Wisdom Wednesday: Mystery Ladies

A mystery girl revealed?
So, we have this old family picture that's been hanging in my parents house as long as I can remember.

This is the picture.  The first time I remember talking to my Mom about it was back in the 90s...this was about when I started getting interested in genealogy.  I remember her telling me that many of the male Robinsons in this picture used to travel back to England when there was no work in Philadelphia.

The youngest child in this picture is a baby and was born in 1907, so I'd date it 1907-1908.  The couple in the middle are Mary Robinson (nee Crossley) and John Raynor Robinson.  They are my 2nd Great Grandparents and they moved to Philadelphia from England in 1868.  The rest are their children, the children's spouses and their children.  My mom had most of the people labeled (she and I had changed some as we learned more).  The exception being the 2 ladies on either side in the back row, they have always been unknown.  They are clearly dressed differently than the other women.  We had speculated that maybe they were servents, then chuckled about that idea!

So, the back row is: Unknown Girl, Thomas, Jonas, James, Mary Elizabeth and Unknown Girl
Middle Row:  Ida (wife of Thomas), Mary (wife of Jonas) with little Rayner on her lap, Mary and John Raynor, Lillian (wife of James) with Baby Howard on her lap, George Smith (husband of Mary Elizabeth).  Seated in front of Ida and Mary is James B Robinson (my grandfather's brother), on the stool next to him is Jonas and Mary's daughter, Rebecca, on the stool in the middle is Samuel Raynor (my grandfather), on the floor next to him is Lillian Smith, next to her is Mae(or Mary), they are Mary Elizabeth's children.

Well, I came across another picture while cleaning out my email.  And this one has an additional sibling in it.

Mary Lizzie, ?, Thomas, Lillie, Jonas, James, ?
Mary Elizabeth Robinson, ?, Thomas C Robinson (my great grandfather), Lilly Mae Robinson, Jonas Robinson, James H Robinson and John Raynor Robinson.  Lilly was born in 1889.  I'll guess she's about 3 or 4 here and say this photo was taken in about 1903.  I think this is the house they lived in on G Street in Kensington.  So, now I'm wondering if one of the gals on either end in the more formal picture is Lilly?  And is the other one another unknown sibling.  Everyone in that back row seems to be a child of John Raynor and Mary Robinson. So it makes sense to me that the 2 unknowns are also children of Mary and John Raynor and that perhaps they are dressed differently since they are unmarried.  Now, the question is...can I find a name for the other Robinson Girl.  The 1890 census would be so helpful here!  It's a shame it was mostly destroyed!  This picture also has an unknown woman, which could be Thomas wife, Ida, but it really doesn't look like her. I think Ida is very distinctive looking.  Maybe she's the other missing girl?

Tombstone Tuesday: Or lack there of?

Back at Christmastime, I posted about my 3rd Great Grandfather, Jonas Robinson, and what I thought was his grave:  Is That You, Jonas?  I have come to learn that the grave I took a picture of is not where Jonas is buried.  Not only that, but there's no gravestone at all!  I sent a donation to the organization that is maintaining the records for the cemetery (which is in serious disrepair) and in return they did some extra research for me, including taking a picture of the actual grave.

Jonas Robinson's Grave at Greenwood Cemetery

I suppose the item buried just above the plot could turn out to be his gravestone once it's unearthed.  I wonder how long it will take for the to start uprighting the gravestones?  I also have a list of about 100 other Robinsons buried in this cemetery to go through to figure out if they are family.

Talented Tuesday: The House that Grandpop Robinson Built

I come from a family full of tradesman.  My father started as a bricklayer, later added roofing to his repertoire and now operates as a general contractor.  His father, Samuel Raynor Robinson, was a bricklayer and builder, as well.  My brothers, uncles, cousins and great-grandfathers also work(ed) in the building trades.  Today, I have an example of my Grandpop's work to share.  He grew up in the Kensington section of Philadelphia.  After he married my grandmother, Lettie Mae, he bought some property out in the Fox Chase area and built a house for his family.


