



Monday, September 28, 2015

The Travis Clan

[1st Gen] William Travis [1785-1885] married twice
                        1st  Mary Jane Pearce [17895-1885] They had 9 known children
                                      Elizabeth [1802-1850]
                                      Elsie [1804-1879]
                                      John D [1812-1895] 
                                   William [1815-1880]
                                   Thomas [1818-?]
                                    Mary Jane [1822-1899]
                                    Isaiah [1824-1895]
                                    Peter [1828-1898]
                                    R Jackson [1828-1871]
                       2nd Margaret Mason  [married William in 1847 - no other info]
 
      [2nd Gen] William Travis [1815-1880] married
                                  Hannah Buchannan [1818-1896] They had 10 known children
                                        James T [1838-1919]
                                        John W [1840-1895]
                                        William H [1842-1889]
                                        Friend Marion [1844-1926]
                                        Sanford [1847-?]
                                        Samantha J [1850?] a.k.a. Nancy J
                                        Sarah Caroline [1852-1921]
                                        Isaiah Manford [1855-?]
                                        Calvin S [1858-1919]
                                        Hannah N [1860-1862]

         [3rd Gen] Calvin S Travis [1856-1919] married
                                  Laura Jane Smith [1862-1939] They had 6 known children
                                    William C [1877-1923]
                                     Charles Wesley [1879-1942]
                                     Everett Luther [1882-1947]
                                     Friend G [1884-1898]
                                     Emma D [18887-?]
                                     Anne [1889-1889]

             [4th Gen] Everett Luther Travis [1882-1947] married
                                       Maude "Mollie" Gardner [1885-1965] They had 12 known children
                                             Evalyn Daisy [1908-?]
                                             Charles Wesley [1909-1980]
                                             Bessie Virginia [1910-1985]
                                             Otis Everett [1912-1980]
                                             Blanche Lucy [1914-1997]
                                             Rosetta Letha [1916-2002]
                                          George Ralph [1918-1995]
                                          Russell [1920-1978]
                                          James Franklin "Hank" [1922-1969]
                                          Harry L [1923-?]
                                          Betty Eileen [1927-1996]
                                          Carrie Ellen [no dates]

                  [5th Gen] James Franklin "Hank" Travis [1922-1969] married
                                            Nina Lee Underwood [1922-1995] They had 4 children
                                                  Gary
                                                  Robert
                                                  Joseph
                                                  Josephine
                                                  baby boy - premature stillborn 12 April 1948  
                                                              [edit 10-3-2015]

Update:  The names of some children may appear out of alignment, and I'm not sure why. They were aligned when I typed them, but when I posted this they were not. Ahhh... the marvels of technology!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Charles Dailey - lost photos

OMG!! I just found these 2 photos of my grandpa Charles Dailey. There are no dates on them but it would be between 1911 when they were first in the 27th St. house and 1920 when he died. That would put Charles between the ages of 45 to 54 years old.


This was taken in the Dailey house on 27th St. in Akron, Ohio. It would either be the front room or dining room.


This is a photo of a portrait taken in the side yard on 27th St. Mom had no idea what happened to the portrait as she never saw it herself. 

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Joseph Mathias or Mathis

Joseph Mathias, was my Great Great Grandfather. Joseph was born in Endigen, Freiburg, Baden, Germany February 15, 1811, and worked as an Apprentice Shoemaker. He came to America as a young man, and once in America he settled in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio and married Maria Anna Merkle on December 17, 1834.

Joseph and Maria were the parents of 9 known children. All were born in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio:

1.  Magdalena "Ellen" [1835-?] married Augustus Eisele

2. Joseph [1837-?]

3.  John [1840-1904] married Margaret Schuees

4.  Mary [1842-1842]

5.  Elizabeth [1844-1844]

6. Elizabeth [1845-?] married Lucas Keller

7.  Lucas "Luke" [1848-1914]

8.  Philomena [1850-?]

9. Joseph Aloysius [1854-1854]

Joseph also raised his granddaughter, my grandmother, Philomena Margaret Mathias Dailey.

Joseph Mathias died December 6, 1890 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio and is buried, with his wife Maria, in St. Margaret Cemetery in Chillicothe.




