Tombstone Tuesday: Howard Mendenhall 1924-2005

Today, I needed a break from my kiddos and husband so I decided to drive a half an hour north to Rocklin (California) and search for a gravestone of my 8th cousin, 4x removed.

I found his grave on Findagrave.com...buried in Rocklin Cemetery. This is the picture on the site.

So, I jumped in the car, grabbed a strawberry acai refresher from Starbucks, turned up the radio (Pandora- Michael Buble radio) and set off for Rocklin.

With Google Maps, the cemetery was easy-enough to find but it's a fairly large site and I had no plot number to search by. I stopped by the office (which was closed because of Covid (open for appts only) ). Luckily, a man was leaving the office and he was super kind enough to lookup Howard's plot number for me!

At the time, there were several workers maintaining the grounds. I also saw some squirrels and a ton of geese... and I mean a TON... goose poop everywhere!

And found the grave of my distant cousin! 

I was a little disheartened... the gravestone has not been kept up... it's really dirty and weathered. Certainly different than the picture on Findagrave.com, which I can imagine was when it was new. 

I wanted to upload a video of all the geese but blogger is being difficult so Im uploading a tiktok a made of it this morning-

Cemetery Walk

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...

Traffic in a Blogpost

I Need a Favor-- from YOU!

This post is to see what kind of traffic I get on my blog. I'm not going to advertise this on any site (facebook, twitter, etc).

Please comment how you came upon my blog- what site and what specifically you were looking for. I would greatly appreciate it.

And, if you have a moment, please comment any feedback you may have about my blog. 

Thanks so much!

California Birth Index, Mendenhall Surname, Part 10

 

~Dates 1940-1950, Page 2

21. Jeffry Reynolds Mendenhall-already in tree-7th cousin, 4x removed

born: 15 Jul 1944 San Francisco County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Earl B. Mendenhall (1917-1978) & Dorothy M. Reynolds (1916-2014)

22. Judy Helen Mendenhall-couldn't find parents :(

born: 28 Apr 1944 in Los Angeles County, California

died: 22 Aug 2004 in Redondo Beach, California, age 60

Mother's maiden name is Smith-- too common to pinpoint exact parents.

23. Valerie Patricia Mendenhall-found in tree- 7th cousin, 3x removed

born: 09 May 1946 Los Angeles County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of John D. Mendenhall (1911-1983) & Ruth Eleanor Dyar (1912-1989) 

Valerie Mendenhall
1964 John Muir High School
Pasadena, California
Senior Portrait

24. Alice Marie Mendenhall-couldn't find parents :( 

born: 23 Mar 1946 San Francisco, California 

Mother's maiden named was Mendenhall...

25. Robert Lee Mendenhall-already in tree- 5th cousin, 3x removed

born: 20 Sep 1944 Alameda County, California

died: 09 Apr 2013 Aumsville, Oregon, age 69

Son of Robert Lee Mendenhall (1922-1967) & Phyllis Mae Tannahill (1924-2013)

26. Albert Lee Mendenhall-found in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 30 Apr 1944 Santa Clara County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Dempsy Lee Mendenhall (1919-2005) & Kathryn Schuler (1919-1977) 

27. Kim Irvan Mendenhall-already in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 21 Nov 1946 Santa Barbara County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Irvan Frank Mendenhall (1918-2014) & Margaret L. Peterson (1922-1998)

28. Don Gene Mendenhall-couldn't find parents :(

born: 22 Oct 1946 Los Angeles County, California

Mother's maiden name- Stafford- too common of a surname

Good possibility- Donald Hale Mendenhall (1912-1989) & Bernice Mildred Stafford (b. 1913)- need more proof.

29. Sharon Louise Mendenhall-already in tree- 10th cousin, 2x removed

born: 19 Sep 1946 Marin County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Nelson E. Mendenhall (1916-2014) & Lillian M. Depee (1916-2007)

30. Terry Lee Mendenhall-couldn't find parents :( 

born: 30 Jun 1946 Los Angeles County, California

Possible Siblings: 

Sandra Lynne Mendenhall b. 31 Jul 1944 San Diego County

& Patricia Lynn Mendenhall 18 Mar 1953 Los Angeles County

31. Jean Marie Mendenhall-already in tree- 6th cousin, 3x removed

born: 08 Feb 1944 Los Angeles County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Fred S. Mendenhall (1911-2009) & Juanita Marie Casad (1920-1974)

