Category Archives: Mielke

George E Mielke in the 1940 census

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Ancestry.com released the 1940 census for Michigan tonight, so of course, I had to start searching! First off I wanted to see where my Uncle George was living. I had previously found his parents and siblings, so he was next on my list. Here’s the record I found:

Uncle George was in the 28 Army Air Corps and was an Airplane Mechanic. He lived in the Third Air Corps Squadron Barracks at Selfridge Field1.

George with his sister, Millie

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

1Year: 1940; Census Place: Harrison,Macomb,Michigan; Roll: T627_1783; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 50-26. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls
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Sentimental Sunday – A Day At The Lake

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My Grandmother, Lucille Mielke Lindsay, her sisters and several of their friends used to going swimming in Lake St. Clair. This is what she told me about that time when we came across these photos:

Meg (Marion Mielke Verhonick), Dot (Dorothy Mielke Robb Stock), Nick’s sister, Bernice Matthew’s and I used to go to Dothory Stansberry’s house. She lived on the East-side (of Detroit), near the end of the bus line, on Jean Street. We would walk from her house to the 7 Sister’s Smoke Sacks off of Jeff Avenue to go swimming in Lake St. Clair. There was huge sand piles  and a small canal where we swam.

Marion and Dorothy were Lucille’s sisters, Nick’s sister would be Dorothy’s sister-in-law is Iola Isabella “Robbie” Robb and Bernice Matthew’s was the next door neighbor. I’m not sure who is who (other than my grandma) is in these photo’s.

Aunt Dorothy, Aunt Marion, ?, and Grandma Luey

Grandma Luey was the second one on the right.

All these photo’s were taken in August 1944. If you can identify in the other ladies please let me know.

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

© Finding Mielke, 2012

Travel Tuesday – Holland, Michigan’s Tulip Time Festival

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My grandparent’s, Oscar and Lucille Lindsay, along with their mother’s Edith Lindsay and Elsie Mielke, visited Holland, Michigan’s Tulip Time Festival in 1949.

Here is a brief history of the Tulip Time Festival from Holland, Michigan’s tourism website.

History of Tulip Time Festival

Who would have predicted that the “Best Small Town Festival” in America, with over 500,000 people in attendance, grew out of a Woman’s Literary Club meeting in 1927? There, Miss Lida Rogers, a biology teacher at Holland High School, suggested that Holland adopt the tulip as its official flower and celebrate it with a festival.

The idea caught on, and the next year the City Council purchased 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands to plant in city parks and other areas. Bulbs were also available for Holland residents to purchase at one cent each. In the spring of 1929 thousands of tulips bloomed, and so did the long history of this annual festival. By the mid 1930’s, Tulip Time was nationally known. Big name stars like Dorothy Lamour, Pat O’Brien, and George Raft entertained at the festival.

Except for a brief hiatus during World War II, Tulip Time has continued to thrive. 1947 was a banner year, with the celebration of Holland’s Centennial and the strengthening of our Dutch ties. The Netherlands was grateful for the aid our citizens had provided following the war. In fact, the people of Amsterdam presented the City with the street organ that now entertains Windmill Island visitors. 1947 was also the first year of a long tradition: a visit from the governor of Michigan leading the street scrubbing ceremonies.

Another big year for Tulip Time was 1976. Holland received tremendous publicity through its float entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade. And that year, the Tulip Time festival climaxed with the appearance of the President, West Michigan’s own Gerald R. Ford, in the Parade of Bands.  Each year, Tulip Time brings back time-honored traditions and enhances the festival with new ones.

Here’s some pictures that my grandparent’s took that day! Click on any of the photo’s for a slideshow of the pictures!

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

©Finding Mielke 2012

Tombstone Tuesday – Marian Jane Mielke Verhonick

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Marian Jane Mielke Verhonick was born 21 December 1922 to George A. J. Mielke and Elsie Jane Yetman and died on 26 Dec 2006 in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She is buried at Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit. Marian was married to William “Bill” Verhonick.

I have very found memories of my Auntie Marian. A few of them are: her dog Snoopy; visiting Wyandote with her; and the cookies she made every Christmas.

My Grandfather, Oscar Lindsay, Aunt Marion, and Uncle Bill

Happy Searching!

Tombstone Tuesday – Elsie Mielke

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My great-grandmother, Elsie Jane Yetman Mielke, was born on 2 January 1887 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada and died on 15 Oct 1973 in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. She was the daughter of William and Jane Penney Yetman. She is buried at Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan.

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

1940 Census My First Find!!

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Well the census has been out for a day and if any of you tried to get on yesterday, you probably noticed it was a little (okay a lot) backed up. I gave up yesterday on the 1940 census and today without any problems and just 12 pages of searching, I found my great-grandparents, George and Elsie Mielke,  my grandmother Lucille, and 3 great-aunts, Mildred, Marion and Audrey. This will probably be the easiest of my searches on the 1940s census, because the family lived in the same house for many years. Click here to go to the Michigan Ed 84-1185.

