Apr 02

Tombstone Tuesday-J Homer & Leona L (Baker) Carr

J Homer & Leona L (Baker) Carr, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of J. Homer and Leona Carr located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

CARR
Leona L. 1898-1950
J. homer 1896-1990
1921-Mary K-1922

John “Homer” Carr was born in Mercer County, Ohio, 3 September 1896, the son of Jesse John (1864-1950) and Mary Effie (Pifer) (1869-1905).   

Jesse J. Carr, 34, his wife Mary E., 30, and their son Homer, 3, lived in Black Creek township in 1900. Their niece, Myrtle Pifer, 7, daughter of Mary’s widowed brother Thomas Jacob Pifer, was also enumerated with them in 1900. Myrtle’s mother Bertha had died in 1899. All members of the household were born in Ohio. Jesse and Mary had been married 5 years and only one child was born to the couple. Jesse was a farmer. [1] Later that year Jesse and Mary had another son, Charles M. Carr, born 7 December 1900.

Homer Carr’s mother Mary E. (Pifer) died 1 Feb 1905, likely during the birth of daughter Alzona Lavaun, who died the same day or who was stillborn.

In 1910, widower Jesse Carr, 45, was raising his two sons, Homer, 13, and Charles M, 9, on his Black Creek Township farm. [2]

Homer Carr married Leona Baker 14 March 1920 at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio. Witnesses to their marriage were Oscar Schaadt and Maria Baker.

Leona Louise Baker was born in Mercer County on 17 November 1898, the daughter of Theodore W. (1875-1932) and Mary H. (Bollenbacher) (1875-1961) Baker. 

The Theodore Baker family in 1900: Theodore, 24; Mary, 25; Alvera, 2; Leona, 1; and Marie, 4 months. Theodore and Mary were married 4 years and had 3 children, all living. All family members were born in Ohio and Theodore was a farmer. [3]

By 1910 the Baker family had grown to include daughter Luetta, born in 1902.

The 1920 census was taken in January in Mercer County, a couple months before the March marriage of Homer Carr and Leona Baker. When that census was taken they both were still single, living with their families.

Homer and Leona had a daughter, Mary Kathleen/Katherine Carr, born in Black Creek Township, on 20 November 1921. She was baptized at Zion Chatt 18 December 1921, with Theodore Baker and his wife Mary [maternal grandparents] serving as her sponsors. Mary Katherine died from a heart problem a couple months later. According to her death certificate, Mary Kathleen Carr died 25 January 1922, age 2 months and 4 days, and was buried in the Chattanooga Mausoleum on the 27th. [4] Zion Chatt’s records appear to be in error, recording that Mary died 13 March 1922, age 66 days, and was buried in the Chattanooga Mausoleum on the 14th. I believe the death certificate is correct. If Mary Katherine died in March she would have been older than 66 days. Mary’s name appears on the tombstone with the names of her parents. She may have been re-interred with them or she may still be interred in the mausoleum. Mary’s name appears several ways in various records: as Mary Catherine in Zion Chatt’s records; as Mary Kathleen on her death certificate; as Mary K. on her parents’ tombstone.

Homer and Leona Carr had two more children in the next few years, a son, Leland Muhrl Carr, born 14 January 1924, and a daughter, Dorothy Luetta Carr, born 26 January 1926.    

By 1930 Homer and Leona Carr had been married 10 years and resided in Black Creek Township with their two children: Leland, 6, and Dorothy, 4. They lived on Baker Pike, as reported in the census. Homer was a farmer. [5]

Leona’s father Theodore Baker died in 1932 and in 1940 Leona’s mother widowed Mary H. Baker, 65, resided with Homer and Leona and their two teen-aged children. [6]

By 1950, son Leland Carr had left home and daughter Dorothy had been married to Robert Humbert for 2 years and they had a son. Dorothy, Robert, their son, and Homer Carr’s widowed father Jesse resided with Homer and Leona in 1950: Homer, 53, head; Leona, 51, wife; Jesse J, 85, father; Robert Humbert, 26, son [sic]; Dorothy, 24, daughter; Larry Humbert, 1, grandson. Homer and Robert farmed. [7] Homer’s father Jesse resided with Homer and Leona until his death on 31 December 1950.

