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Index and Links as of April, 2011
4/1/11
The Human Side of the 1941 Fire at Chicago Mill & Lumber Company - and Our Family's Connection
John Dunn, the brother of my generation's grandfather, rose from being an entry-level employee to become the president of a far-flung publicly-held company with thousands of employees. The company was Chicago Mill & Lumber Company, and in 1941 it experienced a terrible fire that resulted in the deaths of three Chicago firefighters in the line of duty as they fought the fire.
I was contacted by his son, Daniel, who found this blog and my reference to Chicago Mill. Daniel provided a collection of photos and articles about the fire, his father, mother and their children. (While not a member of our family, firefighter Michalski's story
is one that I believe needs to be included here as part of Chicago Mill's history, which is part of our family story.)
As if the death of firefighter Michalski wasn't sad enough, there was an ironic twist. An article titled, “Outing With Family Costs Fireman Life”, says, “…Ordinarily Michalski would have been off duty at 8 a.m., before the 5-11 alarm [the highest alarm level used in Chicago] was sounded yesterday morning. But last week, to enable him to go out with his family, another fireman took his watch for two hours, and he returned the favor yesterday morning.”
(Click this article twice to make it readable.)
Source
In other words, his desire to be with his family on that outing led to a schedule change that put him on duty at the time of the fire at Chicago Mill. How sad is that!
Source
(Click to enlarge photos and exhibits.)
I report on the life of John Dunn, aka Jack, whose lineage and connection to our family can be seen in this matrix. Jack was part of his father William’s second family (William’s first wife and two of their four children had died, reportedly of scarlet fever). Jack was one of the six children of William and Josephine Lauer Dunn, including my generation’s grandfather, Eugene Dunn, meaning that Jack was our great uncle.
On the page in this blog that deals with Jack Dunn, John Stiefel - his son-in-law - made a comment that says, in part:
“Omitted from your biography is that when Jack's father died, Jack was approximately 16 years old, had to quit high school to support his mother and several younger brothers, went to work in a piano factory, eventually took correspondence courses to get an accounting degree, and then quit the piano factory where he had worked for many years to take a job in the accounting department of Chicago Mill and Lumber for ONE-HALF the pay he was then getting, because he knew there was a better future for him as an accountant. This man, who didn't attend college, and may not have graduated from high school, became the President of a public company.
I was with him when he died, and miss him to this day.”
Jack retired from the company after 1962 (when, as president, his name, photo and a letter from him appeared in the company’s annual report) and before 1964, when he died.
He was probably not yet the president of the company on June 16th, 1941, the date of the fire. In fact, I have no information about what his role with the company, if any, was at that time. However, on Jack's page of this blog is a quote from a report about the fire.
It says, in part: “…The total damage of the fire was estimated to be about $75,000 [equivalent to about $1.1 milion in 2010 dollars]. The widows of the fallen firefighters were given support from Mayor Edward Kelly and the Firemen’s Mutual Benefit Association. The three firemen, along with other victims, were later recognized for their heroic efforts in the annual police and fire thrill show held at Soldier’s Field on July 13, 1941."
Source
That version of the story is reported simply in factual terms – and doesn’t reveal anything about the families of the three firefighters who died in the line of duty during the fire. The purpose of this page is to provide at least a bit of that missing element.
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More about George Michalski and the human aspect of this event:
In September of 1935, George Michalski, about age 24, was one of 125 rookies photographed by the Chicago Tribune when they were sworn in as members of the Chicago fire department. Here's a link to a photo of the swearing-in ceremony.
Source
◄ Here they are on their honeymoon. Source
◄ Soon they began having children. This photo is George and their eldest son, Daniel, on June 28, 1940.
Source
Source
◄ Alice, Daniel and youngest son, Floyd, in a news clipping on June 17, 1941.
