Found, One Marriage Record, Nell Glenn & William Welch, Research Report, the As It Is Series

Copyright 2023, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues a series of posts, done in hopefully an efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors. This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report. It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - -

Man's grandfather, who we have discussed a time or two, Archibald Norman Lashbrook, aka, Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr., married one Sarah E. Glenn, aka, Nellie, aka so it seems, Nell.  They were married in 1901.  

About 1915-1916, Archie up and went poof from his family in Minnesota. 

Eventually, Sarah/Nellie/Nell remarried to William E. Welch.  We knew this from census and other documentation.  

However, their marriage record was never found, until this week.  After following a hint at that A dot com place (that I pay full subscription fees to, yearly) I hit a link for "Nell E Glenn".  I do not remember seeing her given/nickname as Nell before, nor the link to this record, but, click I did.  And, there they be!

(I could barely restrain myself, I input that date and place immediately in my database, that's why it shows on the clip.  LOL)  

We find them on the 1930 U.S. Census for Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, living at 2955 Newton: William E. Welch, owns home, value not stated, owns radio set, age 52, married, born England, both parents born England, came to the US in 1882, naturalized, baggage master railroad; Nellie E., wife, age 51, born Minnesota, father born Missouri, mother born Kentucky; George S., son (step son to Nellie), age 20, single, born Minnesota, father born England, mother born US (unknown); Kenneth, son (step son to Nellie), born Minnesota, father born England, mother born US (unknown).

However, by the 1940 census enumeration, he is still in Minnesota, claiming to be married, and she is residing in California, claiming to be divorced.

William passes in 1942, has a Find A Grave memorial 211044031.

Sarah/Nellie/Nell passes in 1945, has a Find A Grave memorial 120583577.

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

****  P. S.  Wish list - - photos of Sarah/Nellie/Nell and/or William E. Welch.

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The Headstone, A Photo At Last

Copyright 2015, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Man and I have been waiting most of the summer to visit the cemetery where his grandparents are buried to see and photo the brand spanking new headstone we ordered and had placed there last year.  The cemetery is in a rather inconvenient place, not in our normal travel areas.  In other words, we have to go out of our way to visit.

We had to have the oil changed on Zoom Zoom the car, and had agreed that on the way back from that (in northern Ohio) we would "swing" by the cemetery.  The weather forecast was 50% chance of rain and maybe severe storms. Figures, the day we will drive 200 miles or more and way out of our way, the forecast was icky.

So, we head out, we stop and have a nice lunch, we drive to the dealer.  They do the oil, also rotate the tires and tighten a lead on the battery that Man was reluctant to tighten too much.  Warranty can handle, eh??

So we know we are fighting Mother Nature. We leave dealer. Make stop at the local Costco which is laid out different than ours.

As we leave there Man is pushing a bit, he is in a hurry due to concerns over weather. We head north on the expressway, lots of construction, and then, it starts raining.  It rains a bit. On. Off. On. Off. OOOOOPS:  The wipers are not working right per man. Sigh.

We are running into the rain which is light, then deluge, then, it starts to slack off. We have hopes by studying the weather on MyRadar app that we might make it to the cemetery before the rain really hits that area.  Man is not happy because of wipers, which he claims are not functioning correctly.  Frankly, I have never figured out those wipers so, I figure they are just on the wrong "setting".  He is convinced the malfunctioning is due to the issue of the battery lead fix. 

The rain slows. We are almost there. It almost stopped raining.  We pulled in. Rain has all but stopped. Get to the back of the cemetery.  Jump out of Zoom Zoom. We take off almost at a run to locate this headstone before the rain starts back up. Get about 4 rows into the search.  4 rows in and it starts pouring.

Back to Zoom Zoom. Man is still screaming about wipers. I am swearing up a storm, err, am very upset, because he wants to leave. After waiting all summer, we are 30 seconds too late??  We stay, even tho he was not thrilled. It stopped raining in about 5 minutes.

While we sat there I looked around and decided I needed to look about 50 yards down further. That little tree, looks familiar, don't you know.  I don't think Man stopped in the correct spot in the cemetery, I seem to remember that little tree being nearby the burial spot.