I remember Homer and Leona faithfully attending church at Zion Chatt. I also remember them attending the area Farm Council meetings, held in members’ homes several times a year.

Leona (Baker) Carr died 2 August 1980 at Swiss Village, Berne, at age 81. She was buried on the 5th. According to her obituary she was survived by her husband Homer Carr; son, Leland Carr, of Paulding; daughter, Mrs. Robert (Dorothy) Humbert of Rt. 1, Rockford; sister, Mrs. Oscar (Marie) Schaadt of rural Rockford, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters.

Homer Carr died 11 September 1990 at Jay County Hospital, Portland, Indiana, age 94. He was buried on the 14th. From his obituary: …On March 14, 1920, he married the former Leona Baker and she died in August of 1980. Survivors include a son, Leland of Paulding; a daughter, Mrs. Robert Humbert of rural Rockford; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, a brother, and a sister…

Homer and Leona (Baker) Carr had the following children:
Mary Kathrine/Kathleen (1921-1922)
Leland Muhrl (1924-2008), married R. Colleen Moore
Dorothy Luetta (1926-2004), married Robert Humbert

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 74, p.9, dwelling & family 183, John H Carr; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 107, p.11B, dwelling 240, family 242, Jesse J Carr; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 74, p.9, dwelling & family 196, Dore W Baker; Ancestry.com.

[4] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,”, Mary Kathleen Carr, 25 Jan 1922; FamilySearch.org.

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 1, p.7B, dwelling & family 164, John H Carr; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 54-1, p.8B, household 175, Homer Carr; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 54-1, p.21, dwelling 192, J Homer Carr; Ancestry.com.

Mar 29

Good Friday 2024

Today is Good Friday, remembering the day Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us.

The cross is the Christian symbol of salvation, used often on tombstones years ago as well as today.

Here are a few crosses that remind us of Good Friday, inscribed on local tombstones.

A lot can happen in 3 days.

 

 

He is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Happy Easter, everyone!

Mar 26

Tombstone Tuesday-David J & Ida C (Sielschott) Schaadt

Schaadt, David J & Ida C (Sielschott), Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio

This is the tombstone of David J. and Ida C. (Sielschott) Schaadt, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCHAADT
Ida C.
1879-1960
David J.
1873-1964

David John Schaadt was born in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, on 4 August 1873, [1] the son of Adam (1846-1895) and Mary Anna (Koch/Cook) (1850-1926) Schaadt.

The Adam Schaadt family in 1880, residing in Harrison Township, with 5 children: Adam, 34; Anna M, 28; Phebe, 8; David J, 6; Henry W, 4; Kathrine, 2; and Christina, 9 months. The father Adam, a farmer, was born in Germany and the others in the family were born in Ohio. [2]

David Schaadt married Ida C. Sielschott on 14 April 1898 in Mercer County, married by S. Egger. [3] His name is John David Schaadt on their marriage license.

David’s bride, Ida C. Sielschott, was born in Hopewell Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 28 January 1879, the daughter of Philip John (1844-1894) and Matilda (Heffner) (1850-1930) Sielschott. [4] Ida’s mother Matilda was the daughter of Conrad and Margaret (Miller) Heffner and was from the Chatt area. Ida’s parents are also buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.

Most records I came across for research of this family spell the surname Sielschott, which is also the way it is spelled on the tombstone of Ida’s parents. I have also seen the name spelled Sealschott a few times, but for this blog post I am using the Sielschott spelling.

I am not sure where Ida Sielschott was enumerated in the 1880 census, or if she was overlooked in that census. She was not enumerated with her parents. There is an Ida Sealschott, age 1, nephew, living with George Sealschott, 63, and wife Louisa, 50, and their 7 children in Center Township, Mercer County. I am not convinced that this is the same Ida, but she may be. [5]

In 1900, two years after their marriage, David and Ida lived in Liberty Township, Mercer County, and had a daughter, Matilda M., age 1 year. [6] They lived south of Chatt.

Their daughter Matilda died in 1904.

The David Schaadt household in 1910: David, 36; Ida, 31; Henry, 8; Victor, 6; and Minnie, 3. All were born in Ohio. David and Ida had been married 12 years and three of their four children were living. David was a farmer. [7]

By 1920 David and Ida had 5 children: Henry, 18; Victor, 15; Minnie, 13; Glen, 6; and Edith, 3. [8]

In 1930 just 3 of their children lived at home: Minnie, 23; Glenn, 16; and Edith, 13. [9]

Their daughter Minnie Schaadt died in 1931 and is buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.

