Family Photos (Who are these ancestors?) Part 2

Here are several other photos that feature people I am not certain of identity for.

On the very right is Eric Tyler Youngs.  Second from right is Henry Joseph Gardner, Sr.  Is the man in the middle Henry Moxham?  

Is this Henry Moxham and Doris (Gardner) Moxam?

This photo reads "Chamberlin girl" on the back.

I believe these may be Coltons or Colton relatives but unsure.  

Eric Tyler Youngs on right, but uncertain of identity of man on left

Is this Betty Mae Gardner's brother?

Our German Immigrants: The Pfeil family - Part 2

(This is Part 2 of a longer blog post.  If you have not yet read Part 1, you can find it here.)

Once Elisabetha Pfeil had married and become Elizabeth Gardner (her name in the US was spelled in an American English way), the couple made their home in Chenango County, New York.  The couple lived in Guilford from at least 1900 through at least 1920 according to US Federal Censuses.  Specifically, the US Federal Census for the years 1900, 1905, 1910.  They had four sons, the third dying shortly after birth and unnamed.  The surviving sons were:

William Lewis Gardner (born 4 Nov 1890 in Oxford, Chenango, NY)
Charles Anton Gardner (born 21 Sep 1894 in Oxford)
Henry Joseph Gardner (born 20 Dec 1896 in Guilford)

Though the boys bore English sounding names, Pfeil family bible notes indicate the German versions: William Ludwig (Ludwig was Elisabetha's father's first name), Schalle Anton (Anton was Elisabetha's older brother's name), and Heinrich Josef (Heinrich was her twin brother's name, and Josef was her husband's father's name).

Numerous newspaper clips in the area give a glimpse of the Gardner family's home life.  They are mentioned numerous times visiting with Elizabeth's brother Anton Pfeil and his family.  One might assume that it was an opportunity to not only spend time with family, but also speak German with others.  Two generations later on the line, German would be completely lost save for a few words.

As for Elisabetha's siblings, here is what I have managed to learn about them:

Anton Pfeil (23 March 1859 - 12 Dec 1939) the oldest of the Pfeil siblings, was always married with children at the time of immigration from Germany to the US.  He married Susanna Rueber (daughter of Jacob Rueber and Magdalena Groh) around 1883 in Germany, and the couple had three children there:  Heinrich/Henry (1884), Elizabeth Katherine (1886), and Emma Rose (1887).  After the family's big move to the US, Anna S. was born in 1889.  The family made their home in Chenango County, New York.  His son Heinrich would marry Marie (Mary) Dorner and have three sons and a daughter.  (I need to do descendants research on that line to look for currently-living Pfeils).  Elizabeth Katherine would marry Charles Shapley and have one son Henry Charles Shapley.  Emma Rosa, sadly died in 1889 after the voyage to New York.  Anna would marry Francis William Campbell and have two daughters.

Heinrich Pfeil (26 Feb 1861 - Feb 1908), Elisabetha's twin brother, is someone I know much less about.  I have record of his naturalization 10 Sep 1887.  A Utica, New York newspaper reports on his February 1908 death in Youngstown, Ohio where he must have moved.  I have no idea what inspired the move, or what his life was like, and no record of spouses or children.

Maria Pfeil (31 Dec 1868 - 9 Jan 1869) died shortly after her birth back in Germany.

Rosine Pfeil (1 May 1871 - 24 Mar 1944) was just 17 when she arrived with the rest of the family in America.  A few years later she married Ludwig/Lewis Higler (1862-1957), a first cousin through the Frank line, and lived a fairly long life with him, where it seems that both were active with an area Catholic church.  I have no record of any children from the marriage.  Lewis would outlive her by more than a decade.  I have learned more about him than many of the Pfeils and have some fantastic records I would love to share with anyone interested in Higler research.

By 1925, Elisabetha Pfeil and William Gardner had moved to Norwich into a nice home on 10 Morse Avenue (according to US Census records).  I had the opportunity on a recent visit to photograph the home currently at 10 Morse Avenue.  I am not certain how much the current house or its appearance is like the original, but it was interesting to see the location where the couple lived their later years.

