Dovie was the daughter of David Albert Gibbens and Sarah Ann St.John, who married on 29 May 1861 in Marshall County, Indiana. It was a second marriage for both. David had previously married Christina Ann Abrahams. David and Christina did not have any children together. Sarah Ann had previously married Erastus Pearson on 16 Aug 1857, and they had a daughter together named Sarah Jane in 1858. David and Sarah Ann had at eight children together—Pruda J. (b.circa 1862), Henry (b.circa 1863), Alice E. (b.circa 1866), Phoebe (b.circa 1868), Dovie Ann (b.1870), Ida May (b.circa 1875), Etta Florence (b.Jan 1876), and Myrtle Belle (b.22 Mar 1881).
The family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township, Marshall Co., Indiana, with an Argos P.O. designation. David Gibbens, aged 52, was a farmer by trade. Sarah, aged 31ish, was home with their four children—Prudence, aged 8, Henry, aged 7, Alice, aged 4, and Phoebe, aged 2. Dovie joined the family later that year. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane, aged 12, was living with her grandparents Asa and Lucinda St.John.
Sadly, in the years following that census, the family lost both son Henry and daughter Phoebe.
When the 1880 Census came around, they were still living in Tippecanoe Township in Marshall County. David, aged 62, was still actively farming. Sarah, aged 41ish, was keeping house. Home with her were Cindy (Prudie?), aged 18, Alice, aged 14, Liddie (Dovie?), aged 7, and May, aged 5. Daughter Etta would join the family in 1876, followed by Myrtle in 1881.
Sadly, on 20 Feb 1895, the family lost its patriarch when David died at age 64.
In 1900, it was Dovie’s mother Sarah Ann who appeared as head of household, widowed, aged 60. She reported that she had had nine children, but that only seven had survived to that census. She would report the same on the 1910 Census. Still at home with her in 1900 were daughters Ida May, aged 27, Etta, aged 24, and Myrtie, aged 19. Myrtle’s sister Prudie had married George Varier on 18 Jan 1883. Sister Alice had married William Benton Corl on 5 May 1887. And Dovie had married William David Carter on 12 March 1891. All three marriages took place in Marshall County. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane Pearson, aged 22, was still living with her grandparents and had a 2-year-old daughter named Alta with her.
Dovie and William had at least three children together—Dona (died in infancy), Williard Gibbens (he spelled it "Gibbons" on his WWI and WWII draft cards) (27 Sep 1895 Bourbon, Marshall Co., IN – 9 Apr 1962 Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX), and Leonard L. (5 Jun 1903 Muncie, Delaware, IN – Jul 1976). Dona was buried here in Oak Hill, no dates on her headstone.
By 1897, city directories for Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana show them there. They took out a mortgage on a home located at 1110 W. 11th St., which they lived in until 1921 or 1922. In 1897, William was employed as an agent for the Chicago Guaranteed Life Fund Society. Two years later, he was working at a grocery and meat market located on the corner of 10th St. and Hoyt Avenue in Muncie.
The 1900 Census had them at the W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 39, reported that he was a grocery clerk. Dovie, aged 30, reported that she had had two children, but that only one had survived to that census. Home with her that census year was son Williard, aged 5. Son Leonard would join the family three years later in 1903.
The 1905 and 1907 city directories for Muncie showed William working as an agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1909, he was listed as a councilman.
When the 1910 Census was enumerated, the family was still at their W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 48, was the foreman of the Whiteley Malleable Castings Co. in Muncie. Dovie, aged 39, reported that she had had three children, but that only two were living, a sad reminder of the loss of daughter Dona. Home with her were Willard, aged 14, and Leonard, aged 6.
The 1915 city directory for Muncie showed William as a Trustee for Center Township.
Oddly, a 1917 city directory for Muncie noted Dovie as the widow of William D. Carter, clearly not the case as William was still living, but they do appear to have separated by that year. On his 1917 WWI registration, Willard, aged 21, reported that he was living with his mother at 1110 W. 11th St. in Muncie. He was working as an assistant cashier for Warner Gear Co. in Muncie. He described himself as of medium height and weight, with gray eyes and brown hair. He also indicated that he was supporting his mother since his father was no longer living with the family.
