| Notes |
- - The birth certificate for Edward John McLaughlin, No. 23651, Office of Register of Deeds, Milwaukee County, State of Wisconsin, recorded in Volume 329, Page 63, stated his name as Edwardt Gschwender indicating his parents were not married at the time of his birth. His mother, Mary Gschwender subsequently married Frank Widish and gave Edward the nam e of Edward John Widish, but it was never recorded through the courts. On May 6, 1946, Edward obtained Order No. 200932, Change of Name through the Circuit Court, Milwaukee County, State of Wisconsin which legally changed his name to Edward John McLaughlin and changed the last name of his three sons from Widish to McLaughlin. Tom & Gay McLaughlin have a copy of Edward's birth certificate and original marraige certificate. Edward's hobby later in life was bowling. There are variations in the following name: Gschwender or Geschwender or Schwender. Several Gschwenders have changed their names to Schwender.
THE LIFE STORY OF EDWARD JOHN McLAUGHLIN AND CECELIA LORRAINE SZYMBORSKI
by Gay PRICE McLaughlin
Mary Josephine Gschwender gave birth to a son "out of wedlock." His name was Edwardt Gschwender, born 3 October 1901, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born on a Thursday at 9:00 a.m., at 587 Rogers Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Later, the birth record for Edwardt would be changed to the name of Edward John Widish and then, Edward John McLaughlin.
Mary was very young and naive. Charles John McLaughlin, the father of Edwardt Gschwender, was not ready for marriage. The couple went their separate ways. Mary bore the heartache and ridicule prevalent of the times. Mary registered the birth of her boy, as Edwardt Gschwender.
Mary Gschwender was forced to live with her parents as she had no means of support. She and her mother, Josephine Riedmueller Gschwender, quarreled often. Life became so unbearable for Mary at times that she would place Edward in a nearby orphanage. Edward recalls being placed in the St. Vincent De Paul Orphanage located on Greenfield Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The "summer" home of St. Vincent De Paul was located on St. Francis Street. He remembers being taken in and out of the orphanage several times. Edward feels he was around four to seven years of age during this period. His mother and grandmother lived only a couple blocks away.
A big part of Edward's babyhood, was shared with his favorite Aunt Anna Gschwender, aka "Auntie." Mary had two younger sisters, Anna and Kate. Anna, at the age of fifteen, loved to walk Edward through the neighborhood in his stroller. She had good reason, as she had her eye on a handsome fellow, Pat Brusk. The opportunity was wonderful, she and "Pat" would meet. Pat and Anna married and enjoyed a long married life together. Edward throughout his life, enjoyed a close relationship with Auntie Ann and Uncle Pat.
Edward's mother, Mary, was the only one of the Gschwender children to have very dark black hair. At the age of four Edward remembers his mother with very black hair. In her early twenties Mary turned gray. To Edward, she was always gray. Edward also inherited this coal black hair which became "silvery" quite young. In fact, he was called "Blackie" at times.
Around 1908, Mary Gschwender married Frank Widish. At the time, Edward was seven years old. Mary was a very hard working woman. She held down two jobs, as she now had two more children; Frank Widish, born 30 September 1912 and Alfred Widish, born 3 June 1914. Both boys were born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Edward was eleven years of age when Frank was born.
In the years 1907 and 1908, his grammar school days, Edward recalls seeing mostly horse and wagons. He also saw his first "Electric Automobile" that was run by battery. Only the few "well to do" people owned them!
During this period, when Edward John Widish was in grammar school, a personal experience happened that he would never forget. Most boys his age would be unable to brag about. At seven to eight years of age, he was elected or appointed as the classroom "Monitor." His entire class went to observe a big parade held for Teddy Roosevelt, the President of The United States. Sitting on the curb, Edward watched President Roosevelt come towards him. The president spoke to him and shook his hand. This occurred twice in the same day, only on different streets.
Teddy Roosevelt loved hunting. He and several cronies had made a trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to hunt. A parade had been planned while he was in the state and area. Needless to say, in his late 80's, Edward reminisced about this special event.
To help his mother, Edward peddled newspapers. He was now thirteen. He hopped fences, crossed lawns and worked hard. He gave all his earnings to his mother, except for a few pennies, for which he bought candy.
At eighth grade level, Edward was physically built like a high school boy. He was recruited to play football for the high school. He was good! In fact, he was very adept at most sports. Edward won a scholarship to Saint Johns Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin, as a Golden Glove Boxer. He played football, baseball and basketball. In fact, Edward participated in football along with one of the famous Four Horsemen. He worked while at St. John's helping the coach with equipment and miscellaneous jobs. One of his duties, was to set up the chairs in the gym, for the various programs held. Due to a misunderstanding he never received pay for his work. He resented this the rest of his life, always saying how much it would have helped his mother. His stay at St. Johns Military Academy came to a halt when his step father died.
