Today I was treated to a random act of genealogical kindness. I opened up my Gmail this morning and found the obituary of Samuel Halls Junior from the April 3, 1930, edition of the Crystal Lake Herald. It was sent to me by the president of the Crystal Lake Historical Society. I am very grateful to Diana Kenney for her thoughtfulness.
The obituary quotes the Randall family in Crystal Lake as saying of Sam
that, "To know him intimately was to love him" which I find a rather
curious turn of phrase. To me it indicates that Sam had a difficult public personality (Reserved? Prickly? Arrogant?...) but it covered a heart of gold.
It also confirmed a things I had suspected, but did not answer other questions I have. It confirmed my suspicion that Sam liked horses and states that, "He was a particularly fine judge of horses and was especially fond of thoroughbred racers and trotters."
Sadly, it make no mention of the mysterious "Becky", the woman named as his wife on his death certificate. See this post for details of Sam's shenanigans with the women.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Small Victories
Sorry for the long silence since my last post. I started full time as a college instructor in August of 2012, and the work load was just nasty this past fall/winter. Next fall/winter should be much better, so more frequent posts. The post you are about to read was started back in October of 2012.
A few days ago I found a picture of James Reginald Halls. He was the only child of Philip Thomas Halls and Agnes Wood, and a grandchild of James Halls of Merton, Devon, and latterly of Elimville, Ontario.
Reg, as he was called, worked at a factory producing war equipment for the Allies in the small town of Whitby, Ontario. I found the picture in the factory newspaper, The Commando, which has been digitized and placed online by the Pickering Ajax Digital Archive (PADA).
In another issue of The Commando I found a note of condolence to Reg and his wife Mary on the death of their daughter, Marilyn Phyllis Halls. She was only 17.
It seems appropriate to finish this post on VE Day, the day we remember the Allied victory over the Nazis, which Reg, along with millions of others throughout the world, helped to bring about. Theirs was a great victory.
A few days ago I found a picture of James Reginald Halls. He was the only child of Philip Thomas Halls and Agnes Wood, and a grandchild of James Halls of Merton, Devon, and latterly of Elimville, Ontario.Reg, as he was called, worked at a factory producing war equipment for the Allies in the small town of Whitby, Ontario. I found the picture in the factory newspaper, The Commando, which has been digitized and placed online by the Pickering Ajax Digital Archive (PADA).
In another issue of The Commando I found a note of condolence to Reg and his wife Mary on the death of their daughter, Marilyn Phyllis Halls. She was only 17.
It seems appropriate to finish this post on VE Day, the day we remember the Allied victory over the Nazis, which Reg, along with millions of others throughout the world, helped to bring about. Theirs was a great victory.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Ancestry and the Canadian Voters Lists
Ancestry has recently released the Canadian Voters Lists, 1935-1980. Voters lists, though not as comprehensive as a census, do allow the researcher to figure out where people lived until relatively recently, and gives researchers a chance to contact living individuals to further a search. Ancestry is justifiably proud of their accomplishment, but there is one major problem.
The biggest problem is that not everyone in the voters list has actually made it to the transcription of the voters list. Something I have noticed is that the wives are often excluded, eg Mr. John Halls shows up in the transcription, but his wife, Mrs. John Halls does not. I can only conclude that whatever analyzed the OCR results was programmed to skip duplicates, with terrible results in the voters lists. Not that every wife was dropped, but enough were to make it difficult. Worse still, Ancestry has no way to add an entry that has been skipped. All one can do is correct existing entries.
So to Ancestry, kudos for making the voters lists available, jeers for using an analysis program that considers Mrs and Mr to be the same.
The biggest problem is that not everyone in the voters list has actually made it to the transcription of the voters list. Something I have noticed is that the wives are often excluded, eg Mr. John Halls shows up in the transcription, but his wife, Mrs. John Halls does not. I can only conclude that whatever analyzed the OCR results was programmed to skip duplicates, with terrible results in the voters lists. Not that every wife was dropped, but enough were to make it difficult. Worse still, Ancestry has no way to add an entry that has been skipped. All one can do is correct existing entries.
So to Ancestry, kudos for making the voters lists available, jeers for using an analysis program that considers Mrs and Mr to be the same.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Samuel P Halls
I recently came across an item about old stocks sold on eBay. In this particular case it was a certificate from the Huron Gold Mining Company, and it was signed by SP Halls in the role of Secretary. The certificate was dated May 8th, 1900, and must have been one of the last official duties that SP Halls ever performed.
His obituary notes that he left the local school at Easter of 1900, which was April 15th, and that less than a month later had a stroke that left him partially paralyzed, and, at least to the observers of the time, less than fully capable mentally.
You can read a short article about the certificate here.
