A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME ..


Wecome to Bertha's Bed and Breakfast. Come on in .. grab a cup of Coffee and one of Bertha's delicious Cinnamon Rolls .. they're fresh out of the oven .. ummmmm .. can't you just smell them!!! Sit down .. relax .. and read about my adventures in finding my ancestors.

This will be a work in progress as I will be posting articles I typed and information I have found since I began this delightful search back in the year 2004. The stories will be posted as I originally typed them .. and some will have more pictures and information added as I go along.

I hope you enjoy taking this journey back in time with me!!








Saturday, February 13, 2010

PROOF OF DESCENDANCY

THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS AT THIS TIME!!!!

PROOF OF DESCENDANCY OF JOSEPH DONALD AND DOLLIE A. VOUGHT McCURDY

My mother, Leona Mae Shrider Grissom, is the daughter of Levi and Etta Blanche McCurdy Shrider and the granddaughter of Joseph Donald and Dollie Vought McCurdy. Mom knew very little about her mother’s family as she was only 13 years old when her mother died. There had been a big upset in Blanche’s family and the only family members her mother ever talked about were her brothers, Arthur and Ernest and a sister, Esther. She did remember that Blanche’s mother’s name was Dollie. She thought Dollie’s last name was Bowen. She has also told us that her mother went to Ohio and brought Arthur’s daughter, Helen, back to live with them when her mother died and that when Arthur remarried and she took Helen back to live with him it broke her mother’s heart. When the family went to Ohio they always visited Uncle Arthur and his children, Helen and Richard. That is the information I had when I started out on this quest to get to know my ancestors.

Census records, obituaries and news articles are typed as they were originally written .. mistakes and all!

1850 Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio Census



Elizabeth McCurdy is the mother of William McCurdy. His father, James McCurdy was no longer living and Elizabeth lived with her son, John, on the farm where she and James had lived.

1860 Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio census


1860 Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio census



1870 Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio Census


1880 Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio Census

The numbers 293 are in the column numbering sequence of houses visited. The numbers 294 and 295 are in the column numbering sequence of families visited. This denotes Joseph and Dollie living in the same home with his father, William and sister, Sarah.

The birth records of Bertha M. McCurdy (Crawford County Probate Court, Bucyrus, Ohio) state that Bertha May McCurdy was born October 23, 1879, in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio. Her parents are listed as J. D. McCurdy and D. A. Vough.

I was unable to get a birth record for Joseph Donald McCurdy in Crawford County as they have no birth records prior to 1867. However, the above census records prove to me that Joseph Donald McCurdy was born in 1854 and is the son of William and Zilpha McCurdy.





Joseph Donald McCurdy died September 17, 1887. Using his age at the date of death his birthdate was August 15, 1854.



The FamilySearch International Genealogical Index shows the marriage of Dollie A. McCurdy to John D. Bone (sp) on December 25, 1890 in Van Wert, Ohio.

Batch No.: M514213 Source Call No.: 1015861 Type: Film


1900 Amanda Township, Allen County Census



This census is how I discovered that Blanche’s maiden name was McCurdy, not Bowen!

The 1990 Census record does not list Ernest McCurdy. I also have not found any records for an Ernest McCurdy that fit this time frame. This brings me to surmise that perhaps Joseph E. McCurdy’s middle name was Ernest and he was called Ernest, rather than Joseph. William’s middle name was Arthur and he went by that name.

This census shows Dollie gave birth to 8 children and 8 children are still living. This brings me to surmise that Bertha was still living in 1900 and perhaps was married. She would have been 21 years old.

The birth records of Etta Blanche McCurdy (Crawford County Probate Court, Bucyrus, Ohio) state that she was born August 20, 1881 in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio. Her parents are listed as Donaldson McCurdy and Dollie Vough.

The marriage records of Etta Blanche McCurdy and Levi Shrider (Allen County Ohio, Marriage Records, Book J, page 205 / Source: Paul Shrider in his book, “Shriders In the United States”) state that Etta Blanche and Levi were married March 30, 1902 in Allen County, Ohio. Her parents are listed as Don McCurdy and Dollie Voeft.

Levi and Blanche McCurdy had 2 children while still living in Ohio. James Sylvester Shrider was born in Toledo, Ohio and Dorothy May Shrider was born in Lima, Ohio.



*** This was hand-written, it is pasted in the front of the funeral book of James Sylvester’s father, Levi Shrider. It is not known if it was written to be his obituary or the words to be spoken at his funeral.

Marshall Township, Clark County, Illinois birth records


1910 Parker Township, Clark County, Illinois



1920 Casey Township, Clark County, Illinois



NAME AGE IN 1920 OCCUPATION
RELATIONSHIP
Levi Shrider 36 Driller / Oil Field
Blanche 38
Dorothy 16
Leona 10
Home was rented


The death records of Etta Blanche McCurdy Shrider (Clark County Court House, Marshall, Illinois) state that she died of Erysepelas. Her Doctor was B. B. Boyd. He attended her from October 22, 1922 to November 11, 1922, when she died. Time of death was 2:30, it did not say am or pm. The undertaker was R. S. Reudy. Burial in Casey Cemetery. Her parents were listed as J. D. McCurdy and Dollar!



CASEY BANNER TIMES

OBITUARY
Etta Blanche McCurdy Shrider passed away peacefully at her home Saturday afternoon, November 11. She was sick just two weeks and her sudden death has been a great shock to her family and friends.
Miss McCurdy was born August 20, 1880, in Crawford county, Ohio, and at her death was 42 years, two months and 21 days.
Miss McCurdy and Mr. Levi Shider were united in marriage March 29, 1902. To this union three children were born: Dora May, James Sylvester and Leona May. James Sylvester died Nov. 25, 1907. Her mother and one brother survive her. The brother was present at the funeral service. There are also many relatives and friends to mourn their loss in a friend and neighbor.
Her religious activities are worthy of note here. Sister Shrider was an honored member of the Christian Church at the time of her death. Like Mary of Bethany fame early in life she chose that good part which was said by the Saviour shall not be taken away from her. Sister Shrider was teacher of the Loyal Workers class, also President of the class. She was present at Bible School two weeks ago and taught the class although sick at the time. Last Thursday the class was entertained by Mrs. W. S. Barkhurst, when prayers were offered for her recovery. On Friday the Pastor called. She wanted to say something but could not be heard. When told that the class prayed for her a smile came over her face. From that time on she grew worse, then on Saturday she quietly loosed her mooring on this earthly life and hand in hand with her Master walked peacefully the valley of the shadow, into the light of life eternal.
So deep is our sorrow that tears fall back upon our hearts. So great is our joy and our hearts must thrill at the glory of that adventure we call death.
Funeral services were held at the Christian Church Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. M. S. Metzler, assisted by Rev. Mathis. Interment in Casey Cemetery.