Frank Widish worked for the International Harvester Corporation in Milwaukee. He was a Roadman and set up machinery at various locations. The Milwaukee branch of International Harvester transferred Frank to Davenport, Iowa. Frank was injured on the job from a heavy blow to the head by a large object. He was never to be the same. His mind was effected, was not rational and was even violent at times. Frank was transferred back to Milwaukee and placed in the Wauwatosa Insane Asylum, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Here he died a young man when Edward was in his early twenties.
Due to the death of her husband, Mary Widish, as stated above, cared for and raised her two young sons, holding down two jobs. One was for Godfrey and Sons, wholesales grocers. Mary made up baskets filled with dented food cans. These were given to workers, the elderly and handicapped.
Edward had to quit high school at the end of his Freshman year and go to work. His mother was of the old school and believed he should work and help with the support. All his earnings would be turned over to his mother.
At the age of sixteen, Edward was in Davenport, Iowa, with his stepfather, mother and the three and five year old half brothers. He went to work for Van Owen Sash & Door Company. He learned to drive his first automobile while working there. This was a small model T truck. In fact, he drove this truck through a garage wall or door; he learned the hard way. Edward remembers the fleet of trucks owned by the Sash & Door Company. Some were Model T's, Pierce Arrow, Packard and White. Edward, during his lifetime, owned a Model A Ford, a Model T Ford, a 1930 Kisel, a Overland Automobile, a Marquette Automobile, a 1934 and a 1935 Chevrolet and a Oakland.
Not only did Edward handle deliveries, but he also unloaded heavy glass, doors, moldings from freight cars. He was very muscular in build even at the age of fifteen. He looked much older then most boys his age and lied about his age of 16 to land his job. He also worked for Sash and Door Works Company during this time.
As a hobby, Edward began boxing at Rock Island, Iowa, across the bay from Davenport. Boxing came easy, he was making money. Everyone called him "Irish". "IRISH" became his nickname.
Rock Island National, Rock Island, Illinois, belonged to the United States government. This island was used in World War I to make arms, which were then shipped to Europe. These were busy times. Edward remembers the Triple Decker Bridge from Davenport to Rock Island. The first level for regular traffic; second level for the street cars and the third level for trains. This was indeed, spectacular to see!
Driving his Model T truck was a tricky job when it came to this bridge. Pretty scary at the age 16. Edward first measured the span from the bed of the truck to the top of the bridge. He would then take large, heavy boxes, stand them on end, loading his truck to within a couple inches to the bottom of the bridge. One took the bumps real easy! He would then unload his cargo. A mans job!
Much to Mary's distress, Edward always seemed to be involved in fistfights. His reputation as a boxer began to grow. He was always there to aid his buddies. He broke his nose in a street fight, and unfortunately was set wrong. The shape of his nose was never the same.
After Frank Widish suffered his severe injury, he and Mary were transferred back to Milwaukee. Mary insisted that Edward move with them. He did not wish to and had made arrangements with a buddy to share housing, he held a good paying job with the window and sash company. But his mother insisted; that was that.
Edward secured a job at Harnischfeger, a German company owned by old man Harnischfeger and Polling. The company made heavy duty moving equipment such as shovels, cranes, etc. Mr. Harnischfeger brought many German engineers over from Germany. Edward's only means of transportation to and from work was the street car. A pretty, green-eyed young lady also caught the streetcar to work every day. She came from a large family of eleven (a twelfth child died at birth).
She wanted badly to meet Edward. Through a mutual friend, they were introduced at a dance. Cecelia Lorraine Szymborski loved to dance. A budding romance began. Cecelia was called Ceil or Celia by most friends and relatives.
One evening, Edward was invited to Cecelia's home to meet her parents. Her father, Michael Szymborski and Edward, recognized each other instantly. They both worked at Harnischfeger. However, their work capacities kept them separate. Mike supervised the yard. They had never talked to one another.
On 24 July 1926 Edward John Widish and Cecelia Lorraine Szymborski married. Their first son was born 3 February 1927. He was named Darroll Michael Widish. Six years later a second son was born. The couple named him Thomas Edward Widish, born 14 January 1933. Five and one-half years lapsed until a third son was born; Patrick John Widish, 31 August 1938.
Edward continued working for Harnischfeger. In fact, he made his first loan from them of $100.00, to buy a Model T. Ford. He worked over time, paying the loan off fast. He then traded this Model T Ford to buy a Model A.
