James Alexander Stark, an extraordinary woman.

5 Sep 1878 - 19 Aug 1917

My great-grandmother was an extraordinary woman. She was the second daughter of James Alexander Stark and his (second) wife, Nancy Elizabeth Owsley. She had an older sister, Susan Emma, three older Stark half siblings, three older Brown step-siblings, and six younger half siblings from her mother's second marriage. 

Growing up, I had always been told her name was James Alabama Stark, but that she was called Allie. It was only a few years ago, when I started seriously researching her, that I found her actual name was James Alexander Stark, after her father who died five months before she was born. I knew she was born in Missouri, in Hickory County in 1878, so the only pre-marriage census that is extant is the 1880 one.  But I couldn't find her in any 1880 Missouri census. 

I had 2 clues to her parents. Her father's name was James Alexander Stark, and her mother signed permission for her to marry with the name Nancy E Brown. So I starting looking for Nancy Stark in the 1880 census, and found her, now a widow living on Main St in Cross Timbers, Hickory County, Missouri. She was the head of household that included the 2 Stark children, and her brother and sister with the last name of Owsley. I hadn't known her mother's maiden name, so this was a breakthrough.

The only catch was that the children were Emma, age 2, a daughter and  a son, James A., age 1. But wait, what if the enumerator just asked the ages and names of the children, and unbeknownst to Nancy, recorded her baby girl as a son? This was confirmed in her grandfather's will, written just months after she was born - as granddaughter James Alexander Stark. 

I will that at marriage or when they become of legal age that my executor pay to Susan E. Stark and James Alexander Stark, daughters of James A Stark and my grandchildren, the sum of Ten Dollars each.

From the Will and Testament of Pleasant Stark, dated 9 December 1878

Little is known of Allie's childhood. Her mother married a widower, William Samuel Brown, when Allie was about three years old, and from this marriage, six children were born. And so it was, that just after her 17th birthday, Allie married John C. Agee, age 21. For the next 12 years they remained in Hickory County, Missouri, where Allie gave birth to at least six children, two sons dying in infancy. 

In 1907 or possibly 1908, the family packed up and moved out west. We know that they took a trip in May 1907: "John Agee and son Guss and family started last Wednesday overland in a covered wagon for a trip through the Ozark country for the benefit of Guss's health." 

AI tells me a trip by covered wagon from Hickory Co, Missouri to Lemhi Co, Idaho would take between 4 and 6 months, would require meticulous preparation of up to a year in advance, and often was preceded by the family selling off their goods and property. This occurred in Oct 1907 (30 acres of land) and Nov 1907 (joint sale of goods between John and his brother-in-law Tilden Johnson). This leads me to believe that the fall and winter were spent getting ready and the two families probably left in the spring of 1908. Tilden and Ida Belle Johnson would only stay a short while out there, long enough for their son Harry Giles to be born, but they were back in Hickory County for the 1910 census and every one thereafter.

John and Allie lived on Sandy Creek and would have one more child together, Virginia Velma, who was born in October 1910, but died the same year. This is what a cabin on Sandy Creek looked like in 1934, theirs was probably less elaborate.

They separated soon after. Allie and her remaining children (Walter, Mettie, Minnie - my grandmother, and Elizabeth) moved out into Salmon, where Allie worked to provide for them as a cook, either on ranches or at the Yellow Jacket mine, according to a 1995 letter from my uncle. 

Allie, Minnie and Elizabeth Clarissa c. 1908

In 1913, a life changing event occurred. Allie was working on the Brown ranch as a housekeeper for a 60 year old man. She was by now divorced from John and keeping company with a young man named Guy Buster. One night while Allie, Guy and her 15 year old son, Walter, were out walking they met Mr. Brown, coming from the other direction.

