(Male) Doll (Mar 1, 1898 -- ?)

While fact checking my previous blog post (DAR – Part I), I discovered a certified copy of a birth certificate for (Male) Doll, born Mar 1, 1898 to H.H. Doll and Lucy (Crow) Doll in LaGrange County, Indiana.  I first thought it was my grandfather’s (Byron Henry Doll) record of birth, since it appears to be part of my aunt’s lineage documentation for DAR membership and my father always said his father was born in LaGrange.  However, upon further review I realized that Byron was born Jun 21, 1892.  Which of Henry and Lucy’s children was this?  Following are the only children I knew about.

     1.  Joy Nell Doll                         b. Apr 15, 1886                 d. Oct 25, 1889
     2.   Nathaniel Lewis Doll             b. Sep 28, 1888                 d. Oct 4, 1889
     3.  Theries D. Doll                      b. Aug 4, 1890                  d. Nov 1969
     4.  Byron Henry Doll                  b. Jun 21, 1892                 d. Apr 7 1949
     5.  Louisa D. Doll                       b. Apr 15, 1895                 d. Jan 2, 1989

Joy Nell and Nathaniel may well have been victims of a flu pandemic, known as the "Russian Flu" or “Le Grippe”, which had spread world-wide by October of 1889. Their mother, Lucy, died at Lake Wawasee, Indiana, where her parents lived, just three months after the birth of baby (Male) Doll.  I wonder if her death was the result of complications related to the birth.

The Index to Birth Records, LaGrange County, Indiana, 1882 – 1920, Vol. 1 A-L, was compiled by the Indiana WPA in 1939.  There were two entries that matched the information on the birth certificate.  One in book H1 page 33 and the other in book H3 page 193.  Oddly, none of the other children appear in the index, which makes me wonder if Byron really was born in LaGrange County.  Henry was a farmer, and LaGrange County, which was and still is a farming community, was probably sparsely populated.  Is it possible that the other births either occurred elsewhere (Kosciusko or Elkhart counties) or were not recorded?

In the 1900 Federal Census, after the death of Lucy, Henry and Byron were living with Henry’s mother in Benton Twp., Elkhart County, Indiana.  Theries and Louisa were living with their maternal grandparents in Turkey Creek Twp., Kosciusko County.  Neither family appears to have a two year old living with them.

Lucy, Joy Nell and Nathaniel Lewis are buried in the Crow Cemetery.  Many of the really old headstones are broken and scattered or illegible, therefore, it is possible that the unknown baby may be buried there, but not recognized.

So many questions.

Moritz Augustus Martin (1871 - 1943)

Moritz was born March 27, 1871, a pleasant early spring day in Chicago.  The fifth (living) child of John Henry (known as Henry) and Christina Ellen (Hohl) Martin, he had a sister and three brothers.  (Tillie, 8; Henry, 6; William, 4; and Frederick, 2 1/2)

Moritz was about six and a half months old when the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city on October 9, 1871.  It left the family, along with 100,000 other Chicagoans, homeless.  They lost most of their possessions, their home, and Henry's musical instrument manufacturing business.  As with many Chicago residents, Henry resumed his business and the family remained in Chicago until 1878.  Henry heard about a company that was hiring experienced old-world craftsmen for his band instrument manufacturing company.  Henry moved his family to Elkhart, Indiana, and became the sixth employee of C. G. Conn.

Moritz grew up in Elkhart, and lived most of his life there, with the exception of a couple of short periods.  In his late teens or early twenties, as a talented pianist, he studied at the Chicago Conservatory of Music and played piano for the Chicago Opera House orchestra.  It appears that this may have been around 1890, about the time he met and married Maudie S. on February 22, 1891.  While researching in SLC, I discovered this marriage, but wasn't sure it was my Moritz.  A few month later I heard the story about Moritz marrying a dance hall girl from Chicago and that his father had the marriage annulled.  Although my mother was not aware of this marriage, two other independent family sources remembered and passed on the story.  A dance hall girl?  Who wouldn't want a dance hall girl in her family history?

Nearly four years later, on November 29, 1894, Moritz married Clarissa Ellen (Carrie) VanTilburg.  She was the daughter of Irvin G. and Margaret (Hunter) VanTilburg.  Moritz and Carrie may have been childhood friends, or at least acquaintances, as the Martins and VanTilburgs were neighbors for many years.

