Basmajian Easter 1984

Easter 1984 at Joann and Pete's.
From left to right:
Joann Kazarian Seeley, Auntie Vee Basmajian, Cindi Kazarian, Mark Bujulian, Auntie Erch Basmajian Kazarian, Robert Paloutzian, Tom Paloutzian, Michelle Paloutzian, Jeanne Paloutzian, Pete Seeley, Uncle George Basmajian, Tim Seeley, Auntie Arlene Paloutzian Bujulian holding Joy Paloutzian, David Kazarian, Merlin Kazarian, Adam Paloutzian, Denva Kazarian, Stacy Bujulian, Gary Kazarian, Uncle Frank Kazarian, Matthew Seeley and Uncle Harry Bujulian.

Mariam Keshishian and Her Four Generations

This wonderful picture was taken on May 10th, 1920.  My grandmother, Dorothy Basmajian Paloutzian, is seated on the ground, third from the left.  Interesting fact:  My grandmother and her two cousins also in the photo, Zabel and Violet Zaillian, married three of the Palouztian brothers; Ed, Vern and Roy.
The writing on the bottom of the photo translates as "Mariam Keshishian and her four generations.  May 10 1920.  Fresno."  Mariam was born around 1840 in Turkey, and died in Sanger, CA on 18 July, 1925.

Front Row (Sitting):

George (Cal Jack) Basmajian; Mike Basmajian; Dorothy Basmajian Paloutzian; Erch Basmajian Kazarian; Leo Chooljian; Astig Chooljian Murachanian; Maron “Mike” Chooljian; Lilly Zaillian Bushnell; Mae Zaillian Perch (Lilly and Mae are Nishan and Hosanna Zaillian’s daughters. Their children Mary and Jim were not born at the time of this photo); Doris Kershaw Richards; Paul Kershaw; Pearl Kershaw; Albert Kershaw; Ruth Kershaw; Gladys Shishmanian Karabian; Violet Zaillian Paloutzian; Bertha Tusan Minasian; Dick Tusan. Eddie Mekealian.

Center Row (Sitting):
Nishan (George) Zaillian; Hosana Zaillian; Helen Basmajian – holding Margaret Basmajian Pashayan; Mary Badigian Basmajian; Zoren Zaillian Garabedian; Bidzar or Bidzarchali Chooljian (Sister of Nishan Chooljian); Gadar or Gadarchali Keshishian Chooljian; Susie (Susie Mama) Keshishian Zaillian; Mariam Keshishian*; Khatoun Ouzounian**; Lucia Basmajian Shishmanian; Rose Shishmanian Zaillian – holding Zabel Zaillian Paloutzian (Rose’s son, Sarkis “Ray”, was not born at the time of this photo); Roxie Shishmanian Parichan; Anna Basmajian Tusoosian; Aznive Tusoosian Mekealian; Arestakes Mekealian – holding Archie Mekealian.

Back Row (Standing):
Horine (Khoren) Basmajian; Dikran (Richard) Basmajian; Peter Garabedian; Murgrdich Chooljian; Nishan Chooljian***; Giragos Chooljian (Husband of Gadar and father of Nishan Chooljian and Bidzar Chooljian); Charles Kershaw; Paul Kershaw; Garabed (Adjam) Ouzounian; Thomas Shishmanian; Maron Zaillian (Older brother of Nishan seated at left end of center row); Harry Tusoosian and his sons Leo Tusan and Carl Tusan.

*Mariam Keshishian’s three daughters are beside her. On the left is Gadar Keshishian who was married to Giragos Chooljian, and Susie Keshishian who was married to Sarkis Zaillian. On the right is Khatoun Keshishian who was married to Kervork Basmajian, and after he died, she married Adjam Ouzounian. Mariam's sons are Paul Kershaw (he changed his name from Keshishian) and Peter Kershaw (not in photo) and Jacob Keshishian (not in photo).

**Khatoun Ouzounian’s first husband was Kervork (George) Basmajian. Her children from Kevork are Dikran Basmajian, Horine Basmajian, Lucy Shishmanian and Anna Tusoosian.

