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The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Obituaries -- Lowell, Massachusetts

The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section. The names are often printed on two days, I am only listing them once.


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2011
DAVID E. FULTON, OF TEWKSBURY, PRO-TECK VALUATION SERVICE CO., AGE 55
GEORGE A. KERN, OF CHELMSFORD, MITRE CORP. RETIREE; 82
MARIE O. LAMBERT, RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 92
EDWARD J. LISAY OF LOWELL; 87
ROSEMARY 'SISSY' DORAZIO, FORMER LONGTIME TEWKSBURY, MA RESIDENT; 78
DAVID RALPH HOPPER, OF GROTON, AVID GOLFER AND TENNIS PLAYER
JOAN D. TURNER; OF ACTON, LONGTIME KINDERGARTEN TEACHER; 83
EVELYNA (ANDERSON) (BIRTWELL) DAVID, TAUGHT IN BILLERICA AND CHELMSFORD SCHOOLS; 94
MARY M. (CHOULAKES) FANTOZZI, OF N. CHELMSFORD, MA
ARLINE C. KNIGHT OF TEWKSBURY, MARINE CORPS VETERAN;  92
VIRGINIA J. HOLLAND, OF LOWELL, MA
EDWARD R. KOPACZ, OF LOWELL; 72
ROGER S. MELANSON, OF WOBURN, FAMILY IN GR. LOWELL, WWII VET; 85
MARY R. GINSBURG, MATRIACH OF A WELL KNOWN FAMILY; 88
WILLIAM R. 'BILL' ROTH, RETIRED LIEUT. COLONEL, U.S. ARMY; AGE 78
JEANNE C. FILIATRAULT, OF LOWELL, OWNED AND OPERATED FRANK AND ERNEST CONVENIENCE STORE
ANDREW W. STRONG, OF BEVERLY, MA, 1986 - 2011


MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011
RICHARD H. FOREST, OF TEWKSBURY; AGE 65
JAMES 'JIM' VEVES, OF LOWELL
CARLOS dEL LIANO, OF DRACUT, WAS PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER; 78


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2011
MILDRED B. (GRAY) MASON, OF DRACUT; 85
RITA A. (VALKAVITCH) (ELLIOT) HUSSELBEE, LOVING WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
PATRICIA ANN (MAHONEY) MULLEN, LOVING WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 61
BRUCE A. TWEED, HUSBAND, FATHER AND PROUD GRANDFATHER, 72
LEO R. McCLELLAN SR., FORMERLY OF PEPPERELL, MA AND RINDGE, NH
VICTORIA (DALLY) AXTMAN, OF LITTLETON, MA; 79


WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2011
EVELYN C. (ANGELLI) ROMANO, LONGTIME BILLERICA RESIDENT, AGE 69
DENNIS M. KEOHANE, OF NORTH CHELMSFORD, RETIRED FIREFIGHTER; 61
ARTHUR W. KEEFE, JR., LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER; 55
JOHN F. (JACK) McCARTHY, FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD, MA; 57
LOUIS S. SOCHA, OF BILLERICA, LOVING HUSBAND, DAD, GRANDPA AND GREAT-GRANDPA
PAULETTE I. NINTEAU, RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 65
REGINALD C. ELSTON, OF DRACUT, MA; 81
HENDRIKA SCHNEIDER, OF NASHUA, FORMERLY OF DERRY, NH; 87
JOHN H. WOLFENDEN, OF SALEM, NH, FORMERLY OF PELHAM, NH; 90
RACHELLE C. (COGNAC) GEISENHAINER, AUGUST 13, 1945 - OCTOBER 14, 2011, AGE 66, BORN LOWELL, MA, OF MILFORD, NH
CAROL A. (GOULET) JUSSAUME, OF LOWELL; 66


