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THE CEASE/BREZEE
WEBSITE
Daddy's Mystery Page
Brief Biography
Daddy was a kind, extremely intelligent man. He served in the Navy in World War II, taking part in both the European Theater (Sicily, Salerno, and Normandy) and the Pacific Theater (Okinawa). He was assistant navigator on the Battleship "New York," and he received the Silver and Bronze stars. He came home about two months after I was born. I first remember him going to work at the liquor store in Falmouth (Cape Cod). Later, he owned a store in Buzzards Bay (Bourne). He became a math teacher in 1958, teaching first in Tisbury, Duke's County (Martha's Vineyard), then in Carlisle, Middlesex County, MA, and finally in Bourne, Barnstable County, MA where he was employed when he passed away in 1976. At that time he had earned a Masters Degree in Education at Bridgewater State College in MA and was taking courses toward his Doctorate
To me, Nana was Florence May (Shaw) Heissenbuttel, widow of
William
F. Heissenbuttel of Brooklyn, NY and Falmouth, MA. Mr. Heissenbuttel
was
the manager and large stockholder of Peerless Towel Company in NY and a
politically prominent figure
in that state. He died in 1930, long before I was born. Nana--First
Directoress
of the Graham Home for Old Ladies in Brooklyn and Chairman of the
Central
Day Nursery of the Brooklyn Bureau of Charities--survived her husband
by
31 years. Through their generosity, Daddy attended Oakwood, a boarding
school in Poughkeepsie, NY and graduated from Lafayette College in PA.
But the Heissenbuttels were Daddy's foster parents. Mr. Heissenbuttel rescued him from a cycle of foster homes and returns to a State Charities orphanage when he was about 12 years old. Before he entered the orphanage, Daddy's childhood environment was very different from the well-to-do existence he had during his school days. Much of his ancestry is still a mystery which, perhaps, you can help us solve.
Daddy's Mysterious Background
Daddy was born Robert Edwin Cease on Feb. 10, 1914 in Jamestown,
Chautauqua
County, NY. His birth certificate shows him to be the son of Fred and
Blanche
(Brezee) Cease. In the 1920 Federal Census for Jamestown, Chautauqua
County,
NY taken in January of that year, he is clearly shown as Robert Ceas
(without
the final "e")--age 5--living with his father, his two younger
sisters, Ethel and Beatrice, and the "housekeeper," Nora (Stevenson)
Nichols, b. May 30, 1855, widow of Alonzo Nichols. Her obituary, issued
on Apr. 22, 1924 by the Henderson Lincoln Funeral Home in Jamestown,
NY.,
lists three sons: Edward of Jamestown, NY; Sam of Salamanca,
Cattaraugus
County, NY; and Harry of Cleveland [Ohio?] Nora Nichols was born about
1856 in New York, daughter of Perry Stevenson.. Fred Ceas is shown as
"married"
in the 1920 Census, but there is no wife at this address. However, the
Jamestown City Directory for 1920 shows Blanche Cease working at the
Ideal-Peerless
Laundry, and her address is at the same number on Allen Street where
the
family is living at the time of the Census. Blanche (Brezee) Cease is
never
listed in Jamestown again.
Below are ten mysteries and follow-up notes as of January 2007.
The first mystery: Blanche (Brezee) Cease left Jamestown, NY
in 1920, along with Harry Nichols and a little girl named Beatrice.
Daddy
was placed in a New York State Charities orphanage along with his
sister,
Ethel. Ethel was later adopted by her own aunt, Bessie Leola (Brezee)
Varian,
and we have court papers to that effect. Apparently the Varians also
legally
adopted two boys with the last name of Anderson. Another cousin,
however,
states that she never knew the Varians to have any children. What is
the
real story behind this mystery?
