Helen Louise James was born the fourth child of Phillip Lawrence (Felix) James, Sr. and Jennie Crisp James on March 7, 1904. Her older full siblings were Phillip Lawrence (Felix) (Harry) James, Jr., Margaret Catherine, and Mary Mildred.
When Helen was two years old, on April 5, 1906, her father, Felix, slit his own throat in front of his family and died. That summer, her mother Jennie struggled to raise the family and subjected her children to drinking and begging. On July 30, 1906, all four children were taken into a Children's Home in Layfayette, Indiana. Their mother tried to keep them all together, but was unsuccessful.
On November 8, 1906, when Helen was 2.5 years old, she was adopted by Clement Watkins III (24245113) and Sadie Hurst Watkins (24245102). At that time, the Watkins family had lost two children, Clement and Infant, at or around birth. In 1908, two years after adopting Helen, they had a biological son, Raymond, and in 1916 a daughter, Velma. In 1913, when Helen was 9 years old, the Watkins family wrote to the Lafayette Board of Guardians, asking to return Helen to the orphan's home because she "wouldn't mind." They were unsuccessful because they now lived in a different state.
By 1920, the Watkins family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1921, Helen married Thomas Lennes Reames in Kalamazoo. They had two children, Mildred Myra in 1922 and Dorothy May in 1924. On July 1, 1925, Helen and Thomas divorced; Thomas filed because of "extreme cruelty."
On September 28, 1925, Helen married Virgil Austin in Kalamazoo. On July 3, 1926, Helen filed for and was granted divorce from Virgil, citing "extreme cruelty."
On December 28, 1927, Helen married Joe Arthur Walker in Kalamazoo. In the 1930 census, Helen is listed as a prisoner in the Kalamazoo County Jail...reason unknown. On September 13, 1933, Helen filed for and was granted a divorce from Joe, citing "extreme and repeated cruelty and nonsupport."
On January 26, 1934 Helen married Norman Freemont Miller in Indiana. It appears that they spent time living in both Kalamazoo and Niles, Michigan with her daughters, Mildred and Dorothy Reames. Norman had four children from a previous marriage, but they did not live with them.
I am unable to find proof but the Miller family lore is that Helen poured boiling water onto one of her daughters in the 1940s and spent time in prison for it. While she was in prison in the mid 1940s, Norman had an affair with Helen's adult daughter, Dorothy, which resulted in a child, James (Jimmy) Miller. Helen and Norman divorced on May 20, 1949. Helen raised Jimmy as her own son and took him when she divorced Norman. It seems that she never talked to her daughters after these incidents, as they are not listed in her obituary.
After her divorce from Norman, Helen married a Mexican man named Waldo Rodriguez, Jr. She divorced him at some point after 1959 and later married a Native American man named William Morsaw.
At some point, she became a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at Borgess Medical Center and Verdries Nursing Home until she retired.
In October of 1979, Helen was injured when a tire blew out on her car, causing it to swerve into the median of U.S. 131, where it rolled over five times. She suffered multiple rib fractures, a back injury and respiratory complications. She died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan from her injuries at the age of 75 on December 5, 1979.
Tricia Kannegieter Hetrick
Great Granddaughter of Norman Freemont Miller
August, 2021
When Helen was two years old, on April 5, 1906, her father, Felix, slit his own throat in front of his family and died. That summer, her mother Jennie struggled to raise the family and subjected her children to drinking and begging. On July 30, 1906, all four children were taken into a Children's Home in Layfayette, Indiana. Their mother tried to keep them all together, but was unsuccessful.
On November 8, 1906, when Helen was 2.5 years old, she was adopted by Clement Watkins III (24245113) and Sadie Hurst Watkins (24245102). At that time, the Watkins family had lost two children, Clement and Infant, at or around birth. In 1908, two years after adopting Helen, they had a biological son, Raymond, and in 1916 a daughter, Velma. In 1913, when Helen was 9 years old, the Watkins family wrote to the Lafayette Board of Guardians, asking to return Helen to the orphan's home because she "wouldn't mind." They were unsuccessful because they now lived in a different state.
