Ancestors in 52 Weeks - In the Paper and how to use Newspapers

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

The brief for this topic:
Have you used newspapers in your research?

I have used many things for my research including newspapers. You never know what you'll find with them. In fact, sometimes I could put a story together by looking up history for towns and countries in which my ancestors had come from to put "some flesh on the bone" of those ancestors. 

I've had questions come up because of lookign up history information. This lead me to reading text books and websites on certain countries, wars, customs, and what else had been going on in the world at that time.

In fact, when I have time to do timelines for my ancestors, I put what is going on at times to where they are in the world so you get the feel of what they are experiencing and sometimes it answers questions or gives you the thought of "They could have done this because of that, or that...." and let's others draw their conclusions.

I will give you an examples below.

Use what you know

I knew my mother's birth name and my grandmother's name, after all, my middle name is my grandmother's first! This lead me to searching for the name of Janet Gauquie.

Other facts I knew was my mother grew up around Newburgh, New York and my grandmother's sister was named Aunt Honey or Genevieve, but I didn't have a maiden name for either of them. Mom wouldn't list her father's name either and he was dead.

Newspapers...Which ones?

This lead me to plugging in the name and area into the many newspapers websites. You have the newspapers.com (need to pay), Elephind, HRVH Historical Newspapers, Library of Congress, Old Fulton New York Newspapers, Trove - and that's just a few of them that are out there and most of these are free.

I started to find the name Gauquie in many of the newspapers when I used the Old Fulton website.

Look at all the Gauquie names! Then there's the Joanne Gauquie which is my mother! Credit

When I saw my mother's name in there, and I knew one of her brother's names I was shocked. Now I had more family names I could work with. I went almost word by word and made a handwritten tree out of the information in the newspaper article. I knew it was my family too because its was in the right area of New York.

From this I was able to track down information on my grandparents and the rest of the family.

But what if I don't have the money??

This is always something people are saying in regarding to doing searches for family. I admit I'm a cheapskate and don't like paying for things. However, sometimes you need to, but other times you don't.

I've done enough searching and talking to others using things like Facebook, where I got to know where there are free websites for newspapers online. I listed a handful of free newspapers sites above the article.

Also, be aware when there are holidays or something of importance like an anniversary, then most websites (Ancestry and My Heritage to name a few) have free weekends where you can get on their websites and until a certain date and time you can search for things for free. This is how I've gotten most of my information.

Eventually I was able to track down my great grandmother's obituary using my grandmother's name.
It's the correct person due to my grandmother's name, her sister's name AND the location I knew they were at.

Credit as above.

Use your new finds in searches in Newspapers

Now I had the name of my great grandmother and a spelling of her married name, my grandmother's maiden name along with many other names and places. Obituaries, if written correctly, are one of the most fact given hints you can get really. However, keep in mind the information, like many of the documents you get, are only as good as the informant.

For instance, I found my material great grandfather Jules Gauquie's obituary and probate online. By this point, I found my mother's cousin and asked her about the probate. To paraphrase her, she said you can read it but that's not what happened. Jules wanted it written this way so it made him look good even in death. In reality, the family basically got nothing but the farm which Jules sold to his sons before his death.

Did I find the information? You bet I did.

Jules' obituary. Credit as above.

Jules' Probate. Credit as above.

Once again, the information that are in these are as good as the person writing the article or report it to the newspaper.

What other things can I find out about in the newspapers which might be handy?

You will need to look at the information available to you about who you are researching and why. Were you able to get a Ship Manifest and you want to know about where the area is they put on it? If so, there's usually towns and countries listed there. For instance, my paternal grandmother came from Poland as well. When I found her ship manifest, it said Malkinia and she's always said they came from Warsaw. I looked for an area around there. Then I remembered when I was young, she named two rivers when she was playing with her cousins. One of these was named Bug and I remembered that because the name was so unusual. These two pieces of paperwork put me in the area I could research. Years later, I finally got her naturalization paperwork (after I was thinking she didn't have to get naturalized which I was correct in thinking, but she did it anyway) I found I was correct in the area but it was next town over.

