Cooking and Drinking
Cooking and Drinking
Utilizing the monkey see monkey do approach
Cooking and Drinking
Cooking and Drinking
Cooking and Drinking
Cooking and Drinking
Frank Able Fay
Jan. 13th 1890 - Dec. 24th 1943 (53)
Wife: Luia (Caroline B.) b. March 24th 1887 - Nov. 25th 1967 (80)
Wife: 2 Ella Vergiels
Piecing together a timeline one thing I noticed the family photograph pearl who died in 1916 from a bad pregnancy doesn't even appear to be pregnant in this photograph so we'll bump the year of the photograph back to about 1913/14
Judging from the city directories doesn't look like Frank came to Buffalo until around 1913. The 1910 census he was still in Pennsylvania then by 1915. He's already married to Caroline
Unfortunately, the 1913 and 1914 census don't include wives names.
The first mention of Caroline is in the 1915 census.
So….. 1910 - PA
1913- Buffalo
1915- Married
What year did he come to Buffalo?
Did he come alone?
Where and when did he meet Caroline B.
Did they actually marry?
1900 census Frank living with family in PA age 10.
1903 Frank accidentally shoots his brother in the leg. Frank is 13 years old. Ernest is 10.
1910 census Frank single age 20 living in PA with family "No Ernest" shot by Frank. Is that why he left for NY?
1915 census married to Carrie, living in Buffalo, occupation, stationary foreman. Maintains large equipment like boilers.
***** (Frank born 1890 making him 25 years old in 1915. to possibly narrow it down some more the 1910 census he was living in Pennsylvania so he could've moved 1911 and he was already married to carry in 1915 so push it back till 1914 so it looks like Frank got married and came to the Buffalo area somewhere between 1911 and 1914 but we don't know if he married Carrie in Pennsylvania and brought her here or was she already here or yet again somehow he met Carrie she lived in New York and he moved here to be with her. I am applying for Carrie's death certificate
1917 WWi draft card June 5th says married and living in Buffalo
1925 census he is married to Carrie #17 Melvin St. Buffalo and Claude is living with them.
1934 city directory Frank is married to Carrie (so far he’s married to Carrie 19 years) Living at 14 Kimmel Ave. Buff.
///////////////////////// First time I see Carrie living by herself on Woodside Avenue 1941 /////////////////////////
Look for evidence of divorce/separation between 1935 and 1940
1941 city directory Carrie is living at 75 Woodside Ave Buffalo. Funny thing: neither Claude or Frank are listed in the 1941 city directory
NO Record of a divorce from Carrie or new marriage with Frank as of yet
NOTE: yes, in 1941 Carrie is already living at Woodside Avenue and in 1942 Franks draft card says he's still living at
1942 June 27th 1942 WW2 draft card says married Buffalo seeing that this is only one year before death and his draft card says he's married. I'm assuming he's with Ella V. at this point. (as Carrie is already living on Woodside Avenue as of 1941)
1943 December 24th Frank dies - married to Ella Vergill (sp?) Buffalo
1950 Census shows Carrie Fay as being born in West Virginia: possibly a mistake as they have her age about two years off so the information could have been given by somebody else in the house.
Notes on the elusive carrie
Carrie last name, unknown, birthplace unknown but burial is here in Hamburg Camp Road cemetery
Born March 24th?? 1887 was married to Frank Fay somewhere between 1911 and 1914 where and when exactly don't know yet could've been Buffalo could've been Pennsylvania.
Carrie was approximately 24 to about 27 years old when she married Frank. Kind of old for that time unless possibly she had a previous marriage that didn't work out or being Native American maybe that had something to do with marring a white man.
She remained married to Frank till about 1940 and in 1941 she is living alone on Woodside Avenue.
Until I get hard facts, I can round the numbers off that she and Frank were married between 1913 and 1940 which is 27 years.
Unfortunately I can't find a 1940 census with Frank or Carrie in them.
