Victor Tyson's Death in Battle Creek, Michigan

"Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1948, Number 21314276." Index and Images, Michiganology (www.michiganology.org : accessed 28 June 2023), Entry for Victor Tyson; 16 Aug 1944; Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing.

I haven't been keeping up on my genealogy research as much as I would like to due to the caregiving of my mother and husband. I needed to catch up on Michigan Death Certificates at Michiganology.org. I was about five years behind.

Death certificate images are available at Michiganology for records older than seventy-five years. These records are from the microfilm collections at the Library of Michigan and the Vital Records Office of the Department of Health and Human Services. If the record you are looking for is less than seventy-five years old, you can get the information, but not the actual image. Every January the next year’s images are released. 

The death certificate above is for my paternal great uncle, Victor Tyson who was married to Adeline Elizabeth Glover, the daughter of Frank H. Glover and Hattie Lodema Fenn, my great grandparents.

Victor died at the age of forty-seven in Leila Hospital, Battle Creek, Michigan, on the 16 August 1944. The name Leila is no longer used as it is Battle Creek Bronson now, but the building is the present hospital. 

My research confirms the information on the death certificate as accurate. His parent's names, birthdate, military, address, and burial information is correct. 

There was a lot going on in the world in 1944, namely World War II. Victor Tyson had two sons, James and Jack, serving in the war at the time of his death. One may wonder if they could travel home. The telegram below tells about James Victor Tyson's notification. James was stationed in New Guinea at the time. The penciled in Capt. Glover was Adeline's brother, Merle M. Glover. 

 

Michael Strauss to Speak at MGC Fall Family History Seminar

First, I cannot say enough good things about genealogist, Michael Strauss. Michael coordinated the "Guide to Treasures Found in Federal Records" at the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP) in July 2022.

I attended this course, virtually, and was impressed by Michael's depth of knowledge. He had COVID while teaching the course and still did an amazing job. Michael's strength is in Federal Records and Military Records. The syllabus is one I continue to go back to repeatedly, including this past week.

Michigan is fortunate to have Michael Strauss as their speaker at the Michigan Genealogical Council (MGC) Fall Family History Seminar. Attendees can meet Michael in person in Lansing or attend virtually. The seminar will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing MI.

Michael is employed as a Research Manager and Senior Genealogist for Ancestry ProGenealogists. He is a native of Pennsylvania and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He is a published author and national genealogical lecturer, instructor, and faculty member at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP), and the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR), where he coordinates the military history courses. Michael has been involved in Civil War and Mexican American War reenacting for more than twenty-five years.

 Michael Strauss’s presentations will be:

·       Introduction to Military Genealogy Research will focus on a large number of records, strategies, and techniques to find your military ancestors from the colonial era through the Vietnam War.

·       A House Divided: Research in the Civil War will examine records most used by genealogists and historians, including service records, draft records, pensions, and records to trace the movement of your ancestor’s military unit for both sides.

·       Roosevelt’s Tree Army: Researching in the Civilian Conservation Corps will explore CCC genealogical resources between 1933-1942, including Office Personnel Files, discharge certificates, accident reports, camp and district reports, photographs, and motion pictures.

·       All in a Day’s Work: Occupational Genealogical Research will focus on the methodology to research your ancestor’s work history, tapping into records of employment and discussing old occupations no longer in use.

Two additional session options are available. One presented by Kris Rzepczynski of the Archives of Michigan and one by Matt Pacer of the Library of Michigan. More information is on the registration form.

Registration for the November 4th, 9 am to 4 pm seminar is available at mimgc.org. Register now and take advantage of early bird pricing.

 Registration Options include:

• You may attend in person or via Zoom.
• Early Bird (until October 26 at 11:59 pm.) Cost $50. Regular registration cost is $60.
• Optional box lunch from Grand Traverse Pie Company cost $15 (order due no later than Oct 26)
• Downloadable syllabus is included with each registration and emailed prior to the event. An optional printed syllabus is available for an additional $7.50. The print option is only available to on-site attendees and must be ordered when registering. The deadline for the print order is October 26.
• Class selections are not locked in, you may attend either session when two are scheduled.

Other things you can do if you attend in person are visit the Archives of Michigan and the Library of Michigan, they are open 10-4 on Saturdays AND there is Free Parking! Network with other genealogists. Attend the free library and archives lock in which will be held for seminar attendees. If you would like to attend the Friday, Nov 3rd, 5pm-10pm Lock-In at the Archives and Library, you will receive a link to register in the confirmation email that is sent following receipt of this registration form.

