Frances Mildred Wymer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
- Born: 17 November 1877, Cedar County, IA 2 4 6 7 8 10 11 13
- Marriage (1): George Ralston Baker on 6 October 1897 in Iowa City, IA 1 2
- Marriage (2): Delbert Samuel Meadows on 18 September 1911 in Muscatine, IA 3 4
- Died: 5 December 1942, Harlem, IL at age 65 12 13
- Buried: 8 December 1942, Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States 13 14
General Notes:
She was first married in Johnson County, Iowa in 1897 to George Ralston Baker. They moved to Hanford, California to live with his parents and George was a jewelry salesman. That marriage resulted in 2 children and ended with a divorce sometime before 1910. Frances and her 2 children then moved back to Muscatine, Iowa where Frances noted on the 1910 US Census form that she was divorced.
She was remarried in 1911 to Delbert Meadows in Muscatine, Iowa. They both then moved to Rockford, Illinois where they appear together in the 1920 US Census. Her 2 sons that had accompanied her back to Iowa are not with her in the 1920 census in Rockford, Illinois but they were living in the area. The oldest son was married in Rockford in 1917 and the youngest son was married in nearby Boone County in 1925.
Her second husband, Delbert Meadows, died sometime between 1920 and 1930. Frances then moved back to Muscatine, Iowa and lived with her widowed mother until the mother died in June 1930.
Frances then moved a short distance away to Mercer County, Illinois where she was a housekeeper for an elderly man and his son according to the 1940 US Census. She died near Rockford, Illinois and was buried there in 1942. I believe she probably went to spend her final years with one of her sons there due to ailing health. ------------------------------------
Death Notes:
Name: Frances Mildred Meadows Event Date: 05 Dec 1942 Event Place: Harlem, Winnebago, Illinois Gender: Female Age: 65 Birth Year (Estimated): 1877 Burial Date: 08 Dec 1942 Burial Place: Rockford, Winnebago, Ill.
Citing this Record "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3WD-HL1 : 9 March 2018), Frances Mildred Meadows, 05 Dec 1942; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,851,995. -----------------------------------------
Noted events in her life were:
• She appeared on the 1880 US Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on June 1880. 6
1880 US Census Page 165A, District 354, Dwelling 6, Family 6, Roll 0331 Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa Frances Wymer..Daughter..2..IA
(Living with parents.) .
• She appeared on the 1885 Iowa State Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on 20 April 1885. 7
1885 Iowa State Census Page 5, Line 30, Dwelling 160, Family 171 Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa Township 80, Range 3, Section 3, NW Quarter of the NW Quarter Francis M. Wymer..7..IA
(Living with parents.) .
• She appeared on the 1895 Iowa State Census in Iowa Township, Cedar County, IA on January 1895. 8
1895 Iowa State Census Page 487, Line 8, Dwelling 169, Family 174 Iowa Township, Cedar County, Iowa Frances Wymer..17..Cedar County, IA..Methodist
(Living with parents.) .
• She appeared on the 1900 US Census in Hanford, CA on 4 June 1900. 2
1900 US Census Sheet 2B, District 37, Dwelling 45, Family 49 Hanford, Kings County, California, United States 108-1/2 West Seventh; House rented Married 3 years Frances M. Baker..Daughter-in-law..22..IA..2/2
(Living with husband and 2 sons at the home of husband's parents.) .
• She appeared on the 1910 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 28 April 1910. 9
1910 US Census Sheet 13A, District 109, Dwelling 272, Family 330, Roll 415 Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa, United States, Ward 2 392 12th Street; House rented Francis M. Baker..Head..31..IA..Divorced..2/2..Laundress, Laundry Arthur E. Baker..Son..11..IA Richard R. Baker..Son..10..IA Geneva R. Crow..Boarder..28..CA..Laundress, Laundry
(Frances was divorced and living with 2 sons.)
NOTE - If her birth date was 17 Nov 1877, then her age should have been 32 instead of 31. .
• She appeared on the 1920 US Census in Rockford, IL on January 1920. 4
1920 US Census Sheet 15B, District 190, Dwelling 198, Family 342, Roll 417 Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois 417 South Horseman(?); House rented Frances Meadow..Wife..42..IA..Laborer
(Living with husband.) .
• She appeared on the 1930 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 2 April 1930. 10
1930 US Census Sheet 1B, District 14, Dwelling 3, Family 19, Roll 670 Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa, 2nd Ward 401 East Second Street; Home rented $35 Francis Meadows..Daughter..52..IA
(Widowed and living with widowed mother.) .
• She appeared on the 1940 US Census in Keithsburg Township, Mercer County, IL on 23 April 1940. 11
1940 US Census Sheet 1A, District 66-8, Family 4, Roll 858 Keithsburg Township, Mercer County, Illinois, United States House rented $6 Harry Wolfe..Head..43..IL..8th grade..Farmer, Farm Elmer Wolfe..Father..8th grade..65..IL Frances Meadows..Housekeeper..62..IA..6th grade..Widowed..Same house as 1935..Housekeeper, Private family..earned $208 in 1939
(Frances was widowed and living at the home of Harry Wolfe and his elderly father.) .
• She resided in Rockford, IL in 1942. Obituary for her brother, Neal C. Wymer, in 1942 indicates that she lived in Rockford, Illinois. .
