Charles S. Frost & Andrew Frost

I saw this request at the Alameda county message board at Ancestry.com:

Charles S. Frost is buried in the Mt View Cemetery, Oakland, CA. His data is: b 28 Feb 1828 d 9 Aug 1897. Also buried in the cemetery is Andrew Frost who was b April 1827 (Denmark) and d 18 April 1901.  I am trying to learn if they were related.

Thanks, Bettye

Hi Bettye.  It appears that there is no connection between the two gentlemen.  Here is what I was able to find:


Oakland Tribune , Oakland, California , Tuesday, August 10, 1897

FROST- In East Oakland, August 9, 1897, Charles S. Frost, a native of Maine, aged 68 years, 8 months and 12 days.

Oakland Tribune , Oakland, California , Tuesday, August 11, 1897

Death of C. S. Frost.

Charles S. Frost, a native of Maine, aged sixty-eight years, died at his home, 1523 Eighth avenue yesterday.  He had resided in Oakland for fifteen years.

Oakland Tribune , Oakland, California , Thursday, April 18, 1901

FROST- In Fruitvale, Peralta avenue and Hyde street, April 18, 1901, Andrew, beloved husband of Mette S. Frost, a native of Denmark, aged 74 years and 9 days.

Oakland Tribune , Oakland, California , Thursday, April 19, 1901

If you'd like help finding additional information on either gentleman, please do let me know.

Looking For My Mom's Birth Family

I saw this request at the Alameda county message board at Ancestry.com:

My mom was adopted at birth and I was looking for her birthfamily. She was born at east Oakland Hospital in Oakland, ca on January 19, 1944. All she knows is her birthfamily is Irish and French.

Unfortunately, I haven't yet found anything concrete on your CLEMENT family, but without a doubt, I have located your mother's maternal ancestry. Your mother's mom was born Claire Marie NATHANSON in Ohio and was the daughter of Louis NATHANSON (1888-1967) and Rose RAPHAEL (1888-1969). Louis and Rose were both born from Romania. They were married in Cleveland, Ohio on 9 March 1908.

I was also able to find the obituary of Mrs. Rose NATHANSON. From the Oakland Tribune, 25 November 1969:

Good luck with all of your family research!

Stephens

I thought it would be easier to fill the obituary request here at my blog since I am unable to post images at Genealogy.com. I do believe that Roy Stephens is still living, as I was unable to locate him in the Social Security Death Index.

Here are the obituaries that you requested:

Mrs. Anna Stephens
Oakland Tribune, 20 February 1953

Mr. Walter Stephens
Oakland Tribune, 9 October 1953

Allen

I saw this request at the Alameda county message board at Ancestry.com:

"Seeking information pertaining to James Allen born in Scotland Dec. 24, 1846 or '47. His parental household was in Wyandott Township, Butte Co., CA in 1860. Parents were James and Helen or Ellen Allen, siblings Virginia, Helen, Carey?, Mary, John. Henry (1860 and 1870 census).

James was twice married, his first wife's name is unknown to me, but they had at least two children, sons Wesley and Harmon. 1900 census of Slate Range Twp,, Yuba Co., CA shows James 53 and widowed with three names following, the last of which is indecipherable.

James would later marry Julia A. (maiden name not known) a native of Germany, they appear on the 1910 census of Nevada Twp., Nevada Co., CA.

James Allen died April 26, 1931 in Nevada City, CA., his obituary lists surviving family members as: Sons Harlow of Oakland; Wesley of San Francisco. Daughter Mrs. Inez Taylor of San Francisco; Step-daughters Mrs. May McCarty; Mrs. Mary LaValley; and Mrs. Ellen Frazer, all of Oakland. Does anyone know anything about this family or any of the descendants? Thank you."

James Allen's first wife was a Miss Beasley. I obtained the surname from the listing in the California Death Index when I found their two sons, Wesley Fremont Allen (1884-1962) and Harlow Edward Allen (1888-1958).

The third child in the 1900 Census is James Millory Allen (1894-1917). He can be found in the 1910 Census in Oakland in the household of his brother-in-law, Robert Edgar Taylor (1874-1956) and sister, Mrs. Inez V. Taylor (1878-1949).

