Sympathy Saturday - Barbara Cimini Zimmeth

Barbara Cimini, the widow of John A. (Jack) Zimmeth, my mother's brother, died on September 3, 2007 at the age of 82. Barbara suffered with Parkinson's disease in her elder years, although I am not sure when she was diagnosed, although I suspect it was after my uncle died in 1990.

She was from a French-Italian family and my uncle was essentially German and I can just imagine how the sparks must have flown during disagreements. She was a great cook and I remember at holiday time, would always send a plate of food over to an elderly lady on the next street and my cousin and I would walk it over. The family lived in Detroit for many years off 8 Mile & Van Dyke, until just before my uncle passed.

When she passed, we were just in the process of securing a rental in Tennessee, prior to our October 2007 move. We did make it home in time for her funeral, however. 

Barbara and Jack are both buried in Mt. Olivet cemetery in Detroit.

Copyright 2011, ACK for Gene Notes

Personal Property of Elijah Kirtley, Senior, Deceased

Earlier in the week, you may have seen my post on the settlement of Timothy Percival, my 5th great-grandfather. Timothy was from New England, but settled with his family in the tri-state area of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana and died in Kentucky. Today's post, however, is about another side of my family, the Kirtley side.

Elijah Kirtley was my great-great-great-great grandfather and the father of Sarah Ann Kirtley, who married as her first husband Dr. John Stearns Percival.

Elijah married Ann Bohannon and they had the following children: Elila/Delila/Delia who married John Scott Rucker; Mary or Polly Kirtley who married Allen Withers/Weathers; Joel Kirtley who married Abigail Holton; Sarah Kirtley who married John Percival; Elijah Kirtley, Jr. who may have married Mary Sanford; William Kirtley who married Elizabeth Shelby; Richard Kirtley who married his second cousin, Sallie Ann Kirtley. All but the first daughter, purchase something at the 1835 sale of their father's personal property.

At least that has always been the accepted lineage and names. Further investigation into the final settlement of the estate of Elijah Kirtley upon the death of his wife, shows her name as Delia. Not that I'm 100% sure on that, but since one of her brothers was one of the administrators of the estate, maybe Delia is correct? Certainly finding all the mentioned heirs is important. However, by the time of the final settlement the two not mentioned as heirs are Joel Kirtley and Richard Kirtley. Richard died in 1853 and I'm not sure when Joel died. More digging into these records might be necessary! I have a letter that Sarah Kirtley Percival Webb (her second husband was Lewis Webb, one of the administrators of the estate during the civil war where she asks about her brothers William and Elijah.

There will be more on this line and the Kentucky Wills on the Family Search site, so stay tuned!


Copyright 2011, ACK for Gene Notes

Thriller Thursday - Frederick O'Brien

On December 11, 1914, Frederick William O'Brien went out to start his Model T on a cold, icy, day in Hannibal, Missouri. He fell on the ice, striking his head and died. He was married to Emma Maude Chinn a Chinn descendant through one of the legitimate lines. Frederick was only 51 at the time of his death and left his wife, Maud and daughter Margaret and youngest child Frederick, Jr. who was only about 7 or 8 at the time of his father's death.

Four years earlier, tragedy had visited this family with the loss of their oldest son, Louis, of polio.

Copyright 2011, ACK for Gene Notes