LOSS or DeLOSS a Family Connection Lost... Can it be Found?

Almost two years ago I wrote a blog post about my GGG'grandmother, Esther DeLoss, from a family trying to be "Lost."  I didn't know anything about her family.  My tree was clipped at her side of that branch.

For years I had been looking for Esther DeLoss, when in reality I should have been looking for Elnora Esther Loss or DeLoss.  Her father Samuel changed his name back and forth between LOSS and DeLOSS.  Possibly when the bill collectors were at the door, Samuel would change his name and move to the next town around upstate New York in the early 1800s.  I wonder what Samuel's life was like when the passage quoted at his funeral was from Job!  His 2-sentence obituary in the Madison Observer in 1851 calls this passage "an appropriate discourse delivered by" the pastor.

When I was searching, I came across another LOSS family researcher, Mary Ann Loss, who had posted on Rootsweb about my LOSS family.  I was the first person to have contacted her in 12 years! 

Since then we have "combined forces."  She came to visit me and brought everything she knew about my LOSS family and her LOSS family. 

It turns out Mary Ann Loss had done extensive research on all the LOSS families in the US.  We have yet to find a connection between the two families in the paperwork.  She started doing DNA tests on her LOSS family members hoping to find another connection.  One day we were talking and she said, "I'm sure the two families are related, I just can't find the link.  You should do a DNA test and see if you match."  

This week my DNA results came in -- it included 50 pages of potential "matches" of varying degrees of closeness.  I was not familiar with the site and so I found a place to type in "Loss" and three names came up as being between 2nd and 4th cousins.  I sent her the link to the page and asked if these were any folks that she knew.  Well, I'm a 2nd to 4th cousin of her father, aunt and cousin!

So here is our problem.  HOW are the two family trees related?  We have not yet found the link with paperwork.

So I've made another blog post today with the two LOSS families, HELP WANTED!! Two LOSS families Looking for Others to Link Them.  Hopefully there is someone who is descended from either a LOSS or DeLOSS family who knows another family member that links these two together.

If you know, contact Mary Ann or myself.

The link to this page is http://genea-adventures.blogspot.com/2014/01/loss-or-deloss-family-connection-lost.html

©2014 Erica Dakin Voolich

HELP WANTED!! Two LOSS families Looking for Others to Link Them

Help Wanted!
The two LOSS families below should be connected ... DNA indicates there is a connection.  You can read the story in my other blog post from today: LOSS or DeLOSS, a Family Connection Lost... Can it be Found?

Can you help?
Do you know anyone named LOSS or DeLOSS?  Possibly someone with a first or middle name who might have a LOSS or DeLOSS ancestor?
How are they related?  Are they they linked to one or both of the families below?

Family #1, descendants of Lewis Milton Loss, belongs to Mary Ann Loss who has been researching both Loss families for years.

Family #2, descendants of John Loss, belongs to me who has been trying to find my GGG'grandmother's family.  I've made some break throughs to get back a couple of generations, thanks to researching my GGG'grandmother's brother Louis Homri DeLoss and also to hints from Mary Ann.

*********************

FAMILY #1

Lewis Milton Loss, born 13 October 1825 at Lenox Furnace, Stockbridge, Madison County, New York, and died on 23 June 1896 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. He married Eliza Ann Albaugh (daughter of Isaac Albaugh and Annis Austin) on 22 January 1852 in Lyons, Wayne County, New York. She was born 28 November 1829 in Phelps, Ontario County, New York and died 15 December 1915 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York.

They had six children Emma Elnora (1853-1866), Warren Hershel (1854-1921), Rosa Ponela (1855-1890), William B (1858-1906), Ida Viola (1862-1864) and Charles Edgar (1865-1925). 

Warren Hershel Loss was born on 1 August 1854 in Lyons, Wayne County, New York, and died on 29 October 1921 in Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey. He married Frances Helen Arless (daughter of James Arless and Mary Shaw) on 16 December 1879 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She was born on 21 November 1855 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and died on 25 June 1949 in Passaic, Passaic County, New Jersey.

They had six children Ina Leah (1880-1968), Hershel Arless (1883-1950), Lewis Milton (1885-1952), Una Lada (1886-1888), Ethel Augusta (1889-1890) and Charles Edgar (1893-1968).

Ina Leah Loss was born on 30 October 1880 in Rochester, Monroe County New York, and died on 31 May 1968 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She married John Edwin Fullagar (son of William Fullagar and Fanny Kent) on 13 August 1904 in New York, New York. He was born on 5 June 1880 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York and died 16 May 1948 in Rochelle Park, Bergen County, New Jersey.

