Ruth (Bowers) Conners (1902 - 1932)

Born 4 Aug 1902 in Cloverland, Clay, Indiana, United States

Died 21 Mar 1932 at age 29 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Problems/Questions Profile manager: David Fentress [send private message]

Biography

Ruth was born on 4 Aug 1902^[1] in Cloverland, Posey Township, Clay County, Indiana (see research note on errors in the death certificate). She was probably the daughter of Walter Samuel Bowers and his first wife Clara Taylor (see the research note on parents).
Ruth married William Connors (William's first wife)^[2] between Jan 1920 and July 1920 (see research note on marriage date). The couple had 4 or 5 children together - see list in the profile of William Conners.
Ruth died on 21 Mar 1932 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois^[1], cause unknown.

Research Notes

• The marriage date has been calculated as follows : Ruth was listed as single at the time of the 1920 census (enumerated on 2 Jan 1920). The first child of Ruth and William Connors was born 2 May 1922^[3]. Conception of the fist child would have been in July or August of 1921. Hence the marriage was probably between Jan 1920 and July 1921.
• The last name at birth for Ruth is fairly well established by the 1910 and 1920 censuses^[4][5] but the relationship to the head of family is not correctly described in either of these sources. The 1910 census leads one to think that Ruth is a sister of William and Walter - same relationship ("stepchild") and same place of birth of their parents ("father born Ohio, mother born Indiana"). She is unlikely to be a sister as the father of Walter and William is listed as divorced in the 1900 census. The 1920 census is closer to the truth but still not right. The relationship to the head of the household is listed as "granddaughter" but in fact she is the daughter of a stepson. Ruth's parents are listed as born in Indiana (which is also questionable but that is a story for a different profile).
• The parents of Ruth are thought to be Walter Samuel Bowers (b. 11 Dec 1877, d. 5 Jun 1966) and his first wife Clara Taylor who married on 5 Oct 1901 in Clay County, Indiana^[6][7][8]. However there is no conclusive evidence of this. Ruth was born in Aug 1902^[1]. Ruth's presumed mother had left Walter's family (unknown whether she died or there was a divorce) by Apr 1910^[4] and Ruth's father Walter and Ruth were living with Walter's mother and her second husband in Clinton, Vermillion County, Indiana at that date. There is no source that proves that Ruth was the daughter of Clara though Ruth's death certificate comes close (see research note regarding Ruth's death certificate). A birth certificate for Ruth could not be found.
• It is believed that there are errors in the death certificate for Ruth^[1]. The father is listed as "Walter Beyers". That would be an unusual spelling of that last name and "Bowers" is more likely. The mother is listed as "Clara Morlan". While it is likely (though unproven) that "Clara" is correct, "Morlan" would seem to be a confusion with the last name at birth of Ruth's paternal grandmother (whose name was "Monion" or "Monyon"). Another error is the place of birth for Ruth which is listed as "in Clever Land, Indiana". This should be Cloverland, Posey Township, Clay County, Indiana to which reference is made in the marriage record^[7] as being the residence of Ruth's father Walter at the time of his marriage to Ruth's probable mother.
• No marriage (to William Connors) record or gravestone could be found.
• Clinton is a city in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, in the western side of Indiana. There is also a Clinton County, Indiana just north of Indianapolis. The various sources in this profile MAY be referring to either one of these.

