When [my mother Agnes] and Charles were younger they used to raise hell... Once they overturned an outhouse with someone in it!... She said he sure was handsome! -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
Agnes also recalled once as a child when Charles was over heated, he put his head under ice cold water and immediately ran inside. At that moment he had a seizure.
Now, mom talks fast and I am not sure I go this straight but she said Charlie should have had a mangled finger or hand 'cause he got it caught in a corn picker in his younger days. -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
I informed Ellie that Peter Jude did not recall a mangled hand or finger, however he did recall a nice-sized scar on the back of one of Charles' shoulders. However, Agnes insists it was a mangled hand or finger. Maybe both Agnes and Peter Jude are right, however, I have tried to discern if there is any evidence of a mangled hand or finger in what few pictures I have of Charles. I have found none so far.
Another memory Agnes recalled was of one of the funerals in Pittsburgh in which Charles attended with his wife and children. He had arrived in a car with a cab sign on top that was so shabby, rope was utilized to keep the doors closed. Some of the family was afraid the kids would fall out. (Peter Jude believes this to be the 1953 blue Ford.) The undertaker asked Margaret to tell Charles to move the vehicle, as it was parked in front of his establishment and was bad for business.
Here's another thing: Charlie always told everyone that he did not want to reach 35. He thought it was old. He said if anything happened to him he wanted a lock of [his daughter's] hair put into the casket bu she did not do it. -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
I wonder if that was some sort of premonition on his part. I find it quite the coincidence that he died at thirty-five!
As for the Fagans and adoption, it turns out that both Agnes, whom Peter Jude as a child called Aunt Lucy (as in Lucille Ball) because of her red hair, and Mary Agnes were both adopted from the Rosalia Foundling Home in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Mary Agnes was the daughter of Jimmy Fagan, Arthur's very younger brother, who had a reputation as a womanizer.
Jimmy "Poog" Fagan... was such a womanizer that he had syphilis, among other sexual diseases, as well as his partners. He was married at one time with kids. To whom I do not know... He [also, at one point,] had a live-in named Stella... Mom said Mary Agnes... was taken from [Jimmy] because she suffered from syphilis, same as her father. She was put into the Rosalia Home at a young age but not a baby like my mother. My mom and her became the best of friends afterwards, along with Charley DeRoy. Course they did not know each other while in there. Mom was adopted about age 3 months. -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
Margaret and her husband William "Boots" McKinnon told Agnes that her biological parents were a former editor of a Pittsburgh newspaper from Canada named William Sullivan born about 1872 (making him in his 40s at the time of her birth,) and an eighteen year old model from West Virginia named Julia Snarr. Ellie and her brother once wrote Rosalia to confirm this to which, by law, they cannot confirm nor deny. However, they did hint to research more into William Sullivan. Ellie did what she could. In her search, she discovered a girl in Indiana who went missing for a small time, enough of which to have a baby. She could not recall for me the exact details at the time of our correspondence, however, this girl is connected somehow to the Snarr family, or a family of a similar sounding name. The family suspected something but never delved into the matter.
As for Charles, Agnes is not sure if he was from Rosalia or not. However, she does know that Anna had wanted a little boy and had fallen in love with little Charlie. Hence, Arthur and his wife soon adopted him.
When it comes to biological parents, there seems to be a shared disinterest among the Fagan adoptees in the matter of identifying these individuals. Agnes never really cared to find out anything about her biological parents. She doesn't see any sense as she believes that they do not want to be heard from.
I have more questions for mom but have to take it slow or she will get furious with me for asking too many questions. I tried to find her parents several years ago and she went ballistic so I kept looking but never discussed it with her again. -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
I find this interesting, as Edith tried asking Charles about his biological parents as well. But, Charlie would just shrug it off and/or skate around her questioning each time she would bring up the subject. It was never something he wished to talk about. Though Agnes did reveal to us that the Fagans said Charles was the son of a Pittsburg Jeweler. This is very curious as back in 1996, while reading the obituaries in The Times Picayune, my mother read of a death in New Orleans of a retired jewelry shop owner from Pittsburg named Harry DeRoy, Jr. She wondered at the time if he could be a relative.
Now I believe she could be right!
As for the years Charles served in the Army, I have this nasty feeling that the papers I sent off for will never be mailed to me. I haven't a clue as to why I can't even find an enlistment record on Ancestry.com. However, once again Ellie has come to my rescue with a few more pieces. Some colorful... and some dark.
Edith had always testified that Charles claimed he had all his checks sent home to his sister Margaret while he served overseas. When Charles returned home, he found Margaret had spent every penny. I wasn't surprised, however, when Ellie informed me that Agnes could not verify this detail. This doesn't mean that the story is not true. At this point, it is neither proven nor disproven. Even should it prove to be true, let's not jump to vicious conclusions that Charles sent his money to his family to hold it until he returned, who instead spent every last penny he earned behind his back. There's also the more noble possibility that Charles, the good son, brother and uncle, sent his money home to his family so that they may be able to pay bills.
