Thanks to old newspapers I finally found a death date for my distant cousin. Plus his photo in a database of seaman records! I already knew of a death date. But i HAD NO PROOF until now. Proof of sorts, that is, as newspapers are considered secondary sources--not primary.
But let's not quibble. With this data I can now search for a death certificate on FamilySearch.org which has uploaded Los Angeles County death certificates (albeit WITHOUT an index). He was only 48 when he died, and I want to know why. And where is he interred?
Source: The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA, USA: The Los Angeles Times, 1881-1894, Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003 via Ancestry.com. NOTE: Alas, no date is given on the clipping nor page number.
When a toddler, his name appeared in a Nebraska census as "Owen G. Ackley." But later his signatures and records reflected "Glenn Witham Ackley." Did he dislike Owen and went with Glenn, do you know? I like to note both legal and "go by" names in my gedcom. For now I'll stick with Glenn. And his middle name of Witham? That was his mother's maiden name. Mary taught school in Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory for many years, BTW. Here's Glenn with his parents, Mary and "F.M. Ackley," near the bottom of this 1890 Territorial Census page:
Also, how neat is this: Ancestry has Merchant Marine files online. Chock full of details. From this I learned Glenn was 5'6 1/2" tall, with brown hair and eyes, dark complexion, and with a scar on his thumb--to boot. He was living at 519 Beacon Street in Los Angeles, which Google now tells me is in San Pedro. (Not to worry. YOUR data will all be online too someday, but we'll be long dead. Oh, wait. ? )
Other cousins had "West Virginia" as Glenn's birthplace. But with no proof attached. However in this Application For Original License to become "Third Mate of Ocean Steam Vessels of any gross tons" dated 16 Dec 1918, I learned Glenn was born in Mason County, West Virginia on 16 August 1882.
Glenn applied a second time a few years later. That 1923 doc is attached in this same image gallery below. See eight pages here:
Source: U.S., Merchant Marine Applications for License of Officers, 1914-1949 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Records of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. Merchant Marine Applications for Licenses of Officers. NAI: 7591749 Record Group 26: Records of the U.S. Coast Guard. National Archives at Riverside, California.
While in the Port of San Francisco, he received his Citizen Seaman's Identification Card of December 1918. He had served on board the S.S. Maine ("Remember The Maine". No, not that one) and hoped to serve on the S.S. China. Glenn is 36, and apparently grew a half inch from when he met with the Merchant Marines. Hey, I love a document with a photo. Yea, Glenn. Happy to see your face!
Source: From: U.S., Applications for Seaman's Protection Certificates, 1916-1940 via Ancestry, Washington, D.C.; The National Archives and Records Administration; Application for Seaman´s Protection Certificates; NAI: 2788575; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation; Record Group Number: 41; Box Number: 001 - Sa
Last is Glenn's draft card of September 11, 1918. He's staying at the Ocean View Hotel in San Pedro, California, working for S.W. Ship Building Co. as a "Ship-fitter." His sister Edna is his contact person: Mrs. E. L. Blincoe 532 West 51st St., Los Angeles. Go ahead. Google that address. The building is no longer there, but I like seeing places that once were.
NOTE TO CURIOUS COUSINS: Glenn Ackley and I both descend from Samuel Ackley and his wife, Sarah Rush. His father, Francis, and my 2xGGrandmother Lucy were siblings. Both children of Sam and Sarah.
Thanks for stopping by!