I Always Thought We Were CANADIAN

It is really cold outside!  When I look back through old photos, I see that in general, this week has a history of being cold.  In 2013, I have photos of my dog, Davis playing in the snow.

On January 25, 1924 the first Winter Olympics began at Chamonix, in the French Alps.  It was called, "The International Sports Week."  Prior to this, the Nordic Games were held in Sweden, but only Scandinavian countries competed.  After World War One (WWI),  Antwerp, Belgium held the VII Olympiad in 1920.  This was the Summer Olympics, and countries that participated in the War were not invited.  Ice hockey was introduced that year, and the matches were played between April 23 and April 29th. In the Palais de Glace d'Anvers
Shown here:

The Palais de Glace d'Anvers  1920

Here is a photo of the first hockey team to represent the United States.

U.S. Olympic Hockey team c. 1920.  Leon Parker Tuck, back row, second from the right.

The United States took the Silver Medal.  With Canada taking the Gold.  Here are the teams:

Leon Tuck

When the team arrived on the ice in The Palais de Glace d'Anvers the team uniform had a look similar to that of today.

Leon Parker Tuck from team photo. 1920

Leon Tuck seen on the far right

The United States took the Silver, but Canada took the Gold.  The headlines highlighted the Falcons.

This story gives light to Leon Parker Tuck.  In my last post I introduced members I have found in my family tree who were involved in the Olympics. Now that I have approximately 21,000 people in my tree, you can imagine I just might find a few more Olympians.  Leon Parker Tuck, while in my family tree, is way out on the tips of a branch you might say.

Leon was born May 25, 1891, in Winchester, Massachusetts. 

Leon Parker Tuck

But his roots are deep in CANADA.  From his WWI draft card, he was twenty-six years old, and working for A. E. Little Manufacturing in Lynn, Massachusetts. He was making shoes, but had joined the ROTC three weeks prior for training in Madison, New York.  So he was able to claim exemption from the draft.   He went to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, playing hockey for three years, and captaining the hockey team his senior year.  He had dark hair, hazel eyes, weighed 181 lbs. and stood, 5 foot, 8 1/2 inches.  He graduated from Dartmouth in 1915, and joined the American Air Service fighting the war on the Western Front over France.  After the Olympics, Leon went back to Dartmouth as a coach from 1921 - 1924.  During all this, he was also manager for the local General Ice Cream Corporation, a company later bought, and closed by Kraft Foods.  He married Joyeuse "Gladys" Frances Gray in 1927, and they honeymooned on a ship cruise to the bay of 

2 Winthrop Street. Winchester, Mass

Tivives, Costa Rica, traveling through the Panama Canal.  Leaving New York Harbor January 26, 1927 aboard the S.S. Tivives, returning to New York February 17, 1927.  According to the ships manifest, they listed their residence as 2 Winthrop Street, Winchester, Massachusetts.  Where we find a beautiful home built in 1897 still standing today.  Right in the heart of Winchester. His parents lived a block away on Washington Street in a home built in 1850 which also still stands today directly across from Lincoln School in Winchester. 

The two were married for twenty-five years, until her tragic death from an automobile accident, December 19, 1952 in Princeton, New Jersey. The accident put her husband Leon Tuck in the hospital, but he survived.

Joyeuse (Gray) Tuck 1927 

Leon Tuck ~ President Wilson Nov 1918 Boston Post

Leon Parker Tuck died nine months later, September 02, 1953 at the age of 62.  

His father, Whitfield Leon Tuck, as introduced in the above newspaper clipping was a firecracker of a man! He was my first cousin, 1x removed of wife of 1st cousin of wife of my 2nd great-uncle.  I told you this branch was way out on the tips.  Lets start with my 2nd great uncle, you many remember him from a prior story. James Alexander Howie (1855 - 1926).  His wife you might remember was Clara Elnett Hand (1856 - 1919).  Her 1st cousin was Ashbell H. Hand, and his wife was Emma Adelaide (George) Hand (1848 - 1902).  Emma's father was Robert Channell George, and his mother was Abigail (Burnham) Channell, and his father was Abraham Fitz John Channell.  When Robert's mother, Abigail passed away in 1794, his father, Abraham took on a second wife, Wealthy Cox (1782 - 1862).  Together, Abraham & Wealthy had Susan Channell (1816-1877).  This is the 1x removed part.  Susan married John Carie Tuck (1808-1880).  They were the parents of Whitfield Leon Tuck.

