Wordless Wednesday: Cousins #7

Blake and Kennzie
Dec 2008

Tombstone Tuesday: John C. PEMBERTON

Photograph by Sherry (FindAGrave Volunteer)

JOHN PEMBERTON
CO. C.
1 MICH. CAV.

My great-great-great-grandfather
Centennial Cemetery
New Haven, Macomb, Michigan

Off to North Carolina!

Well, the day is finally here! It seems like just yesterday that I announced I would be moving to North Carolina. The movers came today and packed my apartment in just 2 hours. This would have taken me a whole week, but I guess with three guys who have no emotional attachments to my things and 20-30 years of experience packing, they were able to do it in record time. This is the first time that I've actually used movers to pack my stuff. I usually pack it myself, but I think from now on, I will just have them pack my stuff too. It is definitely worth not having the stress of packing.

I already hear my North Carolina ancestors calling my name. My BAKER line is from western North Carolina, so I need to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about them. I also have several lines, including the PROFFITT line, from East Tennessee, that I hope to learn more about since I will not be too far from that area. And let's not forget all my Virginia ancestors, since I will only be an hour from the border. On top of that, I will only be 4 hours from all the wonderful genealogy resources in DC!

My parents are coming to pick me and the grandcat (as they call her) up on Monday. We will arrive in Raleigh on Tuesday. My stuff should be arriving Thursday or Friday. I would like to buy a new car on Saturday, since my car now is 10 years old, so hopefully that works out well. Then the following week I am taking a much needed vacation!!!

Speaking of vacations, I think my next adventure may be a train ride from Raleigh to Sacramento when my sister has her baby in September. Some people think I am crazy, but I think that flying takes all the fun out of traveling (although I will admit it is very convenient and is my preferred method most of the time).

And speaking of adventures, I just registered this week for the FGS conference in Knoxville in August!!! That will be my mini-adventure before the big train ride across the country. It will be my first genealogy land conference, which reminds me that I still need to report on my RootsMagic cruise that I took back in February. Geez, time flies! The trip to Knoxville will be my first long trip that I take in my brand new car, so that should be fun.

Anyhow, I will probably not be back on until after we arrive in North Carolina! Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday: Cousins #6

Blake and Bryonna
Sep 2008

Tombstone Tuesday: John Vital "Jack" PEMBERTON

JACK V. PEMBERTON
FEB. 19 1908
NOV. 22 1950

My great-grandfather
Elk Township Cemetery
Peck, Sanilac, Michigan

Wordless Wednesday: Cousins #5

Billy, Paige, and Stephen
abt 1990

My Mertena Conundrum: Part III: Clues

My surname Saturday post about the MERTENA line got me to thinking that I needed to wrap-up my posts on the mysterious John Henry MERTENA. There are several clues that I have found online. I would like to summarize those clues here because I have not yet taken the time to write them all down in one place.

The first clue is the marriage record of Amos TETRICK and Rolla MERTENA on 21 Feb 1872 in Jackson County, Illinois. I've found the entry in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index at the Illinois State Archives website. John Henry MERTENA lived in Jackson County at the time of his marriage to Carrie ORTH in 1876. Perhaps Rolla was the sister of John Henry MERTENA. I need to order the marriage record to see if it has any clues about Rolla's family members.

The only other marriage record for MERTENA's in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index is for Carrie's second marriage to James Leonard COTHERN in 1887 in Williamson County.

I decided to do a little more research on Rolla MERTENA and Amos TETRICK in the census records. In 1880 in El Dorado, Saline, Illinois, is the following family:

A.J. TETERIC, white, male, age 26, married, dry goods merchant, b. Illinois, f.b. Illinois, m.b. Illinois

Cinderela TETERIC, white, female, age 22, wife, married, keeping house, b. Illinois, f.b. Pennsylvania, m.b. Pennsylvania

Birdie TETERIC, white, female, age 5, daughter, single, b. Texas, f.b. Illinois, m.b. Illinois

N.B. TETERIC, white, male, age 28, brother, single, dry goods merchant, b. Illinois, f.b. Illinois, m.b. Illinois

H. MARTINA, white, male, age 15, brother by law, single, clerk in store, attends school, b. Illinois, f.b. Pennsylvania, m.b. Pennsylvania

