Thursday, June 18, 2009

A New Branch on the Family Tree :)

Although I'd been wanting to switch the blog to private for a while (as concerns were expressed that the names of some family members should not be on a public website along with pictures), I have finally just switched it over.

Something pretty cool happened when it was public, though-- a new Cosgriff relative contacted me and has sent over some of her family photos! Her name is Laurie, and her maternal Grandfather is Francis "Frank" Matthew Cosgriff-- the son of David Cosgriff and Annie McMahon. (Also more photos here.) She and her husband live in Bangor, Maine having moved there from Camano Island, Washington to be near their daughter and her husband. She is currently doing some family history research on her Cosgriff side of the family. I directed her to John, of course, as I am a newbie to all the Cosgriff history :) She's a real sweetie and it has been fun "meeting" her like this.

Here is a bit about her side of the family:
It would be interesting to see what your father-in-law knows about my grandfather's branch of the Cosgriff Family. I've primarily been researching my father's side of the family for over a year now. His grandfather changed his surname before his first marriage in 1884 and we have yet to discover his ancestors or where they hailed from.

My grandfather Frank Cosgriff and his wife, Jessie Anne MacKay, had two children, a son, Terrence David Cosgriff, who was killed in WWII in 1944. And a daughter, my mother, Louise Marie Cosgriff, who passed in 2000. I met Grandpa's sisters, Genevieve and Grace, years ago when I was young. I visited with Aunt Genevieve and her husband, Duncan Chisholm, twice and Aunt Grace once. Grandpa's oldest sister, Ellen, and his younger brother, Marcus both passed before I was born.

Other than the names, David and Annie Cosgriff, and a few pictures of them that my mother showed me back in the early eighties, I don't have any photos or personal stories / information for the Cosgriffs. I've been told by my siblings that the photos Mom shared with me years ago cannot be located at my father's home in Sacramento, California. Perhaps they will show up some day. This was why I was so excited to see the photos of the Cosgriffs on your blog.

Most of the genealogy for the Cosgriffs I have found on the internet, through Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, national, state, county, and other websites as well as search engines. I do have my Grandmother Jessie's letters that I saved over the years, but any references to ancestors are to those on her side of the family, MacKenzies and MacKays, who resided mostly in Nova Scotia.

Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of my Grandfather Frank as a young man either, only a few taken when he was older in group photos at family weddings, etc. I do have a photo of my Grandmother Jessie as a young woman. I should go through what I have to pick out a few for you. Again, I'm not that organized with my maternal ancestors since I've been focusing on my father's side of the family at his request, so it will take some time
.


Now for some gorgeous photos of some of her Cosgriff family:
Laurie's mom Louise and her brother Terry
Laurie's Grandmother Jessie MacKay
The wedding of Laurie's parents (with both sets of parents)

Angus MacKay, Jessie's father.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Pretty Cool & Switching to Private, Really!

Because I turned off the "private" status, a new Cosgriff relative found the blog! I would like to share more information about her and some of her side of the family's photos in another post. For now, though, I really do need to switch this blog to private but need to hear from everyone who would like to be invited to be allowed to view the blog. I don't have a ton more photos to add or anything, but I'm sure you'll want to keep access to the blog. 

P.S. Plan on a photo book to be ready by.... Christmas! I know, that's a ways away, but Charlie keeps me busy! He's CRAWLING! :)

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Switching to Private

John was a little concerned about privacy-- as the blog is public right now. So I'm going to make it private, and you'll want to leave a comment before Friday of next week if you're interested in being on the "list"... leave your email so I can tell Blogger that you're on it.

Thanks!

Set 9- Young Carolyn

Here are some photos of Carolyn- age 12- Some friends of hers- Ellen Yarnell and Helena Derby.
Birthday party of Ellen, June 17, 1956.
Can you spot Carolyn?



Sunday, March 15, 2009

Who's a better driver?

Carolyn... or John? :)


And then here are some cute Puppy & John photos from 2 very different times in his life...

