52 Ancestors Biography- Harriett Olive Watson (1868-1915)

 Meet Harriett Olive "Hester" Watson- my 2nd great-grandmother

Harriett w/ Husband Frank B. Seaver

Harriett was born on 16 Oct 1868 in Clinton County, Indiana to William A. Watson (1844-1919) & Susanna Manus (1846-1908). She had 4 siblings (That I know of- still researching)- Oscar, Mary, Sina, and Minnie.

Harriett married Frank B. Seaver (1856-1936) on 16 Oct 1888. You can read more about him by clicking here. They had 2 children: 

1. Cleo Roxie Seaver (1892-1973) 

2. Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972) (My great-grandfather)

U.S. Census Records:

1880- June 5- Johnson, Clinton County, Indiana- 11 year old Harriett (daughter) is living with her father William (35), a farmer, and mother Susanna (34),3 sisters and a ward named Michael Smith (16).

1900- June 11- Johnson, Clinton County, Indiana- 31 year old Harriett is now a wife, living with her Husband Frank B. Seaver (42), a farmer. They have one daughter Cleo (7) & a Servant named Lesley Henderson (20). 

1910- April 19- Johnson, Clinton County, Indiana- 40 year old Harriett is living on Hillisburg Gravel Road with her husband Frank B. Seaver (51), a farmer, a daughter Roxie (17) & a son Otto (9) and a hired man named Bert McDaniel (26), widowed.

Harriett died on 03 Jun 1915 in Tipton County, Indiana at the age of 46. She had uterine cancer. 

Harriett's Death Certificate

Harriett is buried with her husband in Kempton Cemetery in Tipton County, Indiana.

Gravestone at Kempton Cemetery 

52 Ancestors Biography- Frank B. Seaver (1856-1936)

Meet Frank B. Seaver- my 2nd Great-Grandfather:

Frank with Wife Hester

Frank was born on 14 Nov 1856 in Patriot, Indiana to Greenberry M. Seaver (1823-1905) & Mary Douglas (1827-1862). He had a total of 10 siblings, 6 of whom were half-siblings: Helen, Elmer, Abel, Henry, Sarah, Daniel, Jacob, William, Mary and Oma Belle.

Frank married Harriett Olive "Hester" Watson (1856-1915) on 16 Oct 1888 in Tipton County, Indiana. Hester was the daughter of William A. Watson (1844-1919) & Susanna Manus (1846-1908). 

Frank & Hester had 2 children: 

1. Cleo Roxie Seaver (1892-1973) 

2. Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972) - (my great-grandfather)

U.S. Census Records:

1860: June 21- Posey, Switzerland County, Indiana- Frank B. is 3 years old, listed as "Son" to his father Greenberry (53), who is a farmer. Along with his father, he lives with 4 siblings and another man named Frank Hickman (20) who is also a farmer (probably a hired hand).  The family's real estate is valued at $1200 and the personal estate is valued at $150.

1870: Sep 22- Posey, Switzerland County, Indiana- Frank B. (13) is living with his father (farmer- 47), step-mother Madeline (37), 8 siblings and 2 others who are laborers. The family's real estate value is $5000 and the personal estate is $1000.

1880: June 25- Posey, Switzerland County, Indiana-  Frank (22) is listed as "son" and "works on farm" lives with his father Greenberry (56) (Farmer) and Step-mother Madeline (46) and 9 siblings.

1900: June 11- Johnson, Clinton County, Indiana- Frank B. (42) is the head of the household, working as a farmer. He lives with his wife Harriett (31), daughter Cleo (7) and a servant Lesley Henderson (20). 

1910: April 19- Johnson, Clinton County, Indiana- Frank B. (51) is the head of household, working as a farmer. He lives on Hillsburg Gravel Road- home is Owned, Mortgage-free. He lives with his wife Harriett (40), daughter Roxie (17), son Otto (9) & a hired man named Bert McDaniel (26) (widowed). 

1920: January 24- Johnson, Clinton County, Indiana- Frank B. (51)  is head of household, working as a farmer. The home is listed as a farm- owned, mortgaged-free. Frank is a widow, he lives with his son Otto (19) and daughter in-law Ruby (18). 

