Potts, Florence Adella {I141} (b. 15 May 1881, d. 17 May 1953)

Note: 1 _MDCL Arteriosclerosis 6 years, Diabetes Mellitus 6 years, Arthitis 10 years.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Birth Records, Probate Court, Van Wert County, Ohio, Vol. 2
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: p. 311

Source: (Death)
Title: Certificate of Death, Montgomery County, Ohio, Combined General Health District
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: State File No. 1263
Data:
Text: Died at home, Age 72, 2 months 2 days

Given Name: Florence Adella

Death: 17 May 1953 Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio

Burial: 19 May 1953 Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert Co., Ohio

Cause: Chronic Myocarditis

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Note: 1 PROP
2 DATE 15 DEC 1913
2 PLAC Purchased part of Outlot number 39 in Van Wert, Van Wert Co., Ohio
2 SOUR S02388
3 PAGE No. 2142
1 PROP
2 DATE 2 DEC 1932
2 PLAC Sold part of Outlot number 39
2 SOUR S02388
3 PAGE Warranty Deed No. 11620


Oscar recalled to his son, Donald Kear, that his parent's house wasconstructed of wooden planks without siding. He was only three yearsold when his father died, and he helped operate the loom while hisMother wove rugs to support the family.
He quit school after the eighth grade against the wishes of hisMother. He then worked at various jobs, including driving mules onthe farm of his brother-in-law, Oscar Montgomery, outside of Delta,Ohio. He also carried the Van Wert Bulletin newspaper, and recalledthat the route extended several miles from his home to the east sideof Van Wert.
Oscar and Florence began married life at the family home onShaffer Street, later moving to Bonnewitz Avenue, Woodland Avenue,Second Street, 600 Center Street, and last to 133 East ThirdStreet, where they lived until moving to Dayton.

=====================================================================================
Deed for property at 133 East Third Street.:
"Know All Men by these Presents, That Jessie Glover, single, HattieNorris, widow, Carrie Grubaugh, widow, grantors in consideration ofThirteen Hundred Dollars to them paid by Oscar M. Kear and Florence A.Kear their heirs and assigns forever The following described Real estate,situate in the City of Van Wert, Van Wert County, State of Ohio, andbeing a part of outlot number thirty-nine, and descended as follows:Commencing at a point on the north line of Third street in said City,forty-two feet and four inches west of where the half section line ofsection twelve, town two south, range two east in said County and State,crosses said third street; thence west forty-two feet and four inches;thence north two hundred and eighteen feet; thence east forty-two feetand four inches; thence south two hundred and eithteen feet to the placeof beginning."

==============================================================================
His railroad career began with a Pennsylvania Railroad crew layingthe first double tracks between Van Wert, Ohio, and Fort Wayne,Indiana. On 30 December 1905 he became a brakeman on the CincinnatiNorthern Railroad, a train crew caller on 30 Pugust 1907, and again on23 October 1911 a crewcaller.
While mounting an engine in May 1913, Oscar caught a foot betweentwo rails, and his right leg was run over. He was carried by train fromBryan, Ohio (accident site), to Van Wert where the leg was amputatedbelow the knee.
After a leave of absence beginning on 20 May 1913, he returned towork on 5 May 1914 as a janitor, and on 1 June 1914 as a time clerkposition. Reductions-in-force caused his transfer to a laborer positionon 3 July 1929, and to being laid off on 19 October1931.
He was offered a crossing watchman job in Dayton, Ohio. Work beganthere on Bolander Avenue (now Stewart Street) on 6 February 1932. Hemoved to the Findlay Street crossing from where he retired on 31October 1958 after 53 years of service.
He celebrated his 100th birthday with an open house at the CommunityUnited Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio, saying "It was the best day ofmy life."
He entered Miami Valley Hospital on 18 December 1978, suffering withcongetive heart failure. After being transferred to Beavercreek CareCenter (now called Heartland of Beavercreek) on 15 January 1979 he diedeight days later.

========================================================================
This obituary appeared in the Dayton Daily News on January 24, 1979
"Kear, Oscar M., age 100 of 706 Darst Ave. died Tuesday at BeavercreekCare Center. A former resident of Van Wert. 0h. He was preceded in deathby his wife, Florence and a daughter, Evelyn Waters. He was a Brakemanand Crossing Watchman for the New York Central Railroad and retired in1958 after 58 years of service. Member of the Brotherhood of MaintenanceNo. 1369. Survived by 1 daughter, Beatrice Hipsher of New Haven, Indiana;2 sons, Ralph and Donald of Dayton; 11 grandchildren; 23great-grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Services 8 PM Thursday,Morris Sons Funeral Home, 1771 E. Dorothy Lane. Pastor Roy Osbornofficiating. Burial Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Oh. Family will receivefriends Thursday 5PM until service time. In lieu of flowers, familyrequests that contributions be sent In his name to the Community UnitedMethodist Memorial Fund. Graveside services 1PM Friday In Van Wert, Oh."

