52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Week 30

Rebecca Ellen Bannister

Rebecca, known as Becky, was born November 19, 1947, in Jennings County, Indiana.  Her parents were Margaret Jeanette Carmer and Alvin Bannister.  She had 2 brothers and 2 sisters.  I really can't say much about her family because many are still living.  Becky is my son-in-laws mother, and I very much wish she had been able to meet her grandchildren.  I wish she could see the fine man her son became.

She died the 23rd of May, 1988, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She was another victim taken by breast cancer.  She was only 40 years old.  My son-in-law was only 17 when she died.  I have always been so sorry she missed the grandkids and all the joys of the family.  I don't want them to forget she existed, that she was taken away, tragically.  I'm sure she had dreams of what her sons lives would bring.

Her son has been ill recently, which made me wish he had his mother here to see him through this tough spot. So she has been on my mind.  She is family, even though I never got to meet her.  I am sorry I did not get to know her, to share the kids, all their joys and troubles.

She will not be forgotten.

52 Ancestors 52 Weeks - Week 29

John Everett Alexander

John Everett was born on January 21, 1873 in Jackson County, Indiana. He was a child of John H. Alexander and Margaret Amanda Atkins, better known as Amanda.

The first time he appears in a record is in the 1880 census. He is 7 years old, and living in Hamilton Township. His parents, brother Charles, 9, and his sister Anna Clara, age 5, are also there. His father is listed as a Laborer.

The photo to the left is of John about 1898.

On November 19, 1898, in Jackson County, Indiana, he marries Eva Fish, daughter of Isaac E. Fish and Margaret Vaughn. Eva was born on November 10, 1879. John was 25 years old at the time, and Eva was 19. I feel like there should be an earlier marriage but have not found it.

Jackson County Banner
Brownstown, Indiana
Thursday, December 1, 1898
Page 8

Married, at the bride's home near Norman Station, John E. Alexander to Miss Eva Fish. May they live a happy and prosperous life is the wish of ye scribe.

In the 1900 census in Paoli, Paoli Township, Washington County, Indiana, he is listed with 20 year old wife, Eva, and 10 month old daughter Mabel. He is listed as day labor.

On August 4th, 1904, in Norman Station, Jackson County, Indiana, Eva Fish Alexander died of TB. She was 24 years, 8 months, 21 days old. She was buried in Liberty Cemetery in Jackson County.

The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Thursday, August 4, 1904
Page 2

Died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Fish, near Norman, of consumption, Mrs. John Alexander, aged 35, who lived in this vicinity. Deceased leaves husband and two children and a host of friends to mourn her loss. Funeral and burial at Liberty Monday at 10 a.m.

On October 14, 1905 John married Hettie Belle Charles. She was the daughter of William R. Charles and Susan Kinworthy.

On August the 2nd, 1908, Hettie Belle died of Typhoid. She was 32 years, 9 months and 22 days of age.

The next time I find John in records is the 1910 census. He is living  in Owen Township with his daughter, Mabel, age 10, and his mother Amanda, age 63 and widowed. John is 37 and widowed. He is a wagon driver for groceries.

Amanda lived with John and Mabel until her death in 1914. During this period, she and Mabel are in the little gossip columns of the local papers visiting and traveling around. I believe the two became very close during this period.

On November 26, 1910, in Lawrence County Indiana, John married for the 3rd time. Emma C. Stuart was born September 4, 1875 in Heltonville, Indiana. She was the daughter of Steel Stuart and Mary Hunter. She was 35 when they married.

In the 1920 Census, in Indianapolis, Indiana, John, 46, and Emma, 43, are listed with their daughter Helen, age 3 years, 11 months.  John is listed as an inspector at Rataine. I have not been able to find what Rataine actually was, but it was clearly written in the census.  When he died he was listed as a Motorman, so I think it is something in the transportation field.

