52 Ancestors: Resolution - Top 10 Genealogical Finds of 2020

2020 has been a very difficult year for so many.  I don't want to dwell on the pandemic and have tried to find the positive but it's been hard on so many levels.  But one thing I've tried to do - albeit not always so successfully - is to continue with my research and blogging.  I had some really good weeks and some "I don't want to do a thing" weeks but through it all, I kept the end in sight and resolved to work through it so that at the end of the year, I just might be able to come up with my annual top 10 genealogical finds of the year.  So with that, I'll step back and reflect on what I've learned over the past year. [cue the David Letterman music].

You can read my previous year's discoveries here.  2019  2018  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013  2012  2012.5 2011

Number 10:  I was not quite 14 when my paternal grandfather, Sig Levy, died.  Looking back, I don't know that I really "knew" him.  But that changed when I put together a post about him in costume.  Quite the Character - Sig in Costume

Number 9:  My great grandfather, Abe Gunzendorfer, was a photographer.  I have lots of his original photos in my collection which I wrote about here.  Labor - Abe's Photos.  What's been really fun is to have members of the "Monterey" Facebook group share other photos that Abe took.  It takes a village for sure.

Number 8:   Speaking of taking a village, I'm hoping that next year the mystery of Marks Schwartz will be solved.  Labor - Marks Schwartz.  Thanks to a suggestion from one of my most faithful readers, I am on the waiting list to have an expert help me determine if the mystery child is Marks.  

Number 7:  Seeing our ancestors in swim suits can be fun!  And boy was it when I put this post together!  Water - Swimsuits.  How many of us can say they've seen their grandparents in a swimsuit?

Number 6:  I think by now my readers know that my grandfather was small - so small, in fact, that he had to sit on a pillow when he flew a plane.  So this tuxedo must have belonged to him.  Small - Tuxedo

Number 5:  It breaks my heart when I hear of a young child passing, but especially so when it was my husband's older sister who lived to be just 54 minutes old.  Nearly Forgotten - Pamela Jean

Number 4:  I've had many favorites discoveries but the most recent is always my favorite.  This was no exception.  Favorite Discovery

Number 3:  Along with favorite discoveries comes favorite photos.  It was hard for me to pick a favorite - isn't that like picking a favorite child - but I finally came up with one.  Favorite Photo - Birdie Schwartz

Number 2:  While I love it when a photo or other tidbit drops into my lap, there is nothing more rewarding than making that happen for someone else.  It only took a moment of my time to find someone who was so filled with gratitude over a picture of his grandfather.  Gratitude

Number 1:  The post that generated the most activity this year actually surprised me - I was having a hard time coming up with something for the Blog Prompt Multiple and decided to just put to use the multiple letters I had between my grandparents as they were courting from 1916-1919.  Of course this was during the Spanish Flu and since I was in the process of transcribing the letters from late 1918, the similarities to what we have faced this year was astounding.  Multiple - Love Letters

It was slim pickings this year but I'm happy to say that I kept at it, although it was much slower than usual.  So I'll continue with the resolution to keep at it and, hopefully, have a much more robust Top 10 list in 2021!

52 Ancestors: Multiple - Love Letters

As I've mentioned over and over, I have multiple (more like hundreds) of love letters between my grandparents, Sig Levy and Loraine Gunzendorfer, as they were courting from 1916 until their marriage in February, 1919.  I have spent the last many YEARS transcribing these letters and I'm close to the finish line.  I could go on and on about these letters but with more than 300 letters between them, there is just too much to say.

This weekend I have been busy transcribing the letters from the last few weeks of December, 1918 as they prepare for their February, 1919 marriage.  But the "flu" is fierce and is taking it's toll.  Sig had already contracted the disease and spent some time in the hospital.  Thankfully, he survived or I wouldn't be writing this today.

But what really strikes me as I continue with this project is the similarities to what we're facing today.  It's amazing to me that history has repeated itself more than 100 years later.  

On December 10, 1918 Sig wrote:

The “flu” is breaking out again down here – but they are not wearing masks.  Instead all homes that have it are tightly quarantined.  I hope it has calmed down up there – but be ever so careful sweet and being that you are in the store please lover, use those little tablets.  Not that I am frightened but just as a precaution.  

And then on December 12, 1918:

Our city is getting somewhat frightened again over the “flu” so naturally business is a trifle uncertain.  It is getting so that we can’t show houses but I have all I can do to get things back to normal at the office.  Don’t worry my dear girl about me running myself down as I am watching my step and trying not to go too hard, but keeping in good condition.  

Sig wrote on December 15, 1918

Had a phone a while ago that girl number three from the office went down with the flu.  I wonder when its going to stop.  I am wearing my mask believe me.

