Stephen C. Stierstorfer wrote: > > 23 Mar 2002, Saturday, 10:45am > > Hello All, > > I just made contact with a relative that told me that both of my great > grandparents died in a Flu epidemic in Cumberland or Baltimore Maryland in > about 1904 or 1905. This cousin is the grandaughter of my great grand > parents. The info she has came from her father. ( One of the 11 children > of my great grand parents ). My info shows the family living in Cumberland, > Maryland at the time the family split apart. > > This would explain why I have been unable to find any info on either one of > them after 1904. > > This "Flu Epidemic" story is completely different from what I have been > told. The story I have is the father deserted the mother and family of 11 > children. The mother was unable to make it alone and she deserted the > children shortly after the father left. The 3 oldest girls were placed in a > boarding house as cooks, maids and housekeepers. The 5 youngest were placed > in an orphanage. And the 3 middle boys were basically left to fend for > themselves. > > I have records from the orphanage, but they do not have any info as to why > the children were placed in the orphange. Would there be any court records > of something like this? . If so, what court would could this go thru? I > think the orphanage is/was called St. Vincents. The orphange was Catholic. > > I know that the "Flu Epidemic" story may just be made up to hide the > embarrassment of the both parents deserting the chidren. > > Was there a Flu Epidemic in Cumberland or Baltimore in 1904 - 1905? > > Any thoughts, suggestions, questions or hints would be greatly appreciated. > > I will even consider hiring a genealogist in the area if anyone know one. > > Feel free to respond via email. > > Thanks in advance. > Stephen C. Stierstorfer > acje@flash.net Drop by the Allegany county MD GenWeb site and post a message. Or contact the Cumberland Times-News newspaper (they're on-line). Meanwhile, I'll check my extracts from a near-by town's newspaper to see if there are an unusual number of deaths. You DO know how far apart Cumberland and Baltimore are (abt 120-130 miles, probably 3 hours or more by train)? And that there are/were several orphanages in Cumberland itself? Cheryl