Saturday, July 25, 2015

MANDANA BRADLEY - LOST & FOUND




OBITUARY:  Amador Dispatch May 4, 1906, Volume 47, Issue 33 

Mandana Rice died on 4/29/06 between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. in her home about 4 miles east of Jackson.  She was born Mandana Bradley on August 11, 1822 in Randolph County, Missouri.  She married David B. Rice and crossed the plains in 1853.  One year later they moved to Amador County and since 1858 she lived in the same house near New York Ranch.  Her husband died 25 years ago.  She had 8 children, 2 deceased, 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.  She was 83 years, 8 months and 18 days of age.  Funeral services were held on May 2, 1906.

INQUEST HELD ON April 29, 1906, Jackson, Amador County, CA
State of California, County of Amador

Documents held by Amador County Archives, Jackson, California; Larry Cenotto, Archivist.
An Inquisition upon the body of Mandania Rice who was found dead on April 30(sic), 1906 near New York Ranch, Amador County.

April 30, 1906 She was found dead in bed.  Questions asked of her son W. C. Rice:
Q: What is your name
A:  W. C. Rice
Q:  Are you a son of the deceased?
A:  Yes, sir
Q:  Were you living in the house at the time of her death?
A:  Yes, sir.
Q:  When did you last see her alive?
A:  About 8 o'clock April 29, 1906.
Q:  Did she seem to be in good health?
A:  She seemed to be as usual.
Q:  Would you please explain to the jurors how she talked last evening?
A:  It was about Eleven O'clock when she called me and said, "I am sick.  I am afull (sic) sick and I want some Salatiras (?) water and I said can I do anything for you and she said "no, don't bother yourself" and I went back to sleep and I got up at five o'clock and went out and fed the chickens and then came in the kitchen and started the fire, and came in to kindle the fire in the sitting room and called to her and called again and got no answer so I went in the room and I found her dead, partly in bed and feet resting on the floor.
Q:  What did you do when you found her?
A:  I ran up to Amos Harman and then I went to Jackson.
Q:  Is there any questions for the jurors to ask the witness?



Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th day of April 1906

~0~

Mandana was the sister of my 2nd great grandmother, Susan A. Bradley Davis.  It took me about 30 years of researching before I located her -- and then it was because of a Power of Attorney entered into a Schuyler County, Missouri Deed Book in 1852.  Her father Thomas Bradley had recently died, and her mother Elizabeth wanted to sell the old home place but needed all the heirs (their children) to go on record as approving of the sail.  Mandana had moved to California; the family knew but we researchers didn't have a clue.  She gave her Power of Attorney to her brother-in-law John G. Davis, and in it she indicated that she and her husband, David Rice, now lived in Amador County, California.  This Power of attorney was entered in the Deed Book, along with the signatures of all the other heirs.

Mandana didn't know that she was lost and found, but I did some 100+ years later.  

Monday, July 20, 2015

THE GREATEST GENERATION


This sailor is/was someone's husband, son, brother, uncle, grandfather or friend.  His picture was owned by one of the people listed below, all of whom died in San Bernardino County, California between the years of 1988 and 2004.  No identifying information was on this picture.  I do believe he could be called an Immortal Nobody if he himself has passed on, but as you know there are some WWII vets still living so there is always a possibility that his time has not come yet.

But who is he?  He was known by one of these people listed below.

  • Betty Carson
  • Veldra Kirk
  • Betty Benedict
  • Gracie Solomon
  • Betty Walsh
  • Mari Graves
  • Etiennette "Ann" Bernier Bean
  • Bernice Dale
  • Ethel Ivy Marie Beckel Carpenter Bridges
  • Edward Vintus
  • Muriel Ruth Johnstone Walker
  • Paul Blaine Reveal
  • Ethel Jane Knapp
  • Bernice Beitzel Vieau
  • Virginia Cowan Henderson
  • Dorr Stuart
  • Clarence Bennett
  • Velma Helms
  • Dale Hathaway
  • Mildred Beach
  • Alice Becker
  • Helen M. Peterson
  • Victor Corey
  • Margaret Morrison
  • Emma Karstens
  • Eva Greco
  • Joe Atton
  • Fred Knodel
  • Marjorie A. Clagett Woosley
  • James Torres
  • Douglas J. Bryant
  • Myrtle Dieckmann
  • Paul and Virginia Tenney McCoy Nordby


Friday, July 17, 2015

AN UNTIMELY AND UNINTENDED SHOOTING


San Bernardino CA Daily Courier, Wednesday, June 14, 1893

ACCIDENTALLY SHOT
ED HADDEN OF THIS CITY THE VICTIM
The Careless Handling of a Revolver Causes the Wounding and Probable Death
of a Promising Young Man
The Shooting Entirely Accidental

Word was received in this city late yesterday afternoon that Ed Hadden, son of Thomas Hadden, and Grandson of Judge J. M. Morris, had been accidentally shot on the train at Riverside by Capt. Jack A. Mellon of Yuma.

The facts of the case, so far as could be obtained, were these:  Mr. Hadden had secured a position on the ranch of Dan Freeman in Los Angeles county and had taken the 4 o'clock train to go to the ranch to commence work.  When the train reached Riverside, he got out on the platform and talked to some acquaintances, getting on again as the train was about to start.  He took a seat directly in front of Mr. Mellon.  That gentleman was at this particular time just in the act of removing a revolver from his valise to his pocket for some purpose, when, just as Mr. Hadden sat down, the revolver in some unaccountable way went off, the ball going through the back of the seat and penetrating Mr. Hadden's back about two inches below the heart.  The ball went clear through him, striking the tenth rib.

The injured man was at once removed from the train and his parents, who reside in this city, sent for.

The report last evening was that Mr. Hadden was mortally wounded and could not probably live until morning.  It is sincerely hoped by his many friends here that this view of the case is incorrect.

Most of the citizens of this city will remember Mr. Hadden, who several years ago moved with his parents to Fresno where he lived until quite lately, he having reached San Bernardino only a few days ago.  He is about 24 years of age and is a very bright young man, well thought of wherever he goes.

Captain Mellon, the accidental cause of the shooting, is captain of the steamer Gila, plying on the Colorado river.  The captain has a summer residence at Santa Monica and was on his way there for a few days' rest and recreation when the unfortunate accident occurred.  Captain Mellon is described by some of his friends in this city as a most kindhearted gentleman, who makes friends wherever h goes.  He will suffer nearly as much as the wounded man on account of the accident.

Altogether it was a most unfortunate affair.


Colorado River Steamboat "Gila"
Carlton Watkins, Photographer
Owned by J. Paul Getty Museum 

Sunday, July 12, 2015

IMMORTAL NOBODIES WITH A MESSAGE


Someone in Jerry Title's family knew these people, but by the time we found the picture in an old cardboard box that had been kept by Jerry's elderly aunts, no one could remember who they were. But as IMMORTAL NOBODIES they still can speak to us.

Obviously the setting for the picture is Germany, and it has to be pre-WWII.  The signpost behind our unknown IMMORTAL NOBODIES, translated from German into English, reads "Jews Not Wanted."  On the back of the picture in lovely English handwriting is a single comment:  "Isn't this silly?"

Even now whenever I see this picture I get a cold chill and a catch in my breathing.  There may have been someone in Jerry's family or among their friends innocent enough not to take this warning sign seriously.

But the Nazis meant it..

"JEWS NOT WANTED".  
.