** Etta Blanche McCurdy Shrider is buried in Washington Street Cemetery, Casey, Illinois.


WILLIAM ARTHUR McCURDY

1920 Lima Township, Allen County, Ohio census

NAME AGE IN 1920 OCCUPATION
RELATIONSHIP
McCurdy, Arthur 34 Conductor Ohio Electric
Hazel 27 Wife
Richard 1 Son
Helen 6 Daughter


1930 Lima Township, Allen County, Ohio census

NAME AGE IN 1930 OCCUPATION
RELATIONSHIP
McCurdy, A. Arthur 43 Automobile sales
Hazel A. 37 Wife / Keeping House
Helen B. 16 Daughter
Richard A. 11 Son
Age at first marriage Arthur 24 Hazel 23





LIMA NEWS JANUARY 20, 1969

WILLIAM McCURDY

William A. (Mac) McCurdy. 79, of 1009 Brice died 2:45 p.m. Sunday in his home.
He was born Nov. 12, 1889, in Van Wert, the son of Joseph Donald and Dolly Vought McCurdy. He married Hazel A. Gipe McCurdy in 1915 at Van Wert, and she survives.
Mr. McCurdy retired from Ohio Street Foundry in 1958. He was a former interurban conductor, and an auto dealer.
A member of Lima Baha’l Community. He is also survived by a son, Richard A. of Libertyville, Ill. And two grandchildren. A daughter, Helen, preceded him in death.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Siferd Westwood Chapel. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.




LIMA NEWS MARCH 25, 1931

HELEN B. McCURDY

Funeral services for Helen B. McCurdy, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. McCurdy, 1009 Brice-av, who died Tuesday night at the District Tuberculosis hospital after two years’illness, will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the home. Dr. Thomas B. Roberts of Trinity Methodist Church and the Rev. D. M. Dachnke of Cridersville will officiate. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.
She attended Central High School before her illness and wa a member of Trinity M. E. Church. In addition to her parents she is survived by a brother, Richard McCurdy.



LIMA NEWS AUGUST 20, 1989

HAZEL A. GIPE McCURDY

Word has been received of the death Friday in Leesburg, Va., of former Lima resident Hazel A. McCurdy, 97. Among survivors are one son, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services will be held Monday in Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Herndon, Va.



LIMA NEWS JULY 8, 1990

RICHARD A. McCURDY

Word has been received of the death Friday at the Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Va., of Lima native Richard A. McCurdy, 72, of Reston, Va., and the country of Luxembourg. Among survivors are his wife, Barbara M. McCurdy; tow daughters; and five grandchildren. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Herndon, Va. Arrangements are under the direction of Green Funeral Home, Herndon, Va.





JOSEPH E. McCURDY


Joseph E. McCurdy was a fireman for the C H and D Railroad. He was killed September 20, 1906 in a head-on collision with another train. He was 21 years old. The report of his funeral was found in the Lima News, September 24, 1906. I also found another very long report about the train accident but failed to write the name of the paper or the date.

I don’t believe Joseph was married for in the September 26, 1906 Lima Times Democrat the Card of Thanks regarding his funeral lists only Dollie Bowen, mother .. Blanche Shrider, sister and Arthur McCurdy, brother.

In the Lima Times Democrat October 15, 1906, his mother, Dollie A. Bowen was named executrix of his estate.

The Lima Daily News January 25,1907 has a report of Dollie Bowen suing C H and D railroad for the sum of $1250.00 in the death of her son, Joseph E. McCurdy.

In the legal notices in the Lima Daily News April 15, 1907 Dollie A. Bowen had filed a petition against John D. Bowen for divorce on the grounds of gross neglect of duty. This is the last I have found on Dollie at this point.



THE TIMES DEMOCRAT LIMA, OHIO SEPTEMBER 24, 1906

WOODLAWN CEMETERY
--------------------
Received the Remains of Fireman Joseph E. McCurdy Today
---------------------
WOODMEN OF WORLD
----------------------
And Members of C.C.O.N.G. Attended the Funeral Services
----------------------------------------
The funeral of Joseph E. McCurdy, the C. H. & D. fireman who lost his life as a result of the head end collision which occurred on the C. H. & D. road near Johnson’s last Thursday night was held this morning at 10 O’clock, from the United Brethren Church at Spring and Union Streets, with the Pastor, Rev. A. E. Davis officiating. The services were impressive and were very largely attended and the floral offering were profuse and beautiful The funeral sermon which was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Davis was an eloquent one.
The funeral was attended by the members of company C. O. N. G.; and by the members of the local camp of the Woodmen of the World and the remains of the unfortunate fireman were consigned to a resting place in Woodlawn cemetery with military and lodge honors. The pall bearers wore militia uniforms.




IN WOODLAWN


The Remains of Fireman Joe McCurdy


Will Be Laid to Rest By the Woodmen and Soldiers
On Monday.


FROM U. B. CHURCH


The Funeral Will be Held
At Ten O’clock Monday Morning.


Fireman Was Conscious
While Work of Rescue Progressed.


The funeral of Joseph E. McCurdy, the C. H. & D. fireman who lost his life in the head end collision which occurred on the C. H. & D. road near Johnson’s night before last, will be held from the United Brethren church on East Spring Street, at 10 o’clock Monday morning and will be attended by members of the local camp of the Woodmen of the World and by the members of the Co. D. O. N. G. The body will be interred in Woodlawn cemetery.
In an account of the wreck, the Dayton Herald says:
Neither Engineer Smiley nor his fireman could escape when the crash came. Both were pinioned under the wreckage and exposed to the scalding water and steam which hissed from the broken pipes in the cab of the passenger engine. Engineer Smiley’s left knee was pinned against the firebox and the leg below the knee was terribly burned and crushed.
Engineer Smiley lived half an hour after the crash. He directed his rescuers how to work to save him, but although they effort was put forth he died before they could save him. It is believed that the death of the engineer was largely due to his inhaling the hot steam which came from the busted pipes.
On the opposite side of the passenger engine cab Fireman McCurdy was pinioned under the wreckage in a similar manner. His left foot was nearly burned off and he was terribly cut and bruised about the head and face. Not withstanding his terrible injuries, McCurdy did not lose consciousness at the time and frequently inquired about his engineer.
The injured fireman was taken to St. Elizabeth hospital. The attending physicians did all they could for him but the man was beyond all human aid and died about 5:30 Friday morning.
Brakeman William A. Lent, on the passenger train, had a miraculous escape from death. He was acting as assistant – conductor to Conductor W. K. Nolte, both Lent and Nolte were engaged in counting their tickets when the crash came.
Lent was sitting in one of the front seats in the first coach of the passenger train. When the tender of the engine was driven back into the coach, he escaped being crushed by a fraction of an inch. Lent was violently hurled to the floor of the car. His back was badly sprained, and his right hand was badly cut and bruised.
Brakeman Lent said Friday: “The first intimation we had that there was another train on the tracks was when the crash came. It was all over in a second. I cannot describe my feelings.” Lent is confined to his home and will be unable to move for several days.
The engine of the freight train was in charge of Engineer Trainer and Fireman Johns. Both jumped from the cab of their locomotive, and escaped with a few bruises received in falling. Trainer was in charge of the engine which ran into another train in Piqua last Sunday.
Their were five passengers on the ill-fated No.135, but none of these were injured. Some of them walked to the car lines and came to Dayton, while the rest waited until the wreck train returned to Dayton.
The wreck train was sent out soon after the wreck occurred, and worked nearly all night in clearing away the debris. Traffic on the road was not opened up until Friday morning.
There was a pathetic scene at the home of Engineer Smiley, Springfield Street, Friday morning. The ill-fated engineer leaves a wife, who is heart-broken over the untimely death of her husband. Engineer Smiley had been running an engine for seven years and never had an accident. He worked five years for the B. & O. and went with the C. H. & D. about two years ago. He had the reputation of being one of the best men on the road, and his loss is a heavy one to the railroad company. His body will probably be buried at Hamden Junction.