1900
1900 Census - Town, address…...
Very interesting -Joel Fay and family lived right next door the the Wade family. Claude married Harriet Wade. Harriet will be born in 1901 (next year)
1903
Frank Fay was the one who accidentally shot his younger brother during a hunting accident. Ernest died the next day from the result of the shooting.
See this newspaper clipping from the Buffalo news August 5th, 1903 Shooting took place in Corry, PA
Frank born 1890
Ernest Bourne 1903/4
Making him 10 and Frank about 13.
I wonder if it was after the death of Ernest when Frank decided to move to New York. Look for hime moving sometime after 1904.
1910
Note: this is guest work so far
1910 Census (Frank’s 2nd wife) Ella's family
Making Ella's DOB 1891
I found Frank's 2nd Wife. Name is: Ella Vergiels or Vergill
I believe this is who he was married to when he died in 1943 as per newspaper clippings.
Here is a 1910 census
She is 19 and living at home:
225 Center Road Buffalo, NY 2.5 miles from where Claude built his home.
There is roughly a five or six year window where he could have divorced Carrie and Married Ella between 1935 and 1941. I'll be looking for any kind of divorce or marriage records covering this time.
1910
1910 census from Pennsylvania Frank Fay is 20 years old and Claude is 14
1911
I looked at the 1911 city directory for Buffalo and there is no Frank or Claude listed
1912
I looked at the 1912 city directory for Buffalo and there is no Frank or Claude listed
1913
Uncle Frank first seen here 1913 Buffalo is probably a grain elevator operator.
1913/ 14
From left to right, Frank (24), Joel M Fay Jr, Pearl (23), Claude (19), Minnie May Babcock/ Fay, Lucy (13).
Pearl died 1916 after pregnancy. So if she was pregnant 1915 and she's not pregnant in this picture so it would be 1913 or 1914
Photo could be from 1913 which might have been Frank's wedding to Caroline.
It does not look like a photo studio portrait maybe an event.
1914
1914 City directory list, Frank Fay as fireman. Notice the address is listed as 523 Elk St. then apparently move to 527 Elk St.
** Claude is not listed in this City directory 1914 - Claude is living in Bradford Pennsylvania until shortly after his marriage to Harriet in 1917.
I don't think Frank was ever a fireman as he spent his life in industrial pursuits such as foreman of stationary foreman notice 1914 through 1921 his title switches between fireman and foreman. I bet you fireman was just a typo.
Or perhaps he was a fireman in the heavy industry factory
1915
1915 Census (Buffalo, NY)
Frank and Carrie married here- no kids
Occupation: stationary foreman. Claude was listed as being a stationary engineer when he comes up to New York from Bradford, Pennsylvania. I wonder if Frank had anything to do with hiring Claude into the industry.
The 1915 census says Frank and Carrie. We're living at 527 Elk St. (third floor) in Buffalo, New Y
Picking part this Niagara Falls souvenir letter
First, I will post the letter then going line by line. I will dissect interesting points about this item.
1915?
Firstly, I would like to establish who this letter is to and from.
The letter is addressed to Claude Fay in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania.
These litters look like Carry or (Corry Pa?)
We know from newspaper write up at and Harriet. We're going to be living in Bradford Pennsylvania after the marriage..1917
Pa
F
D
R
RFD was started is 1902
85
Claude as we know, after marrying Harriet was living in Bradford Pennsylvania. As seen here, the arrows are pointing to what appear to be a "B" an "F" and a "D". My recollection offhand was without reviewing Claude was married to Harriet and had two children born around 1917 and 1918. After Harriet left Claude shortly after the kids birth he was back-and-forth between New York and Pennsylvania between setting up divorce and setting the kids up for adoption. Some of the first records I think I found of Frank being married to Carrie or around 1915.
1915 census shows Frank already married to Carrie
1917 Claude, marries Harriet.
1919/20/21 Claude divorces in puts kids up for adoption and moves to New York.
