Nurse Julia Flanagan 1857-1935

Cabinet card of a young woman by Sterry

This cabinet card is a picture of a woman, standing, dressed in clothing typically worn by nurses in the late 1800s. The photographer was Sterry and Company of 520 and 522 Broadway in Albany, New York. In blue ink is written "Julia C Flanagan 1888."

Backside of cabinet card of young woman by Sterry, Albany, New York

This card resides in New Jersey, not Albany, so the search for Julia had to span both places.

The Newark Sunday Call, a newspaper in New Jersey, detailed "The First Graduates of the Training School at the Asylum" in an article dated June 17, 1888. By this time, formal training of nurses as well as changes in the treatment of the mentally ill were creating educational and vocational opportunities. Julia and Agnes Flanagan were mentioned.

Newspaper article about graduates of the nursing school
of the Essex County Asylum, 1888

The training program at the Essex County Asylum lasted two years. Students were paid. Men earned $20 per month and women earned $14 per month. To earn $20, a woman had to complete the entire two year course successfully.

Note: The Essex County Asylum still exists, but is now called Essex County Hospital and is located in Cedar Grove, not Newark.

The Journal of Insanity
Volume 45
View here

The Journal of Insanity also reported on these graduates in October of 1888, though the author was not pleased with nurses receiving training and accolades. "By all means let nurses be trained, but let us not forget the wholesome maxim, Ne sutor ultra credpidam." Julia and Agnes Flanagan were noted for demonstrating their knowledge.

Note: The American Journal of Insanity began publication in 1844. It is still in publication, but under the name American Journal of Psychiatry, which changed in 1921.

1870 United States federal census
Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey
Julia Flanigan, age 11. At school.

Julia Flanagan and Margaret Agnes Flanagan were daughters of John Flanagan (1829-1889) and Ann Cahill (1829-1896). In the 1870 census, the family resided in Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey.

1900 United States federal census
Albany, Albany County, New York
Julia C Flannigan, age 37, nurse. Boarder.

Julia relocated to Albany, where she worked as a nurse.

Obituary of Julia C Flanagan, died January 7, 1935.

Julia has two memorial pages on Find A Grave. She is mentioned on the family stone in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Find A Grave memorial page for Julia C Flanagan
at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey.

Julia was buried in Saint Agnes Cemetery in Menands, New York. 

Find A Grave memorial page for Julia C Flanagan
at Saint Agnes Cemetery in Menands, Albany County, New York.

Julia's birthdate is engraved on both stones- September 25, 1858. The memorial in Bloomfield has a note: "born 9/24/1858 on tombstone (incorrect year)".

Neither is correct, according to the birth ledger filed with the state, which is a primary source. On September 24, 1857 an unnamed baby girl was born to John and Ann Flanagan in Bloomfield, New Jersey.

Register of births in New Jersey. Book I 1848-1867

Margaret Agnes married Frederick Van Houten  (1864-1922). She may have spent her years working for her family in the home, rather than being employed outside the home as a nurse.

The memorial page for Margaret Agnes Flanagan (1861-1934) originally linked to the wrong husband. Frederick VanHouten (1864-1922), buried in Woodland Cemetery in Newark, is the correct husband for Margaret. Frederick VanHouten (1866-1943), buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Newark, was not Margaret's husband.

Julia, a daughter of Margaret and Frederick, died in 1928 in Saranac Lake, Franklin County, New York. A copy of this death certificate was filed in New Jersey. This is unusual but sometimes happens. If someone resided in New Jersey but died in another state, it is possible that a record exists in New Jersey as well as the location of the death. This is worth a try, especially with the State of New York, since genealogy requests for records have stopped being filled.

New York death certificate filed in New Jersey.
Julia VanHouten died June 4, 1928 in Saranac Lake, Franklin County, New York.

You Missed

I found this article about my grandfather, Clifford Lutter (1915-1980), in the collection of online newspapers hosted by the Newark (New Jersey) Public Library. In October of 1948 Clifford was 33 years and lived on Chester Avenue in Newark with his wife, Beulah Cook (1921-2003), and two small sons. Their third son (my father) arrived the following month.

Without digitization, this gem would have never been found. I was looking for an obituary for a different person and stumbled upon this mention.

Research tip: When searching digital collections, be mindful that the collections themselves are usually not complete and some damage has afflicted individual pages. Also, letters can be read as other letters, such as r and n, b and h, e and o.

