Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Billie Eilish Baird O'Connell Family Tree, ethnicity, genealogy, ancestry by Mary Cummins genealogist

Billie Eilish Baird O'Connell, family tree, heritage, Irish, DNA, ethnicity, family, mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, brother, finneas O'Connell, patrick o'connell, maggie may baird, singer, musician, song writer, (Click to see tree larger)

Billie Eilish won multiple Grammy's last night setting records. She won because she is extremely talented. She also comes from a long line of very successful and talented writers, educators, singers, musicians and song writers. I'll explore her family tree starting with the paternal side then the maternal side going all the way back to her great great grandparents from Ireland, Switzerland, England, Canada, Germany, France and even a little farther back to the 17th century. The actual tree goes a few generations beyond the image above.

*I won't be sharing full birth dates of live people. I won't share anything that isn't already public information. I won't be sharing home addresses even if they are public information. All of this information of a public person is in the public interest. This is a genealogy article. 

Billie Eilish Baird O'Connell was born in Los Angeles County, California December 2001. Her family lived/lives in East Los Angeles. Billie's brother is Finneas O'Connell born July 1997. The name "Eilish" is a form of "Elizabeth." Just a side note almost every single person in her family tree has blue eyes going back six generations. I can't really tell much after that except from draft notices for the wars.

Paternal side

Billie's father is Patrick O'Connell born January 1957 in Westport, Connecticut. He attended Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut along with his brothers. He's most well known for his acting roles in works such as The West Wing, Iron Man, and Baskets. He acted in Life Inside Out alongside his wife and son. He also voiced the role of Claus Hugo Strandberg in the video game Hitman. Both O'Connell families in the tree are of course from Ireland. Holland and Murphy families are from Ireland as well.

Paternal grandparents

James Bernard O'Connell 1923-2014
Billie's grandfather was James Bernard O'Connell born May 7, 1923 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and died October 1, 2014 in Darien, Connecticut. James Bernard graduated from Cambridge High School and Harvard University. He studied engineering but was also on the Glee Club and Crew squad. He married his first wife also a writer Jean Stone. He had his three sons with Jean Stone. Below is his obituary,

"O'CONNELL--James B., of Darien, CT, died October 1 at Stamford Hospital. Born May 7, 1923, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the eighth of nine children of William H. O'Connell and Catherine T. O'Connell. He was a writer, editor, executive, singer and world traveler. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Beatrix W. O'Connell; son James W. O'Connell; son Andrew O'Connell and daughter-in-law Sharon A. Levine and their daughters Molly O'Connell and Jenny O'Connell; son Patrick M. O'Connell and daughter-in-law Maggie Baird and their son Finneas O'Connell and daughter Billie O'Connell; stepson Timothy B. Yarrow and his wife Elizabeth Raven Walters and their daughter Camille Yarrow and son Garrett Yarrow; stepdaughter Suzanne E. Yarrow and her son Andrew Yarrow-Escaladas; and brother Paul E. O'Connell. His first marriage was to Jean S. O'Connell, who died in 1975. He was a 1944 graduate of Harvard, served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in China, edited several magazines in New York, and was an executive at IBM for 27 years, serving as director of public affairs. He lived in Westport, CT, from 1954 through 1978."

After James O'Connell's first wife Jean Stone died in 1975 he remarried Beatrix Weyland Yarrow. Bearix's husband Timothy Bernard Yarrow died in a car accident in Connecticut the same year that Jean Stone died in 1975.

Billie's paternal grandmother was Jean Stone September 15, 1922 - July 6, 1975 born in New York, died in Connecticut. She was also a well known writer. Below is her obituary,

Jean Stone 1922 - 1975
"Jean O'Connell Dies: Writer And Ex-Editor - WESTPORT- Mrs. Jean Stone O'Connell, 52, author and former editor, wife of James B O'Connell, of 17 Buena Vlsia drive, died Saturday in Yale New Haven hospital. A memorial service will take place Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. In the unitarian church Westport. The Charles H. Lewis funeral home, 210 East Stale street, is in charge of arrangements. Born in Staten Island, Mrs O'Connell grew up in Garden City, Long Island, N.Y., and was a Westport resident for 21 years. She graduated from Wellesley college, where she edited the Wellesley News, and subsequently worked on the editorial staff of Woman's Home Companion, Collier's, and McCal's. She later wrote short stores for McCall's, Laddies' Home Journal and Today's Woman, and recently completed "The Doll House Caper," a mystery-fantasy novel, to be published next year by Thomas W. Crowell. In Westport, Mrs. O'Connell active in the Intercommunity camp, serving two terms as board chairman and in other capacities. She also wrote the text for a book about the camp, entitled "Another Kind of Summer." In addition, she worked for the American Red Cross blood program in Westport, and for the PTA. Survivors, in addition to her husband, include, three sons, James O'Connell, Andrew O'Connell, and Patrick O'Connell of Westport; a brother, Mead W. Stone, Jr., of New York city; a sister, Mrs. C. R. Bell of Roslyn, Long Island, and her parents, Mead W. and Lillie Stone, of Garden City, N.Y." Parts of this obituary were also in the New York Times. 

Jean Stone went to Garden City High School in Garden City, New York. She played basketball, hockey, and lacrosse. Jean was the Captain of the Maroon Girls' Athletics Association sports team in 1939. They competed in a variety sporting events such as tumbling, gymnastics, ping pong and song. She was also part of Ink Spot which was the high school magazine and the German Club. She graduated from Wellesley College in 1944 as an English Composition major. She was in the yearbook Legenda. She was a reporter then the editor-in-chief of the Wellesely College paper "Wellesley College News." She was the author (Jean S. O'Connell) of the book "The Doll House Caper" 1975. Also the author of "A Day in the Life of the Handsome Wife of Dennis O'Hara O'Toole"1950 Today's Woman magazine besides many other short stories and articles.

Paternal great and great great grandparents

Billie's first set of paternal great grandparents were William H O'Connell and Catherine B O'Connell not related except by marriage. William was born June 17, 1877 in Lisbealad, County Cork, Ireland, died November 22, 1955 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was a union truck driver for Standard Oil Company transporting oil. His parents were William O'Connell and Margaret Holland both from Ireland.

Catherine also an O'Connell but not closely related was born October 10, 1881 in Ireland. She died January 26, 1926 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Together they had nine children. Catherine's parents were Denis O'Connell and Margaret Murphy both from Ireland.

Mead Wilmer Stone 1893-1982
The second set of paternal great grandparents were Mead Stone and Lillie Seemann. Mead Wilmer Stone born March 5, 1893 in New Brighton, Staton Island, New York died July 13, 1962 in Garden City, New York. Mead Stone graduated from Staten Island Academy and then Cornell University in 1915 with a degree in mechanical engineering. His nickname in college was "Pebbles" "Peb." He was a member of a fraternity and was on the cross country team. He was a farm engineer who sold tractor implements. His parents Medad Elisha Stone 1864-1946 and Emma Sterling Bones 1865-1957 are included in the book North America Family Histories 1500-2000.