Since I brought up Abraham Fitz John Channel, before I go on more about Whitfield, I want to briefly mention Abraham who was born in London November 24th, 1748.  As a young lad, he apprenticed as a tailor. Before the indentures of apprenticeship expired he was forced by compulsion, in others words, impressed into the British Navy to work aboard a Naval Man O War.

The war in New England, we know as the Revolutionary War.  While in America, he transferred to a frigate to supply the British troops with needed goods. The ship was captured by pirates, and he escaped when he reached Boston Harbor.  He joined the Continental Army and fought the British under the command of General George Washington.  He was engaged in several battles, but especially the battle of Sullivan's Island, at Fort Sullivan near Charleston South Carolina.  After the Revolutionary War in 1776, be became a tailor in Boston Massachusetts.  Here he met and married Abigail Burnham in 1780.   Before her death in 1794, they had six children together, to include one set of twin girls, Betsey and Sarah.  After her death he married Wealthy Cox, and the family moved to Canada.

In 1833, their daughter Susan, at the age of 17 years, married John Carie Tuck Esq.  They had many children before Whitfield arrived in 1855.  Remember, James Alexander Howie was also born that year.  So, these cousins, who may/not have known each other were born at the same time, in about the same area.  I say it in such a way because according to both the 1861 & 1871 census records of Canada, both families were members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and probably knew each other through Church and local activities.   In 1875 Whitfield moves to Derby Line, Vermont.  The next year, in 1876, James A. Howie marries Clara Hand.  Then, in the 1880 U.S. Census of Vermont, we now find the James Howie family living in Vermont.  The Howie's must have kept two farms, because later, in the 1891 Census of Canada we find the James Howie family back in Quebec, when their son, Robert Maitland Howie was born. Link to Robert Maitland Howie story

Whitfield Leon Tuck 06 APR 1887 Naturalization 

The commonwealth of Massachusetts Naturalization papers for Whitfield Leon Tuck provided me a HISTORY lesson.  I knew I should have known better than to ditch my history class in school when we were learning about Canadian History.  I have been doing genealogy research for so many years, and this was eye opening.  Often, when doing research, you will find in documents nativity listed as Great Britain, or British.  I always thought this was in error, because my family came from CANADA.   I am just now learning that Stanstead, Quebec, Canada was in the dominions of Victoria, Queen of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.  I quickly had to learn about confederation, and post confederation.  I also learned all about the designation Upper Canada, and Lower Canada.

In 1875, Whitfield Tuck started off as a clerk.  Then moved into the roll of salesman.  He liked what he was doing, and was good at it, so he started his own business.  Whitfield Tuck Dry Goods Co. On Thames Street in Newport Rhode Island around 1895.

In the 1880's we find him back and forth between Rhode Island, and Boston.  In 1884 he marries Susan Elisabeth Parker (1860-1936), the daughter of George Fredrick Parker & Sarah Jane Munroe.

I mention George Fredrick Parker because I must guess this is who helped inspire Whitfield to go into service of the people/politics.  Although, I still need to do more research of G.F. Parker, but from the many census records I looked at, George is either listed as an author, or journalist, or capitalist, or no occupation at all.  So far what I have found is a book he co-authored titled Grover Cleveland.

I think anyone that close to the President of the United States might have some influence on ones life.

Susan died in 1936, and her obituary speaks more about her husband, and father than it did of herself.

Susan E. Tuck @ 63 Washington St. Winchester, Massachusetts

Somewhere, somehow Whitfield got very interested in politics.  His name appears in many newspapers, books, magazines etc.  He joined and participated heavily with commerce and trade organizations. He was a Democrat, as was Grover Cleveland, and Woodrow Wilson.  In 1915 he was the only one in the State House to stand up and oppose the Ship Bill.  The bill passed, but before it did the House asked him who he was.  He said "I am Whitfield Tuck, from Winchester Massachusetts."  I called Whitfield a firecracker earlier, when I began his story; so, I will end with a political cartoon of the time, from the Boston Post.

