Iris Marvel Corcoran Update

It always pays to cross check. I decided to do an idle check for Iris on Ancestry.com. A family record was added for her that indicates the following:

Marriage #1 = Albert Owen Bates (Children: Glowrene, Jacqueline, and William)
Marriage #2 = Eldred Floyd Charley 30 May 1950 in Reno, Washoe County, NV (Children: Curtis and Kevin)

So that solves the mystery of why Iris would have been in Hawaii without Eldred.

The family record at Ancestry includes a lovely photograph of Iris as a young woman.

Iris Marvel (Corcoran) Charley, 1917-2011, California and Oregon

I have a number of outstanding McKee-related requests for lots of stuff from lots of different places. The Rogue Valley Genealogical Society recently fulfill one of my picture requests at Find A Grave. I was looking for a picture of Glowrene Dee (Charley) Gwin's grave site. On a whim, I checked to see who else was buried in the cemetery. Glowrene's parents Eldred Floyd Charley and Iris Marvel Corcoran Charley are in the same cemetery. The memorial for Eldred is complete; however, Iris was outstanding. Since she was born in 1917 and had no date of death, I decided to google her name and her obituary turned up in the Mail Tribune, Medford, Oregon, 19 Nov 2011.

"GG" (for great grandmother) was the name that Iris preferred. GG's obituary starts with a description of an iris: "The iris flower means faith, hope, wisdom, courage and admiration and is the perfect match for the life of Iris Charley."

The obituary notes that her parents were William and Fern Corcoran. Iris was their oldest child. The family starts out in Sacramento where Iris was born. The Corcoran family moved to Medford in 1930. According to the obituary, Iris was an early driver. At age 12, she drove her father to the doctor when he was suffering a case of appendicitis. At age 13, Iris drove the second car behind her father as the family moved from California to Oregon.

Iris attended school at the Butte Falls School District. During the depression, families with children in the school received a small subsidy. In the case of the Corcoran family, they received $20 for Iris and her sister Carol. Iris eventually graduated from the two-year old South Medford (Central) High School.

I don't have a marriage date for her but sometime between her graduation and 1937, she married Eldred Floyd Charley. Eldred and Iris had the first of five children 12 Dec 1937. The couple had the following children: Glowrene, Jacqueline, Loyal, Curtis, and Kevin.

Early in her marriage--the obituary doesn't say why--Iris had a front row seat on history.
"On December 7, 1941, she was a witness to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She was living on a hill overlooking the Navy base, and she told stories of being able to see "the whites of the eyes" of the Japanese pilots as they flew above her house before sweeping down on the harbor. After the attacks Iris, while pregnant with her first son, Bill, and her two daughters, Jacque and Glo, were relocated to the mainland in transport ships under the escort of Navy destroyers. During the voyage, Iris could hear the depth charges as the Navy responded to sightings of Japanese submarines."

In addition to their five children, Iris and Eldred raised foster children--over 100 boys, many of whom stayed in touch over the years.

Eldred preceded Iris in death (FAG 59794431) as did her daughter Glowrene (FAG 68915736). All of Iris' remaining children survive along with their spouses and 16 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. The obituary lists them by name.

According to her obituary, Iris kept abreast of the event, trials, and triumphs of each of her descendants. She made a point of making sure that all 94 people in her family received a Christmas gift. Iris was treasured for her unconditional love. The obituary reports that among her last words were "I had a beautiful life."  

You can find Iris on Find A Grave at memorial 59794432.



See update for more information. Iris was married twice.

Murphy

I've been contacted by a DAR volunteer researcher. I didn't realize that the DAR had volunteer researchers. Anyway, the researcher is in pursuit of info on the Murphy line of the family. She's trying to find a Rev. War soldier...helping someone who has hit a brick wall. I've answered some initial questions. I've got to pull documents to provide more info.

I've heard rumors about a lady whose research was confirmed by the DAR; however, I've never gotten  any real info that verifies the event as fact. I wish her luck, because if the DAR research proves for the lady she's working for, she'll prove for me too...and a slew of other female Murphy descendants. So I've got my fingers crossed and I'm saying novenas.

Russell Family Update

One of the byproducts of requesting a photo of a grave site on Find A Grave (FAG) is that the volunteer who fulfills your request frequently will take and post additional photographs. Thus it was when I requested a grave site photo for Lucy Jane (Booth) Russell.

As it so happens, the Russell memorial has a double stone and the volunteer (Sarah Carter) posted the information for Thad Allma Russell...notice the middle name change from Allan to Allma. The bonus? The grave stone includes a marriage date, which means yet another piece of paper to chase.

Getting corrections like Thad's middle name (or at least a new fact like a marriage date to ponder) is another benefit to supporting and participating in FAG. Anyway, for anyone searching for Thad Allma Russell, you can find him at Tuscola Cemetery, Tuscola, Taylor County, Texas. His FAG memorial is  87398568.