So I got out leaving Man there to fuss with the wipers. I found the stone. It is covered with wet grass clippings and I did not have my soft cleaning brush. Sigh. I cleaned with my hands best I could and took a number of photos. At least there is no freaking glare from the sun.

Geessh!!!

Wait all summer for this opportunity and the rain hits just as I step out of the car.  Figures eh?

Of course, it is still spitting rain, and you did not hear it here, but, yes, I was out there and there was some thunder, which means, there was lightening near by. I know, don't lecture me. SIGHHHH.

I am reminded tonight as I processed the photos that those double stones are hard to get a good photo of. Or, in other words, I am just too short and have a hard time getting a photo. 

A little grass shows and I note, with a grimace and some of my dark humor, that the edges of this photo have a little bend in them because I am fighting shortness of stature, mine! Looks like a photo done with panoramic settings. OK, I'm giggling, because, I must.

No, I cannot make this stuff up.  OHHHH, and the wipers, they were fine, worked just like they should all the way home, when I drove through sprinkles and hard rains.  Figures.  Really, you just MUST laugh.

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The Best Error a Librarian Ever Made

Copyright 2011, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

In the years that I have been researching the Lashbrook clan things have really changed for researchers.  Some of you may actually remember using film and indexes from the National Archives for census research.  And, Soundex.  You could go off to a National Archives facility, or you could order copies of the film from the Family History Center near you , or you could order the film from your local library.  Our local library did not charge for those orders back in 1992, so as a cost savings research tool, I would order as much film through that local library as they would let me.  Of course, I had to wait, sometimes for weeks, for the film to be delivered and then I only had a few weeks to use the film, in that specific library.  Hard copies were available though, WAHHHOOO, on 8.5 X 11 inch sheets!  Oh, ya, those were the days!

My very first research goal was to figure out what Man's lineage was.  Long story, short version, the surname we now use as our legal surname, well, it is not the surname of his heritage. His grandfather changed his name back around 1916.  No, not legally, he just changed it.  The little thorn sticking out this was the fact that when I started this research journey, we had no idea what our heritage surname was.

Talk about naive, I was so new and green I had no idea what I was attempting to do.  Sometimes naivety is a wonderful thing, so, I just plowed ahead, innocently where no woman, err, researcher had gone!  (Eyes rolling, Carol now laughing hysterically.)

After about 6 months of research I was pretty sure I was looking for Archibald Lashbrook and his ???  parents.  Archibald (who would become my favorite research dude, and is now known as Archie) was reportedly born in late 1879, so, I was instructed to look for him on the 1880 census.  OKKKKK, off to my fav local library I go, order up the 1880 census for Fillmore County Minnesota where I had reason to believe Archie had been born.

The librarian ordered the census index film for 1880 for the soundex of  L216,  not the Fillmore County Minnesota census film.   Turns out that was the best error any librarian ever made for me! Seriously! LOL  I was a bit upset, but Man and I decided to look at the film, especially since we really did not know what we were looking at anyway!

Man and I were both working film readers, sitting next to each other.  He had the 1880 soundex for L 216 and I had something else. He found the index card. Remember, we did not know what soundex was, what an index film was nor did we did know the head of household, we did not know who Archibald's parents were.  We were simply looking for a 1 year old baby with the name of Archibald or Archie Lashbrook.  Man stopped at this entry, and asked, "is this what we are looking for", or something to that affect. We were shocked, and would have done a happy dance if we had realized what we had just found.  Of course, we did not even known what a happy dance was. We were soooooooooooo new to the research game.  We were outrageously lucky!

Yep, there is our Archibald Lashbrook, err, Lashbronk, 1 year  old, Fillmore County, Minnesota.

We learned 2 lessons that day:

1.) What census index film was, how it worked, and what we would find

2.)  Spelling don't count

I will admit it took me several more months of learning, stumbling, and researching to fully accept that this was our Archie.

Yes, indeedy, the librarian who had done the interlibrary loan for me ordered the wrong film, only she ordered the RIGHT film.  Yep, the best error a librarian ever made for me.




