1979, Aug 9 - Conversation with Corene and Dale A. Sourbeck: Corene stated that her father Fred came to Detroit, with the intent of obtaining employment at the Ford Motor Company. Fred heard that Ford was hiring, after Henry Ford I came of Alliance, Ohio, and visited with Transue & Williams, (T&S), located in Alliance. Mr. Ford was looking at a lighter weight steel for his automobiles. Fred’s father-in-law-in worked there and was involved with steel engineering, and that’s where Fred learned about automotive jobs. Fred went to Detroit with the intent of going to work for Ford, but ended up at Dodge as a Night Superintendent, for many years. Corene thought he may have worked at Ford for a short time. She said that he had a lot of drive and charm. Her brother James was her most "favorite person." She said that he died of an injury from cranking a car and the crank slipped back and hit him in the chest and broke a main artery in his heart. Her sister Viola died about seven years ago and Viola's husband Floyd died about three years ago, in the Spring, within three weeks of her brother Frederick. Corene stated that she was named after an opera singer who was playing at the "Sourbeck Opera House," in Alliance, Ohio, at the time of her birth. She went on to say that her husband's (Basil) father was born in Wollar (sp), Ontarian, Canada, and that his mother Lillian Gray, was born in Michigan. She said that she was about four years old when the family moved from Ohio to Detroit. She also said that her mother's (Adda) parents lived in both Canton and Alliance, Ohio. Her grandfather James Anderson owned a buggy and livery stable, and that he was a drummer boy in the Civil War, serving with his brothers. She thought he was about 14-15 years old. 1980, Jun 8 - Conversation with Corene and Dale A. Sourbeck: Corene stated that sister Laura had no children. She identified sister Lillian's husband and children, sister Mary was married three times, provided info on sister Viola's family. At this time she said she thought her father had some half-brothers, and she remembered an Uncle John. Her father's parents were George Washington Sourbeck and Mary Galbreath. Her grandparents on her mother's side were Laura Bell Bowermaster and James Anderson. On this side of the family the name Miller comes in somewhere, way back. She also told me that her grandfather, George Washington Sourbeck (The Sourbeck’s), owned Main Street in Alliance, Ohio, which she remembered for sure, included an Opera House and a restaurant. Based on this conversation we researched various records and came up with the following: Based on City Directories of Alliance; 1889-1890, George Washington Sourbeck, was the proprietor and manager of the People's Theater (see his notes), on West Main Street. William Henry Harrison Sourbeck, his daughter Bertha, and son Frank, resided on East Main Street (see his notes). In 1899-1900, George's son Alva was operating a restaurant on East Main Street. His son Harry P., was managing the Main Street Opera House, and Alva's mother Mary, owned and operated a boarding house on East Main. In 1904, Alva and his sister Matilda, were listed as residing on East Main. The 1910 US Census listed Alva and his family residing on East Main. Just a few names down on the list was William Anderson and his family. Corene's Uncle. Yes, Main street was certainly part of the family history. In addition, Corene thought that her father lived with his Uncle for a while in Texas. He told her about the long train ride, and that he hated being out there. All she remembers is that he didn't like it because he had to cut a lot of wood. 1991, Apr - Conversation with Corene and Dale A. Sourbeck: Corene said that her father Fred was 5'11" her mother Adda was 5'4" her brother James was 5'9" - 5'10" Corene is 5'6". She said she remembered her father Fred telling her that the Sourbeck's bought some land from the Indians for a pair of boots. He had an old yellow piece of paper that explained this, but she doesn't know what happened to it. She said that Adda met Fred one day in Canton, OH, when she was walking down the street with a girlfriend and she saw Fred and had seen him before. He was a railroad worker at the time and was so dirty from coal, that she thought first that he was a black man. She remembered her father telling her that his mother died giving birth to twins. Her father's side of the family always seemed to be a mystery. There were half-brothers, and in fact at the time of Mary's marriage a man came to the house to meet with Fred. They went into the living room and the stranger told Fred that he was his half-brother. She thought his hair had some red in color. There was always talk about someone being born out of wedlock. This was confirmed by Viola Sourbeck, when I met with her several years back from my interview with Corene. Corene is buried in the Cadillac Memorial Gardens West, Westland, Wayne Co., MI
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I had another conversation with Corene, on July 23, 1981: “My grandfather was George Washington Sourbeck. Also, my father Fred had a cousin born out of wedlock, who had white hair and was very pleasant. I had heard that Fred’s mother Mary, died while giving birth to twins, around the time my brother Jim was born, 1893. My father Fred was a train engineer, and one time the train went over an embankment and barrels of candy spilled all over.