Lillie Charlotte Seeman born July 3, 1894 in New York and died December 1976 in New York. Her father Frederick Carl Seeman 1857-1914 was born in Zurich, Switzerland. Her mother Elise Charlotte Garbe 1865-1950 was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. Seeman, Garbe families are from Germany.


Maternal side

Maggie Barbara May Baird O'Connell
Billie Eilish's mother is Maggie May (real name Barbara May) Baird born March 1959 in Colorado. Maggie graduated from Fruita Monument High School in Colorado in 1977 and the University of Utah. Barbara was in high school plays "South Pacific," "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Adam and Eve." She was in Homecoming, was a cheerleader and received a drama scholarship to college. In college she majored in dance and acting. Maggie is a successful soap star, actor, voice over artist, singer, song writer, musician, dancer and even modeled. She has her own wiki page for more specifics. In 1983 she married actor Ronald Harold Siebert in Colorado while they both were living in New York. Maggie co-wrote and acted in the movie "Life Inside Out" with her son Finneas. The movie won quite a few awards.  She was a major member of the Groundlings theater, also taught acting and is a song writer. Maggie has two brothers, Brian Norton Baird b. 1956, a US Representative, and Bruce R. Baird b. 1955, an attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah. I posted a few more pics of mom below. She looks just like Billie at the same age.

Maternal grandparents

Billie's maternal grandparents are William "Bill" Norton Baird born January 12 1927 in Orange, New Jersey and died February 20, 2001 in Fruita, Colorado. Finneas really looks like his grandpa Bill at a similar age. Below pic is 1949 at the age of 22 in college. Below is William "Bill" Baird's obituary,


William Norton Baird 1927 - 2001 pic is 1949 
"January 12, 1927 - February 20, 2001 Bill Baird was born Jan. 12, 1927 in Orange, New Jersey. He received his B.A. Degree from the University of New Mexico in 1949 and his M.A. in 1959. He received an Ed. S. Degree from Western State College in 1969. Bill was a teacher and principal in District 51 from 1956 until he retired in 1989. He was principal of Bookcliff Junior High School from 1969-1981. He married Edith Shaw in 1954. She died in 1987. They had three children, Bruce, an attorney in Salt Lake City, Brian, a U.S. representative from Washington State and Maggie an actress in Los Angeles. There are three grandchildren, Cole and Brice Baird of Salt Lake City and Finneas OConnell of Los Angeles. In 1990, Bill married Thelma Blekeberg. She survives along with five siblings. Bill was active in civic affairs serving as a leader of numerous organizations including the Mesa County United Way, the Mesa Valley Education Association, the Mesa County Democratic Central Committee and the Grand Valley Anglers. He served on the Fruita City Council for several years and was mayor of Fruita for three years. He served three years on the Mesa County Planning Commission. He ran for the state legislature three times unsuccessfully. Bill was deeply interested in public affairs as shown by his many activities and his numerous letters in The Daily Sentinel. He also wrote a column for the Colorado Statesman. He loved fly-fishing and fought a long and mostly losing battle with various golf courses. A funeral service will be 3 p.m. Sunday, February 25, 2001 at Fruita United Methodist Church. Those who wish to remember Bill may send contributions to the Fruita United Methodist Church." Transcription by Mary Cummins. ''

Billie's maternal grandmother was Edith May Shawn born June 19, 1930 in Toronto, Canada and died November 2, 1987 in Fruita, Colorado quickly of a heart attack. Billie's mother Maggie stated she went vegan for health reasons initially because she saw her mother die young of a heart attack. Below is her obituary,

"Edith S. Baird June 19, 1930 Nov 2, 1987 Memorial services for Edith S. Baird will be at 4 p m Thursday at Fruita Methodist Church, with Mike Bergman officiating. Cremation was held. Mrs Baird, a resident of Fruita since 1956, died Monday at the St Marys Hospital emergency room after a brief illness. She was 57. She was born June 19, 1930, at Toronto, Ontario, to Gilbert and Edith Wood Shaw. She spent her childhood in Virginia and attended Fairfax High School. She married William N Baird April 24, 1954, in Albuquerque, N.M. Mr. Baird, a teacher, survives. The couple moved to Fruita from New Mexico. She previously was married to Tony Bradley. He died in 1952. Mrs. Baird had owned and operated Edie's Fashions and Bridals for three years in the 1970s until its sale. She also operated the Ice Cream 'N Parlor in Clifton in the early 1980s, and for the past three years had owned and operated a day-care center in Fruita. She enjoyed her family, gardening, playing bridge and helping others. Mrs. Baird was a member of Fruita Methodist Church. Other survivors include a daughter, Maggie Baird of New York City; two sons, Bruce R. Baird of Salt Lake City and Brian N. Baird of Tacoma, Wash.; a sister, Gloria Nicholson of Falls Church, Va.; and three brothers, Edward Shaw of Stafford, Va., James Shaw of Orlando, Fla, and Robert Shaw of Virginia. Transcription by Mary Cummins.

Maternal great and great great grandparents

Billie's first set of great grandparents were Collier Whittemore Baird and Dorothy Grace Norton. Collier was born October 3, 1888 in New Jersey, died March 1977 in New York. He's traveled to England, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Germany, Japan, China, Java, Egypt, Spain, Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, Indian, Ceylon, Summatra... in 1913 by boat in the import/export rubber business which was Baird Rubber Trading. He attended Yale College in Connecticut 1908. He's listed as a stock broker and statistician. His obituary is below,

Collier Whittemore Baird 1888-1977
"Collier Baird, Former Resident. SARANAC LAKE, NY. - Collier W. Baird, 88, of Glenwood Road, died Tuesday March 1 at his home in Saranac Lake. Born in East Orange, N.J., Mr. Baird graduated from Newark (N.J.) Academy and Yale University's Sheffield Scientific School. He served with New Jersey Troop A on the Mexican border. He was a principal with the Baird Rubber and Trading Company, New York City, until his retirement in 1945. Mr. Baird moved to Basking Ridge, N.J. with his late wife, Dorothy Norton Baird, and started Two Brooks Farm, a Guernsey breeding farm. He was active in the New Jersey Guernsey Breeders Association and the American Guernsey Cattle Association. In 1951, the couple moved to Saranac Lake, where he became an active member of the Rotary Club, St. Luke's Church, the Boy Scouts, and other civic organizations. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Cuprak Baird; one brother, William Torrey of South Orange, N.J.; three sons, Collier W. Baird Jr. of Far Hills, N.J., John T. Baird of Glastonbury, Conn., and William N. Baird of Grand Junction, Colo.; three daughters, Mrs. William P. Person of Dover, Mass., Dr. Dorothy Leib of New London, Conn., Miss Louise Baird of Vineland, NJ.; 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Private funeral services were held at the Fortune Funeral Home and St. Luke's Church."

The Baird family is from Ireland.

Dorothy Grace Norton was born May 27, 1894 in Austin, Illinois and died July 15, 1968 in Saranac Lake, New York.

