Marguerite found again

I just got a fresh batch of old documents from my father. Apparently Rowena didn’t throw everything out! I’ve breezed through most of it, original papers from the cemetery and funeral home, little notes on scraps of paper… The most valuable are the newspaper clippings of obituaries for Frank and Catherine. Right in print is a different name for Margaret (Daughter from his first wife) than I had been chasing (Ratchford rather than Stoddard) which explains the failure to produce her death certificate before. After running the name through the California Death Index I came up with a different year of birth, too!

RATCHFORD, MARGUERI (TE left off) born July 17, 1898 in California to ZEPPETIN.

Died May 15, 1963 in San Francisco. Social Security # 546-30-0789

Stoddard is on a few old pictures, so either there was confusion or she remarried. I’ve seen other conflicting things in handwritten accounts of family history, so it’s no surprise. Often advancing age can distort things, and it’s too bad when no one asks these questions until the interviewee is up in years… Still they’re all good clues!

It will be interesting to get a hold of Marguerite’s obituary and death certificate to discover her mother’s true identity and family’s story in the Bay Area. Not knowing has driven me batty, as are all the conflicts about the Howards. (Where ARE they buried?)

I just thought I’d let you know we’ve gotten a new and positive direction for this family’s research. Once I secure another job (this project is almost run out) I’ll get back to voraciously researching and compiling all my findings.

Fresh old documents

I just got a fresh batch of old documents from my father today regarding the Ambrose family.

Marin County Fire Fighters

The photos you see below were taken on March 3, 2007.


We finally got to see firsthand the Fire Museum at the Larkspur Fire Department in Marin County, California. It is small, no doubt about that, but there is a wealth of treasures from a century gone by packed in there.

The red vest you see is one of the 'uniforms' firemen wore while working at the famous Rose Bowl dances. Many newspaper and magazine articles pertaining to the department as well as original photos are in the poster rack, shown with yellowing of time. These things and more really need to be copied and archived. Although accessible, storage methods of that time weren't safe.

Some of this is already on their own web page, but there are a lot of smaller things the Retired Fire Chief pulled out that are not. Here he shows us one of the membership ledgers from the 1920's with signatures and dues paid.


There are (magnetic) scrapbooks of more photos and memorabilia in these cabinets. We scanned the things that pertain to our line. There wasn't time enough to do everything.

Below, Frank's great-great grandson shows off with pride an authentic early 20th century fire hat, hard as can be, from the Larkspur Volunteer Fire Department. The very kind our Frank Ambrose wore, when they got them.

Just behind is a large group portrait taken about 1929 where I actually found Stephen Craviotto, wearing his own badge from the Corte Madera Volunteer Fire Department. Steve's stepson, Bud Winkler, followed suit and joined the CMVFD when he was old enough.

Little boys of all ages will always revere fire fighters...

Some of the beloved pictures we have that may also be found in this museum... and the actual badges worn by grampa Frank in his day...

 Frank is near the dog, this was 1909 in Larkspur, the yearly parade...

The one rounded bowler hat sits on top of Frank's head. This was their fire wagon that they pulled themselves!

 There's always a dog, isn't there...?

 Another parade photo...

 That's Frank in front there, Larkspur Carnival, back in the day...

 THIS IS THE ACTUAL DEDICATION OF THE LARKSPUR TOWN HALL IN 1913

A Wedding Identified!

We have had three beautiful wedding portraits in 'our' Ambrose collection whose identity had been lost over the years. Here they are... Today I found out who one of these couples actually is.
I'll make a proper post for them now that I know who they are and have a very reliable source of information- their son. The back of the first photo says "Cousin Cealo and Camilla Ambrose- age 20"...


Here are two more, up for grabs in the identification department.

This says "Ambrose Cousins- 1890" and the photographer's embossing says Monaco Foto, 205 Montg(omery) Ave. S.F. Cal.

And here is another from the early part of the century... No names, no dates, no photographer.

CAN WE NAME THEM???

YES WE CAN!

Ron's Notes

This is just a bit of Ron Winkler's memories. I left spelling and grammar intact, it's part of his voice. This stream-of-consiousness style is a great way to let those remembrances just come out. No need to create your own obstacles of writing style or spelling. Good job, Dad... Here he is:

Life started in 1938 in Corte Madera, California. I don't remember too many things about our house except the key hanging on the wall of the garage above the garbage can. Apparently I was into garbage at an early age. Will and Mora lived next to us. Will went into the Army during the second war and Mora moved to an Apartment in San Francisco. My mother and I went there to visit. Years later, Will and Mora moved to Martinez. They had a daughter by the name of Ann. We went from Kentfield to Martinez every couple of months for a Bar-b-que. Ann and I went up to the train trestle to watch the train come by.

I was thinking back about visits with my grand parents. Catherine and Frank Ambrose lived in Petaluma, California. They had a farmhouse and a garage in the back, an enclosed back porch and a big kitchen. I remember Frank sitting in his rocking chair - I was sitting on his lap. He was also cooking mushrooms so maybe the event was Thanksgiving dinner. His wife, Catherine, also called Caty was there but I don't remember anything about her. Some years later, Caty came to our (my folks ) house in Kentfield to stay, It was the same year that Franklin Roosevelt died - maybe 1945. I would have been 7 years old then. Caty later developed some difficulty in talking and later, she became hard to handle and my mom ( daughter Rowena ) had to put her in a rest home in Lucas Valley where she later died.