However I do have to mention that, for some reason, when I was young, though I knew very, very little of Charles when I was a child, I had this nagging feeling that he lied to Edith when she questioned him about the money. After all, Edith was a stubborn, strongly opinionated, very Catholic girl. He could easily have been afraid of her reaction of what might have been the truth. Maybe Charlie recklessly spent every last penny in his bachelor years. Or, Worse! Maybe Edith was the one lying, trying to cover up a detail about her husband in which she was embarrassed by, and/or did not want to tarnish his memory.
Though I always figured Edith to be prideful, I do not believe the latter to be true, for Peter Jude vaguely recalled a sordid detail Edith once shared with him that took place around the time of Charles' death--one that Ellie was a little apprehensive to share with me, as she was none the wiser to my suspicion of it.
This is what Peter Jude believed he recalled, though his version claims Charles had dropped the girlfriend and was trying to work things out with Edith. So, despite Ellie's uneasiness in revealing this information to me, it was more of a confirmation, however an unwelcome one, that helped me clear the cloud in Peter Jude's memory. However what Ellie would reveal next did take me aback.
Boy do they! Despite the dark aspects I was aware of, I hadn't even considered such a detail would have ever been uncovered in the story of Charles' life. It's hard to imagine that Peter Jude has half-siblings he never knew existed, offspring of--most likely--local tribeswomen! As a genealogist, its a bit disappointing to know that, due to their maternal parentage and country of origin, I will most likely never be able to uncover their identities.
As for Edith, Margaret and money... Well, even as a child, from what little I could gather of Margaret, I always got the impression that Margaret and Edith for some reason didn't like each other. And, from what I knew of Edith, I always assumed that she was the instigator of this dislike. I don't know if it's true; it was always just a feeling I had. Of course, Edith could have been prejudiced against Margaret, upset over the money issue, or something like that. Who knows. I do know for a fact, though, that Edith could really hold a grudge! That in itself could have spun into this feud of the sister-in-laws... Maybe... It's all just speculation on my part.
Edith claimed that Margaret made sure that Charles received no inheritance after Arthur and Anna's deaths, as he was not their biological child. However, Agnes confirmed my suspicions that this is in no way true, and that Arthur and Anna had nothing to leave to anyone. Margaret and Boots were broke as well. Arthur had persuaded them to buy a particular house in Wilkinsburg, believing there to be oil on the property. They drilled and drilled, and to everyone's dismay, they struck nothing. Running into financial troubles, they asked Mary Agnes and Frank to loan them money so they would not lose the house. Mary Agnes and Frank refused, and so Margaret and Boots eventually lost the house.
Margaret would confront Edith one last time at Charles' funeral. Ellie tells me that his family had irritated the undertaker, once again, and sent Margaret, once again, to correct the situation and remove Edith from the front steps where she was having a picnic with her children. The undertaker was also dismayed that she buried Charles in dirty, tattered clothing, socks with holes and no shoes. Edith insisted that there was no point in buying new clothes for someone who was dead.
Though these details are a bit new to me, they are in no way surprising as I know how poor the family was. Edith really could not afford to even bury him, much less dress him, and so took from his closet what she could muster. Peter Jude says it was a really bad year for the family, and it's clear as to why. First the infidelity, then Charles' death, leaving Edith with five children and not a penny to spare for even his burial. What's more, after Edith would return home to live with her parents that year, she would soon wreck the 1953 blue Ford, the one with the ropes holding the doors closed. (When she purchased another vehicle, she was sure to get one that was the same make, model, year and color. I guess it was a piece of him she wasn't ready to let go of yet. If I recall, her parents had to help her get the car.) As for the "picnic," I can only assume it was something along the line of one of our eclectic New Orleans conventions, and that the family from Pittsburgh was unfamiliar with some of our customs.
Weather or not Margaret and Edith got along, Edith and Agnes got along quite well! Sometime after Edith passed, Agnes, not knowing yet of her death, tried to contact Edith to see if she wanted to take a trip to Europe. She instead got in touch with with her eldest son who informed her of his mother's passing.
I'm still conversing with Ellie, and I plan to write to Rosalia and see what, if anything, I can get out of them. Plus I'm researching the DeRoy family I recently discovered. As for Charles' service records... Well, I have a lot of digging to do. (I find it quite strange that I cannot find a inkling of proof of him ever being in the service. I have pictures of him in his uniform, so amongst all the misleadings, coverups and omissions, at least that part of his life must be true!)
As I gather the details here and there, the life story of Charles DeRoy Fagan is becoming more and more real. He may have passed away at a young age, but he had quite a few skeletons still stuffed in his closet at the time. Who knows how many he had shoved away in there! Peter Jude once said that his father kept to himself, keeping much of himself close to the vest. I can only wonder what, if anything, Edith actually knew of his secrets. Who knows what other interesting details I may uncover!