10 Morse Avenue, Norwich, NY
as of July 2015

William died on 13 Apr 1933 in Norwich.  Elisabetha would survive more than a decade after.  She passed away in March 1945, also in Norwich.  Their descendants and the descendants of her siblings are out there "somewhere"... Some I am in touch with and many more not yet.  I would love to hear from anyone connected to the Pfeil or related lines, so please don't hesitate to reach out!

Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs: Beloved (and Wacky) Woman, Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother...

It's hard to know where to begin, when the life of someone you love has ended.  Perhaps I will start with some of the facts of her life, and include a few memories as well.

My grandmother, Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs was born on 21 February 1926 in Unadilla, Ostego, New York.  Her parents were Henry Joseph Gardner (1896-1955) and Carrie May Colton (1903-1939).  Betty was the second child of four surviving children to Carrie (Colton) Gardner.  Her older brother Henry (Hank) Gardner was born in 1922.  Her younger siblings were Doris (born 1930) and Richard (born 1933).


Betty's mother died early (age 36) shortly after giving birth to a fifth child in 1939.  That child would have been a sister named Dorothy Gardner.  She was stillborn, and likely buried by their father at the family's home then on 24 April 1939.  Grandma's mother Carrie died two days later--cause of death "eclampsia", something which could have been treated in a modern hospital today.

Needless to say, Grandma had a difficult life in many respects.  She grew up in the Great Depression, spent her teen years without a mother and needing to take care of her own younger siblings, and like many would see more family tragedy later in life with the death of her own oldest son.  I believe what most of us will remember though, is the great sense of humor she possessed.  Betty always seemed to have an off-color remark, a dirty joke, or some humorous story to share.  And her arms and heart were open for anyone of her family or numerous friends.  I will always remember her warmth and love from the days we spent together when I was a child.  And some funny memories too.   Among them her pulling her dentures out of her mouth half-way and chasing us around the house! 

Betty with her father Henry Joseph Gardner
on the family farm.
One of my very favorites.

Betty married Eric Tyler Youngs (1918-2006) on 11 May 1946 in Oneonta, Otsego, New York.  They had five children.  And numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Myself being one of her granddaughters.

Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs with
two eldest sons

She balanced family and work, as well as involvement in the women's arm of the local Moose Club.  In later years as her health deteriorated she had to live at the Veterans' Home in Oxford, New York, where she continued to enjoy reading mystery novels and sometimes had stories of the various "intrigues" among residents there at the Veterans' Home.   She took a little interest in my family history research and discoveries, in particular those of her German line, and it is thanks to her recollections that I was able to do much of my research in both her and her husband's parts of the family.

Betty (on the right) doing volunteer work with friends in the "Women of the Moose" organization

Grandma died 21 June 2015 there in Oxford, Chenango, New York.

She is loved and missed.

Her obituary can be found here at the moment:
http://landersfh.com/tribute/details/906/Betty_Youngs/obituary.html

I will also be sharing numerous photos from her life here, and with family.

I have numerous vital records in my possession, but will not post them here due to the recency of all events.  (If you are a family member doing genealogical research who would like to validate some of what you find above, please contact me.)

Family Photos (Who are these ancestors?)

More family photos to share--but most of these unidentified by me. Can you help with the detective work? Let me know if you know the identities of any of these unnamed individuals!

Back reads "Henry Gardner". 
Can someone confirm if this is Henry (Hank) Gardner, brother of Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs?

Cute baby, but nothing written on the back.

Nothing written on the back.
Photo jacket stamped "Graeff's Studio, Oxford, NY"

Nothing written on the back.  Wonder if these are Coltons down in Florida where they moved at retirement age.

Back of photo reads "1 day fishing at Vero Beach *een Back of on this is a shark"
This could be in Florida where some of the Coltons moved.  Two of the brothers were known to fish together.

Nothing on back of photo.  Believe this is one of Betty Mae (Gardner) Youngs's brothers.  Similar photos with same background show Betty and husband Eric Tyler Youngs.

Nothing on back of photo, but photo was tacked within a paper sleeve saying:
Roll Developed, 8 Prints, 25c
THE BALDWIN STUDIO
1609-11 Hodiament Avenue
St. Louis, Mo.