All Idaho, U.S., Old Penitentiary Prison Records, 1882-1961

Guy Buster, 1913

Mr. Brown told Guy to leave, and started hitting him with his walking stick. Guy then proceeded to shoot him 3-4 times. He claimed self-defense. Both Allie and Walter supported and testified to that claim. Guy was first convicted and sentenced to 10-30 years in the penitentiary, but the conviction was later overturned, a new trial took place in 1915, and it was overturned a final time in 1917. 

It was about this time that Allie left Idaho and went to Dillon, Montana, where she worked in the Acaia cleaning establishment. In 1917, she contracted erysipelas, a Streptococcus A bacterial skin infection, and died a month later in August, 1917, leaving four minor children Walter, 19, Mattie, 17, Mattie, 14 and Lizzie, 10, and a $94.00 funeral bill. 

The funeral home still exists today, and sent me a copy of this bill, and was very helpful in trying to obtain for me the actual location of where she is buried. 

We went west this summer, and that was one of my main objectives, but all I could find out was that she was likely buried in the churchyard of the First Baptist Church, where the funeral was held. However, when the church moved into town, the marked graves were disinterred and the remains taken to Mountain View Cemetery. There is no record of her in the cemetery, so her final resting place remains a mystery. Wherever she is, may she rest in peace.

Mamie Van Epps, an extraordinary woman (1897-1993)

Mamie Hope Van Epps (1897-1993) was by all accounts an extraordinary person. She was the only daughter of Cora Bateman and Elmer Van Epps, having two full brothers (Charles and Glenn Van Epps), two half-brothers from her mother (Levi Nazer and William Henry Nazer) and at least one half-brother from her father (Fred Van Epps).

The Van Epps children were born in Waynoka, Oklahoma, but by the time Mamie was seven, the family had moved to a farm in Robinson, Kansas, where her grandmother, Mary Howe Bateman (my second great-aunt) lived. One or more of Cora’s brothers also lived in the area. The year 1909 was a difficult one for the family. Things were not going well between the parents, Cora and the children were now living in Everest, Kansas. On June 2, Mamie’s half-brother, Fred Van Epps, who was 20 years old and about to get married, shot and killed himself in Oklahoma. Sixteen days later, Mamie herself was shot accidentally, by her mother, who mistook her for a burglar. It appears that she fully recovered, though.

For the next few years, Cora and the children struggled, with everyone pitching in to help. Then, in 1914, when Charles was 19, Mamie, 17 and Glenn just 14, their mother died. It is in their mother’s will that we find out that she has two other sons, Levi and William Nazer, who she leaves $25 each. Mamie is left $50, and her brother split the remainder of the estate after the bills have been paid.(Will of Cora Van Epps, Newspapers.com - Brown County World - 13 Nov 1914 - Page 4)

Mamie now starts working full time, in 1915, she joins the Hiawatha Steam Laundry as their bookkeeper. While working there, she takes some civil service exams in Leavenworth, and despite not having gone to high school, manages to score high enough to land a job with the adjutant general. The local newspaper is quoted as saying “The success of Miss Mamie Van Epps, the laundry worker who has secured a civil service appointment in Washington at $1,100 ayear, is another instance of what: an ambitious boy or girl can do when they try. Miss Van Epps' schooling has been limited; she has worked for the support of her widowed mother. Business men and others who know Miss Van Epps have always had a good word for her because of her unusual activity. She studied and prepared herself for the examination and passed with creditable grades.” (The Kansas Democrat - 14 Feb 1918, p. 5)

Mamie seems to enjoy her time in Washington, sharing her experiences in letters, telling in one report to the local newspaper “that she is working in the Receiving and Recording Department of the Sanitary Division of the General Surgeon's office. She helps in keeping the record of the sick and wounded in the different hospitals here and in France. Recently, in her days' work, she found that her brother, Charlie, had the mumps while he was at Jefferson Barracks.” (Brown County World - 8 Mar 1918 - Page 4).

