52 Ancestors: Color

This week’s blog prompt definitely had me scratching my head.  Did I have a colorful ancestor in my tree?  Hmmm, not that I could think of.  How about an ancestor who came from a colorful area?  Orange, California qualifies but nope, none of my ancestors ever lived there.  Redwood, California also qualified but nope, none of my ancestors ever lived there.  So….. how about a “color” name?  I checked my ancestors and found a few that might fit the bill and finally settled on Charlotte WHITE, wife of my great grand uncle, Adolph Gunzendorfer.  I guess you could say that Gunzendorfer is a pretty colorful name so maybe that was the sign I needed to move forward.

I didn’t know much about Charlotte White and after an afternoon of researching her, I don’t really know much more than I did before.  I think Charlotte was born in about 1873-1874 in California to Lowell Clark White and his wife, who may have been named Jennie.  I think in 1880 the family was living at 1516 California Street in San Francisco but there is a little, bitty shred of doubt that maybe I have the wrong family.

Based on Charlotte’s obituary, she had a brother named Marshall Winship White but since he was born in 1883, he wouldn’t have shown up on the 1880 census making positive identification of the family nearly impossible.  But I’ll continue with this theory because as I trace back the parents of Lowell Clark White, I found that his father was Marshall White and his mother was Marsylvia Winship.  So those two clues seem pretty solid.

Of course without the 1890 census, the next place I looked was the 1900 census.  I haven’t found any of them yet but I’ll keep looking.

1910 found Charlotte with Adolph Gunzendorfer on 1637 Sacramento in San Francisco.  Charlotte and Adolph stated that they had been married for 9 years so I searched for any sort of marriage records from about 1901.  Nothing.  Marshall W. White was living with them, along with a boarder, Ralph Knowlton.  I don’t know what caught my eye but I noticed that Ralph listed his occupation as “Repairer, Typewriters”.  Now that was an interesting tidbit since Adolph’s younger brother, Jacob, was the proprietor of Typewritorium in San Francisco.  Perhaps Ralph worked for Jacob?

In 1916, Adolph and Charlotte were living at 1516 Larkin and by 1918 they had moved to 645 Bush.  The 1920 census shows them on Bush Street, enumerated as Lodgers with about 90 others.  It looks like that address is currently a 5 story apartment building, built in 1911, with 52 units.  So that makes sense.

And that’s about all I know until Charlotte died on 10 Feb 1922 in San Francisco. 

California, City of San Francisco, Halsted & Co. register of deaths 

Halsted & Co. funeral records, register of deaths, book 3, A-N, Apr. 1913-Sept. 1930

Could the date to the left, 1-3-1873, be her date of birth?  The column heading is just “No.” and most of the column is blank.  Maybe they used it for the date of birth if they knew that at the time of death?  But after searching for a birth record for Charlotte with that date and father Lowell Clark White, no luck.

I have no idea how she died or any details.  But the death notice in the paper was what led me down the path of her brother, Marshall White.

San Francisco Chronicle, February 13, 1922

And after a few hours following that path, I’m really no further than I was before.  I have no idea where she is buried or even where Adolph is buried.  Maybe I should request death certificates for both Charlotte and Adolph.  But as disorganized as I am, I can’t guarantee I don’t already have them.

Sigh.

52 Ancestors: Music

This week’s blog prompt, Music, puzzled me a bit as I’d written a bit about those with a talent for music several times before.  One which was fun for me was I’ve Got the Music in Me where I shared some photos of pianos, my dad’s organ, and my great grandmother’s book of music.

At one point during this journey I ran across a song that my grandmother’s brother, Wilt Gunzendorfer, wrote many years ago.  How did I never know that he had any sort of musical talent?  I only remembered him as an “old man” and never thought about what he did as a younger man.  And then I wrote more about him HERE.  I had photos of him playing a sax and a clarinet and even learned a bit about the difference in the two instruments.

Wilt Gunzendorfer, date unknown

But thanks to this blog prompt, I decided to take a closer look at Uncle Wilt to see if I could learn more about his musical career.  And when I searched for Wilt instead of Wilton in Newspapers.com, I was successful in learning a lot more!

Wilt had a band for many, many years and I found so many notifications about the dates/times that the band would be playing on the radio.  The band was listed in many faraway places like Montana, Oregon, Hawaii, Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, North Carolina and, of course, many cities in California.  I found a few references to the name of the band – Wilt Gunzendorfer’s Hotel Whitcomb Dance Band and Wilt Gunzendorfer and the “Cleveland Six” orchestra.  I can figure out the Hotel Whitcomb reference since he lived and played at the Hotel Whitcomb but I wonder where the Cleveland Six came from?