By 1920, the Watkins family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1921, Helen married Thomas Lennes Reames in Kalamazoo. They had two children, Mildred Myra in 1922 and Dorothy May in 1924. On July 1, 1925, Helen and Thomas divorced; Thomas filed because of "extreme cruelty."
On September 28, 1925, Helen married Virgil Austin in Kalamazoo. On July 3, 1926, Helen filed for and was granted divorce from Virgil, citing "extreme cruelty."
On December 28, 1927, Helen married Joe Arthur Walker in Kalamazoo. In the 1930 census, Helen is listed as a prisoner in the Kalamazoo County Jail...reason unknown. On September 13, 1933, Helen filed for and was granted a divorce from Joe, citing "extreme and repeated cruelty and nonsupport."
On January 26, 1934 Helen married Norman Freemont Miller in Indiana. It appears that they spent time living in both Kalamazoo and Niles, Michigan with her daughters, Mildred and Dorothy Reames. Norman had four children from a previous marriage, but they did not live with them.
I am unable to find proof but the Miller family lore is that Helen poured boiling water onto one of her daughters in the 1940s and spent time in prison for it. While she was in prison in the mid 1940s, Norman had an affair with Helen's adult daughter, Dorothy, which resulted in a child, James (Jimmy) Miller. Helen and Norman divorced on May 20, 1949. Helen raised Jimmy as her own son and took him when she divorced Norman. It seems that she never talked to her daughters after these incidents, as they are not listed in her obituary.
After her divorce from Norman, Helen married a Mexican man named Waldo Rodriguez, Jr. She divorced him at some point after 1959 and later married a Native American man named William Morsaw.
At some point, she became a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at Borgess Medical Center and Verdries Nursing Home until she retired.
In October of 1979, Helen was injured when a tire blew out on her car, causing it to swerve into the median of U.S. 131, where it rolled over five times. She suffered multiple rib fractures, a back injury and respiratory complications. She died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan from her injuries at the age of 75 on December 5, 1979.
Tricia Kannegieter Hetrick
Great Granddaughter of Norman Freemont Miller
August, 2021
Helen Louise James was born the fourth child of Phillip Lawrence (Felix) James, Sr. and Jennie Crisp James on March 7, 1904. Her older full siblings were Phillip Lawrence (Felix) (Harry) James, Jr., Margaret Catherine, and Mary Mildred.
When Helen was two years old, on April 5, 1906, her father, Felix, slit his own throat in front of his family and died. That summer, her mother Jennie struggled to raise the family and subjected her children to drinking and begging. On July 30, 1906, all four children were taken into a Children's Home in Layfayette, Indiana. Their mother tried to keep them all together, but was unsuccessful.
On November 8, 1906, when Helen was 2.5 years old, she was adopted by Clement Watkins III (24245113) and Sadie Hurst Watkins (24245102). At that time, the Watkins family had lost two children, Clement and Infant, at or around birth. In 1908, two years after adopting Helen, they had a biological son, Raymond, and in 1916 a daughter, Velma. In 1913, when Helen was 9 years old, the Watkins family wrote to the Lafayette Board of Guardians, asking to return Helen to the orphan's home because she "wouldn't mind." They were unsuccessful because they now lived in a different state.
By 1920, the Watkins family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1921, Helen married Thomas Lennes Reames in Kalamazoo. They had two children, Mildred Myra in 1922 and Dorothy May in 1924. On July 1, 1925, Helen and Thomas divorced; Thomas filed because of "extreme cruelty."
On September 28, 1925, Helen married Virgil Austin in Kalamazoo. On July 3, 1926, Helen filed for and was granted divorce from Virgil, citing "extreme cruelty."
On December 28, 1927, Helen married Joe Arthur Walker in Kalamazoo. In the 1930 census, Helen is listed as a prisoner in the Kalamazoo County Jail...reason unknown. On September 13, 1933, Helen filed for and was granted a divorce from Joe, citing "extreme and repeated cruelty and nonsupport."
On January 26, 1934 Helen married Norman Freemont Miller in Indiana. It appears that they spent time living in both Kalamazoo and Niles, Michigan with her daughters, Mildred and Dorothy Reames. Norman had four children from a previous marriage, but they did not live with them.
