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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: daretodiscover on Tuesday 19 March 19 00:02 GMT (UK)
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Good evening folks,
I'm hoping someone can help me find the final fate of this man.
He flew in the RCAF in WWII and was shot down and taken prisoner in 1944. On the RCAF Casualty lists his next of kin was "Mrs. Harold Atkin (wife), 126 Erie Street South, Leamington, Ontario"
Can anybody add anything? I found the obituary another one of my subjects, also from Leamington, in the Windsor Star but no luck (so far) with Atkin.
Many thanks,
DTD
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Father Clarence Earl died in Dec 1954. Report of his death in Leamington Post indicated his son Harold was living in Detroit Michigan. This coincides with the record of Jacqueline (maiden name Davies) marrying Elston Wilson 23 Dec 1950 in Michigan. Her parents are the same as given on her marriage certificate to Harold Atkins. Harold and Jacqueline had a boy and a girl who both died - one stillborn and the other dying of pneumonia at just one month old. Their deaths were in 1937 and 1940.
Added
Divorce granted between Jacqueline and Harold 28 Jun 1950 Macomb, Michigan. No children from this union.
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A litle more back ground of Harold
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=img&id=e002936885
1921 census Lambton East Ontario.
Clarence E Atkin 47
Annie Atkin 42
Pearl Lula Atkin 20
Harold Atkin 2 nephew.
marriage - Harold born 1917 Inwood, Ontario (bachelor) married 5 September 1936 London, Middlesex, Ontario. spouse Jacqueline Davies (spinster)
Father Clarence Atkin - Mother Anne Atkin.
Divorce in Michigan 28 January 1950 quoted above by cosmac confirms no children
Sandra
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Canada Voters List 1945 Leamington shows Harold Atkins (in service) C E Atkins (farmer) John Atkins (Gentleman) Elizabeth Atkins (student) Mrs E J Atkins, E J Atkins (florist)
Sandra
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Many thanks Cosmac and Sandra.
I'm starting to see why his fellow ex-POWs could never find him post-war. And they looked well into the 1990s.
I've just determined he was still alive as of 1959 as he claimed his POW reparations money from the Canadian government.
I don't have access to the SSDI for Michigan. Can anybody tell me if he shows up on that?
Many thanks again,
DTD
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An exact birth date would help, if he passed before then he might not appear on the SSDI. The SSDI was up and running by 1962 ish in the USA.
Sandra
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Thanks, Sandra.
I've gone ahead and ordered his POW reparations documents from the LAC.
There will be a 1959 address on them so hopefully the trail can picked up then.
DTD
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I received Atkin's POW repatriation award papers today.
On March 17 1955, the commission sent a letter to Mrs Patricia Atkin, 15104 Crescentwood Avenue East, Detroit, Michigan. The subject heading is "H.A. Atkin". First time I see a middle initial so suspect a typo, or the first letter of his last name, as every other time his name is shown on these documents there is no middle initial.
The same address is given, in Atkin's hand, when he received his compensation later that year.
Hoping this opens some doors.
DTD
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I don't know if this will help, or even if it is the right person:
Detroit directories
1954 - 58* Atkins Geo. E (Nellie) die maker Kelly-Hayes 21129 Beechwood
1957 Atkins Harold (Patricia) Tire Dealer 22469 Cushing E. Detroit
1958 Atkins Harold (Patricia A) slsmn Holzbaugh h 22079 Beechwood
* Did not check earlier or later.
It could be that George is a son, or brother? In one entry, his wife Nellie had the middle initial I.
Edit: the best fit match for the George is born 1917 in Detroit.... so at most, a cousin, and at the least, a coincidence they live on the same street?
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Thanks, bbart.
Could I ask if "Atkins" is a typo as this man was "Atkin"?
I've been going through the Detroit Free Press looking for any sign of Harold Atkin and nothing.
Thanks again.
DTD
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Could I ask if "Atkins" is a typo as this man was "Atkin"?
The very early Polk Directories for all of Detroit differentiated between Atkin and Atkins. However, the entries I gave are from R. L. Polk & Co's East Detroit City Directories, and in not one of those directories did they list any Atkin, only Atkins.