LIMA TIMES DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 26, 1906

CARD OF THANKS

We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all who so kindly assisted us in the hour of sorrow, and Rev. Davis for his appropriate sermon; also the choir and all those who so kindly contributed their floral offerings and especially Co. C. for taking charge of the funeral.
DOLLIE BOWEN, mother
BLANCH SCHRIDER, sister
ARTHUR McCURDY, brother




THE LIMA TIMES DEMOCRAT OCTOBER 15, 1906

Estate of Joseph E. McCurdy, deceased. The undersigned has been appointed and qualified as administratrix of the estate of Joseph E. McCurdy, late of Allen county, Ohios, deceased.
Dated this 13th day, of October, A.D. 1906.

RUSSELL L. ARMSTRONG Attorney DOLLIE A. BOWEN





LIMA DAILY NEWS JANUARY 25, 1907

OUT OF COURT
___________________________________________

RECEIVER OF THE C. H. & D. RAILWAY COMPANY WILL SETTLE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF THE LATE JOSEPH E. McCURDY.
____________________________________________

Yesterday a petition was filed in the probate court of this county in the matter of the estate of Joseph E. McCurdy, deceased, in which Dolly Bowen, as administratrix, represents to the court that she has made a claim against the C. H. & D. railway company through Judson Harmon, as receiver for that road for damages resulting from the loss of the life of the said Joseph E. McCurdy.
The petitioner states that the deceased was a fireman in the employ of the defendant company and that while acting as such on the twentieth day of last September he was injured and died from the effect of said injuries. Now, Judson Harmon, as receiver for the said road has proposed to settle with the petitioner for the sum of $1250, but as no suit has been brought, nor is there any pending against the railroad company on said claim, she believes it would be to the benefit of the beneficiaries of the deceased to settle the claim for damages and asks the privilege of so doing by petition to the probate court.





THE LIMA TIMES DEMOCRAT LIMA, OHIO APRIL 15, 1907

LEGAL NOTICE
______________

In the court of Common Pleas, Allen County, Ohio.
Dollie A. Bowen, Plaintiff, vs. John D. bowen, Defendant.
Notice for publication.
The defendant in the above mentioned case will take notice that the plaintiff has filed her certain petition in the Court of Common Pleas, Allen County, on the fourth day of January, 1907. praying for divorce on the grounds of gross neglect of duty; the defendant is required to answer on or before the 23rd day of April, 1907 or judgment will be taken against him.

DOLLIE A. BOWEN
RUSSELL L. ARMSTRONG, Atty.




RECORDS AT WOODLAWN CEMETERY, LIMA, OHIO

Joseph E. McCurdy
3/31/1885 – 9/20/1906
Parents: Joseph and Dollie McCurdy
Section 25 Lot 82

William A. Mc Curdy
11/12/1889 – 1/19/1969
Parents: Donald Joseph and Dollie Vought McCurdy
Section 35 Lot 735




Helen B. McCurdy
4/30/1913 – 3/24/1931
Parents: William A. and Chloe McCurdy
Section 35 Lot 735

Chloe McCurdy
4/12/1879 – 5/4/1913
Parents: Thomas E. and Martha J. Davis
Section 5 Lot 65

Thursday, February 4, 2010

LIFE'S JOURNEY

The story of Joseph Donald and Dollie Vought McCurdy's "Journey Through Life". 
They were my maternal greatgrandparents. 

August 15, 1854  Joseph Donald McCurdy was born in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio. He was the youngest child of William and Zilpha Matthews McCurdy. He had 4 brothers: Frances Elisha, James Newton, William Washington and Thomas J.And 2 sisters, Mary Jane and Sarah R. Victoria. His father, William McCurdy, was born in Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He moved to Crawford County, Ohio in 1822 with his parents and family. William McCurdy was a farmer.

December 2, 1858  Dorothy A. “Dollie” Vought was born  in Connellsville, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The only daughter of William and Elizabeth Kuntz Vought. She had 2 brothers , Hiram and Lewis. Dollie and Hiram were born in Pennsylvania. The Vought family moved to Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio when Dollie was 8 years old. Her brother, Lewis, was born in Ohio. William Vought was a farmer.

June 29, 1878   Joseph Donald McCurdy and Dollie A. Vought were married in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio.  Joseph was 24 years of age and Dollie was 19 years of age. During the first years of their marriage they lived on the farm in Liberty with Joseph’s father, William, and his sister, Sarah. Joseph’s mother, Zilpha, had died on October 4, 1877 and William was 70 years old … so I assume the young couple lived with Joseph’s father to help take care of him and to run the farm.

October 29, 1879  Joseph and Dollie’s first daughter was born. She was named Bertha May McCurdy.

October 17, 1881  William McCurdy’s will was written.  According to the information in the will Joseph and Dollie were living in New Robinson, Ohio at this time.

August 20, 1881   Another joined the family. She was named Etta Blanche McCurdy. Etta Blanche many many years later became my Grandmother.

January 1, 1882   Dollie’s brother, Lewis Vought, died at the age of 12 years, 9 months and 18 days. He was buried at Liberty Chapel Cemetery in Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.

July 26, 1883   Joseph’s father, William M. McCurdy, died at 80 years of age. He was buried at Stewart Cemetery, Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio.

August 22, 1883   Dollie’s father, William Vought, died at 55 years of age. He was buried at Liberty Chapel Cemetery beside his son, Lewis. ( I have not yet found when Dollie’s mother, Elizabeth, died or where she is buried. Her name is not on the headstone with William and Lewis.)

