Mystery Monday ~ A Killing, An Orphange and the Disappearance of Martin Moe

     My Grandmother, Bertha Rasmussen (nee Moe) never knew what really happened to her family. She had no memories of her parents and was raised by Nuns in a Catholic orphanage, "Home of the Guardian Angels" in Los Angeles, with her brother Harold Theodore Moe. 
     Beginning in the 1970's I wrote to the orphanage, where she and her brother were raised, in order to obtain any type of family information. I wrote repeatedly for several years and each time I wrote I would get a tidbit of information and would be mailed a document or two.  Each revealing a clue but never the entire story of why she and her brother were brought there.       

Application for Admission

     The orphanage's "Application for Admission" states the Father's name was "Martin Moe" (other documents indicate father born in Norway). Their Mother "not known".  It stated "Moe Harold - 6 yrs 9 months" and "Moe Bertha - 4 years 11 months" were born in Mexico.  It also states parents were married in Mexico. They were admitted into the orphanage August 27, 1908.
      My Grandmother remembers being told by the Nun's her mother was killed by the "Indians".  They told my Grandmother that she was shot in the head. (My grandmother did have a small scar).

The Killing of my Great Grandmother and two of her children

      Finally, after years of exhaustive searching my cousin found this article!  It coincides with the story she was told. Unfortunately, this article does not have their mother's name, just "Mrs. Moe".  The article states Mrs. Moe, her father, and two children were killed.  We know Martin Moe, Bertha and Harold Theodore Moe survived, so the children killed were probably their siblings. The date of the article is in 1905, therefore my Grandmother, Bertha Moe, was 1 yr old and her brother, Harold Theodore Moe, was 3 yrs old when this occurred.

Letter indicating Martin Moe's death

Once the children were left at the orphanage, their father Martin Moe, was not heard from until this letter was received from his employer "G.B.C.Co".  It indicates he died on August 20, 1908. We assume he was buried there in Sonora Mexico.
Update:
Bertha Moe my grandmother  (1903 - 2000) had an opportunity to be adopted a few times but rejected the family's and chose to remain an orphan in the convent.  She left the orphanage at 16 yrs, married, became a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and lived to be 87 years. She is found in census records in the orphange as a "servant" and after her marriage.
Harold Theodore Moe (1901 - 1947) left the orphanage at 14 yrs, worked various jobs such as barber and hospital aide.  He got in trouble with the law, stole a patient's radio and spent a year in San Quentin prison for it. My mother once told me she thought he had a child with an unmarried woman. My mother said she never saw that child. Unfortunately, he died as a result of alcoholism at the age of 46. He is found in census records in the orphanage as a "servant". Once he was no longer in the orphanage he can not be found in census records - although he should be in California as my mother saw him on occasion in Los Angeles area.
Father - Martin Moe - one document indicates he was born in Norway.  We read of him in that article of the killing of their mother. Then not again until the letter indicating his death in Culiacan, Sonora, Mexico.  I can not find him in any census records at all.  It is believed he spent most of his  life working mines in Mexico.
Mother of Bertha and Theodore - documents state mother and father were married in Mexico and the children were born in Mexico. Therefore she should be in census records from Mexico. I have no knowledge of her name. I have no records on her.

Block Wall!  I'm stuck at Martin Moe and his unnamed wife. Since documents indicate they married and had children in Mexico I would expect to find them there, anywhere between 1850 - 1908.  If anyone has any tips on how to locate them I would appreciate it.

Warm Regards,
  

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Booth Family Relocates in California

I don't recall finding in any census records with my Grandparents living in Ontario, California.  But the photograph states that's where they are moving to.   Two sets of my Paternal Great Grandparents are in this photo ~ which is nice ~ and my Dad (Walter Booth) is the little boy on the far right.  That's my Great Grandmother's writing on the photo ~ Laura Ferrier (nee Mulder).

Warm Regards,
  

Military Monday ~ East India's Company's Service

George Booth (1830 - 1859)  his wife Ann Read Booth (1831 - 1856) are both of England.

- Effects under L50

25 June 1877 -  Administration of the effects of George Booth formerly of Woolwich in the County of Kent Sergeant in the Royal Marines but late of Merriott in the County of Somerset a Gunner in the East India's Company's Service a widower who died 12 August 1859 at Neemuch in the Presidency of Bombay was granted at Taunton to George Paul Read Booth of Oxford-road New Windsor in the County of Berks Baker the Son and only Next of Kin.

George Booth (1830 - 1859) is my great great great Grandfather (I have no photos of him). My records show George Paul Read Booth (my great great Grandfather and no photos) is his only child and this above report would lead me to believe there are no other children.  I was thinking there may be others .. but I guess not.

The above is the Probate Court determining who is next in line for his estate.  The odd part is .. everyone else on that page died in 1877 .. but George Booth died back in 1859 so this is done 18 years later.

