52 Ancestors No. 24: My Grandparent's Funeral Cards

 I have decided to devote this week's blog post to the huge collection of mass, funeral and prayer cards that were passed down to me from my grandparents Ernest and Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan.

The majority of the cards are from the Marcotte and Janisse Funeral Directors. The others are: The Kennedy Funeral Home (Essex, Ont); Anderson Funeral Service; James H. Hutton Funeral Home; Van Deweghe Funeral Chapel and Windsor Chapel.

Of the seventy-one cards posted below, only nineteen are confirmed Moynahan-Coughlin ancestors. The majority are friends, neighbours, co-workers and acquaintances of my grandparents and I am posting them here for other Ontario and Michigan genealogists and family historians.

If you find a beloved ancestor amongst the cards below, I would love to know. Please leave a comment below.

Alphabetical Listing

A

ANNALS; James Jr. (1873-1921) *UPDATE*
ANNAL; Mary (-1927)

B

BEAUPRE; Leo A. (-1974)
BEDARD; John (1932-1966)
BEDARD; Simon (1896-1967)
BELANGER; Lionel (Priest) (-1961)
BENETEAU; Charles (-1967)
BLAIN; Marie Blanche (-1967)
BOUCHER; Delia (-1961)
BOUCHER; William (-1962)
BOYLE; Francis E. (-1973)
BRAZEAU; Ben (1909-1965)
BRODERICK, Arthur (1904-1968)
BRODERICK, Clara (-1973)
BRODERICK; Sarah (1881-1945)
BROWN; Josephine (1889-1969)

C

CAPLING; Stella(-1964)
CASEY, Edmond (1880-1962)
COLBI; Marvyn (-1965)
COSTI, Maria (1902-1961)
COUGHLIN: Lawrence (1916-1992)  *UPDATE*
COUGHLIN; William H. (1872-1952)
COUGHLIN; William L. (1947-1971)

D

DEAN, Harry (-1961)
DEMARCE; Elizabeth (1898-1968)
DEMARSE; Mary Madeline (1900-1929)
DESJARLAIS; Frank (-1966)
DROUILLARD; Matilda (1899-1973)
DUFOUR; Leo A. (1902-1974)

F

FIELDS; Clarence J. (-1967)
FLANNERY (-1964)
FRANCISCO; Irma (-1971)

G

GIGNAC; Francis A. (-1963)
GRANDCHAMP, Alexanderine (-1962)
GRIMMETT; Edward H. (1897-1967)

H

HARRISON: Bessie (1913-1978) *UPDATE*

I

IVERINA, Anthony (-1976)

K

KELLY; Patrick O. (-1957)
KUCA; John (1896-1967)

L

LACOMBE; George A. (-1967)
LACROIX; Alphonse (1866-1952)
LACROIX; Eugene (-1967)
LAFORET; Marie Louise (-1961)
LAJOIE, Margaret (-1964)

LANGLOIS: Alexander (-1936) *UPDATE*

LANGLOIS: Gretta M. (1910-1968) *UPDATE*

LARSH; Harold (-1969)
LAUZON; Calixte (1890-1969)
LEFAIVE: Viola V (1906-1985) *UPDATE*
LENNON; Edward (-1960)
LESPERANCE; Delima A. (1885-1964)
LUCIER; Lillian (1901-1962)
LYONS; Cora (1888-1974)
LYONS; Francis (1878-1965)
LYONS; Mary Ellen (-1961)

M

MacDONALD; Larry (-1966)
McKROW; Catherine (-1961)
MONFORTON; Bernadette (-1970)
MOYNAHAN; ERNEST (1900-1974)
MOYNAHAN; GERALD (1908-1961)
MOYNAHAN; John (1866-1933)
MOYNAHAN: John (1934-1987) *UPDATE*
MOYNAHAN; Mary Ann (1869-1960)
MYERS; Naploeon (1916-1970)

N

NIEDERREITHER; Rudolph (1904-1967)
NOUVION; Marie E. (1891-1968)
NUNN; Rose May (1911-1961)

