Adventures of an Ancestor - Ancestors in 52 Weeks

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

Topic Info:
Week 42 brings "Adventure." Do you know of an ancestral adventure, be it great or small? How about an adventure that you've had while researching?

I've had many adventures while researching and it's hard to just pick one up. I've already discussed tracing my paternal grandmother and great grandmother's journey towards Danzig as the different armies were swarming towards and to Warsaw was falling in 1920. 

Jimmy Sherman. Credit

Then there was the locating my maternal grandfather and the family's move all over due to his work with the railway. This covered PA, NY and NJ. 

There was my mother's cousin, James "Jimmy" Sherman and the tracing of his life. This was made list of contents of his file at the USAF in Miami, Florida and the accident report which claimed his life.
easier by the

I could go on and on. This is the tricky bit...to pick just one.

For this prompt, I'll talk about one of the people who I have written a bit about. My uncle, Louis Julius Gauquie.

Louis Joseph Gauquie in the 1950s. Credit J. Gauquie

Growing up, my mother only told me he was dead. Imagine my shock when I started to research him, I learned he was alive until 1995. I could have visited him if I was able to if only I had known. Anyhow, he sounds like he was on one adventure after another by his travelling around I found.

My uncle Louis was the oldest of my mother's siblings. Including her, there were 3 of them - Louis, Joanna (my mother), and James (or Jimmy).

1936 - Happy Birthday! - 1938
Louis' life story begins on March 5,1936 in Cornwall, New York. His parents are Louis Peter Gauquie and Janet Dorothy Barry Jagodzinski Gauquie. According to the business directory, his father, Louis, was a bridgeworker for ERR or Erie Railway. They lived at 28 Henry Avenue, Newburgh. The family moved by the time he was 2 in 1938.

In 1938, the business directory said the family was now living at 69 Bushnell Avenue, Newburgh, New York. His father was still doing the same position in the railway. What's really interesting is Bushnell Avenue can't be found on any map like Google Earth. Could it have disappeared when the Urban Development happened? This will have to be looked at in the Newburgh Library when we visit.

In March 1939, his sister (my mother) Joanna Gauquie was born in Newburgh, New York. Further, by this time, the family had moved again to 69 Berkard Avenue, Newburgh, New York according to his father's (my grandfather's) railway compensated service documents.

69 Berkard Ave Newburgh NY house in 2012. Credit: Google Earth in 2019

According to the railway documents, his father was a painter on the Erie Railway working for the Department of Structure within the railway system.

The 1939 business directory, still had them at 69 Benkard Avenue address. His father was still employed as a bridgeman for the railway.

By September 1, 1939, there was a real estate transfer in Milford, PA in the Westfall Township, so the family was on the move once again, but this time to PA.

This was also the date World War 2 started in Europe.

Credit

The 1940 US Census, taken on May 28, 1940, has them still located in Westfall Township. The address they are at is 52 10th Street, Westfall, PA.

The PA 1940 Census. Gauquie family is on lines 12-15. Credit

Apparently his father liked heights so he got those jobs. Credit

The census tells us a bit about the family. They owned the place they lived and it was valued at 1500. It was only the small family of 4 living in the house. Louis, who was put down as Louis Jr, age was 4 years old. His father was 30 and his mother was 29 years old. His father completed 8th grade and his mother completed 7th grade. His father was born in New York, and his mother was born in Pennsylvania. His parents lived in Salisbury Mills, Orange County, NY in 1935. This is where Louis Jr's grandfather lived which was a farm. His father's occupation was a riveter for the railway. His father worked 36 weeks in 1939 and had made $1080 for that year.

On the census, there's a section on the bottom for more questions. The government chooses people who fall on certain lines must complete it and for this year, Louis Jr's entry, fell onto this line. It does not have much information in it mainly because he's a 4 year old.

October 16, 1940, Louis' father had to register for World War 2. The address is a PO Box in Matamoras, in Pike County, in PA. He is still working for the Erie Railway company (under FA Howard) which the head office was located in Cleveland, Ohio. The registration place was in Westfall, Pike County, PA. The court house was in Milford, PA.

The next time I pick the family up again is in the newspaper on June 23, 1942. The family came up to spend time with Louis Jr's uncle William and grandfather for Father's Day. This tells us the family is now located in Jersey City, NJ. 

