Friday, September 25, 2009

Lt.jg William Marsh USNR 1921-1945


This is the second to the last letter that William Marsh wrote home.

Dec 18, 1944, South Pacific

Dear Mom,

Suppose you were wondering what happened to that Navy son. I know it has been awhile since I last wrote, but I am sure you know why. I could not have left the ship even if I had found time to write.

Expect you are in California now. Will you be staying for Christmas, or back to Washington and when do you expect to be leaving for home?

Here it is only seven more days until Christmas. I don’t believe I have given it a thought in the past two weeks. Just can’t realize that it is winter back home.

I am really looking forward to receiving a few letters, as I haven’t had word from you or anyone else for a least a month. Don’t know when this letter will go off either.

Where are Bob and John Sevenich now? Did Bob get back to the states and is John still in England?

Haven’t heard from John Marsh in a long time. Is he still working in Calumet or has he pulled out for Virginia? I hope the later.

Well, mom, it’s hard to find things to write about when no mail comes in and the censor rules forbid anything about our operation or ship life.

By the time you get this it will be 1945. I hope you had a swell Christmas and New Year and hope I can spend next years holiday season at home.

Write soon, Bill

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This is the first telegram that Genevieve Marsh received about her missing son William Marsh.

DM1 65 GOVT=WASHINGTON DC 6 124A
MRS GENEVIEVE MARSH 1945 FEB 6 AM 8:05
208 1 ST SOUTH VIRGINIA

THE NAVY DEPARTMENT DEEPLY REGRETS TO INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON LIEUTENANT (JG) WILLIAM MARSH USNR IS MISSING FOLLOWING ACTION WHILE IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY. THE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATES YOUR GREAT ANXIETY BUT DETAILS NOT NOW AVAILABLE AND DELAY IN RECEIPT THEREOF MUST NECESSARILY BE EXPECTED. TO PREVENT POSSIBLE AID TO OUR ENEMIES PLEASE DO NOT DIVULGE THE NAME OF HIS SHIP OR STATION=
VICE ADMIRAL RANDALL JACOBS, CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL.

My Sources are from my database and with information from cousins in Oregon and Florida.
Copyright © 2009 by Gus J. Marsh

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Albert Jacob Lange 1856-1933


Albert Jacob Lange I was born on November 10, 1856 in Oslo, Norway, was christened on November 24, 1856, and was due for confirmation in Old Aker Church by Vicar Dop on October 6, 1872. He attended Nissen’s and later Gjertsen’s Schools, as he was supposed to study for his examination. However, he quit before he graduated and went to work at the bookshop. In 1878, he established a secondhand bookshop in Christiania and expanded it to also be a “normal” bookshop in 1880. From 1888 to 1891, he worked in the office of his relative, grocer Hans Jensen in Homansby, and was hired on June 1, 1891 as commercial manager of “Nora Brewery” and held this position until he resigned in 1893. From 1893 to 1895 he was the commissar for a couple of out of town breweries. Thereafter, he was hired on July 11, 1895 as conservator in the “Society for the Building of Eidsvold’s Equipment”, - a business he had established himself the same year together with two other gentlemen. When the position as janitor became vacant on August 8, 1896, as Johan Haslum died, he took over this job (permanently hired on January 15, 1898). He held both positions until June 30, 1916, when the state took over the national historical collections in the Eldsvold building on May 17, 1914 and Lange was hired as conservator and manager of “Eidsvoldmindet” from July 1 1916. In 1903 he founded the society “Broderfolkenes vel”. He was on lecture tours in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. On June 22 1899 the Portuguese order “San Tiago” appointed him ”Cavaleiro” with chain. He published some historical works and was co-author for the jubilee work Eidsvold 1814 that was published in 1914. He died on October 30, 1922 and was buried on November 4, 1922. A great number of people participated in his funeral in Christiania. (Note: Albert J. Lange was the publisher of the first and second editions of the Lange Slektebok.)

Albert Jacob Lange I was married the first time in the Castle Chapel in Christiania by J. C. Heuch on September 15, 1883 to Karin Karoline Charlotte Arctander who was born in Skien, Norway on August 6, 1857 and who was the daughter of secondary school teacher August Hieronimus Arctander (1818 to 1878) and Carolina Andrietta Rosamunda Ahlsell (1832 to 1911). Albert and Karin were separated on December 6, 1909. She died on March 13, 1933. They had five children.

Albert Jacob Lange I was married the second time in Old Gamle Aker Church by Father Hanssen on June 1, 1912 to Herdis Lampe who was born in Laksevaag, Bergen, Norway on January 11, 1888. She was the daughter of steamship captain Carl Henrik Lampe (born in 1846) and Thora Heltberg (1859 to 1897). Herdis passed away in 1966. They had two children.

My Sources are from my database, Lange Book 1917, birth, marriage, and death certificates.

Copyright © 2009 by Gus J. Marsh

Monday, September 21, 2009

Three Marsh Kids in Minnesota 1926


This is one the earliest pictures that I can find of John Preston Marsh born in 1917, William Marsh born in 1921 and Mary Jeanne Marsh born in 1922 They are at a lake enjoying the afternoon as so many kids do during the summer months. There are many lakes around Virginia, Minnesota and it’s hard to tell which lake they are enjoying themselves. I feel that this picture was taken in 1926, one year after their father, Vere Preston Marsh passed away.

My Sources are from my database and with information from cousins in Oregon and Florida.

Copyright © 2009 by Gus J. Marsh