The Lowry's Were In Court... 105 Years Ago

There was no E!, TMZ, or The Daily Mail, but there was a newspaper covering the family drama in 1908. It seems that my 3rd great grandfather Michael Lowry and his daughter Margaret were fighting it out in court over the status of the will of Michael's wife Bridget. Great great great grandma Bridget Conley Lowry died on May 8, 1904. Clearly some time had passed before her will was executed. The Vindicator reports that a motion for a new trail (sic) was overruled by Judge Hole. Margaret is indicating that her mom may have been a little cuckoo when the will was written. Next step: Get my hands on that will!

Source: 

"Columbiana County," Youngstown Vindicator, Evening Edition, Page 12. May 15, 1908, accessed May 9, 2013. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1bZjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UIEMAAAAIBAJ&dq=margaret%20lanaghan&pg=6576%2C6004815

Wedding Wednesday - Groucutt-Roberts Rite is Solemnized

Appearing in The Vindicator on October 9, 1949, is the marriage announcement of my great aunt Barbara 'Babs' Groucutt to David Roberts. They were married the day before at Saint Columba Cathedral by the future Bishop of Youngstown, James Malone.

Saint Columba Cathedral as it would have appeared in 1949. (Wikipedia)

Source:

"Groucutt-Roberts Rite is Solemnized," Youngstown Vindicator, Section C, Page 5. October 10, 1949, accessed May 7, 2013. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5qNJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S4QMAAAAIBAJ&dq=groucutt-roberts%20rite%20is%20solemnized&pg=1060%2C1822094

Family Recipe Friday - Porubsky's Chili

I haven't been to Topeka in 20 years, but I'm certain that a small deli in Little Russia was putting out the same chili then that can be found there today. Topeka is the birthplace of my great grandmother Caroline Porubsky and and an eponymous deli, Porubsky's.

Porubsky's Deli at 508 N.E. Sardou Street was first opened by Charlie Porubsky in 1947. Charlie is my 1st cousin, 3x removed. For those of you who aren't good at figuring out cousin relationships (which was me, before my interest in genealogy), I'll break it down for you starting with my 3rd great grandmother, Christina Porubsky:

Charles and my great grandmother Caroline were first cousins.

Charlie's grocery and deli soon became famous for two things: hot pickles and chili. Now, I say all of this having never been to Porubsky's Deli. But there's enough on the internet for me to believe this is true. There's even a documentary:

   

Porubsky's chili recipe appears on a few different websites, and while I can't verify its accuracy, I figured I would give it a try anyway and report back for my millions of loyal readers. So here, complete with photos, is the supposed Porubsky's chili recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 pounds coarsely ground chuck
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 3 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• Two 16-ounce cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• Tobasco to taste
• Saltine crackers

1. In a large skillet or gallon pot, sauté the onions and garlic in the oil until they are soft.
2. Add the beef and salt. Cook until the beef is completely browned, breaking it up with a fork as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat.
3. Add the chili powder, cumin, Worcestershire, sugar, tomato sauce, and 2 cups water.
4. Bring the chili to a low boil and summer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add the beans and simmer 15 minutes more.
6. Add the Tobasco and more salt, if desired.

This was delicious!

The chili was a winner in my book. A very simple beef and red bean chili with great flavor and mild heat. You could obviously jack that up with more Tabasco or by adding red pepper. I added a few dashes of Tabasco and it was perfect me for. If you're looking for a great, simple recipe, give this one a try.

Links:

Porubsky's Transcendent Deli on Facebook

Sources:
Jane and Michael Stern. Porubsky's Grocery Store Chili - Kansas. The Recipe Link. http://www.recipelink.com/cookbooks/1999/0767902637_1.html. Accessed May 8, 2013.

Matthew Porubsky. "Porubsky's Transcendent Deli." YouTube. Gizmo Pictures, August 9, 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctCI3Ss2lUg. Accessed May 8, 2013.

Treasure Chest Thursday - 1924 Birth Certificate of Jean Groucutt

I, J.E. Plummer, Chief, Division of Vital Statistics, do hereby certify the following to be a true and correct copy of the CERTIFICATE OF BIRTH OF 

Mary Jean Groucutt

I posted this one before, back in December 2012 but wanted to revisit it because I basically posted the original without giving it a thorough look. My grandmother's birth certificate is in incredibly awful condition. It has been taped and folded repeatedly. It's currently laying flat, but it's one of those documents that I'm glad I could digitize because it may not survive it's next examination.

There are a few fascinating points to this birth certificate. First, it was issued on September 27, 1930. You will notice my grandmother's date of birth is December 23, 1924. It was not uncommon for those born before 1940(-ish) to only obtain a birth certificate when it was needed for another purpose, such as the start of schooling. Second, this birth certificate indicates that my grandmother had a sibling who died before she was born. The birth certificate reads:

Number of children born alive to this mother, including this child (if born alive): 6

Number of this mother living, including this child (if born alive): 5

My dad, aunts, and uncles have never spoken of an aunt or uncle who may have been born and died at a young age. My research has likewise not turned up this child. All of my grandmother's known siblings survived into adulthood, and when she died in 1987, my grandmother was thought to be the first to pass away. Obviously, I have some digging to do.

Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

Sisters. Twins. My great aunt Betty Wolford (Thomas) and my grandmother Barbara Jean Wolford (Viti). My mom is a spitting image of my grandma.

Tombstone Tuesday - Sarah Lowry

My 2nd great grand aunt Sarah Lowry is buried in Republic Cemetery, Ferry County, Washington. She and her family left Ohio sometime after 1870 but before 1879 and made their west to Washington state where she spent most of her life.

Sarah Lowry

Mother of E.J. & Ralph

Lowry

Died Feb. 2, 1915

Aged 56 Yrs.

Sarah is the wife of my 2nd great grand uncle Edward Lowry and sister-in-law of my great great grandfather Michael J. Lowry, Jr.

Wordless Wednesday - Chuck Lowry outside St Vincent dePaul

Wordless Wednesday is usually a family photo, but I found this newspaper photo yesterday and had to share. Chuck Lowry, with just the slightest smile, stands in front of a mural painted next to the St. Vincent dePaul office at 15 Oak Hill Avenue.

Source:

"Portrait Repainted," Youngstown Vindicator, Section A, Page 7. October 24, 1982, accessed April 23, 2013. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HOM_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=RlgMAAAAIBAJ&dq=vincent%20depaul%20lowry&pg=1900%2C2751718