Highlighted area above. Credit

By this point, Louis Jr will now be about 6 years old.

In August 1944 his brother, James J Gauquie, was born. Everyone called him Jimmy. Louis would have been 8 years old.

September 2, 1945 World War 2 ends.

On May 8, 1946,  the newspaper has his mother selling hats and bags she made in the newspaper in Newburgh, NY, so they are back in Newburgh.  Louis Jr is about 10 years old.

On August 17, 1946, the newspaper once again tells us they are in Matamoras, PA but they had recently been around Newburgh, NY to visit family.

On October 13, 1946, the newspaper lists the death of his grandfather, Jules Gauquie. The address for the family is Matamoras, PA. Louis Jr would be about 10 years old. His sister would be 7 years old, and his brother, Jimmy, would be about 2 years old. My mother told me they went and stayed in the house. Their grandfather's body was downstairs in the living room and people kept coming in to say goodbyes all night long. She remembers sitting at the top of the stairs looking down at them and the dead body which she was scared of.

On April 3, 1948, Louis Jr's uncle James marries in Salisbury Mills, NY. His father was the best man at the wedding. It says the family is now living in Newburgh, New York once again.

The above wedding picture. Louis Jr's father is from the left the 2nd one. Credit: Gailfboo

In the September 2, 1948 Milford, PA newspaper it says his parents have sold their bungalow in Bell Manor and they went through a real estate agency for the sale. It states the family has recently moved back to Newburgh, NY.

By 1949, the Newburgh Business directory now has the family on 114 Walsh Avenue, New Windsor, NY. His father is now a plumber. Louis Jr would now be 13 years old.

Even though his father was out of the railway by now, they still lived right next to the railway line. This is where the house stood but stands no more as of 2019. Credit: Google Earth in 2019.

About July 18, 1949, his father paid a fine for driving under the influence of alcohol. He pleaded guilty in court. It confirms the address of Walsh Avenue, New Windsor. He was driving along Route 32 at about 2:45 am Sunday by a New Windsor barracks of the state police. This backs up my father's story he recently told me about how my grandfather used to drive home drunk. All the cops in town knew him and let him go, but watched him. It looked like this time the normal cops let him go but the it was the state cops who arrested him. Remember, Louis Jr would have only been 13, so had a good influence on him.

Note: My father, who was close to the family prior to marrying my mother, knew Louis Jr would drink until he didn't remember. He would drive home, hit cars, and leave the car door wide open. He would never remember in the morning. His father (remember the newspaper article above?) would come in and yell at him for drinking and not realizing he was just doing what he saw his father doing. The sad part is Louis Jr's father, didn't know how he got home either because he was drunk as well.

In August 10 1949, Louis Jr's father had put a business ad in the Newburgh, newspaper for Chimneys and Furnaces cleaning especially oil burners. It gave a telephone number and requested people call after 5pm.

The same ad appeared the next few weeks as well.

In 1950, the Social Security Applications and Claims have an entry for him listing his name as Louis Julious Gauquie. This must have been when he filled out his Social Security form for working.

In 1951, the Newburgh business directory has his mother and father at the same address and his father was still a plumber. There is no listing for Louis Jr. so he must not have started working yet. He would have been 15 years old.

On June 13, 1952, the Newburgh newspaper puts in a group shot of Junior boys from Newburgh, where he's going to school. He would be 16 years old.

Louis Jr is the 4th row fourth from right. 

Then on August 13 1953, he enrols into the military. He would have been 17 years old. Meanwhile, his father is still cleaning furnaces and chimneys by vacuum cleaning according to a newspaper article.

The entry of his US Navy class. Above is a close up of his face. Credit: Ancestry.com

Note: I do know, from talking to my father who was about the same age, there were no jobs in the area. The employment was starting to fall due to factories and other businesses slowing down now World War 2 was finished and the amount of products needed were not as great. Many young men in the area enrolled in the military for employment.

In 1954 the Vietnam War starts. North Vietnamese begin helping South Vietnamese rebels fight South Vietnamese troops, thus BEGINS the Vietnam conflict.

The USS Duncan (DDR 874). Credit

On December 22, 1954, there was a write up on what he was doing in the military. He was in the US Navy and was aboard the radar picket destroyer USS Duncan(DDR-874). It was on a tour of duty to the far east and was getting ready to dock in San Diego. Louis Jr would have been 18 years old.

