This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: O'Keefe, Rodau
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/JQB.2ACE/7.59.1
Message Board Post:
I am Carl Rodau's grandson, and have traced him and his first family to ID. and AZ. I
knew Elizabeth had married Cornelius O'Keefe and they had a son, Gerald. My mother
knew Elizabeth "Lizzie" well after she and Cornelius separated and she moved to
Los Angeles. Elizabeth's mother, Dorothea, had died between 1900 and 1908, and Carl
Rodau remarried in 1908 while living just outside of Caldwell, ID.. Elizabeth lived near
her step-father and new step-mother in L. A. and she visited them almost daily. She was
very much a part of Carl's new family. I have not been able to find her death
certificate in this part of the country, however.
I met Cornelius' and Elizabeth's son, Gerald O'Keefe, in about 1963 at a
birthday party for Elizabeth's step-mother, Carl Rodau's second wife, and my
grandmother.
Gerald married a lady named Vita and they had two sons, whom I have not been able to track
down--I don't even have their first names. I am still pulling together information on
this wing of my family and don't know much yet, but if you are interested in Elizabeth
and her son, Gerald O'Keefe, let me know and I can pass it along as I dig up more in
the L. A. area.
I have spent more hours than I care to remember looking for Carl Rodau in the 1900 census
with no luck. His youngest son told me they were in southwestern MI. then, and I have read
every name in several counties and not found them. I was delighted to read in your posting
on Connelius that you found his family in 1900. May I please ask where! Is that where you
found Elizabeth's maiden name, Schultz? Our family tradition always held that
Elizabeth was Carl Rodau's first wife's daughter from a former marriage in
Germany, but it sounds like you have varified it. I would love to hear from you on these
questions.
An earlier response to your posting mentioned that Gerald was mentioned in his
father's obit. in 1938, and there was no mention of a wife. I think, Elizabeth died in
about 1936, but don't know yet.
Thanks again for the information and hope to hear from you.