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Wife: Alcie Elizabeth O'DELL #2
Married: 25 OCT 1927 in: South Bend (St. Joseph) IN
Marr. Ceremony? Y/N: Divorced/Annulled/Separated: End Year:
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Born: 25 OCT 1903 in: Montgomery County, IN
Church: METHODIST in: (Baptist at Heart)
Died: 18 MAR 1972 in: Jeffersonville (Clark) IN
Cemetery: WALNUT RIDGE in: Clark County, IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation: Housewife
Father: William Franklin "Frank" O'DELL #12
Mother: Virginia Margaret "Maggie" PHELPS #11
Elizabeth O'DELL was the first of her parent's children to be born outside of Laurel Co., KY. Her parents, five older brothers, and older sister, Sarah Hettie, had migrated to Indiana, following the example of her uncle, John Henry or "Uncle Bud" as he was called. Although she never lived in KY or TN, the family's strong mountain background greatly influenced "Lizzie's growing up.
The family seldom lived more than a year in the same house. "Frank O'DELL" was not eager to put down roots in any one spot after he left KY. He traveled to various parts of the country teaching music by "shaped notes", leaving his wife and family for weeks at a time. Before spending the last 30-35 years of his life in Marshall and Fulton Counties in Northern Indiana, Frank took his growing family to Craig and Delaware Counties in Oklahoma where Elizabeth's 3 youngest siblings were born. One of these, a twin to her youngest sister, died
as a baby and was buried in Craig Co.
In spite of her keen mind, her love of learning, and an avid interest in poetry and literature, Elizabeth was forced to end her formal education at the sixth grade level to help her crippled mother with the housekeeping and care for the large family after her eldest sister took work outside the home.
After her mother's death in 1924, Elizabeth worked at a local radiator factory in Marshall Co.,IN. While employed there, she suffered heat exhaustion which caused her to be extremely sensitive to very warm temperatures for the rest of her life. Elizabeth's early experience with hard work and housekeeping was valuable to her in raising her own large family. Frequently, Virgil would have to work away from home during the week, returning only on weekends to relieve his wife from responsibility for the care of the animals and the garden.
Elizabeth was described by her husband
as a "good-looking young lady" at the time of their marriage. "She was tall (5'10") and thin (about 135 lb) and walked like a queen." Virgil once told this compiler, "You would be very lucky to be half as attractive as your mother was when she was 25 years old!" Elizabeth maintained her erect posture until illness bent her shoulders beneath the pain of cancer.
After the birth of her youngest child in 1946, Elizabeth lost control of her weight which increased to well over 200 lb. and her height decreased by 1". Still, Elizabeth never left home without lacing herself into her boned corset, and when "dressed up", was a tall and proud-looking woman.
Probably because of her mountain heritage, Elizabeth was not openly affectionate. Her philosophy was, "If you love me, act like it: don't tell me!" To her this meant deeds of love, not open expressions of affection. She appeared to be stern and demanding, and had a
tendency to intimidate most people...especially her daughters' beaus and later their husbands. Her reddish-brown hair, snapping brown eyes, and Irish temperment contributed to this image; however, she had a keen wit and was well liked by the people in the community.
She loved music and had a strong, but untrained soprano voice. Her repertoire of traditional hymns and mountain folk songs was extensive; few of her chores could be done without singing. Unlike her husband, she was not confident enough to perform for an audience, but her strong voice was missed in church if she were absent. Although three occurrences of cancer took toll on her body over a period of ten years, she did not submit to its effects until after Virgil died in April, 1971. Eleven months later, she went to join him. The medical cause of death was "invasive cancer", but her family knew that grief contributed greatly.
The six children born to this union were:
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
26-JAN-1998 Family Group Sheet Page 1
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Husband: Herman W. AULT #204
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Born: 27 JUN 1893 in: Fulton County, IN
Church: CONG. CHRISTIAN in:
Died: 05 MAR 1959 in: Argos (Marshall) IN
Cemetery: MASONIC in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation: Farmer/Truck driver
Father: John AULT #128
Mother: Mary Anderson GILCHRIST #127
The 1920 census shows Herman W., 26, with wife, Rose A., 22, and daughter, Anna M. whose age is recorded as "3-4/12." Herman's occupation is listed as "Farm Operator."
