CHRISTMAS VISIT WITH ELMER AND ELEANOR FINGERLE

I went south to visit my parents in Thousand Oaks, CA. for Christmas. Got to see my sisters, Margi, Carol Ann, and Kathy. On December 26th my father, my niece Danielle and I went down to Long Beach, CA. to visit Elmer and Eleanor Fingerle.

Elmer was born in a log cabin in Dry Culch, UT. May 22, 1913. Elmer worked for Douglas Aircraft for 30 years before he retired at the age of 65. He came to California in the early 1920's in 2 Model T Ford. Three adults and four children. He remembers crossing the dessert, then coming over the Cajon Pass and seeing for the first time all these orange groves. Around 1930 he said Abraham and Elizabeth Fingerle of Indiana came out to visit.

Elmer's father Samuel had worked at one time on a Horse Ranch in the San Francisco area. He was also there for the 1906 earthquake, he left soon after. He was married to Ethel. (I do not have info on Ethel yet) Samuel had also home steaded some ground in Utah. The ground was too alkali to grow much so he planted sweet clover, the only thing that would grow. He planted a bunch of it and got into the Honey Bee business. Samuel died Feb. 23rd, 1949 in Southern California. Ethel died October 24th, 1949 just six months later.

Samuel had two brothers, Jacob (Jake) and Noah, and a sister Sadie. Jake was a Realtor in the Whittier area of Los Angeles when it was a orange groves. He showed property with a horse and buggy. He also owned several apartment houses, but lost them in the depression. Jake had never married. He passed away Nov. 18th 1941 in Southern California. All I have about Noah was that he was killed in a rail road accident. Sadie raised Elmer after their father died when Elmer was 4 years old. Elmer told me that David Christopher Fingerle of Modesto, CA. was Samuel's half brother.

Elmer's Grandfather had home steaded in Carbon County, Wyoming. The closest post office was in Grand Encampment. The closest Doctor was in Saratoga, Wyoming about 20 miles away. The ruins of the cabin were still there when Elmer was going to school there.

Elmer has three sisters, Sadie, Bernadine, and Rachel and a brother L.D. Sadie is married and living in the Hemit area of Southern California, Bernadine went to Washington, and Rachel is married and went to Oregon. L.D. is still in Southern California.

Elmer and Eleanor have a son Gregg who is an iron worker in the Los Angeles area. His wife is Deborah and they have a son Greigary.

E-MAIL FOR MICHAEL IN TENNESSEE

I got a E-Mail message from Michael Fingerle of Chattanooga Tennessee. He told me that his Grandmother, Zelma (Blocher) Fingerele had passed away on March 10th, 1996. Michael, his brother Gary, and their father Devon traveled to Indiana to be with the family. He said as sad as the time was, it was wonderful to see cousins he had not seen in years. He said he and his wife Becky will be going to North Manchester, IN. for the Fingerle Fimily Reunion on June 30th. See article about the Fingerle Family Reunion.

FINGERLE FAMILY REUNION

There is a Fingerle Family on June 30th, in North Manchester, Indiana. at the Scout Building at around 12:30 or 1:00 PM. (after Church) It will be a pot luck, bring your own plates and silverware. From what I have been told, this reunion has been going on for some time. If you want more info about the Fingerle Family Reunion contact Robert or Elsie Geiser at (219) 982-6644. If they are on vacation, call Chester Fingerle (219) 982-6709.

I found two hotels close by, the Haven Inn at 1601 State Rd. 15 in North Manchester, (219) 982- 2579. The other is the Wabash Inn 1950 State Rd. 15 in Wabash, IN. (800) 626-7103. I was told that the Wabash Inn is about 20 to 30 miles from North Manchester. The people at the Haven Inn said they have a Golf Tournament on the same weekend of the family reunion.

I plan on attending the reunion with my father and one of my sisters. I hope to rent a computer and printer in the area and have all the Fingerle info that I have available at the reunion. Hope to see you there.

FINGERLE'S LOST IN CYBERSPACE

There is a Tomia Fingerle listed on the World Wide Web as a Librarian in Plainville, GA., and an Elder Tobias Fingerle listed in Canada. I found an E-mail address listed a Fingerle@airmail.net. I sent a message to this address but have not gotten anything back yet. Also had an address of h-j.fingerle@mail.castrop-rauxel.netsurf.de not sure of who this is. I did see a J. Fingerle E-mail address in the Navy. I am still checking it out because it was an old address. If you know of any other Fingerle’s on the internet please let me know and I will put them on the list.

I hope to have a Web Page on after the reunion with some pictures. I hope to have some good stories and photo’s for future newsletters too.

Again I am sorry for the delay between newsletters. Things have been very busy here. I will put one out after the reunion.

If you have or want more information click here to E-mail me: fingerlefamily@aol.com