Ida Dixon and Stephen Bruggy

What I Know So Far...

As I've been moving files and adding data into my new genealogy software, it seemed like a good idea to take time to summarize some of the research I have to date on various individuals and families. This will hopefully clarify those branches that require more research, and those that I can set aside, as least for now. If I come across more information, or decide to do further research, I'll update this page.

[Update, 26 Sep 2021: I thought I was finished with the Bruggy family, but I was wrong. Having just recieved Ida's death certificate, and uncovered some additional information about Stephen, I find that the story requires revisiting. I have updated this page with Ida's death information for now, but I think to do the narrative justice I will have to do a complete rewrite. So, more to come!]

 I'm starting this series with Ida Francis Dixon and her husband, Stephen Bruggy. Sources are noted in parentheses, with the citations at the end of the page. I have created tables for those facts with conflicting data to, hopefully, make sense of things. There is also a timeline in table form at the end of the narrative, with sources for each event listed. 

If you have any information about this family that you would like to share, please let me know. Of course, photographs are always welcome!

Ida Francis Dixon was the daughter of John Dixon and Isabella Porter. (2,3,16) Information in the currently available records vary as to the date of her birth, which may have been June 1864 (5) or 1865 (19); 1866 (2, 3, 16); or 1867 (6). 1875 (7) seems unlikely. Most of these sources agree that she was born in New Jersey, and her marriage certificate states specifically that she was born in Elizabeth, which seems likely, as her parents lived there from the time of their marriage until their deaths.

Birth Date	Stated or Calculated	Birth Place	Document Date	Document
1866	calculated	NJ	June 1870	US Census
1866	calculated	NJ	7 Jun 1880	US Census
1866	calculated	Elizabethport, NJ	31 Mar 1889	Marriage Certificate
June 1864	stated	NJ	4 June 1900	US Census
June 1865	stated	NJ	10 June 1905	New Jersey State Census
1867	calculated	NJ	29 Apr 1910	US Census
1875	calculated	NJ	8 Jan 1920	US Census

Stephen Bruggy was the son of Patrick Bruggy and Eliza Grady.(16) He was likely born in Ireland in July of 1866 or 1867.(19,5,16) I disallow the information in the 1920 US Census in regards to birth information for both he and Ida, as the calculations seem to be off for both of them. Likewise, the 1930 census, when he was boarding with a woman in Texas, and there is no way of knowing who the informant was.

In the year prior to his marriage to Ida, it appears that Stephen enlisted in the U.S. Army. His enlistment date is recorded as October 29, 1888. According to that same record, he deserted the following day.(1)

Birth Date	Stated or Calculated	Birth Place	Document Date	Document
July 1866	stated	Ireland	10 June1905	New Jersey State Census
1867	stated	Elizabethport, NJ	31 Mar 1889	Marriage Certificate
July 1867	stated	Ireland	4 June1900	US Census
1874	calculated	Ireland	29 Apr 1920	US Census
1872	calculated	NJ	10 Apr 1930	US Census

Marriage Return for
Stephen Bruggy and Ida Dixon, March 31, 1889.(16)

Marriage

Stephen and Ida were married on 31 March 1889 in Elizabeth, New Jersey by the pastor of East Baptist Church. Witnesses were Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Dixon [William A. Dixon, the bride’s brother, and his wife, Mary Elizabeth (Klein) Dixon].

At the time of their marriage, Stephen, age 22, a boiler maker, was living at 222 Bond Street, Elizabethport. Ida, age 23, was living with her parents at 107 Elizabeth Avenue. It was a first marriage for both of them. (16,20,5,6,7)
 

Family Events

Stephen and Ida’s first child, Lawrence, was born in December 1889, 9 months after they married. (19,17,5,23) Their second child, John, was born in January 1894 (5,19,6,7), and their daughter, Mildred Amelia was born on September 25, 1898. (18,19,22,5,6,7,8)

In 1919, daughter Mildred, about 21 years old, is listed among the participants in the Mary Pickford look-alike contest being held at the Broad Street Theater during “Pickford Week.” Mary Pickford was starring in “The Hoodlum.” There is no indication that I could find that a list  of winners were printed in the newspaper. (12) [I have written a blog post about this event.]

At some point before 1920, Stephen and his sons are working in a second-hand store. In the 1920 census Stephen is listed as “proprietor” and the boys as “handymen.” (7) It is possible that this is the second-hand/antique furniture store that Ida’s father, John Dixon, owned.

