Family Photo Friday

General Eisenhower's final Order of the Day to allied troops in Europe.
From the World War II collection of  George "Buddy" Mariencheck.
Hand-marked 14 July 1945, Amorbach, Germany

Family Photo Friday

Be Proud Be proud swell fellows in khaki clad, That you've been called to serve For Uncle Sam is behind you, lad And never does he doubt your nerve! Your'e serving your country's favorite flag The good ole Red, White, and Blue, So come on you soldiers, and do not lag But show us you can see it thru. We know it's tough that awful grind That daily routine and such, But when victory is yours you'll never mind, and be glad and proud you did so much. So grit your teeth and stick out your chest, and don't ever become afraid For you're your Uncle's very best and he knows it's GUTS from which YOU'RE made! Buddy, 1942

Poem written by George T. "Buddy" Mariencheck, 6th Armored Division, 50th Armored Infantry Battalion, Headquarters Company

Solved! Genevieve and Happy O'Callaghan

Once again, we'll start the new year by solving photo mysteries from the previous year.

In May, 2013, we published the "rabbit hole" photograph (at right). Based on photographer information and basic vital statistics from the Mariencheck side, we were  suspicious that this was Genevieve Mariencheck and her husband, Joseph "Happy" O'Callaghan.

After losing Genevieve in 1929, Happy married Mattie Mae Young in December of 1931. They had two children before she died while expecting their third in 1940. He was married to Florine C. O'Callaghan when he passed away in 1960. A few weeks after the photograph was published, a "cold call" email I'd sent to Happy's descendants was answered - by his grandson, Riley O'Callaghan! Riley shared the photograph below, showing Happy later in his life. Although the age difference and angles make it difficult to compare, the sloping eyes, pointed nose, chin shape, and hair line all point toward a match!

Later, in October 2013, a research trip to Memphis paid off in spades when this beautiful portrait of Genevieve Mariencheck was found in the collection of Lynn Jennings Park! Although, again, angles make it tricky to compare, the hair color/style, and nose and chin shape point toward a match!

Unfortunately, identifying the sitters doesn't solve the other mysteries within this photograph. Riley knew of no connection to Milwaukee, so we're unsure why they were there.  We'll have to assume the flags-of-the-world quilt and unidentified photographs in the background were photographer props.

Genevieve Mariencheck
Joseph "Happy" O'Callaghan

What's Your Name?

What I know:
This fantastic photograph is from the collection of Pat Sides Jennings. As the sign reads, this is the store of Joseph William Mariencheck at 78 Main Street.

According to city directories, Joseph started working for L. Fritz & Bro. when he was only 13 years old. Louis Fritz, whose family tinware manufacturing company had been in operation in Memphis since 1867, owned two parcels on Main Street at numbers 149 and 151. Joseph worked with Fritz for 16 years as a tinsmith and foreman until 1892 when he finally branched out on his own. opening an iron works / tin company on Washington Street. Eventually, he made his way back to Main street, where he ran a stove and tinware store below his residence at number 78. The store, which was eventually listed simply as "hardware," was in operation at the Main Street location until 1908 when he moved to 2nd street.

Ad for Joseph's business in 1892 Dow city directory (photo courtesy Shelby County Archives)

Hustle and bustle on Main Street, 1902 (photo courtesy Historic Memphis)

We'll have more in a future post about the businesses of both Louis Fritz and Joseph Mariencheck. Meanwhile, there's the topic mystery: who are the people in this photograph? It's easy to presume that we're looking at Joseph  W. Mariencheck himself. His only son, John Philip, was 12 years old in 1899 when the Main Street location opened - so the young boy in the photograph could be him. However, without any confirmed photographs of Joseph or Philip at this approximate age to compare to, we're leaving the identities of these subjects in the "unknown" column. Do you know who this is?