In all she spends about 2.5 years in Washington, coming home for visits, and in February 1920, when her father, Elmer Van Epps dies. By summer, she has advanced as far as she can without a diploma, and leaves Washington to work in the railroad office in Detroit, Michigan. In September, she comes home and finishes high school, where she is awarded the first of several scholarships she receives to attend Kansas University. She is featured in an article in 1922 Topeka Daily Capital where she describes how she can pay her fees, board, room, laundry bill, insurance dues, books and still have money to buy a new spring bonnet on $1.10 a day. Among her many jobs are working in the school cafeteria, child care, waitressing, and her most unique – contacting each female high school graduate offering to send an itemized account of her expenses at the University of Kansas and tips for living frugally, for the sum of 15c. (Brown County World - 14 Apr 1922 - Page 6). But it isn’t all work for Mamie, as she is active in several activities, including the Snow Zoology Club where she is an officer, as well as being a member of the K. U. delegation to the International Student Volunteer Convention in Indianapolis. She receives her A. B. Degree from the University of Kansas, and will later earn a B.S. from the University of Arkansas in home economics.

In September 1924, Mamie marries Willmont Stacey Van Epps in Benton, Arkansas. She is 28 and never married before, he is 36 and recently divorced with one child. His previous occupation was as a physician and surgeon, specializing in eyes, but after his marriage he settles on his farm. It is interesting to note that on his marriage license he claims to be 36, or 12 years older than Mamie, but in every census for the rest of his life, he is actually 20 years older (Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1969). When he dies, in 1952, after 28 years of marriage, he is 75 years old (Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969).

Mamie worked as the county and district home supervisor of Farmers Home Administration in Little Rock for 16 years. After her husband’s death in 1952, she moves to Missouri, where she becomes the Lawrence County, MO home agent in December 1953, only to resign her post six months later, to go to New Mexico to teach native Americans. (Although if this actually happened, I can find no reference to it). Sometime around 1955 she became the home economics adviser for the State Department for three years in Cochbamba, Bolivia, South America (obituary The Monitor, McAllen, Texas - 24 Mar 1993 – p. 42), coming home in May 1958 (Florida, U.S., Arriving and Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1898-1963).

Mamie married and outlived two more husbands, Ralph Barnum in 1958, until he died in 1963; and Elmer Reynolds in 1964, until his death in 1981. Following her marriage to Ralph, she moved to Texas, where she lived out her life, dying in McAllen, Texas on 24 Mar 1993.

She lived a full life that spanned most of the twentieth century. She lived through two world wars, the depression and throughout it all sought to help those people hardest hit by serving in a variety of government positions. And she spent her retirement years doing genealogy!

A note about sources My sources included the following: 1900, 1910, 1930, 1940 US Census; 1905 Kansas State Census; Arkansas Marriage Certificate; Texas Death Certificate; 1925 University of Kansas Yearbook, 1958 Florida Arriving Passenger list.
Thirty articles from various newspapers in Kansas, Missouri, Washington, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, accessed through Newspapers.com

Recommendation for further study – I see I haven’t accessed the 1920 or 1950 US Census, and I only have one official marriage certificate, the other marriages are documented through newspaper accounts. I would like to learn more about the common surname she shared with her first husband, and whether they were related in any way. I would also like to learn more about her three half-brothers, about whom I know very little.

How she is related to me – She is my 2 cousin twice removed, our common ancestors are Nancy Mudgett and Nathan Howe, Jr (my 3rd great grandparents), from Great Valley, NY.

Thanks for reading, and please feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

Who was Orretta/Rettie L/Lauretta/Laura Squires/Wilbur/Wade/Hall/Gavitt?

Here are the facts that most people know and accept:

She was the daughter of George E Squires (1831-1901) and his wife, Elizabeth Hale (1834-1920). She had two siblings, Priscilla "Nettie" (1857-1947) who married Charles E. Markham, and Walter J. Squires (1859-1930) who married his first cousin, Grace Hale. She was born 9 Jun 1869, in Little Valley, NY. In the 1870, 1875 and 1880 census, she is listed as Orretta (ages 3 and 13). (1870 and 1880 United States Federal Census for Little Valley, Cattaraugus, New York); (Little Valley, Cattaraugus,New York, State Census, 1875).