The second set of great grandparents were  Gilbert Henry Shaw and Edith May Wood. Gilbert Henry Shaw was born November 22, 1889 in Hagersville, Canada and died July 29, 1964 in Falls Church Virginia. He was a butcher and died of heart disease. His parents were Consider Sidney Shaw born December 20, 1854 in Walpole, Canada and died February 13, 1911 in Haldimand, Canada; and Martha Ann Duxbury born December 29, 1860 in York, Ontario and died 1947 in Hagersville, Canada.

Edith May Wood was born June 26, 1903 in Brookville, Pennsylvania and died August 2, 1982 in Fruita, Colorado. Her obituary below,

“Shaw, Edith M.  On Monday, August 2, 1982, at Commonwealth Doctors Hospital, beloved mother of Edward M., Robert J., James M. Shaw, Gloria Nicholson and Edith Baird; sister of Mildred Trent.  She also is survived by 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren…”

Edith Wood's parents were Stephen Cox Wood Sr. born December 28, 1873 in Selston, England and died September 22, 1927 in Arlington, Virginia in an explosion in an acetylene plant. His obituary below,

"Unfortunate Family. Stephen C. Wood, residing near Dunn Loring, died from the injuries he received Thursday last when the gas making plant at South Washington, Virginia, exploded. His funeral took place early in the week The family of the deceased seem marked for serious accidents. About two years ago W.A. Wood, a son of the deceased, was badly burned by the explosion of a lamp. His oldest son was killed in an accident and a daughter was in an automobile wreck and never recovered from her injuries."

Wood's wife Bessie Alice Roof was born December 16, 1877 and died January 30, 1956. The Wood and Roof families are from England.

Billie Eilish comes from a long line of successful writers, singers, actors and musicians. I will be adding photos and more information within the next day or so. Below is the normal view of the family tree to great grandparents of Billie Eilish. The tree I have goes back four more generations which is how I know where the families originated. Here is a link to the tree in Geneanet which I made. Billie is my 16th cousin. If you have one European ancestor, you are probably a 15th cousin to everyone else in the US and Europe who has a European ancestor. The full tree is on Ancestry.

Billie Eilish Baird O'Connell family tree wide normal view to only great grandparents. Click to see larger or download.


More pics of mom.

Barbara Maggie Mae Baird O'Connell 1977

Barbara Maggie Mae Baird O'Connell 1975

Barbara May Maggie Baird 1977 Colorado
Barbara Maggie May Baird 1979 on left modeling

Barbara Maggie May Baird second from right, cheerleader
Barbara Maggie May Baird 1977 Colorado high school cheerleader


Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

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Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Alex Villanueva family tree, ancestry, ethnicity, heritage, DNA from Poland, Puerto Rico by Mary Cummins

alex villanueva, alexandro villanueva, alejandro villanueva, poland, polish, aguadilla, puerto rico, sheriff, latino, mary cummins, genealogist, los angeles, california, police, office, los angeles county, board of supervisors, mother, father, siblings, sister, brother, grandparents, abuelos, padre, madre, chicago, illinois, rochester, new york,
alex villanueva, alexandro villanueva, alejandro villanueva, poland, polish, aguadilla, puerto rico, sheriff, latino, mary cummins, genealogist, los angeles, california, police, office, los angeles county, board of supervisors, mother, father, siblings, sister, brother, grandparents, abuelos, padre, madre, chicago, illinois, rochester, new york,


Sheriff Alex C Villanueva (Alexandro, Alejandro, Alexander) was born February 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. Alex Villanueva's parents were Victor Manuel Villanueva Laguer born 3 Jul 1941, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, died 9 Dec 2000; and Mary Anne Zgonina born 10 Mar 1937, Chicago, Illinois, died 25 Feb 1989, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. They are both buried in Monte Cristo Memorial Park in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

FATHER: Alex Villanueva's father ran a Spanish language newspaper called "La Voz de Pueblo" in New York around 1966. He was also involved in the Inter-American Unity Council and the Center for Brain Research, University of Rochester according to himself in two newspaper articles via newspapers.com, see references. 

"Puerto Rican Leaders Publishing Spanish-Language Newspaper. Here A group of local Puerto Rican leaders, in an attempt to encourage their countrymen to participate more fully in community affairs, have begun publishing a bi-monthly Spanish-language newspaper. "We're hoping to help the Puerto Ricans develop the feeling that Rochester is their city," the paper's editor, Victor Villanueva, said yesterday. "So far there has been a sense of disassociation. We want them to think of themselves primarily as Americans, not just Puerto Ricans."

As evidenced by this 1968 Letter to Editor Victor Villanueva was well spoken and appeared to care about his fellow man. This letter is important because Alex Villanueva's paternal great grandparents are black if Villanueva is his father. His father was actually confused about terms used in an article which came from a statistics report by the D&C and not the school. His use of the word "Negro" was appropriate for the time which was 1968. It was not considered racist at that time. "Colored" means "mulatto" or mixed with black. These were just the terms used in 1968 and were not considered racist at the time.

"I AM WRITING about the article, "10 P.C. Non-White,-Parish Schools Imbalanced" (D&C March 13). If for some statistical reason it happens that the majority of Puerto Ricans attending these schools happen to be from mixed families, your statement should be applied in terms of those who are actually mulattoes, but to generalize by saying that all Puerto Ricans are non-whites is false because of its superficiality. Since the island is only 24 per cent colored, this shows your generalization is in error. We reject the designation of non-white, not because those of us who, in fact, are non-white are ashamed of it, but because we reject the state of mind behind it which is really saying that we are not equal to others. We will not do this because man's scientific knowledge has shown that one group of humans is not superior to another and if we did we would retard the fight for equality which is moving forward all over America. I believe that the struggle for school integration at this Stage is a basic part of the struggle of the American Negro to secure the self-respect and dignity due him as a human. We have had this dignity and self-respect for centuries, VICTOR VILLANUEVA, Center for Brain Research, University of Rochester."

Victor Villanueva was in the US Army in Vietnam. His enlistment was 19 Jul 1961 and was discharged 23 Jul 1963. Victor Villanueva married Mary Anne Zgonina in Buffalo, New York November 8, 1963 nine months after Alex was born in Chicago, Illinois after he was discharged. Based on Victor Villanueva's military service dates he may have been in Vietnam nine months before Alex was born. Alex may have a different father than his siblings, see below. 

MOTHER: Alex Villanueva's mother was Mary Anne Zgonina Golubski. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended two years of college. Her first husband was G. Christopher Verduin. They were married 3 Sep 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. It's possible G Christopher Verduin is the father of Alex who was born before Victor and Mary Anne married. Verduin is an English Norman name. That would mean Alex Villanueva is Polish and maybe English but not Latino. Perhaps that is why he changed his name from Alex to Alexandro then to Alejandro when he came to California. I'm Latino and I've never seen it spelled "Alexandro" which is very different than "Alejandro." It's also possible that Mary Anne was pregnant by Victor before they married perhaps when he was on leave from Vietnam if he was. Only a DNA test knows for sure. Either way he's not a legitimate child of Victor Villanueva in the eyes of the law and Catholic church. In Latino communities this used to be shame upon the family though it doesn't matter as much today. Below are the combined marriage certificate entries of Villanueva and Zgonina.




