In 1900, 31 year old Louis Miller lived with his wife, Tillia (29) in a portion of a home they rented at 2026 Webster Avenue in Pittsburgh (11th Ward, East Liberty), Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Living with them were heir children Harry J. (7yrs-Dec 1892), Catherine M. (5yrs-Nov 1894), Tarrsa L. (3yrs-Oct 1896), and Barbara M. (1yr-Oct 1898). Louis and tillia had been married for 8 years. Louis worked as a "day laborer." Harry attended school. Also living in the house at 2026 Webster Avenue was a German family Henry Huntz, his wife Caroline and their daughter Lizzie.
In 1910, 31 year old Louis A. Miller lived with his wife Otillia A. (40) in a rented home at 108 Lincoln Avenue, Pittsburgh (12th Ward-Lincoln Lemington). According to the census, they had been married for 18 years. Living with them were their children Harry J. (17), Katherine (15), Loretta T. (13), Marcella B. (11), William J. (9), Colletta A. (7), Elizabeth (5), Leo (3) and Dolores (8 mos). According to the census, none of the children attended school. Louis worked as a lineman for the telephone company and Harry as a clerk in "wholesale drug." Louis and Ottillia were born in Ohio as were Otillia's parents and Louis' father. Louis's mother was born in West Virginia according to the census.
In 1920, 51 year old Louis Miller lived with his wife Ottillia (49) in a morgaged home at 7022 Agnew Street, Pittsburgh (12th Ward-Lincoln Lemington), Allegheny co., Pennsylvania. Living with them were their children Harry (27), William (19), Coletta (17), Elizabeth (14), Leo (12), and Dolores (10). Coletta, Elizabeth, Leo, and Dolores attended school. Louis worked as a laborer for the telephone company, Harry as a salesman in a drug store, and William as a stock clerk for an automobile company. Coletta worked as a stenographer in addion to going to school. Living next door at 7020 Agnew Street was Ottillia's sister-in-law, Eva Smithberger Crock
Louis Miller worked as a lineman for Bell Telephone, climbing telephone poles and stringing lines.
According to the 1930 census, widow Ottallia Miller (59) lived with her son Leo (22) and her daughter Dolores (20) in a home she owned (value $2500) at 7022 Agnew Street, in Pittsburgh (12th Ward-Lincoln Lemington), Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Also living with her was her widowed son-in-law, William Becker (33). Leo worked for the state police; Dolores worked as a stenographer for a newspaper; and William worked as a laborer in a steel mill. The family owned a radio. Living next door at 7020 Agnew Street was Ottillia's sister-in-law Eva Smithberger Crock.
Abstracted from "The Crock Family History" by Maria Pegnato:
After her husband's death. Otillia lived with her youngest daughter Delores on Churchland St. off Lincoln Ave. in the East End of Pittsburgh, PA. Otillia Crock Miller was a big woman, but very agile. She was a kind woman with a wonderful sense of humor. She loved to play euchre (a card game pronounced YOU-kerr) and would walk to St. Walburga Church (East Liberty, Pittsburgh) a few blocks from her home to play. (The church closed in 1966.) She often made the 15 to 20 minute walk to visit the family of her daughter, Coletta Miller Vacco. The walk up the up the steep Pittsburgh hills was quite an accomplishment for a woman her size.Maria Pegnato remembers that on days when the weather was inclement, they would walk from school to their grandmother's house a few blocks away to have lunch. She often gave them cherry pie for desert. Maria also stayed with her grandmother when the rest of the family was quarantined with scarlet fever.
Catherine Miller entered the Divine Providence Order as Sister Mary Theonilla at age 23. She was the Director of Nursing at St. John's Hospital and later at Braddock Hospital.
Loretta Miller entered the Divine Providence Order at age 19 as Sister Mary Theophila. She was the head anestethist at St. Johns Hospital and later at Braddock Hospital.
In 1900, George Crock (26) rented part of a house at 2210 Humbert Alley in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He lived there with his of four years, wife Eva (25) and their sons Urban H. (2) and Osden P. (1). George was employed as a driver.
By 1900, Eva Smithberger Crock had given birth to two children, both of whom were living at the time of the census.
In 1910, recently widowed Eva Crock (35) owned a house at 1720 Agnew (?) St. near the corner of Hartman Lane in Pittsburgh, PA. Living with her were all six of her children: Urban (13), Peter (11), Clara (9), Roy (7), Joseph (4) and George (1 yr 11 mos). The oldest four children attended school. No one in the household was employed. Fulda native Edward Miller lived next door.