Source
So, there you have it. On June 16th, 1941, Firefighter First Class George Michalski, age 30, and two other firemen died in the line of duty while fighting the devastating fire at the Chicago Mill and Lumber Company. Firefighter Michalski was survived by his wife, Alice, 31, and two sons, Daniel, who was almost three, and Floyd, who was ten months old.
It's labeled with the month and year in which he died in the line of duty. It appears to be part of a tribute to fallen firefighters, for the edges of other badges can be seen in this photo.
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The rest of the story:
In January, 2011, I received the following email message from Daniel Michalski, who found my email address on this blog:
"Dear Mr. Dunn,
Attached are [links to] photographs and documents from my keepsakes.
I thought they might interest you. [The photos and exhibits on this page come from his collection - and are included here with his permission.]
My father George was age 30 when he was killed, my mother Alice had just turned 31, my brother Floyd was age nine months, and I [w]as to be age three in two weeks.
Death benefits were virtually nonexistent in those days.
Mom received a one-time check for $500 and an absolutely fixed duty-death annuity of $125 per month from June, 1941 until a revision of Illinois state law in 1972 increased that amount somewhat. She received an additional $10 per month for Floyd and me until we reached age 18.
A City of Chicago trust fund in her name was swindled from her.
She was never able to remarry, saying that she felt married to Dad in her heart.
Regards,
Daniel Michalski"
♦♦♦
The photos and documents provided by Daniel are sad, dramatic, touching and interesting – all at the same time. After seeing his remarkable collection of mementos about George Michalski and the fire, I requested Daniel’s permission to use on this blog some of the exhibits he provided. He graciously responded as follows:
“Dear Mr. Dunn:
I was moved and flattered that you chose to make public the documents regarding my father's death in the line of duty. By all means use them, but judiciously.
The $500 my mother Alice received was a one-time death benefit. She later invested the full amount in a private trust fund managed by a Chicago firefighter from his firehouse on North Elston Avenue, Chicago. When my younger brother Floyd became ill with pneumonia, [s]he took me by the hand and together we traveled by streetcar to that firehouse, where she intended to withdraw some of her money.
I recall the incident clearly. We were told that the firefighter ‘retired’ to Mexico, taking all of the assets of the fund with him. In those days during World War II, trust funds were not regulated or insured. Mom lost her entire $500 death benefit. The incident was confirmed to me by a trustee on the Firemen's Annuity & Benefit Fund Of Chicago, the pension arm of the Chicago Fire Department.
My mother Alice died of heart failure on May 6, 2000, age 89; and my brother Floyd died of cancer in 2002, age 62. As I previously told you, my mother was never inclined to remarry.
The Paepcke family, father Hermann and son Walter, founded the Chicago Mill and Lumber Company and later the Container Corporation of America as you surely know. Neither they nor their companies acknowledged my father's death with so much as a sympathy card to my mother. My mother never conceived that Dad died a ‘wrongful death’ in what investigators called a ‘tinderbox’, and was never inclined to sue.
Life is the chance that we all must take, and my mother, brother and I went at it with a vengeance, devoid of my father's presence as a provider, husband, wage earner and consort to my mother.
Again, use my documents and memories as you please, but with discretion.
Every best wish to you, Mr. Dunn.
Respectfully,
Daniel George Michalski”
♦♦♦
◄ Here's a news clipping about the fire.
◄ Here's a photo from the funeral.
◄ Alice at the funeral
◄ Here's a memoriam to firefighter Michalski.
Other exhibits from Daniel's collection:
Editor’s comment: I cannot adequately express the emotions I’ve felt as I’ve read the articles and reviewed the photos. It’s impossible for an outsider to understand the impact – both past and ongoing – of the sacrifices made by George Michalski and his family. The same applies to the other two men who died in that event - and their families.
I can only say thanks...
And that seems totally inadequate.
- PWD
♦♦♦
Last updated 4/13/2011
Please refer to the disclaimer on the index page of this blog for a statement regarding the accuracy of - and documentation for - the information presented in this blog.