I am unable to find proof but the Miller family lore is that Helen poured boiling water onto one of her daughters in the 1940s and spent time in prison for it. While she was in prison in the mid 1940s, Norman had an affair with Helen's adult daughter, Dorothy, which resulted in a child, James (Jimmy) Miller. Helen and Norman divorced on May 20, 1949. Helen raised Jimmy as her own son and took him when she divorced Norman. It seems that she never talked to her daughters after these incidents, as they are not listed in her obituary.
After her divorce from Norman, Helen married a Mexican man named Waldo Rodriguez, Jr. She divorced him at some point after 1959 and later married a Native American man named William Morsaw.
At some point, she became a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at Borgess Medical Center and Verdries Nursing Home until she retired.
In October of 1979, Helen was injured when a tire blew out on her car, causing it to swerve into the median of U.S. 131, where it rolled over five times. She suffered multiple rib fractures, a back injury and respiratory complications. She died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan from her injuries at the age of 75 on December 5, 1979.
Tricia Kannegieter Hetrick
Great Granddaughter of Norman Freemont Miller
August, 2021
When Helen was two years old, on April 5, 1906, her father, Felix, slit his own throat in front of his family and died. That summer, her mother Jennie struggled to raise the family and subjected her children to drinking and begging. On July 30, 1906, all four children were taken into a Children's Home in Layfayette, Indiana. Their mother tried to keep them all together, but was unsuccessful.
On November 8, 1906, when Helen was 2.5 years old, she was adopted by Clement Watkins III (24245113) and Sadie Hurst Watkins (24245102). At that time, the Watkins family had lost two children, Clement and Infant, at or around birth. In 1908, two years after adopting Helen, they had a biological son, Raymond, and in 1916 a daughter, Velma. In 1913, when Helen was 9 years old, the Watkins family wrote to the Lafayette Board of Guardians, asking to return Helen to the orphan's home because she "wouldn't mind." They were unsuccessful because they now lived in a different state.
By 1920, the Watkins family moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1921, Helen married Thomas Lennes Reames in Kalamazoo. They had two children, Mildred Myra in 1922 and Dorothy May in 1924. On July 1, 1925, Helen and Thomas divorced; Thomas filed because of "extreme cruelty."
On September 28, 1925, Helen married Virgil Austin in Kalamazoo. On July 3, 1926, Helen filed for and was granted divorce from Virgil, citing "extreme cruelty."
On December 28, 1927, Helen married Joe Arthur Walker in Kalamazoo. In the 1930 census, Helen is listed as a prisoner in the Kalamazoo County Jail...reason unknown. On September 13, 1933, Helen filed for and was granted a divorce from Joe, citing "extreme and repeated cruelty and nonsupport."
On January 26, 1934 Helen married Norman Freemont Miller in Indiana. It appears that they spent time living in both Kalamazoo and Niles, Michigan with her daughters, Mildred and Dorothy Reames. Norman had four children from a previous marriage, but they did not live with them.
I am unable to find proof but the Miller family lore is that Helen poured boiling water onto one of her daughters in the 1940s and spent time in prison for it. While she was in prison in the mid 1940s, Norman had an affair with Helen's adult daughter, Dorothy, which resulted in a child, James (Jimmy) Miller. Helen and Norman divorced on May 20, 1949. Helen raised Jimmy as her own son and took him when she divorced Norman. It seems that she never talked to her daughters after these incidents, as they are not listed in her obituary.
After her divorce from Norman, Helen married a Mexican man named Waldo Rodriguez, Jr. She divorced him at some point after 1959 and later married a Native American man named William Morsaw.
At some point, she became a registered nurse. She worked as a nurse at Borgess Medical Center and Verdries Nursing Home until she retired.
In October of 1979, Helen was injured when a tire blew out on her car, causing it to swerve into the median of U.S. 131, where it rolled over five times. She suffered multiple rib fractures, a back injury and respiratory complications. She died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan from her injuries at the age of 75 on December 5, 1979.
Tricia Kannegieter Hetrick
Great Granddaughter of Norman Freemont Miller
August, 2021
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