1st of 7 children of ABRAHAM "ABRAN" MEJIA & SARAH CAROLINE HARRIS
Married (1): Nov 25, 1915, LOUISE DOROTHY BOSWELL, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
One child:
1. Marjorie Louise MEJIA
1916 - 1986
Married (2): Apr 15, 1921, ETHEL CUMORAH WILLIS, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
One child:
1. Lola Irene MEJIA
1922 - 1973
Married (3): Feb 12, 1934, MARIAN BELLE "MINNIE" (BRACKEN) GOWAN, Coalville, Summit Co., Utah
Two children:
1. Marcille "Marcy" MEJIA
1936 -
2. Frances MEJIA
1942 -
=========
Oct 4, 1957, family history by Lola Mejia:
My father, Manuel Marcelo Mejia, was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, on Oct 30, 1891, the son of Abraham Mejia and Sarah Caroline Harris. Abraham was a worm specialist. Tape worms were very common then, and he travelled about with his worm medicine (a strong physic) removing tape worms. The next child born in the family was another boy who was named Abraham. He died in Fort Smith of typhoid malaria dysentary when he was five years, five months, and five days old. Two more boys, Tony and Otto, were born here. Abraham came to Salt Lake City, Utah, to a National Elks Convention. There was a great deal of prejudice against Mexicans in the south and this was one of the reasons Abraham thought it might be better in Utah. Here Caroline rented sleeping rooms. They had a tamale wagon, then a place in the Clift House cigar store and saloon. Abraham opened a place, the Tom and Dick Saloon and then another place, the Eagle Gate Cafe. Abraham decided to take a trip back to Mexico. He had been born at Vera Cruz. He went alone and stayed six months. He visited his uncle and two sisters, Apolonia and Carmen. When he came back, he became a United States citizen (1907). In Salt Lake were born Albert, Mary, and Clara.
My father entered show business just prior to World War I. He knew how to play the piano. Later he joined the Sollis Brothers, popular Marimba Stylists. He played in all the big-name show houses of both the United States and Canada along with such famous names as Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Eddie Foy and many others. He met his first wife, Louise Boswell, who was an ingenue with the show, "September Morn." She was a statuesque blonde with big, grey eyes. He left the show business at the beginning of the war. Louise and Manuel were married in Chicago, November 1916 (sic 1914), and proceeded almost immediately for Salt Lake City, both having terminated their show business careers. A daughter, Marjorie Louise, was born a little over a year later. Louise's mother, a registered nurse, came from Chicago to be with Louise when Marjorie was born at St. Mark's Hospital (in Salt Lake City), Jan 4, 1917. Mrs. Boswell died from an overdose of sleeping pills shortly after Marjorie was born. She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery beside her daughter, Louise. Louise died of post-operative gas at Holy Cross Hospital when Marjorie was four years old. After Louise died, my mother, Ethel Cumorah Willis, came to see Manuel to express her sympathy. I believe she also came because she had always been in love with him. They had known each other for years. They were married on Arbor Day, 1921. I was born to them on May 27, 1922.
The Mejia boys, Otto, Albert, Tony and Daddy went into business together, and the Klean-Rite Kleaners was incorporated. My mother died when I was eight years old, Apr 1, 1930. When I was 12, I went to Henefer to live with my mother's sister, Lydia Paskett. Manuel married Marian Bracken Gowan, Feb 12, 1934. Marian had been married previously and had two sons, George (nicknamed Bim) and Lynn. In 1936, Manuel was out of work and Marian was expecting a baby. Tony and Goethe Mejia moved to California and let them live in Grandpa Mejia's home. A baby girl named Marcille was born to them May 25, 1936. Marjorie married Alex Willemsen, August 15, 1936. Marcy married Dewey Nay, February 12, 1955. On Nov 21, 1942, in Durango, Colorado, another daughter, Frances was born.
Manuel is a hard worker, but has faced unemployment many times and has never known what it was to be financially secure. At the present time, he works for Anderson's Clothing Store in Helena, Montana, during the day and has a part-time job in a combination cigar store and soda fountain and bar where he handles the soda fountain for a few hours in the evening. They like Helena and the people of Helena like them.