Mary Anne Villanueva died of colon cancer at home in Puerto Rico in 1989, redacted death certificate below. She may have gone to California in 1988 for treatment. The certificate is signed by Alex's sister Bernadette Villanueva Lopez Miranda who was born in 1965 in New York. Bernadette and her father took care of the mother while she was sick even though Alex was the oldest child. Bernadette appears to still own the family house in Puerto Rico.


In 2000 Bernadette then a music teacher in New York wrote a song about her mother's death. 

"CD of music, poems helps pupils, staff cope. Bernadette Villanueva had been stoic for a long time, but sitting by the bed in what she knew would be her mother's final hours, she was overcome by grief. "I couldn't take it anymore and I broke down and I ran out of the room," Villanueva said, recalling the sad day in 1989. "But my mother called me back and she said, 'Don't worry about me; everything is going to be OK,' and she consoled me and she held me. ... It was painful, but at the same time very beautiful" Now, more than 10 years after her mother died of colon cancer, the 35-year-old Irondequoit woman is sharing her grief and her mother's words of comfort with others. An original song written and performed by Villanueva in memory of her mother is included on a new CD put out by the Rochester School District's Grief Resource Network." 

Mary Anne Villanueva moved with her family from New York to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico about 1973. She stayed there until her death in 1989. Alex left Puerto Rico via the military like most leave Puerto Rico. For some reason I don't see records for Alex until 1991. Maybe he was using a different name.

PATERNAL: Alex Villanueva's full paternal side was born in Puerto Rico. Alex's paternal grandparents were white, black and "colored" or "mulatto." 

In Puerto Rican census documents it's shows as "B" for blanco, white, "N" for "negro," black, and "C" for "colored," "mulatto." Don't confuse "B" for black like in US census documents. I am using, quoting the same exact words from the PR census to stay consistent with the records. I never use the words "negro," "colored" or "mulatto" normally.

In Puerto Rico they list couples as "married," or "consensual." They list parents as married even if they're married to other people besides the parent of their child. You end up with multiple spouses and potential parents. Some of these people on that Villanueva side were not married but "consensual partners." 

Spanish language names include the last name of the mother and father. The father's last name is the first last name and the mother's is the second last name. My family's last name was Rivera Baz. Sometimes the census flips, confuses them or cuts one off. I read, write, speak Spanish so I translated the original documents. The tree I made for Alex Villanueva has 113 people and 204 documents which are all publicly available. 

Alex's paternal grandparents were white Andres Villanueva Galicia, 12 Jun 1912 Aguada Aguada P.R, died 4 Aug 1995 Aguadilla, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and "colored" Manuela Laguer Pellot, 28 Ene 1916 Isabela, Puerto Rico, 15 Mar 1992 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. They were sugar cane farm laborers, laundresses and carpenters with limited education per the census. Villanueva Galicia's parents were white. Laguer Pellot's parents were black. 

MATERNAL: Alex Villanueva's great great grandparents are from Poland. His mother to great grandparents were born in Chicago, Illinois. They were not recent immigrants. The maternal side is taller, white with light skin and generally blue eyes. 

Alex's maternal grandparents were John Walter Zgonina, 8 Jun 1906 Radom, Washington, Illinois, USA, 18 Dec 1977 Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, USA; and Adeline Mary Golubski, 31 Jan 1901 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, 2 Aug 1996, Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. His grandfather John Zgonina was a 5'11" blue eyed fair skinned mail carrier who was in the military. Below is John Zgonina, Zgonena's obituary which mentions Mary Ann and Victor Villanueva.

"(sic) ZGONENA (ZGONINA) John W. (sic) Zgonena, passed awav Dec. 17, at Hot Springs, Ark., beloved husband of Rosetia; loving father of Leonard (Merle) Zgonina, Raymond (Marie) Zgonina and Mary Ann (Victor) Villanueva of Puerto Rico; dear brother of Joseph (Clementine), Herman (Helen) and Michael (Barbara) Zgonina and Helen (Joe) Buck; grandfather of 12; also nieces and nephews." 

Alex Villanueva has a son named Johannes Jared Villanueva who has been in the news. He was born 1985 in Los Angeles, California. His mother is Echavarria per his birth certificate. I can't find a marriage or divorce document for Echavarria so Johannes may be the illegitimate son of Alex Villanueva. I saw reference to Alex being "divorced" but can't find that document. 

Alex Villanueva married Vivian E Lopez born January 1967 in 1997. It appears they were living together in Vivian's mother's?, sister's? small old home in Los Angeles. They finally bought their own home in 2003. This is the home where it was stated that Alex allegedly tried to build a helicopter pad on property owned by the utility company. That would need a conditional use permit besides other permits. He is on the planning commission for La Habra Heights but that would still be difficult. 

Based on my research Alex Villanueva is either Polish English or he's half Polish and half Puerto Rican with white and black ancestry. His maternal Polish side arrived in the 1870's, was educated and at least middle class. Based on photos and descriptions he appears to very closely resemble his maternal side which is taller and lighter. His paternal side if it's Puerto Rican was mainly poor mixed farm laborers and laundresses. The father Villanueva and maybe a couple of the father's male siblings have advanced education maybe via the military and the GI Bill. At least a few of Alex's siblings went to college including at least one brother and sister. 

Alex Villanueva has repeatedly stated he's the first Latino and first Spanish speaking Sheriff of Los Angeles County. That's not true. Tomas Avila Sanches was the first Latino and Spanish speaking Sheriff in 1860 158 years earlier. Alex's first language was English like his mother. Alex is max half Latino if he's Latino at all.

If anyone has any other information, please, send it to me. This tree will probably be updated as more information becomes available. I asked Alex and others for comment, gave them 24 hours but no response as of the publishing of this article. 

References

"Puerto Rican Leaders Publishing Spanish-Language Newspaper," Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York,12 Jun 1966, Sun, Page 46. 

"Don't Generalize on Puerto Ricans," Letters to Editor, Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 24 March 1968, Sun, Page 123.

"CD of music, poems helps pupils, staff cope." Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 19 Apr 2000, Wed, Page 110.

Obituary John W Zgonina, Zgonena, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois,20 Dec 1977, Tue, Page 37.

California Birth Index, 1905-1995, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Lehi, Utah, http://www.ancestry.com 

Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001

U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2

Census Records, Ancestry Operations Inc.,. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index.

Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File



Photo is from Wikipedia fair use non-copyrighted in the public domain. Official portrait of 33rd Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California, Alex Villanueva. Other photos from Ancestry.com license for use. All uploaded content to Ancestry is non-copyrighted. 