***Nishan Chooljian’s wife, Zevart, was not in the picture. Their daughter, Jessie Chooljian Garry, and their twin sons, Carl and Kenneth Chooljian, were born after the time of this photo.

Paloutzian photo update

I have updated the information on the Paloutzian family photo taken at Peter Thompson's (Bedros Paloutzian) ranch in Selma, CA circa 1918.

Here is that original post: 52 Paloutzians

A 110-year-old Love Letter

Happy Valentine's Day!  The photo above is of my great grandparents, Juvar and Tatevous Paloutzian, Juvar's sister Aghavni (Dovie) Tatoian and Juvar's parents, Altoon and Giragos Tatoian.  The photo was taken c. 1905.  Juvar and Tatevous were married 30 Nov 1905, in Fresno, CA; this photo likely commemorates that event.  Juvar would have been 20, Tatevous 23, Dovie 10, Altoon 37 and Giragos 42.

Tatevous was born in Parchanj, Turkey in 1882 and came to the U.S. in 1901, when he was 18.  Juvar was also born in Parchanj, in 1884, and had come to the U.S. in 1903, just two years prior to this photo.

This is a letter that Tatevous wrote to Juvar during their courtship.  The date on the letter is May 30, 1904.  My cousin Mary Shamshoian, whose grandmother was Juvar's sister Agnes, had this letter, and I was able to scan it when we visited.  I am so thankful to her for sharing!
My friend Houri Vartanian and her mother were very kind to translate it for me.  Here is their translation:

To Miss Juvar Tatoian

My kind lovely adorable. It is night. Everybody is asleep at this moment. But me, after a hard workday, I came to write you a heartfelt letter. Once again I want to share with you my wish and dream. 

My adorable, first let me tell you about our short visit on Sunday.  Even our smallest desire went unfulfilled. My days fly by like months.  All day, even in my daily duties, you are on my mind. My whole mind is possessed by your love. I know not if I am the like in your head. 

I work so hard but I never feel tired because I have you my exceptional adorable.  Always having you in my heart I find the cure for my ailments. 

And again my wish and desire is this. For you to continue to learn because the story is in your hands. If it isn't boring, please try to learn. Endure and do so continuously. Because this is critical and important for you as it is for me.  If you love me sincerely, continue. 

Likewise you should know that my pain and your pain are both my pain. There is no difference between us. And again I beg you that every week you learn at least "forty" words. As you learn so do I.  Maybe next Sunday when I visit I will find that you have learned this much. As I have nothing else of importance to write, I grant my sincere and loving greetings to you, your father and your mother. Also, with my sincere and loving greetings, I kiss their hands. And I send my greetings to Aghavni whom I miss.  

And with a kiss to you, I finish this letter... Chained to your heart, I remain your friend. 

T. H. Paloutzian

Although your name is familiar to many, your love is a slingshot to my heart. I am the only one close to your heart. You cause the wounds of my heart to dissolve. 

This is our address

T Paloutzian

Route 6

Fresno CA

I think he must have been talking about learning English.  My father has told me that my great grandfather read newspapers in English and Armenian daily, but that his grandmother did not speak English very well, if much at all.  The 1920 census says she does not read and write (in English), but the 1930 census says she does.  I hope she read Armenian so that she could read this for herself!

Thanks so much Mary, Houri and Mrs. Vartanian!  I am so grateful!!  Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I thought I should tell you the rest of the story. Here are Juvar and Tatevous and Dorothy and Ed's 25th wedding anniversary, in 1962. They had 5 boys; Ed, Ernie, Frank, Roy and Vern. And 12 grandchildren. And 21 great-grandchildren. And 25 great-great grandchildren. In this picture she is 77 and he is 79. They were married just shy of 60 years when grandma died, 28 Oct 1965. Grandpa lived to be 95 years old; he died 13 Feb 1978.  

Mary Basmajian's obituary translated from Armenian

Mary (Mariam) Badigian Basmajian (1886-1957).

Many thanks to Arevik of ArmenianAncestry.com who completed this translation.  The notes in brackets are mine.  Here is the original article.

