The theme for the 57th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is news, specifically newspapers.

Newspapers can be a wonderful source of family history information. Share some aspect about your family history that you learned about in a newspaper. Articles, advertisements, obituaries, classified ads, photos… all are fair game if they appeared in a newspaper. Don’t be shy now, show us what you’ve got! What did you learn about your family from this information? Was the information accurate? How did you learn about this information… online search? Perusing old newspapers? A clipping saved by a relative? Fill us in on your family scoops… who in your family was in the news?


I don’t have a whole lot in the realm of newspaper articles concerning my family. I wouldn’t say that’s because my family wasn’t newsworthy, it’s just that articles are hard to come by. I will share a few clippings that I do have in my possession, all involving peculiar deaths.

These first few involve my great-grandfather George ROTTMAN, who died in February 1946 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, after falling from a trolley car. There were many articles published due to the unusual circumstances that surrounded his death, including the incident that allegedly took place on the trolley, the events that occurred after the incident, the question of whether George was intoxicated, and whether the hospital was also to blame.

ROTTMAN, George ROTTMAN Article, Tell How Trolley Pilots Deserted Dying Passenger
“Tell how trolley pilots deserted dying passenger,” undated clipping, ca. February 1946, from unidentified newspaper; privately held by Julie Marie CAHILL Tarr.
ROTTMAN, George ROTTMAN Article, Passenger Dies After Trolley Fight
“Passenger Dies After Trolley Fight,” undated clipping, ca. February 1946, from unidentified newspaper; privately held by Julie Marie CAHILL Tarr.
ROTTMAN, George ROTTMAN Article, Inquest in Trolley Death Bogs Down, Is Continued
“Inquest in Trolley Death Bogs Down, Is Continued,” undated clipping, ca. February 1946, from unidentified newspaper; privately held by Julie Marie CAHILL Tarr.

This next one involves my grand-uncle Edward George ROTTMAN, who died or carbon monoxide poisoning in January 1968 in Mundelein, Lake, Illinois.

ROTTMAN, Edward George ROTTMAN Article, Carbon Monoxide Blamed in Death
“Carbon Monoxide Blamed in Death,” undated clipping, ca. January 1968, from unidentified newspaper; privately held by Julie Marie CHAILL Tarr.

This last one involves my great-grandmother Catherine SCHWARTZ Cahill, who took her life in January 1925, in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.

SCHWARTZ, Catherine SCHWARTZ Article, Feared Loss of Her Children, Takes Her Life
“Feared Loss of Her Children, Takes Her Life,” 27 January 1925, from unidentified newspaper; privately held by Julie Marie CAHILL Tarr.

The 57th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is hosted by Jasia at her blog Creative Gene.