Surprise Party For Virgil Bowers

"Surprise Party," announcement, Alexandria Times-Tribune, 12 September 1913; online images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : accessed 14 March 2015).

SURPRISE PARTY

In honor of the thirtieth birthday of Mr. Virgil Bowers a surprise party was given at the home last evening.  Ice cream and cake were served and a most enjoyable evening reported.  The evening was spent in music and games.  Among those present were : Nellie Free, Bertha Allen, Hazel Foland, Mattie Knopps, Lillian Allen, Alice Smith, Frances Wright, Ruth Free, Martha Allen, Mary Moore and Messrs. Charles Sexton, Virgil Wright, James Jarrett, Walter Knopps, Joseph Gaither, Virgil King, Chester Wright, Jesse Fesler, Roscoe Young, Tom Tobin, Arthur Pete, Glen Free, William Knopps, Miles Gooding, Floyd Miller, Virgil Allen, Jesse Gaither, Russell Allen and Mr. and Mrs. John Wright, Mr. and Mrs. George Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Manrig, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Gaither and Mrs. Fae Leach and daughter, Elizabeth.

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This newspaper announcement of the surprise birthday party thrown in honor of Virgil Bowers was attended by my maternal 2nd-great grandfather, Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972), as well as his brother, Chester Arthur Wright (1896-1913) and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John (Ellen King) Wright.  Several other recognizable names in my family history research and locals from the Alexandria area are mentioned.

The Charles Sexton was the future husband of Frances Wright, who also attended the party.  Frances was the daughter of James and Clara (Hicks) Wright, and a first cousin of Virgil Wright.

I'm sure there are some other relatives in this as well, the Virgil King name keeps showing up, and as of yet, I haven't placed him in the family tree.

Military Monday : Jay Metzner, World War II Draft Registration, 1942

Working my way through the hints in the Ancestry database for World War II Draft Registrations, 1942 and located this registration in Delaware County, Indiana for Jay Emerson Metzner, my paternal first cousin three times removed.

"World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 March 2015); citing Selective Service Registration Cards: World War II : Fourth Registration : Indiana, National Archives, Washington, D.C..

This draft registration adds to the information I've collected about Jay, who was the son of Wesley T. Metzner and Mary Emma Roser.  Jay's draft registration gives his exact date of birth as February 4, 1888 in Jay County, Indiana.  This is confirmed through Jay County, Indiana birth records.  Prior to this find, I did not know that Emerson was his middle name.

The person listed who would always know where he would be was listed as Janet Metzner, living at the same address at 311 Winthrop Road in Muncie.  Through other census research, I've found out that this was Jay's daughter.  His wife was alive in 1940, but two years later she was not listed.  Will need to find out what happened to her.  Jay's employer was listed as Ball Brothers in Muncie.

Physically, Jay was described as having a light complexion with brown hair and blue eyes.  He stood 5'11" and weighed 190 lbs.

Military Monday – We all have ancestors who have served in the military. Military Monday is a place to post their images, stories and records of their service in various branches of the military. Military Monday is an ongoing series by Cindy at Everything’s Relative – Researching Your Family History.

Census Sunday : Ralph Fisher household, 1940, Madison County, Indiana

My maternal first cousin three times removed, Ralph Fisher, was enumerated in the 1940 census in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.  He was living in a rented home in Ward 2 of the city.

1940 US Census, Madison County, Indiana, population schedule, Ward 2, Anderson, enumeration district (ED) 48-14, SD 11, sheet 7B, household 159, 130 West North Street, ; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 March 2015); National Archives, Washington, D.C..

The family consisted of Ralph, aged 34, his wife, Helen, aged 29, and two children, Clara, aged 15, and Betty, aged 7.  Ralph, Helen and Betty were born in Indiana, and Clara was born in Illinois.  The residence in 1935 for Ralph and Helen were listed in the same place, but for Clara it was listed as Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  Perhaps in 1935, Clara was living with another relative, as Ralph and Helen were married in 1931 in Madison County, Indiana.  Mt. Vernon, Illinois was where Ralph had lived with his first wife, Nellie.

Ralph's occupation was listed as a fender mechanic at an auto parts manufacturer, and Helen's was listed as a billing clerk for the Assessor's office.  Ralph had only completed the 6th grade in education, and Helen had completed one year of college.

Prior to this find, I was not aware of the existence of Clara, daughter of Ralph from his first marriage.  I will have additional research to do to find out more about her and her mother. Cousin Helen eventually became the second wife of my maternal great-grandfather, Clemon Lambertson as well.  


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.