Lola (Robinson) Whiteman (1865 - 1951)

Born 21 Jun 1865 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, USA

Ancestors

Daughter of George Cleland Robinson and Eliza Ann (Howell) Robinson

Wife of Thomas Jefferson Whiteman — married 30 Dec 1885 in Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware, USA

Descendants

Died 3 Jun 1951 at age 85 in Lancaster Park, New Castle County, Delaware, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chet Snow [send private message]

Biography

Lola Robinson (the family surname was changed from "Robertson" on their arrival in America c. 1828: one brother - her ancestor - was naturalized as "Albert Robinson" and his sibling as "James Robertson" - which the family knows was the original Scottish spelling ) was of Scotch and Welsh heritage. She was born in 1865 at her grandmother Eliza-Jane Howell's home in Wilmington, Delaware. She lived with her parents and brothers at Evergreen Place in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, and attended the Presbyterian church there.

When she was 13 years old (1878) after several business reversals, her family moved from town to a family-owned farm between Milford's Grove and Pleasant Hill (New Castle Co.), Delaware. The land is now [sic = 1951] owned by Dr. Stine, the inventor of nylon at the nearby DuPont laboratories. Lola attended Fairview High School and the prestigious Newark Academy in preparation for college (she wanted to study law). At the last minute ("I had my books all packed!" she once told me), her father decided that, as a woman, she didn't need to attend college, saying: "You'll only get married anyway". As he had lost most of his money in the Panic of 1873 this may have been a proud man's cover-up for his inability to pay her tuition but his daughter never forgot his misogynist attitude.

Lola had an informal "coming out" at her cousin Mary Durett's home in Oxford PA at 18 years old (June 1883) and Alexis Durett declared he wanted to marry her but she only "fell in love" a year later when she met a neighboring farmer, Thomas Jefferson Whiteman, at a Presbyterian church supper in Christiana, Delaware. They became engaged on Valentine's Day 1885 and were married on December 30, 1885.^[1]

Lola's father so opposed marrying his daughter to a farmer, even from an old neighboring land-owning family, that he refused to attend the wedding, let alone give her away... Although the ceremony was held in the Robinson's front parlor by the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church's pastor, whom the family knew well, George Robinson remained in the back dining room where it is said he whistled loudly to drown out the wedding vows.

As was customary, a family dinner followed the wedding ceremony; it featured roast turkey and fried oysters. Unfortunately a blizzard set in that evening and so the newly-weds and guests had to stay overnight. Tom Whiteman's brothers decided to play a nuptial prank and removed the wooden slats under the mattress of the Robinson's antique 4-poster double bed so it would collapse when the couple got into it together. Suspecting something, the groom inspected the room and found the missing slats, roundly chastising his brothers but the young bride was shocked at the whole incident. That birds-eye maple 4-poster bed, hand crafted in the early 1800s by a Moore ancestor, is still in the family today, 2 centuries later.^[2]

Lola also told CA Bonine that she had gotten to know her fiancé well between their engagement and wedding because he caught typhoid earlier in 1885 - there was a local epidemic that winter. He came to live with his Presbyterian neighbors: the Robinsons, because his own parents were overwhelmed with sick children. Lola and her mother Annie had nursed Tom back to health. Lola loved Thomas' gentle ways and generous heart, qualities she felt were lacking in her proud and rigid father.

Lola and Tom Whiteman took a honeymoon trip all the way to Kennett Square PA to the home of "Aunt" Lindsey Holten, her mother Annie Howell's best friend. Sixty-five years later, in 1950, the Bonines took Lola back to Kennett Square and they found Aunt Lindsey's son, Waren Holten, still living there.

After their honeymoon trip, the young couple moved in with Lola's grand-parents: Enoch-David & Eliza Jane Howell, where they spent the winter. Then, the four of them moved to the "Chambers Farm" near Pleasant Hill DE where their daughter Beulah Howell Whiteman was born in November 1887. When Thomas got a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Whitemans moved to Philadelphia and the elder Howells moved in with their daughter and husband George Cleland Robinson at Pleasant Hill. Two years later, when Annie Howell (Lola's mother) died, the young couple with Lola's grand-parents, moved to Wilmington together. Their second child, Thomas Moore Whiteman, was born there in 1896. Their Howell grandparents died within 3 days of each other, at home, in March 1899, in their late 80's.