1930: April 2- Jefferson, Tipton County, Indiana- Frank B. (73) is now listed as father-in-law. He lives with his daughter Roxie (37) and her husband James Jackson (41) (Farmer) and their son Charles (13).

Frank died on 20 Feb 1936 at the age of 79 years ago. Cause of death- Arteriosclerosis and fracture of left hip joint from fall (16 days since fall).

Frank's Death Certificate

He is buried in the Kempton Cemetery in Kempton, Tipton County, Indiana:

 

Killed, Part 2

Date: 13 Apr 1957

Place: Carson City, Nevada

In the early morning, about 2 am, two cars collided head-on on a long stretch of highway. 

One car, a 1953 station wagon had a single occupant, driver Ronald Frank Malestin (22) (died instantly) was on the wrong side of the road when it collided with the other vehicle, a 1950 sedan.

In the sedan was a husband, wife and their two daughters- Clifford Montgomery (34) (survived), Anita (34) (driver- died instantly), Tina Elizabeth (8) (died during surgery for head trauma), and Monti Marie (2) (survived). 

The estimated combined speeds of the two vehicles was more than 130 MPH. Highway patrolmen described the accident as "one of the worst" they'd ever seen.

Anita Montgomery was my great-aunt. 

 

Helen & Anita (Sisters) as children

Anita Mae Montgomery

Born: Anita Mae Seaver on 05 Jun 1922 in Indiana

Died: 13 Apr 1957, Carson City, Nevada, age 34

Cause of Death: Multiple and Extensive Injuries (Crushed) in Automobile accident

                     Anita's death certificate: 

Daughter of Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972) & Ruby Mae Henderson (1901-1990)

Married 1st to Eugene Robert Quist (1916-1977), together they had 3 children: Patricia, Robert & Tina. 

Married 2nd to Clifford Milton Noland Montgomery (1924-1986) in 1941 and they had a daughter- Monti Marie. 

(At the time of the accident, Patricia & Robert were living with their father Eugene Quist)

Anita and her daughter Tina are buried together in Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City, Nevada.

Two years later, a totla of $9,112 was awarded to the Montgomery family from Ronald's estate. Clifford received $7,832 for the death of his wife Anita and four year old Monti received $1,275 for the loss of her mother. Eugene Quist, Tina's father, receieved only $5 for the loss of his daughter, Tina. 

The money was taken from the estate of Ronald Malespin, the other driver who was killed in the accident because he had been on the wrong side of the road. 

So, the thing is, I've known about this "story" a long time. I've always been very partial and biased because a 22 year old killed a wife and mother who was very dear to my family. But, I never stopped to think about him before. Who was he? What I found shocked me.

I knew that Ronald was only 22 years old at the time of his death/car accident, but he wasn't just some "kid"....

Ronald's death certificate: 

Ronald Frank Malespin

Born: 05 Mar 1935 in San Francisco, California

Died: 13 Apr 1957 in Carson City, Nevada, age 22

Cause of death: Extensive Head Injuries (Crushed) due to car accident

Son of Frank Malespin (1911-1984) & Ethel S. Davis (1917-1999).

Ronald married Myra Carolyn McCullouch (1932-2012) in 1954 and out of that union came 3 children, Melanie, Cindy & Ron. I was so devastated to hear that it wasn't just him. He had a wife and a family. He wasn't just a kid that was probably messing around at 2 am...he probably just fell asleep at the wheel and it cost him his life and the lives of two others.

                  Photo courtesy of ancestry.com

Ronald was buried in the same cemetery as Anita and Tina- Lone Mountain Cemetery in Carson City. 

When I think of this accident, I don't just think of my great-aunt and her daughter...I think of that face- Ronald's face in that picture. It's a beautiful picture. At the end of the day, two families lost loved ones. Such a tragedy! 

52 Ancestors Biography- Ruby Mae Henderson

This is the second biography post for Ruby. The first one is a lot of pictures I had (then) recently found, you can view that blog post Here. 

Ruby Mae Henderson- my Great-Grandmother. 

Born: 28 Aug 1901 in Tipton County, Indiana

Ruby was the daughter of John Henry Henderson (1871-1949) and Anna Jane Thornton (1875-1954). She had 5 half-siblings with her father's first wife Cora and then one brother: Gaylon Eugene Henderson (1914-1985). 

