Sherman Dodge newspaper articles in Crested Butte, Colorado

It's interesting how pieces of the puzzle continue to fall into place, little by little; or how certain suggestions on what or where to search just pop out at you unexpectedly. This is one of those unexpected searches that yielded some interesting pieces of the puzzle. 

The Crested Butte, Colorado newspaper Elk Mountain Pilot just became available to search on one of the historical newspaper websites that I keep tabs on from time to time. My great-great uncle, Sherman Dodge, was from Crested Butte, Colorado, according to his marriage certificate, in 1900.

I don't know how long he had been there prior to 1900, but it doesn't appear to have been too long. Before living in Crested Butte, Sherman lived in St. Elmo. This is from The Salida Mail: August 18, 1896: St. Elmo Items. Special Correspondence of The Mail. St. Elmo, Aug. 11. Sherman Dodge has been running on the mail route of late in Mr. Fisher’s place.

I went ahead and did a quick search for Sherman Dodge in the Elk Mountain Pilot newspaper and found the following articles for him throughout 1900.

May 29, 1900: Sherman Dodge came up from Jack's Cabin Monday to go to work at the saw mill.

(Side note: his father, Nathaniel T. Dodge, worked at a saw mill in Gardiner, Maine, for a time during the 1870's).

July 31, 1900: Sherman Dodge had the second finger on his right hand badly crushed Wednesday [July 25] by the engine while working at the Stanley mill.

September 25, 1900: The following Crested Butte people attended the dance at Jack's Cabin Friday night [Sept. 21]: Harvey Stanley and wife, Arthur Stanley and wife, Mrs. Harriett Wieland, Miss Brown, Geo. Schaefer, Sherman Dodge, Frank Young, Will Hartman, Geo. Adams, Warren Small, Tom Walters, Colon Moore, Bert Smith, Harry Tingey and Geo. Cook. A number of the Jack's Cabin people were present and an enjoyable time was had by all.

(side note: Miss Brown very well could be his soon to be wife, Mary May Brown.)

December 4, 1900: Sherman Dodge departed Friday for Denver [Nov. 29], at which place he will be married to Miss May Brown. They will reside in Crested Butte.

Following their marriage, they were living in Denver by 1902, when they lost a son in childbirth. They divorced in October of 1903 (their divorce is detailed in the Denver newspapers and covered in my other posts on Sherman Dodge).

Just a little geography: Jack's Cabin is a little rural mountain locale along Colorado State Road 135 and County Road 749 about half way between Gunnison and Crested Butte. There isn't much to note that people live there; just a few homes and barns (according to google maps). 

World War I Veterans Affairs Master Index Cards

Here is a find I came across yesterday: U.S., Veterans Affairs Master Index Cards, 1917-1940. These have recently been published on familysearch.org as 'United States, Veterans Affiars master index, 1917-1940'.

These Index Cards are presently being indexed through familysearch.org. The entire index contains upwards of 6,000,000 names (from what I can ascertain) and contain millions of names of American Veterans, primarily from World War One. The index also contains the names of some veterans from the Civil War and the Spanish-American War as well as some that served in the years following World War One. (For more information on these records, please visit the following: www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States,_Veterans_Administration_Master_Index_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records)

Searching for family members through these records is like finding a few small needles in a massive haystack. They are alphabetized, but not quite as expected. For example: to find Clarence Keith Newitt, I had to search through a series of last names beginning with the letters NEWH--- to NEWK---. Each series of last names is then alphabetized by first name (NEWH--- to NEWK---, first name beginning with letter A, then NEWH--- to NEWK---, beginning with letter B, and so forth until I found the name I was looking for). It is tricky to go through, but once I was able to figure out how the index is organized, it became somewhat easier to go through.

Here are the family members that I was able to find in this index: James Robert Dodge (my great-grandfather), David Nemetzky (his brother-in-law), and Clarence Keith Newitt (his sister's step-son). Below are the records that I found:

Each card gives the veteran's name, rank, unit they served in, and their mailing address (I'm assuming at the time they applied for their bonus due them from the Federal Government during the 1920's and 1930's). The index cards also list their dates of birth and death, dates of enlistment and discharge, their bonus application number (the 'A' number), their War Risk Insurance number (the 'T' number), and their WWI Certificate Number (the 'Ct' number) as well as a Claim Number that would have been made by a surviving family member following their death (the 'C' number). 

Just a brief review of the above-displayed cards: my great-grandpa, James Robert Dodge, is living in Rawlins, Wyoming. He lived in Buena Vista, Colorado at the time he was drafted in 1918. He lived in Rawlins, Wyoming, beginning in the mid 1930's. 