It states that he served in the Royal Marines as a Sergeant and Gunner in "East India's Company's" service. I was reading up on East India's Company and there was a significant battle that took place and they mention the city of Kabul (which is know is the capital of Afghanistan).  It was stating that the British sent soldiers to help in the battle and that those who volunteered in this battle were sending themselves on a suicide mission as there were few that survived. 

 

Bing Images

It states he died in "Neemuch" and this is what I found on that place ....
>>> Neemuch (Hindi: नीमच)   or Nimach is a town in the Malwa region in state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Neemuch shares its north eastern border with state of Rajasthan. It is the administrative headquarters of Neemuch District. Nimach is an abbreviation of "North India Mounted Artillery & Cavalry Headquarters". Formerly a large British cantonment of Gwalior princely state, the town in 1822 became the headquarters of the combined Rajputana–Malwa political agency and of the Malwa Agency in 1895. It is a road junction and distribution centre for agricultural products. It is the birthplace of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in 1939. The town hosts a large scale recruit training center for CRPF, and still maintains Neemuch's British Military Cantonment, one of the first of its kind in India. Neemuch is known as India's Eye donation capital as it accounts for the highest per capita eye donation rate in the country. Neemuch has been known for the production of opium, through the government-owned Opium and Alkaloid Works. Handloom weaving is the major industry here. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It also states that this was "granted in Taunton".   This is what I learned about "Taunton".
>>> Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset.The town has over 1,000 years of religious and military history, and is now undergoing a regeneration project. It has various transport links which support its central role in economy and commerce. Taunton is the site of Musgrove Park Hospital and Somerset County Cricket Club's County Ground and is home to 40 Commando, Royal Marines. Central Taunton is part of the annual West Country Carnival circuit. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office is located on Admiralty Way.  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And this is what I found out about East India Company and the British during this time . . .

The British had control over almost all the parts of India except the Mughal Empire, which was  achieved during Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.In the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858 the 2nd Goorkhas showed striking proof of their loyalty at Delhi where, together with the 60th Rifles (now part of The Rifles), they held Hindu Rao's house, the key to the British position which was under continuous fire from the mutineers, for over three months.  During this period the 2nd Goorkhas suffered 327 casualties (including 8 of their 9 British Officers) out of a total strength of 490.  Also during the mutiny, 12 Nepalese Army Regiments, a force of 8,000 men under the personal leadership of the Prime Minister of Nepal, took part in the final relief of Lucknow.  Taken from http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/history.aspx/

It appears he never made it back to England alive and it took them 18 years to actually claim his as dead. Don't know .. that's just speculation.   What an interesting story ....   I sure am learning a lot about history.  :)

Warm Regards, 

Sepia Saturday

Ahhhh  look at all the fun those people are having! It's a nice day out and appears the sun is shining. So I went digging around in the family photos to see what I could find to fit the theme. 

Florence Weiss    Laura Mulder Ferrier   Arthur Ferrier      Tillie Rhea

 The couple in the center are my paternal great grandparents, Laura (nee Mulder) Ferrier and Arthur Ferrier.  The two women on either side of them I don't know (Florence and Tillie) but I assume they are friends.  The back of the photo lists all their names and "Long Beach Pike 1923".  They seem overdressed to me to have a fun day at the Pike but maybe that's just the way it was back then.  There must be a chill in the air the way they are bundled up.

Long Beach California "Pike" 1924

                            Laura Mulder Ferrier immigrated to the United States in 1887 from Holland.  She originally settled in Nebraska where she met Arthur.  They married in 1901 and had two daughters (one who was my Grandmother) and one son. Arthur was an Architect and thought if he moved the family to Los Angeles there would be more opportunities for jobs for him as Los Angeles was a growing city. 

Laura Ferrier, Esther (left), John, Elsie  1908

This photo of Laura and the three children was taken in 1908 just prior to the family's move to Los Angeles. Once they arrived Arthur discovered that  obtaining architect jobs was difficult.  Finances became tough and they ended up putting their three children in an orphanage. Both Arthur and Laura worked doing anything they could to bring in an income. They visited their children weekly and after a year or so, when they were more stable, the children came back home.  The family remained in Los Angeles for the remainder of their lives. (The little girl on the left, Esther, was my Grandmother.)   *I know this information because I spent time with my grand aunt Edith Capen Ferrier who shared family history stories with me.  Edith lived to be 100 years before she passed.

My great grandparents came a long way... beginning in Nebraska, moving to California, not able to find work, to becoming stable and enjoying at day at the Pike!

Warm Regards, 

Written Word Wednesday ~ Handwriting

So many of us are thrilled when we find handwritten documents from one of our ancestors.  Especially those notes with just random thoughts or what the writer was doing that day.  It's the simple things that my ancestors did that intrigue me. .. was it sunny out?  were there children running around outside?  is there an ice cream truck going by with it's music playing?  who did they talk to on the phone that day?  Wouldn't it be fun if we all found a written note from an ancestor.. lets say ... three generations back?  Three generations back would take me to the mid-1800's.  I would love to read something written by my great great grandparents.  I'd love to read what a typical day was for them.  What did they serve for dinner?  What was the family like and who talked to who.   