Date should be in this.
MAR
Day of the week and time goes here
3
1916
1916 Buffalo city directory shows Frank and Claude as being at 527 Elk St. and as being firemen
**** Claude must have moved to Buffalo worked for a bit obviously he's here in the city directory 1916 then went back to Bradford Pennsylvania and married Harriet in between 1917 wedding two kids from 1918 and 1919. Then abandonment down in Pennsylvania and came back to New York where he found Harriet living with another husband and went through divorce proceedings which lasted through 1920 and 21.
The 1916
Frank and Claude living at 527 Elk St.in Buffalo, New York
1917
Frank is still living at 527 Elk St. like he was in the 1915 census
His World War I - handwritten draft card shows he was born January 13, 1889 but look below, his World War II draft card says he was born January 13, 1890 two years off on official documents. Actually, 1889 seems more credible because there is about six years between him and Claude and Claude was born 1895
BUT, then in the 1925 census again they write his DOB as 1890
1917
Frank is still living at 527 Elk St. like he was in the 1915 census. Claude is not listed in this 1917 city directory could just be an oversight - did Claude go back to Pennsylvania because if I recall his World War one draft card says he registered in July 19 17 in Bradford Pennsylvania.
My grandfather Claude should be in Bradford Pennsylvania in 1917 marrying his first wife Harriet. He has a very troubled marriage and ends up divorcing in 1921 and coming back to Buffalo. - Claude is already listed as working in Buffalo for the 1920 City directory.
1918
1918 City directory
Frank is at 527 Elk St, Buffalo
Frank is now listed as foreman not fireman similar sounding
Claude should be married to his first wife Harriet, knocking out children and Bradford Pennsylvania during 1918 and 1919.
19??
19??
My Best guess is this is Carrie with Frank in New York writing to Claude who still lives in Corry Pennsylvania so it must've been pretty early in Frank and carries relationship because when Claude married Harriet, he lived in Bradford Pennsylvania for two or three years before the final break up. Claude vacillated back-and-forth between Buffalo, New York and Pennsylvania between fighting Harriet and going through court cases, then setting up adoption for the children and the settlement of the divorce finalizing in 1921.
1919
1919 City directory
Frank is at 527 Elk St, Buffalo
Frank is now listed as foreman
Claude is having child number two from his first marriage with Harriet in 1919 solo is in Bradford Pennsylvania
1920
1920 City directory
Frank is at 527 Elk St, Buffalo
Frank is now listed as foreman not fireman similar sounding to Fireman.
Claude receives his divorce decree from Harriet in 1921
1921
1921 Buffalo directory Claude and his brother Frank living right near each other
Also, the same year Claude gets his divorce from Harriet
Frank is at 527 Elk St, Buffalo
Frank is now listed as foreman not fireman similar sounding and Claude is listed as engineer
1922
1922 City directory
Frank is at 17 Melvin Pl now - Buffalo
Frank is now listed as laborer
Claude for now, Claude stays at 523 Elk St. But in 1923 he moves to Melvin Street again to be with his brother.
1923
1923 City directory Frank is living at #17 Melvin Pl. Buffalo, NY along with his younger brother, Claude, my grandfather
1924
1924 City directory Frank is living at #17 Melvin Pl. Buffalo, NY along with his brother Claude.
P A motor is Pierce Arrow a place Claude worked as well
1925
17 Melvin Pl. Buffalo, NY
Frank 36
Carrie 38
Claude 29 Single
Anna Stewart- border
1927
1927 City directory
Frank A. Is not listed in the 1927 city directory - possibly just a error as he was listed in the 1926 directory and 1928.
Claude is listed as cream operator for Pierce auto residing in Hamburg New York. I'll have to ask cousin Lois what she might know about this. Claude married Evelyn in 1926 so maybe Evelyn was living in Hamburg at that time then Marie was born in 1928 along with my mother Shirley in 1929, which I know they were back in Buffalo by then.