And then on December 17, 1918

Fresno is a different city tonight as almost every place is closed.  The flu has surely got them guessing now but they are doing what they should have done a long while ago.  The enclosed clipping will tell you all about it.  That all you can hear down here but at that the streets were crowded today and we were very busy although the real estate market took a big drop.  We couldn’t show many houses anyhow as hundreds of them are quarantined.  And listen dear, the Goodman boy died this morning – with the sister and father still in bed - its too sad to talk about.

Loraine wrote on December 19, 1918

What a shame the "flu" is flaring up again in Fresno.  Masks should have been worn all over long ago and especially in S.F., but the people there don't want them on again.  We are still wearing ours but may take them off the first of the week.

Sig:  December 22, 1918

The flu is still running wild and they are talking of severe measures.  Some small-pox has also broken out but just a couple of cases.  At that the town was crowded yesterday but the real estate market is dead and will be until the sickness clears up.  All the business is just Xmas shopping.

Sig:  December 23, 1918

No other news excepting that the weather is bitter cold and the flu still rages but the crowds come out just the same – I am very careful and now that your masks are off sweetheart be al the more careful, please.  They shouldn’t take them off yet.

Loraine:  December 24, 1918 

We discarded the masks yesterday.  I think it is too bad they were done away with as the "flu" will doubtless be at its work of destroying lives again in short order.  The wearing of the masks had a great tendency of making the Xmas business very slow, so the officials here decided to improve it if possible.  Love, is it good for you to go to the club and come in close contact with a lot of people?  Don't forget - you are not entirely immune and I don't want you to take chances.  I'd rather you'd write me from the office while it is so bad there.

Sig:  December 26, 1918

The flu is still getting worse.  Two of our girls still out were worse today.  One of them, a wonderful girl, who has been with us for years had to be removed from her home to a sanitarium – she was so low.  The other one phoned in to the office at about 5 P.M. and told me that her fever was going up and if it didn’t change she would go crazy.  Can you imagine that – roaming around the house & phoning in that condition.  I told her to go back to bed and stay there and be a good girl.  She promised she would – but I hope she calms down, and don’t get “nutty”.

Loraine:  December 28, 1918 

I am so sorry that the "flu" is still very bad in Fresno and hope the authorities get it under control in short order.  I won't like you to be in the thick of it so much and please don't go to see people who have had it until they are entirely over it.  We don't hear any more about it here, only hope that it doesn't break out again.

Sig:  December 30, 1918 

They are having a big meeting here tonight and the program is to close everything tight – even street cars and newspapers.  And they plan to quarantine strictly – not to let anybody in or out of the city – wouldn’t that be awful.  I can’t realize what it will mean but they must stop the epidemic as it is spreading like wildfire and many are dying.  Sweetheart I am very careful.  It was alright to go to that funeral, as it was in the open air and I stood away out of the outskirts.

Loraine:  January 1, 1919 

It is a fright the way the flu is spreading and I do wish they could be able to stop it from ravaging in Fresno.  Remember, love, even though you've had it you can get it again so be as careful as possible and I don't like the idea of your eating down-town in restaurants and coming in contact with all sorts of people.  

I could go on and on and on but I think you get the idea.  Unfortunately, I haven't been journaling or blogging my feelings during this 2020 pandemic but if I had, I can't imagine it would have been much different than what they were saying then.  

Once again, thanks for being a packrat, Grandma!

Aunt Charlotte

Last week I wrote about the flu pandemic of 1918-1920 and how it affected my family.  You can read about it here.

Once I learned about Aunt Charlotte’s death from the flu, I wanted to learn more about her.  What I knew at this point was that she was born in California in about 1876 and that she married Milton Schwartz, a younger brother of my great grandmother Birdie, on December 22, 1907 in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Call, 22 Dec 1907, Sun, First Edition

I had lots of information about Milton but this was all I knew about Charlotte Haley.  I also knew that they had no kids so figured my chance of connecting with others wasn’t too great.

I thought it might be interesting to see what her obituary, if there was one, might say so I started searching.  I was unsuccessful but thought I’d try the San Francisco Public Library, who provides obituary look ups for free, even though Charlotte had died in Oakland.  Who knew?

And a week or so later, I received an e-mail from the Magazines and Newspapers Center at the San Francisco Public Library (NOTE:  if you are looking for obituaries in the Bay Area, this is a wonderful service and is FREE!).  And there was Charlotte’s obituary.

San Francisco Examiner, 17 Jan 1919, Page 4

Hmmm, nothing about the flu.  Even though I knew she died from the flu, would it be worthwhile to get a copy of her death certificate?  As I sat there pondering that question it smacked me in the face – mother of John M. Haley?  WAIT - WHAT?  So when Charlotte and Milton were married she was either divorced or widowed?  And she’d had a son?

