Person Page

     Perla Elisabeth Singley was born on 5 August 1877 in Hazleton, Luzerne Co., Pennsylvania (Social Security records say Ringtown, Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania).^5,6 She married first Robert M. Seiwell.¹ She married second Howard William Town, son of Otis Oren Town and Jennie L. Sowle, probably about 1937.^2,1,7 She died on 26 August 1973 at the Liberty Nursing Center in Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, at age 96.⁶ She was buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Tamaqua, Schuylkill Co., Pennsylvania.⁸
     In the 1936-37 city directory for Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania, she is listed as Perla Seiwell, the widow of Robt. H., at 25 N. 14th St.⁹ She and her second husband Howard were living at 220 Ida Street in Berwick, Columbia Co., Pennsylvania, on 27 April 1942³, and at 530 High St. in Bethlehem, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, from at least 1947 to 1949.¹⁰ When Howard died in 1966 they were living at 728 North 7th St. in Allentown.²
     She and her first husband Robert had the following known children: Howard, Ethyl E., Alta, Arnom.¹

     Otis Oren Town was born on 13 March 1854 in Marion Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan, according to his obituary. The record of his marriage to Jennie Sowle. and his death certificate, say he was born in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan, while the record of his second marriage, to Dora Nye, says he was born in Kent Co., Michigan. It's possible he was actually born in Cascade, Kent Co., Michigan, since according to his father William's obituary the family didn't move to Marion Twp. until 1856.^2,6,7,5,4 He was married first, by A. T. Hoyt, Pastor of the M. E. Church, to Jennie L. Sowle, daughter of Eli L. Sowle and Mary Jane (?), on 28 August 1877 in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan. The witnesses were the bride's sister Margaret McHench and her husband W. J. McHench, both of Brighton.⁶ He was married second, by E. Randall, to Dora Elizabeth Nye, daughter of Wm. Nye, on 27 June 1899 in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan.^5,8 He died from respiratory failure on 15 March 1937 at age 83, after suffering a stroke two months earlier, at his stepdaughter Mrs. Ethel Wilson's home at 1913 Olive Ave. in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan, where he had spent the winter.^7,2,9 He was buried on 17 March 1937 at Highland Cemetery in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. Funeral arrangements were handled by the L. H. Orvis chapel.²
     His last name was sometimes spelled as Towne.²
     In 1880 he and his first wife Jenny were living with his father William in Brighton, Livingston Co., Michigan.¹⁰ On 6 March 1886, about a week after his father's death, he and Jennie sold land described as village lots 231, 232, 152, 153, 196, 197, 186, 187, and 93, all on McPherson's Addition in Brighton Twp., Livingston Co., Michigan, to his sister Frances for $500.¹¹ At the time, they were living in Remus, Mecosta Co., Michigan.¹¹ They lived in Webberville, Ingham Co., Michigan, from at least September 1887, when Jennie's father Eli Sowle's will was probated, to October 1895, when Jennie died there.^12,13,14
     He received $274.66 in the settlement of his father William Town's estate on 2 August 1888.³
     In 1900 he and his second wife Dora were living at Oxford House on Kearsley St., in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan, along with their children Howard, Lucile, and Russel, and Dora's daughter Ethel Smith by her previous marriage. They had one servant and 17 boarders.¹⁵
     He and Dora moved to South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, in 1903^2,8, where they boarded for a time at 529 N. Scott St.¹⁶ They lived at 421 W. LaSalle Ave. in South Bend from at least 1905 to 1906¹⁷, and at 1130 Michigan Ave. from at least 1908 to 1910. They had two boarders in 1910.^18,19 They were living at 1323 Michigan Ave. in 1912²⁰, and at 215 N. Main in 1916.²¹ From at least 1918 to 1921 they lived at 406 S. Lafayette St. Living with them in 1920 were their son Forbes (age 18), Otis's aunt Viola Town (age 63, born in Michigan), niece Leila M. Town (age 20, born in Colorado), and two lodgers.^22,23,24 For some period of time in 1930 they lived with their son Forbes' family at 737 27th in South Bend.²⁵
     They soon moved back to Michigan, however, where they are listed twice in the 1930 census. Between 2 and 11 April they were enumerated at 409 W. Court in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan, in a house they were renting for $35/month, and on 26 April they were enumerated in Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, living with their nephew Fordyce Wiley's family.^26,27 In 1931 they were living at 1441 Indiana Ave. in Flint.²⁸
     At the time of Dora's death on 3 February 1935, they were again living with their son Forbes' family, at 927 S. 23rd St. in South Bend.^8,29 Otis continued to live with Forbes' family in South Bend after his wife's death, at 614 Carroll in 1936³⁰, and then at 778 Lincoln Way East.^2,31
     In 1877, at the time of his first marriage to Jennie Sowle, his occupation was given as merchant.⁶ In 1888 he was working as a railroad and express agent in Webberville, Ingham Co., Michigan.¹³ From 1903 to 1924 he worked as a telegraph operator for the Michigan Central Railroad in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana.^2,32,33