By 1892, the household, still located in Little Valley consists of George, 63, Elizabeth, 58, Walter, 33, Grace, 15, Florence, 6 and a Rettie L. Wilber, 24. (Little Valley, Cattaraugus,New York, State Census, 1892). Upon discovering that Grace was the wife of Walter, my first thought was that Walter had been married before and Florence was his daughter. But I could find no evidence of that being true. This is the first significant name change - from Orretta to Rettie L, and from Squires to Wilber. There is only anecdotal evidence supporting this, a news clipping for Whig St saying Mrs. Eugene Wilbur visited friends in Bradford recently. (Is this Lauretta Squires??)This is right above a blurb about her brother, Walter. Not the most solid evidence. (The Post, 17 April 1889)

Another news clipping (The Post, 22 Jul 1896) mentions Miss Laura Wade of Bradford and her mother, Mrs. G. Squires of Elkdale, visited at C.E. Markham's. So we know that her sister is Mrs. C.E. Markham, her mother is Mrs. G. Squires, and there are no other female siblings, which leads me to believe that Miss Laura Wade is another alias. In 1896 and 1897, the Bradford city directory (U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995) shows a Laura Wade listed as a dressmaker.

Her father's obituary, in 1901 does not list the names of his children, only that he has 3 adult children.

Her next name change comes in 1905, when, as Lauretta Squires, she marries Willie E Hall on 5 Nov 1905, in Olean (New York State, Marriage Index, 1881-1967). Of interest is this news clipping: Miss Florence Squires and Mrs. Ed Hall were in Olean Tuesday (The Post, 22 Dec 1904). Is this Florence and her mother? If so, she is going by Hall almost a year before the actual marriage. She keeps the Hall name until at least 1920, we find her in 1910 in Bradford, PA living with Willie E Hall, 38 at 37 High St. She is known as Laurette Hall, 39 and has given birth to one child, who is still alive, but not living with them. (1910 United States Federal Census, Bradford Ward 5, McKean, Pennsylvania). By 1920, she appears not to be with her husband anymore. She lives at 28 West Washington St, where she is listed as single, and the "housekeeper" for S.D. Foley, but also as a dressmaker with her own shop. Also in the household is Florence N. Wilber, a boarder and a dressmaker.(1920 United States Federal Census for Bradford Ward 3, McKean, Pennsylvania).

In November, 1920 her mother, Elizabeth Hale Squires dies. Her obituary says she is survived by one son, Walter of Whig street and three daughters, Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Flossie Wilbur of Bradford and Mrs. Jeanette Markham of this city (Salamanca Inquirer, 13 November 1920). Notice that she is identified only as "Mrs." Hall, her sister is Mrs. Jeanette Markham, and her daughter is misnamed as the child of Elizabeth, but with her own first name.

Sometime after her mother's death, she returns to New York, and in 1925 is living on Atlantic Ave, Salamanca with Charles Gavitt, using the name Laura. She dies on 2 Jan 1927, at the age of 57. In not one of three different obituaries is her given name mentioned, she is referred to as Mrs. Charles Gavitt, in each one. Besides her husband, she is survived by her sister, Mrs. Charles Markham, her borther, Walter Squires, and a daughter, Mrs. Florence Wilbur.(Democrat and Chronicle - 1927-01-05; Salamanca Inquirer, 7 January 1927; Cattaraugus Republican, 5 January 1927).

Through thirteen official sources, and seven pieces of social media, we can put together a general lifeline that includes at least four men Eugene (?) Wilbur, ?? Wade, Willie (Ed) Hall, and Charles Gavitt. She had a daughter, who was raised at least until the age of 10 by her grandparents, but who followed in her footsteps as a dressmaker. She lived primarily in Cattaraugus County, New York, or across the border in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and in the end was buried where she began life, in Little Valley, New York. (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/253677426/gavitt)

Solving the Mystery of Dexter May Harris aka Gloria Jean Park (A genealogical case study)

Dexter May Harris aka Gloria Jean Park is a mystery that has intrigued me for as long as I can remember. While she is biologically my first cousin, once removed, she is also my adopted aunt.

