Raymond was born to John J Brady and Annie Butler in Gordon, PA and moved to Scranton with his family. I found this article in the Scranton Truth from Fri 18 Mar 1910:
In the 1900 Census, Bessie Heffron is identified as Bridget Haffron born Aug 1887 to John Heffron and Ellen Walsh, and depending on the document, she was born in either Ireland or Scranton. Although sometimes I think Scranton is a county in Ireland.
Raymond and Bessie marry and have six children: John, Raymond, Mary, Robert, Paul, and the last child is listed in the 1920 census as "Dustum", a male child born in May of 1919. I have never heard this name, so I don't know if the census is correct. After some more research, I accidentally found Augustus J Brady born 27 May 1919. This is the mystery child formerly known as "Dustum". After looking at the census, I think the enumerator had some poor handwriting.
As for Raymond, in 1910, his occupation is listed as Round House, in the Locomotive industry, 1920 he is a laborer for a contractor, in the 1926 Scranton City Directory his occupation is "painter", and it remains that way until his death in 1953. I have not located him in the 1930 or 1940 census records.
I did find a newspaper article which may somewhat explain the change.
This is from the Scranton Republican Wed. 9 Mar 1927. Her death certificate says that she died from complication during child birth on 7 Mar 1927 at age 32.
After the death of Bessie, a lot of changes take place. Changes that would not happen today because of all of the social agencies that have been put in place. Back in the 20's there was no welfare, food stamps, or Division of Youth and Family, or anything of the sort. When you are a single parent due to a death, you depend on the generosity of family, friends, and maybe your church or other charitable organization. Raymond was a single parent now, not by choice, but through death. He has six children and the oldest is 17. So now the children get split up with other family members.
In the 1930 census, I cannot locate John, the 17 year old. I assume he may be on his own and working. Mary is living in Minersville, PA with her uncle Frank Brady and his wife and their three children. Augustus is living with Bessie's sister, Ellen Farrell with her husband and children in Scranton. Robert and Paul (the two youngest) are together with Bessie's other sister Mary and her husband Martin McDonough in Scranton. But what has become of Raymond, Jr.?
In the 1930 census, I did find a Raymond Brady, age 16, which is about right, living in Newton Township, Lackawanna County at the Hillside Home (Insane). That is how the census record lists it. I cannot be certain that this is him or why he is living there at age 16, but I do know that he is still there in the 1940 Census. The record says Newton Township, but it is actually on the border with Clark Summit, near my sister's home. I drove over there, but I was too late to talk to anyone but Security. He gave me a phone number for a social worker, but when I called him, he said that the records are no longer available and had been destroyed. At this point I am at a dead end, but I may try the Pennsylvania State Archives.
I wrote this last night, but did not post it, I wanted to read it over before posting it. I thought about it when I went to bed, and it dawned on me. Maybe (just maybe) Raymond had Special Needs and no one else in the family had the time or knowledge to care for him. So he went to this institution where he could be cared for. Remember, this was not the most politically correct era in our history. If you were not "normal", you may end up in an Insane Asylum because no one knew what to do for you. I can't believe it took me so long to think of this, since I have a son with Special Needs. I don't know how I am going to prove this, but I am pretty confident that this is the answer.
I also happened to find out that Raymond passed away in September of 1984 and is buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery. His sister Mary took care of the arrangements.
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