Mortuary Notice for Rosie Maile

Mortuary Notice for Rosie Maile

I re-found a newspaper article, in German, that had names I recognized, Gottfried and Emma Maile, my great grandparents.  I had seen this article a few years back and just made a notation of it in my notes.  When at the Family Research Center last week I re-discovered the article at the GenealogyBank.com site, took a photo with my camera,  printed it, then did my best to translate the Mortuary Notice from German to English.

Mortuary Notice
Date: Sunday. April 19, 1896  Paper: New Jersey Deutsche Zeitung (Newark, New Jersey) Volume:17 Issue:2 Page:5

This is what I'm pretty sure it says....

Maile.  -- Relative and friends here is the sad news that our beloved young daughter little sister and grand daughter Rosie Maile on Friday the 17 April at the age of 11 months, gently passed away peacefully.

The funeral serman takes place on Sunday (a word I can't decipher) 19 Apr afternoon at about 4 (something) from mourning house No. 66 Blum Str, (something) after the Woodland Cemetery.

The Mourning Survivors:
Gottfried and Emma Maile, born Wahl, parents; 
John and Katherine Wahl, grandparents
Siblings and relatives


Rosie Maile was not in my data base.  Neither were her grandparents John and Katherine Wahl.
I tried looking at the findagrave.com website for Woodland Cemetery but she was not listed.
Rosie is listed in the New Jersey Deaths and Burials Index 1798-1971 in Family Search though.

This is how Rosie's parents, Gottfried and Emma (Wahl) Maile fit into my family tree.

Gottfried Maile (1865-?) born Germany married Emma Wahl (1871-?) also born Germany
Their children: -Male Maile (1890-1890 stillborn)
                         -Katherine Maile (1891-not on 1900 census)
                         -Emma Maile (1892-1895)
                         -Katherine L. Maile (1893-?)
                         -Rosie Maile (1895-1986)
                         -Eliesabethe (Elsie) Margaret Maile (1897-1972) my grandmother
                                  She married Herbert Condit (1894-1982) my grandfather
                                  Their children: -Doris Emma Condit (1917-1982)
                                                           -Wilbur Herbert Condit (1919-2011) my dad
                                                                  He married Helen Mary Motyka (1924-2004)
                                                                  Their children: Crystal Carrie Condit -me
                                                                                           Thomas Owen Condit - my brother
                                                            -Kenneth George Condit (1930 - )
                         -Ema Maile (1898-1899)
                         - Lillian E. Maile (1901-1976)
                         - Carolina Maile (1902-? )

Unfortunately the only male child ,and first child of Gottfried and Emma Maile, did not survive.  All the rest are females.

In the 1900 Census the information was given that Emma had 6 children, 2 living.  This would mean the children would be Katherine, Emma, Katherine L, Rosie, Elsie, Ema. The 2 living would be Katherine L and Elsie.  I'm assuming the male child, since he was stillborn, was not counted.

In the 1910 Census the information was given that Emma had 8 children, 4 living.  This next 10 years would add Lillian and Carolina to the 6 to make 8 children and they would also be among the 2 others living in 1900 (Katherine L, Elsie) to equal 4.

It was fun trying to translate the Mortuary Notice from German into English. And I've learned some German words. Now that I have a little more confidence in myself, some German to English books along with a translating website, I may have to tackle  a Baptismal or Christening certificate for my grandmother, Eliesabethe Margaret Maile, that needs translating.  Again from German to English. And I believe one of the witnesses was my great grandmother Catherine Wahl.

Joseph and Minnie Motyka. Are we related?

This past December I got an email from my cousin, Kris Motyka. Kris is my mothers' brother (Stanley) granddaughter.  Her email stated she was contacted by a Karen Krupa who thinks her husband could be a cousin.  Her husband's grandmother is Sophie Motyka and is still alive at 95.  Karen sent her family history to Kris who in turn shared it with me.  Now my quest was to find the link in her Motyka family and in mine.

While in researching this link I found a BSO (bright-shiny-object) that I would have been discouraged by other genealogists to follow - keep on the current path - but I just had to do some digging on this new subject.  Sorry Kris and Karen, this was too weird to pass up. I'll continue my search for our connection again soon.

