ALTHOF, Jacob Heinrich (1828-1904)

Continuing on I've essentially translated the long obituary for Jacob Heinrich Althof. From the Erie Tageblatt, Erie Pennsylvania, dated Saturday, October 22, 1904, which says:

Jacob Althof

Mr. Jacob Althof one of the oldest and best known Germans in the city died shortly after 4 a.m. today in the home of his son located at 119 East 17th Street, at the age of 75. He had been bedridden from April, suffering from diabetes. In July he as admitted to the Hamot Hospital for two weeks where he had a toe removed. After his hospital stay he moved in with his son where he lived until his death. His fever [I think] took a turn for the worse and he died this morning.

Mr Althof was one of the oldest planing mill owners in this city. He was born in Germany and he married Miss Gertrude Druschel. He immigrated [with his family] to Erie in 1852 when the city was still small and lived here as it continued to grown and thrive. He first worked as a house carpenter, later as a builder/contractor, later still as a planing mill owner on State Street between 7th and 8th. There a steam boiler [exploded] ruining the entire mill. They then christened [re-opened] an old planing mill on Peach Street between 12th and 13th, where he operated for 10 years before relocating to 18th and French Street in a mill that he built. That building was closed down and he was forced to build a new mill on 11th and French Streets. In 1884 two of his sons, George and Samuel, joined him under the company name Gebruder Althof.

Mr. Althof leaves behind his wife, six sons and a daughter. His sons are George, Daniel, Samuel, Benjamin, William, and Frank, all of whom live in Erie except Daniel who has settled in the far west. His daughter Lydia likewise lives in Erie. He also leaves behind a brother, Peter Althof (aged 84) and a sister, Mrs. Katharina Diesterdict (aged 78.) The body is to be interred in Erie Cemetery. 

The viewing will be Monday at 2 p.m. at the home of the family, 119 East 17th Street. Rev. E. Kohne from the Salem Church will officiate. The body will be interred in Erie Cemetery, The deceased was a member of the United Workmen, Maccabaer Ritter and the Harugaris, and representatives from all of these organizations will be present at the funeral.

This is a really rough translation. The article is 10 inches long and took more than 12 hours for me to translate. I want to get my translation confirmed by a German speaker since the second paragraph was extremely difficult and there are several gaps where I had difficulty with a half dozen words and couldn't figure out what they meant at all.

Even with a rough translation we learn a lot from a genealogy perspective. Jacob was either a middle or youngest child since his brother and sister are both older than him. We know the names and where his children live in 1904. We even know the maiden name of his wife and that she was still living in October 1904. This gives me an enormous amount of information to research further on this line. How cool.

Now from an individual perspective Jacob started from a simple carpenter and matured into a business owner that faced difficulties and success along the way. He lived to see some of his sons join him in his business too. We also know that Jacob struggled with diabetes which may have finally led to death. He is also buried in Erie Cemetery. Jacob grew to obviously be a well respected and influential man in Erie. What a great legacy to leave to his family.

We also learn from the article that he was a member of a fraternal order that was formed in the US and Canada after the Civil War (United Workmen) to provide insurance to it's members and the Harugari--another fraternal order formed in 1847 in New York meant to bring German immigrants together socially and to help them practice German. The final organization may be of Jewish origin but I cannot be positive. Maccabaer appears to be the German name for Maccabee which is a Jewish family from nearly 2000 years ago. This last point is pure speculation because I have not found anything specifically regarding the organization. I will continue to research and update this post with anything new I find. Until then ....

ALTHOF, Jacob H (1828-1904)

I recently added a membership to GenealogyBank.com which is primarily a database for old newspapers. It paid off almost immediately in that I found two articles on my great (3x) grandfather, Jacob Heinrich Althof, who was born in Hessia or Prussia (I haven't figured out which yet.)

Anyway, this article is from the Erie Tageblatt, Erie, Pennsylvania, dated October 22, 1904. The Erie Tageblatt--which means daily news--is a newspaper for the German speaking population of Erie at the turn of the 20th century. The obituary for Jacob reads:

Died

Friends and acquaintances, the sad news is that this morning Mr. Jacob Althof, died at the age of 75. The funeral will be held from the apartment of his son, Frank Althoff, 119 East 17th Street, on Monday after at 2 p.m. Friends are invited. [signed] The mourning family.

That's a rough translation using Google translator. I was unable to translate a couple of words but I was able to get the gist of the article. Frank Althof is my great, great grandfather so I gain two pieces of information about some of my direct ancestors--the death of Jacob and the address of Frank.