The address of Crescentwood given in his service record that you obtained is a cross-street to Beechwood, and along with the wife of Patricia makes it look possible. The area seems to be known as Eastpointe and is in Wayne County.
The following dates might help in ruling in or out in your newspaper search: from a neighboring county, Macombe, there is this: https://macombvitals.macombcountymi.gov/death.php
They show these deaths:
ATKIN HAROLD MACOMB August, 31 1960 (ruled out: born in 1908)
ATKINS PATRICIA MACOMB April, 26 2018 (but she was born 1951, so not her)
ATKINS NELLIE WAYNE October, 22 2004
ATKINS GEORGE WAYNE June, 22 2000
I could only find an obit for Nellie https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/nellie-atkins-obituary?pid=182893992 If George and Nellie were related, they went by Atkins so perhaps just a coincidence.
The Detroit telephone books from the time period you need seem to be still under copyright. I am wondering if there are Detroit libraries with a genealogical section that might carry them, in which case it might be worth putting a post in the USA forum asking for a lookup?
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Another strange coincidence?
Harold's exwife, Jacqueline, married Elston Wilson on 23 Dec 1950, as noted earlier by Cosmac. Four days later, she is crossing the border with Elston:
Jacqueline Pearl Davies Atkin Wilson, last address 140 Erie St., Leamington, Ontario
Ever been to the USA: occasional visits
Planning on residing permanently
Headed to husband's address of 15300 Lappin Ave., Detroit.
Now, if you look up that address, that is (according to Google) an 11 minute bike ride from 15104 Crescentwood (address given in military records for Patricia Atkin). It seems very odd to me that a couple from Ontario gets divorced in Michigan, and end up that close, especially when she is indicating she still lived in Ontario?
I highly doubt there would be anything of help in her obituary, (but one never knows!) so I will just include that she remarried to a McGraw, and died 14/11/2001 Ocala Marion Florida.
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Obituary for George E Atkins mentioned above (don't think it helps though :-\)
Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) 25 Jun 2000, Sun - Page 20
https://tinyurl.com/yx9hprt6
Sandra
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Thanks for that, Sandra.
I was thinking along the lines that, as the 1921 said Harold was a nephew of Clarence's, that perhaps that were more siblings that were divided out to other family members. However, on checking the 1921 image, it actually says Harold was adopted, mistranscribed as nephew.
So George might just be a red herring.
It still baffles me that Harold never shows on border crossings. Over 1955/56 there is a Harold Atkin travelling back and forth to Mexico; I'm starting to think he may just have well moved there and opened up a little bar on the beach (wasn't that every man's dream back then?!)
As for the mystery Patricia, could she have just been a friend who's address he used to have his cheque sent to, and for whatever reason it was easier to say she was a wife?
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Many thanks for this, Sandra and bbart.
I am really hoping he ended up in Mexico running a bar. He was one of some 170 Allied POWs who ended up in Buchenwald concentration camp for three months in the summer and fall of 1944. After that nightmare, any happiness would be more than welcomed.
I'll make some enquiries with the Detroit library. I now know what his fellow ex-Buchenwalders went through looking for him for 50 years.
Thanks again.
DTD
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Father Clarence Earl died in Dec 1954. Report of his death in Leamington Post indicated his son Harold was living in Detroit Michigan.
Cosmac, did that obituary happen to mention a daughter, Allie V. Shepard? She and her husband lived in Detroit, then Lapeer, Michigan, and I am hoping that her obituary might mention Harold. I cannot locate her (or her husband Howard Lyman Shepard) after 1930, other than the 1942 draft card, which gives the same address as the 1930 census, but refers to "Mrs. Howard Shepard", so it doesn't help knowing if that is still Allie.
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This is a version of the obitaury in the Windsor Star -
The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada) 23 Dec 1954, Thu - Page 3
https://tinyurl.com/yxjbmmzl
Sandra
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Thanks, Sandra... so she was still there in 1954. This whole family is elusive once they get to Michigan!
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I did check for obitauries for Howard and Allie last week but did not find anything.
