Copyright 2000, Esther Doyle Read

New 14 September 2003

READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS

887. ISAAC KINNEY MESSLER,⁵ (Maria Catherine Kinney⁴, Catherine Read³, Aaron Read², Joseph Read¹) was born 27 September 1861 in Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 25 February 1911 in Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey (Scott-Fritzen 1998). In 1870 he lived with his parents in Blairstown and attended school (1870 United States Federal Census, Warren County, New Jersey, pages 178B-179A, 5 August 1870). Isaac still lived with his parents in 1880. Their farm was located in Walnut Valley, Blairstown Township. He was employed as a farm hand (1880 United States Federal Census, Blairstown Township, Warren County, New Jersey, page 289B, 10 June 1880). In 1887, Isaac was listed in the Warren County History and Directory (Weaver and Kern 1887) as a laborer living in Marksboro. Isaac married on 16 February 1889, Lillian Stevenson, daughter of Rankin Stevenson (born in Scotland) and Letticia Young (born in New York). Lillian was born 18 November 1868 in Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey and died 10 December 1940 in Middlesex, Middlesex County, New Jersey (Scott-Fritzen 1998). The couple began their married life in Warren County. At least two of their children (Edith and Edna) were born there. Edith was born in Johnsonburg, Frelinghuysen Township in 1893. The couple probably moved to Somerset County between 1893 and 1896. Their son Russell appears to have been born there in 1896. Isaac Messler died in 1911at the young age of 49 in Somerville, New Jersey. His wife Lillian was left to raise their 6 children on her own. Lillian was 42 years old when Isaac died . Her oldest child was about 18 years old and the youngest child was about 4 years old. Lillian supported her children by operating a boarding house. In 1920, The family's house at 22 Davenport Street in Somerville was home not only to Lillian and five of her children (daughter Edna had married in 1912), but also to nine boarders. Lillian's occupation was given as "Keeper" "Boarding House." At least two of the Messler children were employed in the boarding house. Twenty year old Mabel was a "helper" and thirteen year old Maria was a chambermaid . The other children were employed outside of the home. The boarders included four school teachers: Grace Rogers (age 23), Elizabeth Leehall (age 24), Miss Harrison (age 21) and Louise Harrison (age 26). Two of the boarders were clerks: John Englehart (age 26) and George Morgan (age 23). The family of Robert Fayen also boarded in the Messler home. The Fayens were Robert (age 36) who was a cook in a restuarant, his wife Mary (Age 22) and their 5 year old daughter Florence. Lillian's daughter Edna lived a few houses away from her family at 27 Davenport Street (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920).

2383. (i.) EDITH MARIE MESSLER⁶, was born circa 1892 in New Jersey and died 6 October 1970 in Lampoc, Santa Barbara County, California (LDS AFN:P165-03). In 1920, she was single and lived at home with her mother at 27 Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. Her mother ran a boarding house. Edna was employed outside of the home as a clerk in a dry goods store (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920).

1368. (ii.) EDNA RAY MESSLER⁶, was born 2 February 1893 in Johnsonburg, Frelinghuysen Township, Warren County, New Jersey and died 27 April 1964 in Califon, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. She married on 7 February 1912, in Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey, John Cornell Schenck, Sr. the son of William Campbell Schenck and Agnes Post. John was born 7 December 1888 in Pluckermin, Somerset County, New Jersey and died 19 December 1970 in Lambertsville, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The Social Security death index gives his residence at the time of death as Somerset County (Scott-Fritzen 1998; Social Security Death Index 144-07-7049). In 1920, Edna and John lived a few doors from Edna's mother and unmarried siblings. Edna and John lived in a rented home at 22 Davenport Street and Lillian Maessler lived at number 22. Number 27 Davenport appears to have been either a duplex or a house with two apartments. The Schencks and the Staubs each occupied a portion of the building. John Schenck was employed as an electrician. He and Edna had three children in 1920. The Staub household was headed by Charles Staub (age 35), who was a house painter. His family included his wife Rose (age 30) and their 3 month old son Charles (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920). By 1930, the family had moved to 76 West Main Street in Somerville. They were still renting their home. The monthly rent was $45. The family also owned a radio. John was no longer working as an electrician. He was employed as a manger of a grocery store. The eldest Schenck child—John, Jr.—was also employed at the grocery store as a clerk. (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 18-18, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 22B, 25 April 1930). Children of John C. Schenck and Edna R. Messler:

