Francis was the son of John O. Coonfare and Priscilla Myers, who married on 7 Jan 1872 (record on Family Search but no image) in Starke Co., Indiana. Per both the 1900 and the 1910 Census, Priscilla reported that she had had six children, only four still living. Those four were Delmer Homer (22 Dec 1872, also found Nov 1873 on 1900 Census – 10 Dec 1931 suicide, married Rosetta Harkins), William Henry (3 Feb 1875 – 3 Jul 1945, married Vera Millan Fayer), Francis Edward (1 Nov 1878 – 3 Jul 1955, married Hattie Floria Bickle), and Mary Chloe (18 May 1883 – 30 Nov 1969, married Israel Moore in 1903, then Ernest Mills in 1926).

The 1880 Census placed the family in Washington Twp., Starke Co., Indiana. John Coonfare, 32, was noted as a farmer. Priscilla, 26, was tending to the upkeep of the household, which included three young children—Delmer, 8, William, 6, and 8-month-old Francis. Also living with the family was 30-year-old Alfred Meyers (Priscilla’s brother?). Daughter Mary would join her siblings three years down the road.

On 31 Jan 1889, the family suffered a terrible loss. Husband and father John Coonfare died at age 44. Priscilla mourned her loss for two years before marrying second-husband Cyrus Shultz on 21 Feb 1891 in Starke Co., Indiana. Cyrus was 55, Priscilla 37. It would be lovely to have back that 1890 Census, which would have shown which children Priscilla had with her. (Heavy sigh.)

By the time the 1900 Census came around, there had been several changes within the family. As previously mentioned, Francis’ mother Priscilla had remarried. She appeared with husband Cyrus on the 1900 Census, aged 46, living in Argos, Marshall Co., Indiana. With her was Francis’ 17-year-old sister Mary Coonfare, noted as Cyrus’ step-daughter. As for Francis and his two older brothers, there was news of Delmer two months after the death of their father. (From: Marshall County Independent, Plymouth, IN – Fri 10 Mar 1899 p.5) “Delmar Coonfare left today for Knox. From thence he will go to North Dakota.” In 1896, Delmer married Rosetta Harkins.

Using clues in Francis’ obituary, it seems that the year 1900 was the year that Francis went to live in North Dakota, likely because brother Delmer was there. The two boy’s brother William also seems to have “gone west” at some juncture. (From: The Argos Reflector, Argos, IN – Thu 27 Jan 1910 p. 5) “William Coonfare and wife and Syrus Schultz [Cyrus Shultz] and wife visited relatives at Monterey Sunday. Mr. Coonfare with his wife left Tuesday for their home in Umatilla, Oregon, after several week’s visit with relatives and friends.”

On Christmas Day, 25 Dec 1906, Francis married first-wife Hattie Floria Bickle in Starke Co., Indiana. Hattie was the daughter of William Bickle and Mary Harkins. Francis and Hattie had a dozen children together. I found names and dates for eleven of them: Chester Orville (7 Feb 1907 – 24 Sep 1973), John Henry (18 Oct 1909 – 12 Sep 1983), Vera May (30 Jan 1912 – 27 Jun 2002, married Harry Linderman), Rose V. (ca. 1914 – 30 Aug 2000, married name Hightower), Emma Evelyn (8 Jan 1916 – 31 Jul 1998, married name Burger), Flossie Volna (19 May 1919 – 6 May 2015, married name Tyson), Lavina Leda (30 Jan 1922 – 26 Jan 1996, married name Byer), Beatrice Irene (14 Apr 1924 – living as of 2019), Robert Nelson (10 Sep 1925 – 14 Apr 1994), Alma Ruth (9 Mar 1927 – 10 Mar 1927), and Clifford Ray (16 May 1928 – 25 Feb 2007).

By the time the 1910 Census was taken, Francis was back in Indiana, living at 502 Park St. in La Porte, Laporte Co., Indiana. Francis, 29, was laboring at odd jobs. Hattie, 28, reported that she had had three children, but that only two had survived to that census. There with their parents were Chester, aged 3, and 6-month old John. The lost child must have been born and died in 1908.

After the birth of daughter Vera May in January of 1912, the family immigrated to Canada, where Rose, Evelyn and Flossie were born. Canada also does a census enumeration, but a year after the U.S. enumeration takes place, so the first census featuring the Coonfare family was the one taken in 1921. The family was living in Blaine Lake Municipality in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Francis Coonfare, 41, was noted as a mechanic. Hattie, 32, was home with Chester, 14, John, 11, Vera, 9, Rose, 7, Evelyn, 5, and 2-year-old Flossie. The family was noted as being of the Adventist faith.

