04 January 2018

The Veneziano Connections Briefly

This story was left with a fine dinner in Virginia in 2015!  After more research it seemed it was bucket time for a trip to  Sicily.  I was fortunate to convince my cousin Patricia Larrabee Anderson and my second cousin Paul James Veneziano to accompany me.  We had a terrific time touring the island and visiting the ancestral hometown of Calascibetta and found no Veneziano's. We were able to visit the church and the outside of the home where my great grandfather Giuseppe (1851-1923) died. I have a Google Photo album for anyone interested.  Thanks for your patience. I will write more about the family.  I promise!

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks – Week One – Thomas Lee Rader (1883-1951)

On a stormy February [i] 15, 1883 Thomas Lee Rader was born!  He was the first of six children of Thomas Bogle Rader (1858-1904) and Charlotte Butterfoss (1859-1935). His siblings were an infant who probably died in 1884, Ralph (1885-1951), Claude (1886-after 1942), Edwin (1889-1965) and Mary (1893-1995).  I can image it must have been an active family!  The sad note is the death of the father at age 45.  In another ancestor week we can explore that ancestor.

The first census record for Thomas is the 1900 where he appears as a 17-year-old male born in February 1883 and has been at school for the last 9 months. Additionally, he as been a member of the Knights of Pythias, one of many organizations to which his father belonged.[ii]

He marries Maggie Branham[iii] on July 1st, 1903 in Jeffersonville, Clark, IN. He as 20 and she 18 years old.  They would have two children who did not live beyond infancy.[iv]  Thomas and Maggie went to Denver in hopes of improving her health; however, she died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.[v]

On the 10th of January 1906 Thomas marries Bertha Frederick[vi] in Jeffersonville, Clark, IN. They would have an infant daughter born and died October 1st, 1906 and Bertha would die 12 days later of Puerperal Septicemia.[vii]

In Grand Rapids, Michigan on the 25th of November 1907, Thomas marries Hazel Belle White (1889-1976). This marriage ended in divorce the 4th of February 1909.[viii] There were no children from this marriage.

On the third of March 1909 in Crown Point, Lake, IN Thomas would marry Louise Douglas Mackintosh (1887-1962) and they would have two children Douglas (1909-1965) and Virginia (1914-1989).

In 1908 Thomas had gone to work for the telephone company which would continue until his retirement.  He was living in Chicago in 1909 probably at 2538 S. Sacramento and his occupation was listed as Inspector in the 1910 federal census. Also in that census he is listed as renting and married to Louise D., 22 years old along with his 5/12-year-old son Douglas B.  Thomas is in the construction trade for the telephone company.  By 1912 he was a foreman working at 3600 Elston Avenue and living at 2850 N. Albany Avenue. In 1914 the Knights of Pythias in Jeffersonville would suspend him for non-payment of dues!
By 1915 he has bought his own home at 4029 Eddy Street where he would live until his death.[ix]  He can be traced through the census records and city directories for the next 36 years.

He died on September 6, 1951 and was cremated.[x] [xi] My memories of him revolve around his liking to hunt and fish.  His was a cheerful disposition say to his wife at the breakfast table “good morning glory”.  He would take me down in the basement were we would taste beer and limburger cheese!



