Click to see full image

Frank A. Todd Social Security Application for Account Number (SS5)
Transcribed by Alex J. Conrad from photocopy of original

Employee’s Name: Frank Alexander Todd
Business: Baldwin-Southwark Corp., Paschall Station, Philadelphia, Pa.
Age at last birthday: 43
Date of Birth: April 16, 1893
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pa.
Father’s Full Name: John Alexander Todd
Mother’s Full Maiden Name: Olivia Rush Moore
Sex: Male
Color: White
Date signed: December 3, 1936

My great-uncle, Frank Alexander Todd, was born 120 years ago this week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was my grandmother Susan L. Todd’s oldest sibling. Even though according to the Social Security Death index he passed away in 1981, I don’t remember him. My grandmother came from a large family and there were 11 years between her and her brother. He was born April 16, 1893.

I have two pieces of evidence for his birth. The first is his application for a social security number. The second is his World War I Draft Card. According to the draft card he was a machinist, an occupation he shared with his father, John Alexander Todd.

I have not found him in the Philadelphia Births 1860-1906 index on FamilySearch. In fact, I have found very few of the Todds there.

Our dog, Inky, and my grandmother’s cat Buffy

This photo was taken in the early 1970’s. I don’t remember our dog Inky and this is the only good picture I have of him. I have another one that is so dark all you can see are his glowing eyes. He died when I was five or six, I think, so this photo is before 1974. My grandmother’s cat Buffy was less than 5 years old here and lived to be about 18 years old. He was always a grumpy old cat, at least to us kids. I’m sure we deserved every hiss.

This is how I discovered what became of Catherine Hornef’s sister Eva Amelia. I still don’t know what happened to her sister Mary.

—————————————————————–

DIED SUDDENLY
Chester Times
Chester, PA
Saturday, April 12, 1913

Mrs. Catherine Carman, a former resident of Marcus Hook, died suddenly a day or two ago of apoplexy, at her home in Philadelphia. She was the sister of Mrs. Andrew Mahla ¹ and is very well remembered by Hook folks. Mrs. Carman will be buried on Sunday and it is likely some of the borough townspeople will attend. Mrs. Mahla was notified at once by telephone and was greatly shocked at the news. She left immediately for the distressed home, at 150 East Wilt street. The internment will [sic] of Mrs. Carman will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery. She was a woman of many fine qualities and her death is deeply mourned.

I thought I would try something fun and post pictures of family pets on Fridays. Pets have always been important members of our family and as I’ve been going through old photos I have found they show up more often than some of my ancestors.

Naomi Carman & cat, circa 1910’s

This is the oldest pet photo I have come across so far. Probably taken in Philadelphia where my grandmother lived.