So .. with all that being said I am going to put more focus on keeping my journaling up. I began writing in journals for four special people in my life about fifteen years ago. Yes.. that's four separate journals with my individual thoughts for each person. I keep them tucked away, but close by, and know they will be found when I'm gone. I went back and read what I wrote years ago and its amazing what was going on at the time.  I'm so glad I enjoy writing.

"Written Word Wednesday" is going to remind me that it's time to write. . . write something... anything.  I think the written word is disappearing and I find that sad.  I don't want it to go away.  With all of us blogging and texting, no one receives, or sends, anything handwritten anymore.  I want my descendants to know about how I lived and what my handwriting looked like.  

So I am going back to my writing and I will post a snippet of what I write. Something to indicate that I'm keeping up with my journal writing.  I hope many of you will join me.  So whether you write in a journal or send an actual letter off in the mail I think it will be fantastic if we all brought back the written word and then shared about it in our blog.  I'd love to hear your story on how you are bringing back the written word for your decedents.

"Wednesday, June 20, 2012

There's a cool breeze and it's about 68°.  We just celebrated Father's Day this past Sunday and I had some of the family over; Mark, Cassie, Marcus, Matthew, and three of their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Craig and their son Darren.  We BBQ'd and enjoyed the pool.  It was a lot of fun.  I'm sorry it's been a long time since I've written in my journal and for that I feel bad.  I will do my best to keep up with my writings.  

 Much Love  .  .  .  " 

Warm Regards,  

Tuesday Tip ~ Lists of Children in Orphanages

Courtesy of Bing Images

Have you been looking through census records only to find the children seemed to have disappeared?  You wonder what could have happened to them or where did they go.  I had that happen to me.  I saw my Great Grandparents on the census alone and their young children were not with them.  I couldn't imagine what could have happened. I began an intense search for them and just by luck, not sure how I found them, but they showed up in an orphanage!    I asked a living relative about it and I was told that when the family arrived in California from Nebraska the jobs were much harder to get then they thought and they had a difficult time caring for their children.  The children were put in the orphanage where, I was told, my great grandparents visited them weekly but had to place them there temporarily so they could both work.  Ten years later the next census showed the family back together again.  

So my Tuesday Tip for you today is to be sure and check orphanage records!  Here's orphanage records for  .  .  .

FEDERAL and STATE CENSUS INFORMATION Lists of Children Residing in Orphanages Jewish & Other Denominations

Courtesy of Bing Images

 

I hope this Tip urges you to search places you may not have thought of.  We have to think of the times and what parents had to do for the family to survive. 

Warm Regards, 

Sepia Saturday

The theme for this weeks Sepia Saturday led me to focus on "legs".  It brought me back in my memory banks to a conversation I had with my Mother many years ago.  It's coming back to me pretty clearly and a memory I hadn't thought about in a long, long time.  This photo of the couples legs was a trigger to a pleasant afternoon with my Mom and a conversation we had over a hot cup of coffee .  .  .  

My Mother (left) and her sister, my Aunt (right)

I loved my conversations with my Mom and I miss them dearly.  Mom passed away just over one year ago. She knew my love for genealogy and family history and we had many conversations on our family's past.  This one afternoon Mom was sharing with me what it was like for her, and others, in the 1940's. She shared with me the difficulty in getting what us women think now as simple things, such as nylons. Mom explained that nylon was scarce and in much demand during WWII.  Mom, with her cigarette tapping the ashtray, and a steaming cup of coffee on the table, shared with me how she wore makeup on her legs to appear she was wearing nylons.  She smiled and laughed as she shared what that was like... painting her legs and then when she wanted to look "real good" she'd have someone draw a line in the back with and eyebrow pencil to resemble the seam.  She laughed as she shared what she used to do.  She then added ... the only problem was you had to stay away from water and if the boys knew you had leg makeup on they would try to push you in the sprinklers.  I loved it how Mom got lost in her stories.  She knew she had a captive audience in me and she knew I held on to every word she said. 

Photo Courtesy of Bing

During the war nylon was needed for parachutes among other things.  Mom reminded me that money was short and cosmetics were hard to get so you'd have to get creative. Mom told me one had to just "make do" with what you had. 

She shared some of the following tips which we both laughed about (although very useful even today);

• Use red lipstick for rouge.
• Bath in tea bags to help you look more tan.
• No lipstick? Boil red vegetables (beets) and rub on your lips.
• Put oatmeal and egg whites on your face for a nice facial.
• Use strips of rags for curlers. Wet hair, wrap hair around the rag and tie the ends of the rags together. When you wake up you have beautiful curls.  (My Mom actually curled my hair a lot that way when I was young)
• Need your hair lightened? Put lemon juice in your hair and go out in the sun. 
  

I Love You Mom and miss you and our talks very much. 

I hope this Sepia Saturday brought back some nice memories for all of you.

Warm Regards,