Caty's other daughter, Alice, (Rowena's sister) also lived in Kentfield. She had two daughters - Alice and Shirley. In 1945, they were staying in an orphanage in San Anselmo. But, somehow, they didn't get an invite to our house in Kentfield and that blame rested with my father. I don't know what his objection would have been. Alice and Shirley never forgot that. Alice married later and lives with her husband (Dan ) in Marin County. No children. Shirley also married but her husband died and she never remarried. They had one son, Nickelous.

Alice Krogman was a neat person. I used to see her all the time. She worked at the Roger Kent estate in Kentfield. Roger was a congressman ( I thought ) in Sacramento but Shirley seems to remember as just an attorney. His two daughters ( Alice and Molly ) went to the same grammar school as I did - called the Adeline E. Kent school. Adeline was Roger's sister. Yes, everyone was related.

In case it seems confusing, there was Alice Krogman, her daughter named Alice and Alice Kent. Roger Kent's place was the largest in Kent Woodlands. He had a big Olympic sized swimming pool with six lanes. Also a tennis court. There were many local events held there. Roger had many special guests there also, big names in the Democratic party. Alice Krogman was the chief cook for those events. The table was long - maybe sat 20 people. Also, before my time, Alice was bought along to Hawaii to take care of the Kids. She stayed there for some time.

At Alice Krogman's place, she had other relatives visit there. There was Nita, Colleen, Lynn, and Rowena. Nita and Don lived in San Rafael, Lynn and Bill Bergeron lived in Fairfield (Bill was in the Air Force) Bill was the co-pilot of the B-17 crew called "the candy bomber" that flew the airlift into Germany. And of course Bud and Rowena lived in Kentfield. Bud worked at the shipyards in Sausalito during World War Two.

There was also Kathleen and Sam Guerin who lived in San Francisco then later, Sparks, Nevada where they had a health food store. Kathleen's daughter was Lynn (Bergeron)

Two other people were always in my life during those years. That was Fagan and Bill. They lived on 208 Monte Vista Avenue in Larkspur, California. They were always "were", like grand parents. I think friends of my father's mother when she lived in Corte Madera. Fagan was a switchboard operator for the town of Larkspur and Uncle Bill was the treasurer for the city of Larkspur. But his expertise was a calligrapher for the city documents. He used pen and ink - not ball point pens. He had a very special writing style from the 1880's era. We went to their house for dinner once week then the next week they would come to our house. That was before television. When at their house, I would go into the family room after dinner and listen to the radio programs: Amos and Andy, The Bob Hope show, Fiber Magee and Molly, the Lone Ranger, the Shadow and others. The grown-ups would play cards until midnight.

Last but not least were my dad's mother and her husband - Alice and Roy. They lived in a small house in Richmond, California. There was no bridge so we took the ferry boat to get there. My dad had a 1932 Pontiac. We went there for all day events. Usually Aunt Emmy and Uncle Al and their son Bobbie would come over from San Francisco. Emmy was my dad's sister or Alice's daughter. They would play cards until the late hours. During the summer, I was invited to stay there for one or two weeks. I pal'd around with the boy across the street - his name was Jack. His dad looked and sounded like Anthony Quinn. I liked Alice. I could talk with her about anything. I liked the type of answers she gave me. She was always happy to see me. And she was a great cook too.

We also went to Emmy and Al's place on Park Street in San Francisco. They had a row house, a two-story with a full basement. We always went there for Christmas day. My cousin Bob was 2 years older than I was and very wise in city ways. By comparison, we lived in the country with open lots and fruit trees to be picked. But things did not go well there. Emmy and Al eventually got divorced and after 1956, Bobbie committed suicide. Emmy remarried to Angelo Gatorna and I went there to visit ( when I was working at Bechtel ) up to 1962.

Renee and Trav lived in North Hollywood. On special occasion, they came to Richmond or we went down there, like in 1952 - in my dad's new black '51 Mercury car. Renee was Alice's other daughter or my dad's sister. ( There was Buddie, Emmy and Renee ) Renee had a daughter (adopted) called Jackie - she is 8 years younger than me. We have always kept in contact with each other. When I was at Edwards Air Force base (1956), I went to Renee and Trav's for Thanksgiving dinner.

Walter Joos was a retired Air Force major ( I think a cousin of my father) Since we each had an Air Force background, we spent some times together. He was called Uncle Walt. Renee was a close relative and they wrote to each other during WW2. Walt was a navigator on B-17s over Germany. Walt and I went to Renee's for a New Year's day Rose Bowl football game. We had a great time.

Another favorite was Eleanor and Earl - they lived in Hammond. Louisanna. And they had a daughter by the name of Sheilah. I always liked Eleanore (my mother's sister ) Earl was a highway contractor - he wore a hearing aide and he was hard to know.. He didn't like any of Eleanor's family line. I found out later that he was not friendly to his wife or his daughter. This came out after he died. Eleanore and Sheilah kept the house on North Pine street. But in 2004, Eleanore went into the hospital then died in July 2006. Sheilah has not spoken to me for many years. I don't know why. She has spoken to Karen and Marc.

