Friday, June 1, 2007

Leah Lewis, wife of the elusive Julius Streich


Front Street (the main street) of Philipsburg, Centre Co, Pennsylvania, is being practically reconstructed. However, the Philipsburg Historical Society is active and open on Mondays, 2 to 4, and Thursday evenings, 5 to 7. Find it on the third floor of this building(left) at 203 North Front St., above barber's rotating column.

One of my brick walls came crumbling down as I found obituary of Leah, born Lewis, the wife of Julius Streich. Family tradition indicated that my grandfather's brother, Julius, married a girl and then abandoned her shortly thereafter. They said, "He went out for a loaf of bread and never came back".

From the Philipsburg Journal, 2 Feb 1929: "Former Resident Dies in Austin"

"Mrs. Leah Lewis Lininger, wife of D.C. Lininger, a former resident of Philipsburg [PA], died at her house in Austin, PA, on Wednesday, January 23rd, 1929, following an illness of three weeks, aged 43 years."

"Besides her husband, she leaves a little daughter, Marcia, aged 7 years, a daughter and son by former marriage. Her aged mother, Mrs. Eleanor Lewis and three brothers, Henry, William, and Samual Lewis."

"Mrs. Lininger still retained her membership in the Church of Christ, Philipsburg [PA], but since moving to Austin attended the Methodist Church and was a faithful member of the Gleaner Sunday School Class. She was also a member of the WCTH, The Rebekah Lodge, and Rose Klan, holding offices in these organizations at the time of her death. She was a woman of many pleasant graces and of an unusually cheerful disposition and to know her was to love her. Funeral Services were held in the Austin Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday afternoon, Jan 27th with burial at Emporium [PA]."

****

Subsequently, I found Leah's widow in the 1930 Census (Ancestry.com image). Potter Co, PA, Austin Borough, Thorne St., ED 53-3, sheet 2A:

Delbert C. Lininger, head, 58, widowed, marr at 24; b. in PA of Pa-born parents; millwright in paper mill.

Children: George H., 24, paper bundler in paper mill; Clara H., 19; Gilbert M., 16; Raymond L., 14; and Marcia G, 8 yaers. All children born in PA of Pa-born parents.

2 comments:

Westie99 said...

Some Obits are great digs for sure. I guess you'd we wondering about the time this was written based on the language with knowing the date.
I was reading a Springstead Obit from 1800's, the language is different.
Its posted on my blog.

I say old chap, photos help check out some the high res pics at familyhistoryjournal.co.uk using Drupal CMS (Content Mangement System)

Ben Williams said...

Bob,
Great stuff! You are doing your genealogical research the best way I believe....being there! Good point made by Jeffrey about language and setting. I remember doing family research in the Library of Congress(T. Jefferson Reading room in 1964...after reading old bio sketches of people from the 1800s, I started to use some of the same language in letters. Weird or what?
Have a great trip around the Keys....and be safe!
Ben