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Newspaper Articles & Business Card

So I have finally finished your parents' notebook of photos and there are just a few that I'm hoping to find... these and especially the ones of your dad looking like a little Gerber baby. I've got a few to post that belong to Leslie, but other than that, I'm just about finished. Pretty soon I'll start putting them all together in some kind of organized way... I need help, though, labeling many of the photos. :)



Here is the last thing from their big album that I wanted to share-- the business card and articles about Grant's death.


Set 8, pt. 4 (#20-25)

Charles Wilson in his store. Whittier, CA about 1943. Tim Gatto. Son of John and Babe Cosgriff Gatto-- thier youngest child.
John Deinstadt -- another very tiny photo! 
1- Andrew Anderson; 2- Anna Dorthea Christiansen Anderson; 3- Nephi Anderson; 4- Esther Anderson Huntsman; 5- James Anderson; 6- Ephraim Anderson; 7- Joseph Anderson.

Hope Morehouse (darker), Edith McCusker (glasses), John Cosgriff, Jr. 2/8/42. July 2, 1941.
Oakland Acorn cap (silver & green jacket)- John Cosgriff, Jr.
San Francisco Seals cap- George Myron Grismore.
John Cosgriff, Sr. May 5, 1985.
Theresa Campbell, Gayland Campbell & Myron Grismore.
Edith McCusker, Aug. 1938. There are a bunch of photos with Aug. '38 on them!
Hilda Anderson on left, Gladys Anderson on right.
12/25/39: S.L. Anderson family.
Who are these guys? John Cosgriff, Jr. and Uncle Roy Shields. Fish were caught in Panguitch Lake, Utah and picture was taken in Milford, Utah about 1958.
Jean Larsen Copley, 1954. John, Jr.'s grandmother's younger sister-- born in Dnmark.
Person on the far left is unknown, John's Uncle John Deinstadt, his father, his mother, and himself.

Charles Junior Wilson, Gertrude Phelps, Wilson, and Betty Mae Wilson (Carolyn's mom)
Hyrum Phelps with 2 of his wives, about 1920.
Stanley Anderson (Sr.) Erma Anderson, Dorothy Anderson is holding Hilda Anderson, Stanley Anderson and Gladys Anderson, about 1921.
May and her brother Charles Wilson -- long curls

Betty and Carolyn

Family group of James and Maria Thomas Bywater. Back row, left to right: Joseph, Annie, Sarah, James and Mary. Front row, left to right: Esther, Elizabeth, Father, Mother, Charlotte. The Bywaters are related on Carolyn's side-- Charles Wilson's mother was a Bywater.
Gertrude Phelps, a school teacher before marrying Charles Wilson.

Set 8, pt. 3 (#14-19)

Stanley James Anderson (Jr.), 1 yr. & 10 mos. 1941. James Noble Anderson, June 1959.
Sarah McCormick Cosgriff (John's grandmother)


Noble Anderson & Georgie, LeRoy Shields & Shirleen, May 31, 943.
Shirleen Shields & Erma Cosgriff, dog Mitzi.
New Year's Day 1943. Noble Andeerson and Georgie.
Aug. 1938. John Cosgriff, Sarah Cosgriff & Erma Cosgriff.
Glady, Ethel, Erma. 1975.
1971? John Sr. on strike. The date is very lightly written in pencil but erased ...
Gertrude Phelps Wilson

Shirleen 
1954. John Cosgriff, John ?, Hazel, Gene & Patty Naughton.
6-18-66. Erma. (This one is pretty cool-- it's an early Polaroid!)

Michael Pawsey and Buddy Perry. Friends of John, Jr. from Staples Avenue in San Francisco.
Mary Elizabeth Bingham. This one is actually only about 1.5 x 1.5 inches!
Jack Gatto 1949.
Mary Cosgriff Grismore.
Carol Cosgriff, June 1954.
August 1938. Sarah McCormick (mother of John Cosgriff, Sr.)
John & Erma, Sarah Cosgriff, Mary Grismore.