Belle’s Box – 124

This entry is part 126 of 342 in the series Belle's Box

Read about this series of posts, regarding items in a box originally owned by Belle (Lamunion) Fellows Tinker here. The cast of characters is located here. And, there is an accounting of people about whom I have little information here.

“Along the Road at Old Mission, Michigan”

I believe this refers to Old Mission Peninsula, in Grand Traverse County, Michigan.

124f

Post mark, Old Mission, Sept 17, 9 a.m. 1914. Addressed to:
Mr. C. Tinker
Manton
rout. 1. Mich

124b

Sep 15th 1914 Old Mission
Dear old friend how are
you all we are all fine but
I wish I was at home there
u know place lik home
I am getting fat up here
tell Hazley I will send
here a card from your old
time(?) friend
Mr Twombly

At the time of the 1910 federal census the family of Gardner J Twombly was living in Cedar Creek Township, Wexford County, Michigan. the family included Gardner, 35, his wife Elizabeth, 31, their daughter Goldie, almost 2, and his step-children George age 14, Esther age 11, and Allen age 9, Westbrook.

The marriage of Gardner Twombly and Libbie Scott Westbrook on 11 September 1905 is found in the marriage returns of Wexford County, Michigan on Family Search Labs Website. Also:

The 7 Sept 1895 birth of George A Westbrook to H.A. Westbrook and Elizabeth Westbrook.

The 19 Aug 1900 birth of Allen M. Westbrooke to Henry A. Westbrooke and Elizabeth Westbrooke.

I also found the following records on that site:

Esther May Westbrook and Peter Jack Shiager married on 11 November 1917 in Midland, Michigan.

On the 1920 federal census Elizabeth Twombly, Mother-in-law 41, Goldie Twombly 11 and Frank Twombly age 4 are found in the home of Peter and Esther Shlagar in Ward 1, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan. Although Elizabeth’s marital status is “married” I can’t find Gardner anywhere on the census. I guess he didn’t come home.

Again on Familysearch:

Esther Westbrook Shlagor and Walter A. Gray on 29 January 1923 in Liberty, Wexford, Michigan.

On the 1930 census of Flint, Genesse, district 16, Michigan, Walter Gray is a boarder in the home of Paul W. Crawford, sheet 19A. He is married, and working in an auto plant.

Back in Manton, Esther Gray, married, is living on 1st Street, with a family of Jonathan Gray, father-in-law, Helen E. Slager, daughter, Allan P. Slager, son, Cora Bell and Eva M. Gray, daughters and a boarder.

I can’t find hide nor hair of Elizabeth after 1920 and Gardner after 1910, except the post card evidence from Grand Traverse County. And Goldie and Frank Twombly also disappear. And I think my lines are hard to untangle!

Series NavigationBelle’s Box – 123Belle’s Box – 125

7 comments

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    • Brenda on February 1, 2009 at 4:01 am

    Hi, funny this should be about Westbrook I just talked to Ray Westbrook, whom lives in Kingsley now but I know he is from the Manton area as he goes for coffee 3-4 days a week down there vs right in his area.

    Also.. you are right, the pc is Old Mission Peninsula, I have seen the card before.

    If you want me to contact Ray about anything I can do this.. he is very family/genealogy/history orientated. Brenda

    Brenda’s last blog post..Denise Lake Compiler & Photographer

  1. Thanks, Brenda, don’t know if he would be interestedin the card or not. We do know Jim Westbrook and his Dad Wayne from the Manton area.

    • Brenda on February 1, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    I just thought he, Ray, might know the answers to some of you Westbrook questions in the post. 😉

    Brenda’s last blog post..Eugene Kropp

  2. I received this comment by e-mail from a cousin of Papa’s: On Belle’s Box 124, yes, that’s “Old Mission” in Traverse City, and I believe the school house is still there – it’s a wine tasting location now!

    • Steve and Gwenna (Westbrook)Fischer on May 30, 2012 at 5:00 pm

    I have been trying to research my wife Gwens’ ancestry. Her father is the George A Westbrook mentioned in Belle’s box 124.
    Elizabeth Twombly (Twombley, Feombley) is my wifes paternal grandmother.
    I found a Gardner J Twombley under Mich deaths, in Familysearch as having died on 15 Aug, 1923. in Kalamazoo Mich. It listed him as married, but no name of wife.
    I am still trying to find more on Elizabeth Scott Westbrook Twombly,
    Gwen father, George Allen Westbrook died in 1956, in Kalamazoo, MI, at age 56. Gwen wa just 4 years old at that time, and does not remember much contact with her fathers side of the family after that. Would love to learn any more.

  3. My grandmother Helena Shlagor Hattis is Peter and Esther’s daughter. My mother is Althea Hattis Smith and we have been trying to find any and all information on my great great grandparents. My grandmother is still living and just turned 94 yrs old a week ago and is living in Vicksburg MI. Esther’s other daughter Hyla is still alive too and lives near Cadillac.
    I was so excited to see this blog and hope that you can help me find more information about Peter Jack. There are several spellings of his last name and I have gone to every site that I can think of to find him.
    Wow this is so exciting and I can’t wait to read more of your blogs.
    Allana Smith Slager
    I guess when I think about it I would have been Peter and Esther’s oldest great granddaughter too I think.

  4. I am so sorry that I don’t know any more about your families, Allana and Steve. If you would like me to put you in touch with each other, please let me know.

    Pam

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