This is my BSO I couldn't resist:

While searching for a Joseph Motyka, in the Krupa line, I found on FindAGrave.com  a Joseph Motyka buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.  This is the same cemetery both my parents were laid to rest.  Ok now I'm intrigued.  My mother was a Motyka.

What I found was.... Joseph Motyka was born on 24 March 1886 in Poland.  I learned by the 1920 census he immigrated to the United States in 1904 and was Naturalized in 1915. He was married to a Minnie Yarosh, born 1894 also in Poland. They also had a daughter, Wilma, born 1914 and they all lived in Roundup, Musselshell, Montana, according to the 1920 census. Joseph was a miner and owned his own home.

By 1930 Joseph Motyka was listed on the Voter Registration Index living at 827 Sartori ave.  This is in Torrance, California.  Torrance is where my brother and I grew up.  My brother, Tom, is still there. I haven't been able to find them on any 1930 census though  I'm sure they are living at this same address because of the 1940 census put them at 827 1/2 Sartori Ave, Torrance, CA. Joseph was working at Coast Insulating Company in the asbestos industry in Torrance.

In 1937 their daughter, Wilma Motyka married George Perlewitz , born Idaho. His address listed on the marriage certificate was  2268 247th Street, Lomita, California.  George also worked at Coast Insulating Company along with Joseph.  I lived in Lomita for 26 years.  Just 67 years later.  I know exactly where this house is. The 1940 census also lists the Perlewitz's living next door at 827 Sartori ave., Torrance.

Joseph died 12 April 1963 at the age of 77 and was buried at Green Hills Memorial Park, RPV, CA

Minnie died in 1974 at the age of 90 and was also buried at Green Hills Memorial Park along with her husband. I'm not sure what happened to Wilma Motyka Perlewitz. I wonder if they or their family are still in the area.

I haven't been able to find a Motyka connection yet.  I know Joseph was naturalized in 1915 (1920 censes) but I'm having problems finding his papers.  Minnie was naturalized in the same year so I think they must have filed together. Their daughter, Wilma was born 1913 in Montana so I believe they were married. These papers would tell me what ship he/she came over on and where he/she was born in Poland.

 

I know he came to the United States in 1904 (1920 census). Minnie came a few year later in 1909.  If I could find the passenger list he is on this might tell me what relative he left in his home country (father, mother)  and who he was coming to the United States to see (relative or friend).

I was just so interested in a Motyka living in Torrance in the 1930's to 1963 I couldn't pass up this BSO . And being buried at the same cemetery as my parents, Bill Condit and Helen Motyka Condit. I just wonder what mom would have said if she was still alive? A Motyka in Torrance.

Next time I am in Torrance and go visit my parents grave I'm going to look for Joseph and Minnie and put some flowers on their grave.  Who knows, they might be my family too.

Fillmore Condit - "Condit Family in Reunion"

During my first search with my newest subscription, newspapers.com, I came across an article  titled "Condit Family in Reunion" dated 1914.  It was held at Fillmore Condit's home in Verona, New Jersey.

Vernon, NJ, Sept 12 - Almost four hundred members of the Condit family held their sixth annual reunion to-day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fillmore Condit, in Essex Falls.  Luncheon was served at 1 o'clock, after which a business session prevailed over by the Rev. Charles B. Condit of Newark, was held.  The family genealogy was given by Oscar E. Condit of East Oragne.  One of the speakers at the meeting was William H. Start, at the New York Peace Society.  Members of the association are lineal decedents of John Condit, who came from England in 1678 and settled in Newark.
(New York Tribune (New York) {NY} 1866-1924, September 13, 1913, Page 6, Image 6)

My first question was " How am I related to Fillmore Condit?"  
What I found out is that technically he is my 4th cousin 5 times removed.  On my family tree it looks like this.....


John Condit or Cunditt had a son Peter.  Peter had 5 children.  One of those 5 was my 6th Great Grandfather, Samuel.  Another son of Peter's was Philip which was Fillmore's GGG Grandfather.

Fillmore Condit

Now that I know who he was and how were are related I counted my search for more information about him.. The more I researched the more I came intrigued with this family member.