1928
Carrie is reportedly Native American.
Frank, Marie held by Carrie (Franks wife) and Claud 1928
Carrie Fay (Franks wife) and Marie Fay: "Aunt Mick"
1928
Frank is living at 952 Abbott Rd.
Claude is not listed- Claude C don't know who that is I've seen him just above Claude W in other directories.
1929
Frank and wife Carrie,Claude and Evelyn, Shirley (1) and Marie (3) Photo says 1929 but Shirley was born late November 1929 and judging from their clothes and Shirley's age the most it could be is early spring 1930- possibly they are in Bradford Pennsylvania to show family the newborn Shirley.
This is interesting there is a Frank "E" with the wife of Caroline B as a janitor at 936 Abbott Rd., which is less than 1 mile from 75 Lakeside Ave., Where Carrie resided after their separation. Frank a year or two earlier lived at 952 Abbott Rd. or at least I think it was our Frank because it does not have a middle initial nor a wife listed
1930
1930 City directory Buffalo, New York
Claude and Evelyn are living on Grote Street, I believe this is the house they lived in while Claude was building the house on mineral Springs.
And uncle Frank, who they have listed as "D" Frank with wife LUIA. First time I've seen this I believe. (looks like they spelled it LULA)
"Fay page 281"
Overview of QDW Company
QDW was a broadcasting company based in Buffalo, New York, notable for its role in the early days of commercial radio. The company contributed to the development of radio broadcasting during a time when many stations were establishing their identities.
Historical Significance
-
Founding Era: QDW operated during the 1930s, a pivotal time for radio as it became a primary source of entertainment and information.
-
Microphone Flags: The company utilized microphone flags, which were essential for branding and station identification. These flags displayed the station's call letters and were used in promotional materials.
1931
This is good news. Frank is listed as Frank “A" and Carolina.
Another year listed Frank "E" as having a wife Carolina “B".
Carrie with large
hail 1931
1932
1932 Buffalo City Directory
Claude and Eve
Frank but no Carrie lister. Just a typ-o as she is with him in 1935.
1933
1933 Buffalo city directory
Frank and Carrie B. “chauffeur” 14 Kimmel Ave.
Claude machinist 68 Grote
“Fay page 513"
1934
I don't believe the house is there anymore, but the house number and street is right in the center of the south Buffalo triangle
1935
1935 Buffalo city directory
Frank and Carrie 14 Kimmel Ave.
Claude on 432 Niagara Falls Blvd. Tonawanda
“Fay page 212"
1936
1936 Buffalo city directory
Can't figure out how to read the directory
1938
1938 Buffalo city directory
Neither Claude or Frank are listed
“Fay page 415"
1937
1937 Buffalo city directory
I typed in KIMMEI Ave is listed by stre I typed in KIMMEL but none of the family were living on that st.It is listed by street. I typed in KIMMEL but none of the Faye family were living on that
1937
1937 and 1938
These letters are somewhat confusing because it appears the handwriting is different in both cards, although the cards are separated by a year, but the handwriting appears to be quite different. But both allegedly signed by Carrie.
1939
1939 Buffalo city directory
Carrie living at 75 Woodside
Frank is with “Beatrice”? Ella?
And no Claude
“Fay page 146"
1940
1940 census has all the trappings that this could be uncle Frank. The address of Gardenville is in the West Seneca Cheektowaga area. The place of birth is Pennsylvania, and the age is right. Also listed as being married (BUT TO WHOM COULD BE CARRY OR HIS SECOND WIFE IS CARRIE IS NOT LIVING ON WOODSIDE AVENUE UNTIL 1941), which I would lead to believe that's Carrie BUT who is the person listed above Frank as Bessie Fay and it looks like it has the word head which means head of household and they are the same age 49. New note: Bessie Fay is not related. I found a census report that said she was a widow of Wilford Fay. So I think it was just book that they lived together in the same building.
