Accidental Amputation

As it was written in the Middleboro Gazette newspaper:
Loses part of three fingers in sawing mishap 9/20/1912

Carl Z Pierce

Carl Zachariah Pierce, my great grandfather, was born in 1872.   He was a handsome young man who played baseball on the Middleboro, MA town league.  In 1897 at the age of 25 he married 16 year old, Mary Catherine Wilbur just before Christmas.   Six weeks later, on February 2nd, she gave birth to their daughter, my grandmother, Mary Ann.

According to divorce records, the marriage ended in April 1909 due to gross and confirmed habits of intoxication that began on or about December 1, 1898. 

This addiction held on tightly for the rest of his life, causing many confrontations with police and acquaintances.  It also caused him to not only lose his job in his father's hardware store but also caused him many health problems. 

In 1912, Carl was earning money by sawing blocks of ice out of the Carver pond in Bridgewater.  The pond sat at the bottom of hill surrounded by trees and accessible only by a path from the road.   One day while Carl was sawing out a block of ice he accidently amputated part of three fingers.

Carl Z. Pierce died on July 29, 1927 at the age of 55 of a root canal pharysurgical abscess, myocarditis acute while incarcerated at the Bridgewater State Hospital for alcoholism. Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle (myocardium).  He died from inflammation of the heart muscle caused by an infection, namely his abscessed tooth.

He is buried at Hillside Cemetery, Auburn Street, Bridgewater, MA. He has no marker but was told he rests to the right of his daughter, Mary Ann.

The Wreck To Our Place

I'm grateful that no one in my family was injured when this large truck crashed into my grandparents business and took the gas pumps out as well as the awning that covered them.  If my great grandfather, grandfather, grandmother was pumping gas, they would have been killed. It was also not uncommon for customers to be standing nearby or even children playing for the main house sat right next door.  I'm surprised that there was no fire or explosion.



They way it looked when first built.
My mother is the little girl watching her grandfather pump gas.



Quadruple Tragedy - So Sorry Lulu

Earl and Lulu

Lulu Mary Beebe was born December 6, 1898.  She was the daughter of Alfred Royal Beebe, brother to my 3rd great grandmother.  On August 8, 1917 she married Earl Marshall Taylor and began their family.  I have nine children listed but they might have had as many as 12 children.

The youngest children were Alfred Ernest, born January 11, 1934 and Oliver Royal, known as Ollie, born on March 20, 1935.  The family lived in Muskegon, Michigan.

Lulu's husband died on April 4, 1935 at the age of 39 when Alfred was 15 months old, and Lulu was eight months pregnant with Ollie. 

Fourteen years later, 1935, triple tragedy strikes Lulu and her family.  Ollie dies on August 11, 1949 of polio.  Her mother-in-law Jennie dies on November 10, 1949, and then her son, Albert died of polio on November 30, 1949.

Alfred



Oliver



Nature's Electrocutions

Floyd Clapp was struck by lightning and instantly killed, Saturday evening at the home of Charles Weston, September 7, 1895, Cuba, New York  The young man was 26.  

The particulars of the sad affair is as follows; Mr. Clap was in the barn milking, filled his pail and had gone outside the building to a shed under which the milk wagon stood with the cans on it, and emptied the the pail.  He had just stepped back into the door that was in the corner of the barn when the bolt struck him.  Mr. Weston picked him up and took him to the horse barn a short distance off, while his wife was engaged in releasing the cows and getting them out of the barn that was already burning briskly.

It was about half past six when the bolt struck with such fatal effects.  About 1000 bushels of oats and a quantity of hay was consumed by fire.  As the barn burned so quickly it is of course impossible to tell just where the lightning struck it, but the probabilities are it struck it entered the roof directly over the door where Mr. Clapp stood when killed, as that was where the fire started. 

The bolt struck him on the right side of his head burning his hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and mustache, and leaving slight marks on his temple, neck and chin, the latter of which bled slightly until the next day.  I then glanced to his shoulder and passed down the breast to thigh, leaving a ragged edged mark about three inches wide.  From the thigh it jumped across his body to his left leg below the knee, tearing the skin up crosswise of the leg in streaks about an inch wide and the same distance apart, to the anklebone, where it left the body and tore off his shoe.  His shirt and pants along the course taken by the bolt were torn away.

Floyd was my 2nd cousin 3X removed.