=========
Story (edited) contributed by Kathleen Mejia Beplay
Married (1): Nov 25, 1915, LOUISE DOROTHY BOSWELL, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
One child:
1. Marjorie Louise MEJIA
1916 - 1986
Married (2): Apr 15, 1921, ETHEL CUMORAH WILLIS, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
One child:
1. Lola Irene MEJIA
1922 - 1973
Married (3): Feb 12, 1934, MARIAN BELLE "MINNIE" (BRACKEN) GOWAN, Coalville, Summit Co., Utah
Two children:
1. Marcille "Marcy" MEJIA
1936 -
2. Frances MEJIA
1942 -
=========
Oct 4, 1957, family history by Lola Mejia:
My father, Manuel Marcelo Mejia, was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, on Oct 30, 1891, the son of Abraham Mejia and Sarah Caroline Harris. Abraham was a worm specialist. Tape worms were very common then, and he travelled about with his worm medicine (a strong physic) removing tape worms. The next child born in the family was another boy who was named Abraham. He died in Fort Smith of typhoid malaria dysentary when he was five years, five months, and five days old. Two more boys, Tony and Otto, were born here. Abraham came to Salt Lake City, Utah, to a National Elks Convention. There was a great deal of prejudice against Mexicans in the south and this was one of the reasons Abraham thought it might be better in Utah. Here Caroline rented sleeping rooms. They had a tamale wagon, then a place in the Clift House cigar store and saloon. Abraham opened a place, the Tom and Dick Saloon and then another place, the Eagle Gate Cafe. Abraham decided to take a trip back to Mexico. He had been born at Vera Cruz. He went alone and stayed six months. He visited his uncle and two sisters, Apolonia and Carmen. When he came back, he became a United States citizen (1907). In Salt Lake were born Albert, Mary, and Clara.
My father entered show business just prior to World War I. He knew how to play the piano. Later he joined the Sollis Brothers, popular Marimba Stylists. He played in all the big-name show houses of both the United States and Canada along with such famous names as Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Eddie Foy and many others. He met his first wife, Louise Boswell, who was an ingenue with the show, "September Morn." She was a statuesque blonde with big, grey eyes. He left the show business at the beginning of the war. Louise and Manuel were married in Chicago, November 1916 (sic 1914), and proceeded almost immediately for Salt Lake City, both having terminated their show business careers. A daughter, Marjorie Louise, was born a little over a year later. Louise's mother, a registered nurse, came from Chicago to be with Louise when Marjorie was born at St. Mark's Hospital (in Salt Lake City), Jan 4, 1917. Mrs. Boswell died from an overdose of sleeping pills shortly after Marjorie was born. She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery beside her daughter, Louise. Louise died of post-operative gas at Holy Cross Hospital when Marjorie was four years old. After Louise died, my mother, Ethel Cumorah Willis, came to see Manuel to express her sympathy. I believe she also came because she had always been in love with him. They had known each other for years. They were married on Arbor Day, 1921. I was born to them on May 27, 1922.
The Mejia boys, Otto, Albert, Tony and Daddy went into business together, and the Klean-Rite Kleaners was incorporated. My mother died when I was eight years old, Apr 1, 1930. When I was 12, I went to Henefer to live with my mother's sister, Lydia Paskett. Manuel married Marian Bracken Gowan, Feb 12, 1934. Marian had been married previously and had two sons, George (nicknamed Bim) and Lynn. In 1936, Manuel was out of work and Marian was expecting a baby. Tony and Goethe Mejia moved to California and let them live in Grandpa Mejia's home. A baby girl named Marcille was born to them May 25, 1936. Marjorie married Alex Willemsen, August 15, 1936. Marcy married Dewey Nay, February 12, 1955. On Nov 21, 1942, in Durango, Colorado, another daughter, Frances was born.
Manuel is a hard worker, but has faced unemployment many times and has never known what it was to be financially secure. At the present time, he works for Anderson's Clothing Store in Helena, Montana, during the day and has a part-time job in a combination cigar store and soda fountain and bar where he handles the soda fountain for a few hours in the evening. They like Helena and the people of Helena like them.