Important to note that this Frank Fay was only working 20 weeks in 1939 and had an extended period of unemployment then works as a fireman under some kind of project. Can't understand the name above the word project. See the census below. Also, this Frank Fay completed seventh grade and whoever. See if there's other census reports that might verify Frank going to seventh grade.
Carrie was not listed as living by herself until 1941. Some of the odd things are, his occupation is listed as fireman. Perhaps it was a job he attempted to take to get out of the factory life, but it didn't work out and went back to something else? - more digging
1940 census dated April 9th
So the best I can tell Frank and Carrie are still together as of April 9, 1940. But, Carrie is living on Lakeside according to the city directory in 1941.
The number 45 shown below next to fireman was the amount of weeks he spent on unemployment. That sure does add a lot of stress on the family perhaps unemployment between 1940 and 1941 was the reason they broke up.
1941
Notice this 1941 city directory Bessie not a relative but was living in the same building as Frank Fay in the 1940 census
Carrie Fay as living at 75 Woodside Ave. but does not list her as widow of Frank because Frank was still living until 1943. She is working as housekeeper.
1942
I found the Buffalo city directory 1942 and neither Frank nor Claude are listed in it. May mean nothing.
Frank was working at the American car company foundry in April 27th 1942 as per this WW2 card. An Internet search reveals that this company was totally involved with the WW@ war effort.
1943
Notice the name of Ella Vergill. Probably his 2nd wife.
No mention of her anywhere.
Frank Fay was living at this address when he had his car accident which killed him.
2109 Union Rd. West Seneca, NY
This accident took place only .7 miles away from Claude home at 383 Mineral Springs Rd. And about 2.2 miles from where Frank was living at the time.
Frank’s first wife: Luia (Carrie) Fay is buried in Hamburg, New York
1950's
In the 1950 census
The census states her age as being 60 years old. This would be wrong as we know now for a fact, she was born in 1887 so somebody guessed at her age is it possible? They also guessed where she was born as West Virginia?
1950 Census
This is our carry living at 75 Woodside Ave., Buffalo distinctively showing birthplace as West Virginia
Carrie Fay (Wid, "widowed" Frank) she is living apart from Frank as early as 1941 then in these city directories, she lists herself as being widowed from Frank 1950, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1960 Buffalo city directory. No evidence Carrie ever re-married.
75 Woodside Ave is right there in my old area of South Buffalo. She died Nov. 25th 1967
Interesting note Frank Fay died while working for the war effort WW 2. He was working at the American car and foundry plant on Clinton and Babcock intersection in Buffalo.
His company and mine were literally two blocks from each other. Frank often has been listed as stationary engineer/foreman. So he may not have actually been hands-on making war items as much as maintaining boiler systems and other large industrial equipment to keep the plant running that's what stationary engineers do.
Side note: Clinton and Babcock is also where I worked at Goldman titanium on Dorothy Street is in titanium tester/sorter for the titanium recycling industry. Actually Dorothy Street and Babcock have an intersection also. I could've walked down the street and had lunch with uncle Frank.
AND: less than .2 miles from where I was a supervisor at the United alloys and steel corporation.
I did a quick Internet search on the American car company and foundry and found out. They produced 1000 tanks and armor, pleading for cars and trucks for World War II. It also did production work for thermal nuclear weapons. Buffalo was shut down after the end of the war in 1945. They opened it replacement and then Albuquerque, New Mexico probably where they were doing the testing for the nuclear bomb.
Although the plant did make tanks, bulletproof shielding, and 55 mm ordinance for World War I and wWII. One of the last rush orders they had in April 1943 were these cheap quarter inch bulletproof plating for jeeps. This could have been one of the things uncle Frank would have been working on when he died in a car accident in December 1943.
1967
Luia Fay (AKA Carrie)
914 Abbott Rd., Kennedy mortuary is no longer there.
Died age 80
