Elsie May Beam ^{1 2 3}

  General Notes:

There are multiple birth and death dates for Elsie.

Birth:
1890 - This date appears on her gravestone.
1899 - The year as calculated from her age given on her marriage license.
1901 - This year is supported by her age given on the 1920 and 1930 US Census. Also supported by a 1910 census showing a daughter named Elsie living with her widowed father, James.

Death:
1929 - This date appears on her gravestone.

Conclusions:
A birth date of 1890 or 1899 would be impossible because the 1900 US Census for her parents shows that Elsie was not yet born.

The birth date of 4 Jun 1909 would be impossible because her mother died in 1905. It was probably a typo when entering the date on the Find A Grave memorial page.

However, the 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Censuses dates seem to indicate 1902 as being the correct year of birth as 1902.

The death date of 1929 from her gravestone would be impossible because she appeared on the 1930 US Census in Apr 1930. Perhaps the gravestone was not actually installed until several years after her death when nobody could remember the exact year of her death.

The death date of 31 May 1930 is most likely correct. It is the only other valid date remaining after the erroneous 1929 date is not considered. It is supported by an apparent obituary article published in the local Argos Reflector newspaper on 5 Jun 1930.
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  Noted events in her life were:

• She has alternate birth information of 1890.This is the date that shows on her gravestone and is not correct.
.

• She has alternate birth information of 1899.The is the year of birth calculated from her age given on the marriage certificate. It is not correct.
.

• She has alternate birth information of 4 June 1909.This is the date given by the creator of the Find A Grave memorial page. It can not be correct because her mother died in 1905.
.

• She appeared on the 1920 US Census in Lakeville, IN on 16 January 1920. ²

1920 US Census
Sheet 6A, District 215, Dwelling 10, Family 10
Lakeville, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Michigan Street; Home rented
Eclsie Platz..Wife..18..IN

(Living with husband and son.)
.

• She has alternate death information of 1929. This is the year of death as given on her gravestone. It can not be correct because she was listed in the 1930 census.
.

• She appeared on the 1930 US Census in Greene Township, Saint Joseph, IN on 23 April 1930. ³

1930 US Census
Sheet 11A, District 60, Dwelling 217, Family 222
Greene Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Marine Road; Home owned, $250
Elsie M. Platz...Wife..28..IN

(Living with husband and 4 sons.)
.

• She was buried after 31 May 1930 in the Fair Cemetery in North Liberty, IN.

Find A Grave Memorial #55807040
.

Elsie married James Arthur Platz, son of Leslie Rudolph Platz and Arilla Jones, on 19 April 1918 in Berrien County, MI.^{1 2 3} (James Arthur Platz was born on 11 June 1883 in Indiana,^{2 3 4 5 6} died in 1947 ⁴ and was buried in 1947 in North Liberty, IN.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 19 April 1918, in Berrien County, MI. ¹

• They appeared on the 1920 US Census in Lakeville, IN on 16 January 1920. ²

1920 US Census
Sheet 6A, District 215, Dwelling 10, Family 10
Lakeville, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Michigan Street; Home rented
Arther Platz..Head..36..IN..Laborer
Eclsie Platz..Wife..18..IN
Garold Platz..Son..10m..IN
.

• They appeared on the 1930 US Census in Greene Township, Saint Joseph, IN on 23 April 1930. ³

1930 US Census
Sheet 11A, District 60, Dwelling 217, Family 222
Greene Township, Saint Joseph County, Indiana
Marine Road; Home owned, $250
James A. Platz...Head..46..IN..Carpenter
Elsie M. Platz...Wife..28..IN
Garold L. Platz...Son..11..IN
Glenn E. Platz...Son..9..IN
Leonard P. Platz...Son..6..IN
Loren K. Platz...Son..4 3/12..IN
.

  Marriage Notes:

Name: James A Platz
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 19 Apr 1918
Event Place: Berrien, Michigan
Age: 34
Birth Year (Estimated): 1884
Father's Name: Leslie Platz
Mother's Name: Jones
Spouse's Name: Elsie May Beam
Spouse's Age: 19
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1899
Spouse's Father's Name: James Beam
Spouse's Mother's Name: Gavoic
GS Film number: 2240869
Digital Folder Number: 4655518
Image Number: 00257

Citing this Record:
"Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1935," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.2/9MQR-XJKF : accessed 16 Jun 2014), James A Platz and Elsie May Beam, 19 Apr 1918; citing p. 238, Berrien, Michigan; FHL microfilm 2240869.
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