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Let me try, and it won't be easy, but I am one of 5 siblings and this
web page has pictures that are mostly the 5 of us, our children, grandchildren,
and someday maybe great grandchildren. We are alive and can take pictures
and share them. But what of our parents? Grandparents, Great Grandparents,
and all before them? Have we told our grandchildren about our grandparents?
Well, as you may know, the five of us come from two marriages. One
was Charles Spice and Catherine Benjamin on November 14, 1941 and the
other marriage was Victor Newcomb and Helen Williams. Charles and Catherine
had three children; Pat, Charles, and Russ. Vic and Helen had two sons,
Gary and Brian. After Charles and Helen died, Vic and Catherine married
on August 20, 1961. Pat had already married Steve Endico, so the new
family unit living together, consisted of Vic and Cay, Charles, Russ,
Gary and Brian living on Asbury Park in Detroit.
So who are those names above? If you are one of the children or grandchildren
of the 5 of us, you will recognize some of them. But many of them are
new to you. Let me explain. My apologies to the Vic and Helen side as
I personally have little information prior to 1961. As I learn more,
I will post it here.
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Catherine Louise Benjamin and Charles Henry Spice
married in Lansing Michigan on November 14, 1941
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Catherine Louise Benjamin (b.9-14-1919; d. 9-24-1986) was daughter
and third child of Percy Benjamin and Annabelle Royce. She had an older
sister Elizabeth and an older brother Montville.
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Percy Whitman Benjamin, (b. 8-20-1873; d. 4-15- 1959)
I believe this picture was from Percy's 80th birthday party.
Percy was the 4th child of 5 of Montville Benjamin and Electra
Rebecca Judson who were married on 10-12-1859 in Lincklaen New
York
Montville (b. 6-5-1835; d. 1-16-1911)
Electra (b.4-1-1840; d. 12-26-1910)
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Annabelle Royce (b. 2-1, 1886; D. 10-27- 1963)
This picture is of a young Annabelle, date unknown.
Annabelle was one of two daughters born to George Frank Royce
and Elizabeth Blowers.
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working on, we have traced the Benjamin line back to England in
the 1500's. But I have only one picture before Percy. I could give
you names, but this web page is about pictures. I feel that with
a picture, you can put a face to a name and try to understand who
these people were. Just a fact to think about and something I remember
talking to Grandma about. Both Percy and Annebelle were old enough
to read the news of the first flight by the Wright Brothers and
about Henry Ford and his first car. Grandma and I later watched
space flights on TV. When they were married and had 3 children,
the car was not popular yet and so they had a horse and buggy they
used to go shopping or to go visiting. Later, I remember riding
while Grandma drove her 58 Chevy to church, or up north to the cottage
in Topinabee, Michigan. |
This is a picture from the late 1950's.
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This is Electra Rebecca Judson, who was Percy's mother.
(b.4-1-1840 in Mayfield New York; d. 12-16-1910 in Flushing Michigan)
Charles Henry Spice, (b. June 14, 1915; d. July 21, 1955) was the second
of five children born to Charles Henry Spice and Lydia Chatfield. He
had an older sister, Mary; and three younger brothers, Robert, Russell,
and James.
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The left hand picture appears to be a possible engagement
photo of Charles Henry Spice and Lydia Chatfield. The picture on the
right is from their 60th anniversary in 1968, a year before Grandpa
died.
Charles Henry Spice (b.8-10-1888; d. 10-14-1969) and Lydia Abella Chatfield
(b. 7-9-1888; d. 11-8-1974)
United in Holy Matrimony on the first day of September, 1908 at home.
The home was in Sunfield Township in Eaton County Michigan. No address
was given.
Charles was the second of three sons born to Alice Brownson and we think
Charles Henry Spice (no verifiable records have been found on her husband,
only family verbal history) Charles's brothers were Louis and Burton.
The three boys were orphaned at an early age and all ended up in different
farm homes. It was a common practice back then that a farmer would go
to the orphanage and take in a young boy so he could work on the farm.
None of them were formally adopted so they kept their Spice names.
Lydia was a twin to Libby and they were the third and fourth of five
daughters born to Henry Chatfield and Mary Elizabeth Pifer.
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Alice Brownson, (b. ~1868; d. 5-9-1939) Alice was born in Canada.
She later married George Patrick Rosenblad and reunited with her
3 sons in Minnesota.
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This is Mary Pifer. I do not have a picture of Henry.
Henry Chatfield and Mary Elizabeth Pifer. Henry
was b.~1861 and d.11-18-1923. Mary Pifer was b.11-23-1862 and
d. 5-9-1939. So both Henry and Mary, who were my great grandparents,
were born during the Civil War and the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln.
On a side note, Mary's sister Hannah married Henry's brother Peter.
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These are Henry's parents. My great, great, grandparents.
They are David Chatfield (b.9-1824; d. 11-7-1905) and Huldah Thompson
(b.~1828; d.~1-14-1903) To put this in historical context, John
Quincy Adams was President of the US when David and Huldah were
born. John Adams Jr., the second President; and Thomas Jefferson,
the third President were still alive when David was born. David
and Huldah were married in 1854 and had 3 children. Henry was
their second child.