It was fun to find some of the ads highlighting their upcoming shows.

First from the Oakland Tribune on May 25, 1930, page 14.  Look at that – here they are known as the Clever Band.  Wilt lived for many years in Santa Rose so this makes sense that the band played in nearby Guernewood.

And later that year, the Democrat Press, Santa Rosa, reported on June 18, 1930 (page 4) that Wilt and his Guernewood Bowl band would be giving a 40 minute concert at the weekly Rotary club luncheon.  My dad, a lifetime member of Rotary with perfect attendance for over 50 years, would sure have loved this – I wonder if he knew?

And then just two days later, on June 20, 1930, the Democrat Press encouraged people to attend a dance in their pajamas!  What?  And not only was it a riot of color, but Pajama Music would be provided by Wilt.  Boy would I like to see a photo of that dance!

The following year found Wilt still performing – it looks like comedy might have entered into it.  I remember Wilt pretty clearly and I can’t remember him ever telling a joke.  But here he is, with his musical jesters, performing stunts???

The Press Democrat, 05 June, 1931, page 7

And a few months later he’s known as the King of Fun!  Who knew?

Sonoma West Times and News, 04 September, 1931, page 8

It was about this time that I found a few photos of Wilt with my dad and his family.  I’m not sure what the event was here but glad that they were able to capture the day. 

Back row:  Wilt, Loraine, Abe, Bertha Gunzendorfer

Middle:  Robert and Sig Levy

Front:  Gordon Levy (my dad)

ca:  1931-1932

HOW did I not know any of this about Wilt?  Oh the questions I would have asked!

52 Ancestors: Travel

This week’s blog prompt, Travel, causes me to focus on my 2x great grandfather, Louis Schwartz.  I’ve recently been reviewing the information I have on Louis and his wife, Rebecca Steen, as I have connected with someone who has an interest in the history of the house Louis built in Santa Cruz in 1865.

I know quite a bit about Louis, yet there is so much that I don’t know.  Fortunately, I’ve had some help along the way and have been able to piece together more and more every day. 



I was fortunate to come across a book, The History of Santa Cruz, California, by Edward Sanford Harrison, Pacific Press Publishing Co., 1892, that provided me with details of Louis’ early life.  Additionally, the book Between the Redwoods and the Bay, by George Fogelson, has given me so much perspective about not only Louis, but the Jewish community in Santa Cruz in the early days.  You can read a little about it HERE. 

Louis Schwartz was born in Schildberg, Prussia on January 5, 1834.  His father (who might be Bendel or Bendusch Schwartz) was a cattle dealer and butcher.  While in Prussia, Louis was learning the trade of baker.

Louis left home when he was just seventeen years old and by the time he was eighteen, went to Hull, England and then to London.  There he learned to make mackintoshes (rubber coats).  After close to a year, Louis traveled on the Henry Clay, from Liverpool to New York.  The voyage was uneventful and once he arrived in America, he gained employment in a clothing store at Roundabout on the Hudson.

The following year (1854), he sailed for California on the steamer Northern Light via the Isthmus.  From the Isthmus to San Francisco he boarded the steamer Uncle Sam and arrived in San Francisco with just $7.00 (remember that figure) to his name.  In 1855 he moved on to Santa Cruz and opened a general merchandise store under the name of Schwartz & Brownstone.

Louis opened many businesses over the years – general merchandise and lumber yards, primarily.  He was a prominent stockholder and Director of the Bank of Santa Cruz County – I believe my dad held stock in the bank until his death which is now starting to make sense.  Louis was also a leading stockholder in the Butcher’s Union and the Pajaro Valley Bank of Watsonville.  He served a term as councilman for the Second Ward, was a member of a number of fraternal and social organizations, was Master of the Blue Lodge, F. and A.M. (ten years High Priest of the Chapter), Past Noble Grand of the I.O.O.F., Past Dictator of the Knights of Honor, and Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, holding the position of District Deputy Grand Chancellor.  Much like his great grandson (my dad) years later, it seems that Louis was involved in just about anything he could be and still have time to sleep.

Louis was married on October 15, 1865 to Rebecca Steen, daughter of Hannah Plotzky and Joseph Steen, Louis' business partner.  Their marriage resulted in eight children, only four of whom lived into adulthood (Joseph, Bertha, Milton, and Colman).  He lived in a residence on Mission Street, which he built in 1865, until his death in 1893.



I love old newspapers!  I found this article from the Santa Cruz Sentinel, April 30, 1881, page 3.