Fred lived with his uncle in Texas, and he told me that he did not like it, that his uncle made him chop wood all the time.
Jim was always good to Viola and me, and took good care of us. He died at mamas, and I had just walked in the door when he died.
Jim was 5’9”-5’10”, her father Fred was 5’11” and mother Ada, 5’4.”
My cousins, the Anderson’s would come up to Michigan for the summer.
I heard a story once, where the Sourbeck family bought some land many years ago for a pair of boots.
My mother (Ada) fell one time when she was pregnant, and lost the baby. This was around 1899, when they lived in Allegheny. (Pittsburgh)
My sister Lillian worked as a waitress and brought me food during the depression.”
=======================================================
I had another conversation with Corene, on July 23, 1981: “My grandfather was George Washington Sourbeck. Also, my father Fred had a cousin born out of wedlock, who had white hair and was very pleasant. I had heard that Fred’s mother Mary, died while giving birth to twins, around the time my brother Jim was born, 1893. My father Fred was a train engineer, and one time the train went over an embankment and barrels of candy spilled all over.
Fred lived with his uncle in Texas, and he told me that he did not like it, that his uncle made him chop wood all the time.
Jim was always good to Viola and me, and took good care of us. He died at mamas, and I had just walked in the door when he died.
Jim was 5’9”-5’10”, her father Fred was 5’11” and mother Ada, 5’4.”
My cousins, the Anderson’s would come up to Michigan for the summer.
I heard a story once, where the Sourbeck family bought some land many years ago for a pair of boots.
My mother (Ada) fell one time when she was pregnant, and lost the baby. This was around 1899, when they lived in Allegheny. (Pittsburgh)
My sister Lillian worked as a waitress and brought me food during the depression.”
1979, Aug 9 - Conversation with Corene and Dale A. Sourbeck: Corene stated that her father Fred came to Detroit, with the intent of obtaining employment at the Ford Motor Company. Fred heard that Ford was hiring, after Henry Ford I came of Alliance, Ohio, and visited with Transue & Williams, (T&S), located in Alliance. Mr. Ford was looking at a lighter weight steel for his automobiles. Fred’s father-in-law-in worked there and was involved with steel engineering, and that’s where Fred learned about automotive jobs. Fred went to Detroit with the intent of going to work for Ford, but ended up at Dodge as a Night Superintendent, for many years. Corene thought he may have worked at Ford for a short time. She said that he had a lot of drive and charm. Her brother James was her most "favorite person." She said that he died of an injury from cranking a car and the crank slipped back and hit him in the chest and broke a main artery in his heart. Her sister Viola died about seven years ago and Viola's husband Floyd died about three years ago, in the Spring, within three weeks of her brother Frederick. Corene stated that she was named after an opera singer who was playing at the "Sourbeck Opera House," in Alliance, Ohio, at the time of her birth. She went on to say that her husband's (Basil) father was born in Wollar (sp), Ontarian, Canada, and that his mother Lillian Gray, was born in Michigan. She said that she was about four years old when the family moved from Ohio to Detroit. She also said that her mother's (Adda) parents lived in both Canton and Alliance, Ohio. Her grandfather James Anderson owned a buggy and livery stable, and that he was a drummer boy in the Civil War, serving with his brothers. She thought he was about 14-15 years old. 1980, Jun 8 - Conversation with Corene and Dale A. Sourbeck: Corene stated that sister Laura had no children. She identified sister Lillian's husband and children, sister Mary was married three times, provided info on sister Viola's family. At this time she said she thought her father had some half-brothers, and she remembered an Uncle John. Her father's parents were George Washington Sourbeck and Mary Galbreath. Her grandparents on her mother's side were Laura Bell Bowermaster and James Anderson. On this side of the family the name Miller comes in somewhere, way back. She also told me that her grandfather, George Washington Sourbeck (The Sourbeck’s), owned Main Street in Alliance, Ohio, which she remembered for sure, included an Opera House and a restaurant. Based on this conversation we researched various records and came up with the following: Based on City Directories of Alliance; 1889-1890, George Washington Sourbeck, was the proprietor and manager