They had three children Dorothea Margareta (1906-1990), Charles Chandler (1910-1993) and Frances Helen (1912-2012).

Herschel Arless Loss was born on 15 February 1883 in Rochester, Monroe, New York, and died 9 February 1950 in Sparta, Sussex, New Jersey. He married Ruth Estelle Davis (daughter of William Davis and Minnie Caroline Frank) on 26 July 1920 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. 

She was born 5 December 1893 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey and did 28 September 1957 in Sparta, Sussex County, New Jersey.

They had four children Warren Herschel (1921-1997), Donald Arthur (1923-1998), Milton Robert (1924- ) and Wilma Ruth (1929- ).

*********************

FAMILY #2

First Generation 

1. John Loss (Loas, Las, Laws). Born in Dec 1733.

In 1769 when John was 35, he married Abigail Stephens. Born in Aug 1733.

They had the following children:

2 i. Samuel (1770-1851)

ii. Hannah. Born on 28 May 1772 in Durham, Connecticut.

iii. Daniel. Born on 2 Jun 1775 in Durham, Connecticut. Daniel died in Durham, Connecticut, on 12 Jan 1788; he was 12.

3 iv. Capt. Moses (1777-1853)

v. Joseph. Born on 28 Sep 1780 in Durham, Connecticut.

4 vi. Benjamin (1784-)

1. Henry. Born on 9 Jun 1786 in Durham, Connecticut. Henry died in Durham, Connecticut, on 26 Sep 1794; he was 8.

Second Generation

2. Samuel Loss. Born on 16 Jan 1770 in Durham, Middlesex, Connecticut. Samuel died in Morrisville, Madison,  NY, on 27 Apr 1851; he was 81.

About 1800 when Samuel was 29, he married Sarah or Esther (Unknown). Born in 1767 in Connecticut. Sarah or Esther died in Calhoun County, Michigan, on 2 Aug 1862; she was 95.

They had the following children:

5 i. Rev. Lewis Homri (1801-1865)

ii. Horace. Born on 12 Jun 1803 in New York state. Horace died in Homer, Calhoun County, Michigan, on 14 Nov 1865; he was 62.

Horace married Cornelia A Fowler. Born in 1812. Cornelia A died in Homer, Calhoun County, Michigan, in 1901; she was 89.

6 iii. Elnora Esther (1805-1889)

7 iv. Sarah A (1807-1884)

v. Betsey.

3. Capt. Moses Loss. Born on 23 Sep 1777 in Durham, Connecticut. Moses died in Skaneateles, Onondaga, New York, on 19 Jul 1853; he was 75.

On 4 Jan 1803 when Moses was 25, he married Susannah Eells in Skaneateles, Onondaga, New York. Born on 8 May 1785 in Middletown, Middlesex, Connecticut. Susannah Eells died in Skaneateles, Onondaga, New York, on 30 Apr 1866; she was 80.

They had the following children:

i. Nathaniel. Nathaniel died in 1834.

ii. Susan. Born in 1803. Susan died in 1836; she was 33.

iii. Lorinedo. Born in 1804. Lorinedo died in 1824; she was 20.

iv. Calvin. Born in 1806. Calvin died in 1807; he was 1.

v. Clarissa. Born in 1807. Clarissa died in 1891; she was 84.

8 vi. Richard Eells (1810-1897)

vii. Roswell. Born in 1812. Roswell died in 1812; he was <1.

viii. Twin. Born in 1813. Twin died in 1813; he was <1.

ix. Susan. Born in 1814. Susan died in 1853; she was 39.

x. Hulda B. Born in 1817. Hulda B died in 1907; she was 90.

xi. Theodora. Born in 1819. Theodora died in 1885; she was 66.

xii. Thankful. Born in 1820. Thankful died in 1895; she was 75.

xiii. Mary Margaret. Born in 1823. Mary Margaret died in 1907; she was 84.

4. Benjamin Loss. Born on 4 May 1784 in Durham, Connecticut.

Child:

9 i. Benjamin Brooks

Third Generation

5. Rev. Lewis Homri Loss. Born on 1 Jul 1801 in Augusta, Oneida County, New York. Lewis Homri died in Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa, on 10 Jul 1865; he was 64.

On 10 Sep 1829 when Lewis Homri was 28, he married Sarah Warren, daughter of Benjamin Warren, in Augusta, Oneida County, New York. Born abt 1810 in New York. Sarah died in Joliet, Will County, Illinois, on 2 Oct 1882; she was 72.

