Alfred Theodore Whitteker (1870 - abt. 1937)

Born Apr 1870 in Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky

Ancestors

Husband of Louise Katherine Sutter — married 30 Jun 1913 in Santa Barbara County, California

Died about 11 Mar 1937 at about age 66 in Lynwood, Los Angeles Co., California

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1870 US Census, Covington, Kenton Co., KY

1900 US Census, Covington, Kenton Co., KY

1910 US Census, Houston Heights Ward 3, Harris, Texas, 6A

1920 US Census, Pine Grove, Santa Barbara, CA , 10A

California County Marriages, 1850-1952: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XLXW-M9D

Los Angeles Co. CA Voters Registration Lists 1936 & 1938

California Death Index, 1905-1939

Tombstone in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Gardena, Los Angeles County, CA

NOTES:

Alfred, Jr. moved first to Victoria Texas, where he was General Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. His letter of resignation was published in The Weekly Advocate there on 01 Aug 1903. The letter stated that he was resigning his position to accept another position in Galveston, Texas, where he must have then removed himself to.

The San Antonio Daily Light of San Antonio, Texas of 08 Jun 1905 published a notice of a divorce awarded to "Kate Whitaker" from "Alfred Whitaker". It states that Kate D'Avenport was married to Alfred Whitaker in Houston on 18 Jul 1896; and lived with him together as man and wife until 12 Apr 1902, when he abandoned her and discontinued supporting her. Judgement was rendered in her favor; and, since she was allowed to resume the use of her maiden name, it may be deducted that there were no children born of this union. I have no definite proof that this was the same Alfred; but I do note that it fits together well with his time line of moving around the state of Texas.

Finally, on 24 Mar 1912, another article about Alfred Jr. was published in the Cleburne Morning Review of Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas. This piece expounded upon his great talent as both a director of their choir and his ability as an artist. It was stated that he could keep children mesmerized and interested for hours as he quickly drew pictures in chalk as he talked. They dubbed him "the chalk talker" and said that he was one of the best leaders of song in the whole South; saying also that it was rare that both of these talents should be visited upon the same man. He was the leader of the Choir which was working in the Revival Meetings of Evangelist Lockett Adair, who had been converting people in the Denton, Texas area since the Christmas season of 1911. Adair was a well known Evangelist and Preacher who had converted more than 500 people since the start of the Revival Meetings here. Alfred, himself, made many friends in the area and it was stated that he would not soon be forgotten.

I have not been able to pinpoint his place of residence at this time, in 1912, nor in any subsequent US Census Records. If he truly were married to Kate; and, was unaware that he had been divorced, he may have had a reason to want to remain anonymous. He also cannot be found in the 1900 or 1910 US Census for Texas, although it is obvious that he was still very much alive. Before moving to Texas, there was no difficulty in finding him in the US Census for Kentucky. He was living with his mother in the 1880 Census for Covington, Kentucky. There being no census for 1890, he does appear in the City Directories up to 1892, so could very well have moved to Texas before 1896.

I have since writing the above paragraphs, found that Alfred T. Whitteker, Jr. moved to California sometime during 1914. I also have found him, living with his sister, Dora and her husband, John W. Martin, in Houston Heights in the 1910 US Census. He was there listed as "brother-in-law" and an Evangelist singer. The last stories of him appeared in the Dallas Morning News of 28 Nov 1913 and 12 Jul 1914. He apparently had married Louise Sutter sometime in 1912. She was born 04 Jul 1887 in Pennsylvania. He and Louise had just one child, a boy named Alfred "Jack" Whitteker.

They first lived in the Santa Maria Precinct of Santa Barbara County, California at 408 South Pine Street, according to the Voter's Registration Lists of 1920-1928. Alfred worked as a clerk and his wife was keeping house when they lived here.

In 1924, they moved to Glendale, Los Angeles County, California. Here Alfred did business as a real estate broker while they were living at 1247 East Lexington Drive. Two years later they moved to a house on 3305 West Flower Street in Lynwood; and Alfred became a salesman. Still two more years later, they moved again to 3554 Josephine Avenue; and, Louise began working as a teacher. They stayed at this address until 1936 when they appear in the Voter's Registration Lists as having moved to 2971 Beechwood Avenue. This would be the last year that Alfed's name would be in the Voter Lists. He probably died about this time or before 1938 when Louise moved back to Santa Barbara County and appears in those voter's lists by herself. She lived at 205 East Park Street in Santa Maria and continued working as a teacher. Finally, in 1942, she would become a school principal; and was living in Santa Barbara at 721 East Orange. According to the Social Security Death Index, she died in 1968 while still living in Santa Barbara. She is buried in the Santa Maria Cemetery there.