A lesson in genealogical patience

Family history research is a journey.  Like a roadtrip, sometimes it's smooth, fun and scenic. But sometimes it's bumpy and you hit major roadblocks. Not every ancestor leaves behind a rich paper trail, and not every cousin responds with a treasure trove of memories. 

Case in point: my great-grandmother Martha Goesch Sullivan.

Family member name: Martha E. Goesch Sullivan
Years of life: 1900-1976
Places lived: Nebraska
Tree branch: Goesch
Relation: My great-grandmother (my mom's mom's mom) 

The elusive Martha Goesch Sullivan

I never met Martha, but I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years trying to learn more about her. I’ve followed leads, sent messages, written letters, and made phone calls. Here are the 5 methods I've tried so far:

1. Ancestry Messaging Spree
   I sent a dozen messages through Ancestry.com's messaging app, reaching out to members of the Goesch family, asking if anyone remembered visiting or hearing stories about Martha. Only one cousin responded—and while he didn’t know anything himself, he gave me the name and email address of his aunt, who he thought might remember her.

2. Emails, a Letter, and... Crickets
   I sent two thoughtful, photo-filled emails to the aunt. When I didn’t hear back, I looked up her address and mailed a handwritten letter with family tree sketches and more photos. Still no reply!!  I followed up with the cousin again, who let me know his aunt didn’t remember Martha, which is why she hadn’t responded. I wonder what prevented her from just briefly replying to say "Sorry, no"? 

3. Another Cousin, Another Dead End
   A lovely cousin named Rob contacted me about a different shared Goesch ancestor, and I took the opportunity to ask about Martha. Unfortunately, he didn’t know anything about her either.

4. Cemetery Management Silence
   I reached out to the town cemetery where Martha was buried in Nebraska.  Sometimes there are records that include who paid for the burial. I didn’t get a response, but I reached out during the pandemic, so it’s possible there was limited staff at the time.

5. Hospital Records—But Not Yet
   I contacted the hospital where Martha lived for many years, hoping for medical records. At first they just said "no" with no further information. But after I peppered them with questions, they informed me the records will be made public 50 years after her death. Which is in 2026. Another year to go.  But at least there's hope of forward progress!!

This hasn’t been easy, but it’s part of the process. Sometimes you hit a wall (or five), and the only thing to do is keep chipping away. I still have a couple of cousins to contact and will try the historical society again. I know there's more to learn about Martha. I’m not done looking.

Marriage License Confusion

From a genealogist's point of view, a marriage license is considered an original source. It’s not a copy or secondhand information—it is filled out by the primary participants. Often, the details on the record are considered facts. These documents are incredibly valuable to family historians because they often list the bride and groom's parents, offering a window into one more generation back on both sides of the family tree. Awesome!

On December 1, 1943, my grandparents filled out their marriage license, no doubt a happy day for them! However, there was an unexpected snag for my Grandma Betty. When asked to list her parents on the document, she didn’t write down her biological mother and father. She didn’t even name the relatives who raised her. Instead, she listed her aunt and uncle—the ones who legally adopted her.

Harry and Alma Allen are not Betty's parents. They are her aunt and uncle. 

As a family member who recognized the names on the document (and that they weren't her parents!), I have the advantage of asking difficult questions. I can explore Betty’s complicated relationships and try to understand why she made this choice.

But what if I didn’t have this personal knowledge? What if a non-family genealogist was researching Betty’s family tree? Would they blindly accept the mother and father listed on her marriage license and move on, potentially exploring a completely different lineage?

I’ll admit, I’ve accepted the information on many marriage certificates of my ancestors as fact. I rarely stop to ask, “Were those REALLY their parents?” Most people know the names of their parents, right?

This example gets to the heart of genealogy. Records tell one story, but they don’t always tell the truth—even firsthand, original source records. 

My grandparents' marriage license is a reminder that family trees are complicated and that, at the end of the day, genealogists might never know the real story.

Regardless of the paperwork, my grandma and grandpa got married the next day and were happily married for almost 40 years.

Family member name: Betty Lee Sullivan (Adoptive name: Allen)

Years of life: 1922 - 2007

Places lived: Nebraska, Michigan, New York

Tree branch: Boyle
Relation: My grandma (my mom's mom)

Sources:

National Genealogical Society: Genealogical Proof Standard

Hastings

The 1940 federal census in Adams, Nebraska was enumerated 81 years ago this month, April 18, 1940.  It showed where my great-grandmother had been living for about 10 years already.  She was sadly referred to as an "inmate" at a place called Hastings State Hospital.

Family member name: Martha E. Goesch Sullivan
Years of life: 1900-1976

Places lived: Nebraska

Tree branch: Goesch
Relation: My great-grandmother (my mom's mom's mom)

See the red underlined row.  Sullivan, Martha | Inmate

This post is about Hastings.  Hastings was originally built in 1889 to house the "incurably insane," which is so sad if my great-grandmother had that diagnosis.  In an upcoming post we will talk about her and her illness.

