Hobert (Herbert) C. Hutson had a Big Green Truck (52 Ancestors #29)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

His family nickname was Hobe[1].  Friends affectionately referred to him as Herbie or H.C. 

I remember calling him “Pop”.  He was my grandfather.

Herbert C. Hutson, November 1946.
From author's personal collection

I have no other memories of him as he died when I was very young. I asked my brother Martin what he remembered about Pop because he’s older than me.  He had vivid memories:

“He bought us our first bikes.  Pop took me for rides in his pickup truck for work and fun and let me shift the gears.  We went to downtown Baldwin Park for ice cream and to Carr’s Department Store.  He would just let me be with him and talk about what I was doing, school, etc.”

First bikes from Pop and Grandma Hutson,
Christmas 1955, Big green truck in background.
From author's personal collection

Pop’s given name was Hobart Clayton Hutson[2], the first child of Alva Leo Hutson and Ada Lurena Boruff Hutson.  On 23 Sep 1901 in Wayne Township, Mitchell County, Iowa he greeted the world.[3]  His boyhood and teenage years were spent in McKinney Township, Renville County, North Dakota in the uppermost region of the state very near the Canadian border.  His father homesteaded[4] there from about 1904 – 1920 and Herbert worked on the farm.[5] 

Herbert had many siblings as the Hutson family grew over the 15 year residence in North Dakota:

• Lyle Kenneth Hutson (1904-1973)
• Violet Olive Hutson (1905-1919)
• Florence Ella Hutson (1906-1991)
• Lawrence William Hutson (1909-1986)
• Lillian Opal Hutson (1910-1998)
• Esther Marie Hutson (1911-1995)
• Alvin James Hutson (Jul 1914-Oct 1914)
• Harold Alvin Hutson (1915-1987)
• Melvin Milan Hutson (1923-2010) (born in Minnesota)

The Hutson family moved to Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota sometime after the 1920 U.S. federal census when they were last recorded in Grover Township, Renville County, North Dakota.  The 1921 Rochester city directory listed them renting at 20 8^th NE.   In 1923, he was living with his parents at 716 Broadway N and was a laborer, possibly where his father worked at the W.L. Parkin Ice Cream Company.

Herbert married Bernice I. Eisenman about 1925.  They lived in Fillmore County, Minnesota when their first and only child was born on 26 Oct 1926.

His occupations included:  laborer[6], mechanic[7], and truck driver[8].  My Uncle B knew Herbie, as he called him, and recounted the story that he worked for a defense plant in Long Beach during WWII, probably Douglas Aircraft.  Herbie was of great value to the plant because he had a truck, a big, green truck that he drove to pickup and deliver mail and other items.  After the war, he would meet the streetcar and deliver the mail to the post office.[9]

Censuses, city directories, and voter registration lists helped track Herbert and Bernice. They lived with or very close to the Hutson family cluster until his father died in 1936.[10]

• 1925 - 311 6^th NW, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota.  Herbert and Bernice lived here after getting married and when their first child was born.  Herbert’s parents, Alva Leo Hutson and Ada Boruff, lived here also, as did Herbert’s siblings Florence, Lawrence, Lillian and Lyle (and his wife Pearl).
• 1930 - 912 South Central Ave., Marshfield, Wood, Wisconsin.  Herbert’s parents and brother Lawrence each lived in a house next to them.
• 1935 to 1940 – 404½ East Bakerville Street, Marshfield, Wisconsin.  The Hutson family cluster seemed to have scattered after the death of Alva.  From 1935-1940, Lawrence, Harold, Lyle, their wives and mother had relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and Los Angeles, California.
• 1941 or so – Betty, their daughter, got her Social Security card in Arizona so my assumption is that Bernice and Herbert lived with or near his brothers for awhile.
• 1948 – 214½ Crickett Lane, Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, California.  Herbert and Bernice came to California during the war years and worked at a defense plants.
• 1949 – 215⅝ N. Maine, Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, California
• 1950 – 4147¾ N. Maine, Baldwin Park

On 27 Dec 1955 Herbert died tragically.  He was at a bar in downtown Baldwin Park.  An argument ensued between him and two other men resulting in Herbert being asked to leave the bar.  The two guys followed him out and hit him with a board.  An ambulance took him to a Los Angeles hospital where he died from severe head trauma a couple days later.  Nobody would talk to investigators so the assailants were never caught and the case was closed.[11]   

From various accounts I've heard about Herbert, he always dressed neatly, wore a large belt buckle and drove a big, green truck with lights atop the cab.  He was described as friendly and just maybe drank a bit too often.

