52 Ancestors: Namesake

There are a lot of instances in my family tree of one ancestor being named for another - it's fun to follow the bread crumbs.  But one namesake that means the most to me is.......ME.

My mom always told me that my middle name, Ann, was given to me in honor of her Aunt Ann, the woman she lived with for some amount of time (how long?) while her parents were going through their divorce.  Somehow I learned that Aunt Ann was really Anna Teresa (Fitzgerald) Sronce, who was really her great aunt as she was the younger sister of Mom's grandfather, Edward Fitzgerald.  And I also knew that Aunt Ann lived somewhere around Berkeley or Oakland, California.  And even now I don't know much more than that.  And once again, I could just KICK MYSELF for not asking more questions.

Anna Teresa Fitzgerald was born 27 July 1883 in Woodland, Yolo County, California.  She was the seventh (and last) child of Mathew and Julia (Horgan) Fitzgerald.

I found what looks to be two entries in the 1900 census for Anna.

The first was enumerated on 7 Jun 1900 where she was in Fresno with dad Mathew and siblings Nick, Mary, and Joseph.  Mom Julia died shortly after Anna's birth so this all checks out.

The second entry was just a week later on June 12-13 where I found Anna in Woodland.  She was a lodger in the Delia Morrison household and was "at business college".  This Anna was born July, 1883 so it also looks to be her.  However, this shows that both her father and mother were born in New York when, in fact, they were both born in Ireland.  Maybe it was easier just to say your parents were born in New York?  Or, Delia didn't know where they were born so just said New York?

On 14 Aug 1902, Anna married Robert Hartsel Sronce.  And together over the next few years they had three children - Robert, Hartsel, and Elizabeth.

In 1910, Anna and Robert lived on G Street in Sacramento.  Young Robert and Hartsel had now joined the family, as had Aunt Elizabeth Sronce.  I don't have any record of a sister named Elizabeth but I also don't see a brother (making her a sister-in-law).  More research needed.  In this census it states that both parents were born in New York.

By 1920, Anna and Robert were living at 1600 Bancroft in Berkeley.  Again, both parents were born in New York.  And now not only were Robert, Hartsel, and Aunt Elizabeth in the home, but daughter Elizabeth had joined the family.

1930 found Anna and Robert at 754 61st St in Oakland.  In the home were son Robert and daughter Elizabeth and a "relative" Sarah.  Google maps shows the house in February, 2019:

754 61st Street, Oakland, CA  - google maps

Was this the home that Mom lived in with them?  She remembers Elizabeth living in the home so this could make sense.  Or not.  Ugh, WHY DIDN'T I ASK?

By 1940, they had moved to 1509 Edith in Berkeley.  With Robert and Anna were daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Malcom Bell.  Mom, did you live here?

1509 Edith, Berkeley, CA - google maps

I went back and researched some other things and found that Mom remembered living with them at 1441 Milvia Street in Berkeley.  But I don't find ANYTHING (other than Anna's death certificate) that showed them ever living there.

1441 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA - google maps

I know that in 1940 Mom and her mother were living in a hotel on Harrison Street in Oakland (my grandmother was the Hotel Manager) so I think Mom must have been living with the Sronce's in the mid 1930's.  How long did she live with them?  Was it a week, a month, years?  I guess I'll never know.  AND I DIDN'T ASK!!!

Anna died on 2 May 1950 in Alameda County.  Based on the death certificate, she died of an acute myocardial infarction at her home on Milvia Street.  She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

I know I can't beat myself up but geez, why didn't I ask more questions???

52 Ancestors: At the Cemetery

I find cemeteries so interesting - behind/beneath every stone is a story.  I could spend hours sitting at my computer looking through death and cemetery records and love matching people with their loved ones.  Just when you think you've solved one mystery, another challenge stands before you.

This weeks' prompt is At the Cemetery.  I can't say that I've BEEN to a lot of cemeteries but I can say that I've virtually been to quite a few.  Last year I wrote about some very special cemeteries in my family history HERE.  

Another cemetery that is very special to me is Chapel of the Light Columbarium in Fresno.  

From www.chapelofthelight.com:  "On July 1, 1914, the Fresno crematory was opened.  The crematory consisted of two cremation chambers, a chapel, and a columbarium.  The property is located on Belmont Avenue, west of Roeding Park, and north of the Mountain View Cemetery, which was established in 1888.