The early years of marriage revolved around family functions, movies, and dances. Cecelia was especially fond of her brother Edmund Szymborski and his wife Marie. Edmund and Marie owned a cottage at Lake Koshkonong. Family outings and work parties were often held at the lake. Patrick "Pat" and Tom swam and went boating on the lake. Both Tom and Pat threw a line into the lake, sometimes catching a fish. Both Tom and Pat helped cut and clear cotton tails along the edge of the lake. The lake was very shallow as they could walk seven or eight hundred feet out and still be waist deep.
Edmund, aka "Uncle Eddie", built his cottage. Edward worked along side Uncle Eddie many times. Uncle Eddie also worked for Luick Dairy and helped Edward to secure his job there. Eddie retired from Luick Dairy, working there most of his life.
Then, happy times were spent on a farm at Muscoda, Wisconsin. Frank Widish had a sister named Elizabeth Widish, "Aunt Lizzie." She married Joseph "Joe" Marish. Aunt Lizzie had no children of her own but married a man with two sons and a daughter. Darroll and Tom sometimes rode on the tractor while Uncle Joe plowed. These boys grew to manhood with fond memories of the times spent on this farm.
Patrick recalls the time when Darroll and Pat tried to get a piglet away from a mother sow. The mother sow chased both of them onto a tree stump. On the farm was also a cow named "Pat." Patrick spent many an hour talking to this cow.
Edward's and Ceilia's boys enjoyed Aunt Lizzie's little dog, Jiggs #1., too! When Jiggs #1 died, he was replaced with Jiggs #2. There are photos taken at this farm.
During the 1920's Edward had moved on. He no longer worked for Harnischfeger. He now worked for Luick Dairy, delivering milk and milk products in the early morning hours. Luick Dairy was located on 6th Street, at the bottom of a hill. Because of the slope, the main office was above and the horses were stalled and cared for below. The snow storms in Milwaukee were fierce during the winter. At times, the ice would become so bad that Edward would crawl on his hands and knees.
In the 1920's milk was delivered by horse drawn wagon. Edward, grasping a carrier with four glass bottles of milk, one carrier in each hand, would jump off his wagon, go from door to door crossing lawns, while the horses moved forward stopping in front of each home. They were so trained that no human had to be on board. The wagons at this time had the small, hard wheels. Later, regular rubber automobile tires were seen on wagons. A layer of cream was always on top of the milk. Even Cecelia skimmed the cream off and made butter. Eventually oleo came along, in a big white square chunk. A packet of yellow coloring was provided, which was mixed in with a fork.
Homes were built with milk chutes, a small square area with a door. The area would hold only 2 bottles of milk. Other dairy products such as butter, cream etc., were left on the outside with snow packed around them. If no chute was available, the milkman would place his delivery in the ice box, while the household still slept.
Luick Dairy was located near the railroad tracks with Green's Gas station on one corner and a Tavern on the other. Edward enjoyed the camaraderie of a drink or two with his cronies. He also worked for Golden Guernsey and Foremost Dairies. Foremost bought out both Luick and Golden Guernsey.
Ceilia attended beauty school. She then worked for Grey's Beauty Parlor. The shop was located on Pearl Street. She cut her husbands hair, as well as all three boys. In fact, son Tom, did not have his hair cut at a Barber Shop until he was fifteen. When Darroll was young, she permed his hair. He was rather cute in curls! The beauty school could have occurred before her marriage. She also worked for the telephone company in Milwaukee.
Edward and Ceilia purchased a lot in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, planning to build a home. Uncle Pat Brusk and Auntie (Anna) also bought a lot located a few blocks away. However, Pat & Anna were able to build their home sooner.
Edward, Ceilia and the children moved in with Uncle Eddie Szymborski and Marie. They lived with them for a year while they saved every dime to build their home. Ed not only worked for the dairy, but also set-up bowling pins at the bowling alley, to earn additional money.
Edward helped Eddie build a large room upstairs in the attic where the family was to live. Ceilia used the kitchen in the basement. All their furniture was stored in a section of the attic.
Auntie Brusk and Pat built a cape cod style home which had two dormers in front. Each dormer contained a gun room. Edward and Celia purchased a very large corner lot at 110th & West Dennis Streets for $625.00. The Colonial style home that was built cost $5,500.00.
In about 1941 they sold the home in Hales Corners and bought a home at 3180 S. 21st Street on the south side of Milwaukee. Behind the house was an alley and then railroad tracks, a Furnace Company. At the south end of 21st Street was Bliffert Lumber Company.
While on 21st street, Tom attended St. Gerard grade school. Tom had a paper route. Patrick attended a Catholic School. Edward remembers when Father Wermuth would turn his collar around and go into the tavern with Edward and other buddies.
Edward and Ceilia purchased a tavern. Their living quarters were behind the tavern. The tavern was near Kosciuszko Park, at 1021 W. Grant Street.
