52 Ancestors: #13 Hilma Albertina Engdahl Kellison (1891-1984)

Hilma was born in Sweden in October 1891.  She and her sister Olga immigrated about 1904. 

Hilma married Walter Bailey Kellison in 1916 in Montana.  By 1920 they had moved to Washoe County, Nevada.  She and Walter had five children that I know of: Anna, Richard, Milton Bailey, Donald and Marlene.  Olga married Thurman Allen Poe about 1919.

While in Sparks, the Kellison family and the Poe family were mentioned in the local papers on a regular basis, for parties for the children as well as other activities. 

I am looking for information about the Poe family as well as the Engdahl family.  If you are willing to collaborate with this research, please contact me.

52 Ancestors: #3 Olga Wilhelmina Engdahl Poe (1894-1954)

How did two 14 and 16 year old girls from Sweden get from New York to Montana in 1907?  I wish I knew;  it's one of my mysteries.


Olga was born in Sweden in 1894 in Sweden and she immigrated in 1907.  I have found her listed in a passenger list and she had traveled with her sister Hilma Engdahl.  The two girls listed Montana as their destination and they had an aunt living there.  I have been unable to find the aunt, or that family.  I would really like to know how these two girls, 14 and 16 or 17, traveled from New York to Montana.

 

After the passenger list, the next mention of Olga was in the 1920 census as the wife of Thurman Allen Poe, and living in Sparks, Nevada.  I know that she married Thurman Allen Poe, because of family information.  However, I have no documents regarding the marriage.  Thurman Allen’s brief bio was in 52 Ancestors:  #2 in this series.  I found numerous mentions of Olga and her children, particularly her daughters, in the social columns in Reno and Sparks newspapers.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any other documents with her mentioned.

 

Sometime after Olga and Thurman Allen divorced, Olga moved to California.  She died in 1954 in Berkeley.  Her obituary was included in the Reno newspaper. 

 

Since Olga and Thurman were my biological paternal grandparents, I would appreciate collaborating with anyone with knowledge of this family.  I would truly appreciate any photos, copies of documents, or even knowledge of where documents could be found.

 

This blog was written in response to Amy Johnson Crow’s blog challenge: 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks on her blog:  No Story Too Small.

Note:  I am having difficulty putting in links to Amy's blog.  Please search for it in your browser and read the challenge.

 

 

 

 

52 Ancestors: #2 Thurman Allen Poe (1888-1979)

Thurman Allen Poe was born in Grayson County, Texas in 1888. He died in 1979 in Sparks, Nevada.   I have not found him in the 1900 census, but in 1910 he was in Grady County, Oklahoma.  He married Olga Engdahl about 1919 in Nevada.  Why did he move to Nevada?  How did he meet Olga?  How did he get from Oklahoma to Nevada? 

 

Thurman Allen, or sometimes listed as Allen Thurman, spent the rest of his live in Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada.  Thurman and Olga had five children, and one son, Clifford, died at about age 8.  Raymond Verne Poe was my biological father.  The three daughters were born between 1924 and 1934.  Since I don’t know if they are still living, I will not write more about them.

 

Thurman and Olga divorced and I believe that Thurman married a Myrtle Dailey about 1960.  I don’t know anything more about Myrtle or any children she may have had before marrying Thurman. 

 

If someone has photos of Thurman, Olga or Raymond, I would appreciate copies.  I am still looking for documentation of the facts that I’ve presented.  I would enjoy collaborating with anyone researching this Poe family line.

 

This blog posting was inspired by Amy Johnson Crow in her challenge of writing about 52 ancestors in 52 weeks.  No Story Too Small

 

52 Ancestors: #1 Raymond V. Poe (1920-2006)

Raymond was born in January in 1920 in Reno, Nevada.  He died in 2006 in Oakland, California.  He was married at least 3 times, and perhaps 4.   I believe he was married first to a Marian, and had two girls.  My mother was his second wife and I don't believe I ever saw him after I was about 6.  I was the eldest of 3.