His obituary notes that he left the local school at Easter of 1900, which was April 15th, and that less than a month later had a stroke that left him partially paralyzed, and, at least to the observers of the time, less than fully capable mentally.
You can read a short article about the certificate here.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Clarence Halls 1909-1936
Clarence Halls was the adopted son of John Halls and his sister Annie Halls. He lived in North Dakota until the late 20's or early 30's and then moved to Butte, Montana. At some point he met Jean Belgarde, and as far as I can tell, they married. I have found various references to both Clarence and Jean in both North Dakota and Montana newspapers.
A few days ago I found Clarence's death certificate on FamilySearch.org and while I found out a few things, he is listed as divorced (Surprise!), the informant was listed as Elizabeth Halls of Helena, Montana, and he died from TB. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, in Butte. Mostly the death certificate just left me with other questions.
Questions like, who was Elizabeth Halls? Why (and when) did he divorce Jean?
Sadly there comes a time when you either need to go to a place in person, or hire a researcher. I am fast approaching the point of hiring a researcher, or giving up.
A few days ago I found Clarence's death certificate on FamilySearch.org and while I found out a few things, he is listed as divorced (Surprise!), the informant was listed as Elizabeth Halls of Helena, Montana, and he died from TB. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, in Butte. Mostly the death certificate just left me with other questions.
Questions like, who was Elizabeth Halls? Why (and when) did he divorce Jean?
Sadly there comes a time when you either need to go to a place in person, or hire a researcher. I am fast approaching the point of hiring a researcher, or giving up.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Dominion Day
A few days later than I wanted to post, but here goes...
This July 1st was the 145th anniversary of the founding of Canada in 1867. In 1982 the holiday, known as Dominion Day, had its name changed to Canada Day. I decided that I would check the Huron Expositor, a local Huron County newspaper, to see what sorts of activities happened 120 years ago on Dominion Day, 1892, in Huron County.
A fair range of items were reported. Two laws came into effect in Ontario on Dominion Day of 1892. The first was a law that prohibited the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. The second was the inheritance tax. Some things never change.
News reports came from Bruce and Peterborough Counties. In Peterborough County on July 1st, a boy was attacked and mauled by a bear, but was able to successfully escape with the help of a friend. In Wiarton, Bruce County, the Reverend George Yeomans made the mistake of displaying an American flag over his residence. The reeve of Wiarton sent three constables to remove the flag, and after reaching the ground, the crowd took the flag from the constables, tore it to ribbons, and then paraded the ribbons through the streets on poles. The report goes on to state, "It would appear that the matter is not going to stop there. Legal proceedings are threatened, and justly so, against those who destroyed the flag." Hopefully the vandals were charged, and Rev. Yeomans learned his lesson.
There were of course many events. In Hamilton the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipe and Drum Band took part in the festivities.
In Huron County proper the following happened. In Howick there was a "Pic-Nic" gathering held "in the bush" that included dancing for the adults and teenagers, a playground for the children, and food and refreshment stands. It was so successful that all concerned decided to do it again in 1893. Bayfield reported many visitors including a large pic-nic from Zurich.
In Exeter, only a few miles from where most of the Halls family lived, there were many different events reported, mostly Exeter residents doing things out of town. One individual, A.J. McTavish, took first prize in the 100 and 220 yard race, and second prize in the 110 yard hurdles. The Exeter cricket team played in London, Ontario. A local harness racer was injured on Dominion day when his sulky was upset during a race. The Exeter running races on Dominion Day were not a financial success.
Many localities had football games on Dominion Day, though the Blyth match was apparently notable for the bad conduct and obscene language of the boys on the Blyth team.
Finally in Seaforth, where the Huron Expositor was (and still is) published, it sounds as if half the town left to go somewhere else, as nearly 550 people left town, mostly to go to Goderich.
Dominion Day 130 years ago sounds much like ours. People having fun by going out to celebrate their country by getting together with family and friends.
You can read the July 8th, 1892 issue of the Huron Expositor in the Google News Archive.
This July 1st was the 145th anniversary of the founding of Canada in 1867. In 1982 the holiday, known as Dominion Day, had its name changed to Canada Day. I decided that I would check the Huron Expositor, a local Huron County newspaper, to see what sorts of activities happened 120 years ago on Dominion Day, 1892, in Huron County.
A fair range of items were reported. Two laws came into effect in Ontario on Dominion Day of 1892. The first was a law that prohibited the sale of cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18. The second was the inheritance tax. Some things never change.
