Tombstone Tuesday - April 15, 2014 - Sarah Louise Reynolds Densmore

Sarah Louise Reynolds was born on May 20 , 1836 in Ontario Canada. She was the first daughter born to George and Margaret Rebecka (Luke) Reynolds. By 1850, Sarah is found in Van Buren County, Michigan with her family.  When she was 20 years old, she married John C Densmore in Darlington, Ontario on June 16, 1856. George Reynolds, Sarah's father,  was a bit of a wanderer.. He was found to travel often between Michigan, Canada  and other location in the United States. He reportedly had brothers and their families scattered throughout the both countries. John C Densmore was from Darlington Ontario. He and Sarah Louise live there until after the 1861 Census.

They had their two oldest children in Canada before they moved to Marine City, Michigan.  John would serve in the Civil War in the Michigan 11th Infantry, Company K.  By the 1870 census, John and Sarah had seven children; Elizabeth(1857), William(1859), George Elmer(1861), Alice(1863), Charles(1864), Effie Matilda (1867)and Norman(1869) and they live near Marine City, Michigan.  By the 1880 census, they have two additional sons, Delbert(1871) and Worthy(1875). By the 1900 Census, Harvey born in 1882 is the only remaining child left at home with John and Sarah.  In the 1910 census, Sarah who is a widow, lives with Harvey and his wife Edith Densmore.

Sarah died on April 20, 1918 at the age of 81.  It is my great grandfather, Charles Densmore, who reports to that state that his mother, Sarah Louise has died.  Charles is the sexton for the Marine City Cemetery.  She is buried in the Marine City Woodlawn Cemetery and the story goes that her husband was buried else where (Smith's Creek) and was later moved to Marine City to be buried next to her. 

 Happy Hunting,

Jan

Tombstone Tuesday - April 8, 2014- Helen Ruth Densmore

Helen Ruth Stranahan was born on July 11, 1901 in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of John D. and Addie Jane(Hayner) Stranahan.  She married her cousin, Charles Ray Densmore. Charles was the son of Charles and Mary Morgan (Hayner) Densmore.  They raised an adopted daughter Donna Densmore.

Helen Ruth Stranahan

This photo is of Helen Ruth as a young woman.  In the 1910 Census, Helen is an 8 year old living with her parents and two sisters in Detroit, Michigan.  In 1920 Census, Helen is found living with her brother in Detroit  along with her parents.  She is an accountant working in the automotive industry. In 1930 Census, Helen is living with her brother,Charles, his daughter, Gwenne, and her mother Addie in Los Angeles, California.  Addie is a widow. Helen Ruth is working as a clerk for the LA City Hall. She is listed as 28 years old and not married. Helen Ruth married Charles Ray Densmore between 1930 and 1940 census. By 1954, Charles Ray and Helen Ruth are listed in a directory in Roseville, Michigan. Charles Ray died of a heart attach at the home of his sister on  January 12, 1977 and she died on April 6, 1994.  They are buried in the East China Cemetery with other Densmore and Hayner Family members.

 I found Helen Ruth's Obit which my mother had saved so I have decided to add it today. (Friday, 4/11/14) It adds interesting information about Helen Ruth.  It shows that Helen and Charles Ray were married on July 2, 1938 in Toledo, Ohio.  Helen worked for the US Government.  It also added an interesting note that Helen completed her high school education through Plymouth-Canton Adult Ed program in 1988. She was the oldest member to ever graduate and it was her life long ambition!  It  also told me that she too was a Daughter of the American Revolution member of the Port Huron and Lansing Chapters.

Happy Hunting,

Jan