Follow-up: To date,
several relatives who knew the Varians say that they never had any
children living with them. We've begun a Rootsweb Mailing List
for the surname Varian. If this is your surname, or if you know
someone with this name, please subscribe to the list by sending a
message to [email protected]
Leave off your signature and put just one word [subscribe] in the body
of the message. We'd like to know more about this family.
The second mystery: What happened to my grandmother after 1920? When did she die? We suspect that she lived and died in Racine, Wisconsin which is where Harry Nichols is buried and where daughter Beatrice May (Cease) Penna died in 1993.
Follow-up: I'm pleased
that my grandmother seemed to have a much happier life when married to
her second husband, Harry Nichols. We learned that the couple did
move to Racine with little Beatrice, and I've been in touch with some
of my first and second cousins...very nice people. We also
understand that she was forced to give Daddy and Ethel Grace up because
she was very ill and couldn't care for them--and that she always
wondered how their lives had turned out. I wish that Daddy was still
alive so I could tell him that his mother always loved him and
remembered him and did not abandon him, as he had believed.
The third mystery: Was the word "Peerless" in the name
of the Laundry connected to the Peerless Towel Company, or is this
simply
a coincidence? And was William E. Stevenson, owner of the
Ideal-Peerless
Laundry, a relative of Nora (Stevenson) Nichols? Born about 1892 and
died
Jan. 21, 1961, William's parents are given as Robert M. and Acirema
(Crider) Stevenson.
Follow-up: We still
don't know if there was any connection between the Laundry and the
Towel Supply Company, or if there was any relationship between the
Stevensons, the Nichols family, the Ceases, the Brezees, the Shaws, or
the Heissenbuttels. A check of the Heissenbuttels and the Shaws
in 20th century census records indicates that if there was any
interaction at all, it was in a professional or friendship
capacity. Nothing has been proven, though.
The fourth mystery: The first mention of Fred Cease is in
1901
when his daughter, Fannie, age 2 months, is buried in the Gerry Homes
Cemetery.
No mother is listed.Who was Fannie's mother? Blanche Brezee seems too
young
(she would have been about 14 at the time), and she seems to have come
to New York State in about 1905, according to her record in the
Chautauqua
Almshouse in 1910.
Follow-up: We still
don't know who Fannie's mother was.
The fifth mystery: Fred Cease is shown in the 1920 Census
with
his children and his housekeeper. Oddly, when Blanche (Brezee)
(Cease) Nichols
petitioned the court to have her daughter, Ethel, adopted by the
Varians,
she stated that Fred Cease had died in 1918.Where and on what day did
Fred
Cease die, and where is he buried?
Follow-up: These
questions haven't been answered yet. We'd like to have an
obituary or newspaper article that mentions my grandfather's death.
The sixth mystery: In 1910, Blanche Cease entered the
Chautauqua
Almshouse. According to the 1905 NY State Census, she and Fred had no
children
in 1905. But in 1910, she had 4 children. One son, also named Robert,
died
at age 3 of diphtheria in 1910 (five days after they entered the
Almshouse)
and is buried in the Gerry Homes Cemetery. The other children were
Sylvia,
Theodore, and Lucy Blanche. Although Sylvia and Blanche disappear from
the Gerry Homes records after 1910, Theodore remains there until at
least
1915. What happened to these three children? The Gerry Homes have been
uncooperative and have provided no response to this question. In the
1909-1910
City Directory, Blanche and Fred are shown as living with or as a
tenant
of her parents, Edward E. and Etta M. Brezee. Why didn't the
Brezees
help their daughter and grandchildren? The Brezees are last seen in the
Jamestown Directory in 1914, the year that Daddy was born. Edward E.
Brezee
died in 1915. At that time he lived alone, and we aren't sure where his
wife was at this time.
Follow-up: We believe
that Sylvia and Lucy Blanche died in the Gerry Homes, but we have no
proof of this. Theodore, however, could have left the Homes and
secured a job. We think that he may have descendants living
today, and we would love to contact them. Daddy remembered a
loving grandmother who kept him and his sister, Ethel Grace, until she
could no longer do so and sent them to the orphanage. We now know
that the Brezees had separated by the time Edward Brezee died.