Rest in peace Pop; it's a shame I didn't get to have more memories with you.

Future Research

• Obtain birth and marriage records
• Learn where they lived in Arizona
• Contact defense plant archives, if available, for employment records
• Research newspapers in Los Angeles and Baldwin Park
• Contact living relatives of his siblings for more stories

Sources

---

[1] Source of nickname, Ron A

[2] Recorded in records as Herbert from 1930 forward

[3] Birth record from Mitchell County, Iowa

[4] 1906 homestead record of Alva L. Hutson  

[5] 1920 U.S. federal census

[6] 1915 and 1920 census records, family farm, North Dakota; 1927 city directory, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota

[7] 1930 and 1940 census records, ice cream factory, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota

[8] 1949 and 1950, unknown employer, city directory, Baldwin Park, Los Angeles, California-

[9] Remembrance of Uncle B

[10] Profile of Bernice Eisenman Hutson on Denise Digs Roots Blog 

[11] As told by Robert Hibsch, Herbert’s son-in-law, 26 Aug 2011.  A newspaper account has yet to be found.

Sarah Jane Harris Kendall, from Appalachia to the Prairie (52 Ancestors #28)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

Today I'd like to introduce my 2nd great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Harris Kendall, mother of Henry Martin Kendall, my great-grandfather (whom I've not yet profiled).  Her profile is based solely on internet sources and all of it requires further evidence.  If there are any Harris-Kendall cousins out there, please inquire within!

Map Courtesy of Digital-Topo-Maps.com

Sarah Jane Harris spent over three decades living in a four county area of northeastern Kentucky: Lawrence, Morgan, Carter and maybe Rowan.  Much of the region is in the Cumberland Plateau region west of the main Appalachian Mountains.  Densely forested, rugged, yet beautiful land.  An enlargement  (above) of the four county area excerpted from a Kentucky county map shows the geographic relationship of each county.   

She was born in Lawrence County, Kentucky[1] in November 1830[2] to parent's whose names are yet to be determined.

On 12 Apr 1855, Sarah Jane Harris married Lewis Henry Kendall[3] in Morgan County, Kentucky. Their first two children died the year of birth, 1856[4] and 1857[5].  Subsequent children were:

• James W., 1858 and Celia A., 1859[6] in Morgan County
• John Allen, 1861 in Carter County, Kentucky[8] [9]
• Henry Martin, 1864 in (maybe) Rowan County, Kentucky[10]
• Rebecca Susan, 1866[11]
• Elijah, 1869[12] and Melvin Hayden, 1872 in Clark’s Creek County, Kansas[13]

Sarah raised her children and kept house while Lewis farmed the land during their 19 years of marriage.  They lived in various locations over the years:

• August 1860 in Carter County, Kentucky (Bruin Post Office).[7]
• June 1870 in Clark’s Creek, Morris County, Kansas (Council Grove Post Office).[14]

Kendall family in 1870 U.S. federal census, Morris County, Kansas [14]
(click to enlarge)

The Kendall family had probably lived in Kansas for about five years when, on 31 Jan 1874, Lewis Kendall died at 46 years of age.  He was buried in Burton Cemetery in Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas.[15]

The following year, 45 year old Sarah and the children were living in Highland Township, Morris County, Kansas (White City Post Office).  Son James W., at 17 was the man of the house and farming the land.  Celia Ann was 16 and Henry M., 10.  The 1875 Kansas State Census showed the value of personal property at $80.[16]. Rebecca, Melvin and Elijah were not recorded in the household. However, could "M.H. Kendall, 2," family #59 in this census be Sarah’s youngest son, Melvin living/staying with a nearby family?

Beginning with the 1880 U.S. federal census, and the next 30 years, Sarah lived in Ohio Township, Morris County, Kansas.  At first she was the head of household, then James.  Sarah was 50 now, James W., 21, Henry Martin, 14, and Melvin H., 7.  James continued to farm.[17]

James married Emma in about 1886 and they had eight children.  For census years 1900 and 1910, Sarah continued to live with James and was surrounded by grandchildren. The farm was owned and #26 on the Farm Schedule.[18] [19]

From the mountains of Appalachia to the prairie of Kansas, 82 year old Sarah Harris Kendall called it a life when she died on 12 Aug 1912 in Morris County.  She was buried in Burton Cemetery, Parkerville, Morris County, Kansas.[20]

Future Research

• Obtain birth, marriage, death and land records
• Name Sarah's parents and siblings
• Follow-up on "missing" children in 1875 census
• Determine town names in four counties
• Develop assumptions for relocating
• Find evidence of religious affiliation
• Locate living relatives of Sarah's children

Sources

---

[1] "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," index, FamilySearch, Lewis Kindall and Sarah Harris, 12 Apr 1855; citing, Lawrence, Kentucky, reference ; FHL microfilm 216831

[2] Year: 1900; Census Place: Ohio, Morris, Kansas; Roll: 491; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0107; FHL microfilm: 1240491. Ancestry.com

[3] See Footnote #1

[4] "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," index, FamilySearch, Kendall, 12 Jan 1856; citing, MORGAN, KENTUCKY, reference; FHL microfilm 216835.