Carrie VanTilburg

Moritz Augustus Martin

 
 Their first child, Irvin Henry Martin, was born in 1895, in Penn Yan, New York.  Their daughter, Florence, was born in either 1897 or 1898.  Sources differ about the year and I have not yet obtained her birth certificate.  Her evasiveness over the years about her actual age presented a dilemma when she applied for Social Security.

In 1907, Martin Band Instruments was incorporated.  Although Moritz, along with his siblings, was a shareholder in the company, he was a carpenter by trade.  It is unclear what part he played in the company, but may have built the cases for the band instruments.  During the early 1900s he worked at various positions in carriage factories and the Crow-Elkhart Motor Company.

He was a carpenter at Elkhart Brass for many years, until his retirement in May 1943.  His surviving grandchildren still have fond memories of attending his company picnics; especially the ride in his Model T, and later in his Model A.  On one of these occasions, another car ran into theirs, tipping it on its side.  Although my mother's arm was caught under the car, no major injuries ensued.  However, we paid the price, as she was always yelling at us not to stick our arms out the window because if the car rolled over they would be trapped beneath it.

Just a few months after his retirement, Moritz died at the home of his daughter on September 23, 1943, from a cerebral hemorrhage.

Carrie and Moritz Martin

Francis VanTilburg

Born about 1867 in Pennsylvania, Francis VanTilburg was the second of Irvin G. and Margaret (Hunter) VanTilburg's seven children.  In 1870, when Francis was two, the family was living in Spring Township, Penn., where Irvin was a factory worker.  The family moved often.  At the time of the 1880 census, they lived in Cedron Township, Kansas.  Francis' father and older brother, Harry, were farmers.  By that time Francis also had two younger brothers, Thomas and James, and a younger sister, Clarissa (Carrie).  In 1883 Margaret was born in Black Hawk, Iowa.  Lucy was born in 1885, in Toledo, Ohio, the same year the family moved to Elkhart.  Frank was 17.

Shortly after arriving in Elkhart, Frank went to work at the Elkhart Carriage and Harness Mfg. Co.  He was a hard-working and conscientious young man, and despite being extremely deaf, he got on well with his fellow employees.  On a warm Monday afternoon in late September, Frank headed home from work.  If he took only city streets, it was about a mile and half walk from the factory on Pratt and East streets to his house next to the Elkhart Creamery at the corner of Cassopolis and Baldwin streets.  Frank, however, had discovered a shortcut.  By taking Franklin Street to Hydraulic, and then following the railroad tracks the rest of the way home, he could cut off almost half a mile.

The engineer on the afternoon passenger train was looking out the window.  They were running late.  It was almost 5:45.  By now they should have been well north of the races where the starch mills and paper factories were located.  The fireman was shoveling coal, stoking the fire, trying to make up time.

Frank walked along enjoying the warm fall weather.  When he reached the railroad tracks where they crossed Hydraulic, he picked up his pace.  He was halfway home, it was supper time, and he was hungry.

As the train picked up speed, the engineer turned to look out the opposite window and was taken aback by the sight of a man walking on the tracks less than 20 feet in front of him.  He reached up and sounded the whistle.

As he reached the switch opposite the Elkhart Paper Company mill, Frank was startled by the shriek of the train whistle.  Suddenly becoming aware of his peril, he scrambled to escape the speeding train.

"But it was then too late, and although he . . . tried to escape, he was unable to do so, the engine striking him and knocking him down, after which the entire train passed over him."

The above quote is from the Elkhart Daily Review, Tuesday, September 25, 1888.  The article goes on to describe his injuries in gory detail.

". . . (I)t was found that he was dead, one leg being severed, his right arm almost severed above the wrist, while there was a deep gash on top of his head, one on the back of his head, and another under his chin."

Frank's funeral was held September 26, 1888.  His name never appeared in either of his parent's nor any of his sibling's obituaries.

Diary of the World War 1917-1918

This post is a transcription of Irv's WWI diary.  The diary covers only June 29,1918 through Sept. 26, 1918, when he was injured.  His entries, or lack of, show how boring/mundane the first six weeks must have been.    I sometimes had trouble reading his writing, so place misspellings may be my error.
My comments are in italics.