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2011
DOROTHY (TETRO) SILVA, OF CHELMSFORD, AVID GOLFER, READER, AND CRAFTER
KATHLEEN C. HARRINGTON, OF ACTON, REGISTERED NURSE AND DEDICATED HOMEMAKER; 76
VIOLET (RIGOLI) LEIGHTON, BASS RIVER, CAPE COD, FORMERLY OF LOWELL; 71
MARTIN F. BRODERICK, JR., OF FORT WORTH, TX, FORMERLY OF LOWELL; 55
JOHN R. CEPULINSKI, OF LOWELL, RAYTHEON RETIREE, AIR FORCE VET; 79
MICHAEL P. RADZIK, JR., LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER AND GRANDFATHER; U.S. NAVY VIETNAM WAR VETERAN; 63
REV. MONSIGNOR JAMES P. KEANEY, RETIRED PRIEST - DIOCESE OF RALEIGH, NC; 87
NATHAN F. WOOD, OF BROCKTON, SERVED AS PASTOR FOR FIRST BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE AREA; 79
ROSELLA (CARDOZA) ANDRADE, RESIDENT OF LOWELL, 84
KYLA DAOMANY SIHAKAMPHONG, OF LOWELL, AGE AGE 5


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011
GEORGE "HENRY" RANCOURT, SR., OF WESTFORD, MA, WWII VET; 89
EUGENE 'E.J.' MORIN, BELOVED SON, HUSBAND, FATHER, AND UNCLE; 40
GEORGE 'JIM' RAINVILLE, ACTIVE IN CHELMSFORD ART COMMUNITY; HONORED FOR WORK - WATERCOLOR PAINTING, ARMY VET
ELEANOR A. (SANTRY) POTTER, OF NASHUA, NH; 78
PETER R. BRUNEAU, OF LOWELL, ARCHITECT; 51
BEVERLY MAE 'BOLTON' McDONALD, FORMERLY OF TEWKSBURY, OF DUNCAN, SC; 79


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011
CONSTANCE D. (PATENAUDE) WALLACE, DEVOTED MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 78
GILBERTE 'JILL' R. BORDELEAU, RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 92
KAREN P. GEOFFROY, OF LOWELL, ST. MICHAEL CHURCH MEMBER; 56
JOHN C. PADUANO, OF NORWOOD, FORMERLY OF WESTFORD
JANICE MARION (BYKOWSKI) LARSON, OF PEPPERELL, UMASS LOWELL RETIREE; 70
BEVERLY MAE "BOLTON" McDONALD, FORMERLY OF TEWKSBURY, MA; 79


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2011
WILLIAM F. McQUADE, LOWELL-BASED FAMILY BUSINESS UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP; VET; 90
DONALD JOSEPH LOISELLE, OF W. CHELMSFORD, MA, WWII VETERAN; 85
SAMUEL DeSILVIO, LIFETIME LITTLETON RESIDENT; 96
PAUL B. LEPINE, OF DRACUT; AGE 80
PETER N. CHAREAS, LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, AND GRANDFATHER; 68
KRISTINA LOUISE KEENE, OF WINCHESTER, VA, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA; 35
MARIAN C. (MACLELLAN) HANLEY, COMMUNICANT OF ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE CHURCH, ANDOVER; 95
MARVIN ALBERT THOMPSON, FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD, MA; 79
KEVIN M. CONWAY, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA, WORKED AT COURIER CITIZEN CO., 72
ELLEN S. TORONTO, 1941 - 2011, OF BILLERICA, MA; 69
FRANCIS M. 'MICKY' CARNEY, FORMER EMPLOYEE - CITY OF LOWELL; 73
SHIRLEY E. HANN, OF CLERMONT, FL; 82
CONSTANCE M. MAKIEJ, OF LOWELL, JORDAN MARSH CO. RETIREE; 91

Oldest Iowa Pioneer -- Obituary

When you see the copy and condition of the document I received about nine years ago (see below), you might wonder how anybody could transcribe it. The other day I found it typed up at a FindAGrave site, submitted by an old friend from about seven years ago. I immediately wrote Leanne and asked if I could use it for my blog. She gave her okay, then realized, she didn't do it, but it was me. Well, I don't remember...do we do things so quickly, and promptly forget? I'm giving both of us credit.