[5] "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," index, FamilySearch, Kendall, 14 Feb 1857; citing, MORGAN, KENTUCKY, reference; FHL microfilm 216835.

[6] Kentucky, Birth Records, 1852-1910: Ancestry.com. Original data: Kentucky. Kentucky Birth, Marriage and Death Records – Microfilm (1852-1910). Microfilm rolls #994027-994058.

[7] 1860; Census Place: Carter County, Kentucky; Roll: M653_361; Page: 341; Image: 341; Family History Library Film: 803361. Ancestry.com

[8] "Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960," index, FamilySearch, Kendall, 05 Jul 1861; citing Carter, Kentucky, reference 2:2C31X2H; FHL microfilm 216819.

[9] Unsourced Word document of Denise Hibsch Richmond

[10] See Footnote 13.

[11] See Footnote 13.

[12] See Footnote 13.

[13] See Footnote 9.

[14] Year: 1870; Census Place: Clarks Creek, Morris, Kansas; Roll: M593_439; Page: 679B; Image: 599; Family History Library Film: 545938. Township : Clarks Creek.  Accessed on Ancestry.com.

[15] Find-A-Grave Memorial #21500700, created by Theresa, photos by Renate. www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21500700

[16] 1875 Kansas State Census. Microfilm reels K-1 – K-20. Kansas State Historical Society.  Accessed on Ancestry.com. Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925.

[17] "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch, Sarah Kendall, Ohio, Morris, Kansas, United States; citing sheet 408A, NARA microfilm publication T9.

[18] "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch, Sarah Kendall in household of James W Kendall, Ohio Township, Morris, Kansas, United States; citing sheet 2A, family 26, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240491.

[19] "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch, Sarrah Kendall in household of James W Kendall, Ohio, Morris, Kansas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 88, sheet 2A, family 30, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374462.

[20] Find-A-Grave Memorial #21500813, created by Theresa, photos by Renate.   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=kendall&GSiman=1&GScid=92109&GRid=21500813&

Cecilia Caballero Richmond, San Francisco Native (52 Ancestors #27)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

Please welcome Guest Blogger and my husband, Scott Richmond with a remembrance of his mother.

My mother was born Geneva Caballero on 16 June 1919 at San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco, San Francisco County, California.  The story passed down through the years was that she was born in either the lobby or a hospital corridor because she came so quickly.

Cecilia Caballero, age 13, (right) with siblings
Carmen and Peter, and cousin Kenny
(Denise H. Richmond Collection) 

Throughout most of her life, she believed that she was born Cecilia Caballero on 12 June 1919.  But when she needed to obtain a copy of her official birth certificate she discovered otherwise. Nevertheless, she continued to use Cecilia and the June 12th birth date for the remainder of her life.

Mom was the tenth of 13 children born to Spanish immigrants Alfonso Caballero and Gabriella Romero Caballero  – and the eighth girl.   She grew up in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco in the shadow of the now historic Coit Tower.  The hilly streets were cumbersome to walk as they were constructed of steep, wooden stairs.  She told me stories about climbing them daily to get to and from the trolley car and school.

She attended public school in San Francisco, including Francisco Junior High School and Galileo High School.  When asked about her favorite pastime as a school-girl, she described going to movies with friends and dances with the boys.  She nearly graduated from high school.  Her father caught her cutting class in the middle of her senior year and withdrew her from school.  Arrangements were then made to have her begin working at the Hormel meat packing factory, along with her older sister Mary.  She worked there, operating the bacon machine, for several months until her marriage to my father.

The word “willful” came to mind when she described her teenage antics which didn't stop with cutting class.  She regaled me with a few stories about how she and Mary climbed out of their bedroom window to go to the movies.  This behavioral trait was life-long!