I have researched both deeply and widely, looking at more than twenty sources for her, and sussing out information for those whose lives she touched, including spouses, siblings, parents, and children. Briefly, here is what I know: Dexter was born 12 May 1921, in Pocatello, Idaho to Alvin James Harris, 34, and his wife, Flora Castello Lee, 23 (Idaho, U.S., Birth Records, 1861-1919, Stillbirth Index, 1905-1967). She was Alvin’s first child, and Flora’s second, having been married at 18 to William Grenville Bowen, and having given birth to a daughter in 1918, Ruby Irene Bowen, who lived just 5 months. Sometime before November 1923, the family moved from Pocatello to Salmon, Idaho, where Flora gave birth prematurely to a son, Allen Duane Harris, on 4 Nov 1923, who died 11 days later (Idaho, U.S., Death Records, 1890-1971). Four years later, her sister Leona Joleen was born (21 Nov 1927). At the time of the 1930 census, the family consisted of Alvin Harris, 40, Flora Harris, 23, Dexter Harris, 6 and Leona Harris, 2, and the family lived on Water Street in Salmon, Idaho.

Sadly, tragedy would strike the following year, as her father, Alvin, was killed while loading a truck with logs for firewood for the family. The death was ruled accidental on the death certificate, and the informant was his brother, Frank Allen Harris (Idaho, Death Records, 1890-1967). Frank was appointed Administrator for his brother’s estate, which consisted of: No cash in bank, personal property worth $185, including 1 cow, a second-hand Dodge truck, a motor trailer, household goods, and $400 equity in 3 acres of land, known as the Pugh Property on upper Main Street in Salmon (Idaho, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1857-1989).

The remaining family lived together until January 1935, at which time, Dexter, 13, was formally adopted by her uncle and aunt, Frank Allen and Minnie Lee Agee Harris, and she joined their family of five children, including my father, Floyd Duane Harris (Application and Order of Adoption, Lemhi County Probate Court). Her mother, Flora, then married her third husband, John Valentine Abbey, taking her younger daughter, Leona, with her (Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011). In October, 1935, Flora gave birth to her last known child, Lois Irene Abbey. Dexter would remain with Frank and Minnie just 16 months, as she married with their consent (Affidavit of Consent to Marriage, County of Lemhi), Richard Walter Evans, 18, on 30 Jun 1937, at the age of 16 (Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011).

It is likely she had known Richard a number of years, as he was the son of Minnie’s sister, Mettie. On 3 Jun 1938, she gave birth to their first child, Richard A. Evans, who lived to adulthood. Unfortunately, the next three children did not survive infanthood. Alvin Delbert (17 Oct 1939 – 17 Dec 1939) died of a digestive condition resulting from premature birth and no subsequent medical attention (Idaho, U.S., Death Records, 1890-1971). Daughter, Shirley Ann, also died at 2 months (6 Nov 1940 – 7 Jan 1941) from influenza (Idaho, U.S., Death Records, 1890-1971). Their final child, Ronald Jean Evans was born 19 May 1942, in Salmon, Idaho, and died 18 months later, on 17 Nov 1943. There are several mysterious things about this death. The cause of death was gastroenteritis, due to teething, and the child died in the State School and Hospital in Nampa, Idaho, which was more than 250 miles from their home (Idaho, U.S., Death Records, 1890-1971).

At this point, we lose track of Dexter until seven years later, when she shows up in the 1950 census, in the household of George L Creech, in Chapel Hill, Georgia. The household consists of: George L Creech, 26, Gloria Jean Creech, 25, Helen Patricia Creech, 3, and Jerry Lee Creech, 1 (1950 United States Federal Census).

