Oldest Living People in the United States (110+), Part 7

 #63- Genevieve Marszalek

Female, born 27 Feb 1914 in Bristol, Rhode Island, 110 years old

Genevieve at her 110th birthday party at the Bristol House of Pizza
Photo courtesy of Google.com

While researching Genevieve, I found this adorable video of her 110th birthday in February! Despite some obvious walking difficulties and some hearing issues, she seems to be in fairly good health and very happy! I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did!

Genevieve Marszalek was born Genevieve Pangano on 28 Feb 1914 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Her parents were Pasquale and Frances Pangano. The only information I could find on Pasquale is a WWII draft registration card from 1942- born 16 Jun 1881 in Italy, living in Kings County, NY. I'm not sure if this is the same person...

Genevieve had four sisters, two of whom I could find names for- Sylvia (1917-2020) and Patricia, who is still alive at age 91.

On 15 Feb 1943, Genevieve married Joseph Marszalek, they had one son, Bobby who was born in 1945 but he was killed in 1968 in Germany (military).

This is the only information I could find on Genevieve- no census records or marriage record could be found.

Oldest Living People in the United States (110+), Part 6

 #64- Dollie Berry

Female, born 07 Mar 1914 in Virginia, 110 years old, currently living in Brooklyn, New York

Dollie Berry
Photo Courtesy of Google.com

Dollie Berry was born Dolly M. Booten. Her parents were Burnett Henry Booton (1875-1930) and Sallie Shanks (1880-1967). 

Dollie was born in Virginia, like much of her ancestors before her, but she and her family moved to New York when she was 13 (abt 1927) and she's lived there ever since. 

Dollie had at least 7 siblings: 

1. Frank A. Booten (1897-1969)

2. Mary Booten (1900-1967)

3. Burnett Booten Jr. (1905-1971)

4. Phoebe A. Booten (1905-1945)

5. Viola Booten (1908-2007)

6. Laura Annie Elizabeth Booten (1912-2020)

7. Ruth Ellen Booten (1916-1999)

In 1920, she and her parents were living in Salem, Virginia. At the time, shew as living with her parents, 4 sisters and brother. Her father couldn't read or write...her mother could write but couldn't read. I feel like this was probably pretty typical for the black community in the 1920s.

On 06 Jun 1936 in Manhattan, Dollie married Arthur Lee Berry, the son of James and Jane Berry, both of South Carolina. He was born on 16 Oct 1940 in Savannah, Georgia and died on 06 Oct 1959 in Manhattan. 

Dollie and Arthur had two children: 

1. Warren Berry, born 1938 in New York

2. Joan Berry, born 1939 in New York

In the 1940 census, Dollie was living with her husband and two children in New York City on West 113th Street and in the 1950 census, Arthur is working as a post office clerk.

I read in one article about Dollie that she dabbled in fashion design as a younger person in New York. 

Oldest Living People in the United States (110+), Part 4 & 5

 #66- Frances Hahn-- Female, born 23 Mar 1914 in Illinois- 110 years old

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information on Frances-- Google had no news reports, which is odd and the name is so common, it's too common for Ancestry.com.

#65- Julia Siragusa

Female, born 11 Mar 1914 in Morovis, Puerto Rico- currently lives in Florida- 110 years old

Julia Siragusa
Photo Courtesy of LongeviQuest.com
Supercenterians

Julia Siragusa was born in Puerto Rico in 1914. Unlike my previous supercenterian's I've researched, Julia has very little on the internet about her. I did find a 1950 U.S. census record for a Julia Siragusa, maiden name Faec, born about 1916 in Puerto Rico, living in New York City, married to Augustin Siragusa and their five year old daughter Sylvia, but I'm not sure if this is the same Julia as there is a Julia Siragusa who died in New York City on 09 Feb 1965. 

Oldest Living People in the United States (110+), Part 3

#67- Vincent Dransfield

Male, born  28 Mar 1914 in New Jersey-  110 years old

Vincent
Photo Courtesy of Google

Vincent W. "Vince" Dransfield was born Vincent W. Delisio in Paterson, New Jersey to William Delisio and Dorothy Dransfield. He later changed his name to match his mother. Vincent also had a sister- Dorothy Delisio (1915-1988).

