Charles Sylvester Chronister (1880 - 1951)

Born 25 Mar 1880 in Reading Township, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Dora Viola (Deardorff) Chronister — married 30 Oct 1902 in East Berlin, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 1951 at about age 70 in Dillsburg, York, Pennsylvania, United States

Biography

Charles Chronister was a Pennsylvanian.

Charles, son of Ammon Chronister and his second wife Anna "Mary" Cramer,^[1] was born 25 March 1880 in Reading Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} Charles, like his father before him, grew up in a farming family and spent his life cultivating the land although he never owned the land or his home.

When the census was taken in 1880 in Reading Township, Charles was just two months old and living with his parents Ammon (age 39, farmer) and Mary Chronister (30), his half-sisters Annie (12), Amanda Olive Ramela "Ollie" (10) and Catharine (8), and his brother Christian Ervin "Crist" (2).^[2] They resided close to his grandparents.^[2] Twenty years later the family consisting of Ammon (age 59, farmer), Mary A. (51, mother of seven, five living), Charles S. (20, farmhand), Christian E. (21, farmhand), Minnie M. (19), Harvey Asher (16, farmhand) and Clista Elizabeth (15, at school) resided in York Springs, Adams County.^[3]

On 30 October 1902 in East Berlin, Adams County, Charles married Dora Viola Deardorff,^[1] daughter of George W. Dierdorff and Rebecca Catherine Stallsmith.^[1] They had seven children:

• Murray Clay Chronister (b. 9 June 1903;^[7] m. Amanda A. Miller;^[7][8][9] d. 3 October 1948).^[7] At least three children.^[8][9]

• Ralph Harrison Chronister (b. 29 June 1905; d, 24 January 1960).^[10]

• Ruth Henrietta Chronister (b. 29 June 1905; d. unmarried 8 May 1993).^[11][12]

• Charles Curtis Chronister (b. 5 September 1907;^[13][14] m. Gladys I. Kline;^[15][16] d. 23 January 1990).^[13][14] At least three children: Betty M. (1929–2002),^[15] Charles C. (1930–2005) and Robert Eugene (1936–1972).^[17]

• Chester Herman Chronister (b. 27 September 1910;^[18] d, December 1984).^[18][19]

• Emory Clinton Chronister (b. 5 February 1917;^[20][21] m. Pauline F. Gerber;^[22] d. March 1985).^[20][21]

• Jessie Clair Chronister (b. 9 September 1920; d. 25 January 1921).^[23]

By 1910 the young family moved to Huntington Township, Adams County, where the household consisted of Charles S. Chronister (age 30, farmer), his wife Dora V. (30, mother of four, all living), and their children Murray Clay (6), Ralph Harrison (4), Ruth Henrietta (4) and Charles Curtis (2)^[24]

When Charles registered for the draft in 1918, he was a farmer in York Springs, Adams County, and described as of medium height and build with blue eyes and light hair.^[4] His age is given as 38, but the registrar recorded his birth as in 1878, rather than 1880.^[4] His registration in 1942 gives more specifics about his appearance: He was 5'5", 205 lbs. with blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion.^[5]

Charles S. (age 40, tenant farmer) moved his family, including his wife Dorie V. (40), and children Murray (16), Ralph H. (14), Ruth H. (14), Charley C. (12), Chester Herman (8) and Emory Clinton (2) to Latimore Township, Adam County, before 1920.^[25]

His must have been a happy home as so many of his children remained with him into their middle age. Or it might have been the economic hardship of the Great Depression that kept Charles S. Chronister (age 50, farmer), Dora V. (52), Ralph H. (24, trucker, freight transfer), Ruth H. (24), Chester H. (20, farmhand) and Emery C. (13) together in Carroll Township, York County in 1930.^[26] In 1940 they were all still in Carroll Township, where the household grew to encompass Charles S. (age 59, farmhand), Dora V. (59), Ralph R. (35, farmhand), Ruth H. (35, house servant for private home), Chester H. (28, farmhand) and Emory C. (22, painter for building contractor), and Emory's wife Pauline F. (Gerber) Chronister (21).^[22]

Charles died in 1951 and was buried at Dillsburg Cemetery in Carroll Township.^[27]

Research Notes

• Birth Date: The 1900 census shows he was born in March 1880;^[3] his gravestone,1879;^[27] his registration for WWI indicates his birth was on 25 March 1878^[4] (trying to be old enough?), while that for WW2 provides 25 March 1881^[5] (so he would be too old?). It seems he adjusted his age to fit the situation; however, he is two months old on 14 June 1880,^[2] which clearly puts his birth in March 1880.

