Ruth Grace Montran Cologne (1897-1993)

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Don Taylor

Only recently have I come to the determination that Ruth Grace Montran is my grandmother’s (Madonna Mae Montran) half sister and that they shared the same father, John F. Montran. In my attempt to prove or disprove that relationship, I’ve researched Ruth considerably and have learned quite a bit about her long life.
“Middlesex-County-Map” by Middlesex County
Municipality – Licensed under Public Domain
via Wikimedia Commons
Ruth Grace Montran was born 27 Nov 1897 in Middlesex, Ontario, Canada, to John Montran and Maud Minnie Winter. Dr. Moorhouse was the attending physician.[i] Her birth was recorded/registered only two weeks later, on 13 Dec 1897, by M. M. Montran (presumed to be Maud).
According to Ruth’s naturalization record[ii], and the 1910 Census[iii], Ruth arrived in the United States in January 1898.
The 1900 Census shows Ruth living with her uncle, Primrose Brown, a railroad laborer, his wife Jerusha [sic – Josephine] Brown, her Scottish maternal grandmother, Maryann Winter, and her older sister Thelma Montran in Waterloo Village, Fayette Township, Seneca County, New York. It is interesting to note that the census indicates that she was born in Canada; however, there is not date in the emigration column, clearly an oversight. Another item of note is that this is the only document I’ve seen that indicates that her father was born in France.[iv] (I have long thought that Madonna’s father was French because Madonna used to say she was “English, Irish, and French.”)
The 1910 Census shows 12 year-old Ruth living in Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania with her adoptive parents, Penrose and Josephine E Brown and an 5 year-old adopted brother, Harry P Baker.[v] So,
Ruth married John Terrell Cologne sometime between 1910 and 3 April 1920, as evidenced that she became naturalized Miami, Dade, Florida, USA as Ruth Cologne. The registration number is 13328136 and is something to search for.[vi]
I have not been successful finding John and Ruth in the 1920 Census, yet. Anyone else successful yet?
View of the Provident Mutual Life Insurance
Building from a few hundred feet of 2 Farragut St.
Photo by DanTD (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0],
via Wikimedia Commons
The 1930 Census finds Ruth living with her husband, John, at 2 Farragut Street, Philadelphia, PA, along with her two children, Dorothy B and John T. Cologne. This census entry is curious because it indicates that her father was born in New York. The 1900 Census indicated her father [John Montran] was born in France, and the 1910 Census indicates her father was born in Pennsylvania. Her father in this census is apparently Primrose Brown. In 1930, Ruth was a saleslady working in a department store. Her husband, John, was a dentist and was working as such[vii]. Two Farragut Street is currently a vacant lot next to the 46th Street Station of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Market-Frankford Line. It was across Market Street from the Provident Mutual Life Insurance Building that is currently under renovation to become a command center for the Philadelphia Police and the new headquarters the Philadelphia for Health Department.[viii]

What happened between 1930 and 1940 is very unclear. In the 1940 Census, Ruth’s husband, John, is living in Philadelphia with his son, John Jr; however, Ruth is not living with them[ix]. I have not been successful finding Ruth in the 1940 Census, so far. In pure speculation on my part, I think that John and Ruth were probably estranged about 1930 which necessitated Ruth to work outside of the home but they were still living in the same house. Then, by 1940 I suspect they were divorced. John remarried later in the 1940s but Ruth didn’t remarry. As I mentioned, this is speculation; however, it does provide directions for further research.

Ruth Grace Cologne died in Broward County, Florida on 3 Sep 1993[x]. I have not found specific burial information for Ruth Grace Cologne yet.

Areas for Further Research:

Determine if Middlesex has certificates for Ruth’s birth period and get a copy if possible.
Get a copy of Ruth’s naturalization information/record.
Get a copy of Ruth and John’s marriage license/certificate.
Find Ruth Grace Montran/Cologne in the 1920 Census.
Find Ruth Grace Cologne in the 1940 Census.
Learn more about Ruth Cologne’s life from 1940-1993.
Determine Ruth Grace Montran Cologne’s burial information/information.