1920 appears to be the last year that the family is together. [Steven also appears in the 1920 US Census in Galveston, Texas, boarding with Minnie Butterawe. The census date is Jan.1, so he must have left in 1919.] By 1921, Stephen is found in the Galveston, Texas city directory. (15) It is unclear what happened to cause his move, but in 1924 Ida is listed as “widow of Stephen” in the Elizabeth directory.(24)

Sometime around 1924, younger son John marries. By 1930 he is living in Linden with his wife and their first two children.(25)

In 1930, Ida is living with Mildred and her husband, William Hance, at their home in Elizabeth. Her marital status in the census is first marked “widow,” but that is crossed out and replace with “married.”(8)

Meanwhile, Stephen is still living in Galveston, Texas in 1930, at the same address he is listed at in 1921. This is the home of Minnie Butterawe, a widow. Stephen was a boarder there.(9)

In 1932, Stephen is admitted to St. Mary’s Infirmary in Galveston. He dies there of pneumonia on October 1. The death certificate indicates also that he was “insane.” He is buried in the Paupers’ Field, Oleander Cemetery. There is no indication that his family is notified of his death, or that they learned what had happened to him. He had been gone from Elizabeth for eleven years.(20)

At this time, January 2021, I do not have a date of death for Ida. 

Ida Dixon Bruggy died on 28 April 1941 at Greystone Park, a state hospital in Morris County. My best estimate is that Ida was around 76 years old when she died. Her exact date of birth is unclear, but I'm basing this on the assumption that she was born in 1866. (24)

On May 1, 1941, Ida was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Elizabeth. (24)

Timeline of Family Events

Year	Date	Event	Source
1889	March 31	Stephen and Ida marry.	16
1889	Dec 15	Lawrence Bruggy born, Elizabeth, NJ	19, 17, 5, 23
1894	Jan	John Bruggy born, Elizabeth, NJ	5, 19, 6, 7
1898	Sept 25	Mildred Amelia Bruggy born, Elizabeth, NJ	18, 19, 22, 5, 6, 7, 8
1919	Sept 25	Mildred participates in Mary Pickford look-alike contest at the Broad Street Theater.	12
1920	Jan 8	Stephen and his sons are working in a second hand store; Stephen is listed as propriety, the boys are handymen. It is possible that this is the antique/used furniture store owned by Ida’s father, John Dixon.	7
1921		Stephen is living in Galveston, Texas, where he is boarding in the home of Minnie Butterawe	15
1924		Ida and her two sons are living at 1085 Elizabeth Ave. She is listed in the city directory as “widow of Stephen”	24
1924		Sometime around 1924 John Bruggy marries	25
1930	Apr 12	Ida is living with her daughter, Mildred and her husband, William Hance; 1082 Anna St. Elizabeth, NJ. Ida’s marital status is first marked “Widow” but is crossed out, and “married” is written in its place.	8
1930		Stephen is still living at the same address in Galveston, working as a laborer doing roofing.	9
1932	Oct 1	Stephen dies at St. Mary’s Infirmary in Galveston. Cause of death is listed as pneumonia/insane. He is buried in the Pauper’s Field/Oleander Cemetery.	20

Further Research

As soon as the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, I will request a search for Ida's death certificate. 

[Update 26 Sep 2021. I have recieved Ida's death certificate. See above.]

Unless something comes up requiring further research into this family group, I think I'll consider this family group done for now. If any additional material comes my way, I'll update this page.

Sources

1. "U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914 [database on-line]", digital image, The National Archives (http://www.ancestry.com), page 109, 1888 enlistments. 670, 2. Bruggy, Stephen, Enlisted 1888, Oct 29, New York City.
   
   
2. 1870 U.S. census, population schedule, New Jersey, Union, “1870 United States Federal Census” [database on-line] ; Elizabeth Ward 1; Page No. 7. John, Isabella, William, Ida, Larra, and John Dixon..; NARA microfilm publication M593, roll M593_890; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

    
3. 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, New Jersey, Elizabeth, 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Page: 40C; Enumeration District: 164. Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Page No. 23, Lines 49-50, John and Isibela Dixon; Page No. 24, Lines 1-8, children: William, Ida, Laura, John, Mary, Lillia, Maybell, and Maud..; NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 

   
   
4. 1885 census of New Jersey, New Jersey State Archive; Trenton, New Jersey, United States; State census of New Jersey, 1885; Film Number: 42. Union County, First Ward, Elizabeth, page 52. John, Isabella, Ida, Laura, Jakob, Mary, Lillie, Mabel, Maud, Alfred Dixon; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