Etta M. Brezee moved to Cattaraugus County, probably Little Valley,
where some of the Nichols family resided.
The seventh mystery: Daddy's mother said that her first
husband,
Fred Ceas(e) died in 1918. A check into existing records indicates that
this is true. Why, then, is he listed as head of the household in 1920?
Follow-up: As noted in
the Fifth Mystery, we still don't know when Fred Cease really passed
away. It's very possible that the "houskeeper," Nora Nichols,
gave the information to the Census Taker--or it could have been someone
else. Even today, widows often use their husband's name and even
leave telephones and other utilities in the name of the deceased,
ostensibly for security purposes. But clear proof of my
grandfather's death would solve this mystery quickly.
The eighth mystery: Daddy remembered his sister, Ethel
Grace.
She was in the State Charities orphanage with him but was adopted soon
after their arrival there (possibly the adoption by her aunt, Bessie
Varian).
She once wrote a letter to Daddy. He didn't reply because he just
wanted
to forget his turbulent childhood. Ethel Grace may have married someone
by the name of Troutman. All we know of her is that she also served in
the Navy during World War II and apparently had one daughter. We
really
would like to locate this daughter who would probably be in her late
50s or early 60s
at this time.
Follow-up: We still
haven't found Ethel Grace or her daughter. Most family members we
have found didn't even know about her. Please, if you know
anything about her, contact us!
The ninth mystery: Is there more information on the youngest
child, Beatrice May (Cease) Penna, the the child that accompanied
her mother and Harry Nichols West. The three of them may have
hitchhiked
West. In 1924, Harry Nichols is said to be living in Cleveland,
presumably
in Ohio. He died in Racine, Wisconsin. We want very much to get in
touch
with my first cousins, Victor Penna, Beatrice Penna, and Josephine
(Mrs.
Arlo H.) Smith. The e- and snail-mail addresses we have are invalid.
Follow-up: This is the
best news--we did finally get in touch with our cousins--and found out
that there is another living cousin named Cathy while Josephine and
another Blanche are now deceased. We've had fun corresponding
with our second cousins, Mindy and Dianna. We've spoken with
Beatrice on the phone and exchanged e-mail with Victor. It's been
fun to find people who are part of Daddy, his nieces and nephews, even
if he never had the pleasure of knowing them.
The tenth mystery: In 1951, someone added a notation to
Daddy's
birth certificate. It said that Robert Edwin Cease was to be known as
Robert
Nichols. In 1951, Daddy was already 37 years old, a veteran of World
War
II, and a husband and father who did not speak easily of his past. We
know
that he was not the one to add that notation, nor did his foster
mother,
Mrs. Heissenbuttel. Who did make this notation on his birth certificate?
Follow-up: This
mystery is as yet unsolved. Knowing who added this notation might
help to solve it and give a clue to the solution of the other mysteries
as well.
We have, through the help of our friends and relatives listed below,
found the names of family members living and deceased. Consequently, we
have updated the small genealogy at the bottom of this page. We are now
anxious to contact a distant Cease cousin, Francis Raymond Wood,
living in Florida in 1984. We also would like to find out the ancestry
of Daniel and Nancy (Herron) Williams, listed in the first generation
of
the Cease Family below as well as the ancestry of Stephen Cease and
Edward
Brezee. What relation is Stephen Cease to the Cease family with
similar names living in Delaware County, NY in the early to mid 19th
century?
A most exciting piece of information has come to us through members
of the Outred family. Etta M. (Outred) Brezee, my ggrandmother,
is probably one of the small group of the living descendants of Uhtred,
the First Earl of Northumberland. We would like to know where
Etta Outred was born in order to link back to this family in
England. Any help will be appreciated.