A 1919 directory lists William as the President of the Magic City Auto Co., his home address the same as Dovie’s and son Leonard’s, but he likely was living elsewhere. Leonard, who would have been about 16 years old, was working as a clerk for Charles A. Penzel.
When the 1920 Census was enumerated, Dovie, aged 49, was head-of-household at their W. 11th St. home. She gave divorced as her marital status, but she and William may have just been separated. Both of their sons were living with her. Willard, aged 24, was working as a telephone operator. Leonard, aged 16, was helping out by working as a paper carrier in the city. I couldn’t find a census record for William that year, but he popped up on a 1921 Muncie city directory, rooming at 406 S. High St. and working as a storekeeper for Indiana General Service Company. Son Leonard was employed as a meter tester there, but still living with his mother on W. 11th St.
A 1923 directory had William rooming at 402 Wysor St. in Muncie, and still working for the Indiana General Service Company. Dovie and Leonard were still at the W. 11th St. address and Leonard was working as an instructor of vocational education at Muncie’s Central High School. Son Willard appears to have headed south to Texas.
A year later, son Leonard married Ruth A. Myers on 20 Jun 1924 in Delaware County, IN, and they headed off to Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN where Leonard was going to college at Purdue.
Parents Dovie and William both appeared on city directories in Lafayette that same year. Dovie bought a home at 117 W. Williams St. and William was living at 103 Williams St. and working as a bookkeeper somewhere.
A Lafayette city directory for 1926 listed both Dovie and William at the 117 Williams address, noting William as a storekeeper, and also listing Leonard, a student, and Ruth, a clerk at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. , at the same address, however in 1927, only Dovie, Leonard, and Leonard’s wife Ruth were listed in the directory.
When the 1930 Census was taken, Dovie, aged 59, was living by herself at the Williams St. address. She gave widowed as her marital status rather than divorced, perhaps to avoid the stigma. Son Leonard and wife Ruth were living in West Lafayette at 515 Robinson Street. Leonard, aged 26, was noted as an electrical engineer at the University. Ruth, aged 28, was keeping house. There were no children with the couple. Son Willard had married, and he and wife Vernia were living at 3145 Odessa in Ft. Worth, Terrant Co., Texas, where Willard, aged 34, had the title Division Sales Engineer for the telephone company. Vernia, aged 29, was keeping house. They did not have any children with them either.
Dovie’s ex-husband William moved back to Muncie and appeared there on the 1930 Census, divorced, aged 68, rooming with Goldie F. Myers at 654 Elm St., and working as a dairy salesman.
Dovie showed up on both a 1933 and a 1935 Lafayette city directory, still at her 117 W. Williams St. home. She died in 1935, aged 64 or 65, and was laid to rest among her parents, siblings, and infant daughter Dona.
Dovie’s ex-husband William died two years after she did in 1937 at age 75 or 76 and was buried in Muncie.
After his parents’ deaths, son Leonard and wife Ruth moved to Greenburgh, Westchester, NY, and were living at 57 Circle Dr. in 1940. Leonard, aged 36, was still working as an electrical engineer. He lived a full life, departing this earth in July of 1976, aged 73. Wife Ruth lived another four years before being laid to rest at his side in 1980.
Son Willard and wife Vernia were still living in Ft. Worth in 1940. Willard, aged 45, still had his job as Division Sales Engineer for the phone company, identified as the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company on his WWII registration card. Willard also lived a full life, walking this earth until 9 Apr 1962. He was 66 years old. He was buried in Ft. Worth and when Vernia died in 1975, she took her place at his side.
(Awaiting links for Willard Carter F.A.G. # 34888480, and Leonard Carter F.A.G. # 76355723.)
The family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township, Marshall Co., Indiana, with an Argos P.O. designation. David Gibbens, aged 52, was a farmer by trade. Sarah, aged 31ish, was home with their four children—Prudence, aged 8, Henry, aged 7, Alice, aged 4, and Phoebe, aged 2. Dovie joined the family later that year. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane, aged 12, was living with her grandparents Asa and Lucinda St.John.
Sadly, in the years following that census, the family lost both son Henry and daughter Phoebe.
When the 1880 Census came around, they were still living in Tippecanoe Township in Marshall County. David, aged 62, was still actively farming. Sarah, aged 41ish, was keeping house. Home with her were Cindy (Prudie?), aged 18, Alice, aged 14, Liddie (Dovie?), aged 7, and May, aged 5. Daughter Etta would join the family in 1876, followed by Myrtle in 1881.