In 1940 and 1950, all of David and Ida’s children had left home and the couple lived by themselves in Liberty Township and David continued to farm. [10] [11]

Ida C. (Sielschott) Schaadt, 81, died from heart disease in Gibbons Hospital, Celina, on 23 May 1960. [12] Ida’s obituary:

Celina-Mrs. Ida Schaadt, 81, of Rt. 1, Celina, died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, at the Gibbons Memorial Hospital, where she had been a patient three weeks.

She was born Jan. 28, 1879, to Philip and Matilda (Heffner) Sielschott.

Mrs. Schaadt married David Schaadt in 1897 [sic] and he survives along with three sons, Henry of Geneva, Ind.; Victor of Akron; Glen of Willshire; a daughter, Mrs. Roland Lime of Celina; a brother, Jacob Sielschott of Celina; two sisters, Mrs. T.J. Smith and Mrs. William Schaadt, both of Celina; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Friends may call at the family home until services at 2:30 p.m. Thursday when the body will be taken to the church at Chattanooga. Rev. Waldo Byers will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. W.H. Dick and Sons are in charge of arrangements. [13]

David J. Schaadt, age 90, died 16 March 1964 in Celina. He died of old age, per Zion Chatt’s records. David’s obituary:

David J. Schaadt
Celina-David J. Schaadt, 90, Rt. 1, Celina, died at 11:55 p.m. Monday at Gibbons Hospital. He had been a patient three weeks.

He was born Aug. 4, 1873 in Van Wert County, the son of Adam and Mary Koch Schaadt. He married Ida Sielschott in 1897 [sic]. She died in 1960.

Surviving are three sons, Henry, Geneva, Ind.; Victor, Akron; and Glen, Willshire; a daughter, Mrs. Roland Lime, Celina; two sisters, Mrs. Otto Wendel, and Mrs. Gustave Klopfleisch Sr., both of Celina; six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

He was the oldest member of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga. Rev. Arnold Green will conduct, and burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the family residence until time for services. W.H. Dick and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. [14]

David and Ida (Sielschott) had the following children:
Matilda (1899-1904)
Henry (1902-1970), married Edna W. Dailey
Victor W. (1904-1995), married Opal Strabel
Minnie (1907-1931), not married
Glenn Cornelius (1913-1987), married Roxie Mae King
Edith Lawrena (1917-2005), married Roland Lime

[1] Ohio, U.S. Births and Christenings Index, 1774-1973, David John Schaadt, 4 Aug 1873; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert Co, Harrison Twp, ED 148, p.309B, dwelling 152, family 155, Adam Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Mercer Co, Vol. 7, p.316, John David Schaadt & Ida C. Sielschott, 14 Apr 1898; FamilySearch.org.

[4] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” Mercer, Vol. 1, p.258, Ida Sielschott, 28 Jan 1879; FamilySearch.org.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Center, ED 181, p.366D, dwelling 266, house 74, George Sealschott; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 85, p.7, dwelling 132, family 137, David Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 119, p.10B, dwelling 191, family 196, David Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 140, p.6A, dwelling 110, family 118, David Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[9] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 20, p.2A, dwelling & family 43, Dave Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[10] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 54-22, p.7A, household 133, David Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[11] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 54-33, p.9, dwelling 71, David Schaadt; Ancestry.com.

[12] “Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, 1958-2007,” Celina, Mercer County, Ida C Schaadt, 23 May 1960; FamilySearch.org.

[13] FindaGrave.com, Ida C Sielschott Schaadt, Memorial no. 39968022, newspaper image of obituary, unidentified newspaper. 

[14] David J Schaadt obituary, The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 18 Mar 1964, p.2; Ancestry.com.

Mar 22

The Merkles from Chattanooga

I appreciate when readers send me information about their family, especially when the family has a Chattanooga, Ohio, connection. Thanks to Doug Roebuck for sharing information and photos about his Merkle and Kantner family lines, which definitely have a Chattanooga connection. Perhaps this Merkle information connects with your family somewhere.