3/10/11
Leo Peter Dunn, Grandson of Michael Dunn
Comments about Leo's life are included at the bottom of this page. To start, however, I will simply recount the data I've learned about him.
Descendancy Chart: Pierce Dunn to Leo P Dunn
Pierce Dunn:
He was farmer in Ireland. The evidence we have suggests he emigrated to England in the mid-1800s as a result of the potato blight and resulting famine in Ireland, probably with his son Michael.
▼
Michael Dunn and Bridget Grace Dunn:
He went from being a laborer in Ireland to becoming a farmer in Illinois. They emigrated from Ireland to England, married there, then emigrated to the U.S. in 1858. They settled in Illinois.
▼
Peter L Dunn and Ellen Morris Dunn:
He was Michael and Bridget's eldest son, and was born in England. He moved from Illinois to Washington state to Kansas during his lifetime and it seems likely he became a farmer.
▼
Leo Peter Dunn and Ruth Irene Gray Dunn:
He is first recorded as being a farm hand. Later records show him as an auto repairman and then an auto salesman. He moved from Washington to Kansas to California during his lifetime.
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Here are the facts we have about Leo:
The family was living in Garfield, Washington. Leo was age 5, Peter was 42 (recorded as born in England) and Ellen was age 45 (born in Illinois). Leo’s year of birth is shown as 1894, which differs from other records showing it as 1893.
This census shows Peter’s father [Michael] as being born in Scotland and his mother [Bridget] being born in Ireland. However, other records show both parents being born in Ireland. Ellen’s parents are both shown as being born in Ireland.
Peter’s occupation is not shown in this census, but the neighbors are all farmers, which suggests that he was as well. It records Peter as having emigrated in 1859, but his parents emigrated in 1858, and we believe he was with them at that time. Ellen is recorded as being the mother of eight children, with only four still living.
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From Leo’s 1917 WW I Draft Registration:
■ Name: age 23;
■ Address: RR 1, Culver, Kansas;
■ Date of birth: October 24th, 1893;
■ Born in Garfield, Washington;
■ Occupation: Farm hand;
■ Employer: Walter Selleck, RR 1, Culver, Kansas;
■ He claimed an exemption from the draft because he had a wife;
■ Previous military service: 2 years as a private in the Coast Artillery, Massachusetts.
(See the footnote at the bottom of this page for information about the Coast Artillery)
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From the 1920 federal census:
The family was living in Richland, Labette County, Kansas.
■ Leo's mother, Ellen, age 64, was the head of the household;
■ Leo was listed as Peter L Dunn, age 26, son. (It appears this
is a reversal of his first and middle names in this record);
■ His occupation was shown as auto repairman at a garage;
■ Ruth, Leo’s wife, age 22, was listed as Ellen's daughter-in-law;
■ Peter F was listed as grandson.
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His great granddaughter Jeanne Means posted this on Ancestry.com with this caption: "Leo was a Deputy Sheriff in 1923 for Parsons, Kansas"
From the 1925 Kansas census:
The family was living in Parsons, Labette County, Kansas.
■ Leo P, age 31, was the head of the household;
■ His occupation was listed as auto salesman;
■ Ruth I, wife, was age 27;
■ Children listed were Peter F, age 7, and Frank L, age 3.
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From the California Death Index:
■ It shows Leo’s mother’s maiden name as Lyons, which is inconsistent with other information showing her maiden name as Morris;
■ It shows his Social Security number as 530-03-5058;
■ His date of birth: 23 Oct, 1893;
■ His date of death: 4 Dec, 1942, in Los Angeles.
♦♦♦
From his granddaughter, Carla Myers Busby:Leo Peter had two sons.
■ Peter Frederick – born Dec. 10,1917
Peter had four children. Evelyn, Donald, Ruth Irene, Ronald Eugene.
■ Franklin Leonard Dunn (Myers) – born April 25,1922
Frank had three children. Larry Franklin, Leonard Blaine, and Carla Gail.
