Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living

Notes:

William graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1937. He worked at a few jobs before entering the service. The 1938 City Directory lists him as a station attendant at Geo. Heinlein Gas Station. William later worked also for Kern Beauty
Supply. He met Charlotte while she was a student at Saginaw General School of Nursing. The onset of WWII delayed their marriage. He was stationed on the Golden Gate Bridge with thousands of other soldiers the day of the attack on Pearl
Harbor. They had only their bolt action Enfield rifles, no machine guns, as aircraft defense weapons to defend the bridge. He was stationed at Fort Winfield Scott, San Francisco, CA., when they got married. After the army disbanded the
coastal artillary, he was trained as one of the first radar technicians in the U.S. His rank upon discharge from service was T-Sargeant. His height was listed in service as 5'11", hair red, eyes blue. After the war, the family settled in Bay
City, Mich. William wanted to become a police officer, but Mom wouldn't hear of it. So, he became an insurance salesman for Western & Southern Life, where he remained the rest of his working days. Many years, he was rewarded for being in
the top 2% of the sales force. He had many loving customers who frequently called upon him as a friend when they had non-insurance related problems to solve. The family moved to Saginaw in 1949, taking up residence at 2323 N. Oakley. The
first newly built home was at 2307 Warwick, Saginaw, in 1957. The last family home was built at 2340 Peale Dr., Saginaw in 1960. William was a member of the board of trustees of the Christian Assembly church in Bay City, Mich. William was an
active member of the Saginaw Police Reserves, serving as Chief at the end of his career. He often served as a backup or decoy for vice operations of the Saginaw Police Dept. Unknown in advance, he even made the Channel 5 news cast, when
they filmed him as a decoy entering a massage parlor located next to the Second National Bank at E. Genesee & N. Washington. The bust was a success - no pun intended. The last 20 years of his life were spent suffering from a painful, nervous
degenerative disease. He never gave up hope that science would find a cure for him. This hopeful outlook served him well as he lived among the residents of Luther Manor, making friends that missed him dearly upon his death.

He has passed from our world. The void he leaves behind is considerable! To say that he is missed is a tremendous understatement, for he has, in his life, touched the lives of many others. The total effect of his love, his thoughtful caring
for and consideration of others may not be realized for some time to come, for often he was less than obvious in his effort. I have learned from him. I only hope the impact of my life on this earth begins to compare to his!

WILLIAM married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George came to America at the age of 5 years with his family. He attended schools in Saginaw, although it is uncertain if graduated from high school. The first mention of George in the City Directory is 1910, at which time he worked as a meat
cutter at The Hayden Fancy Grocery. He resided with his father at 909 Hill (later 2311 Hill). In 1913, George changed his residence to 619 W. Genesee, which also became the residence of Hector Mclean, his father-in-law in 1914. George
worked at the Fancy Meat Market, 118 N. Washington, as a meat cutter in 1915. Oral history tells that he and Emma met there. He may have learned his trade from a `cousin', John G. Brunner, of RD 3, Saginaw Tnsp, a partner in Knuttel &
Brunner Meats at 2008 N. Michigan (later 2004 N. Michigan). In 1914, The Fancy Meat Market, owned by George and Emma, was at 230 N. Warren Ave., while George moved to a new residence at 1214 State St. (later 1216 State St. The home phone
number was Riverside 586-M. The actual name of the business was The Fancy Meat Market, and the slogan was, `Choice Chicago Meat, Poultry Our Specialty'. George and Emma owned a cottage at the mouth of the Kawkawlin River. The cottage was burned
to the ground one Spring, mysteriously after an unsuccessful bid by a developer to purchase the property. In 1935 or 1936, George lost his business and his home. He went to work as a meat cutter at M.J. Gudritz; and moved his family to 1213
Davenport, just through the block from his former home. This move was devastating to the family. George lived to see a grandson born. He was a heavy drinker in his last years. His funeral was held in his home. The german language had
been spoken in the Gaus homes until WWII. George stood 5'6" tall.