PHOTO ALBUM
(The Brezee Family)
GENEALOGY
This is the probable genealogy of Robert Raymond Nichols, born Robert Edwin Cease.
There are gaps that need to be filled in. We would welcome any information that you can supply including names, dates, locations, and e-mail contacts.
We are interested in corresponding with anyone, of any surname, related to the individuals below.
CEASE FAMILY
(sometimes written as "Ceas")
FIRST GENERATION
STEPHEN CEASE
b. about 1825 in Delaware County, NY. He m. Pauline Jane
Williams,
b. about 1827 in Poland, Chautauqua County, NY., daughter of Daniel and
Nancy (Herron) Williams. The family lived in Jamestown, Chautauqua
County,
NY where Stephen Cease was a Teamster.
CHILDREN:
1. Elias b. 1849 and d. 1872
2. *Abram b. 1851
3. *Adelbert, b. 1852 and d. 1939 in Brokenstraw, PA. He m. Mar.
11, 1898, Nellie Eighmey and had a daughter, Irene, b. Sep. 17,
1901. We have further information on this family.
4. Eugene, b. 1853
4. Addison DeVille b. Dec. 11, 1856 and d. Nov. 14,
1926.
He m. Lydia A. Collins.
5. Flora b. 1858 and d. Dec. 12, 1873
6. Franklin b. 1864. He m. Emma --- and
had
2 daughters, Bertha (1881-1882) and Burdena (1892-
)
m. Jan. 18, 1910, Edward Wolfe.
Pauline (Paulina), widow of Stephen, is listed in the Jamestown City
Directory
through 1914.
Son Frank (Franklin), an electrical engineer is listed through 1912.
Son Addison is listed in 1920. Abram is listed in the 1900 Census with
a son, Fred, age 25.
We are looking for the rest of the children and their descendants of
all six children born into this family--and we would like to find out
the
ancestry of Stephen Cease.
SECOND GENERATION
ABRAM CEASE
b. 1851. He went to Warren County, PA at some point and then
returned
to NY. He m. ---. What was his wife's name?
CHILD:
1. *Frederick F. b. 1875 and d. between 1918 and 1930
THIRD GENERATION
FREDERICK F. CEASE
b. 1875 in PA. He m. (1) ???; (2) about 1905, Blanche
May
Brezee, b. Mar. 31, in Sugar Run, Warren County, PA (now
obliterated
by the Kinzua Dam)..
CHILD BY POSSIBLE FIRST WIFE:
1. Fannie b. ABT 1900 d. 1901
CHILDREN BY SECOND WIFE:
2. Theodore R., b. Mar. 24, 1904--in Gerry Home as late as
1915, then disappears from the records
3. Robert R., b. Apr. 26, 1906 d. 1910
4. Sylvia B. b. Nov. 12, 1907--in Gerry Home in 1910
5. Lucy Blanche b. Nov. 6, 1909
6. *Robert Edwin, b. Feb. 10, 1914 d. July 31, 1976
7. Ethel Grace b. Feb. 10, 1916--probably deceased, not
mentioned
in her aunt's will in 1984--adopted by Robert and Bessie Varian, aunt
and
uncle.
8. *Beatrice May b. Feb. 24, 1918 and d. Nov. 26, 1993 in Racine, WI.,
m. Victor J. Penna, three children.
FOURTH GENERATION
ROBERT RAYMOND NICHOLS, aka ROBERT EDWIN CEASE
Born Feb. 10, 1914 in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, NY. Died July
31,
1976 in Falmouth, Barnstable County, MA. He m. Mar. 28, 1943, Mary
Margaret Hort, b. Jan. 21, 1919 in McKees Rocks, Allegheny
County,
PA., daughter of Metro and Marcella (Komoniak) Hort.