Sources

^{[6] [7] [8] [4] [5] [2] [1] [3]}

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998 database, FamilySearch (18 March 2018), Ruth Connors, 21 Mar 1932; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm. This shows that "Ruth Connors" (age 29, born 4 Aug 1902 in Clever Land, Indiana, married, last residence 5353 So. Wells, Chicago, father="Walter Beyers", mother="Clara Morlan", spouse="William") died on 21 Mar 1932 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Burial in Oaklawn Cemetery, Thornton, Illinois. Informant "M Seifert".
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} United States Census, 1930 database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 15 December 2019), William Connors, Chicago (Districts 0501-0750), Cook, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 525, sheet 2B, line 96, family 50, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives & Records Administration, 2002), roll 437; FHL microfilm 2,340,172. This was enumerated on 2 Jan 1920 and shows :

   "William Connors" (Head, Male, age 36, married, first married at age 26, born Indiana, father born Illinois, mother born Indiana, occupation wheel setter in a bumper factory)

   "Ruth Connors" (Wife, age 27, married, first married at age 17, born Indiana, parents born Indiana)

   "Roseline Connors" (Daughter, age 7, born Indiana)

   "William Connors Jr." (Son, age 5, born Indiana)

   "George Connors" (Son, age 3, born Indiana).

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV9J-9F5C : 16 March 2018), William H Conners in entry for William V Conners, 30 Jan 1962; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm. This shows that "William V. Conners" (age 37, single, born 29 Apr 1924 in Clinton Indiana, resident at 4537 South Wallace Street, Chicago) died on 30 Jan 1962 in Chicago. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery. Father = "William H Conners. Mother = "Ruth Bowers". Informant = "Zula Conners".
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKR7-QYK : accessed 12 December 2020), Walter Bowers in household of John Cloyde, Nevins, Vigo, Indiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 183, sheet 10B, family 209, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 384; FHL microfilm 1,374,397. This was enumerated on 30 Apr 1910 and shows :

   "John Cloyde" (Head, Male, age 49, married, 2nd marriage, married 10 years this marriage, born Indiana, parents born Indiana, occupation engineer in a coal mine)

   "Lida Cloyde" (Wife, age 50, married, 2nd marriage, married 10 years this marriage, mother of 6 children, 3 of whom are still alive, born Indiana, parents born Indiana)

   "Walter Bowers" (Stepson, age 33, married 9 years this marriage, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, occupation coal miner)

   "William Bowers" (Stepson, age 28, single, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana, occupation coal miner)

   "Ruth Bowers" (Stepdaughter, age 7, born Indiana, father born Ohio, mother born Indiana)

   "Mary J Huffman" (Hired girl, age 17, single, born Indiana, parents born Indiana).

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} United States Census, 1920 database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 16 December 2019), Ruth Bowers in household of John Cloyd, Clinton Ward 3, Vermillion, Indiana, United States; citing ED 99, sheet 1A, line 33, family 9, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 472; FHL microfilm 1,820,472. This was enumerated on 2 Jan 1920 and shows :

   "John Cloyd" (Head, Male, age 58, married, born Indiana, parents born USA, occupation engineer in a coal mine)

   "Lydia Cloyd" (Wife, age 59, married, born Ohio, parents born Ohio)

   "Ruth Bowers" (Granddaughter, age 17, single, born Indiana, parents born Indiana).

6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 database with images, FamilySearch (8 December 2017), Walter Bowers and Clara Taylor, 05 Oct 1901; citing Clay, Indiana, United States, Marriage Registration, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 004476641. This shows that "Walter Bowers" married "Clara Taylor" on 5 Oct 1901 in Clay County, Indiana. Celebrant Geo E Law.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 database with images, FamilySearch (11 March 2018), Walter Bowers and MM9.1.1/XXTM-8WL:, 05 Oct 1901; citing Clay, Indiana, United States, Marriage Registration, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 004476676. This shows that "Walter Bowers" (resident in Cloverland, father = "Samuel Bowers") married on 5 Oct 1901 in Clay County, Indiana.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 database with images, FamilySearch (11 March 2018), Walter and Clara Taylor, 05 Oct 1901; citing Clay, Indiana, United States, Marriage Registration, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 004476676. This shows that "Walter" (mother="Lydia Morrison") married "Clara Taylor" (resident in "Brazil" - Brazil, Indiana is probably meant) on 5 Oct 1901 in Clay County, Indiana.