of the People's Theater (see his notes), on West Main Street. William Henry Harrison Sourbeck, his daughter Bertha, and son Frank, resided on East Main Street (see his notes). In 1899-1900, George's son Alva was operating a restaurant on East Main Street. His son Harry P., was managing the Main Street Opera House, and Alva's mother Mary, owned and operated a boarding house on East Main. In 1904, Alva and his sister Matilda, were listed as residing on East Main. The 1910 US Census listed Alva and his family residing on East Main. Just a few names down on the list was William Anderson and his family. Corene's Uncle. Yes, Main street was certainly part of the family history. In addition, Corene thought that her father lived with his Uncle for a while in Texas. He told her about the long train ride, and that he hated being out there. All she remembers is that he didn't like it because he had to cut a lot of wood. 1991, Apr - Conversation with Corene and Dale A. Sourbeck: Corene said that her father Fred was 5'11" her mother Adda was 5'4" her brother James was 5'9" - 5'10" Corene is 5'6". She said she remembered her father Fred telling her that the Sourbeck's bought some land from the Indians for a pair of boots. He had an old yellow piece of paper that explained this, but she doesn't know what happened to it. She said that Adda met Fred one day in Canton, OH, when she was walking down the street with a girlfriend and she saw Fred and had seen him before. He was a railroad worker at the time and was so dirty from coal, that she thought first that he was a black man. She remembered her father telling her that his mother died giving birth to twins. Her father's side of the family always seemed to be a mystery. There were half-brothers, and in fact at the time of Mary's marriage a man came to the house to meet with Fred. They went into the living room and the stranger told Fred that he was his half-brother. She thought his hair had some red in color. There was always talk about someone being born out of wedlock. This was confirmed by Viola Sourbeck, when I met with her several years back from my interview with Corene. Corene is buried in the Cadillac Memorial Gardens West, Westland, Wayne Co., MI
=======================================================
I had another conversation with Corene, on July 23, 1981: “My grandfather was George Washington Sourbeck. Also, my father Fred had a cousin born out of wedlock, who had white hair and was very pleasant. I had heard that Fred’s mother Mary, died while giving birth to twins, around the time my brother Jim was born, 1893. My father Fred was a train engineer, and one time the train went over an embankment and barrels of candy spilled all over.
Fred lived with his uncle in Texas, and he told me that he did not like it, that his uncle made him chop wood all the time.
Jim was always good to Viola and me, and took good care of us. He died at mamas, and I had just walked in the door when he died.
Jim was 5’9”-5’10”, her father Fred was 5’11” and mother Ada, 5’4.”
My cousins, the Anderson’s would come up to Michigan for the summer.
I heard a story once, where the Sourbeck family bought some land many years ago for a pair of boots.
My mother (Ada) fell one time when she was pregnant, and lost the baby. This was around 1899, when they lived in Allegheny. (Pittsburgh)
My sister Lillian worked as a waitress and brought me food during the depression.”
=======================================================
I had another conversation with Corene, on July 23, 1981: “My grandfather was George Washington Sourbeck. Also, my father Fred had a cousin born out of wedlock, who had white hair and was very pleasant. I had heard that Fred’s mother Mary, died while giving birth to twins, around the time my brother Jim was born, 1893. My father Fred was a train engineer, and one time the train went over an embankment and barrels of candy spilled all over.
Fred lived with his uncle in Texas, and he told me that he did not like it, that his uncle made him chop wood all the time.
Jim was always good to Viola and me, and took good care of us. He died at mamas, and I had just walked in the door when he died.
Jim was 5’9”-5’10”, her father Fred was 5’11” and mother Ada, 5’4.”
My cousins, the Anderson’s would come up to Michigan for the summer.
I heard a story once, where the Sourbeck family bought some land many years ago for a pair of boots.
My mother (Ada) fell one time when she was pregnant, and lost the baby. This was around 1899, when they lived in Allegheny. (Pittsburgh)
My sister Lillian worked as a waitress and brought me food during the depression.”