JOHAN married EMMALINE DELINA MCLEAN on 27 Jun 1911 in Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan. EMMALINE was born on 18 May 1882 in Ontario, Canada; died on 29 Oct 1955 in Saginaw, Saginaw Co., Michigan; was buried on 31 Oct 1955 in Forest Lawn Cem., Saginaw, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Emma was a short, round woman in her later years, much shorter than her husband George, who was 5'6" tall. Although her death certificate lists her birthplace as Port Huron, Michigan, there is no record of her birth in that county. The
obituaries of her older sisters list Woodstock, Ontario as their respective places of birth, and that the family moved to Port Huron in 1883. Emma was baptized in the First Baptist Church, 710 W. Huron, Port Huron, Michigan on May 27, 1894.
Her church affiliation was transferred to the First Baptist Church, Jefferson Ave., Saginaw, Michigan in 1903. "Emma and George were married June 27, 1911, at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. And Mrs. Hector McLean, 719 Emily Street. Rev.
Wilbur Nelson officiated. The couple were attended by Miss Gertrude Le Van and Albert Gnatowski. A large company of guests witnessed the ceremony. The house was appropriately decorated for the occasion and a very pleasant evening was enjoyed
by all. After a brief wedding journey, Mr. And Mrs. Gaus will reside on West Genesee Avenue. Mr. Gaus is employed at the Hayden Store." ... an article in the Saginaw News. Emma was an active member of her church. She was also a founder and
active member of the Blue Star Mothers, a sorority for mothers of active duty service personnel. She had worked as a clerk/bookkeeper for the Fancy Meat Market at 118 N. Washington, Saginaw, where she met George, her husband to be. Later she
kept the books for the family business, and kept a home. Emma lived the last eight years of her life in the home of her son, William. She is remembered for many wonderful reasons, one of which was her recipe for sour cream cookies at
Christmas. She died at St. Mary's Hospital 5 days after surgery. The listed causes of her death are pulmonary edema, acute cardiac dilatation, arterosclerosis (sic), complicated by a prolapsed uterus and obesity.

Notes:

Herman was described as a small man, with a high pitched laugh similar to that of his son Clarence, and with a bow legged gait. He was a well known practical joker, but was otherwise unassuming. Herman lived with his father at 503 Warner in
1910, while working as a machinist. His marriage certificate, June 20, 1916, lists him as an Iron Worker, residing in Monitor Township, Bay County. By 1920, he and his own family lived at 711 N. Dewitt, Bay City. This house was small, with no
indoor toilet, and heat was provided by a stove in the living room that sometimes got so hot that it glowed red. After his daughter, Priscilla, was born, he bought the empty lot on the northwest corner of Clara and Dewitt streets. A house
belonging to the Sims family, on Wenona near Clara was split into 3 parts, one of which was bought by Herman and moved onto his lot. He dug the basement under the house using a horse and a scoop. The house had a bathroom built into the
upstairs which contained only a toilet and sink. Bathing was done in a small galvininized tin tub in the kitchen. The address of the home is 107 E. Clara, and is across the street from 600 N. Dewitt. 600 N. Dewitt was originally the
Stark/Telfer residence, but became a center of the Doan family for many years thereafter. Herman and his family were members of The Christian Assembly church where his father, Charles, was the minister of the gospel. Herman loved his Campbell's
Pork & Beans, and his cigar. On Sunday afternoon, he would walk to the store on N. Henry St. and N. Union St. with one or more of the children and buy a cigar and a can of pork & beans for dinner. He thought it cute to blow the cigar smoke in
the faces of the children. Life was difficult for the family. Margaret Grace died. The home was sometimes heated with wood that he and his son, Nathan, would go and cut. They had to walk out to the farm of Charles W. Doan to get the horse and
wagon, go cut the wood, take it to the house, then take the horse and wagon back out to State Park Dr. and walk home. Coal was sometimes too expensive for the family. Herman also planted potatoes on the fertile hillsides of the waste area of
the sugar plant out on Euclid St. He worked there as a day laborer when he could. It is said that he often had sores from the irritating properties of the lime soil there. He fed the family and made extra money with the potatoes. After Grace
died, Herman started going to the beer gartens often. He would take young Carl with him, because many of the men there thought he was cute and would buy drinks for Herman. Herman got a job at the Defoe Ship Yards as a laborer. He scratched
his hand or lower arm which became infected. Untreated, the infection spread throughout his body. His arm was amputated at the elbow in an attempt to stop the infection's spread. He died a painful death in the hospital. He left behind 5
orphaned children, the oldest just 17 years old.