And then another smack in the face.  She was the daughter of Meria Mervy and sister of A.J. and Dr. E.T. Mervy?  So she was born Charlotte Mervy?  One paragraph and the world into Aunt Charlotte had been opened up in so many ways.

Back to newspapers.com where for whatever reason, I now started finding more information.

San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Oct 1901, Sun, Page 24

I guess this could have been hiding since in 1901 she was known as Lottie but look at that, John T. Haley had deserted her. 

If I had just found this obituary in my initial search, I would have had more clues right off the bat.  I guess in this case it sure paid to be persistent.

Oakland Tribune, Thu, Jan 16, 1919, Page 4

So now I knew that her son was John Mervin Haley.  I did some more searching and have found that her parents were Maria (Kearny) and Ulysses Mervy and that she had at least four siblings – Emily, Edward Thomas, Alphonse John, and James.  And there is her son, John Mervyn Haley, married to Irene Sarah Wheeler, with at least one child, James Tad Haley.  I have more to learn about the Mervys but it is encouraging that I might be able to connect with some of Charlotte’s descendants and, maybe, be able to share details with them about her death.

As I continued to search for Charlotte, I realized that if I searched on Milton Schwartz (rather than Charlotte) I would find even more information since, like most women, she went by Mrs. Milton Schwartz rather than her own first name (I’m sure glad we got away from that!).  And lo and behold, up popped a photo of her!  Sure it’s not great but maybe, just maybe, it might help me identify one of my unidentified photos that my grandmother left for me. 

Oakland Tribune, Wed, May 11, 1910 – Page 9

So based on the few letters that my grandmother wrote about Charlotte Schwartz and her death from the flu, I’ve learned quite a bit about the woman she was.  And maybe one day I’ll come across one of her descendants and be able to share details with them about her death.  Who wouldn’t want to know more about that?

1918 Flu Pandemic

I’ve learned a lot about history as I’ve researched my ancestors, especially when it hit close to home.  So it was no surprise that I’d learn some new things as I continue to transcribe the letters my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer, and my grandfather, Sig Levy, wrote back and forth between 1916 and 1919.  I’ve learned about World War I, Armistice Day in 1918, and now about the 1918 Flu Pandemic.

Wikipedia states “The 1918 flu pandemic (January 1918 – December 1920) was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic, the first of the two pandemics involving HINI influenza virus. It infected 500 million people across the world, including remote Pacific islands and the Arctic, and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (three to five percent of the world's population), making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history.”

One of those victims was Loraine’s Aunt Charlotte.

Of course Charlotte, the wife of Loraine’s uncle Milton Schwartz, was on my tree and I knew a bit about her and that she had died at just 40 years old.  But other than a few dates, I really didn’t know much about her.  But as I was transcribing letters I came to the letter of December 28, 1918 from Loraine to Sig.

“… We're so disappointed - Uncle Milt phoned this morning that they won't be down for New Year's as Aunt Charlotte has the "flu"! She has it very lightly for which we are thankful, but it is disagreeable for the one who has it. I am so sorry you and I live so far apart as I would like to have you with me once in awhile, it is especially nice on holidays, dear, but guess your separation can't be helped this year…”

It hit me that Charlotte Schwartz had passed away on January 15, 1919 so my senses were heightened as I continued to transcribe the letters.  Over the next few days (they wrote to each other daily) Loraine commented on Charlotte’s health but it wasn’t until January 4, 1919 that I could begin to see the gravity of the situation.

“…You don't know how much I enjoyed your letter last night. It was so sweetly written and I liked it very much, sweetheart. It was so full of news too. The main thing, though, is that you are well. The epidemic keeps everyone so uneasy and no one can tell from one minute to the next who will be the next victim. So please, my love, be as careful as possible as we want some of the happiness we are entitled to and I would go crazy if you were to get it again. We haven't heard since Wednesday about Aunt Chas' condition and naturally thought she was improving. Just after I started this to you the phone rang and it was Uncle Milt who said the first bit of encouragement was given him today by the doctor. Aunt Chas has been delirious for three days, she has surely had some siege and I do hope she will improve now…”

And two days later, January 6, 1919, she wrote this:

“…We phoned last night to inquire concerning Aunt Chas' condition and Uncle Milt said her temperature dropped to 99° and now the doctor thinks she will begin to improve. Funny though that she has been delirious for five days…”

But by the next day, things hadn’t seemed to have improved.