The house that Grandpop built in Fox Chase, about 1930

This is a picture of the house from my Grandmom's scrapbook.  It was taken around 1930ish.  Unfortunately, something "funny" happened with the bank and my Grandparents lost this house and ended up moving back to the Kensington/Port Richmond area before my father was born, but my aunts and uncles all lived in this house.

In the 1930 census, I found my grandaparents and my eldest uncle, Sam, living in this home.  It was the only house on the street.  There was an address in the census, so, my Dad and I decided to take a drive to try to locate it.  The problem was that when I mapped the address, 257 Roslyn St in Abington Township, there wasn't an exact match.  After staring at a map for a while and chatting with my Dad (He'd been by the house a few times over the years), we figured out that the road was now called Roseland Avenue in Rockledge and made a plan to go check it out.  We drove around a bit and successfully located the house, not only had the street changed names, but the number was different, as well!

The House that Grandpop Built, 2010

I tried to get a picture from roughly the same angle as the old picture.  It was really nice to see how well the house was cared for and that it's no longer the lonely house on the street!

The House that Grandpop built, 2010, looking loved.

Roughly 80 years old, this house is a job well done by Sam Robinson.

Is that you, Jonas?

The Hunt for Jonas Robinson (My 3rd Great Grandfather)

Me and Pop (and Jake and Emma and Ivan) made our rounds of the cemeteries today, with my new addition, Greenwood Cemetery.  I got a pretty detailed map from a member of the organization that volunteers to help maintain the grounds.  With that, I felt pretty confidant that we could find him (and the other 5 people buried with him).  We drove in past the newly remodeled main building and drove up to a "Receiving Vault"...that's something I've never seen before.  But it was clear that they are making changes to that.  We thought we drove up to about the right spot and got out to start wandering.  However, none of the section markers matched the map...at all!  So, I assume they are reassigning the sections, somehow.  We tried to work out roughly where his section should be and started hunting.  From afar, the cemetery looked well kept, but as we walked, we came across toppled over head stones, others so sunken into the ground that all that was visible was the very top. 

Robinson, Robinson, where is Robinson?  There it was.  And that's all that is says, "Robinson". 

No names, no dates.  A bit of a letdown.  I did wander around a bit more, but no other Robinsons to be found.  I guess I'll have to wait to confirm.  There are plans to reset all of the stones in the future.  You can see the top of at least one headstone in this picture.  I wonder if this is just the top the stone?  Maybe they will reopen the office soon and someone can help me locate it for sure.

The Hunt for Jonas Robinson

He should be easy to find.  He can't go anywhere.  He's been dead for 106 years!

Jonas Robinson was my 3rd Great Grandfather.  Jonas was the father of John Raynor Robinson. John was the father of Thomas Crossley Robinson.  Thomas was the father of Samuel Raynor Robinson.  Sam was the father of Raynor Elmer Robinson.  And Raynor is my dad.  Jonas was born in England and died in Philadelphia.  He moved his family to the US in 1868. 

So, anyway...I wanted to find his grave back at Easter time when I went to the cemeteries with my Dad.  We were going to Oakland Cemetery, which is right across the street from Greenwood.  So, I thought I'd look him up and go find his grave while we were out that way.  I searched for the cemetery and found that it was under renovations.  This is something I've never heard of, but it sounds like a great thing.  The downside is that:   a. There was no office to contact to find out where he is and b. They were not allowing visitations.  So, we made the rounds and I could see the work being done on the cemetery.  They were remodeling the main house on the property.  And I could see that the property really needed some cleaning up. 