 

Tragic Ending

It came as a complete surprise and somewhat of a shock to discover that my great grandfather, Emond Lewis Sterling had a brother named Arthur.  He was born on February 25, 1885 in Olean, New York   I discovered this while searching through census records.  We knew he had a sister, Ermina, who was called Mina.  My mother said her grandfather never mentioned a brother Arthur.

Sometimes family member names aren't mentioned for many reasons. This certainly sparked my imagination. I wondered, did he die,or do something wrong?  I found him living with his mother in the 1910 census, no wife was present, but he had a daughter, Mildred.  Where was Arthur's wife?  Did she die?  If so, it appears he remarried. I'm still looking for the name of Mildred's mother.

Now I know that Arthur's name was too painful for my great grandfather to mention.  He died tragically in 1933 at the age of 48.

Taken from the Olean Times-Herald March 25, 1933

 For Accident Victim
Held At Portville
Portville. March 25 —Funeral
services for Arthur Sterling. Buffalo,
who died Sunday in the Buffalo
City Hospital from injuries
received in an auto accident, were
held this afternoon at two o'clock
from the home of his sister,
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Eldridge, Brooklyn Street.
The Rev. George F. Loehr. pastor
of the Presbyterian Church,
officiated. Burial was in Main Settlement Cemetery.
Mrs. Sterling was also injured in the accident which happened
Thursday in Buffalo. She is a patient in the City Hospital.
Surviving, besides his wife, are
a daughter, Mildred Austin, of Eldred, Pa, sister,
 Mrs. Ermina Eldridge of Portville, NY, a
brother, Emond Sterling, of Eau Gallie, Fla.

Clyde Earl Roesch

Clyde Earl Roesch, born in Potosi, Wisconsin on April 12, 1881. He was the son of Philip, a Civil War Veteran of three years. Clyde was one of six children. Clyde's first wife Minnie Marcue died in 1914. He married again in 1917 to Julia Barbara Keehner. 

Clyde was a farmer first, and later became a cobbler. He and Julia purchased a winter home from his brother, William Russell Roesch, in Eau Gallie, Florida. The home sat on Highland Avenue. Even their father, Philip, bought a winter home here and the homes sat three in a row. The three of them often went fishing in the Indian River together. Clyde was known as the champion fisherman. 

A little girl by the name of Leslie Louthain was walking home from school. She saw Clyde Roesch sitting on a bench. There was blood coming out of his ear. She asked "Are you okay"? Clyde just smiled at her. 

Leslie went home and told her mother, "Something is wrong with Mr. Roesch". Her mother went to check on Clyde and then she called the ambulance. Clyde had fallen from a ladder at his home while hanging his storm windows. He later died at the hospital from his injuries on Oct 23, 1961 at the age of 80. You may wish to read more about Clyde:  

The Tragic Death of Eben Algar Richmond

When Eben's father-in-law, Thomas Warren Pierce died on Jan 23, 1910, Eben grieved for him and had become despondent. Seven months later he shot and killed himself with a fatal gun shot wound to the right temple.  He was discovered on the third floor of the Thomas W. Pierce Hardware store in Middleboro between 9 and 10 a.m., lying face down, Monday morning on January 23, 1911.

Eben had worked at the Pierce Hardware store for 20 years and since the passing of his father-in-law was responsible for the conduct of the store. 

Eben played the piano and the cornet.  The last song he played on the piano the Sunday night before he died was "Now The Day Is Over".

Eben is buried in the Pierce family plot in the Central Cemetery, Middleboro, MA.

Middleboro Gazetter, Friday January 27, 1911

Once Upon A Time - A Century Old Secret

To better understand this story, read:  Amanuensis Monday - Once Upon A Time

There was this century old  family secret. No one could tell. What was the secret?  Why was it a secret.  It was all such a puzzle. What happened to Herbert?  I've known about this mystery my whole life.

When I began researching our family history, I brought my 82 year old Aunt over to my home, to pick her brain; scan the pictures she brought with her and to share my work to date with her.  She asked me, "Maybe you can find out about my mother's brother, Herbert, and what happened to him."   Could I ever solve this century old story?  I thought this was an impossible task.  But that all changed in October of 2010 because of a chance discovery.

My great grandparents, Mary Catherine Wilber Pierce and her husband Carl Z Pierce were separated shortly after their daughter, Mary Ann, my grandmother, was taken away from her by her in-laws. Carl never knew that his wife was expecting another child when she left and moved home with her mother.  Mary, afraid that her in-laws would also take this second child from her, kept this fact a secret.