Originally behind the crematory, there was a streetcar track that ran through Roeding Park and dead-ended at the crematory.

There was also a self-made airport on the balance of the property.  Local aviators who flew bi-planes for their own pleasure established the airport."

The first time I visited the Columbarium was after my grandfather, Sig Levy, died in 1968.  I remember hearing the story that since he always wanted to sit on the aisle of a theater due to his short stature, he picked an aisle niche in the Columbarium.  And then I visited again in 1982 after my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer Levy, died.

I had no idea that almost all of my Levy "kin" are interred in the Columbarium.  Sig's parents, Herman and Goldie (Benas) Levy, his brothers and their wives (Herb/Madeline, Leon/Elizabeth, Ben/Leah), some of their children, and even Sig and Loraine's oldest son, Robert Levy (1920-2004).

Chapel of the Light states "One of our most unusual urns is a replica of a home on Van Ness Blvd.  Mr. and Mrs. Ben Levy were in the process of building a home in what is now known as Fig Garden on Van Ness Blvd. and the home was close to completion when Mrs. Levy took a trip to Texas to visit her sister.  Mrs. Levy was in an automobile accident and was killed.  Mr. Levy came to the chapel and made arrangements for her niche."

In Ben Levy's autobiography, he gave a different account:

"In 1939, we went to the New York World's Fair and on our return, we had an automobile accident just out of Winnemuca, Nevada.  My wife was fatally injured in this accident.  My wife and I were both thrown out of our car, but my wife paid with her life."

What's interesting is that my in laws both graduated from Humbolt County High School in Winnemucca, I believe in 1939.  I wonder if they knew anything of the accident but, of course, there is no one left to ask.

At some point, I'm planning to get to Fresno to visit with some long-lost cousins, see the old yet familiar sites, and take a visit to Chapel of the Light to walk the halls.  

52 Ancestors: Nature

This weeks' blog prompt is nature.  Being that I don't know of any ancestors who were necessarily "one with nature", I thought about my own experience with nature.  And just like those who came before me, I was never one to love nature or spend much time in the outdoors.  My parents were even worse when it came to that so they didn't really push us.  Sure, the kids in the neighborhood stayed outside until it was so dark we couldn't see any longer - our favorite games were Kick the Can and Statues.  But I've never really been interested in hiking, gardening, skiing, or boating.  Except for Camp Campbell in Boulder Creek - boy did I love THAT place!

I'm sure things have changed a lot over the years but back in "the day", there were Family Camp sessions every year.  We always went during the summer - August, I think - but I don't remember if we went for one or two weeks.  I have very few photos to share but they are all stored vividly in my mind.  Boy, that place was a lot of fun.

I can visualize (my dad used to love to say that) the little cluster of cabins surrounding the bathrooms/showers where we would stay each year.  There were about 5 cabins and I think, for the most part, two families shared a cabin.  I remember the names of most of the families - why do I remember that when I can't remember what I had for dinner last night?  I'm guessing the reason I remember it so well is that many of the families had older BOYS and I'm sure at some point I had a crush on one or all of them.

This was a big deal for my parents as they really didn't like to camp.  Sure, we slept in cabins and there was running water to shower and flush but sleep in a sleeping bag?  On a bunk bed?  Yikes!  There was a big mess hall where everyone would gather for meals - when it was time to eat someone would ring the big bell on the porch and everyone would gather.  And when it wasn't meal time, the adults would sit around and play bridge while the kids roamed around and played.  There were canoes, swimming, tire swings, and lots of hiking.  I also remember spending time in the outdoor chapel where we would sing, perform skits, and spend time as families.

Camp Campbell, outdoor chapel

We also spent a weekend there every spring - it was so fun to reconnect with people we hadn't seen for awhile.  My parents played bridge with many of these people so maybe it was just exciting to have the families together, even if for just a short time.  My memory isn't quite so good with these outings except for one thing - GETTING LOST!

I must have been about 8, which means my sister was 11-12.  A group of us all went hiking and the big kids were told to be responsible for the two little ones - Linda and me.  Why parents would let this group of young kids go out alone is beyond me but times were different then and I'm sure the bridge table was calling.  So off we went.

