I’ve recently been given a large collection of Witt family photos to scan, and among them is this gem. This photo shows four generations of Wolfords, Witts, and Thomas’s. The back of the photo reads:
Taken Feb 1957 Family group of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Porubsky 1015 N. Madison St Topeka, Kans.
Front Row: Danny Thomas, Carl Porubsky, Elizabeth Schulmeister Porubsky, Caroline Porubsky Wolford, David Witt (in Caroline’s lap), Raymond Wolford, Diane Thomas
Back Row: Walt Thomas, Betty Wolford Thomas, Barbara Wolford Witt (holding Rebecca Witt), and Howard Witt (holding Julie Witt)
Source: Family photo of Carl and Elizabeth Porubsky, Raymond and Caroline Wolford and their children and grandchildren, photograph, taken at 1015 N. Madison St., Topeka, Kansas, in February 1957; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2026 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Rebecca Lowry [address for private use], Poland, Ohio; Family group sitting on a couch or standing behind it in a living room setting; Provenance is Barbara Witt to Rebecca Lowry.
The text below was provided by my grandmother, Barbara Witt Viti, as a photocopy of a document titled “The Origin of the German Russian People.” This three-page document summarizes the Porubsky genealogy and was likely typed in the mid to late 1980s. Based on the memories shared, the narrative style, and the focus on Carl Porubsky, I believe this was written by my great-grandmother, Caroline Porubsky Wolford. I have copied the text here exactly as it appears with no edits. It’s a fascinating read into the life of the Volga Germans living in the “Little Russia” neighborhood of Topeka, Kansas.
Page 1:
THE ORIGIN OF THE GERMAN RUSSIAN PEOPLE
About 250 years ago, Catherine of Russia, who was of German birth, wanted to bring better farming to Russia, and made a deal with a group of German farmers who were dissatisfied with the military. She promised if they would move to Russia they would be given free land and freedom from taxes and military service. They settled along the Volga taking with them seed for the wheat they grew so successfully through good farming, their thirst, their lose of peace. It was probably one of the most unusual interludes ever known in human living. Freedom from war, debt and taxes. The Germans did not intermingle with the Russians nor learn the language. They kept their own customs and brought their children up in the ways and speech of their own country. There were a little Germany inside the Russian borders. After Catherine’s era, conditions changed for the little colony. They were being taken for the military, the same as they had been in Germany. After long deliberation and mixed emotions, Mathius Porubsky, his wife Christina and 5 children decided to come to America. There was much sadness in leaving their parents and remaining sisters, brothers and relatives they possibly never see again and most families did not. The families described the feelings as a living death.
The year 1900, the Porubsky’s boarded ship and sailed rough ocean waters for 21 days. Most people became sea sick. The weather was cold, and the water of the 21 days on ship were very bad. They landed in Baltimore, Maryland and needles to say their happiness was great to be able to set foot on American soil. Most of the people kneeled down and gave thanks with eyes and clasped hands raised to heaven.
Addundum: They left Bramin [Bremen] Germany, and boarded the S.S. Roland Ship. The Porubsky family came directly to Topeka. A family of distant relatives had come to Topeka, established their home and sent them money for passage. The cost of the passage for the family was $253.00. The Porubsky family lived in the home of these people until they could establish a home of their own. Carl was 15 years old and the oldest of the children, Matthew was a small baby. The father of the family felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. New country, no home, no work and a debt to repay. He soon found farm work. Carl worked along his father to help provide for the family. The younger children were sent to school. Carl received little schooling but became educated in his own right and trades he learned later in life. Father and son walked 6 miles each way to the farm work. Their wages was 50 cents a day. The father soon went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad which paid a little more money. Carl continued his farm work, bought a bicycle to ride to and from his work. It was a custom of the german people all children were subject to their parents until they were 21 years old, and each child turned his weekly earnings into the house for spending money.
