Lois Mae (Lancaster) Speer (1913 - 1990)

Born 10 Nov 1913 in Spokane, Washington, United States

Ancestors

Died 5 Jan 1990 at age 76 in Arkansas City, Cowley, Kansas, United States

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Biography

In 1915, the Lancaster family lived on their rented property in Arkansas City, Kansas. The household included C. D. Lancaster, 37, born in Texas; his wife R. I., 36, b. Kansas; their children Bessie, 13, b. Oklahoma; Marie, 9, b. Oklahoma; Lloyd, 7, b. Kansas; and Lois, b. Kansas. NOTE: the oldest three children were from R. I.’s previous marriage to COULTER; the baby was the daughter of C. D. And R. I. Lancaster^[1]

In 1918, the Lancaster family lived at RFD 3, Arkansas, Cowley, Kansas. On 12 September 1918, at Winfield, Cowley, Kansas, Columbus Decad Lancaster , 41, registered for the WWI Draft. He was a farmer, born 23 June 1877, and was of medium height, stout build, with blue eyes and light hair. His wife Aretta was his emergency contact.^[2]

In 1920, the Lancaster family lived on their rented farm on E. Madison Ave., Creswell, Cowley, Kansas. The household included C. D. Lancaster, 42, born in Texas (father b. Arkansas; mother b. Missouri), a farmer; his wife R. I., 41, b. Kansas (father b. KY; mother b. PA); their children, Bessie Coulter, 18, b. Washington; W. Lloyd Coulter, 12, b. OK; Marie (Coulter), 14, b. WA; Lois, 6, b. Kansas; Leroy, 4, b. Kansas; and Raymond, 3, b. Kansas. The adults could read and write. All the children were in school and could read and write, except for the youngest two. ^[3]

In 1925, the Lancaster’s lived in Cowley County, Kansas. They had moved from Washington to Kansas. All members of the household could read and write, except for the youngest child. The household included Columbus D. Lancaster, 47, born in Texas, a self-employed plasterer, who owned their house with a mortgage; his wife Retta, 45, b. Kansas; their children, Marie, 19, b. WA, a stenographer; Lois, 11, b. WA, in school; Leroy, 9, b. Kansas, in school; Raymond, 8, b. Kansas, in school; Donald, 5, b. Kansas; and Lloyd Coulter (son). 17, b. Kansas, in school, a baker at Baers Bakery.^[4]

In 1930, the Lancaster family lived in Arkansas, Cowley, Kansas. They owned their home, valued at $4500. All members of the household could read and write, and all the children were in school. The household included Columbus D. Lancaster, 52, born in Texas, who first married at age 23, a plasterer contractor, and not a veteran; his wife Retta I., 51, b. Kansas, first married at age 22; their children, Lois M., 16, b. Washington; Leroy, 15, b. Kansas; Raymond, 13, b. Kansas; and Donald, 10, b. Kansas.^[5]

In 1940, the Lancasters lived at 101 N. Fourth Court, Arkansas City, Cowley, Kansas. They rented the house for $17 per month. They had lived in the same city for at least five years. The household included Columbus Lancaster, 62, born in Texas, who had completed the 8th grade, a church custodian, who worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $1000; his wife Retta, 61, b. Kansas, completed one year of high school; their children, Lois, 26, b. Washington, completed one year of college, a secretary for a public school, worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $975; and Donald, 20, b. Kansas, completed one year of college, a chemist at a flour mill, worked 52 weeks in 1939, earning $219.^[6]

NOTE: the Lancaster family apparently lost (or sold) their house during the Great Depression. But, this family valued education, and managed to educate at least two of their children into college during that time.

NOTE: the data included in these Censuses were transcribed as originally written. Census records notoriously contain unintentional errors, depending upon which member of the household was providing the data. For this reason, one finds inconsistent information between Censuses.

Sources

1. ↑ 1915 Kansas State Census, Arkansas City, Crowley, Kansas (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGVS-GFB7)
2. ↑ US WWI Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K66C-HMH)
3. ↑ 1920 US Census, Creswell, Crowley, Kansas (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF6M-BZN)
4. ↑ 1925 Kansas State Census, Cowley, Kansas (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGS-XJNN
5. ↑ 1930 US Census, Arkansas, Cowley, Kansas (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X73G-C4Y)
6. ↑ 1940 US Census, Ward 4 Arkansas City, Arkansas City, Cowley, Kansas (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRVR-8CC)

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