^{[1] [4] [5] [3] [24] [25] [26] [22] [2] [21] [20] [23] [16] [15] [14] [13] [17] [19] [18] [7] [9] [8] [10] [12] [11]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950, database with images, FamilySearch (12 November 2019), Charlie S. Chronister and Dora Deardorff, 30 Oct 1902; citing Marriage, East Berlin, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} United States Census, 1880, database with images, FamilySearch (16 July 2017), Charles Chronister in household of Ammon Chronister, Reading, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district ED 48, sheet 123A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,085.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} United States Census, 1900, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 9 December 2019), Charles S Chronister in household of Ammon Chronister, Huntington Township (southeast part) York Springs borough, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19, sheet 1A, family 8, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,354.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, database with images, FamilySearch (25 August 2019), Charles Silvester Chronister, 1917-1918.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, database with images, FamilySearch (9 March 2018), Charles Sylvester Chronister, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ See Research Notes.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} Find A Grave: Memorial #149451837 for Murray Clay Chronister. He shares a headstone with his wife.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch (28 July 2019), Murray C Chronister, Carroll Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 67-1, sheet 4B, line 59, family 84, 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, roll 3641.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950, database with images, FamilySearch (12 November 2019), Murray Chronister in entry for Rolla Eugene Lehman and Esther Elizabeth Chronister, 20 Jun 1948; citing Marriage, , Adams, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #149494898 for Ralph Harrison Chronister.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Ruth Chronister, 08 May 1993; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #149495259 for Ruth Henrietta Chronister.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch (19 May 2014), Charles C Chronister, 23 Jan 1990; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #126891781 for Charles C. Chronister. His memorial page includes an obituary and a copy of his death certificate.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1 15.2} United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 9 December 2019), Charles C Chronister in entry for Betty M Or Betz Chronister, Hanover, Pennsylvania, United States, 22 Apr 2002; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (2014); citing Evening Sun, The, born-digital text.
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 9 December 2019), Charles C Chronister Jr, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States, 25 Jan 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (2014); citing , born-digital text.
17. ↑ ^{17.0 17.1} United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch (28 July 2019), Charles Chronister, Franklin Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 67-24, sheet 5B, line 46, family 86, 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, roll 3641.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2} United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Chester Chronister, Dec 1984; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #149495506 for Chester Herman Chronister.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1 20.2} United States Social Security Death Index, database, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Emory Chronister, Mar 1985; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1 21.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #149450533 for Emory C. Chronister.
22. ↑ ^{22.0 22.1 22.2} United States Census, 1940, database with images, FamilySearch (28 July 2019), Charles S Chronister, Carroll Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 67-1, sheet 9A, line 20, family 172, 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, roll 3641.
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #149231295 for Jessie Clair Chronister. The memorial page has a photograph of his headstone that is engraved with his name, "son of Charles S & D. V.," and the years.
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1} United States Census, 1910, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 9 December 2019), Charles S Chronister, Huntington, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 18, sheet 2A, family 32, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1292; FHL microfilm 1,375,305.
25. ↑ ^{25.0 25.1} United States Census, 1920, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 9 December 2019), Charles S Chronister, Latimore, Adams, Pennsylvania, United States; citing ED 20, sheet 7A, line 22, family 162, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1507; FHL microfilm 1,821,507.
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1} United States Census, 1930, database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 9 December 2019), Charles S Chronister, Carroll, York, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1, sheet 8B, line 73, family 189, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2164; FHL microfilm 2,341,898.
27. ↑ ^{27.0 27.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #149231250 for Charles S. Chronister.