♦♦♦
As noted elsewhere in this blog, I was able to connect with this branch of our family after posting an inquiry on a genealogy message board - which led to my becoming acquainted with a very helpful gal by the name of Kate. I was looking for information about Michael and Bridget Grace Dunn, and Kate knew of someone else who was also looking for them.
That person was Carla, and Kate linked us up. It turned out that Carla is my generation's long-lost second cousin, and she has been working on her family history for many years. She provided most of the information we have on this branch of the family tree.
Early in my dialogue with her I related to Carla the story of my search for my generation’s grandfather, Eugene Michael Dunn. I also told her that he seemed to have disappeared after abandoning his wife, Hazel Nolan Dunn, and two small children, William Edward (Bill) and Rita Jane Dunn, sometime after Rita was born in 1928.
In response, I received the following from her:
"Hey Pat!
We must be related! My grandfather, Leo Peter Dunn, also abandoned his wife and 2 small sons in 1924. My father had no use for the man, and Dad always said, 'I wouldn't recognize him if I saw him and I sure wouldn't walk across the street to shake his hand.'
My grandmother, Ruth Irene Dunn, remarried and my father took his stepfather's last name. I never met the Dunn side of the family, I heard bits and pieces growing up and I should mention that what information I did hear was not flattering.
During a visit with a Great-Aunt, she showed me a picture of my grandfather, a wedding certificate and an excerpt from my grandmother's diary. That started my search, from just those few items.
I was told my grandfather died in a car wreck in Colorado during WWII. I spent at least 10 years looking for that man!
Surfing the Web one evening, I came across his name in the California Death Index. Thru an 'Act of Genealogical Kindness' I received a copy of his Death Certificate. He died of TB in Los Angeles, in 1942.
He claimed no family, and no family claimed him. Instead of a simple burial, his body was used for medical research. Over the past 5 years, information about him has trickled in. I've discovered he was a 'Con Man.' He married one woman, told her he had never been married, never had children and his parents were dead. Then he stole her car, sold it and disappeared. The general family consensus is - being used for medical research, he may possibly have contributed something positive - finally...."
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From his great granddaughter, Jeane Means:
"Dear Pat,
My name is Loretta J. Means [she goes by Jeane], I am Peter Fredrick Dunn‘s (1917/1980) granddaughter. I am looking up family names and typed in Leo Peter Dunn and found your site. We have people in common. We have always wondered where Leo went after his abandoning grandpa Dunn and Frank, and to find this out is a blessing.
Frank took [the] Myers name but his mother’s maiden name is Gray, from Culver, Salina Co. Kansas. I have all of her information. Her parents are buried in Culver Cemetery, Fred and Daisy (Herrington) Gray. She, Ruth Irene (Gray) Myers is buried around Parsons, Kansas and I have some of that information. She died in 1979.
You can reach me at [phone number snipped] here in Kansas anytime; this is a cell phone which is glued to my hip, lol.
Thank you for posting this.
Loretta J. Means"
Jeane is my generation’s 4th cousin.
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Footnote about the Massachusetts Coast Artillery:
Never having heard of the Coast Artillery, I did a bit of research and found the info below. Bottom line: The Massachusetts Coast Artillery was a volunteer militia dating back to 1784, and was a precursor to what we now know as the National Guard.
From a book titled, "The Old First Massachusetts Coast Artillery in War and Peace" comes this excerpt:
"...Who was then sufficiently far-sighted to foresee that on June 30, 1916, the same company would take the Federal oath as the '1st Company, Coast Artillery Corps, National Guard of Massachusetts' ? A company in those days was commanded by a captain with the rank of Major; and this office was promptly conferred upon John Jones Spooner. Jonathan Warner became the 'Captain-lieutenant,' and Joseph Pierpont and John Swift were elected the other two lieutenants, as at that time authorized.
