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.

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.