Sadly, on 20 Feb 1895, the family lost its patriarch when David died at age 64.
In 1900, it was Dovie’s mother Sarah Ann who appeared as head of household, widowed, aged 60. She reported that she had had nine children, but that only seven had survived to that census. She would report the same on the 1910 Census. Still at home with her in 1900 were daughters Ida May, aged 27, Etta, aged 24, and Myrtie, aged 19. Myrtle’s sister Prudie had married George Varier on 18 Jan 1883. Sister Alice had married William Benton Corl on 5 May 1887. And Dovie had married William David Carter on 12 March 1891. All three marriages took place in Marshall County. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane Pearson, aged 22, was still living with her grandparents and had a 2-year-old daughter named Alta with her.
Dovie and William had at least three children together—Dona (died in infancy), Williard Gibbens (he spelled it "Gibbons" on his WWI and WWII draft cards) (27 Sep 1895 Bourbon, Marshall Co., IN – 9 Apr 1962 Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX), and Leonard L. (5 Jun 1903 Muncie, Delaware, IN – Jul 1976). Dona was buried here in Oak Hill, no dates on her headstone.
By 1897, city directories for Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana show them there. They took out a mortgage on a home located at 1110 W. 11th St., which they lived in until 1921 or 1922. In 1897, William was employed as an agent for the Chicago Guaranteed Life Fund Society. Two years later, he was working at a grocery and meat market located on the corner of 10th St. and Hoyt Avenue in Muncie.
The 1900 Census had them at the W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 39, reported that he was a grocery clerk. Dovie, aged 30, reported that she had had two children, but that only one had survived to that census. Home with her that census year was son Williard, aged 5. Son Leonard would join the family three years later in 1903.
The 1905 and 1907 city directories for Muncie showed William working as an agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1909, he was listed as a councilman.
When the 1910 Census was enumerated, the family was still at their W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 48, was the foreman of the Whiteley Malleable Castings Co. in Muncie. Dovie, aged 39, reported that she had had three children, but that only two were living, a sad reminder of the loss of daughter Dona. Home with her were Willard, aged 14, and Leonard, aged 6.
The 1915 city directory for Muncie showed William as a Trustee for Center Township.
Oddly, a 1917 city directory for Muncie noted Dovie as the widow of William D. Carter, clearly not the case as William was still living, but they do appear to have separated by that year. On his 1917 WWI registration, Willard, aged 21, reported that he was living with his mother at 1110 W. 11th St. in Muncie. He was working as an assistant cashier for Warner Gear Co. in Muncie. He described himself as of medium height and weight, with gray eyes and brown hair. He also indicated that he was supporting his mother since his father was no longer living with the family.
A 1919 directory lists William as the President of the Magic City Auto Co., his home address the same as Dovie’s and son Leonard’s, but he likely was living elsewhere. Leonard, who would have been about 16 years old, was working as a clerk for Charles A. Penzel.
When the 1920 Census was enumerated, Dovie, aged 49, was head-of-household at their W. 11th St. home. She gave divorced as her marital status, but she and William may have just been separated. Both of their sons were living with her. Willard, aged 24, was working as a telephone operator. Leonard, aged 16, was helping out by working as a paper carrier in the city. I couldn’t find a census record for William that year, but he popped up on a 1921 Muncie city directory, rooming at 406 S. High St. and working as a storekeeper for Indiana General Service Company. Son Leonard was employed as a meter tester there, but still living with his mother on W. 11th St.
A 1923 directory had William rooming at 402 Wysor St. in Muncie, and still working for the Indiana General Service Company. Dovie and Leonard were still at the W. 11th St. address and Leonard was working as an instructor of vocational education at Muncie’s Central High School. Son Willard appears to have headed south to Texas.
A year later, son Leonard married Ruth A. Myers on 20 Jun 1924 in Delaware County, IN, and they headed off to Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN where Leonard was going to college at Purdue.
Parents Dovie and William both appeared on city directories in Lafayette that same year. Dovie bought a home at 117 W. Williams St. and William was living at 103 Williams St. and working as a bookkeeper somewhere.
A Lafayette city directory for 1926 listed both Dovie and William at the 117 Williams address, noting William as a storekeeper, and also listing Leonard, a student, and Ruth, a clerk at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. , at the same address, however in 1927, only Dovie, Leonard, and Leonard’s wife Ruth were listed in the directory.