Merkle was sometimes spelled Merkley in some mid-1800 documents and Merkle family members also confirm that. The name was spelled Merkley on the 1860 marriage record of Joseph Merkle (1835-1901) to Lucinda Kantner (1843-1919), as Merkley when their daughter Anna Merkle (1867-1935) married Fred Heffner (1861-1918) in 1885, and when another daughter Emma Merkle married Conrad Heffner in 1897. There may be even more instances.

Doug said that the Merkle’s liked to play baseball, which was a very popular sport in Chatt years ago.

Joseph Merkle (1835-1901) was born in Germany and married Lucinda Kantner in Auglaize County, Ohio, on 29 January 1860. Lucinda Kantner (1843-1919) was born in Ohio and grew up in Auglaize County. She was the daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Oswald) Kantner. Joseph and Lucinda Merkle lived in Auglaize County until about 1872, when they moved to Chattanooga, Ohio. Joseph was a blacksmith in Chatt and Lucinda ran a boarding house. Their family attended Zion Lutheran Church in Chatt.

This 1900 map of Chattanooga shows Lot 9, Lucinda Merkle and a hotel to the north:

Chattanooga, Ohio, 1900, Lucinda Merkle & Hotel, Lot 9

According to the 1900 census Joseph and Lucinda had 10 children, but only nine have been identified: Mary, Elizabeth, Anna, John Francis, Friedrich, Emma, William, Joseph “Edward”, and Leo.

How wonderful to have a photo of the Joseph & Lucinda Merkle family:

Joseph & Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle family. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck) 

Joseph and Lucinda both died in Liberty Township, Mercer County, and are buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.

A little about the children of Joseph and Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle:

  • “Mary” Magdalena (Merkle) FEGGER (1861-1954), born in Auglaize County, married Rev. Albert J. Feeger (1858-1941) in Chattanooga, Ohio, on 6 July 1882. Rev. Feeger was a Lutheran minister. They had two girls and seven boys: Luther Martin, Mabel Ida, Carl Herbert, Helen Emilie, Albert Julius, Paul George Henry, Theodore Franz, George Edward, and another who is not identified. Rev. Feeger and Mary died in the Dayon area and are buried in Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery.
  • Elizabeth H. “Lizzie” (Merkle) HEFFNER (1865-1924), born in Auglaize County, married “Jacob” Joseph Heffner (1861-1899) at Zion Chatt on 16 December 1884. Jacob was the son of Conrad and Anna (Miller) Heffner. Jacob and Elizabeth Heffner had three children: Carl, Leo C., and Ralph. Jacob and Elizabeth are buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.
  • Anna (Merkle) HEFFNER (1867-1935), born in Auglaize County, married Fred Heffner (1861-1918) on 1 October 1885 at Zion Chatt. Fred was the son of George and Sophia (Martin) Heffner/Haeffner. Fred resided in Chatt most of his life and ran a saloon there for several years. They had nine children: George “Rudolph,” Albert Conrad, Emma Elizabeth (marr. Bauer), Walter Herbert, Fredrich Oscar ”Brownie”, Maria Helena, Roman Edward, Verla Marguerite (marr. Roebuck), and Vernon Hugo “Cy.” Fred and Anna Heffner are buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery. 

Vernon “Cy,” Fred, Margaret, Anna (Merkle) Heffner, c1913, in Chattanooga. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)