Cecilia Caballero in her black satin
 wedding suit, 12 Jun 1937
(Denise H. Richmond Collection)

Young Cecilia married Nebraskan Joseph K. Richmond on 12 June 1937.  They met in her mother’s kitchen just five weeks prior.  The marriage took place at San Francisco City Hall on what she thought was her 18th birthday.  The couple lived in San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda and Modesto before moving to Sacramento, California.  Mom recalled fondly living with my father’s mother in Oakland.  During this period, my Grandma Richmond taught her how to cook and make seamstress-quality clothes.

Their marriage produced three children: Donald in 1938, Ronald in 1944 and Scott in 1952.  She suffered a miscarriage sometime between her first and second child after falling down a flight of stairs while doing laundry.  She always lamented that she would have had a daughter.

Mom’s adult years were taken up with the activities of a wife and mother.  She and my father purchased their one and only home in April 1956 after renting for the first 19 years of their marriage.  After my Grandmother Caballero’s death in April 1970, my mother insisted on using her inheritance to pay off the mortgage.  She continued to live there until her death, some 56 years later, in November 2012.

Cecilia Caballero Richmond, 92,
25 Dec 2011
(Denise H. Richmond Collection)

She was widowed at age 57 when, in March 1977, my father died of heart failure.  She never remarried and never sought male companionship of any kind following his death.  “I don’t want to wash another’s man’s socks,” she reasoned.   She lived out her remaining years in her Sacramento home.  Her activities consisted primarily of keeping house, taking care of her yard, and trying to maintain her home as best she could.  My wife and I gave her a household repair book in the early 1980’s which she referred to often.  She saw no reason to pay a repairman if she could fix the light switch, leaking faucet or toilet herself.  And she did fix it herself on many occasions.  When a lamp shade crumbled due to age, she bought materials and made a new one, pleats and all.

She was also preceded in death by her son Donald who died of cancer in 1999.  Her signature accomplishments in life revolved around supporting her husband and caring for her three children.  The marriages of her two oldest sons produced five grandchildren but she enjoyed little to no contact with them once they became adults.  Therefore, the deaths of both a husband and eldest child must have been especially difficult for her to reconcile as she advanced into late life.  She was closest to her sisters Mary and Carmen and lamented their passing.

Cecilia Caballero Richmond, top row, second from right,
with her mother, bottom row, second from right,
and sisters and nieces at bridal shower
for her brother Peter's bride-to-be, June.
About 1945, from the Denise H. Richmond Collection.

Cecilia, the tenth child, was the last surviving member of the large Caballero family when she died of cancer in 2012 at nearly 94 years of age.  Her wish to return to her beloved San Francisco was honored.   She was interred at the only place one can be “buried” in the City, the Neptune Society Columbarium, near a stained glass window with an inset lighthouse.  She would have liked that.

Susan A. Pillsbury Bergadeen, Long-time Mitchell County, Iowa Resident (52 Ancestors #26)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

This week I'm profiling another Pillsbury ancestor.  As I searched basic records it seemed that the family left quite a short footprint.

Susan A. Pillsbury was born in 1850[1] in Maine. She was the second of five children born to William C. Pillsbury and Eliza Cooper Pillsbury.  Her youngest sister, Ella, was my second great-grandmother.

Susan would have been my second great aunt[2].

Source: Ancestry.com (3)

When she was about 26 years old, she married Paul Bergadeen on 13 Jan 1876[3] in Mitchell County, Iowa.  She and Paul had two sons, John Edward, born in Dec 1876, and Edwin Forest, born in Aug 1879.  The sons were lifelong bachelors[4].  The family lived in Mitchell County, Iowa for the rest of their lives.

The dates of death of Susan and Paul are unknown.   John died in 1948[5] at about age 72.  Edwin was about 71 when he died in 1950[6] due to an apparent suicide[7].  How sad.  Both sons are buried in Wayne Cemetery, McIntire, Mitchell County, Iowa.

Source: Newspapers.com (7)
[Click to enlarge]

Sources

---

[1] 1850 U.S. Federal Census; Census Place: Bloomingdale, Winnebago, Wisconsin; Roll: M432_1009; Page: 538B; Image: 603.  Susan was recorded as five months old and born in Maine.  However, the census was enumerated on 15 Aug 1850.  The family either arrived in Wisconsin just before the census date or an error was made in the her age and location. 

[2] Steve Morse Relationship Calculator

[3] Iowa, Select Marriages, 1809-1992: Ancestry.com. Original data: Iowa, Marriages, 1809-1992. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

[4] Several censuses recorded John and Edwin as single.

[5] Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.nin

[6] Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

[7] The Mason City Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa) 15 Nov 1950. Page 23. Newspapers.com. Accessed by Denise Hibsch Richmond 1 Jul 2014.