Vincent Family Tree

      Vincent D'Alesio     -       Filomena Crinchise        Joseph Dransfield    -    Dianna Hossack   

            (b. 1863- Italy)            (b. 1863- Italy)                (b. 1860- England)       (b. 1859- Scotland) 

                                      |                                                                                |

                             William Delisio                     -                       Dorothy Dransfield

                                                                            |

                                                            Vincent Dransfield 

                                                                (b. 1914- NJ)

After the 8th grade, Vincent supported his family by getting a job at a dairy farm delivering milk. He did this for 5 years before moving onto other work. He always drank a lot of milk, and still does, which he contributes to his long life.

In 1938, Vincent married Ann Kulick. She was born on 02 May 1915 in Little Falls and died in March 1992. Her parents were Mark Kulick (1880-1956) and Christina Dzama (1880-1938). 

A year later, Vincent joined the Singac Volunteer Fire Company #3 in Little Falls, New Jersey and spent more than 80 years as a volunteer. He was even the department fire chief in the 60s. 

In the 1940 U.S. census record, Vincent was living with Ann and his mother Dorothy. He was working as a foreman at a rubber mill. 

In the 1950 U.S. census record, Vincent was still working as a foreman at a rubber mill, but he was now living in Little Falls with his wife Ann and his 4 year old daughter Beverly Ann, born about 1946 in New Jersey.

Vincent, despite being 110, still lives independently in the home he has lived in since 1945 and he still drives! When he passes, he will be laid to rest in the Laurel Grove Memorial Park Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey beside his wife.

Oldest Living People in the United States (110+), Part 2

 #68- Odessa Bowie

Female, born 29 Mar 1914 in Franklin, Texas- 110 years old

Odessa on her 110th birthday- March 29, 2024
Photo Courtesy of Google

Odessa Bowie was born Odessa Gray on 29 Mar  1914 in Franklin, Texas. Her parents were James A. Gray Jr. (1886-1965) and Ora A. Glass (1888-1959); she had at least 4 siblings: 

1. Jimmie Esther Gray (1909-2007)

2. Alfred C. Gray (b. 1913)

3. Ulysses Samuel Gray  (1913-2009)

4. Willie Ora Gray (1915-1919)

Sometime between 1940 and 1950, Odessa married Houston Charley Bowie, who was born on 10 Dec 1912 in Bremond, Texas.

In the 1950 U.S. Census Record, Odessa and Houston lived in Dallas Texas in an apartment at 1810 Wall (Apartment A), which, by using Google, doesn't look like it exists anymore. At this time, Houston was working as a salesman for a life insurance company and Odessa was a gown checker at a linen laundry service. Houston's father also lived with them.

Three years later, Houston Sherwin Bowie, their only son, was born on October 19 in Dallas.

I wish I knew more about Odessa, where to she went to high school, where she got married, etc. Unfortunately, the information available is limited. 

Oldest Living People in the United States (110+), Part 1

 Good Morning! Today, I am starting a mini-series, writing about the genealogy of men and women who are the oldest living members of the United States. 

#69- Carmen Slough 

Female, born 05 April 1914 in Douglas, Arizona- 110 years old

Photo of Carmen on April 5, 2014, 100 years old
Photo Courtesy of Facebook.com

Carmen Slough was born Carmen Blanco on 05 April 1914 in Douglas, Arizona to Spanish immigrants. It was somewhat difficult to located Carmen's family, for some reason even though all the children were born with the surname Blanco, I had trouble located them in census records because in the 1920 U.S. census record, they went by the name Rodrigez for some reason. 

Carmen's parents were Julio Blanco and Encarnacion Leon. Julio Blanco was born about 1884 in Orense, Spain and Encarnacion was born about 1889 in Madrid, Spain.  They married on 03 Oct 1907 in Douglas, Arizona, even though in the 1920 census record, they state that they immigrated in 1912. Together, Julio and Encarnacion had 9 children together: 

1. Francisco "Frank" Blanco (1909-1994)

2. Concha (?) b. 1910

3. Maria Urbana "Mary" Blanco (1911-1984)

4. Gregorio L."Greg" Blanco (1912-1968)

5. Laura Blanco (1915-2015)

6 .George Julio Blanco (1917-2006)

7. Eduardo "Edward" Blanco (1918-2009)

8. a son, unknown name, still alive as of 2022

 In 1933, Carmen graduated from Globe High School (Pictured Right). Globe high school is a historic high school, built in 1914 and located at 437 S. High St. in Globe, Arizona. It is the oldest operating high school in Arizona.