    
5. 1900 U.S. census, population schedule, New Jersey, Elizabeth, Sheet No. 8 A; Precinct 1, Elizabeth, New Jersey, 4th Ward. SD 4, ED 99. Lines 42-47, dwelling 111, household 155, Stephen Bruggy..; NARA microfilm publication T623, roll FHL microfilm: 1240996; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

    
6. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule, New Jersey, Union, Elizabeth Ward 9, Union, New Jersey; Roll: T624_910; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 0074; FHL microfilm: 1374923. Ida Bruggy, son John, and daughter, Mildred..; NARA microfilm publication T624, roll T624_909; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

    
7. 1920 U.S. census, population schedule, New Jersey, Union, 9th Ward, Elizabeth; SD 5th NJ; ED 93; Sheet 7A. Lines 2-7; Bruggy– Stephen, Ida, Mildred, Lawrence, John.; NARA microfilm publication T625, roll T625_1069; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

    
8. 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, New Jersey, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey; Page: 19A; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 2341122. 

    
9. 1930 U.S. census, population schedule, Texas, Galveston, page 10 A; ED 0015. Bruggy, Stephen, age 58, born New Jersey.; NARA microfilm publication T626, roll FHL microfilm: 2342068; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). [Source citation includes media item(s)] 

    
10. Cook & Hall's Elizabeth City Directory for 1883-84, Cook & Hall (1883), Page 87. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

     
11. Cook & Hall's Elizabeth City Directory for 1888-9, Cook & Hall (1888), Page 104. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com). 

     
12. Elizabeth Daily Journal, Elizabeth, New Jersey, online images (http://www.elizpl.org/ LocalHistoryResources.html).
    Bruggy, Mildred; 25 Sep 1919 in Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey, USA; Competes in Mary Pickford look-alike contest at movie theatre. 

     
13. Elizabeth Daily Journal, Elizabeth, New Jersey (print edition). 24 May 1927, Evening Edition, p. 10, col. 3. William Dixon...born in Elizabeth, son of the late John and Isobelle Dixon; lists surviving siblings and children. 

     
14. Find a Grave, database and images, Find a Grave, digital images (https:// www.findagrave.com), Find a Grave Memorial No. 78330163, citing Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey, USA. Lawrence S Bruggy (15 Dec 1889-26 Sep 1969).
    
    
15. Galveston City Directory 1921, Morrison & Fourmy Directory Co., Inc. Publishers R.L. Polk & Co., Compilers (1921), Page 183. Bruggy Stephen L.; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com).

     
16. New Jersey Vital Records, Marriage Records; [Stephen Bruggy, 1889] New Jersey Vital Records, May 1, 1848 to December 31, 1915. NJSA microfilm roll 64. Stephen L Bruggy and Ida Francis Dixon, 31 March 1889.; New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, New Jersey.

     
17. "New Jersey, U.S., Births and Christening Index, 1660-1931 [database on-line]", database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com), FHL Film Number 494215. Lorenz Bruggy, b. 15 Dec 1889; parents Stephan Bruggy, Ida F Dixon. 

     
18. "New Jersey, U.S., Births and Christening Index, 1660-1931 [database on-line]", database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com), FHL Film Number 494242. Mildred Bruggy, b. 25 Sep 1898, parents Stephen Bruggy, Ida Dixon.

     
19. State Census of New Jersey, 1905 [database on-line] (Lehi, UT, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017), New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, New Jersey, Reference Number: L-15; Film Number: 40; Sheet 13 B; Elizabeth, Union, New Jersey. Stephen Bruggy, Ada [Ida], Lawrence, John, and Mildred.

     
20. Texas, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Death Certificates, Registrar’s No. 695; Galveston; #42234. Steven Bruggy, born New Jersey; wife Ida, died 1 Oct 1932.; Ancestry.com, Lehi, Utah.
[Source citation includes media item(s)]

     
21. "New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1901-2017 [database on-line]", database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Mildred A Hance, d. 3 Dec 1993.

     
22. "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]", database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Mildred Amelia Hance; Mildred Amelia Bruggy; b. 25 Sep 1898, d. 3 Dec 1993. Bruggy, Mildred 

     
23. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database on-line]", database, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), Laurence Bruggy, b. 15 Dec 1889, d. 25 Sep 1969.
    
    
24. New Jersey, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death Certificate, 1941, Ida Bruggy;  New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, New Jersey.