O

OGG; Dean (1960-1966)
OUELLETTE; Esdras (1905-1974)

P

PAJOT; Lea (1903-1968)
PAQETTE; Georgina M (-1972)
PERRAULT; Annie Marie (1900-1962)
PERROTT; Mary (1897-1965)

R

REED-LEWIS; Leo E. (Priest) (1921-1962)
RIBARSKY: Joan M (1935-1984) *UPDATE*

S

SCHOFIELD: Arthur J (1901-1981) *UPDATE*
SCHOFIELD: Margaret (1904-1984) *UPDATE*
SHANNON; Thomas (-1960)
SINASAC; Agnes (1894-1962)
SMITH; Orval J. (1893-1968)
STEER; Mary J (1898-1963)

Links

• Ottawa Valley Irish - Funeral Prayer Cards
• Exploring Funeral Home Record, Obits and Memorial Cards
• Prayer, funeral cards can be helpful in genealogy search
• Blog: Funeral Cards and Genealogy
• Catholic Funeral Cards in Genealogical Research 
• Have You Used this Unusual Genealogy Resource? (Funeral cards)

Abandoned Mt. Moriah Cemetery - A Heartbreaking Beauty

Today's blog post is about an abandoned cemetery: Mount Moriah Cemetery in Pennsylvania. 

Founded in 1855, Mount Moriah Cemetery was one of the popular rural burial grounds for the victorian elite of Philadelphia.

http://hiddencityphila.org/

Estimated  to be 380 acres, abandoned since 2011, the 85,000+ graves are now hidden by overgrown grass and weeds and home to wild foxes and deer.

Historic map of Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Pennsylvania
Source: Friends of Mount Moriah

Ownership of Mount Moriah Cemetery is in complicated legal limbo similar to many other cemeteries in North America where management responsibilities (and costs associated to maintenance) are in a state of constant confusion and "Perpetual Care Funds" dry up.

Thankfully, genealogists and local historians cherish these historic treasures and, in the case of Mt. Moriah, the "Friends of Mount Moriah" are actively involved. Their website http://friendsofmountmoriahcemetery.org/  is filled with information and documentation.

Mount Moriah Cemetery
Source: Find A Grave

Links

• Find A Grave: Mount Moriah Cemetery
• Roadtrippers: Mount Moriah Cemetery
• Hidden City Philadelphia
• Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery website
• The Friends Of Mount Moriah Cemetery: Facebook
• Video: Friend of Mt Moriah: Ken Smith (*so lovely*)
• Video: Antiquity Echoes: Mt. Moriah
• Atlas Obscura: Mt. Moriah
• Maps of Mt. Moriah cemetery grounds
• Internment.net: Incomplete Headstone Records = 298
• Wikipedia: Mount Moriah Cemetery
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-1634 "Mount Moriah Cemetery Gatehouse" 
• Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) No. PA-4-A, "Mount Moriah Cemetery, Mt. Moriah Soldiers Lot" 
• Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) No. PA-4-B, "Mount Moriah Cemetery, Mt. Moriah Naval Lot"

52 Ancestors No. 26: Is Johanna a Missing Moynahan Daughter?

Week (June 25-July 1) marks the halfway point in the year (2015) - and the halfway point in the  52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge!

Amy Crow poses the question, "What ancestor do you have that you feel like you’ve only researched halfway?" and I would have to say Matthew Moynahan (1770-1860). I feel like there is still so much more to know about him.

Matthew and Honora Moynahan had nine children and I only know the names of  five:

1. Jeremiah
2. Mary 
3. Denis
4. James 
5. Timothy

I know of Jeremiah only because of a legal action that his father Matthew took against him for an unknown event that resulted in property damages. I have still not located Jeremiah in Detroit.

And Mary is known only because Matthew bequeathed all of his "real and personal property" to his son Timothy  "except one bed and bed clothes which I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Moynahan." I know her name but I have found no records of her whatsoever.

There are two sons and two daughters of Matthew and Honora Moynahan who remain nameless this far.

This post is about a death certificate that may have provided clues to one of the nameless daughters: Johanna.