Ray was married to his third (or fourth) wife the longest and I believe he had 3 children in this marriage.  I have tried to contact children from this marriage in order to get photos or documents but have not had much luck.  I don't want to bring up bad memories or discuss Ray or his relationships, but since this was my biological father and his ancestors are my ancestors and my children's ancestors, and my grandchildren's ancestors (You know what I mean.) then I'd like to have photos in my files as well as documents that may be with these people. 


Of course, as with any of my research, if you are related, or have information about anyone I write about, I would be glad to collaborate.  Unfortunately, with this family, I have very little I can share with you. 


This blog was written in response to Amy Johnson Crow's challenge in the blog  No Story Too Small

Surname Saturday - Olga Engdahl (1894 Sweden - 1954 CA)

Olga Engdahl, possibly with a middle name of Wilhelmina, was my grandmother, who I never met.  She immigrated in 1907 with her sister Hilma.  I believe they were intending to visit an aunt in Montana.  I never found Olga in the 1910 census or her aunt's family in Montana. 

She married Thurman Allen Poe (or Allen Thurman Poe) about 1919 in Sparks, Nevada, and lived there for many eyars.  I found Olga in the 1920, 1930 and 1940 census records in Sparks.  I also found an obituary in 1954 when she died.

If you have information about Olga, her family, or the Poe family, I would be interested in communicating with you.  I am particularly interested in copies of any documents or photos that you may have, since I don't believe I ever met her.

Therefore if you are interested in collaborating with me on this family, please contact me.

Thank you.

Surname Saturday - Allen Thurman Poe (1888 TX-1979 NV)

Allen Thurman Poe or Thurman Allen Poe is a grandfather I don't believe I ever met.  I am looking for information about him, and of course, his ancestors.  I am also interested in his wife Olga Engdahl.

I have followed Poe from through the census records from 1910 (in Oklahoma) through 1940 in Nevada.  He had a variety of occupations.  I believe he married in Sparks, Nevada in 1919. 

I would really appreciate any information you could provide.  Of course, I'd really like photos or any other documentation.  I am willing to share what little I do have.

If you are interested in collaborating on this family research, please contact me.

Surname Saturday - Poe, Sharon and Sandra

I believe that Sharon and Sandra Poe were born about 1938-1939 in the Reno area of Nevada.  I believe their mother was Marian.  I found a few articles in online newspapers, but nothing mentions their parents.  I am hoping to find them to help me with my research on the Poe family.

Mystery Monday - POE, Zollicoffer (Zollie Coffer...)

I’m hoping that someone can help me solve this mystery.  Z C, as he’s sometimes listed in documents, was born about 1855 in Mississippi and died 23 Apr 1923 in Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma.

In the 1860 census he is in Bethlehem, Marshall County, Mississippi, with his parents.  In 1860 he’s in Waterford, Marshall County, Mississippi, also with his parents.  I have been unable to find him in any census records until 1920, when he is in Oklahoma, with his second wife, Mary.

The mystery:  Where is he between 1870 and 1920?  I have information from others that include his first wife Lola Mont Swinney (1861-1952), his three children Harman Lamar Poe (1878-abt 1964), Minnie Dove Poe (1879-1959), and Thurman Allen Poe (1888-1979).  Of course I’m still looking for documentation of his marriage to Lola and the births of the children.

Surname Saturday - Lola Mont Swinney Poe Jones Sanders

With lots of help from the new familysearch.org and some help from ancestry.com, I have been able to follow Lola through her various name changes.  At least I think these records all pertain to the same woman.

Lola was born in Tishomingo County, Mississippi in 1861 and died in Parmer County, Texas in 1952. 

In the 1870 census Lola Swinney was living with her mother and 3 siblings. They are living with Mary’s parents in Mississippi and she is listed as 9 years old.

In the 1900 census Lola Poe and her daughter Minnie are living in Bell County, Texas.  Lola is listed as sister and living with Amos McDonald.   (Amos is actually her half-brother born after Mary remarried.)  This census record states that Lola was born in April 1861 in Mississippi.  The fact that Lola married a Poe is reinforced in the death certificate of Minnie D Mayfield.  Minnie died in 1959 and the certificate available on familysearch.org states that her father was Z.C. Poe and her mother was Lola M Swinney.

