Legion of Merit citation for Stephen Grabin

Stephen Grabin is known in the family as a war hero. I've previously posted a short article (https://upanddownthevalley.blogspot.com/2009/08/stephen-grabin.html ) about him - he arrived in Australia in Feb/March 1942, and served as an aircraft mechanic (grease monkey) in the US Army Air Corps.

U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946

Name: Stephen R Grabin
Birth Year: 1923
Race: White, citizen (White)
Native State or Country: Pennsylvania
State of Residence: Alaska
Enlistment Date: 7 May 1941
Enlistment State: Pennsylvania
Enlistment City: Wilkes Barre
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Private
Component: Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Semiskilled mechanics and repairmen, motor vehicles
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 68
Weight: 145

 

Jones to Howells to Shanley - and Wales to Olyphant via Nanticoke

The Shanley family uncovered a written family history about the HOWELLS and SHANLEY family. While it isn't dated or signed, it was written by Mary WALBUSH nee SHANLEY (who appears on page 2) and was likely written in the late 1970s. Excitingly, it mentions the Welsh heritage of the family back into the 1850s - which I haven't previously been able to find, given the lack of birth/marriage/death registrations before around 1905 in Olyphant/Lackawanna/Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania.

The letter is likely highly reliable, and possibly includes information extracted from a family bible given the birth/marriage/death dates cited.


Transcript:

Page 1

Evan R Jones of North Wales and Jane Thomas of Llandillo, South Wales were united in marriage June 17th 1858. Jane Thomas was a sister to the Thomas Bro of the firm T Thomas and Sons, Tanners, Bootmakers and Woolstaplers of Llandillo and Carmarthen, S. Wales.

The first child to bless this union was a daughter, Sara Jane. She was born in Mountainash, Glamorganshire, S. Wales, May 6, 1859.

In 1861 they came to America at the beginning of the Civil War. Jane was less than 2 years old when they arrived in America. She married very young to David Howells.

They had 2 children, girls, and at the birth of the 3rd child both mother and child passed away. The girls names were Olwen and Maggie Jane.

Page 2

1. Olwen Howells married Ceradoc Rees, they lived in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.

    Children
Jane - married Arthur Harris - 1 child - Rees Harris
Ceradoc - single, died at age early 20s 
Ann - single
Ralph - single - Professor at Bucknell U.
Willard - died when a young child

2. Maggie Jane married Frank Shanley and they lived in Olyphant Pennsylvania. 

    Children
Nellie - single, born May 26 1896 died Mar 18 1967
Elizabeth - single, B Nov 20 1899
William - died in infancy
Francis - married Gertrude Kelly He was born Feb 10 1902, died Jan 2 1954
Margaret - single
Joseph (there were two Josephs) - died in infancy
Joseph - single - Born Oct 30 1907 Died Sep 4 1976
Mary - married George Walbush - Born July 22 1910
Olwen - married Edward Hayes - Born Oct 15 1912
Catherine - married Francis Brennan - B Nov 28 1916 D Jun 7 1952
Ann - stillborn

Page 3

1. Francis Shanley and Gertrude Kelly
    Children
Jean Marie - marred Frank Van Nort
Ann - single
Frank - married Jane Weller
Margaret Mary - married Pete Boretsky
William - married Jacqueline Mackell
Joseph - married Paula Baumgartner
James - married Diane Grabin

2. Olwen Shanley - Edward Hayes
    1 child Mary Hayes married James Harbottle

3. Catherine Shanley - Francis Brennan
    1 child - James Brennan married Mildred Naglak

Take it from here



Images

Frank (Francis) SHANLEY (1938-2017)

Hilarie's uncle Frank (Francis) SHANLEY passed away two few weeks ago, and the memorial service was held on the weekend.

I have some material on Frank to add here.

Scranton Times, July 2017

Francis J. Shanley

July 2, 2017

Francis J. Shanley of Houston, Texas, and formerly of Olyphant, died Sunday, July 2, at Memorial Herman Hospital, Houston.

Born in Olyphant, son of the late Francis and Gertrude Kelly Shanley, he was a 1958 graduate of St. Patrick's High School, Olyphant. He served with the Air Force and was a self-employed entrepreneur his entire life.

Surviving are two brothers, James Shanley and his wife, Diane Shanley, Dickson City; and Joseph Shanley, Olyphant; two sisters, Jeanne Van Nort, Olyphant; and Mary Boretsky, Dickson City; nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, William Shanley; and a sister, Ann Shanley.

A memorial Mass will be offered Friday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church, Olyphant.

At the memorial Mass, Frank's sister Mary Boretsky read the eulogy, which is slightly edited here:

Big Uncle Frank. That's what we all called him. He was always larger than life. Not only in his physical size but in his dynamic personality. He was so much fun to be around. He seemed to know something about everything. He had such a quick wit and could make you laugh for hours. When he would come home from Texas everyone was happy to gather to be with him.

He was very intelligent and was successful at just about everything he ever tried to do. When he was young he was a very good basketball player, and something of a pool shark. He always told me that he made all his spending money playing pool. He was inclined to always find the mischief in every situation. He was part of a Dynamic Duo with his good friend John Kilker. He could always find someone to share his adventures.