Here's a photo of what it looked like:

Well, me and Dad are getting ready to make the rounds again.  Hopefully, this Christmas he doesn't just go do it without me.  We don't call him Quick Carl for nothing!  Based on what I read on the cemetery's website, it seems they are allowing visits, but there is still no office on the premises.  I did, however, find an email address for lookups.  I'm hopeful that they will get back to me and tell me where he is so that we can go find him. 

Maybe my next post will be a picture of his grave.  Wish me luck!

John H Dingler's Obituary

Dingler – Suddenly, on Aug. 29, 1914, JOHN H., husband of Mathilda Dingler, nee Ferguson.  Relatives and friends of the family, also police of the Tenth, Fifth and Twenty-sixth districts are invited to attend funeral services, at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday, at his late residence, 2643 Janney Street, interment at North Cedar Hill Cemetery.

John H. Dingler was my 2nd Great Grandfather.  He was the father of my Dad's Grandmother, Lettie Mae Dingler, AKA Mom Black, mother of Lettie Mae Black Robinson, my Dad's Mom.  This obituary halped me find Matilda(Tillie)'s family.  I didn't have her maiden name before I found this.

Funeral Card Friday: Samuel Raynor Robinson, 1899-1980


Samuel Raynor Robinson,
December 29th, 1899 - October 2nd, 1980

Front of Funeral Card

Back of Funeral Card

 

This is the funeral card for my Grandpop Robinson.  I was 7 when he died, and didn't attend the funeral.  I remember him fondly.

Finding James B Robinson

James Benjamin Robinson.  I grew up calling him Uncle Pete.  He was my Dad's Paternal Uncle.  I got to thinking about him the other day, while Jake was playing his harmonica at my Dad's house.  My Dad grabbed it and played a song for them.  I thought of Uncle Pete.  He always had his harmonica.  I can picture him sitting on the couch in my parents living room at Christmas time, jamming on the harmonica (if that's possible).  He was really into it!
The mystery that I'm trying to resolve is:  Who did Uncle Pete live with after his father passed away?
I've been told for years that he was raised by Ida's sister, Mabel.  My dad and mom had told me years ago that Uncle Pete was raised by an Aunt.  Never any mention of the father having passed away.  My Dad didn't know how young the brothers were when their father passed, so he just thought they didn't have the money to keep him.  Which is likely true, except that it was due to the fact that Thomas died.

The family consisted of Ida Alice Mason, AKA Mom Kuster (she later remarried), Thomas Crossley Robinson were the parents.  They had my grandfather, Samuel Raynor Robinson in 1898 and his brother James Benjamin Robinson in 1901.  They lived in the Kensington section of Philadelphia on G Street.  Hopefully it was a better place to be back then!  Thomas passed away in 1911, the death certificate says it was from Epilepsy with mental derangement as a contributing factor, when Samuel was 14 and James was 10.  I've been told that at this point James had to live with Ida's sister, Mabel.  Ida couldn't afford to keep both children.  It is my guess that Samuel was probably working already at the age of 14, so he was contributing some income.  I can't find any evidence of the split of the brothers, however, due to the time frame.  It all falls right smack in the middle of 2 censuses.  In 1910, They all lived with Thomas' mother, Mary,  at 3439 G Street (I suspect Thomas was sick at the time).  In February of 1911, based on the Death Certificate they lived at 807 Schiller Street.  By 1920, the next census year, Ida was remarried to Henry Benhart (unsure of spelling) Kuster, AKA Ben Kuster and both children were living with them at 3546 G Street.

So, this leaves me with my mystery...did Uncle Jim live with his Aunt Mabel?  My Dad and his brother Sam both recall this, however, Aunt Grace does not.  She tends to have the best memory about all of the Robinson family stories.  So, my Dad asked me to see if I could figure out if this is true or not!  So far, I cannot come up with a way to verify this.

Uncle Jim never married.  He was sent to Denver, Colorado by General Electric or Westinghouse to do electrical work there.  As far as we know, he worked for them until he retired.  While living out west, he developed a love of the rodeo.  I am unsure whether he just liked to watch or if he participated.