     Lucile F. Town was born in May 1890 (her birthdate as listed on her marriage license application is 26 April, and the year is smudged and difficult to decipher, but appears to be 1891) in Webberville, Ingham Co., Michigan.^1,2 She was married by Henry L. Davis to Lee A. Cook, son of Harry R. Cook and Mary A. Allen, on 3 May 1909 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana.⁴
     Before her marriage, she worked as a domestic servant and seamstress⁵, and was living in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹ In 1910 she and her husband Lee were living in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan. Her brother Russel Town was living with them.⁶ By 1918 they had moved to Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan.⁷ They are listed there in the 1920 census, with their daughters Carroll and Irene.⁸ They are again listed there in 1930, again with their daughters Carroll and Irene. Also listed in their household is a granddaughter, Elizabeth Maloney, presumably Carroll's daughter.⁹ Lucile, at least, was still there in 1937.³

     Lee A. Cook was born on 11 July 1887 in Owosso, Shiawassee Co., Michigan.³ He was married by Henry L. Davis to Lucile F. Town, daughter of Otis Oren Town and Jennie L. Sowle, on 3 May 1909 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹
     At the time of his marriage Lee A. Cook was living in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan.³ He was a painter.³ In 1910 he and his wife Lucile were living in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan. Lucile's brother Russel Town was living with them.² By 1918 they had moved to Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan.⁴ They are listed there in the 1920 census, with their daughters Carroll and Irene. He was working as a painter in an automobile shop.⁵ They are again listed there in 1930, again with their daughters Carroll and Irene. Also listed in their household is a granddaughter, Elizabeth Maloney, presumably Carroll's daughter. He was then working in a paint shop.⁶

     Forbes Kenneth Town was born on 3 July 1901 in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan.^1,2,3 He married first Kathleen Bernice Searles, daughter of Lee D. Searles and Ada Nation, on 8 May 1922 at the Congregational Church in St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan.^4,7 Kathleen filed for divorce on 4 December 1946 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana, and the divorce was granted on 23 April 1948.⁸ He married second Eileen Margaret Hofmann, daughter of William T. Hofmann and Ethel Pearl Day, on 26 September 1948 in Niles, Berrien Co., Michigan.⁹ Eileen filed for divorce on 8 June 1951 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana, granted on 19 October 1951.¹⁰ He was married third, by Glen F. Lowry, Justice of the Peace, to Ruth Jane Ringle, daughter of Ezadore S. Ringle and Elva J. Eaton, on 17 April 1964 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana.^11,12 His death certificate lists him as being divorced, indicating that either he and his third wife Ruth later divorced, or he married again after Ruth's death in 1969, and that marriage ended in divorce.² He died on 28 May 1980 at the Ridgedale Nursing Home in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, at age 78 after a long illness.^2,3 He was cremated, and buried on 30 May 1980 at Riverview Cemetery in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Welsheimer Funeral Home.³
     He lived in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, most of his life.³ He and his first wife Kathleen lived at 737 S. 27th St. in South Bend from 1928 to 1934^13,14, at 927 S. 23rd St. in 1935¹⁵, at 614 Carroll in 1936¹⁶, at 778 Lincolnway East in 1937¹⁷, at 935 S. 28th St. from 1938 to 1941^18,19, and at 741 S. 29th St. from 1942 to 1947.²⁰ His parents Otis and Dora Town lived with them during at least parts of 1930 and 1935²¹, and Otis continued living with them after Dora's death, until his own death in 1937.^16,5 From at least 1954 to 1960 he lived at 302 E. Wayne in South Bend²², and at the time of his death in 1980 he was living at 2126 Lathrop in South Bend.³
     He was a rate clerk for the New York Central Railroad in South Bend his entire working career, from 1921 to 1966.^3,23,2

