Not sure where to ask this to see if anyone has any information on a family name.

Travis7004

I am trying to find more information on my 2nd Great-Grandfather Carl or "Karl" Ernest Schnurstein he was born around November 1876/1877 in Germany. He married Elsie Vivian Stephens born Nebraska, USA abt. 1/26/1879 dod Lompc, CA 9/13/1947

They had the following children:

1. Marjorie Marie Schnurstein Albany, OR 6/6/1901- dod Douglas Co, OR 1/27/1972 (G48G-TWY)
2. Velma Schnurstein Albany, OR? 6/24/1903 - dod Unknown city 12/19/1981 (L2FD-YJD)
3. Albert Chilson Albany, OR? Abt. 1905-? is buried in Roseburg, OR (GBLH-CR9)
4. Leah Effa Effie Schnurstein Albany, OR 9/29/1906 - dod Roseburg, OR 7/23/1996 (L2Q7-N29)

I am able to track my 2nd Great-Grandmothers family however I am at a loss with my 2nd Great-Grandfather Carl or "Karl" Ernest Schnurstein. Sadly the line there ends with him, I have no idea what happened if they got divorced or when he passed away. Nor have I been able to locate information on his parents. Thanks

GFre

Hi @Travis7004 .

It appears that Carl and Vivian were divorced in 1919:

https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/2003260223/1919-05-07/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Shnurstein

Interestingly, looking at Carl's 1910 census which said he was a baker, I found this article which may also match: https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn96088450/1917-06-18/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Schnurstein

By that November, his daughter, Marjorie, married. The article only listed Mrs. Schnurstein, but that may not be unusual: https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn96088450/1917-11-01/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Schnurstein

I will keep looking to see what else I can find…

GFre

There are some articles in the newspapers that say Carl's mother and relatives were living in Roseburg, OR. It's possible there was another Carl Schnurstein living in Albany, but I've not seen evidence of that yet. As Vivian lived in Roseburg on the 1900 census, that's probably where they met, and backs up that his family was living there, too. Here is one of those articles:

https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn96088449/1908-12-18/ed-1/seq-5/#words=Shnurstein

Do you think this is Carl's 1920 census? The information seems to match. It also says he was divorced.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M48L-9ZF

GFre

This looks like it's Elsie's 1920 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4ZV-L5C

It says she is living in Roseburg and widowed, but I believe that was common to report instead of divorce at the time.

GFre

This seems to be Carl's father's obituary. The immigration year matches as well as the grandchildren. Looks like Carl was living in Portland in 1929.

https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/2003260227/1929-02-13/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Schnurstein

It looks like Carl's parents were Carl Sr. and Pauline. Here's their 1900 census record:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSDD-HJK

Here is Carl Sr.'s 1920 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4ZV-D63

This should be Carl Sr.'s Find a Grave. His wife and two of his children are connected:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176154127/johann_carl-joachim_freidrich-schnurstein

Let me know if that all seems correct.

GFre

These records look like they match for Carl. It says he was a baker and his daughter was Mrs. R W "Chislein". The address written was Velma Chilson nee Schnurstein's address in 1930. Carl's birthday looks like it matches too.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7K-YXWY?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AW9PN-76MM&action=view&cc=2759503

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS7K-YJ4H?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AWS9D-Z63Z&action=view&cc=2759503

If that's correct, I think this is his WWII draft record?:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9GB-7DM?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQVJT-TRV3&action=view&cc=1861144

It's possible this is his grave, but I haven't 100% confirmed that yet. It's misspelled, but that may be an error:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/137431613/carl-schurstein

Travis7004

Thank you GFre - I am not sure on this information that you pulled up. I greatly appreciate it some of it I think I might be able to tie back to the family. On the draft card though I am a little perplexed I found this card too but wasn't sure if it was his. The place of employment has me perplexed as it is listed as Inmate Mult Farm Troutdale OR. Is that because it was a draft and maybe he was protesting or was he a jail inmate? I have very little information on Carl sadly but this is definitely helping with my search and I greatly appreciate it.

Áine Ní Donnghaile

The Multnomah County Farm was a place for those who could not support themselves, not a jail. https://multco.access.preservica.com/multnomah-county-poor-farm-records/

Travis7004

Thank you Aine Ni Donnghaile I greatly appreciate it, at first glance I was thinking it might be a jail since it said inmate. I appreciate the clarification. :)

Áine Ní Donnghaile

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inmate

any of a group occupying a single place of residence

GFre

@Travis7004 I'm glad I could help. Sorry it's a bit disorganized, but it should give you a decent start! If you need any more help, let us know. :)

Áine Ní Donnghaile

@Travis7004 For future reference, a good place to ask questions such as this one would be in one of the Location Research groups. For Oregon, that would be the Western States Research group.

Good luck with the search.

Travis7004

Thank you so much for your insights. I am new to the research groups so I was not quite sure where to start. I was able to get a little bit of help but still stuck as I was only able to find my Great Great Grandfathers parents and 2 of his 4 siblings. With that said it's more than I had as I did not know he even had siblings. I will try the Western States Research group. Later on I might need to find a German Research Group to try and go back further.

GFre

Happy to help, @Travis7004. I think posting in those groups is a great idea.

Looks like you have some research hints for your third great-grandfather after inputting his date of birth. The suggested records look right to me, but the https://community.familysearch.org/en/group/88-germany-research group could definitely help you sort it all out and perhaps trace the line back further.

Good luck!