Family Tree for Donald Preston Courtsal (1825 - 1999)

 Family Tree for Donald Preston Courtsal

His father, Frederick Joseph Courtsal, married his mother, Viola Velmer Schiffel, on July 29, 1922.  They lived at 15 Dayton Street in New Haven, Connecticut (CT) in 1926.

By 1940, they lived on Hill Street in Branford, CT after moving there around 1930.

They had 2 children, Frederick Ralph Schiffel Courtsal and Donald Preston Courtsal.

When their sons had left home, Fred and Viola moved to Bethany, near New Haven, CT.

His Father, Frederick Joseph Courtsal, and his Relatives:

Frederick J. Courtsal was born on March 3, 1892 in Northampton, Massachusetts.

When Frederick served in World War I, he met Henry Schiffel, who introduced him to his sister, Viola.  She lived in White Plains, NY, when they met.  Fred married Viola Velmer Schiffel on July 29, 1922

They had 2 children, Frederick Ralph Courtsal (May 20, 1923 - October 16, 1999) and Donald Preston Courtsal (born on December 30, 1929)

Frederick died of congestive heart failure on August 5, 1984 and is buried at Beaverdale Memorial Park in Hamden, CT.

Frederick J. Courtsal at Camp Jackson in South Carolina in 1918

Viola S. Schiffel in Fred's uniform in 1919

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Frederick J. Courtsal’s father was Frederick “Alfred” Coursol Jr.  (or Coursal or Coursel or Coeursol).  He was born in 1868 in Canada.  His parents were Alfred Coursol (1843 - 1913) and Sophia Breault (Coursol) (1848 - 1915).  

Fred Coursol Jr. married Emma Lacrois on November 9, 1891 in Northampton, Mass.  

Fred was a stone cutter, and later died of pulmonary TB in 1912.  

Frederick A. Coursol Jr. with wife Emma are standing;  Frederick J. Courtsal and Emma's brother are seated; photo around 1900

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Frederick J. Courtsal’s mother was Emma La Croix 

(also spelled Lacrois, Lacroix and Lacross)

She was born in 1870 in Hatfield, Massachusetts.

Emma was the child of Joseph Lacross and Julia Brouillette, who were both Canadian. There were both born in 1847.

After her first husband died in 1912, she remarried Russel A. Preston (who was born in 1863 and died on May 7, 1944).  One source lists her name as Emma Courtsill Preston, living in Westville, CT.  She died in 1944.

Emma (Coursol) Preston in 1920

Frederick J. Courtsal in 1920

Russel and Emma Preston in 1923

His Mother,  Viola Schiffel and her Relatives:

Viola Velmer Schiffel was born November 2, 1894 in Valhalla, NY.  She was the child of Harry G. Schiffel and Elizabeth Shutte.  In 1900, they lived at 1900 Mount Pleasant in Westchester, NY.  She had 9 other siblings, as listed below:

A sister,  Bertha, who married Harold (Hal)l Kreider of the Country Club Apartments in 

Hartsdale, NY.  They married later in life and had no children.

A sister Carrie, who never married.  She was a visiting nurse.

A brother Henry J. (who married Edna).  He was born May 31, 1898 and died July 1, 1959. He worked as a plumber and had several sons, including Arthur Henry Schiffel (born in 1922) and Kenneth J. Schiffel (born in 1926).   Edna J. Schiffel was born in1896.  In 1940, Edna’s father (Frederick Hausrath) also lived with them.

A brother Ralph W. (who married Marie Bourne on August 30, 1930 in New Haven).  They had no children.  Marie was born in 1906 and died on September 27, 1968 in Port Chester, NY.  Ralph W. Shiffel was born April 5, 1902 and died January 24, 1949 on a New Haven train as it arrived at Grand Central Station.  He was born in Valhalla and went to Mount Vernon High School.  Completed college at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.  He worked in the cosmetics industry in advertising.  He lived at 26 Meade Place in Rye, NY when he died.

A sister, Lilly, who became Mrs. Pietschker of 85 Cloverdale Ave,  White Plains, NY.

A sister, Hattie, who became Mrs. Eldon M. Pietschker of 88 Cloverdale Ave, White Plains, NY.  They had no children.

A sister, Ida Shiffel of 129 Trenton Ave, White Plains, NY.   She never married and lived with their mother,  Elizabeth.

A sister,  Mable, who became Mrs. Clifton Brill of Pawling.  They had two children, including Bertha Brill.

A son, Herbert, was born in 1891 and died in 1941 of rheumatic fever.

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Viola married Frederick Courtsal on July 29, 1922 and had 2 sons, Frederick Ralph Courtsal and Donald Preston Courtsal.

She died on October 26, 1969 of breast cancer.  She is buried at Beaverdale Memorial Park in Hamden, Connecticut.

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Elizabeth Shutte, Viola’s mother,  was born in Germany in November 1861 and came to the United States in 1867.   She married Harry Schiffel in 1880 and lived at 129 Trenton Avenue,  White Plains, NY.  They had 10 children together.

Elizabeth Shutte Schiffel with daughter Viola S. Courtsal in the mid-1930s

Elizabeth Shutte Schiffel with Fred R. S. Courtsal, Viola Courtsal, Carrie Schiffel and Donald Courtsal in 1939

Elizabeth’s father was John Shutte, who was born in June 1825 and emigrated from Germany to the United States.

Elizabeth’s mother was Dorothy Shutte, who was born in September 1837 and emigrated from Germany to the United States.  Elizabeth was one of Dorothy’s nine children.

Harry G. Schiffel, Viola’s father,  was born in Germany in November 1856 and emigrated to the United States in 1870.  As noted above, he married Elizabeth in 1880 and had 10 children.