On April 11, 1900 she gave birth to a son she named Herbert. Family stories indicate that her mother, Nellie, delivered him.  The census taken in June of 1900, just shy of two months after Herbert's birth, shows Mary Catherine still living with her mother.

Her in-laws, Thomas and Mary Besse Pierce had warned Mary Catherine that they would make her life miserable if she ever attempted to regain custody of their grandchild. Why they felt so strongly we will never know for sure. Mary did not forget the threats made upon by her in-laws.   Mary Catherine proved her bravery by moving forward and petitioned the court.

On May 26, 1900, when Mary Catherine was only 19 years old and Herbert was six weeks old, she went to court alone to face her in-laws in an attempt to regain custody of her daughter.  She lost her battle and her life was changed forever.

The outcome of this court hearing changed the family dynamics for the next 110 years. Mary Catherine was not going to take the chance that Herbert would also be taken away from her by her in-laws. She gave Herbert away to her mother to raise in order to keep him. She must have loved Herbert very much to take such drastic action.  She surely felt that this would be the only way to keep her son close.  She was determined that her in-laws were not going to take Herbert.  (His birth was not recorded)

All during Herbert's life his birth mother was always nearby watching over him as he grew.  Herbert never knew he was being raised by his maternal grandmother.  He was always told he was adopted.

Mary Catherine and her husband Carl reunited and had two more children.  But once the cover-up was done, it became impossible to undo and the decision was made to keep this secret forever.  But as we know, secrets are made only to be unveiled.  ( Eventfully the marriage did end in divorce.) 

Last October, 2010, a chance discovery of a old picture that was posted on the Town of Middleboro's website gave me the clue I was looking for.  Under the picture of a diner was the owner's name, Herbert Thompson.  Then there it was, a comment by the grandson of Herbert and a facebook logo.  I quickly typed a message and sent it off.  Amazingly, he answered almost immediately.  It took a little convincing that this was not a scam.  He was living on the west coast, I live on the east coast.  The first week in December of that year he flew out to meet me.

You can only imagine the joy we both shared.  The missing branch of his family tree is no longer lost. He in turn told me about his grandfather's life and how he was always told he was adopted and never knew who his parents were.   We continue to keep in touch with him and his family.  And yes, he has met my Aunt and other family members.

This century old secret is now revealed, and the truth has brought peace to many, and to my 90 year old aunt.  Herbert passed away in 1989 at the age of 89.

A lost Eye

Mary, birth name Maria Anna was born in Baden, Germany in 1856 and was the daughter of Mathias Roesch and Magdalena Jehle.  The others were born in Potosi, Wisconsin  and are  the children of Mathias and his second wife Juliana Hodapp.  Sophia Luella b 1863, Charles b 1865, Louis b 1868, Otto b 1870, and August b 1874.

If you look closely at  Louis, you will notice a problem with his left eye.  He was kicked in the head by a horse and lost his eye.  Later, he received a glass eye.  His eyes were blue.

Here is a picture of Louis as an adult wearing his glass eye.  He certainly is handsome.

Inconsolable

My uncle, Philip Osborne Roesch, was born to William Phillip Roesch and Nellie Edith Osborne on September 17, 1917 in Eau Gallie, Florida. He grew into a young adult and was good friends with Buzz, the son of Dr. W. J. Creel.   

Their personalities were very similar and they enjoyed doing many of the same things, especially when it came to tinkering.  Boys will be boys and they loved dismantling just about anything and everything and then figuring out how to put it back together again.  It was especially invigorating when they got it right and it worked.  Phil was especially intrigued with radios. 

So it wasn't entirely surprising when the day came that they started a radio and appliance repair business.  Most jobs were to fix small appliances such as radios and toasters.  Larger appliances always called for a trip to the customers home.

One day such a request was received and they went out on a service call to  repair a refrigerator.  The methyl chloride somehow escaped and sprayed into the eyes of Buzz.  Horrified, Phil rushed his best friend to his father's medical office.  Every conceivable treatment was exhausted, but this unfortunate accident left Buzz blind.  Read:  Thankful Thursday - One of God's Chosen People

Phil struggled to come to terms with what happened to his best friend, but he was inconsolable.  He grieved over this incident the rest of his life.