I wonder where I'll find him in the 1940 census when it's released next year.  It will likely take a while to find him, since it will not be indexed right away!!

Motivation Monday: Spring Cleaning

Talk about Spring Cleaning!  This is my Grandmom, Lettie Mae (Black) Robinson, washing her beautiful marble steps at their house on Cedar Street in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, PA!  She was a wonderful woman and I miss her.  For some reason I thought about this picture today and thought I'd share it.  Not sure if it will motivate me, but it made me smile!

Fearless Females: Day 8: Diary or Journal

Did one of your female ancestors leave a diary, journal, or collection of letters? Share an entry or excerpt.

I don't have a diary, but I do have scrapbooks from both of my grandmothers.  They just collected some special newspaper clippings and things like that.  My Granny Smyczynski had a lot of cards and cute little notes from Grandpop.  Also some clippings from my mom's school papers and her brother, Lenny's military and work achievements.  Then later stuff from and about my siblings and I.  Grandmom Robinson had a lot of girl scout items, some work papers and military papers for my Grandfather and my Uncles.

This is from Granny's Book:

This is a clipping from the newsletter for my mother's high school, Nazareth Academy.  They were very proud of her achievements.





This is from Grandmom Robinson's Book:

This is a War Service Certificate for my Grandfather, Samuel Raynor Robinson.  He served in WWI, from 1917 - 1919 in the Navy.

Fearless Females: Day 5: Meeting

How did they meet? You’ve documented marriages, now, go back a bit. Do you know the story of how your parents met? Your grandparents?

Raynor Elmer Robinson meets Constance Helena Smyczynska

I will never forget a conversation that I had with my father shortly after my mother passed away.  We were going through old photo albums as I was putting together a slideshow to play at the viewing.  He and my mother met in the mid 50s.  He said he walked into my grandparents (mom's parents) candy store. There was a girl playing pinball.  She was pretty and she could play pinball better than most guys.  He said "She was the girl for me."  That girl was my mother.


Raynor Robinson and Constance Smyczynski



Fearless Females: Day 2: Photo

This is "Mom Kuster" along with my Aunt Norma and Uncle Sam.  Her name was Ida Alice Mason Robinson Kuster.  She was my Great Grandmother.  My Father's Father's Mother.  This was taken at the house that my Grandfather, Samuel Raynor Robinson built in Fox Chase. She is one of my favorites!  PS - The names were written on by my late Mommy!

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Can't you smell that smell?

Sounds - Describe any sounds that take you back to your childhood.  These could be familiar songs, jingles, children playing, or something entirely different.

I tend to be a pretty music oriented person, so I'm going to go with a song (or a couple).  As I was deciding what to write about, I got to thinking about my childhood.  I am the youngest of 4 children.  My closest sibling, Scott, is 7 years older.  Then, my sister, Donna Rae, is 13 years older and my other brother, no, not Darrell, Raynor, is 14 years older.  I grew up in a couple hundred year old farmhouse in Trevose, PA and my siblings all took their turn living on the third floor (the converted attic).  While, I, AKA Pretty Pretty Princess, lived in the one real bedroom, other than my parents.  When it was my turn to get the attic room, Pretty Pretty Princess got an air conditioner installed!

Anywho, what popped into my mind was the sound of my brother Raynor's stereo coming down the 3rd floor stairs...specifically, Lynyrd Skynyrd!  I have a love of classic rock, that stems from hearing all 3 of my siblings' music.  But, I can clearly hear That Smell, in my mind, playing!  I was under the age of 12.  He then married, so I know it was before then. 

This then made me recall another fond memory of a Lynyrd Skynyrd song, Gimme Three Steps.  I am pretty sure that is my brother, Scott's favorite song.  This memory is from when I was a bit older, but still, everytime I hear that song I think of him singing it karaoke or even dancing when we were both out at the bars together. 

