Harry FLEMING ( - )
1 Harry FLEMING1 ( - ) [15361].
2 Eldon J. FLEMING2,3,4 (1923-1996) [15359]. Born 1 Feb 1923.3,4 Marr Donna Leona VALDICK 9 Oct 1943, Jeddo, MI.2 Died 23 Aug 1996, Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan.1,3
3 Donna Leona VALDICK1,2,5,6,7 (1927-2016) [4966]. Born 15 May 1927, Deckerville, MI.1,5,6 Died 13 Jul 2016, Smiths Creek, MI.7 Buried Caswell Cemetery, Kimball, MI.1,7
6 Leonard William VALDICK5,8,9,10,11,12 (1899-1941) [4963]. Born 26 Aug 1899, Benzonia, MI.5,8,9,11 Marr Bertha B. PEARSON 9 Nov 1920, Sandusky, MI.5,10 Died 24 Dec 1941, Burtchville, MI.6,11,13 Cause: Car accident. Buried Downing Cemetery, Deckerville, MI.12
In the 1900 MI, Benzie, Weldon census Leonard is shown with a given name of: William J.L. In the 1910 MI, Sanilac, Argyle census, we find a 10 year old Willima L. Valdick living as a border in the home of James Hutson Jr.
We need to correct an error concerning Leonard William Valdick. We currently show that he married (1st) Flora Lintner Smith on November 20, 1919. Looking at the Michigan Marriage Record again it looks like we missed the fact that it is shown as a "no return." Furthermore, there a marriage record (not included) for Flora Lintner Smith and William Periso on March 31, 1920. It seems likely, then, that no marriage ever occurred between Leonard and Flora.
Leonard's obit appears on his Find A Grave page but the newspaper source is not given. Everything matches what we have until two half-sisters are mentioned. This is puzzling. It seems clear that Frank did not remarry or have additional kids and we can find no indication that Essie and James Forrester had any children either. The foster mother, Mrs. James Hutson, is explained in the note we already have concerning Leonard's residence in 1910. I thought perhaps the children of Mrs. James Hutson were misidentified as half-sisters but that does not seem to be the case either.
12 Frank C. VALDICK9,10,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21 (1861-1933) [4954]. Born Jun 1861, Farwell, MI.9,14,17,22 Marr Essie L. Pearl HILL 20 Aug 1895, Thompsonville, Benzie Co. MI.9,10,17,20,23,24,25 Div. Died 28 Mar 1933, Benzonia, MI.21,26 Cause: Heart attack.
It was related that Frank Valdick had been born a Partello in the family of Leonard and Betsey Partello. Proving this was difficult as Frank was born in 1861, 1 year after the last census in which this family was intact. Finally, the research of David Gustner unearthed a legal case which proved that Frank Valdick was in fact born as Frank Partello. To make this even more complex is the fact that Betsey (Emeline Betsey) remarried John C. Deal and Frank is shown in that household as a 10 year old in the 1870 MI, Ionia, Lyons census as Frank C. Deal. By the time of his marriage in 1895 he had changed his name to Valdick. The legal case reports are listed below.
From Michigan Reports; Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Michigan from January 22, to April 16, 1895.
"McGrath, C.J. This case is before us for the second time 92 MIch. 136.
Defendant went into possession under Foot, as guardian of Lois, Rhoda Jane, Harriet, Ella, Frank, and della Partello, minor heirs of Leonard Partello, and therefore could not question title in those heirs.
Plaintiff claims title from Emiline Betsey Deal, formerly Emeline Betsey Partello, the widow of Leonard Partello and mother of the above-named minors. Converyances ere introduced from Frank Partello, Ella Henderson, Hattie Lutes, and Adelpha Watson to Emeline Betsey Deal. Lois Partello and Rhoda Jane Partello died without issue, before the conveyance to plaintiff. The deed from Adelpha Watson was executed March 15, 1883, and does not attempt to describne her. The deeds from Ella Henderson and Hattie Lutes describe the grantors as heirs of Leonard Partello. Proof of the identity of each of these three grantors as heirs of Leonard Partello should have been made. The recitals in the last0-named deeds were insufficient proof of the fact.
Defendant insisted upon the trial that he went into possession under a contract of purchase, and not under a lease; but the guardian had no authority to make such a contract, if made.
Other questions are raised, which are disposed of by the former opinion.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial ordered.