Warrants were issued to four sergeants; four musicians were appointed, twenty-four men were detailed as cannoneers, eight as pioneers, three as drivers and when two brass four-pounder cannon had been issued to them, the Roxbury Artillery were ready for any kind of a fight or frolic. It was not to be until Aug. 30, 1849, that Gen. H. A. S. Dearborn would suggest the famous motto now borne by the Company, 'In time of peace prepare for war.' No one can question however but that the sentiment of the motto has always controlled 1st Company activities."
The book says the Coast Artillery became largely ceremonial at some point - called upon for parades and such - but was reactivated as a military force in 1916, as cited above. The timing was undoubtedly a result of the fact that what became known as World War I was underway in Europe. In 1916 the U.S. was not yet involved in the war, but the looming possibility of U.S. involvement - which occurred in 1917 - must have triggered the reactivation.
The book from which the above excerpt comes can be read online by clicking here. To turn the pages forward or back, click on the right or left page of the book as it appears on the monitor. Clicking on the "+" sign at the top of the page enlarges the print and allows for scrolling the pages.
♦♦♦
So there you have it. Both Leo Peter and Eugene Michael Dunn - grandsons of Michael and Bridget Grace Dunn - abandoned their wives and small children in the 1920s. We'll bever know why, but it seems very strange to me.
Please refer to the disclaimer on the index page of this blog for a statement regarding the accuracy of - and documentation for - the information presented in this blog.
♦♦♦
Last updated 6/15/2012
3/8/11
Our Cash Family and Ohio’s Oldest Homestead Farm
Included below is an interesting article about the farm settled by pioneer Jonathan Cash, Sr., in 1830 - shortly after Ohio became a state in 1803.
Jonathan Sr. was my generation's maternal GGG grandfather. This matrix illustrates the family connections between the people named both in the article and elsewhere on this page and my generation. (Click to enlarge it.)
♦♦♦
Here are photos of some of the people named above:
◄ George W. Cash, Sr., family,
Hopedale, Ohio, 1951*
George Jr., Betty, James R,
George Sr., Mildred
◄ George Sr. & Mildred
(Klingensmith) Cash,
Hopedale, Ohio, 1951*
*Source: Kathy Shea's Ancestry.com family tree
♦♦♦
Background:
Received from Cash cousin Kathy Shea:
"…I became acquainted with Joyce Cash Mencer when I went in search of Cashes who were still living in Ohio. Joyce seems to be the family historian for the Cashes there and she’s provided a wealth of information. She, in turn, introduced me to David Cash, who descends from George Wesley [Cash]."
and...
"Attached is an interesting article I got from our “new cousin,” David Cash. Note the reference to the 1,000 acres! How come I can’t find any record of that land?!?"
♦♦♦
Forwarded by Kathy Shea:
From: [Cash cousin] David Cash
To: [Cash cousin] Joyce Mencer
Cc: [Kathy Shea]
Subject: Cash Historic Homestead
"In preparing the photos for you today, I found that I had a copy of the Freeport Press, 7/29/1937 which had an article about 'Ohio's Oldest Homestead Farm.'
In addition I found a photo of the ox yoke that my grandfather, GW Cash Jr. had hung in their home. He turned it into a chandelier and I now realize what this was!
Enjoy!"
Ohio’s Oldest
Homestead Farm Is
Near Piedmont
“The historic homestead, owned and operated by Geo. W. Cash of Piedmont, is now in possession of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.
This is the only farm in Belmont County, and the oldest in Ohio with a United States Homestead Deed. It was settled by Jonathan Cash, Sr. in 1830, and has remained in the Cash family ever since without changing hands by sale.
In 1830 the Pioneer Cash secured 1000 acres of dense forest. On the farm is the oldest log barn in the community, built in 1831, with whiskey absolutely tabooed. It is still in good serviceable condition.
A geological survey showed an old Indian camp and burial ground, which have been of interest to hundreds of school children and others. A Gilead tree planted by the Old Pioneer is now six feet in diameter and still rigorous. A sugar camp of 250 trees, some with a diameter of 8½ feet, and cared for as an heirloom, must go. Hickory nut trees of five different varieties were planted by Jonathan Cash, Jr. Two specimens have taken prizes, [one] being the largest, and the other the smallest thin-shelled nut in the state of Ohio.
