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Archiver > ORUNION > 2004-11 > 1100964916


From: Jim Booth <>
Subject: Need Assistance
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 10:35:16 -0500
References: <00ff01c4ced3$c4e3c7e0$1601030a@r9q2h3>
In-Reply-To: <00ff01c4ced3$c4e3c7e0$1601030a@r9q2h3>


Hello All:

New to this list.

I could really use some help from any of you out there that do volunteer
look-ups.
or can lend some advice

I live in New York State and am unable to do much Oregon research from here.

In turn for helping me i would be happy to return the favor and help
anyone with
lookups here in the Hudson Valley of NY and adjacent Northern New Jersey.

Here is my situation.

My mother was born in La Grande on October 2, 1948. She was the daughter of
George William Koth and Maddalena Marchianne (sp) George served in WWII
and met my grandmother, Maddalena in Rome during the war. They were
married over
there and after the war came to LaGrande. Why they came to LaGrande is
the question
i am trying to find out.

George eventually moved the family to NY when my mother was little and
not long after left the
family and has never been heard from again. This is hampering my efforts
in to researching my
mothers family tree. My mother has since passed away so i am not longer
able to consult with her
on this matter...but i know i was told by her that there was some type
of family in this area. No one
however, that she ever had contact with.

George was from Michigan and there is a large Koth family that lived in
and around Bay City, probably
about an hour and a half north of Detroit. I know that George's father
is named Elmer as it appears on the record
of marriage i have from Italy for him and Maddalena. In the 1920 US
Census in Bay City there is a Elmer with s
son George matching the age of my George. I think this is very likely
the same people. This Elmer
in Bay City was married to a Grace Mae Alexander. Grace Mae was
apparently from Kentucky and
was apparently born in 1900. The Bay City Elmer and Grace Mae were
married in early 1918 and were
divorced i believe in 1921. Per the divorce records George was to be
given to Elmer. However, in the
1930 Census Elmer is listed alone and neither George nor Grace Mae can
be found in the census. Ironically
nor can any other George that might match up as being mine. Giving
further proof that this George is
one and the same.

Long story short (I know too late) this leads me to believe that Grace
Mae ended up taking George.
My George entered the US Army at Chicago in 1942. Perhaps before or
during the war
Grace Mae went to Oregon. Perhaps it was she who was living in LaGrande
after the war, and why
George went there.

On my mothers birth certificate is the address of 1906 Greenwood the
residence of George and Maddalena.
Does anyone have access to old phone directories for this area. to see
if there are 1. any Koth's or 2.
any other individuals at this address in the 1940's. I am trying to see
if there could be any other names of
people that sound familiar. and perhaps Grace Mae re-married.

The Social Security Death Index shoes a Grace M. Baer who got her social
security card in Oregon before
1951 dying in Wisconsin in 1988. This Grace M. Baer also has a similar
time of birth for Grace M Alexander Koth
April 1900.

If anyone out there can help me I would really be most appreciative. I
know i am close. Just need some more definitive proof.

Thanks,

JIM BOOTH
Highland Mills, Orange County, New York




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