=========
Story (edited) contributed by Kathleen Mejia Beplay
1st of 7 children of ABRAHAM "ABRAN" MEJIA & SARAH CAROLINE HARRIS
Married (1): Nov 25, 1915, LOUISE DOROTHY BOSWELL, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
One child:
1. Marjorie Louise MEJIA
1916 - 1986
Married (2): Apr 15, 1921, ETHEL CUMORAH WILLIS, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
One child:
1. Lola Irene MEJIA
1922 - 1973
Married (3): Feb 12, 1934, MARIAN BELLE "MINNIE" (BRACKEN) GOWAN, Coalville, Summit Co., Utah
Two children:
1. Marcille "Marcy" MEJIA
1936 -
2. Frances MEJIA
1942 -
=========
Oct 4, 1957, family history by Lola Mejia:
My father, Manuel Marcelo Mejia, was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, on Oct 30, 1891, the son of Abraham Mejia and Sarah Caroline Harris. Abraham was a worm specialist. Tape worms were very common then, and he travelled about with his worm medicine (a strong physic) removing tape worms. The next child born in the family was another boy who was named Abraham. He died in Fort Smith of typhoid malaria dysentary when he was five years, five months, and five days old. Two more boys, Tony and Otto, were born here. Abraham came to Salt Lake City, Utah, to a National Elks Convention. There was a great deal of prejudice against Mexicans in the south and this was one of the reasons Abraham thought it might be better in Utah. Here Caroline rented sleeping rooms. They had a tamale wagon, then a place in the Clift House cigar store and saloon. Abraham opened a place, the Tom and Dick Saloon and then another place, the Eagle Gate Cafe. Abraham decided to take a trip back to Mexico. He had been born at Vera Cruz. He went alone and stayed six months. He visited his uncle and two sisters, Apolonia and Carmen. When he came back, he became a United States citizen (1907). In Salt Lake were born Albert, Mary, and Clara.
My father entered show business just prior to World War I. He knew how to play the piano. Later he joined the Sollis Brothers, popular Marimba Stylists. He played in all the big-name show houses of both the United States and Canada along with such famous names as Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Eddie Foy and many others. He met his first wife, Louise Boswell, who was an ingenue with the show, "September Morn." She was a statuesque blonde with big, grey eyes. He left the show business at the beginning of the war. Louise and Manuel were married in Chicago, November 1916 (sic 1914), and proceeded almost immediately for Salt Lake City, both having terminated their show business careers. A daughter, Marjorie Louise, was born a little over a year later. Louise's mother, a registered nurse, came from Chicago to be with Louise when Marjorie was born at St. Mark's Hospital (in Salt Lake City), Jan 4, 1917. Mrs. Boswell died from an overdose of sleeping pills shortly after Marjorie was born. She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery beside her daughter, Louise. Louise died of post-operative gas at Holy Cross Hospital when Marjorie was four years old. After Louise died, my mother, Ethel Cumorah Willis, came to see Manuel to express her sympathy. I believe she also came because she had always been in love with him. They had known each other for years. They were married on Arbor Day, 1921. I was born to them on May 27, 1922.
The Mejia boys, Otto, Albert, Tony and Daddy went into business together, and the Klean-Rite Kleaners was incorporated. My mother died when I was eight years old, Apr 1, 1930. When I was 12, I went to Henefer to live with my mother's sister, Lydia Paskett. Manuel married Marian Bracken Gowan, Feb 12, 1934. Marian had been married previously and had two sons, George (nicknamed Bim) and Lynn. In 1936, Manuel was out of work and Marian was expecting a baby. Tony and Goethe Mejia moved to California and let them live in Grandpa Mejia's home. A baby girl named Marcille was born to them May 25, 1936. Marjorie married Alex Willemsen, August 15, 1936. Marcy married Dewey Nay, February 12, 1955. On Nov 21, 1942, in Durango, Colorado, another daughter, Frances was born.
Manuel is a hard worker, but has faced unemployment many times and has never known what it was to be financially secure. At the present time, he works for Anderson's Clothing Store in Helena, Montana, during the day and has a part-time job in a combination cigar store and soda fountain and bar where he handles the soda fountain for a few hours in the evening. They like Helena and the people of Helena like them.
