Decades

Treasure Chest Thursday – Manifest of the SS Roland

joelowry1982 1900s, Maternal, Porubsky, Treasure Chest Thursday
One hundred and fourteen years ago today, my 3rd great grandparents Mathias and Christina Porubsky, their son Carl and five of his siblings were on an adventure at sea. The Porubsky’s had left their Volga German community in Kamenka, Russia, perhaps to escape the Tsar and policies of assimilation and were en route to Topeka, Kansas. It was there that an enclave of Volga Germans had established themselves. They had set out aboard the SS Roland of Norddeutscher (North German) Lloyd. At 345 feet, the Roland was just a few dozen feet longer than today’s Staten Island Ferry. They sailed from Breman, Germany and were en route to Baltimore, Maryland.
The Porubsky family was among up to 800 people stuffed below deck in 3rd class. On June 22, 1900, they arrived at the passenger terminal along the Patapsco River and proceeded overland to Kansas.
This manifest marks their journey to a new life in America. At the time of his arrival, Mathias Porubsky was a 44-year old laborer; his wife Christina was 38. An uncle had paid their way, although the identity and relationship of this uncle remains unknown. They arrived with $20 in their pockets (about $550 in today’s dollars). Checkmarks indicate that all but the youngest two could read and write.
The manifest as located through FamilySearch.org
The manifest as located through Ancestry.com
Finding the above images was not without it’s small challenges. Both Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org have the manifest in their record collections but neither is perfect. The two sites, which are the largest genealogical record holders in the world, only sporadically overlap so it’s not always the case that both sites will have the same record.
I retrieved the Ancestry.com manifest because it appeared as a ‘hint’ on Mathias Porubsky’s page. Ancestry.com hints allow users to quickly identify records that may be related to their ancestor and attach them to their family tree. Unfortunately, many people accept every single hint without closely examining the record to ensure it belongs to their ancestor. The Ancestry.com record was poorly scanned, as it is crooked and has several columns (18 and 19) chopped up. That said, the index (transcription) of the manifest was spot-on and I was to quickly find my ancestors on the page.
The FamilySearch.org document is a very clean scan, but slightly darker. Unfortunately, a very poor transcription for this document made it much harder to locate. The ship was listed as the SS Poland, instead of the SS Roland. I couldn’t even begin to tell you how the family name was listed because numerous searches failed to turn up anything. Having already located the Ancestry.com version of the manifest, I used my search skills knowledge to search for a simpler surname I knew was further down the same page. Sure enough, after I located ship mate Joseph Zadja, I scrolled up to find the Porubsky family.
Having these types of documents tells a lot about the travel conditions my ancestors endured to arrive at a new life. When paired with other documents, we can start to piece together a life story, which is the ultimate goal for any genealogist.

Sources:
“Baltimore, Passenger Lists, 1820-1948 and 1954-1957,” index and images, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/8679/mdt844_19-0177/696872?backurl=&ssrc=pt_t28087067_p5130324876_kpidz0q3d5130324876z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid&backlabel=ReturnRecord : accessed 18 Jun 2014), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, DC; Records of the US Customs Service, RG36; Series: T844; Roll: 19

“Maryland, Baltimore Passenger Lists, 1820-1948,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29149-8032-62?cc=2018318 : accessed 18 Jun 2014), 1891-1948 (NARA T844) > 19 – Jun 7, 1900-Feb 25, 1901 > image 180 of 876; citing NARA microfilm publications M255, M596 and T844.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday – Four Generations – Again…

joelowry1982 1920s, Four Generations, Paternal, Pepperney, Wordless Wednesday
Family collection. Click to enlarge.
Taken around 1925, this is four generations of Pepperney’s. On the left is my 3rd great grandfather Frank Pepperney, Sr. (1847 – 1927). On the right, my great great grandfather George P. Pepperney (1871 – 1962). Seated is my great grandmother Mary Margaret Pepperney Lowry (1902 – 1980); she is holding my grandfather, Charles J. Lowry (1924 – 2007).