It looks like he had settled into military life and had already made Fireman Machinist's Mate. You must study and take a passing test in order to get ths ranking.

Oh March 23, 1955, Louis Jr marries Edith Rollings in Middletown, New York. He would have been 19 years old.

Grooms Index for Louis J Gauquie (about middle). Credit

Note: I do know from talking to my mother, there was a huge family fight which saw her brother Louis (who this post is about), her, their father and their Aunt Florence not speaking by the end. It had something to do with their maternal grandmother, Bernice Jagodzinska/Jagodzinski. After this my mother married and so did her older brother (she believed which is what I've proven by marriage index). I believe this was sometime between March and October (when my parents married) 1955 due to the marriage indexes and when Louis Jr was around.

Apparently, their maternal grandmother, Bernice Barry/Jagodzinski/a was a huge factor in their lives. When their mother was unavailable, she stepped in to help out the family by watching the kids, cleaning the house and making dinner. Because of this Louis Jr, Joanna, and Jimmy were very close to her.

Note: Louis Jr's mother, Janet, was in and out of mental hospitals at least 3 times in the 1950s my mother told me. This included getting electric shock to try to return her to normal. However, the last time Janet was returned it was in her sister and brother in law's care. However, the doctor noticed something not right and investigated and took her out of their care and put into New York State's care. Due to this, she was constantly transferred around the state without notice to anyone, which I (her granddaughter) personally have knowledge of.

In January 1957, they welcomed their first child, Louis Michael Gauquie. Louis Jr would have been 21 years old. Louis Michael they named him as Louis the III despite having different middle names.

The USS Rowan in 1957. Credit

In February 20, 1957 the Newburgh newspaper reported he was now a machinist mate 3rd class and is scheduled to return shortly to San Diego, CA on board USS Rowan. This means he hadn't been at the birth of his child, Louis Michael as they had been gone more than six months in the Western Pacific. It tells us his mother and father are still in Newburgh and clarifies his wife's maiden name.

In 1957, the Newburgh business directory has his name spelled wrong, but lists is wife, Edith. It tells us he got out of the military and is now an assembler in Mahwah, NJ, but they live at 195 Linden Avenue, Newburgh.

195 linden ave Newburgh-New Windsor NY back of house Credit: Google Earth in 2019

195 linden ave Newburgh-New Windsor NY front of house Credit: Google Earth in 2019

However, the assembler job must not have lasted too long because by February 27, 1957 he has another date in the Veterans Affairs file as being employed as Other. Maybe he was a contractor is what we're thinking.

In 1958, the Newburgh business directory still has his name spelled wrong (Lewis) but still gives his wife's name. This time it has they have removed to Lincoln, Nebraska. Usually when it has removed it means they have moved to the town or state they've named. It was time to go looking at Nebraska.

The entry into the business directory in Newburgh for Louis (spelled Lewis) in 1958.

The Lincoln, Nebraska 1958 business directory has them down as Louis J and Edith Gauquie. He is working for the USAF (United States Air Force). Their home address is 4426 Baldwin Avenue, Lincoln, Nebraska. He's now 22 years old.

In 1959, 1960, and 1961 they are still there, according to the business directories, but are now living at 2701 North 27th Street, Lincoln Nebraska. He's still with the USAF. He's 23 years old.

Why Lincoln, Nebraska? There was a military base there called  Lincoln Air Force Base which is now(2019) known as Lincoln's Air Park West Industrial Zone.

"Throughout the 1950's Lincoln became a major Strategic Air Command base and a very powerful asset to American nuclear forces. Its B-47 complement would number above 100 at times before 1965 and news of missile deployment assured the area in 1958 that the base would be there long into the future. KC-97 tankers meanwhile stood a less famous mission but nonetheless made the B-47 medium bomber into a strategic one. The 20 aircraft of each squadron provided  support with its dual transport/refueling role. By 1959 an "Alert Force" concept came to dominate SAC's bomber operations in the face of the 1957 Sputnik incident and the now shortened warning time of a Soviet attack. Also in 1959, 2nd Air Force assumed jurisdiction over the base and the naming of several units would change from 1958 into 1962. Strategic missiles coming into the mix would cause institutional changes themselves. Lincoln Air Force Base would move into the 1960's a very large and strong strategic American air base." Source

Above shows you why they moved him to the area and how stable is employment was. The area was growing.

