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