Birth Announcement, Clara Ellen Wright, 1916

"Found, A Girl," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 28 March 1916; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 29 March 2015).

Found, a Girl -

Dr. J.E. Hall reported to the Times-Tribune that there was rejoicing in the home of Virgil Wright, two miles south of the city, this morning over the arrival of a baby daughter.

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Though it doesn't mention her by name, this is the birth announcement of my maternal grandaunt, Clara Ellen Wright (1916-2005), daughter of Virgil Lee and Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright.  Clara Ellen was the oldest of their three children.

Virgil Wright, I.O.O.F. Initiate, 1916

"I.O.O.F. Initiation," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 25 March 1916; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 29 March 2015).

I.O.O.F. Initiation -

Five candidates received the initiatory degree in the I.O.O.F. lodge last evening.  The candidates were : Luther Hall, Virgil Wright, Leslie Evernham, David A. Taylor and Charles Norris.  Three applications were received for membership at the meeting last night.

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My maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972), as an initiate at the I.O.O.F. lodge in Alexandria.  The I.O.O.F. stands for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization that still exists today. Many cities and towns have cemeteries that were started by the Odd Fellows as one of their civic works, along with caring for the poor.

I will have to write to the headquarters of the Indiana lodge to see if there are any records that mention Virgil in the organization.

Second Place at the Halloween Party, 1915

"Halloween Party," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 1 November 1915; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 29 March 2015).

HALLOWEEN PARTY

A masquerade party was enjoyed by a number of friends Friday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Manring on East Eleventh street.  At 9 o'clock all marks were removed.  Miss Elsie McCord won the first prize.  Virgil Wright second and Kenneth Stoughton third prize.  Games and contents were followed by a Hallowe'en luncheon.  The home was beautifully decorated in black and yellow crepe ribbons, candles, pumpkins and yellow crysanthemums.  Attending were the Misses Elsie McCord, Hazel Foland, Mablel Wright, Mary Manring, Olivia Wright, Sarah Damens, Frances Wright, and Charley Sexton, George Harcastle, William Knopp, Kenneth Stoughton, Kenneth Allen and Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Lawler, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Frazier, Mrs. Mary Danils, Mrs. McDonald, Mrs. Ada Stroughton and Clarence Smith, of Muncie.

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My maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972) and great-grandmother, Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright (1897-1968), attended this Halloween party shortly after their marriage with a number of friends and relatives.  I wonder what customer grandpa Virgil wore to win second prize?

Other relatives include Mabel Wright, daughter of James and  Clara (Hicks) Wright, Virgil's first cousin, as well as her other sisters Olivia and Frances Wright.  Frances Wright's future husband Charles Sexton was also in attendance.

Wedding Announcement, Virgil Wright to Muriel Pierce, 1915

"Rural Route 20," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 26 March 1915; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 23 March 2015).

Virgil Wright has joined the "Benedicts," having gone to Anderson and returned with a new wife Saturday. Mrs. Wright was formerly Miss Murrill Pierce, of Alexandria.  A crowd of their friends treated them to an old fashioned charivari Wednesday night.  They will live with Mr. Wright's father for a time at least.

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Located this announcement of my maternal great-grandparents wedding.  Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972) and Edna Muriel Pierce (1897-1968) were married on June 19, 1915.  Edna was the daughter of William Francis Pierce and Clara A. Penisten.

Apparently, they took up housekeeping for a time with my 2nd-great grandfather, the John William Wright.

Census Sunday : Nancy J. LeMasters household, 1940, Merrick County, Nebraska

My paternal first cousin three times removed, Nancy J. LeMasters, was enumerated in the 1940 census in Palmer, Merrick County, Nebraska.  She was renting a room at the Coolidge Hospital where she worked.

1940 US census, Merrick County, Nebraska, population schedule, Coolidge Hospital, Palmer, enumeration district (ED) 61-8, SD 3, sheet 7B, [no household number], ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 April 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The household consisted of Nancy, aged 55, her mother, Sarah, aged 80, and a hired girl, Ruby Wagner, aged 21.  Nancy was single and born in Nebraska, Sarah was widowed and born in Indiana, and Ruby was single and born in Nebraska.  In 1935, the residence for Nancy and Sarah was St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska, and for Ruby, her residence was Greeley County, Nebraska.