On September 22nd, 1920, John died at the age of 47 years. and 8 months. He died of Nephritis. His sister Anna was the informant on his death cert. It lists his place of burial as Seymour, Indiana, but I doubt that very much. The Alexanders were buried in Liberty Cemetery, out at Norman Station, in Jackson County, and I don't believe that they would have brought him back to the county and not buried him with his family. I have yet to find his grave, but many of the graves in Liberty are unmarked

Emma died in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 3rd, 1932. She was 55 years, 9 months and 29 days of age. She was in a Diabetic Coma when she died. She was buried in Anderson Cemetery, and the informant on her death cert. was Mabel Davis, yes, little Mabel Alexander.

Sources;
1880 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Indiana, Hamilton TWP; Dwelling 123 Family 132, Series: T9, Roll: 286 Page: 82, Heritage Quest.
Marriage - John E. Alexander and Eva Fish, (1898), Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007: 42.
Marriage Article; Jackson County Banner, Brownstown, Indiana, Thursday, December 1, 1898, Page 8
1900 U.S. Census, Posey TWP, Washington County, Indiana, Page: 140 Dwelling 170 Family 176., 140.
Eva Alexander Death; Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1904; Roll: 06
Obituary, Eva Alexander; The Tribune, Seymour, Indiana; Thursday, August 4, 1904; Page 2
Marriage - John E. Alexander and Hettie Belle Charles, (1905), Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007: 110.
Hettie Belle Alexander Death; Indiana State Board of Health. Death Certificates, 1900–2011. Microfilm. Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.
1910 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Indiana, Owen TWP; Series: T624, Heritage Quest.
Marriage - John E. Alexander and Emma Stuart, (1910), Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007: 223.
1920 U.S. Census, Marion County, Indiana, 10-WD Indianpolis, Center TWP, Dwelling 140 Family 140.
John E. Alexander Death; Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Death Certificates; Year: 1920; Roll: 17
Emma C. Alexander; Indiana State Board of Health. Death Certificates, 1900–2011. Microfilm. Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.

#52 ancestors #genealogy

52 Ancestors 52 Weeks Week 28

Edna Catherine Abbott

She was known as Katie. As a matter of fact, I did not know her full name until I started researching her. She was always just Katie. No one in the family seemed to know it either. I learned it through documents. Her life was short, and she had no living children of her own, but she deserves remembering.

She was born on May 9, 1892, in a small place called Fleming, in Jackson County, Indiana. She was the daughter of Oliver Perry Abbott and Cora M. Hines. I wrote about Mr. Oliver Perry Abbett/Abbott HERE.

In the 1900 census of Monroe Township in Washington County, Indiana, Katie is listed as Catherine Abbott, the 8 year old step-daughter of George T. Jaynes. I discussed the other children of Mr. Abbott in the earlier post, so I will not go over that again.

In 1906, Katie marries a James Buck Hobson. She is, by my calculation, 14 years, 5 months old. James is 22 years old and has been married once. He was divorced in September of 1906. The marriage took place in Jackson County, Indiana, by a Justice of the Peace.

By the time the census taker came around again, Katie is back living with her mother and step-father. She is listed as Katie Hobson, step-daughter age 18. She lists one marriage lasting 4 years, and one child having been born, no children living. She is working as a waitress in a restaurant. James may be living with them as well but is not home at the time. I'm not sure about that. I do know that there is a little blurb in the local newspaper on November 12, 1913, that reads as follows:
Clip:
The Tribune
Seymour, Indiana
Wednesday, November 12, 1913
Page 1

Two divorces were granted today, James Hobson was granted a decree of divorce from Katie Hobson and John L. Jaynes was granted a divorce from Anna Jaynes.

On November 29, 1914, Katie married George Frank Forrest Jr. in Jackson County, Indiana. George, who was called Frank, was 28, and Katie, 22. George has been divorced, as well as Katie.  She signed her name as Edna C. Hobson. George Frank was previously married to Alta Mae Foster, who shows up later in my family, married to another of my relatives. Frank Forrest had one son wtih Alta named Earl Forrest. The family story said that Alta was a drinker and that Frank and Katie raised Earl together. I have found no evidence of the drinking accusation, and Alta did marry again. I'll do more investigative work on this little tidbit.