“…Sweetheart, I had no idea Aunt Chas. was so very bad until Saturday as New Year's Day she was supposed to be recovering rapidly. We heard from Uncle Milt this morn and he said her temperature was down to normal but that even yesterday she was delirious and kept talking about her trip to Monterey all the time as, you know, they had planned to come down. She probably hasn't read your letter yet and when she does will enjoy it as she will be much better. It was very sweet of you to write…”

While I believe Aunt Charlotte was at home during her illness, I found this photo from Wikipedia interesting, particularly since it was in Oakland which is where Charlotte and Milton lived.  Can you imagine being so horribly sick and being in this environment?

American Red Cross nurses tend to flu patients in temporary wards set up inside Oakland Municipal Auditorium, 1918.  Photo by Wikipedia

I’ve learned about the orders to wear masks and have difficulty picturing my grandmother wearing a mask.  No photos have surfaced but on January 8, 1919 she talked a little about it.

“…Love, the flu is getting bad here again and it keeps one in a sort of excitement all the time. Today I heard there were in the neighborhood of 100 cases but I doubt that. You can bet that I am going to begin to wear a mask. Mrs. Armstrong came to the rescue yesterday as I had an idea I might be getting it - had no symptoms but felt hot due to being nervous, I guess - so she took my temperature and said it couldn't be more normal. This is why I thought I might be getting it - a young girl teacher here whose fiance's parents live right next to Aunt Chas' and they were all out together the night before Aunt Chas. became ill. Saturday she was in the store to inquire regarding Aunt Chas and I talked to her. She said she never took anything in her life so couldn't get the flu - but she has it!! And I am told she was very sick Saturday night. Can you beat it, dear, the way I get mixed up with people who are getting it. But from now on I am going to take every precaution and be so careful…”

Policemen wearing masks provided by the American Red Cross in Seattle, 1918.  Photo by Wikipedia

By January 9, 1919 it appeared that Charlotte was turning the corner and on the road to recovery.

“…From all reports Aunt Chas. is well on the road to recovery but had a very close call. When I write I shall surely enclose your best wishes to her, dearest…”

But the next day’s news wasn’t quite so positive.

“…We had a letter from Uncle Milt this A.M. in which he said Aunt Chas. was still quite ill. In the mornings her temperature is pretty nearly normal but in the evening climbs to 102° to 102½° and she still continues to be delirious. It is terrible, sweetheart, really, what the people have to contend with these days. It makes one crazy if one stops to think about it, so I try not to…”

Several days went by with no news of Aunt Charlotte.  How was her recuperation going?  Had there been any changes?  But then on January 14, 1919 Loraine wrote:

“…Poor Aunt Chas is still a very sick person. Can you imagine that? And is nearly three weeks since she became ill. Uncle Col wrote yesterday saying they had a heart specialist to examine her heart and it is quite weak. The poison has not entirely left her body yet and naturally Uncle Milt has lots of cause for worry but he seems to be standing the strain very well, and you know he is far from being a well man. All any of us can do is to hope that everything will right itself and Aunt Chas will get her health back in short order…”

Oh no!  And because I was now able to somewhat see into the future, I knew what the outcome would be.  And sometime before 3:00 p.m. (when her letter was postmarked) on Thursday, January 16, 1919 came the news that seemed to have completely shocked the family.

“My own Darling I am afraid this will be anything but a letter of cheer today as I feel quite the contrary. Am so tired and sad after a very sleepless night, and don't feel anything like collecting my thoughts for a letter but I'll do my best, dear. You can imagine the shock when we were awakened at 12:15 A.M. by the telephone and were told by Uncle Col that Aunt Charlotte had passed away a short while before, which was entirely unexpected as she seemed to be getting along very nicely. She was such a dear, lovable woman and it seems such a pity that her kind always have to go, especially in the prime of life. Everything under the sun went through my mind after the call and I didn't close my eyes until 3:30. Honestly, my love, I never wanted you more in my life and just longed to be in our arms close to you but inasmuch as you were so far away I tried to console myself and to think that it is all for the best if that can be though. My heart surely goes out to Uncle Milt as they were such a devoted couple and I wonder how he will bear it, but time heals everything and I certainly hope it will for him. Isn't this a terrible thing, dear, and I wonder so much where and when it will end. There seems to be nothing but misery when everyone would like to be happy if possible. Mother would like very much to go up and be of assistance to Uncle Milt but is far from being strong and we think she would be taking too much of a chance right now, she owes so much to her own health so we have urged her to wait a few days or perhaps longer until the flu begins to abate. Had she gone today I would have gone with her and isn't it odd, love, how we planned to go up this week-end, never expecting anything to really happen or sadness…”
 

And with that I learned first hand about a victim of the Flu Pandemic nearly 100 years ago.  But, of course, that only piqued my interest and I wanted to learn more about Charlotte.  Which led me down the proverbial genealogy rabbit hole…..

Part 2 next week!