Nancy's occupation was listed as supervisor of nurses at the hospital.  Nancy had no occupation listed and Ruby's occupation was a housekeeper.  Nancy's previous occupation in the 1910 census was that of a school teacher.

Sarah was the widow of my paternal second great granduncle, John Stevens Lemasters, son of Rev. Luman Walker and Nancy (Young) Lemasters.  John was the youngest of the family.  He married Sarah I. Wilson in 1881 in Jay County, Indiana and moved to Nebraska by at least 1900, where they were living in St. Paul.

Prior to this find, I didn't have any information past the 1910 census on Nancy, nor did I know where Sarah was after her husband's death in 1932.  All are buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska.  A quick search on the internet shows that Coolidge Hospital was both a hospital and sanitarium, and today may be part of a mental health facility.

Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

State & Federal census sheets are filled with information for genealogists. Both the population & non-population schedules give us insights into the lives of our ancestors. What have you found that is Surprising? Reassuring? Bewildering? Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Colleen Pasquale of Leaves and Branches.

Farewell Party for Miss Pearl Cummins, 1915

"Farewell Party," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 14 May 1915; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 23 March 2015).

FAREWELL PARTY

Miss Pearl Cummins gave a farewell party at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Cummins, Wednesday evening.  Miss Cummins will leave next week for Lafayette, Ind., where she will enter the State Soldiers' Home to take up nurse training.  Among those present were : Ollie Johnson, Lena and Nema Cranfield, Merl Fuller, Mary Moore, Merl Pierce, Cecil Thurber, Ada Miller, Hazel Walker, Pearl Little, Pearl Robbins, Clema Laycock, Edith and Hortense Brown, Bessie Laycock, Sarah Smith, Eva King, Ruth Jones, Iva White, Gladys Davis, Zetta Johnston, Pearl Cummins, Mrs. Charles Finley, Mrs. John Lewis and Mrs. D.A. Cummins and Earl and Joe Mohler, Kenneth Jones, Kenneth Collis, Rex Fuller, Everett Wilson, Chester Seibert, Park Weewee, Joe Draper, Chester and Virgil Wright, Floyd Miller, Oscar Thurber, Lee White, Allen Walker, William Smith, Rodger Brown, Herbert Johnson, Leslie Noble, James Jarret, Jessie Porter, Jessie Reason, Rodney Farr, Henry Young, Roy Jarrett, Clarence Johnson, Dale Cook, Harry Shaw, Robert Zellers, Frank Clevenger, Homer Scott, Cecil Moyer, Herbert Ferguson, Alfred Garner, John Lewis and D.A. Cummins.

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My maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972) attended this farewell party along with his brother, Chester.  Many of those named were friends of the family who appeared often in the social news together.

The Ollie Johnson was my maternal first cousin 3 times removed, daughter of John M. and Martha (Pierce) Johnson.

Farewell Party for Mr. and Mrs. Claude Montgomery, 1915

"A Farewell Party," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 18 February 1915; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 23 March 2015).

A FAREWELL PARTY

A farewell party was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Claude Montgomery who will soon move to a farm near Reed's station.  Games and music were enjoyed and refreshments served to the following guests: Zelda and Hazel Gale, Myrtle Stephenson, Bessie Larmore, Mildred Fuller, Myrtle Lawler, Lottie Schwinn, Marie Smith, Ollie and Cecil Johnson, Ethel Seybert, Ruth Jones, Clara and Beulah Adams, Merle Pierce, Mary Moore, Nellie Mohler, Omah and Apha Miller, Opal Millspaugh, Marie Brannenberg, of Kendallville, Kenneth Jones, Virgil Wright, Sam Thurston, Bernard Millsbaugh, Joe Draper, Delbert Swindell, Rand Farrar, John Johnson, Rex Fuller, Everett Wilson, Lertie Bushong, Clifford Eppard, Elmer Miller, Earl and Joe Mohler, Jesse Peck, Ollie Schaefer, Walter Hurst, Ernest and Esta Quinn, Frank Simms, Jesse Lawson, Chester Seybert, Ray Fuller, Eddie Warren, Ben Jones, Jesse Gaither, Sanford Hicks and Mr. and Mrs. T.M. Martin and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Montgomery.