The first time I read this diary, I realized where my (sometimes inappropriate) sense of humor, and that of my siblings, originated.  It's genetic!!  Not my fault! 

 

Property of Crpl. Irvin H. Martin

5th Trench Mortar Battery

American Expeditionary Forces

France

DIARY OF THE WORLD WAR

1917-1918

Romsey, England

June 29, 1918 Received orders to leave today.  Arrived at South Amptoy 3pm.

June 30, 1918 On ship 6am.  Woke up of the French Coast after sleeping on hard boards.  Clothes white washed.

July 1, 1918, Mon.  We are in LeHavre.  Last night we were awakened by an air raid.

July 2, 1918, Tues.  Left LeHavre 8:30am.

July 3, 1918 We stopped two miles out of Paris.  We passed the Marne battlefield of 1914.

July 4, 1918, Thurs.  Stopped at Chaumont.  Had to push our train uphill.

July 5, 1918 Left Besancon and arrived at Valdahon Artillery Training Camp.

July 6  Drilled half day.  Nothing more of interest.

July 21, 1918 Sgt. Bradley shop by private.

July 22, 1918 Left Valdahon for front.  Slept on train.

July 23, 1918 Arrived at place called Laveline.  Left tonight for the front.

July 24, 1918 At the front.  A place called LaPaire.

Aug. 15, 1918 We are digging gun positions.

Aug. 16, 1918 Still digging.  Germans have not located us yet so we are safe.

Aug. 17, 1918 4:40am We fired at 4:00am.  7:00am Germans trying to stop our advance.  We were fired upon heavily by Boche machine guns in the attack.  We are still going.  Have captured Frappel-Saale.

Aug. 25, 1918 Were relieved last night by 92nd division.  Leaving tonight.  Our trucks were shelled while leaving and I thought my time had come.

Aug 26, 1918 We are in Epinal.  Very nice city.  Was arrested for being in city without pass.

Aug. 27, 1918 Was released today by our Capt.  Was paid today and had lots to eat.

Aug. 28, 1918 Left today for some other front.

Aug. 29, 1918 Had trouble with one of the sgts. and had to put him out of action.

Sept. 1, 1918  Was made corporal today.  Have been in Baineville two or three days now.

Sept. 9, 1918  We are at the Metz Front ready for the drive.  More artillery here than I ever saw before.  19th, 20th & 21st F.A. setting hub to hub on one of other roads.

Sept. 11, 1918 Going into the trenches tonight.  Well we are here & things are rather quiet.  Well it is 1:00am & we are off.

Sept. 12, 1918 Will have to stop until we are through firing.  6:00am We have started to advance & we need motor cars to keep up with the Boche.  They are some travelers.  3:00pm The 5th F.A. Brigade was complimented by Gen. Pershing for their fast work.

Sept. 13, 1918  We are moving up to Thiaucourt tonight.  Germans are shelling the roads & it is hard to get through.

Sept. 18, 1918  Leaving Thiaucourt this a.m.  It sure is hell the way they shell the roads & our artillery positions.  A wireless operator of the 21st F.A. was killed this am as we were passing.  The Germans shelled an ammunition dump that had formerly been held by them before the big drive, but our engineers had removed all ammunition.  Some 14 inch Howitzer Battery digging in where we were located.  Last night I & Sgt. Raymond Palmer made high steps for an old rock quarry when the Germans shelled our positions.  Ray & I were standing in the road by the quarry when Atkins passed us headed for it.  Big shell just struck kitchen.  Atkins said he was just starting to shave & when he heard the shell coming, finished with one stroke of his razor.  More rain.  Dismal weather.  It is reported we are going Hell, Heaven or Hoboken before Christmas.  Probably Hell.  Were relieved by 78th division.  10 o'clock...night.  Are moving back to same positions as Germans are causing uproar among new troops.  (Raymond Palmer is the person who Uncle Bus was named for.)

Sept. 19th  Same old story.  We were going to rest camp & ended at another place called Monteauville on front.

Sept. 20th  We have established two gun positions about 6 miles from here.  The positions are about 3 miles apart.  Writing conditions are bad so you must excuse it.