=========
Story (edited) contributed by Kathleen Mejia Beplay
Married (1): Nov 25, 1915, LOUISE DOROTHY BOSWELL, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
One child:
1. Marjorie Louise MEJIA
1916 - 1986
Married (2): Apr 15, 1921, ETHEL CUMORAH WILLIS, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Co., Utah
One child:
1. Lola Irene MEJIA
1922 - 1973
Married (3): Feb 12, 1934, MARIAN BELLE "MINNIE" (BRACKEN) GOWAN, Coalville, Summit Co., Utah
Two children:
1. Marcille "Marcy" MEJIA
1936 -
2. Frances MEJIA
1942 -
=========
Oct 4, 1957, family history by Lola Mejia:
My father, Manuel Marcelo Mejia, was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, on Oct 30, 1891, the son of Abraham Mejia and Sarah Caroline Harris. Abraham was a worm specialist. Tape worms were very common then, and he travelled about with his worm medicine (a strong physic) removing tape worms. The next child born in the family was another boy who was named Abraham. He died in Fort Smith of typhoid malaria dysentary when he was five years, five months, and five days old. Two more boys, Tony and Otto, were born here. Abraham came to Salt Lake City, Utah, to a National Elks Convention. There was a great deal of prejudice against Mexicans in the south and this was one of the reasons Abraham thought it might be better in Utah. Here Caroline rented sleeping rooms. They had a tamale wagon, then a place in the Clift House cigar store and saloon. Abraham opened a place, the Tom and Dick Saloon and then another place, the Eagle Gate Cafe. Abraham decided to take a trip back to Mexico. He had been born at Vera Cruz. He went alone and stayed six months. He visited his uncle and two sisters, Apolonia and Carmen. When he came back, he became a United States citizen (1907). In Salt Lake were born Albert, Mary, and Clara.
My father entered show business just prior to World War I. He knew how to play the piano. Later he joined the Sollis Brothers, popular Marimba Stylists. He played in all the big-name show houses of both the United States and Canada along with such famous names as Eddie Cantor, Will Rogers, Eddie Foy and many others. He met his first wife, Louise Boswell, who was an ingenue with the show, "September Morn." She was a statuesque blonde with big, grey eyes. He left the show business at the beginning of the war. Louise and Manuel were married in Chicago, November 1916 (sic 1914), and proceeded almost immediately for Salt Lake City, both having terminated their show business careers. A daughter, Marjorie Louise, was born a little over a year later. Louise's mother, a registered nurse, came from Chicago to be with Louise when Marjorie was born at St. Mark's Hospital (in Salt Lake City), Jan 4, 1917. Mrs. Boswell died from an overdose of sleeping pills shortly after Marjorie was born. She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery beside her daughter, Louise. Louise died of post-operative gas at Holy Cross Hospital when Marjorie was four years old. After Louise died, my mother, Ethel Cumorah Willis, came to see Manuel to express her sympathy. I believe she also came because she had always been in love with him. They had known each other for years. They were married on Arbor Day, 1921. I was born to them on May 27, 1922.
The Mejia boys, Otto, Albert, Tony and Daddy went into business together, and the Klean-Rite Kleaners was incorporated. My mother died when I was eight years old, Apr 1, 1930. When I was 12, I went to Henefer to live with my mother's sister, Lydia Paskett. Manuel married Marian Bracken Gowan, Feb 12, 1934. Marian had been married previously and had two sons, George (nicknamed Bim) and Lynn. In 1936, Manuel was out of work and Marian was expecting a baby. Tony and Goethe Mejia moved to California and let them live in Grandpa Mejia's home. A baby girl named Marcille was born to them May 25, 1936. Marjorie married Alex Willemsen, August 15, 1936. Marcy married Dewey Nay, February 12, 1955. On Nov 21, 1942, in Durango, Colorado, another daughter, Frances was born.
Manuel is a hard worker, but has faced unemployment many times and has never known what it was to be financially secure. At the present time, he works for Anderson's Clothing Store in Helena, Montana, during the day and has a part-time job in a combination cigar store and soda fountain and bar where he handles the soda fountain for a few hours in the evening. They like Helena and the people of Helena like them.
=========
Story (edited) contributed by Kathleen Mejia Beplay
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