Mystery Solved!

Back in January I wrote a post about some pictures I found of my Fathers family.

I was wondering if anyone could identify their location.

Well after many hours scouring the Internet, I found it!

The Troutdale Hotel

From the Jefferson County Colorado Official Website:

Started in the late 1800s as a group of log cabins and a one-story hotel. In 1920 Harry Sidles, a Nebraska businessman, opened a new four-story luxury hotel with pond, pool and golf course. Through the 20s and 30s Troutdale was one of the most popular and fashionable resorts of the west. World War II forced closings and several later owners tried to restore it to its former glory, but it was razed in 1994. It was at times been called Troutdale In The Pines. Name source unknown

Once I found out the name of the hotel, I was able to to find more pictures of it.

This one is from the Denver Public Library Digital Collections

In this one you can even see the rock wall along the road that they were sitting on

for the photograph!

I'm not sure that any of this will help with my research, but I love solving a mystery!

Reuben Thompson Crosley

 Born April 7, 1836 in Vigo

His parents were

Josiah Crosley, born 1805 & Priscilla Thompson, born 1812

In 1850 Reuben is living in Vigo, Co. Indiana with his parents and siblings.

Sometime before 1857 he moved to Grant County Wisconsin.

On May 10, 1857, he married Minerva Ellie Bass in Grant County Wisconsin. 

This information can be verified at the Wisconsin Historical Society

In 1860 Reuben and Minerva are living in Beetown, Grant County Wisconsin 

with  their first two children: Sarah and Jesse (my Great Grandfather).

The Civil War

On September 12, 1861 Reuben enlisted as a private in Company F, 10th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin.

10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment

The Tenth Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Holton, Milwaukee, WI, and mustered into the service of the United States on October 14, 1861, it left the state November 9, and arrived at Louisville, KY, November 11, where it was sent to guard the line of the Louisville & Nashville Railway and engaged in this service until February 1862, when the Tenth participated in the general southern movement of the Union forces which reached south as far as Huntsville, AL; and who shortly thereafter were compelled to retrace their steps north through Middle Tennessee and Kentucky until the hostile forces met in combat at Chaplin Hills or Perryville, KY, October 8, 1862, in which engagement the Tenth participated. This was followed by another march southward by the Union forces which the Tenth accompanied, and the hostile armies again engaged in battle at Stone's River or Murfreesboro, TN, December 30-31, 1862 to January 1, 1863. After this engagement the Tenth was assigned to duty guarding railways until the latter part of June, and joined with the forces under Gen. Rosecrans in the Tullahoma Campaign June 23 to July 7, 1863, a part of the Army of the Cumberland. This was followed by the advance on Chattanooga and the hostile forces again met at Chickamaugua, GA, September 19-20, 1863. A little later in the year the Tenth participated in the battle of Missionary Ridge November 25, 1863, and from February 22 to 27, 1864 participated in the demonstration on Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost,GA.

On May 24th the Tenth again rejoined its division and as a part of the Fourteenth Army Corps took part in the Atlanta Campaign, participating in the Battle of Dallas, GA, May 13, 1864, at and around Kenesaw Mountain June 10 to July 3, 1864, and Peach Tree Creek July 20, 1864. In October the time for which the regiment had enlisted expired, those recruits whose terms had not expired were transferred to the Twenty-first Infantry. On October 16th, the Tenth left Marietta, GA for Wisconsin, reaching Milwaukee on the 25th and was mustered out and disbanded.

The histories above, unless otherwise noted, are adopted from Charles E. Estabrook, ed., Records and Sketches of Military Organizations, (Madison, 1914).

For more general information on Wisconsin's Civil War units, we suggest the following works:

• Dyer, Frederick, Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, (Des Moines, 1908).
• Love, William DeLoss, Wisconsin in the War of the Rebellion, (Chicago, 1866).
• Quiner, E.B., The Military History of Wisconsin, (Chicago, 1866).

The Battle at Stones River Tennessee

[Rosecrans at Stones River by Kurz and Allison - Courtesy of Wikipedia]

Reuben was transferred out of the 10th Wisconsin on August 1, 1863

and transferred into the Regiment U.S. Veterans Corps.

Life after War

In 1870 Reuben and Minerva are living in Brownville, Nemaha, Nebraska.

Reuben lists his occupation as a Teamster.

They now have 6 children. 

Sarah born 1859 WI., Jesse born 1860 WI., Reuben born 1862 WI., Lucinda born 1866 WI.,

Priscilla born 1868 WI., and Henry born 1869 NE..

So I believe that they moved to Nebraska in late 1868 or early 1869.

In 1880 Reuben and Minerva are living in Peru, Nemaha, Nebraska.

Reuben now lists his occupation as a farmer, and they have 3 more children:

Charles born 1871 NE., Benaga born 1876., NE. and James born 1878 NE.

In 1883 at age 41 Minverva dies. She is buried at the 
Valparaiso Cemetery in Saunders Co. NE. 

 From Find A Grave website

In 1888 Reuben re-marries. To Mary L. Mohaney (from Nebraska marriages 1855-1995).