Ms. Mariam T. Basmajian's death


Ms. Mariam Tigran Basmajian had a sudden death on February 25th in her Fresno apartment, surrounded by her family and doctor.
Funeral was at 10AM on February 27th at the Saint [Holy] Trinity Church, with the presence of a crowd of both genders. The casket of the deceased was covered with flowers. Church service was done by priest Der Babgen Gasparian and Senior “Sarkavag” Hrach Dzerkoyan.
Talented Ms. Henriet Devejian sang "To the upper Jerusalem". A eulogy was given by Der Hayr.
Then the casket of the deceased was transported to Ararat Cemetery, where a eulogy was given by P. Khosrov Badikian.
After the funeral the husband and children of the deceased served a requiem dinner (hokejash) for her memory in the church hall to more than 90 people.

Biography: Ms. Mariam Basmajian was born in Baghech Sultik town [Bitlis Sultanate] on January 10th, 1886 to Hovhannes and Margarit Badikian.
She came to the US with her mother and brother Vartan in 1907 and settled in Fresno.
Miss. Mariam Badikian got married to Digran Basmajian in March of 1908, creating a happy and honorable family, always fitting to the famous Badikian name of sacrifices and honesty.
She had two daughters and two sons. She was married for fifty years, being a kind and honest mother.
She was a happy and hard working person, treating her children and husband the same, often filling her eyes with tears of happiness.
The deceased Ms. Mariam was a member of Saint [Holy] Trinity Church Union of Women, Union of Baghech's Orphan care and Verashinats Union of Tigranakert.
The deceased Ms. Mariam Basmajian is leaving a kind name and a real mother's memory. Her death is being mourned by husband Digran Basmajian, sons Mihran [Mike] and George Basmajian, two daughters Ms. Aghavni Balutsian [Dorothy Paloutzian] and Ms. Yerjanik Ghazarian [Erch Kazarian], two daughter-in laws and seven grandchildren, as well as her brother and his wife Vartan and Rozi [Rose] Badikians and many relatives and friends.

A relative



Paloutzians and Torigians

I've been working on scrapbooking and identifying photos recently. This photo has writing on the back, in Armenian, and I requested a translation at ArmenianAncestry.com .

The only people I can identify for sure are Goohar Paloutzian (standing at the far left), and Tatevos Paloutzian (standing 3rd from the right), and their 5 sons at the front right: Ed, Frank, Ernie, Roy and Vern. Since the name Torigian was mentioned, I have compared this photo to another picture of the Torigian family (also from Parchanj), and I think the 2nd woman on the left is Tourvanda Torigian, and the man on the far right is her husband Markar Torigian.  Can anyone identify anyone else?

The translation I received:

On the left side there is a name along the date:

Garabed Torigian - 1919 July ...

On the right side:
On July 13 participated ... Garabed Torigian ... ( I think here it says birthday, but I am not sure)

This is Markar and Tourvanda Torigian and their sons Antranig (Trigger), Madiros (Martin) and Nish, taken about 1925.

Manoug Paloutzian's Family - Photos From Cousin Bob

I connected with Bob Paloutzian (Harold Robert, son of Oscar and May, grandson of Manoug and Mary) through his granddaughter Lindsey on Facebook.  Lindsey is Ken Paloutzian's daughter.  Bob sent along some pictures of Manoug, Mary and their family.  The picture above, from left to right, Harry, Manoug, Pearl, Lucille held by Mary, and Harold.  Lucille was born in 1905, and the youngest, Oscar was born in 1907, so it is a good guess to say this picture was taken in 1906.

Here are Manoug and Mary's children a few years later, maybe 1910-11, if Oscar is 3 or 4 years old here.  In the back are Harry, Harold, Pearl, and in front are Oscar and Lucille.

This is Mary and Manoug with son Oscar.

Mary, in her 90's, with Harold, Harry and Oscar.

Here are Mary and Manoug with two of their grandchildren, Harold Robert (Bob), who sent these pictures to me, and Oscar James (Pat).  Pat and Bob are the sons of Oscar Asadoor, Mary and Manoug's youngest child.  I don't have any pictures of younger sister Betti; maybe she'd like to send me some!  This was taken about 1939-40, making Manoug about 79 years old and Mary about 69 years old.

