According to Maddie Ostrand, Ralph's father (also named Ralph) "died when he was quite young, and he was raised by his mother who ran a rooming house for lumbermen."
↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWVP-SKT : 15 July 2017), Marey E Vandermark in entry for Rolf Vandermark, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 4, sheet 64B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 1202; FHL microfilm 1,255,202.
↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS1H-W9L : accessed 11 January 2016), Ralph R Vandermark, 29 Jan 1968; citing certificate number 29896, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,137,026.
↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V3SY-H6J : accessed 11 January 2016), Ralph Vandermark, Jan 1968; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
Ralph was my grandfather and played in a band where my grandmother used to sneak out to go to dances. She became with child and they married, much to her family's objection. Later he was a farmer, railroad foreman, and a salesman for an orchard concern. After he became 'saved' by his brother who was a pastor, he never had another drink. That was great for gramdma as he loved his hootch. He ended his work years in New York and died in Texas near his daughter in Orange.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Ralph by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: