Clara Was A Wrestling Fan

Clara Ziebold Sennott was the perfect grandma. She always had home-baked cookies, she was comforting when you took a tumble out of the red wagon going down the terrace in the back yard, she grew African Violets, and always had time to read a story.

Every morning, Clara, cut up bread and put it in the bird feeder that hung in the Willow Tree in the back yard. After the bread was in the feeder, she tapped on the top of the wooden bird feeder with the saucer, and we went back into the kitchen and watched through the window. There were sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays that came to the Willow Tree for breakfast every morning.  Clara would get upset was when the squirrels would get into the bird feeder. She kept a stick by the back door and she would go running out the door waving the stick telling the squirrels to get out of the bird feeder.

Clara's sewing machine was in the attic at the head of the stairs, it was a Singer that operated with a foot pedal. It was a huge temptation to "sew" and boy did we make a mess a couple of times. It took Clara a long time to untangle the thread and fix the tension.

I was surprised to learn that Clara was a fan of "Gorgeous George" the wrestler. She would watch his matches whenever she could. 

According to the WWE Hall of Fame profile, George Wagner was born in 1915. After a few years as a wrestler he got an idea and created Gorgeous George, "a snooty, platinum blonde villain who draped himself in lace and fur and entered the ring to the strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance'. Accompanied by a manservant who sprayed the ring down with Chanel perfume, George would enrage the audience just by walking into an arena."

George was one of the first to create a persona and quickly became one of the biggest attraction in wrestling. In the 1940's he was the highest-paid athlete in the world. George was a major star through the 1950s and Clara was a big fan. He passed away in 1963. 

George inspired wrestlers that came after him like Ric Flair and Buddy Rogers. He also influenced others like Muhammad Ali, Bob Dylan and James Brown. 

Being a wrestling fan, seemed so out of character for Clara. When Clara's daughter told me about her watching Gorgeous George's matches, I was surprised. It just goes to show that we can all have many varied interests. 

Sources

1. WWE website - https://www.wwe.com/superstars/gorgeousgeorge

Who is Anton Wilke?

Christian Hoffmeister was the maternal grandfather of Clara Ziebold Sennott. He was a business owner, alderman and prominent citizen of Carondelet. At the time Carondelet was a separate city, it has since been annexed and is now part of St. Louis.

A search in the St. Louis Genealogical Societies Probate Abstracts resulted in a number of estates that named Christian Hoffmeister as executor. One of the estates that named Christian as executor was the estate of Anton Wilke. Reviewing the estate papers led to an important piece in the puzzle of Christian's family.

Anton was Christian's step father. His mother Wilhelmina Brunke married three times. Her first husband was Heinrich Dege. They had at least one son, Heinrich Dege. After his death she married Carl Hoffmeister. They had at least three children - Christian, Wilhelm and Johanna. After Carl's death Wilhelmina married Anton Wilke.

Anton Wilke and Wilhelmina Brunke Dege Hoffmeister Wilke came to the United States from Hannover sometime before 3 June 1848  when Christian Hoffmeister purchases Lot number 8 in Block number 2 of Blow & Le Beaume's addition to the City of St. Louis for $105.00. The property had a 30 feet front on Third Street and ran back 132 feet 6 inches to an alley . Wilhelmina Wilke, wife of Anton Wilke has use of the property for the term of her natural life and after her demise the property defaulted to Christian Hoffmeister.

In 1850, Anton and Wilhelmina appear on the Federal Census in the City of St. Louis. Wilhelm and Johanna are living with them on the census. Anton is working as a laborer and Wilhelm is a butcher.

On 9 November 1852 Anton and Wilhelmina purchased lot number 10 in block number 3 of John B Duchouquette's addition to the City of St. Louis which has a 29 foot front at 740 Columbus Street and runs 146 feet and 2 inches deep for $1650.00. There was a promissory note filed on the same day in the deed books, Anton and Wilhelmina borrowed $510 which was to be repaid in two years with 6% interest.

Anton wrote his will on 28 August 1853, "being according to my own apprehension of infirm state of health and sensible of my liability to sudden death but at the same time of sound and proposing mind and being at the same time anxious to make a suitable disposition of my real and personal personal estate." In his will, Anton included the names of the first two husbands of his wife, Wilhelmina and the living children of each marriage.

Anton passed away on 20 October 1853 of consumption. He named his wife, Wilhelmina as his Executrix. Unfortunately, she died a few days later on 24

October, 1853. Anton was buried 21 October 1853 in the church cemetery after a mass at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Wilhelmina was buried in Holy Ghost cemetery, she was a member of the German Evangelical church.

Christian Hoffmeister was appointed Administrator of Anton's estate. His heirs were Heinrich Dege, Christian Hoffmeister, Wilhelm Hoffmeister and Johanna Hoffmeister, the children of his wife Wilhelmina.

Since Anton passed away before the promissory note on the property he purchased on Columbus street, the property was sold for $2200. The note was repaid and the balance was included in Anton's estate.

Christian paid Heinrich Dege, Wilhelm Hoffmeister and Johanna Hoffmeister each $100 for improvements that Anton and Wilhelmina made to the property on Third Street.  Johanna's share was paid to Heinrich Dege as her guardian since she was of unsound mind and incapable of managing her affairs.

The inventory of Anton's estate was valued at $96.85 and included clothing, household items, furniture, a saddle, a wheel barrel, a stove, and two cows. Christian, as administrator, was allowed to dispose of the property in lieu of holding a sale since much of the property was "from the old country into this country and is not customary here and almost worn off."

After all the debts were paid, the final settlement of Anton's estate was $1781.11. $800 was set aside for Johanna and the balance was divided between the four heirs. They received $245.27 each. 

Thanks to the completeness of Anton's will, we know who Christian's parents and siblings were.

Sources
1. "Missouri Probate Records, 1750-1998," images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9LM-CS9R?cc=2399107&wc=QZ9D-HRT%3A1327907501%2C1328512742 : 22 September 2014), St. Louis (Independent City) > Wills, 1849-1862, vol D-F > image 228 of 797; Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.
2. "Register of Deaths, 1850-1909," images, Ancestry.com, St Louis,  Missouri Death Records, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, p 89.
3. " Church Records, 1844-1974," Catholic Church, St Vincent de Paul, St. Louis, Missouri, FHL film 1872288, Item 6, Burials 1845-1864.
4. 1850 US Federal Census, St. Louis Ward 1, St. Louis (Independent City), Missouri, M432, Roll 415, page 144B, Lines 16-24.
5. Deed, St. Louis, Missouri, Book S4, Page 514, FHL Film 531580. 
6. Deed, St. Louis, MIssouri, Book M6, Page 271, FHL Film 531608.

7. Deed, St. Louis, Missouri, Book V6, Page 164, FHL Film 531788

8. Deed, St. Louis, Missiouri, Book 161, Pages 176-178, FHL Film 531797.

9. St. Louis Probate Court Digitization Project, 1802-1900, Probate file of Anton Wilke, Missouri Digital Heritage,  https://www.sos.mo.gov/Images/Archives/Judicial2/C30912_142063.pdf  

10. "Register of Deaths, 1850-1909," images, Ancestry.com, St. Louis, Missouri Death Records, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, p. 92.

John G Clay - Racketeer or Straight Arrow?

Helen Struck Coakley told a story about her uncle, John G. Clay, who was killed in Chicago. She thought he was one of the victims of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

On February 14, 1929 seven men were murdered at the garage at 2122 North Clark Street in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.  The victims were all part of or affiliated with the Bugs Moran Gang. The assassins, allegedly members of Al Capone's Gang, impersonated police officers. They burst into the warehouse, ordered the victims to line up and face the wall, gunned them down, and fled the scene. The victims were James Clark, Peter Gusenberg, Frank Gusenberg, Adam Heyer, John May, Dr. Reinhardt H Schwimmer and Albert Weinshank. John G. Clay was not among the victims. 

Family stories may not be completely accurate but usually there is something behind them that is directionally correct, so I decided to research the death of John G. Clay to see how he died. 

John G. Clay - Picture from Chicago Tribune, Saturday, November 17, 1928

John G. Clay was the Secretary-Treasurer of the Laundry & Dye House Drivers' and Chauffeurs' Union Local No 712. On Friday, 16 November 1928, he was sitting at his desk which faced the big window in the front of union headquarters at 639 South Ashland Avenue in Chicago. At 6:50 pm two men walked up the front steps and fired through the window using an automatic pistol and a sawed-off shotgun. Eight bullets hit John in the chest and abdomen. The two gunmen escaped by automobile. 

Headquarters of the Laundry & Dye House Drivers' and Chauffeurs' Union Local No 712

According to multiple newspaper accounts, John's body lay in state at union headquarters on Sunday, 18 November 1928 where thousands of mourners filed past his body. His coffin was placed near the spot where he was gunned down. There were two funeral services. The first was a requiem high mass was said on Monday morning at 10 am at St. Cajetan's Catholic Church, 112th Street and Artesian Avenue. The second was a memorial service at Carmen's Hall, Van Buren Street and Ashland Boulevard. Members of the Elk's Lodge that John belonged to and union officials conducted the memorial service.  He was laid to rest after the second service on the Goeppner family plot along with his wife's parents and other family members at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Surviving John were his wife Theresa (nee Goeppner), his son John W. Clay; his sisters Anna Clay, Margaret Clay, Mrs. Susan Struck, Mrs. Mary Kroner; and his brother Joseph Clay.

The gunmen were never charged. The most credible theory is that John was killed by members of the Moran Gang that were killed in the massacre. The clothing industry was full of strife between the various parties. The main players were:

• The Laundry & Dye House Chauffeurs' & Drivers' Union No 712. John was one of the principal organizers of the union and served as the Secretary-Treasurer. The union represented the drivers who moved the clothing from the tailor or cleaners store front to the cleaning plant where they were cleaned and then back to the store front. 
• The Cleaners', Dyers' & Pressers' Union. Ben Abrams headed this union. The workers ran the equipment in the cleaning plants.
• The Retail Cleaners' & Dyers' union headed by Albert Borris. The members of this union worked in the store fronts and took in the clothing from the public. 
• The Chicago Master Cleaners & Dyers' Association directed by F.W. Crowley and Max Krauss. The association owned and operated most of the city's cleaning and dyeing plants. They strong armed cleaners and laundromats who were forced to pay excessive dues to belong to the association. Prices for services went up and customers started taking their business to the suburbs. 
• Central Cleaners and Dyers Association, a partnership of small North side cleaning shops who broke off from the Master Cleaners & Dyers' Association. They enlisted Bugs Moran to protect them from the violence of the Master Cleaners' & Dyers' Association. Moran took over the association eventually installing Albert Weinshank (one of the St.Valentine's Day Massacre victims) as president. Moran escalated the violence in the industry and he tried to infiltrate the Laundry & Dye House Chauffeurs' & Drivers' union, allegedly to take control of their $250,000 treasury. 
•  Sanitary Cleaning Shops, Inc. was started by Morris Becker. Becker was bankrupted by the Master Cleaners & Dyers' association. They bombed his plant because he wouldn't raise his prices in 1927. That was followed by a strike that left him without workers. He filed a complaint with the State's Attorney that went nowhere. He lost his business. Becker built a new cleaning company with his new partner, Al Capone.  

Bombings and workers being beaten up was the norm. Bugs Moran was hired by the Central Cleaners and Dyers Association for $1800 a week to combat the violence and strong arming by the Master Cleaners & Dyers' Association. The violence escalated and Moran tried to take over the Central Cleaning Company. He sent one of his men to negotiate an agreement when he couldn't provide authorization for the negotiation, Clay refused to negotiate and wasn't intimidated by Moran's gang. Moran also tried to take over the Union from Clay and failed. Morris Becker partnered with Al Capone and the Moran gang was out maneuvered. The violence stopped until the night John Clay was killed. 

Newspaper accounts of the killing painted different pictures of Clay. According to some he was a racketeer and according to others he was as "clean as a hounds tooth" who was caught between two racketeers - Moran and Capone. Clay was instrumental in forming the union when he was a driver. He worked diligently and managed to raise the wages for the drivers and improve working conditions. He built the union treasury up to over $250,000 which was used to help the membership. One of the agreements that he negotiated in 1927 with the Masters association is in the manuscript collection of the Chicago History Museum.

John was respected and admired by his union brethren. In addition to being Secretary-Treasurer of Local No 712 he was a trustee of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen and Helpers of America; a member of the Chicago Federation of Labor Executive Board; a member of the Teamsters' Joint Council; director of the Amalgamated Trust Savings Bank, and director of the South Side Building and Loan Association. 

The probate file for John's estate doesn't support the racketeer charge. His estate was valued at a little less than $72,000. Estate tax of $1079.15 was paid by his estate. One newspaper article makes the point that no racketeer would have left $250,000 in the Union treasury which has merit. John Clay was respected by the union membership for his successful efforts to help them earn a living wage while working in decent working conditions. He would have to have been shrewd and a skilled negotiator to have moved the union to the position of power that it held, but there is no real evidence that he could be considered a racketeer. 

The violence in the clothing industry in Chicago didn't stop with John's death. There are multiple references to his killing as one of the reasons for the St. Valentine's Day massacre. Helen's story resulted in finding out the story of the death of John G. Clay.  

Sources

1. The Mob Museum https://themobmuseum.org/exhibits/massacre-wall/

2.  Death Certificates Index, 1916-1950, Illinois Secretary of State Website http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/idphdeathindex.html

3. Chicago Police Department Homicide Record, 1870-1930, Illinois Secretary of State Website http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/databases/homicide.html

4. "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MZ-SH3K : 18 March 2018), John G Clay, 16 Nov 1928; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm 

5. "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVV3-LXSR : 13 December 2015), John G Clay, ; Burial, Evergreen Park, Cook, Illinois, United States of America, Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum; citing record ID 6807789, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

6. "Illinois, Archdiocese of Chicago, Cemetery Records, 1864-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2HJ-ZRR9 : 11 March 2018), John G Clay, 19 Nov 1928; citing Evergreen Park, Cook, Illinois, United States, St. Mary, Archidiocese of Chicago; FHL microfilm 1,643,525.

7. "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3C4-QHT : 10 March 2018), John G. Clay, 16 Nov 1928; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,892,228.

8. "Slay Racket Boss At Desk," Chicago Daily Tribune, Saturday, November 17, 1928 page 1 and back page. 
9. "Mourn Killing of Racketeer Victim," The Chicago Federation of Labor Federation News, Vol 20, No 21, November 24, 1928, pages 1, 3, and 5. 
10. Keefe, Rose, The Man Who Got Away: The Bugs Moran Story: A Biography, p 223-5 and 228-9.
11. "Saint Valentine's Day Massacre: an Edgeeater Connection," Edgewater Historical Society Website http://www.edgewaterhistory.org/ehs/articles/v24-4-7
12. Chicago Federation of Labor, The Official Labor Union Directory, January 1922.
13. "Gunmen Taken Into Business For Trade War," Chicago Sunday Tribune, 27 May 1928 pages 1 and 6.
14. "Hunt Racketeer Chiefs in Killing of Tim Murphy," Chicago Daily Tribune, Thursday, June 28, 1928, pages 1 and 8.
15. "Slick Gangs Get Rich Pickings In Cleaning Racket," Chicago Daily Tribune, Wednesday, November 14, 1928, p 8.
16. Probate File John G. Clay, Archives Reference 01-0781, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. 
17. "Cley Points to Moran Gang in Killing of Clay," Chicago Daily Tribune, November 18, 1928 p 5.
18. "Nelson Takes Place of Slain Labor Leader," Chicago Daily Tribune, November 19, 1928 p17
19. "Link Massacre of Seven Gangsters to Clay Slaying," Chicago Daily Tribune, February 21, 1929, p1-2.
20. "Bullets, Bombs, and Blackmail," Chicago Sunday Tribune, April 5, 1936, part 7 page 12. 
21. John G. Clay memorial, Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6807789/john-g-clay
22. "Death Notices, Chicago Tribune, November 18, 1928, page 16.

Harry B Sennott's First Automobile

1916 Ford Runabout

"In the spring of 1916 I had $500 saved up and bought a 1916 new Ford Roadster for $398.00. It took a crank to start them at night you opened the headlights and touched a match to the carbide gas to form the lights. At first, water was added to carbide - crystals, to generate gas. Later on gas was available in a tank fastened to the running board. There were no dimmers. If you had a flat, you jacked up the car and had to patch the tire from scratch. Some cars had a spare tire. The windshield wiper operated by hand. When it rained, curtains stored under the back seat were put on the sides." 

Harry wrote this in the autobiography he wrote in the Spring of 1968.

In 1916 Ford produced four models - a Coupe, Touring Car, Sedan, Town Car, and Runabout. There were 98,633 Runabouts produced and they sold for $390.00 according to the American Automobiles website. "They had 100 inch wheelbase and a 56 inch tread with 30 inch wheels and tires."  

The 1916 Ford was featured in a Westinghouse ad that can be found on Amazon.com. 