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My maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972) attended this farewell party that was well attended by neighbors.  I also found several other names in my genealogy database from this party.

The Mr. and Mrs. Claude Montgomery were Claude Benjamin and Ruth E. (Johnson) Montgomery.  Ruth was my maternal first cousin 3 times removed, our common ancestors were Edmund G. Pierce and Catherine Groenendyke.  She was the daughter of John M. Johnson and Martha Pierce.  The Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Montgomery at the end of the list of guests were the parents of Claude.

The Ollie and Cecil Johnson listed were sisters of Mrs. Claude Montgomery, daughters of John M. and Martha (Pierce) Johnson.

I do not place the Merle Pierce in the family at this time.

Census Sunday: Ellsworth D Haley household, 1940, Jay County, Indiana

My paternal great granduncle, George David Ellsworth Haley, was enumerated in the 1940 census in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  He was living in a rented home in Ward 3 of the city.

1940 U.S. census, Jay County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 3, Portland, enumeration district (ED) 38-21, SD 5, sheet 2B, 507 E. High St., dwelling 47, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 May 2013); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The family consisted of Ellsworth, age 71, and his wife, Anneta, age 70.  They were both born in Indiana, and their residence in 1935 was the same place.

Ellsworth's occupation was listed as the proprietor of a retail feed & seed store.  Previous occupations have him as a building contractor, Evangelical minister, factory laborer and photographer.  Both he and his wife had completed the 8th grade in education.

Prior to this find, I had his wife listed as Nettie, though it appears Anneta may be the full name.  Ellsworth may have been how he was known, but my files show his full name as George David Ellsworth Haley, likely named for both of his grandfathers.

Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

State & Federal census sheets are filled with information for genealogists. Both the population & non-population schedules give us insights into the lives of our ancestors. What have you found that is Surprising? Reassuring? Bewildering? Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Colleen Pasquale of Leaves and Branches.

Surprise Party for Mrs. George Allen, 1914

"A Surprise Party," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 22 October 1914; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 21 March 2015).

A SURPRISE PARTY

Mrs. George Allen, who resides south-west of the city was very pleasantly surprised Tuesday night when a large company of friends gathered at the home to spend the evening.  The time was spent in enteretaining music and games.  Pop-corn, apples, candy and melons were served to the guests.  Among those present were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Manring, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Thurston and daughter, Lolaa, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Gaither and son, George.  Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Bowers and Son, Herbert, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Davis and son, Ralph, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Peet, Mr. and Mrs. Webster and family, Mr. and Mrs. Horace McCord and family, Mr. and Mrs. Wid Carver, Mrs. Clyde Clevenger and daughters, Misses Hazel Nichols, Nellie Smith, Frances Wright, Hazel Folden, Elsie McCord, Marie Etsler, Louise Auler, Gladys Cox, Katherine Brown, Mary Moore, Elizabeth Auler, Olivia Wright, Katherine Cox, Nellie Scott and Messrs. Will Nichols, James Ferguson, Will Smith, Robert Gaither, Charles Sexton, George Hardcastle, Joseph Gaither, Kenneth Allen, Byford Brown, Virgil Wright, Jesse and Lawrence Gaither, Will Baxter, David Bowers, Clifton Jones, Virgil Wright, Thurel Markle and Wid Nickols.

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Another social gathering attended by my maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972) was covered by the society pages in the paper.  Many of these listed were family friends and neighbors who have appeared in other gatherings.

Virgil was listed twice in the list of names, I wonder if the second time should have been mention of his brother, Chester.