Whether you attend in person or via Zoom, you will get quality genealogical education from Michael Strauss. I hope to see you there. 

 

Lakeshore Engine Works, Marquette, Michigan

Courtesy of Northern Michigan University NMU Commons. Found at https://bit.ly/45y4ljB

My great uncle, Burton L. Watt, worked for Lake Shore Engine Works in Marquette, Michigan for most of his life. My dad tells a story about Uncle Burt's work in his autobiography.

"Uncle Burt, upon graduation from high school in Marquette, started to work at Lake Shore Engine Works.  Eventually, he came to be Vice-President of the company and although they had no retirement pensions, as such, the President of the company saw to it that he received a monthly check, which he received right up to his death at the age of 101, even though the company management changed hands several times."

Lake Shore Engine Works, which was later Lake Shore Iron Works and other names, was built in 1890. It used to manufacture mining, milling, and general machinery.

Built for FORD MOTOR CO.

BLUEBERRY MINE, ISHPEMING, MICH

by the LAKE SHORE ENGINE WORKS, MARQUETTE, MICH

Postcard courtesy of William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Clements Library has a diverse collection of postcards that includes many from Lake Shore Engine Works. Ford Motor Company was a big customer of Lake Shore Engine Works. I remember my Uncle Burt talking about meeting Henry Ford and designing items for Ford's company.

Other images can be found through the Copper Country Historical Images at Michigan Technological University. Many of the images are of items manufactured by the company. I didn't realize how large the machinery produced by Lake Shore Engine Works was. I was thinking of small-scale items.

Lake Shore Engine Works Trade catalogs and literature are available at the National Museum of American History, Behring Center, part of the Smithsonian Collection. 

Lake Shore Engine Works was at 955 Lakeshore Blvd., in Marquette, Michigan. Demolition of the old factory was started in 2017.It had been in existence for over a hundred years, but fell into ill repair.

Burton L. Watt had four patents from 1938-1948. The drawings found during my search are amazing. There weren't computers to help with the drawings. These were drawn by humans. 

Found at Patent Public Search USPTO

Richard Lewis Fredericks Death

 Richard Lewis Fredericks

(May 20, 1925-February 26, 2020)

Richard Lewis Fredericks, 94, of Brethren, died Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at home with his family by his side. He was born May 20, 1925, in Brethren, the son of Otto and Daisy (Graf) Fredricks.

Richard was a veteran of the United States Navy. He owned and operated Fredericks Phillips 66 gas station in Brethren. He also drove school bus for Kaleva Norman Dickson School District.

Richard was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, in Onekama, and had an unwavering faith in his Lord. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening

On November 18, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Onekama, Richard married Marilyn "Micki" Wendt who survives him. He is also survived by : his daughter Pamela Monroe of Brethren; his grandchildren, Rich Lagerquist of Jenison, Emily (Joe) Wilson of Lake Leelanau, Jessica (Josh) Hoffman of Thompsonville, and Matthew (Leslie) Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie; his great-grandchildren, Morgan Lagerquist of Plainwell, Oliver Wilson of Lake Leelanau, Gwedolyn Hoffman of Thompsonville, Benjamin Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie, Hannah Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie, and McKenzie Monroe of Sault Ste. Marie; his sister Audrey Glover of Portage and Norma Jean (Leslie Kaskinen of Central Lake; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by: his parents; his son, Richard "Ricky" Fredericks; and his siblings, Harold Fredricks, Daisy Kurth, Leona Wagoner, Ray Fredricks, Norman Fredricks, Otto Fredricks, Kathryn Tritten Pihl, Lola Brown, and John Fredricks.

Graveside services for family and friends will take place in the Brethren Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church of Onekama, Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, or to Hospice of Michigan.

The Terwilliger Funeral Home, in Kaleva, is in charge of arrangements.

 

Finding and Using Archives of Michigan County Guides

Michigan has eighty-three counties and Michigan's genealogy research is done at the county level. A couple of years ago a decision was made that county records older than fifty years go to the Archives of Michigan for preservation. Staff at the Archives of Michigan have been going to the individual counties and collecting records. Are you looking for tax assessments, naturalizations, probate files, occupational certifications, or something else? Records at the archives vary depending on the county. How do you know what the archives have for the county you are researching? Check out the county guides.

The Michigan county guides are found on the Archives pages at michigan. gov. They are updated and continue to be updated as new material is added. County guides show what is available at the Archives of Michigan for each county. Records are housed at the Archives of Michigan in Lansing unless otherwise noted in the guide. Each .pdf county guide has a brief explanation of the county followed by records available.