Though I always figured Edith to be prideful, I do not believe the latter to be true, for Peter Jude vaguely recalled a sordid detail Edith once shared with him that took place around the time of Charles' death--one that Ellie was a little apprehensive to share with me, as she was none the wiser to my suspicion of it.
When my mom and dad and Mary Agnes and Frank went to see Charles and Edith, Charles revealed to them that he had a girlfriend. That is why they were sleeping apart. Mom could not remember if he said he was leaving Edith or what. Anyway, he died soon after that. -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
This is what Peter Jude believed he recalled, though his version claims Charles had dropped the girlfriend and was trying to work things out with Edith. So, despite Ellie's uneasiness in revealing this information to me, it was more of a confirmation, however an unwelcome one, that helped me clear the cloud in Peter Jude's memory. However what Ellie would reveal next did take me aback.
Charles was in New Guinea [with the army] for quite awhile and confessed to mom that he had several children born there. Wow! Wonders never cease! -- Ellie Cochran Lenzi
Boy do they! Despite the dark aspects I was aware of, I hadn't even considered such a detail would have ever been uncovered in the story of Charles' life. It's hard to imagine that Peter Jude has half-siblings he never knew existed, offspring of--most likely--local tribeswomen! As a genealogist, its a bit disappointing to know that, due to their maternal parentage and country of origin, I will most likely never be able to uncover their identities.
As for Edith, Margaret and money... Well, even as a child, from what little I could gather of Margaret, I always got the impression that Margaret and Edith for some reason didn't like each other. And, from what I knew of Edith, I always assumed that she was the instigator of this dislike. I don't know if it's true; it was always just a feeling I had. Of course, Edith could have been prejudiced against Margaret, upset over the money issue, or something like that. Who knows. I do know for a fact, though, that Edith could really hold a grudge! That in itself could have spun into this feud of the sister-in-laws... Maybe... It's all just speculation on my part.
Edith claimed that Margaret made sure that Charles received no inheritance after Arthur and Anna's deaths, as he was not their biological child. However, Agnes confirmed my suspicions that this is in no way true, and that Arthur and Anna had nothing to leave to anyone. Margaret and Boots were broke as well. Arthur had persuaded them to buy a particular house in Wilkinsburg, believing there to be oil on the property. They drilled and drilled, and to everyone's dismay, they struck nothing. Running into financial troubles, they asked Mary Agnes and Frank to loan them money so they would not lose the house. Mary Agnes and Frank refused, and so Margaret and Boots eventually lost the house.
Margaret would confront Edith one last time at Charles' funeral. Ellie tells me that his family had irritated the undertaker, once again, and sent Margaret, once again, to correct the situation and remove Edith from the front steps where she was having a picnic with her children. The undertaker was also dismayed that she buried Charles in dirty, tattered clothing, socks with holes and no shoes. Edith insisted that there was no point in buying new clothes for someone who was dead.
Though these details are a bit new to me, they are in no way surprising as I know how poor the family was. Edith really could not afford to even bury him, much less dress him, and so took from his closet what she could muster. Peter Jude says it was a really bad year for the family, and it's clear as to why. First the infidelity, then Charles' death, leaving Edith with five children and not a penny to spare for even his burial. What's more, after Edith would return home to live with her parents that year, she would soon wreck the 1953 blue Ford, the one with the ropes holding the doors closed. (When she purchased another vehicle, she was sure to get one that was the same make, model, year and color. I guess it was a piece of him she wasn't ready to let go of yet. If I recall, her parents had to help her get the car.) As for the "picnic," I can only assume it was something along the line of one of our eclectic New Orleans conventions, and that the family from Pittsburgh was unfamiliar with some of our customs.
Weather or not Margaret and Edith got along, Edith and Agnes got along quite well! Sometime after Edith passed, Agnes, not knowing yet of her death, tried to contact Edith to see if she wanted to take a trip to Europe. She instead got in touch with with her eldest son who informed her of his mother's passing.
I'm still conversing with Ellie, and I plan to write to Rosalia and see what, if anything, I can get out of them. Plus I'm researching the DeRoy family I recently discovered. As for Charles' service records... Well, I have a lot of digging to do. (I find it quite strange that I cannot find a inkling of proof of him ever being in the service. I have pictures of him in his uniform, so amongst all the misleadings, coverups and omissions, at least that part of his life must be true!)
As I gather the details here and there, the life story of Charles DeRoy Fagan is becoming more and more real. He may have passed away at a young age, but he had quite a few skeletons still stuffed in his closet at the time. Who knows how many he had shoved away in there! Peter Jude once said that his father kept to himself, keeping much of himself close to the vest. I can only wonder what, if anything, Edith actually knew of his secrets. Who knows what other interesting details I may uncover!
My family is from braddock pa I know my dad papa is Tom d fagan
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