Globe High School, 1927
Carmen's 7th Grade Class

Globe High School, 1930
Carmen's 10th Grade Class

On 08 Oct 1934, Carmen married Alfred Pearl Slough in Gila, Arizona. 

Marriage Record for Carmen and Alfred

Alfred was born on 31 Jul 1893 in Coal City, Indiana to Adam G. Slough (1847-1908) and Elizabeth Wall (1854-1915). He died on 28 Oct 1948 in Globe, Arizona at the age of 55, cause of death being a hemorrhage due to carcinoma of the right atrium. 

Carmen and Alfred only had one child, a son named Robert Lee "Bob" Slough, born 08 Aug 1935 in Globe, Arizona. (Birth record pictured below). As of today, it appears he is still alive.

470 E. Mesquite 
Photo Courtesy of Google Maps

In 1950, a widow now for 2 years, Carmen was living at 470 E. Mesquite in Globe, Arizona with her son Robert who was 14 at the time. 

Carmen was a not working and this was a brand new home. According to the 1950 U.S. census record, it is unknown if Carmen owned or rented the home.

According to online news reports, Carmen owned several businesses in her lifetime, including a clothing store in downtown Globe for 49 years. It doesn't look like she ever remarried. She lived through 2 world wars (WWI & WWII) and 2 pandemics (Spanish Flu, 1918; Covid-19, 2020). I wish her many more years ahead of her!

A Conundrum!

While researching a Mendenhall name in the California death index (see previous posts of this series here), I came upon a very annoying "problem" that I just can't figure out!!

I was researching Marsha Mae Mendenhall, born 30 Oct 1944 in San Diego, California; mother's maiden name was Dershan.

I traced her line back to her great-grandparents: Arthur Mendenhall (1876-1904) & Eliza J. Huffman (b. 1878). 

Here is where I get confused.

I did find a grave for Arthur:

Art Mendenhall

b. 10 Oct 1876

d. 17 Sep 1904 

Buried in Springfield, Greene, Missouri

Hazelwood Cemetery
Springfield, Greene County, Missouri

Where it gets confusing- 

I found a newspaper article for an Arthur Mendenhall who died 17 Sep 1904 in Kansas City Missouri and his body was taken to Springfield to be buried- this would match the death date & burial site.

19 Sep 1904
The Kansas City Times
Kansas City, Missouri

The problem is- this Arthur Mendenhall was 35 years old...which would have his birth year around 1869. I even found a Missouri Death Record for him- his birth date being "abt 1869" and death "17 Sep 1904". 

So we have 2 Arthur Mendenhalls: 

1. Arthur Mendenhall                                2. Arthur Mendenhall

b. abt 1869                                                    b. 10 Oct 1876

d. 17 Sep 1904                                                d. 17 Sep 1904

I was able to find a census record for Arthur #2- matches what I have for my possible ancestor- wife's name, child's name, etc. However, I wasn't able to find any census records for Arthur #1. 

Either the grave is wrong or the news article and the death record are wrong... 

Needless to say, I'm not sure where to go from here. I can't find any parental information for either one of these two persons...

Postcard Delivered 100 years later!

 This story is 2 days old, but I just heard about it and it's such a fun story to read about!

On Tuesday (Sep 8), a woman in Belding, Michigan named Brittany Keech received a Halloween postcard that was postmarked almost 100 years ago- Oct 29, 1920!

It reads:

Dear Cousins,

Hope this will find you all well. We are quite well but mother has awful lame knees. It is awful cold here. I just finished my history lesson and am going to be pretty soon. My father is shaving and my mother is telling me your address. I will have to close for a night. 

Hope grandma and grandpa are well. Don't forget to write us- Roy get his pants fixed yet.