In 1890 Reuben is living in Denver Colorado at r. 44 S. 1st Street, Jerome Park.

from the 1890 Denver, Colorado City Directory.

He is listed as a Laborer. This same year, he is also listed as living at r. 759 Fairview Avenue Highlands,  Denver Colorado. 

On a side note, his brother Isaac J. Crosley is listed at this same address. 

Also, Isaac is near him in Nebraska, and they served together in the 10th Wisconsin Infantry. 

In the 1891 Ballenger and Richards Denver City Directory Reuben is listed as a Teamster
 living at r. Rochester ne cor. Nevins s. Fairview Add. 

Death

Reuben Thompson Crosley died in on December 13, 1907 at the age of 71.
He was buried at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo Colorado on December 14, 1907.

Where do you think they are?

Well, as I have stated before, I inherited most the pictures on my Fathers side long after my Grandmother Clara passed. So I've had to piece together some of the names and places.

Here are a few that I find especially intriguing. 

These seem to be taken on a family trip, possibly the 1920's. When I found the pictures they were all together and all were large pictures (6" X 10").

The first one above, seems to be the hotel. I have no idea where it could be, but think it may be Colorado.  If anyone recognizes anything, I'd love to know. I am basing this on Jesse Walker Crosley and his wife Elizabeth Wire Atkinson moving to Colorado in the early part of the 20th Century.

 Picture two is a group of people. I believe they are: Cora Belle Crosley, Unknown Man (he appears to be with Cora, so I think he may be a husband. I'm not sure which, since I don't know the year). Unknown Woman, Harriet Crosley Baumgartner, Unknown Woman, And I think the Man holding the child is My Grandfather Reuben Thompson Crosley III. 

Bottom row left to right: Ruth Crosley Bennett, Mabel Crosley Baumgartner, Elizabeth Atkinson Crosley

and Cora Belle Crosley. Back row left to right: Reuben Thompson Crosley III, Jesse Walker Crosley and Unknown man. 

The woman in the car looks like Cora Belle Crosley, I'm not sure who the men are.

The same happy group, left to right:

Unknown man Cora Belle Crosley, Unknown woman, Unknown woman, Unknown man with child, and I think Harriet Crosley

I'd love to learn more about these pictures, so any help would be appreciated!

Kermitt Ivan Schaffner




Kermitt Ivan Schaffner "At the old place"

 Born in Wisconsin January 19, 1926. He was my Father's half-brother. His Mother was my Grandmother Clara Heath Crosley and his Father was John (Jack) Schaffner who I never met, and know nothing about. Uncle Kermitt was in the Army during WWII.

In 1963 he married Iva B. Chambers. They never had children.
Uncle Kermitt loved his C.B. Radio and went by the handle "Casper". When we were on our way over, he would be upstairs in his bedroom talking to us while we were blocks away. Pretty silly now, but fun in the 1970's!

He worked at Switchcraft in Chicago for many years. He came home at exactly 4:30 everyday, and had supper. He used to mix all his food together before he ate it, and when we would comment he would always say the same thing "it all ends up the same place anyway". He also LOVED model trains, that was what we got him every year for Christmas. He had them all set up in his basement. If he wasn't upstairs on the radio he was downstairs with his trains! He was sweet and funny.

Uncle Kermitt died in 1979. He was buried on Christmas Eve at Clark's Grove Cemetery in Tennessee.

Jesse Walker Crosley

Jesse was born in Wisconsin in Beetown Grant County Wisconsin on May 16, 1859. He was the son of Reuben Thompson Crosley and Minerva Ellie Bass.
Just as a side note, I think Jesse "might" have been named after the Methodist Circuit Preacher Jesse Walker. Minerva's Grandmother Susan Zumwalt met him in St. Charles Missouri.

On March 11, 1880 he married Elizabeth Wire Atkinson.

Jesse Walker Crosley & Elizabeth Wire Atkinson Crosley

To this marriage 8 children were born:

Cora Belle b. 1881
Burton Roscoe b. 1884
William Glade b. 1887
Mabel Florence b. 1891
David Elijah b. 1893
ReubenThompson b. 1896
Harriet M. b. 1898
Ruth Gertrude b. 1903 

Jesse and Elizabeth moved around quite a bit. The census shows them going back and forth from Wisconsin to Colorado.





Jesse Walker Crosley died on April 15, 1938 in Lancaster Wisconsin

Here is the obituary:

Wisconsin State Journal
Madison Wisconsin
April 20, 1938
Crosley Services Held at Lancaster
Lancaster - Funeral services for Jesse W. Crosley were held at the Hoskins funeral home Tuesday. Mr. Crosley, a retired farmer, died at his home April 15, at the age of 78. He was born in Beetown May 16, 1859, the son of Reuben and Minerva Bass Crosley. He is survived by two sons, Bert, of California: Reuben, of Lancaster: and two daughters, Mrs. Beryl Bennett, Lancaster: and Mrs. Bert Healy, Chicago. Burial will be at Hillside.