HERMAN married MARGARET GRACE STARK on 20 Jun 1916 in Bay City, Michigan. MARGARET (daughter of THOMAS C. STARK and MARGARET JANE TELFER) was born on 7 Dec 1888 in Lake Otsego, Otsego Co., Michigan; died on 4 Jul 1931 in Bay City, Michigan; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bay City, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Margaret Grace was a short, heavy woman. She loved to sing and could play the piano slightly, as long as the tune was on the black keyes. She likely finished only the 8th grade. There was a fire at her school, during which she fell and was
trampled on the stairs. She lived only because someone pulled her up and got her down the stairs. She worked for the Carrington family on S. Union St. This family was a wealthy lumber family. They made her use the name Margaret because of a
conflict within that household. She worked there until, at age 28, she married Herman. Her marriage certificate lists her birth place as Lake Otsego, Michigan. Walter Sims presided at the ceremony with Ross Doan and Estella Stark as
witnesses. She and Herman started life with very little. The Carrington's gave her a Tiffany lamp, an old threadbare rug, and an old, broken leather couch. Someone else gave them 2 rocking chairs and a table. That was the extent of what they
owned. She would bake cakes and other goodies on Saturday, which she sold up and down the street on Sunday, for extra money. She was a skilled seamstress. The Sim's family, then of Chicago, would send boxes of clothes for the children.
Margaret would rip the clothes apart, turn the cloth around, and remake the clothes to fit her family. She first became ill around 1928. By the time she was 40 years old, she was unable to walk. Then she had one last child, Carl. She was
unable to care for him very well by herself. Complications of tubercular meningitis was the cause of her death. Her death, a gruesome, painful ending, was witnessed by her family from the doorway of her bedroom. Margaret's funeral was held in
the family home at 107 E. Clara (across the street from 600 N. Dewitt).

Notes:

Charles owned a farm in Arenac Co. on Delano Rd, approximately 1/2 mile from Whitman Rd. Approximately 1907, he moved his family from Arenac Co. to 503 Warner Ave., Bay City where in 1910 the city Directory lists Charles W. Doane (farmer),
Arthur A. Doane (farmer), Herman L. Doane (machinist), Edna Doane (student), Ellen Doane (milliner), Howard C. Doane (laborer), Martha V. Doane (dressmaker, boards at same address). At sometime, Charles moved his home to #70 on N. Henry St.
(State Park Dr.). The farm house still stands. He sold 5 acres of the farm to the Fox family, who again divided that acreage with the Hale family. Charles is remembered as a tall, thin man who worked hard. He claimed he ate so much, that it
made him poor just to carry it around. His farm was 20 acres, had small crops, lots of chickens, 2 horses (1 died), and a large barn. After the one horse died, he and the farmer next door combined each of their horses when either man found it
necessary to use a team for plowing, etc. It ran from N. Henry (State Park Dr.) all the way throught to State St., the next street over. He had grape vines on the farm which are said to have produced the best grapes around. He farmed in Bay
Co. a total of 28 years. He had a remedy which was frequently requested by neighbors who had a sick horse. It seemed to work wonderfully. It was not used on humans. Charles was a lay minister of the Gospel at the Christian Assmbly, and was
active there for many years. He owned a square grand piano which cost him $5 which Olive used to play. Charles was the first of the Bay City Doan's to own a car. The last work he performed before he died was to trim back his favorite grape
vines. The farm sold for $5500 after his death. The 1911 Bay City City Directory spelled the last name of he, his family members, and his siblings as Doane.

CHARLES married MARY DIDAMIA STOUTENBURGH on 3 Jul 1877 in Lexington, Michigan. MARY (daughter of HIRAM STOUTENBURGH and MERCY SMITH) was born on 2 Nov 1857 in Sanilac Co. Michigan; died on 14 Jan 1935 in Bay City, Michigan; was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bay City, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary was a very dignified and handsome woman in her photos. She is fondly remembered for her excellent cooking.

Notes:

"Pa Stark" was well versed in Scottish tunes and could sing them in Gaelic. When Thomas actually moved to Michigan is unclear, but he was in Lake Otsego, Michigan in 1888 when his daughter, Margaret, was born there. His naturalization papers,
The Certificate of Citizenship, October 30, 1896, places him in Bay City at about the time he and His father-in-law, Andrew Telfer, started building the house at 600 N. Dewitt St. in Bay City. This house was occupied by the Telfer family
upstairs, and the Stark family downstairs. The property had a barn which housed 2 or 3 cows which provided milk, chickens, which provided meat and eggs, and occasionally a pig. There were also some fruit trees, of which a plum and pear tree
each still remain. The Bay City Directory lists Thomas as a Sawyer in 1910, residing at 600 N. Dewitt. In 1915, he is listed as a carpenter, and in 1920, his employment was as a custodian at the Wenona School, where he remained for many years.
Thomas died in his home after a lingering illness. His funeral was held at 600 N. Dewitt, one of many in that home from 1922 to 1938.

THOMAS married MARGARET JANE TELFER on 14 Apr 1886. MARGARET was born on 25 Feb 1863 in Bristol, Pontiac Co., Quebec, Canada; died on 23 Nov 1935 in Bay City, Michigan; was buried on 26 Nov 1935 in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Bay City, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Margaret had been a resident of Bay City for 50 years at the time of her death. She died at her home, 600 N. Dewitt St., Bay City, after a lingering illness. The funeral was held there also.