Clifford Lutter presented with a certificate, purpose unknown.
The other two men are not identified on this physical photograph.

Clifford worked many jobs during his lifetime. His professional photos are displayed at this link. Most are not labeled, so maybe a family member can discover a picture of a loved one from long ago.

Clifford Lutter is seated on the far right of this photo.

Note the 48 stars on the flag in the background.
This picture was taken prior to 1960.

Joseph Alexander McGrail registered for the draft for World War II in 1940 in Newark. The notations on this document illustrate the trouble he often found himself. "Caldwell Pen 40 days 2/15/45" and "15 days County Jail. He had addresses in Newark: 289 Sherman Avenue, 12 Court Street, 70 Green (or Queen?) Street, and a rural delivery address in Underhill, Pennsylvania.

Note: the county jail no longer has facilities in Caldwell- only in Newark. See this link for some photographs of the penitentiary in Caldwell.

What became of Joseph has not been discovered as of this writing.

Text of above article:

‘FBI Man’ Misses
Uppercut Smashes Window as Policeman Ducks

A man who insisted he was an FBI agent smashed a plate glass window of Cowburn’s Store at 255 Market street last night with a right-hand uppercut which he had aimed at a special policeman.
Special Officer Lutter said he saw the blow coming and stepped aside. The man’s fist then went through the store window.
Lutter identified his assailant as Joseph McGrail, 38, homeless. McGrail had been refused drinks in a nearby bar, according to Lutter. The special officer escorted him from the bar, with McGrail warning that “J. Edgar Hoover won't like this.”
After the wild swing McGrail was led off to City Hospital to have stitches taken in his right hand. He still insisted he was an FBI agent. Patrolman Mandall aided Lutter.

The Newark Evening News
October 10, 1948
Page 18

Double enumeration in the census, part two

Some people have written to me, asking how you know to look for someone twice in the same census year.  The short answer is that you don't know, so don't stop with one census entry.  The longer answer is that you need to look for hints or situations that may have given rise to getting counted twice.  In my prior post on double enumerations, my hint was the Adelia Joyce's occupation was "out at service" in her listing at her father's home in 1880.  I looked for her again and found her also listed at the home of her employer.

In this post and in upcoming posts I will feature some more double enumerations in the census and explain the hints pointing to a double count and the ramifications to that family's history.

We'll look at the Bossert family of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey in the year 1900.  Newark was a major city then, as it is now, and its city directories survive. Years ago, I sat in the Newark Public Library to view the directories on microfilm, but you can view them (up to 1923) from home at Fold3.  The city directories provide a year-to-year snapshot of a family, where they moved, their occupations, when women were widowed, and much more.  I am quite fortunate that so many of my lines lived in major cities, appearing in city directories for almost two centuries.

Holbrook's Directory, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Year:  1900.  Page: 289.  Fold3.com

We have two men (or do we?) with the same name, Peter Bossert, living in the same neighborhood in the 1900 city directory.  No other information is available, such as their age or spouse.  In 1900, I know of two living men bearing this name:  Peter Bossert, born about 1845, and his son Peter, born about 1880.  An unmarried twenty year old would likely not have his own entry in the city directory.  So are these the same person?  Broome and Prince Streets run parallel to each other, one block apart.  The Broome Street residence is about three blocks south of the Prince street address.

Above is the census entry at 111 Broome Street for the entire family: Peter Bossert, father; Elisabeth [Beck], mother; and seven children.  Peter is 55 years old, working in "day labor."  Peter, the son, is 20, a mattress maker.  Son Freddy is 14 years old and "at school."

Above is the census entry for a few blocks away at 17 Prince Street.  Peter Bossett (not Bossert) is 51 years old, a "fireman stationary."  Only one person is listed with him:  a son, Frederick, age 14, "at school."

I would say that these are the same people, counted twice in the same census year, blocks apart.  I don't know why Peter was counted separate from his family and just with one son.  (The family did shift the spelling of their name from Bossert to Bosset and then Bossett.)  Both of these residences are rentals.  It is possible that the family was in the process of moving when the census was taken.  As a fireman, Peter may have slept apart from the family when on duty; perhaps son Frederick was training with him at this point in time.  In the few birth certificates that I have found for Peter's numerous children, Peter's occupation and address change often.  This double enumeration, in both the city directory and the census, could reflect Peter's multiple occupations and constant relocation.  Fortunately for research purposes, he stayed in the same neighborhood in Newark every time.