Alice is another cousin who will not speak to me - since my mother died. Shirley (sister of Alice) is a good person - we were always close over the years. Shirley is about 10 years older than me.

In closing this time period, I should mention a few things about living at home. It seemed peacefull early on. Dad belonged to the Corte Madera fire department as a fire fighter. I have a picture with me sitting on an early vintage fire truck. Dad worked at the Marinship ship yards then, later, for Litchfield Constrution Company in San Rafael. Dad helped build the new addition to the Adeline Kent grammer school. That was the time that the movie "Blood Alley" with Lauren Bacall and John Wayne, was made at China Camp. Dad worked on that - I was in the 8th grade. We had an Austrialn Shepard dog who was jealous of me and growled whenever I was near her. The next dog was a Doberman Pincher. Cute as a puppy but became angry when my dad got near my mom. They ended up giving the dog away to a trainer.

Grammer school had its ups and downs. I can still name a few people from those 8 years. Some have died already. Jim Schultz and Margaret Brooks I still keep in contact with. As I approached the 8th grade, I realized some difficulty with Math. I was just a "C" student( If I was luckey) Margaret and her pals always got "A's". Our 7th grade teacher was Ray Monson, He later became the grammar school principal in Novato (Pleasant Valley School ) where our kids went to school.

My mother used some extreme measures to control me. Drop the pants and beat me across the butt. Later came the razor strap - 4" wide 1/4" thick and 3 feet long. She saw I was resisting that so she complained to my dad and he cut the bottom 12 inches into thin strips. That DID hurt ! My dad wanted me home by 6pm. I would wait across the street (by then 6pm) waiting for the cars to pass so I could cross to our driveway. My dad stood in the driveway taking his belt loose - getting ready to deal out his punishment.
So I made it thru all that business then went thru 4 years of high school. I played basket ball, had a Saturday gardening job, got a car which was a '48 Plymouth. Girl friends were Cathy Silcox and Gloria Ongaro. The summer of 1956, my graduation year, I worked at a summer camp for boys, met Laverne Hardy ( a separate story) then went on active duty with the Air Force doing helicopter Maintenance and search and rescue. (which is also another story).

Someplace, I should add an interesting observation. During grammer school and high school, all my relatives were older to the point, alot of them died. My dad, Uncle Walt, his brother (Bud Joos) and I were frequently Pall Bearers at funerals. I never thought much of the occassion other than another event to meet living family members. However, as time went along, I met other people my age who had never been to a funeral, much less a pall bearer. Part of life's many lessons.

Lawrence C. Ambrose

On the 12th of January in 1902, Mary Megalo (Migali is an alternate spelling) Ambrose, wife of Antone Angelo Ambrose, gave birth to Silva Lawrence Ambrose. In the 1910 census of Oakland, Alameda County, California he was called Silva, in another it was Celia, all his conscious life he preferred to be called Lawrence.

He married Camille Cirimeli and had two sons, one of which is still living, and a daughter. Lawrence is a grandson of our Giovanni Ambrosio from Verbicaro, Italy. He died on the 27th of September, 1966 in Contra Costa County, California.

William Ambrose

William Francis Ambrose was the only son of Frank and Catherine Ambrose.

He met and married Frae Bones and had two daughters with her before he left for the Army and Hawaii (not sure what happened or in what order) In Hawaii he met Margaret and married her, having a son and presumably never leaving the island again. I'd like to share a letter he sent home in the thick of the Pearl Harbour incident... The first image is the beginning and the end, just because of the way he wrote it...

Alameda Co. Ambrose Brothers

From History of Alameda County CALIFORNIA, Volume II" by Frank Clinton Merritt. Published by the S.J. Clarke Publishing Company of Chicago, Illinois in 1928. Pages 151 and 152 read as follows:

The firm of Ambrose Brothers, composed of George C. and William A. Ambrose, of San Leandro, has won a place in the front rank of contractors in sheet metal work, plumbing and heating, and in many of the important buildings of this section of Alameda county are found evidences of the superior quality of their work, which has been their best advertisement. Both brothers were born in Oakland, California, George C. on the 12th of September, 1890, and William A. on the 12th of February, 1892, sons of Antone Angelo and Mary (Megalo) Ambrose, both of whom were born and reared in Italy, though their marriage occurred after they had come to California. The sons were reared and educated in Oakland and in boyhood gained their first business experience in selling newspapers. During all of their lives they have been associated in their interests and activities and have formed a strong and efficient team. They learned together the metal working, plumbing and heating trades, being first in the employ of Willis B. George, who is now retired from business. Later they worked for Lewis Blake, Spot Brothers and other prominent Oakland firms and contractors, becoming proficient in their line and in 1911 they started in the contracting business on their own account. Since 1919 they have been located in San Leandro and have here built up a large and successful business, which in recent years has exceeded two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, annually, while they employ as high as thirty men. Among the many contracts which they have executed in this county are many large apartment houses, including:

• The Abbott apartments in Oakland


• 150 residences in Homes court, Oakland


• 110 houses on the Saroni tract, at 82nd street and Foothill Blvd, San Leandro


• 150 houses in the Broadmoore addition


• The Palace theater building in San Leandro


• The First Presbyterian church in this city


• The Matthews & Boitano building at 1337 East Fourteenth Street

and many others...

