Elmer Lawrence Imel

Narrative:

     Elmer Lawrence Imel was born on 10 Aug 1867 in Milton, Pennsylvania.^7,8,9 He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Jackson Twp., Gentry Co., Missouri, in the household of his parents, Thomas Imel and Violetta Riegel.⁵
     By 1887 Elmer was a cutter, and by the next year a foreman, at I. R. Kaull, a firm that made overalls.¹³
     Elmer married Catharine Parsels, daughter of Benjamin T. Parsels and Catharine Kiersted, on 2 Jun 1891.^10,11,12 He was a cutter for McKinney, Hundley & Walker, a fancy dry goods wholesale business, in 1890. By 1893 he had a similar position with Tootle Hosea & Co., another dry goods company.¹⁴
     Elmer and Catharine seemed to have moved frequently during most of their married years. In 1893 they were living at 715 Albemarle in St. Joseph.¹⁵ Elmer moved to Kansas City, Missouri, about 1894, where he continued to work as a cutter. He lived at a number of places, including 1409 Flora, 218 W 7th, and 1910 Tracy. He returned to St. Joseph by 1897.¹⁶
     Back in St. Joseph, Elmer worked as a cutter at the factory of R. L. McDonald & Co. in 1898 and 1899. By 1900 he was working for Wheeler Mfg Co., makers of clothing overalls shirts etc., as a cutter and fitter.^17,18
     Presumably Catharine accompanied him to Kansas City, but no evidence has been found to establish that. In any case, back in St. Joseph, they lived at 2020 North 3rd and 2024 North 3rd before landing at 1218 North 8th by 1900.¹⁹ They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 1218 North 8th, enumerated 5 Jun 1900. Their children Violetta, Irene and Lavinla were listed as living with them.²⁰
     After living there three years they moved to 1227 North 8th about 1904, to 1439 North 13th the next year, and to 1506 North 13th the following year, where they lived until 1908.^21,22
     Elmer began working for the Hundley-Smith Dry Goods Co., later known as Hundley Dry Goods Co., another wholesale firm, about 1902. He worked there as a cutter until 1908.^23,24,25 He began working for the Tootle-Campbell Dry Goods Co. about 1909 and worked there the rest of his career. When he retired 30 years later he was hailed as the company's first employee. He was a cutter in the shoe factory and garment factory, and later a foreman in the overall factory.^{26,27,28,29,30,31}
     Elmer and Catharine moved to 1222 Lincoln St. about 1909.³² They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 1222 Lincoln St., enumerated 24 Apr 1910. Their children Violetta, Irene and Lavinla were listed as living with them, as are two nephews, Albert S. and Frederick M. Fansher, ages 19 and 18.³³
     They moved to 1411 North 11th about 1911, living there until 1915. About 1916 they moved to 210 South 20th, then about 1918 to 2318 Felix.³⁴ They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 1815 Jones St., enumerated 5 Jan 1920, reporting that the family was renting its home. Their daughter Lavinla was listed as living with them.³⁵
     They moved to 1209 Charles by 1924.³⁶ They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 1209 Charles, enumerated 12 Apr 1930, reporting that they rented their home for $30 per month.³⁷
     Elmer and Catharine appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 3204 Olive St., enumerated 3 Apr 1940, reporting that they rented their home, for $18 per month, and had lived in the same house in 1935.³⁸
     They moved to 3302 Duncan St. by 1949, where they lived until his death.^39,1 They appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of St Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at 3302 Duncan St., enumerated 6 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm.⁴⁰
     Elmer died on 27 Aug 1953 in St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri, at age 86.¹ He was buried on 29 Aug 1953 in Ashland Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri.¹