A small 2 room house was built by the family near the river banks of north Topeka. Everything was going well. In 1903 another son was born to the family. The same year, Topeka was flooded and the family lost most of their possessions. They rebuilt their home and replaced their possessions. In 1908 another flood came and they went with the same procedure as the 1903 flood. After the 1908 flood a large home was built for the family about 2 blocks from their first home site. The father continued to work for the railroad until he was old enough to retire. Mother Christina wife of Mathius died at an early age of 54. Death due to cancer. She died March 22, 1916. Four years later Mathius remarried a widow named Barbara Schwert with whom he lived 10 years until his death. He was 73 and died March 23, 1929. Barbara lived to be in her 80’s. She walked to church every morning for years to and from from about 1 1/2 miles. Her death occurred suddenly when a car reered out of control striking her on her own porch steps. Mathius’s 2 wives are buried in the same plot in Mt Calvary cemetery. Most all of the relatives are buried at Mt Calvary cemetery.
Page 2:
Some families formed their own settlement and was called by american people as “Little Russia.” The neighborhood still carries the name. Their houses were well kept. Everyone had a picket fence. Well painted rows of houses, mostly alike. They had what they called “summer kitchens” that was behind the main home about 25 feet from the back door. The purpose of these was to do the dirty work. The laundry, also cooking in the summer time to keep from heating up the house. The men used to for a washroom when they came from work. The young folks used it for dancing. There was always some one in a group that could play some type of musical instrument. Most all could play a harmonica. The men folks used the kitchen which sometimes consisted of 2 rooms for playing cards, chewing their tobacco and filling their pipes. The women frowned on their husbands dirtying their kitchen in the main house. They took turns at each others homes. The people prowdly kept their german language. Some of the older people learned to speak a little english and understand the language and others did not but they were happy in their state of life. As their children learned the english language and customs the parents also liked the new ways. These people were all of the catholic faith, all would have to gather at night usually kneel on a bare printed floor and say the rosary. For anyone that has not done this, this was a real penance. The elderly did not fidget as much as the young and by the time the last decade of the rosary was reached it was hard to concentrate on god. These people were very strict with their children and expected obedience from them. Many of the men found work farming[,] others carpenter work, many worked for the railroad from the time they came to america until they died. Others worked for a meat packing plant. They often thought of the remaining relatives in Russia. Many letters were written and money sent to them but few ever heard that their mail was received. The women often times took their babies with them to do a washing by hand for the wealthier people to help the husbands to pay the debt of money for their passage to this country.
Christmas was never a big day in gift giving but regarded as the day Christ was born and celebrated as such. The immediate family received small gifts- candy & fruit aplenty for the children. The children never heard of Santa Claus with the white whiskers and red suit but all knew of St. Nickless. He some times came to the house dressed in white, nearest resemblance to a spook with heavy chain around the waist. Some children eager to meet him and others feeling they hadn’t been very good throughout the year crawled under the beds. New years day was a big day for celebrating. The families went to all of their relatives and visited & did what we called “winching”. In reality it was a happy new year wish that in german translated in english is: I wish you a happy new year, long life, good health, freedom and peace in your life, after your death life everlasting. May the love of the christ child remain in your heart forever, these are my wishes for you. Children learned to say this young in age. Food was prepared in advance that was of german dishes, such as cabbage strudles made by browning meat, adding cabbage, onions & seasoning, wrapping in bread dough, dropped in deep fat or baked. Home made pickles, whole pickled watermelons. The basement had potatoes, apples, cheese. Everyone had a cow. Lunch meats, ham, pretzels, beer, liquor served to adults. The children received candy, oranges, and money. Many times there would be 100 people at our home on that day. Many people started the new year celebration the minute the clock struck 12:00 and lasted all night and day. January 2nd there would were many that could vaguly remember where they had been or what they had eaten.
Weddings called for a 3 day celebration if the parents could afford it. The 2nd or 3rd day was a close family celebration to eat the remaining food and drink beer. This was a mock wedding. The man usually portrayed the bride with lace curtains as a veil, flowers from spirea bushes as bridal wreath, bunch of onions as bouquet. The groom was a woman dressed in mans clothing usually dressed in overalls resembling a hillbillie and small in size and stood on a box next to his bride. This was a great fun day. Some weddings today still do this.