(Note: the address is 1706 Darst Ave.)

Source: (Birth)
Title: Marriage Book
Author: Probate Court, Van Wert County, Ohio
Publication: Probate Court, Van Wert County, Ohio
Call number: Book 10
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: bk10, p. 256
Data:
Text: 22 years on 27 May 1900

Source: (Death)
Title: Ohio Deaths, 1970-88
Author: Index to Annual Deaths, 1970-88. Columbus, OH: Ohio Department of Health. State Vital Statist
ics Unit, 19xx-.
Publication: Ancestry.com
Note: Source Media Type: Electronic
Repository:

Page: vol. 23564, certivicate 009629

Source: (Burial)
Title: Morr Family History
Author: Ralph V. Morr
Publication: 15 February 1976
Note: NS21803
Source Media Type: Book
Repository:

Data:
Text: Graveside Service Friday, Jan. 26, 1:00 P.M.

Source: (Individual)
Title: Letter, September 24, 1941, to O. M. Kear
Author: F. H. Winget
Publication: New York Central System, Bellefontaine, Ohio, File 72
Note: Source Media Type: Letter
Repository:

Source: (Residence)
Title: Van Wert Daily Bulletin
Note: Source Media Type: Newspaper
Repository:

Page: October 14, 1909
Data:
Text: Barney Kear and family moved from Bonnewitz Avenue to 600 Center Street. (note: he disliked the nickname "Barney" and on moving to Dayton, Ohio, in 1932 instructed his family not to let anyone know about the nickname

Given Name: Oscar Melville

Occupation: Date: BET 27 MAY 1878 AND 1958
Place: Brakeman and train caller for the Cincinnati Northern Railroad in Van Wert until 1932. After 1932 was a crossing watchma

Death: 23 Jan 1979 Heartland of Beavercreek, Greene Co., Ohio

Burial: 26 Jan 1979 Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert Co., Ohio

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Note: 1 _MILT
2 DATE BET 25 APR 1898 AND 10 FEB 1899
2 PLAC Ernest enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. D, 2nd Regiment, Ohio Infantry from Van Wert, War with Spain.
2 SOUR S02439
3 PAGE p. 94
3 DATA
4 TEXT Ernest W. Kear, Sergeant, resident Van Wert, Age 23, mustered in as Sergeant. Sick furlough Aug 26 to Oct 12, 1898
1 _MDCL Bright's disease, bad hearing, poor eysight


[Levi Tope.GED]

A Van Wert newspaper item, Friday, June 1, 1894 describes thetwenty-third annual commencement of the Van Wert High School on Wednesdayevening at the M.E. church in whch Ernest spoke on the subject, "OurCounty and its Heros."
Ernest enlisted as a Sergeant in Co. D, 2nd Regiment, Ohio Infantryfrom Van Wert, War with Spain. He enrolled at Kenton, Ohio, on 25 April1898 for two years Company D as assigned to Camp Bushnell from 29 Apriluntil 16 May 1898; moved to Camp George H. Thomas, Chicamauga, Tennessee,from 17 May to 29 August 1898 then to Knoxville, Tennessee from 29 Augustunt being assigned to Macon Georgia, from 15 November 1898. Ernestmustered out with the company at Camp Fornance, Macon, Georgia.
At Chicamauga he contracted typhoid malaria that effected him the restof his life, and was on sick furlough from 26 August to 12 October 1898.
He was involved in an automobile accident in April 1924, whichbroke the right clavicle and three ribs. From 19 April to 12 May herecuperated at the St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Kear family lived at 130 Stambaugh Avenue, 641 Hull Street and 853South Irwin