At some point the older kids were ahead of Linda and me and in a split second we looked around and we were alone.  ALONE!  The forest is fun when there are a bunch of kids but when there are just two young girls, things changed in an instant.  I remember it was pouring - what do I know, it was probably drizzling - but I do remember being wet as we walked through the mud.  My memory is fuzzy but at some point we had to maneuver up a mountain (MUD!) to get to a road.  In later years I would tell people that I ate dirt.  But we made it to the road, walked for awhile, and finally a truck with some teenage boys came along.  I'm sure you're cringing right about now but yep, we climbed in the truck and they took us back to camp.  And as we climbed out of the car the adults started clanging that big bell which was their signal to those out searching that we were back!  Phew.

We had a lot of fun at that camp.  Many nights we'd meet in the mess hall and learn square dancing - what fun!  Even the parents would join in and we'd dance and laugh the night away.

One of my most treasured memories was Crazy Hat Night - now that was a blast!  Of course, the only pictures I've run across of our time at Camp Campbell was of Crazy Hat Night so maybe that's why I have such vivid memories.  Dad even captioned some of the photos in the Family Photo Album.

Family Camp 1958
Christian Dior Creations
Sister, Me, ???

We were really strutting our stuff!

Family Camp 1958
Miss America Deb

And then a few years later.

Family Camp 1961

I learned to dive at Camp Campbell as the older boy in the cabin across from us, Bill, would give us a diving lessons.  And at the end of the session we'd have a swim meet and rowing races.  I'm sure I came home with a medal or two but the fun was in participating.

As I was putting this post together, I ran across a poem in my mother's handwriting telling about our time at Camp Campbell.  Actually, it looks like it was a song sung to the tune of "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" by Allen Sherman. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3_xiUYMnXA.  Sing it with me!

Hell-o Hous-er
And Tip Bell-a
Here we are at
Camp Camp-bell-a

Camp is ver-y
En-ter-tain-ing
And they say we'll have some fun if it stops rain-ing.

I went boat-ing
With Gene Fol-ey
He is such a 
Role-y pole-y

You re-mem-ber
Gor-don Coll-ins
He is al-ways chas-ing af-ter lit-tle darl-ins.

We are hun-gry
We are starv-ing
Dear-est Ol-ga
Please start carv-ing

We've been danc-ing
With our teach-er
She is such an ab-so-lute-ly gor-geous crea-ture.

I tried ping-pong
And shot a-head
Then was beat-en
by Shel On-Stead.

We went hik-ing
In a big bunch
But it got fog-gy and we came in late for lunch.

Let us stay
We love Camp-bell-a
Don't leave us right in the cit-y where it's us-ually so clean and pret-ty.

Let us stay Ton-y Mer-cant
Let us stay we're all so vib-rant
We'll be back to fro-lic in the sun and have a lot of fun.

Hell-o Gil-bert
Hell-o Cart-wright
Are you read-y 
For a big night

We have had our
Toil-et train-ing
And what goes on at night nev-er real-ly needs ex-plain-ing.

Wait a min-ute
It stopped pour-ing
The muds not deep
Our spirits soaring

Play-ing Ken-o
Is like Ren-o
Ex-cept there is not a strip join or Cas-in-o!

Oh boy, what memories!

Memories of Mom

If there is one person in our lives we should be thinking of today it is our Mother - the person who gave us life.  I realize we celebrate all mothers but really, if not for our own mother where would we be?  But Mother's Day seems to have a different meaning now that my mother is no longer with us and the memories just swirl around in my head.  So today I celebrate my mother, Geraldine Martin.

This is the earliest photo I've found of her - I'm guessing she was about 6 months old.  Look at those cute little shoes!

Geraldine Martin, c. 1928

And recently I've discovered some new photos in the small envelope her father held on to throughout his life.  They were not close so that fact that he kept them all those years makes it so special.  He even wrote on the back - not just the name but sometimes, the date and place.  After his death, his wife sent his things to my mother. 

Geraldine Martin
1023 Thorne, Fresno
About 1930

In 1930, my mother was enumerated with her parents at 1023 Thorne in Fresno - she used to tell me that she always remembered that address - and they owned the house.  In 1940, my mother's maternal grandparents, Edward and Mabel (McAboy) Fitzgerald, owned the house and were enumerated there.  My guess is that as my grandparents finalized their divorce, they sold the home to the Fitzgeralds.

And then in July 1931, Mom was hamming it up at the beach.  I think that might be my grandmother watching her.  This photo just brings such a smile to my face.

Geraldine Martin
July, 1931
3 years

I think this is from 1932 - what a little lady with her cute pin curls.