Page 3:
One good old custom stays- that of pinning money to the dress of the bride. by the men who dance with her on her wedding day. The dance was called “Russian Stomp” and began after the nuptial mass and wedding breakfast ending at 12:00 midnight. It is customary for brothers and sisters husbands to pin at least a $20.00 bill which considering the larger families is a large sum. It has been known for the father of the bride to pin $500.00 to his daughter’s dress and the grooms father a check for equal amount. Formerly the groom’s parents furnished the dinner for all of the relatives and friends at noon following the wedding but now American custom is followed and the bride’s parents supply the food. The present custom is for the bride and groom to furnish the refreshments and drinks for the evening of the wedding day. The kitty for the musicians is a dulcimar into which the dancers drop coins or bills. There is a guarantee in case the kitty is not fat enough. The couples take in about 3 times what they spend. Many couples have netted as much as $2700.00 to start a life of their own.
The people in this little section of town are industrious, proud of their heritage and still peace loving. Their thrift and skill both on the farm and in other occupations and the determination to follow an idea that brought them first to Russia and then to america makes them valuable citizens. They studied and became american citizens and to be able to vote was a great privilege.
The Porubsky children according to age were: Carl, John, Anna, Joseph, Elizabeth, Matthew and George.
Carl Porubsky, born Feb 26, 1865, died Feb 14, 1962 age 77, member of St. Joseph’s church, buried Mt. Calvary cemetery, he was born in Kemanka Russia
John Porubsky, born April 5, 1887 in Kamenka Russia, died August 23 1956, member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Topeka, buried Mt. Calvary
Anna Porubsky Wasinger, lived in Chicago, Ill, died in mid 40’s
Joseph Porubsky, born December 7, 1892, died November 6, 1940, member St Josephs catholic church, buried Mt Calvery cemetery
Elizabeth Porubsky Devlin, born Jan 31, 1894 in Kamenka, Russia, died Jan 9, 1964, member of St Joseph catholic Church, buried Mt Calvary cemetery
Matthew Porubsky, born March 16, 1900, died August 17, 1948, member St Josephs catholic Church, buried Mt Calvary cemetery
George Porubsky, born March 2, 1903, died August 16, 1962 member St Joseph’s Catholic Church, buried Mt Calvary cemetery
This picture was a draft in my WordPress account titled “Picture of the Day – September 26, 2015.” When I had the idea of sharing this image nearly ten years ago, perhaps I knew who these two people were, but by January 2025, this information was not in my brain. Fortunately, Aunt Mary Catherine Sanders is always willing to share her Witt family knowledge. She replied to a Facebook post:
“The picture is of Eda Witt and her husband, Leo or Leon Lucas. She was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth and Joseph Witt. They took over the grocery store on Ford Avenue as Joe Witt aged. The picture was in their garden. They had no children.“
Eda was my grandfather Howard Witt’s aunt and the oldest sister of my great grandfather, Francis Witt.
Sources:
Eda Witt Lucas and Leo Lucas, photograph, likely taken in the 1940s in their garden at 413 Ford Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio; image taken by unknown photographer; privately held by Joseph Lowry, [address for private use], Sterling, VA. Provenance is Mary Catherine Witt Sanders to Joseph Lowry.
In the annals of warfare, few units are as storied as the American Eighth Air Force during World War II. It’s estimated that 350,000 men served in the Mighty Eighth during the war. One of them was Lt. Francis Witt, assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group as a pilot of a B-17 Fighting Fortress. With a crew of 10 men, up to 13 machine guns, and a typical bomb load of 4,000 pounds, she was the backbone of the European strategic bombing campaign against Germany.
After flight training in the United States, Witt arrived in June 1943 at United States Army Air Field 106, more popularly known as RAF Grafton Underwood, outside Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. Grafton Underwood, before World War II, was largely farmland, but the Nazi invasion of France in 1940 and the subsequent bombing of England meant additional airfields were needed to first launch aircraft to defend Britain and then offensively strike targets throughout the European continent. Initially assigned a Royal Air Force squadron, Grafton Underwood was one of a number of bases turned over to the Army Air Force beginning in 1942 after the United States joined the war. (In fact, RAF Grafton Underwood launched the first USAAF bombing mission against the Nazis when then-Captain Paul Tibbets, later known for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, led a bombing mission against a train yard in Rouen, France.)