Gleanings from the Life of a Musician

Howard Lutter was one of my great grandfathers.  He was (and still is) known for his musical talent, expressed mainly in his creation of player piano rolls.  His own family had little contact with him, though, and most of my information about him is from my research of public records.

Howard Harry Lutter was born June 10, 1889 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, at 51 Lincoln Street to Herman Lutter and Clara Uhl.  Howard reported his own birth 46 years later, perhaps to apply for a Social Security account number.  Howard's father, Herman Lutter, was born around 1860 in Thuringia.  Howard's mother, Clara Uhl, was born in Newark around 1865.  Clara's father, David Uhl, was born in 1836 in Hesse.  Clara's mother, Clara Patschke, was born in 1841 in SachsenAnhalt.

Birth record for Howard Harry Lutter
Available at the New Jersey State Archives, Trenton

Howard's parents were married January 24, 1888 in Newark.  The marriage was brief.  From the divorce records of Herman Lutter and Clara Uhl, we learn that the couple split in November of 1888, eight months before the birth of Howard.

Herman Lutter v Clara R Lutter
Chancery Court of New Jersey
1894
Available through New Jersey State Archives (off-site storage)

This father-son relationship was probably strained.  When Herman died in 1924, he left only $5 to Howard.  In comparison, Herman requested a tombstone costing "not less than $600 dollars" and left $2000 to Howard's step-mother, who he was also divorcing.  (I still have not found such a tombstone.)

Estate of Herman Lutter
M6226, filed July 16, 1924
County of Monmouth, State of New Jersey
Available at the New Jersey State Archives

The 1895 New Jersey state census shows young Howard "Rutter" with his mother, Clara, and her family in Newark.

1895 New Jersey State Census
Newark, 7th Ward, 6th District, Essex County
Family 144, page 22
Ancestry.com

In the 1900 federal census, Howard Uhl is listed in the household of his maternal grandmother, Clara Uhl [Patschke] at 64 Boston Street in Newark.  Residing with them is Howard's mother, Clara, and his maternal aunt, Lilly.

1900 United States Federal Census
Newark, 7th Ward, Essex County, New Jersey
64 Boston Street
Ancestry.com

Howard Lutter first appeared in the Newark City Directory in 1908, working as a clerk at the Prudential Insurance Company.

1908 Newark City Directory by The Price and Lee Company
Available at Fold3.com

On September 17, 1910, Howard Lutter married Laura [Ethel] Winterton in Newark.  She was the daughter of William Winterton and Catherine Dunn, formerly of Matawan, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Howard listed his occupation as "Pianist."

New Jersey State Marriage Record
Howard Lutter and Laura E Winterton
September 17, 1910 in Newark
Available at New Jersey State Archives

Howard Harry Lutter registered for the World War I draft in Newark.  He gave an address of 22 East Alpine Street in Newark.  His occupation was Pianist- Master maker- at Bennett & White, Inc, at 67 Goble Street in Newark.  He claimed exemption from the draft because of "Objection to all forms of war, fighting; Indispensable to conduct of his business."

World War [One] Draft Registration Cards
Ancestry.com

In the 1911 Newark City Directory, Howard is listed as a musician for the first time.  In the 1915 directory, he is removed to New York City.  He turns up in Philadelphia instead for the birth of his first child, Clifford Lutter, born March 18, 1915 at University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The family's address was 1534 Arch Street in Philadelphia.  Clifford's wife, Beulah Cook (my paternal grandmother), explained to me that Howard was performing in Philadelphia at the time Clifford was born.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Certificate of Birth
Clifford Lutter, born March 18, 1915 in Philadelphia

Howard's second child, Beryl Lutter, was born in 1918 at Newark Beth Israel Hospital in Newark.

State of New Jersey
Certificate of Birth
Baby [Beryl] Lutter, born April 1, 1918 in Newark

The copyright date on this sheet music is 1919.

The 1920 federal census provides the only snapshot of the Howard and Laura living together.  They resided at 194 Chadwick Avenue in Newark.  Howard's occupation was "musician."  With them were their two children, Clifford, age 4, and Beryl, age 1.

1920 United States Federal Census
Newark, 16th Ward, Essex County, New Jersey
194 Chadwick Avenue
Ancestry.com

Finding small blurbs such as this one provide some insight into the professional life of Howard Lutter.

