Katherine Greff - about 1921
Katherine Lucretia Greff was born on January 31, 18752, in Bennington, New York, the second child of Philip Greff and Anna Maria Zehler. Katherine's first few years were spent on the family farm in Bennington. Then, about 1881, her family moved to Attica, New York188, where she likely attended the local school. Finally, in 1891, after the death of her father, the family moved to Warsaw, New York. In 1900, Katherine was living with her mother and two siblings and working in a photography studio retouching photos143.
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| Frank Salisbury |
On November 26, 1902, Katherine married Frank Currier Salisbury at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Warsaw160. Frank was born on December 27, 1874192, at Lockport, New York, the son of Milford Salisbury and Dolin Frances Barber. At the time of his marriage, Frank was working as a photographer in Warsaw144, perhaps at the studio where Katherine retouched photos.
Frank and Katherine initially settled in Warsaw and, before 1920, they adopted two girls, Betty and Jeanne. A local historian in Morehead City, North Carolina, recalls that the girls were orphans from WWI, one English and the other French. The 1930 U.S. Census193 partially confirms this story. Both girls are listed as adopted, but the birth place for both is listed as New York. In Betty's case her parents are also listed as born in New York. However, Jeanne's father was born in France, while her mother was born in New York. Thus the background of Frank and Katherine's children remains uncertain.
Sometime shortly before 1920, Frank and Katherine decided to move south, apparently intending to relocate to Florida. Their journey, however, included temporary stops along the way. Thus in 1920, the family was living at Fort Monroe, Virginia (Hampton) and Frank was employed as secretary for the YMCA196. During WWI, Katherine also served in the YMCA and did Red Circle Work at Newport News and Old Point comfort, Virginia197.
In 1924, the Salisbury family was in Morehead City in North Carolina, intending to spend the winter months there192. During their stay, Frank's involvement in the newspaper business in Warsaw led him to frequent the local paper and he was soon offered a job with The Coaster (now the Carteret County News-Times)192. As a result, Frank and family settled in Morehead City, and Frank continued his newspaper career. Over the years, he served as Editor and Manager of the paper and eventually became it's owner192.
At Morehead City, Katherine started her own career. About 1927, she became a representative of the Associated Charities of Morehead City and, about 1929, she started as a County Welfare Agent194. Tragically, Katherine Salisbury died of a heart attack on May 12 1931194. The news story relates that Katherine was driving to Smyrna on a case with a fellow agent. Suddenly, she exclaimed in pain and slumped over in the seat. Her passenger grabbed the wheel and succeeded in stopping the car. Passersby assisted in getting Katherine to a hospital in Beaufort, but she had already died.
Frank Salisbury continued to live in Morehead City, and about 1938 he married Florence Jones. Frank Salisbury died at Morehead on December 24, 1964.
The children of Frank and Katherine are:
Fourth Generation
| i. | Betty Marie Salisbury | Betty was born on July 28, 191518, and she died in May 197618. Betty married William Sewell. |
| ii. | Jeanne Salisbury | Jeanne was born on January 31, 191640, and she died in June 198040. Jeanne married William Lee Powers. |
Betty Salisbury:
Betty Marie Salisbury was born on July 28, 191518. Sometime before 1920 she and her sister were adopted by Frank Salisbury and Katherine Greff. While a local historian recalled that she was an English war orphan, census records indicate that both of her parents were born in New York193.
Betty married William Sewell, probably about 1940. William was born October 6, 192018. They lived in Beaufort, North Carolina, where William was a commercial fisherman and captain of a trawler which worked the east coast. Betty was a first grade school teacher.
Betty died in May 197618, and William died in June 198518. They had no children.
Jeanne Salisbury:
Jeanne Salisbury was born was born on January 31, 191618. Sometime before 1920 she and her sister were adopted by Frank Salisbury and Katherine Greff. While a local historian recalled that she was a French war orphan, census records indicate that Jeanne was born in New York193. Her father was born in France, indicating a French connection.
The local historian said that she left Morehead City and that she was not in contact with local residents, and she seems to have broken off or lost contact with the family. On June 19, 1937264, Jeanne married William Lee Powers at New Bern, North Carolina. A second record shows that William Lee Powers married Edith Ardell Gatlin on December 13, 1947264, also at New Bern. Finally, her father's obituary indicates that Jeanne was living in Chicago, Illinois. An entry in the Social Security Death Index for Jeanne Powers is likely Frank and Katherine's daughter, and is the source of her date of birth and death. Jeanne died in January 198018.
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