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Sarah Williams and Timothy Theophilus marriage in Wales, June 14, 1878, The Church of Yaliadyffin Wales, witnessed by Johny Benowdern, John Williams, Charles Williams & Miriane Davies |
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The Singer Home, Cottown, Aberdeanshire, Scotland, about 1902. Martin's Grandmother's (Margaret Singer Crerar) aunt Chris, cousin Geo Brownie, her Mum, sister Ina, her Dad and Bella with bicycle.
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The Singer Blacksmith's Shop, or "Smiddy"
Words on back "Three young men employed
Chris standing by donkey, Ina on its back
me Margaret, in the cart"
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Martin's Grandmother's (Margaret Singer Crerar) in small white collar 6th from left back row. Her mother (2nd from left with son Archie's hand on her shoulder). Sister Ina holding doll. Montreal, Canada 18 70s.
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Martin's Great grandmother (Margaret Crerar's Mom) Margaret Singer
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Shirley Ann Crerar (Martin's Grandfather's Sister)
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Theophilus & Findley |
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George Crerar (Martin's Grandfather on his mother's side) sailed from Glasgow, Scotland Date of Arrival Apr 02, 1907 (happens to be my Dad's birth date in 1917).
He traveled on the Columbia (above) - manifest
This was the peak year at Ellis Island with 1,004,756 immigrants received. The all-time daily high was on April 17th of this year when a total of 11,747 immigrants were processed.
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George Crerar, age 30. 1911 Birth Nat Cert |
Margaret Reid and George Crerar marriage announcement July 3, 1912
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Margaret Reid and George Crerar marriage license July 3, 1912
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Margaret "Peg" Crerar Theophilus 15 months, September, 1915 Birth Cert
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Margaret Crerar's Naturalization cert
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George and Margaret Crerar with "Peg" in 1917
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Margaret Crerar with her Mom and "Peg" in 1918
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During World War I, the United States Navy asked that private citizens donate their binoculars for use by the U.S. Navy. Martin's Grandparents donated their binoculars and received the letter above from then Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Go to more information
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George and Margaret Crerar with the Millers in Cleveland
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Margaret Singer Ross - Martin's Great Grandmother - mother of Margaret reid Singer Crerar
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Finding family...
In the mid '90's Chris & I (Martin) were preparing to go see Chris' family in England. I had received an email from an Andrew Theophilus in Stevenage, England. It turned out his family came from Swansea, Wales which is where my Dad's family was from. At the same time my Aunt Sally came across a family cousin in Pennsylvania who mentioned that an Uncle in Florida had my Great Grandparents wedding certificate. The Uncle FedExed the certificate and it arrived in Austin just as we were leaving for the Austin airport to fly to the UK.
We visited Andrew Theophilus family in Stevenage and then drove to Wales to see what could be found.
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The Wales village where my Great Grandparents were married was Rhandirmwyn. It is in a beautiful setting. We were surprised to find one third of the grave yards are filled with Theophilus. Chris & I found a pub store and they suggested we try talking to folks at the school. At the school, a man said we needed to meet Dorie Theophilus. He led us to her home. She pulled out Theophilus documents and brought us some tea. She then informed us that she needed to go shopping and left us in her home to look at the information. Dorie led us to William Theophilus and his family. We found similar links in our families, however no exact matches. We have continued to communicate with William and exchanged Christmas cards with Dorie. We were very saddened to learn that she passed away in 2007.
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William Theophilus on his farm in Rhandirmwyn. |
Pannig Street was where Martin's Great grandmother lived in Rhandirmwyn when she was married.
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View video of visit to Rhandirmwyn |
Helen Nell Singer Johnston with husband John (with daughter Margaret or Helen), Margaret Crerar's Sister
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Martin's Mom at 15 months |
Oliver Harold "Ollie"Theophilus 6 months
October, 1917 birth cert
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Dad (Oliver Harold Theophilus) |
Oliver H, Bud (Albert), Sally with Mom and Dad (Albert Theophilus) Marriage cert
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George Crerar was one of the masons who laid the marble in the Cleveland, Ohio tower. |
Martin's Grandmother and Mom inn 1920 |
Martin's Mom in car in 1920 with cousins on running board |
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Martin's Dad Oliver Harold "Ollie"Theophilus - third from left
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Oliver Theophilus (center) Publicity Director, Triangle Guild Players - go to more about the actor's letters
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We have taken my Dad's letters and attempted to find period photos that reflect what the actors were doing at the time the letters were written and subsequently in their car. This letter is from Spencer Tracy.
go to more Hollywood letters to Martin's Dad
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Letters were received from Bob Hope, Charles Laughton, Darryl Zanuck, Deanna Durbin, Eddie Cantor, Edward G. Robinson, Fred Allen, James Marion Fidler, Joan Crawford, Joe E. Brown, Lionel Barrymore, Olsen & Johnson, Basil Rathbone, Sheilah Graham and Spencer Tracy
go to more Hollywood letters to Martin's Dad
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In Oliver's college days, he was involved in throwing events such as HellzA Poppin. This photo shows him (middle front) staging a publicity stunt.