**Tip**
Also, I when you save or clip the newspaper article, I would put the newspaper information on it (as you can see by the newer clips I've found) and copy and paste the address into the file properties in comment area (right click on the file, go to properties, click on comments and paste the address into the field then click ok to close window).  This will be handy for citing your work later on.

It also gave me a time line...what was it like when they lived there or left? You can usually find this out in the newspapers as well.

August 8 1920 Malkin railway was where they put last residence on ship manifest. Credit: Singleton Argus August 12 1920 This was just before they left the area and headed for Danzig. 

August 8 1915 which is less than 5 years before they left. They were putting up with this just like grandma said. Credit:The Mercury on 17 August 1915 newspaper

August 21, 1920 Malkin, the area listed on the ship manifest of my grandmother. Credit: The Concordia Sentinel, August 21, 1920 front page. They were on their way to the Danzig to get a ship to America based upon dates on the ship manifests.

 When you read these, you can feel what it must have been like to live in the area. This is getting to put the "flesh on the bone" or feel/think what your ancestor must have gone through.

Also, you can then think about them (if you knew them) and maybe give a reason why they did or said something when  you were growing up. It might actually give you a reason why the ancestor did what they did.

How do I take the information from the documents like the Declaration of Intention and look it up?

I always have spare paper around. I list the important information I want to look up. In this case, I'll look up the town my 2 times great grandfather was born - Lipno Russia or correctly Lipno, Poland Russia.

When you look it up, you might find that you cannot find it. Why? Because its part of Poland or Lithuania (depends upon the years) and if you know Poland history, it had 3 partitions in its history and this is BEFORE it was closed off due to the Iron Curtain.

With research in Europe and its history of the country you want to know about. However, you have to be careful because they use the same name of towns over and over but in different "county's" I guess you can call them. The hint is in my 2 times great grandmother's information which is Wilno Russia. Wilno was in Poland and is now called Vilnius/Vilna. 

 Highlighted areas show Lipno, Plock, Vilnius/Wilno on map Credit

When I was growing up, I hated history. To me, it was just a bunch of facts the teacher spat out at you and you had to regurgitate back. Complete waste of time to me. However, this I could look into, relate to and then think of what they thought was bad enough to leave everything they knew behind to start some place they thought was safer after a huge journey. These types of things, I could get into.

Now its time to do some searching online for news articles for these areas around the time OR BEFORE they left for the US.

You will need to go through combinations of information to see what you get. This includes things like looking for a larger town nearby, the county, rivers, etc. Also, it helps if you know the years you are looking for information within. In this case, we want from the time Stanley was born (1869) until they left for the US in 1903. Remember all newspapers have important top stories from around the world in them. Sometimes the information comes out after they've left. Think about where you live. People in the community talk, but the talk hasn't been put in the newspapers, but if they know about it and once/if they get proof, then they can use the information.

Getting back to my maternal 2 times great grandparents, there wasn't much to report during this time for fighting like in wars or battles. I looked up, using Google, the history of the area and of Russia, and found there was a recession of 1901-1903 and getting worse. Then in 1904, they had to do with the results of the Russo-Japanese War which Russia was defeated. I think this was why they left and add this to the talk of a revolt of the people as well. However, to back these facts, up I wanted to see what I could find in the newspapers.

My 2 times great grandparents and family left in 1903 which this above is the same year. Credit: 

This was in 1904 and they left in 1903. Credit

If you put these two together with the history, you can tell life was a struggle. They needed food because people were starving so bad they were selling off children. On top of that, there was probably talk of of a siege to regain control of the government because of no food and no work.

You can track someone due to newspaper articles
You can track someone's progress which I've done with my grandfather, Louis Gauquie. We knew he was with the railroad but even with his Railway paperwork, we couldn't place him any place. However, he was placed in areas due to the newspaper reporting where he was at.

The railway my grandfather worked along. Credit

My grandfather's record of work for the railway. Credit: Railroad Retirement Board

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The date should be 1949 but the 4 is hard to see. Credit

And by now he's gotten out of the railway. Credit

I don't think enough people use newspapers enough nor Google. These can give you tips and hints as to where to look. You can find out a lot from reading the newspapers online as you can tell by the above.