Now the fun part. I've found a newspaper article indicating that Lucy and Thad were divorced. Here it is.


The Abilene Reporter-News, Abilene, Texas, 22 Jun 1962, Page 36
Thad A. Russell v. Lucy J. Russell, plaintiff granted divorce. 

And yet, they have a double stone and are buried as man and wife with nary a mention of a divorce.

So what's the story? Did they reconcile? Did they remarry? Do you know? Will you tell? 

Virgie Evelyn (Hillis) Norman 1916-1944, Missouri, Arkansas

While I've been working on the Murphy line, I've still been sending off for obits at the The State Historical Society of Missouri. I recently received the following obituary, which lead me to the information on Virgie's siblings.

Dexter Messenger, Dexter, Missouri, 6 Jan 1944, Page 1, Column 3

Mrs. Curtis Norman

Evelyn Hillis, was born March 14, 1916 at Williamsville, Mo. and passed away at a Poplar Bluff hospital Thursday at 12:10 A.M. following an operation the preceding day.

On Oct. 18, 1938 she was united in marriage to Curtis Norman in Pocahontas Arkansas. To this union were born two daughters, Judith Ann, 4 and Rebecca Janet aged 2 years, who with her campanion survived her. She also leaves her parents Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hillis, of Dexter, two sisters Mrs. Agnes Thompson and Mrs. Edna Hobgood both of Morehouse, Mo. and one brother Asa Hillis who is a Lieut. in the U. S. Services somewhere in England.

Mrs. Norman was a member of the Pentecost church, a true companion and loving mother.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. Claude E. Maples officiating. Interment in Dexter cemetery.

Here are the details I have for Virgie's family:

William Roy Hillis

b. 3 Nov 1892 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri

d. 1964 (FAG 21661032)

m. 30 Jun 1912 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri

Julie Ann McKee

b. Jan 1895 Missouri

d. 1972 (FAG 21661015)

Child 1: Agnes M. Hillis (died as Mrs. Conliff Blankenship)

b. 29 May 1913 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri

d. 2 May 2002, Cahokia, Saint Clair County, Illinois (FAG 32563482)

m. When? Where?

Joseph E. Thompson

b. 21 Nov 1911 Missouri

d. 13 Jan 1978 Benton, Scott County, Missouri (FAG 44648172)

Child 2: Virgie Evelyn Hillis

b. 14 Mar 1916 Williamsville, Wayne County, Missouri 

d. 6 Jan 1944 Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Missouri (FAG 17689115)

m. 18 Oct 1938 Pocahontas, Randolph County, Arkansas

Curtis Clyde Norman

b. 9 Oct 1899 Liberty, Stoddard County, Missouri

d. 20 Oct 1979 Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri (FAG 17689139)

Child 3: Willie Edna Hillis (died as Mrs. George H. Troxell)

b. 11 Feb 1919 Missouri

d. 25 Nov 2008 Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida

m. 15 May 1939 Dexter, Stoddard County, Missouri

Charles T. Hobgood

b. 20 Sep 1917 Missouri

d. Aug 1967 Dexter Stoddard County, Missouri

Child 4: Asa Norman Hillis 

b. 8 Nov 1921 Missouri

d. 1 May 1995 Pasadena, Harris County, Texas

m. When? Where?

Mary Ethel Everett

b. 9 Nov 1923 Where?

d. 21 May 1991 Florida

As always, if you're working on this family, I'm happy to hear from you and to trade info. Just post to this blog.

The Murphy Connection

While I was at RootsTech, I bought a copy of Roots Magic. I had to have a learning plan. I decided against importing a gedcom of the McKee family tree because it is a huge file...and mostly complete. It's clean as a whistle but I didn't want to have to try to learn new software on such a large database (almost 2,000 people). Also, I needed to be able to build a file; that is, make entries to the database so that I learned how Roots Magic handles data.

What I decided to do was to begin with the Murphy family. Here's the connection.

• Margaret Susannah McKee married George Ardell Leemon and they had Mary Agnes Leemon.
• Prudence Murphy married Robert Luke and they had James Alexander Luke.
• Mary Agnes Leemon married James Alexander Luke and they had Marguerite Murphy Luke.
• Marguerite Murphy Luke married Peter Dumas Treme and they had James Brice Treme (my father).

The Murphy family moved to Illinois around the time that Illinois became a state in 1818. Later census entries note that many family members were born in Tennessee. I've yet to find a location in Tennessee; however, I haven't tried that hard either.

I decided that the Murphy family was small enough that I could start with them and learn Roots Magic along the way.

So you're going to see me take a break from posting about McKee descendants, while I explore the Murphy line.


Pin It

George Henry Thompson, 1864-1896, Illinois

I'm finally getting back to posting to this blog. I've been on an adventure...attended RootsTech in Salt Lake City. I've been trying to integrate an Asus Tranformer tablet into my everyday life...if I'm going to spend this much money on a toy, I need to use the toy. I've been working on the Florida State Genealogy Society newsletter...it's coming together but slowly. Today has been the first day I've had to get back to posting to this blog. So for today's post, I picked George...a random pick.