Sources

1. American Automobiles Website http://www.american-automobiles.com/Ford/1916-Ford.html

2. Amazon.com Ad https://smile.amazon.com/Ford-Roadster-Driver-Westinghouse-Electric/dp/B00QPSRCGG/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g1405964225?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8

3. Picture of 1916 Ford Runabout https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1916_Ford_T_Runabout_pic2.JPG

4. The Autobiography of Harry B Sennott manuscript in the collection of the author. 

John L Coakley, Structural Engineer

John Leonard Coakley became a respected structural engineer despite having to drop out of school in the 7th grade to help support the family when his father was killed.

After being injured in World War I he returned to Kansas City and began studying on his own and prepared to enroll in the Missouri School of Mines and Metalurgy (now Univeristy of Missouri, Rolla). He was admitted as a special student 3 November 1919. John attended classes from 1919 to 1921. He eventually took the exam and became a Professional Engineer.

John was listed as an Apprentice Structural Engineer on the 1920 Federal Census.  By 1924 he was working for Kansas City Railroad and from 1925 to 1927 as a Draftsman for Missouri Valley Bridge Company. In 1927 John moved his family to a homestead in Tule Lake, Siskyou County, California. He returned to Kansas City in 1946.

In the 1950's, John was working for Missouri Valley Steel Company, they had a contract to build 14 passenger cargo boats and 28 65-foot harbor tug boats for the US Navy. He designed a jig so they could build the boats upside down and then turn them over.

The following pictures show a boat being turned over after construction.

Once the boats were completed they would be taken to New Orleans. In order to do this John designed a tow boat that was named "Delivery".  It was actually two half boats that were bolted together. Each half boat had it's own flotation and power plant. When the tow boat reached New Orleans it was split in two and placed on flatbed railroad cars and returned to Leavenworth, Kansas where it was re-assembled and took the next shipment of boats down the Mississippi.

Article from the Leavenworth Times, 19 July 1953

According to the Leavenworth Times the last two cargo boats left the shipyard 30 October 1953 headed for New Orleans. From there they would go on to the small boat basin at Charlestown, South Carolina. 

Sources

The Leavenworth Times, 19 July 1953 page 1 column 7. www.newspapers.com

The Leavenworth Times, 06 Aug 1953 page 1 column 1. www.newspapers.com

The Leavenworth Times, 30 Oct 1953 page 1 column 1. www.newspapers.com

Photograph collection of John L Coakley now in collection of the author. 

Official Transcript of John L Coakley from School of Mines and Metallurgy, University of Missouri, Rolla issued January 15, 1945. 

Kansas City, Kansas City Directories 1924-1927

1920 US Federal Census, microfilm T625, roll 556, supervisor district 2, enumeration district 180, sheet 5 B. Family of Rose Coakley.  

The Spelling of the Clay Family Surname

For many years I suspected that William and his brother Henry had been dropped off by an alien space ship in Cumberland, MD just before William married Elizabeth Mallon in 1864. Eventually as more records became easier to access and connecting with other researchers through the internet was possible, records of their parents and early lives were discovered. There is still more to uncover, but here is what has been found so far. 

We had two clues left by Helen Struck Coakley, the first was a paper with information about the Clay family from Helen's cousin that said the family was from Somerset County, Stoney Creek Township, Pennsylvania that listed all of the children of William and Elizabeth (Mallon) Clay.  William's death certificate listed his father as Martin Clay. Research in Somerset County did not turn up a family with the surname Clay that had a father Martin and a son William.

The second clue was that Helen left was in her Missal. She kept many prayer cards, most of them seemed to be family friends but one held critical information, Mrs. Margaret Smith. The surname Smith was among the relatives listed who were attending the 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration of William and Elizabeth. Margaret was from Washington, Franklin County, Missouri and passed away at the age of 77 years, 9 months and 18 days on 18 December 1905. Research in Franklin County turned up one possibility for Margaret - Mrs. Margaret Schmitt. Thanks to the burial record of her husband John at St. Francis Borgia catholic church, we know that Margaret's maiden name was Klee, which would have been pronounced Clay.

Armed with a new spelling of the family surname, research in the records of Somerset County was more successful. There was a Martin Klee family.

Martin Klee and Frederica Lauer were married, probably in Germany. Sources differ on where they were from. They had at least four children - Margarethe, William, Henry, and Susan. The records of St. John the Baptist Catholic church included the baptism of Martin, an adult convert from the Lutheran Church who was baptized 03 December 1843; William, son of Martin and Frederica Lauer, baptized 07 November 1841; Henry, son of Martin and Frederica baptized 10 March 1845; Susanna, daughter of Martin and Frederica, baptized, 28 August 1847 (she wasn't baptizes as an infant, she was born in 183?); and Maria Catharine born 1 March 1849. There was also a marriage record for Margaret Klee who married Martin Laurence Smith dated 4 June 1845.

The census records included an entry for Martin Kle in 1840 in Stoney Creek Township. He was between 40 and 49 years of age and there were three females in his household - one between 30 and 39 (Frederica) and two under 5 years of age. If Margaret was born in 1828 then she would have been 12 in 1840. The only other daughter that we have records for was Susanna who was born in 1833, she would have been 7. Either the Census was incorrect or there was another daughter that hasn't been identified and Margaret was living somewhere else.

The tax records for Somerset County, Pennsylvania included records for the Klee family. Martin did not own land but paid personal property taxes on one cow valued between $6 and $10 from 1841 through 1845. He was not listed on the tax rolls in 1846 and 1847 but was again listed in 1848 which was the last record found for Martin.

No record was found of the family in 1850. A newspaper article about the Golden Wedding Anniversary of William and Elizabeth says that Martin moved the family to Cumberland, Allegheny County, Maryland when William was a boy of 5 to 6 years old, this could explain the gap in the records for the family between 1848 and 1860.  Cumberland is right across the state line from Somerset County, Pennsylvania. No records of the family have been located in Cumberland until William married Elizabeth Mallon.