The other Justices concurred."
From the Northwestern Reporter Volume 67, May 23 - August 1, 1896.
"GRANT, J. This case has twice before beein in this court. 93 Mich. 136, 52 N.W. 459; 62 N. W. 174. It was reversed the second time on account of a defect in the proof of the identity of some of the grantors as heirs of Leonard Partell. It is now insisted, as before, that no such identification as the law requires is made by the proof. We think otherwise. The heirs of Mr. Partello were clearly identified by the parol proof as grantors in the deeds. It is unimportant to set out the testimony.
The only other point necessary to mention is the claim of the defendant that the plaintiff has not maed out a title to a five-sixths interest in the land, but onlyh to three-fifths, or ammost three-fourths. In instructing the jury the court stated as a fact that the plaintiff had established a title to the land described in his declaration, viz, a five-sixths interest therin. This statement of fact was not challenged by counsil for the defendant. This court has repeatedly held that, where the trial judge, in his instructions, make a statement of fact, it is the duty of the party against whose interest it is mad to call the attentino of the court to it; otherwise, it cannot be raised in teh appelate court. We see no reason why that rule whould not apply in this case.
This trial, as well as the others, seems to have been based upon the theory that the plaintiff was the owner of a five-sixths interest. This question was not raised upon the tiral, nor even referred to, unless it be in the following statement: One Mrs. Dibble, who had married one of the sons of William J. Partello, had testified in regard to heirs. The defendant was recalled by his council, and asked whether, after he got into possession. Mrs Dibble did not claim to him that she had some interest in the land. This was objected to as immaterial, when defendant's consel sqidL "The testimony shows that Mrs. Dibble, before she deeded to Wolf, had acquird a one-sixth interest in the land by reason of the death of one of her children. She also had a dower interest in it. I don't know wen that statute went into effect, but there was a time when that heir's estate wol dgo back to the mother. Lois Partello was one of the heirs who died at 16. Her father was dead, and there was a mother and brothers and sisters. The question is, where would her share go to?" The court said: "I think it is somewhat remote. I will not rule it out now. I don't see how it could change the character of his possession any." No reference was afterwards made to it during the trial. We think, therefore, that the defendant is not now in a positin to raise the question. Judgment affirmed. The other justices concurred."
In the Otsego County birth record for daughter Mable Effie Valdick, her place of birth in 1909 is listed as Village of Gaylord. Frank and Essie are also shown at the same location and Frank's occupation is listed as laborer.
In the 1910 Otsego County census, the family is shown living in Dover Township and Frank is shown as a farmer. Between the birth of Izetta in 1915 and the birth of Walter in 1917 the family moved to Quick, a small town located about 1 mile south and seven miles east of Gaylord. Izetta remembers that her mother operated the store and Post Office and her father worked for the railroad, although the 1920 census lists Frank's occupation as Retail Merchant, groceries.
The Post Office in Quick was closed in 1920 and it is suspected that the logging operations in the area terminated business shortly thereafter. At the intersection of Cargas and Beckett Roads where Quick once stood, there is nothing left to remind anyone that a small town once thrived there.
The 1930 MI, Benzie, Benzonia Twp. census lists Frank Valdick, 70, widowed, inmate, of the Benzie County Farm.
13 Essie L. Pearl HILL9,10,15,16,26,27 (1881-1963) [4968]. Born May 1881, Sandusky, OH.9,15,22,28 Marr James Gavin FORRESTER 12 Sep 1923, Sears, MI.10,29,30 Marr William H. SURPLICE c. 1925.31 Div 2 Sep 1926, Benzie County.32 Div. Marr William H. SURPLICE 8 Sep 1926, Battle Creek, MI.33 Marr Louis BOWER 12 Mar 1954.31 Died 31 Oct 1963, Battle Creek, MI.28,34 Buried Austin Cemetery, Calhoun County, MI.28
According to her daughter, Izetta, Essie Hill was an only child.
Frank and Essie filed for divorce on July 12, 1920 just after the birth of their last child. However the final disposition of the case on February 20, 1922 was dismissal. They then filed for a second time on April 14, 1923 and the divorce was granted on July 2, 1923 in Benzie County.
Next were Valdick entries in the Benzie County Newspaper Index which indexes a marriage license for Essie Valdick and James G. Forrester on September 13, 1923. Other Valdick entries include three court appearances for Ernest Valdick and the miss-spelling of Fookes. The Benzie Banner, as noted, is available on microfilm at the Benzonia Library.