They had the following children:

10 i. Herbert (Hubert) W (~1838-1869)

11 ii. Theodore H (1840-<1872)

6. Elnora Esther DeLoss. Born on 31 Aug 1805 in Augusta or Eaton, Oneida NY. Elnora Esther died in Oak Park, Illinois, on 26 Jan 1889; she was 83.

On 8 Nov 1830 when Elnora Esther was 25, she married Nathan Cobb, son of Nehemiah Cobb & Lois Vaughan, in Camden, Oneida County, NY. Born on 27 Feb 1807 in Bath, Lincoln county, Maine. Born on 27 Feb 1807 in Carver, Massachusetts town record for family. Nathan died in Oak Park, Illinois, on 24 Jun 1892; he was 85.

They had the following children:

i. Henry M. Born on 7 Jan 1832 in Camden, Oneida County, NY. Henry M died in Ashtabula, Ashtabula Couny OH, on 24 Nov 1861; he was 29.

12 ii. Elnora Esther (1839-1923)

iii. Dwight M. Born on 27 Feb 1842 in Eaton, Madison County NY.

On 23 Jun 1870 when Dwight M was 28, he married Mollie H Ewing in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. Born in 1850.

13 iv. Minnie M (1847-1879)

7. Sarah A Loss. Born on 10 Nov 1807 in Augusta, Oneida County, New York. Sarah A died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, on 2 Mar 1884; she was 76.

On 24 Sep 1828 when Sarah A was 20, she married Hiram Parsons, son of Timothy Parsons & Huldah Porter, in Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York. Born on 26 Dec 1803 in Windham, Greene County, New York. Hiram died in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 7 Oct 1850; he was 46.

They had the following children:

i. Henry T. Born on 28 Jul 1829 in Verona, Oneida County, New York. Henry T died in Verona, Oneida County, New  York, on 3 Apr 1830; he was <1.

14 ii. D Loss (1832-1896)

15 iii. Albert McCall (1834-1910)

iv. Elry Porter. Born on 20 Jul 1836 in Stockbridge, Oneida County, New York. Elry Porter died in 1909; he was 72.

On 1 Jul 1857 when Elry Porter was 20, he married Victoria A Mayben in Moscow, Hillsdale County, Michigan.

v. Sarah E. Born on 3 Apr 1840 in Madison, Madison County, New York.

On 17 Aug 1863 when Sarah E was 23, she married Edwin Webb in Brooklyn County, Michigan.

16 vi. Edna A (1849-)

8. Richard Eells Loss. Born on 22 Apr 1810 in Skaneateles, New York. Richard Eells died in Livanna, New York, on 19 Jul 1897; he was 87.

On 6 Jun 1833 when Richard Eells was 23, he married Emily Dilts in Cayuga, New York. Emily died on 25 Feb 1855.

They had the following children:

i. Hira.

ii. Samuel.

iii. Airel.

iv. Hiller.

v. Hulbert.

vi. Frederick.

9. Benjamin Brooks Loss.

Benjamin Brooks married James Haner.

They had one child:

1. Sarah Malantha.

Fourth Generation

10. Herbert (Hubert) W De Loss. Born abt 1838 in Ohio. Herbert (Hubert) W died in Joliet, Will County, Illinois, on 22 Aug 1869; he was 31.

On 14 Nov 1861 when Herbert (Hubert) W was 23, he married Margaret (Maggie) A Mears in Will County, Illinois. Born abt 1838 in Illinois. Margaret (Maggie) A died in Gila County, Arizona, on 5 Apr 1921; she was 83.

They had the following children:

17 i. Frederick Mears (1863-1937)

ii. Hattie E. Born on 24 Sep 1864 in Illinois. Hattie E died in Gila County, Arizona, on 7 Oct 1927; she was 63.

On 21 Oct 1890 when Hattie E was 26, she married William James Eustace in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Born on 5 Dec 1866 in Hannibal, Marion, Missouri. William James died in Gila County, Arizona, on 7 Dec 1942; he was 76.

11. Theodore H DeLoss. Born in 1840 in Elyria, Lorain, Ohio. Theodore H died bef  Feb 1872; he was 32.

On 1 Jan 1861 when Theodore H was 21, he first married Mary Caroline Calder in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa. Born on 3 May 1838 in Cherry Valley, Otsego, New York. Mary Caroline died in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa, on 20 Dec 1862; she was 24.

On 26 Nov 1863 when Theodore H was 23, he second married Elizabeth Mears in Joliet, Will, Illinois. Born on 23 May 1841 in Rock Island, Illinois. Elizabeth died in 566 Oneida St, Joliet, Will County, Illinois, on 5 Sep 1919; she was 78.

They had one child:

18 i. Harry Herbert (1866-1943)

Theodore H third married Annie M (Unknown).

