Lunde
Ron Lunde initiated contact with Jim Winsness in 2002 soon after Jim's first visit to Hendricks. Genealogical research led to them realizing they were 5th cousins, twice removed (Jim is 7th cousin to Ron's grandchildren). But, another interesting opportunity was soon realized as Ron's wife, Jennifer Margaret Urie, told Jim that her grandparents had lived in Schenectady NY which is where Jim and Bev lived in the 90's and where they have a summer home.
So, what follows is an unexpected bonus of the Hendricks Genealogy Project where we were able to help a spouse!
Jen sent the following to Jim Nov. 10, 2003:
"Jim,
My grandfathers name was William Edmond Francis. He went to Schenectady to work for GE in 1912. The family joined him around September 1912. His wife Grace Francis(Huntley) and Dorothy, age 6 Margaret (Peggy) age 4 and Mary 4 months old. They lived in an apartment on Rugby Rd, then a house on McClennan St. Also at GE were John Hewett, his wife Nora and daughter Rosemary. John was editor of the GE Review. Bob(Julian) Livingston -Booth with wife Grace and son Dick. Nora and Bob were brother and sister. Bob and William Francis were engineers. All from England.
In 1917 my family moved to West Orange NJ and Jenkintown PA He was a consulting marine engineer and was running the 'trials' of the first electrically propelled passenger and cargo vessels in America. He was also involved with the first gas turbine engines. After a trip back home for the summer they returned to the USA in December 1919 (had trouble returning because the WW1 had ended and ships were full.) and lived on Wright Ave Schenectady near Central Park.
Baby Edward Huntley Francis was born on September 20 1920 died September 1922 of Pneumonia Father William Edmond Francis Died December 20 1920 of kidney failure. He damaged them when he fell down the stairs into the hold of a ship.
Mother Grace Francis died April 3 1923 in Utica Hospital post partum depression after loosing husband and son. Hope this helps. I will see if I can find out any information from St. George's Church.
Jennifer
The Hewetts went to St. George's Church. I don't know if my family went there. I know they went somewhere. I had heard that my grandparents were buried on the road to Troy. I also found out that I had other relatives in Troy two brothers fought in the Revolutionary war on opposite sides. His last name was probably Edmond."
On June 1, 2004, Jim and Bev went searching records in Schenectady and found the following:
Obituary of William Edward Francis:
The Schenectady Union-Star, Wednesday, December 22, 1920
William E. Francis
William E. Francis, for nine years a marine engineer with the General Electric Company, died Tuesday afternoon at his late home, 211 Wright Avenue. He was taken ill a few weeks ago while on the "Cuba" which was making a trial trip from New York to Jacksonville while equipped with General Electric engines. Mr. Francis was an outside engineer for the company. Upon arrival at Jacksonville, he was compelled to seek medical attention, and was not entirely well for some days after his return home. He had, however, been at work, and only four days ago again became ill. A sad aspect of the case is that Mrs Francis has no relatives in this country, nor did her husband have any except distant cousins.
He was born in Everton, England, and educated in technical schools in that country. Although but 43 years of age, he was an expert in the profession having traveled over the world in marine work. An associate said today that it would be hard to replace him in the department here. During his connection with the company his services had been loaned to the Bernet Leather Company, Little Falls, and he made a record there in construction work which for a long time was his .... with the General Electric. The expansion of marine engineering during the war resulted in his transfer to the marine department.
Mr. Francis was the son of the Rev. David Francis of Pembrokshire, Wales. His mother died a few months ago, and he had planned to have his father come here for the summer. He leaves also brother in England. His wife and four children live here. The son is but three months old.
He was a member of Christ Church where he had once served as vestryman. The funeral will be held there at 12:30 tomorrow, the Rev. George A. Perry officiating. Interment will be in Parkview cemetery.
Obituary of Grace Huntley Francis:
The Schenectady Union-Star, Wednesday, April 9, 1924
Grace Huntley Francis
The Funeral of Grace Huntley Francis, wife of the late William Edmund Francis, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from Christ Church. Rev. George A. Perry will officiate. Burial will be beside her husband in Parkview cemetery.
During 20 years residence in Schenectady, the Francis family was well known. Coming from Wales, they settled here when Mr. Francis became connected with the General Electric Company. At his death in December, 1920, he was a construction engineer in the marine engineering department, and the family lived at 211 Wright Avenue. There are three daughters, Dorothy, Margaret, and Marion, students at the Susan Fenimore Cooper Foundation, Cooperstown. The only other survivor is a brother of Mrs. Francis, living in California, John M. Francis of the Troy Times was a cousin of the late Mr. Francis, and he is now the only relative of the girls in this section.
Records at Parkview Cemetery:
William E. Francis, died 12/21/1920, grave 96, range 6, internment # 1922
William H. Francis, died 1/12/1922, grave 96, range 6, internment #1939
Grace Francis, died 04/07/1924, grave 96, range 6, internment # 2260
Headstone - all 3 are buried in the same grave.
The grave.
Photo taken from road - Jim is standing behind the headstone.
map of cemetery - grave site is in red
Park View Office
Residence "911" Wright Ave. The houses were renumbered and since there were only 2 blocks, we assume that what is now 911 was previously 211 Wright Avenue which was the residence of the family at the time of his death.
Previous address was 105 N. McClellan and that house no longer exists. Houses in that area were about half the size of the house on Wright Ave.