My Family Tree

Letter from Joe Klett, Tue, Aug 4, 2015.

Back in 1982, I wrote at least twice to a Mrs. Elizabeth Paluscio, whom, I had been told, was Irving Edwards's daughter. I never received any response to my letters. However, I eventually telephoned the home and spoke with her husband, then a widower. Years later, in June 1996, I made the following notation on the copy of the letter to "Elizabeth" that I had sent:

"Note: Mary Paluscio (not Elizabeth) was a step-daughter of Irving Edwards. I spoke with her husband (a widower) many years ago. He said that Irving had no children of his own."

Then, on a copy of the family chart I had included in the letter, I crossed out the maiden surname Edwards for Elizabeth and noted "she was only a step-daughter."

Knowing about Ruth, and the name Elizabeth as compared to Mary, I do wonder now whether I received accurate information from Mr. Paluscio (and whether he was the correct Mr. Paluscio).

If, by chance, you discover there are living descendants of Irving Edwards, I would be very interested. Irving's uncle Harry Edwards's family was not aware of any. But it seems that family circumstances were such that Harry's granddaughter might not have known, or Harry's family might not have had any contact with Irving's family. They were in touch with Irving's sister Myrtle, presumably, since my family was. My great uncle Harwood "Eric" Fish, in a letter to me dated 7 Sep. 1979, said of Irving and Stanley Edwards: "... while I have met them, they were not very close to their sister nor very communicative as to the rest of the family. I have never had an address for either of them."

The name and address of "Elizabeth Paluscio" as Irving's "daughter", came from Rev. Frederick Jenkins, whose wife, I believe, was a Compton (the family Myrtle Edwards lived with). Myrtle died while visiting Rev. and Mrs. Jenkins in Irvington-on-Hudson, NY, and Myrtle's funeral service was held at his church there (Presbyterian). I've just spoken with a church staff member there, who offered to pass along my contact information to the late Rev. Jenkins's family. I'd like to know where Myrtle was buried so I can create a Find A Grave memorial for her. Perhaps they will know something.

As to whether Irving's daughter Ruth lived to marry and/or have children, and whether Elizabeth/Mary was really Irving's stepdaughter and not his daughter, it doesn't seem like I have too many paths of inquiry at this point.