Family Photos (Military Edition)

For a genealogist, or really anyone interested in family history, finding photos of your ancestors is one of the greatest treasures imaginable.  I will post an assortment here of recent discoveries (the below are all military themed) to share with all of you cousins.  There are many other photos, all of which are scanned or being scanned for safe keeping "in the cloud".


Amos J. Colton (1913 - 2000)
Son of Ellis John / Ebenezer Benjamin Colton & Laura Christian
Grandson of Jeremiah Colton & Rosette Mariah Nichols

Back of photo reads:
Camp Beauregard Louisiana Feb 7. 1942
Co. G. 112 Inf? 28 Dvi 4?A?PO 28
Height 5 ft 10 in Weight 1.72 lb
Pfc Amos J Colton

Ralph A. Colton (1906-1990)
This is his most likely identity given Ralph is written in pencil on the front, and based on it being found among other photos of those with surname Colton
Son of Andrew Jackson Colton & Clarabelle Wilcox
Grandson of Jeremiah Colton & Rosette Mariah Nichols

Which Youngs is this below?
I believe this to be one of Eric Tyler Youngs's brothers.  Not sure which though.  May need to ask other family or confirm with other photos.

Eric Tyler Youngs (1918-2006)
World War II Veteran
Son of Clarence William Youngs & Isabelle Elizabeth Hatton

Back of photo reads:
Louisiana Swamps
Summer of 1944

Judging by the "Love Eric" I believe this was sent to my grandmother (his wife) Betty Mae Gardner.
Back of photo stamped April 1942

Elisabetha Pfeil's Trunk & Bible

Several months after writing Part 1 of the Pfeil family's story, I had the opportunity to find Elizabeth Pfeil's "fabled" trunk that she had used to travel from Germany to New York so many years ago.

I traveled back to southern New York state with my mother for a sad reason: the memorial services of my maternal grandmother.  After a sad morning service, several of us went to my Uncle's home to reminisce and talk about happier times while looking through boxes of family photos and documents.  We were able to quickly locate the trunk in the basement.  It had seen better days, and had some mold and water damage, and was being used to store a few deteriorating blankets and items (none which seemed connected with Elizabeth necessarily).  But we dusted it off and brought it upstairs for some photos.

It was a simple wooden trunk with metal handles and keyhole.  (Didn't locate the key, but didn't matter as it was not locked anyway.)  It was stamped or stenciled simply with her name, port of departure (Bremen), port of arrival (New York), name of vessel (die Werra) and date of departure (16 September) of 1885.

Just as exciting though, was locating the Pfeil family bible, which despite missing the first several pages (likely a few blank pages which may have contained writing) and parts of Genesis, held handwritten family information in both the front and back, and a few dried, pressed leaves in between the pages.  Mold and moisture had started to deteriorate the book, and the pages had separated from the spine, but I brought it back home with me to Colorado, and did my best to gently dust and clean the exterior cover and the front and back interior and edges of the pages so as to delay further damage.  I also made sure the book got a few days in the sun but in the dry Colorado air so I think I have probably killed much of the mold and mildew and delayed further deterioration for now.  Next step will be looking into preservation and storage.

But first, the written pages!  Here are photographs of the writing on those pages.  (I am going to do my best over the coming days to transcribe and translate what I can make out, filling in the captions below.)

"Lisbeth und Heinrich Pfeil zu ihrer Confirmation von Frau von Gemmingen, Damhof 1875.
Wilhelm Ludwig Gärtner geboren am Dienstag Nachts 10 Uhr 4. November 1890.
Heinrich Joseph Gärtner geboren am Donnerstag Morgens um 5 Uhr 15. Dezember 1892."
Translation:
"Lisbeth and Henrich Pfeil, for their Confirmation, by Mrs. Von Gemmingen, Damhof 1875.
Wilhelm Ludwig Gartner born on Tuesday night, 10 November 1890.
Heinrich Joseph Gartner born on Thursday morning 5 o'clock December 15, 1892."

