Ancestor’s Anniversary – August 24, 2013 – Laura Belle (Wetzel) Klinger

Posted on August 24, 2013 by findingmydead

Laura Belle Wetzel was born in Trevorton, Pa. on August 24, 1870, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Kissinger) Wetzel whose children were as follows: Nelson, Laura (married Landis Klinger), Harriet (married Charles Murray), Carrie, Howard, Weimer, Harry, Mildred (married Frank Evans followed by William Patterson) and Grant (died young).

 

Laura gave birth to her first child, Ada Mae, on November 19, 1891; this first child was born illegitimate and the father’s name kept a secret and remained unknown to the family until 2012 when baptism records were found showing the father to be a man named Richard Williams.

 

In 1900, Laura moved to Philadelphia and married Landis Klinger.  January 1, 1903 brought the birth and death of the couple’s first son, Russell.  In April of the following year, Laura gave birth to Landis and a year later to their son Ralph.

 

Laura (Wetzel) Klinger holding young Marlin Strausser (c.1909)

Laura (Wetzel) Klinger holding young Marlin Strausser (c.1909)

Upon moving to Philadelphia, Laura and Landis settled in the Strawberry Mansion section of the city and it is there that she lived in the same Gordon Street house for the next sixty-five years.

 

Laura was very close to her younger brother Howard so the siblings always made sure to get together to celebrate their birthdays, which were a day apart.  The pair continued to celebrate their birthdays together up to and including when Howard passed away during their annual birthday gathering in 1957.

 

Howard Wetzel and Laura (Wetzel) Klinger celebrating their birthdays together

Howard Wetzel and Laura (Wetzel) Klinger celebrating their birthdays together

Not only was Laura close with her brother Howard but also his youngest son Royal.  Royal grew up spending much time with his aunt, including spending summers with her and her family in Philadelphia.

 

Ralph Wetzel, Lillian (Murray) DeConcini, Elizabeth (Osman) Wetzel, Royal Wetzel, Laura (Wetzel) Klinger, Landis Klinger Sr, Howard Wetzel

Ralph Wetzel, Lillian (Murray) DeConcini, Elizabeth (Osman) Wetzel, Royal Wetzel, Laura (Wetzel) Klinger, Landis Klinger Sr, Howard Wetzel

On January 8, 1965 Laura died and was buried with her husband Landis and son Ralph at Whitemarsh Memorial Park.  Laura is now buried with her husband, three of her children, and two of her grandchildren; one day she will be joined by a great grandchild who was born a decade too late but loves her none the less.

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August 18, 2013: Ancestor’s Anniversary – Claude Benjamin Lynn

Posted on August 18, 2013 by findingmydead

Claude Benjamin Lynn, one of eleven children born to George Washington Lynn and Harriet Fry, was born October 16, 1893 in Tamaqua, PA.  On June 30, 1894, Harriet sponsored her son’s baptism at ZionEvangelicalLutheranChurch in Tamaqua.

 

By 1900, George Lynn’s career as a Railroad Engineer had taken the family to CoalTownship in Northumberland County, PA.  We can see in the 1900 Federal Census that Claude was attending school but at the age of 6 was not yet able to read or write.

 

Like so many others before him, Claude left school before 1910 and had taken to the work force to help support his family as well as save enough so he would one day be able to have his own home and family.  The 1910 census only shows that he was a laborer working odd jobs; I cannot help but wonder if he was following the family professional on the railroad or was he doing some other type of odd job.  Five years later Claude appears as a laborer in the Shamokin city directory; he is still living at home with his parents.

 

On June 3, 1917 Claude completed his World War I Draft Registration.  Looking at this document, you’ll notice that he listed his year of birth as 1892 instead of 1893 as listed on his baptism record; you’ll also see that he listed his place of birth as Shamokin, PA which, again, is different than recorded at his baptism.  The most interesting piece of information gathered from his registration is that he has noted that he is physically disabled and refers the Draft Board to his physician Dr. A. S. Jones of Shamokin.  What physical disability did Claude have, how sever was it, and how long had it affected his life?

 

Claude Lynn died on August 18, 1917 at the age of 23; cause of death is listed as Pulmonary Hemorrhage due to Pulmonary Tuberculosis.  Was this the physical disability Claude previously mentioned?  Claude was buried in this family’s lot on the 21st of August.

 

The August 21, 1917 edition of the Mount Carmel Item includes the following article:

 

Hemmorrhage Caused Death

Seized with hemorrhages at Independence and Orange streets, Shamokin, Claude Lynn, Shamokin.  Reading railroad engineer, died less than a half hour later.

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August 9, 2013: Ancestor’s (100th) Anniversary – Thelma (Strausser) Rothman

Posted on August 9, 2013 by findingmydead

Rothman(Strausser)Thelma

Thelma Strausser, the second of seven children born to George and Ada Mae (Wetzel) Strausser,  was born August 9, 1913 in Trevorton, PA.  Within  a few short years of her birth, her family moved to neighboring Coal Township.  Thelma’s father George was killed in a mining accident when Thelma was just 13 years of age.

 

Aside from the mines that took the life of the head of the family, there were few options for employment so the family decided to relocate to Philadelphia.  Not only did this move provide more opportunities, but it also moved them to the same neighborhood as Thelma’s grandmother Laura and her family.

 

Thelma married notorious police figure and numbers runner Max Rothman around 1933 and by 1934 they had their first son, Clair A. Rothman.  A year later came their second son George and in 1939 they gave birth to their daughter Maxine.

 

By 1940 the Rothman family was living in Upper Darby.  Tens years later they were living in Millbourne, which is a neighboring community of Upper Darby.  I have spoken to an elderly cousin who remembers Thelma and told me stories of taking trips in Thelma’s convertible down to the Rothman’s shore home at the Jersey shore.  From pictures I have seen and people I have talked with I, hear over and over again that Thelma was a physically stunning woman who women tried to emulate.

 

Thelma went missing in the early morning hour of April 11, 1951; her car was found later that same morning on the Strawberry Mansion Bridge.  The Philadelphia Police searched the area and Fairmount Park guards dragged the Schuylkill River without success.  On April 26, Thelma’s body was found floating in the Schuylkill River five miles from where her car was found.

 

Official date of death is April, 26, 1951; cause of death is drowning; age 37 years.

Filed under: Philadelphia, Strausser | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

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