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Martin's Dad (top right and left below) also worked with a photographer who shot these great photos in 1938 |
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1938 CADILLAC LASALLE COUPE
1938 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 limousine?
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1938 CADILLAC LASALLE COUPE
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1938 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 limousine? |
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Oliver Harold Theophilus' Grade Point Average calculator invention Accuratio Page 2 Page 3
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Land O Lakes Butter where Ollie worked when he met Peg who was working at GE's Nelles Park
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Peg Theophilus (Martin's Mom) in 1940 on the steps of the Cleveland, OH Calvary Presbyterian church with her Sunday school class
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Mar Cert |
Oliver "Ollie' Theophilus with Mom Mary Reaney Martin, Sister Sally Theophilus Gibson and Brother "Bud" Theophilus , New Castle
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"Bud" Theophilus, Winter 1941 |
Bud, Don & Ollie |
Bud, Don, Sally & Ollie |
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Mom Mary Reaney Martin, Sister Sally Theophilus Gibson and Brother "Bud" Theophilus ,New Castle
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"Bud" Theophilus with his Grandmother Mary Martin in 1942
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Martin's Uncle Don Gibson 1941
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Peg's Grandmother Margaret Reid Singer, Peg (Margaret Crerar Theophilus) and Peg's Mom Margaret Singer Crerar at Peg and Ollie's wedding, November 22, 1941. Marriage Cert
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Peg & Ollie Theophilus first home, Cleveland, Oh, December 1941
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Ollie Theophilus early 1942 |
Peg and Mom & Pop Crerar at picnic early 1942 |
Peg & Ollie Theophilus Easter 1942 |
Ollie Theophilus "Trying to escape the heat" - Cleveland July 20, 1942
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Peg & Ollie Theophilus as Ollie was inducted into the US Army July 24, 1942
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Martin's Uncle Don Gibson during WWII |
Oliver and Peg (Martin's Mom & Dad at Camp Perry, OH in 1942
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Ollie Theophilus, Denver 1942 |
Peggy Ann Theophilus Karvonen King
7 days old, October 27, 1942, Cleveland, OH |
Peggy Anne's birth record, October 20, 1942
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Peg with Peggy on 1st anniversary |
Alpine in 1920 |
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Peg & Ollie with Peggy Easter 1943 in Alpine |
Go to more about Marfa, Texas
 
View more pages from MAAB booklet view UK video
Aerial view Marfa Army Air Base 1943 Plans
More about Marfa, Texas air base |
Marfa Army Air Base Marfacts - more |
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Theophilus family's World War II ration books |
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Go to more about Marfa, Texas |
March 1943 Theophilus' First home in Alpine was just behind their future residence at 702 North 5th Street and beside the future home of Peg's parents home (Martin's Grandparents). This view is of Mrs. Steffenson's house and windmill (later home of the Scudders).
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View to the East from Theophilus' First home in Alpine. Note the US Army plane from Marfa Army Air Field (left top), March 1943
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Inside Theophilus' First home in Alpine. Ollie entered the Army Air Force in July 1942, completed basic training in Denver and in March 1943 was assigned as a Link Trainer Instructor at the Marfa Army Air Field in early 1943.
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Grandparents (left) & Mom in Alpine garden |
Peggy & Alpine house 1944
see also this Alpine link |
Martin at two weeks with Mom & Sis |
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Grammar School post card (Central Grade School) Alpine, Texas 1945
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Alpine, Texas 1945 |
George and Margaret Crerar, Cleveland, OH, April 17, 1946 (11 days after Martin's birth)
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Martin was born on Austin Street in the Marfa, Texas Searls hospital (pictured above). Time cover 04/08/1946
Martin's parents chose to live in Alpine while Martin's Dad was stationed at the Marfa Army airbase and they returned to live in Alpine permanently after a brief return to Ohio after World War II. Due to a dispute between 2 Alpine doctors (one not allowing the other to use his facility), Martin's Mom and Dad went to Marfa where Martin was delivered by Dr.W.E. Lockhart in the Searls Hospital's second floor. more
Go to more about Marfa, Texas |
Marfa, Texas Searls Hospital in 2009
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The Marfa, Texas Searls Hospital is now someone's home with a laundry underneath
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Martin's Dad worked initially for the LaBeff Motor Company auto dealer as an accountant. He and Martin's Mom then started their own gift shop and printing service.