In the 1920 census, in Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana, George F. Forrest, wife Edna K. and son Earl T. are listed. George is 33, a Teamster, regular hauling, Edna K, Katie, is 24 and Earl T., son of George and Alta, is 10. Apparently the story of Katie and Frank raising Earl together has some merit. 

In the 1930, Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana Census, Katie and Frank are living on Tipton Street. He is 43 and she is 36. He is working as a common laborer at Odd Jobs. It's the beginning of The Great Depression. They are renting the home they are in for $10. Earl has gone. They have been married now for 14 years.

On
May 7, 1934, Katie died. She was buried in Riverview Cemetery in Seymour, Indiana. She was 41 years old. Her obituary:

Seymour Tribune
Monday, May 7, 1934
Page 1

Had Been Resident of Jackson County Throughout Her Lifetime

Mrs. Katie Forrest age forty-one, a life long resident of the county, died
at the home of her sister Mrs. Helen Anderson, 618 South Carter street, at 
12:30 o'clock this morning following a year's illness with a complication 
of diseases.

Mrs. Forrest was born in Jackson county on May 9, 1892, the daughter of 
Oliver and Cora Hines Abbott. She was married on November 14, 1915, at 
Brownstown, to Frank G. Forrest, who survives. During her residence in 
this city she made many friends who mourn her death.


She is survived by the mother, the husband, one son, Earl Forrest, this 
city, two brothers, Harry Jaynes and James Jaynes, both of Seymour, and 
four sisters, Mrs. Myrtel Ballard of Indianapolis; Mrs. Agnes Henley, Mrs. 
Anderson and Mrs. Mary Trapp, all of Seymour. Three Grandchildren also 
survive.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon 
from the Voss Mortuary with the Rev. W. C. Morris, pastor of the Church of 
the Nazarene, in charge. Burial in Riverview Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Voss Mortuary at any time.

Sources:
1900 US Census, Monroe Township, Washington County, Indiana; Page 106 Dwelling 163 Family 163, T623, 412, HeritageQuest.
Marriage -James Buck Hobson and Kattie Abbott, 3 October 1906, Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959: ; FamilySeach, Seymour, Indiana.
1910 U.S. Census, Seymour, Jackson Township, Jackson County, Indiana; 
Page: 160, Series: T624 Roll: 357, Heritage Quest.
Article; The Tribune. Seymour, Indiana, 12 November 1913.
Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959, index, FamilySearch, Edna Catherine Hobson, 1914.
1930 US Census, Seymour, Jackson, Indiana; Family: 120 Sheet: 5A Line: 19, T626, Roll 594, NARA, FamilySearch.
Obituary; Seymour Tribune, Seymour, Indiana, May 7, 1934.

#52ancestors #genealogy

Cora Hines Jaynes - Part 2

I left off on Thursday at the 1900 census. I'll continue from there.

In the 1910 census they were in Seymour, Jackson County, Indiana. Thomas is 40. He's a fireman at the mill, which would be Blish Mill. Cora is 40, and listed as 2 marriages and seven children, 5 living. The children are Harry, 11, James, 8, Myrtle, 5, Agnes is 2, and step-daughter, Katie Hobson is 18 and living with them. She is a waitress at a restaurant. She was already separated from her first husband, James Buck Hobson. Strangely it says she was married 4 years and that she had one child, which died. She is 18, which means she married at about 14?

Cora is the photo to the left, taken out at the "Ridge".

The 1920 census shows them living in Seymour as well. They are living on Euclid Avenue and renting. The family consisted of Thomas G., age 50, and a fireman at the ice plant. It was called Ebner’s Ice Plant, and my grandfather worked there for a while, as well. James was 18, Myrtle is 16 and working as a trimmer at the shirt factory. Agnes is 12, Helen, 8, and Mary is 5. Harry age 20, his wife, Sylvia age 17 and their child, Edna, 5 months old are also living with them. Harry is listed as labor at the ice plant.