ENDNOTES

[i] Ontario Births, 1869-1912, Family Search, Ruth Grace Montran, 27 Nov 1897. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FM8X-RVR.
[iii] 1910 Census (A) (NARA), Ancestry, https://www.Ancestry.com, Year; 1910; Census Place: Shamokin, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1384; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1375397. https://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1910USCenIndex&indiv=try&h=25194088.
[iv] “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSGZ-6PY : accessed 7 August 2015), Ruth Montran in household of Penrose Brown, Fayette Township Waterloo vill., Seneca, New York, United States; citing sheet 16A, family 384, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,162. 
[v] 1910 Census (A) (NARA), Ancestry, https://www.Ancestry.com, Year; 1910; Census Place: Shamokin, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1384; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1375397. https://search.ancestry.com//cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1910USCenIndex&indiv=try&h=25194088.
[vii] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census (Online publication – Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.Original data – United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626,), Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2139; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0496; Image: 817.0; FHL microfilm: 2341873.
[viii] Plan Philly – Eyes on the Street, March 8, 2012, “Provident Mutual Life Insurance Building to be reused as Police Command Center –  https://planphilly.com/eyesonthestreet/2012/03/08/provident-mutual-life-insurance-building-to-be-reused-as-police-command-center
[x] Ancestry.com, Florida Death Index, 1877-1998 (Online publication – Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data – State of Florida. Florida Death Index, 1877-1998. Florida: Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, 1998.Original data: State of Florida. Florida Death Ind), Ancestry, https://www.Ancestry.com, Ruth Montran Cologne. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gss=angs-g&new=1&rank=1&gsfn=Ruth+Grace+Montran&gsfn_x=NP_NN&gsln=Cologne&gsln_x=NP_NN&MSAV=1&cpxt=1&cp=12&catbucket=rstp&uidh=by1&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=3885817&db=floridadeath&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1.

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Back to John Montran

Posted on August 13, 2015 by Don Taylor

Last month (July 2015), I wrote about finding John F. Montran in an index entry for my grandmother’s birth record and that I was ordering the microfilm from the Family History Library (FHL) for my use at my local Family History Center (FHC). I mentioned before I’d report my results from the film.

The FHL let me know when the film was shipped and let me know when it arrived at my local FHC.  Amazingly, it arrived the day before I was giving a presentation to the GPC-MGS on social networking so I would be there the very next day. Might the film include an actual birth certificate?  Might it include some other really important information?

After my presentation, I went into the FHC, had the librarian volunteer find the film for me, loaded the film into the reader, and began searching.  Brutal.  Yes, it came with an index but it was extremely hard to read.  I tried and tried and finally gave up using the index. I began browsing the records, beginning to end. Nothing.  Didn’t see my desired record after I viewed all the records on the microfilm.   “Come on already, it wouldn’t be in the index if there wasn’t something there,” I said to myself.  I thought about giving up on the search. This film appeared to be contain the same data as I had viewed before in another connection. I decided to continue viewing, this time from back to front.  Having gone through the film completely one way I had gained a fairly good understanding of how the film was organized and could focus on pages that were likely to contain the record I was looking for.  I found it! My grandmother’s birth registration entry.

Family History Library Film 1008278 – Page 290, Entry 435.

It was clearly a typed version of a record I had seen before, in handwritten form. The typist mistyped the surname as “Montrau” – Not surprising, having seen the original handwritten document.  It did mention that Madonna was “Legit”, something that I hadn’t seen in the handwritten version. Then I noticed at the bottom, “Original Records are missing for the following records 427 to 450.” So, Madonna’s record (#435) was known to be missing when this was typed. That explains why the Calhoun County Clerks people couldn’t find it. Now, I have evidence that an original record probably doesn’t and can put aside trying to find it.

This experience reminded me to not give up because you can’t find a record on the first pass of viewing a microfilm. Also, it also reminded me that just because I don’t think a record will yield any new information, I might be surprised by what is in the margins.

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Russell Harrison Kees (1899-1982)

Posted on August 10, 2015 by Don Taylor

Sometimes it is as important to research someone not related by blood because they are a big part of your family’s history.  This is the case of my mother’s and my uncle’s stepfather Russell Harrison Kees.

