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.

Wedding Wednesday: Elmer J Black and Alberta M Franks

I found this last year.  It's the Marriage Record for my Dad's aunt and uncle.  Elmer was his Mom's (Lettie Mae Black) brother.  I remember Aunt Bert and Uncle Elmer, he died in 1989 and Aunt Bert died in 1999.  They didn't have an easy life, 5 of their 6 children died before they did.  I remember spending time with them when we would visit my grandparents.  They were both very sweet!

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Date and Place of Marriage:
Sept 30, 1928, 5 PM
Wilmington, NC (New Castle), Del

GROOM
Full Name:  Elmer J Black
Present Residence:  Phil, Pa
Age at Last Birthday: 22
Color or Race: White
Occupation:  Mechanic
Nativity: State or Country: Pa
Single, Widowed or Divorced: Single is marked.
Groom's Father, Nativity: Mervyn, Pa
Groom's Mother, Nativity: Lettie M, Pa
Number of Groom's Marriage: First

BRIDE
Full Name:  Alberta M Franks
Present Residence: Dover, Del
Age at last Birthday: 21
Color or Race: White
Nativity: Pa
Single, Widowed, Divorced: Single is marked.
Bride's Maiden Name is widowed or divorced:
Bride's Father, Nativity:  Francis J, Pa
Bride's Mother, Nativity: Mary, Pa
Number of Bride's Marriage: First

Minister signature: Abram S Woodard, Minister
Residence: Wil, NC, Del

Witnesses:
Jas F Dingler, Phila, Pa
Anna M Dingler, ""

Filed: Oct 2 1928, Signed by Resistrar, Fred F Armstrong
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The witnesses are a relation of some sort, as they share a last name with Elmer's mother, who was born Lettie Mae Dingler.  They may have been Lettie's brother and Sister-in-law.  However, I have him as Walter James Ferguson Dingler, but he may have gone by James (his WWI Draft registration leave out the Walter and Ferguson.  Ferguson was his mother's maiden name.

Uncle Frank Samsel, WWII Veteran

Well, I should have posted this yesterday, but I was a bit preoccupied.  So, better late than never. 

In honor of Pearl Harbor Day (yesterday), this is a picture of one of my relatives who served in WWII. 

This picture was labeled "Corsica, March 3, 1944, Frank Samsel, 3rd from left".  Francis I. Samsel was my Granny's brother, My mom's uncle.  I don't know a whole lot about him, but that he was the son of immigrant parents.  His mother and father came to the United States from Poland at the turn of the century.  Frank was the 2nd youngest of 9 children.  Although, if memory serves me correctly, my Granny mentioned that she had several siblings that died at a very young age.  The WWII record that I found for him states that he was Enlisted in the Army on 27 August 1942 in Philadelphia to the Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA.  It also states that he was only educated to grammar school.  He was single without dependants.  For occuption it just states:  "Unskilled public service occupations, n.e.c.".  He was 5' 5" and 117 pounds.  I'm unsure how long he was enlisted, but I'm proud of him, nonetheless!

Thanks to Uncle Frank and to all those who served and continue to serve our country.

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.