The year after that census, the family headed back to Indiana, where Lavina joined them early in 1922.

On 9 Mar 1927, Hattie gave birth prematurely to their eleventh child, daughter Alma Ruth. The baby died the following day and was laid to rest in South Lawn Cemetery in South Bend.

The following year, there were two big events in the life of the Coonfare family, the birth of their twelth child, son Clifford in May of 1928, and that of daughter Vera’s marriage two months later to Harry Linderman on 3 Jul 1928.

In the clipping that follows, it notes a visit with some of Hattie’s kinfolk. (From: The Culver Citizen, Culver, IN – Wed 19 Sep 1928 p. 4) “Mr. and Mrs. Francis Coonfare were Sunday evening guests of Mr. and Mrs. Wm Bickel and daughters.” Francis and Hattie’s son Clifford had just been born in May, so they likely had him in tow.

The 1930 Census caught up with the family at 103 S. Heaton St. in Knox, Starke Co., Indiana. Francis, 49, was working as a mechanic in a machine shop. Hattie, aged 43, was busy at home, seven children still at home—Rose, 15, Evelyn, 13, Flossie, 10, Lavina, 8, Beatrice, 5, Robert, 4, and 1-year-old Clifford.

The following year, Francis would receive the terrible news of his brother Delmer’s suicide two weeks before Christmas on 10 Dec 1931, twelve days before what would have been Delmer’s fifty-ninth birthday.

Three years later, there was the happier occasion of the marriage of Francis and Hattie’s son John to Edith Wyant on 29 Jan 1934. Four years later, daughter Lavina followed suit, wedding Henry Jasper Byer on 23 Nov 1938 in Starke County.

The 1940 Census caught back up with the family, living at 104 E. Lake St. in Knox, Starke Co., Indiana. Francis Coonfare, 60, was doing road construction work (WPA project?). Hattie, aged 52, was keeping house. At home with their parents were Chester, 33, Flossie, 21, Beatrice, 16, Robert, 14, Clifford, 12, and Lavina, 19, along with Lavina’s husband Henry Byer, 21, and their daughter Gloria, aged 9 months.

On his 27 Apr 1942 WWII registration card, Francis, aged 62, reported that he was living in Starke County and working for Home Oil Company in La Porte. Son Robert was noted as that person who would always know his address. He was measured in at 5’ 6” and weighed in at 135 lbs. His eyes were blue, his hair was gray, his complexion ruddy. Under distinguishing characteristics was the mysterious notation “index finger on right hand.” I’m sure there was a story there, considering Francis’ background as a mechanic.

When asked for the name of “that person who will always know your address,” most married men gave their wife’s name. Francis did not, perhaps because Hattie was ailing. She died three months after that record was taken, aged 54 on 17 Jul 1942.

Francis, being in his sixties by the time WWII began to call men into service, was not called, but son Robert, who had just turned twenty, joined the Army, serving from 1 Oct 1945 until 8 Sep 1949. He appears to have been wounded while in the service. (From: The Brook Reporter, Brook, IN – Thu 21 Oct 1954 p. 5) “Francis Coonfare of Knox spent Wednesday here visiting his daughter, Mrs. Harry (Vera May) Linderman and family. He brought word that his son Robert is hospitalized in Washington with an old World War 2 wound in his arm.”

On 26 Mar 1945, Francis remarried, wedding Gladys Maude Flanders (nee Kennison). At 54, Gladys was thirteen years Francis’ junior. She had previously married Cummings Sibly Flanders circa 1909, and they had had nine children together—Charles Cummings (9 Apr 1910 – 26 Dec 1981), (son) Carroll (6 Jun 1914 – Jul 1978), Gladys Edith (20 Aug 1916 – 8 Jul 1986, married names: Norris, Bedwell), Cecil Raymond (16 Nov 1920 – 17 May 1980), an unidentified child that was born and died c. 1921-22, Glenna Pearl (18 Dec 1923 – 12 Feb 1966, married Charles Sherwood), Deloris Geneva (b. 15 Mar 1926, married names: Maloney, Harris, Clark, McCarthy), Chester Arthur (24 Mar 1928 – 15 Nov 1970) and Claude Richard (31 May 1930 – 21 Sep 1931).

Francis and Gladys were able to spend a decade together before death parted them, claiming Francis the day before Independence Day, 3 Jul 1955, aged 76. Gladys lived another twelve years, crossing over on 5 Oct 1967 at age 76.