November 12, 1883   Joseph and Dollie became the parents of their first son. He was named William Arthur McCurdy.

April 23, 1885   William McCurdy’s will was probated.  At this time Joseph and Dollie were listed as living in Van Wert County, Ohio.

March 31, 1886   A second son was born. He was named Joseph Ernest McCurdy.

September 17, 1887  Joseph Donald McCurdy's "Journey Through Life" came to an end. According to his death certificate he died of neuralgia of the stomach. He was 33 years of age. They were living in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. Dollie was left with four young children to raise.  Bertha May age 8, Etta Blanche age 6, William Arthur age 4 and Joseph Ernest age 1. I have not yet found where he is buried.

March 21, 1888   Final disbursement of William Shrider's will was made.   William’s idebtedness totaled $442.00 at the time of his death.  Each of his living children were left $400.00. Part of William’s property was sold at auction to pay his debts and legatees. Dollie received Joseph's portion.  William Washington McCurdy was the executore. 


On Christmas day 1890   Dollie Vought McCurdy married John D. Bowen in Van Wert County, Ohio.

August 25, 1898   There is a wedding in the family!  Ninteen year old Bertha May McCurdy married Jacob Andrew Fifer. Jacob was the son of John and Susan Shupe Fifer.

September 1899   Dollie's first grandchild arrives!   Bertha gave birth to a daughter. She was named Goldie Fifer.

1900 Ohio Census

On the 1900 census Jacob, Bertha and Goldie were living in Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio. Jacob was a farmer.


John and Dollie Bowen were living in Amanda Township, Allen County, Ohio. John was a laborer. Dollie keeping house. Etta Blanche was 18 years old and listed as a Domestic. This census also listed William A. and Joseph E. as step children of John. John and Dollie had 4 children:

Ira T. Bowen age 8 born August 1891
Esther E. age 6 born July 1893
Earl age 2 born September 1897
Mabel age 1 born May 1899


July 31, 1901  Bertha May McCurdy Fifer was killed in a horse and buggy accident 30 feet from her home. She was 22 years old. Dollie and Bertha had gone to Delphos in Dollie’s wagon. The accident occurred after they arrived back at the Fifer’s cabin. Bertha is buried in Harford Cemetery, Harford. Ohio.

*** Jacob Fifer married Effie Light in 1902. They had 3 children. Jacob died March 5, 1911. On the 1910 census Goldie was living with her grandfather, John Fifer, in Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio.

March 30, 1902   There is a second wedding in the family! Twenty one year old Etta Blanche McCurdy married Levi Shrider.  Levi was the son of William and Pheobe Spurlin Shrider. They were married in Lima, Allen County, Ohio. Etta Blanche was 21 years old and Levi Shrider was 20 years old. Levi’s father, William Shrider, owned oil drilling equipment and Levi worked with him as a driller. In the 1902 Lima City Index Levi was boarding at 446 North Main Street in Lima and was a Driver.  Blanche was living at 814 West Spring Street in Lima and worked as a Domestic.


March 6, 1903   Blanche and Levi Shrider became the parents of a daughter. She was named Dorothy May Shrider. In the 1903 Lima City Index the Shriders were living at 339 East North Street and Levi was listed as a Teamster.
 
*** This whole block of North Street has since been torn down and there is now a school there.

December 29, 1904  Blanche and Levi Shrider became the parents of a son. He was named James Sylvester Shrider.

The Lima City Index 1905 lists Levi and Blanche Shrider living at 603 North Jackson. Levi is listed as a Driver.

September 20, 1906   Joseph Ernest McCurdy, youngest son of Joseph and Dollie McCurdy was killed in a collision between 2 trains. Joseph was a fireman with CH & D Railroad. He was 21 years old. Joseph is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lima. Dollie was named executrix of his estate.

In the Lima City Index John and Dollie Bowen were living at 126 Water Street in 1906. John was a laborer.

January 25, 1907   Dollie sued the CH & D Railway Company for damages in the death of her son, Joseph Ernest McCurdy. It was settled out of court. She received $1250.00. (Lima News)

April 15, 1907   Dollie Bowen filed for divorce for John Bowen on the grounds of gross neglect of duty. (Lima News)

November 25, 1907  James Sylvester Shrider, son of Blanche McCurdy and Levi Shrider, died of Membranous Croup in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. He was two years, 10 months and 27 days old. The Toledo City Index lists Levi and Blanche living at 423 Payne Street. Levi is listed as a Laborer. James Sylvester is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Toledo.

1908   Levi and Blanche Shrider and their daughter, Dorothy, hooked up their horses to their wagons and moved to Clark County, Illinois. Along with Levi’s parents, William and Pheobe Shrider and family. Levi's father  owned oil drilling equipment and they were following the Oil Boom.

January 24, 1909  Another daughter is born to Blanche and Levi Shrider. She was born in Oilfield, Clark County, Illinois. She was named Leona Mae Shrider. (Leona is my mother)

In the Fort Wayne, Indiana City Index for 1908 and 1909 Dollie Bowen was living at 829 West Jefferson. It did not state what she was doing.

In the Fort Wayne, Indiana City Index for 1910 Dollie was living at 208 West Main and was listed as a Chambermaid at the Randall Hotel.

1910 CENSUS

The 1910 Fort Wayne, Indiana Census shows Dollie living on West Main Street. Her children, Earl and Mabel, living with her. Dollie was a chambermaid in a hotel. Dollie was age 50, Earl 13 and Mabel 12.

The 1910 Toledo, Ohio Census shows her daughter, Esther, living with her father,John Bowen. John was a laborer in a livery. John was age 50, Esther 17.

The 1910 Lima, Ohio Census shows her son, William Arthur, boarding with Noble and Theresa Fox on Grand Street. Arhur was a Conductor on a street car.

The 1910 Illinois Census shows her daughter, Blanche and Levi Shrider living in Parker Township, Clark County, Illinois. Levi was an Oil Pumper. Levi was age 27, Blanche 29, Dorothy 7 and Leona 1.

The 1911 Fort Wayne, Indiana City Index shows Dollie living at 208 West Main and was a Maid at the Elks Temple.

1911  Arthur McCurdy married Chloe Davis. Chloe was the daughter of Thomas E. and Martha J. Davis.

April 30, 1913   Arthur and Chloe McCurdy became the parents of a baby girl. She was named Helen Bertha McCurdy.

March 4, 1913   Chloe McCurdy died of Tuberculosis. She was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lima. Athur and Chloe’s baby daughter, Helen, was taken to Illinois to live with Arthur’s sister, Blanche, and her family.

October 6, 1915   William Arthur McCurdy married Hazel A. Gipe in Van Wert, Ohio. Helen McCurdy was returned to Ohio to live with her father.