When the 1930 Census was taken, Dovie, aged 59, was living by herself at the Williams St. address. She gave widowed as her marital status rather than divorced, perhaps to avoid the stigma. Son Leonard and wife Ruth were living in West Lafayette at 515 Robinson Street. Leonard, aged 26, was noted as an electrical engineer at the University. Ruth, aged 28, was keeping house. There were no children with the couple. Son Willard had married, and he and wife Vernia were living at 3145 Odessa in Ft. Worth, Terrant Co., Texas, where Willard, aged 34, had the title Division Sales Engineer for the telephone company. Vernia, aged 29, was keeping house. They did not have any children with them either.
Dovie’s ex-husband William moved back to Muncie and appeared there on the 1930 Census, divorced, aged 68, rooming with Goldie F. Myers at 654 Elm St., and working as a dairy salesman.
Dovie showed up on both a 1933 and a 1935 Lafayette city directory, still at her 117 W. Williams St. home. She died in 1935, aged 64 or 65, and was laid to rest among her parents, siblings, and infant daughter Dona.
Dovie’s ex-husband William died two years after she did in 1937 at age 75 or 76 and was buried in Muncie.
After his parents’ deaths, son Leonard and wife Ruth moved to Greenburgh, Westchester, NY, and were living at 57 Circle Dr. in 1940. Leonard, aged 36, was still working as an electrical engineer. He lived a full life, departing this earth in July of 1976, aged 73. Wife Ruth lived another four years before being laid to rest at his side in 1980.
Son Willard and wife Vernia were still living in Ft. Worth in 1940. Willard, aged 45, still had his job as Division Sales Engineer for the phone company, identified as the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company on his WWII registration card. Willard also lived a full life, walking this earth until 9 Apr 1962. He was 66 years old. He was buried in Ft. Worth and when Vernia died in 1975, she took her place at his side.
(Awaiting links for Willard Carter F.A.G. # 34888480, and Leonard Carter F.A.G. # 76355723.)
Dovie was the daughter of David Albert Gibbens and Sarah Ann St.John, who married on 29 May 1861 in Marshall County, Indiana. It was a second marriage for both. David had previously married Christina Ann Abrahams. David and Christina did not have any children together. Sarah Ann had previously married Erastus Pearson on 16 Aug 1857, and they had a daughter together named Sarah Jane in 1858. David and Sarah Ann had at eight children together—Pruda J. (b.circa 1862), Henry (b.circa 1863), Alice E. (b.circa 1866), Phoebe (b.circa 1868), Dovie Ann (b.1870), Ida May (b.circa 1875), Etta Florence (b.Jan 1876), and Myrtle Belle (b.22 Mar 1881).
The family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township, Marshall Co., Indiana, with an Argos P.O. designation. David Gibbens, aged 52, was a farmer by trade. Sarah, aged 31ish, was home with their four children—Prudence, aged 8, Henry, aged 7, Alice, aged 4, and Phoebe, aged 2. Dovie joined the family later that year. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane, aged 12, was living with her grandparents Asa and Lucinda St.John.
Sadly, in the years following that census, the family lost both son Henry and daughter Phoebe.
When the 1880 Census came around, they were still living in Tippecanoe Township in Marshall County. David, aged 62, was still actively farming. Sarah, aged 41ish, was keeping house. Home with her were Cindy (Prudie?), aged 18, Alice, aged 14, Liddie (Dovie?), aged 7, and May, aged 5. Daughter Etta would join the family in 1876, followed by Myrtle in 1881.
Sadly, on 20 Feb 1895, the family lost its patriarch when David died at age 64.
In 1900, it was Dovie’s mother Sarah Ann who appeared as head of household, widowed, aged 60. She reported that she had had nine children, but that only seven had survived to that census. She would report the same on the 1910 Census. Still at home with her in 1900 were daughters Ida May, aged 27, Etta, aged 24, and Myrtie, aged 19. Myrtle’s sister Prudie had married George Varier on 18 Jan 1883. Sister Alice had married William Benton Corl on 5 May 1887. And Dovie had married William David Carter on 12 March 1891. All three marriages took place in Marshall County. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane Pearson, aged 22, was still living with her grandparents and had a 2-year-old daughter named Alta with her.