Additionally, I found a second article on Jacob--another obituary really--which is a written because Jacob was one of the leading citizens of Erie. It took about an hour to translate this small obit and that is after working on two others so that I was more familiar with several of the words and the German alphabet, which has 30 letters.

I've said many times that genealogy is like a puzzle to be solved. These German news articles certainly fit into that category because it takes time to obtain the details. It's not impossible but like an onion the layers are removed slowly increasing the anticipation.

Note: image found on Google images of one of the Erie Tagablatt's mastheads.

SAMMON, Catherine Ellen nee Hughes (1889-1964)

Catherine immigrated here in 1918, soon after marrying Edward John Sammon, a machinist in the US Navy stationed in Queenstown, Ireland during WWI. Catherine had been married to Richard James prior to this and she and Richard had two daughters: Catherine (aka Cassie) and Annie (aka Nancy).

Annie immigrated with Catherine to the US and they lived in Boston (separately) for the first several years that they were here. Boston, I believe, was the home port of the ship that Edward was stationed on.

For many years we had thought that Edward was Annie's father (biologically speaking) until discrepancies arose and I realized that Edward and Catherine lived on different continents when Annie was born. While trying to find Annie's birth certificate in England I thought I'd found the right one but it listed her father as Richard James. Unfortunately, the ships manifest for Catherine and Annie indicated they were sisters rather than mother and daughter and it began to create enormous confusion for Annie's descendants. A later census also indicated that they were sisters solidifying the confusion.

Another hurdle I had to jump over was that Catherine identified herself as a spinster on her marriage certificate to Edward. All things were pointing to another "truth" that no one had known about.

But I began to doubt this information the more I researched and the recent conversation with my aunt really solidified my doubts. I began looking for information stating that Catherine's oldest daughter, Catherine (aka Cassie) James, visited Catherine in the US and that she and Annie were cousins. In doing this I came across a newspaper article which read is transcribed as follows from the Newport Mercury Journal and Weekly News, Newport, Rhode Island, Friday, May 25,1928:

Three Card Parties--Affairs by Catholic Daughters, William Ellery Chapter, and for Rainbow Girls (Newport Mercury Journal and Weekly News dated Friday, May 25, 1928)

A successful card party was held under the auspices of the Catholic Daughters of America in Knights of Columbus hall Thursday evening. The dark horse prize was awarded to Miss Cassie James, and the first prize to Miss Mary .... The committee in charge consisted of ... Mrs. Catherine Sammon, Miss Cassie James and Mrs. Gertrude Noyes and Isabella Finn. [and the article goes on from there]

This shows that in May 1928 Cassie was in Newport with Catherine which followed what my aunt had recently told me and helped me to follow that trail. That led to me finding a 1930 census record which looked to be the right Cassie (under the name of Catherine which my mom told me in a text message was Cassie's real name) working in Providence, RI as a servant. The census record also indicated that Cassie had been living in the US for nearly six years. This then led me down another trail which I will post about below.

IRVIN, Levi (c. 1807-1920)

Levi Irvin is the father of John A. Irvin, and was a well-respected farmer in the community. So this article was of interested and impacted the entire valley.

Transcribed from The Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg, PA, March 14, 1842.

In the Matter Of the intended application of ISAAC HOKERSMITH for License to keep a Tavern, in Franklin township on the Turnpike road, between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in the County of Adams, being an old and established Stand.

We, the subscribers, citizens of Franklin township, respectfully certify, that we are well acquainted with Isaac Hockersmith; that he is of good repute for honesty and temperance, and is well provided with house and stable-room, and every thing necessary for the accommodation of the public and the entertainment of strangers and travellers; and that a Tavern at is house is necessary, and could not be dispensed with without much inconvenience to the public generally.

William Walker, George Rambo, Isaac Bean, James Keim, Jr., David Newman, John Fiot, John Dillon, James Keim, Sen., Wm. Noel, E. D. Newman, Levi Irvin, Andrew McKinrick, and David Goodyear. March 14.

I love how the tavern license is for the good of the town generally. It sounds as though the establishment has been there for quite a while but is either just getting a license or renewing a license. That citizens (including my great (4x) grandfather) would stand up for the honesty and character of the individuals publicly is very cool. We wouldn't see something like this nowadays, I think.

