Wilbur Walter West ^{1 2 3 4 5 6}

  General Notes:

Records seem to support a birth year of 1892 for Wilbur Earl West. However, there are also records for a brother named Mark Earl West born almost exactly one year earlier in Dec 1891. Not only does it seem strange that the parents would give two brothers the same middle name but each brother apparently used the middle name as an adult. Mark Earl West died at the age of 23 in 1915 with his entry in the county death register as "Earl M. West".
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Chikaming Township, Berrien, MI on 8 June 1900. ⁵

1900 US Census
Page 4A, District 63, Dwelling 85, Family 85
Chickaming Township, Berrien County, Michigan
Farm owned with mortgage
Earl West..Son...Dec 1892..8..MI

(Living with parents.)
.

• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Chikaming Township, Berrien, MI on April 1910. ⁶

1910 US Census
Sheet 2A, District 72, Household 38
Chickaming Township, Berrien County, Michigan
W. Earl West..Son..18..MI

(Living with parents.)
.

• His occupation in 1923 was a Clerical Worker in Three Oaks Township, Berrien County, MI. ²

Wilbur married Florence Frances Dolph on 20 July 1905 in Berrien County, MI.¹ (Florence Frances Dolph was born in 1877 in Iowa ¹ and died in 1966.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 20 July 1905, in Berrien County, MI. ¹

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Wilber West
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 20 Jul 1905
Event Place: , Berrien, Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Florence Hutchenson
Spouse's Gender: Female
Page: 609

Citing this Record
"Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN2C-95X : 5 November 2017), Wilber West and Florence Hutchenson, 20 Jul 1905; citing reference ID , various county clerks and libraries, Michigan; FHL microfilm 2,240,800.
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Wilbur next married Alice Belle Walters, daughter of Lewis Walters and Ellenwine, on 27 March 1923 in Saint Joseph, MI.² (Alice Belle Walters was born in 1894 in Michigan ² and died after 27 March 1923.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 27 March 1923, in Saint Joseph, MI. ²

  Marriage Notes:

Name: Wilbur West
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 27 Mar 1923
Event Place: , Berrien, Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Spouse's Name: Alice B Walters
Spouse's Gender: Female
Page: 279

Citing this Record
"Michigan, County Marriages, 1820-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VN2J-JGZ : 11 May 2018), Wilbur West and Alice B Walters, 27 Mar 1923; citing reference ID , various county clerks and libraries, Michigan; FHL microfilm 2,240,932.
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Name: Wilbur West
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 27 Mar 1923
Event Place: St Joseph, Berrien, Michigan
Gender: Male
Age: 41y
Birth Date: 1882
Birthplace: Michigan
Marriage Date: 27 Mar 1923
Marriage Place: St Joseph, Berrien, Michigan
Father's Name: Isaac
Mother's Name: Jones
Spouse's Name: Alice B. Lake Walters
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 29y
Spouse's Birth Date: 1894
Spouse's Birthplace: Michigan
Spouse's Father's Name: Lewis
Spouse's Mother's Name: Ellenwine
Source Reference: v 1 rn 279

Citing this Record
"Michigan Marriages, 1868-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQWG-FTH : 9 November 2020), Wilbur West and Alice B. Lake Walters, 27 Mar 1923; citing Marriage, St Joseph, Berrien, Michigan, , Citing Secretary of State, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 4032455.
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The marriage record in Berrien County, Michigan shows that Wilbur provided an age of 41 which would yield a birth year of 1882 instead of the assumed year of 1892. In the 1900 US Census he clearly provided a birth date of Dec 1892 and an age of 8. The 1910 US Census provided an age of 18 which suggests a birth date of 1892. Thus, it appears the marriage record should show and age of 31 instead of 41. An age of 31 on the marriage record is close to the bride's age of 29 and would closely match a birth year of 1892.
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