Susan VanBilliard, Obituary

Obituary, Susan VanBilliard (Haas), Allentown Morning Call, pub. 1920 01-Jan 14, pg. 8, col. 2-3, Allentown Public Library.

Last weekend I did a post about Milton Haas, my great grandmother, Susan VanBilliard's brother. The last record I have found for him is Jan 1915 and I have not found him in the 1920 Census. Susan died in Jan 1920 and I had not found an obituary for her. On Monday, during "Mondays with Myrt" we were talking about my post and trying to find a death certificate for Milton. Someone asked if I had an obituary for Susan. I had not found one before this. When the show ended I went back and looked again at the Bethlehem Library but they did not have obituaries for 1920. I know I had looked there before but went back anyway. Then I went to the Easton Library but they did not have it either. They cover that year but all I found was Oliver VanBilliard, already have those obituaries.

So I hadn't thought of it before because they lived in Bethlehem, but I thought I would try the Allentown Library for the Morning Call obituaries. And there it was was! So I ordered it and received it my email today. Well there was no mention of Milton, just saying she had two brothers surviving, David and Benjamin.  So I guess I need to keep looking for that death certificate for Milton or maybe he is going to be that elusive record that just shows up one day! One can only hope!!!!

Milton Haas, my Black Sheep

A couple of years ago I found Milton Haas in the 1900 Census, he was listed as a prisoner. He was in Northampton County Prison in Easton, PA. I found some information at that time that this was a holding stage and he was to go to Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. I tried to find more information but could not so I put it aside.

Then on Monday I saw that one of the new record groups on Ancestry is "Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971. So I thought maybe I had another shot at finding out about him. Milton Haas was the youngest child of Henry Haas and Sarah Ann Nuspickle. My great grandmother, Susan Haas VanBilliard was Milton's only sister.

Ancestry.com. "Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971, online database, accessed 12 Sep 2016, Eastern State Penitentiary, Milton Hase record, 18 Oct 1906, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA

This was the first record I found. It was impossible to read. I did get a few things from it. His term was to end 25 Aug 1910. That explains why I found him in the 1910 Census still in Eastern State. I have not found him in the 1920 Census at all. I went back to the Prison records and found some readable records. There were three and they had the name Milton Houser in the search.

Ancestry.com. "Pennsylvania, Prison, Reformatory, and Workhouse Records, 1829-1971, online database, accessed 12 Sep 2016, Eastern State Penitentiary, Milton Hase record, 17 Mar 1911, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA

It seems that Milton was released in Aug 1910 but found himself back again at Eastern State in March of 1911. The first thing I noticed was my proof I had the right Milton Haas. Under Name and Address of Family or Friends was "Mr. George VanBilliard (Brother-in-Law), South Bethlehem, PA, my great grandfather. With the description I get an idea of what Milton looked like. It seems he was a thief and had 7 convictions. This term ended when he was paroled in January of 1915.
I have not been able to find a death certificate for him yet and there were no more prison records. So I know he died after January of 1915, so I will have to keep on looking.