By 1860 Martin had probably passed away; Frederica was listed with William and Henry on the census in Allegheny Township, Somerset County, PA. Laurence and Margaret and their six children were listed nearby on the census.

There are tax records in Allegheny Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania from 1861 through 1864 for William Clay. He owned 10 acres valued at $30.00.

The family moved west shortly after William and Elizabeth Mallon were married in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland 11 April 1864. The 1865 Illinois State Census for William Clay in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois includes two women, one age 20-30 and one age 60-70. Elizabeth, William's wife would have been 17 and Frederica would have been about 60 years old.

Frederica was listed with Henry and his family on the 1870 Census; they were living in the 4th Ward of the City of Quincy.

By 1876 Frederica had moved to Washington, Franklin County, Missouri and was living near her daughter Margaret and her family. In 1880 Frederica was enumerated with Margaret's family on the Census in Washington.

The final record found for Frederica was at St. Gertrude's Catholic Church in Krakow, Franklin County, Missouri - a small town about 10 miles from Washington. Frederica Klee, widow of Martin age 82, died 22 March 1886 and was buried on 24 March 1886 in the church cemetery.

Here is a map showing the places where the family lived in the United States.

We still need to determine where in Germany the family came from.

• The 1860 census says that Frederica was from Hanover and her daughter Margaret is listed as coming from Hesse Darmstadt. 
• The 1870 census that Frederica was from Prussia. 
• The 1880 census says that Frederica and Margaretha were from Hessen. 
• There is a ship's passenger list for a Martin and Frederica Klee along with a daughter from Holzheim but the facts don't all match the family so we aren't sure this is the correct immigration record. 

Thanks to records becoming more available some of the mysteries about the Clay family have been solved. 

Sources

US Federal Census Records, 1840 Somerset County, PA; 1860 Somerset County, PA; 1870 Quincy, Adams County, 1870; 1880 Washington, Franklin County, MO - all on Ancestry.com.

Missouri State Census - 1876 Washington, Franklin County, MO. Ancestry.com

Illinois State Census - 1865 Quincy, Adams County, IL. FamilySearch.org

Ledoux, Rev Albert H, Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania; St John the Baptist Catholic Church, New Baltimore, PA.

Assessment Rolls, 1795-1879; Somerset County, PA; Familysearch.org. 

Catholic Church, St. Gertrude's (Krakow, Missouri); Familysearch.org

Catholic Church, St. Francis Borgia's (Washington, Missouri); Familysearch.org

Find A Grave

Journey to America

The ship Samuel Fox arrived in New York City on 25 July 1851. Among the passengers were three couples from Baden - Gottlieb Ziebold, his brother, Joseph Ziebold, Maria Magdelna Schnaiter, her sister Caroline Schnaiter, Jacob Steinhauer, and Caroline Ringwald.

The group started their journey in Baden. Gottlieb, Joseph, and Caroline Ringwald lived in Wagenstadt, Herbolzheim, Baden and Maria Magdalena and Caroline Schnaiter were from Broggingen, Herbolzheim, Baden.

Maria Magdalena applied for a passport in Broggingen and it was issued on 10 May 1851. The passport says that she is going to America to visit relatives. It includes a physical description of Maria and her signature at the bottom. 

The passage in the Samuel M Fox was advertised in the Freiburger Zeitung a newspaper in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden on May 17, 1851.  

The three couples traveled to Le Havre, France. Among the belongings they took with them was a trunk that was passed down from Gottlieb through the family to Mina Sennott, his great-grandaughter. 

The ship Samuel M Fox sailed with 622 passengers from Le Havre on 10 June 1851 and the passengers disembarked in New York City 45 days later on 25 July 1851. There was a family story that there was a fire on board the ship and it almost sunk. There was no mention of the fire in the newspapers of the time but according to the New York Herald "The SMF has had a succession of light westerly winds and calms with continual fogs and rain."

On the day the group arrived the weather was very different from the area they came from in Baden, it was "one of the sultriest and most oppressively hot days of the present season. The heavy rain which fell on Thursday night tended in some degree to cool and rarify the atmosphere during the forenoon, but from about three o'clock pm until sunset the suffocating heat was almost beyond endurance. About six o'clock strong symptoms of heavy rain appeared; but the armament soon became cleared of it masses of black clouds and at night the neared blue sky was bespangled with brilliantly shining stars. The highest degree of head indicated by the thermometer yesterday was 85 at 3 o'clock pm yet we have seen the mercury rise above 90 degrees at times when the heat was more endurable and less stifling."

The group found rooms at 103 Liberty Street. Two of the couples married shortly after they arrived at a St. Matthew a German Evangelical Lutheran church in New York City. Gottlieb married Maria Magdalena 5 August 1851. Their marriage certificate survives.  Joseph married Carolina Schnaiter a week later on 12 August 1851.

Shortly after their marriages, the two couples set off for Ross County, Ohio where there cousin, Daniel Ziebold and his wife Maria Katharine Ringwald lived along with other relatives. 

Sources

1. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; Samuel M Fox Passenger List, 1851 Arrival; Microfilm M237 roll 102, line 43; List 1002. Ancestry.com <www.ancestry.com>. 
2. Passport of Maria Magdalena Schnaiter. Original is part of the Joseph Rickert family papers in the manuscript collection at Southern Illinois University Special Collections Research Center. 
3. Freiburger Zeitung, vom 17 Mai 1851, digital Freiburger historische Bestande - digital Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat Freiburg <https://fz.ub.uni-freiburg.de/show/fz.cgi?cmd=showpic&ausgabe=02&day=17x&year=1851&month=05&project=3&anzahl=2>
4. New York Herald; "Maritime Intelligence", Morning Edition Friday July 25, 1851 and "City Intellicence", Saturday, July 26, 1851 page 4 col 4. 
5. Marriage Certificate of Gottlieb Ziebold and Maria Magdalena Ziebold, original in the collection of the author. 
6. New York City, Lutheran Church Records, 1834-1854; Ancestry.com <www.ancestry.com>.