This picture was given to my father by Paul Parvanian, who was Mary's nephew.  (Paul Parvanian was Barbara Bujulian's father, for my Bujulian cousins.) You can see the address on the house as 2045; this is on Palm Grove Ave. in Los Angeles.  Here it is on Google Maps.  Use the Street View and see that it looks pretty much the same.  It is actually a duplex I think, as Manoug and Mary's address was 2047, according to Manoug's death certificate.  Manoug and Mary are buried side by side at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, Los Angeles County.  My Mom and I got some pictures on our way to San Diego in June.

Larch Plot, C97 grave 2

Read more about the Paloutzians who came to California from Turkey here.

Thank you cousin Bob for the pictures!  If anyone else has pictures they'd like to share, let me know!  I can help you scan them, if needed.

Well, at least he has a name now.

I had posted a group of old photos of my Armenian relatives awhile back.  Well, I figured they were relatives, as the photos were unidentified and we just didn't know who they were.  The pictures were in a box in the garage at my Grandma and Grandpa Paloutzian's house when it was cleaned out, in 1985 I believe, after Grandpa passed away.  Based on what I know now, I think the pictures were probably from Tatevous Paloutzian's things (my Grandpa Ed's father).
This is one of the pictures:

Recently I was contacted by my cousin, Mary Shamshoian, via Facebook (my new favorite genealogy resource!) and she had seen these pictures and had some of the same ones in her collection of family photos.  And hers had a name written on the back!!  Uncle Sahag Tatoian.  I did a quick look-up in the Dzeron Village of Parchanj book and saw that my great-grandfather Giragos Tatoian had a brother Sahag.  The book shows a + by his name, meaning deceased (at the time of publication, 1938), but also an asterisk, for which there is no explanation given.  That, plus the fact that he had his picture taken in Boston is all I know about him.  I cannot locate any records, so far.  I'll keep looking!
Giragos Tatoian and his wife Altoon had 3 daughters, Goohar (Pearl), Aghavni (Dovie) and Agnes.  Goohar, my great grandmother, married Tatevos Paloutzian; Dovie married Levon Garbedian; and Agnes married Soghomon Googooian.  Agnes was Mary Shamshoian's grandmother.

Auntie Mary

Auntie Mary was married to my grandpa Ed Paloutzian's brother, my Uncle Ernie. I didn't see them very frequently growing up, but when I did, they always remembered me and were so kind and loving. Auntie Mary's sister, Auntie Pearl, was just as kind. Even though she wasn't really my Auntie, she greeted me like family the few times I met her. What wonderful women; they will be greatly missed.

Mary Paloutzian
We celebrate the life of Mary Paloutzian who departed peacefully into the hands of our Lord in her sleep on Thursday, February 11, 2010. She was born on August 10, 1910, in Malden, Massachusetts, with her mother, Gladys (Koobatian) Kelarjian, her father Joseph Kelarjian, her brother Andrew, and sister, Pearl. She moved to Fowler, Ca., in 1920. Raised on the family farm and being the eldest of the three siblings, she was introduced to daily chores and care for the family. She graduated from Fowler High School in 1928. In 1931, she was introduced to the love of her life, Ernest Paloutzian, and they were married on September 11, 1932, in the family home on the farm where she was raised. Our mother had a passion for loving people in many ways, especially her cooking. Her favorite thing was to entertain family and friends. She was a fantastic cook and you never left her home feeling as if you hadn't had enough to eat. She delighted in preparing all the Armenian delicacies and being sure everyone's plates were filled again and again. Family favorites were her, yalanchi, choereg, kufta, dolma, and Holland Rusk pudding. Her presence was immediately known when she walked into a room. She radiated love and warmth to her entire family and all her friends. She was very creative and artistic, even learning to play the piano by ear. Our family wishes to thank Green Gables Care Home, Susan Kazaryan and Nancy Hinds Hospice for the loving and wonderful care our mother received from them over the last five years. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Dr. Rodney Paloutzian and his wife Shari of Fresno, Judy Carmichael and her husband Frank Aguilera, of Fresno, Allan Paloutzian and his wife Sue of Oceanside, Ca.; four grandsons and their spouses, Brett and Christy, Dirk and Bonnie, Kyle and Tyler and Sheree; and 11 great grandchildren. A Memorial Service honoring her will be held at First Armenian Presbyterian Church, 430 S. First Street, Fresno, Ca. 93702 on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to first Armenian Presbyterian Church or Nancy Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Ave., Suite C-1, Fresno, Ca., 93711