*Here is the actual 1880 census enumeration of our Lashbrook family, it is easy to see how this has been indexed a number of times as Lashbronk.  Handwriting counts???

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Archie, What Tangled Webs You Wove, Time and Time Again, The Finale

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Part 1, 'The Beginning' of Archie's story is here, and Part 2, 'The Middle' is here.

So, in about 1916 Archie disappears from the landscape of Minneapolis, leaving behind his parents, his three sisters, three nieces and a wife and a 14 year old daughter.

Until July of this year we had no idea where Archie, now Arthur N. Stevens, was between his disappearance in 1916 and May of 1918.  Then, I found a marriage for Arthur in 1917, but it is NOT to Man's grandmother.  Archie married a gal by the name of Dorothy Davis. So, we now add a second wife and bigamy to his list of crimes.

This second bride might be Dorothy Davis, maybe not.  Some snooping around since the discovery of this second marriage has been, disappointing, but, not surprising.  As they say in the movies, frankly, my dear, I have serious doubts that the record shows her real name, her real age, or even her parent's names. So far I am finding little, almost nothing, other than this marriage record on Dorothy. I have yet to determine if Archie and Dorothy were divorced, or did she die??

In any event, in May of 1918 Arthur Norman Stevens married Edna May Fenton in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, his third wife, mmm, without benefit of divorce from his first wife Nellie (and who knows about wife number 2- bigamy times two?).  Arthur and Edna had three sons born between 1919 and 1920. 

Archie, as Arthur,
WWII, Civil Defense (?)
Uniform

As far as we can determine, Archie did not serve, either as Archie or Arthur during World War I.  He did serve during World War II, in what we believe was the Civil Defense.

Archie, as Arthur, and Edna lived what would appear to be a quiet life, raising three sons, loosing one in a horrific automobile accident, watching two go off to war (WWII).  Both sons returned from war, both wounded, but alive.

So, Archie lived a quiet life after all this intrigue and lies and mystery, except - -

for a few other little tidbits.

There are very few family photos or papers.  Those we do have for the most part are not labeled.  We found we did have photos of Archie's parents, not identified of course.  There was that obituary of his father, Wallace, with only a photo, the text cut off.

As Arthur, Archie died in 1952, his obituary reads, in part, "Surviving are his wife, Edna; two sons, Arthur, junior, of Lincoln Park, and George, of Corpus Christi, Texas; five grandchildren, and three sisters."   Appears Edna knew about his sisters.  That was a bit of a surprise, it indicates that there may have been some communication, but what was it??  We have no letters.

And, last, but, not boring and, not necessarily the least, the FBI has a file on him!  I requested same under the Freedom of Information Act.  Does it surprise us much to receive a form that has more blacked out data than things we can read??  Nope!  The accompanying letter stated that nothing further could be released because he was mentioned in a cross-reference and that "A cross-reference is a mention of the subject of your request by name or personal identifier in a file of another individual, organization, event, activity, or the like."  The name of an organization, "United Sons of America", was found on that form we received.  Archie once again, providing mystery and intrigue.

Archie, my first brick wall, still tumbling down after almost 20 years of research.  I am hopelessly addicted to researching Archie and his Lashbrook kin.  Anytime I find a new data base to search, Lashbrook is the first name I type in.  I have been saying I will publish the family story for, mmm, years.  Then a new and exciting data base will come online, or I connect with another of Man's distant cousins, and I am off and researching more and more.  Soon, really, I must put this to rest and just publish this book!  I have to decide how to publish, as the last time I checked, it would be well over 800 pages if I print it.  I see a lot of DVD burning in my publishing future.  LOL

I would show you a photo of his headstone, only, Arthur and Edna do not have one.  The saga continues, headstone shopping shall commence. 

Archie, Archibald Norman Lashbrook, our Archie, surely qualifies as a colorful character and maybe a black sheep, and he is my entry in the 100th Carnival of Genealogy.

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Archie, What Tangled Webs You Wove, Time and Time Again, The Middle

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

For the first part of Archie's story, see Archie, What Tangled Webs You Wove, Time and Time Again, The Beginning.