George was 62 years old, owned his own home at 6355 Clifton Street, it was worth $4000 and he was unemployed. Elsie was 49, born in Newfoundland and was a Naturalized Citizen.

Mildred “Millie” was 22 and was the only person in the family working.  According to question 21 “If not, was he at work or associated to public emergency work (WPA, NYA, CCC, etc) during the week of March 24-30?” Millie answered yes to this question. She was working as a Research Clerk for Youth Vocational Services. In 1939, she worked 40 weeks of the year. Marion was 17, Lucille, was 16 and Audrey was 13.

This will be the last census that George and Mildred will be in. George died in 1943 and Millie died in 1941.

I’ve included photo’s of everyone I have mentioned today! I did not have a photo taken of Audrey during this time period, so I used a photo from the late 1940s.


 Happy Searching!
SueAnn

Mielke Twins – Eugene and Voleska

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On the 4th of October 1879, John and Augusta Mielke had twins Eugene Walter and Voleska Bridgit.

The following is the birth record I found on familysearch.org. The last name was misspelled when the birth was recorded. It was actually listed as Mialkie.

Walter and Voleska's Birth Record

In the 1880 census 7 month old Eugene and Voleska were living at home.

1880 Census Big Rapids Michigan for John and Augusta Mielke and children

As of the 1900 census both Voleska and Eugene are missing from the census records. According to the 1900 census record (you can see the image on this page) Augusta had 9 children and 5 were living, I believe that Voleska was one of the deceased children. Walter from the stories my grandmother has told me had gone to Germany and was working for the Kaiser Wilhelm II during the early part of the 1900′s.

By 1909, he is back in the United States and on 20 Oct 1909 he married Margaret Elizabeth Hunter Berry, daughter of Archibald Hunter and Jane Mary McCarney. Margaret was married previously (widow?)  to Patrick Berry (Barry?) and they had two children, Patrick James and Agnes Edwardine Berry.

Eugene and Margaret Marriage Record 20 Oct 1909

In 1910, Eugene, Margaret, Patrick and Agnes were living on South Warren Street, Big Rapids, Michigan. Eugene is a deliveryman for a department store and owns his own home (along with the bank). The record is quite blurry so I’m just going to give you the link to the record.

1917 Draft for WWI, Eugene wass working in Midland, Michigan as a Trip Driver, while Margaret was living at 109 Woodward Avenue in Big Rapids. In 1918, Patrick James’ draft card states that he is living at home with his mother at 109 Woodward, Big Rapids and was a student at Big Rapids High School

In 1920, Eugene was living in Detroit and working as a plumber, while Margaret, Patrick James (orderly) and Edwardine Agnes are living still living at 109 Woodward Avenue in Big Rapids. Patrick is also listed as a resident at The Nurses Home at Richmond Terrace in Detroit, Michigan and his occupation was listed as orderly.

1920 Census Record for Eugene

1920 census for Margaret and James and Edwardine

This is the last bit of information I have about Edwardine.

By 1930 the family was living together again, this time renting a home on 776 Lewerenz, Detroit along with Margaret’s sister Mary M. Garlock. Patrick is a veteran of the first World War and is working as an electrician for the City of Detroit. Eugene is working as a foreman at a auto plant.

1930 Census for Eugene, Margaret, and Patrick

The only information I have on them past, the 1930 census is that Walter Eugene Mielke died on 28 Jun 1953 (this comes from Aunt Marion’s letter, you can see here). According to the Social Security Death Index, Patrick James Berry died in May 1970 in Detroit.

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

Sources:

Michigan Births, 1867-1902,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQNM-PMZ : accessed 2 April 2012), Walter Mielke (1879).

Ancestry.com 1880 United States Federal Census Detail: Year: 1880; Census Place: Big Rapids, Mecosta, Michigan; Roll: T9_594; Family History Film: 1254594; Page: 640.4000; Enumeration District: 180; Image: 0744.

Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N3K9-PH5 : accessed 2 April 2012), Eugene W. Mielke (1909).

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Year: 1910; Census Place: Big Rapids Ward 1, Mecosta, Michigan; Roll: T624_663; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0116; Image: 622; FHL microfilm: 1374676.

Ancestry.com. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Registration Location: Midland County, Michigan; Roll: 1675816; Draft Board: 0.

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1920; Census Place: Detroit Ward 10, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: T625_809; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 304; Image: 650.

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Year: 1920; Census Place: Big Rapids Ward 4, Mecosta, Michigan; Roll: T625_783; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 234; Image: 1175.

Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. 1930; Census Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 1057; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 610; Image: 651.0; FHL microfilm: 2340792.

Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Year: 1930; Census Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 1057; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 610; Image: 651.0; FHL microfilm: 2340792.