See also

Francis KEMPE (1936-1999)

1 Francis Graham KEMPE1,2 (1936-1999) [1679]. Born 7 Jan 1936, Michigan.1,2,3 Marr Kay ? c. 1970.1 Div 5 Apr 1978, Cuyahoga County, OH.1 Died 16 Dec 1999, Cleveland, OH.2,3

2 Francis Graham KEMPE4 (1914-2001) [1550]. Born 25 Jul 1914, Salem, Washington.4,5 Marr Margaret Jane PARENT 23 Mar 1935, Ferndale, MI.4 Died 2 Aug 2001.5

The U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 shows his name as Graham Frances Kempe while his marriage license shows Frances Graham Kempe.5

Alternate birth city from SS Appllicatoin: Seattle.5

3 Margaret Jane PARENT3,4,6 (1914-1985) [1544]. Born 18 Aug 1914, Royal Oak, MI.4,7,8 Marr Joseph Frank CHAMBEAU 11 Jul 1940, Napoleon, OH.9 Died 17 Feb 1985, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.7,8 Cause: Cardio pulmenary arrest. Buried 19 Feb 1985, Cremated, ashes scattered January, 1988.10

Margaret was a bank teller for 25 years at the Wayne Oakland Bank, Royal Oak, MI.

Margaret's sister, Dorothy was a witness at her wedding to Frances Graham Kempe.4

6 Harrison Virgil Benjamin PARENT6,11,12,13 (1888-1948) [1541]. Born 6 Jul 1888, Royal Oak Township, MI.6 Marr Jane Thomas MILLAR 24 Dec 1908, Detroit, MI.13 Marr Yvonne Isabel STEPHEN 11 Jun 1927, Detroit, MI.14 Div 11 Jun 1927, Oakland County, MI.15 Marr Hazel Belle STEWART 29 Mar 1947, Royal Oak, MI.16 Died 17 Oct 1948, Ferndale, MI.6 Buried 20 Oct 1948, Woodlawn Cemetery.6,17

From the Birmingham Eccentric, July 5, 1907.

"Harry, son of Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Parent, was operated on at Grace Hospital, Detroit, last Saturday morning. Three or four years ago he fell down an elevator shaft in an apartment house in Ohio, three stories, and broke his leg. He recovered from his injuries as was supposed, but a short time ago began to complain of a severe pain in his side which gradually became worse until the physicians decided that an operation was necessary to save his life. The doctors discovered that the muscles in his side had become as hard as stone and that some growths had formed around them which was necessary to remove. The patient is now doing nicely and if no complications develope he will be all right again in a short time."

From the Royal Oak Tribune, July 9, 1915 - "Harry Parent's barn on Woodward ave caught fire and burned Monday evening."

The following is a very strange item, for which we have not yet found an explanation. Harrison died in 1948, so clearly he did not drown in in this incident which was reported in the September 9, 1921 issue of the Royal Oak Tribune.

"H. PARENT DROWNS AT SUGAR ISLAND. Clothes in bath house only evidence of Labor Day tragedy. The body of Harrison B. Parent, Pleasant Ridge man, believed drowned Labor day in Lake Erie, off Sugar Island has not been recovered, according to the Detroit police and members of the harbormaster's crew who have been searching with dynamite and grappling irons in the waters in the vicinity of the Lake Erie Resort. If Parent were drowned, the police have learned of no one witnessing the tragedy. The only evidence the police have that the man disappeared is the facts that his clothes were found in the island bath house by the island caretaker the night of Labor day and also that he had failed to since put in an appearance at his home, Woodward and Maplewood avenues, Pleasant Ridge. Parent had gone to the island alone and it is believed he went immediately to the bathing beach and ventured too far into the lake. In the man's clothing were scraps of memoranda containing the name of "Parent, Pleasant Ridge," $5 in cash and a gold watch. Parent who was 33 years of age, was a graduate of the University of Detroit and was a member of the varsity football team of that institution for two years. Several years ago he played with the Royal Oak Independants and was known as one of the speediest backfield men in middle west. He was a stock and bond salesman and had offices in Detroit. This young man was a member of the 125th Machine Gun company, National Guard. He had tried repeatedly to get into the regular army during world the world war but on each occasion, he was unable to pass the physical examination due to hernia. Parent had been married, but the couple became separated some time ago. He made his home with his parents in Pleasant Ridge. He was born in Detroit, July 6, 1888."

And, here is his obituary in the October 18, 1949 Royal Oak Tribune.