[i] “In February 1883 the Ohio Valley experienced its wort flood in a half-century, as the waters reached 44.8 feet on the upper gauge at the Falls of the Ohio….About 80 percent of Jeffersonville residents were evacuated, and movement of supplies from the Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot was halted for weeks.” Carl E. Kramer, This Place We Call Home: A History of Clark County, Indiana, Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 2007, page 228
[ii] “This is to certify that Brother Thomas L. Rader is entitled to the honor of Past Chancellor, he having service on term as Chancellor Commander. He is a member of this Lodge [Hope Lodge No 13] in good standing and ise entitled to membership in, and to be enrolled upon the roster of the Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias, Domain of Indiana.”  This recognition was given on the 11th day of July 1900.
[iii][iii] Margarita Corine Branham (1884-1905).
[iv] Ralph (1903-1904) and Harrold (1905).
[v]  Jeffersonville National Democrat, Friday, October 18, 1906, page 2, column 4, Indiana Historical Society microfilm reel #285209:
 Prior to that time Mr. Rader, who was the ex-mayor's eldest son and will not be 24 till next February, the anniversary of the great flood of 1883, had married Miss Maggie Corinne Branham, a niece of Dr. H. W. Harrison of this city on July 1, 1903.  Their first child died and Mrs. Rader being afflicted with consumption Mr. Rader removed to Denver, Col where however she passed away on February 15, 1905.  Her baby was brought home but died of inanition one month later, on March 17.
[vi] Bertha J. Frederick (1882-1906)
[vii] DEATH OF MRS. LEE RADER
Mrs. Bertha J. Frederick Rader, wife of Lee Rader, passed away at seven minutes after four o'clock this morning at her home on Indiana avenue at the age of 24 years, death being due to blood poisoning and following shortly upon the death of her baby.  Mrs. Rader had been sick two weeks and her condition had caused the gravest anxiety among a large circle of friends whom she numbered by the hundred.

Mrs. Rader's untimely death removes from the family the sixth near connection of her husband in the space of three years, these including two wives, three children and his father.  The latter, former Mayor Thomas B. Rader passed away on June 14, 1904.  Prior to that time Mr. Rader, who was the ex-mayor's eldest son and will not be 24 till next February, the anniversary of the great flood of 1883, had married Miss Maggie Corinne Branham, a niece of Dr. H. W. Harrison of this city on July 1, 1903.  Their first child died and Mrs. Rader being afflicted with consumption Mr. Rader removed to Denver, Col where however she passed away on February 15, 1905.  Her baby was brought home but died of inanition one month later, on March 17.

Mr. Rader was married to his late wife, who was the daughter of Mrs. Catherin Frederick of Port Fulton, by the Rev. Father John O'Connell on the evening of January 10, 1906, the marriage being a surprise to all their friends.  Previous to her marriage Mrs. Rader had been night operator at the telephone exchange and was one of the most efficient operators the company ever had.  She was also one of the most handsome girls in their employ and one of the most popular.

Besides her husband and mother Mrs. Rader is survived by a large number of brothers and sisters as follows:  Mrs. Frank Egbring, Mrs. Arthur Gresham, Mrs. A. R. Schimpff, Mrs. John Featheringall, Miss Hattie Frederick, of this city.  Mrs. John Murnan, of Birmingham, Ala., David and Charles Frederick.
The funeral will take place from St. Augustine's church on Monday morning.

Apart from it peculiarly sad surroundings the death of Mrs. Rader will be heard of with deep regret by a very wide circle of friends among whom she was immensely popular.  In her position at the telephone exchange she and many friends, having there an opportunity to come into contact with a large number of people, all of whom were charmed with her pleasing personality while her sterling character and unfailing good nature and readiness to oblige made her many friends.  Her bereaved husband and family have the warmest sympathy of many friends and acquaintances for this bright young life thus cut off in its early prime.

Jeffersonville National Democrat, Friday, October 18, 1906, page 2, column 4, Indiana Historical Society microfilm reel #285209
[viii] The divorce occurred in Grand Rapids and both parties swore they would not remarry AND both parties did remarry!
[ix] From August 1947 to November 1951 I lived in that home with my grandparents and parents.
[x] On 10 Nov 2001 I visited the Cemetery and confirmed the cremation and was told there was no record of the disposition of the ashes.
[xi] The "Record of Funeral" from Malec and Sons Funeral Home (successor to Mee and Ramee)  indicates the cost of the funeral was $526.20 which included $448.00 for the casket, hearse and 1 limonsine, $5.00 for 5 certificates of Death (No. 64456), $50.00 for cremation and $19.10 for two newspaper obituaries.  Tax was $4.10.