They own their own home at 206 Chaumalia Street and four fine bungalows across the street. They have, in the rear of their home, a large and completely equipped shop, their machinery being of the most modern type, and they are prepared to do any kind of work in their line promptly and efficiently.

Both brothers are married, George C. Ambrose having been married in Oakland, in 1914, to Miss Nicolina Zammerelli, who was born near Naples, Italy, while William A. Ambrose was married in Oakland in 1915 to Miss Antoinette Zammerelli, who was also born near Naples, Italy, and is a cousin of Mrs. Nicolina Ambrose. To William A. Ambrose and wife have been born two children, Estella and Gloria. In 1925 George C. Ambrose and his wife took an extended trip to Italy, visiting Naples, Rome and other cities, and while in Rome were in the Vatican, where they met the Pope (it being Holy Year), and also saw Premier Mussolini. The Ambrose brothers are wide-awake, enterprising and progressive business men, conducting their affairs in accord with the highest commercial ethics, and enjoy a splendid reputation for good work and square dealing. Friendly and hospitable, they command the friendship and good will of all who know them and are numbered among San Leandro’s most highly esteemed citizens.

This book was found in the California State Library of Sacramento on December 29, 2006- Finally giving solid answers to "whatever happened to Frank and Rose's brother" (Antone, also seen in the 1900 census) and "Who was George Ambrose" whose house we have a photo of.

About Verbicaro

Along the foothills of the Northern Calabrian region, in the province Cosenza, gleams the little ancient town of Verbicaro. The "old town" inhabited still is about 400 years old. Here is a map showing where it is- almost to the 'ankle' of the boot. This is (one of?) the town's official website. Check out the pictures, it's all in Italian.

The first Googled website I keep getting is another fellow (name Fazzio) whose grandparents immigrated from Verbicaro to- guess where?- San Francisco and Sonoma in the early 1900's. This is just amazing... You have to visit this site.

Here's an article in the SF Gate (online San Francisco newspaper) about the glorious food of Calabria, through the eyes of one from Verbicaro. I noticed that they mention there are a lot of immigrants from this town here in the San Francisco Bay area... I wonder why?

The population there is steadily decreasing, so there's not a lot of cutting edge info available. Our people left over a hundred years ago looking for something else, something better...

Still, it's nice to see where they came from. The Ambrosio surname supposedly originated a little farther south. We'll look into that, too.

High School Yearbooks

Back in June I had the idea to go looking for High School Yearbooks to get more information on grandparents and their siblings. Yearbook photos seem like a great way to get positive identification on other 'mysterious individuals' in family photographs.

This is what I beleived in June:

In Marin County, Tamalpias High School has got to be one of (if not the) oldest still-active schools. My grandmother and her siblings had attended there, and so did my grandfather and his siblings. I have been pining to get over there to search their yearbooks for some of the only pictures I may ever see of them. The trick is going when the school is open, and that would mean taking a day off or being very persuasive in making an appointment. Another benefit of this is being able to pick out who some of the OTHER people are in photos I have. If I can find them in the yearbooks, then I'd have names, and vice versa.

Well, I was somewhat wrong. I researched further online, Tamalpias wasn't built until 1908, and had very small classes even then. The older school was San Rafael High. I have Granny's graduation stuff and had seen her yearbook (Dad has it somewhere) and since the phrase "High School Sweethearts" was used with my grandparent's, I assumed they attended the same school. I guess not.

I went there to the school library, unfortunately right around lunch, but I was able to research quite a bit anyway. I found only Rowena Ambrose, no others and no Winklers, after searching the yearbooks from 1910 to 1932. I did come away with a little better understanding of the young adult scene back then, however. That was something I hadn't thought of before. A few weeks later, Shirley assured me her mother and the others did attend there, but back then you had to pay for your pictures. They may not have made it into the yearbooks. Why then was Rowena the only one?

I now have contact at SRH with the Librarian and school Admin, Christina and Peggy, who are extremely helpful and offering the extra mile. The yearbooks are kept in a vault in the office there, not in the library at all. Peggy is going to enlist the help of a student or two in reseraching those archived volumes, going from a list I faxed to her with the names and birth years (and a guesstimate of when they graduated) of my grand-aunts and uncles... Christina also told me there is an alumni association that has all the old yearbooks, as well, and some public libraries and historical societies may have a year here and there.

There are more yearbook wranglers on the job, too. Janet from Westwood High in Lassen County is looking for Jeanette Stewart. They have cume' files on students still dating way back from the "old" Westwood High, which burned or had to be moved in the 1960's.

Mt. Tamalpias Cemetery

Since 1879, Mt. Tamalpias Mortuary and Cemetery has 'served' Marin County's people. It occupies acres of peaceful wooded hills at the end of 5th Street in San Rafael, California.

It is here just behind the office in what is called The Angels' Garden where my grandparents are laid to rest, end to end, in an outdoor mausoleum. I circled where they are in yellow.