____________________________
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Friday, February 4, 2022

Is Whoopi Goldberg Jewish? No. Caren / Caryn Elaine Johnson family tree, ancestry, ethnicity, The View by Mary Cummins

whoopi goldberg, caryn elaine johnson, comedia, actor, television host, mary cummins, ancestry, jewish, judaism, religion, dna, ethnicity, parents, daughter, alex martin, grandparents, children
whoopi goldberg, caryn elaine johnson, comedia, actor, television host, mary cummins, ancestry, jewish, judaism, religion, dna, ethnicity, parents, daughter, alex martin, grandparents, children, the view

Recent controversy has arisen regarding actor, comedian, television host  Whoopi Goldberg aka Caryn / Caren Elaine Johnson, Judaism and possible antisemitism. I believed her when she stated she was Jewish many years ago. While doing her family tree a few years ago I did not discover any Jewish roots or ancestors. More recently it was discovered that her use of the "Goldberg" name was more of a joke so I wrote it off as such.

*Only public information is posted here. Full birth dates of living people are not posted. Only full birth and death dates of dead people are posted. 

Whoopi was born Caren** Elaine Johnson in 1955 in New York City. Her parents were Robert James Johnson Jr 1926-1993 and Emma J Harris 1931 -2010. She had a brother Clyde K Johnson 1949-2015. She's been married three times to Alvin Martin 1952-2006, David Edward Claessen 1959 from the Netherlands and Lyle Trachtenberg. With Alvin Martin she has a daughter Alexandria Martin. Below is her family tree pedigree version. I'll update the tree and post an updated image later when I can finally get to my computer and files. 

This was just added to Wikipedia. I'll try to find the January 2009 Louis Gates show "African American Lives" on Whoopi. 

"Researcher Henry Louis Gates Jr. found that all of Goldberg's traceable ancestors were African Americans, that she had no known German or Jewish ancestry, and that none of her ancestors were named Goldberg.[13] Results of a DNA test, revealed in the 2006 PBS documentary African American Lives, traced part of her ancestry to the Papel and Bayote people of modern-day Guinea-Bissau. Her admixture test indicates that she is of 92 percent sub-Saharan African origin and of 8 percent European origin."

**Here is Caren Johnson's birth certificate. She was not born Caryn. This is for all the people sending in comments saying she was born "Caryn." Clearly "Whoopi" likes to change her name and tell stories. 

caryn elaine johnson,caren johnson, ancestry,ethnicity,grandparents,jewish,religion,actor,the view,judaism,children,dna,mary cummins,alex martin,comedia,los angeles,daughter,whoopi goldberg,television host,parents,
whoopi goldberg aka caren johnson birth certificate, caryn elaine johnson,caren johnson, ancestry,ethnicity,grandparents,jewish,religion,actor,the view,judaism,children,dna,mary cummins,alex martin,comedia,los angeles,daughter,whoopi goldberg,television host,parents,

Here is Whoopi Goldberg's marriage certificate to Alvin Martin. She was not married as Caryn to Martin.

caryn elaine johnson,caren johnson, ancestry,ethnicity,grandparents,jewish,religion,actor,the view,judaism,children,dna,mary cummins,alex martin,comedia,los angeles,daughter,whoopi goldberg,television host,parents,
Whoopi Goldberg aka caren johnson, marriage license, certificate, caryn elaine johnson,caren johnson, ancestry,ethnicity,grandparents,jewish,religion,actor,the view,judaism,children,dna,mary cummins,alex martin,comedia,los angeles,daughter,whoopi goldberg,television host,parents,

Below is Whoopi Goldberg aka Caren Johnson's family tree pedigree version. 1978, 1980 while living in San Diego Whoopi went by Caryn Johnson. She stated she was a single mother working with the San Diego Repertory Theater. I see no name change in San Diego County. I'll try NoCal then LA. 

April 29, 1990 interview "The Signal," Santa Clarita, California, Whoopi was asked, "How did you come to change your name from Karen Johnson to Whoopi Goldberg?" Whoopi replied, "God gave it to me. I was standing in the garden and a burning bush said that perhaps "Karen Johnson was not the way to go." Actually when I got nervous on stage I make a spitting noise like a whoopie cushion. For a while I went by that name but my mom said going by Whoopie Cushion was not a good career move, so I ended up taking my mother's maiden name, Goldberg."

whoopi goldberg, caryn elaine johnson, comedia, actor, television host, mary cummins, ancestry, jewish, judaism, religion, dna, ethnicity, parents, daughter, alex martin, grandparents, children
whoopi goldberg, caryn elaine johnson, comedia, actor, television host, mary cummins, ancestry, jewish, judaism, religion, dna, ethnicity, parents, daughter, alex martin, grandparents, children

Whoopi's entire family came from the south. I see no Jewish ancestors or blood relatives. I see no evidence that Whoopi converted or practiced Judaism. Her father was a Baptist Rev.

I saw what Whoopi said about the Jews and Hitler on The View. Yes, Jews have light skin but they're not "white." Hitler thought Jews were "an inferior race." Hitler was a white supremacist who was racist against Jews. That is why he killed them. 

I didn't see Whoopi's jokes against Jewish American Princesses (JAPs). I grew up in Beverly Hills and most of my friends were Jewish. I heard all the JAP jokes way back in the day. I haven't heard them in a long time. 

I don't agree with what Whoopi said about Jews or JAPs. I think it's wrong for her to have stated that she was Jewish when she's not. I don't know if she's antisemitic but what she said was wrong and beyond concerning. 

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Thursday, February 3, 2022

David Xavier Marks USC donor, David X Marks Tennis Stadium, Marks Hall, Marks Tower by Mary Cummins

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks was a successful insurance salesman in Los Angeles, California. He donated to USC (Marks Hall, Marks Tower, David X Marks Tennis Stadium), Pepperdine, Harvey Mudd College, Hebrew University of Jerusalum, Xavier Center Loyola High School, Claremont College, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Association besides other organizations. He started the $30,000,000+ non-profit David X Marks Foundation.

David Xavier Marks was born March 14, 1891 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada and died in Los Angeles, California April 11, 1977. He married, divorced Wanda Frances Rimkus with no children. His parents were Morris Marks 1858-1950 and Sarah Petker 1865-1943 born in Belarus and Ukraine respectively. His father was a Jewish "Israelite" who was in the clothing, drygoods industry per Canadian census documents and owned a brick making company, Southern California Brick Co., per US census records. David originally worked at his father's brick company. Original last name may have been Markovitz. The family came to California in 1893. He enlisted in the British Army in 1917 and served until 1918 in WWI. 1959 he received an honorary degree from USC. 

The family lived at 1357 Constance in 1920's. Below is that house today. He later lived at 1106 Hauser. 




Below is his obituary.

"The Insurance Man: The memorials are already planted all over the USC campus. "David X. Marks Tennis Stadium" and two dorms "Marks Hall" and "Marks Tower" . . . Why not? He paid for them. There are other buildings at Harvey Mudd, Pepperdine, Claremont and Loyola High.

He made millions in the insurance business, but he always was just a regular guy. He never got past the eighth grade because he had to go to work. But he loved school and so when he made it, he dedicated his life to students and education. His special love was USC and tennis and football and baseball.

He told a beautiful story about how he discovered the Trojans. At age 13. he was reading a magazine story about Harvard. A picture of an "ivy-covered learning hall" fascinated him. He asked his father if there were such a place like Harvard in Los Angeles. "I don't know but I saw a sign on the front of a streetcar that said 'To The University' so there must be one some place," his father said.