I thank all three of them for leaving their vinyl home when they left.  I added it to my collection, part of which is decorating our music room and bar!

Photo Correction Skills

So, today I am working on my photo correction skills.  I have so many old photos, I can't continue to ask my friend to correct them all for me!  So here it goes.  I just downloaded a free photo editing program, called gimp.  It's produced by a company called GNU.  In my previous life as a software engineer, my workplace used several products from this company. 

My Dad (Raynor E Robinson)
at my Mom's Bridal Shower in 1958 (isn't he cute?)

First, I must select a photo.  This one just needs a little bit of help.  There's a little bit of a crease on the trim of the doorway behind him.  I also see a mark of some sort near his left eye.  It also looks a bit washed out, but I'm not sure if I will be able to fix that, I've never been terribly good at that!  I guess we shall see!





Dad's Picture, corrected.


Well, here it is.  I think it looks better.  A very subtle change, but it's a start.  At least I didn't mangle it!  When I zoomed in really closely, I saw a, for lack of a better word, bubble in his hair that I removed.  I think I'm happy with this, I have some really old ones that need much more help! (Baby Steps)



Lettie Mae Black and Samuel Raynor Robinson Wedding Photo

This is a wedding picture from My Grandmom and Grandpop Robinson's Wedding Day.  They were married on September 12th of 1923 in Philadelphia.  I have a version of this photo, hanging in my dining room, without the Maid of Honor and Best Man in it.  I am not too sure who they are.  My Dad and I think that the maid may be my Grandmom's Best friend, Margaret Esmond, but in the pictures that we have of her, she is older, so it's hard to tell.  I have no clue about him, I'll have to ask my Aunt.  The happy couple are Lettie Mae Black and Samuel Raynor Robinson.  The flower girl is Lettie's niece, Grace Mae Miller (Hughes).  She is the daughter of Lettie's sister, Eurella Black Miller.  She and her husband, Albert lived behind my childhood home in Trevose.  I am told that he built that house and the house around the corner that their son Albert and his family still live in, along with another house nearby for another of their children (that I don't know).  I had a picture taken on my wedding day with this and a picture of my Mom's parents in the background.  I love both pictures!

Matilda "Tillie" Dingler Murphy

Tillie was my Paternal 2nd Great Grandmother.  She was born in Ocober of 1859.  She was my father's (Raynor Robinson), mother's (Lettie Mae Black), mother's (Lettie Mae Dingler) Mother.  Can you follow that?

I am unsure of Tillie’s maiden name.  The first record that I’ve found of her is the 1880 census.  She was married to John H Dingler by this point.  They had a daughter named Lettie Mae (Letta in the census record).  John was a police officer for the city.  They resided at 2314 Commerce Street.

Unfortunately, most of the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, so I am unable to locate them there!

They lived at 2508 Moyer Street in 1900 and at this point Lettie was married and no longer living with them.  Elmer and James lived at home; they were 12 and 15 working as laborers at a pottery company.

In 1910, Tillie lived at 2328 E. Firth Street alone with a boarder (Charles Miller).  Her husband John lived with his parents.  John is listed as single in the 1910 census and Tillie is listed as widowed.  I think it was common for women to be listed as widowed when they were divorced!  Why did they divorce??

John passed away in 1914, from a self inflicted gun shot wound to the head.   Death certificate also says “suicide while temp deranged”.   At the time that John died, Tillie and John lived at 2634 Jeanney St.  Did they get back together since 1910!?  Tillie remarried in 1918 to William Murphy.

In 1920, Tillie and William lived at 2639 Aramingo Avenue.  William was 11 years younger than Tillie.  He was a boilermaker at the shipyard.  They rented this home.  My Dad tells me that boilermaker's were big drinkers...hence the drink name!!

In 1930, Tillie and William owned a home at 2435 Ann Street.

I look forward to the release of the 1940 census, some time next year!  Hopefully I will find them there!