1917   On Arthur’s Draft Registration card  Dollie was listed as living on Elizabeth Street in Detroit, Michigan. Arthur was living at 1009 Brice Avenue, Lima, Allen County, Ohio. On Levi Shrider’s Draft Registration card 1917 Levi and Blanche were living at 408 East Jefferson in Casey, Clark county, Illinois.

May 22, 1918   a son was born to Arthur and Hazel McCurdy. He was named Richard Arthur McCurdy.

1920 CENSUS

On the 1920 Ottowa Township, Lima City, Allen County, Ohio Census Arthur and Hazel and family were living on Brice Avenue. They owned their home. Arthur was 24, Hazel 27, Helen 6 and Richard 1. Arthur was a Conductor on the Ohio Electric.

On the 1920 Detroit City, Wayne County, Michigan Census Dollie was living on Elizabeth Street. She was a Housekeeper at a lodging home. Living with her were her daughter, Esther Leatherman, divorced and her son, Earl, single. Earl was a mechanic at an auto repair shop. Dollie was age 60, Esther 26 and Earl 23.

On the 1920 Casey Township, Clark County, Illinois Census Levi and Blanche McCurdy Shrider and their daughters were living on Jefferson Street. They rented their home. Levi was a driller in the oil field. Levi was age 36, Blanche 38, Dorothy 16 and Leona 10.

November 11, 1922  Etta Blanche McCurdy Shrider died of Euresephelis at the age of 42. She was buried at Washington Street Cemetery, Casey, Clark County, Illinois. Her daughter, Dorothy, was age 19 and Leona was 13.

1925  Blanche’s daughter, Dorothy May Shrider, married “Bud” Grissom in Casey Township, Clark County, Illinois.

August 1, 1928   Blanche’s daughter, Leona Mae Shrider, was married to Noble Neal Grissom, brother of Bud Grissom in Greenup Township, Cumberland County, Illinois.

January 6, 1929   Leona and Noble Grissom became the parents of a baby girl. She was named Dorothy Jeanne Grissom.

August 26, 1929   Dorothy and Bud Grissom became the parents of a baby boy. He was named Donald Lee Grissom.

July 7, 1930   Leona and Noble Grissom became the parents of a second baby girl. She was named Etta Mae Grissom. Etta Mae died shortly after birth. She was buried at Washington Street Cemetery beside her grandmother, Etta Blanche McCurdy Shrider.


1930 CENSUS

On the 1930 Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan Census Dollie was living with her son, Earl A. Bowen on Seldon Street. Earl was a Repairman in an automobile factory. Dollie was age 70, Earl 33 and single, living with them was a grandson, John E. Bowen age 9.

On the 1930 Lima Township, Allen County, Ohio Census Arthur and Hazel were living on Brice Avenue. Arthur was in automobile sales. Arhur was age 43, Hazel 37, Helen 16 and Richard 11.

March 24, 1931   Helen Bertha McCurdy, daughter of William Arthur McCurdy died of Tuberculosis. She was 18 years old. Helen was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Lima, Ohio.

September 9, 1931   Leona and Noble Grissom became the parents of their third daughter. She was named Juanita Marie Grissom.

March 25, 1933   Leona and Noble Grissom became the parents of a son. He was named Thomas Levi Grissom.

March 24, 1934   Dollie’s “Journey Through Life” came to an end Dorothy A. “Dollie” Vought McCurdy Bowen died at her home on Elmsdale Avenue in Detroit of Coronary Thrombosis. Her age was 75 years, 3 months and 27 days. Her son, Earl Bowen signed the death certificate. She was buried April 2, 1934 at Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. Section E, Range 28, Lot 28. Dollie was survived by:

Her son, William Arthur McCurdy, wife, Hazel and son, Richard of Lima, Ohio.

Her daughter, Esther E. Leatherman of Detroit, Michigan

Her son, Earl Bowen of Detroit, Michigan

Her grandson, John E. Bowen of Detroit, Michigan

Her granddaughter Dorothy May Grissom and son, Donald Lee of Casey, Illinois.

Her granddaughter Leona Mae Grissom, husband, Noble and children, Dorothy Jeanne, Juanita Marie and Thomas Levi of Casey, Illinois

Her granddaughter Goldie Fifer

*** I have not been able to find information on Dollie’s son, Ira T. Bowen or her daughter, Mabel Bowen. They may have been still living and had children. I also do not know if Bertha’s daughter, Goldie Fifer, had children at this time.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

THE GENIE BUG HITS OHIO AGAIN

SUMMER       2005

My daughter and son-in-law, Mike and Madonna, and one of my grandsons, Devon, Mike and Madonna and Devon, and I left for an excursion into the past Wednesday, June 28th and returned in the wee hours of the night Saturday, July 2nd. Madonna's kids decided they weren't up for this long trip to see cemeteries and libraries and court houses!! Lindsay stayed with her other Grandma and Derrick chose to stay home and have several days uninterrupted computer time … Grandma Wanda is just across the street.

We had a great time .. found lots of info .. have lots of bits and pieces floating around in this little brain of mine and have to get them all pulled together now and on the computer!!

Our first leg of the trip was to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The last "sighting" I had of Mom's grandmother, Dollie Vought McCurdy Bowen, was on the 1910 census for Fort Wayne with 2 of her children. The Genealogy library in Fort Wayne is huge and fantastic!! I would like to go back there some time and spend a couple of days. I didn't find a death certificate for Dollie but I did find her in the City Indexes. Dollie was in Fort Wayne from 1908 to 1912. Through these City Indexes I also discovered that Dollie is a nickname and her first name is actually Dorothy!! So this leads me to believe that the big family feud must have happened after Aunt Dot's birth or she wouldn't have named her Dorothy. Since I now had another first name for her, after I got home I was able to find Dorothy "Dollie" in Detroit, Michigan with her children in the 1920 and 1930 Census on Ancestry!! I also have a clue now as to who her parents were!!!!! Another "trail" to follow!

Then on to Toledo, Ohio where we were looking for info on Mom's brother, James Sylvester, who died when he was 3 years old. David Mason who is a third cousin once removed (descendant of Mom's grandfather, Joseph Donald McCurdy's brother, William Washington McCurdy) had found the cemetery in Toledo where James is buried.

We arrived in Toledo too late to do any "digging" so we found a motel and got settled in and Mike and Devon went to the movies to see "War of the Worlds" and Madonna and I just relaxed … about 9:30 when the families and kiddies left the pool we headed for the hot tub and spent a short while.

DAY TWO … THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2005 … TOLEDO, LUCAS COUNTY, OHIO

David and his daughter,Lisa, met us at our motel in Toledo, Ohio and spent a big part of the day showing us around and helping us.