Geraldine Martin
c. 1932

By 1936, Mom was a student at John Muir School - interestingly, I attended John Muir Junior High from 7th-9th grade.  Do I remember that Mom told us she also went to John Muir, albeit a different school?  Mom would have been in 2nd grade - you can see her in the middle row, 6th from the left.

Room No. 6
John Muir School
Feb. 27, 1936

I also found this photo which I thought included Mom - little girl front row, center.  But the more I look at it the more I think it isn't her since the clothes don't look like something from the early 1930's.  Maybe it could be her mother?

And then she fell in love and was engaged to be married - this is the photo used in her engagement announcement in the newspaper.  What a beauty!

Geraldine Martin
1949

And then came kids.   And one of my most treasured photos celebrating not only my mother but HER mother and HER mother. 

Clara Fitzgerald, Geraldine Martin, Mabel McAboy
Sister C. Levy, Me
c. 1960

One of my favorite photos of Mom, also from about 1960.

And then the years marched on by and grandkids and even great grandkids joined the family. 

Mom, Sister, Me
Daughter #2, Daughter #1

And just like that, Mom turned 80!  She was so happy to be able to spend it with the three kids and our spouses.

80 years young - June 8, 2008

And here we are.  Another Mother's Day without her.  And in just 10 days, we will remember her on the 6th anniversary of her death.  And then 17 days later, we will celebrate the day she was born 91 years ago.

The years just continue to march on and I hold the memories close.  Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

52 Ancestors: At Worship

I don't know too much about how my ancestors worshiped - Dad's family was Jewish, Mom's was Christian - and I don't think any of them were terribly religious.  Because of the mixed faith of our parents, we weren't really raised in a religious fashion, either.  Although Mom 'converted' to Judaism when they married, I know that some of the Christian traditions were still buried deep inside her.  But it was important to Dad that we practice some religion so we were raised as much as possible in the Jewish faith.

So while I don't know much about my ancestors, I do have very vivid memories of our time at Temple Emanu-El in San Jose.

Temple Emanu-El, San Jose, California
google.maps.com

Just a few of my memories:

When my brother was Bar Mitzvahed, I remember quite a discussion about which Jewish male family members would stand up to recite prayers.  Of course, coming from a very small family, that was a difficult task and at some point, my sister and I were called in to action.  Thank goodness that we were able to recite the prayers in English!

One year (7th grade, maybe?) my dad was late signing us up for Religious School so we had to go on Saturday instead of Sunday.  Not many of my friends went to church or Religious School on Saturdays.  Lesson learned, Dad.

I loved the holiday celebrations, especially the Purim carnival.

There were some sad times, too.  After my uncle's death in Atlanta in 2004, my dad just couldn't face not having a memorial for his only sibling.  So as only my dad could do, he made it happen and we had a small memorial at the Temple attended by a few family members and friends.

I wonder if Dad ever thought about the fact that the next time we would all join together at the Temple would be just 15 months later when we came together to say goodbye to Dad.  Not only was it goodbye to him, but it was also September 11 so a difficult day all around.  But we all met in the Temple House after the service and as his only great grandchild would proclaim, "then we had a party".

But the greatest, most meaningful, memory I have of the Temple was our long time Rabbi, Joseph Gitin.  Rabbi Gitin, and his wife, Rosalie, was there for us at almost every important religious event as we were growing up.

My brother's (and ultimately my father's) baby naming event.  I think one was named Herman, one was named Isaac but I can't be sure.  Wonder why little brother didn't make it into the photo?

Back row:  Loraine (Gunzendorfer) Levy, Dad, Sig Levy, Rabbi Gitin
Front:  Gerry (Martin) Levy, Me, Sister

In 1974, Rabbi Gitin was there.  I remember Dad saying he didn't care who married us but he felt like it should be someone who knew us and was meaningful in our lives.  Of course we asked Rabbi Gitin!  And he was kind enough to not just say the prayers in Hebrew, but also in English.

We were so young!

And then eight months later came Bar Mitzvah day.  Although my memory is completely shot of most things, I can remember that day vividly.  I was a few months pregnant with my first child so finding something to wear was a difficult task.  But I can visualize that dress all these years later - just wish I had a photo to share.