WINKLER , Edward "Bud" Henry" born October 28, 1910, Died December 7, 1989
WINKLER, Rowena Louise (Ambrose) born June 10, 1912, Died December 8, 1996

Edward "Bud" Winkler's first cousin, Elsie, is also just a few yards away in the Fountain Grove, tier 3.

RUSTICE, Alfred George was born January 19, 1913; Died June 23, 1996

RUSTICE, Elsie Ann (Bruno) was born June 2, 1914; Died February 14, 1999. She was the daughter of Florence Winkler, Granddaughter of Henry and Caroline.
The boy is standing next to their niche.

Olivet Memorial Park

Another large cemetery in Colma, California is Olivet Memorial Park. The address is 1601 Hillside Blvd. The phone number is (650) 755-0322. I haven't found an official website yet, but there are numerous references to it in other sites such as Rootsweb and San Francisco Genealogy. We have a lot of family here, I've arranged them like a walking tour.

In the Columbarium, adjacent to the new office:

Three niches in a cluster in Room F
(Niche 416 )
JOOS, Martin born in France July 5, 1863, died in San Francisco April 15, 1936 (age 73)
JOOS, Sophie (Lowenguth) born in France February 21, 1864, died in Berkeley, California December 22, 1954 (age 90)
JOOS, Edward Henry (their son?) born May 15, 1899 in California, died September 10, 1915 in San Francisco. (age 16)
FERGUSON, Alice Josephine (Joos) born December 15, 1889 in San Francisco and died March 10, 1978 in Richmond, California. (age 89)
FERGUSON, Charles Roy (husband of Alice) born March 11, 1890 in Canada and died May 27, 1981 in San Rafael, California. (age 91) Edward H Winkler, stepson, was the informant/ next of kin.

Room F, Niche 418
JOOS, Martin W born 1916 in San Francisco, died August 29, 1962 in San Francisco (age 46)
JOOS, Martin A born 1896 in San Francisco and died in February 10, 1972 in San Francisco (age 76)
JOOS, Alice Victoria (Peterson) born 1892 in California, died October 24, 1972 in Burlingame, California. (age 80) *Relative listed as Georgina Rannizi Also in Room F a little higher on the left is Charles and Josephine Loewenguth, which I believed to be too much of a coincidence to Not be related to Sophie Lowenguth Joos. This Josephine's maiden name is Joos, also. One of my family books once owned by Alice and Marty Joos refers to "Aunt Josephine", so that's too many coincidences... CHARLES is Sophie's brother, JOSEPHINE is Martin's sister. Room I, Niche 102 at the bottom
GRIMM, Albert L. born September 24, 1906(or 05) in California. (He was the first husband of Emma Winkler) Died May 12, 1964 in San Francisco. (age 58?) Next of kin was his son, Robert L Grimm at 161 Bismark Street, Daly City.
GRIMM, Jacqueline Renee born October 18, 1937 at 374 Park Street, San Francisco, Ca. She died September 9, 1941 at the same address. (age 4)
GRIMM, Robert Lewis was born October 18, 1937, a twin. He died May 6, 1968. (age 31) Informant/ next of kin was his mother, Emma L. Gattorna at 475 Alvarado Street, San Francisco. His death was alcohol related.
Palm Room, Niche #724
GRIMM, Lewis Robert born March 23, 1876 - died December 2, 1956 (father of Albert L. Grimm, above)
GRIMM, Mary (Koch) born June 16, 1880 - died March 6, 1960 (daughter of Geo. & Maria)

Outside, you will find

Sycamore Section B
KOCH, George died February 12, 1934 at age 81 (grave 1)
KOCH, Maria M. died April 2, 1935 at age 73+ (grave 2)
George and Maria owned 13F-Section B Sycamore together with L.R. Grimm*. They were once thought to be just family friends, but they are actually family on the Grimm side.

*L.R. Grimm born March 23, 1876, died December 2, 1956 at 71 Forest View Drive, San Francisco. Husband of Mary- may be Albert's parents.
Right next to the Koch grave, previously thought to be anonymously burried with them is:

GATTORNA, Emma Louise (Winkler) born October 28, 1909 in San Francisco, she died January 13, 1972 in San Francisco. (age 63) Her husband, Angelo, was the informant.
GATTORNA, Angelo born 26 May 1913 in Italy - died 18 July 1994 in Sonoma County, California.

Sycamore Section FAMBROSE, Frank Murray born March 24, 1872 in Calabria, Italy. Died October 19, 1945 in Santa Rosa, California. (age 73)
AMBROSE, Catherine Agnes (Howard) born June 17, 1876 in San Francisco, California. Died April 25, 1952 in San Rafael, California. (age 76) She and Frank are in Sycamore section F, Division C, Grave 84.
You go around to where section H and I meet, allign yourself with two very large trees and a private mausoleum (you can see the building between the two trees) walk straight on and in the 2nd row back you'll see them.
(Their daughter, Kathleen (Kay) purchased a double grave in this same area, grave 45, in or around 1952, but I suppose she sold it to someone else...)