12. Elnora Esther Cobb. Born on 13 Jul 1839 in Rome, New York. Elnora Esther died in Oak Park, Cook County,  Illinois, on 6 Mar 1923; she was 83.

On 12 Feb 1861 when Elnora Esther was 21, she married Robert Searing Worthington, son of Hon. Denison Worthington & Martha Searing, in Cook County, Illinois. Born on 4 Oct 1830 in Albany New York. Robert Searing died in Oak Park, Illinois, on 23 May 1903; he was 72.

They had one child:

19 i. Martha Elnora (1865-1939)

13. Minnie M Cobb. Born on 1 Nov 1847. Minnie M died in Oak Park, Illinois, on 27 Aug 1879; she was 31.

On 28 Sep 1868 when Minnie M was 20, she married John F Reed in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. Born in 1847. John F died on 19 Dec 1874; he was 27.

They had one child:

i. Robert F. Born in 1869. Robert F died in 1874; he was 5.

14. D Loss Parsons. Born on 12 Jun 1832 in Verona, Oneida County, New  York. D Loss died in Madison Center, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 14 Sep 1896; he was 64.

On 6 Apr 1858 when D Loss was 25, he first married Helen Hollister. Helen died on 17 Mar 1869 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan.

They had the following children:

i. Frankie L. Born on 10 Jul 1863.

On 7 Jun 1882 when Frankie L was 18, she married Henry C Knights in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan.

20 ii. Nellie (1865-1945)

iii. May. Born on 6 Dec 1865 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. May died in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 9 Aug 1868; she was 2.

iv. Edwin A. Born on 13 Nov 1868 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Edwin A died in California on 25 Feb 1920; he was 51.

Edwin A married Louise Anderson. Louise died aft 1964 in Oregon.

On 17 Aug 1869 when D Loss was 37, he second married Angelica Templer, daughter of James Templer & Ann Liddle, in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Born on 28 Nov 1847 in Duanesburg, New York. Angelica died in Hudson, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 20 Nov 1935; she was 87.

They had the following children:

i. Carl. Born on 30 Jun 1870 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Carl died in Fairfield, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 22 Jul 1901; he was 31.

ii. LaVern. Born on 11 Oct 1876 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. LaVern died in Madison, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 12 Oct 1896; he was 20.

iii. Sarah A. Born on 22 Mar 1878 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Sarah A died in Clayton, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 17 Sep 1900; she was 22.

21 iv. Mary Ethel (1880-1970)

15. Albert McCall Parsons. Born on 12 Jun 1834 in Verona, Oneida County, New  York. Albert McCall died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, in 1910; he was 75.

On 21 Dec 1854 when Albert McCall was 20, he married Marietta Wilcox in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan.

They had the following children:

i. Elestine E. Born in 1859. Elestine E died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, on 4 Oct 1867; she was 8.

ii. Hiram Earl. Born on 15 May 1875 in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan. Hiram Earl died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, on 17 Aug 1875; he was <1.

16. Edna A Parsons. Born on 23 Dec 1849 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan.

On 1 Mar 1870 when Edna A was 20, she married George Brosseau in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan.

They had one child:

i. Frankie L. Born in 1873. Frankie L died in Garnd Rapids, Michigan, on 15 Nov 1879; she was 6.

Fifth Generation

17. Frederick Mears DeLoss. Born in Aug 1863 in Illinois. Frederick Mears died in Cook County, Illinois, on 8 Jun 1937; he was 73.

On 20 Jul 1887 when Frederick Mears was 23, he married Emily J Bastable in Englewood, Cook, Illinois. Born in Aug 1859 in Ontario, Canada. Emily J died in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, on 10 Jun 1935; she was 75.

They had the following children:

22 i. Norman Claybaugh (1888-1956)

23 ii. Harriet (1892-1965)

18. Harry Herbert De Loss. Born on 7 Apr 1866 in Joliet, Will, Illinois. Harry Herbert died in Pinnellas, Florida, on 28 Mar 1943; he was 76.

On 22 Jan 1890 when Harry Herbert was 23, he married Edith Stuart Pettigrew in Will County, Illinois. Born on 28 May 1869 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Edith Stuart died in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, on 24 Feb 1950; she was 80.

They had the following children:

24 i. Dorothy Edith (1890-1970)

25 ii. Marjorie (1895-1995)

19. Martha Elnora Worthington. Born on 17 Nov 1865 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Martha Elnora died in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, on 25 Apr 1939; she was 73.