IRVIN, John A (1847-1922)

Transcribed from the Adams County News, Adams County, PA, Saturday, January 16, 1909.

Orrtanna Route 2--John Irvin butchered Wednesday. The four porkers weighted 384, 369, 368, 341 pounds. It was stated in The Times at a recent date that Mr. Irvin had put up 12000 lbs of pork. Mr. Irvin wishes to correct that. Instead of 12000 it should be 4000. Mr. Irvin kindly remembered the carrier on butcher day.

George and John Irvin each sold a fine steer to Harvie Cluck, Mont Alto.

There were more tidbits relating to other neighbors but I only wrote about those pertaining to my family but for this week in history there were lots of visits out of town and visitors from out of town.

I love that the John made sure the carrier got his cut from the butchering work. It was probably a method of payment as well as a way of recognizing a job well done.

IRVIN, John A (1847-1922)

I have lots of newspaper clippings from my paternal grandfather's line. They lived in southern Pennsylvania and the newspapers have been available on-line for quite some time. The same is not true of the larger cities. Finding these articles originally helped me to understand how "chatty" newspapers were then and also allowed me to trace people as they traveled and moved.

This is transcribed from the Adams County News, published Saturday, January 30, 1909. The header on the top of the specific page of the paper is titled: Letters of Interesting News From Adams County Towns - Personals and Items of News Interest from Various Towns in the County. What the People in the Different Sections are Doing. Entertaining Visitors. Services in the County Churches.

Orrtanna Route 2 January 29--Mrs. Edward Cole visited Captain Backman's in Fayetteville recently.

Joseph Dillon caught a large gray fox last week.

Miss Esther Dillon receive a card shower on her birthday.

Albert Kimple received a shower of cards on this birthday.

Samuel Irvin, Henry Kimple, John A. Irvin and William Clapsaddle each sold a horse to a Chambersburg dealer this week. There are still some horses for sale in the Valley.

This paper comes out weekly on Saturdays, and literally illustrates everything going on with the people in the individual towns and communities. Wouldn't it be neat to be showered with cards on your birthday? Anyway, the Irvin's and Clapsaddles run through my grandfathers line and obviously the families were close. Isn't it interesting that there might have been a concern about horses still being available in the valley after four people sold their horses in a neighboring community.

SAMMON, Nancy Monica (1913-1997)

Transcript from The News, Newport, RI, Tuesday, February 12, 1957

Methodist Youths Plan Benefit For College

Arrangements for the baked bean and frankfurter supper were completed by the Middletown Methodist Youth Fellowship at its meeting Sunday night at the church. The dinner will be Saturday night at the church.

Mrs. Charles A. Sherman Jr. is chairman and she will be assisted in the kitchen by Mrs. Chandler Webber, Mrs. Curtiss James, and Mrs. William Coffey.

The dinning room will be in [the] charge of Mrs. Manning Worthley, Mrs. Charles Kellett and Mrs. George Tolderlund.

Proceeds from the dinner will be donated to Claffin College, Orangeburg S.C.

At the business meeting Sunday night Carol James led the devotions and Charles Sherman III was the moderator. Following the meeting, the social hour was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. Hartley Winter, 735 West Main Road, Middletown.

I liked this article when I found it. Not only is it recent (1957) but it mentions both my Mom and my grandmother. And the fund raiser seems so simple from our perspective, although it was probably elaborate for the time. And I wonder why the fund raising was for a college in South Carolina ... one of the families must have had a child attending it.

IRVIN, John A (1847-1922)

Transcript from the Adams County News (PA), Saturday, September 11, 1909

ORRTANNA ROUTE 2

Orrtanna Route 2, Sept 10--Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Toot, of Chambersburg, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carson, of Caledonia Park were recent visitors at the home of John Irvin.

Some person or persons shot and killed one of John Irvin's heifers on the Beamer field. They took the hind quarters, leaving the rest to decay.

The implication is that while a couple of the Irvin's guests (probably his married daughters and their families) were visiting, someone killed one their cows. And interestingly, the cow was on the field of his wife's family--they obviously live nearby.

ALTHOF, Carl Edward (1889-1963)

Transcript from the New Castle News, New Castle, PA, Wednesday, June 29, 1927

ERIE, PA., June 29--Warrants for the arrest of Carl Althof former city policeman and two others were issued today by Justice Rick at Girard after a liquor raid by state police at West Springfield which resulted in seizure of liquor valued at $40,000.

