Susan Farrell Bankhead, Certified Genealogist (sm)
Firefighter Needs Genealogy 911
Dear Readers: I received the following request from my son, Tim Werle. I am passing it along here, hoping our online community will come together to help memorialize LA’s fallen firefighters. Let’s use his request to learn from each other. Please comment on where you would start and what process you would use to find these fallen fire fighters. When you find them, please tell us about it. Thanks!
Tim Werle wrote: I am a firefighter in the City of Los Angeles and over the years of our existence a number of great men have lost their lives in the line of duty. We have a hall at our training center that has photos of them all with the exception of just a few. I am wondering how genealogy, record searches, and the internet can help us find a photo of these great men so that we may give them the honor they are due.
The names of the fallen: (each name has a link to the stories and newsprint associated with the individual)
Fireman Monroe C. Karn
Engine Company No. 54
Appointed April 1, 1924
Died July 21, 1944
Market Fire
6700 West Boulevard
At 11:33 p.m. on March 28, 1944, Engine 54 responded to
a fire in a large market. All members suffered severe exposure
to ammonia fumes, heat and smoke. Karn went off-duty ill
April 1 and died July 21.
Fireman Elin Imbs
Engine Company No. 46
A Platoon
Appointed August 21, 1914
Died July 2, 1940
Cardiac arrest at fire.
4710 South Vermont Avenue
Auto Fireman Paul M. Shapro
Engine Company No. 22
Appointed August 7, 1918
Died April 5, 1936
Cardiac arrest while sliding pole
Responding to False Alarm at
41st Street and Broadway
Fireman Harry Louis Tree
Truck Company No. 4
at Engine Company 29
Appointed June 16, 1922
Died March 21, 1929
Fall from Truck 4
Intersection of Beverly and Western
Fireman Harry C. Powell
Engine Company No. 9
Appointed March 1, 1918
Died November 19, 1922
Crushed between apparatus
and Pacific Electric streetcar
while laying a line at fire.
808 West 10th Street
Fireman Adolph Hermanson
Engine Company No. 10
Died December 30, 1906
Fell from fifth floor window
during structure fire.
216 South Los Angeles Street
Call Fireman Sam Haskins
Engine Company No. 2
Appointed 1892
Died November 19, 1895
Died of injuries sustained while responding to fire.
Thank you for your help in this matter. I did not know where to turn and when I saw your post on land records a light bulb went off.
So, Dear Readers: How would you go about finding something specific you need in your research? Would you “Tweet” it or “Google” it or post a message on Facebook or head to specific internet sites?
For example, last February I attended a class at the “RootsTech” Conference taught by D. Joshua Taylor titled, “What Can I Find Online: An Interactive Case Study.” At the beginning of the class, Taylor posted a genealogical research question on the internet. Where he put it online, I don’t remember, but I think he Facebooked it or Tweeted it.
He also threw the problem out to the class and asked for suggestions where to start: Google, Ancestry, FamilySearch, etc.? The answers were as varied as the audience.
Within minutes of Taylor’s request posted online, several people responded online with the answer!
It’s amazing what can happen when we come together as a community to help each other.
Let’s see if we can help Tim and the LA Fire Department find photos of their fallen comrades. Thank you!
If Tim knows the date of death or the date of the injury, go to the local library. I would assume that the local newspaper would have some sort of story and perhaps a photograph.
Also check the local hisotircal societies.
Thanks Mary! You’re right. The LA Public Library is really big and maybe the LA Times would have run an article.
I might post a query in the surname messageboards at Ancestry/Rootsweb – particularly for the less common surnames. That may be one of the quicker ways to contact the family historians who might have photographs.
I would definitely share this list on FB and Twitter; perhaps start a page on FB.
A quick perusal of Ancestry.co.uk shows (U.S. records):
The Los Angeles Times published (22 Nov. 1895) a brief article about an inquest into the death of Sam Haskins. It has some detail, but no photograph.
A family tree for Monroe C. Karn; no photograph, but since there is living family, a possible source for a photo.
1930 U.S. Census lists Elin Imbs as Norwegian born, but again no photo.
An obituary for Harry Louis Tree, no photo.
Harry Clyde Powell: again, a family tree, so a possible photo source.
Sorry I can’t be of more help. Good luck with your search. Cheers.
My first thought for places to search would be to Chronicling America and Genealogybank. There could be many articles about these fireman, their families, fire houses and their life accomplishments.
Whenever I have a had that was not a family member but the name has been written on the photo I check Ancestry.com to see if there is a family member doing research for this person. So why not do it in reverse and see if any of these names belong to someone on Ancestry, they may have the photo you seek.
sorry that should have read ” whenever I have had a Photo that was not a family member.
This is a wonderful project. Putting it out like this to bloggers will turn up lots of help!
I’ve found Paul Shapro in the 1930 census, incorrectly indexed as SHAPER, with 3 sons and a daughter listed. I’ve placed a comment/correction with each of them at ancestry.com and will continue to look for this one. [My grandson is an LA City fire fighter.]
That’s wonderful news that you found Paul Shapro in the 1930 census with children listed. I appreciate your efforts to help in the project. How great to be helping in a cause that concerns your grandson’s place of business! Thank you SO much.
You are VERY welcome; it is my pleasure to try to help. I’ve started the “Paul M. Shapro” public member tree at ancestry and have already found several documents/details. His WWI draft registration doesn’t have a photo, but now we know he was of medium height/build, blue eyes, brown hair. I’m optimistic we will find a family member with a photo!
This is really great! I look forward to hearing all about it. And thank you, again!