They were so nice .. it was just like spending time with one of my siblings around here!!! His little girl is only 9 and she is a real sweetheart. David had even gone out to the cemetery where James Sylvester is buried and had someone out there help him find the grave and they had put a stake there so it would be easy to find. There was no headstone on James's grave, but many of the headstones in this area were broken off the bases. There were many small white flowers growing on it, which looked like miniature Morning Glories. We felt that the Good Lord was taking care of keeping flowers there. Forest Cemetery is huge .. 190 acres and the section James is in is one of the older sections of course, since he died in 1907. We of course took pictures and we made a video of the cemetery.






From the cemetery we went to the courthouse and library to find info. David had things he wanted to find at the library on his side of the family so David, Madonna, Lisa and I did a lot of searching. Lisa even ran one of the mircrofilm machines and helped search. Mike and Devon went off and did "guy things" and we kept in touch by cell phones .. oh the wonders of this modern day world!!

We were not able to find James Sylvester in the birth or death records at the courthouse .. that is another mystery I will have to dig into! However, we did find Levi Shrider in the 1907 Toledo City Index. Levi was listed as a Laborer and they lived at 423 Payne Street.

The Toledo Main Library is the most beautiful library I have ever seen and huge!! There was a restaurant, and a gift shop and trees with lights in them .. it looked more like a very nice shopping mall!!

Next stop on the trip, Bucyrus, Ohio. Bucyrus is where Mom's mother's McCurdy ancestors settled after coming to Ohio from Pennsylvania. Bucyrus is wonderful!!


Lots to see .. and the people were very friendly. We have lots of pics. Thanks to info and maps from Larry McCurdy we found the cemeteries and the McCurdy property easily. Actually we just kind of "stumbled across" Stewart Cemetery when we were looking for a sit-down restaurant with home-cooked food to eat! We ended up at "Al Smith's" restaurant and motel. Very good food .. friendly people. Ended up taking a room there for the night. Very quaint little place. We loved it. The outside of the motel looks great .. very quaint .. got inside the room .. nice big room .. that part was great .. BUT the bathroom door wouldn't lock .. Mike had to work on the stool shortly after we got there .. the AC kept quitting .. but Thank Goodness it was very nice weather .. we got lots of laughs out of all this .. loved the motel anyway!! Mike collects old postcards so we talked to the lady who owns it and found out what other names it has been ran under so he can look for postcards of it.





DAY THREE … FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2005 … BUCYRUS, CRAWFORD COUNTY, OHIO

After spending the night at AL's we headed the next morning for the cemeteries. Stewart Cemetery is very well cared for. Flags had been put on the graves of the veterans. William Matthews (William was the father of Mom's great grandmother, Zilpha Matthews McCurdy .. therefore he would be Mom's great great grandfather) headstone had a long verse on it but not completely readable .. we did a "rubbing" on it and after several tries by both Madonna and myself finally got one that was readable!!

"Blessed are the dead which

die in the Lord from henceforth

yea saith the spirit that

they may rest from their

labours and their works do

follow them"

William was a Presbyterian preacher and an old pioneer of the Presbyterian Church.  William and his wife, Mary, have headstones side by side.

** William Matthews was the father of Mom's great grandmother, Zilpha Matthews McCurdy .. therefore he would be Mom's great great grandfather.








Mom's great grandfather, William McCurdy, is buried in this cemetery but there is no stone. In the area where his stone should be there are many empty bases for headstones … I believe he had a stone but it is no longer there. William McCurdy was also a preacher, as were his sons, William Washington and Thomas James.


James and Elizabeth Taylor McCurdy (William McCurdy's parents ) are also buried there. Their daughter, Martha is buried with them .. her name and info are on their stone.


     

We took loootttttssss of pictures .. one of each headstone .. also took a video of the cemeteries and headstones. I put red roses on the headstones and in the area where William McCurdy is buried.           

Next on our agenda was Liberty Chapel (Crall) Cemetery.  This cemetery is located  behind what is a house now but was the "Liberty Chapel Church" when Larry McCurdy was growing up there and it is the church he and his family went to all through his growing up years. William McCurdy's wife, Zilpha Matthews McCurdy, is buried in this cemetery . Her stone also is no longer there. This cemetery was not very well cared for. It has been mowed sometime this Summer but not recently. The headstones in the row farthest from the house are being overtaken by the weeds in the field there by it. That was pretty sad. There was a new grave there so it looks like SOMEONE would take care of it!! Devon (our cameraman) was asleep in the van so I took the video here .. lots of grass and pavement … I did manage to get SOME of the headstone focused in though! And we do have pictures!



William and Lewis Vought are also buried here.  William Vought is the father of Dollie Vought McCurdy.  Dollie was my marternal greatgrandmother.   Lewis was Dollie's brother.  I have not yet found where Dollie's mother, Eliza, is buried.  







We went down McCurdy Road and got pictures of the area where the McCurdy's lived AND the McCurdy Road sign of course!!


At the court house we got copies of the will and estate papers for William McCurdy's (Mom's great grandfather) estate. Some have signatures!! I have Joseph Donald and Dollie A. McCurdy's signatures .. I was really thrilled with that! I wanted to get copies of the estate papers for James McCurdy (Mom's great great grandfather) but they are no longer in the box!! They let us go through the boxes before and after his number to see if they had gotten misplaced but we didn't find them. I did get a copy of William Matthews (father of William McCurdy's wife, Zilpha Matthews) will and some other papers on him and his estate. Estate papers are kept in narrow file boxes .. you look in these great big heavy books to find the name you want and it gives you the number of the box the papers are in. The dates and info in these books go wayyyyy back to the 1800s and further. As we are going through these old papers it is amazing to realize they have been sitting in these boxes for over a hundred years!!




In downtown Bucyrus there are two amazing murals .. I won't even try to describe them .. we got pictures and a video.


While Mike and Devon were doing their "guy things" they came across an ollllldddd Sinclair Station complete with the old gas pumps and two old cop cars and lots of other old vehicles. We had to go there before leaving town. There was also a large garage there where cars are worked on but it was also set up like a museum! Fifties memorabilia .. James Dean .. and Elvis room .. and lots more old cars, even an old tow truck. The guy who owns it does it as a hobby. The Sinclair station was never an operating one but was built as a hobby. Of course we have pictures!!

Next stop Lima, Ohio. There was so much to see and do in Bucyrus we didn't get to Lima until about 6 Friday evening .. library, museum and court house were closed so we went to the cemeteries there Friday evening. Woodlawn is a beautiful cemetery. I had been to Woodlawn Cemetery when Bill and I went to Lima last Summer but at that time I didn't know Chloe McCurdy (Helen McCurdy's mother) and Sylvia Shrider Roeder (Levi Shrider's sister) were buried there. We found their graves and also the graves of Chloe's parents and some of her siblings. And of course we visited the graves of Etta Blanche's brother's, Joseph E. and Arthur, and Arthur's daughter, Helen, and William and Phoebe Shrider also. I placed red roses on their headstones and we took pictures and a video here.


