Van Wert newspaper item:
Ernest W. Kear,
Company D Vet,
Dies of injuries
Sgt. Ernest W. Kear, one of the last three surviving members of VanWert's Company D in the Spanish-American war died at Osteopath Hospital,Ferrell, Pa., Tuesday morning He was 87 and died following a fall onOctober 19 when he broke a hip. His home was in Sharon, Pa., neighboringtown to Ferrell.
Sgt. Kear, native of Van Wert, was a Cincinnati Northern brakeman whena young man. He had been yardmaster for the Erie Railroad in Sharon untilhis retirement in 1940.
Survivors include his wife Eulelia, son Robert and daughter Mrs. JeanErb of Sharon; a brother O. M. Kear of Dayton, a sister, Mrs. Lee Blakeof Lynwood, Calif. and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday at 2:30 p. m. at a Sharon funera1home and burial will be in Sharon.
With the death of Sgt. Kear, the two remaining members of Company Dare Otto R. Pennell and W. E. (Ned) Ball, both of Van Wert.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Record of Births, Van Wert County, Ohio, Vol. 1
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: p. 176, Number 323

Source: (Individual)
Title: Van Wert Bulletin
Note: Source Media Type: Newspaper
Repository:

Source: (Individual)
Title: Veteran's Administration to Donald L. Kear, February 19, 1980
Author: A. J. Nista, Verterans Services Officer
Note: Source Media Type: Letter
Repository:

Given Name: Ernest William

Event: Type: EDUC
Date: 1894
Place: Van Wert High School, Van Wert, Van Wert Co., Ohio

Occupation: Place: Railroad Fireman in Van Wert, Railroad Conductor and physical problems required him to take a clerk position in Sharon,

Death: 7 Nov 1962 Osteopath Hospital, Ferrell, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania

Burial: Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery, Sharon, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania

Census: Date: 14 Jun 1900
Place: Van Wert, Van Wert Co., Ohio, Microfilm Reel 1329, Volume 150, ED 87, page 19, line 93, Dwelling No. 234 - W. Second Str

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Death)
Title: Death Records, Probate Court, Los Angeles County, California
Author: State of California, Office of the State Registrar of Vital Statistics, Department of Healt
h Service
Publication: 1940-97 index
Note: NS17953
Source Media Type: Electronic
Repository:

Given Name: Eva Luella

Death: 30 May 1976 Lynwood, Los Angeles Co., California

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: Birth Records, Probate Court, Van Wert County, Ohio
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: Vol 1, p. 56, No. 34

Given Name: Elsie Leora

Death: 3 Mar 1918 Decatur, Monroe Co., Michigan

Burial: Lakeside Cemetery, Decatur, Monroe Co., Michigan

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Note: 1 _MDCL Leukeimia


[Levi Tope.GED]

On marrying Oscar Montgomery they helped farm the Montgomery home placein Pleasant Township, Van Wert county until they purchased a farm inHenry County in the Fall of 1904 and move there. This farm was sold in1911 and they purchased a farm in Pike Township, Fulton County, Ohio,where they farmed until retirement in the Spring of 1919 and moved intoDelta, Fulton County, Ohio.
Olive probably was born in the family home at Shaffer and AllinghamStreets in Van Wert. In 1880, however, she was living in the home of hergrandfather, Levi Tope, with her mother and two younger brothers. Whileattending high school she lived with an uncle, Wiley McDonald Kear, at455 Maple Street, Van Wert, Ohio. Olive told her children that she couldnot even look out the windows to see children play on Sunday because ofhis religious belief.

Source: Letter, Olive Knight to Donald L. Kear, 1979.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Marriage Book
Author: Probate Court, Van Wert County, Ohio
Publication: Probate Court, Van Wert County, Ohio
Call number: Book 10
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Source: (Individual)
Title: Van Wert Times
Note: Good
Extracted by the author
NS25013
Source Media Type: Microfiche
Repository:

Given Name: Olive Pearl

Event: Type: EDUC
Place: Olive received her education in the Van Wert, Ohio, school system where she attended the 2nd Ward School, and graduated

Occupation: Date: 1894
Place: After graduating from high school, Olive taught the 3rd grade class in the 3rd Ward School in Van Wert, Van Wert County

Death: 19 Oct 1954 Delta, Fulton Co., Ohio

Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert Co., Ohio

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Death)
Title: Certificate of Death, Indiana State Department of Health
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: no. D 4015

Given Name: Clark Henry

Death: 3 Nov 1980 New Haven, Allen Co., Indiana

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: Birth Records, Probate Court, Montgomery County, Ohio
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: No. 625

Given Name: Edith Estelle

Death: 17 Dec 1990 Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio

Burial: 20 Dec 1990 Forest Hills Memorial Gardens, Montgomery Co., Ohio

Reference: S138553

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Death)
Title: Certified Certificate of Death, Florida, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
Author: Florida Death Index 1877-1998
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: vol. 3301, cert. 61383

Source: (Burial)
Title: Certified Certificate of Death, Florida, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services
Author: Florida Death Index 1877-1998
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: No. 691025

