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.

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.