Barlius DENIS, mulatto, female, age 15, servant, single, domestic servant, cannot write, b. Illinois, f.b. Illinois, m.b. Illinois

This is likely the right family because the brother-in-law of Amos TETRICK has the surname MARTINA, which is most likely a variant of MERTENA. Saline County is one county east of Williamson County, where John Henry MERTENA married Carrie ORTH. It also borders Franklin County to the southeast and is two counties east of Jackson County. Here is a county map of Illinois. Rolla must be a nickname for Cinderella. She was born about 1857-1858 in Illinois. This means she was about 14 when she married in 1872. This is possible, but I'm wondering if the age in the census record is slightly off. Amos and Rolla must have moved to Texas around 1875. Both of Rolla's parents were born in Pennsylvania. There was mention that John Henry the son's father, our mystery man, was born in Pennsylvania. Maybe he was born in Illinois, but his parents were born in Pennsylvania. Or maybe he was older than Rolla and H. MERTENA and was born in Pennsylvania before their parents moved to Illinois.

I couldn't seem to find Cinderella/Rolla in the 1900 census, but I did find her in the 1910 census. She was living in Osceola Township, St. Clair, Missouri. This is in southwest Missouri. The family was as follows:

Cinderella TETRICK, head, female, white, age 58, widowed, mother of one child, one child still living, b. Pennsylvania, f.b. Pennsylvania, m.b. Pennsylvania, speaks English, own income, able to read and write, owns home free of mortgage

Byrd GOLLAR, daughter, female, white, age 34, divorced, mother of one child, one child still living, b. Texas, f.b. Illinois, m.b. Pennsylvania, speaks English, milliner, own shop, works on own account, able to read and write

Harry GOLLAR, grandson, male, white, age 6, single, b. Missouri, f.b. Missouri, m.b. Texas, attends school

This census record gives Cinderella/Rolla's birthplace as Pennsylvania instead of Illinois. Her age suggests a birth date of 1851 to 1852, which is more likely, given her marriage date of 1872.

I also did a Google search for Amos TETRICK, and came up with the following info. On this Perry County, Illinois website, there was a page about epidemics and early doctors. There was a general practitioner there named Amos Jubilee TETRICK who settled in the town of DuQuoin in 1858. His father had immigrated from Germany. He received his medical degree from McKendree College in St. Louis. His wife was Polly BARRON of New York. He died in 1901 at the age of 80. Could this possibly be my Amos' father? No wife named Cinderella or Rolla was mentioned, and because of his age, I assume this couldn't be the same Amos as Cinderella/Rolla's husband.

Next, I found a copy of Cinderella's death certificate at the Missouri Digital Heritage Project website. It said her parents were John MERTENA of France and Hannah MILLBURN of Pennsylvania. My John Henry's birthplace was once listed as France. If he is Cinderella's brother, is it possible his father was born in France instead? Cinderella was born 25 Mar 1852 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. She died of diabetes melitis 17 Feb 1916 in Osceola, St. Clair, Missouri. The informant was Mrs. W.H. ROEDER of Osceola. She was buried in Osceola on 18 Feb 1916. I then found that she had an obit in the St. Clair County Democrat on 24 Feb 1916 and 16 Mar 1916. I obtained this info from the St. Clair County obituaries and deaths indexes at Ancestry.com. I need to order this obit.

I also need to order the obit of Amos TETRICK, who died on 10 Sep 1908 and had an obit in the same newspaper on 17 Sep 1908. He did not have a death record online because the death records database at Missouri Digital Heritage does not begin until 1910.

What's also interesting is that in 1870, in Perry County, Illinois, Amos TETRICK the physician is listed with his wife and children. His sons, Noble B. TETRICK, who was living with Amos and Cinderella TETRICK in 1880, and Jubilee TETRICK, whom I presume may be the same person as Amos J. TETRICK, were both listed as druggists. There is a family legend that John Henry's mother married a man who was a druggist after her first husband (John Henry's father) died at sea. Perhaps John Henry's sister married a druggist instead of his mother. In 1880, Noble and Amos are listed as dry goods merchants. I have seen in other branches of my family dry goods merchant and druggist used interchangeably in the census.