Given Name: Edward Harold

Event: Type: SSN
Date: BEF 1951
Place: 293-10-6278 in Ohio

Death: 26 Nov 1969 Jess Parish Memorial Hospital, Titusville, Brevard Co., Florida

Burial: 29 Nov 1969 Brevard Memorial Cemetery, Frontenac, Brevard Co., Florida

Reference: S13854

Cause: Confluent bronchopneumonia

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: Birth Records, Probate Court, Montgomery County, Ohio
Note: Source Media Type: Official Document
Repository:

Page: No. 1203

Baptism: --Not Shown--

Given Name: Helen Lenore

Reference: S13855

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Given Name: Donald

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Given Name: Ann Marie

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: Descendants of John Jost Wagner
Author: Lois Hall Snouffer
Publication: December 1999
Note: Source Media Type: Other
Repository:

Page: p. 9

Given Name: Ashley Ann

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: Vada Morr to Donald L. Kear
Publication: 16 July 2000
Note: Source Media Type: Letter
Repository:

Given Name: Carryl Jean

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Given Name: Leon C.

Occupation: Place: Worked at Agler Studio then puchased the studio and operated as Blake & Graven Photgraphic Studio, Van Wert, Van Wert Co

Death: 6 Jul 1974 Lynwood, Los Angeles Co., California

Burial: Forest Lawn Cemetery, California

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: RFamily Tree- Wert McClellan Uncapher Eavy
Author: <rfamilytree@webtv.net>
Note: Source Media Type: Electronic
Repository:

Source: (Burial)
Title: Cemetery Inscriptions, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio
Author: Van Wert Co., Ohio, Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society
Publication: 1986
Call number: GEN929.5 VAN Vol.V
Note: Source Media Type: Book
Repository:

Page: p. 30

Given Name: Julia E.

Death: 28 Jan 1952

Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert Co., Ohio

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: RFamily Tree- Wert McClellan Uncapher Eavy
Author: <rfamilytree@webtv.net>
Note: Source Media Type: Electronic
Repository:

Source: (Burial)
Title: Cemetery Inscriptions, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio
Author: Van Wert Co., Ohio, Chapter, Ohio Genealogical Society
Publication: 1986
Call number: GEN929.5 VAN Vol.V
Note: Source Media Type: Book
Repository:

Page: p. 30

Given Name: Franklin Scott

Death: 6 Jan 1920

Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert Co., Ohio

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Source: (Birth)
Title: Descendants of John Jost Wagner
Author: Lois Hall Snouffer
Publication: December 1999
Note: Source Media Type: Other
Repository:

Page: p. 9

Given Name: Daniel Robert

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Note: [Levi Tope.GED]

Obituary from The Journal-Gazette October 5, 1963

Lewis Wagner, 85, 2328 Smith Street, died at 5:10 P.M. yesterday in theLutheran Hospital. Born in Kries Biedenkopf, Germany, he came to UnitedStates in 1881. Mr. Wagner was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife Edith B., four daughters, Mrs. Lewis Hall andMiss Helen Wagner, Fort Wayne, Mrs. Elvin Wappes, Hamilton, Ohio, andMrs. Dale Landgraph, Kendallville; two sons, John and Carl Wagner both ofFort Wayne; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; a sister Mrs. MaryFinnegan, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a brother Henry, Cut Bank, Montana.Funeral Services will be at D.O. McComb & Sons Funeral Home, Rev. C. J.Seevers officiating. Burial will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Convoy,Ohio. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7:00 P.M. today.

Additional info from obituary from The News-Sentinel: Pallbearers willbe Donald Wagner, David E. Wagner, Joe Landgraff Jerry Landgraff andJames Hall, all grandsons.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Descendants of John Jost Wagner
Author: Lois Hall Snouffer
Publication: December 1999
Note: Source Media Type: Other
Repository:

Page: p. 5

Source: (Burial)
Title: The John Jost Wagner Family
Author: Lois Hall Snouffer
Publication: December 1999
Note: Good
NS24333
Source Media Type: Manuscript
Repository:

Given Name: Lewis Alonzo

Event: Type: SSN
Date: BEF 1951
Place: 316-05-4527 in Indiana

Emigration: Date: 28 Jun 1881
Place: Arrived Port of New York

Death: 30 Jun 1972 Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana

Burial: Greenlawn Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen Co., Indiana

Reference: 2

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40

Given Name: Elizabeth

Death: 1837 Union Co., Illinois

Change: Date: 14 Feb 2003
Time: 15:27:40