Where is Hastings State Hospital?  It's in the middle of the country.  However, this part of Nebraska is only about 45 minutes from where Martha was born and less than two hours from where she was raising her three children in Lincoln.  This is what Hastings looked like. 

My great-grandma lived at this hospital in Nebraska for most of her life.

The patients were trained to care for themselves and their surroundings.  Also, Hastings was designed to be self-sufficient in terms of food.  It had surrounding farms with all kinds of animals and livestock for the patients and staff to eat.

Early attempts to treat the mentally ill began in the 1920s.  But the 1950s saw breakthroughs in treatment with psychiatric drugs and rehabilitation therapies.

Hastings State Hospital was my great-grandmother's home for most of her life.  I can only hope that her life there had bright spots.  Perhaps the inside and gardens were pleasant.  

Had I known this information about my great-grandma, I definitely would have stopped by Hastings on our cross-country drive in 1999 just to see the outside of the buildings.  Hastings is right off of Route 80, which is the route we took at that time.  However, we wouldn't be able to stop by now because after 131 years, Hastings was torn down in 2020.

Sources:

1940 US Federal Census - Adams, Nebraska

Asylum Projects - Hastings State Hospital

A boy named Louis

My Grandma Boyle's paternal grandparents were Eugene C. Sullivan and Louise Auguste Huth.  My research just revealed some facts about Louise's life. 

Family member name: Louise Auguste Huth Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1867-1948
Relation: My 2x great grandmother (my mom's mom's dad's mom)

Louise was born in 1867 in Marshall, Michigan, in the palm of the hand near Battle Creek.  Her parents were William Huth and Magdelena (Lena) Dewieghter, both immigrants from Germany.  She was the middle child of five with two older sisters and a younger sister and brother.  Louise only finished the 5th grade.

Just a quick note about how I found this information. I've been searching for years and was frustrated by the brick wall, but finally had a breakthrough!

Louise was mistakenly listed in the census as a boy named Louis.  Maybe the census taker didn't understand her parents' accents or maybe two-year-old Louise had a short haircut and looked like a boy. I don't know, but she was hidden in the census.  But comparing with several other sources, this is definitely her.

Notice the 2-year old male named Louis.  This is my great great grandmother, Louise.

We next find Louise at 17 years old in Nebraska working as a domestic servant.  She married Eugene three years later.  Louise and Eugene had five children in Nebraska, and three lived to adulthood.  However, to date we only know of two of their children, Alfred and Percy.

By the time Louise was 53, her husband passed away and she had moved to Sunnyside, Washington.  She worked as a dressmaker, which she may have learned from her father who was a tailor.  She then moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1924.  She lived there for the rest of her life and passed away in 1948, 13 days after my mom (her great granddaughter) was born.  

Sadly, I can't find any pictures of Louise, yet.  This is all I have.

Third Balloon Company

We don't know much about my mom's grandfather.  It is assumed by all that he was a rat.

Family member name: Alfred Vernon Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1897-1960
Relation: My great grandfather (my mom's mom's dad)

He may well have been a real rat.  After all, he gave my great grandmother an STD which ruined her life, then abandoned his three children.

Recently I looked into his military history.  

Alfred enlisted in World War I just six days after the US got involved.  It was April 12, 1917, 102 years ago today.  He served in the 3rd Balloon Company, which was part of the American Expeditionary Forces, the Air Service.  Many men like him from Nebraska, were in balloon companies, since the balloon school was in Omaha.

What was a balloon company?  In 1917, there were no satellites, and planes were in their infancy.  The Allies needed to spy on the Germans.  Enter balloons.  Ninety-three balloon companies were formed during WWI. They were called the "eyes of the army".

Balloon companies were sent behind enemy lines in order to raise a hydrogen balloon (yes, highly explosive) a couple thousand feet in the sky with two men called "observers" with a telescope in the basket.  The balloon was tethered to a winch truck which would move it and haul it back in when done.  The observers would communicate the locations of the enemy troops, not by wireless phone, but with a real phone.  Yes, miles of wires were hung out of the basket to the ground and back to the base! (Can't make this stuff up.) They also made real-time maps.

Alfred was not assigned as an observer, but was a "Chauffer".  Not to be confused with an upscale driver service, a chauffer in a balloon company drove the winch truck, a hydrogen truck or anti-aircraft truck.  Anything that needed driving.  

Since they were behind enemy lines or at the front line, they were sleeping in the open and constantly shot at.  During just one campaign in France which his company was involved in, 21 balloons were shot down.  So he had to dodge fireballs and parachuting observers plummeting from the sky.  Then they had to inflate new balloons on the spot.  A first hand account says, "Personnel weakened by inhaling choride gas, suffering from dysentery... soaking wet from almost continual rain... uniforms crawling with cooties... eating magotty food."