In 1920, widow Eva Smithberger Crock (55 lived at 7020 Agnew Street with her children Ervin (22), Peter (20), Clara (18), Roy (16), Joseph (13), and George (11). Also living with them was a boarder, 73 year old boarder Carolin Uhlig. Joseph and George attended school; Ervin was an office clerk at a refinery; Peter was a laborer in a machine shop, Clara was a telephone operator at a blackware company; and Roy was a shipping clerk in a bakery. Eva was born in Ohio as were Ervin and Peter and Eva parents. The remaining children were born in Pennsylvania. Living next door at 7022 Agnew Street was Fulda native 51 year old Louis and Otlillia Miller and family. Eva Smithberger's late husband was the brother of Otillia Crock Miller.
According to the 1930 census, widow Eva Smithberger Crock (55) lived at 7020 Agnew Street with her children Clara (29), Joseph (24), and George (21) and her grandson, Robert (7). Robert was the son of Eva's deceased son Urban (Ervin). Also living with them were boarders Carolin Uhlig (83) and Russell Gurf (21). Clara worked as a telephone operator in a bank, Joseph as a saleman in a bakery, and George as a dairy hand at a dairy. Robert attended school. The family owned a radio. Living next door at 7022 Agnew Street was Fulda native 59 year old Ottallia Miller, Eva's sister-in-law.
Eva Crock's obituary appeared in The Zanesville (OH) signal newspaper on October 27, 1934. Former Resident Is Dead at Pittsburgh Summerfield, O., Oct. 27 -- Relatives have been notified of the death
of Mrs. Eva Crock, 56, widow of George Crock, which occurred Wednesday
evening at her home, Pittsburgh, following an illness. Deceased was born
and resided at Harrietsville, Noble county, and was a daughter of the late Mr.
and Mrs. Peter Smithberger. Surviving her are five children and several brothers and sisters. The
funeral was held this morning at Pittsburgh.
In 1900, 23 year old unmarried William Crock lived with his parents and several younger siblings on the family farm in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio. His occupation is "farm laborer."
At the time of the 1910 census, 33 year old farmer William Crock lived with his wife Barbara M. (32) on a farm they owned in Nimishillin Twp., Stark County, Ohio. Living with them were their children Mary C. (5), Elnora A. (4), and Rosa (2). William and Barbara had been married for 6 years at the time of the census. William, Barbara and the two older children were born in Ohio; Rosa was born in Pennsylvania; and William and Barbara's parents were born in Ohio.
On September 12, 1918, self-employed farmer William Crock (42 - dob June 22, 1876) of RR 4, Louisville, Stark Co., Ohio registered for the military draft. His nearest relative is given as Mrs. Barbary Mary Crock of RR 7, Louisville, Stark Co., Ohio. William was described as being tall with gray eyes and brown hair.
In 1920, William Crock (43) owned a farm in Nimishillin Twp., Stark County, Ohio, where he lived with his wife Barbara (41) and children Mary (15), Elnora (14), Rosa (12), Amelia (9), Lucy (7), and Joseph (11 months). All the children except Joseph attended school.
In 1930, 53 year old famrer William Crock lived with his wife Barbara (52) on a farm they owned in Nimishillin Twp., Stark County, Ohio. Living with them were their children Mary (25), Elanor (24), Rosa (22), Lucy (17), Rita (9), and Joseph (11). According to the census, William and Barbara had been married for 27 years. Mary, Elanor and Rosa worked as teachers in the public schools. The three youngest children attended school. The family owned a radio.
Barbara Crum lived with her father, step-mother, and four younger sisters at the time of the 1900 census. She was 22 years old at the time.
A column titled "News of our Neighbors" was a regular page 1 feature in the weekly newspaper The Louisville [Stark Co., OH] Herald in the early days of the century. The news items were divided into sections for local towns. Under the "Belfort" section on Thursday, 20 Jan 1916 was the following note:
Mrs. William Crock spent a week with friends in Pittsburgh, Pa.Obituary:
MRS. WILLIAM CROCK
Mrs. Barbara Crock, wife of William Crock of Reno road,
RD 2, Louisville, died Tuesday morning in the home from a compli-
cation of diseases. She was 68.
Mrs. Crock had been a Stark County resident 38 years,
coming from Fulda and was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church
and St. Ann’s Altar and Rosary Society.
In addition to her husband, she leaves a son, Joseph Crock
of the home; six daughters, Mrs. Clarance Paumier, Mrs. Eugene
Evrard and Mrs. Louis Kramer of Louisville, Mrs. John Kagle, Mrs.