Army Air Field 106, popularly known as RAF Grafton Underwood. In 1943, she was home to the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy), flying B-17 Flying Fortresses against targets on the European continent. Francis Witt was assigned to the 547th Squadron in this Group.
Although he arrived at Grafton in June 1943, an accident while landing during a training flight kept Francis grounded until October. It was just as well, anyway. September and October 1943 represented a rebuilding period for the B-17 groups in England. Two August 17 raids to bomb the industrial cities of Schweinfurt and Regensburg in Germany had cost 60 of the 376 participating bombers. With an average crew of ten, that represented over 600 aircrew killed or missing in action. While Francis didn’t fly this mission, his 384th Group lost five of the 20 planes that launched to enemy action. So while the missions continued after – bombing runs to submarine pens in France and German airfields in Belgium – none included as many aircraft or were as complicated an operation as the August 17 mission.
That would change on October 14 when the 8th Bomber Command, the bombing arm of the famous 8th Air Force, identified the ball bearing plants of Schweinfurt as once again needing to be bombed. The mission was theoretically simple. A massive armada of American bombers would fly to Schweinfurt and, at the appointed moment, drop their bombs over the target. Anyone who has seen the films 12 O’Clock High or Memphis Belle, however, knows it’s not that simple. Aircrews faced murderous and accurate flak from the ground and German fighters numbering in the hundreds. Meanwhile, American “little friends,” as the P-47 Thunderbolts were called by the bomber crews, lacked enough fuel to go all the way to the target. As soon as they departed, the German fighters jumped. The aircrews knew the odds for their return were never great.
On the morning of the 14th, Francis was likely asleep in his steel Nissen hut with seven other officers when an enlisted man came to wake him up. “Good morning, sir; you’re flying today as co-pilot for Flight Officer Carter in ship 525, What’s Cookin’ Doc. Breakfast at 0800. Briefing at 0845.”
The timeline prior to take-off for the mission to Schweinfurt.
As the officers filed into the briefing room, there was a curtain covering the location to be bombed, but as the briefing started and the curtain was removed, audible groans would have gone up as “SCHWEINFURT” was announced. The men in the room all knew what happened last time. The briefing would have provided the operational details of the mission. An operations officer would have given the flying route, the levels of enemy flak and aircraft expected, and the secondary targets available if weather socked in the primary. A meteorological officer would have briefed the expected weather conditions. The Group’s chaplain was likely hanging out in the back or just outside the briefing room to bless the airmen as they exited or provide one last absolution before going up and maybe not coming back. Then, piling into a jeep, the men were carted to the other side of the airfield to the fleet of waiting B-17s sitting on the hardstands. Greeting the crew chief, Carter and Witt were briefed on any mechanical issues he had to troubleshoot or repair overnight.
The crew for the mission was:
Pilot
Carter, T L
Co-pilot
Witt, Francis John, Jr
Navigator
Garrison, Keith M
Bombardier
Smith, Harvey Daniel
Radio Operator
Benson, Thomas Joseph
Engineer/Top Turret
Treat, Royal DeWitt
Ball Turret
Connelly, Gordon Raker
Tail Gunner
Pastorella, John Paul
Waist (Flexible) Gunner
Barto, Louis Joseph
Waist (Flexible) Gunner
Hubbard, Warren Emmett
All of the men on this 14 Oct 1944 crew would return home except Tech. Sgt. John Pastorella, killed in action on 24 April 1944 when, while serving as a tail gunner with a different crew, his B-17 exploded after a direct hit from flak. All ten men were killed.
At 1030, it was “start engines,” and the airfield came to life as three squadrons worth of aircraft, twenty-one in all, sputtered, spurted, and then roared with the spinning of 84 Wright Cyclone engines. Taxiing en masse and taking off less than a minute apart, the whole fleet of 384th bombers would be airborne in about 20 minutes. The 384th bombers would join up with the other groups in the skies of southeast England, with 291 aircraft in all heading to Schweinfurt in an attempt at crippling the German ball bearing production.
The B-17 flying over England would form “combat boxes” in the sky to ensure a tight formation but allow each bomber the space to drop its load unencumbered. Francis’s B-17 was flying in the high group for the Schweinfurt mission. This was always the preferred spot in the box; lower groups tended to make for easier targets for enemy aircraft and flak.