Dovie and William had at least three children together—Dona (died in infancy), Williard Gibbens (he spelled it "Gibbons" on his WWI and WWII draft cards) (27 Sep 1895 Bourbon, Marshall Co., IN – 9 Apr 1962 Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX), and Leonard L. (5 Jun 1903 Muncie, Delaware, IN – Jul 1976). Dona was buried here in Oak Hill, no dates on her headstone.
By 1897, city directories for Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana show them there. They took out a mortgage on a home located at 1110 W. 11th St., which they lived in until 1921 or 1922. In 1897, William was employed as an agent for the Chicago Guaranteed Life Fund Society. Two years later, he was working at a grocery and meat market located on the corner of 10th St. and Hoyt Avenue in Muncie.
The 1900 Census had them at the W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 39, reported that he was a grocery clerk. Dovie, aged 30, reported that she had had two children, but that only one had survived to that census. Home with her that census year was son Williard, aged 5. Son Leonard would join the family three years later in 1903.
The 1905 and 1907 city directories for Muncie showed William working as an agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1909, he was listed as a councilman.
When the 1910 Census was enumerated, the family was still at their W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 48, was the foreman of the Whiteley Malleable Castings Co. in Muncie. Dovie, aged 39, reported that she had had three children, but that only two were living, a sad reminder of the loss of daughter Dona. Home with her were Willard, aged 14, and Leonard, aged 6.
The 1915 city directory for Muncie showed William as a Trustee for Center Township.
Oddly, a 1917 city directory for Muncie noted Dovie as the widow of William D. Carter, clearly not the case as William was still living, but they do appear to have separated by that year. On his 1917 WWI registration, Willard, aged 21, reported that he was living with his mother at 1110 W. 11th St. in Muncie. He was working as an assistant cashier for Warner Gear Co. in Muncie. He described himself as of medium height and weight, with gray eyes and brown hair. He also indicated that he was supporting his mother since his father was no longer living with the family.
A 1919 directory lists William as the President of the Magic City Auto Co., his home address the same as Dovie’s and son Leonard’s, but he likely was living elsewhere. Leonard, who would have been about 16 years old, was working as a clerk for Charles A. Penzel.
When the 1920 Census was enumerated, Dovie, aged 49, was head-of-household at their W. 11th St. home. She gave divorced as her marital status, but she and William may have just been separated. Both of their sons were living with her. Willard, aged 24, was working as a telephone operator. Leonard, aged 16, was helping out by working as a paper carrier in the city. I couldn’t find a census record for William that year, but he popped up on a 1921 Muncie city directory, rooming at 406 S. High St. and working as a storekeeper for Indiana General Service Company. Son Leonard was employed as a meter tester there, but still living with his mother on W. 11th St.
A 1923 directory had William rooming at 402 Wysor St. in Muncie, and still working for the Indiana General Service Company. Dovie and Leonard were still at the W. 11th St. address and Leonard was working as an instructor of vocational education at Muncie’s Central High School. Son Willard appears to have headed south to Texas.
A year later, son Leonard married Ruth A. Myers on 20 Jun 1924 in Delaware County, IN, and they headed off to Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN where Leonard was going to college at Purdue.
Parents Dovie and William both appeared on city directories in Lafayette that same year. Dovie bought a home at 117 W. Williams St. and William was living at 103 Williams St. and working as a bookkeeper somewhere.
A Lafayette city directory for 1926 listed both Dovie and William at the 117 Williams address, noting William as a storekeeper, and also listing Leonard, a student, and Ruth, a clerk at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. , at the same address, however in 1927, only Dovie, Leonard, and Leonard’s wife Ruth were listed in the directory.
When the 1930 Census was taken, Dovie, aged 59, was living by herself at the Williams St. address. She gave widowed as her marital status rather than divorced, perhaps to avoid the stigma. Son Leonard and wife Ruth were living in West Lafayette at 515 Robinson Street. Leonard, aged 26, was noted as an electrical engineer at the University. Ruth, aged 28, was keeping house. There were no children with the couple. Son Willard had married, and he and wife Vernia were living at 3145 Odessa in Ft. Worth, Terrant Co., Texas, where Willard, aged 34, had the title Division Sales Engineer for the telephone company. Vernia, aged 29, was keeping house. They did not have any children with them either.
