that I never knew.
Their son was Morton. I had seen Morton Rier, a handsome young man, in Dad’s Lubec 1934 yearbook and had no idea who he was. Now I know.
Today I began to search for more information on the family of my grandfather Frank Rier and his brother, my great uncle Charlie. Their parents were Burpee and Emma (Batron) Rier.
I refined how I search for records on familysearch.org and had more success than usual.
The 1920 census records showed Charles and Louise Rier and their household in Lubec, Maine. There were two children living in the house with Charles’ father Burpee, age 57, widowed. Charles was 31 and head of household; his wife Louise was 28. In 1920, their daughter Austina H was seven, their son Morton A was four 10/12.
Why did I not know about their children? Most likely because they died before I was born. I am learning that the elders did not tell stories about their lost loved ones. And, although I spent much time with Aunt Louise and Uncle Charlie, their children were never mentioned.
I soon learned that Morton died at age 20 in 1935. As yet, I do not have the vital record, but the findagrave website noted his burial in the Corey cemetery in Lubec. I will need to visit his grave site and verify his date of birth and death. It makes sense, why I was never told about Morton. Why talk about grief?
Update November 2020: Lubec resident Teenie Brown, now 102 years old, remembers Morton. He died of pneumonia.
And, there was their daughter Austina, born August 26, 1912. She was married March 21st, 1951 at the age of 38 to Horace G Roman, born in Meridan, CT. Where did they live? Did they have children? As yet, I cannot find where she lived and died. But, I did know my Uncle Charlie and Aunt Louise. When they gave me the family silverware when I was 12 years old, they had no children, or perhaps no children that they were close to? Whether Austina had died by my 12th birthday, or had somehow separated herself from the family, I do not know. If the Lubec library has old High School yearbooks, I might find her photo in one of them, likely 1932. It would be a start.
I will search for more information about Austina Rier Roman and visit the Corey Cemetery in Lubec, where Uncle Charlie, Aunt Louise and their son Morton are buried.
Update:
My cousin sent me Austina’s obituary, kept by my Aunt Pat. The name of Austina’s husband does not match the vital record I found and there is no date. But, it’s a bit more information about her. She died in Meridan, CT, the place of her husband’s birth.
Update: April, 2018. After visiting the gravesite of Aunt Louise, Uncle Charlie, and their children Morton and Augustina, I found that Augustina died in 1956 at the age of 44. A relative of Aunt Louise, gave me these photographs of Augustina and Martin (Marty) Roman when they were married and on an outing in Lubec taken sometime in their short six year marriage.
After Augustina’s death, Marty married Pauline, a nurse. Marty and Pauline settled in Lubec and Pauline took care of Aunt Louise and Uncle Charlie in their later years. Charlie, Louise, Morton, Augustina, Martin and Pauline Roman are all buried at the Rier plot at the Corey cemetery in Lubec.
Related post:
My Great Uncle Charlie and Aunt Louise.
Many thanks to Michael Scott for providing photographs of Augustina and Marty Roman.
References:
Maine World War I Draft Registration 1917 – 1919 Index. Digital Folder Number 004390174 Image Number 01067.
Maine Death Index 1960 – 1996.
United States Social Security Death Index.
Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921 GS Film Number 000010181 Digital Folder Number 005011861 Image Number 00245
Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1966, 1977-1996,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCNK-4QQ : 27 November 2014), Horace G Roman and Austina H Rier, 21 Mar 1951; citing Marriage, Maine, United States, State Archives, Augusta.
Birth record for Austina Rier.
Voices of Ancestors 