Ancestors in 52 Weeks - 12 - The 12 Births and Deaths of December

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

The brief for this topic:
No, it isn't a typo. The theme for Week 12 really is "12." If you look at a numbered ancestor chart and you're at the beginning of it, #12 is your mother's father's father. You could also write about someone with a birthday or anniversary in December or on the 12th of any month. Be creative!

When I read the topic for this week, I didn't know what 12 is or stands for. I waited to get the hint that we get to see if this put some light on the subject. This is what the brief for this topic is. 

Now if we go through the brief, with the mother's father's father as an explanation. This is Joannes Julius VanRompaye Gauquie. I've discussed him at length in several posts and he usually went by the name of Jules Gauquie. As I've discussed him at length, I needed to read further into the topic. 

The next area that's suggested are birthdays or anniversaries in December. I do have more than a few people who were born in December in the family. But who to choose? 

Note: The ones with no last name and only a letter are still alive. To protect their identity, they will be noted here but not talked about in any great length. 

The 12 Births and Deaths of December

Here's a small bit on each one of the people who have dates in December. The December date is highlighted.

1. Adam Wojtkowski

Adam in front of his store in Linden, NJ in 1930s. Credit J. Fitzgerald

Paternal Great Grandfather

Born 21 Dec 1886 Ciechanowiec, Poland Russia

Died 26 Jun 1954 Linden, New Jersey, USA

I hadn't met Adam, but have heard about him from my father. Now, after researching him, I have a new respect for him. He comes from an rural area with a very small population. One of the nearest towns was 110 houses. Anyhow, in Feb 1913, less than a year after the Titanic sunk, a small group of men decided to go to the USA and leave his wife and child behind until he could send for them. They left from their homes to the Port of Hamburg (920km/520 miles) and arrived into Ellis Island, or Port of New York. It wasn't until Aug 1920, he could send for his wife and child in among the fighting due to it being right around the time that Warsaw fell called the Battle of Warsaw. Anyhow, they arrived in NY and settled into American life fairly well in New Jersey. He had set up his own business with making homemade kielbasa and pickles. Unfortunately, he put much of his money in the stock market and suffered greatly when the Great Depression happened. It took him awhile, and the loss of his business, to get back on his feet which he did and he opened another store once again selling his main products. However, in 1939, his wife died which just about destroyed him he loved her so much. He used to visit her grave on a weekly basis I'm told. Then in 1954, he was told he had stomach cancer and only had weeks to live. However, he proved them wrong and lived months longer than their prediction. He passed away June 1954. 

2. Johann (John) Schmitz

1943 Germany death note from his wedding entry Credit: J. Fitzgerald on behalf of researchers

Paternal Great-Grandfather

Born 27 Dec 1877 Mosbruch, Vulkaneifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Died 9 May 1943 Neidermendig, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

This one I can only give you the basics due to having very little information on him, and needing to do more. According to his son's (my grandfather's) birth record and his wedding certificate this how we came to get this birth information. His death information was included on the side of the marriage entry. Upon doing this, the researchers found a huge family tree for his/my family, but I still have to prove it. These areas are rural and small, so are not scanned in or held any place other than within the small towns. I thank the researchers who were able to help me with getting this information. Some of it has been proven by DNA due to one of my cousins (Waving Hi to Cornelia Mueller!) coming up on the results of testing and her family is listed within the family chart. 

3. Taylor G.

Taylor Credit. R. Greenhaw

My Grand-Niece
Born in December
Lives in Upstate New York

She loves her baking, sports and dancing. She lives with her parents, sister, and grandfather. 

4. Eric P.

Eric Credit J. Fitzgerald

My Nephew
Born in December
Lives in Pennsylvannia

He loves his game shows and TV shows he grew up with. He has taken to do some video reviews of the things he likes. He currently lives with his father and works. 

5. Jack T.

Jack Credit: A. Clark

My Ex-Brother in law
Born in December
Lives in Update New York

He was born around Newburgh, New York. He met my sister, Theresa, and married. He's a Vietnam Vet. He had worked at Lloyds in Newburgh. They have 3 daughters. They divorced in the 1980s. He lived in Montgomery, New York for awhile. Then moved in with one of his daughters, frequently goes around visiting other family now that he's retired. 