The Frances Wright and Olivia Wright mentioned in attendance were Virgil's cousins, daughters of James and Clara (Hicks) Wright.

Sometimes the paper gets it wrong

"Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright and children," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 27 July 1914; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 March 2015).

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright and children, John and Virgil Wright, motored to Anderson yesterday and spent the day with Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Wright.

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Oftentimes, the newspapers just don't get it right.  If you've ever been misquoted during an interview, you know what I mean.  Or maybe even witnessed and event and then read the paper the next day to see that it was mangled by the press in the reporting.  Happens all the time, even with the gossip columns of old, apparently.  At least it appears that way in this item.

Charles Wright was a brother to Jesse Wright, so it makes sense that he might have motored to Anderson to visit him.  However, his children were not named John and Virgil Wright.  Charles' children were Fred, Edna, Erma and Paul.  

Now Charles and Jesse did have a brother John Wright, who had a son, Virgil.  John was my maternal 3rd-great grandfather.  At first I thought this story might have meant that Mr. and Mrs. John Wright instead of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wright, but the Mrs. John Wright, my 3rd-great grandmother, Ellen, had passed away in December 1913 so there was no Mrs. John Wright at the time.

What I think happened, was that Charles Wright and his wife went to Anderson and visited his brother, Jesse, and took along his other brother John and John's son, Virgil.  Somehow in the telling of the story to the press, the names and relationships became mangled.

Census Sunday: Eugene Kunce household, 1940, Cass County, Indiana

My paternal grandaunt, Clara Elnora (Haley) Kunce, was enumerated in the 1940 census in Logansport, Cass County, Indiana, in her husband, Eugene's household.  They were living in the 1st Ward of the city at 12 Columbia Street.

1940 US Census, Cass County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 1, Logansport, enumeration district (ED) 9-9, SD 2, sheet 3A, household 57, 12 Columbia Street, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 March 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The family consisted of Eugene C, aged 38, and Elenora, age 39, and son Lowell, aged 12.  All of them were born in Indiana, and their residence in 1935 was listed as Van Wert, Ohio.  They were renting their home, and the monthly rent was $10.  Eugene had completed 3 years of college, Elenora had completed the 8th grade, and son Lowell had completed the 5th grade. Eugene's occupation was listed as an Evangelical Minister.

Prior to this find, I didn't realize that they had a pastorate at this location.  In 1930 they were in Huntington County, Indiana and must have had a pastorate in Van Wert, Ohio in between then. 



Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt used by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites.

State & Federal census sheets are filled with information for genealogists. Both the population & non-population schedules give us insights into the lives of our ancestors. What have you found that is Surprising? Reassuring? Bewildering? Census Sunday is a daily blogging prompt suggested by Colleen Pasquale of Leaves and Branches.

Birthday Surprise for Mrs. Peet, 1914

"Birthday Surprise," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 13 July 1914; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 March 2015).

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

A pleasant surprise was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Peet yesterday in honor of Mrs. Peet's birthday.  All the guests arrived with well-filled baskets and at the dinner hour, all the good things were spread and piled high on tables out-of-doors for all to enjoy the feast.  Among those in the party were Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Bowers and son, Herbert, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brown and daughters, Kathryn and Dorothy, Mr. and Mrs. George Allen and son, George, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wright and daughters, Helen and Oliva, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Morgan and son, John, Miss Hazel Folden, Erma Wright, Elsie McCord, Lillie, Martha and Vana Allen, Gladys Hall, Nellie Lenard, Mary Moore, Joe Gaither, Virgil Wright, George Hardcastle, Miles Gooding and Fred Wright.

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Another social mention of my maternal great-grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972) attending a birthday party.  Several other names of family members were also in attendance.

The Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wright are James and Clara (Hicks) Wright, Virgil's aunt and uncle.  Two of their daughters, Helen and Oliva, were also in attendance.

The Fred Wright who attended the party was the son of Charles and Bertha (Leonard) Wright, Virgil's aunt and uncle.

So at this one party were several of my 2nd-great grandfather's neighbors as well as his first cousins.