"I make a demand that these hearings cease until the Legislature decides whether it will abolish this commission Mr. Chairman!"

Political Cartoon Whitfield Leon Tuck 1916 The Boston Post

"Citizen Whitfield Tuck and Gerry Brown can always be depended upon to keep the hearings from becoming too monotonous..."

Whitfield L. Tuck was the father of Olympian Leon Parker Tuck.

2017 Making Stories Great Again

Family tragedies, while seldom occur, they are often remembered.  As a genealogist these are the stories we are able to find.  Stories which were left behind, and make us want to know more.  Who were these people in our tree whose lives were cut short so tragically? How can we keep their story alive?                                 "Down but not out," "Lost but not forgotten."

Brazil's Chapecoense Soccer Team

This past November 2016, a plane carrying 77 people, including Brazil's Chapecoense football/soccer team, crashed.  This headline in the news came just after the Olympic Games held earlier in the summer, in Rio de Janeiro.  This story reminded me of one such family tragedy I had learned through genealogy.

This story begins on my mothers branch of the family tree.  Let me begin with my cousin Chi.

2000 Olympic Games, Chi Kredell

My cousin Chi, I saw once in awhile growing up, as we are about the same age.  I always remember him at my Uncle Ivars.  Uncle Ivar had a pool, and Chi was a great swimmer. For training his father would have him go to the end of the pier in Seal Beach, jump off, and swim back.  This gave him great strength, which later would help him become the first Olympic athlete that I knew.  In the late 1980's, and all through the 1990's, Chi was traveling the world competing in water polo.  Unfortunately, for me, I missed most of this, because I had joined the U.S. Air Force about that time, and the Desert Storm War had begun.   While it probably was not the fact of Uncle Ivars pool, or that they lived by the beach.  Most likely swimming was in his blood.  His father, also named Chi, had been a lifeguard in Seal Beach as a teenager, and Chi Jr. took to the water too.

Ronald Armand Kredell "Chi" 2016 Photo by Sun Newspaper

I am not going to dare attempt to write a better story about Chi Sr.  Click on the photo to link to a recent online news article to learn more about this amazing man.

Here are a few more photos of Chi the Seal Beach lifeguard. 

As you probably just read in the attached newspaper article from August 2016.
Chi Kredell married Nancey Mellen fifty-five years ago, on 10 - August - 1961. It was an afternoon ceremony in Highland Park Presbyterian Church.

The Church is very beautiful.
Highland Park is in Los Angeles, just
south of Pasadena, near Eagle Rock.
His bride, Nancey Mellen was a former Rose Princess, and like I mentioned above, one of my mother's nieces.

Nancey Ann (Mellen) Kredell
1961 Yearbook photo Pasadena City College

From the Long Beach Independent Newspaper
January - 03 -1961

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade has been a historical event.  The photos filled pages of newspapers for generations.  Sorry for the quality of this newspaper clipping.  The paper was very large with many photos.  This one clearly highlights Nancey Mellen with her blonde hair.

Nancey was not the only beauty in Ronald "Chi"'s life.  His sister and mother were equally as beautiful.   Jacquline Barbara Kredell is Chi's sister.  She was a model in Seal Beach, and the surrounding Los Angeles County area.

Jacquline Barbara Kredell c. 1950's

Here is Jacquline doing her part to support the troops during the war!

Jacquline Barbara Kredell ~ 15th Rifle Company
Seal Beach, California

On the nineteenth of May, 1956, in Orange County, California.  Jacquline Kredell Married.
I found this announcement on page 81 of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper, on 16-MAY-1956.

She married a very handsome and accomplished young man with a bright future, John Dan Radison. Here is 2nd Lt. John Dan "Commando" Radison in 1945, a senior at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Missouri. 

He is a former Golden Gloves Champion, former Amateur Athletic Union Champion, International referee and Judge. He also held the position of Amateur Athletic Union Official, and was associated with the International Boxing Association.  They had three children before his death.

