Scherrer Family

A few weeks ago I went with a friend to the Washington State Genealogical Society’s Conference in Port Angeles, Washington. We spent some time going through the antique shops. One shop had a collection of old photos. I scanned through them and came across the following photo:

The back of the photo had the following information:
G.P. Scherrer 1st /1851
G.P. Scherrer 2nd Born 9/25/86
Louise ” ” 10/25/84
Augusta ” ” 11/11/60
Came from Germany
G.P. Scherrer 1st came Chicago ILL when he was 12 years old. Had a twin brother name Jacob who had a boy & girl – Granite City, ILL.
Moved to Lincoln, Nebr.
Move to Butte, Mont about 1891
” ” Colfax, Wash about 1912 G.P. Jr
Died in Coflax, Wash April 18, 1914

I was intrigued by this photo and the amount of detail transcribed. I purchased it for $1. It had sat in my conference notebook until this morning when I decided to do a little research on the Scherrer family. Here is what I uncovered.

No immigration records were found for George Scherrer. He first appears in the 1880 U.S. Federal Census in Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska working as a carpenter. No records could be found to verify that he went to Chicago first. If as the photo details, he immigrated at age 12, he would have come to the U.S. in the early 1860s.  Further research will need to be done to determine if there are any records to put George in Chicago in the 1860s.

On November 12, 1883 George married Augusta Krone, daughter of H.W. Krone and Louisa Seivers, in Lincoln. On October 25, 1884 the couple welcomed daughter Louise. In the 1885 Nebraska State Census, the family is found in Lincoln. George is listed as a butcher. Living with them is Augusta’s mother Louisa and a 27 year old woman name L. Hart who is listed as a sister. It is not known if this was a sister of George or of Augusta.

On September 25, 1886 George Jr. is welcomed into the family.

Sometime after the birth of George Jr. the family left Lincoln and settled in Butte, Montana. The earliest city directory that could be found in Butte was 1899 where George is listed as a butcher living at 348 East Granite.   By the 1904 city directory, the family had moved to 216 W. Gelena. They would reside in this house until George and Augusta moved to Washington State. The exact date of the move is unknown.  The last Butte city directory that the couple appear is 1911.  The back of the photo seems to indicate that George Jr. moved to Colfax in 1912 but does not list any source for that information.

On April 18, 1914 George Sr. passed away at the age of 62 in Colfax, Whitman Washington.

Augusta is found living with George Jr.’s family in the 1920 and 1930 census in Spokane, Washington.  On November 2, 1937 Augusta passed away at the age of 77. Her death record lists her father as Frederick which is different than what is listed on her marriage record.

Their daughter Louise is not found in 1920 and 1930 census with the rest of Scherrer family.  She passed away in July 1976 in Spokane. It is unknown when she arrived in the city.

Death information for George Jr. and his wife Emma could not be located. They did have at least two sons. Their first son, Frederick George was born on Nov. 5, 1914 and on September 11, 1918 Robert Hamet was born.

I would love to know how this photo ended up in a antique shop in Port Angeles. Did George Jr. or Louise or their descendants move to the Port Angeles from eastern Washington? Did the antique dealer pick up an estate sale in his travels or on Ebay? I would love to return this photo to any descendants of this couple out. If you or someone you know has this family in your tree, please send me an email and I would be happy to mail this photo to you.

Sources:

“Nebraska, Marriages, 1855-1995,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X5ZF-9BG : accessed 23 Sep 2012), George Scherrer and Augusta Krone, 12 Nov 1883.

National Archives and Records Administration; Nebraska State Census; Year: 1885; Series/Record Group: M352; County: Lancaster; Township: Lincoln; Page: 24

United States Federal Census
Year: 1880; Census Place: Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska; Roll: 751; Family History Film: 1254751; Page: 136D; Enumeration District: 229; Image: 0457.Year: 1900; Census Place: Butte Ward 3, Silver Bow, Montana; Roll: 914; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 107; FHL microfilm: 1240914.
Year: 1910; Census Place: Butte Ward 6, Silver Bow, Montana; Roll: T624_836; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0108; Image: 882; FHL microfilm: 1374849.
Year: 1920; Census Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington; Roll: T625_1940; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 160; Image: 875.
Year: 1930; Census Place: Spokane, Spokane, Washington; Roll: 2518; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 95; Image: 310.0; FHL microfilm: 2342252.