Christmas Greetings from the past!

Paloutzian family Christmas 1956

Ed and Dorothy, Mary and Ernie, Louise and Frank, Judy, Raymond, Arlene, Nancy, Goohar and Tatevos, at 834 N. Harrison, Fresno, CA.

Steele/Golden family c. 1953

Chickie and Mammy (Andrew and Claire), Betty, Margie, Cathy, Susan, Bill, Mary Ann, Don, Tom and Anne at 1040 Vagedes, Fresno, CA.

It helps if you're looking in the right cemetery...

About a year ago, in an attempt to locate new on-line information, I subscribed to NewspaperARCHIVE.com, which has thousands of images of newspapers from all over the United States and internationally, too. I was able to locate a lot of articles, such as marriage notices and obituaries, which provided me with tons of new information. In particular, I was looking for information about one of my great-great-grandfather's brothers, Bedros Paloutzian. Bedros was one of the four Paloutzian brothers who came to California. The others were Kachadoor, Hovhannes (John) and my g-g-grandfather Manoug. Sometime between his arrival in New York on 25 May 1891, and 10 July 1900 when the census-taker took down the information, Bedros started going by the name Peter Thompson. (Bedros is the Armenian form of Peter.)
The name change made it very difficult to track his 8 children and unknown grandchildren, because while Paloutzian stands out among records as an obvious relation, the name Thompson just blends right in and could be anyone. I had the family located in each of the US Census records for 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. After that, I didn't have much. I looked in the California death records available on-line, but couldn't find a Peter Thompson that matched what I knew. It was likely then that he died between the 1930 census and 1940, when the death records available on-line begin. (Earlier death records are available on microfilm, but that involved a trip to the library on Wednesdays or Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00. I am now a member of the Merced County Genealogical Society and have more convenient access.)
But thanks to my subscription at NewspaperARCHIVE, I was able to find Peter Thompson's obituary.

This gave me the married names of his daughters, and that he was buried in West Selma Cemetery. So, I wanted to find his headstone. On my way to Kingsburg, I stopped in Selma at the old section of the cemetery at Floral and Thompson. I didn't have the grave location, I just figured it was a small enough area that I could find it. Well, I wore myself out pacing up and down the rows of headstones .As you can probably guess by the title of this entry, and to make a long story shorter, I was at the wrong cemetery. I even went back there, with my sister Joy, a second time after calling the cemetery office and getting the location of Peter Thompson's grave, still thinking it was the West Selma Cemetery. The cemetery at Thompson just south of Floral is North Selma Cemetery. I was looking at a USGS map in my office one day when I noticed the other cemetery, also on Thompson Ave., which is actually the West Selma Cemetery. It is south of Highway 99 on Thompson near Park St. This is where Peter Thompson and his wife Mabel are buried. Their son Haig is there as well. He was a flying instructor who died in a plane crash at the age of 33.

New friends, old pictures

I made a connection this week with Alan Ouzoonian, a fellow genealogy researcher. While we aren't related, our families knew eachother and were friends. I wanted to share some photos with him that are (mostly) not identified, so I thought I would post them here as well.

There was a note on this wedding photo, and I got an English translation:
Mr. and Ms. Kar-ean(k)*
we are giving -- to you as a memory of Mr. and Ms. Ba(ou)la(ou)ltsian**.
Year of 1921

* unfortunately I can't distinguish the fourth letter and am not sure if the last letter is k.
** not sure if it says Baloultsian, Balatsian, Bouloutsian or Boulatsian. ou or a are not very distinguished... (I, Michelle, am guessing Paloutzian)

Armenian in English letters:
Ter yev tikin Kar-ean(k)
knvirenk -- i hishatak
Ter yev Tikin Ba(ou)la(ou)ltsiani
1921 tvin
The wedding picture was taken in Boston.