I hope that you find the following obituaries prove helpful in tracking down James Allen's descendants:

James Allen Jr. Obituary Oakland Tribune, 14 September 1917

James Allen Obituary
Oakland Tribune, 30 April 1931

Robert Edgar Taylor Obituary
Oakland Tribune, 15 May 1956
(Please click image to enlarge)


Harlow Allen Obituary
Oakland Tribune, 1 April 1958
(Please click image to enlarge)

Please Note: Harlow Allen's wife was named Nina Louise Sibley (sometimes seen as Sebley). She was the daughter of James Allen's second wife, Julia.

Straughen/Waldie

I saw this request at the Alameda county message board at Ancestry.com:

"I have recently discovered that two of my grandmother's sisters emigrated from England to Alameda in 1908/9. Their married names were Margaret Ann Waldie and Rachel Straughen.
The Waldies had a daughter (Rachel Minnie) and a son John Ernest. The Straughans had two sons (Thomas and William Lloyd) and two daughters (Dora and Vera) The daughters married two brothers called McClelland who were from Scotland.
I have a little information about these families, but I wondered whether anyone could illuminate further."

I have been able to find quite a bit of information for you. I'll group the two families together so it is easier to follow. From the California Death Index:

Straughen, Frank R.; born 28 April 1871; died in Alameda County on 31 August 1955
Straughen, Rachel; born 7 April 1877; died in Alameda County on 18 November 1948
Straughen, Thomas; born 6 July 1901; died in Alameda County on 5 July 1970
Straughen, William; born 11 July 19o4; died in Alameda County on 10 January 1992
McClelland, Dora; born 1 November 1902; died in Alameda County on 23 April 1963
McClelland, Vera; born 1 November 1902; died in Alameda County on 20 December 1974

Waldie, Ernest Cecil; born 18 May 1885; died in Sonoma County on 13 January 1952
Waldie, Margaret Ann; born 7 February 1881; died in Sonoma County on 17 August 1950
Moller, Rachel Minnie; born 29 April 1908; died in Sonoma County on 2 March 1997
Waldie, John Ernest; born 22 July 1909; died in Marin County on 2 March 1951

I also found some obituaries (unfortunately I was unable to find one for both Rachel Straughen and Margaret Waldie):

Ernest Cecil Waldie Obituary
Oakland Tribune, Alameda County, CA
14 January 1952


Frank R. Straughen Obituary
Oakland Tribune, Alameda County, CA
1 September 1955


Thomas Straughen Obituary
Oakland Tribune, Alameda County, CA
5 July 1970

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. Good luck with your research!

Lane

I saw this request at the Mendocino County message board at Ancestry.com:

Hello-

My Great Grandfather was John C. Lane, his father was William R. Lane. Does anyone have any info on the Lanes? John married Alice Ann Bishop in 1877.

Hi! John and Alice moved to the Santa Barbara area in the teens and to San Lorenzo by the early 1930's. To follow are their obituaries:

Dispatch Democrat, Ukiah, California, 24 August 1934

Daily Review, Hayward, California, 22 September 1936

Wise

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Ancestry.com:

"I need an obituary of Fred Wise.
He was born in 1887 in Germany and lived in Ravenna, Michigan and married Blanche Studevant and divorced.
He remarried Ruth and moved to Howe Street in Oakland California.
He died Sept 7 1968 in California.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Thanks."

Here is the obituary that you requested. From the Oakland Tribune, 10 September 1968:

Roach

I saw this request at the Contra Costa County message board at Ancestry.com:

"Requesting an obit lookup for Michael Alfred Roach. He died on Dec. 12, 1964 in Contra Costa California. Surly there is one on him, he was a firefighter for Oakland Co. Ca."

It never even dawned on me to look for an obituary for Mr. Roach when I answered your post the other day about the Oakland Fire Department. I am so sorry for that! From the Oakland Tribune, 14 December 1964:

Lasiter

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Ancestry.com:

"I'm trying to find obituaries for Roy David Lasiter and his wife Ruth Wilma Phoenix Lasiter. They both died on Nov. 1, 1958 in Alameda County. Thanks for any help."