Butte, Montana City Directories 1899-1911 Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 (Beta) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

George Scherrer Death Record. Washington State Death Certificate Index 1907-1960 http://digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/0EF65571BA0CAD42704DA059BD523496

August Sacherrer Death Record. Ancestry.com. Washington, Deaths, 1883-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.

Ancestry.com. Washington, Births, 1883-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Forest Lyman Berry 1892-1968

Forest Lyman Berry was born on March 18, 1892 to John and Martha Berry in Sedalia, Missouri.   He joined older sisters Iva and Audrey and an older brother Harley.  The growing family is found in the 1900 U.S. Census still living in Sedalia. A younger sister Lora joined the family around  1893. By the 1910 census, Iva had moved out of the house but the rest of the children were still living with John and Martha.  Forest’s older sister Audrey’s husband Albert Lacky was living with the family as well.  On October 14, 1912, Forest married Elsie F. Smith. According to the marriage certificate, Elsie was under 18 at the time of the wedding but her father G. A. Smith gave his consent.  Their first daughter, Evelyn, was born between 1913-1914. A second daughter, Cecil, was born between 1915-1916. By 1918, he had found work with the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railway as a fireman on Locomotive23.  The family is found still living with Forest’s mother and father in the 1920 census.   The family moved from Sedalia to Seattle sometime before the 1930 census.  In this census, Forest is no longer working for the railroad but is working as a laborer for a poultry house.  He changed careers again by the time of the World War II draft in 1942 when he is listed as working for the Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation.  Forest passed away on July 7, 1968 in Puyallup, Washington and is buried at Bonney-Watson in Seatac, Washington. Forest’s wife Elsie passed away two years and was laid to rest next to Forest in Bonney-Watson.

To view a map with the location of Forest Berry’s grave, visit: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/73832609

Sources:
1900-1930 United States Federal Census
Missouri Marriage Certificate
World War I Registration Card
World War II Registration Card
Social Security Death Index
Death Announcement – Seattle Times. July 9, 1968 page 30

 

Graveyard Rabbit’s blog

Graveyard Rabbit-Meet Amber Brock Case, author of “Cryptpeeper”

I was honored to be featured on the Graveyard Rabbit’s blog this week. Thank you Sheri for spotlighting my blog.  Welcome everyone who found this blog through the Graveyard Rabbit’s site. I hope you enjoy my blog!

Wilbur William Scruby 1883-1964

Wilbur William Scruby was born on March 31, 1883 in Wheeling, Livingston, Missouri to Frank Scruby and Anna Belle Fenstermacher.  He was the middle child of three children. He had an older sister, Nina Bella and a younger brother Charles A.  The family moved to Chillicothe, Missouri where he spent his childhood.  In 1901, Wilbur found work as clerk in the office of the auditor of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in St. Joseph, Missouri.  In 1903 he entered a career in banking at the National Bank of Commerce in Kansas City.   Only a year later in April 1904, Wilbur moved to Seattle and found a job in the officer of the city treasurer, S.F. Rathbun.  Wilbur’s brother moved to Seattle in 1908 and both found positions with the Washington Trust Co.  When the Washington Trust Co. was absorbed by the Dexter Horton National Banks the brother continued their careers. In the 1910 census, the brothers are found living as boarders in the house of Charles A. Thorndike.  In 1912, he married Katherine Hemrich, the daughter of Andrew and Amelia Hemrich.

Wilbur and Katherine welcomed their first child on April 2, 1915 when Amelia Katherine is born.