Mahlon Smith and Mrs. Herman Schneider of Canton, three sisters,
Mrs. Mary Taylor and Mrs. Lucy Logan of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Cecelia
Archer and Mrs. Amelia Sorg of Fulda; and ten grandchildren.
A Requiem High Mass will be sung Friday at 9:30 a.m. in
St. Louis Church and burial will be in the church cemetery.Barbara Crum Crock's death certificate identified her parents as Henry Crum and Mary Hiel, both natives of Noble County. Death certificate informant was Barbara's husband, William Crock.
In 1900, 24 year old John Smith and several siblings lived on his parents farm in Enoch Twp., Noble Co., Ohio.
John lived with his 31 year old brother August and their 41 year old widowed sister Mary Schott at the time of the 1910 census.
On September 12, 1918, self-employed farmer John Adam smith (42 - dob March 7, 1876) of RR 4, Louisville, Stark Co., Ohio registered for the military draft. His nearest relative is given as Mrs. Barbara Mary Smith of RR 4, Louisville, Stark Co., Ohio. John was described as being tall with slender with blue eyes and light hair.
In 1920, 43 year old farmer John A. Smith lived with his wife Barbery (41) on a farm they owned on Georgetown Road in Osnaburg Twp., Stark Co., Ohio. Living with them were their children August (6), Alma (3 yrs 11 mos), and Edward (2 yrs 8 mos).. All members of the family were born in Ohio as were Barbery's parents; John's parents were born in Germany.
By 1930, John Smith (64) owned a farm on Georgetown Road in Osnaburg Twp., Stark Co., Ohio where he lived with his wife, Barbara (51) and thier five children: August (16), Alma (14), Edward (13), Carl (12) and Francis (9). The Smith family did not own a radio set.
Obituary from the Louisville Herald, page 5, 10 Jun 1943::
John A. Smith, 67, who resided on a farm in Osnaburg twp.,
died Friday afternoon in the home after a long illness. He was a member
of St. Louis Catholic Church and the Holy Name Society.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Barbara Smith, three sons, Pvt.
August W. Smith, now overseas, Pvt. Francis H. Smith, at Alliance, Nebr.,
and Carl F. Smith of the home; a sister, Mrs. Henry Michel of Louisville,
and a brother, Frank Smith of Caldwell.
Funeral services were Monday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic
Church with Rev. Fr. Francis Palm singing the mass.
The following excerpt was written in 1994 in the memoirs of Judith Smith Fitzhugh, eldest daughter of August William Smith and Bertha Cora Weisent Smith. (source: "Michel Family Tree")John Smith (paternal grandfather) - John was born in Fulda, Ohio, in 1876. He died in
1943 at the age of 67. He was very strict with the children and very domineering with
his wife. My mother said he was definitely the boss of the family. He wanted a large
meal on Sundays and thought the woman should do all the cooking. Sunday was a day
to attend church; John was a strict Catholic. He insisted on naming my father, August,
after one of his brothers, even though my grandmother protested.
Twenty-two year old Barbara Crock did not live with her parents and siblings at the time of the 1900 census. She did not live with her parents in 1910, either.
The following excerpt was written in 1994 in the memoirs of Judith Smith Fitzhugh, eldest daughter of August William Smith and Bertha Cora Weisent Smith. (source: "Michel Family Tree")
Barbara (Crock) Smith (paternal grandmother) - Barbara was born in Fulda,
Ohio, in 1878. She died in 1961 at the age of 83. She was dominated by her
husband until he died; after that, she was the boss of the household. She
was always very frugal with her money and would resist making any im-
provements to the house. She remained the dominating figure even after her
son, Carl, married and returned to the farm to take over its management and
care. She did not get along too well with her daughter-in-law, Helen. Perhaps
they were both of the same temperament. In one particular case, when Carl
and Helen discussed adopting a child, Barbara protested and the idea was
utimately dropped. Eventually, Carl bought the farm from his mother and
only then did he seem to get more control of the business affairs of the farm.Barbara Crock Smith's obituary appeared on page 14 of the Louisville Herald (a local weekly newspaper) on 4 Jan 1962:
MRS. JOHN SMITH
Mrs. Barbara Smith, 83, of 8950 Georgetown rd NE, Louisville,
died in the Mary Grove Nursing Home on Dec. 17 after a two-year illness.
She had lived in this area for 52 years.
A member of St. Louis Catholic Church and St. Ann’s Altar and
Rosary Society, she is survived by three sons, Carl and August of Louisville,
and Francis of Canton; one brother and one sister; ten grandchildren.