He went to the streetcar tracks and walked them to the end of the line where he found the beginnings of USC . . . He never took a vacation trip, spent all his free time on campus talking with students and watching football and baseball practice. He played tennis until he was 80, when a ball struck him in the eye and took his sight. He built the tennis facility the next year.

Dave Marks died Easter Sunday at 86. USC chancellor Dr. Norman Topping, president Dr. John Hubbard, tennis coach George Toley and John McKay from Tampa Bay will be among the speakers at a memorial service at 4 p.m. Thursday at Heritage Hall. They knew him best and they are the best speakers. But they won't come close."

Los Angels Times, Los Angeles, California, April 20, 1977

Below is his family tree. He had eight brothers and sisters. The men were all very successful in building, development, construction and other businesses.

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

Two more photos. There are no other photos available. This is non-profit educational fair use. He's far right in the top pic getting an honorary degree. He's in the middle pic below that.

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity




I looked him up today because I stayed at Marks International Hall at USC 1982/1983 address 3560 - S Hoover and original address 623 W 36th St. Thomas Guide 674B1 APN 5039-024-016 Tract 10616. The building is 40' x 95'6" x 3 stories, architect Jesse Earl Stanton & William Francis Stockwell. It was originally only 24 units then Marks agreed to pay for a second wing during construction I think and it became 48 units, 24 on each floor, 12 facing Hoover and 12 facing the back on each floor. It was originally a men's dormitory but went coed later. Men were on the second floor and women were on the third floor with two bathrooms on each floor near the ends when I was there. There was a Resident Advisor RA on each floor. When I stayed there it was for international student freshmen and anyone else who wanted to stay there. We had students from China, Africa, Saudi Arabia ... They used to do the annual bonfire in front of Marks Hall. Because it was an International Hall we got bomb threats called in all the time. It got to the point that no one left the building for bomb threats including myself. There was no AC and it was hot as hell in those dorms. Below are some pics of the old and new Marks Hall. Original built around 1954 or so. They renovated them more recently. 

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity, Marks International Hall

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity
David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

Previously there was a hotel and apartment building which they relocated in 1953. I see the original plans for the dorm. It's just a box. Permits used to be so easy back in the day. Below is the parcel map and permit.

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity

David X Marks, David Xavier Marks, USC, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Mary Cummins, genealogy, ancestry, dna, heritage, ethnicity




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Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Beto O'Rourke, Robert O'Rourke, Governor Race, Family, history, biography by Mary Cummins

Beto O'Rourke, Willy Nelson, Texas, vote, Democrat, El Paso, blue wave, Robert O'Rourke, Pat O'Rourke, Amy Hoover Sanders, Charlotte, Erin, Henry, Molly, Ulysses, Robert Williams, Charlotte Brooks, Melissa Williams, Pat Francis O'Rourke, mother, father, family tree, ancestry, heritage, latino, vote, voter registration, mary cummins, john francis o'rourke, mildred jasper
I originally wrote this when Beto O'Rourke was running for the Senate in Texas. Slight changes but the same biography and family history. 

Robert "Beto" Francis O'Rourke was born September 26, 1972 in El Paso, Texas. His parents are Pat Francis O'Rourke 1942-2001 and Melissa Martha Williams b. 1948. He has two younger sisters, Charlotte Jasper O'Rourke and Erin Brooks O'Rourke. Below is the pedigree view of Beto's family tree. Click it to see it larger. 

Beto O'Rourke, Robert Francis O'Rourke, Pat O'Rourke, Melissa Williams O'Rourke, Charlotte Jasper O'Rourke, Erin Brooks O'Rourke, Robert Lee Williams, Charlotte Brooks, Mildred Jasper, John Francis O'Rourke, James Francis O'Rourke, Anna Elizabeth Lloyd, Newton Jasper, O'Nora Dressler, Eunice Bird, Lewis Brooks, Marguerite Peil, El Paso, Texas, Mary Cummins, Georgia, Ireland, Irish, Wales, Senate, Texas, Democrat, blue wave, election, 2018, vote
Beto's father Pat Francis O'Rourke was a well known businessman, politician, lawyer and Judge in El Paso, Texas. From his obituary.

Robert Beto O'Rourke father Patrick Pat Francis O'Rourke, El Paso, Texas, biography  ancestry history DNA


"Political risk-taker died doing what he loved. By David Crowder, El Paso Times. Pat O'Rourke, a colorful El Paso politician, businessman and observer who lived life with passion and loved taking chances, was killed Tuesday morning riding the low-slung bicycle that was taking him across the country this time last year. A former county judge and commissioner, O'Rourke helped engineer the consolidation of the city and county tax offices and left office as the county's top Democratic official in 1986. Soon after, he switched parties to make an unsuccessful run for Congress as a Republican. He was 58; the father of one son, Robert "Beto" O'Rourke and two daughters, Charlotte and Erin; and husband to Melissa Williams O'Rourke, who runs the upscale Charlotte's furniture store on the city's West Side. Pat O'Rourke owned and managed the Ethan Allen furniture store on the West Side. A funeral Mass will be at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N. Mesa, after which O'Rourke will be buried at Memory Gardens of the Valley, 4900 McNutt, in Santa Teresa. Arrangements are by Martin Funeral Home West. "I just saw him two nights ago," Commissioner Dan Haggerty said. "You just kind of think that life is funny, life is fragile, and all of the things that people think are so important aren't really." Haggerty said what many others who knew O'Rourke might have thought on hearing the news that he died doing what he loved, pedaling a bicycle alone. "When he crossed the country, we followed the diary," Haggerty said, referring to the daily account O'Rourke posted on stanton-street.com, an online magazine run by his son. "He was very deep. As much as many of us would like to say we knew him, we did not know him. I think he was a lot more of a man and a lot less of a politician than some of us would like to think."

Photo of Beto's mother Melissa O'Rourke. Melissa was married to Pat in March 6, 1971 in El Paso, Texas.



Robert "Beto" O'Rourke married Amy Hoover Sanders in 2005 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have three children, Henry, Molly and Ulysses.

Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke, Amy Hoover Sanders, wedding marriage Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 24 2005, parents Pat O'Rourke, Melissa O'Rourke, William Sanders, Louann, El Paso, Texas


Beto's paternal grandparents are James Francis O'Rourke 1912 - 1966 and Mildred Rowene Jasper 1913 - 1967. From James Francis O'Rourke's obituary.

Beto O'Rourke's paternal grandfather John Francis O'Rourke El Paso Texas ancestry family history biography heritage


"O'ROURKE J. Frank O'Rourke, 54, life-lonq resident of El Paso, passed away Wednesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he was employed in the Public Relations Department of Reynolds Electric and Engineering Co., Inc. Survivors: wife, Mrs. Mildred O'Rourke, daughter, Mrs. Shirley Maveety, Las Cruces, New Mexico, son, Pat O'Rourke, California, brothers,. James L. O'Rourke, Garden Grove Calif., Raymond O'Rourke, El Paso. Rosary services will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday in Harding-Orr &; Mc Daniel Montana Ave. Chapel. Funeral mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Rt. Rev. Msgr. H. D. Buchanan officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel. Pallbearers will be Donald P. Bandy, Bob Palm, R. C. Semole. Robert H. Cutler, O. D. Williams. and H. T. Etheridae."

