Wordless Wednesday: Postman William Lee Wright (1919-1973)

William Lee Wright (1919-1973); my maternal grandfather.

Marriage Application: Pearl M. Metzner (1915)

APPLICATION FOR MARRIAGE LICENSE - FEMALE

Application is hereby made for a license for the marriage of Pearl M. Metzner to Edward H. Baumgartner upon the following statement of facts relative to said parties:

1. Full christian and surname of the woman is Pearl M. Metzner.

2. Color White

3. Where born Jay County, Indiana

4. When born Nov. 6, 1883

5. Present residence Portland, Indiana

6. Present occupation Housework

7. Full christian and surname of father William F. Metzner

8. His color White

9. His birthplace Fairfield Co., Ohio

10. His occupation Farming

11. His residence Jay County, Ind.

12. Full christian and maiden name of mother Mary A. Haley

13. Her color White

14. Her occupation Housework

15. Her birthplace Fairfield Co., Ohio

16. Her residence Jay County, Ind.

17. Has the female contracting party been an inmate of any county asylum or home for indigent persons within the last five years No

18. Is this her first marriage? Yes

22. Is the female contracting party afflicted with epilepsy, tuberculosis, venereal or any other contagious or transmissible disease? No

23. Is she an imbecile, feeble minded, idiotic or insane, or is she under guardianship as a person of unsound mind? No

Signature of applicant Pearl M. Metzner

State of Indiana, Jay County, SS:

Pearl M. Metzner deposes and says that she has personal knowledge of the facts above stated and that they and each of them are true.

Pearl M. Metzner

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 2 day of June 1915

Frank Gillespie, Clerk

Jay Circuit Court

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This marriage application was signed by Pearl M. Metzner on June 2, 1915.  She was my paternal 1st cousin 3 times removed.

Ancestry.com has a record of the marriage in their database as well.

This application for a marriage license was part of the collection found at the Jay County Historical Society.  The society has made copies of many of the marriage application books, making research easier on days when the courthouse is closed.

Was Harry's Relationship Ever Mentioned?

Relationship Chart created with RootsMagic 3.2.6

One of the curiosities in my mind regarding how Harry PIERPONT (1902-1934) was connected with my family, was whether or not it was ever mentioned by family members how closely they were related when his name was in the papers.

They may not have followed his early criminal career as much, but by the time of the breakout from Michigan City and the Dillinger breakout, Harry was front page news.  Reading the papers from that era, it was a near daily experience to have Harry's name mentioned in the newspaper.

How much contact grandma Ruth (Haley) LeMaster (1911-1990) and her sisters had with Harry when he was growing up is unknown.  Aunt Carrie would be more Harry's age.  Was there ever a family reunion of the METZNER clan where Harry and my grandmother met?  Harry's was born in Muncie and grew up in Indianapolis, but it wouldn't be too far outside the realm of possibility that there may have been some family contact.  In my life, I don't have much contact with my second cousins as I did when growing up, but I do have vague notions of where there are now.  Perhaps grandma and Harry were the same.


In recent discussion with my dad, aunt Carrie had mentioned there was some connection with Dillinger, and uncle Waymon was fearful of the gang.  Of course, those with first hand knowledge are gone now. Will have to see what else I can learn at the next family reunion.