Two years later we have more warrants for the arrest of Carl Althof, again related to liquor sales. This time totalling $40,000--this would have been a fortune in 1927! My hope is to find information on the warrant issued (if that is possible) to see what additional information can be obtained.

New Castle is located near the border of Pennsylvania and Ohio, near Meadville, PA.

ALTHOF, Carl Edward (1889-1963)

Transcript from The Gazette, Bedford PA, Friday, February 27, 1925

Erie--One year ago Carl Althof, then a member of the Erie police department, walked into the office of Police Chief W. E. Detzels, handed in his equipment and announced he was quitting the force because he could make more money elsewhere. Last week Althof appeared in county court and pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal sale of liquor. Althof's saloon had been raided by state police. Sentence was suspended until the September term of court.

Carl is my great-grandfather on my paternal side (my grandmother's father.) This news clipping provides some of the motivation for his retirement from the Erie police force. Family history tells me that he was running liquor in from Canada during prohibition. Family history also tells me he turned state's evidence on the mob and didn't do any time for his crime. I have yet to verify this but it fits with the initial information I found here.

Bedford is located near Chambersburg, PA in the southern part of the state.

ALTHOF, Carl Edward (1889-1963)

Transcript from The Olean Evening Times, Warren, PA., Monday, September 29, 1919

YOUTH ADMITS SLAYING MAN
Robbers arrested in Erie, Pa., have long string of crimes to answer for

Warren, Sep. 29--Joseph Higgens, a youth of 16 who claims Rochester, N.Y., as his home and who was arrested in Erie last Friday in company with Mrs. Ida Baker, alias Miller and Everetts, has confessed to the county officials his complicity in a murder and also in a long string of robberies.

Higgins was one of a party of three men and one woman who rented two rooms in Erie last week and also a stall in a garage there, where they kept their automobile. In the room the party lived and had a large number of suit cases filled with swag from numerous jobs. They also possessed an automobile of the 1919 model which resulted in their arrest. They kept the car in a stall of a private garage and had it in front of their rooms when Motorcycle Policeman Carl Althof had his attention attracted to the party as they worked with the car. He asked them concerning its ownership and they stated they had their papers up in their room. Here the woman of the party was found and she said, "You know I left those papers in New York." The elder of the men kept digging into a suit case and finally turned like a flash and ordered the officer to hold up his hands. The patrolman, however, sidestepped and drew his own gun. The bandit fired but his bullet missed the officer and the man ran away.

Officer Althof then covered the others of the party and ordered them all out into the street where help was secured and the prisoners arrested. Telephone communication was established with Warren and Sheriff W. W. Muir and Officers Adams and Olson went to Erie. There they identified a quantity of auto robes as property of the Abbott and Haggerty store and brought the trio to Warren.

Saturday morning Deputy Sheriff Paul Brockway of Rochester arrived in the city and told the story of the outfit. Most of the gang hail from Rochester and the man who escaped is knows as Howard Miller, 20 years of age. He is a son of the woman arrested, and Hiram Tiffany is alleged to be her lover, while the Higgins boy is a wayward boy who has been with the gang for several weeks.

Saturday afternoon young Higgins was asked to tell his story and he broke down and did so. In and about Rochester there were a number of jobs pulled off. At Oswego the gang while engaged in robbing a clothing store were interrupted by the entry of the proprietor and in the shooting that followed he was killed. On the Atlantic coast the gang traveled in its automobile and robbed garages and stores of thousands of dollars worth of automobile tires, which were easily disposed of. In and about Akron, Ohio, numbers of robberies were committed and no crime writer in his dizziest moments could rival the tale the boy told.

Howard Miller, who escaped in Erie after firing at Officer Althof, is regarded by the authorities as a most desperate criminal. Suspicion points strongly at the gang as being those who committed a series of robberies in and about Conntaut during the past few weeks during which a prominent banker was shot and killed.

A hearing will be given the trio Monday before the local justice and it is expected that their bail will be placed high, because the money may be sent them and they would undoubtedly jump their bond.

The Higgins boy will undoubtedly be turned over the the Wayne County New York authorities where he will be tried for murder done at Oswego.

Here we find my great-grandfather to be a good cop; he was observant and quick on his feet and brought down a nasty set of criminals. I wonder if Howard Miller was ever caught and what kind of sentences these individuals got. Again, thousands of dollars in 1919 would have been an extraordinary amount of money. Can you imagine?

Paper is located in Olean, NY, on the southern border of the state, not too far from Erie, PA.