A visual demonstrating the combat boxes. Aircraft were spaced for vertical and horizontal separation to allow bombs to fall unobstructed while still keeping the aircraft and their defenses in as tight a group as possible.
The combat box assignments for Mission 32 over Schweinfirt. Witt flew with Flight Officer Carter in ship 525, flying on the right of the high group.
The 291 bombers flying to Schweinfurt that day relied on their escort fighters for protection, but the P-47 fighters departed their bigger cousins after about 200 miles. From bases all over France, Belgium, and Germany, the Luftwaffe struck with the typical tactic employed of German fighters flying directly at the bombers. They would lay a short burst of close, murderous fire right where it would cause the most harm – into the pilots. Bombers would fall from the sky with their dead pilots as the remaining eight members of the aircrew attempted to fight the G forces of an out-of-control aircraft and jump before the plane exploded into the ground. After the German fighter ran head-on into the bombers, they’d come back from behind, firing explosive rockets into the formation. While inaccurate, a single lucky strike could take down a bomber or, at worst, force the formation to take evasive action, separating them and making them more susceptible to gunfire.
All of this hell unfolded in front of Francis as he and Carter guided their B-17 over the target. After “bombs away,” it was a sharp turn to the right and a small slice of hope they make it home. The enemy aircraft and flak, however, would remain for 200 miles of the return. Only over Belgium would the P-47s return to provide cover for the last leg home. The odds were stacked against the crews as rain and low cloud cover typical of England in the winter socked in Grafton Underwood. Many of the 384th planes couldn’t find the airfield. Three planes were lost, and their crews bailed when they started running out of fuel. Carter and Witt would not make it back to Grafton, taking What’s Cookin’ Doc and the eight other men inside it to RAF Little Staughton, a B-17 repair depot.
Sixty of the 291 bombers that launched for Schweinfurt were lost to enemy action. Another dozen were scrapped due to damage. Six hundred men were captured or killed in action. In Witt’s 384th Group, six aircraft went down. Lt. William Harry’s B-17, ME AN’ MY GAL, was shot down by German aircraft. His co-pilot and bombardier were killed, while Harry and seven others were captured as POWs. In the ship flown by Lt. Lawrence Keller, Sad Sack, everyone in the front of the aircraft – the two pilots, navigator, bombardier, radio operator, plus the ball turret gunner, were killed, likely victims of the German head-on assault. Four men jumped in their chutes to become POWs. Lt. William Kopf’s The Joker exploded over Belgium, with seven killed. Lt. Giles Kauffman’s B-17, Big Moose, went down near Brückenau with nine POWs. A gunner, Sgt. Peter Seniawsky, evaded capture and made it back to England. Lt. Walter Williams and Lt. David Ogilvie’s crews were fortunate. Of the twenty men, only one was killed. Nineteen either evaded capture or spent the rest of the war as POWs.
As historian Donald L. Miller would later write in Masters of the Air, a comprehensive study of the Eight Air Force in World War II (and soon-to-be AppleTV+ miniseries), “The deep penetration raids against Schweinfurt’s ball bearing complex should not have been mounted until a larger bomber force was assembled and protected by long-ranger fighters. In miscalculating the ability of the unfortunately named Fortress to stand up to the Luftwaffe, American air planners needlessly sacrificed the lives of young men who were unable to fully appreciate the desperate nature of their missions.” (p. 469)
Sources:
This article could not have been completed without the resources, images, and databases of the 384th Bomb Group, Inc.
384th Bombardment Group Association, Inc., (https://384thbombgroup.com : accessed 13 Jan 2024), used the mission profiles, crew profiles, and images databases.
Miller, Donald L. “Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War against Nazi Germany,” Simon & Schuster, 1st printing, New York, 2006.
My great uncle Francis Witt served in the 547th Bombardment Squadron during World War II. He was stationed at RAF Grafton Underwood in central England. He was shot down and survived a harrowing evasion and escape effort in March 1944. Just two weeks prior, he posed for this crew photo. On February 21, the crew of the ‘Rum Pot II,’ led by pilot Clarence Stearns, stood in front of their girl for a mission to bomb the Lingen railroad yard and Werl airfield in Germany.