Clay Family Tragedy

Henry Clay's son William Henry Clay and his wife Agnes Tucker Clay lost four of their seven children all in the month of November, 1907. The newspapers from Salt Lake City, Utah tell the sad story of the family's tragedy.

Elizabeth, 9 years old, was taken ill. The next day, her brother, Martin, age 12, was stricken. At that time Dr. Gibson believed it to be Scarlet Fever. The home was quarantined by the Board of Health. In the next few days, William F, age 14, became ill followed by the other four children -  Lola, age 16; Josephine, age 13; Rose Ellen, age 10; and John H, age 5.

On November 13, Elizabeth passed away followed by Martin the next day. Both were buried in  Mount Calvary Cemetery on Thursday, November 14. William's illness progressed rapidly and he was totally blind soon afterward and John was losing his eyesight. William died on November 17 and was buried on November 20 in the same cemetery.

The doctors didn't agree on the nature of the illness that the four children succumbed to. Dr. T. C. Gibson brought in three other doctors to consult. It was either Scarlet Fever of a combination of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.

The other children were all dangerously ill. "With remarkable heroism the father and mother, almost crazed with grief, are endeavoring to save the lives of the other four children by their tender care."
Death visited the house one last time on November 29th when Lola expired.

The family's situation was compounded by the lack of financial resources. William Henry was a carpenter day laborer. "It has taken all that he could earn to support the large family of small children when all went well. Now that sickness has come, there is none left to provide food and medical assistance. As soon as the place was quarantined, the father, too, was kept at home, and the only revenue of the family was cut off, leaving them dependent on charity." Once the situation was brought to the attention of charitable organizations, they brought relief including nourishment and nursing care.

Fortunately, death didn't visit the remaining children for a long time, Josephine, Rose Ellen and John H all lived to adulthood. William, Agnes and their family suffered terribly during the month of November, 1907. The family remained in the Salt Lake City area for a number of years and eventually relocated to California. 

Sources

1. The Inter-Mountain Republican, "Visited by Death For Fourth Time," Salt Lake City, UT, 30 November 1907, page 8. Newspapers.com.
2. The Salt Lake Herald, "Scarlet Fever Desolates Home," Salt Lake City, UT, 21 November 1907, page 9. Newspapers.com.
3. The Salt Lake City Tribune, "Three Deaths in the Family of W. H. Clay," Salt Lake City, UT, 22 November 1907, page 9. Newspapers.com.
4. Salt Lake Telegram,  "Death Makes 3 Visits to Home," Salt Lake City, UT, 21 November 1907, page 3. Newspapers.com.
5. The Salt Lake Herald-Republican, "Physicians Differ on Deadly Malady," Salt Lake City, UT, 23 November 1907, page 8. Newspapers.com
6. Salt Lake Telegram, "All Around Town," Salt Lake City, UT, 12 November 1907, page 6. Newspapers.com. 
7. The Salt Lake Herald, "Two In One Day," Salt Lake City, UT, 21 November, 1907. Transcribed on memorial of Elizabeth Clay on Find A Grave, 182866590. 
8. Utah Death Registers, 1847-1966, State Files 1907003917, 1907003765, 1907003708, and 1907003690. Ancestry.com. 

William Clay and Elizabeth Mallon Clay Celebrate Golden Wedding Anniversary

Relatives of William Clay and Elizabeth Mallon Clay gathered in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois to help the couple celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Clay Golden Wedding

William and Elizabeth were married 9 April 1864 at Cumberland, Allegany County, MD at St. Patrick's catholic church by Fr. Brennan. Fifty years later another Fr. Brennan officiated at the mass celebrating their Golden Anniversary at St. Rose of Lima parish in Quincy. 

The couple celebrated on Sunday and Monday, April 12-13th, 1914 surrounded by friends and relatives. Among the relatives that attended were six of the couple's eleven children. John Clay of Chicago, Mrs. Steven Struck (Susan) of Quincy, Mrs. John G Kroner (Mary) of Kansas City, Kansas, Frank Clay of Kansas City, Missouri, and Misses Margaret and Anna Clay of Quincy. Their son Joseph of Chicago was unable to attend. The other four children, John, William, Martin and Annory passed away before they reached adulthood. 

The couple had seven grandchildren who all attended - Helen Elizabeth Struck; W. Lloyd Kroner; John W. Clay (son of John G Clay); Lilian, Margaret, Joseph and Mary Clay (children of Joseph Clay).    

Other relatives that attended were Henry Clay, William's brother from Baring, Missouri; Mr. and Mrs. William Smith and Mollie Smith of St. Louis; Mrs. Kate Foster; and Mary Binsbacher of St. Louis. 

The celebrations were covered in the Quincy newspapers of the day. There was a dinner at 4 o'clock on Sunday followed by mass on Monday morning.  William was 75 and Elizabeth was 73. The couple traveled west from Cumberland, Maryland over forty-five years before and settled in Quincy, which was the end of the railroad at the time. 

Sources

1. Quincy Daily Journal, "Marital Happiness Is Lasting." 11 April 1914 page 8; "Mass Celebrated in Honor of Their Golden Wedding", 13 April, 1914; . Digitized on Newspaper Archive of the Quincy Public Library <http://quincylibrary.org/newspaper-archive/>

2.  The Quincy Whig, "To Celebrate Golden Wedding Anniversary," 12 April 1914, page 2. Digitized on Newspaper Archive of the Quincy Public Library <http://quincylibrary.org/newspaper-archive/>

3. Invitation to Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, copy of original given to the author by James Coakley, great-grandson of William and Elizabeth Mallon Clay.

