FITCH

— LATIMER. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

SOURCE:
This family infromation was compiled by Joan R. Fitch (Marion's daughter).

Marion lived his early childhood with his birth parents until the county took Marion and his siblings and set them for adoption in about 1914.
He was adopted by the Latimers (George and Belle) on January 13, 1915. The family relocated to Watsonville, California where Marion a.k.a. "Jack" spent his early years. He graduated from High School in Carpenteria. Jack met his wife to be while working at a malt shop in Santa Barbara and they were wed there in 1931.
With the depression in full swing, Jack and Mable moved to various communities where Jack worked jobs in mining and petroleum etc. By 1944 the family located in Richmond, California where Jack took work in the Navy ship yards. In 1946 Jack struck out on his own and began a business constructing "tear-drop" shaped trailers bearing the logo "Jack- Bilt". He later changed occupations and worked in cabinet building and home construction.
Jack was musically talented, played several instruments, sang and danced.

Marion married WEBB, Mabel Frances 31 Jul 1931, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California. Mabel (daughter of WEBB, Franklin and SMITH, Cora Belle) was born 30 Jun 1908, El Monte, Los Angeles County, California; died 30 Jul 1981, Bloomfield, Oakland County, Michigan; was buried May 1982, San Francisco Bay Area, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

SOURCE:
This family infromation was compiled by Joan R. Fitch.

Notes:

SOURCE:
This family infromation was compiled by Joan R. Fitch (Harvey's grand daughter).

Harvey was a fun loving fellow who spent much of his time carousing in the gold fields of Northern California.
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Harvey's obituary follows:
Chico, Enterprise Record, December 2, 1930.
Holsey Funeral Services Held
Funeral services for Harvey T. Holsey, 56, who died Sunday evening at his home at Fifth and Maple streets, were conducted at 1 o'clock this afternoon at the chapel of the Westfall funeral home, with the Rev. L. G. Morony of the First Baptist church officiating.
The body was taken to Red Bluff and interment made in the family plot at the Tehama city cemetery.
Pallbearers were C. R. Morse, George Withinton, Ed Hensley, J. H. Roe and Tom Sawyer.

Harvey married DURETTE, Gertrude Estella 16 May 1904, Red Bluff, Tehama County, California. Gertrude (daughter of DURETT, Henry and ESGET, Sarah H.) was born 26 Apr 1876, Probably Cass Or York County, Nebraska; died 28 Mar 1937, Chico, Butte County, California; was buried 30 Mar 1937, Chico Cemetery, Chico, Butte County, California. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

SOURCE:
The following infromation was compiled from numerous sources, and much of the credit goes to Joan R. Fitch (Gertrude's grand daughter).

Gertrude appears in the 1880 census as a 4 year old child attending school. She was living at home with her 2 older sisters and her parents. The census shows that she was born in Nebraska and her sisters were born in Michigan.
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By 1890 Gertrude was in California as she was recorded as being married to Sylvester S. Ackley on March 3, 1890 in Emmett, San Benito Co., California. witnessed by G. W. Call. Both bride and groom were said to be from Emmett. Sylvester was shown as age 35 and Gertrude was shown as age 17 or 18. In March of 1890 her actual age was almost 14.
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In the 1900 census taken at Corning, Tehama Co., California Gertrude stated she was born in Utah (actually Nebraska) and she had two children from a previous marriage to Mr. Ackley, they were Agnes age 6 and Charles age 4. In the same census she was newly married to Henry Stevens with a new baby girl, yet to be named, age 4 months. She went on to state that she had given birth to 4 children however 3 were still living in 1900. At the time of the 1900 census Gertrude's ex-husband Samuel Sylvester Ackley was living in Squaw Valley Township, Siskiyou Co., California with his sister Bertha and various other children of his, from another marriage.
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By May 1904 Gertrude was married to Harvey Thomas Halsey and was living in Red Bluff, Tehama Co. Ca. there were at least 4 children Gertrude brought to the marriage and 4 other children they had together.
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The 1910 census of Tehama Co., California finds the family in Red Bluff, at 541 Breckenridge Drive, as follows:
Halsey, Harvey, head, male, white, 35, married 6 yrs., b. CA, fa. b. MO, mo. b. Iowa , laborer, odd jobs
", Gertrude, wife, female, white, 34, married 6 yrs., 3 children all surviving, b. UT, fa. b. France, mo. b. US
", Alice, daughter, female, white, 5, single, b. CA, fa. b. CA, mo. b. UT
", Marion, son, male, white, 3, single, b. CA, fa. b. CA, mo. b. UT
", James M., son, male, white, 1, single, b. CA, fa. b. CA, mo. b. UT
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With all the strain on her marriage, and Harvey being gone much of the time, Gertrude found herself unable to adequately care for the children, and the County took them to be adopted. Gertrude later came to get Harry (the youngest), and Alice ran away from the orphanage to be with her mother again. The other children are believed to have been adopted by other families. Marion was raised by the Latimers.
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Gertrude sued for divorce on September 5, 1919. (Butte Co., California : Suit #807R).
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The 1920 census finds Gertrude Halsey living in Chico, Butte Co., California with her daughter Alice and son Harry. The address was 4701 9th. Street. The census shows her occupation as building janitor and Alice was working at a match factory (likely Diamond Match of Chico). Gertrude E. was 43, Alice M. 15 and Harry D. 7. Gertrude indicates she was a widow, however she wasn't, she was divorced from Harvey. Harvey lived until the year 1930. ( Butte Co., ED. 10, SH. 14 A, Dated January 15, 1920 ).
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The 1930 census shows Gertrude and her family living in Chico Township, Central Portion, Butte Co., California (ED. 12, Sht. 10B).
The census taker had very poor penmanship and Gertrude's name is illegible. Best guess is Rice Stella?. She went on to state she was 53 years old, born in Utah and did not know in which state her parents were born. She was renting her home at $10 per month and had no occupation. Gertrude's daughter was divorced from Merl Kelly by 1930 and appears with Gertrude as Alice (Bruce?) age 26, widowed. Alice had a job as a canner at the local nut company. Alice's son Harold Kelly, age 3 1/2, was with the family as was Harry Durett, age 18, Gertrude's youngest child.
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Sometime after the 1930 census Gertrude married a man by the name of John D. Rice in Chico Butte Co., Ca.
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Some recollections of Gertrude is that she had dark hair, was compactly built, and she would roll her own cigarettes.
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Gertrude's Obituary, March 29, 1937, Chico Enterprise Record:
Mrs. Gertrude Estella Rice Called by Death
Mrs. Gertrude Estella Rice, 60, a native of Ogden, Utah, and a resident here for the last three months died last night at the home of her daughter Mrs. S. A. Bailey, 3825 Fifth avenue.
Survivors aside from the local daughter, include the Widower John D. Rice, another daughter Mrs. Clyde Lacey of Eureka; three sons, Charles S. Ackley of Nelson, George Stevens of Winters and Harry Durette of Sacramento and three grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon in the chapel of Westfall Funeral Home, the Rev. L. G. Morony of the First Baptist church officiating.
Burial will be in the Chico cemetery.
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The burial plot is section 26, lot 127.

Franklin — SMITH, Cora Belle. [Group Sheet]