We don’t know how or when Donna met Russell.  In 1935, Donna was living in Chicago with her children. Russell was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. By 1937, Donna was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the 1940 Census, Donna and Russell were living together at 1421 Gibney Place.  Donna and her children took the surname “Kees” although it doesn’t appear that Donna and Russell ever married nor were Donna’s children adopted.

Quick Bio of Russell Harrison Kees

Russell Harrison Kees was born 4 May 1899 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In 1900, Russell lived with his father, Frank, mother, Mattie, and two sisters, Francis and Mildred.  Another sibling had died before Russell was born.
Sometime between 1900 and 1910 Russell’s father died.
In 1910, Russell lived with his mother, Mattie, and his two sisters, Francis & Mildred and was attending school.
Russell enlisted at Belvidere, IL, to serve in WWI on 26 Jul 1917 and remained until 31 Mar 1919. He served in the Illinois Guard, 3rd Infantry, Company M. 
There was a Russell Kees who lived at 218 Kish, Rockford, Illinois, USA in 1929 per Rockford, Illinois, City Directory, 1929 – This may be the same Russell Kees, I need to do more research to confirm this.
In 1935, Russell lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In 1940, Russell lived at 1421 Gibney Place, Grand Rapids. 
Russell lived at 37 Shelby SW, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA with “Dana”  (Read Donna) in 1941 per Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Directory, 1941. 
Donna and Russell appear to have separated sometime before 1953, probably about 1948.
Russell married Florence L. Dowdy on 26 Sept 1958 in Cook County, IL.
Russell Kees died in March of 1982. His last known residence was Villa Park, DuPage County, Illinois, USA.

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Reuben Fowler (1753-1832), DAR, and Find-a-Grave

Posted on August 7, 2015 by Don Taylor

Reuben Fowler

Reuben Fowler’s Name
On 1927 DAR Plaque
Photo Credit: Mora #48254008

I received a message from Mora, Find-a-Grave contributor #48254008, with six photos attached A couple of the photos are beautiful pictures of Old St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the Old Van Cortlandtville Cemetery in Winchester County, New York. The significance of those photos is that my 5th great grandfather Reuben Fowler is buried there. Included in Mora’s email were several photos of a Daughters of the American Revolution memorial & plaque that the DAR erected in 1927, “TO THE MEMORY OF THE HEROS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1771-1783 BURIED IN THIS CHURCHYARD.” The plaque names Reuben Fowler among 37 other patriots. Very nice to see. Thank you again, Mora, for sharing. (Another proof that Social Networking can yield amazing results.)

I still need to find the time to do additional research about Reuben Fowler and his service, but here’s a quick bio.

 

Reuben Fowler (1753-1832)

Born either the 4th or the 9 September 1753 in Yorktown, Winchester County, New York.
He married Martha Drake in 1773.
He served in the Revolution (1776-1783). (By the way, the surrender took place at Yorktown, Virginia, not Yorktown, New York.)
He died on 1 February 1832 at the age of 78.
He is buried in the Old Van Cortlandtville Cemetery See: Marker Here.

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ISSUU – Another Genealogical Tool?

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Don Taylor


I’ve seen ISSUU before, but I have never had a chance to really explore it. I thought I’d give it a look and see what I might find there.

I was amazed. A simple search for “Genealogy Maine” brought up about 11,000 results.[i] I quickly found that “Discover Maine” magazine has a regular feature, “The Genealogy Corner” by Charles Francis. The “Welcome Guide to Franklin County, Maine” let me know that the Strong Historical Society has a display of the town’s saga as the “Toothpick Capital of the World.” There is also a regular magazine, “The Downeast Shamrock” which is “A Monthly Journal of Irish Heritage and Genealogy in Maine, New England, the Northeast, and Canada. A very interesting publication.

On Issuu, you can clip individual articles, share an article through Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, email and more. You can also create “stacks” for your magazines. For example, you could create a stack just for “The Downeast Shamrock.”

Sadly, you can’t download any of the books or magazines as PDFs; however, knowing the title you can sometimes find a PDF version on the internet.

I will definitely add ISSUU to my research sites. There will often be too many items but if you are specific in your searches and you might find a real gem.

 

[i] ISSUU provides thumbnail results that are not numbered.  I used a google search “Genealogy Maine site:issuu.com” to provide the approximate number.
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