In the 1930 federal census, Howard H. Lutter was residing at 171 Ampere Parkway in Bloomfield.  His occupation was "sound effect" at Vitaphone.  With him was his wife, Fiorita, children Rita, age 16, Clifford, age 15, and Beryl, age 12.  Laura Winterton is lodging at a private residence nearby.  Fiorita is actually Fiorita Lorenze, wife of James Howard Winnie.  They were the parents of Irene, born 1912, and Fiorita or Rita, born 1914.

1930 United States Federal Census
171 Ampere Parkway, Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey
Ancestry.com

1920 United States Federal Census
453 North Eighteenth Street, Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey
Ancestry.com

State of New Jersey
Birth Certificate
Irene Emilie Winnie, born September 24, 1912 in Newark

State of New Jersey
Birth Ceritificate
Fioreda Louisa Winnie, born July 14, 1914 in Newark

In the Newark City Directories in the 1930s, Howard Lutter was listed as a sound engineer in Brooklyn, while Rita was working as a swimming instructor.  In the 1941 directory, Howard's occupation shifted to "sound engineer and janitor's helper."  In the 1940 federal census, Howard Lutter was residing at 59 Peck Avenue in Newark with Rita.  He gave his occupation as janitor, temporary, Board of Education.  He reported working 17 weeks in 1939 and earning $1445.

1940 United States Federal Census
59 Peck Avenue, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Ancestry.com

Howard Lutter registered for the World War II draft in 1942.  He listed his address as 59 Peck Avenue in Newark; wife Rita; employer Newark Board of Education.

World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
Collection at Ancestry.com

Howard's last entry in the Newark City directories was in 1947.  [The collection of Newark City Directories at Fold3.com stops at 1923.  Other years are housed at the Newark Public Library on Washington Street.]

In 1954, Howard Lutter appeared on the Los Angeles, California voter rolls.

1954 Registered Voters of Los Angeles
California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968
Collection at Ancestry.com

My aunt recalls meeting Howard when she was very young.  This was probably in 1955 when Howard's mother Clara died, which would have caused Howard to fly back to Newark from Los Angeles.

Howard Lutter died March 3, 1959 at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarta, Los Angeles County, California.  The cause of death was chronic granulocytic leukemia (also called chronic myelogenous leukemia).  He was buried at Glen Haven Memorial Park.  A kind soul photographed the grave for me.  According to the death certificate, Howard worked as a sound technician for twenty years for the Board of Education in New Jersey.

State of California
Certificate of Death
Howard Lutter, died 1959

Howard's first wife, Laura Winterton, died in Newark in 1962.

State of New Jersey
Certificate of Death
Laura Lutter, died 1962
Available through mail by the New Jersey Department of Health

Fiorita "Rita" Lorenze died in 1969.

State of California
Certificate of Death
Fiorita "Rita" Lutter, nee Lorenze, died 1969

I continue to research Howard Lutter and find out more about the man and his life.

Capturing All Involved Parties

I love the index at Fold3 because all names on a document are recorded.  Finding a mention of a person of interest in a document that you would have never found otherwise opens up so many possibilities.

My ancestor Stephen C Duryea worked as a government clerk in New York City in the 1840s until the 1870s.  His name appears on a few index cards for naturalizations in the City as a witness.  I am not sure if he witnessed the event in his capacity as a clerk.  I think that his name would appear on lots of naturalization documents if this were the case.  So this leads me to the next question:  Does Peter Stewart of England have a family tie to Stephen C Duryea?  Every bit of information creates more questions to explore.

Here is Stephen's entry in the New York City directory by Doggett for 1848.  Back in the day, I photocopied the city directories from microfilm at the New York Public Library.  Fold3 has digitized them and indexed the directories, so you may view them from your own home.

1848 Doggett City Directory for New York City.
Note the variant spellings Duryea/Duryee.  This is the same (growing) family.

I do not have to return to New York City to start gathering some information on Peter Stewart.  Here he is in the 1848 city directory.  Knowing his occupation, sailmaker, will help narrow him down in the sea of Stewarts.  We can look at the other Stewarts to discover that nobody else is listed at 223 Varick.  Someone in the sailing business may be more mobile than your average elusive inhabitant of the 1800s, so be prepared to search far and wide.

1848 Doggett City Directory for New York City at Fold3.