While living on Crawford Street, on the second home from the corner, Tom used to sneak his fathers car out with the excuse of washing it. He would drive down the alley taking the long route back. Patrick attended Sacred Heart School located on Kinnickinnic Street. This was near Cudahy where the Limburger Cheese Factory made cheese. The smell was pretty strong at times. Across the street was the Sacred Heart Cemetery with some of the oldest headstones. The housing for the priests and nuns were also connected to the cemetery. The nuns had Patrick writing his name Paddy, until Celia put a stop to that.
A funny story about the cemetery was told by Edward. He was working at Luick Dairy and teaching a colored man the dairy delivery business. Milk was delivered at dawn, still a little dark. The bottles of milk had to be delivered by going through the cemetery. The nuns had hung their hats on the line to dry and were blowing in the breeze. The colored man ran and Edward never saw him again.
In 1935 Edward met his father, Charles John McLaughlin, after some twenty-two years. Edward recalls seeing his father when he was around seven years old. Perhaps curiosity had made Ceilia locate Charles. She corresponded with Charles, who lived in Marquette, Michigan. Darroll was age 8 when he accompanied his parents to Michigan, to meet Edward's father. Tom, age two, remained behind, staying with Grandma and Grandpa Szymborski. Patrick was not yet born.
Charles McLaughlin was a bartender for his younger brother, Joe, who owned a tavern. When Edward and Ceilia walked into the tavern through a side door, Charles stopped and stared. The resemblance was uncanny. He knew right away this was his son, Edward. Charles had married a French woman and had several children.
Ceilia continued corresponding and in 1946 asked Charles John McLaughlin if he would consent to have Edward Widish change his name to Edward John McLaughlin. He consented and through a letter of verification and stated that he was, indeed, the father of Edward. Everything was handled through a lawyer named Jerome Waboleski and the court system. Thus, in 1946 Darroll, Thomas and Patrick became a McLaughlin. Their birth certificates were corrected and changed.
Charles John McLaughlin lost an eye while working for a Cadillac Company in Detroit. He had a glass eye. He had ulcers and died of a bleeding ulcer around the age of 68 or 69. He was dead several days before he was found in his rooming house.
December 1948 found the McLaughlin family migrating to Culver City, California. A big step in their lives. Two scary events took place during the trip. Edward and Ceilia were pulling a mobile home. The month was December, snowy and icy. Climbing a high hill in Bloomington, Illinois, the mobile home and auto started sliding back down the hill. Neighbors on both sides of the street began running out, throwing ashes under all the tires for a short distance and saved them from a disaster.
Then in Amarillo, Texas, the trailer hitch and ball holding the trailer to Edward's automobile almost broke in two. During this time, Darroll driving his 1948 Chevrolet and pulling a 2-wheel trailer with Thomas "Tom" as a passenger, lost sight of their parents for two days. Both were unaware of the parents hitch problem.
After a short stay in Culver City, Darroll returned home to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was still single. He was discharged from the army on October 1, 1946. He went home to marry Florence Dolores Andraszczyk. They were married 12 February 1949. The couple then migrated to Sacramento, California. However, in Illinois, Darroll also turned over his two-wheel trailer.
From Culver City, Edward and Cecelia moved to Sacramento. But, not before Tom McLaughlin had graduated from Venice High School, Venice, California. The couple wished to be near their son, Darroll and their three grandsons.
Edward and a friend, Tony Anderson were into roof coating in 1945, 1946 and 1947 in Milwaukee. This was a side job for Ed. He made sales as well as applied coating to roofs. Tony Anderson and his wife also visited Sacramento, California. The roof coating was continued on with Darroll, Tom and Edward all working on roofs together in Sacramento.
In Culver City, Ceilia befriended Rola Ortlieb. Rola wished to begin a catering business and was attending baking school. Ceilia enrolled and was the most marvelous baker. Gay recalls the first time she met Cecelia in Sacramento. She spent an entire day baking the most beautiful ?clairs, cream puffs, fancy cookies, dinner rolls etc. She was famous for her punchkies. These were ball shaped dough, sometimes with raisins, deep fried and then rolled in powder sugar. They were similar to donuts, but without the hole. Ceilia did give up baking later, as she was allergic to flour. Such a disappointment, but she suffered.
Data herein is from Gay's taped conversations with Edward John McLaughlin, notes written by Cecelia Lorraine Szymborski, and various conversations and recollections of Darroll, Tom & Pat McLaughlin.
Gay PRICE McLaughlin 319 E. Sierra Madre Avenue Glendora, CA 91741-2150 (626) 335-2423
August 1, 1993
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1901 - 1988 (87 years)
