Sunday, March 29, 2009

Harry & Mary (Smith) Spielman & Daughters


This photo of Harry & Mary Spielman and their daughters, Ann born in 1912 and Marjorie born in 1914, was probably taken in late 1916. The photo is signed by Tudson.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Lawson Wolf Spielman Family


This narrative covers the births, marriages and deaths of Lawson Wolf Spielman, his wife and seven of his nine children. The above drawing is believed to be from their wedding photo.

Lawson Wolf SPIELMAN was born on 12 August 1837 in Washington, Maryland the oldest son of John SPIELMAN Jr and Sophia WOLF. He died on 22 June 1903 in Anaheim, Orange, California from heart failure and was buried on 24 June 1903 in Anaheim, Orange, California. Lawson married Sarah A.B. (Annie Rose) HATHAWAY, the only child of Joshua Thomas HATHAWAY and Lucinda BETERBENNER, on 26 July 1860 in the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Zion Church at Frederick, Maryland. Sarah was born on 10 April 1841 in Washington, Maryland and died on 28 October 1905 in Anaheim, Orange, California of heart disease. She was buried 29 October 1905 in Anaheim, Orange, California.

The 1900 Census California, Orange, Anaheim, District 140, Sheet 12, states that Sarah had 9 children and that 7 were still living. Here are the names of their living children:

i. Anna Rosa SPIELMAN was born in May 1861 in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland and died on 20 November 1909 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. She married John Nicholas HACK on 20 October 1879 in Monticello, Napa, California. John was born in October 1839 in Germany.

ii. Jennie L. SPIELMAN was born January 1867 in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland. She married Alfred W. VON SCHMIDT on 3 September 1884 in the Berryessa Valley, Napa, California. Alfred was born in August 1858 in California and was the son of Alexey Waldemer VON SCHMIDT and Frances MOTT.

iii. John Edward or Frank SPIELMAN was born in February 1869 in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland. He died in May 1901 in Orange, California and was buried on 11 May 1901 in Anaheim, Orange, California. He married Frances STANLEY on 11 July 1894 in Lower Lake, Lake, California. Frances was born on 28 December 1874 in Missouri and died on 19 November 1937 in Lakeport, Lake, California.

iv. Blanche Lucinda SPIELMAN was born 12 March 1870 in Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland. She died 22 March 1913 in Anaheim, Orange, California and was buried 24 March 1913 in Anaheim, Orange, California. She married William John HILL on 11 March 1891 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. William John HILL, the oldest son of son of William HILL and Margaret MCCLINTOCK, was born on 30 May 1848 in Tyrone County, Ireland. He died on 30 July 1912 in Anaheim, Orange, California and was buried on 31 July 1912 in Anaheim, Orange, California.

v. Bessie S. or Bird SPIELMAN was born on 30 January 1872 in Napa, California and died on 20 September 1941 in Riverside, California. She married James R. SHEARER on 11 August 1890 in Napa, Napa, California. James, the son of Harry SHEARER and Mary MORRIS, was born 3 April 1858 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

vi. Ella SPIELMAN was born in January 1877 in Napa, California. She married Mr. CRADDOCK in 1895 in California. After Craddock’s death, she married Charles TAYLOR in 1914 in California who was born in 1861 in Michigan. Her married surname is spelled CRADDICK on 1900 Census California, Orange, Anaheim.

vii. Harry Garfield SPIELMAN was born on 19 February 1881 in Lakeport, Napa, California. He died 17 March 1944 in Anaheim, Orange, California and was buried 22 March 1944 in Anaheim, Orange, California. He was married to and divorced from Mary Grace SMITH. Mary was born 15 July 1882 in Clinton, Iowa and died 21 July 1982 in Anaheim, Orange, California. She was buried 24 July 1982 in Anaheim, Orange, California.

Other Family Surnames

Between William Hill’s large family and the families of his four brothers, there are numerous other surnames associated with our Orange County family history. Below are some of the other surnames that may be included in future blog entries along with news clippings, biographies, obituaries and photos that I have found or received from other family members. More surnames will be added as generations of ancestors and descendants are found.

William Hill – McClintock, Rankin, Spielman, Wolf, Hathaway, Hack, Stanley, Shearer, Craddock, Von Schmidt, Aldrich, Carlson, Pierangel, McLeod, Harmon, Glines, Helms, Clark, Schilling and Romack

Samuel Hill – Sydnam, June, Underwood, Teets, Chaffee, Force and Musser

Oliver Hill – Smalley

Thomas Hill – Tait and Mathewson

Joseph Hill

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Hill Fine Dining

Great Grandma Blanche Hill was known as an exceptional cook and hostess. The Anaheim Gazette of January 23, 1913 contained the following article.


We are very fortunate to have two photos available of this dinner party; one inside and one outside. In the inside photo from left to right are Blanche Spielman Hill (wife of William Hill), Harry Spielman (brother of Blanche), John Harry Hill (oldest son of William and Blanche Hill), William “Billy” Young (hired help and friend of William Hill), Bessie “Bird” Spielman Shearer (younger sister of Blanche), Mrs. Mary Orilla Kellogg (early Anaheim pioneer), Edith Ella Hill (second oldest daughter of William and Blanche Hill), Marguerite Jessie Hill (fourth and youngest daughter of William and Blanche Hill), Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Gray and daughter Geraldine, Mary Grace Smith Spielman (wife of Harry Spielman) and daughter Annie Grace.



In the outside photo are (back row, left to right) Edith Ella Hill (second oldest daughter of William and Blanche Hill), Harry Shearer (second oldest son of James and Bird Shearer), George Oliver Hill (second oldest son of William and Blanche Hill), Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Gray, Bessie “Bird” Spielman Shearer (younger sister of Blanche), Blanche Spielman Hill (wife of William Hill), Mrs. Mary Orilla Kellogg (early Anaheim pioneer), Mary Grace Smith Spielman (wife of Harry) and Harry Spielman (brother of Blanche); (front row standing, left to right) Fred Shearer (third oldest son of James and Bird Shearer), Theodore Charter Hill (fifth and youngest son of William and Blanche Hill), Geraldine Gray (daughter of W.L.) and Marguerite Jessie Hill (fourth and youngest daughter of William and Blanche Hill); (front sitting) William J. Hill Jr. (fourth oldest son of William and Blanche Hill).



Below are three items that have survived over the years by being passed down from generation to generation. The first two items are a serving platter and dinner plate from Grandma Hill’s dinner table. The third item is the original lithograph and frame that hangs on the wall behind the dinner party. The picture is called Nature's Beauties and was painted by Paul de Longpré, a noted painter of the day who became well known for his renditions of flowers, especially roses. Born in 1855 near Lyon, France he came to Los Angeles in 1898 and died in Hollywood in 1911.