On 10 Sep 1919, Ruby married my great-grandfather, Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972). You can read more about him Here. 

Ruby and Otto had 2 daughters: 
1. Anita Marie (1922-1957)
2. Helen Ruth (1923-1981)

Ruby (right) and her daughter Helen and her granddaughter Bonnie (my mom)

Ruby and Otto weren't married long. By 1926, Otto was remarried to Grace Dunker. Ruby re-married as well to Myron Andrew French, son of Alonzo French (1869-1933) and Lucretia Alice Ward (1871-1930). Myron was born on 19 Feb 1894 and died on 30 Nov 1964 in Carson City, Nevada. Ruby and Myron didn't have any children. 

Ruby died at the age of 88 in Carson City, Nevada in Mar  1990. She is buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery.

52 Ancestors Biography- Otto Watson Seaver

Otto Watson Seaver- my great-grandfather

My great-grandfather, on paper, didn't seem to have a very interesting or full-filling life. Otto was born on 11 Jan 1901 in Indiana to Frank Buchanon Seaver (1856-1936) and Harriett Olive Watson (1856-1915). 

(Not the best quality of picture...but it'll do)

Otto had at least one sister that I know of- Roxie, born about 1893. 

On 10 Sep 1919, Otto married my great grandmother, Ruby Mae Henderson (1901-1990)

(Click here for some lovely pictures of Ruby. Unfortunately, I have none of her and Otto.)

Otto and Ruby had 2 daughters together- Anita Marie (b. 1922) and Helen (b. 1923). Helen is my grandmother. 

Otto and Ruby were not married long. on December 28, 1926, Otto married Grace E. Dunker (1902-1990) in Warren, Illinois. Otto and Grace never had children of their own. They seemed to live a very quiet life, away from his children. In fact, Helen and Anita lived with their grandparents growing up. I could never find their mother in the 1930 U.S. Census, I'm not sure why she couldn't take them.

Census records: 

19 Apr 1910- Johnson, Indiana- Hillsburg Gravel Rd.- Home is Owned, mortgage-free. Otto is living with his father (farmer), mother, sister (Roxie) and a 26 year old widowed hired man named Bert McDaniel. 

24 Jan 1920- Johnson, Indiana- Home is Owned. Otto is a farmer living with his father and 1st wife- Ruby. 

28 Apr 1930- Reynolds, Illinois- Perryton Street- home is Owned by a William Harness, valued at $1400. Otto and his wife Grace are boarders. He is a laborer of odd jobs. They are living with William Harness and a servant named Laura Dunker, which shares the same last name as Graces' maiden name. Could be a relation. 

22 Apr 1940- Reynolds, Illinois- Otto finally owns his own home, valued at $1800. He lives with his wife and works as a general repair man at a home garage. 

Otto died at the age of 71 in December 1972. He is buried in the Reynolds Cemetery in Reynolds, Illinois. 

52 Ancestors Biography- Helen Ruth Seaver

Starting the 52 Ancestor blog challenge again, I was surprised I'd never done a blog post about my paternal grandmother!

Helen Ruth Seaver- my maternal grandmother

Born: 31 Dec 1923, Cicero, Tipton, Indiana

Helen with husband Harold Mendenhall and their youngest daughter

Birth Certificate 

Helen's parents were Otto Watson Seaver (1901-1972) and 

                            Ruby Mae Henderson (1901-1990)

Helen only had one other sibling- Anita Marie Seaver (1922-1957). Anita died at the young age of 34 in a car accident. You can read about her Here. 

Some pictures of Helen and Anita growing up:

Left- Anita

Right- Helen

Left- Anita

Middle- A cousin

Right- Helen

Left- Helen

Right- Anita

Left- Helen

Right- Anita

Helen was an artist! Here are some of her beautiful paintings: 

 
                                                                     This one is my favorite!!!!!

On 06 Oct 1940, Helen married Harold Earl Mendenhall (1916-1989)- his personal biography is Here.

Helen and Harold had 4 children: Nancy, Harold Jr., Neil and Bonnie. 