News reports came from Bruce and Peterborough Counties. In Peterborough County on July 1st, a boy was attacked and mauled by a bear, but was able to successfully escape with the help of a friend. In Wiarton, Bruce County, the Reverend George Yeomans made the mistake of displaying an American flag over his residence. The reeve of Wiarton sent three constables to remove the flag, and after reaching the ground, the crowd took the flag from the constables, tore it to ribbons, and then paraded the ribbons through the streets on poles. The report goes on to state, "It would appear that the matter is not going to stop there. Legal proceedings are threatened, and justly so, against those who destroyed the flag." Hopefully the vandals were charged, and Rev. Yeomans learned his lesson.
There were of course many events. In Hamilton the 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipe and Drum Band took part in the festivities.
In Huron County proper the following happened. In Howick there was a "Pic-Nic" gathering held "in the bush" that included dancing for the adults and teenagers, a playground for the children, and food and refreshment stands. It was so successful that all concerned decided to do it again in 1893. Bayfield reported many visitors including a large pic-nic from Zurich.
In Exeter, only a few miles from where most of the Halls family lived, there were many different events reported, mostly Exeter residents doing things out of town. One individual, A.J. McTavish, took first prize in the 100 and 220 yard race, and second prize in the 110 yard hurdles. The Exeter cricket team played in London, Ontario. A local harness racer was injured on Dominion day when his sulky was upset during a race. The Exeter running races on Dominion Day were not a financial success.
Many localities had football games on Dominion Day, though the Blyth match was apparently notable for the bad conduct and obscene language of the boys on the Blyth team.
Finally in Seaforth, where the Huron Expositor was (and still is) published, it sounds as if half the town left to go somewhere else, as nearly 550 people left town, mostly to go to Goderich.
Dominion Day 130 years ago sounds much like ours. People having fun by going out to celebrate their country by getting together with family and friends.
You can read the July 8th, 1892 issue of the Huron Expositor in the Google News Archive.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
The Ongoing Story of Samuel Halls Jr.
Slowly the veil draws away on Samuel Halls Jr. I have written about Sam before in this blog. That he was a high flier amongst Chicago society and builders. That he married Drucilla Brisco, and that sometime around 1912 his life began to come apart, so much so that by 1920 he is living in Chicago, and widowed according to the Census. Meanwhile his wife Drucilla is alive and well in Portland, Oregon, and she's widowed too!!
A few days ago I received a picture of Sam, and what a picture. It was taken at New Year, 1928. Sam is dressed to the nines, and hanging over his shoulder (literally) is a sweet young thing, who is pretty well dressed herself. Sam looks, for lack of a better word, smug. He is obviously a pretty happy man, and so is his companion.
Th inscription at the bottom reads, "From Unice and Cousin Sam to J.P.H." J.P.H. was John Philip Halls, who lived in Beloit, Wisconsin. So the question became, who was Unice. So I did some searching and came up with a newspaper article from the Appleton Post Crescent, dated March 29, 1929. It read, "Sam Halls and Miss Eunice Eisentraut of Chicago ... arrived here [Sugar Bush, Wisconsin] Saturday to spend the weekend in the AA Eisentraut home." It seems vastly unlikely that Unice/Eunice could be anyone else other than Miss Eisentraut. A little more digging indicated that Anson A. Eisentraut did have a daughter Eunice, who had been born in 1905.
Almost exactly one year after the article was written in the Post Crescent, Sam was dead (April 1, 1930). One expects that Eunice was upset, she and Sam had been together from at least New Year's 1928, probably longer judging by the inscription.
But Sam still has more in store for us. His death certificate indicated that his place of death was Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois - and that the name of his wife was Becky.
A few days ago I received a picture of Sam, and what a picture. It was taken at New Year, 1928. Sam is dressed to the nines, and hanging over his shoulder (literally) is a sweet young thing, who is pretty well dressed herself. Sam looks, for lack of a better word, smug. He is obviously a pretty happy man, and so is his companion.
Th inscription at the bottom reads, "From Unice and Cousin Sam to J.P.H." J.P.H. was John Philip Halls, who lived in Beloit, Wisconsin. So the question became, who was Unice. So I did some searching and came up with a newspaper article from the Appleton Post Crescent, dated March 29, 1929. It read, "Sam Halls and Miss Eunice Eisentraut of Chicago ... arrived here [Sugar Bush, Wisconsin] Saturday to spend the weekend in the AA Eisentraut home." It seems vastly unlikely that Unice/Eunice could be anyone else other than Miss Eisentraut. A little more digging indicated that Anson A. Eisentraut did have a daughter Eunice, who had been born in 1905.
Almost exactly one year after the article was written in the Post Crescent, Sam was dead (April 1, 1930). One expects that Eunice was upset, she and Sam had been together from at least New Year's 1928, probably longer judging by the inscription.
But Sam still has more in store for us. His death certificate indicated that his place of death was Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois - and that the name of his wife was Becky.
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