 In December 1918, Wilbur was promoted to assistant cashier. The picture on the left is from the announcement of the promotion featured in Seattle Times on Monday, December 2, 1918.  Later that month, Wilbur’s second daughter, Annabella was born.  The young family is found in the 1920 census living at 3907 McCellen Street.  Also living with the family is Katherine’s widow mother, Amelia. That same year, Wilbur received a promotion to cashier at Dexter Horton and Charles Scruby leaves Seattle and settles in Los Angeles, California.   Wilbur Jr. is born on January 22, 1924.  Wilbur received another promotion at Dexter Horton in 1927 when he is elected vice president.  He continued this position when Dexter Horton and other banks are consolidated into Seattle First National Bank in 1929.  His position with Dexter Horton allowed his family to take vacations and socialize with the affluent social circle. The Seattle Times calls his wife Katherine ‘one of Seattle’s most popular society matrons’ and details the many afternoon teas, lunches, and other social events hosted by the couple. In May 1930, Wilbur took his wife and daughter Amelia for a 1 month trip to New York.  That same year we find the family in the federal census residing in the family home at 3907 McCellen Street. Living in the house with the family is Jane Craigen, their private servant.  Wilbur’s mother-in-law is no longer living in the house with the family but has moved in next door.  His daughter Amelia was the talk of the town when she married Edward M. Argersinger in a lavish fall wedding. Wilbur faced tragedy in 1938 when his only son Wilbur Jr. passed away at the age of 15 after being admitted to the hospital with a streptocci infection.  In 1939, the family enjoyed a 3 week vacation to Alaska where they stayed on a dude ranch just outside Wrangell, Alaska.  Another tragedy was faced by the family in May 1944 when Wilbur’s daughter Amelia lost her twin infant daughters to atropine poising only two months after being born.  In 1947, Wilbur was named an honorary state senator for his 32 years of work as a lobbyist for the State Banking Association.  A year later, he retired as vice president of the Seattle First National Bank after 40 years.  In March 1950, Wilbur and his wife paid a visit to his brother in California where all three were involved in a head on collision. Wilbur suffered two broken ribs and his wife sustained severe cuts.  Only 4 months later, Charles Scruby passed away in Hollywood, California. It is unknown if this was from injuries sustained in the car accident or from other causes.  Not much of Wilbur’s later life is documented. On November 18, 1964 he passed away at the age of 81 in a Seattle hospital.  In his obituary, it noted that in addition to his career at First National, he was also “a director and vice president of the Marion Realty Co. here and of C.E. Blackwell & Co. Okanogan ; a director and treasurer of Lawyers Title Insurance Corp., Seattle  and a director of the First Realty Corp., Seattle. He was past president of the Rainer Club and treasurer-emeritus of the Nile Temple of the Shrine.”  He left behind his wife Katherine, his two daughters Annabelle Crandall and Amelia Argersinger, his sister Nina, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.  He is buried in Lake View Cemetery in his wife’s family plot.

Sources:
United States Federal Census. Year: 1900; Census Place: Chillicothe Ward 2, Livingston, Missouri; Roll: T623_872; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 93.

United States Federal Census. Year: 1910; Census Place: Seattle Ward 7, King, Washington; Roll: T624_1661; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0144; Image: 124; FHL Number: 1375674.

United States Federal Census. Year: 1920;Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: T625_1930; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 297; Image: 409.

United States Federal Census. Year: 1930; Census Place: Seattle, King, Washington; Roll: 2502; Page: 44A; Enumeration District: 193; Image: 754.0.

World War I Registration Card. Registration Location: King County, Washington; Roll: 1991930; Draft Board: 10.

Unites States Son of the American Revolution Membership Applications. Volume 344; SAR Membership Number 68712

The Seattle Sunday Times. Wilbur Scruby and Katherine Hemrich Engagement Announcement. July 14, 1912. Pg. 4

Seattle Daily Times. ’W.W. Scruby Named By Directors Assistant Cashier of Dexter Horton National Bank of Seattle’  December 2, 1918. Pg. 13

The Seattle Sunday Times. ‘Amelia Scruby will marry Mr. Argersinger’. October 6, 1935 Third Section. Pg.1

Seattle Daily Times.  ‘W.W. Scruby’s Son, 14, Dies in Hospital’ November 10, 1938.

The Seattle Times. ‘Twins’ Death Cause Revealed’ May 28, 1944. Pg. 2

The Seattle Times. ‘W.W. Scruby, 81, Retired Banker, Dies’ November 18, 1965. Pg. 73

History of Seattle: From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Volume III. S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. 1916. Pgs. 136-37

Alice Clarissa Joy Pinney

     Alice Clarissa Joy was born on December 13, 1879 in Springsport, Jackson, Michigan to Ben A. Joy and Clarissa Ferris.  She was the youngest child in a family of 4 girls.  Alice followed in her oldest sister M. Grace’s footsteps and went to Albion College.  After graduating from Albion in 1898, she continued her studies by completing a post graduate study at the state university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She earned a Masters of Arts in June 1900.   
     She married Henry Louis Pinney on September 9, 1902 and the couple settled in Cass City, Michigan. By 1910, the pair had moved to Seattle, Washington. The 1910 United States Federal Census shows the couple living at 1910 Alder Street in Seattle with their young daughter Gertrude. Gertrude was born on March 10, 1909 and was the couple’s second daughter. Their first daughter arrived on April 9, 1908 stillborn. Their third daughter, Grace Joy, was born on September 12, 1912.  In Febuary 1914, Grace came down with whopping cough and died shortly there after.  Later that same year, Alice gave birth to Doris Hope on November 4.  Their only son, Edmund Joy, was born on August 19, 1917.  Their sixth and final child, Barbara was welcomed on August 2, 1919. In the 1920 United States federal census, the family is found living at 1430 35th Ave at Seattle. 
    Alice’s life was cut short when she passed away on Christmas Eve 1926 at the age of 46.  She was laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery next to her daughters who preceeded her in death.