32. Michael Lee Mendenhall-found in tree- 7th cousin, 2x removed

born: 18 Jan 1946 Orange County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Marvin Lee Mendenhall (1923-2001) & Frankie V.L. Brashier (1925-2003)

33. Perry William Mendenhall-found in tree- 5th cousin, 3x removed

born: 19 Jul 1946 Los Angeles County, California

died: 23 Aug 2007 Newhall, California, age 61

Son of Perry E. Mendenhall (1915-1986) & Eleanor Jean Williams (1920-2008)

34. Maureen Lynn Mendenhall-found in tree-9th cousin, 3x removed

born: 22 Jul 1944, Los Angeles County, California

died:

Daughter of Marion H. Mendenhall (1913-2011) & Mary Ann Wenta (1918-2005)

35. Corwin Guy Mendenhall-already in tree-3rd cousin, 2x removed

born: 07 Sep 1944, Alameda County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Corwin Guy Mendenhall Jr. (1916-2006) & Drucilla Ann Weedin (1917-1976)

Guy Mendenhall
Age 16
Anahuac High School
Anahuac, Texas

36. Leonard Carl Mendenhall-couldn't find parents :( 

born: 21 Oct 1946 Sonoma County, California

Mother's Maiden Name is Mendenhall. 

Possible Parents- James W. & Rosalie Lucy Mendenhall (1925-2005)

Possible Siblings: Lawrence, Neal, Rosalie & Connie.

37. Carey Robert Mendenhall-found in tree-9th cousin, 2x removed

born: 01 Nov 1944, Los Angeles County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Robert T. Mendenhall (1920-1999)

38. James Richard Mendenhall-found in tree-7th cousin, 2x removed 

born: 10 Feb 1946, Sacramento County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Ernest A. Mendenhall (1915-1974) & Verda Belle Lawson (1922-1998)

39. Charles Leslie Mendenhall-already in tree-6th cousin, 2x removed 

born: 31 Dec 1946, Glendale, California

died: 14 Aug 2002, Gilbert, Arizona, age 55

Son of Charles A. Mendenhall (1918-1988) & Lorraine Lois Smith (1924-1991)

40. Fred Curtis Mendenhall-Couldn't find parents :(

born: 29 Dec 1944 Los Angeles County, California

Mother's Maiden Name is Foster- too common.

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.

Wednesday's Portrait: Quaker Girl's Club, 1874

Today's Portrait:

I came upon this one through a Google search for the name Libbie Mendenhall. I was actually searching for someone who was born in the 1940's so this wouldn't have been her at all, but it's still a neat picture! 

This portait is from 1874- the Club Girls of Friend's School, Providence, RI. 

Girls mentioned:

Libbie Mendenhall

Abbie Dockray

Ada Underhill

Eva Johnson

Ada Hazard 

Hattie Webb

Cassie Southwick

Ella Baily

California Birth Index, Mendenhall Surname, Part 9

 

~Dates 1940-1950, Page 1

1. Dennis Ward Mendenhall- found in tree- 6th cousin, 3x removed 

born: 10 Jun 1945, Palmdale, California

died: Feb 1988, Omaha, Arkansas, age 42

Son of David Charles Mendenhall (1915-2009) & Alpha Louise Judd (1917-1993)

2. John Dallas Mendenhall- found in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 22 Dec 1945, Alameda County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Son of John Dallas Mendenhall (1907-1986) & Katharine B. Jorgensen (1911-1981)

3. Carol Virginia Mendenhall-found in tree- 6th cousin, 2x removed

born: 12 Nov 1945, Los Angeles County, California

died: 09 Jun 1987, Siskiyou County, California, age 41

Daughter of Donald M. Mendenhall (1909-1978) & Jeanne Taylor (1915-1989)

4. Robert Roy Mendenhall-already in tree- 9th cousin, 3x removed

born: 18 May 1945, Santa Clara County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Son of Cecil Robert Mendenhall (1920-1996) & Pearl L. Button (1912-1980)

5. Susan Tufts Mendenhall-couldn't find in tree- couldn't find out who her parents were/are.

born: 23 Jan 1945 in Los Angeles County, California

Mother's maiden name- Bower

(Looked up other Births in the California Birth Index with this same mother- she was the only one)

6. Faye Ellen Mendenhall-found in tree- 6th cousin, 3x removed

born: 19 Aug 1945 Los Angeles County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Herman E. Mendenhall (1908-1994) & Dorothy R. Talley (1910-1959)