On this mission, Francis officially served as the tailgunner. Though odd for an officer to serve as a gunner (officers on B-17s were slotted as either pilot, copilot, navigator, or bombardier), on this mission, the Rum Pot II served as the Group A squadron leader. This meant that in addition to running the tail gun, Francis’s job was to ensure the other planes in the formation dropped their bombs appropriately. It was common to have a pilot or copilot fly in the tail gunner position on lead aircraft to provide the commander of the mission on the same aircraft with a reliable, knowledgeable person who had formation flying and combat experience.
This mission was part of the ‘Big Week’ or Operation Argument, a sustained bombing campaign against German aircraft factories in an attempt to lure the Luftwaffe into the sky, destroy them, and achieve air superiority. The ‘Rum Pot II’ was one of 336 B-17s launched against various German airfields and railroad yards for this mission. (See here for additional information on the Big Week and Mission 228.)
B-17G Rum Pot II, Stearns crew (colorized with Palette)
Back L-R: George Marquardt (B), Clarence Stearns (P), Francis Witt (OBS/TG), Keith Garrison (N)
Front L-R: David Barkhurst (TT), Warren Martell (FG), Albert Fulwider (TT), John Robison (FG), Thomas Benson (RO), William Buck (CA/CP), Vernon McKittrick (N)
Moses Wolford, my 5th great grandfather, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in 1845 in Coshocton, Ohio. His last will and testament was written in the last year of his life and upon his death, probated in Coshocton County’s probate court.
Will of Moses Wolford Dec’d
Will & Probate
The state of Ohio Court of common Pleas
Coshocton County October Term to wit on the
23rd day of October A.S. 1845
Be it remembered that on the day & year aforesaid. The last will and testament of Moses Wolford late of Cochocton County dec. was this day produced in writing and Joseph Hardiman & Jacob [J/I?] Kennedy, credible witnesses thereunto being in open court duly sworn & severelly examined & whose testimony was taken in writing and signed & duly filed and is appearing to the court from the above testimony of said witnesses that said last will and testament was duly executed. that the testament of the time of executing the same was of full age, of sound mind & memory, and not under any restraint. & is by the court ordered that said last will and testament, together with the proof thereof be recorded by the clerk of this Court.
Which said last will and testament is in the words and [figures] following to wit,
I, Moses Wolford of Bedford Township, Coshocton County, in the state of Ohio, do make and publish this, my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say. First, it is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second, I give and devise and bequeath to my beloved wife [NANCY] ANN WOLFORD in lieu of her dower, that is to say she is to remain in the house where she now lives, and share the sole control of the same during her natural life, and to have one fourth of the produce that is raised on the said farms, that is to say the north east quarter of section twenty four of township number five and range number eight in the military district of lands directed to be sold at Zanesville, Ohio, containing by estimation one hundred and sixty acres [purchased 1815, per description above], during her natural life, [the produce being] the wheat, rye, oats by the bushel at her house, corn when husked to be put in a crib where she may direct on the place, hay in the stack and potatoes when dug where she may direct, to have what fruit she may need for summer and fall use and for drying, etc. when there is fruit and the one fourth of the winter fruit for buring, etc, and the sixth part of the sugar that may make [sic] to delivered to her at her house, and live stock, two cows, six sheep, six head of hogs, stock to be pastured and kept on the place, also all the household and kitchen furniture and other items not particularly named and otherwise disposed of in this will, during her natural life as aforesaid, and that at the death of my said wife, all of the property hereby devised or bequeathed to her as aforesaid or so much as there may then remain unexpended after paying her funeral expenses and costs, debts, etc. contracted for her use, I wish to be sold by my executor hereafter named and the proceeds to be equally divided among my children, namely ELIJAH WOLFORD, GODFREY WOLFORD, JEREMIAH WOLFORD, MOSES WOLFORD, MATHIAS WOLFORD, BARBARA CLOUSE, ELIZABETH GONSAR, MARGARET WOLFORD, SARAH WOLFORD and HARRIET WOLFORD, and to their heirs and assigns forever share and share alike. Third, I give and devise to by two sons MOSES and JEREMIAH WOLFORD the quarter section as above named whereon I now live, to be equally divided between them by running a straight line through the center from east to west of said quarter, [MOSES] to have the north and JEREMIAH the south part of said quarter by