The following year Mom and Dad renewed their vows for their 25th anniversary.  I don't remember the story exactly but I know that when Mom and Dad were married in 1950, for some reason at the last minute the Rabbi could not be there so they had to scramble to find a fill-in officiant.  Which explains why Dad wanted us to be married by someone who was important to us.  And when it came time to renew their vows, who else should be there but Rabbi Gitin?

I'm not sure who had the biggest smile that day

In 1982, Dad was the recipient of The Legacy Medal, awarded each year by the San Jose Hospital Foundation to a member of the community for years of professional and public service to the citizens of Santa Clara Valley.  It seemed fitting since Dad had recovered from a heart attack at San Jose Hospital in 1978, and then from a 5 way bypass in 1979.  Of course, Rabbi Gitin was there, along with Rosalie, seated at the head table with us.

Mom, what was so funny?

Five years later, another wedding in the family as my sister was married.  Of course you know who officiated - yep, Rabbi Gitin.  I think one of my very favorite Rabbi stories was the night of the rehearsal dinner.  Mom was so excited to organize the venue for the dinner and since we all loved Chinese food, she made arrangements for the wedding party and family to join together at Fung Lum, a 'famous' restaurant in San Jose.  She always did the ordering when we had Chinese food and this night was no exception.  And remember, Mom was not raised Jewish and none of us were really strict with our dietary restrictions so I'm sure she didn't pay too much attention to any of that.  But when the waiter showed up at our table (of course I was at the same table as Rabbi and Rosalie) and set down Moo Shoo Pork in front of the Rabbi and his wife, there was not only a gasp from the table, but you could just see the color draining from Rosalie's face.  PORK?  She looked in astonishment at the Rabbi as he quietly said "Rosalie, just shut up and eat it".

Rosalie, shut up and eat it!

Dad and Rabbi shared their lives together - not just religiously but also as lifetime Rotarians and friends.  And it was apparent as they shared a special moment together after the bride and groom were named Mr. and Mrs.

And then the unthinkable happened and Dad was gone.  All of us kids had moved away from home but we gathered to plan a service for Dad.  I remember thinking that Rabbi Gitin MUST be there.  But, sadly, at the age of 99 and having just lost Rosalie a few months prior, Rabbi Gitin was unable to attend the memorial.  He sent a nice message via the current Rabbi, Dana Magat, so we felt like he was with us that day.  I know he would have moved mountains to get there if he could - the friendship the two shared was very special.

Dad's final resting place
Rabbi Magat on the right

Just five years later and at the age of 104, Rabbi Gitin was at peace.  And he is now at rest with his beloved Rosalie at Home of Peace Cemetery, the Jewish portion of Oak Hill Memorial Park where Mom & Dad rest.  Dad always said he didn't want to be in the Jewish section but rather up on the hill overlooking the valley (the picture above is from his final resting place) but maybe if he'd thought about Rabbi Gitin being buried there one day, he might have felt differently.  I'm glad to know, though, that they aren't that far apart and when I visit Mom & Dad, I can also visit Rabbi and Rosalie.

Apparently Rosalie didn't want people to know how old she was

Thank you for the memories, Rabbi Gitin.  Know that you were a very, very special member of our family.

52 Ancestors: Out of Place

Is Louis Schwartz, my 2x great grandfather, out of place?

There has been something nagging me for quite some time and is now causing me to further explore Louis' final resting place.

Louis Schwartz

I know that Louis, along with his wife Rebecca (Steen) Schwartz (1848-1918) and their sons Marks (1873-1877) and Colman (1884-1920) Schwartz, are buried in Home of Eternity Cemetery in Oakland, California.  While I cannot say with 100% certainty that his remains are actually there, I have stood before the grave so I know there is at least a stone for him there.

Since Louis is buried with his wife and two of his sons, I think he is in exactly the right place.  But I don't know if that was always the case.

Louis died on 23 May, 1893 in Byron Springs, California.  I know that Louis had gone to Byron Springs "in search of health".  He had been "ailing for almost a year, his trouble having been Bright's Disease.'" [Santa Cruz Sentinel, 24 May 1893, Wed., page 3].

Other than the fact that Louis was only 59 years old, not too much seems out of place at this point.  I'm sure his family were devastated as they made arrangements for Louis' final resting place.  Which seems to have been Santa Cruz.  WHAT? 

