Tombstone Tuesday - February 7, 2017 - Perl Edward Foster

Perl Edward Foster was the son of Rolland (Rollen) and Myrtie (Wright) Foster born in Birch Run, Michigan on December 6, 1896. Rolland and Myrtie Foster had three children; Perl(1896), Ruth (1899), Ida (1900). Rolland, Perl's Father, died on October 29, 1900 leaving Myrtie a widow. She married Edwin Losee on August 11, 1909.

In the 1900 Federal Census, Perl is living with his parents in Birch Run, Michigan. Ruth, Perl's sister died of Diphtheria on March 28, 1901. In the 1910 Federal census, Perl and his sister Ida, are living with their Mother and Edwin Losee in Flint, Michigan. Myrtie contracted Typhoid Fever on February 25, 1911 and died on March 1. Perl and Ida are suddenly orphans.

I can not be certain who raised these children. It may have been Myrtie's parents George and Celia Wright or their Uncle Lester Wright, who had married in 1899.  I searched for but did not find Guardianship papers and nine years later at the time of the next census, both children are living on their own.  Ida has married Julian Levan and Perl lives in Detroit. I think it was unlikely that Edwin did because he and Myrtie had only been married a short period of time. This marriage was Edwin's first marriage. Edwin and Myrtie ran a boarding house and he worked for the Auto Industry as a sheet metal worker.

In Perl's 1918 WWI draft record, his name is spelled Pearl and he is employed in Ecorse, Michigan for the Great Lake Engineering Company. His address is 208 Bellevue, Detroit, Michigan. He lists his nearest relative as his sister, Ida Levan, she lives at 130 Brown Street in Saginaw, Michigan. Perl married Rose Finkelstien on May 15,1926 in Detroit Michigan. Rose immigrated from Russia in 1914 and became a naturalized citizen. In the 1930 Federal Census, Perl and Rose are living in Ferndale and Perl is a brick layer. According to the Michigan State marriage records, Perl and Rose, married a second time on September 19, 1936.

On his WWII draft, his name is spelled Perl Edward Foster and he is now living in Gross Point Woods, Michigan. He lists his nearest relative as Lester Wright, his Uncle who also lives in Gross Point Woods.  Seems odd that his wife is not listed as his contact. It appears that Rose and Perl divorced in Florida in March of 1974. He died on February 7, 1976 in Pompano Beach, Florida. I have not been able to find a tombstone but decided to write this blog anyway.I can always keep looking for his tombstone.

Rest in Peace, Pearl / Perl.

Jan

Note: Who names a son Pearl or Perl?