Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Family History Writing Challenge Day 14

The third son of Joseph and Josephine Kubler, John, was 16 when his mother married John Frederick. After three publications in the St. Gabriel parish records, Father Rudolf married 23-year-old John and 20-year-old Elenora Michael on 9 September 1896. Elenora was born to Florentine Michael and Mary (Norton) Michael in Indiana on 20 June 1876. She was the youngest of 9 children.

John and Elenora had their first child, Mary, on 27 July 1897 in Connersville. In the 1900 federal census for Indiana, John is the proprietor of a saloon in Connersville. Unlike the other men in his family who were all wood carvers, John took a different path for a career. Perhaps he was inspired by his father during the years when Joseph owned a grocery store. By 1910 he is a merchant in a grocery store.

When he completed the World War I Draft Registration Card on 12 September 1918, John indicated that he was blind in both eyes, yet he owned his own grocery. My dad remembered meeting "Uncle Johnny" and visiting him in Connersville. He was amazed the John not only worked, but owned his own business even while blind. That left a life-long impression on him.

John and Elenora's only child Mary was married to Clarence White on 7 October 1919, and in the 1920 census the newlyweds were living with John and Elenora. John was managing a grocery store, and Clarence was an inspector at an automobile factory. It is interesting to note that between 1905-1941, 13 different kinds of cars were made in Connersville.

Elenora died on 13 October 1928 in Connersville. By 1930, John was living with Mary, Clarence and their children. He would spend the rest of his life in this living arrangement.

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