Wednesday's Portrait: Charity Ann "Carrie" Mendenhall 1855-1950

Charity Ann "Carrie" Mendenhall Atkinson

Born: 21 May 1855 in Webster, Indiana

Died: 1950 in Webster, Indiana

How adorable is this picture?! Family playing with the kiddos-
Not exactly sure which one is Carrie, but she is supposedly in this picture along with Edna, Janet, & Herschel 

(got the picture off of Ancestry.com)

Killed, part 3- Dawna & Mario Cluff, 1955

Date: 19 Sep 1955

Place: Verdi, Washoe, Nevada 

On 16 Sep 1955 in Salt Lake City, Utah, 22 year old Marion Henry "Mario" Cluff married 20 year old Dawna Gay Mendenhall at the Salt Lake Temple. The following day, they had a wedding reception in the Mapleton church for friends and family. 

Wedding picture- cutting the cake
From The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper

While on their honeymoon, traveling west through Nevada, Dawna and Mario stopped at the Mylan Motel in Verdi, Nevada. The next afternoon, the owner of the motel found the couple dead, having died of asphyxiation due to monoxide gas poisoning from the gas heater in the motel room. 

Marion Henry "Mario" Cluff                           

born: 07 Dec 1932 in Provo, Utah               

died: 19 Sep 1955 in Verdi, Nevada, age 22

son of Spencer M. Cluff (1903-1966) & Nina Porter (1909-1979)

Mario's Death Certicicate

Dawna Gay Mendenhall

born: 03 Feb 1935 in Mapleton, Utah

died: 19 Sep 1955 in Verdi, Nevada, age 20

daughter of Aaron B. Mendenhall (1893-1966) & Senate Johnson (1897-1965).

Dawna's Death Certificate

Dawna and Mario were buried together in the Provo City Cemetery in Provo, Utah.

A year later- 24 May 1956- a newspaper article stated that the families of Mario & Dawna accepted a "substantial" out-of-court settlement- a damage suit that had been filed against the owner of the motel- Lester Mylan. I wish I knew what amount that was! 

Next, I wanted to search for more information about the motel. Lester and Margaret E. Mylan were the owners of the motel.

Lester Vincent Mylan 

born: 25 Sep 1904 in Rock Valley, Iowa

died: 18 Feb 1989 in Reno, Nevada, age 84

~son of Thomas H. Mylan (1862-1926) & Carrie Mabel Scott (b. 1875)

Margaret "Peggy" Elizabeth Tomlin Mylan 

born: 16 May 1918 in Bassano, Canada

died: 27 Jan 1990 in Reno, Nevada, age 71

~daughter of John Francis Tomlin (1885-1937) & Maude E. Page (1884-1965)

Lester & Peggy's Gravestone at Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery
Reno, Nevada 

Lester and Peggy had 3 children, Barbara, Jerry & Terry. They were both entrepreneurs. Lester with his stream of motels and then Peggy owned and operated a pet store, The Wonder (clothing store) and owned and operated 10 wedding chapels. I found a newspaper article in 1954- Lester had purchased three motel units on U.S. Highway 40 at Verdi for $2500. I searched through several newspapers- wondering when the motel had closed it's doors. In 1957, a year after the court settlement, they were still in business. 

How I'm related: Dawna Gay Mendenhall Cluff was my 6th cousin, 5x removed.

Memorial Day 2020- Mendenhall Men, WWII

As most of America complains about social distancing on Memorial Day weekend, let me offer a tribute to the real reason we have a Memorial Day...and it's not about hot dogs & socializing. 

This post is in memory of the brave men who fought for their country and lost their lives.

I saw this on Facebook, so powerful! 

Casualties of WWII in my tree: 

~William C. Mendenhall

Born: 23 Jun 1923 in Montgomery County, Ohio

Died: 20 Jun 1944 over Germany, age 20

Cause of death: William's bomber was over Germany when it went down.

Army- Sergeant- Service # 35625420

Son of Russell Lowell Mendenhall (1892-1970) & Irma E. Mannier (1895-1993)

William never married or had children.

William is buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium  Grave # B 36 48

William's Gravestone in Belgium 

~Gordon C. Mendenhall

Born: 23 Jul 1924 in Payson, Utah

Died: 25 Oct 1944 at Sea, age 20

U.S. Navy- Shipfitter USNR

Son of Byron Mendenhall (1889-1969) & Ida Marie Cherrington (1896-1975).

Married: 20 Mar 1944 to Eunice Cook (1925-2001)

Enlisted in the Navy- 30 Sep 1944

Died not even a month later! 

Burial: 

Memorial at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in Fort Bonifacio in Manila, Philippines. 