Linden, Lawn 1Lot 29 (10 graves in this lot- directly behind "Baby Land" on the Right)


WINKLER, Henry Edward (#3) Owner of the lot, born October 6, 1843 in Germany. Died June 30, 1914 in San Francisco. (age 71)

WINKLER, Caroline Ann (Rohrbach) wife of Henry, born December 2, 1855 in New York. Died August 6, 1918 in San Francisco. (age 63)

WINKLER, Phillip born in New York October 10, 1872, died November 7, 1934 in San Francisco. (age 62)

WINKLER, Edward born in San Francisco October 15, 1877, died in Richmond, California on July 10, 1929 (age 52)

WINKLER, William born in New York on June 19, 1878, died February 24, 1908 in San Francisco. (age 30)

WINKLER, Fredrick born July 18, 1880 in San Francisco, died in San Francisco on November 29, 1907. (age 27)

FRISCHE, William H. born May 1, 1913 in San Francisco to Amelia Winkler. Died August 1, 1915 in San Francisco. (age 2)

FIELDS, Louise (Winkler) born in San Francisco August 11, 1889, died September 28, 1928 in San Francisco. (age 39)

BRUNO, Nicholas born in Italy 1875, died in Redwood City on January 5, 1916 (age 41)

BRUNO, unnamed still born baby boy, born December 4, 1911 at 280-C Shipley Street (between Folsom & Harrison), San Francisco, CA (buried at the back of grave 9)

In 1913 a Bruno girl was born to a Winkler mother.

Italian Cemetery

Located in Colma, California, the Italian Cemetery is "home" to our first immigrant Italians on this line.

You can now get there by BART, the Colma station is just a block away from F Street.
It's no trouble to drive, but you may have to make a U-turn to get to F where it curls up a slope because of the divided road.

If you go in the 2nd entrance, called Columbo Avenue, and go almost all the way down to the end, on the right, stand on the number 57 and look to your left to see the Ambrose's white marble cross on a pedestal.

Block 58, lot 67 is owned by G. B. Ambrose. Shown below are details from the memorial.

Alla Memoria Dei

nostri genitori

MARIA AMBROSE

Nata a Verbicaro

Provencia di Cosenza Italia

Morta in S.F. il 9 maggio 1912

all eta di anni 65

* * *

GIOVANNI B. AMBROSE

Nata a Verbicaro

Provencia di Cosenza Italia

Morta in S.F. il 10 marzo 1915

all eta di anni 68

Cari genitori

R.I.P.

Loose translation: To the Memory of our parents (Ancestors) Maria Ambrose, born in Verbicaro, Province of Cosenza, Italy. Died in San Francisco on May 9, 1912 at the age of 65. Giovanni B. Ambrose, born in Verbicaro, Province of Cosenza, Italy. Died in San Francisco on March 10, 1915 at the age of 68. Dear Ancestors, Rest in Peace...

Anita Ambrose

Anne Anita Ambrose was born to Frank and Catherine on the 6th of September, 1909 in Larkspur, Marin County, California. I haven't found a great many pictures, or information on what she did during the span of her years, but below are a few of the bits I do have. She married Donald Wilkey, not Wakeland, as previously thought. No wonder I couldn't find anything on her! The Social Security Death Index was the thing that brought this to light for me. Well... notes are notes... Documents are documents...

This is a favorite picture, period. The girls are dressed up for the Rose Bowl Dance, which was put on by the Larkspur Volunteer Fire Department for years as a fund raiser, and evidently this night was a special night! The back says "Anita Ambrose attendens... Thats Frati attendens, Margie Baily Queen April 18, 1928 Rose Bowl Larkspur." No, I'm not absolutely certain which is which.

Anita passed away in May of 1984 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon. No specific benefits registered. Her husband - I believe- who was born January 30, 1916 also passed away in Oregon, Woodburn, Marion county, on the 15th of August 1993. No benefits registered here either.

For Eleanor

There is a beautiful flowering tree known throughout the South called the Crape Myrtle. This amazing tree comes in many varieties, its tissue-paper like flowers in many colors ranging from white to crimson, deep salmon to lavender. Most varieties’ bark peels beautifully in winter like the birch. It does not take well to too much water, nor too much fertilizer. As a matter of fact, the Crape Myrtle does rather well on roadsides or in containers and holds up to a lot of abuse while still giving a lovely display. Some of you may be groaning because you’ve spent too much time cutting back suckers and pulling up seedlings from your lawn. This is another admirable quality, for it gives itself so enthusiastically and unselfishly...

As a matter of fact, there is something to be learned from the flora and fauna around us, for they unconditionally and without hesitation always obey the voice of their Creator. They really can’t help it, for unlike us, they do not have the gift of free will and conscious choices. Yes, we may, and often do, choose to follow our own path whether to joy or sorrow, life or destruction.

There are some who fulfill their purpose to give shade and shelter, some have excellent fruit to share and nourish other living things, some have unsurpassed woodgrain for building, some more delicate forms of life are touches of humor or sheer artistry of the Master to please the eye and gladden the heart. The gospel of Luke says:

“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Some of God’s creations we have to think really hard about what their purpose could be.
Our friend, and mother, Eleanor, understood one of God’s first gifts rather well. You see, just before he made his final crowning creations on this Earth, he made a beautiful garden for them to live in. There is nothing He loves more than to see His children happy, our gratitude for His gifts is the least He asks for in return. In Psalms 8 we read

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

There is nothing shameful about beauty, for he is the author and creator of it. There is nothing wrong with surrounding ourselves with beautiful things, for it is a balm to the soul.