I was very sad to read about the accident that took the lives of the Lasiter family. Here are the articles that I was able to find for you:

Oakland Tribune 1 November 1958

Oakland Tribune 4 November 1958

Oakland Tribune 4 November 1958

Bertholet

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Ancestry.com:

"...If you have any knowledge of Benoit Bertholet, the sandstone quarry, or possible descendants who I could contact, I would like to hear from you. New information that I find will be added to our web site."

Hi Peggy. I have somewhat familiar with the Benoit BERTHOLET family and would be very happy to help you trace his descendants. I can tell you that Mr. BERTHOLET died in Yolo County on 29 January 1910, at the age of 71. To follow is his obituary. Please feel free to save the image for use on your website. From the Woodland Daily Democrat, 2 February 1910:

Ogden

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Ancestry.com:

I am searching for an obit for Rose Ann Marshall (Muller)(Ogden)(Pilcher). She was born in 1907 in Washington State and died 24 Sept. 1962 in Alameda County, CA Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Kathy

Hi Kathy. It took me a little bit to find the obituary, since I was not sure of Roseann's surname at the time of her death. You'll be pleased to read that the obituary also lists her place of burial. From the Oakland Tribune, 26 September 1962:

Emma Jean Allen

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Genealogy.com:

"Please Help:

Need the obituary for Emma Jean (nee Cox) Allen, b. 28 Sep 1929, MO, died 5 Oct 2007, Newark, CA. Alameda Co.
Hoping for survivors' names, and predeceased family. Don't know her husband's name.
Might list sisters Velma, Florence, brother Floyd.

thanks so very much,

patty
gtfetch@juno.com"

Here is the obituary, Patty. I hope that you will find it helpful in your research. From The Argus, Newark, Alameda County, California, 10 October 2007:

Please click on image to enlarge

Gaertner

I saw this request at the Stanislaus County message board at Ancestry.com:

"Jeannie,
Thank you so much. Now it lead me to search for Kathleen "Kathy" Ann Gaertner. Died October 8, 1965 in Stanislaus CA. Can you help me with that one?

Thanks again,
Kathleen"

I decided to post the obituary here, Kathleen, since we were at the Alameda County board instead of the Stanislaus board. From the Modesto Bee And News-Herald, dated 10 October 1965:


Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is anything else I can do.

Manuel and Nora Neves Avilla

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Ancestry.com:

"I am searching for the family of Manuel and Nora Neves Avilla. They had 3 children - Clarence, Laverne and Marie. They should at least be on the 1920 and 1930 Alameda Co. census but I cannot find them. Does anyone have any knowledge of this family? Thanks. Judy"

To follow is the obituary of Clarence Avilla. I hope that you find it helpful. From the Modesto Bee, dated 11 May 1993:

(Please Click Image To Enlarge)

DeVilbiss

I saw this request at the Stanislaus County message board at Ancestry.com:

"Hi, I am looking for information on John M. (Possibly Milton) Devilbiss who married Charlotte 'Lottie' F. Combs (born Feb 1876) in Greene Co., Indiana on March 4, 1897...."

Here are some names and dates for you. From the California Death Index:

• WORRELL, Edith G.; born 8 September 1905 in Indiana; died 31 May 1996 in Santa Clara County; mother's maiden name: COMBS; father's surname: DEVILBISS.
• DEVILBISS, Carl W.; born 10 November 1903 in Indiana; died 8 January 1990 in Orange County; mother's maiden name: COMBS
• DEVILBISS, Clyde Boyer; born 19 August 1899 in Indiana; died 12 May 1992 in Alameda County; mother's maiden name: COMBS
• DEVILBISS, Charolet (sp?) F.; born 8 February 1876 in Indiana; died 19 December 1963 in Alameda County; mother's maiden name: FANCETT
• DEVILBISS, John Boyer; born 15 March 1873 in Indiana; died in Stanislaus County on 23 July 1948; mother's maiden name: BOYER
  

And I found the obituaries for both John and Charlotte:

Modesto Bee And News Herald, 24 July 1948

Modesto Bee And News Herald, 20 December 1963

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do. Good luck with your research.

