Mabel Condon 1893-1923-My Great Grandmother

One of the greatest resources I have for my family tree is my Grandfather’s Autobiography. It isn't anything fancy but gives some names and places of events that occurred in his life. Some accurate, some not so accurate but I love the insight it gives in the life he and his family lived. 

This has proved to be extremely helpful in finding out information about my Great Grandmother, Mabel. She was 30 when she died and had four boys under the age of 10 at the time.

Mabel Rose with her two sons; Charles (top left) and William (on her lap) circa 1915

Mabel was born in Rushville, Indiana on June 16, 1893 to James Henry and Cordia (Cowger) Condon.

The first record I have of Mabel is the 1900 census¹. She lives with her parents and two siblings: Charles and Lorene in Rushville, IN. It also states they live on 3^rd Street.

Figure 1 http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/InHisAtls/id/1097

In the next census, 1910², we find Mabel living with her father James and her brother Clarence in Indianapolis. She is listed as being a milliner. How cool is that, she made hats!

She met and married Clarence Rose on April 27^th, 1912 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was 18 and he was 26. I wish I knew how they met, he was living in a boarding house in Columbus, IN and was a common laborer. I am going to go ahead and put it out there that they had to get married as their first son Charles Everett was born on January 6, 1913. Just shy of 9 months, maybe he was born early…..

In the 1913 City Directory³, Clarence (and I presume Mabel) were living at 908 Church Street in Indianapolis. There isn't a house there anymore but Lucas Oil Stadium is in the backyard now.

Mabel stood by her man as she had another child in 1914, William James. The family then picked up and moved to Chicago. Charles wrote:

Excerpt from Autobiography of Charles Rose, 1993

The only record I have of the family living in Chicago is Clarence’s WWI Draft Registration Card⁴ that states they lived at 2317 Indiana Avenue Chicago, Illinois and Mabel is his family contact.

Eventually Mabel and her boys moved back to Indianapolis and she divorced Clarence. I don’t know when this all happened but I have found Mabel, Charles and William (Bill) living in Indianapolis in what is known as the Fairview Settlement. Charles called it Hawville in his autobiography.

Excerpt from Autobiography of Charles Rose, 1993

According to The Family Service Association of Indianapolis Records 1879-1971:

It was located next to Crown Hill Cemetery just south of Butler-Tarkington. Mabel and her boys lived in a boarding house with 7 other people.

In February of 1920, a third child was born to Mabel and Clarence, Robert.

So Mabel had three boys, her husband deserted her and according to Charles, Mabel was working at the PREST-O-LITE Battery Company in Indianapolis making batteries. PREST-O-LITE started in Indianapolis in the early 1900s making headlights for electrified buggies using the gas, Acetylene. Not until 1927 did PREST-O-LITE begin the manufacture of batteries. Whether battery acid had anything to do with her demise could be true, it could have been other chemicals the factory used as well. They weren’t too keen on safety back then: http://www.firstsuperspeedway.com/articles/prest-o-lite

I believe her and the boys were living with her father outside of Speedway in his garage according to Charles:

Excerpt from Autobiography of Charles Rose, 1993

Going by what Charles stated, Grandfather (Mabel’s father) lived on Luett Avenue in Indianapolis at this time. Luett Avenue runs parallel to a set of railroad tracks and just on the other side of those tracks is now the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course and Motor Speedway.

She married again (I use this term loosely as I don’t think she married, as there is no record of this marriage) to George Washington Keller sometime around 1921. As with all the other women in my family tree, many marriages I believe were due to convenience. Mabel had three boys and needed help, I get it.

With this union between Mabel and George, a fourth son was born: Arthur Raymond Keller.  They were still living in Indianapolis. 

Excerpt from Autobiography of Charles Rose, 1993

Mabel died July 15, 1923. George Keller kept his only son Raymond, Robert was adopted by Mabel’s Aunt; Della (Delila) Heisel. Charles and William were sent to an orphanage that subsequently sent both to work on farms. *Update-Della was Mabel's Aunt, not her sister. 

Excerpt from Autobiography of Charles Rose, 1993

Mabel was buried in Rushville, Indiana in East Hill Cemetery where Charles and Bill eventually placed a headstone. It reads “Mother Mabel Rose Keller 1895-1923”.

1. 1. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004
2. 2. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
3. 3. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
4. 4. United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

A Fresh Start: Katherine "Kate" Skinner

Happy New Year!

The word of the year for me is "Focus". For genealogy, I am going to focus on what I've found which may lead to answers. Or at least a historical document or two!

It is a fresh start for 2015 (and hopefully some fresh eyes!) in filling out my family tree.

I am somewhat obsessed with my Dad's Dad's side of the family. I have gone back many generations on other lines, but this side only goes back 2 generations and I am stuck. Hopefully writing out what I have could lead to some more answers.

Katherine "Kate" Skinner is my 2nd Great Grandmother on my Dad's side. She was married to William Rose and lived in Jennings and Decatur counties. Family lore was that William was married to a Katherine Burdan and had a mistress named Katherine Skinner. As I untangled this web, I found out that this was not true. She was the same person!

I am not sure where or when Kate was born, I am guessing somewhere around 1849 in Indiana.


The first record I have of Kate is her marriage to William Rose. She is listed as Kate Burdan. Kate and William were married on March 7, 1868.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Kate is listed as being 21. She is the spouse of William Rose and they have 2 children. Harry who is 1 and Ada who is 5.

Wait.

Ada is 5? William and Kate were just married. Ada would have been born about 1865.

Well, in researching Ada, she lists in a marriage license that her parents were Eugene D'Birddoon and Katherine Skinner. Ada's death certificate also states she was born in Richmond, Virginia.