Update: 

Buzz Creel Story

Kathryn, as Dr. Creels grandson this photo was to say the least a pleasant surprise. The story of Buzz while quite sad is also quite heroic. When he was 19 he was working on a refrigerator and came in contact with the coolant and was blinded. During the depression he reckoned the only place a blind man might find work was New York City. He moved there and became a dark room technician developing film. Long story shortened he married and spent his life there with my aunt Rose and they actually did very well. The real tragedy is he was mugged near his home and never really recovered and died shortly thereafter. I have never hesitated to brag on his courage and character and wish I could have been half the man he was.

Mark Allen

Suffer The Little Children

It was very difficult so many years ago to bring healthy babies into the world.  Childbirth  was a dangerous risk for women and many lost their lives.  We are so blessed and fortunate today that we have the medical resources and equipment to monitor the health of our unborn children and to ensure the safe delivery for baby and mother.

Florence E. Smith was born in 1875 and was the daughter of my 2nd great grandparents. She died on December 7, 1881 when she fell off the Bradbury Bridge, in Biddeford, Maine and drowned at the age of seven. She is buried in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Hollis, Maine. She was found there resting beside her parents, William G. Smith and Druzillah J. Gray.

My great grandparents, William Russell Roesch and Ada Louise Houston had six children.  Their first child, Mary, was born December 22, 1885 and died May 2, 1887.  Their second child, a newborn son, born on April 2, 1887, died the very next day.  On January 15, 1888 a daughter was stillborn, and then on August 22, 1889 they suffered through yet another loss of a stillborn daughter.

Their fifth baby, a son brought joy for he survived, they called him Willy.  He became my grandfather.  One last child, a son they named Leroy, born on October 7, 1895 left this earth on October 25, 1895. 

All five babies are buried in the Pioneer Houston Family Cemetery in Eau Gallie, Florida.  I find it difficult to comprehend the pain that parents suffered when they lost their children. 









Wedding Day Heartbreak

Merl G.  Eldridge, age 21, worked in the National Powder Company plant, a dynamite factory, located in Eldred, PA, just over the New York border. An explosion took place at about 8:50 a.m. on Thursday, October 18, 1939, in a stone building used as a mixing plant where nitroglycerin was made.

He was the son of Everett Eldridge publisher of the Eagle Tribune, and Beatrice Hatch, nephew of my great grandmother, Elsie Eldridge Sterling.

The Monday morning before he was to be married he didn't want to go to work.  His mother, Bea, told him you might as well go to work - you're getting married soon - so he went to work.

The explosion that killed five blew the men to bits. Only a lock of Merles' hair was found. 

Merl was to be married to Clarice Preston of Syracuse, NY. the following Sunday.  His funeral took place in the church and on the day on that his wedding was to take place. His fiance showed up for the funeral wearing her wedding dress.
 

Heartbreaking Misfortunes

House and Contents Destroyed by FIRE
Middleboro Gazette, September 4, 1931

A fire that started from an overheated chimney destroyed the home and furnishings of Malcolm Smith, Plymouth Street in the North Middleboro section Sunday night while Mr. and Mrs. Smith were only a quarter of a mile away with their children watching traffic roll by on the new state highway.  It is the climax of a series of misfortunes that have visited the Smith family in a short time.  About two weeks ago Mr. Smith who had been employed in a tea room near his home, was put on part-time and then followed the death of Richard, their 10 month old son last week. (pneumonia)

Sunday night after supper the family went for a walk to the new road to see the automobiles and when they left their home everything seemed to be all right.  It seemed but a short time after when a neighbor discovered heavy smoke coming from the house.   He sent a telephone call to the central fire station and tried to get in to save some of the furniture but was driven back by the flames which spread with great rapidity from around the chimney to all parts of the house.

When Engine 1 with Deputy Chief Owens and crew arrived after the five mile run, the house was enveloped in flames and it was readily seen that nothing could be done to save it.  The water supply from a well near the house was soon exhausted and the Chief directed the attention of the firemen to prevent the spreading of the fire to other nearby property.  The furniture in a nearby home was removed but later as the danger subsided was replaced in the house by neighbors.  Sparks from this fire communicated to the roof of another house but it was quckly extinguished by a formed bucket brigade from a nearby well.

All the belongings of the Smith family and furniture stored in the house were destroyed and it is understood that the property was not fully insured.  The Smiths are now living with the family of Walter Savard.

Autoists driving on the new state highway (route 18) were attracted by the fire and many left their cars on that road and walked to the fire creating one of the worst traffic jams ever seen on this new highway.

Mary Ann Pierce and Malcolm Leroy Smith
My Grandparents