Charles Henry Heath

Charles Henry Heath was my Grandmother's Father. He was born in Woodbine Township, JoDaviess County IL in March 1873.
His Mother died shortly after. 
He is the son of George Heath And Harriet Sutton
He and his siblings, along with their father are in the 1880 census living in Iowa with his Maternal Grandparents, Elihu Sutton and Carline Call Sutton.


 Bertha Heath Bentley, Charles Henry Heath, Caroline Heath LaFayette

Charles had an older half-sister Arminda Savage Putman. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of Arminda.


In 1897 he married my Great Grandmother Alta Clinger in Grant County Wisconsin, and they had 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl, my Grandmother.


In 1907 his wife, my Great Grandmother passed at only 25 years old, leaving him with his 4 surviving children. By this time there is no mention of their son George, I am hoping to find out what happened to him.

From the Bellevue Herald Leader

Their Children were: Albert, Roy, Archie (Ray), and Clara.
After their Mothers death the children were separated,  Albert and Roy went to live with James Clinger their Uncle and Roy and Clara went to live with their Grandparents John and Alma Clinger.



 Archie Ray Heath Clara Heath Crosley, Albert or Roy Heath & Charles Henry Heath



Sometime before 1918 he remarried to Rosa Handy. 

Eugene Walter Crosley, Charles Heath, Bertha Bentley Heath,
Clara Heath Crosley, Archie Ray Heath, Myrtle Sprague Heath

According to my Mother he was a grounds keeper at a cemetery in Mt. Hope Wisconsin. And she also says that he is buried at Hillside Cemetery in Lancaster. She says that she had been to the grave site with my Grandmother, and that near the south east fence, but there is no grave marker. I have searched and not found any sign of his grave. Charley died in 1949.

Reuben Thompson Crosley III

I never knew my Grandpa Crosley, he died when I was 9 months old.

I have always been interested in what his life was like.

He was born in Colorado on April 2, 1896. His parents, my Great Grandparents Jesse Walker Crosley and Elizabeth Wire Atkinson seemed to go back and forth from Colorado to Wisconsin. I'm not sure why this was.

At times the family was also in Nebraska.

Grandpa Crosley fought in WWI. After his death, my Grandma Crosley received this document signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

 

                   My Grandparents did not marry until the early 1930's
              They had 2 sons. My Uncle, George Fay born July 11, 1934.

George Fay Crosley

                    And my Dad, Eugene Walter born February 7, 1936


Eugene Walter Crosley

   I don't have too many pictures of my Grandpa Crosley. I think this may have been one of the last ones taken before his death in September 1964.

This is a picture from a family gathering on my Dads side.

I think it was taken in Wisconsin around 1940.

I still haven't been able to find out who everyone is in this picture, but here's what I know. From left to right around the table.. Reuben Thompson Crosley III, he is holding Eugene Walter Crosley, Unknown female (perhaps a Clinger, McCartney or Cook?) Unknown female (same names), Unknown man standing (Same names), Clara Heath Crosley, Charles Henry Heath, Unknown Man standing. Children seated, Kermitt Schaffner, Elinor (Tyke) Heath, George Crosley, Milda Knebel Heath (standing), Delores Heath, Archie Ray Heath, and Myrtle Sprague Heath (sitting). So it seems to be a Heath family gathering. Just a note, if you look closely people are likely to be looking at 2 separate cameras. Half the people are looking one way, and half are looking the other way. Any help would be great.

A love of Genealogy, Photos, and Grandma

Well, here it is. My first post.
My obsession to learn my about my family's history began almost at birth. I used to sit on my Grandmas floor and look through her old photo albums and wonder who everyone was. Now, am lucky enough to be the owner of most of those same photos.
Thus begins my second obsession, sharing them.

While I can identify most of people in my photos. Alas, some I cannot. I hope that someone will come along, and figure it out. Not just for me, but for all of the people who have never seen a picture of their Great Grandparents.

I am looking forward to sharing some of the fun stuff I've learned, and uploading photos as I identify them. I'm also hoping to write what I know about someone along with their photo. Here's the first.

My Grandma
Clara Belle Heath Crosley
Born in Iowa in 1902
Died in Chicago in 1979 Buried in Lancaster Wisconsin.

Grandma lost her mother Alta Clinger Heath when she was only 5. She was then raised by her Maternal Grandparents Ella McCartney Clinger and John Alexander Clinger.

She never said much about this to me, but did mention her Grandmother in conversation. I didn't know about her loss until I started working on my family tree. Grandma always wore cool cotton dresses, and was "soft" when you hugged her. Just how Grandmas should be.

She always had dinner on the table at 4:30 exactly, and held the phone to her chest when she talked because of her hearing aid. Its funny the stuff you remember. She loved dogs (especially her dog Tiny), and to sew.

She was married twice. The first time to Jack Schaffner, with whom she had 2 sons. And the second to my Grandfather Reuben Thompson Crosley III, to which 2 more sons were born. The youngest being my Dad.