From Mildred Jasper O'Rourke's obituary.

Mildred Rowene Jasper O'Rourke, Beto O'Rourke grandmother El Paso Texas family heritage DNA ancestry 


"O'ROURKE Mrs. Mildred J. O'Rourke, resident of Sutton Place, passed away Wednesday. She had been a resident of El Paso 29 years and was the widow of the late J. Frank O'Rourke. She was associated with Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co.. Inc. Survivors, daughter, Mrs. Robert Maveety, Las Cruces, New Mexico; son, Pat F. O'Rourke, Los Angeles, Calif.; sisters, Mrs. Ruth Strawn, and Rita of Cimarron, Kans.; brothers, Ross Jasper, Rex Jasper, James Jasper, Fred Jasper, all of Cimarron, Kans., Beuford Jasper, Flo. 4 grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday ,in the Harding-Orr &; McDaniel Montana Ave. Chapel, Rev. Konrod Kelley officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery."

Beto's maternal grandparents are Robert Lee Williams Jr. 1921 - 1976 and Charlotte Marguerite Brooks 1919 - 2003.

From Robert William's obituary.

Photo of Robert and Charlotte.

Robert Lee Williams Charlotte Brooks, Beto O'Rourke grandparents, El Paso Texas

"Robert Willliams Services Are Held. Funeral services for Robert Lee Williams Jr., who died yesterday, were to be held today at 1:30 p.m., at Harding-Orr and McDaniel Montana avenue chapel, with Rev. Ron Thomson officiating. Interment is in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Ysleta. Mr. Williams had been president of Charlotte's Furniture Co. Inc., and had been a member of St. Clement's Episcopal Church. He had been a resident of El Paso 28 years, and lived at 1054 Torrey Pines drive. Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Charlotte B. Williams, El Paso; daughters Melissa O'Rourke, El Paso, and Patti Williams, McLean, Va.; a son, Robert Brooks Williams, El Paso; mother, Mrs. Eunice Williams, and sister, Martha Rhodes, of Picayune, Miss.; a brother, Wade Williams, New York City; grandson, Robert Francis O'Rourke. El Paso Herald, El Paso, Texas."

From Charlotte's obituary. She remarried.

"KORTH. Charlotte Williams Korth, 82, passed away Tuesday morning at her home. Charlotte Brooks was born and raised in Racine, Wisconsin and later moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she met her first husband Robert L. Williams. She and Robert moved to El Paso where they raised three children and started the furniture store that bears her name. She was known nationally as a leading interior designer and Charlotte's Furniture Store is still regarded as one of the premier furniture stores in the Southwest. In 1980 she married Fred Korth, former Secretary of the U.S. Navy. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert L. Williams and her second husband, Fred Korth; her sister Betty Miller, her brothers, Lewis, Edward and Robert Brooks and her son- in-law Pat F O'Rourke. She is survived by her children, Patricia Williams, Melissa O'Rourke and Brooks Williams; her grandchildren, Robert F. O'Rourke, Charlotte O'Rourke Pearson, Bonnie Williams and Erin O'Rourke, and her brother-in-law Dorr Miller. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2003 from 6 to 8 pm, with a rosary at 7 pm at Sunset Funeral Home-West located at 480 N Resler. A funeral mass will be held at 10 am, Friday, January 10, 2003 at St. Luke's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley. Donations can be mode to the El Paso Alzheimer's Association or the El Paso Museum of Art. El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas."

Beto's paternal great grandparents were James Francis O'Rourke 1879 - 1933, Anna Elizabeth Lloyd 1876 - 1963, Newton Marion Casper 1868 - 1939 and O'Nora Belle Dressler 1876 - 1965.

From James O'Rourke's obituary. He was born in Missouri.

James Francis O'Rourke, Beto O'Rourke's great grandparents family tree, ancestry heritage DNA


"O'ROURKE SERVICES SET FOR WEDNESDAY. Southern Pacific Conductor Lived in El Paso 15 Years. Funeral services for James Francis O'Rourke, 53, 1411 E. Nevada St., who died yesterday in a local hospital will be held at 9:30 a. m Wednesday in St. Patrick's cathedral. Burial will be in Evergreen. Fr. D. J. Kirgan will officiate. Rosary services will be held at 8 p. m. today in the Kaster & Maxon chapel with the Ladies of Charity in charge. Mr. O'Rourke was a Southern Pacific railroad conductor. He had lived in El Paso for the last 15 years. He is survived by his widow and three sons, James, Raymond and Frank O'Rourke, all of El Paso, and two sisters, Mrs. Frank Connolly, Enid, Okla., and Mrs. George Buck, Kansas City, Mo."

Anna Elizabeth was born 1876 in Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, Wales. She married James Francis in 1906 in Kansas. She died 1963 in Orange County, California.

Newton Marion Jasper was born in Clinton, Missouri 1868 and died 1939 in Las Cruces. Per the 1930's census he was a foreman at a college dairy.

O'Nora Belle Dressler was born 1876 in Randolph County, Missouri and died 1965 in Montezuma, Kansas. From her obituary.

Photo of O'Nora on the left.

Beto O'Rourke family tree ancestry heritage El Paso Texas O'Nora Belle Dressler Jasper

"Mrs. O'Nora B. Jasper. Funeral for Mrs. O'Nora B. Jasper, 88 former Garden City resident, was Saturday at the Baptist Church in Lebo. Burial was in the Lebo Cemetery. She died last Thursday at the Bethel Home in Montzuma after a lengthy illness."

Beto's maternal great grandparents were Robert Lee Williams 1888 - 1946, Eunice "Ennie" Bird 1900-1991, Lewis C Brookes 1876 - 1960 and Marguerite M Peil 1890-1927.

Robert Williams was born and died in Georgia. He was an operator at a gasoline filling station in 1940 per the census.

Eunice Bird was born in Georgia 1900 and died in Mississippi 1991. She completed four years of college. She was a supervisor for the WPA in 1940. 1958 she was the supervisor for the Housing Authority of Savannah.

Lewis Centennial Brooks was born 1876 in Ohio and died 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Below is a photo of him.

Beto O'Rourke family tree, ancestry dna heritage, Lewis Centennial Brooks
From Lewis C Brook's obituary.

"Lewis Brooks, 83, Milwaukee died Sunday night in a Madison hospital. Among the survivors is a son, Lewis P., Sun Prairie. The body is at the Frautschi funeral home, 120 E. Wilson St."