For example, the county guide for Houghton County, Michigan third paragraph says, "Some of the collections below are housed at the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper County Historical Collection in Houghton-these are indicated with a * after the RG number. For assistance with these records, please contact the Michigan Technological University Archives directly." When you see the records list look for the * after the record group (RG) number.

The county guides gives you the information you need to find the records housed at the Archives of Michigan or one of their other sites. You can visit the archives or contact them via their website for more information about getting a copy of the record you need.

 

UPDATE: German Recruitment to Michigan in the 1800's

Previously, I wrote a blog post about German Recruitment to Michigan. I have researched it further and even presented a program to the Michigan Germanic Genealogical Society.

I am sharing the information on the syllabus with you. If you would like a .pdf copy of the syllabus or if you want to use the syllabus material, please ask by contacting me at brae957atgmail.com

Exploring the Recruitment of Germans to Michigan

1. Background and History

The recruitment of Germans to Michigan took place from 1845-1885, excluding the United States Civil War time. Michigan legislators were interested in recruiting Germans because of their strong religious beliefs, their industriousness, and the value they placed on education.

The Germans left their homeland because of crop failure and the lack of land. Politically, a liberal revolt of 1848 failed and those active in the revolution feared retaliation from the government they had just tried to unseat. These Germans were called the 48-ers. Those immigrants who were from Prussia wanted to avoid mandatory military service (conscription).

Michigan was ready to welcome those from German lands. Immigrants were being recruited to come to Michigan. There was plenty of land, opportunity, and jobs available for immigrants. The immigrants were allowed religious freedom in Michigan. Some German settlements had been established and this drew Germans to those places.

2. Recruitment Process

Edwin M. Just, a Livingston state senator, introduced a petition to hire an emigration agent. The Governor, John Barry, was authorized to appoint an agent who would reside in New York City from the first day of April to the 20th day of November. The agent’s duties included encouraging immigration to Michigan, traveling on public railroads, and fulfilling items deemed necessary by the Governor. Governor Barry signed into law Just’s petition on March 24, 1845. John Almy, of Grand Rapids, was appointed the first agent. Almy was already in New York City representing Kent and Ottawa county landowners.

Agent’s Publications

John Almay State of Michigan-1845-to Emigrants https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/16805/

Edward H. Thomson The Emigrant’s Guide to the State of Michigan

Rudolph Diepenbeck Der Staat Michigan http://www.clarkehistoricallibrary.org/2019/07/immigration-in-another-era.html

Max H. Allardt Der Michigan Wegweiser and Michigan, seine Vorzüge und Hülfsquellen,: Mit vollständiger Karte des Staates (Michigan, its advantages, and resources, with a complete map of the State.) Available at University of Michigan Historical Collections or find it through World Cat and request through interlibrary loan, if interested. 

Frederick Morley Michigan and its Resources

3. Michigan Settlement 

German settlements were in Michigan. Immigrants settled near relatives. Others settled with people of their religious faith. Immigrants settled in areas where they could get land and/or jobs, which is where recruitment helped the immigrants. 

The list below shows Michigan settlements and the area emigrated from.

 • Ann Arbor-Württemberg 

• Sanilac County (Forestville and other thumb areas)-Saxony 

• Frankenmuth-Bavaria 

• Saginaw Valley (Frankentrost, Frankenlust, Frankenhulf, Amelith)-Bavaria

• Other areas 

• Westphalia-Westphalia North Rhine 
• Calumet 
• Fowler 
• Manistee 
• Chocolay Township near Marquette 
• Ora et Labora near Bay Port in Huron County 

• Other areas in Germany-Dusseldorf, Baden, Hesse, Mecklenburg, Posen, Prussia, West Prussia, East Prussia, and others. 

4. Resources 

There are a lot of resources available for this period of German Immigration to Michigan. Remember to use the usual genealogical resources as well. Items like census records, death certificates, church records, immigration and naturalization records, and newspaper research are important. 

Archives of Michigan 

Archives of Michigan (Box Numbers) 

Flyer: “Inducements for Actual Settlers in Michigan” in B55-Emigration Commission 

B157: Immigration, 1843-1910 

B179: Emigration Commission 

B242: Records of the Executive Office 

B243: Emigration and Immigration Commission 

B250: Emigration Agent B193: Transportation-Steamship companies 1869-1874 Governor’s Reports

Other Archive Holdings (thanks to Ceil Jensen) 

Department of Conservation, Lands Division. Applications for homestead from the German Christian Agricultural and Benevolent Society, 1867. RG 60-8, Box 49.

