Re: Begin/Boucher families of Medicine Lake, Mn
-
In reply to:
Re: Begin/Boucher families of Medicine Lake, Mn
Carolyn La Porte 11/08/07
Well, Carolyn, it seems like we are "cousins".Thanks for all the background information.
I really know nothing about this branch of the family prior to Caroline and Louis Napoleon.But I do have some family gossip that you might find interesting:
My grandparents, Myrtle Neumann and Fabian Begin were married in Bemidji MN in 1915.Fabian got a job with the Hixon Logging Co in Bend OR and they moved there.Their children Mary, Joan and John were born there.My mother was Joan (she passed away in 1991).My grandfather was killed in the logging train wreck in October, 1922.The children were 5,4,and almost 3.
Myrtle did not get along with her mother-in-law so there was minimal contact after Fabian's death.Apparently Caroline married several times.She tried to keep her farm going with the help of Emil/Joseph.He was considered quite the "rascal" and needed to be bailed out of various troubles over the years.It is no wonder you lost track of him; he changed his name numerous times.
Caroline did make her way to Los Angeles at some point.The death notice that you found is hers.My aunt Mary tells about visiting her in the late 40's.Mary (now 90)says that her grandmother lived well into her 90's "and who knows how long she would have lived if she hadn't gotten hit by that bus."Mary, whose middle name is Caroline, seems to have kept in some contact with that side of the family.
In the late 50's I met Uncle Emil, who was going by the name Jack Murphy at that time.Myrtle and Mary were living in San Jose CA and I was visiting for the summer."Jack" found them somehow, I think through my Uncle John (the one you found the death notice for).I was too young to be aware of all the dynamics, but I did get the impression that he was often one step ahead of the law.I think he died a few years later.Mary would know and I will ask if you want.I don't think he had children.
Going back a step, Cora may have married prior to that 1920 census, which would account for her being missing.I will have to ask Aunt Mary about her.I think she was still around when I was a very small child.Not sure about children.
As far as I know, the only decendents of Caroline and Louis Napolean are through Fabian/Myrtle to my mother, Joan.Neither Mary nor John had children.I am the oldest of six, three boys and three girls.Among us, we have 13 children and 5, almost 6, grandchildren.So the line goes on.
I don't know what the protocol is about private conversations.I would be happy to share more family gossip if you are interested.Aunt Mary is a wonderful resource.She is getting frail, but her mind is sharp and she remembers amazing details about everything.She is busy identifying old photos from her childhood.
It was a treat to hear that there are other relatives, however distant, out there.Thanks for sharing!Wish I could be more help in the ancestor search.
Rita
More Replies:
-
Re: Begin/Boucher families of Medicine Lake, Mn
Carolyn La Porte 11/13/07