Ethel Maud Gordon1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 19518, (1885 - 1935)
FatherJohn Gordon4,5
MotherSophia Katherine Snur5

Key Events:

Birth: 25 Feb 1885, Elmira, Otsego Co., Michigan6,7,8,9
Marriage: 28 Jan 1908, Sandusky Co., Ohio, Joseph Alvy Snowdall (30 Dec 1876 - 1966)10,11,12
Death: 22 May 1935, Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa13,14,15
Burial: 25 May 1935, Elmwood Cemetery, Coin, Page Co., Iowa16,17

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Ethel Maud Gordon was born on 25 Feb 1885 in Elmira, Otsego Co., Michigan.6,7,8,9
     Ethel moved to Clyde, Ohio, before her marriage, when she was living there with an uncle.5
     Ethel married Joseph Alvy Snowdall, son of Joseph Snowdall and Mary A. Glover, on 28 Jan 1908 in Sandusky Co., Ohio, with Rev. J. H. Hollingsworth, pastor of the Baptist Church in Clyde, Ohio, officating.10,11,12
     Joseph adopted Douglas Gorden Snowdall before 1910, whether formally or not is unknown. Douglas consistently used the Snowdall surname after that. His birth parents are unknown, but since he was born in Ethel's hometown, which was quite distant from any place Joseph is known to have lived, it seems likely he was her son or the son of a relative of hers.18,19,20
     Ethel and Joseph apparently lived in Kansas for a time after their marriage, as their first son was born there. Then moved to Missouri by 1910. They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of West Elm, Putnam Co., Missouri, enumerated 27 Apr 1910, reporting that they owned their farm, which was mortgaged. Their son Joseph was listed as living with them, as were his daughter by his prior marriage, Vera, and his adopted son, Douglas.21
     Ethel and Joseph moved their family to Iowa about 1912, settling near Randolph.22,23 They appeared on the 1915 State Census of Riverside Twp., Fremont Co., Iowa, reporting that they did not own their home. Their children Joseph, Wava, Clifford and Helen were listed as living with them, as was his adopted son Douglas. He reported that he was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, while she reported affiliation with the Baptist Church.24,25,26,27,28
     Ethel and Joseph appeared on the 1925 State Census of Tarkio, Page Co., Iowa. Their children Joseph, Wava, Clifford, Helen, Robert, Marguerite, Winfred, Mildred and John were listed as living with them.29
     Ethel and Joseph appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Morton Twp., Page Co., Iowa, enumerated 21 Apr 1930, reporting that they were renting their farm and did not own a radio. Their children Clifford, Helen, Robert, Marguerite, Winfred, Mildred, John, Myron and James were listed as living with them.30
     Ethel died on 22 May 1935 in Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa, at age 50.13,14,15 She was buried on 25 May 1935 in Elmwood Cemetery, Coin, Page Co., Iowa.16,17

Children:
     Children with Joseph Alvy Snowdall

Douglas was adopted by Joseph; his mother seems to have been Ethel or a relative of hers.18,19,20
  • Douglas Gorden Snowdall31 (18 Jun 1904 - 27 Mar 1980)
  • Joseph Dean Snowdall32,29 (6 Dec 1908 - 25 Mar 1981)
  • Wava P. Snowdall33,29 (1910 - 2008)
  • Clifford O. Snowdall34,29,35 (6 Sep 1912 - 7 Jul 1971)
  • Helen Angela Snowdall36,29,30 (4 Jul 1914 - 9 Dec 2000)
  • Robert Melvin Snowdall29,35 (23 May 1916 - 20 May 1991)
  • Marguerite Eileen Snowdall29,37,38 (20 May 1918 - 10 Apr 1999)
  • Winfred Iris Snowdall29,37,39 (13 Jul 1920 - 2 Oct 1997)
  • Mildred Grace Snowdall29,37,40 (5 Aug 1922 - 24 Nov 1991)
  • John R. Snowdall29,35 (4 May 1924 - 24 Nov 1975)
  • Myron Jerome Snowdall35,41,42 (19 Jan 1928 - 22 Sep 1988)
  • James Arthur Snowdall35,43 (27 Dec 1929 - 10 Oct 1998)