In the 1930 census the family is living in Washington Township. This is out at a place called Chestnut Ridge. It was a rural farm community in the knobs of Jackson County. Thomas is 60 and still listed as a fireman at the ice plant. Cora is 60, as well. Harry is still living with them, but listed this time as divorced, and still at the ice plant. The only other child still at home is Mary, age 16. She is still at school.

It is common knowledge in the family that Harry was a heavy drinker. He also would be gone long stretches of time, riding the rails like a hobo. I wish I had interviewed him before he died. I am sure he had many stories that were amazing. He was well liked and married 3 times. My grandfather was not a Harry fan, and he had good reason, but most people liked Harry. His story for another day.

In 1940, the family is still at Chestnut Ridge according to the census. George Thomas and Cora are in dwelling 161 and my grandfather, James, is in dwelling 162. Both Tom and Cora are 70 years old. She had no children at home to care for. He is no longer working. My grandmother loved Cora and I know she liked living right across the road from them.

On the 21st of December, 1948, Cora died in Seymour. She was 78 years old. I think she had a good life, at least I am hoping so. My great-aunt said that she died of cancer in her female parts. Again, this was wrong. Cora died of cancer of the bladder. They were living on Hancock Street in Seymour, Indiana. She got sick in October of 1948 and lived only until December. Tom would follow her in 1954. They are buried in the Chestnut Ridge Cemetery in Jackson County, Indiana.

The Tribune 
Seymour, Indiana
December 22, 1948

Jaynes, Mrs. Cora Jaynes, 78 died at her home in Seymour Tuesday night at 7:45 o’clock following a six weeks illness.

 Funeral services will be held at the Voss Mortuary Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

 Mrs. Jaynes was born in Jackson county, March 8, 1870, the daughter of George and Agnes Joyce Hines. She was married at Brownstown, September 11, 1898 to George T. Jaynes, who survives.

 Besides the husband she is survived by six children; Harry and Jimmie Jaynes, and Agnes Henley and Mrs Helen Anderson all of Seymour: Mrs. Mary Trapp, Seymour, R1; Mrs Myrtle Ballard, Indianapolis; 26 grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs Jane McKinney, Neoga, Illinois.

Sources:
1910 U.S. Census, Seymour, Jackson Township, Jackson County, Indiana, Page: 160.
1920 US Census, Seymour, Jackson Township, Jackson County, Indiana.
1930 U.S. Census, Washington Township, Jackson County, Indiana, Sheet No. 8A Dwelling 151 Family 152.
1940 US Census1, Washington Township, Jackson, Indiana, United States, family:161 sheet:9B line:45.
Death Certificates; Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA;  Year: 1948; Roll: 13.
Obituary; The Tribune; Seymour, Indiana; December 22, 1948

52 Ancestors 52 Weeks Week 27

Cora Hines Jaynes - Part 1

This is the life, as I know it, of Cora Hines Jaynes, my Great-Grandmother. She was a mid-wife and "birthed" my mother and her 3 siblings. My Grandmother thought of her as a second mother. She always said that Cora was just common as an old shoe and so warm and loving to her. I'm not sure what that means, other than Grandma loved her. Grandma said, as well, that Cora had a rather infamous temper when it came to old Tom. Seems they never had a matching set of china, at least, not for long. My grandparents lived with Cora and Tom the first year of their marriage. After that, they were never far away.

Cora was born on March 8, 1870, in Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois, to George Washington Hines and Agnes Joyce. Her mother, Agnes Joyce Hines, died in 1872 when Cora was 2.

The first time she shows up in a record, is the 1870 Census, at 3 months old and in Illinois. In the 1880 census, they are in Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois. Her father, George Sr. is 45, George Jr. is 22, Jennie, 18, Louisa is 15, and Cora is 10.