I was excited and curious about a death register that I located at Family Search for a Joanna (Moynahan) Sullivan (1806 - 1891) daughter of Matthew and Honora Moynahan.

Return of Deaths for Washtenaw County, Michigan (1891)
CLDS 004209084

Ann Arbor Argus: Feb 10, 1891

Could Joanna Sullivan be one of the "unknown" daughters of  Matthew and Honora Moynahan of Maidstone, Ontario?

I decided to try and locate more information about Joanna (Moynahan) Sullivan starting with Michigan Census records for Washtenaw County Michigan where she died.

Panoramic view of the city of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Co., Michigan 1880.
Source: Libraray of Congress

1884

1884 | Washtenaw, Webster | 2596
Source: Seeking Michigan

On the 1884 census I found husband Patrick (76 years) (b. 1808 in Ireland), wife Johanna M. (78 years)(b. 1806 in Ireland) and daughter Hanna C. (52 years)(b.1832 in Michigan).

According to the census, Patrick had one eye and Johanna was both blind and deaf at the time.

We also learn that Patrick was a farmer and Hanna (single) was "at home" likely as the sole caregiver for her parents.

Only Hanna and Patrick can read and write (despite not having attended school?) and Patrick and Johanna have resided in the state of Michigan for 54 years (and Hanna for 52 years).

This means that Patrick and Johanna arrived in the state of Michigan approximately in the year 1830

Then I located a history book that had more details on the Sullivan family:

• University of Michigan: History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan.

Source: History of Wastenaw County Michigan

1880 census (showing Eugene - 35 Years old)

Eugene died in the 31st of October 1881 of typhoid fever thus explaining why on the 1884 record Eugene does not appear and daughter Hanna C. Sullivan is with Patrick and Joanna instead.

So far, I have learned a great deal about this Sullivan family of Washtenaw County, Michigan but I have no information that Joanna is the daughter of MY Matthew and Honora Moynahan!

Perhaps the way to resolve this would be to locate the 1830 marriage record in New York? I have placed a request to the angels at RAOGK: Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness. 

Source Links

• Internet Archive: History of Washtenaw County, Michigan : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships...and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan.
•  Internet Archive: Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan
• Michigan GENDIS (death records 1867-1882)

Happy Fathers' Day

Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Most countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June.

The history of Fathers' Day started with a petition in the early 1900s following a mine tragedy that left 1000 children fatherless but it really did not gain wide scale recognition until the 1970s.

Source: The Spokane press., June 16, 1910, Image 12

This means that most of our male ancestors never experienced a Fathers' Day celebration in their lifetime so I will give them thanks and honour them today.

These men were glassblowers, farmers, sailors, soldiers, firemen, Justice of the Peace, autoworkers and stevedores. These men loved their families and were loved in return.

I am grateful for the wisdom, inspiration and strength that flows through my blood from my many men ancestors: the men ancestors I have known in my lifetime; the men ancestors I have located through my genealogical research and the men ancestors whose name and stories I have yet to find and those I may never know.

Happy Fathers' Day

• Ernest Moynahan (1900-1974)
• John Moynahan (1866-1933)
• Jeremiah Moynahan (1841-1922)
• William Henry Coughlin (1872-1952)
• Martin Broderick (1839-1915)
• James Henry Annal (1849-1930)
• Frederick Creighton (1907-1976)
• John Moreland (1880-1940)

Link

• THE JOY OF GENEALOGY: Remember our fathers and the sacrifices they made
•  The Library of Congress answers: “Is the history of Father’s Day similar to Mother's Day?”

52 Ancestors No. 25: My Mystery "Homestead Veranda" Photograph

This is my twenty-first of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. 

This week's theme is "The Old Homestead" and I have chosen this beautiful mystery photograph that was in my grandmother Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan's photo collection.

I have not yet identified the ancestors in this photo but I feel fairly confident in saying it is a home located somewhere in Essex county, Ontario.

It is not in the best of condition and shows a woman and two young girls sitting on a lovely veranda and a young boy sitting on his bike in what is most likely Windsor or Wallaceburg, Ontario. Or perhaps Detroit?