On 5 Dec 1889 when Martha Elnora was 24, she married Harry Bogart Richardson, son of William Richardson & Mary A C Bogart, in Oak Park Illinois. Born on 27 Sep 1863 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Harry Bogart died in Saratoga, Santa Clara, California, on 1 Jun 1932; he was 68.

They had the following children:

26 i. Robert Worthington (1890-1951)

ii. Harold Bogart. Born on 21 Apr 1894 in Oak Park, Illinois. Harold Bogart died in Saratoga, California, on 4 May 1935; he was 41.

20. Nellie Parsons. Born on 4 Jan 1865 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Nellie died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, in May 1945; she was 80.

On 23 Mar 1881 when Nellie was 16, she married Benjamin Thayer in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Born in 1860. Benjamin died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, in 1947; he was 87.

They had the following children:

i. Louise.

ii. Florence May. Born in 1882. Florence May died in 1882; she was <1.

1. Perry E. Born in 1883. Perry E died in 1910; he was 27.

21. Mary Ethel Parsons. Born on 27 May 1880 in Woodstock, Lenawee County, Michigan. Mary Ethel died in Adrian, Leawee County, Michigan, on 29 Mar 1970; she was 89.

On 28 Mar 1900 when Mary Ethel was 19, she married Henry DeWitt Carpenter in Clayton, Lenawee County, Michigan. Born on 10 Sep 1876 in Rome, Lenawee County, Michigan. Henry DeWitt died in Jackson, Michigan, on 20 Mar 1950; he was 73.

They had the following children:

i. Harold Jarvis. Born on 29 Jan 1901 in Rome, Lenawee County, Michigan. Harold Jarvis died in Hudson, Florida, on 1 Mar 1996; he was 95.

ii. Leah Ruth. Born on 21 May 1904 in Rome, Lenawee County, Michigan. Leah Ruth died in Rome, Lenawee County, Michigan, on 23 Jan 1909; she was 4.

Leah Ruth married Thelma Lucile Sterling.

iii. Donald. Born on 4 Dec 1909 in Rome, Lenawee County, Michigan. Donald died in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, on 15 Nov 1987; he was 77.

Donald married Elizabeth Alberta Stone.

Sixth Generation

22. Norman Claybaugh De Loss. Born on 23 Nov 1888 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Norman Claybaugh died in Riverside, Riverside, California, on 9 Mar 1956; he was 67.

Norman Claybaugh married Dorothy Carter. Born on 9 Dec 1893 in Illinois. Dorothy died in Riverside, Riverside, California, on 27 Feb 1983; she was 89.

They had one child:

i. Herbert Warren (1920-1990)

23. Harriet De Loss. Born on 27 Mar 1892 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Harriet died in Evanston, Cook, Illinois, on 14 Oct 1965; she was 73.

Harriet first married Nels W Strale. Born on 30 Apr 1890 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

They had one child:

i. Margaret Allan (1919-1996)

Harriet second married Charles S Williston.

24. Dorothy Edith De Loss. Born on 21 Nov 1890 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Dorothy Edith died in Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, on 9 Oct 1970; she was 79.

Dorothy Edith married Ralph John Martin Blackburn. Born on 13 Dec 1889 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ralph John Martin died on 24 Jan 1947; he was 57.

They had the following children:

i. Paul (~1918-)

ii. Edith Pettigrew (1920-2009)

iii. DeLoss (1922-2011)

iv. Ralph Jr. (1923-1987)

25. Marjorie De Loss. Born on 1 Nov 1895 in Evanston, Cook, Illinois. Marjorie died in Bennington, Bennington, Vermont, on 9 Jan 1995; she was 99.

On 22 Jan 1925 when Marjorie was 29, she married Donald Shapleigh Page in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut. Born on 21 Jun 1893 in Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts. Donald Shapleigh died in Doctor’s Hospital, New York, New York, on 23 Dec 1940; he was 47.

They had the following children:

i. Marjorie DeLoss (1927-1983)

ii. Dorothy D

26. Robert Worthington Richardson. Born on 18 Oct 1890 in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois. Robert Worthington died in Berwyn, Cook County, Illinois, on 11 Aug 1951; he was 60.

On 15 Jan 1916 when Robert Worthington was 25, he first married Adelaide Copeland Harvey, daughter of Joseph Elliott Harvey & Alice Copeland, in Oak Park Illinois. Born on 4 Nov 1893 in Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Adelaide Copeland died in Houston, Harris, Texas, on 6 Aug 1971; she was 77. They were divorced on 22 Apr 1944.