~Van Max Mendenhall 

Born: 23 Mar 1924 in Alabama 

Died: 09 Oct 1945, Killed in action- Okinawa, Japan,  age 21

Cause of death: "non-combat"

Navy- Gunner's Mate, 2nd Class, Service # 8372615

Son of Van Dewitt Mendenhall (1889-1956) & Bessie A. Moring (1892-1965)

Van never married or had children. 

Van is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia, Alabama

~Robert V. Mendenhall

Born: 27 Nov 1922 in Alameda County, California

Died: 18 Jun 1945 in Lorraine, France, age 22

Army- Second Lieutenant- 377th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group

Service #2057507

Son of Jesse Vertner Mendenhall (1877-1936) & Nelda Marie Prairie (1886-1983)

Robert never married or had children.

Burial: Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-Avold, France

- Grave #C 12 88

Robert's memorial at Lorraine.

~Dean Mendenhall

Born: 02 Sep 1919 in Payson, Utah

Died: 16 Oct 1942- Shot down into Sea near Hawaii, age 23

Dean was piloting a B-26 Maraunder- killed along with his co-pilot and 2 crew members.

Army Air Force- 2 LT, Service # 0724796

Son of Harvey Henry Mendenhall (1896-1971) & Sarah Alexander (1898-1985)

Dean never married or had children.

His memorial is at Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

~Thomas Denver Mendenhall

Born: 11 Oct 1919 in Washington County, Ohio

Died: 06 Jun 1944- killed in action in France, age 24

Army- Technician Fifth Grade- Service # 35405344

Son of Hobart Daniel Mendenhall (1896-1974) & Leota Lindamood (1894-1974)

Thomas was married to Ilean L. Ramsier (1924-2010) & had 1 son: Thomas Eugene

Thomas is buried in the Bloomfield Cemetery in Bloomfield, Ohio

~Stanley Filtodus Mendenhall 

Born: 03 Dec 1918 in Custer, South Dakota

Died: 26 Oct 1944, Killed in action at Inger, Germany, age 25

Enlisted in Army- 24 Oct 1942

            Private- Service #: 37462553

Son of James Fowler Mendenhall (1877-1949) & Eva Viola Gould (1880-1969)

Stanley was married to Charlene Faye Crabb & had two twin daughters: Karen Raye & Mary Faye.

Stanley was buried in Custer Cemetery in Custer, South Dakota.

Gravestone at Custer Cemetery

~George Elby Mendenhall

Born: 15 Sep 1918 in San Patricio County, Texas

Died: 1943- killed in action in Italy, age 25

Cause of death: "Diagnosis: Wound, penetrating

                           Location: Head 

                           Causative Agent: Shell Fragment from Shell explosion"

Enlistment Date: 29 Mar 1941, Service # 38030414

Son of Elby Leroy Mendenhall (1885-1941) & Jessie Smith Sutcliffe (1885-1959).

George never married or had children.

George is buried in the Sinton Cemetery in Sinton, Texas.

Gravestone at Sinton Cemetery

~Clinton Vernon Mendenhall

Born: 03 Dec 1918 in Woodside, Illinois

Died: 28 Jul 1944 in France, age 25

Army- Enlistment Date: 25 Nov 1940-

Second Lieutenant- Service # 697571

Son of Errett Elder Mendenhall (1888-1975) & Flora Elizabeth Bridges (1890-1923)

Clinton never married or had children.

Clinton is buried in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois

~Eugene Arthur Mendenhall

Born: 21 Feb 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Died: 02 Feb 1945 in Philippines, age 26

Army- Private- Service # 37019434

Son of George Henry Mendenhall (1887-1945) & Lilly B. Fisher (1893-1963).

Eugene never married or had children.

Eugene is buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

~Waldo Neal Mendenhall

Born: 01 Jan 1919 in Bonnie, Illinois

Died: 14 Apr 1945 in Okinawa, Japan, age 26

Cause of death: died in the hospital of a bullet wound in the head

Army- Enlistment Date: 19 Mar 1941, Staff Sergeant- Service # 36011066

Son of Emote E. Mendenhall (1890-1953) & Dora E. Johnston (1894-1986)

Waldo never married or had children.

Waldo is buried in the South Hickory Hill Cemetery in McClellan, Illinois.

Gravestone at South Hickory Hill Cemetery

~Duncan Stevens Mendenhall 

Born: 05 Jan 1917 in Conrad, Indiana

Died: 06 Sep 1944- Killed in action in Bretagne, France, age 27

Army- Private- 116th Infantry, 29th Division, Service # 35898078

Duncan is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery in Saint-James, France

Plot H, Row 10, Grave 3

~Carl Russell Mendenhall

Born: 05 Aug 1913 in Preble County, Ohio

Died: 10 Dec 1944 - killed in action in Germany, age 31

Cause of death: Unknown, Casualty in battle

Enlistment date: 31 Jan 1944

Son of Burton Norwood Mendenhall (1884-1965) & Rosa May Hager (1887-1961)

Carl had a wife- Eva Taggart (1916-1958) & 2 children: Norwood Lee & Judith.

