Shelby's Genealogy
I have
another little mystery in my family, the mystery of who my grandfather was.
My father was
adopted. It's not a tough thing, back then, as I have his
adoption papers and know who his real parents were. They were a married
couple name Peter G. Anderson and Doris Lucille (she went by Lucille, sometimes
spelled Lucile and other times spelled Lucille) Brugh. They were married
when they gave their two sons up for adoption. Robert Otis Anderson born 1925
and my dad, Peter Anderson, born 1927. Robert's name was changed to Robert
Engstrom and Peter's name was changed to John Alexander Leamon. Obviously,
they were adopted by two different families. The mystery part of all this,
is that the Senior Peter Anderson, my dad's birth father. changed his name
several times and gave a different birth place and birth date on the few
documents I have. As closely as I can figure, he was born Peter G.
Austrakas, to George and Agnes (aka Ada) Austrakas. By the time he married
Doris Lucille Brugh he was using the name Peter G. Anderson, and sometime after
they divorced in 1929 he started using the name Peter G. Austin and married his
2nd wife, Nellie with that name. Recently I was able to find the adopted
son of Nellie and Peter Austin, Larry Austin. We've been in touch.
He knew nothing of his father's previous marriage because his father had died
when he was very young.
| Timeline history for Peter G. Austrakas/Anderson/Austin | ||||||||
| 1901 | 1918 | 1924 | 1925 | 1927 | 1929 | 1929? | 19?? | 1953 |
| Peter G. Austrakas born, perhaps Pittsburgh, PA? | Peter G. Austrakas joined the Army 9/12/1918 in Ottawa County, MI | Peter G., using the name Anderson, married Doris Lucille Brugh, 1/11/1924 in Grand Rapids, MI | Peter G. and Doris Lucille's first child, Robert Otis Anderson born, 5/8/1925 in Grand Rapids, MI | Peter G. and Doris Lucille's second child, Peter born, 12/30/1927 in Grand Rapids, MI | Children given up for adoption. Robert Otis Anderson name changed to Robert Engstrom. Peter Anderson name changed to John Alexander Leamon in Grand Rapids, MI near the end of 1928. John's adoption records state 1/21/1929. | Peter G. and Doris Lucille divorced. Year uncertain. Year either 1927 or 1929. 10/11/1929, Chancery, MI | Peter G. Austrakas, now using the last name of Austin married Nellie (last name unknown) | Peter G. Austin died 10/9/1953 in Muskegon, MI |