"Lewis Brooks Rites. Funeral services for Lewis C Brooks, 83, Milwaukee, who died Sunday in a Madison hospital, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Unitarian Meeting house, 900 University Bay Dr. Max D. Gaebler, minister, will officiate. Mr. Brooks was born in Lennox, Ia., and lived in Madison during the early 1940s. He was the organizer and president of the Sealshipt Oyster System until 1910. Mr. Brooks also organized and served as president of the Wisconsin National Fiber Container organization, Cudahy. He was a charter member of the University club of Milwaukee. Surviving are three sons, Lewis P., Sun Prairie; Edward H., Nashville, Tenn.; and Robert B., Cross Plains; two daughters, Mrs. James H. Carrier, Lincoln, Neb.; and Mrs. Robert L. Williams, El Paso, Tex.; and 15 -3 grandchildren. The Frautschi funeral home, 120 E. Wilson st., is in charge of arrangements."

Marguerite Peil Brooks was born 1890 in Wisconsin and died 1927 in Racine, Wisconsin. From her obituary.

"MRS. BROOKS, FORMER RACINE WOMAN, DIES. Mrs. Marguerite Brooks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo A. Peil of this city, and wife of Louis C. Brooks, Milwaukee, died in that city yesterday. She is survived by her husband, five children, a sister. Mrs. Walton H. Miller, this city and a brother. Edward Piel, Chicago, and her parents. Funeral services will be held at 11 o'clock Friday morning at Holy Rosary church. Milwaukee. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery, in this city, and will be private."

I will now only do Beto's second great grandfather and wife on the O'Rourke side. Bernard "Barney" O'Rourke was born 1830 in Glencar, County Leitrim, Ireland. He died 1896 in Nebraska. Below is his obituary.

"Barney O'Rourke, well known about here, and who owned a farm northeast of town, but who lived near Nebraska City, was last week returning from that city to his home, with another person, in a buggy, when, by the horses taking fright, or some other accident, they were thrown out. O'Rourke's collar-bone was broken, but it was thought that he was not otherwise hurt. However, he was undoubtedly injured internally, as he suddenly became worse, Friday, and died that evening. When the Rock Island road was being built through here, he operated a boarding car."

An article from 1892 about him.

"Bernard O'Rourke a former old and respected citizen of St. Joseph, but now of Talmage, Nebraska, made a very pleasant call at the Tribune office Wednesday on his way home from the Indian Nation, where he has been engaged all spring in the construction of a railroad. Mr. O'Rourke built and ran the Everett house on South Seventh street many years ago and looks as fresh today as he did then."

Barney's wife was Mary Anne McDermott born in Ohio 1848 and died in El Paso in 1923. From her obituaries.

"MRS. MARY A. O'ROURKE DIES WHILE VISITING HER SONS. Mary A. O’Rourke, 74 years old mother of J. F. and H. J. O’Rourke of El Paso, died Saturday at 1411 East Nevada Street. Mrs. O’Rourke arrived in El Paso last Monday from her home in Herington, Kan., for a visit with her sons. Besides her sons here, she is survived by two daughters in Herington, Mrs. Frank Connolly and Miss Alice O’­ Rourke; a son, B. J. O'Rourke, of Parsons. Kan., and a brother, P. J. McDermott of Liberal, Kansas. The body will be forwarded tonight to Harrington for burial by the J. J. Kaster & company."

"Mrs. Mary A. O'Rourke Dead. Mrs. O'Rourke is dead. This simple message, which passed from neighbor to neighbor and on through the town Saturday, brought a shade of sadness to the hearts of all who heard it, for this good woman who has lived among us for a number of years, had endeared herself to all by her simple kindnessm her consistent christian life, her charming personality and her cheeriness at all times. The children loved her, the young people enjoyed her the older friends trusted her and came for sympathy and understanding and her immediate family and friends adored her. Her passing leaves a place that cannot be filled, but her life among us leaves a pleasant memory of kindly service and unselfish devotion to family, friends and her religion, that is an inspiration to all and  will linger long after she has gone.  Mrs. O'Rourke left Herington about ten days ago to visit her brother at Liberal and two sons at El Paso, Texas, and was taken ill with pneumonia the second day of her visit there. Her daughter, Miss Alice went to her, arriving the day before her death and everything possible was done to save her for her family and friends but death claimed her on Saturday morning at eight forty-five. The body arrived in Herington Monday morning accompanied by her daughter and her two sons, H. J. and J. F. O'Rourke and their wives. The older son B. J. O'Rourke of Parsons and his son, Bernard, arrived Sunday afternoon, also Mrs. C. G. Stevenson of Pratt, Kansas, a niece. The brother, T. J. McDermott of Liberal. Kansas, was prevented from coming by sudden illness. Mrs. O'Rourke has made her home with her daughter, Mrs. F. P. Connolly for over five years and the funeral was from this home to St. John's Catholic church where a High Requiem mass was said with Father J. B. Glynn officiating. Prayers for the repose of her soul were offered by the ladies of the Altar society and the Knights of Columbus at the home Monday afternoon and evening. Interment was made at St. John's cemetery. Out of town relatives and friends were Mr. and Mrs. J. F. O'Rourke and Mr. and Mrs. H. J. O'Rourke of El Paso, Texas; B. J. and Bernard O'Rourk of Parsons, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Stevenson of Pratt, Kansas; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Cole of Dalhart, Texas; Mrs. Jas. Gleason and Mr. and Mrs. J. P. McSteen of Kansas City, Missouri and Mrs. John Crowley of Pratt, Kansas. Mary Ann McDermott was born near Cleveland, Ohio, August 20th, 1848 and died at El Paso, Texas, January 27, 1923. She was married to Bernard O'Rourke at St. Joseph's cathedral, St. Joseph, Missouri, August 26, 1866. Nine children were born of this union, three of whom died in infancy and one son, Domino, died May 4, 1807, being killed while in railroad service. Mr. O'Rourke died at Talmage, Nebraska, August 26, 1896. The O'Rourke's lived at St. Joseph, Missouri, for many years coming west with the Rock Island Railroad as it built from that place. Mrs. O'Rourke leaves the following children: -  B. J. of Parsons, Kansas; ,J. F. and H. J. of El Paso, Texas; Miss. Alice and Mrs. F. P. Connolly of Herington, besides a brother, T. J. McDermott of Liberal, Kansas, and twelve grand children." Transcribed by Mary Cummins.

I may later post the maternal second great grandparents. For now the paternal side of the family is from Ireland, Wales, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas. The maternal side of the family is from Georgia, Massachusetts, Canada and Wisconsin. The family history matches up perfectly with what Beto O'Rourke has said about his family tree. I've done the family trees and histories of other candidates and Beto is the only one who has been honest about his family history. Beto is a third generation Texan from El Paso.

Beto's wife Amy Hoover Sanders comes from an amazing family. They lived in Mexico and Texas. My family is from El Paso, Texas which is on the Mexican border. That's how my grandpa met my Nana. It was normal to go back and forth frequently over the border. Below is Amy's tree only to great grandparents. Amy's family is highly educated, successful and wealthy. They've been in Texas and Mexico for generations. One was a well known Texas Judge. They are from Germany and the US. They're also involved in a lot of philanthropy.

Amy Hoover Sanders, family tree, ancestry, heritage, Texas, Mexico, Germany

Someone wrote an article about my article. Very cool.

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/politics/irish-roots-beto-o-rourke

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and GameMary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

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