Carl is buried in the Sugar Grove Cemetery in West Alexandria, Ohio.

Carl's Gravestone in Sugar Grove Cemetery 

Relation to me: 

William C.  Mendenhall 1923-1944, age 20, 7th cousin, 4x removed

Gordon C. Mendenhall 1924-1944, age 20, 6th cousin, 5x removed

Van Max Mendenhall 1924-1945, age 21, 5th cousin, 4x removed

Robert V. Mendenhall 1922-1945, age 22, 6th cousin, 4x removed

Dean Mendenhall 1919-1942, age 23, 6th cousin, 5x removed

Thomas Denver Mendenhall 1919-1944, age 24, 8th cousin, 4x removed

Stanley Filtodus Mendenhall 1918-1944, age 25, 8th cousin, 4x removed

George Elby Mendenhall 1918-1943, age 25, 9th cousin, 3x removed

Clinton Vernon Mendenhall 1918-1944, age 25, 7th cousin, 4x removed

Eugene Arthur Mendenhall 1918-1945, age 26, 8th cousin, 4x removed

Waldo Neal Mendenhall 1919-1945, age 26, 8th cousin, 4x removed

Duncan Stevens Mendenhall 1917-1944, age 27, 1917-1944, 8th cousin, 3x removed

Carl Russell Mendenhall 1913-1944, age 31, 6th cousin, 3x removed

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun- Share a Childhood Memory

Randy Seaver's "Genea-Musings" mission for us this week is: 

Your Mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible music here) is to: 

Have you written your memoirs yet? If so, please share with us one story from your childhood. If not, then start your memoirs! The story could be a memory of your family life, your schoolwork, your neighborhood, etc. It doesn't have to be a certain length-- just something you recall. 

Here's mine:

In 1991, my family and I moved from Round Rock, Texas to Humboldt, Arizona (probably the smallest town you will ever step in if you visit). My twin sister and I were in the 1st grade and our brother would have been in high school. Our rented house was right off of the main highway- highway 69. It's now a busy 4 lane highway, back then, it was only 2 lanes. In our little "community", it was our house, then to the left of us were the Hellman's. Down the ways a bit in front of our house was also the Hellman's (Brothers) and then up the hill behind the first Hellman's was also the Hellman's (their parents). 

Now, I have no idea if they owned that house or not. I loved that house though. It was spooky and I swear, to this day, that it was haunted. Things would go missing and I constantly heard things around that place- especially at night. It had 3 bedrooms. Coming into the house from the drive way (there was a separate garage), you entered a separate small room for laundry. I guess today, it could easily be called a "mud room". Off that, when you entered the house, was a small kitchen. I remember there being a wood burning stove in there. I don't think the house had an actual heater, we always had to keep logs burning. Then, off the kitchen was a very long dining room. Off of that dining room were the bedrooms. Facing away from the kitchen, to the left was one bedroom and then to the right, was a hallway that led to the other bedroom and the master bedrooms. I honestly don't remember how many bathrooms- probably only one. On the other side of the dining room was the entry way for the front door (rarely used) and to the left was the living room. Off of the living room was a small greenhouse that led to a back porch. (This is all based on MY memory, so who knows if it's all correct LOL).

The floorboards in the master closet opened up to a tunnel! We were told it led over to the Hellman's house (first one mentioned), although, I don't think any of us actually tested that rumor. 

There are so many memories of this house for the short time we lived there. One in particular-- in the middle of the night, we heard a huge CRASH. A car had run off the highway and hit a tree that was literally in the middle of space between our house and the highway (so basically, if the tree hadn't been there, the car would have hit our house). The lady driving was the mother of a friend at my school. I remember her being hurt very badly- several broken bones. My mom went and got the Hellman's (first one) since he was a fireman. All the adults worked together to keep her comfortable and to keep each other safe. I remember it being a long night.

We moved out of that house around 1993 (I think). The road was being expanded to 4 lanes and we were forced to move. We moved to a larger house in Prescott Valley, about 10 minutes away and the city tore that house down- along with The Hellman's (both brothers). I believe the Hellman Parent's kept their home. Whenever I go home to Arizona and I'm driving South on highway 69, heading towards Phoenix, I'm driving right over where our house used to be. It's a little sad sometimes to be honest. 

 

The Mendenhall Immigrants

My 11th Great-Grandfather was Thomas Mildenhall III. He was born in Marridge Hill, England to Thomas & Anne Mildenhall.

