The Troubles of Frank Winkelman

Ida D. Thompson (daughter of Ann Eliza Hescock and Arthur P. Thompson) was born about 1872 probably in Alabama Twp., Genesee Co., New York. Ida married first about 1904 to Frank Winkelman, son of George and Sophia Winkelman, who was born in September 1885 in New York. Frank was working as a cooper in a barrel shop in 1910 and as a mechanic in a garage in 1920.

From an early age, Frank seems to have struggled. He was among a group of boys arrested in July 1903 for skinny dipping in Tonawanda Creek in Genesee County. In June of 1905 he was arrested again for brawling outside a Batavia saloon. Then in November of 1917 a fire started in an automobile at Frank’s garage and spread to adjacent buildings, destroying the entire business district in the town of Alexander, Genesee Co. He is likely the Frank Winkelman arrested with two other men on burglary charges in February 1929 who was living in LeRoy, Genesee Co.

In April 1921, The Times (Batavia) reported that Ida and Frank had moved into the Peter Bartz house, known locally as the Williams place. On 24 August 1922, The Daily News in Batavia reported that Frank took off on an automobile trip to California; no mention is made of Ida accompanying him, so they may have been separated or divorced by this time.

Ida married second on 13 August 1923 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan Arthur Zwetsch, the son of Phillip and Minnie Zwetsch, who was born about September 1894/6 in Alexander, Genesee Co., New York. Arthur was a victim of scarlet fever as a young boy. Ida was about 13 years older than her first husband and about 23 years older than her second husband. She obviously attracted younger men and must have had a very interesting life. We have found no evidence for children with either marriage.

[If you have any additional information on this interesting family or any pictures, I would love to hear from you.]

Sources:

1. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, FamilySearch online database with images, FHL microfilm 2342755, v. 4, p. 8, r.n. 22460, image 533.

2. 1880 US census, Alabama Twp., Genesee Co., N.Y., e.d. 1, p. 32D, dwelling 311.

3. 1870 US census, Pembroke Twp., Genesee Co., N.Y., p. 53-54, dwelling 465.

4. The Times, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., Wednesday Evening 31 July 1918. p. 8 (www.fultonhistory.com).

5. 1910 US census, Shelby, Orleans Co., N.Y., e.d. 165, sheet 16B, dwelling 403.

6. 1900 US census, Alexander Twp., Genesee Co., N.Y., e.d. 2, sheet 10B, dwelling 244.

7. 1920 US census, Alexander Twp., Genesee Co., N.Y., e.d. 3, sheet 1B, dwelling 27.

8. The Daily News, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., Wednesday Evening, 15 July 1903, p.1 (www.fultonhistory.com).

9. The Daily News, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., Wednesday Evening, 28 June 1905, p.1 (www.fultonhistory.com).

10. The Times, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., Saturday 17 November 1917. p. 2 (www.fultonhistory.com).

11. The Times, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., Saturday 9 April 1921. p. 5 (www.fultonhistory.com).

12. The Daily News, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., Thursday Evening, 24 August 1922 (www.fultonhistory.com).

13. The Batavia Times, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., 9 February 1929, p. 1 (www.fultonhistory.com).

14. Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925, FamilySearch online database with images, FHL microfilm 2342755, v. 4, p. 8, r.n. 22460, image 533.

15. 1900 US census, Alexander Twp., Genesee Co., N.Y., e.d. 2, sheet 3A, dwelling 70.

16. The Daily News, Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., 11 March 1910 (www.fultonhistory.com).