Michigan Marriage Records reports the marriage of James G. Forrester and Essie Valdick on September 12, 1923 in Benzonia County. Now we return to the divorce record of James G and Pearl Forrester in the second attachment. I originally thought Pearl must be Essie Pearl Valdick but, in fact, it was James G. Forrester's wife of several years, Pearl Raymond. What's curious about this is that James Forrester married Essie Valdick September 12, 1923 which was 15 days before the divorce from his first wife Pearl Raymond on September 27, 1923.
7 Bertha B. PEARSON5,10,35,36 (1900-1985) [4964]. Born 21 Dec 1900, MI.5,37 Died 5 Jul 1985, Port Huron, St. Clair, Michigan.36 Buried Downing Cemetery, Deckerville, MI.36
From the Cass City Chronicle.
August 30, 1940 - "Mrs. James Hutson of Yale and Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Valdick, daughter, Carol, and son James, of Deckerville were visitors at the home of Mrs. Hutson's brother, Andrew A. Schmidt, on Saturday. Mrs. Hutson remained to spend a few days more.
Leonard's wife, Bertha Pearson, also has a Find A Grave page. She is shown as Bertha B. and is also buried in Downing Cemetery, Deckerville. Her obit also appears on the Find A Grave page, also unsourced. She was born in Deckerville and died in Port Huron (we currently show Fort Gratiot).
14 Nelson PIERSON38 ( - ) [11078].
15 Emily BURGET38 ( - ) [11079].
Sources
| 1 | "Obituary of Donna l. Fleming by the Pollock-Randall Funeral Home". |
| 2 | "Michigan Marriage Records 1867-1952". |
| 4 | "Social Security Death Index". |
| 5 | "1930 Port Huron Township, MI census". |
| 6 | "Information provided by Donna Waltz". |
| 7 | "Find A Grave Memorial Record of Donna Leona Fleming". |
| 8 | "WWI Selective Service registration card". |
| 9 | "1900 MI, Benzie, Weldon census". |
| 10 | "Michigan Marriage Records". |
| 11 | "Death Certificate of Leonard Valdick". |
| 12 | "Find A Grave Memorial Record of Leonard W.Valdick". |
| 13 | "Information provided by Irma Fookes Valdick". |
| 14 | "1930 Benzie County census". |
| 15 | "1910 MI, Otsego, Dover census". |
| 16 | "1920 MI, Otsego, Chester census". |
| 17 | "LDS International Genealogical Index v5.0". |
| 18 | "Michigan Reports; Cases Decided in the Supreme Court of Michigan from January 22, to April 16, 1895.". |
| 19 | "1870 MI, Ionia, Lyons census". |
| 20 | "Michigan Divorce Records show divorce granted between Essie Hill and Frank Valdick, July 2, 1923". |
| 21 | "Death Certificate of Frank Valdick". |
| 22 | "Death Certificate of Alvin Valdick". |
| 23 | "Marriage License of Frank C. Valdick and Essie Hill, 8/15/1895". |
| 24 | "Michigan Divorce Records show Frank and Essie filed for divorce twice. July 12, 1920 and Apri 14, 1923. Dismissed first time, granted second time.". |
| 25 | "Michigan Marriage Records for Frank Valdick to Essie Hill". |
| 26 | "Information provided by Izetta Valdick". |
| 27 | "Otsego County birth records submitted by Glory Bialy". |
| 28 | "Find-A-Grave Memorial Record of Pearl Bower". |
| 29 | "Ancestry.com World Family Tree". |
| 30 | "Benzie County Newspaper Index shows a marriage license for Essie Valdick and James G. Forrester on Sept. 13, 1923". |
| 31 | "Estimated based on related dates and information". |
| 32 | "Divorce notice of Essie and James Forrester in the Benzie County Newspaper Index". |
| 33 | "Marriage License of Pearl Forrester to William H. Surplice". |
| 34 | "Obituary of Mrs. Louis Bower in the Battle Creek Enquirer of November 1, 1963". |
| 35 | "Information provided by Mary Woods". |
| 36 | "Find A Grave Memorial REcord of Bertha B. Pearson Valdick". |
| 37 | "Michigan Death Index, 1971-1996". |
| 38 | "Michigan Marriage Records of daughter Bertha Pearson". |