Amos TETRICK the physician is also enumerated in St. Louis in 1870. Family legend states that John Henry and some of his children were buried in St. Louis. The son of John Henry MERTENA, also named John Henry MERTENA, may have been born in East St. Louis, Illinois, according to his death certificate.

These are all the clues that I have for now. My next post will summarize my to-do list.

The Census Taker Finally Arrived

Well, I finally got a visit from the census taker. She did confirm that no one in this apartment complex got census forms, so I did not lose it in my mail pile on the counter. They don't ask the fun questions anymore. No occupation, citizenship status, birthplace, etc. How boring. Only name and age. Blah. I guess that's better than nothing.

Tombstone Tuesday: John Peter PEMBERTON

JOHN P. PEMBERTON
MICHIGAN
SGT US AIR FORCE
WORLD WAR II
NOV 18 1928
OCT 12 1970

My maternal grandfather
Caswell Cemetery
Kimball Township, St. Clair, Michigan

Blog Design Changes

Some of you may be wondering if you are at the right blog. Do not worry. You are. I decided to take advantage of some of the new templates that Blogger has added. I also decided that while I was at it, I would change my banner. My last banner was the first banner I had ever created. I liked it, but I decided that the photos were too random and represented my mother's side of the family more than my father's side. Besides, it was just an experiment in creating banners. This new banner has photos of all eight of my great-grandparents. I feel it more evenly represents both sides of the family. I tried to use photos of them in their twenties, though for some of them, I couldn't do this due to lack of photographs in this time frame. For those, I used the ones I had of them at the youngest ages possible. Anyhow, I hope everyone enjoys the new look! I decided that since I'm about to embark on a new adventure in North Carolina, my blog might as well embark on a new look.

Surname Saturday: MERTENA

1. Jennifer TRAHAN (me)

2. Michael David TRAHAN (my dad)

5. Merlene Golda MERTENA (my paternal grandmother)

10. Merlen Paris "Zack" MERTENA was born 09 Sep 1910 in Mulhall, Logan, Oklahoma. He died 07 May 1989 in Sulphur, Calcasieu, Louisiana. He is buried in Mimosa Pines Cemetery in Carlyss, Calcasieu, Louisiana. He worked most of his life as an operator for the Conoco oil refineries in Oklahoma and Louisiana. He moved with his wife and children to Ponca City, Kay, Oklahoma, around 1942 and then to Sulphur, Calcasieu, Louisiana, in 1952. Zack had his pilot's license and liked to fly airplanes. He was the son of 20. John Henry MERTENA and 21. Blanche WELDEN. He married 11. Hassie Cora PROFFITT 14 Feb 1931 at the Methodist parsonage in Mulhall, Logan, Oklahoma. She was born 26 Feb 1908 in Crescent, Logan, Oklahoma, and died 07 May 1986 in Lake Charles, Calcasieu, Louisiana. She is also buried in Mimosa Pines Cemetery in Carlyss, Calcasieu, Louisiana. She was the daughter of 22. William Harmon PROFFITT and 23. Emmer Link BAKER.

20. John Henry MERTENA was born 11 Mar 1884, possibly in Franklin County, Illinois. He died 28 Jan 1956 in Sulphur, Calcasieu, Louisiana. He worked all of his life as a farmer in Logan County, Oklahoma. He was the son of 40. John Henry MERTENA and 41. Carolina Cristina ORTH. He married 21. Blanche WELDEN 25 Dec 1907 in Mulhall, Logan, Oklahoma. She was born 31 Aug 1883 in Coffey, Daviess, Missouri and died 05 Feb 1970 in Sulphur, Calcasieu, Louisiana. She was the daughter of 42. James William WELDEN and 43. Henrietta Murl RENFRO.

40. John Henry MERTENA was born about 1854, possibly in Illinois. He died 12 Mar 1884, possibly in Franklin County, Illinois. He married 41. Carolina Cristina ORTH 13 Aug 1876 at the home of her stepfather, John BROWN, in Williamson County, Illinois. She was born 20 Jan 1859 in Williamson County, Illinois and died 10 Oct 1923 in Crescent, Logan, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of 82. Jacob ORTH and 83. Catherine BAIAR.

