Mary L. O'Halloran - Cook - Walden from Detroit, Michigan

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 30, 2009 at 6:23pm

Hi Lisa-
I used Google Books, and googled "Taft Hotel" Detroit and found some books that described the transformation of the Taft Hotel into Retirement Housing according to a 1959 journal.

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 6:32am

WOW...thanks! You have no idea how I have been trying to find out info on this. I have talked to older people and they remember the area of where the Taft was or have heard of it, but that is all I get.

Since I have 2 little ones at home, I can not get out to the library to check things out there, so all of my research is by verbal - relatives or the internet!

I have never used Google Books! I will have to start!

Thanks again.

Lisa

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 31, 2009 at 10:11am

Hi Lisa-
I'm in the same boat, I have a 5 year old and a 1 year old. :)

Michigan has excellent online records:
http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17449_18635---,00.html

on familysearchlabs, they have some early birth and marriage records, you do need Adobe to read the images:
http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#p=4

Kate

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 11:38am

I have TONS of info on Gordon ( my grandfather).

William was younger than Gordon.

Gordon Married Marion Geotschy. I have located Gordon in 1930 and 12920, but his in not living with his mother, Mary O'Halloran. In Gordon's death notice, it does not say anything about his sister, Mary of Iowa or his Mother, Mary O'Halloran. Only states survived by his brother, William of Windsor, Ontario.

If I could locate any death notice for William or Mary in Iowa, it may give me more info about Mary O'Halloran. But I am sure Mary Cook of Iowa got married and I have on idea what her last name would be. I am also having a hard time finding any Candian death records for William.

Attachments:

• Gordon & Mary copy.jpg, 535 KB
• William Cook & Wedding Party.jpg, 204 KB
• William Cook @ wedding.jpg, 2.7 MB

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 31, 2009 at 12:04pm

HI Lisa-

I think I find Gordon in 1930 as an 'inmate' in a boys vocational school in Ingram, MI?
I was able to find Mary and Truman together with Mary in 1910, but then I don't find Mary the mother again, did she go to Canada, or did Truman die and she couldn't take care of the children?

Also see a Truman Cook in 1900 at an Industrial School in Ingram, MI, I'm guessing the same 'school'?

Kate

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 12:54pm

Truman WAS an Inmate at the ISB in Lansing....and I believe along with his brother William.

At that time, Truman's mother is in Sault St. Marie living with her Sister in law. Truman's father is living in Port Huron living with his brother (and the younger child - Leon). It is believed that Truman's father (Robert Cook) had a stroke and could not take care of himself, and Robert's wife (Sarah Ann) went to work at a hotel owned by her sister in law and BIL to make $$$$$.

So I am assuming that is why Truman and William went to ISB in Lansing.

Permalink Reply by Kate Steere on July 31, 2009 at 12:20pm

hi again Lisa-
I looked for Mary, the daughter, and found a possibility in 1920 in St. Vincent's Orphange, she's listed as age 11, but it could be her. Also I tried searching for a Mary in Iowa in 1930, born 1910 +/- 1 year in Michigan, and found a Sister Mary that could fit in Iowa, so its a possibility she didn't marry at all. :) Do you know where in Iowa she may have been?

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 1:01pm

I am not sure....all I am told from family friends was that they remember going to Iowa to see Gordon's sister, Mary.

Could be Iowa City???!!!

The attached Picture is of Gordon's wedding with who I believe to be (L to R) unknown man (perhaps Mary's boyfirend) Mary Cook (1st child of Mary O'halloran-Cook and Truman Cook), Gordon Cook (groom) William's wife ???, and last William Cook. Don't know who the little boy is.

Attachments:

• William Cook & Wedding Party.jpg, 204 KB
• William J. Cook.jpg, 206 KB

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 1:13pm

ERROR = This picture is what I believe to be WILLIAM J COOK's wedding. NOT Gordon's wedding. The bride and groom (the last people on the right) have the flowers on their clothes!

So I know that William WAS married...and ended up in Windsor.

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 1:06pm

I have made SEVERAL contact with the people in Lansing regarding obtaining records on the inmates at the ISB in Lansing and was told "they are sealed records and unobtainable" because these persons were MINORS at the time of their stay there. They can be released to living relatives if you can get a judge in the county were the inmate was ordered to go to the ISB.

Which I believe is impossible. I have tried and have spoke to several Judges and lawyers. All because these boys were minors. EVEN THOUGH THESE RECORDS ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD!!!

I was thinking about writing a letter to Gov. Jennifer Granholm to see if they was anything she could to!

Below is an Email I got from Lansing.

**********************************************
Lisa,

I am responding to your request for access to the restricted juvenile records at the State Archives in Lansing, MI. Leonard Dixon, Director of the Bureau of Juvenile Justice, is unable to release access to the information.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Legal Affairs Division has provided the following information:
Based on MCL 803.308, the following procedure applies: The former resident of the juvenile facility who has turned an adult must consent to the release of records pertaining to themselves, if living. In situation involving estates of deceased persons (formerly residents of a juvenile facility) the requester must either obtain the consent of the personal representative of the estate, or a court order to access the information.

If you have additional questions, I can be reached at 517.335.1438.

Margaret Olesnavage

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 1:08pm

More on the ISB in Lansing Records....

*******************
Lisa,

I cannot approve the retrieval of records. The Director of the Bureau of Juvenile Justice, Leonard Dixon, is charged with that responsibility. He is governed by the Michigan Complied Law that I cited in my email to you.

I hope that you can resolve this.

Margaret

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

Lisa,
>
> I am responding to your request for access to the restricted juvenile
> records at the State Archives in Lansing, MI. Leonard Dixon, Director of
> the Bureau of Juvenile Justice, is unable to release access to the
> information.
>
> The Department of Human Services (DHS) Legal Affairs Division has provided
> the following information:
> Based on MCL 803.308, the following procedure applies: The former
> resident of the juvenile facility who has turned an adult must consent to
> the release of records pertaining to themselves, if living. In situation
> involving estates of deceased persons (formerly residents of a juvenile
> facility) the requester must either obtain the consent of the personal
> representative of the estate, or a court order to access the information.
>
> If you have additional questions, I can be reached at 517.335.1438.
>
> Margaret Olesnavage

Permalink Reply by Lisa on July 31, 2009 at 3:09pm

Interesting is the My G-G grandfather and his brother (Truman and William) were listed as inmates in 1900.

Like father, like son....My grandfather is lasted as an inmate in 1930 - Gordon Cook!

I would like to know reasons being sent to the ISB, list of any relatives if any is given, how long there were there, etc. I really would LOVE to get my hand on the file to read the whole darn thing!

I know that my father never knew much of HIS father....and to see if history repeats itself. If Truman and Gordon were at odds with each other too!

Family lore is told that Gordon was never close to his father. But I know that Truman divorced Mary O'Halloran some time in after 1919 or so. (Unable to find a divorce record....my have been done in Ontario!) This may be the reason that Gordon did not like his father!

So the story goes on and on!!!

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