So, in 1901 Archie marries his first wife, Sarah E. Glenn.  And, about 1 1/2 years later, Archie and Sarah, who goes by Nellie, have their first and only child, a daughter.  They name their daughter, Letty, after his mother.

Archie and Nellie are found living in Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota in 1905 and 1910, he earns his living as a farmer.

By 1913 he is working as a meat cutter living on Newton avenue in Minneapolis.  In 1914 he is living at 2637 Stevens Ave.; 1915 he is at 2633 Stevens Ave.

Stevens Ave & E 28th Street.
Just about one block away
from 2924 Stevens Ave
Minneapolis

In 1916, the last time we find him in Minneapolis, and the last time we find him living as 'Archie Lashbrook', he is living at 2924 Stevens Ave.   I noted the irony of the fact that he is living at Stevens avenue, and he takes that name as his when he arrived in Michigan.  I suppose it could just be a coincidence - - yea, right!


1916 becomes a pivotal year for Archie. On September 9, 1916 his niece, Ruth Marion Stringer is born. Ruth is the daughter of Archie's sister Elizabeth.  Just days later, on September 16, 1916 Archie's uncle, Charles Norman Clifford dies. Charles Norman Clifford is living at 2924 Stevens Ave. at the time of his death. Yea, there is that address again.


It is about this same time that family members have told us that Archie disappeared, having gone to the store for a gallon of ice cream never to be seen in Minneapolis again. It is also about this time that the same family members tell us that another of Archie's sisters was impregnated. (See part 1 and Archie's confession, in which he confesses to having murdered a man that had impregnated one of his sisters.) 

The family provided a name for the "daddy", said there was the threat of a law suit, but that the "daddy" came up with an alibi. The pregnancy ended tragically, apparently the baby died before it was a full term baby. After many hours of research I cannot verify any of the family story. I read newspapers for court cases, birth announcements, marriage announcements. I read court record indexes, I came up empty searching ALL names I was given. I searched some surnames from family connections from the previous generation.  I even searched for the name Stevens, nadda. I could not locate a record for a still born child with any of the names I had.

All I can prove is that Archie's uncle was living with him, and died.  And Archie became an uncle himself just days before that death.  (OK, I'll say it, I have been known to wonder if Archie killed his uncle.  I cannot help myself, the stories and facts and dates are just so close.  While reading all those newspapers, I also looked for a report of a murder, and, you guessed it, nothing was published.)

Anyway, Archie goes missing.  In the 1920 Minneapolis directory, we find his first wife listed as follows: "Nellie Lashbrook, widow Archibald, boards at 2955 Newton Ave. N."  Nellie believes he is dead. I contacted the Probate Court of Hennepin County, Minnesota asking if Nellie had Archie declared dead, she did not.

In 1923 Archie's father, Wallace dies, his probate case lists the following heirs:  "Lettie A. Lashbrook, wife; Lettie Frazee, daughter of Archie N. Lashbrook, son, deceased; Elizabeth Stringer, daughter; Etta Barre, daughter; and Linnie Brown, daughter."  Part of Wallace's obituary was found in the meager belongings left behind by Archie.  All that was left of the obit was the photo and the headline, "Rites To Be Held Monday for North Side Pioneer."  The rest of the obituary was cut off, no name, no dates, nothing.

In 1930 when Archie's mother, Letta dies, we find these interesting tidbits in her Will:

"The second item: After payment of such funeral expenses and debts, I do hereby give, devise and bequeath unto my son, Archie N. Lashbrook, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, in cash, to be paid to him, only, in the event that he is found or appears at the time of my death and the probating of my Will, and in the event that he is not found, or does not appear, at the time of my death or the probating of my Will, it is my wish and will that said sum of Five Hundred Dollars is to be returned back into my estate, to be divided pro rata among the beneficiaries hereinafter named.

The third item of Letta/Lettie's Will read: In the event my son, Archie N. Lashbrook does not appear and cannot be found, at the time of my death, or the probating of this my Last Will and Testament, it is then my wish and I do hereby give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved granddaughter, Lettie Lashbrook, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars."

Seems that Archie's mother, Lettie suspects (or knows?) her son is alive.  I can tell you that Archie did not appear and claim his $500.00 inheritance, and his daughter, Letty, did get her $300.00.