  • John Francis MERKLE (1870-1895), born in Auglaize County, was a carpenter and contractor in South Chicago. He drown in the Calumet River there, when his rowboat capsized. He is buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery. He was not married.
  • Frederick “Fred” Arthur MERKLE (1872-1947), probably born in Auglaize County, married Freda Slater (1877-1938) in Chicago on 30 November 1911. Fred moved to Chicago when he was 16 and worked for Cudahy [?] Packing Company, installing refrigerators in meat packing companies. Fred and Freda had three daughters, Irma (marr. Strutter); Bernice (marr. DuSan) and Myrtle (marr Masterton; marr. Hughes). Fred and Freda are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Evergreen Park, Cook County, Illinois.
  • Emma (Merkle) HEFFNER (1874-1950), probably born Chattanooga, married Conrad Heffner (1867-1951) on 27 October 1897 at Zion Chatt. Conrad was the son of George and Sophia (Martin) Heffner. Conrad and Emma had two children, Walter Heffner and Bernice Heffner (marr. Victor Stucke). Conrad and Emma are buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.
  • William MERKLE (1877-1959), born in Chattanooga, married Bertha May Short (1884-1968) on 27 September 1903 in Shelby County, Ohio. William was a blacksmith. They had one child, Opal Merkle (marr. Dwight Franz). William and Bertha are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Piqua, Ohio. 
  • Joseph Edward “Ed” MERKLE (1882-1952), born in Chattanooga, married Nellie Dull (1882-1948) in Auglaize County on 28 January 1906. Nellie was the daughter of Elliott and Nettie Dull. Ed was a street commissioner in Celina and was a Deputy State Fire Marshal. They had a daughter, Pauline M. (marr. Stanley Bartholomew). Ed and Nellie Merkle are buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Auglaize County, Ohio.
  • Leo “Lee” MERKLE (1888-1956), born in Chattanooga, married Clara Baker (1890-1955) on 30 June 1912 in Mercer County. Clara was the daughter of Henry and Mary Anna (Manche) Baker. Lee Merkle and Sam Egger ran a huckster wagon in the Chattanooga area and Lee later owned a produce company in Toledo, Ohio. They had one daughter, Mary Helen (marr. Bill Avery). Lee and Clara Merkle are buried in Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio.

Merkle & Egger, Chattanooga, Ohio. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)

The photo below was taken between April & November 1919. Joseph Merkle was deceased but his widow, Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle, is in the center of the photo. She died later that year.

Joseph & Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle family, 1919. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)


Front Row (L-R):  Edgar Monroe, Bernice (Heffner) Stuckey holding Mary Helen Merkle, Pauline (Merkle) Bartholomew, Luther Heffner, Vernon “Cy” Heffner, Fern (Bauer) Moore, Ruth Heffner, Mary Elizabeth Kauper, Gwendolyn (Bauer) Row and Mildred (Bauer) Fisher.

2nd Row (L-R):  Leo Merkle, Ed Merkle, Mary (Merkle) Feeger, Elizabeth (Merkle) Heffner,, Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle, Anna (Merkle) Heffner, Emma (Merkle) Heffner and Aunt Moll.

3rd Row (L-R):  Clara (Baker) Merkle, Nellie (Dull) Markle, one of Aunt Lizzie (Merkle) Heffner’s boys, Helen (Fegger) Kauper, Nellie (Dayo) Heffner hold Lois (Heffner) Koch, __?__, Mabel (Fegger) Kauper, Emma (Heffner) Bauer, Mary Monroe and __?__.

Back Row (L-R):  Rev. Albert Fegger ?, Albert C. Heffner, Oscar” Brownie” Heffner, _____Fegger, ____ Fegger, Jacob Bauer, Rudolph “Rude” C. Heffner, George Kauper, Conrad Heffner and Norris Monroe.

Thank you Doug for sharing these photos. I will post some more photos from this family in the future.

I have written several blog posts about this family, including Tombstone Tuesday-Joseph & Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle. Other posts about the Merkles can be found by using the search feature on Karen’s Chatt Home Page.

Mar 19

Tombstone Tuesday–James M & Florence M (Reynolds) Wilson

James M & Florence M (Reynolds) Wilson, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of James M. and Florence M. (Reynolds) Wilson, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

WILSON
Florence M.
1898-1989
James M.
1897-1958

James Michael Wilson was born in Henry County, Ohio, 9 July 1897, the son of James A. Wilson (1849-1943) and Elizabeth (Gessner) (1854-1931) Wilson. [1]

James M. Wilson, age 1 year, was enumerated in the 1900 census with his family: James, 50, head; Elizabeth, 45, wife; William F, 21, son; Emma B, 17, daughter; and James M, 1, son. The family lived in Flatrock Township, Henry, County, Ohio, and according to the 1900 census, the parents had been married 24 years and 3 of their 5 children were living. All members of the family were born in Ohio and the father James was a farmer. [2]

James M. Wilson, 12, was the only child living with his parents in Flatrock Township in 1910. [3]