And then another visit to Fisher Cemetery to deliver Roses!!



Fisher Cemetery is a very small cemetery out in the country. Jacob and Catherine Fisher Shrider are buried there. Jacob and Catherine are the parents of William Shrider (they would be Mom's great grandparents). Frances Binkley Shrider is also buried there one grave away from them. Frances and George Shrider were Jacob's parents (they would be Mom's great great grandparents. George Shrider is listed in the book as being buried at Mt. Zion Lutheran Cemetery. In one book I saw Fisher Cemetery listed as Mt. Zion Lutheran Cemetery, so I believe he is buried here with his wife. This headstone is unreadable and "unrubbable". There are lots of other Shriders, Binkleys and Fishers buried there. I put a rose on Jacob and Catherine's headstone.

We also found the places where Levi Shrider had had groceries stores .. both stores are no longer there .. the lots are empty.


The neighbors across the street from where the store had been on West Kibby were sitting on their porch so we went over and talked to them. They had only lived there 5 years but they remembered when there had been a grocery store in the house across the street from there. The house there had burnt last year so the city tore it down. The lot was taken over by the city for unpaid taxes. In 1903, when Aunt Dot was born, Levi and Blanche lived at 339 East North Street .. that whole block is gone and replaced by the school and playground.

DAY FOUR .. SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2005 .. LIMA, ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO

Since the courthouse was closed, about all the information we got at Lima was info from City Indexes on Shriders. And a plat map showing where the McCurdy property is. In the city indexes we found that William and Pheobe Shrider had also ran a grocery store at one time in Lima! We also found another street address for Levi Shrider in 1941, 814 West Kibby, so before leaving Lima we went there. That house was still standing (white house on far right in picture) but there were several people out and about so we just took a quick picture from the inside of the van.



And of course we took in the Lima Museum and toured the McDonnell House … this is a three-story gorgeous house sitting on the same lot as the Lima Museum. This house was built by a gentleman with the last name of Banta, for $20,000.00 in 1890. The rooms on one side of the downstairs have woodwork made of Cherry with lots of spindles and scrolls and carvings .. the entry hall and rooms on the other side have woodwork made of Oak. The posts between the arched doorways and the hall are cherry on one side and oak on the other. The pocket doors are also cherry on one side and oak on the other. There is a Wooten desk in the receiving room. Today the Wooten desk would be valued at $50,000.00! Lots of things to marvel at in this house. There is one room filled with animals the last owner of the house had killed and had stuffed … a polar bear, a lion, two moose, every animal imaginable! Two of the light chaneliers are gas and electric .. there were electric fixtures around the outside and around the inside were gas candle fixtures! A huge chandelier hanging over the dining room table was found in the carriage shed out back .. glass and tassels in excellent shape. It weighed 200 pounds!! The last family living in the house left a few pieces of furniture .. the rest of the furniture and articles in the house had been donated by people.

                                               

There is a delightful Children's Garden on the same lot with the museum and McConnell house. When we needed a respite from digging through books we went there and relaxed for a while.



Duan, a long time friend of Mike's, traveled to Lima from Michigan to meet Mike. The two of them spent the day taking in Antiques and Collectables places. Devon got stuck running around with Aunt Madonna and Grandma for the day.

We had a rather unique experience while we were in the Lima Library! The library got robbed!! We were searching through the City Indexes and I heard the librarian hollering "hey .. hey .. they just took the money"!! And a policeman who was in the library and several patrons of the library took off out the revolving door. As told later .. the librarian had just taken the money drawer out of the register and it was on the counter and someone grabbed a bunch of the money and took off running. Some people said the money drawer .. some said a money bag. There is a McDonald's about two blocks away from the library and the thief was caught there by one of the library patrons who had took off after him, and arrested by the police. What excitement! I had just been outside and had a cigarette a few minutes before this and when I came back in two young men followed me in … I don't know if it was them who did it or not. But I was thankful I had been inside when it happened and not just in the middle of the revolving doors coming in when everyone took off outside through them!!

The Lima Museum also has a Genealogy Library in it . I was hoping to find, in the cemetery books there, where Joseph Donald McCurdy is buried but did not find it. They had 5 Van Wert cemetery books and he was in none of them. I also haven't found him in the Crawford County cemetery books. So this remains a mystery. They have many old High Shool year books on their shelves and I was hoping to find a high school picture of Helen McCurdy and her brother, Richard. Helen's obituary said she had gone to Central High School before she had taken ill and there were yearbooks for Central High, "The Mirror", for the years Helen and Richard would have been there but we did not find them. Helen did not make it to her Senior year and all the classes except Senior class were group pictures and they had not put the names of the people in the classes in the book!! Madonna DID find a rather unique picture tho .. Phyllis Diller had grown up in Lima and she found her Senior picture!! She would have been in school there the same time as Helen!! If you don't know who Helen McCurdy is .. check out the Leona Mae Shrider "HER" Story on the History button!!

Mike and Duane met us at the museum about 5:00 PM and we went to a fifties place named "Happy Daz" to eat a bite and visit before heading home.

We were all pretty pooped puppies on the way home .. but it was a terrific few days in Ohio .. and I can't wait to go again!!

As I think back over our trip in Mike and Madonna's new red van .. with the nice soft seats .. with drink holders even .. and the automatic "push-a-button and they open and close" doors and the A/C and the DVD player .. and the nice comfy Rest Stops along the way ("Little Blue Huts as Madonna called them because on the map they are symbolized by little blue huts) .. and cell phones for keeping in touch with the kids at home .. I can't help but think of the difference in the way we traveled and the way William Shrider and his family traveled when they came to Illinois with their horse drawn wagons and oil drilling equipment. Also the Nathan Winnett family (ancestors on my Dad's side) .. they came by horses and covered wagons from Guernsey County, Ohio which is many miles further .. with 8 kids and a pregnant woman in the wagon!!! Nathan's first wife, Elizabeth Phillips, died shortly after they made that long trip to Cumberland County, Illinois! A direct trip to Lima takes 5 HOURS today …. I wonder how many DAYS it took our ancestors to get here???


***  NOTE .. This page will be a work in progress .. the original story of this trip was created shortly after we took the trip in 2005 .. however, we have LOTS of pics that were not posted in the original story .. I will add more pics and more info as time allows.