Sept. 21st  Saw a train loaded with ammunition go by today on one of those toy narrow gauge tracks, and who got off to throw a switch, but Joe Riley.  It certainly did me good to meet someone from home.

Sept. 22nd  Moved two guns to new positions & fired this a.m.  Had a hole dug & 8ft. long by 4ft. wide by 4 ft. deep to put wounded in.  The Germans rushed up with trench mortars to destroy our mortars, but we beat them to it.  They used 1 pounders on us too.  Willie Moore & I were in the hole first.  Were not wounded either.  You know, "Safety First."

Sept. 23rd  Moved the two guns back to former positions.  Got work just now that the Boche are coming over.  Are all set to receive them.  Two hours later--Well we received them and instead of being a big advance it was a raiding party, but we were doing the raiding before they had gone 500 yds.

Sept. 24th  Have started to the other position to establish telephone communications with our echelon.  Nothing more of interest today except that they (the Germans) blew up our beans and coffee so won't eat until tomorrow.

Sept. 25th  Lots of rain, but drinking water hard to get.  Had to shave with coffee today.  Have not had bath since we struck the front.  Won't need one if they keep shelling like this.

Sept. 26th  Wounded south of Thiaucourt.  Back and head badly torn by shrapnel.  Treated by doctor at some infantry outpost field hospital of 7 division.  Looks like they will have to make a new smeller for me.  My face is swollen so bad my eyes are almost closed.

The story Irv told, and my mother has passed on, is that the doctors made him a new nose from the knuckle of a thumb of a German.  I always thought that was cool (and true) until I realized, "a transplant in 1918?  Really?"

Coming to America

On May 4, 1893, the S.S. Stuttgart arrived at the Port of Baltimore from Bremen, Germany.  Among its passengers were John Joseph Haeb, Sr., his wife Susanna, who was seven months pregnant, and their five children, John Jr. (age 14), Gertrude (age 12), Matthew (age 10), Joseph (age 8) and Theodore (age 5). The Haeb family's final destination was Elkhart, Indiana, where relatives had settled sometime earlier.

When we hear about our ancestors immigration from Europe, we may immediately think of Ellis Island, but there were many ports of entry on the East Coast.  Baltimore had an advantage over New York because it was the closest port to the Midwest, and with the advent of railroads and canals, it was the fastest route to major cities in Ohio and Illinois.  By 1893, the railroad was well-established in Elkhart, making me think that it may have been the family's mode of transportation from Baltimore to their new home.  How they got to Elkhart after they disembarked in Baltimore was one of those questions that floated around in my mind until recently.

Upon their arrival in Elkhart, the family settled at 215 St. Joe Street.  On July 10, 1893, Peter Joseph was born.

Above is a list of Immigrants Arriving at the Port of Baltimore on the S.S. Stuttgart on May 4, 1893.  The Haeb family begins on line 31 at the bottom of the page.  At the time of immigration, John Sr. was a mason and brought $115 in cash with him.

This above document is a NY Passenger List from May 2, 1893, which also lists the Haebs (Hab).  I found it somewhat confusing because Ancestry.com lists the ship name as German.  (The first page of the document was partially destroyed.)  However I did find the arrival of the Stuttgart on May 2, 1893 in the Morton-Allan Directory of European Passenger Arrivals at the Port of New York, 1890-1930.  Other oddities on this document are, [1] Although John Sr. and Susanna are listed with their correct ages, none of the ages of the children are correct, [2] Matthew is listed as Martha, a female.  

This chest is one of 6 pieces of baggage the family brought with them and listed on the NY Passenger List

This note was found in the chest.  It was the piece of information that directed me away from searching the Ellis Island database.  Also, after unsuccessfully searching the Port of Baltimore database for Haeb, I finally realized I needed to search for Hab.  I'm not sure who wrote the note, or when.  It appears to be, in part, a transcription of the passenger list, where Matthew was listed as Matthias.  At first I thought it was part of their immigration papers, however, I now know that Pottawattomi Drive was Water Street at least until 1930 and that the family didn't move there until the 1920s.

The Votes are In!

General consensus is that John Haeb was probably part of the Storehouse Gang.

No, it is not a vote of one.  Aside from the one comment, emails and face-to-face contacts  have concurred.  I will be going to the RR Museum in the near future to officially identify John in their photo.