Harley Weston Wood (1906 - 1949)

Born 27 Sep 1906 in Oak Park, Cook, Illinois, United States

Husband of Viola M (Speed) Giffin — married 17 Mar 1934 (to before 1943) in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States

Husband of Eula Jean (Giffin) Wood — married 16 Feb 1943 in Erie, Erie, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Harley was born on September 27, 1906, the son of Charles Leander Wood and Lillie Edith Sterne.^[1]

In 1910 he was living in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois^[2] with his parents, Charles S. and Lily, his siblings Clifford and Shirley, as well as his maternal grandmother, Rebecca Stern.

In 1920 the family, Charles and Lillie, Clifford, Harley and Shirley, and grandmother Rebecca were living together in River Forest, Cook County, Illinois.^[3]

He was divorced on February 6, 1934.

He was married on March 17, 1934^[4], in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Viola M. Speed. The marriage record reads:

Harley W. Wood, artist, born in Chicago, Illinois, residing at 11 James, Rochester, New York, 27 years of age, married once previously, divorced on February 6, 1934. The son of Charles Lee Wood and Lillian Edith Wood, nee Sterne, residing at 420 Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, Illinois, married

Viola M. Speed, born in Rochester, New York, residing at 62 Chestnut, Rochester, New York, daughter of Leo D. Speed, residing at 1795 East 97th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, and Rose Mary Speed, nee Snyder, residing at 193 Simpson Road, Rochester, New York.

On March 17th, 1934, at Erie Pennsylvania.

In 1940, Harley and Viola were living in Perinton Town, Monroe County, New York. They had no children. Harley was working as a commercial artist.^[5]

He was divorced a second time on October 14, 1941 in Rochester, New York.

He was married a third time on February 16, 1943^[6] in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Eula Giffin. The marriage record reads:

Harley W. Wood, artist, born in Oak Park, Illinois on September 27, 1906; residing at 361 Paul Road, Rochester, NY, previously married twice: divorced on February 6, 1934, and on October 14, 1941 in Monroe Co., N.Y. The son of Charles L. Wood, born in Chicago, Ill., occupied in real estate; and Lillian E. (Sterne) Wood, born in Dwight, Ill., housewife; Harley married

Eula J. Giffin, artist, born April 7, 1919, Pembroke, Ontario, Canada, residing at 291 Beresford Road, Rochester, N.Y., no previous marriage, daughter of Gordon H. Giffin, born in Brockville, Ontario, retired, and Carrie M. (Cowan) Giffin, born in Brockville, Ontario, housewife,

On February 16, 1943 at Erie, Pennsylvania.

Harley drowned at the end of July 1949 when he jumped into Canadaigua Lake from a boat to rescue his year old daughter. She was saved by nearby boatmen. Another child, a cousin, was unhurt and remained seated in the boat. Despite being rescued immediately after, strenuous efforts to resuscitate Harley were unsuccessful. He was survived by his wife, Eula, his mother Lillian E. Wood, Chicago, Mrs. E. Claybaugh, Chicago, and Clifford Wood, Rockford, Illinois.^[7][8][9]

He is buried at White Haven Memorial Park, in Pittsford, New York^[10].

Sources

1. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County, Birth Certificates, 1871-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q239-BXLT : 18 May 2016), Harley Weston Wood, 27 Sep 1906; Oak Park, Cook, Illinois, United States, reference/certificate 20873, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RNJ-7VC?cc=1727033&wc=QZZQ-SB5%3A133640201%2C135332401%2C139574701%2C1589089071 : 23 June 2017), Illinois > Cook > Oak Park > ED 76 > image 29 of 55; citing NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R66-C1F?cc=1488411&wc=QZJP-6GQ%3A1036473701%2C1037509201%2C1040065001%2C1589334657 : 10 September 2019), Illinois > Cook > River Forest > ED 204 > image 6 of 34; citing NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. ↑ "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6XQS-XG9?cc=1589502 : 7 January 2020), > image 1 of 1; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MB-9VHD?cc=2000219&wc=QZXR-JR8%3A790105101%2C794790701%2C805361201%2C954076501 : accessed 14 July 2023), New York > Monroe > Perinton Town > 28-78 Perinton Town outside Fairport and East Rochester Villages W of a line beginning where Watson Rd Crosses Northern town line, then Southerly along center of Watson Rd to Northern limits of Fairport Village, then along Fairport Village limits to Turk Hill Rd, and then along center of Turk Hill Rd to southern town line; Baptist Home, Bushnell Basin > image 14 of 48; 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.
6. ↑ "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF79-QFC : 11 March 2018), Harley W. Wood and Eula J. Giffin, 16 Feb 1943; citing Marriage, , Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, various county courts and registers, Pennslyvannia; FHL microfilm 2,260,338.
7. ↑ * Harley W. Wood: "Newspapers.com"
   The Daily Messenger (Canandaigua, New York) Tue, Jul 26, 1949, page 3
   Newspapers Clip: 22505991 (accessed 14 July 2023)
8. ↑ * Heroic Father Dies But Baby Is Saved: "Newspapers.com"
   The Reporter Dispatch (White Plains, New York) Mon, Jul 25, 1949, page 7
   Newspapers Clip: 128189884 (accessed 14 July 2023)
9. ↑ * Artist Drowns, Child Rescued At Canandaigua: "Newspapers.com"
   Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) Mon, Jul 25, 1949, page 1
   Newspapers Clip: 128189977 (accessed 14 July 2023)
10. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #156108346

William Giffin & Thomasine Eyre Family Tree, Christine Daniels

Giffin, Eveline Bertha. The Descendants of William Giffin & Thomasine Eyre, Bell's Crossing, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada: 1990.

"United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8LT-XLG : 5 December 2014), Harley W Wood, enlisted 13 Sep 1943, Rochester, New York, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.