He also had a serious side. He and his friend, Joe Nixon, served 6:30 Mass every morning Monday through Friday for the 4 years he was in high school. He spent 4 years in the Air Force. That included a 1 year tour at King Salmon, Alaska. He played basketball with the base's team because they got to fly all around the area and it was a good diversion on a base where you could never even go outside.

He worked in business and lived in Philadelphia and Syracuse. When he got a chance to move to Texas he was very happy to do so. He spent most of his life there and considered it home. He went on to be successful in business and to eventually run his own company.

When he started his business he bought a house to live in and to run the business from. He had always had a Doberman Pinscher and he bought a Miniature Dachshund (Fritz). He was a cute little dog who literally never left his side. I asked him why he would buy a little dog like that and he said, very matter of factly, that is was the size of the doggy door in the house. He was nothing but practical.

He was the third Frank Shanley. He used to tell me that he probably would not live to be 52. And if he did he would be the first Frank Shanley who ever did.

He loved cars and was drawn to convertibles. Mostly he would have a Corvette. Somehow that suited him fine. He loved children and they loved him.

I feel like this is biographical. So I want to say that he was our brother and we all loved him very much. He was the kind of person we will not forget.

My sister Jeanne found a nice piece I would like to read:

'We are the rememberers, the people left behind to keep the one who's gone from us alive in heart and mind-the people left to cherish and preserve a legacy.'

Yes, we are the rememberers, and we will always be. As long as we live, we will share who you were.

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At the wake, there were several photo boards with photos of Frank:

Frank Van Nort (1931-2016)

Frank Van Nort
August 9, 1931  -  November 22 2016
(married Jeanne Shanley abt 1955)

Scranton Times Obituary
25 November 2016

Frank J. Van Nort, 85, of Olyphant, died Tuesday at home. His wife is the former Jeanne Shanley. The couple had been married for 61 years.

Born in Carbondale, son of the late Frances Flederbach and Frank Van Nort, he was a graduate of Archbald High School and was a member of Holy Cross Parish, Olyphant. A machine operator and programmer at Lockhead Martin for most of his life, Frank was a talented handyman, fixing and building anything asked of him.

He enjoyed bowling, golfing, hunting, fishing and was very proud to have served his country. Frank was a veteran of the Air Force, serving in Japan during the Korean War.

Also surviving are his children, Joseph Van Nort, Jeanne Van Nort Kropa and husband, William; a sister, Loretta Brennan; two grandchildren, Corrinne and Shayna Kropa; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, William Van Nort; and three sisters, Frances Kerzic, Mary Dilts and Rita Kulikowski.

The funeral will be Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Hudak-O'Shea Funeral Home, 115 Garfield Ave., Olyphant, with Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 in Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick's Church, 200 Delaware Ave., Olyphant, to be officiated by Monsignor Delaney. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Military services will be held by American Legion Raymond Henry Post 327 Olyphant and the Air Force.


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The Olyphant branch of the Legion had this sign up on Saturday of the funeral, regarding the military service.

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I will update this post with a photo of the headstone at the St Patrick's cemetery, Blakely PA, in the future.

UPDATE July 2017: headstone installed:

Dunmore Cemetery visit

This weekend we visited the beautiful Dunmore Cemetery in Scranton, Northeast Pennsylvania. The cemetery contains many beautiful monuments among modest headstones, and contains the graves and mausolea of many families who played a significant role in the development of the area, including namesake families (http://www.nepanewsletter.com/towns.html). For example....

In the foreground of this general view of the cemetery is the Dickson family mausoleum, after who Dickson City was named (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dickson_(industrialist) ).

Large marker stone for the FINLEY family plot. The fernleaf motif represents sorrow, and was relatively common in the cemetery.

The mausoleum of Frederick J Platt, beautiful art deco architecture. Platt was a descendant of an early influential family, was involved in Scranton corporate life, and published a book on the early history of Scranton in 1948 (https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofsc00plat ).

 This was the only ZINC headstone I observed in the cemetery (http://granite-in-my-blood.blogspot.com/2009/01/zinc-gravestone.html ) - and the first I've ever seen. The monument is in stunning condition (a benefit of using zinc, which is extremely stable). This grave belongs to Mary Jane Roesler, born Feb 3, 1820, died Apr 23, 1885. Note that the right-hand panel can be unscrewed for installation of a new monumental inscription.

This is the BOIES family mausoleum, dug into the side of a steep hill. Likely the family of Col. Henry M. Boies (http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/150-who-made-scranton-great-henry-m-boies-1.1981772 ), a colonel and civil war veteran who was a businessman and inventor.

The ZIMMER family pyramid (?), very unique. Marks the graves of John & Theresa Zimmer : Sept 5, 1856 - July 4 1912, and Jan 24 1867 - July 4 1912. Note that both died on the same date - independence day 1912. Would be very interested to learn the story of this couple.

EDIT: Thanks to Kyle Brimacombe for solving this: John & Theresa Zimmer were killed in a grueling train wreck in Corning, NY on 4 July 1912 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corning_train_wreck).

