Genealogy - Timeline for Rudolph (as of January 2015)

Rudolph Frederick Osius age 22
University of Florida 1938-9

As planned in my retirement, I am now ready to do the necessary research for my paternal side of my family tree.  After a short review of Ancestry.com from a free trial in 2012, I am ready to commit to a full membership at least for the first year.  It didn't take long to find enough documents to provide a timeline.  These important documents become available when the person has been deceased 20 years.  There are also other documents of interest that can be found with diligent search skills such as obituaries and other newsworthy events.  Then there are first person interviews of family members which usually include photos that can add useful information to any family tree.  The most important research tool for any genealogy research is to site the source.

Since Ancestry.com is an online tool that can be accessed by members, it is important to include only the information that can be useful to link up with related family trees.  There are safeguards in Ancestry.com that allow each member to decide what information they want to go public online.  Right now I think it is wise to follow what is readily available and keep first person interview information to a more private program such as Family Tree Maker or my personal journals.  I have yet to purchase the newest version of Family Tree Maker for Mac but plan to do so later this year.  It came out in 2013.

We have used an older version of Family Tree Maker for PC since the early 1990's.  My husband has done extensive research on his family tree and I have done most of my maternal side.  All this information can be transferred to a newer program at a later time.  The newer versions of Family Tree Maker are very compatible with Ancestry.com and includes many more options for additions of documents, photos, and narratives.  Having these important things scattered in binders and folders is not the best way to store them.  I will learn more about Ancestry.com and become more confident as I get into all that it has to offer.

Timeline for Rudolph Frederick Zabransky Osius

1916  22 Dec Birth
          Rudolph Zabransky

          Vienna, Austria (9 sources)
           note:  mother Louise Zabranska had turned age 19 on 04 Dec 1916 and was unmarried; 
           no biological father is known at this time; possibly WWI soldier.

1922-1930  Education

                   Teresianium Militare School, Vienna, Austria (1 source)
                   note:  handwritten note with school name obtained on 30 May 1990 from personal papers.
                   It was told that maternal aunt/uncle cared for young Rudolph when he wasn't in school.
                   Mother Louise came to New York, USA Sept 1922; Florida in 1923.
                   Mother Louise returned to Europe many times but residence was in Florida.

1933  07 Aug - Arrival (age 16)

          New York, New York USA

          Europa ship departure from Cherbourg, France (1 source)

          Passenger list shows Louise Osius entry above Rudolph Zabransky (Osius) 
          note:  this is the first time the name Osius is shown with Rudolph Zabransky.

          Rudolph Zabransky (Osius) is listed as "German Ethnicity/Race/Nationality"
          Search continues for Osius adoption document, if any exists.

1935  Residence (age 19)

          Precinct 32, Dade, Florida (US Census - 1 source)

          Head of Household is Frederick Osius age 50, Louise age 40, Rudolph age 18, Patricia age 1;

          relationship of Rudolph to Head of Household Frederick Osius is shown as "Son."
          note:  marriage document found between Frederick Jacob Osius and Louise Zabranska 
          25 June 1932 in Manhatten, New York, USA.  Frederick Jacob Osius died 05 Jan 1939; 
          records show 2 different divorces in 1930 (Mary & Delia) all in Dade County Florida.

1938  Education (age 22)

          Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, USA

          Shenly High School (1 source)

1938 - 1939  Education (age 22)

                      Gainesville, Alachua, Florida, USA

                      University of Florida (1 source)

1941  Jan 15 Military (age 24) 

          Hartford, Connecticut  (2 records)

1944  March 14 Military (age 27)

          (1 source)

1954 Residence (age 38)

         4904 Birch Lane, Alexandria, VA USA, Fairfax County

1990  23 May Death (age 73)

          Alexandria, Virginia

          (4 sources)

1990  30 May Burial

          Quantico, Prince William County, Virginia, USA (3 sources)

Rudy with mother in early 1920's

Rudy at age 13 in 1929

   

Rudy age 16 in 1932 in Prague, Czechoslovakia

 

Mother Louise Zabranska, Rudolph Zabransky, maternal grandparents (names unknown) of Rudolph about 1932 in Prague, Czechoslovakia  or Vienna, Austria

Private Rudolph Frederick Osius age 24 or 25
about 1941

    

The ship Europa that departed Cherbourg, France in 1933 and
arrived in New York City, New York, USA 7 Aug 1933 with
Louise Osius and Rudolph Zabransky (Osius)

I have several more documents that I did not list here including one that shows a number for Rudolph as his Naturalization record.  I'm still looking into that as well as many other things that are not documented or I haven't found yet.  Still looking for marriage to Elizabeth Hudak, my mother.  There are many more photos.  I will include more photos in future articles.  What I have above was very easy to find on my first go around since I began my membership in December 2014.  I will continue a diligent search until I can't find anything new or I get help from relatives.  There may come a point when it would be useful to spend the money to have professional researchers do the work that is mostly in Europe.  Help from relatives is always welcome as is any new information from those searching the internet that are not members of Ancestry.  You can comment directly on this blog or leave a contact email.

Check back for updated information in new articles on this blog!  You can use the "Search" tool on the main page and just write in "genealogy" to get a list of what I have done.