Kathryn Nielsen Healey

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Ancestry.com:

"I'm trying to find some info on my gg-grandmother, Kathryn Nielsen Healey. Specifically, I'm looking for her obituary, where she is buried and some info on her siblings."

I was able to find Mrs. Healey's obituary. From the Oakland Tribune, 15 March 1918:

Adams and Tierney in San Franciso, 1900 Census

I saw this request at the San Francisco County message board at Ancestry.com:

"I just recently found a census record that appears to be for my family in SF in 1900. In 1900 there was the father John, the mother Mary, 3 sons and 2 daughters. In 1910 however the family has relocated to McKinley Street in Oakland and John and a daughter are missing. Did John and that daughter parish in the quake and fire of 1906?...I would like to know what happened in SF but its not easy to get information as I'm on the east coast. But I'm open to suggest as to where next to look."

My records for San Francisco are few and far between, but I have quite a bit for Alameda County. I'll continue to look there for any information for you, but in the meantime, I hope this obituary helps fill in some holes for you. From the Oakland Tribune, dated 10 July 1924:

Obit Henry G. Beyers 1919- Oct 1966

I saw this request at the San Francisco County message board at Genealogy.com:

"I am looking for the obituary of Henry George Beyers. He was born to Louis and Henrietta Ince Beyers on May 17, 1919 in Christian County, Missouri. California Death Records say he died in San Francisco on Oct 26, 1966. His mother's obit lists his residence as Oakland in 1963. This is all the information I have about him and I would like to find more. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Peggy McAlpine"

Hi Peggy! When a search in both the San Francisco and Oakland newspaper turned up empty, I decided to check nearby counties. I am so glad I did! From the San Mateo Times, 29 October 1966:

I also saw your post on Edmond Beyers and found his obituary as well. From the San Mateo Times, 21 February 1974:

Harry A, and Ettie Wallace, Alameda

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board at Genealogy.com:

Hello,
I am looking for information on a Harry A. Wallace born about January 1869 in California. By 1930 he is living with a wife, Ettie, Ettie had been married before to a Arthur K. Kellar and had one son, Ernest L. Kellar. On the 1930 census, Ernest is listed as a roomer, but this is Ettie's son, Ettie was born in Missouri, lived in Oklahoma, and Crawford Co., Kansas, do not know her maiden name or where or when she married Harry A. Wallace.
Any information on this couple after 1930 would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Thank you for your post! I found the obituary of Harry A. WALLACE. I hope it will help provide you with some clues to Ettie's ancestry. In the meantime, I'll keep looking and will let you know when I find something.

From The Oakland Tribune, 14 January 1933:


Update: I was able to locate the obituary of Ernest Kellar. From the Hayward Daily Review, 27 March 1966:


It mentions that he had a sister named Mrs. Lauretta MCELWAIN (She was born in Kansas in 1907). When I found her death in the California Death Index, it listed her mother's maiden name as MILLS and father's name as BALDWIN. The 1920 Federal Census (in Leroy, Barton County, Missouri) shows Lauretta's mother to be Mrs. Maud E. BALDWIN (nee MILLS, born circa 1892 in Kansas).

The mention that Ernest KELLAR and Lauretta MCELWAIN are siblings is puzzling. By any chance was Ernest KELLAR adopted out to this family?

Update #2: I last found Ettie listed in the 1938 California Voter Registration in Alameda County, but she is also listed in the California Death Index as Ettie I WALLACE, age 55, died in Alameda County on 17 September 1930. Another puzzling bit of information! I will try to find an obituary.

Update #3: Arthur K. KELLAR died in Alameda County on 29 November 1923, at the age of 53. If I cannot find either his or Ettie's obituary, you may want to try the Oakland Public Library.

Obit Request- Margaret E. DUNN

I saw this request at the Alameda County message board Ancestry.com:

"Trying to determine if information I obtained from California death index is correct and was told to try and get obituary for confirmation. Is there somebody who could look up a Margaret E. Dunn who died on November 20, 1912? I am not sure if this is my Margaret E. Dunn and would hopefully be able to tell by obituary.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. I have been having a terrible time getting information on this ancestor."

I hope this is the obituary is of help to you. From the Oakland Tribune, dated 21 November 1912: