Sunday’s Obituary: Obituary for Chris Jorgensen

Chris Jorgensen was the eldest sibling of my maternal grandfather’s mother, making him my great granduncle.

The following notice was printed in the Billings Gazette on June 8th, 1976. I’ve bolded names of relatives. I’ve also included a photograph which was probably taken within ten years before his death. There was no photo with the obituary in the newspaper.

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Timeline of Leon Inar Morrison

It was a surprise when a cousin relayed the information that my grandfather, Leon Inar Morrison (1917-10-07 – 1976-09-27), had been married four times. For the better part of a year, I could only find two wives: my grandmother, and the woman buried with my grandfather. Eventually, I may have found his two other wives. By this time, I had enough facts about Leon that I needed to work out a timeline for him.

This timeline is incomplete. It is early life information. I will add to it at a later date.

Last Updated: 2012-10-12

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The No Treadle Sewing Machine

My second great grandfather, George W. Fritz, was born in Iowa. After he died, he was buried in a cemetery in his hometown of Blakesburg. I don’t know whether he lived in Washington or Iowa when he died.

Other than George having married Birdie Fowler, and their having two kids while in Washington, I had no information on George’s life. They lived in Iowa in 1885 (1885 Iowa State Census), and their kids were born in Washington in 1892 (Hazel Fritz) and 1984 (Howard Fritz). George passed away in 1898, and Birdie was back in Iowa in 1900 (1900 US Federal Census).

As it turns out, while in Washington, George started a company selling sewing machines.

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Benedict or Frederick…What’s in a name?

I’m certain many genealogists have encountered it. The sought for record remains elusive. No matches turn up. Finally you decide to check some of the matches you know are wrong, and there it is: the record you were searching for was right in front of you the whole entire time.

This is what happened with me and my third great grandpa, Benedict Fritz. Or should I say…Frederick?

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