I found his funeral service announcement in a Long Beach newspaper.  Long Beach!!! I lived close to Long Beach when I was living in Southern California.  OK now I'm really wanting more about this man.

What I found was..... Fillmore Condit was born in New Jersey in 1855.  He educated himself in the Newark Public Library.  His first employment was on his father's farm and delivered papers during part of the Civil War.  In 1869 at the age of 14, he worked at the Caldwell sawmill and from 1870 to 1873 he worked in the meat business and on a railway being constructed in Verona.(1)

By 1879, age 24, being employed in a Newark Store he had invented a refrigerator door fastener, which he had obtained a patent.(1) (Note: I saw a picture of this refrigerator door fastener in a newspaper article but when I wanted to find it again, I couldn't locate it again)

On March 30, 1881 he married Ida Frances Rafter at 26. He branched into real estate and bought and developed land in Verona, New Jersey where they made their home.  Here Fillmore served as a member of the Essex County Board of Freeholders.  They had 5 children, Jane, Everett, Jessie, Donald and adopted Clarence Neary. (1)

After a brief stay in Santa Paula, California they moved back to Verona, NJ in 1909 and Fillmore joined the Union Oil Company as the New York Representative.  In 1911 their oldest son, Everett, who was married with a 6 month old child, died suddenly and unexpectedly.  To honor him, the Condit's donated land to the city of Verona that is still used today as a baseball field, Everett Field.(1)

Fillmore became active in the Anti-Saloon League and supported the cause of women's suffrage.

Fillmore Condit of Newark resigned a few days ago as treasurer and member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Auxiliary of the Law and Order League, with the excuse that others could do the work with less loss to themselves.  Yesterday it was learned that there was a fort of a boycott behind the resignation.  He owns the patient for a latch for refrigerator doors.  As brewers and saloon keepers buy ice boxes and need latches for them a great deal of Mr. Condit's revenue came from the very people whom he was antagonizing by his activity against the violators of the Sunday Law.
(The Sun, New York, Feb 6 1889)

In 1919 Fillmore was the Independent Republican candidate for governor on the Prohibition ticket in New Jersey, but his wife Ida was determined the family move back to California.  He obtained a pledge from one of the opposing candidates to support the Eighteenth Amendment then withdrew his candidacy.  He also resigned his position from Union Oil and moved to Long Beach, California to live with his family (2)

A year and a half later he was asked to become a candidate for the city council and then Mayor of Long Beach which he served for a total of 6 years (2)

His wife, Ida, died in 1921.  Fillmore remarried in 1922 to Mrs. Helen McKinnon, a widow.  He founded the Long Beach Community Hospital.  He also served as President of the Condit Family Association  helping to research his family back to the first Condit arriving in New Jersey in 1678. (2)

Fillmore died on January 7, 1939 from infirmities of old age in Long Beach. He was 83.   He was cremated with his ashes interred at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Caldwell, Essex, New Jersey (3) (4)

Fillmore Condit, 83 one of the organizers of the Union Oil Co., Prohibitionist candidate for Governor of New Jersey, died yesterday in Community Hospital, Long Beach, from infirmities.
As a Long Beach Councilmen from 1921 to 1928, during pat of which time he held office as Mayor, he had been largely responsible for the founding of the hospital in which his life ended.  
He first came to California in 1899, later returning to his naive New Jersey for several years.  For the last 20 years he had resided at Long Beach living at 2211 E. Ocean Blvd., at the time of his death.  
At one time he was executive chairman of the Anti-Saloon League of America, and was author of a pamphlet entitled, "Relation of Saloons to Insanity."
He leaves his widow and one sone Donald Condit.
(Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA), Sat, Jan 7, 1939, Page 21

Fillmore Condit was a very interesting ancestor.  I'm sure there are other Condit's still living in California.

(1) "Genealogy of the Condit Family - Descendents of John Cunditt" by Joham H Condit & Eben Condit , Pages 387-388

(2) Findagrave.com - Fillmore Condit Memorial #9768524

(3) newspapers.com - The Akron Beacon Journal, 8 Jan 1939

(4) politicalgraveyard.com