Ella Belle (Nix) Maybey (1894 - 1969)

Born Aug 1894 in New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Ray Loveridge Mabey — married 24 Dec 1912 in Cattaraugus, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 28 Jun 1969 at age 74 in New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

Ella Belle Nix is born on August 15, 1894, in Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus County, New York, USA [8]. Lyndon is about 96 kilometres by road south of Buffalo. She is the daughter of George H. Nix (1868-1953) and Frances Allen (1870-1939). George H. is a farmer.

Ella can be found in the 1900 census records as a five-year old living with her family on the farm in Lyndon [1]. She is also in the 1905 state census records at the age of 10 [2] and she is still with her family on the farm at the age of 15 in the 1910 census records [3]. At about this age, /Ella completes two years of high school [8]. She likely goes to the high school in Franklinville which is 4.7 kilometres by road west of Lyndon.

At the age of 18, Ella marries Ray L. Mabey (1890-1965) on December 24, 1912, in Franklinville [4].s Elle and Ray have two children:

• George Wesley Mabey 1914-1985 + Andrea E, Chalker 1914-2001

• Gerald Nix Mabey 1918-1992 + Mary Jane Oelkers 1918-2000

In the 1920 census records, Ella and Ray are living on a dairy farm in Lyndon with their two children [5]. The 1925 state census shows them in the same place (and spells the surname as “Maybe”) [6]. In the 1930 federal census, the family is still on a dairy farm in Lyndon and the two boys are now 15 and 11 years old respectively [7]. The 1940 census record indicates a big change in their lives [8]. They still live in Lyndon, but they are no longer farming. Ray is now a foreman for the county roads department. Only one son, Gerald, is still living at home.

In 1945 Ella and Ray move into Franklinville [10]. While the evidence is not completely certain, we think they live at 32 Maple Avenue in Franklinville. In the 1950 census, they are living in Franklinville and Ray, who is now 60 years old, is still working as a foreman for the county [8]. Ella is running her own business as a seamstress. In 1953 Ella and Ray host a Nix family reunion at their cottage on Cuba Lake [10].

Ray dies in 1965. On June 28,1969, Ella dies in the Cuba Memorial Hospital [11]. The town of Cuba is 14 kilometres south of Franklinville. Ella may have been in the hospital in Cuba because both her sons live there. She is buried with Ray in the Cuba Cemetery [12].

Sources

[1] "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS6Z-3LS : accessed 5 February 2016), Leslie G Nix in household of George H Nix, Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing sheet 2A, family 17, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,011. The 1900 census record shows George H. Nix (30) living in Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. He is a farmer. He was born in New York States in [?Aug 18??]; his father was born in England and his mother was born in New York State. His wife is Frankie E. (31). She was born in New York State in May 1869. Both her parents were born in New York State. She has had 5 children and all 5 are living. George & Frankie have 5 children living with them: [?Lew or Leon S.] (11) born May 1889; Leslie G. (9) born Dec 1890; Mildred (7) born Oct 1892; Ella (5) born Aug 1894; and Clara (1) born Dec 1898.

[2] New York State Census, 1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVBR-17C : accessed 5 February 2016), Leslie G Nix, Lyndon, A.D. 01, E.D. 01, Cattaraugus, New York; citing p. 10, line 36, county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm 584,496. The 1905 state census record shows Geroge H.. Nix (36) living in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. George is a farmer. His wife is Frankie E. (36) and the couple has 5 children: Leon A. (16), Leslie G. (14), Mildred M. (12), Ella B. (10) & Clara E. (6).

[3] "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5CZ-6RC : accessed 4 December 2015), George H Nix, Lyndon, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 69, sheet 3B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,374,939. The record shows George H. Nix (40) and his wife Frankie E. (40) living in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. George is a farmer. They have 5 children: Leon A. (20), Leslie G (19), Mildred M. (17), Ella B (15) & Clara E (10). The record shows that the father of George was born in England and that his mother was born in New York.

[4] "New York, County Marriages, 1847-1848; 1908-1936," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVPL-VC4 : accessed 20 February 2016), George Nix in entry for Ray Mabey and Ella Nix, 24 Dec 1912; citing county clerk’s office, , New York, United States; FHL microfilm 583,817. The record shows that Ray Mabey (22) married Ella Nix (18) on Dec 24, 1912 in Franklinville, New York State, USA. It gives the residence of Ray as Lindon [Lyndon] and this was also his birth place. His parents are John Mabey & Emma McStay, both of whom were born in the USA. Ray is a farmer. Ella’s residence is Ischua, New York State and she was also born in Lindon [Lyndon]. Her parents are George Nix & Frances Allen and they were both born in the USA.