They had the following children:

i. Dr. Alice Josephine (1917-2001)

ii. Madelon (1920-1986)

On 29 Apr 1944 when Robert Worthington was 53, he second married Marcella Theresa Wittenberg, daughter of Edward Whittenberg & Theresa Sisson, in Chicago, Illinois. Born on 8 May 1910 in Waco, McLennan, Texas. Marcella Theresa died in New Orleans Louisiana, on 28 Aug 1951; she was 41.

They had the following children:

i. Living

ii. Living

So here is our problem.  HOW are these two family trees related?  We have not yet found the link with paperwork.

Hopefully there is someone who is descended from either a LOSS or DeLOSS family who knows another family member that links these two together.

If you know, contact Mary Ann or myself.

The link to this page is http://genea-adventures.blogspot.com/2014/01/help-wanted-two-loss-families-looking.html

©2014 Erica Dakin Voolich

A Bundle of Letters: Such a Treasure!

Marion Evans Dakin
playing a game she loved,  Scrabble

When Nana, my grandmother Marion Evans Dakin, died on the 4th of July in 1974, her only son who had survived to adulthood, had already died two years before her.  As her oldest granddaughter, I found myself as her executrix ... a whole new world of responsibility added to the life of a mother juggling a couple of kids.  Commuting to Connecticut was more than I could do, so we put the crib on the top of our car and stayed in her house for eight weeks, first as she was dying from a stroke and then afterwards as we cleaned out her house and settled her estate.

My siblings joined me part of the time as we discovered we were on a treasure hunt.

An old Jacquard woven rug which was much older
than Nana that we found in her house.

I knew Nana had quilts made by her mother-in-law, Mother Dakin (Mary Alice Smith Dakin) but we had no idea how many quilts were there not just on the beds but hidden in trunks in the the attic.  We all went home with antique quilts and I documented them in my book Quilts in our Family.  When I had visited her a month before Nana died we had taken the quilts off the beds a couple of other quilts to the nursing home where she was staying so she could put on a quilt exhibit.  One of the quilts was a sampler quilt and she spent the last month of her life finding the names of each quilt square.  Ironically, the morning the quilt exhibit was to open, the nursing home called me to say she had had a stroke.  When I arrived in Connecticut, they were questioning whether to open her "show" of quilts.  I said "of course, show the quilts, that's what she wanted."  When I told her they had "opened" the show, she squeezed my hand.

Some of Mary Alice Smith's quilts

Not so dramatic in appearance, was a bundle of letters tied together with a string in the back of her desk.  I looked at them and saw that I couldn't possibly read them -- they were in Swedish.  I knew her grandfather Eric Helsten was from Sweden but I didn't know much else about him.  I assumed these must have been his.  I put them in my stuff to take home not knowing whether I would ever be able to read them.  Ten years later, I had a Swedish colleague who was willing to try to translate some of them for me -- she would read while I scribed. 

1858 letter from Eric's mother,
Lovisa Charlotta Robbert Hellsten 

 It took about 30 years before they were all translated, but what a treasure!  Eric was one of 13 children and everyone of his siblings and his mother took on personalities.  Eric's father had died unexpectedly, leaving his wife with young children including a baby.  Eric was the oldest son, a teenager, and he had older sisters.  He apprenticed as a tanner in Sweden and when there wasn't much work.  He came to the USA in 1845, settling first in Haviland Hollow NY and then moving to Gaylordsville CT when he bought his own tannery.

Eric Adolf Helsten

Back in the 1980s, we had enough letters translated that I was able to piece together a bit of Eric's family tree and when my wonderful colleague/translator traveled to Sweden for Christmas, while there she wrote the Uppsala parish vital records office and a few weeks later I had a letter from Alice, a "cousin."  Alice's grandfather and Nana's grandfather were brothers.  Years ago my grandmother visited Uppsala Sweden but didn't know about Alice, so they never met.  I had a chance to visit Alice back in 1984 before she died in 1990.  Such a treasure hidden in a bundle of letters.  It's too bad my grandmother never new the contents of what she had carefully saved.

I have taken the 86 Swedish letters and documents, had them translated and put them together in chronological order.   I researched Eric's family back in Sweden and his life in the USA.  I wrote a book for my family this year which is the story of Eric's family on both continents.  A Ring and a Bundle of Letters has been 30 years in the making with the help of three wonderful translators who not only read Swedish but also could decipher the old handwriting, structure and spelling.  

The book is available from Lulu.com

Such a treasure!

©2013, Erica Dakin Voolich

The link to this page is: http://genea-adventures.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-bundle-of-letters-such-treasure.html

The Blind Agent's Divorce, The Rest of the Story

One of my readers of my last blog post about the blind insurance agent discovery, found the newspaper articles about the back story.  I was sure there had to be more details.  The first article was on page 15 of the 18 March 1916 of The Chicago Daily Tribune.  It not only described the altercation, but it told of Frederick losing his sight, refusing to marry his fiancée, being lured into the marriage, and a rather scary night with a stranger in the apartment.  