6. Kathy S.

Kathy Credit: J. Fitzgerald

My Sister in law
Born in December
Lives in New York

She was born around Cornwall, New York. She went to Valley Central High School. After school, she met up with my brother, Charlie and married. They have 1 son. They were happily married until my brother's death earlier in 2019. She currently lives in their home with their son in New York. 

7. Noel F.

Noel Credit: J. Bishop

My Father in law
Born in December
Lives in New South Wales, Australia

He was born in Victoria and lived most of his live there. He met and married, his now ex-wife Sue, and had 2 sons. He raised his two sons practically alone around Melbourne, Australia. He retired around 2008 and is now retired. He keeps himself busy with helping friends, visiting his family and taking his carvan on drives when its not broken. He likes his music - country and blues mainly - and his movies which have Audrey, John Wayne, and their crowd and documentaries on history. 

8. Robert F.

Robert Credit:P. Adnam

Born in December

Lives in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

He was born in Victoria and lived his life there. He is Noel's brother. He met and married his wife Jackie and raised 3 daughters. He was a great provider. He retired before 2010. He keeps himself busy with visiting grandchildren, family and watching TV. His movie and music tastes mirrors his brothers. 

9. Laura Ostrzycki Kurpieski

Laura in the 1960s. Credit S. Woncheck

Maternal 2nd Great-Aunt

Born 29 Dec 1901 Lipno, Poland Russia

Died  10 May 1972 Charleroi, Washington, Pennsylvania

I've found out a bit about Laura from talking to one of my cousins in Pennsylvania and due to the many (and I do mean MANY) newspaper articles about her. She was born in Poland and arrived in the US in 1912 when she was little. The family made their way to Pennsylvania and settled into life. They married in about 1916 in Pennsylvania. In 1917 they had their first child, Stanley. I take it they named him after her father, Stanley, which was common. They lived with her mother and father in 1920. In 1922, they had their second son, Edward. By 1930, they had their own place. However, the death of her mother, Valerie, in 22 August 1931, must have really shocked them. In 1940, their son Stanley marries. Laura starts to get active in groups such as the Needlettes, Polish Ladies Auxiliary, Goodwill Club, and Council of Democrat Women.   Her father, Stanley, passes in 1953. Then her husband, Walter dies in 1957. In 1964, her niece, Victoria, passes away in England and her sister Bernice passes away in Newburgh, New York. In 1967, her sister, Stella passes away in Pennsylvania. In 1971, her son, Edward passes away.Then she passes away herself in 1972. 

Deaths

10. Louis J. Gauquie

Louis J. from the 1950s. Credit. J. Gauquie

Maternal Uncle

Born 5 March 1936 Cornwall, Orange County,New York

Died 7 Dec 1995 Victorville, San Bernardino, California

This is another ancestor which I know little about but recently have learned more. This is my mother's brother and was born and lived parts of his life around Newburgh, New York. I do know from talking to my father, both him and his father liked their alcohol. Once Louis came home and hit his father's car. He tried to get away with it, but he left his car door open overnight which his father seen when he woke up. Further, I was told there was a family fight when he was about 17 and he left and joined the Navy August 1953. In 1954 he was on a radar picket destroyer USS Duncan. In March 1955, he married Edith in Middletown, NY. In 1957, he was a machinist mate third class aboard the destroyer USS Rowan. He got out of the Navy in 1957. However, by 1959 he was in Nebraska and listed in the US Air Force where they stayed until late 1969 or 1970 when they moved to Fairfield, Solano, California according to another US City Directory. Within this time they had at least two children, Debra and Louis M. On 31 August 1974, he once again left the military. In 1977, he became a grandfather to Vincent Gauquie. Unfortunately, Vincent was taken too early and died November 1983 in Garden Grove, California. I'm not sure what he was doing from the time he left the military, but he died in Victorville, California in 1995 leaving his wife a widow. 

11. Anna Klepperich Schmitz

No picture available.