Clarence Keith Newitt served in the Navy during World War One (he enlisted in April of 1917 from Leadville, Colorado) and lived in San Francisco following his military service. Unlike U.S. Army enlisted personnel records, U.S. Navy enlisted personnel records still exist. Keith applied for his World War I Bonus in 1924, and was living in San Francisco at the time he applied for his bonus. The bonus application number on the index card matches the application number from the application form.

David Nemetzky is an interesting case. He first enlisted in the Army in 1904 and didn't retire from the service until 1931. I have already posted a blog about what I have found on his life and military service. While this sheds a little more light on his service, such as his service number, as well as one of the places he served during his time in the Army (China, where he probably was stationed when he would have applied for his World War I Bonus), it also raises more questions. Most specifically, his date of birth. Each record I have found on David Nemetzky shows a different date of birth. This record is no different; according to the index card, he was born in September of 1882. 

The enlisted U.S. Army personnel records no loner exist; they were destroyed in an accidental fire at the National Archives in St. Louis in the early 1970's.; so his complete military file, as well as that of my great-grandfather, no longer exist. Sadly, because these records no longer exist, there are some questions that won't be able to be answered.

Arlene Elizabeth Christensen (1907-1978)

Arlene Elizabeth Christensen was born on May 21, 1907 in Loleta, California, to Peter Hansen Christensen and Emma Sofia Smith. She grew up in Ferndale, California (260 miles north of San Francisco), and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1925. 

Sometime during the 1930's, Arlene moved to San Francisco and became a court reporter. Although not found in the 1940 Census, Arlene is found in both the San Francisco Directory and the voter registration for that year. She married Clarence Keith Newitt in November of 1944 in San Francisco. 

They lived in San Francisco until the mid 1960's, when Keith retired from his job with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and moved to Florence, Oregon. Following Keith's death in 1974, Arlene returned to California and lived in Fresno until her death in 1978. She is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Eureka, with her husband and parents.

1910 Census - Pacific, California

1920 Census - Ferndale, California 

1925 Senior High School yearbook picture - Ferndale, California

 1930 Census - Pacific, California

1930 Voter Registration - Ferndale, California

1933 Voter Registration - Ferndale, California 

 1940 San Francisco Directory

1940 Voter Registration, San Francisco, California

SSN Application - February 1952

Gravestone

Death Certificate

Marina Ermachenko - aka Mary Newitt (1896-1944)

***NOTE - This Post Was Edited September 2019***

Mary Newitt, also known as Marina Ermachenko, was form in Russia in July of 1896. On December 20, 1919, Mary was wedded to Michael Losacco in Vladivostok, Russia. Michael was part of the A.E.F. in Russia. They returned to the United States in 1920, arriving in San Francisco on August 18th aboard the Army Transport Ship Sheridan. At this time, Mary became a naturalized citizen. Following an abusive marriage, she divorced her husband on December 28, 1922 in San Francisco. She married Clarence Keith Newitt 20 February 1925 in Redwood City, California. At the time of their marriage, they were both living in San Francisco. Mary was working as a maid at the time of their marriage. They lived in San Francisco. They are first found together in the San Francisco directories in 1927. They lived in San Francisco until her death in 1944.

Mary passed away on May 20, 1944 at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco. According to the Coroner's Register, she was brought to the hospital on May 16th and placed under observation. She was admitted for surgery on the morning of the 20th and placed under anesthesia, but passed away just prior to the surgery. She was buried at the Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, just south of San Francisco.

Below are the available records that track Mary Newitt's life in San Francisco, California, including her marriage record to Keith Newitt and newspaper articles chronicling her divorce from her first husband.

Troopship Manifest for USAT Sheridan

 San Francisco Chronicle: December 29, 1922

 San Francisco Examiner: December 29, 1922

Oakland Tribune: December 28, 1922

Marriage record: Clarence Keith Newitt & Maria Lasacco

1930 Census - San Francisco, California

1940 Census, San Francisco, California

 SSN Application - 1942

Death Certificate

 

Coroner's Inquest

Gravestone

Mortuary Record

***Update November 22, 2020***

I just found another newspaper article for Mary's divorce. This article is from The San Francisco Call from December 28, 1922. In addition to adding another source for her divorce, this newspaper article also provides a photograph of Mary (any time you can find a photo of an ancestor, you have found a gem).

Don David DeMark (1907-1991)

Don David DeMark married my grandpa Dodge's cousin, Virginia Rose Graham, in 1939. Don was born Dominic Demarco August 3, 1907 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His parents were Charles Demarco (DeMark; ca. 1874-1950) and Betty Mutcelli (ca. 1877- 1953) immigrated from Roccamandolfi, Italy around 1900. After arriving in Colorado, they changed their family name to DeMark. They had a total of eleven children. They are as follows:

James Edwin DeMark (1892-1988)
Alva Edward DeMark (1894-1965)
Virginia DeMark (1897-1988)
Ella Rina DeMark (1898-1994)
Angelina DeMark (1901-1954)
Frank Feur DeMark (1902-2002)
Carmen Anna DeMark (1904-1959)
Rose Teresa DeMark (1905-1997)
Don David DeMark (1907-1991)
Tony DeMark (1909-1987)
Mary Ellen DeMark (1911-2006)

In the 1910 Census, The DeMark family is living in Larimer County, Colorado. They are found in Colorado Springs in 1913 and are listed in the Census Records in Colorado Springs beginning in 1920. The DeMark family owned a car repair shop in Colorado Springs, which was Don's profession throughout his life. There is some change in his name growing up. Besides the change in the family name, Don was listed as Dominic in the 1910 and 1920 Census. In the 1930 Census, he is listed as Don, which is what he was known through much of his life. His marriage record, however, lists his name as Donald. Also, according to his SSN Application and World War II Draft Card, his year of birth is 1907. The Social Security Death Index, obituary and gravestone have his year of birth as 1906. He passed away December 31, 1991 in Colorado Springs, eight days after his wife, Virginia passed away. They are both buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs.

1910 US Census: Larimer County, Colorado

1920 US Census: Colorado Springs, Colorado

1930 US Census: Colorado Springs, Colorado

SSN Application from 1937

World War II Draft Card

George Earl Graham: 1892-1966

Recently, I've had the thought that I should go back through the blogs that I have published over the years and see what I have done and how much information on my family I have found. In going through my blog posts, there are a number of posts that I have neglected to publish. In the research I have done over the years, I have found an incredible amount of information on the spouses of my great-grandpa Jim Dodge's siblings as well as the spouses of my grandpa Dodge's cousins. This post will be the first to focus on the spouses: George Earl Graham. He married my great-great aunt, Ann Hazel Dodge, in Buena Vista, Colorado in July of 1915. 

George Earl Graham was born in Wilcox, Nebraska, to George Allen Graham (1866-1935) and Rose Eva Shaddock (1873-1937). His parents married in Nebraska around 1889. George Allen & Rose had a total of seven children, five living to adulthood. Their five children that lived to adulthood are as follows:

Wayne Lester Graham (1890-1965)

George Earl Graham (1896-1966)

Marie Charlotte Graham (1895-1971)

Lula Mae Graham (1900-1986)

Elwood Graham (1908-1960)

By 1900, George Earl and his family were living in Kokomo, Summit, County, Colorado. They moved to Buena Vista during the 1900's and are listed in the 1910 Census there. When George Earl Graham married Ann Hazel Dodge in 1915, his marriage record incorrectly lists his name as Earl George Graham. When George Earl registered for the World War I Draft in June of 1917, he claimed his wife and newborn daughter, Virginia, as exemptions from the draft. In the 1920 Census, George Earl is working at a local grocery store. During the early 1920's George Earl and Ann move to Salida, Colorado. By 1926, they moved and were living in Colorado Springs, where they spent most of their lives together. By this time, George Earl was working for the State Highway Department.

In the 1940 Census, George Earl Graham is listed twice; first with his wife in Colorado Springs, and second in Leadville, Colorado. He was living and working in Leadville with the Colorado Highway Department as a Surveyor. When he registered for the World War II Draft in April of 1942, he listed his residential address in Colorado Springs, even though he was still living and working in Leadville. By August of 1942, George Earl and Ann moved to Utah and lived in Salt Lake City during World War II. He worked for Utah Construction Company in Garfield, Utah.

According to The Deseret News, (https://www.deseretnews.com/article/600155105/Memories-of-a-company-town.html) Garfield was a company town located west of Magna, Utah (Magna is 15 miles west of Salt Lake City). Following World War II, George Earl and Ann left Utah and moved to Northern California. In 1949, they lived in the town of Susanville. By 1955, they were living in the town of Broderick, just outside of Sacramento. By 1958, George Earl & Ann had returned to Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Ann passed away in Colorado Springs in January of 1961. George Earl Graham passed away in April of 1966. From The Colorado Springs Free Press, April 27, 1966: 'George E. Graham, 73, of 3000 N. Cascade Ave., was reported in serious condition at Penrose Hospital Tuesday after he shot himself in the head at home, according to the sheriff's office. A hospital spokesman said that Graham was conscious and has not undergone surgery. He was in the intensive care section. Graham was found by his daughter, Mrs. Virgins DeMark, of 214 Del Notre, shortly before 12 noon Tuesday. Detective Sgt. Frank T. Ripley and Deputy William J. Kennedy said that the bullet entered the roof of his mouth and probably lodged between his right eye. Graham, who was conscious in bed, said he shot himself Monday night, according to officials. A .22 caliber rifle was found near Graham. Graham had been in ill health for several years. He was taken to the Hospital by E & E Ambulance.'