                                                      Helen with her mother Ruby and daughter Bonnie




Helen's mother Ruby and stepfather Myron French with Helen and Harold's children- 

                                                 Back- Nancy, Ruby, Myron 

                                                 Middle- Harold Jr., Neil

                                                 Front- Bonnie

Helen died of a brain aneurism in Dayton Ohio at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was only 57 years old. Her body was donated to Wright state University. Her body was held for four years until they used it and then she was cremated and buried at Rockafield Cemetery on the University grounds. 

Update: 09 Jun 2020- I FINALLY got a picture of my grandmother's gravestone and very sad but happy at the same time. 

Next, we're in the process of getting her a proper stone with her name and dates on it! 

Update on Anita M. Seaver (52 Ancestors, Week 50)

On May 8, 2015, I wrote a blog post about my grand aunt as part of my 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks project. You can view this blog post Here.

Originally, I thought that Anita only had 2 children- 2 daughters, Tina and Monte. This is what I was told by my mother and then from what I read in newspapers. However, this summer, I found a different newspaper article states that Anita had 2 other children whom I’d never even heard of.

Here’s the article:  (I have highlighted the area of the 2 other children discovered)

Nevada State Journal- Reno, NV, 14 Apr 1957

TWO PERSONS KILLED IN HEAD-ON CRASH

Three Others injured; Little Girl in Critical Condition

Two person were killed and an eight-year-old girl critically injured early yesterday morning in a head-on collision near the northern approach to Lakeview Hill about four miles north of Carson City on Highway 395.

Dead are Mrs. Anita Mae Montgomery, 34, of Steamboat, who was driving a northbound auto, and Ronald Frank Malespin, 22, of Carson City, driver of the Southbound car.

State Highway patrol officers said Malespin’s car was in the wrong lane at the time of the impact. Others riding with Mrs. Montgomery were her husband, Clifford M., a Reno machinery company employee, and their two children, Tina, 8, and Montie Marie, 2.

Officers said the mishap occurred at about 2:00 a.m. and that both cars were mangled almost beyond identification.

Child Badly Hurt

The 8-year-old Montgomery girl was reported in critical condition at Carson Tahoe hospital following emergency surgery. Her sister suffered only minor cuts and bruises. The father sustained head injuries.

Reno Township Coroner William Beemer, who investigated the deaths, said the accident occurred just north of the Washoe county line. He said Mrs. Montgomery was killed instantly and that Malespin died en route to the hospital.

No Skid Marks

Investigating officers theorized the accident could have possibly been caused by a blowout on Malespin’s station wagon, but no skid marks were found in either traffic lane.

Cutting torches were used on the Montgomery auto before her body could be removed from the wreckage.

Cooperating in the investigation were the Nevada Highway patrol, Carson City Police and Washoe and Ormsby county sheriff’s office.

Funeral services for Mrs. Montgomery are pending at the Capital City Mortuary. She was born in Atlanta, Ind., June 5, 1922. Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Myron French, of Carson City and two children by a previous marriage, Patricia and Robert Quist of Rock Island, Illinois. Mrs. Montgomery had lived in Steamboat for several months.

Services for Malespin also are pending at the mortuary. He is survived by his widow, Myra, of Carson City.

The deaths were the 25^th and 26^th reported on Nevada highway this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After researching these two names, I discovered Anita’s son, Robert had 3 children. I found one of his grand-daughter’s on Facebook and was able to connect with her mother, Robert’s middle daughter. (I am leaving out names out of respect for living relatives and their privacy). I was actually able to talk to her on the phone, which most people I contact online, it’s very short and only through email or messenger.

After talking to my cousin, I discovered that Anita married Eugene Robert Quist and the two of them had 3 children-

1. Patricia (b. 1942)

2. Robert Eugene (1944-2015)

3. Tina Elizabeth (1948-1957) (passed away in the same accident as her mother)

When Anita remarried Clifford Montgomery (b. 1922), she and Clifford had a daughter, Monte Marie Montgomery (b. 1955). Anita abandoned Patricia and Robert, left them with their father Eugene and took her two youngest daughters and moved to Nevada. I suppose on a different level, it was a good thing that she left Robert and Patricia because they could have been killed in the accident that killed their mother and sister.

Before this, I also didn’t know whatever happened to Monte, Anita’s youngest daughter. She survived the car accident, at the age of 2, along with her father. I think my cousin said she lives in Washington (I can’t quite remember). Robert and Monte would write letters to each other and they stay connected with one another, which I think is just wonderful.