Dovie’s ex-husband William moved back to Muncie and appeared there on the 1930 Census, divorced, aged 68, rooming with Goldie F. Myers at 654 Elm St., and working as a dairy salesman.
Dovie showed up on both a 1933 and a 1935 Lafayette city directory, still at her 117 W. Williams St. home. She died in 1935, aged 64 or 65, and was laid to rest among her parents, siblings, and infant daughter Dona.
Dovie’s ex-husband William died two years after she did in 1937 at age 75 or 76 and was buried in Muncie.
After his parents’ deaths, son Leonard and wife Ruth moved to Greenburgh, Westchester, NY, and were living at 57 Circle Dr. in 1940. Leonard, aged 36, was still working as an electrical engineer. He lived a full life, departing this earth in July of 1976, aged 73. Wife Ruth lived another four years before being laid to rest at his side in 1980.
Son Willard and wife Vernia were still living in Ft. Worth in 1940. Willard, aged 45, still had his job as Division Sales Engineer for the phone company, identified as the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company on his WWII registration card. Willard also lived a full life, walking this earth until 9 Apr 1962. He was 66 years old. He was buried in Ft. Worth and when Vernia died in 1975, she took her place at his side.
(Awaiting links for Willard Carter F.A.G. # 34888480, and Leonard Carter F.A.G. # 76355723.)
The family appeared together on the 1870 Census, living in Tippecanoe Township, Marshall Co., Indiana, with an Argos P.O. designation. David Gibbens, aged 52, was a farmer by trade. Sarah, aged 31ish, was home with their four children—Prudence, aged 8, Henry, aged 7, Alice, aged 4, and Phoebe, aged 2. Dovie joined the family later that year. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane, aged 12, was living with her grandparents Asa and Lucinda St.John.
Sadly, in the years following that census, the family lost both son Henry and daughter Phoebe.
When the 1880 Census came around, they were still living in Tippecanoe Township in Marshall County. David, aged 62, was still actively farming. Sarah, aged 41ish, was keeping house. Home with her were Cindy (Prudie?), aged 18, Alice, aged 14, Liddie (Dovie?), aged 7, and May, aged 5. Daughter Etta would join the family in 1876, followed by Myrtle in 1881.
Sadly, on 20 Feb 1895, the family lost its patriarch when David died at age 64.
In 1900, it was Dovie’s mother Sarah Ann who appeared as head of household, widowed, aged 60. She reported that she had had nine children, but that only seven had survived to that census. She would report the same on the 1910 Census. Still at home with her in 1900 were daughters Ida May, aged 27, Etta, aged 24, and Myrtie, aged 19. Myrtle’s sister Prudie had married George Varier on 18 Jan 1883. Sister Alice had married William Benton Corl on 5 May 1887. And Dovie had married William David Carter on 12 March 1891. All three marriages took place in Marshall County. Sarah Ann's daughter Sarah Jane Pearson, aged 22, was still living with her grandparents and had a 2-year-old daughter named Alta with her.
Dovie and William had at least three children together—Dona (died in infancy), Williard Gibbens (he spelled it "Gibbons" on his WWI and WWII draft cards) (27 Sep 1895 Bourbon, Marshall Co., IN – 9 Apr 1962 Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX), and Leonard L. (5 Jun 1903 Muncie, Delaware, IN – Jul 1976). Dona was buried here in Oak Hill, no dates on her headstone.
By 1897, city directories for Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana show them there. They took out a mortgage on a home located at 1110 W. 11th St., which they lived in until 1921 or 1922. In 1897, William was employed as an agent for the Chicago Guaranteed Life Fund Society. Two years later, he was working at a grocery and meat market located on the corner of 10th St. and Hoyt Avenue in Muncie.
The 1900 Census had them at the W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 39, reported that he was a grocery clerk. Dovie, aged 30, reported that she had had two children, but that only one had survived to that census. Home with her that census year was son Williard, aged 5. Son Leonard would join the family three years later in 1903.
The 1905 and 1907 city directories for Muncie showed William working as an agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1909, he was listed as a councilman.
When the 1910 Census was enumerated, the family was still at their W. 11th St. address in Muncie. William, aged 48, was the foreman of the Whiteley Malleable Castings Co. in Muncie. Dovie, aged 39, reported that she had had three children, but that only two were living, a sad reminder of the loss of daughter Dona. Home with her were Willard, aged 14, and Leonard, aged 6.