     Dora Elizabeth Nye was born on 5 March 1862 in Le Roy, Osceola Co., Michigan, (or Ingham Co., Michigan, according to the record of her marriage to Otis Town).^3,2,1 She married first (?) Smith.¹ She was married second, by E. Randall, to Otis Oren Town, son of William M. Town and Mary L. Forbes, on 27 June 1899 in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan.^1,2 She died on 3 February 1935 at her home in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, at age 72 from colon cancer. She had been ill for several years.^3,2 She was buried on 6 February 1935 at Highland Cemetery in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana.²
     In 1900 she and her second husband Otis were living at Oxford House on Kearsley St., in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan, along with their children Howard, Lucile, and Russel, and Dora's daughter Ethel Smith by her previous marriage. They had one servant and 17 boarders.⁴
     She and Otis moved to South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, in 1903^5,2, where they boarded for a time at 529 N. Scott St.⁶ They lived at 421 W. LaSalle Ave. in South Bend from at least 1905 to 1906⁷, and at 1130 Michigan Ave. from at least 1908 to 1910. They had two boarders in 1910.^8,9 They were living at 1323 Michigan Ave. in 1912¹⁰, and at 215 N. Main in 1916.¹¹ From at least 1918 to 1921 they lived at 406 S. Lafayette St. Living with them in 1920 were their son Forbes (age 18), Otis's aunt Viola Town (age 63, born in Michigan), niece Leila M. Town (age 20, born in Colorado), and two lodgers.^12,13,14 For some period of time in 1930 they lived with their son Forbes' family at 737 27th in South Bend.¹⁵
     They soon moved back to Michigan, however, where they are listed twice in the 1930 census. Between 2 and 11 April they were enumerated at 409 W. Court in Flint, Genesee Co., Michigan, in a house they were renting for $35/month, and on 26 April they were enumerated in Portage Twp., Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, living with their nephew Fordyce Wiley's family.^16,17 In 1931 they were living at 1441 Indiana Ave. in Flint.¹⁸
     At the time of Dora's death on 3 February 1935, they were again living with their son Forbes' family, at 927 S. 23rd St. in South Bend.^2,19
     She had four children, two of them living in 1910.⁹ According to her obituary, she had a sister named Alice Harvey living in Whitemore Lake, Washtenaw Co., Michigan.²

     Edward Nicholas Dion was born on 15 December 1902 in Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio.^5,6 He married first Erbella Harris on 17 November 1920 in Niles, Berrien Co., Michigan.⁷ They apparently divorced, since Edward was later remarried. There's a divorce record for them in St. Joseph Co., Indiana, filed on 23 January 1922, but listed as dismissed on 26 March 1923.⁸ He married second Alice Hudson on 5 May 1925 in Lake Co., Indiana.⁹ He married third Bernice Patulski on 1 June 1929 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana.³ They were divorced on 18 March 1931 in Manistee Co., Michigan.¹⁰ He married fourth Jessie Mae Phillips, daughter of William N. Phillips and Phoebe Artman, on 4 January 1932 in Porter Co., Indiana.⁴ They were divorced on 24 March 1942 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹¹ He married fifth Rose Larocco on 18 July 1942 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹² He died on 29 March 1975 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana, at age 72 from a ruptured aorta.¹ He was buried on 1 April 1975 at Highland Cemetery in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹
     He and his third wife Bernice are listed in the 1930 census living with his brother George's family, at 730 S. Camden St. in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹³
     He and his fourth wife Jessie are listed in the South Bend city directory at 311 Ohio in 1932¹⁴, at 1727 Franklin in 1933¹⁵, at 848 Rush in 1934¹⁶, and at 806 S. Fellows from 1935 to 1939.¹⁷ He was in the trucking business in 1930 and 1934, and worked as a laborer from at least 1936 to 1940.^18,13,19 They are listed together in the 1940 census, along with Jessie's daughter Betty Town, on Sherdian St. in South Bend.¹⁹
     He served in the Army during World War II, enlisting as a Private on 14 November 1942 in Toledo, Lucas Co., Ohio.²⁰ At the time he was 5 ' 9 " tall, and weighed 182 pounds.²⁰
     After the war, he worked as a delivery man for Garnitz Furniture Co. in 1945-46, and later joined the Freeman-Spicer car dealership, where he spent much of the rest of his working life.^21,1
     At the time of his death, he and his fifth wife Rose were living at 931 S. 23rd St. in South Bend, St. Joseph Co., Indiana.¹