• She was buried on 8 December 1942 in the Greenwood Cemetery in Rockford, IL.
Find A Grave Memorial 122595585 . 14
Frances married George Ralston Baker, son of Jasper T. Baker and Mary Delucia Lindsay, on 6 October 1897 in Iowa City, IA.1 2 The marriage ended in divorce. (George Ralston Baker was born in September 1876 in California 1 2 and died before 1911.)
Noted events in their marriage were:
• They appeared on the 1900 US Census in Hanford, CA on 4 June 1900. 2
1900 US Census Sheet 2B, District 37, Dwelling 45, Family 49 Hanford, Kings County, California, United States 108-1/2 West Seventh; House rented Married 3 years Joseph Baker..Head..52..IA..Drug Salesman Mary D. Baker..Wife..46..IN..2/2 George R. Baker..Son..24..CA..Salesman, Jewelry Frances M. Baker..Daughter-in-law..22..IA..2/2 Arthur E. Baker..Grandson..2..CA Richard R. Baker..Grandson..1..CA Sella A. M. Baker..Daughter..20..CA Frank H. B. Allen..Lodger..38..IN..Jeweler Minnie H. Allen..Lodger..27..CA Alice S. Allen..Lodger..4..CA Daniel Gamble..Lodger..20..CA..Salesman, Grocer Mabel Gamble..Lodger..19..CA Herbert R. Wilson..Lodger..45..ME..Bartender Jessie I. Wilson..Lodger..30..IL Richard Simpson..Lodger..21..CA..Base Ball Player John L. Casey..Lodger..32..MO..Saloon Keeper Clarence E. Messinger..Lodger..40..MA..Saloon Keeper Stephen S. Rowley..Lodger..38..IL..Farm Laborer Walter W. Sterling..Lodger..22..CA..??? Charles R. Jones..Lodger..27..MO..Laborer, Creamery Charles Talbot..Lodger..49..IN..Attorney at law Mcwhinnie..Lodger..24..NY..Druggist
5 married couples, 8 lodgers of various occupations .
• George Ralston Baker and Frances Mildred Wymer was divorced on 30 June 1911 in Muscatine, IA.
Marriage Notes:
George Baker first obtained a marriage license on 29 Jun 1897 in Cedar County, Iowa naming Frances M. Wymer as his intended bride. However the license was returned and cancelled with no wedding taking place.
About three months later In October, a new license was obtained in nearby Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa and the marriage took place on 6 Oct 1898.
Name: George R. Baker Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 06 Oct 1897 Event Place: Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, United States Gender: Male Age: 22 Birth Year (Estimated): 1875 Spouse's Name: Frances M. Wymer Spouse's Gender: Female Spouse's Age: 20 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1877
Citing this Record "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJNS-F96 : 10 February 2018), George R. Baker and Frances M. Wymer, 06 Oct 1897, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, United States; citing reference , county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 986,012. ---------------------------------
Their first son, Arthur, was born in Iowa in July 1898 but after that they must have immediately moved to join George's parents in Hanford, California. Their second son, Richard, was born in California in Dec 1899.
The 1900 US Census shows them living with the parents of George in Hanford which was mostly an agricultural town in the southern part of the arid San Joaquin Valley of California. Sheep ranching was probably the most predominant industry at the time. The small town of Hanford was growing rapidly while they lived there thanks to the introduction of the railroad lines in the city.
While George and Frances lived with his parents in Hanford, it is difficult to describe the type of accommodation according to the census. It would appear to be a hotel or lodging house because the family grouping according to the census form showed 5 couples and 8 other men of various occupations all listed as lodgers. The address was 108-1/2 West Seventh which usually designates the upstairs residence probably over a retail establishment or perhaps over a saloon. The census form does not give a name of any proprietor or owner of a hotel or lodging house so it appears to be one very large apartment that the parents managed and leased out rooms to others. The occupation of George's father was that of a drug salesman according to the census. -----------------------------------
Frances next married Delbert Samuel Meadows, son of William Meadows and Olive Brower, on 18 September 1911 in Muscatine, IA.3 4 (Delbert Samuel Meadows was born on 10 June 1876 in Glenwood, IA 4 and died between 1920 and 1930.)
Noted events in their marriage were:
• They appeared on the 1920 US Census in Rockford, IL on January 1920. 4
1920 US Census Sheet 15B, District 190, Dwelling 198, Family 342, Roll 417 Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois 417 Short Horseman(?); House rented Herbert Meadow..Head..43..IA..Laborer Frances Meadow..Wife..42..IA..Laborer .
Marriage Notes:
Name: Delbert S. Meadows Birthplace: Glenwood, IA. Spouse's Name: Frances Baker Spouse's Birth Date: 1877 Spouse's Birthplace: Cedar, Iowa Spouse's Age: 34 Event Date: 18 Sep 1911 Event Place: Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa Father's Name: William Meadows Mother's Name: Olive Brower Spouse's Father's Name: James Wymer Spouse's Mother's Name: Eunice Lightfoot Race: White Marital Status: Unknown Spouse's Race: White Spouse's Marital Status: Widowed
Citing this Record "Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJTF-Q5Z : 10 February 2018), Olive Brower in entry for Delbert S. Meadows and Frances Baker, 18 Sep 1911; citing Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa, reference 2:3S7WXN5; FHL microfilm 1,854,086. -----------------------------------
|