In 1899, one of Lola's brothers' wife died suddenly, leaving two small children as orphans. Thomas & Lola took them in to raise with their own children, as shown in the 1900 census. They were Marian Howell Robinson (b. 1893) and Albert W. Robinson (b. 1896). This is what the 1900 Census revealed: ^[3]
Name: Lola R Whiteman
Event Type: Census Event Year: 1900 Event Place: Wilmington Hundred, Precincts 58 & 60 Wilmington city Ward 7, New Castle, Delaware, United States District: 28 Gender: Female
Age: 35
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Wife
Number of Living Children: 2
Years Married: 15
Birth Date: Jun 1865
Birthplace: Delaware
Marriage Year (Estimated): 1885
Father's Birthplace: Delaware
Mother's Birthplace: Delaware
Mother of how many children: 2
Sheet Number and Letter: 17A
Household ID: 351
Line Number: 33
Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T623 GS Film Number: 1240155 Digital Folder Number: 004119670 Image Number: 00243
Household Role, Gender, Age, Birthplace
Head: Thomas J Whiteman, M, 41, Delaware
Wife: Lola R Whiteman, F, 35, Delaware
Daughter: Beulah Whiteman, F, 13, Delaware
Son: Thomas M Whiteman, M, 4, Delaware
Niece: Marian H Robinson, F, 7, Pennsylvania
Nephew: Albert W Robinson, M, 4, Pennsylvania

Shortly after the 15 April 1910 Census was taken, which recorded the family still living in a rented house in Ward 5, Wilmington, Delaware, with just their 2 children,^[4] the Whitemans moved a large house in Delaware City, New Castle County, Delaware, where they lived until Thomas J. Whiteman's death in 1937. Tom worked as a Railroad Conductor for the Pennsylvania, Railroad. He was also a 33rd degree Freemason, which he saw as a way to help those less fortunate than himself via the Masons' charitable activities. ^{[5] [6]}

During these 27 years, in addition to raising her family, Lola Robinson Whiteman became a civic leader in Delaware. Between 1913 and 1920 she was a noted suffragette, campaigning vigorously for women's right to vote. She marched in the large suffragette parade in Washington DC, heading the Delaware delegation and carrying the state flag. At one point she and daughter, Beulah Bonine, along with infant grand-daughter, Ann Bonine, 18 months old, chained themselves to the White House fence with other women's suffrage leaders. When the police arrested them, they were released because of the baby's presence and needs.

Lola founded the first Parents-Teacher's Association in Delaware for both white and Negro schools as she was always a great believer in education for all races. She also persuaded the Delaware legislature to pass a bill outlawing a poll tax on women trying to vote - the first bill proposed by a woman to pass that legislative body. Later, she successfully petitioned the State legislature for money to pay for the care of Negro feeble-minded and insane poor and for a Reform School for delinquent Negro girls.

Lola was Delaware chairman of the International League for Peace and Freedom, championing the League of Nations and world peace in the 1930s. She was listed in the 1935 edition of "Who's Who" in Delaware.

After her husband's death on 27 October 1937, widow Lola lived first with her daughter and son-in-law Professor CA Bonine near State College PA and then with son T Moore Whiteman's family near Washington DC, where he was a government agricultural research scientist. Her heart stayed in Delaware. ^[7]

Eventually, in 1946, she entered the Delaware Masonic Retirement Home near Wilmington, Delaware, where she spent the last years of her life. ^[8] Her two children, Beulah Bonine and T. Moore Whiteman, both moved to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where they spent their retirement living next-door to each other and just two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean.

This is where I knew her best, personally hearing many Howell, Robinson and Whiteman family stories. I also vividly recall seeing great-grandma Lola R. Whiteman on several occasions in the last years of her life as I was a small boy then and we lived near Wilmington, Delaware. I was so proud when she gave me my first "grown up" watch, at 5 years old, telling me that this way I would always know what time it was and never be late for supper!