So what (or who) was in Europe?  I’ve been able to piece together a brother, Kaufman Schwartz, and a sister, although I have been unable to find her name.  Did he visit them?  Were his parents still alive at that time?  Where in Europe did he go?

In 1893, Louis and Rebecca went to Byron Springs resort, Contra Costa County, where he had gone for his health.  He died 23 May, 1893 from Bright’s (kidney) Disease – he was just 59 years old.

The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on 26 May, 1893 that Louis’ remains had arrived back in Santa Cruz.



Later that day his funeral, one of the largest ever in Santa Cruz, was held.  Flags flew at half-staff over many buildings and the home on Mission Street was crowded with many friends and family.

Rabbi Marcus Friedlander of Temple Sinai, the First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland, delivered an eulogy, some of which is included here:

“Louis Schwartz had traveled for sixty years on that free high-road of life which is dug with the principles of moral character, paved with elements of human greatness, and fenced with these conditions which indispensably result in honest achievements, that is, integrity, modesty and family affection.  These qualities which combine the traits of a good Jew, a loyal citizen, a true friend, a devoted husband and an affectionate father, may justly be recorded in the history of Louis Schwartz.

When yet a boy, Louis Schwartz left his home, his kindred and his country, to face the world’s good and evil friends and enemies, prosperity and adversity…..For over a quarter of a century he stood with a devoted heart and uninterrupted kindness by his beloved wife, who will forever mourn his loss.  He was most affectionately attached to his children.  They were the pride of his home and the joy of his heart.  There was nothing too much or too difficult for him, which, he thought, might add to their perfection and tend to their future happiness.

As a citizen Louis Schwartz was for thirty-six years intimately identified with the financial development and public improvement of this city.  He was entrusted with an honorable, responsible public office.  He was a member of the volunteer fire department; he was a director of a bank; and was always found the same honest, active and ostentatious aspirant.  His modesty, gentleness and sincerity won for him the good will and friendship of all those who knew him.

His honesty inspired confidence, his modesty won hearts, and his readiness to assist those in distress or difficulty gained gratitude  He was a devout and liberal-minded conservative Jew, and with his death one of the strongest pillars of this Jewish community has been removed  He lived and died with God in his heart and the Jewish confession of faith on his lips  Cheerfully and happily did he lull himself asleep with Jewish anthems, when, alas! he was kissed into eternity and entered into the enjoyments of immortality.”

Louis was buried in Home of Eternity Cemetery (the Jewish portion of Mountain View Cemetery) in Oakland and was later joined by his wife, Rebecca.



On June 2, 1893, the Santa Cruz Sentinel posted details of Louis’ estate.  Remember that $7 that Louis arrived with in his pocket?  In just 39 years, that number grew to about $150,000, or just over $4 million today! 



Just think where I’d be (or not be) if Louis had not set out on his journey at the young age of 17.  And, I am so fortunate to have so many photos and ephemera of Louis’ – once again, I’m thankful that my ancestors were packrats!

52 Ancestors: Black Sheep – William Warren McAboy

This week’s prompt, Black Sheep, brought an ancestor immediately to mind, my 2x great grandfather, William Warren McAboy.  I first wrote about him HERE seven years ago (SEVEN YEARS? Where did that time go?) when I learned that he had been described as A Brutal Father in the September 13, 1889 edition of the Clinton (Illinois) Public.  It was painful to read about his assault on his son, Emery James McAboy.  But it was then that I realized we don’t get to write just the good stories of our ancestors and had to be prepared to take the good with the bad.

Earlier this year, I noticed that Twisted Twigs Genealogy was having a special where they would go to the National Archives and pull a pension record and I decided it was time to pull the trigger and get another Civil War Pension Record.  I completed the required information, paid the bill, and within a few weeks it arrived in my in-box.  SCORE!  I do better with real paper so I printed out the 200+ pages, skimmed it, and filed it away.  But this prompt brought it out so I could really look at it to see if I could learn anything new.

William was born 12 Dec 1842 in DeWitt County, Illinois.  While I knew that, it was interesting to read that he stated he didn’t have any record of this date but his mother “always told him that was the day he was born and that was the day he celebrated as his birthday”. 

A few interesting facts about his address.  I earlier learned from the History of DeWitt County, Illinois with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches (1882, page 154) that his Nursery business was located in block 21, which was four blocks south of the public square.  And when I located the family on Johnson Street in the 1880 census, the light bulb went off and I realized I have a framed poster of the town from about the time frame. 