Flossie Burgess

The card is addressed to a Mrs. Roy McQueen at 103 E. Division Street in Belding, Michigan. 

You can read the whole story Here. It's also been reported on Facebook (where it originated) and the NY Times.

I decided (being a genealogist) to look up this Mrs. Roy McQueen. First, I looked up "Roy McQueen" in "Belding, Michigan" in the 1920 U.S. Census. I got Roy & Nora McQueen living on E. Division St. That was easy!

In the 1920 Census, it states that Roy McQueen (35) was born in 1885 in Canada and was a manager at a Produce company. His wife Nora (34) was born about 1886 in Michigan. They are living with 2 single women (boarders)- Leefa Giles (34) and Eris Giles (42)- more than likely sisters.

Doing more research, George LaRoy "Roy" McQueen was born 15 Sep 1883 in Canada and died on 11 May 1942 in Michigan (age 58). He was the 3rd son of George S. McQueen (1843-1929) & Catherine Garner (1849-1907). His wife, Mrs. Roy McQueen was Nora Bell Murdock. She was the daughter of William Murdock (1854-1937) & Margaret Little (1867-1951). Nora was born on 07 Aug 1885 in Shiawassee County, Michigan and died at the age of 92 on 21 Nov 1977 in Owosso, Michigan. 

Roy & Nora were married on 20 Dec 1905 in Hazelton, Michigan. They didn't have any children. 

Michigan Marriage Record

Roy & Nora McQueen 
Buried at Elmwood Cemetery 
New Lothrop, Michigan

The author of the post card "Flossie Burgess" was Nora's cousin Florence A. Burgess (b. 1907). Flossie & Nora's mother's were sisters (Maggie & Minnie Little). In 1920, Flossie was living with her parents in Jamestown, New York.

Starting a Genealogy Blog

Good Morning!

Today, I thought I'd take a moment to write a post about starting a genealogy-related blog to help and/or encourage others who may have an interest in starting one up.

Photo credit- Google.com

Step 1; I think the obvious first step would be to have SOME genealogy research completed. If you don't, that would make for an interesting blog for sure! Do what ever works for YOU!

Step 2: What kind of genealogy blog do you want to create? I know this may sound confusing to some, but a good way to think of it is- 

Who is going to be your audience? Your blog could be for anyone and it could be for yourself and your own genealogy organization. It could be full of stories, biographies, mysteries, etc. My blog is mostly about my family but I do branch out occasionally to other genealogy topics and I research more than just my ancestral line. 

Step 3; Choosing a blog site. There are several different sites that you can create your blog on. Obviously, here, I use Blogger (or blogspot). I've had this blog since May 2014 and love this site. It's easy to use and if you get enough visitors, you can eventually have Google AdSense, which pays you by putting ads into your blog. 

Other blog sites I have found just doing a quick Google search- 

~www.squarespace.com

~www.wix.com

~www.weebly.com

~www.sitebuilder.com

~www.wordpress.com

Explore your options and see what works best for you and your needs.

Step 4; Explore other genealogy blogs. I know this may seem like the first step, however...I don't think it's too smart because you want to make this blog YOURS. You don't want to steal/borrow ideas. Figure out what you want to do and then view others' blogs for inspiration and encouragement. See what works for them and how often they blog and how many people follow their blog. 

Some sites off the top of my head- 

Amy Johnson Crow- Amy is a professional genealogist and huge in the blogging world. She created the blog post challenge titled "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks". I participated in this challenge and just recently started it again. It's a lot of fun and a lot of people still really enjoy it! 

Dear Myrtle- This blog is by Pat Richley-Erickson, who is a blogger and speaker at regional and national genealogical conferences. She has many videos on YouTube as well.

Genea-Musings- This is the very first genealogy blog I ever read and to which I credit my sudden desire to create a blog in the first place. This one was created by Randy Seaver. He posts many times a day and writes about a variety of genealogy topics as well as his own tree. I'm friends with him on Facebook and have talked to him many times- very sweet person.

Step 5; Start writing! Remember, even though you may find inspiration and encouragement from other blogs, don't steal information or plagiarize. Make this blog your own and own it! Have fun with it, be creative and share with the world your family stories and lore!