Ida Lucinda (Blodgett) West (1865 - 1914)

Born 8 Feb 1865 in Gillette, Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Luther West — married 30 Aug 1880 in Gillette, Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA

Descendants

Died 1914 at about age 48 in USA [uncertain]

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Biography

Birth

Ida Blodgett, daughter of Jacob Blodgett and Annis (Avery) Blodgett,^[1] was born 8 Feb 1865, in Gillette, Bradford, Pennsylvania. ^[2] She was the youngest of eleven children. She was also called Ida L and Ida May.

Early Life

Ida, age 5, lived in South Creek, Bradford, Pennsylvania, with Jacob Bldgett, 54, farmer; Annise 44, Jacob D 19, James 17, Nancy 15, Marila J. 12, and Abm? 8, in 1870 ^[3]

In 1880, the US Census for South Creek, Bradford, PA (Pennsylvania) enumerated the Blodget family: Jacob 61 farmer, Annis 56 wife, Abram D 18 son, Ida L 16 dtr. Jacob and his parents were born in New York. Annis was born in PA and her parents were born in New York.^[1]

Marriage

Levi Stone officiated at the marriage of Ida Lucinda Blodgett and Joseph Luther West, 30 Aug 1880, in Gillette, Bradford County, Pennsylvania.^[4] Joseph was a Civil War Veteran, age 40. A previous wife had died childless in 1862. Ida was 15.

During the next nine years Ida and Joseph had seven children.^[5] Two of these children have never been identified and probably died young.

Family Breakup

It appears the marriage was not ideal. Joseph became disabled with rheumatism he developed during the war, and applied for a disability pension in 1885.^[6] It can be assumed, also, that he was an alcoholic, which was reported as his cause of death.^[7] In 1889, Joseph and Ida separated. A family story was that both parents were killed in a buggy accident, which was not true as both lived for many years afterwards. Their children were sent to the Bradford County Home, probably for economic reasons.

Children

Records of the Bradford County Home^[8] show admission of the following children on 10 Dec 1889 from Snedekerville, Mother Ida West: Charley, 8, and Hattie, 6, both were discharged 17 Mar 1890 to Joe Tebo of Roaring Branch, Lycoming Co; Minnie, 6, discharged 27 Mar 1890 to Charles Blodgetts of Gillette (Charles was an older brother of Ida); Frankey, 2, went home 21 Mar 1890; Emma 7 mo. d 16 Feb 1890, and is buried at the County Farm.

1. Charles F. West
2. Minnie West
3. Harriet Belle West
4. Frank West
5. Emma West

1890-1914

The Elmira, New York, City Directory of 1895 lists Joseph as a cooper and head of household there, while Ida begins to be listed as "widow of Joseph" in 1900 and later as "widow of William (probably an error) until 1912.^[9]

The 1900 Census, Chemung Co. NY ED12, Sh12 L100 lists Ida West living as a roomer with Thomas Mahon at 365 Railroad Street, Elmira. Correct birth date 2/1865, 35 years old, m. 22 yrs (which is inconsistent with marriage date), 7 children, 4 living. b. PA (Pennsylvania), father & mother also b. PA. Zero months of school but reads & writes English. Occupation Washing/Laundry, employed every month of prior year.^[10]

The 1900 Census of Ridgebury,Bradford Co. PA Pg. 3017 Ridgebury Twp. lists Joseph in dwelling 81, b. Dec 1839, a. 60, Widower (error), no children listed, b. NY, father b VT mother b NY, occupation Cooper, employed 10 mo of year, reads, writes, speaks English, renter of home.^[11]

In the Elmira City Directory of 1901 there is an Ida West a domestic at 803 E. Water St. which is a different person.

The last years of Ida's life are obscure. Her grandaughter, Florence Crofutt, remembered that she had another husband and resided in Elmira. A 1910 Census enumeration has not been located. All Ida's of any surname in Chemung County had only been married once. There were no Idas enumerated in Bradford or Gillette. In Towanda a mostly illegible Ida A (indexed as Ida) was enumerated with husband and some children. It maybe says she was married 2 times and looks like 7 ch with ? living.

Death

Ida West died in 1914 and is buried, as Ida L West in the Upper Gillett Cemetery.^[12]

Research Notes

Pennsylvania Death certificates are online, but a search for Ida, didn't find a likely candidate. Perhaps she died in New York.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Census Place: South Creek, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1104; Family History Film: 1255104; Page: 367C; Enumeration District: 021; Image: 0724 (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. accessed at Ancestry.com
2. ↑ Blodgett, Edwin A., Ten Generations of Blodgetts in America (Barre, VT:Modern Printing, 1969 )
3. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census; Census Place: South Creek, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1312; Page: 413B; Image: 103; Family History Library Film: 552811. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. Accessed at Ancestry.com
4. ↑ Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions. Washington, D.C. January 15, 1898. Questionaire sent to Joseph L. West. returned July 5, 1898. See attached document
5. ↑ Ida reported in the 1900 Census that she had 7 children, four were still living
6. ↑ National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Pension related documents for Joseph L. West. "Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension," "History of Claimant's Disability," "General Affidavit, Cyrus Derby," "General Affidavit, James Moran"
7. ↑ Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, March 13 1907, Death Certificate Joseph L West
8. ↑ Microfiche copy acquired from Bradford County
9. ↑ Hanford's Elmira City Directories have the following entries: 1900 - West Ida L, widow Joseph, bds 356 E Fourth; 1901- West Ida L. Mrs, h 356 E Fourth; 1902 - West Ida L, widow William, bds 356 E Fourth; 1909 - West Ida L, widow William, housekeeper 356 E Fourth; 1912 - West Ida, wid William, bds 356 E Fourth. 1912 is her last entry in the Elmira Directory.
10. ↑ United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Census Place: Elmira Ward 3, Chemung, New York; Roll: 1016; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 1241016 Enumeration District : 0012; Description: Elmira City, 3rd Ward; 1st district Bounded by West Clinton, Erie RR, W Church, Columbia
11. ↑ 1900; Census Place: Ridgebury, Bradford, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1383; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 1241383. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Accessed at Ancestry.com
12. ↑ Gravestone at Upper Gillett Cemetery Gillett, Bradford County, Pennsylvania

• Blodgett, Edwin A., Ten Generations of Blodgetts in America (Barre, VT:Modern Printing, 1969.