EARL MORTORFF 1896-1968

Sadly, this is the End of this Branch of the Leone WIDDIFIELD and Earl Mortorff Family Tree as the only child and son of Leone and Earl Mortorff passed away in 1953 with no issue.

Earl Mortorff was born on the 22nd of August 1896 the son of Ira Mortorff and his wife, Cora DOTY Mortorff in Ashley, Steuben County, Indiana.

On New Year's Day 1918, Earl Mortorff started working for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On the 15th of December 1926 Earl was promoted to Engineer. This was his dream. Then on the 24th of December 1926 only nine days after this big job promotion, he married his Sweetheart!

Earl Mortorff married the love of his life, Miss Leone Agnes Widdifield 1901-1986 in Auburn, DeKalb County, Indiana. They were the parents of one child.

Only Child and son of Earl and Leone Mortorff:

1 - Paul Allen Mortorff 1929-1953

On the 6th of September 1929, Earl and Leone were ecstatic as they welcomed their little bundle of joy to the world. Their son, Paul Allen grew up to be a tall, slender, dark haired, very handsome young man. He had rheumatic fever when young and it damaged his heart. On the 15th of January 1953 Earl and Leone were grief stricken parents as their ONLY child had died of acute myocardial failure - a heart attack. They buried their only child on January 18th 1953 in the White City Cemetery located in Spencerville, DeKalb County, Indiana. There are many members of the family buried there as well.

Earl Mortorff retired as an Engineer from the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road on the 31st of May 1963, after 44 years and five months of service.

Sadly, this branch of the family tree has ended because on the 23rd of Feburary 1968, Earl Mortorff died of prostate cancer. He was interred in the White City Cemetery next to his only child and son, Paul Allen Mortorff who died at the age of 23. Earl's Wife, Leone, passed away at the age of 85 in 1986. This complete family shares one large stone. Earl's Obituary appeared in the Garrett Newspaper as follows: OBITUARY in the GARRETT CLIPPER Vol LXXXII - No. 51 Garrett, DeKalb County, Indiana Monday February 26, 1968

EARL MORTORFF DIES After 5 Year Illness

A DeKalb county native and resident of Garrett for 40 years, Earl Mortorff, passed away at 1:45 p.m. Friday in the Garrett Community hospital following an illness of five years. He had been a patient in the hospital for three weeks. Mr. Mortorff, 71, resided at 109 South First Street in Garrett at the time of his death.

A retired B & O engineer, Mr. Mortorff was born Aug. 22, 1896, the son of Ira and Cora Mortorff, both of whom are deceased.

His wife, LEONE WIDDIFIELD Mortorff survives. They were united in marriage Dec. 24, 1926, in Auburn. A brother, L. D. Mortorff of Inglewood, Calif., also survives. A son PAUL, preceded him in death in 1953.

Mr. Mortorff was a past exaulted ruler of the Garrett Elks club, and was affiliated with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He was also a member of the Garrett Methodist church.

Mr. Mortorff retired from the B&O, May 31, 1963, after 44 years and five months of service. He started work on the railroad Jan. 1, 1918, and was promoted to engineer on Dec. 15, 1926, serving in that capacity since July, 1941.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Baidinger & Walter funeral home in Garrett with the Rev. Philip Williams, pastor of the Garrett Methodist church, officiating. Interment will be made in the White City Cemetery in Spencerville. The Elks held twilight services at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Son, Paul Allen Mortorff never married or had any children. His death ends the Earl Mortorff branch of the family as there are no more children to carry on the line.

Bio and research entered by hand, not gedcom by Great Niece, Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore on the 24th of March 2017.

Sources

1) B & O Rail Road - ENGINEER

1 Jan 1918 Garrett, DeKalb, Indiana, USA Promoted to ENGINEER 15 Dec 1926 and served that capacity until 1941. Retired 31 May 1963 after 44 years 5 months of service.

Wikipedia The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (reporting marks B&O, BO) is one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad.

2) World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

Name: Earl Mortorff County: De Kalb State: Indiana Birthplace: Indiana;USA Birth Date: 22 Aug 1896 FHL Roll Number: 1493139 DraftBoard: 0 EYES: BLUE HAIR: LIGHT

Indiana, Marriages, 1810-2001

Name: Earl Mortorff Gender: Male Race: White Age: 30 Marriage Regis Birth: 22 Aug 1896 Ashley IN Marriage Lic: 24 Dec 1926 IN Res:Garrett IN Dad: Ira Mortorff Mom: Cora Doty Sp: Leone Agnes Widdifield Pg:194 FHL Film:001863330

3) Family Bible of Rosa Ellen FALES Widdifield

MARRIAGES: Eli Fales and Maggie JOHNSON Feb 14, 1875 Mordie Widdifield and Rosie FALES June 1, 1898 Clarence Widdifield and Madge GRAVES Dec 8, 1922 Leone Widdifield and Earl Mortorff Dec 24, 1926

4) 1930 Census

Place: Garrett, De Kalb, Indiana; Roll: 585; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 0011; Image: 772.0; FHL microfilm: 2340320 **MORTORFF: Earl 35 Leone 28 Paul A 7/12.

5) 1940 Census

Place: Garrett, DeKalb, Indiana; Roll: T627_1036; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 17-11 ** MORTORFF: Earl 43 Leone 39 Paul Allen 10

6) U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942

Name: Earl Mortorff Birth Date: 22 Aug 1896 Birth Place: De Kalb, Indiana Residence: De Kalb, Indiana Race: White

7) Burial & Findagrave Memorial #85652628

White City Cemetery Spencerville DeKalb County Indiana, USA Created by: Carole Whittemore Record added: Feb 24, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 85652628 Obituary included. OBITUARY in the GARRETT CLIPPER Vol LXXXII - No. 51Garrett, DeKalb County, Indiana

8) Ancestry.com

Who's (Hoosier) Your Fales Family in Indiana? The Ancestors & Descendants of Rosa Ellen FALES Widdifield by CaroleAnne269 Bio and research entered by hand, not gedcom by Great Niece, Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore on the 24th of March 2017.

9) 12 Jun 2013 Find A Grave contributor Beth M. M. has made a suggestion:

Could you link him to his parents, Ira Mortorff #80319546 and Cora Doty Mortorff #80319532.

Thank you, sincerely Beth Mortorff

Updated by Carole on the 25th of March 2017