Virgil C. Chew Redux

Sorting out the mysterious Virgil C. Chew and how exactly he ties into my family has been a bit perplexing.  I'm thankful to fellow researcher Judy Ahrens for her insight and information on this individual.

After contacting me to note that I had an error in my database, Judy provided me with some clues on this Virgil Chew, but we are stuck in trying to identify his father and how he fits into the Chew families of Jay County, Indiana.  I really need to dig into the court records in Jay County, Indiana around the time of his birth (May 5, 1885) to see if there is mention of a bastardy suit or some other such record.

Virgil was living in 1900 in Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana with his grandmother, Mary C. Frasher.  As my previous post indicates, there were a few records in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana for Virgil, including a draft registration and his second marriage.

In the 1920 census, two of Virgil and Esther (Abel) Chew's children were living with their grandparents in Madison Township.  The George W. and Sarah R. Abel household lists grandchildren Kathryn E. Chew, age 11, and Wade W. Chew, age 10.  There was another grandchild as well, Margery M., age 5 in the household, but she was listed with the surname Abel.  Judy noted that Marjorie was the daughter of Donald and Dove (Ellis) Abel.

Judy had worked with the Salamonia Christian Church records, and noted that Esther (Abel) Chew was removed from church membership on 12 March 1906.

Marriage License & Return: Virgil C. Chew to Esther V. Abel, 1905

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage License, "Virgil C. Chew to Esther V. Abel, 1905"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

Marriage License

State Of Indiana, Jay County, SS:

To All Who Shall See These Presents, Greeting:

Know Ye, That any person empowered by law to solemnize Marriages is hereby authorized to join together as Husband and Wife,

Virgil C. Chew and Esther V. Abel

and for so doing, this shall be his sufficient authority

In Testimony Whereeof, I, F.L. Crowe Clerk of Jay Circuit Court, hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at Portland, Indiana, this 2nd day of September 1905

F.L. Crowe, Clerk

STATE OF INDIANA, JAY COUNTY, SS:

This Certifies, That I joined in Marriage as Husband and Wife, Virgil C. Chew and Esther V. Abel on the 2'' day of Sept., 1905

S.A. Armstrong

Minister

Source: Jay County, Indiana, Original Marriage Return, "Virgil C. Chew to Esther V. Abel, 1905"; County Marriage Returns Collection; Jay County Historical Society, Portland, Indiana.

INDIANA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH

RETURN OF A MARRIAGE TO COUNTY CLERK

1. Full Name of GROOM, Virgil C. Chew

2. Place of Residence Salamonia Ind.

3. Occupation Lineman

4. Age next Birthday 22 Color, White Race [blank]

5. Place of Birth, Salamonia, Ind. Nationality English

6. Father's Name Virgil C. Chew Nationality English

7. Mother's Maiden Name Lola M. Frasher Nationality English

8. Number of Groom's Marriage First

9. Full name of BRIDE, Esther V. Abel

10. Place of Residence, Near Salamonia Occupation Housekeepin

g

11. Age next Birthday 18 years. Color, White Race [blank]

12. Place of Birth Noble Tp.  Nationality, [blank]

13. Father's Name Geo. W. Abel

14. Mother's Maiden Name Sarah R. Smith

15. Number of Bride's Marriage, First

16. Married at Home of Geo. W. Abel in the County of Jay and State of Indiana, the 2" day of Sept 1905

17. Witnesses to Marriage Cleo Stone & Grace Morgan

Marriage solemnized by S.A. Armstrong

Minister

Dated at near Salamonia, this 2" day of Sept  1905

This record of the marriage of Virgil C. Chew and Esther V. Abel was located at the Jay County Historical Society in Portland, Indiana.

I have not yet been able to connect this Virgil C. Chew to other members of my family in the Salamonia area.  I've written about this in a previous post.

The mention of this Virgil's father being a Virgil C. Chew as well is suspect.  I know of no other similar named individuals in the area at the time.  He may well be a child of one of the Chews, but I need to get into Jay County courthouse and see if there are any court records.

Virgil C. Chew

I was contacted a while back concerning an error in my Rootsweb database concerning the marriage of Esther V. ABEL and Virgil C. CHEW.  The young couple was married September 2, 1905 in Jay County, Indiana, where many of my CHEW family resided.  I had inadvertently attached this marriage record to the wrong Virgil Chew in my database.

Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 about Virgil C Chew

Name: Virgil C Chew Spouse Name: Esther V Abel Marriage Date: 2 Sep 1905 Marriage County: Jay Source Title 1: Jay County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Records 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vo Source Title 3: W. P. A Original Record Located County Clerk's Off Book: C-J OS Page: 209

Source Citation: Title: Jay County, Indiana, Index to Marriage Records 1850 - 1920 Inclusive Vo, W. P. A Original Record Located County Clerk's Off; Book: C-J;Page: 209.  Source Information: Ancestry.com. Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.


This particular Virgil Cooper CHEW was born May 5, 1885 in Jay County, Indiana.  The mother of Virgil Cooper CHEW was Mabel L. FRAZIER [sic].  The mystery currently is who his father was.  His mother was unmarried at the time.  Ancestry.com has him indexed as Virgil E. Chew:

Indiana Births, 1880-1920 about Virgil E Chew

Name: Virgil E Chew Mother: Mabel L Frazier County: Jay Gender: Male Birth Date: 5 May 1885 Reference: Jay County, Indiana Index to Birth Records 1882 - 1920 Inclusive Volume I Letters A - Z Inclusive Book: H-1 Page: 128

Source: Ancestry.com. Indiana Births, 1880-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Original data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Birth Records. Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938-1940.

According to the researcher, Virgil's grandmother is Mary C. BUTCHER, the second wife of William H. FRASER.  They were married March 21, 1861 in Jay County, Indiana and had 4 children: Lincoln, Maybell, Ettie and Ella.  Maybell/Mabel gave birth to Virgil on May 5, 1885 and was unmarried.   Mabel died May 19, 1885 (aged 18) and is buried at Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.


Virgil is enumerated in the 1900 census of Salamonia, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana, living with his grandmother in household 43, family 44.


Frasher, Mary C., head, white, female, born June 1838, age 61, widow, 6 children, 4 living, born Ohio, father born Ohio, mother born Virginia, no occupation
Chew, Virgil C., grandson, white, male, born May 1884, age 16, single, born Indiana, father born Indiana, mother born Indiana, farm laborer.


How did Virgil get his last name?  If his father was a member of the CHEW family, which one?  My ancestor, Dr. Ezekiel Cooper CHEW, was a Salamonia physician around this time frame - his son William later served in the same capacity.  Perhaps there is a court record in Jay County that will shed some light.


The researcher was going to continue to search local records for an obituary for Virgil to see if it would shed some clues.


Virgil married secondly to Jessie Louise TERRELL on December 24, 1921 in Marion County, Indiana.

Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941 about Virgil Cooper Chew

Name: Virgil Cooper Chew Spouse Name: Jessie Louise Terrell Marriage Date: 24 Dec 1921 Marriage County: Marion Source Title 1: Marion County, Indiana Source Title 2: Index to Marriage Record 1920 - 1925 Inclusive Vol Source Title 3: Original Record Located: County Clerk's Office Ind Book: 118 OS Page: 391

Source Citation: Title: Marion County, Indiana, Index to Marriage Record 1920 - 1925 Inclusive Vol, Original Record Located: County Clerk's Office Ind; Book: 118;Page: 391.


Virgil's World War II draft registration card was filled out in Marion County, Indiana.  It reports his birth as May 5, 1885 in Salamonia, Indiana.

Source: Ancestry.com. U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010