On familysearch.org the Texas Marriages, 1837-1973 file lists Mrs. Lola M Poe marrying J.O. Jones on 23 Dec 1900 in Bell County, Texas.  No image is available but the film number is 981038.  In the 1910 census Lola M Jones and John C Jones are living as husband and wife in Jones County, Texas.  The record states that they have been married for 10 years and it is a second marriage for each.  She is listed as being 48 and was born in Mississippi.

I was unable to find Lola in the 1920 census.  Back to familysearch.org and I put in Lola Mont in the search box.  The first listing was a Lola Mont Sanders in Texas Deaths, and parents were M Sweeny and no one was listed as mother.  It showed that she died in 1952 in Parmer County, Texas. 

I then checked the 1930 census records for a Lola Sanders.  Lola is living with W E Sanders in Jones County, Texas.  The census shows she is 65 and was born in Mississippi.  I don’t know who W E Sanders is and I have not found a marriage record for Lola and W E.  I also haven’t found a death record for W E.

If any one has information about Lola or know that I've made some errors, I would definitely appreciate a note.  Thank you.

Wedding Wednesday - POE, 1900 Bell County, TX

I just found three marriage records on familysearch.org.  No images yet, but these records have now been indexed.  What a great resource.  It’s amazing how much new information is available every month.

A major brick wall was what happened to Zollicoffer Poe and his wife, who I believe to be Lola Mont Swinney.  I don’t have proof yet of this marriage.  However, Lola is listed as married in the 1900 census.  Two children of Zollie and Lola were Harmon Lamar and Minnie Poe.

These are the marriage records I found.  All were in Bell County, Texas in 1900.

Mrs. Lola M. Poe married J. O. Jones on 23 Dec 1900

          Film 0981038;  Index M75204-2

H L Poe married Clara Wedel on 20 May 1900

          Film 0981038;  index M75204-2

Minnie Poe married Y B Mayfield on 30 Aug 1900

          Film 0981038;  index M75204-2

This is a start for me.  Now I just need to write for a copy of the records, or go to my nearest FHC and order the correct film 

Surname Saturday - Raymond V Poe (1920-2006)

Raymond Verne Poe was my father.  My mother was the second of his three wives.  The last visit I had with him was probably about 1951.  He is a mystery to me.  

The POE line as I know it:

Raymond Verne Poe (1920 Reno, NV – 2006 Oakland, CA)

Thurman Allen Poe (1888 Sherman, TX – 1979 Sparks, NV)

Zollicoffer C Poe (1853 MS – 1923 OK)

William Green (or Greenberry) Poe (1818 NC – 1877 MS)

William was probably in the confederate army during the Civil War (or the War of Northern Aggression).  He was probably married twice:  to Manerva or Minerva [last name unknown] (probably 1816 to 1859) and to Elizabeth (perhaps Sturdivant) (probably 1834-1923).  I am looking for documentation for this information.  I have looked at census records

Zollicoffer could be spelled Zollie Coffer Poe, Zolliecoffer Poe, etc. I believe I found him in the 1860 MS census, the 1870 Marshall County, Mississippi census and the 1920 Grady County, Oklahoma census.  I have been unable to find him in the 1880, 1900 or 1910 census.  I don’t have a death record for him.  I also don’t have a marriage record although I believe he married Lola Mont Swinney.  I have no photographs of him.  He also may have been married for a brief time to a woman named Mary.

Thurman Allen Poe is less of a mystery.  Thurman and his wife Olga Engdahl lived in Reno or Sparks, Nevada and are mentioned numerous times in the local newspapers.  They probably had 5 children but one son died at age 7 or so.  Olga’s story will be presented at another time but she was born in Sweden.  Again I have no photographs of him or any documentation.  The information was found through census records and online newspapers. 

I would like to have contact with some of the children of Ray’s sisters.  Perhaps they have memories of their grandparents they would be willing to share with me.

I am also trying to establish a relationship with some of the children of Ray and his third wife.  Because Ray was married when he died, I am hoping that family documents and records would be in the possession of one of these people and that they would be willing to share information.