The mystery woman with two young girls.

A young boy on a bike.

The woman is holding a newspaper on her lap.

This young girl is holdinga doll.

This young girl has a kitten on her lap.

It would be wonderful if any cousins recognized this family and could help me identify these ancestors. Or if there are photography and/or fashion experts who might be able to help me identify a date.

Until then, this is a treasured photograph of a lovely family on the beautiful veranda of their home

52 Ancestors No. 21: Gretta Marie (Coughlin) Langlois

This is my twenty-first of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. 

This week's blog post is about Gretta Marie Coughlin was born the 15th of July 1910 in Wallaceburg, Ontario the fifth daughter of William Henry Coughlin and Elizabeth (Annal) Coughlin. In 1935 she married Alex Langlois. Alex died three months later and Gretta never married again.

The Coughlin Family (circa 1917)
Wallaceburg, Ontario

Gretta Marie (Coughlin) Langlois

The 1920s: Coughlin Sisters Employed at Parke Davis

In the 1920s, three Coughlin sisters worked at Parke Davis in Detroit
Rhea, Gretta and Eileen

Women workers at Parke Davis (circa 1920)

1929 Bridesmaid for Sister Rhea

In 1929 Miss Gretta Coughlin (19 years of age) was a bridesmaid
for her sister Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan

1935 Wedding

1935 Wedding Photo

Source: The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) · 9 Dec 1935, Mon · Page 15

Tragedy Strikes the Happy Couple 

Three Months After Wedding

Alexander Langlois 1911-1936

Alex Langlois' Death Certificate

Alex' death certificate indicates that he underwent surgery for appendicitis on the 15th of January 1936 and an embolism developed and caused his death six days later on the 21st of January.

Death notice - Windsor Star

1936 Burial - St Alphonsus

Headstone: St Alphonsus Cemetery,
Windsor, Ontario

1949 The Coughlin Family

The Coughlin Family 1949
at their parents Golden Anniversary

1958 Gretta Is Living in Brockville, Ontario

Marguerite (Coughlin) Schofield, Viola  (Coughlin )Lefaive, Sr. St. Paul, Bessie  (Coughlin) Harrison and Rhea  (Coughlin) Moynahan
(Taken in front of Gretta Langlois' apartment in Brockville, Ontario 1958)

52 Ancestors No.22: The Art of Colorizing Photographs

This is my twenty-second of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. 

My No. 22 post is about the beautiful photograph below that was taken of my grandmother Rhea Coughlin (1902-1992) by Northland Studio.

Original Photo
Rhea Coughlin (1902-1992)

According to the Directory of Early Michigan Photographers by David V. Tinder, Northland Studios was located in Detroit as early as 1913-1915. 

I believe this photograph of Rhea to have been taken some time before 1920.

The photograph was also colorized by Northland studio.

The results are stunning

Colorized Photo
Rhea Coughlin (1902-1992)

I consulted "Transparent Liquid Water Colors for Coloring Photographs" (p.101)  Crayon Portraiture Complete Instructions for Making Crayon Portraits on Crayon Paper and on Platinum, Silver and Bromide Enlargements  Author: Jerome A. Barhydt and found the following:

" INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING LIQUID WATER COLORS"

(ON PHOTOGRAPHS)

"Fill the two tumblers with water, and have all the other materials ready and convenient to work with. If you have selected a burnished and mounted photograph wet its surface with saliva; unburnished photographs, photogravures and engravings do not require this treatment, but in coloring them it will be necessary to mix a weak solution of gum arabic with the colors to prevent their penetrating the paper. If printed on too thin a paper the photogravure or engraving should be mounted. If it is found that the colors "crawl" or spread on the photograph, mix a little acetic acid with the colors you are using, and should this fail to remove the difficulty, rub a pinch of pumice stone over the photograph with the fingers. "