[Notes: Special thanks to the help of several individuals on the German Genealogy Group on Facebook who translated and also offered historical context.  I learned that Frau von Gemmingen was likely Julie von Gemmingen, wife to Ernst Ludwig von Gemmingen and that it was the custom for wealthier ladies of estates like that on Dammhof, to give a small gift like a Bible to children on their Confirmation. Secondly, wanted to note that the Heinrich  mentioned above died shortly after birth.  Elisabetha would later have another son who was given the same name.]

On this page appears to be recipes for preserving meat:
100 Pfund Fleisch; 8 Pfund Salz, 1 Kwart Melasse; 2 aunses Saltbiter; 1/2 Pfund Sote; Kellen Wasser
(100 pounds of meat, 8 pounds of salt, 1 quart molasses, 2 ounces saltpeter, 1/2 pound sote?; Kellen water)

16 Pfund Fleisch, 1 Stab Salz, 1/2 Steg? Satz?; 3 diespun Pfeffer; 1 diespun Ailspeis?
(16 pounds of meat, 1 rod salt, 1/2 steg satz, 3 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon Allspice?)

1 William Ludwig Gartner gaboren den 4 November am Dienstag Nacht 10 Uhr / 1890.
2 Schalle Anton Gartner / geboren am Samstag = morgens um 5 Uhr am / 21. September 1894.
3 Heinrich Josef Gartner geboren am 20 Dezember / am Sontagmorgens um / 5 Uhr 1896.

Translation:
1 William Ludwig Gartner born the 4th of November on Tuesday night 10 o'clock 1890.
2 Schalle (Charles) Anton Gartner born on Saturday morning at 5'oclock at the 21st of September 1894
3 Heinrich Josef Gartner / born on 20th December on Sunday morning at 5 o'clock 1896

On this page:
Ludwig Pfeil gaboren am 22 Marz 18
Elisabetha Pfeil gaboren am 10 August
Anton Pfeil gaboren am 23 Marz 1859
Heinrich Pfeil gaboren am 26 Februar 1861
Elisabetha Pfeil gaboren am 26 Februar 1861.
Rosina Pfeil 1 Mai 1877
Translation:
Ludwig Pfeil born on 22 March 1818
(other records state 23 March 1828 was his birthdate)
Elisabetha Pfeil born on 10 August
(year is missing, worth noting also that other records show a different date in August for her birth)
Anton Pfeil born on 23 March 1859
Heinrich Pfeil born on 26 February 1861
Elisabetha Pfeil born on 26 February 1861
Rosina Pfeil 1 May 1877

We also found a number of old photos, negatives and documents stored in cardboard boxes in my Uncle's basement.  Some of them we have not identified, but are may be descendants of Elisabetha and her husband.  I am scanning many of them now, so stay tuned!

William Henry Youngs & One American's Legacy

William Henry Youngs

For most of my life, friends, classmates, and acquaintances have questioned the legitimacy or authenticity of my identity as an American.  And I suppose it's made me question it too at times.  I am half-Chinese (father born in China) and growing up in a small, mostly-white community, I was constantly told that I wasn't a "real" American.

Even today I'm asked by nearly everyone where I am "really from" and people are never satisfied until I reveal my complete racial and ethnic background.  I was born in southern New York state though, and my mother's ancestors on some lines date back to the 1640s in America.  So I think I have just as much claim to being American as any other citizen.  I suppose it's all the interrogation I've gotten though, that has made me especially pleased to be able to trace much of my family's history in America to centuries passed.  And I am always a little bit thrilled when I find an American war veteran.

Such was the case when I discovered my great-great-great grandfather, William Henry Youngs - a Civil War veteran who fought in many of the battles of the US Civil War as a young man.  Distant cousins and I have found a wealth of information on William and I have found my connection to one of the most fascinating times in American history!  And equally great has been the opportunity to connect with his other descendants.

William Henry Youngs was born sometime between 1842 and 1844 likely in Dutchess County, New York.  Different records conflict on the specific date or year.  William was the oldest of seven children born to Peter and Cordelia Youngs.  His siblings' names were James, Minard, Ellen, Mary, Cordelia and Hannah.  I believe the family was of modest means--Peter is listed as a laborer and a farmer in early census records.  In early years the family is listed as living in La Grange, Dutchess County, NY, but in 1855 move to Conklin, Broome County, New York.  Later records show that the family centered around adjacent Kirkwood.  The area was not particular well-known at the time, mostly a center for farming or logging.