I'm not sure if this is the same Faye E. Mendenhall
age 16, born about 1947
Yearbook Date: 1963
Eureka High School in 
Eureka, California

7. Donna Jeanne Mendenhall-couldn't find out who her parents were/are.

born: 09 Dec 1945 in Lake County, California

Mother's maiden name- Louritzen

(Looked up other Births in the California Birth Index with this same mother- she was the only one)

8. Paulette Bernice Mendenhall-already in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 02 Sep 1945, San Jose, California

died: 04 Mar 2016, San Lorenzo, California, age 70

Daughter of Barney Mendenhall (1923-1980) & Pauline Weatherman (1926-2007)

Paulette (right) & Sister Sue

Paulette

9. Cheri Lynn Mendenhall-found in tree- 9th cousin, 2x removed

born: 04 Nov 1945 Los Angeles County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Donald Mendenhall (1919-1983) & Alice June Hain (1923-2018)

10. Carla Raye Mendenhall-couldn't find parents.

born: 13 Jul 1945 in San Francisco County, California

Mother's Maiden Name- Hansen

(I found 2 other names in the birth index with the same mother's maiden name- 

Patricia Lynn Mendenhall b. 23 Feb 1942 in San Francisco &

Susan S. Mendenhall b. 23 Sep 1960 in Santa Clara County)

11. Marjorie Lou Mendenhall-already in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 02 Sep 1945, Los Angeles County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Carl Mendenhall (1920-1975) & Lucille Faggard (1923-2006)

12. Frank Roy Mendenhall-already in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 19 Sep 1945, Oakland, California

died: 16 Apr 1961, Lovelock, Nevada, age 15

Son of Frank Roy Mendenhall (1910-2000) & Marion Faye Helmers (1916-2011)

Died from the result of getting hit in the head with a baseball during a game

Lone Mountain Cemetery
Lovelock, Nevada

13. Linda Sue Mendenhall-couldn't find parents.

born: 22 Feb 1945 in Los Angeles County, California

Mother's Maiden Name- Smith

14. Walter Edward Mendenhall-already in tree- 7th cousin, 3x removed

born: 13 May 1945 Alameda County, California

died: 13 Oct 1984 Shafter, Kern, California, age 39

Son of Edward Lee Mendenhall (1908-1979) & Sylvia V. Crossman (1910-1995)

Shafter Memorial Park
Shafter, California

15. Dennis Edward Mendenhall-already in tree- 8th cousin, 4x removed

born: 29 Nov 1945 Santa Clara, California 

died: 12 Feb 2007, Coggon, Iowa, age 61

Son of Charles Floyd Mendenhall (1917-1999) & Beryle Irene Smith (1925-1988)

16. Isis Kay Mendenhall-found in tree- 7th cousin, 2x removed

born: 23 Jan 1945, San Bernardino County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Edward Arlan Mendenhall (1920-1985) & Isis Frost (1923-2011)

17. Richard Chris Mendenhall-found in tree- 10th cousin, 2x removed

born: 04 Oct 1946 in Monterey County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Son of George Clarence Mendenhall (1917-2001) & Thais C. Johannsen (1918-2006)

18. Ramona Ann Mendenhall-found in tree- 7th cousin, 2x removed

born: 13 Jan 1944 Merced County, California 

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Ernest A. Mendenhall (1915-1974) & Verda Belle Lawson (1922-1998)

19. William Aaron Mendenhall-couldn't find parents-

born: 08 Oct 1944 in Humboldt County, California

Mother's Maiden Name- Lopez

(I found 2 other names in the birth index with the same mother's maiden name- 

Delores Mendenhall, b.25 Jun 1943 in Humboldt County &

Libbie Mendenhall, b. 25 Sep 1956 in Sacramento County)

I found 3 Mendenhall men who were living in Eureka, Humboldt County, California near the time they children were born:

1. Wilbur Newton (1915-1973) 

2. Walter Earl        Wilbur & Walter are brothers- they are in my tree- 

                        definitely not them.

3. George W.- could be this man, but I couldn't find any personal information about him to verify. 

20. Kathleen Haight Mendenhall-found in tree- 6th cousin, 3x removed

born: 13 Sep 1946 San Francisco County, California

died: Living or unknown death

Daughter of Fred Sylvester Mendenhall (1911-2009) & Margaret J. Haight (1912-1986)