He was in France and Germany for about a year and a half.  One of the towns where they were given leave time was known for its licentiousness, perhaps the place where 20-year old Alfred caught syphilis.

I can't imagine that the guy did not have PTSD.  We don't know if that affected his decisions going forward, or if he just made bad decisions in general.

The Third Balloon Company was assigned to Germany after the Armistice of 11/11/1918 in order to keep peace.

The above facts are not intended to excuse his behavior in any way, however it is always good to understand the bigger picture of someone's life. 

If you're interested in more info about balloon companies, here are some links.

Link to fascinating article in the Omaha World-Herald

Link to North Omaha History - Fort Omaha Balloon School

Link to NY Times article from 1919

The paper trail of Alfred Sullivan

My mom never met her maternal grandfather.  When she was a child, she was told he had already passed away.  She didn't learn the truth until later.

Family member name: Alfred Vernon Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1897-1960
Relation: My great grandfather (my mom's mom's dad)

Later, she learned that he had abandoned his young family and was never seen again.  That's all I knew growing up, and I believe that's all my mom knew too.

When I began my family tree research, the paper trail told the truth about what happened to Alfred V. Sullivan.  He, in fact, was still living when my mom was young.

After marrying Martha Goesch around 1919/1920, they had three children in eight years.  However, by 1930, their family was in shambles because of him.  Martha had contracted syphilis from Alfred and was put in an institution.  Instead of caring for his children, Alfred abandoned them.  On the brink of the Great Depression, the three young kids were split up and sent to live with aunts and uncles who loved them.

Sullivan family circa 1924. Alfred, Betty (my grandma), Martha and Lois.

Where did Alfred go?

His whereabouts are a mystery for 12 years. He disappeared.  He does not show up in records until 1942.

1928 - His youngest child born in Nebraska
1930 - Has already abandoned the family
1942 - Working for the WPA in Sheldon, Texas
1948 - Alfred is listed in his mother's obituary as living in San Francisco.
1960 - Death record, San Francisco.

Was Alfred aware that he had four grandchildren? His grandchildren were not aware that they had a living grandfather.  My mom was 12 years old when he actually died.

Why was mom told he was dead? Did they know Alfred would never be a part of their lives?  Did they even want him in their lives? He was definitely the black sheep. But I wonder what is worse?  Should you tell a child their grandfather died or should you tell a child he abandoned her mom and perhaps she may keep wondering if he would ever come back?  I just don't know.

Tree Branches

What is a branch of a family tree?

Is it the family line through my grandparents?  If so, each person would only have four tree branches.  And while this is technically a true statement, for this blog's purposes, I'm going to narrow it down a little further.

Going forward, when I reference a branch of my family tree, I'll be referring to the branch beginning with my (or Dru's) great-grandparents, as shown in the red box below.

Therefore, we each have eight branches.  Mine are: Webber, Pearson, Smith, Bromley, Boyle, Anderson, Sullivan and Goesch.

Meredith's Family Tree's branches

Dru's branches are: Hargreaves, Cottam, Jones, Newman, Kekos, Papoutsaki, Stevens and Papas.

Dru's Family Tree's branches

Each post will also be tagged with the tree branch so as to find information easily.  Hopefully this will add some clarification to what may be a bunch of random family stories and research findings.

Earl's Rock

My Grandma had a brother.  He is my mom's uncle.  He was the youngest of the three children of Alfred and Martha Sullivan.  He was born Earl Eugene Sullivan in September of 1928.  When he was still a baby, he was adopted by his mom's sister and husband, Harry and Alma Allen.  They changed his name to Earl Eugene Allen.  Here he is around age 2.

When he grew a little bigger, he would run down to the end of his street and sit on top of a large rock waiting for his dad to come home from work.  He did this everyday. :)

One day when Earl was almost 6 years old, he was in the family's driveway.  The milkman came with his truck and didn't see little Earl.  Tragically, Earl passed away.  Two days later, Earl was buried in what came to be the family's plot in Wheaton Cemetery, Wheaton Illinois.  The family had Earl's favorite rock moved to the cemetery as a reminder.  Here it is.

Just this month I am writing this (Sept 2016), Earl would have been 88 years old.  My grandma and great-aunt were lovely people. I can't imagine that Earl would have been any less.  I think that my mom and aunts were robbed of having Uncle Earl in their lives, as my grandma was robbed of her brother.  I can't imagine the heartache of Harry and Alma.

Also, sometimes we may look around a cemetery and something may seem out of place.  Why is that large rose bush there?  Why is that lilac tree overgrown?  Why is there a huge rock instead of a headstone?  We don't know the stories behind these things.  They may be very meaningful to the family, just like Earl's rock.