I'm not sure why his gravestone carries the surname Mathis. I'm not sure who his parents were but I have indications they were Bernard Mathis and Magdalena Fleiz or Gleiz. I'm trying to confirm or deny this supposition. This would explain the surname Mathis on Joseph's grave stone.

I had collaborated with two Mathias cousins I found through my research in Chillicothe. The one cousin had in his possession a small book belonging to Joseph and it contained a record of his children's births.

It breaks my heart to say that in 2011 a good portion of my genealogy, and the photocopies of records I obtained, were destroyed in a home burglary. 

Sunday, August 9, 2015

John Mathias

John Mathias, my Paternal Great Grandfather, was born in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio on February 24, 1839. He was the son of Joseph Mathias and Maria Anna Merkle. His father, Joseph, emigrated from Endigen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.





John Mathias married Margaret Schuees who was born in Bavaria on February 20, 1836. Her parents are unknown at this time. Their marriage was in Chillicothe on August 27, 1860. Together they had the following 7 known children, all born in Chillicothe:

           1.  Aloysius Mathias; 22 Nov 1860 – 1922

            2. John J Mathias; 1862 – 5 Jun 1919

            3. Joseph Mathias; 5 Sep 1864 – 5 Jul 1929

            4. Elizabeth Blanche Mathias; 1 Oct 1866 – 17 Oct 1950

            5. Magdalena “Lena” Mathias born about 1869.

            6. Edward Mathias; 30 Nov 1870 – 15 Jan 1871





            7. Philomena Margaret “Minnie” Mathias; 25 Nov 1874 – 17 Mar 1959
                        (my Paternal Grandmother)

Margaret Schuees Mathias died in Chillicothe on March 27, 1875, when my Grandmother was only a few months old. In May of 1875 John remarried to Mary (Long) Keller.




John enlisted in the Civil War on October 26, 1861 and served as a Private in Co. E, 63rd Ohio, in the Union Army. He  was discharged with a medical disability January 15, 1863 in Cairo, Illinois.  John had been wounded in the shoulder by a mini ball during the battle of Corinth, Mississippi on October 15, 1862. John spent the remainder of his years in and out of the Soldiers and Sailors Hospital in Dayton, Montogmery County, Ohio (The current site of the Veteran’s Administration). John died there on August 5, 1904 and is buried at the Dayton National Cemetery. 

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Diefendorf Clan

The Diefendorf/Diefendorff family has been a hard one to trace. The first record of a Diefendorf/Diefendorff in Summit County, Ohio is Jeremiah, and yes, his surname is found  both as Diefendorf and Diefendorff.   

[1st Gen]   Jeremiah Diefendorff [1824-1859] married
                       Elizabeth Jeanette Reese [ ?-1870] they had 4 know children:
                                Menzo H [1847-1882]
                                Charles [1849-1870]
                                John J [1851-1930]
                                Dolly Ann [1854-1865]

     [2nd Gen]   John J Diefendorff  [1851-1930] married
                              Thomascinna Ravely [1850-1923] they had 2 known children
                                  Jerry Migha [1875-1932]
                                  Dora Elizabeth [1880-1980]

           [3rd Gen]   Jerry Migha Diefendorff [1875-1932] married
                                   Eva Mae Serfass [1875-1961] had 9 known children
                                          John Everett [1896-1969]
                                          Earl Russell [1902-1967]
                                          Ruth Violet [1904-1958]
                                          Gladys Irene [1906-1985]
                                          Geraldine Sadie [1908-2000]
                                          Dora Elizabeth [1911-1996]
                                          Clarence Alvin [1913-1945]
                                          Robert Arle [1918-1994]
                                          Clifford Forest [1921-2008]                                           

                [4th Gen]   John Everett Diefendorf  [1896-1969] married
                                        Mildred Marie Norris [1899-1983] had 11 children
                                             Betty Jane [1917-2002]
                                             Russell Henry [1919-1985]
                                             Anna Mae [1920-1966]
                                             Madeline Marie [1923-1999]
                                             June Louise
                                             John Emmit [1926-1926] 
                                             Ella Jean [1929-1997]
                                             Dorothy Jacqueline 
                                             Naomi Lee
                                             Kenneth Burl [1935-2006]

