Ernest Clair Betts (1874 - 1971)

Born 4 Nov 1874 in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Cora Lena Matilda (Steffen) Betts — married 29 Nov 1899 in Hillsboro, Vernon, Wisconsin, USA

Descendants

Died 24 Jun 1971 at age 96 in St. Mary's Hospital, Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Steve Selbrede [send private message] and Elizabeth Ernst [send private message]

Biography

Birth

Ernest was born on 04 NOV 1874 in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA. ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Adoption

Ernest was adopted on 30 NOV 1874 by Charles Archibald Betts and Mary Eleanor Ball in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA. There have been no formal papers of adoption discovered. The date of the adoption comes from the family charts made by Ernest's youngest son Ernest Clair Betts Jr. in the 1980s.

No formal records exist to identify the birth family of Ernest. DNA testing done by several descendants have partially solved this unknown parentage. YDNA testing on his grandson Keith Weston Betts has yielded a plethora of strong matches to the Palmer family. Autosomal testing on Keith and several others narrowed the birth father down to being a son of Benoni Franklin Palmer and his wife Eliza Jane Denslow.

Updated DNA results: As more autosomal matches come in the refinement of the identity of the birth-parents becomes clearer. While the father was originally thought to be a son of Benoni Palmer (based on matches to cousins of Eliza Denslow) closer matches to the descendants of Benoni's brother Ira puts the birth father as one of those boys. It seems that Eliza Denslow was related somehow to the birth mother, confusing the matter initially.

The birth-mother (at this point) seems to have very strong ties the the Bump-Griffith family of New York and Ohio.

Occupation

Ernest was a Farmer.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Marriage

Married Cora Lena Matilda Steffen on 29 Nov 1899 in Hillsboro, Vernon County, Wisconsin, USA.^{[11][12][13][14][15][16]}

The ceremony was performed by Thomas Barker, Pastor of the Congregational Church.

Cora (Steffen) Betts was the half-1st cousin of August Neumann, who married Ernest's adopted half-sister Lizzie (Murray) Neumann.

Death

Died on 24 JUN 1971 at St. Mary's Hospital in Sparta, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA.^[17][18][19]

Cause of death was Septicemia from liver abcess, caused by previous acute "choleryatitus" and pancreatitus.^[20]

Burial

Buried on 27 JUN 1971 at Leon cemetery in Leon, Monroe County, Wisconsin, USA.^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ Death Certificate
2. ↑ Social Security Death Index
3. ↑ World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
4. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census
5. ↑ Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905
6. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census
7. ↑ 1910 U.S. Census
8. ↑ 1920 U.S. Census
9. ↑ 1930 U.S. Census
10. ↑ 1940 U.S. Census
11. ↑ Marriage certificate
12. ↑ 1900 U.S. Census
13. ↑ 1910 U.S. Census
14. ↑ 1920 U.S. Census
15. ↑ 1930 U.S. Census
16. ↑ 1940 U.S. Census
17. ↑ Death Certificate
18. ↑ Social Security Death Index
19. ↑ Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997
20. ↑ Death Certificate
21. ↑ Death Certificate

• 1880 US Census, Hillsborough, WI. Chas A Betts (head, 47, NY), Mary E Betts (wife, 47, Maine), Lillie M Betts (dtr, 13, IA), Ernest Betts (son, 7, WI). Note: Chas A., does the A stand for Archibald?
• 1900 US Census, Hillsboro WI. Earnest Betts (head, Nov1874, WI, farmer), Cora (wife, Aug1879, WI, parents born in Germany), Mary E. (mother, Mar1832, MA, parents born in England), Archibal R. (father, Aug1840, NY).
• 1905 WI census, Hillsboro WI. Ernest Betts (head, 30, WI), Cora (wife, 25, WI), Floyd (son, 4, WI), Elnor (dtr, 3, WI), Mildred (dtr, 2, W), Tilly (dtr, 11m, WI).
• 1910 US Census, Hillsboro, WI. Earnest Betts (head, 35, WI), Cora (wife, 30, WI), Floyd (son, 9, WI), Elnor (dtr, 8,WI), Mildred (dtr, 7, WI), Matilda (dtr, 5, WI), Clinton (son, 1, WI).
• 1920 US Census, Leon, WI. Ernest C Betts (head 45, WI), Cora (wife, 40, WI), Floyd (son, 19, WI), Eleanor (dtr, 18, Wi), Mildred (dtr, 17, WI), Tillie (dtr, 15, WI), Clinton (son, 11, WI), Lily 9dtr, 8, Wi), Ernest J (son, 5, WI).
• 1930 US Census, Leon, WI Ernest C Betts (head, 55, WI), Cora (wife, 50, WI), Ernest Betts Jr. (son, 15, WI).
• 1940 US Census, Leon WI Ernest C Betts (head, 65, WI), Cora L M Betts (wife, 60, WI).
• Geni. Ernest Claire Betts, Sr., Wife and children are listed.
• US WWI Draft Card. Earnerst Claire Betts, born 4Nov1874. Address: No.2 Hillsboro, WI, Farmer. Note: first name is spelled Earnest.
• WI Marriages. Ernest Betts married Cora Steffen on 22Nov1899 in Hillsboro Twp, WI. Born in Baraboo. Parents were C A Betts and Mary Ball. Herman Steffen and Mathilda Newman.
• Source: Death certificate.
• Source: Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2008.
• Source: Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2007.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #142521905

Newspapers

• 3Dec1958/LCT. Sparta. "A group of 70 relatives and friends helped Mr and Mrs Ernest C Betts observe their 59th wedding anniversary...Mrs Ernest (Eleanor) Selbrede, Leon..."
• 4Dec1959/Madison Journal. "Mr and Mrs Ernest C Betts St, Sparta, observed their 59t wedding anniversary Sunday at their home. Mr Betts and the former miss Cora Steffen were married Nov 29 1899, near Hillsboro and farmed there until they moved to Leon Valley i March of 1919.They have lived in Sparta for 13 years. They have two sons, Earnest C Betts, personnel chief of the US Dept of Agriculture, Washington DC; and Clinton, Sparta.; and four daughters, Mrs Frank Schroeder, Mrs Harry Jessie, Mrs Edward Meyer, Mrs Ernest Selbrede. "
• 10Dec1963/Madison Journal. "Mr and Mrs Ernest Betts, Sparta, observed their 64th wedding anniversary at a family dinner Nov 29. Mr Betts and the former Cora Seffen farmed near Hillsboro and Leon before moving to Sparta 23 years ago. Attending were Mrs Mildred Jessie, Mrs Lillie Schroeder, Mrs Tillie Meyer, Mrs Eleanor Selbrede,and Clinton Betts, Ernest III."
• 24Nov1964/Madison Journal. "Mr and Mrs Ernest C Betts, Sparta, will observe their 65th wedding anniversary at an open house Sunday in the Leon School basements...."