52 Ancestors, Week 35: Unforgettable—Raymond Hork of Montana

This is my third year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow. I will write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or at My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

Many of my ancestors’ siblings were either unmarried or had no children. I don’t want their lives to be forgotten when they had no descendants. Raymond Joseph Hork, my grandfather, William Cyril Hork’s brother, is one such person.

Raymond Joseph Hork, the eighth child of Johan Anton Hork and Julia Ann Sievert, was born 11 November 1889 in Stuart, Guthrie County, Iowa.[1] His father was a tailor and moved every two years or so until they finally settled in Hamilton, Montana.[2]

Raymond at a young age of twenty-eight years old, died on 1 December 1917 at the Montana State Hospital. Cause of death was exhaustion of dementia and precox.[3] According to Wikipedia, “this is a chronic, deteriorating psychotic disorder characterized by rapid cognitive disintegration, usually beginning in the late teens or early adulthood.”[4] The death certificate listed he was treated at the state hospital since 7 October 1917 until his death. The obituary about his death stated he died at his home in Hamilton.[5] I would believe the death certificate more than a newspaper article, where they might not want to mention he was having mental issues.

So, what was his life before the diagnosis? Newspaper articles give clues.

Social Activities

Raymond and his younger sister, Ursula, attended a children’s party in October 1900.[6] He [7]  In another play, “The Whirl O’ The Town,” Raymond played the part of Lem Tucker, the private secretary, while Ursula played the manicurist.[8] In May 1910, Ray played the cornet at a ball given by the reorganized Hamilton band.[9]

participated with the Hamilton Amateurs in the play “The Mikado” in December 1909, singing in the chorus along with his sister, Ursula.

Sports

Raymond played baseball. In 1905, he played right fielder for the Hamilton team, who beat the Stevensville team 9 to 1. His older brother, Tony, played center field.[10] In 1908, he played right field for the Clerks team, while Tony played third base.[11] In 1910, Ray played first base with the Peshick’s Pets team.[12]

Occupation

The first news about his working life was in 1907, when he accepted a position at The Western News [13] Later, in 1910, he attended the Mergenthaler Linotype school in San Francisco, a two-month training in the Mergenthaler typesetting machine for operators.[14]

office as a compositor.

Later, he worked as a keyboard operator on Mergenthaler machines all over the country. In April 1913, he was in Topeka, Kansas.[15] In August, he was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[16] He came back to work for the Missoulian in September.[17]

He lived in Missoula as he worked as a linotype operator for the newspaper and boarded at the Elks Temple.[18]

Death

No more news about Ray until the publication of his obituary, which said “although he had been in failing health for several months, death came as a shock to his relatives and friends.”[19]

The funeral was held at St. Francis Catholic Church in Hamilton on 3 December 1917 with Rev. Father Michael Dunne officiating.[20] The obituary gave some details about the service:

The casket was covered with many floral offerings. The pallbearers were N.W. Blindaeur, Lewis Downing, Russell Fitzgerald, William R. Leibel, R. H. Uhl, and E.A. Griffith.[21]

 

Ray was a member of the Elks lodge, the Knights of Columbus, and the Missoula Typographical union. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Julia Hork, four sisters, Mrs. Martin Colmann of Los Angeles, Mrs. Ed Hart (Mary) of Missoula, Mrs. B.V. Schwalen (Ursula) of Bonner, and Miss Carrie Hork of Hamilton; three brothers, Albert J., Tony, and Cyril Hork, all of Hamilton.[22]

Ray was buried at Riverview Cemetery.[23]

It is nice to not to forget someone who died so young, especially when they were single and had no children to help keep their memory alive. Raymond, you are not forgotten.

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[1] Guthrie County, Iowa, Register of Births, v. 1, p. 236, no. 3046, Raymond Joseph Hork, 1889, FHL film 1035091, item 3.

[2] 1900 U.S. census, Ravalli Co, Montana, pop. sched., Hamilton, ED 81, p. 33 (stamped), dwelling/family 285, John A. Hork household, digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com); NARA T623, roll 914.

[3] Montana State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate, Deer Lodge Co, no. 126234, Raymond J. Hork.

[4] “Dementia praecox,” Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dementia_praecox).

[5] “Raymond Hork Dies at Hamilton Home,” The Daily Missoulian, 2 Dec 1917, p. 8.

[6] “Hamilton Notes,” Anaconda Standard, 22 Oct 1900, p. 10.

[7] “The Mikado Scores a Big Success,” The Western News (Stevensville MT), 22 Dec 1910, p. 4.

[8] “Cast is Announced in Hamilton,” The Daily Missoulian, 27 Mar 1910, p. 9.

[9] “The Hamilton Band in Good Form,” The Western News (Stevensville MT), 25 May 1910, p. 1.

[10] “Hamilton Wins Game,” The Missoulian, 4 Jul 1905, p. 2.

[11] “The Big Game in its Local Phases,” The Western News (Stevensville MT), 10 June 1908, p. 4.

[12] “Amateurs to Play for Money,” The Missoulian, 14 Jul 1910, p. 8.

[13] The Western News (Stevensville MT), 15 May 1907, p. 8.

[14] “Bitter Root Brevities,” The Western News (Stevensville), 9 Aug 1910, p. 5.

[15] “Ray Hork is Safe in Cyclone Region,” The Missoulian, 3 Apr 1913, p. 3.

[16] “Hamilton Briefs,” The Missoulian, 27 Aug 1913, p. 5.

[17] “Hamilton News,” Anaconda Standard, 13 Sep 1913, p. 13.

[18] Missoula City Directory, 1915, p. 134, Raymond J. Hork, (St. Paul, MN: R.L. Polk & Co, 1915)

[19] “Funeral of Young Printer Who Passed Away Saturday Held at Catholic Church Monday,” Ravalli Republic, 7 Dec 1917, p. 1.

[20] St. Francis Catholic Church, Hamilton, Ravalli Co, Montana, death register, 1917, no. 7, Raymond Joseph Hork.

[21] “Funeral of Young Printer Who Passed Away Saturday Held at Catholic Church Monday,” Ravalli Republic, 7 Dec 1917, p. 1.

[22] “Raymond Hork Dies at Hamilton Home,” The Daily Missoulian, 2 Dec 1917, p. 8.

[23] Photo of tombstone, Riverview Cemetery, Hamilton, Montana, taken by author, Jul 1999.

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