Archie's first wife, Nellie, would eventually remarry.  By 1930, Letty, Archie's daughter moved to California.  Her mother, Nellie, eventually moved to California as well.  Letty, the daughter, was bitter about Archie, extremely bitter.  Archie had abandoned his wife and his only daughter.  Letty would have been about 14 when Archie left, I can only imagine it was a traumatic time for this teen.
 
Until just recently we had no idea where Archie was between 1916 and 1918 when he married Man's grandmother - -

To be continued.  Tomorrow, the finale.

* Archie, What Tangled Webs You Wove, Time and Time Again, The Finale, is found here.

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Archie, What Tangled Webs You Wove, Time and Time Again, The Beginning

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

It is time to celebrate! The Carnival of Genealogy is 100!!! Happy 100th, and thanks Jasia (Creative Gene) for all that work!

The topic for the 100th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is... "There's one in every family!" Bring your stories of colorful characters, unique heirlooms, mouth-watering recipes, most dearly beloved pets, whatever! Interpret as you like. Every family has "special" individuals, you know, the ones with a green thumb, the black sheep, the lone wolf, the blue-ribbon cook, the story-teller, the geek!

When Jasia announced the topic for this 100th COG, I knew right away, now was the time for Archie to come clean, or for me to finally put his full story out there.

I have been hinting around since I started writing this blog about Archie, aka, Archibald Norman Lashbrook, aka, Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr.

Here are the posts I have written that contain bits and pieces of Archie's story:

Wednesday, July 1, 2009, Ancestor Birthday Celebrations, Arthur Norman Stevens, Jr.

Monday, October 5, 2009, Ancestor Birthday Celebrations, Letty Lorraine Lashbrook(e)

Monday, April 19, 2010, Relatively Speaking, Cousins That Blog, Man Has Cousins That Blog Too

Sunday, May 30, 2010, The Sewing Kit, More on the Possible Owner

Friday, June 18, 2010, Birthday Observances, Sarah aka Nellie Glenn Lashbrook Welch.

Archie was pretty much my first "mystery". He was the subject of my first brick wall. He has fascinated me from the get go and continues to surprise me long after I thought I had his story figured out. As recently as Saturday, July 3, 2010, he has tossed out surprise after surprise, as he did in Patience, Family Search, & Photo Editing Bring to You.

Let's see if we can reconstruct his story, and his life.

See, even many moons ago when Man and I were young married kids, there were these rumors, whispered, "Our name is not Stevens." OKKK, what is it?? No one said, or would say. Why was it changed?? Again, no one really would say, one of the stories was it had something to do with World War I. If you have an active imagination you can really go places with that, eh??

When Man's father was asked, he did that hmmmm hawwww stuff that many elders do when asked questions about some story that is out of their comfort range. They hmmmmm, and they hawwww, and they change the subject and never answer the question.

In 1991 Son # 1 and Man's mother passed their summer fun project of recording the family on to me. At that time we could not confirm what Man's grandfather's name really was. They had however, talked to Man's uncle, the sole surviving child of Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr. and his wife, Edna May Fenton Stevens, George. George told them and later repeated the story to me, that his father was born Archibald Lashbrook.

The story continued, something like this: My dad changed his name because he killed a man. He killed this man because this man got one of dad's sisters pregnant back around 1915-1917 and refused to marry his sister. Dad confessed this murder to me and further explained that he assumed the man's identity, then ran, ending up in the Detroit Michigan area and married my mother, Edna.

Wow, that was enough of a hook to get me really interested. So, I was off, chopping away at brick walls and learning to do research.

It has been nearly 20 years since this journey began. There are more twists and turns than a scenic byway in the mountains.

Photo taken 2005.

I first found Archie (that is what we all call him now) on the 1880 Census index (and subsequently the census itself) back when we only had film to use to do census work. The fact that the librarian ordered the wrong film, that turned out to be the RIGHT film was a kismet type of moment. They were living in Whalen, Fillmore County, Minnesota where Wallace was working as a miller.

Archie was born 9 Apr 1879 in Holt Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota to Wallace Henry Lashbrook and his bride, Letta Amelia Clifford Lashbrook. Archie was the first born, and the only son. Four daughters would be born to Wallace and Letta.