2384. (iii.) RUSSELL SAGE MESSLER⁶, was born 24 July 1896 in New Jersey (probably in Somerset County) and died December 1976 in Fort Meyers, Lee County, Florida (Social Security Death Index, 145-03-9144). The Latter Day Saints AFN:P164-T8, gives Russell's date of birth as circa 1906. However, this does not match the data in the 1920 census, which gives his age as 23 in January 1920. This would place the year of his birth in about 1896. The LDS file gives his date of death as 31 March 1974, which is not in agreement with the Social Security data. In 1920, Russell was single and lived at home with her mother at 27 Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. Russell was employed mechanic in the iron industry (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920). He married circa 1921, Grace (Last name unknown). She was born circa 1896 in New York. Her mother was a native of New York, but her father was from Canada. Russell was employed as a sign painter in 1930, he worked for a sign company. The census states that he was an employer. The couple lived on West End Ave. in Bridgewater Township in Somerset County, New Jersey. THey did not have child at the time of the census (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 18-12, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 2B, 9 April 1930).

2385. (iv.) FITHUGH LEE MESSLER⁶, was born 23 April 1898 in New Jersey (probably in Somerset County) and died 5 April 1973 in Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey (LDS AFN:P164-WL; Social Security Death Index 155-09-1224). The Latter Day Saints AFN:P164-WL, gives Fitzhugh's date of birth as circa 1909. However, this does not match the data in the 1920 census, which gives his age as 21 in January 1920. This would place the year of his birth in about 1898. In 1920, "F. Lee Messler" was single and lived at home with her mother at 27 Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. He was employed as a sewing machine operater in a shirt factory (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920).

2386. (v.) MABEL MESSLER⁶, was born 2 January 1900 in Raritan, Somerset County New Jersey and died 15 September 1977 in Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey (LDS AFN:P165-5X; Social Security Death Index 153-24-5669). Mabel Messeler appears in the the 1920 census. She was single and lived at home with her mother at 27 Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. Lillian Messler ran a boarding house and Mabel was employed in the boarding house as her mother's "helper" (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920). Mabel married after 1920, William H. Haelig. He was born 13 May 1890 in Rairtan and died October 1975 in New Jersey. The Social Security Death Index gives his residence at death as Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey (LDS AFN:P165-4R; Social Security Death Index, 179-16-2683). Children of Mabel Mesler and William Haelig:

2387. (vi.) HELEN "MARIA "MESSLER⁶, was born 7 February 1907 in Somerville, Somerset County, New Jersey and died 5 August 1974 in Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida (LDS AFN:P164-VF gives 27 February as the birth date; Social Security Death Index 135-30-6130). In 1920, "H. Maria Messler" lived at home with her mother at 27 Davenport Street in Somerville, New Jersey. She was 13 years old and was attending school. Her mother, Lillian Messler, ran a boarding house and Maria was employed in the boarding house as a chambermaid (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920). Marie married circa 1926, Leroy A. Higley. He was born 8 July 1904 in Vermont and died April 1983 Pompano Beach, Broward County, Florida (Social Security Death Index, 443-05-6010). In 1930, Leroy and Maria lived on North Union Avenue in Bound Brook, Somerset County, New Jersey. Marie's mother lived with the couple. Marie and Lillian ran a road side stand together. Marie was the owner and Lillian was a "sales lady". Leroy was employed working on a gas line. The couple rented their home for $50 a month (1930 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 18-6, Bound Brook Borough, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheets 25B and 26A, 15 April 1930). Leroy's social security number was issued in Oklahoma, Marie's was issued in New Jersey. Child of Marie Messler and Leroy Higley:

2671. (vii.) ELBA MESSLER⁶, was born circa 1911 in Somerset County New Jersey (LDS AFN:P164-VF) and died possibly before 1920 in Somerset County, New Jersey. This child does not appear on the 1920 census. Elba may have died before the census was taken (1920 United States Federal Census, Enumeration District 140, Somerville Borough, Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey, sheet 3B, 3 January 1920).

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