Services were held the morning of Dec. 20 in the church with burial
in the church cemetery. The Paquelet Funeral Home was in charge of arrange-
ments.
Obituary from the Louisville Herald, page 5, 14 May 1942::
Miss Alma Marie Smith, 26, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
John Smith of RD 2, Louisville, died Sunday in Mercy hospital
where she had been a patient for 16 weeks. She was a member
of St. Louis Catholic church.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by three brothers,
Pvt. August Smith of Indiantown Gap, Pa., Carl and Francis of the
home. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the St.
Louis Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Paul Bucholz singing the mass.
Burial in St. Louis cemetery.
Obituary:
Edward L. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Smith,
died Wednesday morning, May 4th, at his home near Belfort
on the Georgetown road. His illness covered a period of four
months and he died from a complication of diseases. He was
a freshman at Louisville high school. Besides his parents, he
leaves one sister, Alma, and three brothers, August, Francis
and Carl. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 9:30 at St.
Louis Church in charge of Rev. Fr. Paul Buchholz. Burial in St.
Louis cemetery.
In 1900, 22 year old John Crum lived and worked on the family farm in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio with his parents and siblings. By 1949, he had moved to the Pittsburgh area. His Social Security number was issued in Pennsylvania prior to 1951.
In 1910, 32 year old John E. Crum lived with his wife Anna B. (29) in an un-numbered house that they owned on Speer? Street in North Belle Vernon, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. Living with them were their sons Francis H. (5) and George E. (3). According to the census, John and Anna had been married for 6 years. John worked as a foreman on a street railway. John and Anna as well as Anna's parents and John's mother were born in Ohio; John's father in Pennsylvania; and the children in Pennsylvania.
In 1920, 41 year old J. E. Crum lived with his wife Anna B. (38) in a home they rented at 1005 McKean Ave., Charleroi, Washington Co., Pennsylvania. Living with them were their children Francis (15), Edward (13), Catherine (8), Regis (6), William (3yrs 10 mos), and Elizabeth (2 yrs 9 mos). The 4 older children attended school. J.E. worked as a foreman in a car barn. He and Anna were born in Ohio as were their parents. All of the children were born in Pennsylvania.
At the time of the 1930 census, Edward J. Crum (52) lived with his wife, Anna B. (49) in a home they owned at 212 Second Street, Charleroi, Washington Co., Pennsylvania. They lived with their childred Regis (16), William (13), Elizabeth (12), James (9), and Arthur (6). Edward and Anna had been married for about 26 years. Edward worked as a superintendent at a ("car line"?). All of the children attended school. The family did not own a radio.
The following article appeared in The Charleroi (PA) Mail newspaper on November 20, 1944:
CHARLEROI COUPLE ENTERTAIN FOR TWO SONS ON FURLOUGH
Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Crum entertained a group of friends at their
home at 212 Second Street, Friday evening, honoring their two
sons, Pvt. Regis Crum and Pfc. Arthur Crum. Regis is home on
furlough after spending thirty-one months overseas, and his
brother Arthur, Also home, is stationed in Texas.
Friends and relatives from Belle Vernon and Charleroi were
present at Friday's party, and a most enjoyable social evening
was climaxed by the serving of lunch by Mrs. Crum.
The two brothers were to leave today for Washington, D. C.,
where they will visit for a few days with Mrs. William Buchanan.
Obituary:
CRUM -- John Edward, 90, of 212 Second St. Charleroi,
died at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, 1968, in Varner's con-
velescent Home, Findleyville, after an illness of two weeks.
Surviving are his widow, Anna Crock Crum; six sons, Fran-
cis H. Of Monessen, Edward G. of Chadd's Ford, Pa., Regis
J. of Phoenix, Ariz, John W. of New Brunswick, N. J., James
H. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Arthur of Cumberland, Md.; two
daughters, Mrs. William (Catherine) Buchanan of Washing-
ton, D. C., and Mrs Robert (Elizabeth) Van Vorhis of Findley-
ville; three brothers, William, Leo and Louis, and a sister,
Mrs. Mary Schehl, of Noble County, Ohio; twenty-seven
grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Friends will be received at the Francis C. Stezak Funeral
Home, Charleroi, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. May 25 and 26,
Requiem high mass at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, in St.
Jerome R.C. Church, Charleroi. Internment, Monongahelia
Cemetery. Francis C. Stezak is funeral director.Source: Valley Independent (Monessen, Pennsylvania), newspaper, obituray of John Edward Crum, May 25, 1968
In The Caldwell Citizens' Press on 20 Jan 1881:
Birth, Jan 18th to Henry and Catherine Crock, a daughter.In 1900, 19 year old Anna B. Crock lived with her parents and several siblings on the family farm in Stock Twp., Noble County, Ohio.