Joseph McElroy with grandchildren, Eleanore and Margaret Schramling.
OLDEST IOWA PIONEER PASSES AWAY
Joseph McElroy Who First Came to Iowa in 1837, Died at Ripe Old Age


The death of Joseph McElroy at the home of his daughter Mrs. J.F. Schramling, in this city, Monday morning, marks the passing of Iowa's oldest pioneer; for such Mr. McElroy undoubtedly was having come to Sabula in 1837, the year that our little city was laid out in town lots. The other sturdy pioneers who braved the wilds of virgin Iowa at that early date or within daresay five years of that time have all passed into the better world.

Joseph McElroy was born on a farm two miles from the city of Erie, Pa, on September 2, 1815, and at the time of his death was 90 years, 5 months and 17 days old. He was a son of Hugh and Margaret (Duncan) McElroy, natives of Cumberland county, Pa., and his father served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He participated in several active engagements and was wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane, a ball passing through his liver. Notwithstanding this fact he recovered and lived to the advanced age of seventy-three years. To him and his excellent wife were born thirteen children, of whom the subject of our sketch was the last to pass away, and he was the eldest of the family.

The earlier years of Joseph McElroy’s life were spent in his native county, but in 1837 he decided to investigate the then far west and set out for the territory of Iowa. He reach Sabula during that year and finding the country to his liking, went back to Pennsylvania for his folks and returned to this county in 1838 and entered 200 acres of land in Iowa township, west of the town of Sabula. In an exchange afterward with Mr. Grant he came into possession of the quarter section of land which he owned to the time of his death. When gold was discovered in California, Mr. McElroy and a number of other Sabula men organized a party and in 1849 made the hazardous overland trip to that state and engaged in mining until 1852, when they returned to their homes. The return trip was made by way of the Pacific ocean, crossing the isthmus of Panama and the Gulf of Mexico and up the Mississippi river to St. Louis.

On Sept. 22, 1853, he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Mrs. Mary A. Winsor, a daughter of G. Gilroy, then a resident of Jackson county. The fruit of this union were four children. They are George of Malvern, Margaret, who died in infancy, Mrs. J.F. Schramling of the city, and Joseph, of Norris, Montana. Three step-children who were reared to manhood and womanhood by the deceased, also survive him-Mrs. G.A. Buzza, of Marion, Mrs. G.A. Hatheway of Magnet, Neb., and Wm. Winsor. The esteemed wife and mother passed away on November 1, 1872, and soon afterward Mr. McElroy moved to a home he purchased in town, where he lived until the past few years where he has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Schramling.

At the time of the rush to Pike's Peak, about the year 1849, Mr. McElroy and Clarke Cook (deceased) started for Colorado, but after getting as far as the Platte river returned. Of the Sabula party of "Forty-niners," Mr. McElroy was the last survivor and he was also the last original member of the Sabula Pioneers’ Association to pass away. This association was formed on Nov. 22, 1872, by J.G. Sugg, E.A. Wood, James Murphy, J. S. Dominy, George Canfield, Robt. C. Westbrook, Royal L. Westbrook, Jos. McElroy, John Scarborough and Oliver Emerson. All of these gentlemen, with the exception of Joseph McElroy passed ___ ago. The latter was always a familiar figure at the annual picnics of this association until the last one held when he was confined to his bed in this his last sickness, the general breaking down caused by old age. On this occasion several of the older settlers called and spent a short time visiting with him and the parting of these old friends of the early days was a very pathetic one.

For the past three years Mr. McElroy has felt the weight of years and his health gradually failed until last February, he was obliged to take to his bed and although his condition varied from better to worse it could be seen by those around him that he was gradually nearing the close of a well spent life. Sunday he conversed with the family and appeared brighter than usual, but at 6:25 the end came and his last moments were marked with peace and contentment and thus he passed away.

Eulogies to the life and character of this grand old ___”


Note: Eleanore and Margaret Schramling were my 3rd cousins, 3 times removed.