Ada's Parents

Laura Elisabeth Burgit and John E. Carroll

 

Known to most all of us living now as Grandma and Grandpa Carroll.

 

Let me just say a word here about our spelling of names.  It is unbelieveable how official records in the 1800's and early 1900's have played fast and loose with name spellings -- we've seen Burgit spelled Burget, Burgett, Bergot, Burkett, and on and on, but we believe we're correct with Burgit.

 

Laura Elisabeth Burgit was born on October 13, 1869, in Northumberland, Point Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.  She died of pneumonia on November 30, 1953, 10:30 pm in the Salem Memorial Hospital, Salem, New Jersey; she was 84 years old.

 

John E. Carroll was born on February 18, 1865, probably in Baltimore County, Maryland -- we're still working on confirming lots of interesting information, so we'll come back to the Carrolls a bit later.  I have a note that he died in 1956, aged 91, but that's all I know at the moment.

 

Laura and John were married on September 8, 1887, at the home of Laura's parents (Harriet and Henry Coleman Burgit) in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. Laura would have been 17, one month shy of 18 years old and John was 22.

 

These old photos are wonderful to study - this looks like an early spring day to me.  I can't date any of these precisely, but if anyone can place them, perhaps we can figure out the rest.  This is John and Laura Carroll with daughters Thelma (Carroll) Gemberling, though I'm not sure if she was married then or not, Claudine (Carroll) Marks and Stephen Marks (Uncle Bud).

 

This is Laura and John with their children then living: Claudine (Carroll) Marks, on floor left, Nicholas Carroll, Laura, Ada (Carroll) Alcott, John, and Thelma (Carroll) Gemberling, seated on floor right.  Probably can be dated 1946 or 1947, judging by the next photo.

Same sofa, same doilies, same lamps.  I'm estimating the 1946-47 date based on the bare-footed, curly-locks Jackie (Jacqueline Alcott Kupsey, born 1944 -- sorry Jackie, but we're all fair game here!) She looks to be about two or three years old. Identifications starting with those standing in the back, left to right: Carl Lugar, Laura Lugar, Bill Lugar (Ada's niece and nephews--Harriet Carroll Lugar's children), Jack Alcott, Thelma (Sis) (Alcott) Humphrey, Leonard Alcott, Edward Still (Ada's nephew--Lillian Carroll Still's son); front, left to right: Lois Alcott DeHart, Delores Alcott Trout Athis, Carl Alcott, Junior Still holding Charles Still (Ed's sons) (I hear Claudia used to boss poor little Charles around--are we surprised?), Jacqueline Alcott Kupsey, William Alcott, and Claudia Alcott Kohl in the front (looking a lot like her granddaughter Abigail).

Does anyone know what the occasion might have been for all these Carrolls to have gathered together?  Lois believes this was taken at one of the Bridgeport homes. 

So, this is how sidetracked I get.  Just a couple of pictures lead me off in all different directions.  And I still have Grandma and Grandpa Carroll anniversary clippings to share.  Maybe tomorrow.  --cds/ck/ld