This photo above of a woman had a note on the back and my mom had written a translation that she thinks she got from Auntie Louise Paloutzian that says "May 22, 1923, A gift in remembrance of your grandmother Toorvanda (Theresa) Kachadooryan of Perchanj." So, it is a grandmother of a Paloutzian or a Tatoian, maybe.




I think the man above could be Giragos Tatoian.

The photo above reminds me of Tatevous Paloutzian.

Black Diamond Mines Descendent's Picnic

Margie, Mary Ann, Michelle, Liz and John. Family!


Pictured above, staying out of the rain: On the left, Mary Ann Golden Paloutzian and husband Tom in back, Margie Golden in the front. On the right, Liz Steele and father John Steele in the back, Jed Thoma and wife Maggie seated in front.

This weekend a few Steele family members gathered at the Black Diamond Mines Descendent's Picnic. The picnic is held every 2 years for desecendents of the mining communities that used to exist in the area. My great-grandfather, Andrew Steele, was born in Somersville. His father, John Still (later spelled Steele) worked in the coal mines.
John Still(18 Oct 1847-9 Jan 1912) married Rosa Rossi Turra(17 Apr 1860-18 Nov 1939)after her first husband George Turra died (on 15 Aug 1888). She had 2 daughters, Theresa and Georgie Turra, and at least Theresa was born in Stockton. Georgie was born after her father died (1 Jan 1889)and was apparently named after him. John and Rosa were married 12 Nov 1899 in Stockton. They had 6 more children together: Mary (b. 1890), John (b. 1891), Joseph (b.1892), Andrew (aka Chickie, b. 1895), Richard (b.1897) and David (b.1899). I have records showing that at least John through Richard were born in Somersville, CA. (David was born in Tesla, another mining community in Alameda county). Somersville no longer exists, but the site is located within the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve.
The family was living in Fresno at 1207 F St. when they were recorded in the 1900 U.S. census on 5 Jun 1900.

Above: left to right, Margie Golden, Mike Atkins and wife Meg Thoma Atkins, Maggie and Jed Thoma. Meg and Jed are Margie's children.


Above: Margie Golden and sister Mary Ann Golden Paloutzian. Liz Steele and father John Steele.
John Steele is the son of Richard B. Steele, and the grandson of John and Rosa Steele.
Mary Ann and Margie are the daughters of Betty Jean Steele Golden, the granddaughters of Andrew Steele and the great-granddaughters of John and Rosa Steele.

52 Paloutzians

I've updated the information in this photo.
Paloutzian Family Photo, c. 1918
Peter Thompson’s Ranch, Selma, CA


Front Row (children, seated, left to right):
1.male
2. Haig Thompson (son of Peter)
3.male
4. Peter Thompson, Jr. (son of Peter)
5. Clara Thompson (daughter of Peter)
6. Dickranouhi Paloutzian (daughter of Toumas)
7. Zarouhi Paloutzian (daughter of Toumas)
8. male
9. male
10. Louise Paloutzian (daughter of Hovhannes)
11. Virginia Paloutzian (daughter of Kachadoor)
12 Leo Paloutzian  (son of Kachadoor)
13. Jack Paloutzian (son of Kachadoor)
14. Art Paloutzian (son of Kachadoor)


Middle Section (left to right):

1. Ogda (Yughaper) Barton (wife of Charles Barton, Ogda was a cousin or half-sibling to Manoug, Hovhannes, Peter and Kachadoor))
2. Aroot (Harry) Paloutzian (2nd cousin to Manoug, Hovhannes, Peter and Kachadoor)
3. Peter Thompson (Bedros Paloutzian)
4. Mabel (Hnazant) Thompson (wife of Peter)
5. Helen Thompson (daughter of Peter)
6. Martha Paloutzian (wife of Toumas)
7. Toumas (Thomas) Paloutzian
8. Manoug Paloutzian 