Santa Cruz Sentinel, Wednesday, 26 May 1893, page 3 

Not just that, but there was a service performed and then a procession to the Jewish Cemetery in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, Saturday, 27 May 1893, page 3

Louis even bequeathed $250 to the Cemetery upon his death.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, Friday, June 2, 1893, page 3

So, you'd think he would be buried at the Home of Peace Cemetery in Santa Cruz, right?

Home of Peace Cemetery, Santa Cruz, California

Was he "out of place" and moved to Home of Eternity when Rebecca died in 1918?  I know that Rebecca was living in Oakland with her brother, Samuel Steen, and his wife, Rachel (Letter) Steen, and MY GRANDMOTHER, Loraine Gunzendorfer, when she passed away on 7 Jan 1918.  So it makes sense that she was buried in Oakland.

As I was researching for this post I found some new information on Ancestry.com - the probate records of Rebecca!  Where did that come from?  I was ever so hopeful that there would be some mention of her burial but, sadly, not to be.

I've written to Temple Sinai, owners/operators of Home of Eternity Cemetery, to see if they might, just might, have some records describing when Louis was interred and who made the arrangements.  With any luck, I'll get some questions answered about whether Louis was out of place in Santa Cruz and later moved to be next to his wife of nearly 30 years, Rebecca.  I always like a good love story.

52 Ancestors: Brick Wall

We all have them, right?  You know, brick wall ancestors who don't want to be found.  I have more than a few but the ancestor who haunts me the most is my paternal great grandfather, Herman Levy.  I've connected with some Levy cousins and I'm hoping we can figure it out but for now, he's a mystery.  It could be that he was known as Herman Levi before coming to America but for now, he's staying hidden.

I have so many brick wall ancestors who are staring me in the face but I have no idea who they are or even if they are MY ancestors.  Why, why, why did my grandmother not label these beautiful photos?  Even one might have led to a new discovery but no, nothing.  So I scan them and file them in my "unidentified" folder.

What makes it even more challenging is that my great grandfather, Abraham Gunzendorfer, was a photographer so I can't even be sure that these people were anything more than a subject for Abe.  And while I believe those who are related to me are either Gunzendorfer, Schwartz, or Steen ancestors because they were in the same box as some identified by those names, it's a crap shoot.

So here I'll post some of these unidentified characters in the hope that maybe, just maybe, someone can help me out.

I love seeing photos of children - there is so much promise in their eyes and I can just imagine the lives they had ahead of them.  But who are they?

I think these two might be Gunzendorfer boys since the photographer was J.B. Johnson in Gilroy, California.  The four boys were Gustave (b. 1864), Adolph (b. 1866), Abraham (b. 1869) and Jacob (b. 1871) and the family lived in Gilroy in 1870.  Clearly taken on the same day but who are they?

I don't know - the top could be Gustave and the bottom could be Adolph but for all I know, they don't even belong to me.

And until today I thought this gentleman might be my 2x great grandfather, Louis Schwartz, but now I've noticed that it was also taken by J.B. Johnson in Gilroy - and to my knowledge, Louis never lived in Gilroy.  So maybe it was the father of the two boys.  And maybe, just maybe, it was their father, Ferdinand Gunzendorfer.

It sort of looks like Ferdinand as an older man but maybe it's just because I want it to be him that I think that.

Ferdinand Gunzendorfer

And then there's this cutie.  Since the photographer was in Santa Cruz and my Steen and Schwartz ancestors lived there, it could be one of them.  Joseph Schwartz?  Milton Schwartz?  Colman Schwartz?  All brothers of my great grandmother, Bertha Schwartz.  They were born in 1867, 1878, and 1884 so maybe?

And what about this family?  Who are they?

Taken in San Francisco - that's no help since just about every one of my ancestors lived or worked in San Francisco at some point in their life.  

And these dapper young men could be Milton Harry Schwartz, younger brother of my great grandmother, Bertha Schwartz.  He was born in 1878 and lived in Santa Cruz, Berkeley, and San Francisco so it could be him.  Or not.

Could this also be the same boy?  It's the same Santa Cruz photographer.

I have a photo that I know is him - same guy?

Milton Harry Schwartz

Since it's the same photography studio I vote yes.  But I could be wrong.

And how about this lady?  Who is she?

Or this lady?  Oh boy, she looks stern!

And another stern lady in San Francisco.  Who are you?

I could go on and on and on.  I know so many people would just love to have the photos I have inherited but geez, it boggles my mind to not know who these people are.  Please, will one of you come forward and tell me who you are?