Boxer, John Dan Radison c. 1970's

Dan was brother to Peter Radison, a well known baseball umpire that went by the name of Pete.  53- year old Dan Radison was the referee, and manager of St. Louis boxer, Lemuel Steeples.  Steeples was the leading candidate for the U.S. Olympic Boxing team.  The 1980 Summer Olympics was boycotted by President Jimmy Carter in protest to the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan. 

Both Radison and Steeples were killed in a tragic plane crash just outside of Warsaw Poland on March 14, 1980. Click on that link to watch news footage.  They were en route to compete in an International Boxing competition when their plane went down.  Out of the 87 that lost their lives, 31 were involved in the Amateur Boxing group.  Also aboard LOT Flight 7 was a famous Polish singer, Anna Jantar who I have discovered now has many Youtube videos with millions of hits.

You can read more about LOT Flight 7

Here is a photo of Dan Radison's St. Louis Gym. Taken the day of his funeral procession.

 The building was draped in black over the doorway entry sign which bore his name, RADISONS GYM.

His name also stands in memorial in two locations. On the west side of the road, near the west entrance to the stadium in Warsaw Poland. There is a Bronze statue of a fallen boxers listing the names of those who perished in the crash of Lot Airline Flight 007 on March 14, 1980 carrying the U.S. Olympic boxing team, one of which, Sgt. Elliot Chavis, was in the American Armed Forces. Another one of the life size castings is permanently located at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Dual meets were to be held in Cracow and Katowice, Poland. On March 14, 1980 the plane en-route was a Soviet built Polish Airlines IL-62 jetliner that went down a half-mile from Warsaw’s Okecie Airport. There had been problems with the landing gear on its first approach. On the second attempt the pilots used a special procedure to account for the faulty landing gear. However, the additional thrust used in the procedure caused one of the plane’s engines to break apart, which in turn severed the rudder and elevator control lines, which were needed to control the direction and altitude of the plane. The disaster that took the lives of 77 passengers and 10 crew members was the worst air crash in Poland’s history.  The bronze memorials were created by Colorado based sculptor A. Thomas Shomberg.
He created miniatures for each of the surviving families. Below is the inscription on the memorial in Poland:

Down but not out...

Lost but not Forgotten

Posqiecond tym

wszystkim, ktorzy zgineli

podcza lotu numer 007

Polskich linii lotnic ych w

Dniu 14 Marca 1980 Roku

Dedicated to all who perished 

on Lot Airline Flight 007 on

March 14, 1980

Reprezentacia duzyny

bokserskiej stanow

zjednoczonych na

zawody w plosce

The United States Boxing

Delegation to Poland

Kelvin D. Anderson

Elliott Chavis

Gary Tyrone Clayton

Walter Harris

Byron Lindsay

Andrea McCoy

Paul Palomino

Byron Payton

George Pimentel

Chuck Robingson

David Rodriguez

Lemuel Steeples

Jerome Stewart

Lonnie Young

Joseph F. Bland

Colonel Bernard Callahan

Thomas "Sarge" Johnson

John Radison

Junior Robles

Delores Wesson

Dr. Ray Wesson

Steve Smigiel

Fundatorzy:

Panstwa Thomas Kant

I Miedzynarodowa

Federacja Boksu

Amatorskiego

Gifted by

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kane

and the International

Association of

Boxers

Artysta Rzezbiarz

A. Thomas Schomberg, 1984R.

Sculpture by 

A. Thomas Schomberg 1984*

The above two photos are the personal memorial sculptures that were presented to family

Referee and Judge John Dan Radison in the rink

John Dan Radison was Chi's uncle, and the subject of this story.  "Down but not out," "Lost but not forgotten."  I mentioned above that Pete, John's brother was also in sports.  He was a baseball umpire. His son Dan Radison, nephew to John D. is a baseball player, and coach.

Houston Astros, Dan Radison

I mentioned above that Ronald "Chi" Kredell was surrounded by beautiful women.  So I want to leave you with a photo of his mother, Goldia Viola (Munger) Kredell.  Living in Lesterville, Missouri during the roaring 20's I can't blame her for quickly moving to Chicago Illinois, "CHI" Town, and marrying Jack Kredell of San Antonio Texas,  but that is a story for another day!

Goldia Viola (Munger) Kredell  (1905 - 1997)