9. Oscar Paloutzian (son of Manoug)
10. Mary Parvanian Paloutzian (wife of Manoug)
11. Andy Paloutzian (son of Hovhannes)
12. Hovhannes (John) Paloutzian
13. John Paloutzian, b. Apr 1915 (son of Hovhannes)
14. Jean Paloutzian (daughter of Kachadoor)
15. Kachadoor Paloutzian
16. Audrey Paloutzian (daughter of Kachadoor)
17. Ernie Paloutzian (behind Roy) (son of Tatevous)
18. Roy Paloutzian (front) (son of Tatevous)
19. Tatevous Paloutzian (son of Manoug)
20. Vern Paloutzian, b. Dec 1915 (son of Tatevous)
21. Frank Paloutzian (son of Tatevous)


Back Row (left to right):

1. Mary Barton (daughter of Charles Barton)
2. Soren Thompson (son of Peter)
3. Agnes Thompson (daughter of Peter)
4. Queenie Thompson (daughter of Peter)
5. Ernie Thompson (son of Peter)
6. Haigouhi Paloutzian (daughter of Toumas)
7. Armenouhi Paloutzian (daughter of Toumas)
8. Armen Paloutzian (son of Toumas)
9. Harold Paloutzian Paulson (son of Manoug)
10. Harry Paloutzian Thompson (son of Manoug)
11. Effrosini Paloutzian (wife of Hovhannes)
12. Queenie Paloutzian, b. Dec 1916 (held by Effrosini. Daughter of Hovhannes)
13. Beatrice Paloutzian (wife of Kachadoor)
14. Lucille Paloutzian (daughter of Manoug)
15. Pearl Paloutzian (daughter of Manoug)
16. Juvar Paloutzian (wife of Tatevous)
17. Edward Paloutzian (son of Tatevous)


Manoug Paloutzian (b.1861), Hovhannes Paloutzian (b. 1862), Peter Thompson (b. 1874), and Kachadoor Paloutzian (b. 1877) are brothers. Tatevous Paloutzian is Manoug’s oldest child, and from his first marriage to an unknown woman. Toumas Paloutzian is a first cousin to Manoug, Hovhannes, Peter and Kachadoor.
Ogda (Hagopian) Barton’s mother’s maiden name was Paloutzian.

Charles Barton's name was Garabed Der Arisdagesian)
Three of the unnamed boys are George, Socrates and Peter Paloutzian, Hovhannes' sons.
Here I've added the names to the picture:

 Just saw that I made a mistake in this photo.  Dickranouhi and Zarouhi in the front row are not Thompsons.  They are Toumas' daughters.

Notes and tidbits

• Anymore thoughts on Mame? Leave a comment here, or send me an e-mail.
• For those new to blogging, you can subscribe to these posts at the very bottom of this page, and my entries will be e-mailed to you each time I write.
• For the Paloutzian family, I found that the village of Parchanj exists in Turkey now with the name of Akcakiraz, in the province of Elazig; the coordinates are 38 degrees , 37 minutes North; 39 degrees, 16 minutes East.
• If anyone would like to be more involved in research, I would be happy to provide assignments for library and cemetery excursions in your area!

Finding Pearl

Pearl Paloutzian (b. 15 Aug 1900 in Turkey) was the oldest child of Manoug Paloutzian and his second wife Mary Parvanian. Pearl was married to Merial Shakerjian sometime before 1920, as the 1920 census record shows them living together in Fresno. They had a son, Benjamin, but the marriage didn't last. By 1930 Pearl and Ben were living in Los Angeles with her parents.
I hadn't been able to find out when Pearl died because I couldn't find a death record for a Pearl Paloutzian or Pearl Shakerjian. I was sharing this information with my parents when they provided a most valuable clue: She had shortened her last name to Shaker! And no one had bothered to tell me they were harboring this information! Anyway, I found Pearl Shaker's death record. She died in Los Angeles county 19 Apr 1976.