“Husband Blind;

Roomer in Home;

Divorce Sought

Romance of Broker and

Fiancee Who Stuck to 

Him Bared by Suit

SHE CHARGES A PLOT

  Frederick T. Richardson, whose sudden

blindness figured in a romatic marriage

in 1907, and who is a prosperous insur-

ance broker, brought suit for divorce yes-

terday.

   Richardson accuses his wife of being

too friendly with Henry F. Baker, 26

years old, a clerk, and a member of the

Richardson household.   Richardson is 47

years old and his wife 35.

   Richardson, who is junior member of

the insurance firm of William Richardson

& Son, was engaged to be maried in 1907.

His eyes were failing, but it was believed

that he would recover their use.  One 

evening as he sat with his father, mother,

and sister he spoke suddenly:

  “Who turned off the lights?”

     Stricken with Blindness.

   He was assured that the lights were still

burning.  For a time it was feared he had

lost his reason.  Then it dawned upon his

family that he had lost his sight.  At first

he was dejected, then determined to make

the most of it.  The girl to whom he was 

engaged came to him.

   “We cannot marry,” he told her.  But

she would not listen.

   “Your affliction shall not keep me from

your side.” she told him.  “We shall be

married and I will always be with you.”

   But Richarson persisted in refusing to 

handicap, as he thought, the future of

his financée.  On Sept. 4, 1907, Richardson

was encouraged to attend a party in St.

Joseph, Mich.  As the story goes, he was

taken on an automobile ride and the end

of the journey was in a justice’s office.

His brave fiancée was determined to show

that she was “with him through thick

and thin.”  They were married.

        Taps His Way Out of Flat.

   A week ago Friday neighbors said there

was a commotion of some sort in the 

Richardson flat.  After it had quieted

down Richardson was heard tapping his 

way downstairs with his cane.  For the

last few months, since he has been en-

tirely without sight, he has been led

about by a boy.

   Last night Mrs. Richardson told of

her domestic affairs.

   “On the night in question,” said Mrs.

Richardon, “Mr. Richardson was in his

room and I was in mine.  Mr. Baker, who

is a boarder at our house, was in his

room.

       Plot, She Charges.

   “I hear a noise and tried to awaken

Mr. Baker, but the boy slept soundly.

Before I could arouse Mr. Richardson

there was a man in the apartment and

another man and a policeman were at

the door.  Mr. Richardson tired to push

me into a room with Mr. Baker, but when

I saw they were private detective I re-

fused to be made a scapegoat.

   “The men then took the poor boy, Mr.

Baker, who was white with fright into a

rear room and forced him to sigh a con-

fession of guilt.”

   The elder Richardson is residing in San

Diego, Cal.  The  younger man could not

be found last night.”

The next article, gives both versions of the events of that Friday night 10 March 1916 and the threats in the months leading up to it.  It sounds like a divorce is a good idea for both of these people described in The Chicago Daily Tribune, on Tuesday 16 May 1916:

“BLIND HUSBAND

SET TRAP TO TEST

WIFE’S FIDELITY

       _________

Says New Dollar Bills He Put

In Her Bed Were Not Wrin-

kled Next Morning.

        _________

SHE DENIES ALL CHARGES.

        ________

   A blind husband and his wife -- the wife

alleging her nerves had been shattered

by treatment she received at his hands--

yesterday testified against each other in

Judge McKinley’s court.  Frederick T.

Richardson, junior member of the insur-

ance firm of William RIchardson & Son,

is the husband, and he is seek divorce

from his wife, Mrs. Frances E. Richard-

son, on charges of infidelity.

   Blindness, the affliction which cast a

halo of romance about their marriage

seven years ago, was capitalized in the

testimony by both the man and the

woman.  Mr. Richardson swore that his

wife took advantage of his condition to

flirt with Henry F. Baker, a one time

friend and roomer in the Richardson

home, at 4021 Lake Park avenue.  Mrs.

Richardson emphasized the assertion

that she married Mr. Richardson al-

though she knew he was doomed to blind-

ness and that she cared for him faith-

fully during the seven years of their mar-

ried life.

     Says He Threatened Murder.

   In addition to denying her husband’s

accusations Mrs. Richardson brought

countercharges against him.  His con-

duct, she said, was “inhuman.”  She

accused him of compelling her to submit

to indignities by threatening to end his

life unless she did as he demanded.  On

several occasions, she said, he had

threatened to kill both her and himself.