 "If the photograph is a portrait commence with the background, washing it all over with a brushful of diluted color, being careful not to get any on the face. If the background is light, use a weak solution of blue, if dark, a brown solution. The majority of backgrounds only need a very little tinting—just sufficient to change the color. For the face use flesh color, diluting it to the proper shade, washing it entirely over the face, and with a stronger solution of the same color tint the cheeks and lips, giving them a little brighter effect than the flesh color. Touch up the shadows in the face with the brown, and if there are any reflected lights use a very weak solution of the yellow color for them; then with some very weak black make the shadows around the mouth a little darker; next with a solution of blue, also very weak, strengthen the shadows in the forehead and around the temples; then color the eyes, using a small brush. If they are blue, use a weak solution of blue, if gray, use a little black, and if brown, then that color. Next color the hair; if brown, use brown mixed with a little black to take away the reddish color; if auburn, use brown and yellow, with a little gray between the lights and shadows. In working on the hair, move your brush in the direction of the lines of the hair; if wavy, then cause your brush to follow its lines. After you have thus gone over it, darken the shadows with a stronger solution of the same color. After the hair, paint the eyebrows and beard, if there is any, with the same color."

"CONCLUSION" 

 "Those who are disposed to treat disdainfully the work of finishing photographs in crayon and color as not demanding truly artistic qualities, should not forget that success here has still a real value in awakening in many who undertake it a feeling for art of a higher kind, and in developing a natural talent which otherwise might have been undiscovered. Many an artist now looks back with pleasure and gratitude to this sort of work, in which he received the first impetus toward higher effort."

 "In answer to the assertion which is sometimes made that transparent water colors are not permanent, I claim that in the sense in which the word is ordinarily used in connection[Pg 132] with photography they may properly be called so. In this sense the lasting qualities which characterize the materials used by the old masters are not looked for, but where photographs have been thus colored, finished in the form of French crystals, and properly sealed from the atmosphere, they are practically permanent. I have some in my possession that were made years ago, and they are as bright and fresh to-day as when first colored. It can be truly said that photographs colored in this way make very beautiful and pleasing pictures, obtainable with but little work and expense, and having practical permanency of color."

 "As a final word to those who intend to follow art as a profession, I urge the earnest study and mastery of drawing at the outset as the foundation of all art; then take up work in body water colors, and when the theory of coloring is fully understood, do not neglect the careful reading of books of acknowledged merit bearing on your work. The more notes you take in the course of your reading the more fully you will assimilate the author's thought, while, at the same time, you furnish the easiest means of rapid review. After all, your soundest basis for work will be your deep and continuing love for it, and your willingness to labor long and conscientiously to attain excellence. Do not imagine that the profession of an artist is that of an[Pg 133] idler. On the contrary, of all occupations it is perhaps the most active, for one is constantly engaged, if not with art itself, at least with its materials."

 "Every artist will confess that were it not for the charm with which it rewards the votaries who follow it from love, the pursuit would be a painful one, such vigilant precaution does it require, such constant foresight, such calculation and preparation against possible difficulty on every hand; but the true artist, happy in the daily gain of knowledge which his experience brings him, and delighted with the gradual mastery of his work, as a rule lives along enjoyably, retaining more than most men the freshness of youth while he gains in power as he advances in years. So pleasant a fate as this for each of his readers is the closing wish of the author."

Windsor, Ontario: Steps Through Time by Philip Robinet

Windsor Ontario:  Steps Through Time: Part 1  (1780-1920)

   

 Windsor Ontario:  Steps Through Time Part 2  (1920-1945)

   

 Windsor Ontario:  Steps Through Time Part 3  (1945-1961) 

52 Ancestors No. 23- The Moynahan-McHugh Wedding (1954)

This is my twenty-third of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. 

June is a month for weddings and in this week's post I am sharing the beautiful photos that I have in my collection of my aunt Patricia Moynahan (my father's sister) and my uncle Edward McHugh who were married in 1954.

Newspaper clipping (newspaper not known)
January 20, 1954

The bride and groom with their parents:
Mr and Mrs. John McHugh of Detroit and
Ernest and Rhea (Coughlin) Moynahan of Windsor

The large wedding party which included Patricia's two brothers: John and Ernest Jr. 

The happy couple leaving 912 Marentette Ave. Windsor