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index - Howard L Shepard - 13 December 1893 - claim date 19 November 1959 -
Sandra
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Thanks again for that. I just hate giving up on Harold, but I'm running out of rocks to look under. I was hoping Allie's location might have made them "closer" even with the age gap, that there might be some mention.
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I filed a formal request for the RCAF service records of Harold Atkin. Unfortunately, as the LAC in Ottawa have no record of his death I was given extremely limited information. But they did include a photo.
I had a look at all his travels in the early and mid 50s. He seemed to have a love of Latin America.
Today, I obtained a book that has eluded me for years "168 Jump Into Hell" by Art Kinnis and Stanley Booker, two of the 168 Allied airmen sent to Buchenwald.
Harold is mentioned in the book only to say that he was the only Canadian held at Buchenwald who was never found post-war.
They have an address (I do not know from what year this may be) for him: 333 Washington Street, Lapeer, Michigan
I don't know if this opens some doors or complicates things but figured I'd post anyway.
DTD
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333 Washington Street Lapeer Michigan was the address of Howard Clare Shepard - son of Allie Vernon Atkin/Shepard and Howard Lyman Shepard.
The Times Herald Port Huron, Michigan 25 Feb 1953, Wed - Page 2
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33788267/howard_clare_shepard/
Daily Times Obituary Index - Clare Shepard - 75 years - West Bloomfield MI - Oakland Press - 2002-7-10 - smk
SSDI - H. Clare Shepard - 11 April 1927 - 8 July 2002
Last Residence 48386 White Lake, Oakland, Michigan.
SSN issued Michigan (Before 1951)
married Lapeer Michigan 11 August 1950 - to Joan Lancaster.
The Times Herald Port Huron, Michigan 13 Aug 1950, Sun - Page 14
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33789582/mrs_h_clare_shepard/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33789583/mrs_h_clare_shepard_part_2/
333 Washington Street Lapeer also on the WW2 draft of Howard Lyman Shepard in 1942
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-KF3K-1B?i=1016&cc=1861144
Sandra
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I am SO glad you found that, Sandra. I was looking everywhere for Lapeer directories with no luck whatsoever. Well done!
I suppose the next step is to trace Howard and hope he passed any knowledge of Harold on to a family member that is still living.
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Marriage of Howard Clare Shepard - Clare H Shepard must have ended. This is the obituary for his first wife's mother in 1991 and it gives "J" a different surname
The Times Herald Port Huron, Michigan 26 Feb 1991, Tue - Page 7
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33788643/gladys_lancaster/
Sandra
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Obituary for the brother Robert - brotherof Joan Lancaster/Shepard/Leonard - Joan predeceased him.
Robert James Lancaster - 5 August 1924 - 16 April 2010
https://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/obit_print.asp?id=20121&locid=
Sandra
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Michigan Death Index shows - Joan L. Leonard - 9 Feb 1928 - Death Date 13 Jan 1993
Residence Bloomfield, Oakland, Michigan
Place of Death Royal Oak, Oakland, Michigan
Sandra
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Obituary Joan Lancaster/Leonard - Part 1
Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan 14 Jan 1993, Thu - Page 11
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33788727/joan_lancasterleonard_part_1/
Part 2
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33788734/joan_lancasterleonard_part_2/
Couple married in 1979.
Sandra
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Background info - Husband of Joan Lancaster/Leonard - Elmore "Dutch" Leonard
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmore_Leonard
Sandra
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quote - reply 18 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index - Howard L Shepard - 13 December 1893 - claim date 19 November 1959 -
Wonder if this claim refers to death, it doesn't say but there is nothing for Howard on the SSDI that I could see with a birth date of 13/12/1893 ? Or could they have retired to Canada ?
Couldn't see anything on the SSDI for Allie Vernon Shepard with a birth date 8/11/1898 unless I missed them both :-\
Sandra
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The mother of Howard Lyman Shepard - Ada R Tainer/Shepard 21 July 1864 - 2 March 1941 - is buried Mount Hope Cemetery Lapeer, Lapeer County, Michigan.
Could Howard Lyman and Allie be buried in that cemetery ?
FIND A GRAVE
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/186920523/ada-r-shepard
The brother Benjamin Shepard who died 20 August 1920 is also buried at Lapeer Michigan.