Archie grew up in Minneapolis, Wallace and Letta living there from about 1888 till they both died. We do find Wallace and his young family living in Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan in 1885-86. Jackson is about 45 minutes from where Man and I live these days. Their living there was one of those little surprises I came upon during this research. Believe me, the day following this discovery, I was in Jackson researching.

I find Archie listed in Minneapolis directories as early as 1895 (he was attending Archibald Business School). Directories can sure offer a lot of interesting tidbits for our research.

In the 1898 Minneapolis directory we find Archibald Lashbrook, candy maker at McKusick, Copelin R. & Co AND - -

(still in 1898) Arthur N. Lashbrook, student, boards 3114 Morgan Ave. N. 3114 Morgan is the address of his parents. I cannot help but note the given name of Arthur, the same name he used once he left Minneapolis and headed out to Detroit. Coincidence? I think not, but, that is just my take on it.

Then, in 1901 Archie married - - - his first wife.

To be continued.

* Archie, What Tangled Webs You Wove, Time and Time Again, The Middle, appears here.

** Thanks to footnoteMaven for the fantastic poster.

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Birthday Obsevances, Sarah aka Nellie Glenn Lashbrook Welch

Yep, that is about the extent of my images of Sarah, aka, Nellie.  (On edit at 4:14 PM Friday:  A generic silhouette, this is NOT Nellie, oh, but I wish it was really her.  Sorry to my readers if you thought it was, I realized after I posted and left for errands that this did not read the way I meant it to read.  Oooops!)

Other than her death certificate and her marriage record, I have no images for Nellie.  Nellie married our man of mystery, the dude that captured my imagination early on in my research and has managed to keep surprising me, some 20 years later.

So, what do I know about Nellie?  She was born to Thomas Glenn and Sarah Morgan June 18, 1873 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. 

Nellie married Archibald N. Lashbrook (who later will be known as Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr.) on March 22, 1901 in Hennepin County, Minnesota.  Together they had one child, Letty Lorraine Lashbrook.

They lived together as man and wife for, oooooo, about 14 years.  Then Archie went missing.

Our next records of Nellie are city directories from Minneapolis, Minnesota where we find:

For 1919 Nellie Lashbrook, clerk at The Leader, boards 513 S. 6th, with her daughter Letty.

For 1920 Nellie Lashbrook, widow Archibald, boards 2955 Newton Ave. N.  (Interesting to note she is NOT found on the 1920 census at this address.  Her daughter is also listed on the 1920 directory as living at this address.)

By 1930 Nellie has remarried, her new man is William E. Welch, they are living in Minneapolis with his two sons, George S. and Kenneth.  They live at 2955 Newton, William owns the home, and has lived there at least since 1920.

At some time Nellie moves to California, where on 4 Sep 1945 she dies in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.  Nellie was laid to rest at the Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Los Angeles County, California.  Her death certificate states she is a widow.  Her "usual" residence is 2104 Portland Street, the informant on her death certificate is her daughter, Miss Letty Lashbrooke, whose home address is the same.

*Graphic courtesy of clker.com

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

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The Sewing Kit, More on the Possible Owner

Late last evening, I posted about a little sewing kit I now believe belonged to Edna May Fenton Stevens.

Our first take was, this was something that Son # 3's grandfather carried during WWII.  But, my late evening research last night made me question this.  You can revisit that entire post here.

Cousin Anne, asked: “could it be a world war I soldier's kit? “

Yes, Anne, maybe it could be, the time frame seems to fit. To discuss this, let's review the relationships, noting Son # 3 assumed this sewing kit belonged to his grandfather, Art.

Art's parents were Edna and Art Stevens, only Art Stevens, the husband of Edna was also known as Archie Lashbrook.  (Full name, Archibald Norman Lashbrook)

I have discussed Edna before here at Reflections.  Edna was the subject of my contribution to the 91st Carnival of Genealogy, A Tribute to Women! The Biography, where I discuss her secretiveness and the years of her life that we have NO information on, her MIA years.  Fact, I have NO idea where Edna was from 1901 to 1918 when she married Art/Archie.