Lola (Robinson) Whiteman passed away at the Masonic Home in Lancaster Park, Greenville, New Castle, Delaware, on 3 June 1951, shortly before her 86th birthday. She was buried next to her late husband at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, USA. ^[9]

Biography & personal memories notes by Chet Bonine Snow from Prof. C. A. Bonine's family history and first-hand recollections, March 2014.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Wedding certificate in possession of Chet B. Snow
2. ↑ Birds-eye maple 4 poster bed belongs to Chet B. Snow as of 2014.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M31G-M1M : accessed 13 Mar 2014), Lola R Whiteman in household of Thomas J Whiteman, Wilmington Hundred, Precincts 58 & 60 Wilmington city Ward 7, New Castle, Delaware, United States; citing sheet 17A, family 351, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240155.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVVK-71P : accessed 28 June 2022), Lola R Whiteman in household of Thomas J Whiteman, Wilmington Ward 5, New Castle, Delaware, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 34, sheet 9A, family 198, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 146; FHL microfilm 1,374,159.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD49-K5H : 1 February 2021), Lola R Whiteman in entry for Thomas J Whiteman, 1920.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C4VX-JPZ : accessed 29 June 2022), Lola R Whiteman in household of Thomas J Whiteman, Delaware City, New Castle, Delaware, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 111, sheet 10B, line 81, family 265, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 287; FHL microfilm 2,340,022.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MT-G3DK?cc=2000219&wc=QZX5-6W9%3A790227701%2C800347101%2C800376901%2C800376902 : accessed 29 June 2022), Pennsylvania > Centre > Harris Township, Boalsburg > 14-17 Harris Township, Boalsburg > image 25 of 29; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012. NOTE: Name mistranscribed as "Marlola Whiteman" instead of "Mrs Lola Whiteman" Her record is just below C A and Beulah Bonine.
8. ↑ 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
   United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Greenville, New Castle, Delaware; Roll: 292; Sheet Number: 14 A; Enumeration District: 2-32A
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62308 #942116 (accessed 1 June 2022)
   Lola R Whiteman (84), widowed in Greenville, New Castle, Delaware, USA. Born in Delaware.
9. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #7203661 Lola Robinson Whiteman
10. ↑ Created by Chet B. Snow, Monday, December 16, 2013.

• Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by a GEDmatch test match between Chet B. Snow GEDmatch T603702 and his 2nd cousin, once removed, Donna Robinson Falcone GEDmatch A327604. Their most-recent-common ancestors are George Cleland Robinson and Eliza Ann Howell. Estimated number of generations to MRCA = 3.6, based on sharing 101,4 cM across 3 shared segments.

• SOURCE: First hand information from Lola Robinson Whiteman as told to her son-in-law, Prof. CA Bonine, before her death in June 1951 and put into his family history notes. First had information from Lola Robinson as told to me, her great-grandson, in 1950-51. Added here by Chet B. Snow, in March 2014. Sincere thanks for the photos donated by Lola's great-niece, Donna Robinson Falcone, March 2014.

• "Delaware Death Records, 1855-1961," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FN52-RCQ : accessed 13 Mar 2014), Lola Robinson Whiteman, 03 Jun 1951; citing Lancaster Park, New Castle, Delaware, United States, Hall of Records, Dover; FHL microfilm 1944098. Lola Robinson Whiteman's death certificate; she died of cancer.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7203661/lola-whiteman : accessed 28 June 2022), memorial page for Lola Robinson Whiteman (5 Jun 1865–3 Jun 1951), Find A Grave: Memorial #7203661, citing White Clay Creek Church Cemetery, Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, USA ; Maintained by Donna Robinson Falcone (contributor 46486487) .

• "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M31G-M1M : accessed 13 Mar 2014), Lola R Whiteman in household of Thomas J Whiteman, Wilmington Hundred, Precincts 58 & 60 Wilmington city Ward 7, New Castle, Delaware, United States; citing sheet 17A, family 351, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240155.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Chet Snow for creating Robinson-8623 on 16 Dec 2013. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Chet and others.