The next official documentation we have of her is her marriage on 10 May 1979 to Lawrence F Brewer, Jr. in Vancouver, Washington (Washington, Marriage Records, 1854-2013), where she is listed as Gloria Jean Park. Five months later, on 15 Oct 1979, she divorces him, using the name Gloria Harris (Oregon, Divorce Records, 1961-1985), in Yamhill, Oregon. Her death is documented in the Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008, under the name Gloria Jean Park, on 22 Mar 1999, and in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. This is a key source, as it ties together the various pieces of her identity. It lists: Name: Gloria Jean Brewer, Female, Birth Date: 12 May 1921, Birth Place: Pocatello, Idaho, Death Date: 22 Mar 1999, Claim Date: 24 Nov 1976. Father: Alvin J Harris, Mother: Flora C Lee, Type of Claim: Duplicate request; evidence of identity only submitted. Notes: 12 Jun 1979: Name listed as GLORIA JEAN BREWER; 29 Feb 1980: Name listed as GLORIA JEAN PARK; 02 Nov 1976: Name listed as GLORIA J PARK.

Informal sources, such as family obituaries, help fill in a few more details. We find her listed in Frank Allen Harris’ obituary in Oct 1957, as Dexter Park, living in Compton, California (The Recorder Herald, Salmon, Idaho, 10 Oct 1957). Her son, Richard Evans, died at the age of 35, and lists her as mother, Mrs. Gloria J. Park. When her mother, Flora, dies in McMinnville, OR, in 1985, we find her as Gloria Jean Park, McMinnville (Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon 07 Aug 1985, Wed, Page 14). Her remaining son, Jerry Lee Creech, dies in June 2018 in Atlanta, GA, and lists his mother, Gloria Harris as preceding him in death. Her own obituary, is reproduced here from the Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon 25 Mar 1999, Page 24:

May 12, 1921 - March 22, 1999

McMINNVILLE Gloria Park, 77, died Monday at her home. Born in Pocatello, Idaho, she was raised and educated in Salmon, Idaho. She moved to Carlton in 1959, Portland in 1966 and McMinnville in 1968. She was a home-care provider for many years. She belonged to Assembly of God Church. Survivors include her daughter, Patricia Kalogerokis of Atlanta, Ga.; son, Jerry Creech of Atlanta; sisters, Joleen Shipley of Mount Home, Idaho and Lois Steele of Carlton; and three grandchildren. Visiting will be 2 to 7 p.m. today at Macy and Son Funeral Directors. Services will be 2:30 p in. Friday at Yamhill-Carlton Pioneer Cemetery.

Now the questions:

First the children –

Why did Ronald Evans die in an institution a full day’s drive from where they lived?
Is Frances May Evans the child of Dexter and Richard, or Charity and Richard?
As best I can tell, her two children by George Creech remained with their father when she left. Why?
Where is Patricia Creech now, dead or alive?

The marriages –

I can only find partial documentation for two out of four probable marriages.
Marriage to Richard Walter Evans – 30 Jun 1937 to unknown
Marriage (?) to George Lee Creech – no documentation, but is living with him in 1950, with two children, aged 3 and 1.
Marriage (?) to unknown Park spouse – appears to have happened between the 1950’s and 1976
Marriage to Lawrence Frank Brewer, Jr – 10 May 1979 to 15 Oct 1979 – have both marriage and divorce records

The locations –

When and why did she leave Idaho, and did she go directly to Georgia, or did she meet George someplace and they moved to Georgia?
When and why did she leave Georgia, without her children? Is this when she went to Compton, CA?

The names –

After she left Richard Evans, it was almost like she was trying to reinvent herself, changing her name from Dexter May to Gloria Jean. The first documented use of the Park surname is in 1976, prior to her marriage to Lawrence Brewer, but she seems to go back to it, and use it for the remainder of her life after she divorces him.