I will be posting more on each individual family unit with more information and documentation. This is just a "bare bones" outline of the Diefendorfs. From this you should be able to find your parent or grandparents.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Joseph Dailey & Elizabeth Corder

Joseph Dailey was my paternal Great Grandfather. Records (mainly Census records and a Death record) indicate that Joseph was born in, or around, Martinsburg, Berkeley County, Virginia in December 1825. I have reason to believe Joseph was the son of John Daily and Rebecca Booth of Virginia, but cannot prove it 100% at this time.

Important background: In 1863 the state of West Virginia was formed when 50 counties (including Berkeley) separated from Virginia. It makes it difficult to find out where a document might be. I have found on records the surname spelling of Dailey and Daily are interchangeable, and many times on the same document. And… I find the same problem no matter what state I’m researching.

Although Joseph was born in Virginia it seems he came to Ross County, Ohio by the 1840 census, as did his alleged parents John and Rebecca (Booth) Dailey or Daily. Joseph and his family originally settled in Ross County is Richmondale,

Joseph married Elizabeth Corder in Chillicothe on January 9, 1848. Elizatbeth’s surname is another mystery as to what the actual spelling. On their marriage record it's listed as Corder. On the birth records for their children it is written Corder, Cordy, Cordery, Cowdryand CordrayJoseph may have married a 2nd time to a Elizabeth Crathers; but I have not been able to confirm or deny this.





Joseph and Elizabeth had 9 known children:
       Thurman   [1847-?] married Nellie Piles
       John          [1852-1919]
       Lydia "Liddie" [1854-1946] married David Leach
       Darthulia        [1855-?] married Wesley Denny
       Jacob "Jake"  [1859-1914] married Molly Davis
       Elizabeth Rebecca "Libby" [1860-1932] married Peter H Flesher
       Aretha Mae    [1864-1938] married Joseph Mathias
       Charles           [1866-1920] married Philomena "Minnie" Mathias
       Anneta Jane "Nettie" [1871-1932] married Frank Hirn

Joseph Dailey died June 15, 1900 and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Frankfort, Ross County, Ohio. There is also an Elizabeth Dailey buried with him at the same Cemetery. Several years ago I was able to track down the lady who had the burial records and she confirmed this information. She also stated that there was no gravestones for either Joseph or Elizabeth Dailey.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

The Wedding

Who: Martin John Dailey an Martha Ellen Renner
What: Their Wedding Day
When: June 22, 1946
Where: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; Akron, Ohio
Why: Love

Their Studio Photograph

At The Church

Mom with her parents Charles and Nellie Hitchcock Renner

Mom and Dad on the left. Their Best Man & Maid on Honor on right

When Mom and Dad got married he was almost 15 years her senior. That is challenging enough, and I know this first hand.  On top of that add that as a new bride mom had to start her married life in the home of dad's mom, who was elderly. My mom didn't have a chance to put any of her personal touches to the home until Grandma died in 1959.

Although dad died in 1987 mom would have mixed emotions every year on their Anniversary. Today I don't think mom's concept of time would allow her to know it's her Anniversary. That may be a good thing.

Mom's brother & sister-in-law, Ernie & Myrtle Billings Renner were the Best Man and Maid of Honor. I really don't know why Aunt Myrtle's dress looks like a bridal gown. One of my unanswered questions. Another unanswered question is why there was no picture of my Grandma Minnie Dailey with either my Dad or my Dad & Mom. I know she was at the wedding. Strange!

I always thought my mom was "some kind of special" because she converted to Catholocism in order to marry my dad who was Roman Catholic. Back then both bride and groom had to be Catholic to marry in the Catholic Church, and for it to be recognized by the Church. After my dad passed away my mom started going back to her original religion, United Methodist.

I still have mom's wedding dress and veil. I'd like to do something with it but I'm not sure what as it's very fragile. I'm thinking of of making some kind of small keepsake for each of the kids and grandkids.