James M. Wilson, 20, married Florence M. Reynolds, 18, in Monroe County, Michigan, on 9 August 1917. They were married by F.R. Vine, a Baptist minister, and Mrs. Howard Reid and Mrs. Ollie Seymour were witnesses to their marriage. At the time of their marriage both the bride and groom resided at Holgate, Ohio. James was born in Ohio and Florence was born in Michigan. [4]

Florence M. Reynolds was born 19 September 1898 in Adrian, Michigan, the daughter of Ernest A. (1876-1948) and Nellie (Patten) (1877-1963) Reynolds. [5]

Florence Reynolds, enumerated with her family in 1900: Ernest A, 23, head; Patten Reynolds, 20, wife; Florence M, 1, daughter; and Eva L, 4 months, daughter. Her father Ernest was a porter at a hotel. The mother was born in Ohio and the other family members were born in Michigan. [6]

By 1910 the Ernest Reynolds family of four had moved to Toledo, Ohio, where the father was a salesman. [7]

By 1920, three years after their marriage, James and Florence Wilson had a daughter, Virginia Mae, born about 1918. The family lived in Flatrock Township, Henry County, Ohio, where James was a farmer: James M, 22, head; Florence M, 21, wife; and Virginia M, 1, daughter. [8]

By 1930 their family had grown to include Marvel E, born about 1921, and Imogene L, born about 1922, in addition to their oldest daughter Virginia Mae. James continued to farm in Flatrock Township. [9]

Sometime between April 1935 and April 1940 the James M. Wilson family moved to French Township, Adams County, Indiana. Their son James Leroy was born in Ohio in 1935 and was baptized by Rev. S.K. Strams at Holgate, Ohio, on 12 April 1936, so they likely moved to Adams County after his baptism.  

By 1940 daughters Marvel and Virginia Wilson had left home and their siblings Imogene, 18, and James Leroy, 4, were the only children living at home with their parents. The father James M. continued to farm in French Township. [10]

In 1950 James M Wilson, 50, wife Florence, 50, and son James Leroy, 14, were living in Blue Creek Township, Adams County, Indiana, where James M. farmed and son James L. helped on the farm. [11]

The Wilsons attended Zion Lutheran, Chatt, during this time and their son James Leroy was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 2 April 1950. His church confirmation record also gives information about his baptism.

James M. and Florence Wilson had a Monroe, Indiana, address, and according to James’ death certificate they lived 2 miles east of Salem. According to Zion Chatt’s records, James M. Wilson died of a heart attack on 15 December 1958 at Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, where he had been hospitalized for a week. He was 61 years, 5 months, and 6 days old. He was buried on the 18th and was survived by his wife, 3 daughters, a son, 3 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. [1]

Florence died at Lakeside Manor, Decatur, Indiana, on 26 August 1989, at age 90. Her cause of death was a heart attack and she was buried the 30th. Her occupation was a cook. [5] Neither her death nor burial are recorded in Zion Chatt’s records.

James M. and Florence M. (Reynolds) Wilson had the following children:
Virginia Mae Wilson (1918-1991), married Aiden L. Babcock; married Leo E. Ulman
Marval Elizabeth Wilson (1920-2003), married Earl Stader
Imogene Lee Wilson (1922-1999), married Robert L. Hahnert
James Leroy Wilson (1935-)

[1] Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, death/burial records, James M. Wilson; and Indiana Death Certificates, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Year 1958, roll 15, James M Wilson, 15 Dec 1958; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 24, p.9, dwelling 183, family 189, James F [sic] Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 26, p.8B, dwelling & family 100, James Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[4] Michigan Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Dept of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics, record 709, James M Wilson & Florence M Reynolds, 9 Aug 1917; Ancestry.com.

[5] Indiana Death Certificates, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Year 1989, roll 12, Florence M Wilson, 26 Aug 1989; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Michigan, Lenawee County, Adrian Ward 2, ED 35, p.1, dwelling & family 2, Ernest A Reynolds; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Lucas County, Toledo Ward 1, ED 31, p.7A, dwelling 147 & family 153, Ernest A Reynolds; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 52, p.9A, dwelling 180, family 181, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[9] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 7, p.8A, dwelling & family 170, James Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[10] 1940 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams County, French Township, ED 1-2, p.5B, household 75, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[11] 1950 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams County, Blue Creek Township, ED 1-1, p.17, dwelling 189, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.