Carlson, Harold. “A distinguished 48’er: Eduard Dorsch.” Michigan History Magazine, vol. 19 (1935), p. 425-437; vol. 20 (1936), p. 411-412. 

Committee of 1930. The hundredth anniversary of the arrival in Detroit of the organized immigration from Germany, 1830-1930. Detroit, 1933. 

Edinger, Dora. “Christian Esselen: Citizen of Atlantis.” Michigan History Magazine, vol. 34 (1950), p. 133-143. 

Frank, Louis. German American pioneers in Wisconsin and Michigan. Milwaukee, 1971. 

Graff, George. The People of Michigan. Lansing, 1974. p. 40-46. 

Kennedy, J. B. “Herman Kiefer.” Michigan Pioneer Collections, vol. 20 (1915), p. 397-403. 

Kistler, Mark. “The German language press in Michigan.” Michigan History Magazine, vol. 44 (September 1960), p. 303-323.

Kistler, Mark. “The German Theater in Detroit.” Michigan History Magazine, vol. 47 (1963), p. 289-300. 

Neidhard, Karl. “Reise nach Michigan.” Michigan History Magazine, vol. 35 (1951), p. 32-84. 

Peano, Shirley. “Pioneer Germans in Marquette County.” Harlow’s Wooden Man, vol. 9 no. r (Fall, 1973). 

Suelflow, Roy. “Lutheran Missionaries in the Saginaw Valley.” Michigan History Magazine, vol. 51 (Fall, 1967), p. 226-240. 

Suelflow, Roy. “The Planting of Lutheranism in Detroit.” Concordia Historical Quarterly, vol. 39 (July, 1966). 

Ten Brook, Andrew. “Our German immigrations.” Michigan Pioneer Collections, vol. 26 (1894-95), p. 241-255. 

Zehnder, Herman. Teach my people the truth. Frankenmuth, 1970. 

Blogs

The Earliest Immigrants to Calumet Chart http://calumetmi.blogspot.com/2009/07/earliest-polish-immigrants-to-calumet.html

The Polish Pioneers of Calumet, Michigan Der Michigan Wegweiser Post http://calumetmi.blogspot.com/2008/07/blog-post_3677.html

The Polish Pioneers of Calumet, Michigan http://calumetmi.blogspot.com/

Agents of Change Recruiting for Industrial America in the 1800’s at Ancestry Corporate Blog https://www.ancestry.com/corporate/blog/agents-of-change-recruiting-for-industrial-america-in-1800s/

Germans Recruited to Come to Michigan at Family Tree Blog https://www.familytree.com/blog/germans-recruited-to-come-to-michigan/

Was Your German Ancestor Recruited to Come to Michigan? Full disclosure: this is my blog. https://www.journeytothepastblog.com/2015/07/was-your-german-ancestor-recruited-to.html

Books and Magazines

Agents of Change by Ceil Wendt Jensen, Ancestry Magazine, Jan-Feb 2010 at Google Books http://bit.ly/3WUE0rU

American Settlers Guide by Henry Norris Copp at Google Books http://bit.ly/3hANuIS

Germanic Influence in the Making of Michigan by John Andrew Russell https://quod.lib.umich.edu/g/genpub/AFK0855.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext

History of Detroit and Michigan by Silas Farmer https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/

The Location of German Immigrants in the Middle West, Hildegard Binder Johnson

Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 41, No. 1 (Mar., 1951), pp. 1-41

Michigan History Magazine at Family Search https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2565071

Michigan Immigration by William Jenks, Michigan History Magazine, vol. 28 (January-March 1944), p. 67-100. http://bit.ly/3TpEe7H

Michigan: seine Vorzuge und Hulfsquellen (Michigan Its Superior Attributes and Resources)

Michigan’s Thumb, a Paradise for Saxonia Settlers by Utz H. Schmidt https://bit.ly/3GqhTEf

The German Colonies in the neighborhood of the Saginaw River by Frederich Koch

Libraries

Central Michigan University Clarke Library http://www.clarkehistoricallibrary.org/2019/07/immigration-in-another-era.html

Library of Michigan

F575.A1 V3 1970 Settling the Great Lakes Frontier: Immigration to Michigan 1837-1924 by C. Warren Vander Hill

Report of the Commissioner of immigration for the State of Michigan, For the Years 1881 and 1882, pg. 3, Lansing, MI, W.S. George & Co., State Printers and Binders 1883 / Laws of Michigan No. 112, pg. 188, Citation: 1869 vol. I 188, provided by Library of Michigan, downloaded from Hein Online, which is assessable on the Library of Michigan website with a library card.