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
ROSE ANN CROMLEY.
Six children resulted from this union:
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
Around 1950, compiler, her parents and younger brother spent a week of school vacation visiting extended family in northern Indiana. This was one of the few times compiler's father took time off from his home and work responsibilities. As it turned out, the trip was marred only by a near tragedy of compiler's six year old brother falling out of the car which was traveling at highway speed; fortunately he was spared any lasting injury. The 1920 census for Fulton County shows Howard enumerated in his parents' household on 10 Jan. 1920; he is enumerated a second time (as is his brother, Harry) in Marshall County about 23/26 January. In the latter record, both Howard and Harry are listed as "Hired Man". Their occupations are listed as "Laborer".
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
Howard and "Dollie" Ault lived on a farm in northern Indiana in the early 1950's, when compiler, her parents and her younger brother spent a week of the traditional Christmas vacation visiting seldom seen relatives in Fulton and Marshall Counties. One of the pleasant memories of this week was the day spent at the Ault's home. where "Dollie" introduced compiler and family to a delicious, white confection called "potato candy". Compiler had naver heard of candy made from mashed potatoes, but it was a treat that would long be remembered and always in connection with "Dollie" Ault. Compiler's Note: This obituary gives the marriage of Howard and "Dollie" Ault as 1935; other sources say, "1925".
Children of this marriage are:
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
RALPH AULT. Two of the children listed in this obituary and Ralph's wife's obituary are not found in any other family data. Calvin Ringle and Ethel Wrockladge are not children known to be born to Ralph and Ruth Wright Ault. It is not known what their relationship to Ralph Ault might be. Also the obit. states eight surviving children but lists only seven. The U.S. Census record for 1920 shows Ralph A. as 19 years of age; his occupation at that time was listed as "General Labor."
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
NOTE: Bonine Funeral Home, Culver, IN wrote date of Ruth (WRIGHT) AULT's death as "10/27/64", in answer to an inquiry from Wilma FOLTZ. Her obit. and her son Arlon AULT both record date of her death as "Sep. 21, 1964." The Bonine reports Ruth Ault's death as 27 OCT 1964. Her son and Wilma FOLTZ both record it as 21 SEP 1964. The Cemetery Index gives only 1964.
The children of Ralph and Ruth are:
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
Byron GILCHRIST was the younger of two brothers born and raised on the farm of their grandfather, Thomas GILCHRIST, in Fulton County, IN. Thomas had farmed the land owned by his father, an immigrant from SCOTLAND, until about 1902. The original GILCHRIST land was situated on the south bank of the Tippecanoe River in Rochester Township. After the death of Thomas's wife, Phoebe, in 1895 and the 1900 birth of Byron's brother, Virgil, Thomas sold the GILCHRIST farm, and purchased new farm land on the north side of the River. This farm was located in a community called South Germany in Richland Township.
Compiled by:Ann & Ernie Grubb
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Wife: Rose Ann CROMLEY #205
Married: 25 DEC 1915 in: Culver(Marshall) IN
Marr. Ceremony? Y/N: Divorced/Annulled/Separated: End Year:
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Born: 19 OCT 1897 in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Church: CONG. CHRISTIAN in:
Died: 21 APR 1987 in: Rochester(Fulton) IN
Cemetery: MASONIC in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation: Hospital Employee
Father: Jacob CROMLEY #207
Mother: Anna MAHLER #206
26-JAN-1998 Family Group Sheet Page 1
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Husband: William "Howard" AULT #208
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Born: 26 FEB 1895 in: Fulton County, IN
Church: WHIPPOORWILL in: Fulton County, IN
Died: 11 JUN 1975 in: Rochester (Fulton) IN
Cemetery: MASONIC in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation: Farmer
Father: John AULT #128
Mother: Mary Anderson GILCHRIST #127
One of the highlights of this trip was a brief visit with Howard and "Dollie" Ault. The Aults lived on a farm in Fulton County, IN. The house was an old two-story frame home, typical of farm homes in the early 1900's. A huge red barn. a milk house and several other buildings were also part of this traditional midwest farm. Howard, attired in "bibbed" overalls and faded blue work shirt, was a tall, rather stout man, who compiler remembers as looking very much like his mother--somewhat rounded face, sharply pointed
nose, etc.