Sources:
United States Federal Census – 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920
Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Michigan Friday March 6, 1914 pg. 1
Deland, Charles. Deland’s History of Jackson County, Michigan. B.F. Bowen. 1903
Alice Joy Pinney Obituary. Seattle Times. December 24, 1926 pg.16
Ancestry.com. Washington Births, 1891-1907 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

John Waddell

John Waddell was born October 3, 1714 in Dover, England.  Details on his immigration to the United States are not known but according to marriage records he married Anne Kirton on Nov. 30, 1736 in the chapel in Fort George, New York. This was located at the southern tip of Manhattan.   Anne was the daughter of Ann Hony and William Kirten.  Between the years of 1737 and 1738, Waddell was enrolled as part of Capt. Van Horne’s foot company militia. After this time, Waddell became a merchant and spent his time sailing between London and New York City. Newspaper records showed he sailed ships by the names of Oswego and Dover.  The Dover is ‘said to have been built at the foot of that street in New York, this occasion given rise  to the name of that street’ (Jordan, 800).  

Google Map of Dover Street

John and his wife had 7 children.

William -July 16, 1737 – ?
John – August 7, 1739 – December 3,1771
Mary – September 28, 1741-1789  (married John Taylor)
Henry – December 4, 1744-January 20, 1811
Ann – October 30, 1748 – Feb 13, 1816 (married Eleazer Miller, Jr. & John Taylor)
Sarah – Febraury 14, 1750 (died young)
George – November 15, 1752 – 1767
Sarah – December 5, 1755 – ? (married Joseph Taylor)

During his lifetime, he was a warden to the port of New York, a founding member of  St. Andrew’s Society of New York, and a orginal subscriber to the New York Society Library.  He died prior to the library’s establishment but his wife stepped in his place and her name appears on the document of incorporation by George III. 

John died in New York City on May 29, 1762 and is buried in the Trinity Churchyard in Manhattan.  The New York Historical Society has a painting of  John and Anne Waddell in their collection. 

John Waddell
Anne Waddell

Sources:
Jordan, John W. 1978. Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania: genealogical and personal memoirs. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co.

MacBean, William M. 1911. Roster of Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York: with biographical data. Part 1, From its organization to the end of the American Revolution : 1756-1783. New York: The Society.  Accessed at http://www.archive.org/details/roster01stan

Public Advertiser (London) April 13, 1762
Whitehall Evening Post (London) Sept. 12, 1749

Isaac Newton England 1870-1904



Lucinda Haun married Joseph England when she was around 16 years old in 1867. By the age of 19, she is found in the 1870 census with her husband and two young boys.  Elijah is 2 years old and Isaac Newton was born in Janauary of that year.

Isaac loses his mother Lucinda at early age. By 1880, Joseph is listed as a widow and has a household of 4 boys: Fred (age 11),  Newton (age 10), Ruben (age 7), and Harry (age 3). From the age of Harry, we can guess that Lucinda passed away between 1877 and 1880.  She is not found in the 1880 mortality census. 

Isaac marries a woman by the name of Sarah. Her maiden name was not located.  The couple has 4 children, 3 who survive infancy. Gladys is born in August 1894, Gertrude is born in August 1895, and Joseph Newton was born in July 1898. Given the span between Gertrude and Joseph, it is believed that the child listed on their headstone Florence was born sometime between 1896 and 1898. No records were found for baby Florence.

Isaac was a housekeeper at a rooming house at 1009 Powell Street in San Franscico. On the 1900 census, he is living with his wife and children at this location.

At the age of 34, Isaac passes away and leaves behind his family. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, Calfornia.  Sarah Esther England, his wife, passed away in 1958 and is buried with her husband and infant daughter Florence.

Records:
United States Federal Census 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910
California Voter Registrations, 1900, San Francsico
California Marriages, 1850-1877 (Ancestry)