Michigan Technological University Archives

 http://ethnicity.lib.mtu.edu/groups_Germans.html

University of Michigan Bentley Library-Governor Begole’s records.

University of Michigan Clements Library-Edward H. Thomson papers (1826-1924, bulk 1836-1885)

Websites

A History of the German Settlers in Washtenaw County-1830-1930 by Dale R. Herter and Terry Stollsteimer http://bit.ly/3UuX6U5

Detroit News https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/news/local/michigan-history/2016/02/10/moving-to-michigan-in-the-1800s/80186522/

Fredrich Schmid records https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/99573 Also, available at Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County Capers Newsletter, for members only. https://washtenawgenealogy.org/

Ghost Town of Amelith https://puresaginaw.com/the-ghost-town-of-amelith/

History of Frankenmuth https://sgsmi.org/uploads/2/9/0/9/29090715/history_of_frankenmuth._135_pdf.pdf

Johnson, Howard George, 1943-The Franconian Colonies of the Saginaw Valley, Michigan: A Study in Historical Geography, Michigan State University, Ph.D., 1972 Geography http://bit.ly/3URjMha

Ora Labora: The failed 19th century utopia in Michigan’s thumb https://www.michiganradio.org/arts-culture/2019-09-11/ora-labora-the-failed-19th-century-utopia-in-michigans-thumb

Michigan County Histories and Atlases https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/

Michigan Polonia Resources http://www.mipolonia.net/resources/

Michigan’s Thumb, a Paradise for Saxonia Settlers by Utz H. Schmidt http://bit.ly/3UUtgs1

The Bavarian settlements of the Saginaw Valley: the story of Lutheran pioneer life in the primeval forests of Michigan Graebner, Theodore, 1876-1950. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/micounty/3111167.0001.001?view=toc

German Resources

Germany Emigration and Immigration Family Search Wiki https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Germany_Emigration_and_Immigration

German Roots-Online German Emigration Records, Lists, and Indexes https://www.germanroots.com/emigration.html

Richard Frederick WWII Draft Registration

 

Source: National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Michigan, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 386 found at Ancestry.com

The above draft registration is for my uncle, Richard Lewis Frederick, Brethren, Michigan. Richard is my mother's older brother. I want to point out Richard's last name. The spelling of the last name on this record is Frederick. This is the name that was on Richard's birth certificate and he used it throughout his life. My mom has Fredrick on her birth certificate. Others in the family have Fredricks on theirs. There is no uniformity among the twelve siblings. 

Richard was living at home and farming with his father, Otto August Fredrick. This is the correct spelling for Otto, no 'e' in the middle of his name. He listed his mother, Daisy Fredrick, as the next of kin. 

Richard was five feet, four inches tall and weighed 117 pounds. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and a dark complexion. I believe the dark complexion was due to his time farming in the sun. I knew Uncle Richard and would not say he had a dark complexion.

The above picture was on Richard's wedding day in 1950, seven years after his draft registration. He doesn't look like he has a dark complexion here. 

Bruce Glover named Michigan Class C Golf Coach of the Year

February 26, 1996, Detroit News had an article about the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Awards. The article included:

1996 Hall of Fame Inductees: Fred Appleyard, Grosse Ile High School; George Bitner, Spring Lake High School; Pete Hammer, Clio High School, Tom Weedock, Dearborn High School

1996 National Coach of the Year nominee:  Bob Lober, Traverse City High School

1996 Coaches of the Year: Girls Coach of the Year: Anne Best, Jackson Lumen Christi; Class A Girls: Jean Hobart, Clio; Class B-C-D Girls: Anne Best, Jackson Lumen Christi; Boys Coach of the Year: Dennis Atkinson, Lake Fenton; Class A Boys Coach of the Year: Mike Hansen, Grand Ledge; Class B Boys: Daryl Hedgecock, Wyoming Park; Class C Boys: Bruce Glover, Kalamazoo Hackett; Class D Boys: Scott Chandonet, North Muskegon

My dad was very proud of this award. It took him 46 years of coaching to achieve a coach of the year award. It is interesting that it happened after he retired. He coached just about every sport he could throughout his teaching career. He coached boys' football, basketball, track, and baseball at various times in his career, and of course, Golf. 

He loved coaching, more than teaching. Sports were his life. He had many successes as a coach, many winning seasons, a few state winning athletes, and lots of stories to tell. 

The schools my dad coached at, in Michigan, were Brethren, Kingsley, Deckerville, Harbor Beach, and Kalamazoo Hackett. He coached at Denton Jr. High School in Texas.