Newest Addition to the Family

Our newest addition to the family: Callie Fantastica Trahan Sepulvado

Hobbies: Playing in the bathroom, chasing bugs and invisible "invaders" around the apartment, attacking Daddy's feet, cat burglarizing Mama's jewelry, cat napping, and stalking birds

Surname Saturday: PEMBERTON

1. Jennifer Nicole TRAHAN (me)

3. Pamela Sue PEMBERTON (my mom)

6. John Peter PEMBERTON was born on 18 Nov 1928 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at Selfridge Field on 28 Sep 1946 in Harrison, Macomb, Michigan. He served as an automotive mechanic from 1947 to 1949 in Japan. Upon his discharge from the U.S. Army, John worked briefly on the assembly line at Chrysler before joining the Grand Trunk Railway as a fireman. He was later promoted to engineer. John died from lung cancer on 12 Oct 1970 at the age of 41 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan. He was buried on 15 Oct 1970 at Caswell Cemetery in Kimball, St. Clair, Michigan. He was the son of 12. John Vital PEMBERTON and 13. Mabel Ellen CRYSLER. He married 7. Violet Mae CURRIE on 9 Sep 1949 at First Methodist Church in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. She was the daughter of 14. Archie CURRIE and 15. Jennie Grace Christina PLAINE.

12. John Vital "Jack" PEMBERTON was born on 19 Feb 1908 in Mount Clemens, Macomb, Michigan. Jack worked much of his life as a press operator at Mueller Brass in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. He died from a brain tumor on 22 Nov 1950 at the age of 42 at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw, Michigan. Jack was buried on 25 Nov 1950 at Elk Township Cemetery in Peck, Sanilac, Michigan. He was the son of 24. Lovell Hugh PEMBERTON and 25. Alvina Mary LESPERANCE. He married 13. Mabel Ellen CRYSLER on 7 Aug 1927 in Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan. They were married by Rev. F.W. Jewell, pastor of Pentecostal Convention Tabernacle. Mabel was the daughter of 26. Ernest CRYSLER and 27. Nellie May REYNOLDS.

24. Lovell Hugh PEMBERTON was born on 14 Jan 1878 in Almont, Lapeer, Michigan. He worked as a blacksmith most of his life. Lovell died of chronic myocarditis on 23 Mar 1952 at the age of 74 in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan. He was buried on 26 Mar 1952 at Saint Denis Catholic Cemetery in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan. He was the son of 48. John C. PEMBERTON and 49. Mary Ann COOMBS. He married 25. Alvina Mary LESPERANCE on 10 Nov 1902 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Anchorville, St. Clair, Michigan. She was the daughter of 50. Charles LESPERANCE and 51. Christine GOSLIN.

48. John C. PEMBERTON was born on 3 Apr 1839 in Blenheim, Ontario, Canada. I am still trying to determine whether he was born in Kent County or Oxford County. He immigrated with his parents and siblings to the U.S. (Michigan) around 1855. He fought in the Civil War and served in Company C, 1st Michigan Cavalry from 10 Oct 1863 to 7 Jun 1865. After returning from the War, he settled in Lapeer and Macomb Counties and worked as a blacksmith the remainder of his life. He died from a stroke on 27 Nov 1912 at the age of 73 in New Haven, Macomb, Michigan. He was buried on 30 Nov 1912 at Centennial Cemetery in New Haven, Macomb, Michigan. He was the son of 96. Jeremiah PEMBERTON and 97. Susanna JERMYN. He married 49. Mary Ann COOMBS on 30 Dec 1865 in New Baltimore, Macomb, Michigan. She was the daughter of 98. John M. COOMBS and 99. Mary A. STITT.

96. Jeremiah PEMBERTON was born about 1811-1812, most likely in New York. He lived in Vaughan, York, Ontario, Canada in 1836, at the time of his marriage. By 1860, he was living in Brownstown, Wayne, Michigan, with his wife and children. Around 1864, he moved to Clay, St. Clair, Michigan, where he remained for the rest of his life. He was also a blacksmith. He died from inflammation of the lung on 7 Jul 1881 at the age of 70 in Clay, St. Clair, Michigan. He married 97. Susanna JERMYN on 19 Nov 1836 at Saint James (Anglican) Cathedral in Toronto, York, Ontario, Canada.