James Middleton

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

"I would like to have an obit for James Middleton who died May 15, 1945 and is buried in the Hills Ferry Cemetery near Newman. Thank you very much for your time."

I found two articles pertaining to James Middleton's death, both from the Modesto Bee And News-Herald newspaper. I hope you find these articles to be helpful:

Modesto Bee And News-Herald
17 May 1945

Modesto Bee And News-Herald
19 May 1945

Gieser

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

I need a couple obit. lookups please.

Maxwell (Max) F. Gieser
b. Oct 7 1889, Russia
d. Oct 17 1971, Turlock, Stanislaus, CA.
m. Helen (Sanger) Gieser
parents: Frank Gieser and Elizabeth Groll...

Helen (Sanger) Gieser
b. July 18 1896
d. Sep. 15 1972
m. Max Gieser...

If anyone is willing to take headstone photos if you find out where they are buried at, I would love that! Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry that I'm not able to take headstone pictures for you, but here are Max and Helen's obituaries:

Modesto Bee And News Herald, 19 October 1971

Modesto Bee And News Herald, 22 September 1972

Perhaps some kind soul at Find A Grave can help with the headstone pictures. Good luck with all of your family research!

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.

The Dittemore's Of Oakdale

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

"Looking for any information concerning the Dittemore Family, Early arrival to Oakdale was John Loren Dittmeore who came to Oakdale around 1910, followed by Katherine Dittemore,who taught at Oakdale High for around 40 years,Last is John H Dittemore who was born in Oakdale in 1914 and left around 1938...

John Dittemore"

Hi John! A search through the California Death Index found that John Loren DITTEMORE was listed as Loren John. He died in the county on 15 May 1937. To follow is his obituary. From the Modesto Bee And News-Herald, 18 May 1937:


This find was very exciting for me! I'm recording California pioneer families and have gathered a fair amount of info. on your DITTEMORE family. I've recently placed two obituaries at Newspaper Abstracts of Laura MOORE and Henrietta MOORE-HOWARD- both daughters of Lutitia MOORE-CRENSHAW (a sister of Loren's father, John Wallace DITTEMORE). You can find the obituaries through the links below:

Obituary Of Miss Laura Alice MOORE
Obituary Of Henrietta MOORE-HOWARD

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

Thanks,
Jeannie

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)

William Babb and Margaret "Jennie" Lassiter

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

"I am seeking descendants of William Babb (1862) and Margaret "Jennie" Lassiter (1874). They are listed on the 1930 census of Ceres, Stanislaus Co., CA. Their children were: Marvel, Minnie, Annie, Johnie, Thomas, Charles Amos, Otis Dorward, Margaret "Jennie", Basil, and Courtney L. If anyone has information on any of these children and their descendants please let me know. I have a picture of Jennie Lassiter's parents, and other family information. My husband descends from a 1/2 brother of Jennie Lassiter's mother. I have found some information on census and SS death index, but have not yet found any living descendants."

I think these obituaries will help you find some descendants of the Babb family. From the Modesto Bee and News-Herald, 12 March 1973:


From The Modesto Bee, dated 5 April 1998:


From the Modesto News-Herald, dated 31 January 1931:

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.

Harvey Hildreth

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

"Looking for the Obituary of Harvey Hildreth, he died Jul 1977 in Modesto, CA. it could be under Virgil Harvey Hildreth but he's in the Soc Sec deaths as just Harvey Hildreth, he was born Aug 8, 1898. any help is much appreciated. thanks. Jane valjan@ptd.net."

Hi Jane! Here is the obituary that you requested. From the Modesto Bee, 26 July 1977:

Additionally, this was located right next to the obituary:

Obituary: James Thomas

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

"Obituary lookup, James Thomas

James Thomas born 15 December 1905, died Modesto 28 January 1993. Thank you for any help."

Here is the obituary that you requested. From the Modesto Bee, 30 January 1993:

Bessie Mae LANGLEY

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

Have a Bessie Mae Langley (nee Tesnear) b April 4, 1934 in SC. D May 1, 1996 in Tuolumne, CA. Mother's maiden name - Salts and Father's surname Tesnear. Interested in getting obit and death certificate as she is a distant cousin and appears to show a positive link to the Salts name. Do you know of anyone, or does the Tuolumne County Library have this service? (Ours in Spartanburg County, SC offers this service.) Thanks for any insight you can give me. John Tesnar Duncan, SC

I was unable to find Bessie Mae Langley's obituary in the Union Democrat Newspaper (Tuolumne County), so I did some research on her children. I was hoping to find the obituary published in another newspaper. Luckily it was- in Modesto, near where one of Bessie Mae's daughters were living at the time of her death.

I hope that the obituary will assist you in your family research. From the Modesto Bee, dated 3 May 1996:


UPDATE: I sent an additional obituary to the person who made this request (Bessie Mae's brother, Monroe TESNEAR):

"Fresno Bee, Fresno, CA, 15 January 1998

TESNEAR, MONROE - Private cremation arrangements for Monroe Tesnear, 74, of Madera, will be held under the direction of Jay Chapel. Mr. Tesnear, a dairyman, died Friday."

KNITTEL Family Burials

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

Hello,

I'm looking for anyone that might know of any Knittel or Knittel related family burials in this county. I believe there a couple in Hills Ferry Cemetery, I was hoping there may be more in other cemeteries. I'm also open to anyone that has any Knittel family burial info in any other counties also.
My e-mail is : glp0426@aol.com (the "0" is a zero)
Thanks!!
Glenn Palmer

Thank you for your request, Mr. Palmer. I found the obituary of Ted J. KNITTEL. I hope that it will be useful to you. From the Modesto Bee And News-Herald, 11 December 1974:


I also have information on August KNITTEL (1870-1941) and Max KNITTEL (1882-1941)- two brothers who lived in Fresno county. Please contact me if you'd like information on these individuals.