Laura Ann Wise1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 18116, (1862 - 1941)
FatherSimon P. Wise4,5,6 (15 Feb 1838 - 27 Jul 1909)
MotherSarah Keith4,5 (abt 1839 - )

Key Events:

Birth: 4 Oct 1862, Pottstown, Ohio7,8,9,10
Marriage: 24 Dec 1882, Melvin, McLean Co., Illinois, William Henry Van Velson (Nov 1858 - )11,12,13
Death: 17 Feb 1941, Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois4,14
Burial: 18 Feb 1941, Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois15,16

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Laura Ann Wise was born on 4 Oct 1862 in Pottstown, Ohio.7,8,9,10 She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Livingston, Clark Co., Illinois, in the household of her parents, Simon P. Wise and Sarah Keith.17 She appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Bellflower Twp., McLean Co., Illinois, in the household of her father, and Martha J. [surname unknown], her stepmother.6
     Laura married William Henry Van Velson, son of Abner R. Van Velson and Joanna Reagen, on 24 Dec 1882 in Melvin, McLean Co., Illinois.11,12,13
     Laura appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Roberts, Ford Co., Illinois, 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., Minnesota.18
     On 20 Oct 1908 Laura's husband William was convicted of bigamy in district court in Le Mars, Iowa. 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.19 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.20,21,22,23
     Laura appeared with her daughter Ethel on the 1910 Federal Census of Arrowsmith, McLean Co., Illinois, in the household of Milton Simon Wise, her brother.24
     Laura appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois, enumerated 14 Jan 1920, reporting that she owned her home, free of mortgage.25 She appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois, at 1 Hunt St., enumerated 4 Apr 1930, reporting that she owned a home valued at $1,500, and did not own a radio.26
     She was a boarding house keeper in 1900, and a dressmaker by 1910, apparently retired by 1930.3,27,28,29
     Laura appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois, 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 1935.30
     Laura died on 17 Feb 1941 in Melvin, Ford Co., Illinois, at age 78.4,14 She was buried on 18 Feb 1941 in Chatsworth Cemetery, Chatsworth, Livingston Co., Illinois.15,16

Children:
     Children with William Henry Van Velson:

Citations

  1. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Laura Ann Wise Van Velson, citing FHL #1832580 and pg 38 cert no 10547, shows father's surname as Wise.
  2. [S3680] Simon Wise household, 1870 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Illinois, shows name as Laura Wise.
  3. [S3676] Laura A. VanVilson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois.
  4. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Laura Ann Wise Van Velson, citing FHL #1832580 and pg 38 cert no 10547.
  5. [S3680] Simon Wise household, 1870 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Illinois, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  6. [S3681] Simon Wise household, 1880 U.S. Census, McLean Co., Illinois.
  7. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Laura Ann Wise Van Velson, citing FHL #1832580 and pg 38 cert no 10547, shows date, with year as 1862, town, and state.
  8. [S3676] Laura A. VanVilson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows month, year, as 1862, age 37 and state.
  9. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 95386969, Laura A. Vanelson, shows year, as 1863.
  10. [S3680] Simon Wise household, 1870 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Illinois, shows age 8 and state.
  11. [S3688] "Wife of Bigamist Swoons," The Rockford Republic, 20 Oct 1908, shows date, as 24 Dec, town, as Melvin, county, and state.
  12. [S63] "Ancestral File," FamilySearch.org, records for William H Van Velson, afn 1NCF-BGX, and Laura Ann Wise, afn 1NCF-BH5, shows date, as 20 Oct, township, county, and state.
  13. [S3676] Laura A. VanVilson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows married 16 years, but no husband is present.
  14. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 95386969, Laura A. Vanelson, shows year.
  15. [S3462] "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," FamilySearch.org, record for Laura Ann Wise Van Velson, citing FHL #1832580 and pg 38 cert no 10547, shows date, town, county, and state.
  16. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 95386969, Laura A. Vanelson, shows cemetery, town, county, and state.
  17. [S3680] Simon Wise household, 1870 U.S. Census, Clark Co., Illinois.
  18. [S3685] Lee T. Wise household, 1900 U.S. Census, Rock Co., Minnesota.
  19. [S3688] "Wife of Bigamist Swoons," The Rockford Republic, 20 Oct 1908.
  20. [S3678] Milton S. Wise household, 1910 U.S. Census, McLean Co., Illinois, shows her as a widow.
  21. [S3677] Laura A. VanVelson household, 1920 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows her as a widow.
  22. [S3679] Laura A. Van Velson household, 1930 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows her as a widow.
  23. [S3687] Fredrick M. Kingery household, 1925 Iowa State Census, Mahaska Co., Iowa, Lincoln, shows him in the household.
  24. [S3678] Milton S. Wise household, 1910 U.S. Census, McLean Co., Illinois.
  25. [S3677] Laura A. VanVelson household, 1920 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois.
  26. [S3679] Laura A. Van Velson household, 1930 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois.
  27. [S3678] Milton S. Wise household, 1910 U.S. Census, McLean Co., Illinois, shows occupation as dressmaker, industry as own house.
  28. [S3677] Laura A. VanVelson household, 1920 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows occupation as dressmaker, industry as own house.
  29. [S3679] Laura A. Van Velson household, 1930 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows no occupation.
  30. [S3674] Laura Van Velson household, 1940 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois.
  31. [S13253] Glabe, Bertha, The PantagraphBertha, 31 Jan 1965.
  32. [S3676] Laura A. VanVilson household, 1900 U.S. Census, Ford Co., Illinois, shows name Lara as his sister and Ethel as his niece, both with surname Van Valson.
  33. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Ethel Edith Kauffold, Soc. Sec. No. 558219211, shows mother's maiden name as Weise.