Skipping Down Memory Lane: March 2019

Saturday, March 30, 2019

~ Newsworthy ~

#52Ancestors

It is week 13 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge and the theme is "In The News." Aside from obituaries for this ancestor or that one, I have a few family members who made the news. In June of 1945, my maternal grandmother's name and address as well as her age was mentioned in a short article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper from Brooklyn, NY. She was in a trolley car that was struck by another when that other trolley rolled back down a hill. There were no serious injuries. My 2nd great-grandmother, Teresa (Devine) Duper and her youngest son Gerald made the newspaper post mortem in an article about a fire in their apartment that claimed their lives. Teresa's cousin, Anna Devine, was a schoolteacher in a one room schoolhouse in the rural upstate NY town of Rifton,. Anna's comings and goings was always reported in the local newspaper along with her school's activities such as spelling bees and plays. Anna was a local celebrity in that town. She was a good person and everyone loved her. She even had a school named in her honor.
This week's story is not about any of the fine folks I just mentioned but about one of New York City's finest, Steven Duper, my great-grandmother's younger brother.

Stephen John Duper, the third child born to Stephen Duper and Teresa Devine was born 20 May 1897 in Rosendale, NY which is upstate in Ulster County. Stephen married a Hungarian lady named Mary and they lived in Brooklyn, NY. In 1923, he joined the NYPD. On October 7, 1924 the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper reported that Stephen missed four days of work due to cough medicine knocking him out. This reminded me of those vintage advertisements and the potent ingredients that these medicines contained. I guess if it didn't kill you then it would eventually cure you. According to the article, Stephen stated that he took two drinks of the cough mixture on September 7 and didn't return to his senses until the 12th. Patrolman Stephen Duper was absent for four days without notifying his superior officers. He had pleaded guilty and stated that he didn't know what happened to him. The trial commissioner asked Stephen if he was married. He said that he wanted Stephen's wife there on the next trial day and the case would remain open until she appears. Stephen liked his drink. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a little something more than couch medicine that kept him out of work.
On October 20, 1928, Patrolman Stephen Duper was dismissed from the New York City police department. He had been charged with neglect of duty and violation of the regulations. He was absent without leave for five consecutive days. I guess he had one too many violations and apparently was not one of New York City's finest.

What kind of Cough Mixture did Patrolman Stephen Duper take???

I found vintage medicines and ads...

Sunday, March 24, 2019

"12"

#52Ancestors

   The topic for week 12 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge is "12." What can I do with the number 12? What can I possible write about? Can I find an ancestor with '12' children, an event that occurred in December, the 12th month of the year, or maybe an interesting 12 year old? I looked over my tree, glanced at the pedigree chart to see who I can focus on for week 12 and I've got it.
   I wrote about the Davis family for week 11. This was my favorite grandmother's father's family. Week 12 will be about her mother's family. I've got a 12 year old, as well as two births, a marriage, and two deaths in the month of December.
   When I first looked for my grandmother in the 1930 federal census, I expected to find a 10 year old girl living with her parents and two younger brothers. Instead, I found my maternal grandmother, Eleanor Davis was a 12 year old living with her maternal grandmother, Teresa (Devine) Duper and two uncles, Steven and Gerald Duper. Eleanor's mother was Josephine Duper. Josie was born 11 December 1894 and married Samuel Davis 18 December 1916. Josie's granddaughter, Carol, Eleanor's youngest daughter, was born on Josie and Samuel's anniversary in 1949. Just a few years later, on New Year's Eve in 1955, Eleanor's grandmother, Teresa and Teresa's youngest son, Gerald, died tragically in a fire in their apartment, a month before they were planning to move.
   December, the 12th month of the year had us celebrating new life and love but also mourning the deaths of our loved ones. Rest in Peace to my beautiful grandmother, Eleanor and the rest of her family in Heaven.

Saturday, March 23, 2019

~ DAVIS Family ~

#52Ancestors

   The topic for week 11 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge was "Large Family." My favorite grandmother, Eleanor Davis was the first of five children born to Samuel Davis and Josephine Duper. Her father, Samuel was the oldest of only three born to Daniel Davis and Flora Braught. Her grandfather, Daniel, who was my 2nd great-grandfather, was one of 13 children born to William and Emily.
   My 3rd great-grandparents were both born upstate New York in Ulster County. William H Davis was born 1832 in Milton, NY and Emily Martin was born 1836 in Lloyd, NY. I don't know where they met but they were married in 1853 according to the 1900 federal census. Their first born child, a daughter named Cordelia, was born in 1854 and two more children followed before my 2nd great-grandfather, Daniel made his appearance on New Year's Day in 1860. The 1900 census shows that there were 13 children born but I have only 11 names. I'm guessing the missing two children were born and died between censuses. Unless a baby was born in 1861, after Daniel's birth in 1860, William and Emily welcomed twin boys in 1862. Ferris and George were born on the 20th of May in 1862. Sadly, George died on October 16th in 1880 at the age of 18 when he fell from an apple tree near Milton, NY. The news article stated that he fell a distance of 20 feet. Ferris married a lady named Sarah and together they had five children. Two of the children died as babies when they were just a few months old but the other three lived to adulthood. Ferris died at the age of 85 on December 12, 1947. After the birth of the twin boys, William and Emily were blessed with three girls from 1866 to 1874. Another boy followed in 1875 and finally a girl in 1879.
   William and Emily lived in Marlborough, NY in Ulster County their whole married life. The 1900 federal census has their residence listed as Marlborough but I wonder if they moved in with one of their children after 1900 because their place of death is across the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, NY which is in Dutchess County. William died 6 August 1902 and Emily died five years later on the 28th of July in 1907. They are both buried in the Milton-Marlboro United Methodist Church Cemetery.