Today in My Family History: Week 47

Week of November 16- 22

A Very Happy Birthday to: 

NONE

A Very Happy Anniversary to:

NONE

In Loving Memory of: 

~John W. Mendenhall (1877-1894)-- 17 years old
My 4th Great Uncle
He died on November 17, 1894.



~Greenberry Seaver (1823-1905)-- 81 years old
My 3rd Great Grandfather
He was born on November 18, 1823.


~Clarice Rita Trick (1916-2012)-- 96 years old
My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed
She died on November 19, 2012.


~William Martin Kime (1819-1871)-- 52 years old
My 3rd Great Grandfather
He died on November 22, 1871.

Today in My Family History: Week 46

Week of November 09-15

A Very Happy Birthday to: 

NONE

A Very Happy Anniversary to:

~Urban Lawrence Brinkman & Florentine Rose
My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed and his wife-
Married November 10, 1925.

In Loving Memory of:

~Clara Brinkman (1897-1897)- 6 Months old
My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed.
She died on November 09, 1897. 


~Clarice Rita Trick (1916-2012)- 96 years old
My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed.
She was born on November 10, 1916.


~Dwight Douglas Robertson- 60 years old
My uncle.
He was born on November 11, 1945.


~Greenberry McKilsey Seaver (1823-1905)- 81 years old
My 3rd Great Grandfather
He died on November 13, 1905.



~Frank Buchanon Seaver (1856-1936)- 79 years old
My 2nd Great Grandfather
He was born on November 14, 1856.


~Richard Mendenhall (1794-1871)- 76 years old
My 5th Great Grandfather
He was born on November 14, 1794.


~Charles Louis Brinkman (1912-2012)- 99 years old
My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed
He was born on November 15, 1912.


~Harold F. Brinkman (1928-2006)- 78 years old
My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed
He died on November 15, 2006.

Today in My Family History: Week 42

Week of October 12-18 

Last week there were a lot of birthdays, this week it's all about the births and deaths of those who have already left us.

A Very Happy Birthday to: 

~My 2nd Cousin, 2x Removed-  a "Living Trick"-- Born on October 18, 1923- 92 years old

Happy Anniversary to:

~Frank Buchanon Seaver & Harriett Olive Watson
My 2nd Great Grandparents
They were married on October 16, 1888 in Tipton County, IN.

~My 1st cousin and his wife- married October 18, 2014
a "living Jeckering"

In Loving Memory of: 

~Rose Margaret Jeckering (1874-1936)-- 62 years old
My 2nd Great Grand Aunt
She died on October 12, 1936.


~Johann Jeckering (1727-?)
My 6th Great Grand Uncle
He was born on October 12, 1727.


~Anna Isabelle Heider (1899-1996)-- 97 years old
My 1st Cousin, 3x Removed
She died on October 13, 1996.


~Louis Heinrich Brinkman (1866-1922)-- 55 years old
My 2nd Great Grand Uncle
He was born on October 13, 1866.


~Frank Theobald Karch (1888-1942)-- 54 years old
My 1st cousin, 3x removed's husband
He died on October 13, 1942.

~Harriett Olive Watson (1856-1915)-- 58 years old
My 2nd Great Grandmother
She was born on October 14, 1856.


~Mary Kime (1859-1917)-- 58 years old
My 2nd Great Grandmother
She died on October 14, 1917.


~Florentine Rose Rentz (1898-1980)-- 82 years old
My 1st cousin, 3x removed-- his wife
She died on October 14, 1980

~Maria Jeckering (1760-?)
My 5th Great Grand Aunt
She was born on October 14, 1760.


~Laura B. Mendenhall (1867-1885)-- 18 years old
My 3rd Great Grand Aunt
She died on October 14, 1885.


~Rhea Marlene Mendenhall (1903-1987)-- 83 years old
My Great Grand Aunt
She was born on October 15, 1903.


~Margaret Frances Pierron (1851-1923)-- 71 years old
My 3rd Great Grandmother
She was born on October 16, 1851.

~Elizabeth Johanna Rose (1889-1981)-- 91 years old
the Wife of my 1st Cousin, 3x Removed
She died on October 17, 1981.