Ada and Elick/Alex Shepard divorced.
Sandra
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Obit for Clare Shepard - son of Howard Lyman Shepard and Allie Vernon Atkin
http://www.obitcentral.com/obitsearch/obits/mi/mi-oakland24.htm
Sandra
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Still exploring the fringes of this one - looking for obits which might mention Howard, Allie or Harold.
Howard Lyman Shepard has a sister who was Gemith R Shepard on the 1910 census Adams Street Lapeer Ward 2, Lapeer, Michigan
Ada R Shepard 45- deceased 1941 Michigan
Benjiman W Shepard 20 - deceased Michigan 1920
Howard Shepard 16 - ??? ??? ???
Alvin W Shepard 12 - (William deceased 1957 Shelby Tennessee)
Gemith R Shepard 6
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLR9-88S
1920 Lapeer Ward 2, Lapeer, Michigan,
Ada R Shepard 55 years
Guneth R Sheppard 16 years
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZQ4-MHH
brother William Alvin Shepard - 1897 - 1957
FIND A GRAVE
Memphis National Cemetery Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee.
PLOT C, 45
Sandra
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1940 Jefferson Street Utica, Macomb, Michigan.
Samuel Mc Lain 36
Gernith Mc Lain 36
Nancy R Mc Lain 5
Samuel A Mc Lain 2
Ada Sheperd 75 widowed. mother-in-law.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4GF-7V4
Sandra
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FIND A GRAVE
Gernith Ruth McLain - 14 June 1903 - 22 August 1987
Utica Cemetery Utica, Macomb County, Michigan.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163757449/gernith-r-mclain
Samuel T McLain - 1903 - 1985
Utica Cemetery Utica, Macomb County, Michigan.
Plot Section K Plot 13 Grave 3
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6706962/samuel_t-mclain
son Samuel A McLain 1937 - 1983
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6706942/samuel-a_-mclain
Sandra
Edit Added a McLain relative with an ancestry tree - lives in Tennessee - logged in last month - no info on Howard ??? Drat !!!!
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Wow! Fantastic research, Sandra!
In your reply #30, there is mentions of children. One in particular, B.T. of Birmingham, Michigan has a high online presence (facebook, phone listing etc) so she might be worth Daretodiscover contacting? She may have some early childhood memories, or at least heard the stories about Edward.
Still sifting through all the names Sandra found, so there might be others yet!
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Sandra, you have gone above and beyond. My thanks.
Bbart, thank you again.
I've written a letter to BT in Birmingham.
This really is a strange one. But it will be solved.
DTD
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Do let us know if you are successful! Hopefully if BT doesn't have the answer, she can direct you to someone that may know.
And if not, we will resume digging!
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Sandra, you have gone above and beyond. My thanks.
Bbart, thank you again.
I've written a letter to BT in Birmingham.
This really is a strange one. But it will be solved.
DTD
Pleased to help. Fingers crossed. Look forward to any up dates.
Sandra
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The Harold Atkin/Atkins that you’re discussing here was my father. My mother is Patricia who lived on Crescentwood in East Detroit. My dad was in the RCAF and was in Buchenwald. My dad was married before he married my mom and he did live at another address on Crescentwood. He spelled his last name with an s. I was born in 1957. Harold passed on April 10, 1964 at the age of 47. My maiden name was Debra Atkins.
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Harold’s birthdate was October 4, 1916. I believe Clarence Atkin was his grandfather. I recently found out that his mother was one of Clarence’s 3 daughters and she had my dad out of wedlock. I was told he might have been raised by his grandparents. He died in Willoughby Ohio and is buried there also. My dad must have added the s to his last name or someone else did. I have his flight log from the RCAF and newspaper articles of when he was in Buchenwald. The only thing I’m finding odd is that my birth certificate shows that he was born in Douglas, Arizona.
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Hi Debra,
Welcome to RootsChat - Sorry for the delay. Just received your message. The original poster was online on the 4 September, they should have been notified of your post, so hopefully they have replied to you by private message.
If not, you have made 2 posts and can therefore use the personal message system by clicking on the avatar of dare to discover and contact them that way.
Best Regards
Sandra