Cheer, Cheer for Old Notre Dame…

joelowry1982 1940s, Lowry, Paternal
People often wonder why I’m such a huge Notre Dame football fan. “Did you go to Notre Dame?” No. “Did your dad?” No. It’s quite simple. It’s in my blood. My love of Notre Dame football goes back at least three generations, when Midwestern, Catholic, Irish-Americans were looking for something to rally around. Ironically, it was a Norwegian chemist named Knute Rockne who brought the Fighting Irish to the national stage.
As Notre Dame football kicks off for the 126th time, it’s worth remembering those seasons that came before. The weekend of November 21 – 22, 1942, my grandfather Chuck Lowry and two buddies traveled from Youngstown to South Bend, Indiana. #8 Notre Dame took on the dismal Northwestern Wildcats. The Irish, coming off a loss to #6 Michigan, beat the ‘Cats 27-20. Notre Dame finished the season 7-2-2 (with ties against Wisconsin and the tough Middies of the Great Lakes Naval Station). 
A young Chuck Lowry in front of the Main Administration Building.
Chuck’s friend Walt Huebner in front of the the Main Administration Building.

The signage celebrates 100 years since Father Edward Sorin founded the Our Lady’s University.

Al Dohar on campus.

The Stadium

The Rockne Memorial. This rec center was only five years old when this photo was taken in 1942.
Church of the Sacred Heart. It was elevated by Pope John Paul II to Basilica status in 1992.
The Main Administration Building

The Grotto

Photos from a family collection. Click to enlarge.

Census Sunday – 1940 Census of Francis and Helen Witt

joelowry1982 1940s, Census Sunday, Maternal, Witt
It’s hard not to think of our grandparents how we most often saw them – as grown adults, perhaps even elderly. I think of my great grandfather as a man in his 90’s, sitting in a chair in his house on Osborn Avenue and waving his cane at me. Documents such as census records make it easier to imagine them in a different time in their lives. In 1940, the Witt family lived at 24 Osborn Avenue, just north of Mahoning Avenue. When a census enumerator visited the house, my great grandfather Francis was 41 years old, and my grandfather Howard just a boy of 11.

Relationship to me:
Francis John Witt (1899 – 1992)
father of:
Howard David Witt (1929 – 2001)
father of:
Rebecca Ann Witt
mother of:
Joseph Patrick Lowry

State: Ohio
County: Mahoning
City: Youngstown

Ward: 4
Block: 506
Sheet: 12A
Enumeration District: 96-76
Enumerated by: Anne S Williams, Enumerator
Address: 24 N Osborn Ave (map)

Francis Witt, head, male, white, 41 years old, married, has not attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through 8th grade, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, was at work for pay the week of March 24-30, 1940. Works 40 hours a week as a business agent in a repair shop, worked 26 weeks in 1939. Earned $800 wages in 1939, with no wages from another source.

Helen         ” , wife, female, white, age 41, married, has not attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through 8th grade, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place (not a farm), did not work or seek work.
M. Governor    ” , son, male, white, age 20, single, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, has attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through C-2 (College, 2 years), in school for 52 weeks; wages of $450. No job listed.
Francis        ” , son, male, white, age 19,  single, has not attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through 12th grade, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, was seeking work. Duration of unemployment up to March 30, 1940—in weeks: 20 weeks. Otherwise works as an order clerk at a steel mill. In 1939, worked 12 for $300 in wages.
William        ” , son, male, white, age 17,  single, has attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through 11th grade, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, did not work or seek work.
Fred             ” , son, male, white, age 15, single, has attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through 8th grade, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, did not work or seek work.
Howard        ” , son, male, white, age 11, single, has attended school since March 1, 1939, attended school through 4th grade, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, did not work or seek work.
Helen K.       ” , daughter, female, white, age 6, single, has not attended school since March 1, 1939, born in Ohio, on April 1, 1935 lived in same place, did not work or seek work.
Sources:
1940 U.S. Federal Census, Mahoning County, Youngstown, population schedule, Enumeration District 96-76, Sheet 12A, Dwelling 229,. Francis Witt; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 28 July 2013), citing National Archives microfilm publication Roll T627_3270.

Petro, Diane. (Spring 2012). Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The 1940 Census: Employment and Income. Prologue Magazine. Volume 44 (Issue 1). Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2012/spring/1940.html. Accessed 28 July 2013.

Tombstone Tuesday – Michael Schulmeister

joelowry1982 1930s, Maternal, Schulmeister
My 3rd great grandfather Michael Schulmeister was born in Russia about May 1856. Arriving in New York City with his wife Anna Maria (Mary) Kotterin Schulmeister on April 17 1886, they quickly set down roots in Topeka, Kansas where a large congregation of Volga Germans had settled. There they had at least five children, three girls and two boys. The oldest is my 2nd great grandmother Elizabeth Schulmeister Porubsky.
Photo from FindAGrave.com by Oz.
Michael died in 1937 in Topeka at age 81. He is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Topeka.