Paternal Great-Grandmother

Born 26 Jul 1889 Arft, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Died 08 Dec 1944 Germany

As I've discussed above with her husband, Johann (John) Schmitz, this information was obtained from researchers due to them being from very small towns in Germany. I do not know much more than the dates and I haven't had time to sit down and do research on the area in newspapers. I think in order to get more information, I'll have to pay for researchers to do more searching in this area and that's not feasible at the moment unfortunately. 

12. Josephine Ostrzycki Greco

Josephine at a family BBQ in PA in 1960s. Credit: S. Woncheck

Maternal 2nd Great-Aunt

Born 18 Feb 1895 Poland Russia

Died 21 Dec 1976 Charleroi, Pennsylvania

From what I've been told, she loved her family and was closed to them. She had married to Francesco Greco and they had one son. Unfortunately, their son died when he was a young man due to a car accident in 1935. Her husband then died in 1959. 


We also have many January birthdays as well.

Credit

On a side note, I was going to try and stick the above names in a rhyme for the 12 Days of Christmas but unfortunately, I'm not that talented. *laugh*

Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Large

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

This week's topic

Any large families in the family tree? Any stories of the challenges or benefits of being in a large family? Or perhaps "Large" is an ancestral surname?

Hmm where to start with large... I guess the best way to start this one is the meaning of large.

• of considerable or relatively great size, extent, or capacity.
• of wide range or scope. synonyms: wide-reaching, far-reaching, wide-ranging, wide, sweeping, large-scale, broad, extensive, comprehensive, exhaustive, wholesale
• unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper; behavior or manner; uninhibited.

Credit for the above definitions.

Once again this topic stumps me in how to apply it to my family. We had areas of these but nothing proven really.

For instance, my grandmother's side of the family, the women were known to be of a large size, but now its getting to be the normal size of American women. However, that's an opinion I've heard (as my body size has followed this area) but its not politically correct even now to talk about these things.

Then, you have the third area above about the use of language and improper behavior or manner. Hmm depends on what you grew up with again its suggestive. For instance, my mother was always swearing among other things. However, its not proper language nor proper behavior or manners. I didn't realize this until it was pointed out to me when I was in college. Then I started to realize there's a when and a place to swear. Again, its keeping the politically correct and business behaviors separate from the personal. Also, its something that cannot really be proven.

Finally, you have the last definition above. "Of wide range or scope. Wide-reaching, far-reaching..." This can be taken into 2 contexts. One, in my family's case, can be of land. The other is society reaching and acknowledgement.  Both meanings of these I can find within my family.

My Maternal Great Grandparents
Jules Gauquie owned land in the tiny town of Blooming Grove, located south of Washingtonville, New York. Jules, and his wife Annie, first bought their first land in 1900. The deed is below.

Credit 

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It wasn't a small parcel of land due to him operating a diary farm. The US Census put it as a dairy farm and then there are the many newspaper articles about it being a dairy farm.

I asked about the land from my mother's cousin. "Oh yeah they owned land. In fact, Jules owned, at one point most of Blooming Grove!" At this, I was shocked because I never heard of any of this growing up. He owned land which is noted in land documents in the 1920, 1921, 1924-1934, 1935-1946 which can be found on FamilySearch.

Credit Warwick Valley Dispatch, Page 7,  October 23 1935 regarding land Jules owned.

Then I started to look and found not only did he own the diary farm, but when Annie died, she owned more than a little bit of stock and more than a little bit of land too! Especially for 1931.

Credit

In fact, some of this land is still in the family today and cousins still own and live in it as its been passed down to generations. On the other hand, the main farm, where my grandfather was raise, is no longer in the family, but there is a business that is there and we can go and visit.

The farm the Gauquie's used to live at in New York. Credit Brett Fitzgerald Taken January 2019.

Many people do not have this type of legacy to go back to and in that way I do feel fortunate.

However, the other part of this same definition, which is the society reaching and acknowledgement can be distorted. In fact, in this area it IS distorted.

Why do I say this?
Jules was always having card games and doing things for the church, which in itself wasn't bad. In fact, these are positives. However, what he didn't want you to see was him throwing one of his sons out by the age of 15 years old. Yep, 15. The family story is they had a huge fight and he left. His brother William followed him out in support.

