One of the most elusive people in my research has been a man named Michael Kiefer.
The problem with Mike is that he didn’t leave much of an imprint on documents. I could place him on census records with his parents, but not after. I could verify his military service, but no mention of a spouse. All I had to go on was a thank you card, signed Edith. But all the documents for Mike Kiefer in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania and surrounding areas was paired with Helen. Helen Edith, maybe?
Nope. The worst part? A lot of people wouldn’t even care–wouldn’t even bother trying to figure it all out because he’s only related to me by marriage. That’s the trouble with step-siblings.
Mike Kiefer is the step-brother of my great-grandfather George. Mike’s mom married George’s dad after they were both widowed. I’ve seen one picture of Mike, in it he’s smiling with a cigarette dangling from his lips. They’re looking snazzy in front of a yellow house (see: “Salay, Solay, Saly, Salie, Golay”). Plus, a thank you card after Mike’s passing signed by Edith.
Eventually, I found Michael Kiefer born Dec. 4 married to Helen, and Michael Keifer born Dec. 4 married to Edith. It’s an easy assumption to make that they’re the same person. Helen died in 1959, her only children being two stillborn children. But Mike lived for almost another 20 years, and Edith 20 years after that. This was the timeline I constructed:
By 1936: Mike and Helen are married
April 7, 1936: Helen gives birth to stillborn girl
December 14, 1941: Helen gives birth to still born son
By 1943: Helen and Mike are divorced (potential relationship damage after two failed pregnancies)
December 17, 1943: Mike and Edith marry
September 25, 1959: Helen dies
December 26, 1976: Mike dies
November 9, 1997: Edith dies
That time line, in and of itself, makes sense on face value. But, once I looked closer at the documents I had I realized there was one glaring mistake I had made; a crucial detail I had overlooked. When Helen died in 1959, not only was her last name still Kiefer, but she was marked as married. And Mike was listed as her husband.
Well, shoot.
If Helen was still married to Mike, how could he have married Edith 16 years earlier? Of course, it’s possible that they did get divorced and whoever filled out Helen’s death certificate. After all, she’s not listed as widowed so obviously this Michael she was married to is still alive and yet for some reason he isn’t the informant, which typically spouses are. It is also possible that Mike and Edith got married despite Mike’s lack of a divorce.
Again, I’m not even blood related to this guy and yet I’ve put so many hours trying to figure this mess out. And to be frank, I don’t have a real resolution for you yet. My next step in this mystery is to contact Beaver County, where Mike and Helen would have got married and divorced at and see if they can look up their marriage and, potentially, divorce records.
Until then, all I have for you is this article that leads tells you no real information.
You’re welcome?
The Search for Salaj 