"A long time resident of southern Oakland county, Virgil B. Parent, age 60, died Sunday at his home, 272 West Drayton avenue, Ferndale. Mr. Parent was born July 6, 1888 in Royal Oak township. He leaves his wife, Hazel B.; two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy M. Betteley, 1079 Lochmore boulevard, Berkley, and Mrs. Margaret J. Chambeau, 1007 East Sixth street; his mother, Mrs. Dolly B. Parent and five grandchildren, Gerald, Robert and Sally Jo Betteley and Graham, Kempe and Diane Chambeau. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the Sawyer funeral home, 2125 Twelve-Mile road, Berkley. The Rev. Wallace Winchell of the first Congregational church will officiate. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery."

Another mystery is the fact that Harrison Parent's individual records (Jr. and Sr.) cannot be found at Woodlawn Cemetery, only a notation on the plot layout that they are, in fact, buried there. Furthermore, Harrison Sr.'s obit says that services were handled by Sawyer Funeral Home in Berkley but these records, too, are missing.

12 Fred Antoine Gabriel PARENT13,18,19 (1867- ) [876]. Born 25 Aug 1867, Peoria, IL.19 Marr Rosa Belle DOWES 14 Mar 1888, Detroit, MI.13

From the Birmingham Eccentric, January 10, 1907.

"Fred A. Parent has purchased a tract of land in the Isle of Pines in the West Indies and his son, Harrison, sailed from New York Saturday on the steamer Havana, to commence the cultivation of the land for an orange grove. His grandfather, Anthony C. Parent accompanied him. Harrison has been attending college at Lansing, but was obliged to give up his studies on account of failing health. It is hoped he will regain his health and prosper in his new field of labor.".

13 Rosa Belle DOWES13 (1868-1953) [420]. Born 6 Sep 1868, Ten Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI.8,20 Died 13 Apr 1953, Royal Oak, MI.8 Buried 15 Apr 1953, Woodlawn Cemetery.8,17

From a Pontiac newspaper.

1894-07-06 - "Mrs. F. A. Parent and son Harry of Detroit are visiting relatives in town [Royal Oak]."

1895-05-17 - "Mrs. F. A. Parent and children of Detroit are visiting relatives in town [Royal Oak]."

From the Birmingham Eccentric, 1912-08-09 - "A barn belonging to Mrs. F. A. Parent caught fire in some unknown manner one night last week and burned to the ground. The loss is approximately $800, it was partially insured."

From the Royal Oak Tribune, dates as listed.

1913-12-13 - "Dollie B. Parent, of a mile south of town, was granted a decree of divorce from her husband, Fred A. Parent, Monday, in circuit court. She charged extreme cruelty, claiming her husband would not work, that she was compelled to support him, that he got drunk and was abusive, and that he made himself generally disagreeable. He is now in California. She applied for separation some time ago, but on account of representations made by him the decree was not granted. George A. Dondero conducted the case for the complainant, Justice and Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Jessie Parent went from this village as witnesses for complainant."

1920-02-13 - "Mrs. Dolly Parent has returned from several weeks visit with Mrs. Joseph Moore, of New York city."

1953-04-13 - "A Royal Oak resident for over 80 years, Mrs. Dollie B. Parent died this morning in Royal Oak General hospital, after a four-day illness. She was born on the Ten-Mile road, to the late Joseph and Harriet Rose Dows.".

7 Jane Thomas MILLAR12,13 (c. 1890- ) [1543]. Born c. 1890, Hamilton, Ontario.13,21

Sources

1"Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 for Francis G. Kempe and Kay Kempe".
2"Ohio Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 for Francis Graham Kempe".
3"Social Security Death Index".
4"Oakland County, MI, Marriage License for Francis Graham Kempe and Margaret Jane Parent".
5"U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 for Graham Francis Kempe".
6"Obituary of Harrison V.B. Parent in the Royal Oak Tribune, October 18, 1948".
7"Oakview Cemetery Memorial Record".
8"Newspaper obituary".
9"Marriage Record of Framk Joseph Chambeau".
10"Newspaper obituary Nov. 22, 1945".
11"Information provided by David Gustner".
12"SS Application for Dorothy Parent Betteley".
13"Michigan Marriage Records".
14"Oakland County Mi Marriage License of Harrison V. Parent andYvonne Isabel Stephen".
15"Michigan Divorce Records, 1897-1952 of Yvonne Parent and Harrison V.B. Parent".
16"Michigan Marriage Records, 1867-1952 for Harrison Virgil Benjamin Parent and Hazel Belle Stewart".
17"Woodlawn Cemetery records, Detroit, MI".
18"Birmingham Eccentric, January 10, 1907".
19"Transcriptions from the family Bible of Anthony C. Parent".
20"Death Certificate".
21"Statee of Michigan Death Certificate of Margee Belle Parent".