The 1910 census states that Anna B. Crum gave birth to two children, both of whom were living at the time of the census.
There is some confusion about the two first cousins named Leo Crock. In the 1880s, two Leo Crocks were born in Fulda Ohio:
1) Leo Crock, born7 Mar 1883 to Henry Crock and Elizabeth Catherine Schott
2) Leo Crock, born 26 Jun 1888 to Jacob Crock and Matilda Yeagle
Jacob and Henry Crock were brothers. One Leo Crock married Clara Hohman on 8 Apr 1913. The other Leo Crock married Anna B. Cornett on 21 May 1907. (Here's where the confusion comes in.)Delores Snider states that Leo #1 married Clara Hohman and Leo #2 married Anna Cornett, then a woman named Clara. However, Katie Crock Norman, daughter of Leo #2, states that her mother was Clara Hohman.
According to Katie, her parents were married in Harrietsville by Msg. J. G. Mehler. Clara's parents gave them some furniture and a cow for a wedding gift. They lived in Fulda, Ohio on a farm owned by Leo's mother (Matilda Yeagle Crock) for the first year of their marriage. Leo was a farmer; he also dug coal from the hills to earn extra money. They felt that the land in Noble County was not ideal for farming, so they moved to Streetsboro, Ohio in 1914, about a year after their marriage. There they purchased a farm on Page Road. Leo and Clara had eleven children, of whom Katie is the youngest. Leo farmed full time until 1928, when he went to work for the Gougler Machine Company in Kent, Ohio, where he earned $.50 a day. During the depression of the 1930s, he also pitched hay for $1 a day.
Leo and Clara loved music, dancing, large family gatherings, and playing cards. They taught the children how to play Euchre (a card game) at a very young age. When they were "snowed in," they played cards to pass the time.
When the children were teenagers, those that didn't have a date would go to dances. If the boys had a date and were going to a dance, they would take the younger ones with them. Sometimes they would double date so they could use one of their cars. The younger ones would polish shoes and clean the car windows to repay their older brothers.
The family was very close and enjoyed each other's company all their lives. Leo and Clara Crock moved to Kent, Ohio in 1952 and lived there until their deaths.
When Clara was single, her parents paid her $50 a year to work at home. She also did work away from their place earning $.30 a day stringing tobacco leaves for drying. She saved $200 and when she married Leo, she gave him the money. They had been married only a few months when he was riding to the store on horseback and lost his wallet containing the $200. A cousin found it and returned it to Leo. Leo didn't tell Clara he had lost it until after the money was returned!
George was the pilot of a B-24 bomber in World War II who was killed during the war.
Data from Delores Snider (citing church records of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Fulda, Noble Co., OH) and Linda Kay Anderson (citing "A History of the Smithberger Family in America") do not agree.
Name: Snider has "John Peter"; 1880 cens;s, 1900 census, and Anderson have "Peter"
Birthdate: Anderson has 14 Jan 1847; Snider has 29 May 1847; 1880 census has Jan 1847
Wife's name: Snider has Catharina Michel; Anderson and Hartley have Catherine WeigelIn 1880, Peter "Smitheberger" and his wife Catherine lived in Bethel Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio with their children August (9), Rosa C. (9), George J. (7), John F. (6), Eva C. (5), Clara T. (2), and Amelia J. (1). The oldest four children attended school. Also living in the household were Peter's widowed mother-in-law, Magdalena Weigel (60), Peter's widowed brother-in-law Frank Weigel (44) and a 13 year-old girl named Magdelena Weigel whose relationship to Peter is listed as "Adopted." All of the Weigels (Magdalena, Frank, Catherine, and young Magdelena) were born in Bavaria. Everyone else in the household was born in Ohio. No occupation is listed for anyone in the household (although the census taker did record the occupations of other people on the page).
In 1900, Peter (53) and Catherine (55) Smithberger lived on a farm in Bethel Twp. with their children George J. (27), Francis J. (26), Clara G. (22), Amelia J. (21), Henry W. (15).
1880 census, Hartley and Anderson have maiden name as Weigel. Snider has maiden name as Michel.
In 1900, all nine of the children that Catherine had given birth to were still living. Although there are columns in the 1900 ceneus for "year of immigration," "number of years in US," and "naturalization," the census taker did not fill in this data for the German-born Catherine Smithberger.