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Telegram from Martin's Mom to Dad regarding Ollie's Mom passing away
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Grandma Margaret Crerar, Martin, Sister Peggy, Dad, Oliver Theophilus, Grandpa George Crerar and Susie • view video from that period
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Martin with first dog Susie |
Mom & Buster Krogstad riding mules at the Woodward Ranch South of Alpine, Texas
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Alpine house mid 1940's |
Grandpa Crerar late 1940's |
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Crerars with Helen (left) and Margaret (2nd from rt) at San Francisco airport 1948 - view Crerar video
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George Crerar at Alpine Country Club with his grass cutter
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Martin on his tractor |
Dad & Martin
Peggy & Martin |
When Martin was three, he fell off a swing in the backyard of his parents home. When he was checked out by Dr. Lockhart, he found Martin had cancer (Welm's tumor - kidney was removed). His surgery was successful in El Paso by Drs Turner and Deter The movie below include scenes from the hospital grounds including the nurses. Also a cab driver that always met Martin's train when he was going back and forth from Alpine to El Paso for checkups.
View video of scenes around hospital - El Paso
Martin had to return often to El Paso for checkups. The facade of Reata from the filming of Giant was a significant landmark in the trips.
Go to more about Marfa, Texas
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Martin's Mom "Peg" on Sul Ross rock hunting trip - view video
Martin's room in Alpine, Texas in early 1950's.
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Bill Ramsey, Martin's Crerar grandparents cousin. |
Giant movie set West of marfa in mid- 1950's
Go to more about Marfa, Texas |
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Martin with horse Woodward ranch |
Martin and Peggy riding bikes around Central school
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Martin and Peggy riding in horse cart |
Martin on horse Woodward ranch |
Peggy & Buddy (Martin) Christmas 1952
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Buddy & Peggy on Christmas |
Margaret & George Crerar |
Old toys - machine gun and tricycle |
Peggy & Grandfather (George Crerar) 1952 |
Martin "Buddy" |
Peggy, Martin & Susie |
Martin and Peggy at Sawtooth Mountain near Alpine in 1954
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Martin's Grandmother's (Margaret Crerar)Sister Ina in white sweater center. Left to right Neil & Helen Murphy, Margaret , Barney & Ina Deymon, Buster, Mary & Charles Deyman. Children Mickey (child of Neil & Helen), other child unknown
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Martin & Peggy climbing Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend 1954
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1950's
After WW II, Dad worked as an accountant for LaBeff Motors and then he and Mom started Shoppers Guide Press. Martin began working for his Dad in the 1950's printing business cards on an offset press and helped put together the Alpine Shoppers Guide Press.
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Dad managed distribution of newspapers (El Paso Times, San Angelo Times and the Odessa American) from mid 1950's to the 1970's . He later became the distributor for all magazines in the West Texas area. Mom taught art classes and for awhile taught art in the Marathon school system. She earned degrees in Geology, Art and Industrial Art from Sul Ross State College.
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Peggy, Martin & Mom in Big Bend 1954
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Martin on horse Woodward ranch
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Martin & Jackie Crawford |
Grandpa (Pop, George Crerar) & Martin |
Martin sword fighting. Mom always created great costumes for us.
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Martin & Peggy - halloween |
 
Martin broke his arm falling off the back of a donkey on the Woodward ranch (he was behind 3 other riders on the same donkey when it stepped over a log and dumped Martin off).
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Martin & Joe Burgess were close friends and had matching bikes. The day Joe was moving to Reserve, NM, he & Martin crashed their bikes racing from the Burgess' store on Holland Ave to martin's house ...hence Joe's bandages.
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Martin fishing at Marathon Post |
Margaret & George Crerar 1955
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Peggy (Martin's Sister 1942 -2004) playing piano |
Grandma (Margaret Crerar) at Santa Elena Canyon
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Martin and friends rock hunting around Cathedral Mountain
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Dad, Martin & Mom in Grandparents house |
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All that was left in the early 1960'sof the Reata house from the movie Giant - Go to more about Marfa, Texas
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Go to more about Marfa, Texas |
Go to more about Marfa, Texas |
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Go to Part II Go to Part III
Chris <1984 • Martin <1984 • >1984 |
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Scrapbook |
    
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Click this link to view more about David Perkoff Music |