The next major record we see for William was in 1862, when he, his younger brother James and many other men in the area, joined the Union Army to fight in what would be later known as the U.S. Civil War.  William was around 18 or 19 at the time, and James as young as 16 if the records were accurate.  The brothers were enlisted in Company F, 137th Regiment of the New York Infantry and would go on to serve through the end of the War.  It is striking to me that William and James not only fought side by side, but also beside many men that they would have likely grown up with - neighbors, cousins, teachers...  After the War, William would go on to marry the sister of Edgar Elwell - one of the men he fought beside.  I wonder how their parents and siblings felt watching these three very young men (boys by today's standards) go off to war.

From the "New York Town Clerks' Registers of Men Who Served in the Civil War" on Ancestry.com 

The men would take part in battles including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Peachtree Creek and the siege of Atlanta.

"Col. W. F. Fox, in his account of this regiment, says: "It won special honors at Gettysburg, then in Greene's brigade, which, alone and unassisted, held Culp's hill during a critical period of that battle against a desperate attack of vastly superior force. The casualties in the 137th at Gettysburg exceeded those of any other regiment in the corps, amounting to 40 killed, 87 wounded and 10 missing. The gallant defense of Culp's hill by Greene's brigade, and the terrible execution inflicted by its musketry on the assaulting column of the enemy, form one of the most noteworthy incidents of the war."*

William and James Youngs and Edgar Elwell all survived the War.  James is recorded as having been wounded in Gettysburg, and Edgar Elwell wounded in the thigh at Wauhatchie.  Of the 1,111 men enlisted, nearly half would lose their lives in battle or due to sickness.

A few years after the War, William Henry Youngs married Edgar's youngest sister Sarah Matilda Elwell (born 11 August 1849).  Sarah would have been just a child when her brother had gone off to war.  (I wonder if she fancied her brother and his friends heroes when they returned and that it contributed to her feelings for him.)

Marriage certificate found in William Youngs' Civil War Widow's Pension file obtained
from the US National Archives & Records Administration

William and Sarah had four children: Edgar H. (born 1867), Jesse W. (born 1870), Lena (born 1879), and Walter (born 1886).  The family seemed to reside quietly in Broome County, New York, until tragedy struck on 12 December 1896.  While crossing the railroad tracks tracks with his horses and cart, not far from his home, William was struck by a train near Port Dickinson, NY.  The conductor said that he had tried to warn the man, but to no avail.  He died and was buried at Chenango Valley Cemetery.

Source: Cortland Evening Standard, Cortland, NY, 14 Dec 1896, page 6.
Accessed at http://www.fultonhistory.com on 24 Nov 2014.

Transcript from the Register of Death

The article above, and a mention on the transcript of his entry in a death registrar are all the commentary on William's death I have seen to date.  I have had the good fortune of obtaining William's Civil War Widow's Pension File from the National Archives but have not been through it in detail.  I will describe any interesting contents in a further post.

Since obtaining that File, I have had the opportunity to speak with a few of William Youngs' other descendants.  Some based in Florida, one now in Colorado - himself also a member of the military. Along his line - between him and William Youngs - come other veterans as well:  A father who earned a bronze star in Vietnam as an army platoon leader.  A great uncle (Lieutenant Irving Young, 1919-1944) who was wounded in combat in WWII, dying at the age of just 25 after having secured a French town.

It is significant to consider how many of us would not be here today had the chain of events in William's life - or in all these courageous men's lives - not occurred in the way they did.  Had William not survived the War, had he not been friends with Edgar Elwell, maybe had he not been killed by that train just a few decades after the War, I doubt things would have unfolded the way they have.

*(Source: The Union army: a history of military affairs in the loyal states, 1861-65 - records of the regiments in the Union army - cyclopedia of battles - memoirs of commanders and soldiers.  Madison, WI: Federal Pub. Co., 1908. Volume II, as published on the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center website: http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/infantry/137thInf/137thInfMain.htm)