Saturday, March 12, 2011

Conrad Hert’s Lost Granddaughter

By Dee Hert

(This is a continuation of an earlier blog post on Conrad Hert's family.)

In 1910 the family immigrated to the US aboard the US Burma, landing at the port in New York
City. They traveled west to the state of Montana. More and more immigrants from Russia were settling in the area, the customs of the old country were being preserved.

Conrad’s youngest daughters began dating 2 young men of Philippine heritage of which Conrad
did not approve. Lillian married Marsh Romias and Pauline married Martin Ujano and moved
to California. The families did not stay in contact with each other due to Conrad’s disapproval. Years passed and Lillian and Pauline had children of their own. As the children grew older they questioned their parents about other family members.

Where were Conrad’s lost grandchildren?

I decided it was time to locate Conrad’s grandchildren. I knew after talking to family members that Pauline had married Martin Ujano and were last reported to be living in California. I searched for all Ujano mailing addresses in California and sent a letter explaining who I was and the purpose of the letter. Months past with no response. Then I received a phone call from Christine Ujano Carper, Conrad’s lost granddaughter. One of the letters had been received by her cousin in California and forwarded to Chris in Alaska.

After many conversations and a Hert reunion in Montana we have become close friends; I value
her friendship. Chris and I have worked together on the family research. She has introduced
me to her family members and family members of her Aunt Lillian.

Chris and her husband live in Alaska and love to go salmon fishing, now and then she surprises us with a box of delicious salmon.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Dee-
    I am researching the Hert family- my husband's grandmother was Lillian Hert (Melcher), and her father was Gottlieb, Conrad's brother. We live in the Yakima, WA area. I was wondering if you have any Hert family info you can share with me. I've been using ancestry.com, and reached a dead end.
    Thanks- Rosemary Saunders (wife of David Saunders, son of Joan Melcher Saunders, daughter of Lillian.

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