All along, Matilda’s parents are listed as being from Ireland.  I need to find the marriage certificate for her and John Dingler in the hopes of finding her maiden name.

My Dad and Aunt Norma have told stories of Tillie living or visiting with Lettie Mae and Mervyn (Mom and Pop Black) on Aramingo Avenue.

My Dad guesses that she died around 1944, but I am unsure.  I cannot locate a death certificate.

Ida Alice Mason Robinson Kuster (Mom Kuster)

October 1877 – About 1945

Ida was born in Pennsylvania, most likely in Philadelphia.  Her parents, Samuel and Sarah were born in England.

The first record of her, that I have found, is the 1880 census.  Ida Mason was 4 when the census was taken on June 9th, 1880.  She lived with her family at 1923 Emma Street.  Based on a quick search, Emma street no longer exists.  However, if I look at previous pages in the census, I would say it was around Dauphin Street and Germantown Avenues.  Her brother, Joseph was two years old and George was only one month old.  Her father worked in a Woolen Mill.



Ida with Thomas, Samuel and James



She married Thomas C Robinson in about 1898.  My grandfather, Samuel Raynor Robinson,  was born in 1899.  In 1900, they lived on G Street, near Venango, they owned this house.  My grandfather, Samuel was 5 months old at the time of the census.   Thomas’ parents lived on G Street as well, at address 3439.  James B Robinson, whom I knew as Uncle Pete, was born in 1901.

 

Ida is pictured here with the Robinson Clan.
She is leftmost in the middle row.



I have been told that the family traveled back and forth to England together.  This included Thomas and Ida’s family, his siblings and their families and his parents, John and Mary.  They went to England to work in the winters.  Thomas was a bricklayer, as were his father and brothers.



Lettie Mae and Ida
in Atlantic City



When the 1910 census was taken, Thomas’ father, John Raynor had passed and Thomas, Ida, Samuel and James moved in with Mary (Thomas’ mother).  Thomas’ younger sister, Lillie M and her husband, Harry, lived there as well!  That was a fullhouse!  Thomas' sister Mary Lizzie lived next door at 3441 G Street. 

Thomas died February 21^st, 1911.  When he passed, they lived at 807 Shiller Street.  The death certificate states that he died of epilepsy with a contributing factor of mental derangement!



Sam, Jimmy, Norma and Grace with Ida



Sometime after Thomas passed, Ida married Henry Benhard Kuster, known as Ben Kuster.  In 1920, they lived at 3546 G Street.  Ida’s children, Samuel and James, lived with them.  Ben was a carpenter and had come to the US from France when he was 10.  

Mom Kuster with Uncle Sam
and Aunt Norma
Fox Chase



By 1930, Ida and Ben lived at 3029 Cedar Street.  Ben built this house.  They lived there with a "Roomer" by the name of Joseph P. Little.  For whatever reason, Ben is listed at 3031 Cedar, however this was a garage.   The property as a whole was worth $20,000 at the time.  The story craziest story that I've heard about Ben pertains to his car.  My father and his siblings were young when he was still alive.  In fact, my dad barely remembers him.  He would "electrify" his car by hooking it to the light somehow.  If the kids touched the car, they would get shocked!  WOW!



Mom Kuster, Mom Black and Bill?
Grandmom Robinson at Fox Chase

After Ben passed away, Ida lived at 3029 Cedar Street for a while but she couldn’t keep up with it financially.  Her sons, Sam and Jim took over the home and moved Ida to Sargeant Street.   Sam and his family lived in the Cedar Street house.  When the 1940 census is released, I will search for Ida.  I hope it doesn't proove to be as difficult as finding her in the 1930 census was. 

I have been unable to determine the exact date of Ida's death but it is estimated at about 1945.  I have been looking at these pictures of Ida more closely lately, I would guess she had a pretty tough life, but she sure looks like she knew how to laugh!