4. Quincy Daily Herald, "Golden Wedding Mr. and Mrs. Clay." 11 April 1914, page 10.  

5. Clerk of Circuit Court, Allegany County, Maryland; Marriage Register Vol 2, page 22 line 8, Marriage of Willliam Clay and Elizabeth Mallon. Visit to courthouse, September 1991. 

Ruthanna

This blog was created to capture stories about the Sennott and Coakley families. This time I'd like to share the story of one of the family pets, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ruthanna.

Ruthanna crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on Wednesday, March 7, 2018. She would have been 16 on April 15th.

In 2008, two good friends, Lesa and Tim worked with Lucky Star Rescue. They were fostering a rescue named Karmen. I had been thinking about getting a dog since I no longer had to travel for work and they introduced us. Karmen was precious and she came to live with me. I started fostering for Lucky Star. A few Cavalier's stayed with Karmen and I and then moved on to their furever homes.

In March, 2009 I got a call asking if I could foster a rescue. Lucky Star had raised money and were going to an auction where hundreds of dogs were being sold. That weekend when I went to pick up my foster, I met Ruthanna.

She had spent the first  almost 7 years of her life as breeding stock in a puppy mill and had been treated very badly.  I don't think she had been out of a cage for any period of time and had health problems including a knee that required surgery. When we got home, Ruthanna stood in a submissive position and didn't move. I would pick her up periodically and carry her outside. Then we'd come back in the house and she would be still again.

After a few days, she started to come out of her shell. Ruthanna was a joy to have around. It didn't take long before I knew she would be a failed foster and was going to stay as part of our family.  I was told that I'd be lucky if she lived a couple of years, she was in such bad shape.

It is amazing what a little love can do, she soaked it up like a sponge. Soon she was exploring the house. She would sit in the chair with me in the evenings while we watched TV or read.

It took her months before she barked the first time. She only barked when she wanted to go out or was hungry. She had an internal clock that was amazing. It went off at 6:30 am and 5:00 pm. She could be very persistent when she was hungry. She relished her food, I think she must have gone hungry many times while she was in the puppy mill.

Neither of the girls knew what to do with toys, but Ruthanna found a little stuffed animal that she used to carry around. She didn't play with it, but carried it around like she would a puppy. It was her constant companion until Bentley came to live with us in 2011. Then her maternal instinct switched to him and I don't think she ever picked up the stuffed toy again. She loved him and mothered him until the day she died. Part of her daily morning ritual was washing his face. 

Bentley taught Ruthanna how to play. He would throw his toys up in the air and carry them around. He was a bundle of energy and she would sit and watch him play. One day after she had been watching him, she went over to a toy he had tired of and started pushing it with her nose and barked at it. It was such fun to watch her blossom into the dog she became.

When we would go for walks, Karmen would take off after a squirrel or a lizard, Ruthanna just sat and watched her. The look on Ruthanna's face said, "Karmen you are never going to catch that squirrel, why do you expend so much energy trying?"

I went home for lunch every day and the three of us would go for a walk. About half way to the corner, Ruthanna would sit down and wait for Karmen and I to walk to the corner and back. Then she would re-join us and we would head home. Later when Rick moved into the neighborhood, she would stop at his house when we walked. After a walk, the girls each got a carrot. Ruthanna would stand with her bottom in the air and munch on her carrot.

Thanks to Dr. Krug at Campbell Village Vet, Ruthanna had her knee surgery. Her health problems persisted through the years but Dr. Krug found a way to overcome them.

Ruthanna found a special place in my Dad's heart. She would get up in the chair with him and sit for hours. She could look so pitiful at times. When I was a little girl I had a doll named Pitiful Pearl, that soon became Ruthanna's nickname.

Ruthanna brought so much love into our house. Both of our world's changed the day she came to live with us. I'm not sure who was rescued, Ruthanna or me. She was so full of unconditional love. Every day when I came home, she was at the door to greet me. When I worked at home she was at my feet under my desk. I love all three of the dogs, each has a different personality and brings so much to our lives. Ruthanna will always have a special place in my heart, she was so gentle and sweet.

 

1912 Oakland

An article in the Waterloo Republican on Wednesday, July 3 1912 read

"George W. Ziebold has received his new car, one of the finest Oaklands, which he purchased from Jobb & Ruch. It is equipped with the latest improvements, electric light, etc."

Edward M. Murphy incorporated the Oakland Motor Car Company in 1904, an offshoot of his Pontiac Buggy Company. In 1908, the Oakland Motor Car Company and the Pontiac Spring and Wagon Works merged together under the Oakland Motor Car Company. "Later in 1908, the first Oaklands went to market. The first Oaklands used an unusual Alanson Brush designed two cylinder vertical engine, which rotated clockwise. The type of engine was common in French cars but not popular with American engineers. The engines worked fine, but the cars did not sell well."

In 1909, Murphy sold 50% interest in the Oakland Motor Car Company to William Durant of General Motors. Oakland also introduced new engines, new body styles and new models that year. In the Summer of 1909 Murphy died and the remaining 50% of the company was sold to General Motors.

In 1932 the Oakland name was dropped and it became the Pontiac Motor Car Company.

Oakland made a number of different models in 1912, there isn't enough information in the newspaper article to know which one George purchased. Here are some examples of adds and pictures of the 1912 cars.

Model "40" Sociable Roadster

Oakland 30 Runabout

1912 Oakland Model 40 Touring - "The Oakland was a quality-built car that offered excellent and reliable transportation, but it came at a price. The Model 40 for 1912 sold for $1,450 in 1912 when one of Henry Ford's Model Ts sold for $690."

