Emma Wesley was born 23 Dec 1894 in Freesoil, Mason, Michigan, the youngest of eight known children of John Wesley and Mary Baily. More info on John is here.
The first found record of Emma is the 1900 census.
1900 Federal Census - Grant township, Mason, Michigan
John Wesley, 60
Mary, wife, 40
John, son, 14
Jennie, daughter, 5
[The children are actually Frank and Emma.]
The Durant roll field notes for #27 page 52 - John Wesley or Naw-yaw-waw-sung, 67, residing in Freesoil. Wife Mary, 56, on 1870 roll with her husband. Children are Frank, 22, unmarried; Amy [Emma], 14; Lizzie, 32, widow of James Wilson, lives in Freesoil with sons Roger,13, Chas. 11, Wm. 9, and daughters Nancy, 4 and Sarah born Jul 907.
Father John died 26 Sep 1908
Emma married Thomas Nelson Ransom, son of Thomas Ransom and Phoebe J. Elliot on 6 Jun 1918 in Alba, Antrim, Michigan.
Daughter Mabel Delores Ransom was born 19 Aug 1919 in Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan.
1920 Federal Census - Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan - taken 6 Jan 1920.
Charles S. Baily, head, 52, single, sawer in lumber woods
Lucy Baily, mother, 73, married
John Pasha, uncle, 75, single
Mary Wesley, aunt, 71, widowed
Emma Ransom, cousin, 25, married
Mabel Ransom, 2nd cousin, 5 months
1920 Federal Census, Rapid River, Kalkaska, Michigan
Albert Ransom, 32, farmer on general farm
Sarah, wife, 36
Nelson, brother, 45, single, born in Canada, to US 1878, naturalized citizen
Nelson Ransom died 20 Mar 1920 in Leetsville, Kalkaska, Michigan. He was single, 47, a farmer, son of Thos. Ransom and Phoebe Elliot.
Emma married William Thomas, son of Louis Thomas and Mary Smith on 7 May 1923 in Ludington, Mason, Michigan. Both were married once before. The ceremony was performed by A. M. Johnston, justice of the peace, witnesses were O.A. Zook and Lizzie Wilson (Emma's sister).
Emma's mother, Mary, died 4 Jul 1925 in Grant township, Mason county.
Emma received a license to marry Daniel Shawano, son of James Shawano and Sarah Fisher on 12 Nov 1925 in Kalkaska county, Michigan. She was married twice before. The ceremony section was not returned.
According to a letter from 1942 Mary Russett Smith adopted Emma's daughter Mabel in 1925 while residing in a Woods Brothers Camp in Kalkaska County. It was not a legal adopting and caused confusion. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
Mabel attended school in Kalkaska county in 1928. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
In Aug 1928 the State Welfare Department asks to have Mabel enrolled at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. The letter also mentions that Mabel attended the Coldwater State Public School. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
1930 Federal Census, 515 St. Paul Street, City of Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. Emma Wesley, 35, single, is boarder in the home of Norman Williams.
1930 Federal census - Hayes township, Otsego, Michigan
Smith, Will, 58
Mary, 53
Elden, son, 21
Wallace, son, 10
Moses, son, 8
Mabel, daughter, 10
On 28 May 1930 William writes that they will be over on 1 Jun 1930 to pick up Mabel from school. The school replies to wait until June 5th. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
A note dated 24 May 1932 states William K. Smith would like Mabel to remain at school that coming summer and that someone might try to take her. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
Mabel's medical records at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding school - 1932. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
September
November
December
The Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding closed its doors for good on 6 Jun 1934.
Emma met David Clinton Marshall, son of Charles Marshall and Ellen Perrault. Daughter Geraldine E. Marshall was born 21 Jan 1935 in Bay Mills, Chippewa, Michigan
Daughter Mabel married Alfred Sands, son of George Sands and Lucy Bishkogijik on 22 Feb 1938 in Northport, Leelanau, Michigan. Mabel lists her adoptive parents as her parents.
Letters from 1942 try unsuccessfully to determine Mary Russet Smith's age. Confusion results from the mistaken belief that Mabel was Mary's child and adopted by Mary's sister Alice [who was married to Frank Wesley, Emma's brother] and that the Mary Russett age 17 in the 1910 federal census is the same person. Add the fact that Mary Russett states she was only married once, to William K. Smith in 1921. Yes they married in 1921, but they were already grandparents when they married. Mary was actually born in 1878.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle of 23 May 1952 tells of Emma doing a demonstration on basket making.
The social security application index shows daughter Mabel listed Nelson and Emma as her parents when applying in October 1959. [Source Ancestry.com]
Emma died 12 Oct 1964 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan.
Traverse City Record Eagle 13 Oct 1964.
The obituary shows that family is unaware of Mabel's address, unaware of Mabel's her marriage to Warren Hamilton (as she is referred to as Mrs. Sands) and Mabel's children in Minnesota are unknown as only three grandchildren are mentioned.
Stories/memories of Emma told by Leonard Wilson (born 1951), great-grandson of Emma's sister Lizzie, and of William and Mary Russett Smith.
Emma was medium built, had gray hair which was either cut short or worn in a bun, Leonard only remembers no long hair. She always wore dresses, granny stockings and black shoes with big heels. She used to serve rice and raisins as cereal.
Leonard says when he was real little Aunt Emma would babysit him and his siblings all day. Then when his folks came home it was party time.
Once when everyone was drunk, including Emma, she threw a live turtle into a pot of boiling water. She later fished out the shell, skin, etc., but Leonard didn't eat any of the soup. According to Leonard's mother, Elsie Mark Wilson, what Leonard saw was Emma cleaning a turtle in scalding water before she made soup, but his older cousin, Darlene Antoine Sineway (born 1944), said Leonard was right about the soup.
Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson
The first found record of Emma is the 1900 census.
1900 Federal Census - Grant township, Mason, Michigan
John Wesley, 60
Mary, wife, 40
John, son, 14
Jennie, daughter, 5
[The children are actually Frank and Emma.]
The Durant roll field notes for #27 page 52 - John Wesley or Naw-yaw-waw-sung, 67, residing in Freesoil. Wife Mary, 56, on 1870 roll with her husband. Children are Frank, 22, unmarried; Amy [Emma], 14; Lizzie, 32, widow of James Wilson, lives in Freesoil with sons Roger,13, Chas. 11, Wm. 9, and daughters Nancy, 4 and Sarah born Jul 907.
Father John died 26 Sep 1908
Emma married Thomas Nelson Ransom, son of Thomas Ransom and Phoebe J. Elliot on 6 Jun 1918 in Alba, Antrim, Michigan.
Daughter Mabel Delores Ransom was born 19 Aug 1919 in Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan.
1920 Federal Census - Mancelona, Antrim, Michigan - taken 6 Jan 1920.
Charles S. Baily, head, 52, single, sawer in lumber woods
Lucy Baily, mother, 73, married
John Pasha, uncle, 75, single
Mary Wesley, aunt, 71, widowed
Emma Ransom, cousin, 25, married
Mabel Ransom, 2nd cousin, 5 months
1920 Federal Census, Rapid River, Kalkaska, Michigan
Albert Ransom, 32, farmer on general farm
Sarah, wife, 36
Nelson, brother, 45, single, born in Canada, to US 1878, naturalized citizen
Nelson Ransom died 20 Mar 1920 in Leetsville, Kalkaska, Michigan. He was single, 47, a farmer, son of Thos. Ransom and Phoebe Elliot.
Emma married William Thomas, son of Louis Thomas and Mary Smith on 7 May 1923 in Ludington, Mason, Michigan. Both were married once before. The ceremony was performed by A. M. Johnston, justice of the peace, witnesses were O.A. Zook and Lizzie Wilson (Emma's sister).
Emma's mother, Mary, died 4 Jul 1925 in Grant township, Mason county.
Emma received a license to marry Daniel Shawano, son of James Shawano and Sarah Fisher on 12 Nov 1925 in Kalkaska county, Michigan. She was married twice before. The ceremony section was not returned.
According to a letter from 1942 Mary Russett Smith adopted Emma's daughter Mabel in 1925 while residing in a Woods Brothers Camp in Kalkaska County. It was not a legal adopting and caused confusion. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
Mabel attended school in Kalkaska county in 1928. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
In Aug 1928 the State Welfare Department asks to have Mabel enrolled at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School. The letter also mentions that Mabel attended the Coldwater State Public School. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
1930 Federal Census, 515 St. Paul Street, City of Sault Ste Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. Emma Wesley, 35, single, is boarder in the home of Norman Williams.
1930 Federal census - Hayes township, Otsego, Michigan
Smith, Will, 58
Mary, 53
Elden, son, 21
Wallace, son, 10
Moses, son, 8
Mabel, daughter, 10
On 28 May 1930 William writes that they will be over on 1 Jun 1930 to pick up Mabel from school. The school replies to wait until June 5th. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
A note dated 24 May 1932 states William K. Smith would like Mabel to remain at school that coming summer and that someone might try to take her. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
Mabel's medical records at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding school - 1932. [Source National Archives, Chicago.]
September
November
December
The Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding closed its doors for good on 6 Jun 1934.
Emma met David Clinton Marshall, son of Charles Marshall and Ellen Perrault. Daughter Geraldine E. Marshall was born 21 Jan 1935 in Bay Mills, Chippewa, Michigan
Daughter Mabel married Alfred Sands, son of George Sands and Lucy Bishkogijik on 22 Feb 1938 in Northport, Leelanau, Michigan. Mabel lists her adoptive parents as her parents.
Letters from 1942 try unsuccessfully to determine Mary Russet Smith's age. Confusion results from the mistaken belief that Mabel was Mary's child and adopted by Mary's sister Alice [who was married to Frank Wesley, Emma's brother] and that the Mary Russett age 17 in the 1910 federal census is the same person. Add the fact that Mary Russett states she was only married once, to William K. Smith in 1921. Yes they married in 1921, but they were already grandparents when they married. Mary was actually born in 1878.
The social security application index shows daughter Mabel listed Nelson and Emma as her parents when applying in October 1959. [Source Ancestry.com]
Emma died 12 Oct 1964 in Traverse City, Grand Traverse, Michigan.
Traverse City Record Eagle 13 Oct 1964.
The obituary shows that family is unaware of Mabel's address, unaware of Mabel's her marriage to Warren Hamilton (as she is referred to as Mrs. Sands) and Mabel's children in Minnesota are unknown as only three grandchildren are mentioned.
Stories/memories of Emma told by Leonard Wilson (born 1951), great-grandson of Emma's sister Lizzie, and of William and Mary Russett Smith.
Emma was medium built, had gray hair which was either cut short or worn in a bun, Leonard only remembers no long hair. She always wore dresses, granny stockings and black shoes with big heels. She used to serve rice and raisins as cereal.
Leonard says when he was real little Aunt Emma would babysit him and his siblings all day. Then when his folks came home it was party time.
Once when everyone was drunk, including Emma, she threw a live turtle into a pot of boiling water. She later fished out the shell, skin, etc., but Leonard didn't eat any of the soup. According to Leonard's mother, Elsie Mark Wilson, what Leonard saw was Emma cleaning a turtle in scalding water before she made soup, but his older cousin, Darlene Antoine Sineway (born 1944), said Leonard was right about the soup.
Copyright (c) 2020 Vicki Wilson
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