1924 Newburgh Directory showing Louis out of the house at age 15. Credit

On the other hand, Jules didn't mention this to anyone but was going on like nothing was the matter.

Meanwhile, Louis' father, Jules, gets lights installed in his house (purple above). Credit

As you can see, Jules has his son move out, but he's still doing things for himself (with getting the first electric lights installed) and within the community instead of helping his son along. According to news reports he had been overseas, to Belgium, and had started taking time away from farming. I can see where, if his sons weren't doing things how Jules would, there would be tension and fights. Too bad instead of putting some effort into his family, he was doing things for others.

Then you have the various land Jules bought. From speaking to other cousins, its known at one point Jules had owned most of the Blooming Grove area.You can see by his probated will(below) he was a very wealthy man for the 1940s.

This being said, its also known within the family, he wasn't a very good man. He had his wife working on the dairy farm and once it was written in the paper about her being injured by a cow.

Credit

Further, it was known within the family wouldn't buy his wife a winter coat as, to him, she didn't need one. As Jules controlled the money within the family, she couldn't spend money to buy one either. Finally, her daughters convinced her to take the one they bought her with their money. However, it was too late as she came down sick and ended up on the hospital. The result was her dying. Then he didn't even put an obituary or anything in the newspaper for her. I have found her on the NY Death Index which is backed up on the headstone and by her will (as I've copied bits above earlier).  Her will even had to be probated.

Credit

Then he tops it off by sending their daughter, Mary, away to an asylum. Within a 2 years, she's dead as well. I have heard from people in the family, the place they had sent her was the cheapest and not the best run in Sonyea, NY. It also goes by Groveland, NY which the land was donated to NYS for the handicapped. Mary had Polio as a child and was mentally handicapped because of it.

As you can see, Jules didn't want to let anyone know of this because of it frowned upon, and decided to bring Mary home to bury her near her mother.

Then there was Jules' last act. He wanted to be remembered as someone who gave his family everything as you can see by his probated will below. However, this is what he dictated was to be said in the newspaper. What actually happened was his second wife, Belle, received almost everything. This comes from the executor's family itself. Jules wanted to be seen as a great man, but in reality wasn't so great and not many people liked him from what I've been told.

The highlighted section is my great grandfather. Credit

As you can see, you can be, in public, a great person but a real piece of cow dung in private.

My Paternal Great Grandparents

On my father's side, we had a man who tried to do well for his family by owning a business, but then lost it all in the Great Depression. List what Dad said and what grandma found.

However, he worked his way back up and was in good standing with helping others. When he passed, even though his death was in the newspaper.

Credit Adam (in yellow) is mentioned in Deaths section

The business directory did something it never does - It listed him as passing away in the business section.

Credit Adam is highlighted above. Notice how different his entry is to everyone else's.

This was very rare, but needed because people came from all over to buy his foods he made (pickles and kielbasa) and sold.

Conclusion
You can find many things out there in various areas and forms this includes large. However, what you draw from it, has to be looked at in various eyes and background. Whatever you read, can be distorted or be what others want you to hear or read. You always have to take what you read, no matter in what year, as something to be proven.

Some may say Jules had large or far reaching due to his place with land and what he had built within the community. However, being a good person, like Adam, and having things done for you because of this is something else. To be liked as a person, for myself, rather than what I can do for a community ranks higher in self worth than money. To my way of thinking Jules was the overall loser because if you don't have this, then you don't have anything.

Yes, you have to make sure what you hear or read can be distorted by what is politically acceptable - or not. Its up to you want you can and will believe. Sort of like the video of my mother (below).

Copyright of video Jo Ann Fitzgerald of mother stating her view of something. 

My mother was always a kind person until she had enough of people and then started to change. People influence others in how they act. However, if you do change in how you act to others, as a whole, then its on you. However, if you change to the one person, then its on that person even if you do try and see things from their point of view and don't get it. At least you can say you've tried to see it from all angles, but if you haven't tried this, then its on you as a person because everyone deserves to try and be looked at from all sides not just yours.