Tag: Philadelphia

Happy times

Being the youngest in my family I am sensitive about telling family stories accurately. Growing up it always seemed that everything happened before I was born or was old enough to remember, so everyone else in the room remembered the story better than I did. So, while I enjoy reporting facts and finds on this blog, I have for the most part avoided telling stories about my family history. I do not want to get it wrong.

I’ve realized however that I do hold some things in my head that possibly no one else still alive knows. Writing family history is in some ways an attempt at immortality for our ancestors. Even if what I remember is not entirely accurate, I can share my imperfect memories of my family and through that they might live on a little longer before fading into that obscurity to which we all will inevitably succumb.

In that spirit, I am going to share what my grandmother told me about the picture below which happens to be my favorite photograph of her. She told me this story many years ago, so my telling is in my words not hers.

Naomi & Marie pose with musical instruments
My grandmother, Naomi Carman (left) & best friend Marie, 1922

My grandmother and her best friend Marie were hanging out in their neighborhood in Philadelphia. Two young men happened by. They were in a musical group and had their instruments with them. Someone had the idea that it would be fun to take a photo of my grandmom and Marie posing with the instruments. And why not wear the young mens’ hats as well? My grandmother laughed as she told me this story, saying that neither she nor Marie had any idea how to play. This story and the photo gave me a glimpse in to a happiness I did not always see in my grandmother. And looking at that smile, how could this not be my favorite photo of her?

Nicholas Conrad Death Certificate (1942)

CONRAD, Nicholas: Death Certificate 1942

Transcribed from a photocopy obtained from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certficate of Death

1. Place of Death
County: Philadelphia
City: Phila.
Name of Hospital: Protestant Episcopal Hosp.

2. Usual Residence of Deceased
State: Pa.
County: Phila.
City: Philadelphia
Street No. 2069 E. Clarence St.

3. Full Name: Nicholas Conrad
4. Sex: M
5. Color or Race: W
6. Widowed
Wife: Sophia Conrad
7. Birth date of deceased: Feb. 22, 1867
8. Age: 75 yrs, 8 Months, 24 Days
9. Birthplace: Phila.
10. Usual Occupation: Warper
11. Industry or Business: Textile
12. Father Name: Nicholas Conrad
13. Father Birthplace: Unknown
14. Mother Name: Unknown
15. Mother Birthplace: Unknown
16. Informant’s own signature: [signed] Edward C. Conrad
Address: 2069 E. Clarence St. Phila. Pa.
17: Burial, Date: Nov. 20, 1942, Place: Northwood, Phila. Co.
18. Signature of funeral director: [signed] John N. Hackman
Address: 905-07 W. Lehigh ave. Hackman Bros., Inc.
19. Date received: Nov. 20, 1942
20: Date of Death: Nov. 16, 1942, 7:00 P.M.
…

CARMAN (PA) Census Abstracts 1850-1930

1850 Census: PA Phila
Penns Dist., p128
Date 25 Jul 1850

670 806 Carman, Charles R. 39 M Stone Mason PA
                  Caroline ?? F             PA
                       Eli  9 M             PA in school
                 Josephine  7 F             PA in school
                 William P. 5 M             PA in school

1860 Census: PA Phila
19th Ward, p172
Date 7 Jul 1860

1253 1374 Charles Carman 49 M Stone Mason 200 PA
                Caroline 48 F                 PA
                  Joseph 20 M                 PA
               Josephine 18 F                 PA
                 William 16 M                 PA in school
                   Sarah  8 F                 PA
         Eliza Hendricks 51 F Widow           PA

1870 Census: PA Phila
83rd Dist., p93
Date 18 Jun 1870

247 267 Carman, Charles 52 M W Bricklayer ___ 200 PA
               Caroline 50 F W                    PA
           Hoy, Michael 34 M W Boatman            IRE 
                    Father & Mother foreign born
              Josephine 27 F W                    PA
                Charles  8 M W                    PA 
                    Father foreign born In School
                Michael  5 M W                    PA 
                    Father foreign born
                   John  2 M W                    PA 
                    Father foreign born

1870 Census: PA Phila
18th Ward, 56th Dist., p454
Date 9 Jun 1870

307 335 Carman, Elon    29 M W Bricklayer       ___ 100 PA      
                 Mother foreign born
           Catherine    24 F W Keeping House            Bavaria 
                 Father & Mother foreign born
               Jacob     7 M W Attending School         PA      
                 Mother foreign born
            Caroline 10/12 F W                          PA      
                 Mother foreign born  Aug(month born)

1880 Census: PA Delaware
Lower Chichester, ED34
Date 18 Jun 1880

298 307 Carman, Elon W M 39 Head Married Bricklayer       
                  6mths unemployed PA PA PA
           Catherine W F 35 Wife Married Works in Hosiery                  
                                            Baden Baden Baden
               Jacob W M 17 Son  Single  Laborer                           
                                            PA PA Baden
              Joseph W M  8 Son  Single  At School                         
                                            PA PA Baden