Saturday, June 20, 2015

Happy Father's Day Daddy

This year it's 28 yrs since Dad went to his heavenly home, and not a year goes by that I don't miss popping in on Father's Day with some goofy gift. If I bought him useful stuff, like clothes or tools, he'd throw a fit claiming there was nothing wrong with the clothes or tools he had. Soooo... I got him goofy stuff. He didn't seem to mind those gifts.

My dad as a boy making his First Holy Communion

My dad in his younger days returning from the hunt.

My dad when he was in the Army Air Corps, WWII

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Grandma Minnie

I'd like to tell you some things about by Grandma Minnie (Philomena Margaret Mathias Dailey). Dad was the last of grandma's children to get married, and when he and Mom got married they moved in to grandma's house to take care of her. I grew up with grandma in the house, she died March 17, 1959 when I was 12, but I have to say I know very little of her.

Grandma Minnie in our kitchen in the 1950's

a. Grandma didn't say much unless it was important, but she had an expression for every occasion.

b. I don't ever remember Grandma talking about her side of the family other than her sister Lizzie and her brother Joseph.

c. I remember a friend of Grandma's, that I called Aunt Kate, would come and visit her every once in a while and they always had a good time.

It wasn't until I started researching the Mathias family that I found out most of my information. For example:

Grandma was born in 25 November 1874 and her mother Margaret Schuees Mathias died when she was a few months old.

Grandma was raised by her grandfather Joseph Mathias, her dad John Mathias' dad. So there's the question of why she didn't live with him. My dad later told me these two things.

Well, I discovered Grandma's mother did die in March 1875 when grandma was 4 months old. Her dad John did, in fact, remarry to a Mary Kelller who by chance, had a daughter from a previous marriage by the name of Kate Keller. This second marriage took place in May 1875. Kate was about the same age as grandma and her name, at the time I knew her, was Mrs Kate Bockwitz.

A photo of Aunt Kate Bockwitz on the left, and Grandma Minnie of the right.

I still haven't resolved why grandma lived with her grandfather Joseph. It wasn't unusual at that time for a widower to have family raise small children, However, her dad remarried right after his first wife Margaret's death so I'm at a loss for a reason. Maybe it had something to do with the Roman Catholic faith at that time. Maybe grandma's step-mom Mary Keller Mathias was a Protestant and her dad John married her anyway, outside the church. It must have been something, because when grandma's grandfather died all of his children, except grandma's dad, were given a 5th share of the estate. Grandma and her younger, minor siblings shared their father's 5th of the estate.

It just goes to show that for every question answered, three new questions arise needing answers.




Saturday, June 13, 2015

My Dailey Family Unit

Remember my post a couple of days ago about the Daily-Mathias outing around 1924? Well, today I’m bringing you My Family Unit in the photo. My dad is #90, Martin Dailey. My family unit, being Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey, is on the far right side of the panoramic photo. I cropped this area for reference.


All of the people shown, except for one child #19 and one man #92, are my family unit.

Row 1: #20 Margaret Dailey, daughter of Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey
            #21 Ruby Dailey Crispin, daughter of Herb & Vera Gaugler Dailey

Row 2:
#55 Philomena “Minnie” Mathias Dailey, wife of Charles Dailey deceased at the time the                photo was taken.
#56 Anna Josephine Tompkins Dailey, wife of Charles R “Dick” Dailey
#57 Vera Gaugler Dailey, wife of Herbert Dailey
#58 Virginia Dailey Bohm, daughter of Herbert & Vera Gaugler Dailey
#59 Herbert Dailey, son of Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey

Row 3:
#90 Martin John Dailey, my dad, and son of Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey
#91 Charles R “Dick” Dailey, son of Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey
#93 Ernest Dailey, son of Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey
#94 Albert Dailey, son of Charles & Minnie Mathias Dailey

#19 is listed as Lyle Dailey, son of Jacob & Mary “Molly” Davis Dailey. Jacob was deceased          when this photo was taken, and was my grandfather’s brother.
#92 is unknown but listed as a friend of Ernest Dailey.


Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Dailey-Mathias Clan

I would like to take you back to about 1924 in Chillicothe, Ohio. The Dailey and Mathias clans got together for a family outing, and it was held at the then Smith Junior High School on Arch Street. The turnout for these outings was huge! Why? Remember… my grandfather’ Charles Dailey, had married my grandmother, Minnie Mathias. Charles’ sister; Aretha Mae Dailey, had married Minnie’s brother, Joseph Dailey. 

Left side of the photo


Right side of the photo

A photographer was on hand to take a panoramic photo of everyone. I have one of these long photos which belonged to Grandma Minnie. At a later time someone made two photocopies of the picture and gave everyone a number. A list was compiled that tried to identify every number with a name. There were quite a few people who were not identified at that time. The information was supplied by:

          (1)  Elizabeth H. Flesher Gilmore #18 on the photo.  [Granddaughter of Rebecca                            Elizabeth Dailey and Peter Henry Flesher] 
          (2)  Ruby A. Dailey Crispin #21 on the photo.  [Granddaughter of Charles Dailey and                      Minnie Mathias Dailey. 

I think this is awesome; because when the photo was taken the two informants were just children. 

Then, in the late 1980’s, four more people sat down and tried to fill in the missing names. These four were my mom, Martha Renner Dailey; myself, Marlene Dailey Diefendorf; and two cousins Martha Mathias Bowman and Frances Davis Ulry. Quite a few name were filled in but there are still some unidentified people… but there’s always hope that some day, some one, could fill in more blanks.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Our Branch of the Tree

All of us “Dailey Cousins” are from one of the children born to Charles Dailey and Philomena ‘Minnie’ Margaret Mathias. As one can imagine the name Dailey can be found spelled many ways, and sometimes on the same document. My dad, Martin John Dailey, said he heard the family is of Irish and German ancestry. There is plenty of documentation of the German ancestry, but I have not found anything to support the Irish ancestry legend.

My dad, Martin, didn’t remember his dad Charles that well because he died when my dad was very young. From Census records I have found Charles, as well as his father Joseph, were Carriage Makers/Woodworkers. Long after my dad died my mom, Martha, showed me an old wooden box in the basement that was full of old wood working tools. Mom said dad told her they belonged to his dad.


Charles Dailey


Philomena "Minnie" Margaret Mathias Dailey



Philomena "Minnie" Margaret Mathias Dailey as most of us remember her.

Charles Dailey was born 10 April 1866 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio to Joseph & Elizabeth Dailey. Minnie Mathias Dailey was born 25 November 1874 in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio to John and Margaret Mathias. Charles and Minnie were married in Chillicothe 15 May 1892 by Reverend J. C. Cupp. Together they had 6, possibly 7, children who were all born in Ross County, Ohio except the youngest who was born in Summit County, Ohio.

Children of Charles and Minnie Dailey

1 Albert Joseph Dailey
Born:  9 November 1892 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio
Died: 15 Apr 1931 in Barberton, Summit Co., Ohio
Legend has it that Albert had a twin who died at birth. I have not found anything to prove or disprove this legend.
            Married Ruth E Baughman
                        Barbara Dailey Rohrer

2 Herbert Anthony Dailey
born: 16 October 1894 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio
died: 15 Jan 1975 in Barberton, Summit Co., Ohio
            Married Vera Fern Gaugler
                        Virginia Dailey Bohm
                        Ruby Dailey Crispin
                        Edna Dailey Barnes

3 Charles Roland “Dick” Dailey
born: 16 June 1900 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio
died: 1 Sep 1970 in Ontario, Canada
            Married Anna Josephine Tompkins
                        Richard Dailey
                        Joanne Dailey Dowler
                        Gordon Dailey

4 Ernest Dailey
born: 17 March 1905 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio
died: 2 Aug 1958 in Akron, Summit Co., Ohio
            Married Edith Lila Wolfenbarger
                        Margaret Dailey Schoolcraft

5 Martin John Dailey
born: 5 May 1908 in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio
died: 6 Mar 1987 in Barberton, Summit Co., Ohio
            Married Martha Ellen Renner
                        Marlene Dailey Travis Diefendorf

6 Margaret Philomena Dailey
born: 7 April 1913 in Kenmore, Summit Co., Ohio
died: 22 Jul 1936 in Akron, Summit Co., Ohio

Never married.