CHILD:
1. Barbara Ann b. June 22, 1945
BREZEE FAMILY
FIRST GENERATION
EDWARD E. BREZEE
Born about 1855 in Clyde, Wayne County, NY. Died Nov. 4, 1915 in
Jamestown,
NY of a brain concussion when he fell and hit his head on a doorknob.
He
m. Etta M. Outred. Lived in Sugar Run, Warren County, PA during
the 1880s. Edward Brezee was a woolen worker at Broadhead Worsted
Mills.
His wife left him and moved to Olean, Cattaraugus County, NY.
CHILDREN:
1. *Blanche May b. Mar. 31, 1886 in Sugar Run, Warren County, PA (now
obliterated
by the Kinzua Dam). Died possibly in Racine, WI.
2. *Bessie Leola b. June 21, 1889 and d. Mar. 22, 1984 in Jamestown,
Chautauqua
County, NY. She m. (1) Mar. 11, 1912 in Jamestown, NY., Charles
Coon of Columbus, Warren County, PA., son of Therden Coon;
(2)
Jan. 17, 1914 in Falconer, Chautauqua County, NY., Robert JohnVarian,
b. 1899 in New York City, son of John and Elisabeth (McCall) Varian. He
d. Dec. 3, 1952. Bessie sometimes used her middle name, Leola in place
of her given name.
3. Benjamin H. b. July 23, 1891. Died Feb. 2, 1932. He m.
1919,
Ethel Frye.
4. *Bertha B. b. Apr. 27, 1894. Said to be mentally retarded, Bertha
was
placed in a home called "Hudson" and later in the Chautauqua
County Alms House. She m. Aug. 16, 1924 in Falconer, Chautauqua County,
NY., Richard Elliott Melville, b. about 1895 in Scotland, son
of
Hugh and Elizabeth Melville.
5. *Ethel M. b. Apr. 15, 1895 in Sugar Run, Warren County, PA. She m.
May
26, 1917 in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, NY., Reuben T. Stull,
b. 1894 in Anaville, PA., son of William and Roena (Colburn)
Stull.
Ethel and her brother, Laverne, were taken to the Randolph Children's
Home
when they were found wandering the streets of Jamestown.
6. Laverne D. (male) b. June 30, 1897. Died Nov. 1949.
SECOND GENERATION
BLANCHE MAY BREZEE
Born Mar. 31, 1886 in Sugar Run, Bradford County, PA (now
obliterated
by the Kinzua Dam).. She m. about 1905, Fred F. Cease.
CHILDREN:
1. Theodore R., b. Mar. 24, 1904--in Gerry Home as late as
1915, then disappears from the records
2. Robert R., b. Apr. 26, 1906 d. 1910
3. Sylvia B. b. Nov. 12, 1907--in Gerry Home in 1910
4. Lucy Blanche b. Nov. 6, 1909
5. *Robert Edwin, b. Feb. 10, 1914 d. July 31, 1976
6. Ethel Grace b. Feb. 10, 1916--probably deceased, not
mentioned
in her aunt's will in 1984--adopted by Robert and Bessie Varian, aunt
and
uncle.
7. *Beatrice May b. Feb. 24, 1918 and d. Nov. 26, 1993 in Racine, WI.,
m. Victor J. Penna, five children.
THIRD GENERATION
ROBERT RAYMOND NICHOLS, a.k.a. ROBERT EDWIN CEASE
Born Feb. 10, 1914 in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, NY. Died July
31,
1976 in Falmouth, Barnstable County, MA. He m. Mar. 28, 1943, Mary
Margaret Hort, b. Jan. 21, 1919 in McKees Rocks, Allegheny
County,
PA., daughter of Metro and Marcella (Kamoniak) Hort.
CHILD:
1. Barbara Ann b. June 22, 1945
Oak Grove Cemetery, Falmouth, MA
Daddy's final resting place
Daddy's Tombstone
Taken on Memorial Day, 2002
c2000-2011 Barbara A. Peck and Tim Seawolf-Self
This page was last updated September 26, 2011