[5] The 1920 census record shows Ray L. Mabey (29) living on Cuba Rd, Lyndon Township, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. He was born in New York State as were both of his parents. He is a farmer on a dairy farm. His wife is Ella [?Elle or Ellen] B. (25) . She too was born in New York State as were both of her parents. They have 2 children: George W. (5) & Gerald N. (1yr3m).

[6] "New York State Census, 1925", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS9V-29X : Fri Oct 06 06:11:38 UTC 2023), Entry for Ella B Maybe, 1925. Ella B. Maybe (sic) (30) is living in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York. The head of the household is [?ay] Maybe (sic) (34) and they have 2 children: George W. (11) and Gerald N (6).

[7] "United States Census, 1930", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7HD-CL4 : accessed 9 February 2016), Ray L Mabey, 1930. The 1930 census record shows Ray L. Mabey (40) living in Lyndon Town, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. He was born in New York State as were his parents. He is a farmer on a dairy farm. His wife is Ella B. (35). She was born in New York State as were her parents. Ray was 22-yrs old when married; Ella was 18. They have living with them 2 sons: George W. (15) & Gerald N. (11).

[8] "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQ19-XVV : accessed 9 February 2016), Ray Mabey, Lyndon Town, Cattaraugus, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-33, sheet 5B, family 107, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2505. The 1940 census record shows Ray Mabey (50) living in Lyndon, Cattaraugus County, New York State, USA. His occupation is shown as “foreman, highways” [Highway Department]. His wife is Ella (45). They each had 2-yrs of high school education. They have one son, Gerald (21) living with them. He has 4-yrs of high school and he works as a salesman.

[9] United States census, 1950, New York, Cattaraugus County, Franklinville, sheet #4: Raymond L. Maybe (sic)(60), occupation is a foreman on roads, he works for the county; Ella M. Maybe (sic) (55), occupation is a seamstress in her own business. Both residents were born in New York. The house address is difficult to read but appears to be 32 Maple Avenue.

[10] The Cuba Patriot and Free Press, 16 July 1953, pg ? “Nix Family Reunion // A tureen dinner was served to 41 guests when the Nix family met in reunion at the Cuba Lake cottage of Gerald N. Mabey Sunday, July 11. The guest coming from the most distant point was Leon Nix from Ontario, Canada. During the afternoon Harold Chesbro took several guests for a speedboat ride on the lake. Plans for next summer’s meeting were to hold the gathering at the at the Chesbro cottage. // Guests included Mrs. and Mrs. Erve Osborne and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Chesbro of Olean; Mrs. Elvira Nix of Ischua; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mabey of Franklinville, with their children and grandchildren.”

[11] http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ • ID: I28448 obit: “Mrs. Ella B. Mabey, Maple Ave. Franklinville, widow of Ray Mabey, died Saturday, June 28,1969 at Cuba Memorial Hospital following a two-weeks illness. . The Rev. George Mighels, pastor of the Franklinville Presbyterian Church officiated at services Tuesday at the Babbitt and Allen Funeral Home, and burial was in the Cuba Cemetery. Born in Lyndon August 15, 1894, Mrs. Mabey was the daughter of George and Frances Allen Nix. .She had lived in Franklinville since 1945, a member of the Presbyterian Church Ladies Circles and the Senior Citizens group. Her husband, the late Ray Mabey, died in 1965. She leaves two sons living in Cuba, George W. Mabey and Gerald N. Mabey; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Harold Chesbro of Olean; a brother Leon Nix, Branton, Ontario, Canada; and several nieces and nephews.”

[12] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155527123/ella-b-mabey: accessed 31 January 2024), memorial page for Ella B. Nix Mabey (1894–1969), Find a Grave Memorial ID 155527123, citing Cuba Cemetery, Cuba, Allegany County, New York, USA; Maintained by Terry Winchell (contributor 48397452).

Acknowledgements

This biography was written by Fred Nix, originally in 2016, with some revisions in February 2024. Fred and Ella are second cousins, twice removed. Liz (Oats) Sinclair did much research for this biography.