Now to zoom in and really study it.  I can’t be 100% sure but it seems like the area I’ve outlined in pale orange would be the square and I’ve noted Johnson Street with a green arrow.  I’d say that’s about 4 blocks south of the square.  As my dad would have said, “now I can visualize it”.



William and his family stayed pretty close to home – in 1850 they were in Bloomington, McLean County; 1860 Texas, DeWitt County. 

William enlisted into Co. L, 4th Reg. on 15 Oct 1861 when he was not quite 19 years old.  Then on 24 Nov 1862 he joined Co. F, 2nd Regiment, IL, Volunteer Light Artillery as a Private.  Per the Surgeon General’s report from 10 Sep 1980 in his pension file, I learned that on 27 Feb 1863 he went to the hospital due to typhoid fever and wasn’t released until 23 Mar 1863.  Once back with his unit, he was promoted to Corporal on 28 Feb 1865 and was honorably discharged in Springfield, IL on 27 Jul 1865.

I learned A LOT about his health (chronic diarrhea and disease of the legs and feet) and while so many people gave statements about his health and were considered to have a good reputation, William’s reputation was considered ‘doubtful’.  Was that black sheep reputation following him around?

William and Rebecca Waller were married in Clinton, DeWitt County on 10 Jan 1864.  I will never forget seeing the ORIGINAL Marriage License when we visited DeWitt County and I will forever be proud of myself for not grabbing it and running away.



I also found a delayed Certificate of Record of Marriage in his pension file.



I found a reference of William in Farmer City, Illinois in 1866 where he ran a restaurant for one year.  That’s the first I’ve heard of that occupation.

By 1870, William and Rebecca were in Clintonia, DeWitt County.  William was now a Gardener and their first three children (William, Lillie, and Emery James) had joined the family.

In 1880 they were still in Clintonia with William, Lillie, Emery James, Clara, and John and William was now a Janitor of the Public School.  Samuel M. Hesch provided a deposition on 14 Oct 1885 that he knew William from 1868-1874 when Mr. Hesch was the principal of the school and William was the janitor and that “part of the time William lived in the basement of the school house”.  What?  This statement is another nugget that tells me that maybe the marriage of William and Rebecca wasn’t necessarily the rosiest.

The physical performed by Dr. John Wright on 23 April 1882 showed that William was 5-10, 137 pounds, with dark complexion.  He was emaciated, his tongue was coated, legs were small, and muscles were soft.  Dr. Wright concluded that his disability was a result of the chronic diarrhea.

In 1896, I found mention that William had traveled from Fresno and was visiting his father in Illinois.

By 1900, William and Rebecca had relocated to Fresno and were living with son John (23) and daughter Mabel (17) MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER!  The census shows that William’s occupation was ‘small fruits’ and he owned his farm.

In 1910 William and Rebecca were living on Hammond Avenue in Fresno.  Other interesting information is that Rebecca had given birth to 6 children, 5 of whom were still alive (young Willie had died at the age of 16 in 1881 of lockjaw) and William was farming on a fruit farm which he owned free and clear.  It also states he served in the Union Army.

The last census William and Rebecca were enumerated in was 1920 when they were living at 2904 Olive Avenue in Fresno.  My grandmother (and Rebecca and William’s granddaughter) spent her later years at 2341 Olive Avenue – I wonder if she had any idea how close she might have been to the home of her grandparents.

The pension file, of course, went into a lot of detail about the claim.  Stephen K. Carter represented William with his claim and William paid him $5.00 for that assistance.  The original claim was rejected on 30 Nov 1885 “on the grounds that line of duty cannot be proved”.  But eventually it was approved as I can find the details of his pension – on 1 Nov 1912 he was granted $18, 12 Dec 1912 $24, and 12 Dec 1917 $30. 

A nice summary of the Widow’s Pension.



I can’t help but share the signatures of William and Rebecca that were included in the pension file.  It’s so great to see these!





And for those who have followed my blog for awhile, you might remember my journey to find the final resting place of Emery Waller (Rebecca’s father).  You can read it HERE and HERE.  It was only because I got his pension file that I found him in Kansas (KANSAS!) which led me to find him in McPherson County, Kansas.  If only I had seen this notation about him in William’s pension file.



William died on 12 Jan 1925 in Santa Cruz, California from valvular disease of the heart.  His pension at the time of his death was $50 per month. 



William is buried alongside Rebecca, who died in 1928, in OddFellows Cemetery in Fresno.



William Warren McAboy was an interesting fellow, even though he had some not-so-memorable moments in his lifetime.  He fought for his country and his health suffered for the rest of his life.  And no matter what he had in his past, he was my 2x great grandfather.