Person Page 1,812

Laura Ann Wise was born on 4 Oct 1862 in Pottstown, OhioG.^4,5,6,7 She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Livingston, Clark Co., IllinoisG, in the household of her parents, Simon P. Wise and Sarah Keith.¹⁵ She appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Bellflower Twp., McLean Co., Illinois G, in the household of her father, and Martha J., her stepmother.¹⁶
     Laura married William Henry Van Velson, son of Abner R. Van Velson and Joanna Reagen, on 24 Dec 1882 in Melvin, McLean Co., IllinoisG.^8,9,10
     Laura appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Roberts, Ford Co., Illinois G, enumerated 4 Jun 1900, reporting that she owned her home, which was mortgaged. Her children Bertha and Ethel were listed as living with her, as was a boarder, Justin Tarvin,a 29-year-old thrashing engineer. Laura reported she was married, but her husband was not listed in the household.³ He was apparently living with her brother Leander and his wife in Luverne, Rock Co., MinnesotaG.¹⁷
     On 20 Oct 1908 Laura's husband William was convicted of bigamy in district court in Le Mars, IowaG. He had been charged with marrying his second wife, Ida Prentice, a widow in Kingsley, Iowa, without having divorced Laura. A newspaper account reported that Laura fainted in court. He had been caught in Valentine, Nebraska, after his second wife's suspicions had been raised after the receipt of an invitation to his daughter's high school graduation.¹⁸ Perhaps understandably, she reported herself as a widow in the 1910 and each subsequent census, even though he was alive as late as 1925 when he was living with his cousin in Iowa.^19,20,21,22
     Laura appeared with her daughter Ethel on the 1910 Federal Census of Arrowsmith, McLean Co., Illinois G, in the household of Milton Simon Wise, her brother.²³
     Laura appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois G, enumerated 14 Jan 1920, reporting that she owned her home, free of mortgage.²⁴ She appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois G, at 1 Hunt St., enumerated 4 Apr 1930, reporting that she owned a home valued at $1,500, and did not own a radio.²⁵
     She was a boarding house keeper in 1900, and a dressmaker by 1910, apparently retired by 1930.^3,26,27,28
     Laura appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois G, enumerated 24 Apr 1940, reporting that she owned a home valued at $800. Her daughter Bertha was listed as living with her, Both of them reported they had lived in the same house in 1935.²⁹
     Laura died on 17 Feb 1941 in Melvin, Ford Co., IllinoisG, at age 78.^11,12 She was buried on 18 Feb 1941 in Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth, Livingston Co., IllinoisG.^13,14

William Henry Van Velson was born in Nov 1858 in IllinoisG.^4,5,6 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Orange Prairie, Peoria Co., IllinoisG, in the household of his parents, Abner R. Van Velson and Joanna Reagen.¹² He appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of La Prairie, Marshall Co., IllinoisG, in the household of his parents.¹³
     William married first Laura Ann Wise, daughter of Simon P. Wise and Sarah Keith, on 24 Dec 1882 in Melvin, McLean Co., IllinoisG.^7,8,9
     William appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Luverne, Rock Co., Minnesota G, in the household of Leander T. Wise and Ida Perry, his wife's brother and his wife.¹⁴
     William married second Ida Prentice, daughter of Harlow B. Prentice and Sophia A. Russell, on 7 Oct 1907 in Cherokee Co., IowaG.^10,11
     On 20 Oct 1908 William was convicted of bigamy in district court in Le Mars, IowaG. He had been charged with marrying his second wife, Ida, a widow in Kingsley, Iowa, without having divorced his first wife, Laura, in Illinois. A newspaper account reported that his first wife fainted in court and the second one barely kept from swooning. He had been caught in Valentine, Nebraska, after his second wife's suspicions had been raised after an invitation to his daughter's high school graduation arrived.¹⁵
     William appeared on the 1925 State Census of Lincoln, Mahaska Co., IowaG, in the household of his cousin, Charles A. Van Velson and his wife Vesta. He is shown as having lived in Iowa 20 years. Strangely, he is shown as having lived in the U.S. only 45 of his 65 years. Had he lived outside the U.S. for a time, or was this simply a mistake?¹⁶
     He was a locomotive engineer in 1900, but no other record of his occupation has been found, save that in 1925 he reported he was "engaged in agricultural pursuits" while living with his cousin in Iowa.^14,16