He passed away on April 29, 1966. The Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph from May 1, 1966 reads: ‘George E. Graham, 3000 N. Cascade Ave., died Friday at a local hospital. He was born June 15, 1892 at Wilcox, Neb., and had resided here for 40 years. He was a retired Civil Engineer and a member of the Protestant church. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Don DeMark, Colorado Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Lula Thanhoff, Salida, and Mrs. Marie Doyle, Sacramento, Calif.; plus several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Nolan Drawing Room with burial in the family plot in Evergreen Cemetery.’ 

The Colorado Springs Free Press from May 1, 1966 reads: Services for George E. Graham, 73, of 3000 N. Cascade Ave., will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Nolan Drawing Room. Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery. Mr. Graham died Friday at a local hospital. He was born at Wilcox, Neb., June 15, 1892. Mr. Graham came here 40 years ago and was a retired civil engineer. He was married at Buena Vista July 22, 1915. His wife died in Colorado Springs Jan. 6, 1961. Mr. Graham attended schools in Colorado and was a Protestant. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Don DeMark, of Colorado Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Lulu Thanhoff of Salida and Mrs. Marie Doyle of Sacramento, Calif., and several nieces and nephews.’

1900 US Census: Kokomo, Summit, Colorado

1910 US Census: Buena Vista, Chaffee, Colorado

1940 US Census: Leadville, Lake, Colorado

World War I Draft Card: June 5, 1917

World War II Draft Card: April 27, 1942

Social Security Application: August 1942

N.T. Dodge: Election Record

This is a post that I have meant to put together for quite a while now. When I found the Salida newspapers contained many articles on my family a couple of years ago, I also found that they had numerous elections results for Nathaniel T. Dodge. He often ran for public office, primarily as a Justice of the Peace. He was a Justice of the Peace during the 1880's (the earliest record I found that lists him as a Justice of the Peace is from 1883). He was also elected as Constable in 1886.

As a local court judge, he would have notarized recorded documents, officiated weddings and remanded cases for trial. The Salida newspapers that I found (the Salida Record and the Salida Mail), list candidates, party affiliation, and election results from 1902 to 1920. Below are the election results from these elections. Each elected position he ran for was for a two-year term. For the elections in which he ran for Justice of the Peace, there were two Justices that were elected for each Judicial Precinct. Nathaniel ran for Justice of the Peace in Precinct No. 4 in Buena Vista.

1902 - Constable in Precinct No. 4: N.T. Dodge; Socialist Party. (lost election)

1904 - Commissioner of 1st District: N.T. Dodge; Socialist Party. (150 votes; lost election)

1906 - Justice of the Peace in Precinct No. 4: N.T. Dodge; Socialist Party (won election)

1908 - Justice of the Peace in Precinct No. 4: N.T. Dodge; Socialist Party (107 votes; lost election)

1910 - Justice of the Peace in Precinct No. 4: N.T. Dodge; Socialist Party (120 votes; lost election)

1914 - Justice of the Peace in Precinct No. 4: N.T. Dodge; Citizens Party (lost election)

1920 - Justice of the Peace in Precinct No. 4: N.T. Dodge; Republican Party (lost election)

Nathaniel ran for election for Justice of the Peace once again in 1924, this time on the Democratic ticket. This time, he tied for the second Justice seat in 1924. The Salida Mail recorded the following results from the 1924 election:

The Salida Mail: December 16, 1924: In the November election, there having been a tie in the number of votes received by I.C. Terry and N.T. Dodge, also the fact that Justice James Garrahan, having received a majority of votes over the other two candidates, and having been indorsed by both the Democratic and Republican parties, left a doubt with the canvasing board as to which two were elected. The question was submitted to the attorney general and the opinion given was that Mr. Garrahan was legally elected, which still leaves the question to be settled as to Terry and Dodge, which will be settled in one of the following ways: cut cards, draw straws, or run a foot race.

It is not known how the tiebreaker was resolved, but The Salida Mail from February 10, 1925 reports: The contest between N.T. Dodge and I.C. Terry for Justice of the Peace was finally settled by commissioners recognizing Mr. Dodge’s legal right to the office.

In January of 1926, Nathaniel resigned as Justice of the Peace. The Salida Mail from January 12, 1926, records: 'Judge N.T. Dodge handed his resignation as justice of the peace to the county commissioners, to take effect at once, on account of illness. Mr. Dodge was conveyed to the county hospital. I.C. Terry was appointed by the commissioners to fill the vacancy.' He passed away at the Rio Grande Hospital in Salida in April of 1926.