In 1961, Louis Jr and Edith welcome their second child, a daughter. The address listed is their home address as in the business directory. In my research, I believe her name is Deb, but this is not proven.

On October 3, 1964, his grandmother Bernice Jagodzinski/a died in Newburgh, NY. Louis Jr would have been 28 years old.

On May 4, 1967, his grandfather Apolonius Jagodzinski/a died in Manhattan, NY.  Louis Jr would have been 31 years old.

The death of his grandmother would have made him sad, but the death of his grandfather wouldn't have caused him any concern. No one really remembers their grandfather at all. My mother said she can remember her maternal aunts saying how mean he was, but this is unproven.

In 1968, we now have them in California. The business directory has them listed as living at 1912 San Benito St, Fairfield, CA. Louis Jr is still working with the USAF. He is now 32 years old.

Again, we have to ask why Fairfield, California if he's still working for the USAF? It was more than likely he was redeployed to Travis Air Force Base which is located here. Remember this is at the height of the Vietnam War.

"Travis would become known as the "Gateway to the Pacific" in its role as the principal military airlift hub in the western United States. Initially equipped with legacy C-124 Globemaster and C-133 Cargomaster aircraft from the 1501st, the year 1966 would also see the 60 MAW introduce the Air Force's new all-jet heavy airlifter, the C-141 Starlifter. In 1969, the 349th Military Airlift Wing (349 MAW) of the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) was also established as an "Associate" wing to the 60 MAW, with both units sharing the same aircraft and eventually seamlessly mixing flight crews, maintenance crews and other support personnel." Source

I don't know which group he was in or what/if he flew. I do know the base was one where many of the soldiers who fought in Vietnam actually flew into before being flown home based upon some reading I've done.

In 1970, 1971, , we have him listed with the same address and occupation. They do have a phone number of 3986.

In his Veterans Affairs file, he has he had enlisted once again on February 19, 1970 and had been released on August 31, 1974. He was 34 years old. After, I do not know what employment he had.

Jan 22 1975, his father, Louis Peter Gauquie, dies in Newburgh, New York due to mesothelioma. This was probably caused when he took up plumbing and/or cleaning out chimneys. This places Louis in Victorville, CA.

His father's obituary.

April 30, 1975 Vietnam War ends. South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam as North Vietnamese troops enter Saigon, ENDING the Vietnam conflict.

In 1977, his son Louis III has a son. He names him Vincent P Gauquie. He's born in San Bernardino California. He was 37 years old.

On June 12, 1980, his daughter Debra Gauquie graduates from Victor Valley Christian School, in San Bernardino. He was 40 years old.

What I believe to be his daughter Debra's graduation in the newspaper. 

On October 24, 1981, his daughter Debra marries Michael J Biles in San Bernardino, California. This is proven by marriage indexes. He was 41 years old.

On November 15, 1983, Louis III's son, Vincent dies. It lists Louis Jr and his wife's location as Victorville, CA. Louis Jr's son is living in Las Vegas, NV. He was 43 years old.

His grandson's obituary. He was aged 6.

On October 15, 1985, Louis Michael Gauquie, known as Louis III, is married in Clark, Nevada to Bonnie S Cook. He was 45 years old.

The US Phone and Address Directories have Louis Jr as living from 1994-1997 in Victorville, California. 

According to his Veterans file(above), Louis Jr dies on July 12, 1995. I would say he died in Victorville, California as this was his last place of residence. He would have been 55 years old. I have not been able to locate his obituary as yet.

His mother, Janet, would continue to live until 1999, when she passes away around Newburgh, New York according to the SSDI or Social Security Death Index. 

Me sitting down trying to figure out
what to write to Aunt Edith.
Credit: J. Fitzgerald

Earlier in 2019, I have used the last address I was able to track down of Aunt Edith's and wrote to her hoping she would write back, so I could reconnect with this side of the family. I would love to put
together more of Uncle Louis' puzzle and get to know any of the cousins I have on this side of the family.

As you can see, Louis Jr's life was made by moving around all over. The biggest part was when he joined the military, which sent him to the other side of the US and away from all his family. He had a very hard life with the moving but also with his father's work.