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These are Mary's parents, also my great, great,
grandparents.
John Pifer (b. ~1831,d.5-21-1920) and Elizabeth Thomas (b.~1838,
d.~1909) They were married on 10-2-1856 in DeKalb County, Indiana.
They had 12 children and Mary was the oldest.
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Charles and Louis Spice.
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Burt and Charles Spice
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George Patrick Rosenblad, second husband of Alice.
He is holding Mary Alice Spice in Duluth Minnesota
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The 5 Chatfield sisters.
l-r
Florence, Lydia, Frankie, Libby, Birdie
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Burton Spice, George Rosenblad, Charles and Louis Spice
The 3 Spice boys with their step-father.
This was taken before September 1908
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Louis Franklin Spice
B. 10-17-1886
date and age of picture unknown.
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This is the only picture I know of my father and his whole family.
I asked Uncle Russ who the small boy is and he said he is a neighbor
boy who was over that day. He wanted to be in the picture and
would not behave unless he was.
l-r back row is: Jim, Russ, Bob, and Charles
l-r front row is: neighbor boy, Mary Alice, Charles, and Lydia.
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Catherine Louise Benjamin Spice married Victor Frank
Newcomb
August 20th, 1961 in the Harper Woods United Methodist church on 8 mile
near I-94
Rev. Clair Wolf presiding.
And it isn't often you get to attend your Mom's or Dad's
wedding, but the 5 children and one grand daughter were present. Just
think, one day Vic wakes up with 7 and 8 year old sons and goes to bed
that night with a wife, 5 kids, and a grandchild. How's that for a changing
day in your life? It was a small wedding but I remember it. What I didn't
remember was which one was Gary and which one was Brian. I had two new
brothers who I didn't know. That was interesting. And I am sure they
didn't know me either.
Now the story goes that Grandpa Newcomb was really born
Frank Sellman on April 10, 1910. Details are not totally known to me.
His mother's first name was Adelaide and I remember when she lived with
Vic and Cay later in her life. When I met her she was married to William
Hilson. Brian tells me he found a picture of a Vilas Newcomb who he
thinks may be Vic's father. Vic later married Helen Mae Williams. Then
sometime between 1947 and 1950 he changed his name to Victor Frank Newcomb.
Vic died on December 11, 1979 and is buried in Acacia Park Cemetery
where a lot of our family is buried.
(I hope to get more information from Brian and update this story. I
also hope to find a picture of Helen.)
Looking for a good picture of Cay and Vic is not easy.
We didn't take so many pictures back then. Here is one I found but it
has me in it also. And since I am in the middle, photoshop wouldn't
crop me out.
Here is another picture I found that is color faded
but Vic looks like I remember him here. Sure wish we had a picture of
him in his famous gray taped chair with the boxes of snacks on the floor
by his right hand. Gee, is that where I got that from?
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Who can forget the good-bye pose at Russ and Wally's wedding?
And to think this was before the designated driver rules. Oh my
gosh!!!
They had a good time!!!!
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This is Vic at Sojourner's Lodge summer picnic the year Chuck
was Master. It was a cold day and rained some, so he found a way
to stay warm.
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This is the first picture I can find of us 4 boys. I think
this is about 1963. It is out of focus, but this is Russ,
Chuck, Brian, Gary and our big Chevy station wagon. Great
car, it had a 409 engine back when the song about 409 engines
was popluar. And it sat 9 people with no problems. 40 years
later the mini-vans only sit 7.
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May 22, 1976
taken at Brian and Terri's wedding
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May 1970
NO, this is not a boy's choir.
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August 1998
Well, here we are again 28 years later.
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The Official Rug Rats photo of 1994. Not so small anymore.
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December 1994.
I love this picture. I wish we had done this for 20 years straight.
But if I remember right they were about to revolt and take the
camera away. And they out numbered the parents. Well anyway what
we have here, all at one time is, all 14 of Vic and Cay's grandchildren.
Plus one husband and one fiance, and a great grandchild. So let
me try to name everyone.
(email me to make corrections). L-R, back row first I see:
back: Eric & Dawn Endico; Amy Spice, John & Catie Durst;
Julie, Aaron, and Jim Proudfoot.
front: Todd Endico, Chuck & Tracy Spice; Carri Newcomb, Sarah
Spice, Sandi, Jason, J.D. & Staci Newcomb
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Well, these are the oldest pictures I have. I hope my nieces and nephews
and my children and grand children will better understand those relatives
who came before them. Of course this is just a direct line and does
not include all the Uncles and Aunts and cousins back these 3 or 4 generations.
That would be a huge undertaking.
I have much more information on the Benjamin line, but I don't have
any older pictures to put with it. Gee the camera comes about in the
time of the Civil War, and our first Benjamin we list is John Benjamin
who was born in 1586 in Healthfield, Suzzex Co. England. Gee, he would
be 421 years old now.
When I can get some picture and other information on the Newcomb and
Williams family, I will add it.
When I was in Wasilla Alaska, I did find Newcomb Park on Wasilla Lake.
Wonder who this was named after?
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