William Davis    Emily Martin

REST IN PEACE

Friday, March 15, 2019

~ Uncle Gerald ~

#52Ancestors

   For week 10 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge, the topic is "Bachelor Uncle." It was not difficult choosing an uncle to write about because most of the uncles in my tree were married.
   Gerald P. Duper, my maternal grandmother's uncle was born 22 September 1910, the youngest of six children born to Stephen Duper and Teresa Devine. In 1930, the federal census shows that Gerald was a 19 year old knitter in a sweater factory in Brooklyn, NY. He was living with his mother, older brother Steven who was separated from his wife, and his niece, Eleanor who would become my grandmother. Ten years later, a 29 year old Gerald was working as a shipping clerk for a confectionery according to the 1940 federal census. My bachelor uncle (2nd great-uncle) was still living with his mother. His niece, Eleanor was still there as well.
   I asked my mother if she remembered much about Uncle Gerald and what could she tell me. She told me that she doesn't remember much since she was only 7 or 8 years old when he died. Although my mother spent a lot of time visiting with her great-grandmother and saw Uncle Gerald while she was there, he usually kept to himself so she never really got to know him. Teresa rented a bungalow every summer in Rifton, NY which is upstate in Ulster County where her schoolteacher cousin taught in a one room schoolhouse. My grandmother, Eleanor and her two daughters spent the whole summer there. The men in the family had to work so my grandfather visited on weekends and sometimes Uncle Gerald would visit. My mother remembers Uncle Gerald's visits but once again didn't really talk to him so she couldn't tell me anything about what type of person he was - personality, character traits, etc... I know absolutely nothing about this man other than two jobs that he's had and that he smiles for the camera. If I had to guess his personality based on the photos I've seen then I would say he was a friendly fellow who liked to laugh and socialize but I have no idea.
   My bachelor uncle died tragically in a fire along with his mother on New Year's Eve in 1955. He was only 45 years old.

   Gerald P. Duper
   1910-1955
   Rest In Peace

Thursday, March 14, 2019

At the Courthouse

#52Ancestors

   I'm a bit late again. For week 9 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge, the topic was "At the Courthouse." I can't think of anything to write about. I don't know of any ancestors who were married at a courthouse. I know of a few divorces and adoptions but I don't have details so I can't write about them. After speaking to my mother about this topic she informed me that my maternal grandmother worked in a courthouse.
   My favorite grandmother who I called MaMa was an interpreter for the deaf. I had already written about my great-grandmother, Josie who lost her hearing at a young age due to Scarlett Fever. MaMa communicated with her mother using sign language so when she found this job it was the perfect opportunity to be the voice for those who can't speak.

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Family Photo?

#52Ancestors

   For week 8 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing challenge the topic is "Family Photo." I looked through the photo album of old black/white photos that had belonged to my grandmother and great-grandmother looking for a family photo that I could possibly use to tell a story.
The photo I chose is one of a man who I was always fascinated with when I was a child looking at old photos with my grandmother. She told me that he was an Indian (Native American) and her grandfather. I know now that he wasn't her grandfather or great-grandfather but I don't think she ever told me how many greats. I was told that this photo is a copy from a tintype photo. My grandmother died a week after my 14th birthday and long before I became interested in genealogy. There is nobody alive to ask any questions about ancestors from way back when so I'm on my own.
   This mystery man is not a grandfather on my grandmother's maternal side. My grandmother's mother, Josie was born in upstate NY. Josie's mother, Teresa was also born in upstate NY but her parents were from Ireland. Josie's father, Steven was from Austria. My grandmother's maiden name was Davis. I have traced the Davis men back to Charles Davis, my 4th great-grandfather who was born in NY in 1800. I don't have a photo of Charles who died in 1850 but I don't think this mystery man is him. I have photos of his son, grandson, great-grandson, etc … down to my great-grandfather, Samuel (Josie's husband). If this man is truly an ancestor, a grandfather, great-grandfather, etc... then he might be the father or grandfather to one of the Davis wives if not then I have no idea who he was.
   Mystery Man will probably remain a mystery.

I made a copy of the photo but it looks a bit dark so someone in one of my genealogy groups on Facebook was kind enough to lighten it for me. I do not think this man is Native American.