 Obelisk-topped monument, monument somewhat eroded, to John Dekin(?) died 1878, a native of Deptford, England. Topped with a masonic symbol.

Grave of George W. Scranton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Scranton), with a long tribute engraved on the monument.

 Grave topped with statue pointing to the heavens. Grave of John S. Gillespie, born 4 Nov 1844, died Apr 12 1932, and Maggie, died Aug 10 1879 aged 28 years 8 months and 24 days. 

Very unusual grave marker for the GRIFFIN  family, stone carved into faux logs and branches.

Angel atop grave marker. Grave of DUCKWORTH family.

 MOLOWNEY grave with Celtic cross.

Delightful font on this HILL family plot marker (HiLL). 

Mourning statue atop large grave monument for EVERHART family.

Both sides of a PLATT family Celtic cross, stating within crucifix at top 'My Faith Looks Up To Thee'. This one connects the above PLATT and SCRANTON family. 

Front (clean): JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT Born Saybrook Conn. Sept. 17 1816 Died Scranton PA Nov 15 1887. CATHARINE S. SCRANTON HIS WIFE Born Madison, Conn. Apr 1 1822 Died Scranton PA July 4 1887.

Back (dark): JOSEPH CURTIS PLATT Jr. Born Fair Haven Conn. Jan 9 1845, Died Waterbury NY July 7 1898. KATHARINE J. JONES HIS WIFE, Born Penn ?? NY Apr 28 1846, Died Waterford NY May 28 1934(?).

Ann Shanley (1934 - 2014)

Ann Shanley, 79, of Olyphant, died Thursday evening January 23, 2014 at Regional Hospital of Scranton.

Born in Olyphant, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Gertrude Kelly Shanley and she was a member of Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick’s Church, Olyphant. She attended St. Patrick’s Parochial School, Olyphant.

Ann was a loving and caring sister and aunt who was very loyal to her family. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

Surviving are two sisters, Jeanne VanNort and husband, Frank, Olyphant, Mary Boretsky, Dickson City; three brothers, Francis Shanley, Houston, TX, Joseph Shanley, Olyphant and James Shanley and wife, Diane, Dickson City; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, William Shanley.

The funeral will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. from the Frank T. Mazur Funeral Home, Inc. 601 Dundaff St., Dickson City, with mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Church, Olyphant. Interment Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Dunmore.

Friends may call Monday 5 to 8 p.m. For directions or to leave an online condolence visit www.mazurfuneralhome.com.

 These two images of Ann ('Nanny') provided by Kelly Boretsky.

A great find - Mary KELLY/MULLINS to O'BRIEN marriage, Duryea 1920

My last post was on William Kelly, murdered in 1911 in a saloon in Duryea. As I mentioned, his widow Mary married a man named O'Brian/O'Brien between 1920 and 1930 and he subsequently died prior to 1930 - so in the 1920 census she was Mary Kelly, widow, and in 1930 she was Mary O'Brien, widow! In both she was living at 135 Foote Ave, Duryea.

So who was this O'Brien, married and died within a decade? Thankfully after much searching around, Familysearch has a page dedicated to records available for Luzerne county, PA, in which Duryea is located (https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Luzerne_County,_Pennsylvania). By searching the marriage records for Luzerne county scanned into Familysearch I uncovered the following marriage. Not only does it answer who this O'Brien was, but Mary KELLY nee MULLIN states her parents names - the Shanley family story is that she was sent to the US by her family as a young girl after losing the family goat, and so this may be one of the only documents listing her parents names:

No. 91491
James O'Brien, born in Pittson PA, Age 37, Color white, Residing in Pittston Pa.
Occupation Laborer, not married before. Not related by blood or marriage to the person he desires to marry. Not afflicted with any transmissable disease.
Name of father John, of mother Mary, maiden name Coyne.
Residence of father desceased, residence of mother deceased.
Birthplace of father Pittston Pa, birthplace of mother Pittston, Pa.

Mary Kelly, born in Ireland, Age 38, Color white, Residing in Duryea Pa.
Occupation Housekeeper. Was married before death Aug 4, 1911. Not afflicted with any transmissable disease.
Name of father Patrick Mullen, of mother Cecelia, maiden name Grady.
Residence of father deceased, residence of mother deceased.
Birthplace of father Ireland, birthplace of mother Ireland.
Marriage license issued 24 Dec 1920
Married 29 Dec 1920 by Rev. C.A. Staib, Duryea Pa.

 So Mary the widower married James later in the census year of 1920 - at the census he was living with two sisters on Main St in Pittston. By 1930 James was dead. A search of newspapers.com showed that he died almost ten years later, in 1930 immediately prior to the next census:
 

The Scranton Republican
11 January 1930
James O'Brien Taken By Death in Duryea
DURYEA, Jan 10. James O'Brien, well known resident of this borough, died this morning in his home, York avenue, after an illness of two weeks. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Catholic church. Surviving are his widow; two daughters, Mrs. James Donlin and Gertrude O'Brien; two sons, George and William O'Brien, and two sisters, Mrs. Edward Grady and Mrs. Michael Stration.