Edward Charles Conrad Baptism, 1906

Full Name: Edward Charles Conrad
No. 1097
Sponsors: Robert Ellis & Elizabeth Ellis
Parents: Nicholas & Sophia
Birth Date: Aug 5, 1905
Birth Place: 2158 Monmouth
Baptism Date: Feb 11th, 1906
Baptism Place: St. John’s Church
Officiating Minister: Jno. P. Bagley

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Original source citation:
Historical Society of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Philadelphia: Episcopal: St. John’s Episcopal Church, image 304, p.96, Edward Charles Conrad, Baptisms; digital images, Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Historic Church and Town Records, 1708-1985 (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2451 : accessed 26 July 2013).

One hundred fifty-seven years ago this week, my great-great grandparents James Levens and Margaret McElhenny were married.

My great grandmother Sophia Levens was raised in Centralia, Pennsylvania, a mining town, but came to Philadelphia sometime before 1900. I learned that her mother was also from Philadelphia when I found the book Schulkill County, Pennsylvania: Genealogy – Family History – Biography, volume II:

James Levens, father of Mrs. Ebert, was a native of Ireland and emigrated to America, landing at Philadelphia, where he made his home for a time. Going to Port Richmond, near Philadelphia, he there married Margaret McElheny…

James Levens and Margaret McElhenny were married on October 8, 1855 at the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Port Richmond, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Rev. J Rudderow. This is yet another record I found in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s Pennsylvania Church and Town Records database available on Ancestry.

James Levens & Margaret McElhenny marriage, 8 Oct 1855. Click to see full image.

One of my weekend shows that I sometimes watch is “Life After People” on the History Channel. The premise is basically if humans disappeared today, how long would it take for human-made things to break down.

Today I saw an episode that used my great grandmother’s hometown as an example. In the 1960’s a fire started underground and made its way into the abandoned coal mines in Centralia. In the 1980’s most of the residents left in the town were relocated, and the fire still burns. According to Wikipedia, there were still 9 people living in Centralia in 2007. Here’s a Google search if you’d like to read more.

Life After People used Centralia as an example of how a town would look twenty-five years after people. I don’t think it was the best example, since most of the building were torn down after the people relocated. But, it was interesting none the less.

My great grandmother Sophia Levens left Centralia for Philadelphia before the turn of the century, long before the fire broke out. (That would be the turn from the 19th to the 20th) Some of her siblings remained in the area of Centralia, where her father had been a coal miner.

Here is a link to the Centralia section of the episode: Centralia on Life After People (no longer available)

CONRAD, Nicholas: Death Certificate 1942

Transcribed from a photocopy obtained from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certficate of Death

1. Place of Death
County: Philadelphia
City: Phila.
Name of Hospital: Protestant Episcopal Hosp.

2. Usual Residence of Deceased
State: Pa.
County: Phila.
City: Philadelphia
Street No. 2069 E. Clarence St.

3. Full Name: Nicholas Conrad
4. Sex: M
5. Color or Race: W
6. Widowed
Wife: Sophia Conrad
7. Birth date of deceased: Feb. 22, 1867
8. Age: 75 yrs, 8 Months, 24 Days
9. Birthplace: Phila.
10. Usual Occupation: Warper
11. Industry or Business: Textile
12. Father Name: Nicholas Conrad
13. Father Birthplace: Unknown
14. Mother Name: Unknown
15. Mother Birthplace: Unknown
16. Informant’s own signature: [signed] Edward C. Conrad
Address: 2069 E. Clarence St. Phila. Pa.
17: Burial, Date: Nov. 20, 1942, Place: Northwood, Phila. Co.
18. Signature of funeral director: [signed] John N. Hackman
Address: 905-07 W. Lehigh ave. Hackman Bros., Inc.
19. Date received: Nov. 20, 1942
20: Date of Death: Nov. 16, 1942, 7:00 P.M.
…

Transcribed from a photocopy obtained from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records.

Certificate of Death
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics
County of Phila.
2069 E. Clarence St.
Phila

Full Name: Sophia Conrad
Residence, No. 2069 E. Clarence St., Ward 45th
Sex: Female
Color or Race: white
Married
Husband: Nicholas Conrad
Date of Birth: November 30, 1870
Age: 64 years, 19 days
Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Penna
Father: James Levens
Birthplace of Father: Ireland
Maiden Name of Mother: Margaret McElhenny
Birthplace of Mother: Penna
Informant: Edward Conrad, 2069 E. Clarence St.
Filed Dec 21, 1934
Date of Death: Dec 19, 1934
…
Place of Burial: Northwood Cemetery
Date of Burial: December 24, 1934
Undertaker: Christian F. Brenner, 1532 N. 4th St.