Thomas Mildenhall III 
I'm not even sure where I got this picture from (obviously a hand-drawn portrait). I think from Ancestry.com YEARS ago.

Thomas married Joane Strode (1634-1682) on 12 Aug 1649 in Aldbourne, England at the Aldbourne Parish Church.

Thomas and Joane had 9 children:

 

1.    Margery Mildenhall (1655-1742)

2.   Thomas Mildenhall IV (1657-1729)

3.   John Mendenhall (1659-1743)

4.   Joane Mildenhall (1661-1731)

5.   Benjamin Mendenhall (1662-1740)

6.   Stephen Mildenhall (1664-1721)

7.   Moses Mildenhall (1666-1738)

8.   Aaron Mildenhall (b. 1669)

9.   Mary Mildenhall (1670-1728)

Thomas died at the age of 52 on 05 Jul 1682 in Sommerset, London, England. He is buried in the Holy Cross Churchyard in Ramsbury, England: 

The Holy Cross Churchyard 
(on my bucket list!!)

Many of the Thomas' children immigrated to America after his death. They each recieved money and/or land in their father's estate. The ones who immigrated sold their land and/or used the money to move to America. They purchased land in Pennsylvania from William Penn.      

Thomas' 7th child Moses Mildenhall (1666-1738) was the first to immigrate to America. He only stayed a year. He thought the land and township to be too rough so he travelled back to England, married Elizabeth Bacon (1673-1737) and had 9 children. 

Other children of Thomas Mildenhall who immigrated around 1685- they became one of the prominent families who established Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

1. Margery Mildenhall (1655-1742)- Thomas and Joane's 1st child. She, along with her husband Thomas Martin (1650-1714) and their first 4 daughters made the trip along with her brothers. 

Margery & Thomas Martin had a total of 7 children: 

Mary (1675-1721), Hannah (b. 1679), Sarah (1680-1744), Rachel (1681-1775), Moses (1686-1739), George (1688-1780) and Elinor (b. 1694). 

2. John Mendenhall (1659-1743)- my 10th Great-Grandfather. John was single but quickly married after settling into Pennsylvania. 

  

John married first Elizabeth Maris (1664-1705) and they had 3 sons: George (1686-1758), John Jr. (1688-1765) & Aaron (1690-1765). 

John married secondly to Esther Maddock (1661-1713)

3. Benjamin Mendenhall (1662-1740)- Benjamin married Ann Pennell (1668-1749) and they had 11 children!

Ann (1690-1691), Benjamin Jr. (1691-1743), Joseph (1692-1748), Moses (1694-1731), Hannah (1696-1768), Samuel (1698-1749), Rebekah (1699-1727), Ann (1703-1789), Nathan (1705-1705), John (b. 1712), Robert (1713-1785).

This is Benjamin's money box.

In Jan 2019, it was located in Berk's County history center, but then given back to Chester County
Gorgeous and amazing that it's still around!!!!!

You can read more about the transfer of the box Here.

One of Benjamin's descendants is President Richard Nixon! 

4. Mary Mildenhall- Mary traveled with her brother's and sister to Pennsylvania as a single woman. On 17 Apr 1685, she married Nathaniel Newlin (1665-1729). They had 7 children:

Jimima (1685-1723), Elizabeth (1687-1723), Nicholas (1689-1768), Nathaniel Jr. (1690-1732), John (1691-1753), Keziah (b. 1696), Mary (b. 1697). 

Mary and Nathaniel started a Mill in near Concordville in 1704. Can you believe that the mill ran until 1941?! Both the Mill and their home still stands!

The Mill- learn more about it Here.

Mary and Nathaniel's family home

My bucket list includes all of these places in this post. I would LOVE to immerse myself in the places where my ancestors stepped. 

Gone Too Soon, #4- Mildred Elizabeth Cain

Mildred Elizabeth Cain

Born: 20 Apr 1908 in Economy, Indiana

Birth Certificate of Mildred Elizabeth Cain

Mildred and her family were Quakers. She was the daughter of Eldo Albert Cain (1874-1931) & Nellie Florence Jordan (1875-1952). She was the 3 of 4 children:

1. Cecil Jordan (1899-1966)

2. Alma Louella (1901-2000)

3. Catherine Lucile (1917-1994)

Mildred died on 26 Jan 1924 in Economy, Indiana at age 15. She was buried in the Economy Cemetery in Economy, Indiana; cause of death was complications from Influenza.

Death Certificate

Mildred's obituary in The Richmond Item
Richmond, Indiana

Mildred's Gravestone at Economy Cemetery
Economy, Indiana

~Mildred Elizabeth Cain was my 6th cousin, 3x removed.