I remember how close my grandmother Carolyn was with her Grandmother Lena and Great Grandmother Maude, so decided to see if she could help me. She had told me so many stories about her grandmothers, and had helped me with so much information previously with both of the ladies, when I first started my research. So I went over to stay one day, and while we were sitting at here kitchen table talking about life I brought the subject up. I asked her, "Grandma, would you happen to know anything about your grandmother's brother Herman?" She replied (in a tone of doubt), "I have never heard of him before...where did you get that name?" I had the paper's upstairs in my suitcase in case I wanted to ask for any information while I was there ~ like I said, she was a gold mine of family history detail. I retrieved that binder from my pack, and brought it down to show her the census. I showed her the name, and explained that I had found it while looking for her Grandmother (my GG Grandmother) Lena in a census looking for her place of birth. She looked at the name and replied, "Hmm...interesting. I have never heard of him before. Are you sure this is for my Grandma?" After showing her things on the record that matched she continued, "I really am not sure...".
We were sitting at the table the next morning eating breakfast, and my grandmother told me the following:
"Well, I was thinking about what you showed me last night and remembered something that might be the answer you are looking for. When I was a kid, I remember going over to my grandma Elkins' house [that is Lena, she called her Grandma Elkins, and referred to Maude as Great Grandma Lee] once and we all went over to great grandma Lee's to visit. I remember seeing a picture of two little children on her wall, but was not sure who they were. I asked my Grandma about them and she quickly hushed me. She then told me that they were her brother and sister that died young. I went to ask more questions, and she kindly told me to not mention it around Great Grandma Lee because it made her sad and very upset. I didn't ask anything else, but that is all I know. Maybe that is who is listed in that ledger, but I don't know Jack."
She had caught my interest with that story. I thought it was interesting, but it only confirmed that he existed ~ however I still was left with questions of what happened to him. Now perhaps you caught it before I can explain further in this blog story, but read that account my grandmother gave me again. It was only after I got home that I realized the importance of what my grandmother told me. (Hoping you read that account over again) I was sitting at home that evening eating, thinking about what she told me and what I should do next to find him. Suddenly, it hit me like a brick. My grandmother had pointed in a direction which I don't think she even realized or that was intentional at all. She mentioned in her story to me that she saw "...a picture of two little children on her wall...", and mention that they were a brother and a sister of her grandmothers that died young. When I realized that I almost chocked on my meal I was eating. I mean it was such an epiphany moment for me. Here this whole time I was searching for just one person, when there was another unknown. Naturally I made the assumption that the boy in the picture she mentioned was probably Herman, since I had not seen any other male sibling listed anywhere at that time. The other child was a mystery. I had no idea what her name was. I speculated that it may have been one of the two sisters of Lena, but remembered that my grandmother stated that she was told of their youth when they died. In that moment, I knew I now had another person to locate.
At the time of this discovery and quest, I was working at an area historical society; so figured it would be cake to find them both. I first checked the large cemetery indexes there and hit luck. I found Herman's name listed and saw his dates of birth and death, but with all the other Owens' listed I was clueless on who might be the little girl.
That same week, I was in another day looking for clues to these kids. The index I view two days before listed Herman being buried in Spring Grove Cemetery (on Lisbon Street, East Liverpool, Ohio), but was still unsure. While there, an acquaintance of mine was also researching for one of their families. I gave up looking eventually with no luck. I was sitting down afterwards talking to staffer that evening about what my grandmother said, and what I was looking for. The acquaintance of mine over heard and asked what the names were. I told her that I knew one was Herman Owens, but did not know the girls name. I also informed her that I believed I found his name in the index at this historical society, and that he may be buried in Spring Grove Cemetery. She grinned and replied to me, "I might have their obituaries at home in my files (she collects papers and records for her genealogy research). If you stop by on the way home, I should have them copied for you by then." I was excited, and told her how wonderful that was plus how happy I was thankful for her endeavor.
I left that library, and head for her house ~ excited that she may be able to help. I knocked on her door to be jovially greeted by my friend. She told me to hold on, and then returned with two sheets of paper. She handed them to me, smiled, and wished me goodnight. I literally stood on her porch, thrilled, reading those obituaries. First I noticed that the one obituary for a Merle Owens. I read it first, and discovered that she was the other child from the way the obituary read. Reading the obituaries I felt my heart sink. In that moment I realized that this was more than just two names to write into my books; these were people ~ children that never got to see many days of their lives. I was excited to finally know something about these individuals, but still felt heart wrenched by the story they told. Herman’s was sad (because he was a child of course, as well as his sister), but Merle’s was very upsetting.
Here is Herman’s Obituary:
East Liverpool Tribune
Date Unknown Specifically
“Herman Owens, 8 years old, died at the home of his parents in Jackson street, last night at midnight of diphtheria. The funeral will be held today at 4:30 o’clock and interment will be in Spring Grove cemetery.”
Here is Merle’s (Myrl’s) Obituary:
East Liverpool Tribune
Date Unknown Specifically
“For the second time this week the death angel has entered the home of Edward Owens, at 127 Jackson street, and taken one of the children. On Tuesday night Herman, aged 8, succumbed to an attack of diphtheria and yesterday Myrl, aged 6, passed away of the same disease. The parents are almost inconsolable in their grief. The boy was laid to rest in Spring Grove cemetery Wednesday and the remains of the little girl will be placed beside those of the brother today. Funeral services will be held at 11 o’clock, the Rev. H. H. Bawden officiating.”