Citations

  1. [S7313] Joseph Alvy Snowdall and Ethel Maud Gordon, marriage record, shows name as Ethel Maud Grodon in three places and Ethel May in a fourth.
  2. [S5476] J. A. Snowdahl household, 1925 Iowa State Census, Page Co., Iowa, Tarkio, shows name as Mrs. J. A. Showdahl, and as mother of her children, as Ethel Gordon.
  3. [S5522] Ethel Snowdall, Standard Certificate of Death, shows father's surname as Gordon.
  4. [S5522] Ethel Snowdall, Standard Certificate of Death.
  5. [S7313] Joseph Alvy Snowdall and Ethel Maud Gordon, marriage record.
  6. [S7313] Joseph Alvy Snowdall and Ethel Maud Gordon, marriage record, shows she was age 22 on 25 Feb 1907, county, as "Oswego" [does not exist, probably mis-spelling of Otsego] and state.
  7. [S5522] Ethel Snowdall, Standard Certificate of Death, shows date, town, as Elmira, and state.
  8. [S5467] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1910 U.S. Census, Putnam Co., Missouri, shows age 25 and state.
  9. [S5482] "Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992," FamilySearch.org, record for Ethel Snowdall, citing FHL #1535553 and pg 258, shows age 50 at death 22 May 1935.
  10. [S7313] Joseph Alvy Snowdall and Ethel Maud Gordon, marriage record, shows date, county, and officiant.
  11. [S5467] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1910 U.S. Census, Putnam Co., Missouri, shows married 2 years, his second and her first marriage.
  12. [S5476] J. A. Snowdahl household, 1925 Iowa State Census, Page Co., Iowa, Tarkio, shows married, and as marriage of parents for the children, state.
  13. [S5522] Ethel Snowdall, Standard Certificate of Death, shows date, city, and county.
  14. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 54834584, Ethel M Snowdall, shows year, and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  15. [S5478] Joseph Snowdall household, 1940 U.S. Census, Page Co., Iowa, shows her husband as widowed.
  16. [S5522] Ethel Snowdall, Standard Certificate of Death, shows date, town, and state.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 54834584, Ethel M Snowdall, includes tombstone photo.
  18. [S5467] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1910 U.S. Census, Putnam Co., Missouri, shows Douglas as the son of Joseph, but shows his father and mother as born in Michigan, while Joseph was born in Illinois. Shows Ethel as the mother of two, with the number living omitted, and the boy as born 3 years before their marriage.
  19. [S7317] "Lshowen1,: "Douglas Snowdall," e-mail to author, 11 Jan 2016, states "I've heard that he was adopted by Joseph Snowdall"; in second message same date and subject states "it's my understanding that no one knew who his father was his mother wouldn't talk about it"; and in third message "Douglas" 12 Jan 2016, states "he talked about not knowing his father."
  20. [S7311] Barbara Rose Snowdall, Standard Certificate of Death, shows Douglas's birth place as Elmira, Michigan.
  21. [S5467] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1910 U.S. Census, Putnam Co., Missouri.
  22. [S5469] Joseph Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp., shows he had been in Iowa 3 years.
  23. [S5470] Ethel Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp., shows she had been in Iowa 3 years.
  24. [S5469] Joseph Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp.
  25. [S5470] Ethel Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp.
  26. [S5471] Douglas Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp.
  27. [S5472] Dean Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp.
  28. [S5473] Wava Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp.
  29. [S5476] J. A. Snowdahl household, 1925 Iowa State Census, Page Co., Iowa, Tarkio.
  30. [S5477] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1930 U.S. Census, Page Co., Iowa.
  31. [S5467] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1910 U.S. Census, Putnam Co., Missouri, shows the boy as son of her husband, born before they were married, but mother born in Michigan as she was, unlike his older daughter whose mother is shown as born in Illinois.
  32. [S5467] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1910 U.S. Census, Putnam Co., Missouri, shows him as the son of her husband and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  33. [S5473] Wava Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp., shows her in same location, and with sequentially numbered cards with her parents and older siblings.
  34. [S5474] Clifford Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp., shows him in same location, and with sequentially numbered cards with his parents and older siblings.
  35. [S5477] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1930 U.S. Census, Page Co., Iowa, shows him as the son of her husband.
  36. [S5475] Helen Snowdall card, 1915 Iowa State Census, Freemont Co., Iowa, Riverside Twp., shows him in same location, and with sequentially numbered cards with his parents and older siblings.
  37. [S5477] Joseph A. Snowdall household, 1930 U.S. Census, Page Co., Iowa, shows the girl as daughter of Ethel's husband.
  38. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Marguerite Eil Wood, Soc. Sec. No. 483-10-3056.
  39. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Winifred Iris Murphy, Soc. Sec. No. 480-32-7608.
  40. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Grace M Bernierl, Soc. Sec. No. 480185316, shows mother's surname as Gordon.
  41. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Myron Jerome Snowdall, Soc. Sec. No. 479266312, shows mother's maiden name as Gordon.
  42. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Myron Jerome Snowdall, Soc. Sec. No. 479-26-6312.
  43. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for James Arthur Snowdall, Soc. Sec. No. 479-28-8925.