After 1880 is a blank until 1890, when she appears in a marriage record. Here, she is 20 years old, and her father is giving his permission to marry an Oliver P. Abbett.  There is a family story about this marriage. My grandmother said that he was much older than her and not very nice to her. I interviewed a great-aunt, one of Cora's daughters, and she was more to the point. She said Cora was horribly abused. Most of everything my great-aunt told me has been dis-proven. Almost all of it. I interviewed her several times and made a point to ask for the same information each time, and it simply did not happen the way she recalled. I cannot confirm or disprove the abuse claim but I have found that Mr. Abbett, that we know as Percy thanks to my great-aunt, was much older than Cora. Mr. Abbett was actually called Perry, and he signed as Oliver P. In 1890, when he and Cora were married, he was 56 and she, 20. The much older thing does apply. The marriage was on the 2nd of April, 1890.

I wondered how on earth these two got together? First of all I found Mr Abbett married a Mary M. Pyatt on August 18, 1858. They had six children That I was able to find. In 1880 there are 4 listed in the census, Delbert, 20, Charles, 19, Lillie, 16, and Ellie is 14. The importance of this census record is very great. Cora's uncle, Charles Hines, married to Celia Higgins, was dwelling number 200. Oliver P. Abbett was dwelling 203. Cora must have met him when she visited her uncle. I have found no other connection.

Cora divorced Mr. Abbett before 1896. So, she was not married to him for very long. I knew there was 2 children. According to my great-aunt, a Katie, which I know about, and a boy named Percy. According to her account, Percy, the child, not the father, wasn't very strong. He just laid down in the floor and died one day. All right. That sounded strange to me, even then. Now, of course, I know that the 'Percy' is most likely named after his father, Oliver Perry. Katie was actually, Edna Catherine Abbett, called Katie. I have not found any reference to Percy, a.k.a. Perry.

On September 11, 1896 Cora married George Thomas "Tom" Jaynes. The 1900 census lists how many children a woman had and how many living. This is wonderful for me. Listed is William H., which is my Uncle Harry Jaynes, Catherine Abbott is step-daughter, age 8. But the great thing is that Cora has borne 4 children, with only 2 living. So there was most likely a Perry Jr. I doubt very much that the child just laid down and died. So, here is one other child I knew nothing about. I don't know if that child was a Jaynes or Abbett. My great-aunt said that both her babies, referring to Cora, were buried in Salem, Washington County, Indiana, which is significant. I have found no confirmation, but that does not surprise me. They were most likely buried in unmarked graves.  I do believe that little Perry Jr. lived into her marriage to Tom Jaynes. All of the records of Mr. Abbott are in Bartholomew and Jackson Counties, except for his death in 1912, which was recorded in Fayette County, Indiana at the home of his son. He was listed at that time as widowed. His entry into the 1900 census in Jackson County, Indiana, listed him as divorced. I have narrowed the death of Perry Jr. to the years between 1896 and 1900. This is a step forward. If they were buried in Washington County, it would have been after the marriage to Tom Jaynes took place. That means Perry, a.k.a. Percy, died as a young child, and the baby was most likely a Jaynes, but could also have been a young child like Perry Jr.

To be continued. . . . .

#52ancestors #genealogy

Sources:
1870 US Census, 1870 US Census, Illinois, United States.
1880 U.S. Census, 1880 U.S. Census, Neoga, Cumberland County, Illinois.
Oliver P. Abbott & Cora Hines, 2 April 1890, Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959: FamilySearch, Indiana.
George T. Jaynes/Cora Abbott - License & marriage, (1896), Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959: Image Number: 00343.
1900 US Census, 1900 US Census, Redding Township, 
Jackson, Indiana, United States, Page: 3 Sheet: A Family: 57.
Oral stories recorded from Mary Jaynes Trapp.
Oral stories recorded from Della Alexander Jaynes.