Like I said previously, I was thrilled to find the info but could not imagine losing two children (especially a day apart); however I came to understand that my great great great grandmother had to face that sadness. It was an emotional moment for me, and I suddenly had an entirely new perspective of what family history really meant to me as an individual. Then I came back to reality, and realized I was still standing on my friend’s porch. I now was determined to find the children’s location at Spring Grove, and finally answer the last question of where they were buried in the cemetery. In earlier time I had found their father Edward “Edwin” Selwyn Owens’ obituary and discovered that he too was at Spring Grove.
It was a nice a spring day and I decided to finally go to Spring Grove cemetery to find them all. I have another interesting story about actually finding the three of them there, but I will save that for another day. Anyways, after wandering around for a short while I found my GGG Grandfather Edwin’s stone, discovered that Herman was beside him, and (as her obituary stated) I found Merle to the right of Herman. It was yet another emotional moment for me. I finally knew where the three of them were. Humbled, I fell to a kneel on my right knee and for a brief moment felt like I once knew the three of them. Finding my ancestor, and these two children who I had sought in my research really was an uplifting experience. I read the stones the best of my ability, wrote down what I had found, and was smiled the whole day for what I had accomplished and discovered.
(Here is Edwin's stone at Spring Grove Cemetery. Herman is to the right of his, and Merle is to the right of Herman)
(On the Left is Herman's stone at Spring Grove Cemetery. On the Right is Merle's Stone. It is hard to read, but he died August 28, 1906. She died August 29, 1906. Still not sure about their dates of birth.
As time went on I naturally moved on to other things, but always wondered if the picture my grandmother talked about still existed. I smiled thinking that on someone’s wall was this old relic of my family’s past. I had found several Owen/Shamp cousins that did not even know about the children or the portrait. Even thinking to myself I came to the realization that it was probably lost to the ages when I went through her decedents and found that none of them knew anything about it. Eventually I forgot about it as I moved to other parts of the family.
A year passed, and I got awful news of the passing of my Grandfather Charles Robert Capehart (husband of my Grandmother Carolyn, and my mother’s father) on January 9th, 2012. After we got through his funeral, and were trying to get back to our lives; we were at my grandmother’s one day going through things. She was not doing well either (had been ill for the last 13 months with cancer), and she wanted to go over some things she wanted people to have while she was still here to make those decisions. Well, she told me that she would like me to have my grandfather’s bookcase and all his books (because I loved to read).
I got it all home and was cleaning it out. I went through all the books, washed the cabinet and rearranged it all in my room. As I was going through what seemed like endless books, I found a little paper pouch for those paper corners used to hold photographs in books. Figuring they were old anyways, and that I did not use them; I just sat it aside to rid of later. I am so glad I didn’t pitch or recycle them, because when I went to move them to the garbage bin I noticed it was oddly heavy. I did not think that tiny paper pouch with paper corners should weigh that much, so I checked it out. To my surprise, it was loaded with old negatives. I was ecstatic! I sat on the couch, turned the light on beside me, and began holding them up to the light to see what they contained. I was happy to see negatives of my grandmother’s baby (or wedding) shower, negatives of my grandparents actual wedding (ones I have never seen before in my grandmother’s pictures), and even one of my GG Grandmother Lena in the hospital bed when she was ill (along with my grandmother and GG Uncle Brenton Elkins by her side). Then my jaw dropped through the floor. I found a negative of my GG Grandmother Lena, with her mother (my GGG Grandmother) Maude in front of her siting in a chair. This is not what put me into shock. Low-and-behold, behind Lena, hung an oval framed portrait of two children. It was exactly what my grandmother was talking about, and I finally found a picture with this treasure of a portrait in the background. I just could believe that after all my searching, it seemed that destiny united me with this negative to finally give me the privilege to see these two children. After coming back to Earth from my shock, I ran and showed my mother. I knew I had to get it developed.
The negative was hard to see clearly, so I eventually took it to a local photo center to get it printed. I had taken non-family vintage negatives there before to get developed, and had absolute success with them. After getting the order a few weeks later and discovering that they chopped of the top of the portrait in the background, I took it back and left more specific directions. This time I ordered a large print of the image (with those specific directions) so that I could frame it to hang on my wall. I also ordered a regular print of the background picture. I got a card today (March 5, 2012) telling me the order was in. I was excited, and got right over to pick it up. I opened the envelope, and was very pleased. At last, I finally knew what they looked like. I had never been so happy in my life with a discovery in Family History. After this long quest to find these kids, I finally found what I was looking for; and now can ensure that I will be able to keep their story alive throughout posterity.
(Here is the original photo from the negative. Dora Maude (Shamp) Owens [1] Lee [2] in the chair, Lena Berdella (Owens) Elkins behind her, and Herman Owens with Merle Owens in the background portrait.)
(Edwin Selwyn Owens-Top Left, Dora Maude (Shamp) Owens Lee-Top Right, & Herman Owens with Merle Owens-Bottom)