Compiler no longer remembers "Dollie's" appearance, but the memory remains of all the "goodies" she had made for Christmas. There were several kinds of homemade cookies, cakes, puddings and candy. One particular candy stands out in compilers' mind--we had never heard of "potato candy" It was delicious!!!
A photocopy of Howard's obituary was provided by Wilma MOW FOLTZ.
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Wife: Verda "Dollie" MILLER #209
Married: 30 DEC 1925 in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Marr. Ceremony? Y/N: Divorced/Annulled/Separated: End Year:
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Born: 01 SEP 1898 in: Fulton County, IN
Church: WHIPPOORWILL in: Community church (Fulton) IN
Died: 19 MAY 1978 in: Plymouth(Marshall) IN
Cemetery: MASONIC in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation:
Father: Perry MILLER #211
Mother: Maude (McFarland) #210
A photocopy of "Dollie's" obituary has been provided by Margarett Steininger and Wilma Mow Foltz.
26-JAN-1998 Family Group Sheet Page 1
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Husband: Ralph A. AULT #212
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Born: 26 MAY 1900 in: Fulton County, IN
Church: in:
Died: 27 APR 1981 in: Marshall Co. IN
Cemetery: MASONIC in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation: Farmer
Father: John AULT #128
Mother: Mary Anderson GILCHRIST #127
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Wife: Ruth V. WRIGHT #213
Married: 23 MAR 1925 in: Warsaw (Kosciusko) IN
Marr. Ceremony? Y/N: Divorced/Annulled/Separated: End Year:
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Born: 04 AUG 1900 in: Etna Green (Kosciusko) IN
Church: in:
Died: 27 OCT 1964 in: Marshall County, IN
Cemetery: MASONIC in: Culver (Marshall) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation:
Father: Harry WRIGHT #1462
Mother: Elsie (WRIGHT) #1461
Obit. also gives additional surviving children: "Mrs. Ethel WROCKLADGE, Delphi, OH. (dau.) and another son, "Calvin RINGLE, Akron." Both are also listed as surviving children of Ruth's husband Ralph AULT at the time of his death, April, 1981.
In researching this family for compiler, Wilma FOLTZ evidently wrote to Arlon AULT for innformation. He responded with a list of his siblings, their spouses and vital dates. He did not mention any of three who appear in one or more of the obits. (Ethel, Alice or Calvin).
24-JAN-1998 Family Group Sheet Page 1
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Husband: Byron Bruce GILCHRIST #15
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Born: 27 JAN 1903 in: Fulton County, IN
Church: PRESBYTERIAN in: Plymouth (Marshall) IN
Died: 07 JAN 1998 in: Indianapolis (Marion) IN
Cemetery: Oaklawn Mem.Gdn in: Fishers (Hamilton) IN
Other: in:
Military: Occupation: Carptr./Const./Farmer
Father: William Jefferson GILCHRIST #14
Mother: Millie Artiemicia MOW #13
This Richland Twp. farm was the birthplace of Byron on 27 January 1903. During his childhood and early youth, Byron's father, William and his grandfather, Thomas, taught Virgil and Byron the skills of farming and carpentry. The four GILCHRIST men eventually built a large, "modern" (by the standards of the day) barn. That barn was an object of great pride for the men of the family, and was admired by the
whole community. This barn was later destroyed by a devastating fire.
As a five-year-old, Byron hurt his right foot and the doctors and home remedies could not cure the infection in the bone. As a result he did not start attending school until he was eight years old after a doctor finally removed the diseased bone and he could again walk without crutches. He had started to high school at Richland Center and was to play on the basketball team when it became necessary for him to drop out to care for his mother while his father and brother worked. Although he intended to return to school he never did because he felt he was too old since he had entered school at so late an age.