LOOK OUT FOR THE GENIE BUG

SEPTEMBER 2004

I have been bitten by the Genie Bug!! The first attack came in late June, I spent hours and hours in front of my computer .. using up many reams of paper and several ink cartridges printing everything I could find about the surnames SHRIDER and McCURDY. And I found a lot .. from family trees already done .. to articles in the historical newspapers .. to a 30 page book written by Elmer D. E. McCurdy on the McCurdy linage and a 300 page book, “Shriders In The United States”, written by Paul Shrider on the Shrider linage.

The family trees that were already done saved me a lot of digging .. however, none of them went past the generation of Mom’s grandparents because they were done by people from the other branches. And the 2 books gave me lots of extra and very interesting information on these 2 lines of ancestry. The McCurdy linage goes from Gilkrist Makurerdy born in the 1500s in the Isle of Butte, Scotland to Ireland to Canada to Etta Blanche McCurdy in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio. The Shrider linage goes from Frederick Shrider in Germany in 1752 to Pennsylvania to Levi Shrider in Allen County Ohio.. So now we know .. we are part Scottish, Irish and German!!

In August I went to Lima, Ohio “digging among dead ancestors”. I had 2 ½ days and I NEEDED a lifetime!! I went there hoping to solve some mysteries .. and hoping to get pictures of the two grocery stores Levi Shrider had owned and ran when he was there. I didn’t get the pictures of the grocery stores .. in the location where one store should have been .. the lot was empty. Where the other store had been there were houses but the address I needed was 731 West Kibby and the numbers jumped from the 720 block to 750!! Being a smalltown girl in a big city, I wasn’t sure what to do about that so I just gave it up. In looking back I wish I had gone to the Chamber of Commerce or the courthouse or someplace and asked for help. There are many mysteries I am trying to unravel regarding our ancestors. The main one I was hoping to unravel was finding where Mom’s baby brother, James Sylvester is buried. I did not find an answer to this. I did however, find a couple of answers to other mysteries in the Woodlawn Cemetery!!



I knew from information I had gathered that Mom’s grandparents, William and Pheobe Jane Shrider, and Mom’s mother’s brother, Joseph E. McCurdy, were buried there. When Mom was about 4 years old her mother, Blanche, went to Ohio and picked up her brother, Arthur’s, little girl, Helen. Arthur’s wife had died and Blanche was taking Helen to raise. When Helen was about 5 years old Arthur remarried and Helen was taken back to Ohio to live with her father. Helen died when she was 17 years old of TB. Helen and Arthur were another of my mysteries .. Mom knew Helen had died but did not know where she was buried and did not know what had become of Arthur. Of course I looked up James Sylvester, and Arthur and Helen in the book at the Woodlawn office. Sad to say .. James Sylvester wasn’t in the book but Helen and Arthur were!! So I was able to get pictures of all these headstones. Woodlawn is a very large and very beautiful cemetery.








I also went to Fisher Cemetery and got a picture of the headstone of Jacob and Catherine Shrider. These are William Shrider’s parents. Jacob died in 1902 so the headstone is 102 years old. It is a tall narrow headstone .. with the shape of a bible on the top. Jacob and Catherine’s names and dates are on the sides and are still very readable. However, the words on the bible at the top were not readable and there had been words on the front .. you could see indentations in some areas but the only readable part were the words “to rest”. I had thought perhaps James Sylvester was buried there but we did not find him there although there were a lot of Shriders. This is a very small cemetery located in the country about 3 or 4 miles outside of Lima.














        

A couple of miles past the road Fisher Cemetery is on there is a road named “Shrider Road”!! This road was built by Jacob’s father, George Shrider and George’s brother Jacob to go back to a farm that George lived on. This is still called Shrider Road today and I got a picture of the sign. I would like to have known what farm on that road had belonged to George Shrider but did not find that out. Here again, I could probably have found out by going to the courthouse but did not think of it at the time. According to the information in the book “Shriders in the United States” that farm was owned at the time the book came out by Daniel McKinney .. I looked for that name in the phone book as soon as I got there but it was not in the book.




Lima has a huge library with a great genealogy library in it .. I could have spent days going through everything in there. I did find a clue to one of my other mysteries in the 1905 Lima City Index .. but I’m not going to tell you about that one because I have since found more clues to that one and will tell you about it later!!! I learned how to use a microfilm reader and found some family obituaries .. Walter, his wife (Flora), Arthur, his wife (Hazel) and his son (Richard). I was unable to find Helen’s obituary. I found the story of when Blanche’s brother, Joseph E. McCurdy, was killed. He was a fireman on a C H and D train and was killed in a head-on collision with another train when he was only 21 years old. This and other family stories will be posted at various times on the webpage.

There is a museum located just across from the Lima Library. Lots of wonderful things to see in there! It also houses a genealogical library, but it is only open from 1 to 5 and I didn’t get there until about 3 on the last day I was there so wasn’t able to to do a lot there. It has lots and lots of books and information. It had rows and rows of Lima yearbooks .. my thinking was .. “oooohhh I wish I knew what schools Etta Blanche and Levi went to” .. I didn’t think until on the way home that I could have just gone thru them and seen whatever Shriders or McCurdys were there!!!! Oh well … hindsights 20/20 as the old saying goes!!

So .. I had several disappointments but also found several answers .. and I know a little more now than I did when I went .. know places I should have gone .. and things I should have done .. so now I am looking forward to going there again, hopefully in the not toooo distant future!!! One thing I know for sure is that I need a whole lot more time the next time I go.

I have learned a lot about my ancestry since June and it has made me feel close to these people that I never met .. the grandparents that I never had .. and I remember mom talking about Uncle Arthur, Uncle Walter, Aunt Ermie, Aunt Ellen .. and now I feel that I am getting to know them too. Uncle Charlie and Aunt Nellie lived in Casey and I can remember going to their house over by the railroad tracks. These are all Levi’s brothers and sisters, except Arthur, who is Blanche’s brother. Levi also had a sister named Silva .. I didn’t hear her name as I was growing up .. all I knew when I started this genealogy thing was that she was killed in a horse and buggy accident when she was very young, this came from Mom when I asked her who Silva was. She has been one of my greatest mysteries .. and that story is to come later .. so “STAY TUNED” if you’re interested!! But look out .. the “Genie Bug” may get you too!!!!


Woodlawn Cemetery Entrance .. 1825



Inside the Woodlawn Entrance 1913


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Blogging is one of my favorite things to do .. in fact .. I have FOUR blogs .. LOL!! "MY BIT OF MORNING BLATHER" .. is just that .. a bunch of blather!! My way of keeping up with friends and family. "BERTHA'S BED AND BREAKFAST" .. this is an ongoing project about my ancestry. RAGGEDY ANNIE'S GRANNY .. is about fun things Ken and I have done and travels we have made!!! KEN AND LIZ'S BIG ADVENTURE .. is about our latest adventure .. selling our home and buying another home!! If you want to check any of them out let me know and I will send you a link!!

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