The 1915 city directory for Muncie showed William as a Trustee for Center Township.
Oddly, a 1917 city directory for Muncie noted Dovie as the widow of William D. Carter, clearly not the case as William was still living, but they do appear to have separated by that year. On his 1917 WWI registration, Willard, aged 21, reported that he was living with his mother at 1110 W. 11th St. in Muncie. He was working as an assistant cashier for Warner Gear Co. in Muncie. He described himself as of medium height and weight, with gray eyes and brown hair. He also indicated that he was supporting his mother since his father was no longer living with the family.
A 1919 directory lists William as the President of the Magic City Auto Co., his home address the same as Dovie’s and son Leonard’s, but he likely was living elsewhere. Leonard, who would have been about 16 years old, was working as a clerk for Charles A. Penzel.
When the 1920 Census was enumerated, Dovie, aged 49, was head-of-household at their W. 11th St. home. She gave divorced as her marital status, but she and William may have just been separated. Both of their sons were living with her. Willard, aged 24, was working as a telephone operator. Leonard, aged 16, was helping out by working as a paper carrier in the city. I couldn’t find a census record for William that year, but he popped up on a 1921 Muncie city directory, rooming at 406 S. High St. and working as a storekeeper for Indiana General Service Company. Son Leonard was employed as a meter tester there, but still living with his mother on W. 11th St.
A 1923 directory had William rooming at 402 Wysor St. in Muncie, and still working for the Indiana General Service Company. Dovie and Leonard were still at the W. 11th St. address and Leonard was working as an instructor of vocational education at Muncie’s Central High School. Son Willard appears to have headed south to Texas.
A year later, son Leonard married Ruth A. Myers on 20 Jun 1924 in Delaware County, IN, and they headed off to Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN where Leonard was going to college at Purdue.
Parents Dovie and William both appeared on city directories in Lafayette that same year. Dovie bought a home at 117 W. Williams St. and William was living at 103 Williams St. and working as a bookkeeper somewhere.
A Lafayette city directory for 1926 listed both Dovie and William at the 117 Williams address, noting William as a storekeeper, and also listing Leonard, a student, and Ruth, a clerk at Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. , at the same address, however in 1927, only Dovie, Leonard, and Leonard’s wife Ruth were listed in the directory.
When the 1930 Census was taken, Dovie, aged 59, was living by herself at the Williams St. address. She gave widowed as her marital status rather than divorced, perhaps to avoid the stigma. Son Leonard and wife Ruth were living in West Lafayette at 515 Robinson Street. Leonard, aged 26, was noted as an electrical engineer at the University. Ruth, aged 28, was keeping house. There were no children with the couple. Son Willard had married, and he and wife Vernia were living at 3145 Odessa in Ft. Worth, Terrant Co., Texas, where Willard, aged 34, had the title Division Sales Engineer for the telephone company. Vernia, aged 29, was keeping house. They did not have any children with them either.
Dovie’s ex-husband William moved back to Muncie and appeared there on the 1930 Census, divorced, aged 68, rooming with Goldie F. Myers at 654 Elm St., and working as a dairy salesman.
Dovie showed up on both a 1933 and a 1935 Lafayette city directory, still at her 117 W. Williams St. home. She died in 1935, aged 64 or 65, and was laid to rest among her parents, siblings, and infant daughter Dona.
Dovie’s ex-husband William died two years after she did in 1937 at age 75 or 76 and was buried in Muncie.
After his parents’ deaths, son Leonard and wife Ruth moved to Greenburgh, Westchester, NY, and were living at 57 Circle Dr. in 1940. Leonard, aged 36, was still working as an electrical engineer. He lived a full life, departing this earth in July of 1976, aged 73. Wife Ruth lived another four years before being laid to rest at his side in 1980.
Son Willard and wife Vernia were still living in Ft. Worth in 1940. Willard, aged 45, still had his job as Division Sales Engineer for the phone company, identified as the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company on his WWII registration card. Willard also lived a full life, walking this earth until 9 Apr 1962. He was 66 years old. He was buried in Ft. Worth and when Vernia died in 1975, she took her place at his side.
(Awaiting links for Willard Carter F.A.G. # 34888480, and Leonard Carter F.A.G. # 76355723.)
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