Byron knew well the Tippecanoe River in the area of the Germany Bridge. He spent a great deal of time with his friends swimming, diving, fishing, and hunting along the river. He was a part of a group of boys who called themselves the "Bicycle Brigade", who spent many Sunday afternoons riding the area while eating a nickel's worth
of overripe bananas. Byron earned his spending money raising orphan sheep which he bought from neighbors.
Gyp was a Morgan mare that was Byron's constant companion along with his dog Coalie. He had trained Gyp to jump only when he rode her. She also loved to run fast and together they won many races at the fair. Along with "Red" O'DELL, Byron and Gyp drove a herd of cattle to Fulton when some of the O'Dells moved there. Byron turned around and rode back home the same day because Gyp's gait was such an easy one.
Byron loved cars and driving "fast" in his Model T. He wanted to become a race driver and drive in the Indianapolis 500. He went so far as to enroll in a driving school in Kansas City. When his uncle, Floyd MOW, found out about it, he talked Byron into going to South Bend and becoming a carpenter instead. The love of fast cars and racing lasted all his life.
"Barney," as Byron was called by some of his friends, was a lively and mischievous young man. A neighbor girl, who would later
become his sister-in-law, was often the butt of Byron's pranks. Elizabeth "Lizzie" O'DELL later told her children of how "ornery Byron" teased and aggravated her as they walked to and from school. She readily admitted that she did not bear great fondness for him, while they were growing up.
Byron's brother, Virgil, told stories of how he could learn of some of Byron's "adventures" as a young man, by waiting for Byron to go to sleep in the room they shared, then asking questions about his activities that evening. It seems that Byron had a tendency to talk in his sleep, and would even answer questions ...quite honestly! The next morning Virgil would mention some detail of Byron's activities while "out on the town" the evening before, and Byron would be shocked to find that Virgil had knowledge of the event!
Byron was with his mother on the day of her death. He told compiler that he had taken water and towels for her to bathe herself that morning. He later returned to take the water and towels
away to discard them. Byron had just turned to leave the room to make a cup of tea when suddenly his mother sat up very straight, grabbed her head with both hands, and cried, "Oh!" Immediately she fell back and was gone. What a painful, lasting impression that memory must have made in the mind of her 17-year-old son!
Byron, like his older brother, made his living in the construction business. Both men were very skilled in carpentry; both maintained their love of farming. Byron remained in the South Bend area and worked many years for the Aulm Construction Company. He was construction superintendent, and, unlike his brother, Byron enjoyed working on upper levels of the buildings his company constructed.
Upon retiring, he and Emma moved from their home at 412 Woodside in South Bend (a house that Byron had built for his young family) to a farm near Argos, IN, in Marshall County. Byron remodeled and improved the existing farm house, a large old home built largely of field stone. This
home was destroyed by a fire which began in the middle of the night while Byron and Emma were sleeping. Luckily they were able to escape unharmed.
After losing their house on the farm, the GILCHRISTs had a new home built on State Road 10 outside Argos. Byron and Emma remained there until 1995 when, at ages 91 and 88, respectively, they reluctantly moved to the American Village Retirement complex in Indianapolis.
Compiler will remember "Uncle Byron" as a handsome and distinguished-looking man of medium height and strong build, with hair that was almost totally white, as was his brother's. Apparently this was a trait inherited from their mother; her hair was said to have been "snowy white" at the time of her death, at age 40. Compiler can not remember seeing either of these men with other than gray- to-white hair.
Byron's blue eyes were framed in what compiler calls "laugh lines;" he seemed to always be on the verge of a smile. Both he and his brother had very pleasant speaking voices, but
Virgil's was deeper in pitch than Byron's; both men enjoyed singing, and both participated in church choirs and quartet singing in their youth. These brothers looked very much alike and used many of the same mannerisms. They both bore strong resemblance to pictures of their father.
After Emma's death in January, 1997, Byron experienced a rapid decline. He moved from the apartment they shared to a smaller one overlooking the small lake on the property. He did experience some enjoyment in watching the geese around the lake from his balcony or the window in his living room. Soon a series of health problems began to occur, and he was forced to agree to a move to a complete care facility. From that time, Byron declined steadily, until just eight days short of one year, he joined Emma in death.Deb Murray