In Ezekiel, however, is a perfect example of His caution to us all,

14) “And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD… But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown…”

We should not misuse our gifts or think them to be of our own design, for this ingratitude and disobedience not only offends Him who created us, but offends and harms others as well.

Think on the many Crape Myrtles you see… not only do they give of themselves constantly and unselfishly, but, like the most treasured things, it blooms in adversity.

Though it may have seemed sometimes, Ms. Eleanor did not lead a charmed life. She, too, had her Faith –and Patience- tried in many ways. [Earl was a good source of adversity]

The family she came from, with roots in Ireland and Italy, began in the exotic land of San Francisco, California. Francesco Ambrosio and Catherine Howard had just one child together before the great and terrible Earthquake in April of 1906 forced them to leave. Their only choice then was to be crowded onto a ferryboat to go North to Marin county, and they settled in Larkspur, a little logging town that didn’t even have a fire department. But they certainly weren’t beaten. Frank helped organize the first volunteer fire department (after the fires and destruction they just saw, who could blame them) became the second Marshal, Tax collector, Sheriff, and Fire Chief all while being a rock and foundation to his family, and serving in the Masonic order and others. He gave of himself freely in serving others, and his chosen profession was to create beauty in the world by painting and decorating.

Frank and Catherine had several beautiful daughters, and the last blossom on the branch was Eleanor. Daddy’s little girl. No doubt, she learned well the importance of community, active participation, education, family, a beautiful and peaceful home…

No matter how confining the pot was that she was planted in, she spread her branches and shared.

Those of you who have known our dear Ms. Eleanor may be familiar with the work she has done in the Community to further the arts. We can never do enough to preserve our right to share our God-given talents that, like the plants we walk by every day, are to creatively express ourselves, lift a burdened heart, and help another to think on the tiny miracles that happen each day.
[[share more experiences from the Art Guilds, etc. ]]

The beloved story “Charlotte’s Web” by E. B. White was adapted for a delightful musical in the early 1970’s, and for many like me was a gentle first lesson in life and death being essential together. The following is a song sung as a lullaby to the lonely pig:

How very special are we
We’re just a moment to be
Part of life’s eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time

He turns the seasons around
And so she changes her gown
But they always look in their prime
They go on dancing their dance
Of everlasting romance
Mother Earth and Father Time

The summer larks return to sing
Oh, what a gift they give
Then autumn days
grow short and cold
Oh, what a joy to live

How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life’s eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time

The autumn days grow short and cold.
It's Christmastime again.
The snows of winter slowly melt.
The days grow short. And then.
He turns the seasons around
and so she changes her gown.
Mother Earth and Father Time.
How very special are we.
For just a moment to be.
Part of life's eternal rhyme.

And now at this season of life, this wintertime of dormant slumber for our dear Eleanor, we will have sorrow and loneliness for want of her companionship. We will remember seasons past when we could laugh and love face to face. Yet we should also remember the promise of springtime. Apart from the gift of Life our great Father in Heaven gave, is also the gift of Life Everlasting.

Life is short whether one dies at seventeen or at eighty. To a seventeen-year-old, eighty years seems like an eternity. But to a seventy-year-old, eighty years is not a long probationary period at all. Another lesson taught by death concerns the eternal importance of families. Just as there are parents to greet a newborn on earth, the scriptures teach that caring family members greet the spirits in paradise and assist them in the adjustments to a new life (see Gen. 25:8; Gen. 35:29; Gen. 49:33). The spirit continues in learning and loving, even to assist as permission and necessity allow those still among the mortals.

Recently, my mother was able to attend her only sister who passed away from cancer, and she left with a sacred experience. “The girls had been taking turns staying the night, both were there during the day. Things got tougher so they called in Hospice. Told Bev it was a visiting nurse from the hospital. She was able to give some medication to Bev so she'd calm down and try to relax. Next morning about 7:45 we were with Bev doing what we could to help her through her last few minutes; her eyes were closed and then suddenly she opened them and looked around the room "They're all here" she whispered. "Who's there, Mom?" Sherri asked. "Everyone!" Bev said. She closed her eyes and breathed three more breaths and then she was gone.”

As for the clothing for our spirits we call bodies, even the Savior’s disciples had difficulty believing in the resurrection of Jesus when they first learned of it. They still wondered about turning water into wine, so naturally this one would be no different. He had told them it would happen and had spoken of himself as “the resurrection, and the life.” (John 11:25.) Luke tells us that when the women found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb and the body of Jesus was gone, “They were much perplexed.” (Luke 24:14.) They were told by two angels that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women hurried and told these things to the eleven Apostles and to others, but “their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.” (Luke 24:4–11.)
Later that same day, Jesus appeared to the Apostles. They thought he was a spirit until he said to them: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” (Luke 24:39.) They saw him, touched him, and heard him. “And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?” (Luke 24:41.) After they had given him fish and honey, they watched him eat. But because resurrection from the dead is miraculous and unnatural to our mortal world, it was difficult for them to believe what they had experienced.