   There was also the name of “another

woman.”  Mrs. Richardson said on one

occasion three years ago she overheard

he husband talking over the telephone

with another woman.  She said she cried,

threatened to end his life, and finally

gave her the woman’s name.  Mrs. Rich-

ardson said the woman was “Mrs. La

Pointe, who lives at 2541 Indiana avenue.”

      Broke Into Apartment.

   Mr. Richardson rested his case on cer-

tain occurrences on the night of March

10.  Since that night, he said, he and

his wife have been living apart.  Pri-

vate detectives testified that they went

to the Richardson apartment that night

and found Mrs. Richardson in Mr. Bak-

er’s room, which adjoined her own.  Mr.

Richardson told the jurors that he called

the detectives after his own original 

methods had led him to believe his wife

faithless.

   Handicapped by his blindness, according-

ing to Mr. Richardson, he put crisp dol-

lar bills between the sheets of his wife’s

bed in the evenings.  In the mornings,

he said, he would enter his wife’s room

after she was out of the way.  If he

found the bills still there unwrinkled,

then he believed that his wife had not

occcupied the bed.

     Story by Wife.

   Mrs. Richardson gave another version 

of what happened in the apartment that

night.  She said she had gone to be “at

the usual time, 10 or half-past.”

  “Between half-past 1 and 2,” the wife

said, “I heard voices outside the window.

Then I saw a hand raising the window.

I jumped out of bed and ran through to

Mr. Baker’s room screaming for help.  I 

locked the door behind me.  He didn’t pay

any attention and then I ran to my hus-

band’s room.  I told Mr. Richardson there

were burglars in the house.  He didn’t

seem to pay any attention.  He grabbed

me, and I had to break a-way.

   “Neither Mr. Richardson nor Mr.

Baker seemed to care about the burglars.

I couldn’t understand.  Neither one of 

them said anything.   Then Mr. Richard-

son opened the door and these men” --

she indicated the detectives in the court-

room--”came in.  I went to my room to

get on some clothes.”

  Mrs. Richardson then denied the

charges of infidelity made against her.”

Traps to show infidelity by one of the "happily married couple" and information on "the other woman" revealed by the other.  Stories of threatened violence and even putting new dollar bills under the other's bedsheets.  The next day is the verdict, 17 May 1916, The Chicago Daily Tribune, page, almost word-for-word reprinted in the Portland Oregon paper quoted in the last post.

“BLIND MAN GETS DIVORCE

Chicago Broker Gets Decree on Mis-

conduct Charge.

CHICAGO, May 22 -- Twelve men

with two eyes apiece marched from

an anteroom into Judge McKenley’s

courtroom, gazed impassively at a

pretty woman, and stood while the

clerk read their verdict finding the

pretty woman guilty of misconduct

and granting a divorce to her sightless

husband.

   The wife, severely costumed, turned

to look at the face of Frederick T.

Richardson, blind insurance under-

writer, who began tap-tapping to walk

from the room.  A little later, Mrs.

Richardson, accompanied by her attor-

ney, Robert E. Crowe, also departed.

     She had recited her defense.  Henry

F. Baker, said she had been a roomer

and a family friend in the Richardson

home at 4021 Lake Park Avenue.  Her

Husband had tried to thrust her into 

Mr. Baker’s room when private de-

tectives, prearranged by plan, had ap-

peared at the door.

  “I married Fred Richardson, al-

though I knew he was going blind.”

she said.  “Always I was faithful to

him.  They frightened that that poor boy,

Baker, into making a confession.”

Thinking about a timeline of events:

• 1907 F. T. Richardson marries Frances E. [last name to be determined], his 3rd wife.

• 1916 scandalous divorce makes front page with all the details, including "other woman" (Mrs. LaPointe who lives at 2541 Indiana Ave.)

• 1923 F.T. Richardson dies in Winamac, Indiana, one of his obituaries says he and his wife moved there about 6 years ago.  1923 - 6 = 1917.  The final wife in the court papers (I'm still waiting for from Chicago) is named Sadie Richardson, as is in the land records from Pulaski County, Indiana.    

I checked the 1910 census for Chicago for a "Sadie LaPointe" -- guess who shows up at 2541 Indiana Avenue, married to a Frank R LaPointe?  Sadie LaPointe.

Is this the Sadie who our Frederick marries and moves with to Winamac, Indiana about a year after his divorce?

Maybe the wife was telling the truth and the jury of 12 men didn't believe her!

© Erica Dakin Voolich 2013

The link to this post is http://genea-adventures.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-blind-agents-divorce-rest-of-story.html