When the farm was settled the nearest neighbor lived nine miles away.
The ox yoke used in the work of clearing the land is still in Mr. Geo Cash’s possession. It bears the date '1834'.
The old landmark [the farm] must now go in order to protect that part of the population that chose to build in the lowlands.”
♦♦♦
Please refer to the disclaimer on the index page of this blog for a statement regarding the accuracy of - and documentation for - the information presented in this blog.
♦♦♦
Last revised March 9, 2011
Jonathan Sr. was my generation's maternal GGG grandfather. This matrix illustrates the family connections between the people named both in the article and elsewhere on this page and my generation. (Click to enlarge it.)
♦♦♦
Here are photos of some of the people named above:
◄ George W. Cash, Sr., family,
Hopedale, Ohio, 1951*
George Jr., Betty, James R,
George Sr., Mildred
◄ George Sr. & Mildred
(Klingensmith) Cash,
Hopedale, Ohio, 1951*
*Source: Kathy Shea's Ancestry.com family tree
♦♦♦
Background:
Received from Cash cousin Kathy Shea:
"…I became acquainted with Joyce Cash Mencer when I went in search of Cashes who were still living in Ohio. Joyce seems to be the family historian for the Cashes there and she’s provided a wealth of information. She, in turn, introduced me to David Cash, who descends from George Wesley [Cash]."
and...
"Attached is an interesting article I got from our “new cousin,” David Cash. Note the reference to the 1,000 acres! How come I can’t find any record of that land?!?"
♦♦♦
Forwarded by Kathy Shea:
From: [Cash cousin] David Cash
To: [Cash cousin] Joyce Mencer
Cc: [Kathy Shea]
Subject: Cash Historic Homestead
"In preparing the photos for you today, I found that I had a copy of the Freeport Press, 7/29/1937 which had an article about 'Ohio's Oldest Homestead Farm.'
In addition I found a photo of the ox yoke that my grandfather, GW Cash Jr. had hung in their home. He turned it into a chandelier and I now realize what this was!
Enjoy!"
♦♦♦
The article below can be enlarged by clicking it twice to make it bigger, and I've also transcribed it to make its content easier to read:
(Freeport (Ohio) Press, July 29th,1937)The article below can be enlarged by clicking it twice to make it bigger, and I've also transcribed it to make its content easier to read:
Ohio’s Oldest
Homestead Farm Is
Near Piedmont
“The historic homestead, owned and operated by Geo. W. Cash of Piedmont, is now in possession of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.
This is the only farm in Belmont County, and the oldest in Ohio with a United States Homestead Deed. It was settled by Jonathan Cash, Sr. in 1830, and has remained in the Cash family ever since without changing hands by sale.
In 1830 the Pioneer Cash secured 1000 acres of dense forest. On the farm is the oldest log barn in the community, built in 1831, with whiskey absolutely tabooed. It is still in good serviceable condition.
A geological survey showed an old Indian camp and burial ground, which have been of interest to hundreds of school children and others. A Gilead tree planted by the Old Pioneer is now six feet in diameter and still rigorous. A sugar camp of 250 trees, some with a diameter of 8½ feet, and cared for as an heirloom, must go. Hickory nut trees of five different varieties were planted by Jonathan Cash, Jr. Two specimens have taken prizes, [one] being the largest, and the other the smallest thin-shelled nut in the state of Ohio.
When the farm was settled the nearest neighbor lived nine miles away.
The ox yoke used in the work of clearing the land is still in Mr. Geo Cash’s possession. It bears the date '1834'.
The old landmark [the farm] must now go in order to protect that part of the population that chose to build in the lowlands.”
♦♦♦
Please refer to the disclaimer on the index page of this blog for a statement regarding the accuracy of - and documentation for - the information presented in this blog.
♦♦♦
Last revised March 9, 2011
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