The scientists say matter cannot be created or destroyed, only organized and reorganized. The elements (and DNA) which compose this temporal body will not perish in a shark’s belly or on a desert plain, will not cease to exist, but in the day of the resurrection these elements will come together again, bone to bone, and flesh to flesh. Our loved ones will look exactly as we remembered them, perhaps even better, but we will know them. They will not be butterflies or jaguars, but perfected human bodies without need of the blood of mortality. Our Master, the Creator of the Universe, made us once, he can, and he said he will do it again. This is a free gift.

As one last thought, from Phillipians chapter 4

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. "

Whenever you find yourself in sorrow because of Eleanor, remember the winter may seem long, but the Springtime of the Resurrection yet to come will be more glorious than we can imagine.

the Howard children

I came across the following typed information by way of Cousin Shirley. It was typed, dated April 19, 1952, and signed by Kathleen Ambrose- Guerin, Daughter of Catherine A. Howard and Frank M. Ambrose, Grand-Daughter of Thomas Howard and Mary E Waters.
Note: There is no information on the children Mary bore who did not live (according to the 1900 census she had 10)

Catherine Ambrose maiden name Catherine Agnes Howard, born June 17, 1876 at San Francisco, California. Baptized at Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Her mother’s name Mary Howard (Maiden name Mary Ellen Waters) born in sligo, Ireland. Died at age 80. had broken her hip, pneumonia resulted. Buried in Cooper plot at Cypress Lawn in spring of 1924 about April.

Father:
Thomas Howard died at 60 years. Native of Limerick, Ireland. Burried Jan. 25th 1918 Grave belonging to Cooper family, both buried in same plot.

Brothers:
Thomas F. Howard born 1874 July 3 died 1943 [1942 crossed out] Christmas Eve - burried Holy Cross New Section. Born in S.F. - James Reily Co. have records of correct date.
William Howard born 1877 on Oct 13 died Nov 1937 in S.F. buried at Holy Cross. Tom is buried in same grave.
Maurice Howard, born June 27, 1879 died at grammer school age. Kicked (by a race horse) at Cooper Stables. Burried at Holy Cross near sister Alice.
Robert James Emitt Howard, born 1882 Sept 17 San Francisco. Died at Vet. Hospital Oct 8 1951 Yontville. Burried at National Cemetery, San Bruno, Calif.
Sister:
Alice Howard died Aug. 24, 1874 at age of three. Buried at Mount Calvary Cemeteries (Holy Cross. Domertory 3, Station 71, Area 27, Grave 78 old section how of holy Cross. New grave marking made December 2, 1903 at offices of Holy Cross Cemetery.

*********************************************

Furthermore, I faxed this information to Holy Cross to confirm and get a map of the premises. Without their $30 fee for “Genealogical Research”, they were able to locate records only for Thomas Frank Howard and William H Howard. The other records are not in a computer database.

Thomas:
Interment No. 141998 Volume VIII – D- R, S- 10, Grave 62
Date of Death 12/24/43 - age 71y 5m 15d - date of interment 12/27/43
Parish: Star of the Sea – Place of Death: 423 Clement St.
Place of BIRTH: San Francisco
Undertaker: Reilly – Physician: J. J. Kingston
Cause of Death: Coronary sclerosis – B of M No: 9586
Name of Plot Owner: Robert J Howard – Address: 800 Bush St.
Date Purchased 1/27/39 – Deed ser. No. B-33342 P.C. –
Size of plot : 3x8

William:
Interment No. 125973 – Vol. VII – D- R, S- 10, Grave 62
No date of death, no age, Date of Interment: 1/23/39
Place of death: San Francisco Hospital
No birthplace, no undertaker or physician.
Name of Plot Owner: Robert J Howard – Address: 800 Bush St.
Date Purchased 1/27/39 – Deed ser. No. B-33342 P.C. – Size of plot : 3x8

See the posting on Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Margaret Ambrose

Daughter of Frank Ambrose by his first wife Annie, Marguerita was born July 16, 1893.

Here she is smiling in her straw hat at her father's feet, about 1903.

She was Frank's very first beautiful little girl. Margie had a sister born when she was about 3 years old, but baby Gertie didn't make it past her 1st birthday. When her father remarried, she gradually gained 5 sisters and one brother.

This photo at left was taken in Vallejo, Calif. in 1920. She may have been visiting or staying with her Aunt Rose (Ambrose) Cobb who lived there around that time.

The photo at right is one of my favorites. It just looks like it should be on a calendar or something... You've got the themes of two girls- best friends, the American flag, the clothes and buildings of the period, a moment in time... and besides, they are not even dressed to go to a beach or pool as far as I can tell. This was a liesurely outing.

She married a Mr. Stoddard. They lived in Berkeley, supposedly. There is a Margaret A Stoddard born in August of 1893 listed in several years of city directories in Walnut Creek as retired. Her death record says she died December 4, 1974 in Contra Costa County. Unfortunately after ordering this death certificate, it was apparent this was not our Margie...

I really wish I could find more stuff on her and her mother, maybe I'm just not looking in the right places yet. I think the name "Zappieten" for her mother was spelled wrong. She (her mother) was born in California, so that gives me hope- despite the burned records from 1906.