paying their brother ELIJAH WOLFORD one hundred dollars each within three years after probate of this will, these bequeaths intended to make them equal to my two sons GODFREY WOLFORD [father of Elijah Clarence Sr] and MATHIAS WOLFORD, who have deed for their portions of lands in other tracts. Fourth, I give and devise to my daughters BARBARA CLOUSE, ELIZABETH GONSAR, MARGARET, SARAH AND HARRIETT WOLFORD, my eighty acres of land, being the south half of the north west quarter of section number twenty three in township number five, range eight in the military district of land directed to be sold at Zaneville, Ohio, [purchased by Moses in 1831, as described above], said land to be sold as soon as convenient by my executors and the proceeds thereof be divided amongst my said daughters, so that BARBARA CLOUSE shall have fifty dollars and ELIZABETH GONSAR forty dollars less than the others in the division. BARBARA CLOUSE and ELIZABETH GONSAR received the aforesaid amounts already more than the others. Fifth, I give and devise and dispose of the rest and residue of my property not yet bequeathed in the following manner (IE) my will is that it be sold by my executors as the law directs and the proceeds arising therefrom to be applied to the payment of my debts and other incidental expenses, then my widow to have the one equal share and the other two thirds to be equally divided among my children as follows, to wit: ELIJAH and GODFREY WOLFORD, MOSES and MATHIAS WOLFORD, BARBARA CLOUSE, ELIZABETH GONSAR, MARGARET, SARAH, and HARRIET WOLFORD share and share alike. The last bequests to make them equal to their brother JEREMIAH WOLFORD, having got his share already, this last article not to be understood to embrace any of the property left in this will to my widow, and lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my two sons JEREMIAH and MOSES WOLFORD to be my executor for this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th day of January Eighteen Hundred and Forty Two.
MOSES “X” WOLFORD [signed]
Signed published & declared by the above named Moses Wolford as and for his last will & testament in presence of us who at his required have signed and [written] to the same.
The amazing thing about genealogy is that sometimes a record that seems so minor to your larger family history can lead to connections across multiple families and fill so many blanks. Such is the case of the Rabe family of Topeka, Kansas.
Late in the night, when I tend to lose focus on my research, I bounce from ancestor to ancestor, adding records to my family tree as I stumble upon them. One record collection I was aware of but hadn’t searched in sometime was the “United States, Obituaries, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1899-2012″ collection on Familysearch.org. As my Porubsky and Schulmeister ancestors are Volga Germans, I did a simple surname search for Porubsky. In the process, I located the obituary of Catherine Porubsky (Reeb).
In reading the names in this record, I instantly recognized Porubsky and Schwerdt. Reeb sounded familar, but my Topeka relatives were Rabes, not Reebs. Catherine Rabe was in my family tree, married to Matthew Porubsky, but she lacked parents in my database. In fact, I had three Rabes in my tree and they all lacked parents.
Catherine E. Rabe was married to Matthew G. Porubsky
Elizabeth B. Rabe was married to Joseph A. Schulmeister
Joseph Rabe was married to Caroline Schulmeister
The three Rabes lived in Topeka and were born within 15 years of each other. The original obituary named a sister Pauline, but no other siblings. Could they be related? I set to find out! I knew she was born in 1901 to John and Catherine, who were born in Russia. From other record sources, I also knew that Elizabeth was born in 1889 and Joseph in 1887. I located a Rabe family in the 1910 United States Census. The details I previously had confirmed from later census and marriage records fit well with this 1910 record.
The three Rabes in my family tree were siblings, and each had married into the family of my ancestors, making them my 3rd great aunts and uncles.
State: Kansas
County: Kearny
Township: Lakin
Name of Incorporated Place:
Ward of the City:
Enumerated by me on the 2nd of May
Henry H. Cochran, Enumerator
Rabe, John, head, male, white, 45 years old, 1st marriage, married 25 years. Born in Russ German. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Immigrated in 1900. Has applied for citizenship and has his first papers (Pa.). Speaks German. Works as a tenant farmer working on his own account (meaning, not an employee or employer). Is not out of work; out of work 0 weeks in prior year. Can read: No. Can write: No. Rents the farm, which is found on Agriculture Schedule 81.1
” Katie, wife, female, white, 45 years old, 1st marriage, married 25 years. 12 children born, 9 still living. Born in Russ German. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Immigrated in 1900. Speaks German. Not employed. Can read: No. Can write: No.