The other Thomas Paloutzians

I had the information from uncle Ernie Paloutzian's family tree, and I had come across the records on Ancestry, but today I finally put it all together and worked out where Thomas (Toumas) Paloutzian, (born in Harput, Turkey in 1870), fit into our family tree.
Thomas' father was Armenag. One of Armenag's brothers was Asadoor (Their father was also named Toumas.) Asadoor had 4 sons, Manoug, Hovhannes, Bedros (Peter) and Kachadoor, all who came to California. That makes Thomas (b. 1870) and Manoug first cousins. Manoug was the father of Tatevous, my great-grandfather.
Thomas and his family lived in California as well, moving from Fresno county to the Los Angeles area between 1920 and 1930. His wife was Martha, and they had 6 children, only the oldest was not born in California; Yeranhouy (b. 1892 in Turkey) married Tateous Apkarian and had 5 children in California: Nergis, Asadoor, twins Vahan and Vartan, and Zabel; Armenhouy (b. 1901) married James Der Hagopian and had at least 2 children, Ralph and Virginia; I'm not sure if Armen (b. 1902) married, Higie (b. 1904) married a man named Kamler, Dickranhoui (b. 1906) married a man named Paul, and Zari (b. 1908) married a man named Adanalian. I haven't located any other grandchildren of Thomas and Martha.
There is one more Toumas, and he was a first cousin to Armenag, being the son of Armenag's uncle Garabed.

On another note, I have been adding marriage and divorce records from the 2 newest data bases on Ancestry: the California marriage database (1960-1985) and the California divorce database (1966-1984). This has been very helpful for family members in my parents' generation.

Missing information - do you know?

A few of the many pieces of information I don't have:

wedding anniverary dates for:

1. Peeps and Pop Levenberg
2. Ernie and Mary Paloutzian (11 Sep 1932)
3. Frank and Louise Paloutzian
4. Roy and Violet Paloutzian
5. Vern and Zabel Paloutzian
6. Jack and Julia Golden, 29 Jun 1931 (Thanks, Fr. Paul!)

dates of death for:

1. Miriam Keshishian (d. 18 July 1925)
2. Peter Thompson (brother of Manoug Paloutzian) (d. 24 Oct 1936)
3. Harold (Paloutzian) Paulson, b. 1903 (d. 14 Sept 1999)
4. Ann Doherty (mother of Peeps, Elizabeth Levenberg) (d. 14 Oct 1999)
5. John Thomas Doherty (brother of Peeps) (d. 5 Dec. 1936)
6. William P. Doherty (brother of Peeps)

updated 11 Nov 2010

In the beginning...

I've been wanting to communicate more with my family about our family tree and the genealogy work I've been doing. When I discover new things, I like to share! And also, you can help me out with any information you have. Please share this blog with anyone in our family!

My tree is on Ancestry.com; if you'd like to see it, send me an e-mail and I'll send you an invitation to view the tree.

I work on different branches of my family as I find new information, and one piece of information can lead to others, and that will keep me going in a direction for awhile.

On Memorial Day this year, my parents, Grandma Golden, Aunt Bernadette and I visited our relatives at cemeteries in Fresno. We "collected" digital pictures of headstones on both sides of my family and I added those to the tree on Ancestry. I also found the headstones of Giragos and Altoon Tatoian at the Ararat cemetery in Fresno. They are my great-great grandparents; my paternal grandfather's maternal grandparents (Ed Paloutzian's mother's parents).
A few weeks ago at my cousin Becky Golden-Harrell's wedding, I was reintroduced to Bill Golden, son of Walter, Jr. He was able to provide some information I didn't have about his family, and that led me to do some more digging on the Golden side. Ancestry recently added a California marriage and divorce index (from the 1960's-1980's, so somewhat helpful), and I found some useful records there.
Random Google searches also turn up interesting things. I found Keith and Ellen Golden's wedding pictures on Ellen's blog recently and was able to add Keith's siblings to my tree. Keith is the son of Jim Golden, and grandson to Jack Golden.
As always, I am pleased to hear from everyone, and especially if you have family information I am missing.