Laura Gertrude Alexander

   Cause of her death was Cerebro Vascular Accident / Cerebro Thrombosis.

  General Notes:

The 1900 Federal Census for Fulton Township, Lancaster Co., PA (ED#41, page 230A) records William F. Tollinger (January 1878 - PA/PA/PA) boarding in the home of Benjamin T. (March 1855) and Annie G. (Oct 1850) Fite. William is a Merchant while Benjamin is a farmer.

The 1910 Federal Census for Fulton Township, Lancaster Co., PA (ED#49, page 97A) records William F. (32 - PA/PA/PA) and Gertrude L. (35) Tollinger with children Grace M. (3), Ralph A. (1 7/12), and Ellis W. (1/12). William is a Butcher in his own shop and has been married for 9 years.

The 1920 Federal Census for Fulton Township, Lancaster Co., PA (ED#50, page 60B) records William F. (43 - PA/PA/PA) and Gertrude L. (44) Tollinger with children Grace (13), Ralph (11), Wayne (10), Robert (9), and Jennie (8) living near Eldora . William is a Farmer.

The 1930 Federal Census for Fulton Township, Lancaster Co., PA (ED#46, page 269B) records William F. (53 - PA/PA/PA) and L. Gertrude (54) Tollinger with children Grace M. (23), Ralph A. (21), Robert E. (19), and Jennie V. (18) living on the Robert Fulton Highway. William is a Butcher in a Butcher Shop, Gertrude is a Truant Officer for the Township Schools, Grace is a Clerk in a General Store, Ralph is a Butcher in a Butcher Shop, and Robert works as a laborer in Construction. William and Gertrude have been married for 30 years. Nearby is William's father, the widower Ellis P. Tollinger (76 - PA/PA/Maryland) and his housekeeper, Naomi Fite (76 - PA/PA/Maryland). Ellis is a Blacksmith with his own shop.


In November 2008 Wilma Fauth Jones sent the following copy from a book on the Alexander Family of Lancaster, PA published ca 1922:
Laura Gertrude Alexander was born September 3, 1875. [Hand written note - Died 12/13/1959 in Lancaster General Hospital at 5:15 in am] She was educated in the common schools and at Millersville Normal. She spent six years as a teacher in the Public Schools. She is greatly interested in Educational and Missionary work.

She married William Tollinger April 9, 1901. He is a Meat Merchant and farmer. He owns his farm and home.

They are all members of the Presbyterian Church - the old ancestral Church at Chestnut Level. Mr. Tollinger is a Republican in politics, but his wife is a Democrat. Their address is Drumore, Lancaster County, Pa.

Their children are :
Grace Tollinger, born July 21, 1906.
Ralph Tollinger, born July 1, 1908. [Hand written note - Died Dec 4, 1969]
Wayne Tollinger, born July 8, 1909. [Hand written note - Died April 28, 1957]
Robert Tollinger, born October 19, 1910.
Jennie Tollinger, born September 29, 1911

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Reminiscing with the Alexander girls

The family of Samuel and Jennie Hagen Alexander were born and raised in good old Mount Nebo, for which we are all very thankful. Our parents were married October 20, 1870, and were blessed with eleven children, seven boys and four girls; Chester; Maris; Curtis; Gertrude; Minnie; Enna; Colin, who died at the age of three; Walter; Harry; Mary and Charles.

Our father was a farmer in earlier life then operated a general store for twenty-five years, John Warfel was the last to keep store on these premises. Both our parents were active in the Mount Nebo Methodist Church, the whole family went to Church and Sunday School every Sunday. In those days, all we knew on Sunday was to go to Church. We went to Sunday School at the Methodist Church in the morning and to the Presbyterian Church in the afternoon. Then to the Methodist Church and Epworth League in the evening. In the event the minister was preaching at one of his other churches in the morning, we always stayed for the Class Meeting following Sunday School. If the younger generation has never attended a Class Meeting, they have missed a rich blessing. Led by such men as J. A. Alexander, Kinsey Hambleton, Joseph Massey, W. W. Hart, John Drumm, Joseph Engle, S. C. Stevenson, Benton Dunkle, Jacob Stokes, Samuel Heiney and many other Saints of God. As these men and women stood and gave their testimony to God's goodness, one was sure they were filled with the Holy Spirit. These men and many more have made a mark on our lives that time cannot erase. We are so thankful we were raised in a community where it did not seem too hard to be good. The community was filled with men and women who stood for the better things in life. We remember attending revival services every night, sometimes for six weeks at a time. We saw men and women soundly converted at the altar of the church, and how those dear old saints could pray. We can still hear Frank Herr as he raised his face to heaven and prayed as only he could. What an influence Jacob Stokes had on the Church, with his 40 years as Sunday School Superintendent. Through his efforts many people were won to Christ I think of the loyalty of Emerson Douts and how his life was an influence for good in the community and church. And the choir, how we sang and never had a choir rehersa1. Our mother sang in the choir ever since we could remember until failing health kept her at home, she never lost her interest in the activities of the Church. Our father was a member of the Official Board of the Church, a Sunday School teacher and a representative to the Rawlinsville Camp from Mount Nebo. We attended every session of the camp; no family ever loved the Camp more than the Alexander family.

When the Mount Nebo Church was built our oldest brother, Chester, who is resting in the cemetery there, hauled stone with a six mule and horse team for the foundation and helped place the corner stone.

We would like to pay a tribute to our mother for her loyalty to the temperance cause. As little girls we remember Miss Amanda Landis coming to Mount Nebo every spring and giving us a wonderful temperance lesson. Through Miss Landis a Women's Christian Temperance Union was formed with our mother as president. Mother was really a total abstainer, to the extent that she would never put cider in her mince pies, but they were good just the same. Her daughters were members of W.C.T.U., Minnie was county treasurer for 26 years. (Written in 1959)
Mrs. Gertrude Alexander Tollinger (William)
Mrs. Minnie Alexander Good (Adam)
Mrs. Mary Alexander Winters (Howard)

  Medical Notes:

Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963
Name: Gertrude L Tollinger [Gertrude L Alexander]
Residence: Peach Bottom in Fulton Township, Lancaster Co., PA
Gender: Female
Race: Caucasian White (White)
Age: 84
Birth Date: 3 Sep 1875
Birth Place: MT Neho Lanc, County, Pennsylvania
Death Date: 13 Dec 1959
Death Place: Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Burial: Dec 16, 1959 at Little Britain Cemetery, Peach Bottom, Little Britain Township, Lancaster Co., PA
Father Name: Samuel Alexander
Mother Name: Jennie Hagan
Spouse Name: W F Tollinger
Certificate Number: 113250
Informant: W. F. Tollinger [husband] of Peach Bottom

Laura married William Franklin Tollinger circa 1901 in Lancaster Co., PA. (William Franklin Tollinger was born on 2 Jan 1878 in Pennsylvania and died in Mar 1973 in Peach Bottom, Fulton Township, Lancaster Co., PA.)