1880 Census: PA Phila
ED538, p12/317
Date 8 Jun 1880

166 Tioga
89 96 Carman, Wm P. W M 36 Head    Married Bricklayer PA PA PA
          Mary Jane W F 42 Wife    Married            NY NY NY
 Huntley, Rennie E. W M 10 Stepson         At School  NY NY NY

1900 Census: PA Phila
ED351, p2
Date 1 Jun 1900

1649 Eyre Street                                               immig
26 26 Carman, Elon Head  W M Sep 1840 59 M  38     PA  PA PA           
             Bricklayer R H
         Catharine Wife  W F Jun 1845 54 M  38 3/2 Ger Ger Ger 1846 53 
          Jacob H. Son   W M May 1861 39 Wd 14     PA  PA  Ger         
             Bricklayer
         Joseph E. Son   W M Apr 1873 27 M   5     PA  PA  Ger         
             Bricklayer
        Wilhelmina GDau  W F Jan 1890 10 S         PA  PA  Ger         
             At School
         Joseph E. GSon  W M Dec 1891  8 S         PA  PA  Ger         
             At School
          Annie M. DauIL W F Jan 1876 37 M   5     PA  PA  Ger
         Catharine GDau  W F Apr 1878 22 S         PA  PA  Ger
[Annie is wife of Joseph E. Granddaughter Catharine was actually 2, 
born 1898, Annie's mom was actually born in England. BP of mom of 
Wilhelmina and GS Joseph unknown]

1910 Census: PA Phila
ED283, p10B
Date 21 Apr 1910

1823 Memphis Street
225 230 Carman Elon Head    M W 69     M 48     PA PA  PA  
               Bricklayer              W   No 0 Y Y R H
          Catharine Wife    F W 64     M 48 3/2 PA Ger Ger 
               None                             Y Y
            Elon J. GrSon   M W 18     S        PA PA  PA  
               B??? Boy/ ????? Factory W   No 0 Y Y
   MacBeth, John C. GSonIL  M W 26     M  3     PA PA  PA  
               Retail Dealer/Groceries Emp      Y Y
         Wilhelmina GrDau   F W 20     M  3 1/1 PA PA  PA  
               Saleswoman/Groceries W  No     0 Y Y
            John J. GrGrSon M W 1 9/12 S        PA PA  PA  
               None

1910 Census: PA Phila
ED551, p13A-B
Date 20 Apr 1910

2762 Martha St.
251 244 Carman, Joseph Elon Head M W   38 M        PA PA PA 
                          Bricklayer/Building W No 17 Y Y   R H
                      Annie Wife F W   34 M 15 8/6 PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y Y
                  Catherine Dau  F W   12 S        PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y Y Y
                   Florence Dau  F W    7 S        PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y
                     Joseph Son  M W    9 S        PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y
                      Naomi Dau  F W    5 S        PA PA PA 
                          None
                      Jacob Son  M W    3 S        PA PA PA 
                          None
                     Robert Son  M W 8/12 S        PA PA PA 
                          None

1910 Census: PA Phila
ED388, p12A
Date 29 Apr 1910
Park Street
228 234 Carman, William P. Head    M W 65 M2 11     
                       PA PA PA                 None O F H
                   Mary B. Wife    F W 58 M2 11 0/0 
                       PA PA PA                 None
       Marks, Alexander A. Boarder M W 76 Wd        
          PA Switz(germ) Switz(germ) Farm Laborer General Farm W

1920 Census: PA Phila
ED1706, p4B
Date Feb 1920

3859 Coral St
82 84 Carman, Joseph Head R M W 46 M PA Eng Eng Bricklayer Houses    
                Anna Wife   F W 42 M PA PA  Eng Clothmill           
            Florence Dau    F W 16 S PA PA  PA  None
               Naomi Dau    F W 14 S PA PA  PA  Knitter Hosiery Mill  
                   Attended School
               Jacob Son    M W 12 S PA PA  PA  None                   
                   Attended School
              Robert Son    M W 10 S PA PA  PA  None                   
                   Attended School
             Anna M. Dau    F W  8 S PA PA  PA  None                   
                   Attended School
               Alice Dau    F W  6 S PA PA  PA  None

1930 Census: PA Bucks
Bristol Twp, ED9-15, p11A
Date 14 Apr 1930

Christie Ave
244 246 Carman, Joseph E. Jr. Head R 18 M W 29 M 18 PA PA PA 
                    Driver Truck 
                 Helen C.     Wife      F W 29 M 19 PA PA PA

1930 Census: PA Montgomery
Conshohocken Borough, p15A/82
9 Apr 1930

West Sixth Avenue
239  255  295  Culp, Alvin B.  Head    0  4000  M W 72  Wd PA PA PA  
              Carman, Mary B.  Sister           F W 78  Wd PA PA PA
              Culp, George D.  Son              M W 47  M  PA PA PA  
                    Painter