” Joe, son, male, white, 22 years old, single. Born in Russ German. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Immigrated in 1900. Speaks German. Employed as a laborer in the beet fields. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes.
” Anna, daughter, female, white, 17 years old, single. Born in Russ German. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Immigrated in 1900. Speaks German. Employed as a laborer in the beet fields. Can read: Yes. Can write: Yes. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.
” Frank, son, male, white, 11 years old, single. Born in Russ German. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Immigrated in 1900. Speaks German. Employed as a laborer in the beet fields. Can read: No. Can write: No. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.
” Elizabeth, daughter, female, white, 10 years old, single. Born in Russ German. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Immigrated in 1900. Speaks German. Employed as a laborer in the beet fields. Can read: No. Can write: No. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.
” Katie, daughter, female, white, 8 years old, single. Born in Kansas. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Not employed. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: Yes.
” Jacob, son, male, white, 6 years old, single. Born in Colorado. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Not employed. Attended school anytime since September 1, 1909: No.
” Mary, daughter, female, white, 4 years old, single. Born in Colorado. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Not employed.
” Pauline, daughter, female, white, 2 years old, single. Born in Kansas. Father born in Russ German. Mother born in Russ German. Not employed.
Source:
1. “Catherine Porubsky,” The Topeka Capital Journal, 22 Sep 1992, pg 3D; “United States, Obituaries, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1899-2012,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-42560-12683-35?cc=2367299 : 14 August 2015), 100415107 > image 7336 of 8998; American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lincoln.
2. 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Kearny County, Lakin, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 83, sheet 9A, dwelling 199, family 200, household of John Rabe; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 August 2016), FHL microfilm 1374454, citing NARA publication T624_441.
This notice from the Youngstown Vindicator was probably not too reassuring for anyone who may have circling the drain on April 1, 1930. While your vital signs indicated you were dead, the Federal government was willing to give you a few extra days.
As the Vindicator reported on 30 March 1930, anyone who died between April 1 and the time the census taker (more properly, the “enumerator”) arrived at the home was counted as being alive. Likewise, anyone who was born after April 1 but before the enumerator came to the home, often weeks later, was not counted. The enumerator’s instructions would have read, “Enter the name of every person whose usual place of abode on April 1, 1930, was with the family or in the dwelling place for which the enumeration is being made.” By counting everyone who was living on April 1, the Census would more accurately reflect a single day in time.
Sources:
“Census Will Count You As Alive If You Die April 1”, Youngstown [OH] Vindicator, 30 Mar 1930, page A2, col 4; digital image, (http://news.google.com : accessed 17 May 2016), Google News Archive.
Steven Ruggles, Katie Genadek, Ronald Goeken, Josiah Grover, and Matthew Sobek. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series: Version 6.0 [Machine-readable database], “1930 Census: Enumerator’s Instructions,” Minneapolis : University of Minnesota, 2015.
Howdy partner! This was Halloween 1987. I was the coolest gunslinger on the Northside of Youngstown (and in the 80’s, Youngstown had more than a few gunslingers) and my sister was a princess (she still is). My vest was homemade by my mom, from a pattern that she bought. The cowboy hat was loaned to me from my mom’s friend, Shirley Morrison. I disctintly remember the Halloween parade at Saint Edward School where the elementary school kids paraded around the classrooms of the upper grades. My costume was a huge hit with the 8th grade girls. I have a hard time believing that today you could get away with taking a pair of cap guns into school.
Source:
Caroline Lowry [Nagy] and Joseph P. Lowry, photograph, taken in Youngstown, Ohio, around Halloween 1987; digital image, photocopy of original, scanned in 2015 by Joseph Lowry; privately held by Rebecca Lowry, [address for private use], Poland, Ohio; Two children in Halloween costumes of cowboy and princess; Provenance is Rebecca Lowry to Joseph Lowry.
lowry genealogy 