Brothers in Arms

Happy Memorial Day to all of our veterans! This year, Dixie Roots shall make a concerted effort to complete a veteran-related project. Namely, to restore, research, and publish the images and stories from my grandfather, George T. “Buddy” Mariencheck’s World War II scrapbook.  It is overflowing with scotch-tapped pictures of Buddy and his buddies – many of them inscribed with dates, names, ranks, home states, and even addresses.  Our goal is to find the families of these soldiers and share the pictures with them. To begin, we found the son of SGT Earl PeQueen, shown here. We were happy simply to make the connection. Then we learned that years ago, the PeQueen home burned to the ground, destroying everything, including their family photographs. Buddy’s scrapbook photo is the only one the family has of their father from the war! The research will continue. Meanwhile, the following are the brave men who fought alongside Buddy and whom are included in his album.  Perhaps the magic of the internet will help us make more connections and share more photographs. Thanks to these men and to all who have done their part to build and defend our nation! *Buddy trained at Camp Hood, TX and deployed as a member of  the 6th Armored Division, 50th Armored Infantry Battalion, Headquarters Company.	Harold Franke, Buddy Mariencheck, and Alfred J. Hoffman. Eisenberg, Germany. June 17, 1945
	Earl J. PeQueen, Camp Hood, Feb 27, 1944
SGT Shirley SGT Marino SGT Shelton Dick Raines Lt. Hook Pat / John McGinnis Lt. Wilson Cpl Collier Paul Leikerum Alex Latin David Freedman Jim Henderson Marion Ben John Klein	Gorinski Red LaPalme (Putnam, Conn.) Harold J. Franke (Weaver, Minn.) Robert Vinovich Norman Saunders Dave Kloodt (New York, NY) John Killough (Bessemer, AL) Joe Lenich/Levich (New Jersey)  Richard Grant Clarence Jackson A.J. Champagne (St. Martinville, LA) “Moon” Mullins Capt Wade H. Admire (MO) “Speedro” Lorenson (Rhode Island)	Alfred J. Hoffman (Dallas, North Carolina) Alexander V. Elia (Boston, MA) SGT Petigo Doug Granelle Tyler Strand William Gray SGT Paul Kishenensky James A. George (Birmingham, AL) Francis Ariel James Pattison Chester Pluciennick Charlie Cherry Andrew Kadel Tony Killian

Inscription reads: "Some of the boys talking it over. Buchenwald."

Tombstone Tuesday

Genevieve Mariencheck O'Callaghan

The hunt for more information on the short life of Genevieve Mariencheck continues! For now, we know she married Joseph Edward O’Callaghan (“Happy”) in 1925. He worked as an insurance agent and she was a stenographer. Then, only three years later, tragedy struck as Genevieve died from tuberculosis of the intestine. Genevieve is the daughter of John Philip Mariencheck and Mary Della Durling and sister of my grandfather, George Thomas (Buddy) Mariencheck.

Genevieve is buried along side other O'Callaghan family members..

Personal Data		Tombstone Data
Birth:	about 1906	City:	Memphis, TN
Marriage:	25 Nov 1926 to Joseph E. O’Callaghan	Cemetery:	Calvary
Death:	29 Jan 1929	Section:
		GPS:

Genevieve's death certificate

Tombstone Tuesday

John Philip Mariencheck
Welcome to our new series: Tombstone Tuesday! Each Tuesday we'll share a photo of an ancestor's tombstone along with whatever location data we have. There are placeholders for Section and GPS; the plan is to populate this information as it becomes available. Biographical information will also be included whenever it's available. Enjoy!		Philip and Della Mariencheck in front of their home on Pope Ave, Memphis, TN
Personal Data
Birth:	19May1887
Marriage:	22Dec1904 to Mary Della Durling
Death:	21Jul1962
Tombstone Data
City:	Memphis, TN
Cemetery:	Calvary Cemetery
Section:
GPS:

What's Your Name?

What I know: This photograph is from Pat Sides Jenning's collection (technically my first cousin, once removed ... but we're Southern, so "Aunt Pat"). On the left is my great-grandmother Mary Durling Mariencheck. After some confusion over the inscription and lots of digging, it's been discovered that her companion is Adeline Latsch. Mrs. Latsch's husband, John, was co-owner of  the Tennessee Belting Company along with John Philip Mariencheck. In this photograph, Mary and Adeline are walking up posh Central Avenue in Hot Springs, Arkansas. During the turn of the century, Hot Springs was The place to see and be-seen. Bath House Row (directly across from where Mary and Adeline are standing) featured numerous bath houses where men and women alike could bathe and sweat their cares away. Shopping and gambling houses filled the remaining hours. Special thanks to cousin Lynn Jennings Park for the fantastic photograph! Do you have information about John and Adeline Latsch?

Based on the businesses, perceived age of the women, and fashions (the hats! the fox stoles!), this photograph was probably taken around 1930 (SWAG).

If you look closely at the shoppes behind Mary and Adeline, you'll see that they're just past John C. Bohl's Jewelry Store and Loan Office at 514 Central. Photo from the book Hot Springs Arkansas in Vintage Photographs.

Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge of Courage, wrote of Hot Springs, Ark, "Crowds swarm into these baths. A man becomes a creature of three conditions. He is about to take a bath. He is taking a bath - He has taken a bath." Quote and photograph from the book Hot Springs Arkansas in Vintage Photographs.