George Henry Thompson was the son of Joseph Thompson and Mary Jane McKee. He was born in Randolph County, Illinois and lived there for all of his short life. On 26 Oct 1887, George married Janette Gibson Aitken at the Prosperity UP Church, Sadowa, Randolph County, Illinois.

Janette (aka Janet) was the daughter of James B. Aitken and Mary Boyd. Janette's sister, Lydia Ann Aitken had already married into this family. Lydia married John William McKinley on 16 Jul 1885. One can guess that the family relationships played a part in the marriage of George and Janette.

George and Janette had three children: Mary Velma, Wilfred Gilmore, and Nellie Opal.

George died at a young age, 32. His obituary provides the details of his life.

Sparta Plaindealer, Sparta, Illinois, Friday, 15 May 1896, Volume 31, Number 38

Died. -- At his home in this city of consumption, Mr. G. H. Thompson on Wednesday, May 6th 1896.

Henry was one whose personal influence was felt in every phase of life in which he was placed, not words but works weighed his worth in the home, the church and social circles. As was beautifully attributed by his Pastor, the master has taken an Elder, a sweet singer from our choir, and earnest worker of which our mission church of Aurora, Illinois, will feel his loss.

We miss his kindly smile, his earnest voice, but are not robbed of sweetest memories and abiding affection.

Funeral services were held Friday morning, and were attended by a large circle of sympathizing friends. Rev. John A. Henderson and R. E. Wilkin, officiating. Interment in Caledonia cemetery.

With George's death, Janette became responsible for raising her three children on her own. She moves to Kansas and can be found with an uncle James A. Aitken. Presumably this never-married uncle needed someone to take care of his home or perhaps he simply wanted to help his widowed niece and her children. Whatever the case may be, Janette and her children lived with James in Kansas. A relative sent Janette's obituary.

Janetta Gibson Aitken was born in Randolph County, ILL., August 24th 1869, and died at her brothers, near Roxbury, August 26th, 1919, aged 50 years and 2 days, after an illness of four months during which she was a patient sufferer.

She married October 26th, 1887 to George H. Thompson of Sparta, Ill., who preceded her in death 23 years ago. To them was born three children, Velma, Wilfred and Nellie.

At an early age she united with the United Presbyterian church Prosperity, near Tilden, Ill. After her marriage she united with the U.P. chuch, Sparta, Ill, later to the U.P. church in Aurora, Ill., and then to the 1st U.P. church at St. Louis, Mo. On coming to Kansas two years ago last April she brought her letter and placed it in the Roxbury Presbyterian church, of which she was a member at the time of her death, always trusting in Jesus Christ as her savior.

She leaves to mourn her loss, three children, two grandchildren, two brothers, two sisters, one of which lives in Randolph, Ill., and a host of relatives and friends.

Death bears our loved one to the tomb,Our hears are rent with grief,
But Jeasus Christ Our Blessed Lord,
Alone can give relief.
Amens oft are hard to bare,
Life's burdens_______us hear,
They sorely pray ______ friend,
But God will be our truest,
And dry away our tears.
We'll miss our mother and loved one dear
Who from us past away,
But if we're faithful to our God,
We'll meet in endless day.
So let us live while here we stary,
Amidst life's toil and pain,
That shen by death we're called away,
'Twill be eternal gain.

George and Janette's children go on to live their lives in Kansas. Here are the details.

Child 1: Mary Velma Thompson
b. 31 May 1889 Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois
d. Apr 1949
m. 14 Oct 1914
John Karber
b. 1 Oct 1893 Gypsum, Saline County, Kansas
d. Mar 1973 Gypsum, Saline County, Kansas
One child: Paul Thompson Karber

Child 2: Wilfred Gilmore Thompson
b. 19 Apr 1891 Sparta, Randolph County, Illinois
d. 29 May 1923 McPherson, McPherson County, Kansas
m. 28 Feb 1917 McPherson, McPherson County, Kansas
Grace Belle Walker
b. 15 Mar 1897 Durham, marion County, Kansas
d. 15 May 1960 Newton, Harvey County, Kansas
Two children: George Henry Thompson and Janette May Thompson Patton.

Child 3: Nellie Opal Thompson
b. 20 Nov 1893 Aurora, Kane County, Illinois
d. 24 Jul 1979 Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas
m. 1916
William Locke (Divorced)
m. 23 Jun 1917 Salina, Saline County, Kansas
Wiliam Irving Boyd
b. 10 Mar 1889 Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas
d. 30 Sep 1949 Salina, Saline County, Kansas

You can find Find A Grave entries for all members of this family with many of them including obituary-based details.

As always, if you're reading this post and you have info you want to trade, I'm happy to trade info with other researchers.


Pin It