My Paternal Grandfather

• Gerald Fred (R.) Newman (Neuman) b. 5/19/1908(Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan)-d. 9-22-1950 (Lansing, Ingham Co., Michigan) Adopted in 1911 by John J. and Augusta (Rathfoot) Patrick. Adopted at the death of his mother, Minnie. I have copies of his “birth record” from Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan and court documents regarding his adoption. Records do not agree on the spelling of his last name, nor upon his middle initial.
o Grew up in Eagle, Clinton County, Michigan in the Patrick farm, home. Married Beatrice Mae Simmons (Married: January 15, 1933 in Lansing, Ingham County, MI)

My Great-grandfather:
... is a mystery, difficult to document; I would absolutely love to trace this line of my family beyond just his name. I admit, I do not have much to go by.
o John Newman: dob 3/7/1880:
 Some census documents and death document state: place of birth USA, or Detroit, Wayne Co. Michigan. Other documents (some census records and his second marriage document) state place of birth=Germany.
o
 His first marriage (which produced Gerald Newman-Patrick) Minnie Newman: (Daughter of John: immigrated from Württemberg, Germany to New York- October-1852) and Augusta (Hoppe) Rathfoot (German born) they married in New York November 11, 1866). Minnie was born Melissa Maria (Rothfuss) Rathfoot - November 30, 1875 died- Jan. 30, 1911. First husband, Charles Ross, Son, Henry Burton Ross. No other information.
• Her Second husband, Byron Flickinger, married October 27, 1896 in Lansing. Divorced - date unknown.
• Her 3rd husband, John Newman (Neuman), married April 11, 1907 in Detroit, Michigan. Son-Gerald Fred Neuman (Newman) was born May 19, 1908.
• It was Minnie’s sister Augusta (Rathfoot) Patrick and husband who adopted Gerald upon Minnie’s death in Detroit, 1911, puerperal sepsis. Minnie's husband's name is not on her Death Certificate and I have not been able to locate his whereabouts at that time. 1910 Federal Census records Minnie as "Head" of her household, her occupation was Laundress. Also recorded are her 2 sons, Henry B. Ross, age 14 and Gerald R. Newman, age 1-11/12. I have found his WWI draft card dated 1918 and contact is his second wife, Charlotte. Also his draft card (1942) for WWII-his contact then is "Mrs. Margaret Newman."
 “John and Louisa” (parents’ names per John’s marriage information logged- to Charlotte Lipene of Canada). Documents suggest place of birth-Germany.
 I have found some documents from Buffalo and Erie County, New York (census) which show a household with a John E. Newman born in Germany, widowed and appropriate aged son John L. Newman “born in New York.”