Philadelphia Latvian Baptist Youth Society
Harry Lagsdon
Harry Michael Lagsdon (Miķelis Lagzdiņš) was born on Dec. 24, 1884, in Purvciems (a neighborhood of Rīga) and immigrated to the United States in 1903 to join his parents and sisters, Lena, Elizabeth, and Elsie.1 According to naturalization records, he and his father, Frank (Fricis), in May 1905 filed their declarations of intention. At the time, they lived at 56 Emily St. in Philadelphia.2 Harry married Eva Westberg. When Harry registered for the draft in 1918, the couple lived at 634 N. Markoe St. in Philadelphia.3 Harry worked as a house painter.
According to the 1910 U.S. census, the couple and their young son, Walter, lived at 248 Simpson St. in Philadelphia. Living with them were Eva's sisters, Minnie and Matilda, both of whom worked as dress makers.4 According to the 1920 U.S. census, he lived at 871 Preston St. in Philadelphia with his wife. The couple by then had two sons, Walter and Russell H., and two daughters, Eleanor and Alice, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania. Boarding in the home were Erna Timberg, age 24, and Martha Timberg, age 50.5 Harry Michael Lagsdon died March 22, 1959, in Philadelphia.6
Notes
1. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG78-86Y : accessed 20 January 2017), Frank Lagsdon, Philadelphia Ward 33, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 806, sheet 28A, family 8, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1405; FHL microfilm 1,375,418.
2. National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; ARC Title: Indexes to naturalization petitions to the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1795-1951; Record Group Title: RG 21; Record Group Number: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009.
3. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6K6-VXL : 12 December 2014), Harry Lagsdon, 1917-1918; citing Philadelphia City no 46, Pennsylvania, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,907,954.
4. "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGZL-1YN : accessed 20 January 2017), Harry Lagsdon, Philadelphia Ward 34, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 849, sheet 13B, family 287, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1406; FHL microfilm 1,375,419.
5. "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXMN-FXK : accessed 20 January 2017), Harry M Lagsdon, Philadelphia Ward 24, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing ED 735, sheet 12B, line 85, family 287, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1627; FHL microfilm 1,821,627.
6. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.