Tombstone Tuesday - April 19, 2016 - Jesse Clinton Crites

Jesse Clinton Crites

Jesse Clinton Crites was born on June 17, 1892 in Newton Kansas, the son of Jesse and Sarah (Burns) Crites.  In the 1895 Kansas State Census, the father, Jesse is still alive and the family is living in Newton, Harvey County, Kansas. By the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Jesse is with his mother who is a widow and head of the household in Newton, Kansas. 

Sarah Crites moved her family back to Ohio between the 1900 and 1910 Federal Census. In the 1910 Federal Census, Jesse is 17 years old and the family is found in Austintown, Mahoning County, Ohio. His occupation is listed as laborer.  Four years later at the age of 21, Jesse married Florence Winchell Grimwood (who was previously married to Jay C Grimwood) on September 2, 1914. 

Jesse Clinton Crites  and Florence Winchell Grimwood Marriage License

 In the WWI draft records of 1917, Jesse is in Phalaux, Turnbull County, Ohio with his wife and two children. (but he actually has three children) He was farming for Mrs Dell Kerns in Braceville. He has a broken instep so he was claiming a medical exemption. Florence and Jesse would have following children; George (1914-1923), Emery(1914-1922), Themond Jesse (1915), Arlo Adolph (1917), Ester Florence(1919), Henry Ray(1924) and possible another daughter named Clara. 

 I am unable to find Jesse and his family in the 1920 Census in Ohio.  Florence died on May 1, 1926 in Warren,  Ohio. Jesse remarried Matilda Cecelia Miskie on December 4, 1926. In the 1930 Federal Census, Jesse  and Matilda are shown living with three of the children; Themond J. Crites, Arlo A Crites and Ester Crites.

The 1940 Federal Census shows Jesse and Matilda Crites living in Paris, Portage County, Ohio. All of the children are grown and living on their own. In the WWII draft records from 1942, Jesse Clinton lives in Newton Falls, Turnball  County with his wife Matilda Crites and works for Portage Ordinance in Ravenna, Ohio. Jesse Clinton Crites died on April 19, 1944 at the age of 51 years old.  He is buried in the Burnstetter Cemetery in Mahoning, County Ohio, with is first wife Florence Crites.

Rest in Peace,

Jan Smith

Tombstone Tuesday - April 12, 2016 - Hannah Elizabeth Spencer Davis

Hannah Elizabeth Spencer Davis

Hannah Elizabeth Spencer Davis was the third wife of Benjamin C. Davis.  They were married in Whitley County, Indiana in 1868 after the death of Benjamin's second wife Margaret Smith Davis. Hannah became the stepmother of Margaret and Benjamin's children when she was 26 years old. In the 1870 Federal Census, they are living in Nine Mile Indiana. They are raising Joseph(1856), Martha(1857), Mary(1860), Margaret Lucinda(1863) and Elnora(1866) all of whom are children of Benjamin and Margaret Smith and two daughters of her own from a previous marriage, Florence(1863) and Emma Snyder(1866).  By the 1880 Census, Benjamin and Hannah now have two of their own children, Ira(1871) and Elzina(1874) along with Margaret, Elnora, Emma and Florence Snyder.  And they are now living in Timber Hill, Bourbon County, Kansas.

Benjamin C. Davis died on July 28, 1886 at the age of 78 and is buried in the Morris Cemetery, which is located in Butler township, Bates County, Missouri.

Elzina is also buried there on March 26, 1890. She was 6 years old when she died.

I find little information about Hannah after Benjamin died in 1886.   She is a fairly young woman at that time at the age of 45 years old. I assume that she remarried and that is why I had so much trouble finding her.  I have looked for the children to see if she is living with them and so far have not found her in any of the census after 1880.  I will continue to try  to unravel the remaining 38 years for her life.  She died on April 12, 1924 and is buried next to Benjamin in the Morris Cemetery.

Rest in Peace to you all,

Jan Smith

Tombstone Tuesday - April 5, 2016 - Lule (Lulu) Etta Wert Studebaker

Lule (Lulu) Etta Wert Studebaker

Lule Etta Wert was the daughter of William Homer Wert and Etta Clare Smith. She was born on July 11, 1905, sadly her mother, Etta Clare, died during child birth. William Homer and Etta Clare had a son also, James Frank Wert(1903). William Homer married Allie Ferguson on June 12, 1909. I  do not find Lule Etta in the 1910 Census. James Frank and a daughter of Allie are listed in the 1910 Census living with Homer and Allie. 

In 1915, Lule and her brother Frankie are attending the Buckley School in Wells County.

Lule Etta is the little girl with the braid on her shoulder. (Fifth from the left standing in the back row) Frankie Wert is the second from the left kneeling in the middle row. Thanks to Susan Allen for sharing the photo on Ancestry.com.

In the 1920 Federal Census, Lule Etta is living with her Grandparents, Cyrus and Lois Wert. 

Lule Etta married Clayton Studebaker  at the age of 17 on March 10, 1922. In the 1930 Census, Lule Etta and Clay Studebaker are living in Union township,Wells County, Indiana. They have one child, 7 year old Merlin and Lule's Grandfather, Cyrus Wert is living with them. Lule's Grandmother Lois died in 1927.  It took some searching because of misspelled names but I finally did find Clayton and Lule Studebaker in the 1940 Federal Census. They are still living in Union Township, Wells county, Indiana and now they have two sons living with them, Merlin (1924) and Richard (1931) and Cyrus Wert who is 86 years old.

Lule Etta was quite dedicated to her Grandfather . It appears that he lived with her until he died in 1947. Clayton and Lule Studebaker later moved to Logansport in Cass County Indiana.

Lule died in April of 1995. She is buried with her husband, who died in 1968, in Six Mile Cemetery in Wells County, Indiana. 

Rest in Peace,

Jan