HAND, Fred Ziba

Nine year old FRED Z. HAND

This photo was found at an antique fair in Vero Beach this weekend.

It was taken at a studio in New York City. Can't quite read the photographer's mark, but it looks like "Bostinck" or possibly "Rostinek."

The back of the photo is inscribed: "For Grandma from nine year old Fred Z. Hand". The photo taken early to mid 1880's, making his birthday around mid-1870's.

The 1880 Census finds the family living in Flushing, Queens. Father Ziba is a butcher. At that time, Fred is 7 years old (thus born around 1873) and attending school. There is a 2-year-old daughter named May. The family also has a 21-year-old servant named Mary Maker, whose parents were Irish immigrants.

Frederick Ziba Hand died 11 Aug 1895 in  Manhattan County, NY, age 21.

Death notice was carried in the newspaper "New-York Tribune" 13 Aug 1895, page 7. It states that his parents were Ziba and Hannah C. Hand. But does not say why he died so young.

1900 Census for Queens has the remaining family members at a residence at 71 Broadway. Ziba is now 72 years old and employed as a Clerk. Mother Hannah is 63; she has had 2 children, 1 of which is still living. Fred's sister May is 22 and working as a teacher.

Father Ziba Hand appears to have come from the Potsdam, St Lawrence County area of NY. He appears as a 21-year-old on an 1850 census there, living with his parents Ziba and Irene Hand (presumably the "Grandma" mentioned in the inscription on the photo), his two elder sisters and one younger brother.  Ziba Hand died in Queens, NY in 1901.

In trying to find the maiden name of Fred's mother, I found this funeral notice for her. She died in 1923. Fred's sister May apparently married Walter H. Griggs and lived in Elmhurst. This insert was carried in the New York Times shortly after June 8, 1923.

Searching further into May's life (for possible descendents), I see that she applied for a passport in 1920 and listed her husband as Walter Hubbard Griggs.

The newspaper "Long Island Daily Press," issue of 19 Jan 1925 includes this insert which mentions that May died on December 8 of the previous year.

Walter remarried in October of 1925.