I have briefly mentioned Art/Archie, husband of Edna and father of Art.  I need to write more about Archie, he is interesting to say the least, this name changing stuff, and more secrets!  Fact, I have no idea where Art/Archie was for parts of 1916, 1917 and 1918.  I have some ideas tho.  Before 1916 and after 1918 I know where he was and pretty much, what he was doing.

Most references I have found state that WWI began in 1914, so, time wise, Art/Archie could have served during WWI, but only part of 1916, 1917 and the first months of 1918.  I have nothing that tells me he did, nothing that tells me he did not, except dates, he married Edna in May of 1918, WWI did not end till November of 1918.  Maybe sometime I will turn up a document or something, but, so far, nadda.

So, there are more questions than answers. Art, the WWII solider, could have indeed carried this little sewing kit to war, something we will probably never know (while we are on this side). Maybe his mother, Edna, gave it to him.  Maybe it was really Art/Archie's little sewing kit, as I noted above, it is possible that he served in WWI. 

So, yes, Anne, it could be a WWI issue sewing kit.  Now, I will never profess to understanding all this war stuff, but, unless this sewing kit was a gift from the USO or something akin to that, I have to say, that I seriously doubt that Uncle Sam would issue gear with a private endorsement, everything I have ever seen was clearly government issue with US stamped all over it.

(A quick google tells us that the USO was organized in 1941, well after WWI. )

I still feel the sewing kit belonged to Edna, and her son, Art had kept it as a memento.

The box Son # 3 and I photographed last night also contained a Zippo lighter and a tie tack. These items I know belonged to Art (Son # 3's grandfather) and I know they did not go to war with Art. So, the box contents are not exclusively WWII era items.

Photo, the Zippo, which may very well be the infamous "burned the hand" Zippo.  Another story waiting to be told.

Karen  also addressed the sewing kit, “Interesting find - is that piece below the thread the "lid", perhaps?” Yes, Karen, that is the lid.

*Thanks for the questions Anne and Karen, made me revisit, rethink, contemplate, all good things.

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

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Ancestor Birthday Celebrations, Arthur Norman Stevens, Jr.

Man's Father, Happy Birthday. Art would have been 90 years old today. He was the son of Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr, AKA, Archibald Norman Lashbrook (a VERY long story that) and wife, Edna May Fenton Stevens. Art was the first born of 3 sons. He was born July 1, 1919 and died April 13, 1979. Art had 4 children, by 2 wives.

Art was known as a man who could fix anything. He was proficient in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical and car repairs.

Before he started working for the school system, he worked at many different jobs, including: Western Union; W.P.A.; worked on a farm in Canada; bus driver; auto mechanic; worked at Kelsey Hayes; Schwader Brothers (luggage and card table manufacturers); gas station on Fort Street; sold Kirby vacuum cleaners; sold cookware; sold real estate; sold storm windows; sold encyclopedias; sold door mats; painted house numbers on curbs; truck driver; cab driver; fuel oil truck driver; gas station; and drove school bus.

Art loved cameras, flying (we would sit at the kitchen table and fly for hours, he and I), he even built his own television. Have to say tho, the following story, has to be one of our favorites:

About 1955 or so, Art and Wife would baby sit a big ole boxer named Fritz. They even took Fritz camping with them. One day Fritz got lose, as dogs will, and took an excursion, right into a field occupied by a HUGE bull, as in cow. Fritz and the bull had a little disagreement, and it seems the bull lost! Fritz was covered with blood, but Art could not find any serious wounds on that dog. However, Art had to pay the vet bills ($100. 00) for the bull. The owner of the bull held Art's camera hostage until the vet bill was paid. In order to get the money to pay the bill Art had to drive from Harrison Michigan, to Allen Park to get the money. Wife was not real happy with Fritz. Fritz did not come to stay after the bull experience.

Art's memorial at Find A Grave is here.

Art LOVED hand held calculators, Man and I frequently comment how he would have LOVED computers, the internet, the technology he missed. I believe he would have approved of this "techy" form of memorial.

*Photo of Man as a young dude, Fritz and Art, about 1955.