So it looks like Kate's maiden name was Skinner and her  married name was D'Birddoon (or Burdan) and Ada's father was not William.

In the 1880 Federal Census, Kate is listed as being 27. She lives will William, Ada, Harry, Everett (8) and Rhedonia (3 months).

Within 10 years, Kate only aged 7 years. Something doesn't add up in those census records. Since both Kate and William could not read or write, I would imagine she really didn't know her true age. I am going to guess she was born around 1849, this would put her at age 18 when she had Ada. I could be wrong....

I also  know that Kate had two other children: Bertha born in 1883 and died in 1887. And Clarence, my Great Grandfather, born in 1885.

I believe I have also found Kate's obituary. It does not list her full name, only Mrs. Rose, and initially states she is "colored". This was corrected in a follow-up a few days later. The date in the paper in Decatur County, Indiana is the same date that William lists as the death of Clarence's mother when he was admitted into to Sailor's and Soldier's Orphanage.

On February 5, 1890, The New Era newspaper in Greensburg, Indiana reported:

On February 8, 1890, The Saturday Review in Greensburg, Indiana reported:

On February 15, 1890, The Saturday Review in Greensburg, Indiana reported:

I have inquired at the Jennings County Courthouse and the Decatur County Courthouse for a death certificate for Kate, but none were found. I also have not found any record of her burial in Vernon, IN. I did find our that her daughter Bertha was buried in a cemetery in Vernon in a pauper's grave. I would assume Kate is also buried in a pauper's grave.

What I would like to find out:
1. Who are her parents
2. Where was she born
3. When and where did she marry Eugene.
4. Where is she buried

Hopefully 2015 is the year for the answers!

One Rose at a Time.....

I am trying to find the earliest Rose branch in my family tree and I haven't gotten very far.

The earliest Rose I can find is William James Rose. He is my Great-Great Grandfather. 

The first document that I have found pertaining to William Rose is his marriage license to his first wife Rebecca Jolly. 

1857- On September 8th, William Rose and Rebecca Jolly were married in Jennings County, Indiana. 

1860- The Federal Census lists William Rose as a laborer on the Jourdon Farm in Vernon, Indiana. He, along with Craig Jolly (Rebecca's brother) both work on this farm. This census also says William in 27 (born in 1835) and cannot read or write. 

What I do not find is any other mention of Rebecca Jolly Rose. I have found Rebecca's parents, William and Prudence Jolly, and they list a Mary Rose, age 1 living with them in the 1860 census. This is more than likely William and Rebecca's daughter. I cannot find any other mention of Mary Jolly after the 1860 census. 

1861-William was mustered into Company B, Indiana 6th Infantry Regiment on April 25th. He was a musician. He mustered out on August 25, 1861. William joined in Bartholomew County, Indiana. 

1861- On September 3rd, William was mustered in again into the 6th Infantry, Company B. He was a participant in the Civil War and his Regiment's footsteps are traced in the book: History of the Sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 

1864- On September 22, William was mustered out of the infantry. 

1868-William was married for the second time on March 7 to Catherine (also listed as Katherine or Kate) Burdan (also listed as Bardon and Birddon) in Jennings County, Indiana. 

1870-The Federal Census lists the following in North Vernon, Indiana:

• William Rose, 35, Teamster
• Catherine Rose, 21, Keeping House
• Ada B Rose, 5
• Harry Rose, 1

This census also notes that neither William or Catherine can read or write. It is also interesting that living next to the Rose's is none other than Craig Jolly and his wife Hannah.

If you are doing the math in your head, you will also notice that William and Catherine were married in 1868 and then in 1870 there is a child, Ada-age 5. Catherine was actually married before William. Catherine's maiden name is Skinner and she married Eugene Birddon (Burdan) sometime around 1865. Catherine and Eugene had a daughter, Ada Fern Birddon, aka Ada Rose. 

1880- The Federal Census lists the following in North Vernon, Indiana:

William Rose, 45, Laborer, born in Ohio, parents born in Ohio

Kate Rose, 27, keeping home, born in Indiana, parents born in New York

Ada Rose, 13

Henry (Harry) Rose, 12

Everett Rose, 8

Redonia Rose (male), 3 months

William and Kate went on to have two more children:

Burtha Rose born 1883

Clarence Rose born 1888

One note, William applied and was awarded a pension for his service in the Civil War. He continually went before the United States of America Department of the Interior Bureau of Pensions to increase his pension. He started out at 8 dollars per month and at the time of his death, had increased it to 17 dollars per month. William suffered from chronic diarrhea, piles and resulting disease of rectum and disease of liver and resulting disease of heart....poor guy!

William Rose died on December 18, 1896. 

I believe Kate died on February 3, 1890. This date also coincides with the date William put on the intake papers for Clarence into the Soldier's and Sailor's Orphanage.

I have traced Ada up until 1930 and then I lost her. She lived in Chicago, married twice, and no children are known. 

Harry joined the Army and was an engineer at Fort Snelling in Minnesota and drowned on July 15, 1901. 

Everett married Daisy Biddinger and had two children; Bernice Marie and Hazel. He was a switchman on the railroad. He divorced Daisy and at one time lived in Chicago with Ada. 

I do not know what happened to Redonia. I assume he did not live as there is no other reference of a Redonia in Jennings County, Indiana. 

Burtha Rose died in 1887 and is buried in a pauper's grave in Greensburg, Indiana. She was 4 years old. 

Clarence went on to have three boys with Mabel Condon; Charles, William and Robert. 

In 1943 William's youngest son, Clarence, filled out an application so that William's grave could be marked with a proper veteran's tombstone. It is displayed in North Vernon, Indiana