Oakland Model 40 1912

1912 Oakland 45

President Taft in 1912 Oakland 45

Sources
1. Waterloo Republican, July 3, 1912.
2. Dragone website https://www.dragoneauctions.com/1912-oakland-model-40-touring
3. American Automobiles http://www.american-automobiles.com/Oakland-1909-1919.html
4. Brass Auto http://www.brassauto.com/brass-pages/oakland-photos.html
5. Detroit Public Library Digital Collection https://digitalcollections.detroitpubliclibrary.org/islandora/search/catch_all_fields_mt%3A%28oakland%2045%29%20OR%20catch_all_fields_et%3A%28oakland%2045%29
6. Heritage Center - Generations of GM History https://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php/Oakland_Motor_Car_Company

Academy of the Visitation Graduation 1909

Graduation Invitation - 1909

Visitation Academy, St. Louis, Missouri

Visitation Academy was founded in 1833 in Kaskaskia, Illinois by the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary. The school moved to St. Louis in 1844. In 1909 it was located at Cabanne and Belt Avenues and there were 183 students enrolled.   

The Class of 1909

Top Row: Marion Bishop, Fort Sheridan, Ill.; Marie Sullivan, Geraldine Collum, Maizie Whyte, Georgia Sullivan of St. Louis. 

Second Row: Clara Ziebold, WAterloo, Ill.; Josephine Dickson, St. Louis; Gail Maguire, St. Louis; Susie Cabanne Goode, Honolulu; Maryzita Cahill, Kansas City.

Bottom Row: Norma Weis, St. Louis; Katherine Degnan, Wilburton, Ok.

Articles from the beginning of the school year refer to thirteen students. Celeste Withers is not listed as a graduate in the articles about the commencement exercises.  

Among the graduates in 1909 was Clara Ziebold, class valedictorian. Clara's scrapbook of her final year at Viz is in the collection of Rick Sennott and provided much of the material for this article. 

Clara Ziebold, 1909

The school year ran from September 8, 1908 to June 11, 1909. Class colors were lavender and white and the class flower was Lavender Sweet Peas. The Class yell was "Lavender and White, Lavender and White Class '09 Out of Sight". The class motto was "Amor Vincit Omnia" which means Love Conquers Everything.

Classes attended by the Seniors included French, Philosophy, Latin, Mathematics, Composition and Music, all taught by the sisters. Occasional musicals, recitals, and dances offered a break from daily studies for the young ladies.

Social events memorialized in Clara's scrapbook include dances for Veil Prophet, Halloween, Valentine's Day, an ice cream social, a St. Louis University football game, flower show, concerts and recitals. The girls were inducted into the Alumnae Association of Visitation Academy in April, 1909 at the Annual Re-union.

Botany Class

At the Church 

 The Story Was Rather Sad

The Tennis Fields

A private Graduation ceremony was held on Friday, June 11, 1909, only parents, teachers, students and the graduates were present. "Miss Georgia Sullivan read the class essay. Miss Marian Bishop, who won the certificate in music, played a piano solo, and a very enjoyable musical program was given by the students." Archbishop Glennon made an address and presented the diplomas and medals.

The text of Clara's valedictorian address was preserved in her on hand in the scrapbook:

Dear Sisters and Companions,

The coveted and earned distinction to speak for my class has been bestowed upon me.

In a certain sense I am proud of it, it is sweet. But I feel the throne pierce through the gathered flower. My words must say farewell, must tell the ending of the beautiful period in which our budding lives have been under a training hand.

In the retreat blind of dangers, weak little girls we have grown in the sunshine of culture, we have tried our minds at modest sciences, Have had imparted to them the dogmas of the highest  that of religious have been taught to see and love in every beauty and event something divine have been urged to duty by sweetest advice and soothing consolation and led from sorrow by the hand of love.

Looking back upon it we catch glimpses of blue skies, sunshiny ripples, green hedged fields, pleasant smiles we hear girls laughter and the sisters words of sweet correction

We must leave it! How blessings brighten as they take their flight. But is our happiness doomed to fade in the sphere of womanhood? Are not the influences of the world all our friends? There are dangers in society we are told beware Into this great unknown may that his open before no we must go alone. With what wisdom shall we choose and with what success shall we engage in the activities that there invite our trial? With what strength  shall we resist the fancies that may steer us into unsafe whirlpools of pleasure? We are encouraged; we are warned by loving words and inspired by fondest hearts. They say "let not your will like faulty air ships be whirled astray, but let it keep firm in the God -given course so love that others grief may be your own. Let adversity work in you its glories. Let you sorrows be wreathed with virtues. Character thus trained will mold others and be perfected according to the words given by your alma mater

Failure will be our own achievement. We will try to held this lesson and by being her true daughters praise our Alma Mater. 

Most beloved and revered teachers, gratitude for the sacred treasures you have given us we express for each in the lines of the poet

Though time her bloom is steeling theres still beyond his act the wild flower wreath of feeling the sun beam of the heart

Let us our dear companions, friends remain and you dear sisters, mothers be to us who bid you all a sad, a sad farewell.

After the ceremonies, Mr and Mrs. J. F. Sullivan, parents of Georgia Sullivan, entertained the class at a dance held at the Normandy Club. 

Sources

1. The Girl Graduate, Her Own Book, scrapbook of Clara Ziebold's senior year at Visitation Academy in St Louis, Missouri. Original in collection of Richard Sennott. 

2. "School Days at Visitation Academy", unidentified newspaper clipping from scrapbook of Clara Ziebold.

3. "Notes from Visitation Acadmey, Cabanne", unidentified newspaper clipping from scrapbook of Clara Ziebold.
4. Unidentified newspaper clipping in scrapbook of Clara Ziebold described the commencement exercises.