inscription of my great grandfathers headstone

[freespirit]

Dear Pippo, thank you for your help. My aunt sent me the photo quite some time ago. On my grandfather (Joseph Gagliardi) marriage certificate June 24, 1916, he states his father John Gagliardi to be dead. Still a mystery to me. warmly freespirit

[PippoM]

Well, I don't think it's a mistery...my "1920" was just a guess, but it's not readable. You should have someone go there again and take a new picture, or just read the date.

[Tessa78]

Maybe a call to the Cemetery would give you the date of death?

West Newton Cemetery Association
Address: 210 Vernon Dr, West Newton, PA 15089
Phone:(724) 872-7883
Hours:

Thursday hours 9:00 am–4:00 pm

T.

[pink67]

Josephine Brunell on her 1900 second marriage license (dated 16 august 1900) stated that her husband died in Vanmeter on 26 may 1899:

from Familysearch.org:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/T ... :307574752

Laura

[pink67]

Considering that Giovanni Gagliardi died on 1899 in Vanmeter and that Josephine remarried on 1900 in the same place I think that they must have been censed on 1900 in that area, so I found an interesting and possible 1900 census (with lastname and first names mispelled)

1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Josee Gilland
[Joseph Gillard]
Age: 33
Birth Date: May 1867
Birthplace: France
Home in 1900: Concord, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Female
Immigration Year: 1892
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: France
Mother's Birthplace: Hungary
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Josee Gilland 33
Loie Comet 50
Jack Spark 53
Mike Wolf 33
Loie Border 50
Rosie Border 13
Joe Border 11
Tomas Border 7
Mary Border 5
Josephine Border 4

Towenship was Rostraver... found several references on the web:

Darr Mine Disaster, December 19, 1907, Van Meter (Jacobs Creek), Rostraver Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA.

What do you think about this census?

Laura

[freespirit]

Laura, I think that is an incredible find!!! I could not find that 1900 census anywhere. the borders that she lists are her children! I am trying to find out how he died? perhaps now maybe I can contac that town, but still doesnt explain why he was buried in van meter. I have contacted all mine experts and they say that they have no one by that name. The way they are spelling our last name is the rex index way that Pennsylvania spells last names. you have been an incredible help.

[freespirit]

Laura, thank you also for marriage license, it is verification that my great grandfather died may 26, 1899. The name of the gentleman that she married Alphonse Deullis, is my grandmother Josephine Deullis (DiFrancesco)brother. That is my mother Theresas mother. 3 times in my gamily genalogy the two families intertwine through past marriages. Josephine Burnell then went on and had 5 children with Alphonse and then they moved to Cleveland, Ohio leaving the Gagliardi children behind.

[pink67]

I'm happy I was able to help you!

About Van Meter, there were mines there, Maybe he died in an accident?
However now, having the correct death date you can ask for his death certificate, for sure it will list the cause of the death...

Laura

[freespirit]

Dear Laura, pennsylvania claims that all 1899 death records were burned in a fire. If you find out anything more on Josephine in vanmeter let me know. I do know she left shortly after Frank was born and then headed to Cleveland, Ohio.I have joined ancestry, heritage and family search, could not find that 1900 census record anywhere. Your website has been the most hopeful website to me!

[pink67]

Hi,

have you tried here?:

http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/vital.html

Or, as Tessa wrote you maybe contact the cemetery could be helpful too..

Laura

[freespirit]

Tessa, I did call the cemetary in west newton and unfortunatelly there are no records as to who paid for gravestone or any other information.

[Biff83]

I'm happy I was able to help you!

About Van Meter, there were mines there, Maybe he died in an accident?
However now, having the correct death date you can ask for his death certificate, for sure it will list the cause of the death...

Laura

Nice resource:
PA State Archives listing of Mine Accidents
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/ ... erface.htm

Mines in western PA were bituminous. I checked and did not find any listing fo his death in 1899.

Biff

[freespirit]

I was just on the phone with Pennsylvania for over 1 hour, in complete distress. They continue to not want to really help you, I guess I do not understand why. In 1900 Laura found the census for me listing my great grandmother and all of my aunts and uncles. I have called the town of rostraver township, westmoreland county courthouse, with absouletely no results. the town listed as concord no longer exists, however I am so preplexed that he just completely vanishes, with no records except of his gravestone. I am saddened that this would be the conclusion of my roots of my dear great grandfather. Open for all suggestions, thank you....