Mary Edmund (Efner) Blean (1860 - 1921)

Born 8 Jul 1860 in Newton Township, Whiteside, Illinois

Ancestors

Wife of William Weakley Blean — married 13 Apr 1882 in Whiteside, Illinois

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1921 at age 61 in LaHarpe, Illinois

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Devon Blean [send private message]

Mary (Efner) Blean has German Roots.

Biography

Mary was born July 8, 1860, in Newton Township, Whiteside, Illinois. She was the daughter of Edmund O Efner and Amanda Vicory Stagg. There is some confusion about her middle name. Sometimes she is referred to as Mary Edmund and other times as Mary Ethel.

Just before Mary was born, her father was killed in the June 3, 1860, tornado which had swept across the river after destroying Camanche, Iowa. He had gone outside to get a wrap for his daughter Delia and was struck by flying debris. There are drawings showing the destroyed buildings in the area. In the 1860 census Mary's mother and older sister are shown living with Amanda's father and 3rd wife, Sementha Ford Colbert. Mary, however, wasn't to be born until after the July 2 census and first appears in the 1870 census as Mary Slaymaker, aged 9, living with her aunt and uncle, Mary Jane Stagg and Leonard Slaymaker. They were a childless couple who lived in the nearby area. Mary stayed with the Slaymakers until April 1882 when she married William Weakley Blean, a farmer from Newton, who had also lost a parent at an early age. The Bleans had the following children:

Hettie Efner Blean (1883-1967) m. Newell Kenney Senior; Mary Ethel Blean (1885-1985) m. Arthur Leslie Lewis; Leonard Weakley Blean (1887-1920) m. Elizabeth Carruthers Burnett; Charles Albert Blean (1889-1938) m. Wilhelmina Caroline Requarth; Cora Amanda Blean (1891-1956) m. Frank Irving Beach and Harlan W. Beardsworth; Eva Lavinia Blean (1894-1980) m. Daniel Joseph Smith; Harold William Blean (1896-1906).

Mary's birth mother married a John Craig in 1861 and had 5 more daughters. There is one lovely photo from the early 1900's showing Amanda and 6 of her daughters including Mary.

The following is from an undated clipping posted onto Ancestry although it must have been written after 1905 since the seventh sister, Margaret Laura Craig Morthland who died in 1905 is missing from the receiving line.

An exceedingly large and brilliant social event was that of Friday afternoon of last week at the lovely home of Mr. and Mrs. Will Blean. The hostesses were: Mrs. Blean, Mrs. Rowland and Miss Alice Craig and the guests of honer, their sisters, Mesdames Brake of Sioux City, Ia., Mrs. Charles Ege of Newton and Miss Maude Craig of Springfield. It is quite unusual to greet six sisters in a receiving line but that is what the 101 guests were pleased to do on this happy occasion. The company was divided into two relays from 2:30 to 3:30 and from 4 to 5. Refreshments of ices and cake were served by three dainty little Misses - Eva Blean, Helen Brake and Alice Rowland. There were a number of charming women present handsomely gowned but none exceeded in grace and hospitality the hostesses and their visiting sisters. The decorations were beautifully achieved in nasturiums and the favors were buttoniers of sweetpeas and pansies.

Mary's last year or so would have been very difficult. In January 1920 her son Leonard, who was on a cattle buying trip with his father, was taken off the train in Kansas City where he died from a sudden pneumonia, a result of the devastating Spanish influenza. By May her husband had also died, some say from the stress caused by his son's death.

On August 27, 1921, Mary was killed instantly in a hideous accident, when the car she was riding in was hit by a fast moving train just as the occupants were leaving La Harpe, Illinois. Also in the car were her sister, Emma La Rue Craig and her husband Charles Fremont Ege, his half brother Joseph A Miller and his wife Mary Grace Beardsworth. Everyone was vaguely related as typical in a tight-knit community and the effect must have been devastating. Mary's husband was also an Ege descendant and their daughter Cora was to marry a Beardsworth descendant a few months after the accident.

Mary is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Newton Corners, Whiteside, Illinois.

The following undated obituary was posted to Ancestry by Mary Weigandt:

Obituary of Mrs. Blean

Mary Ethel, second daughter of Edmund and Amanda Efner, was born in Newton township Whiteside county, Ill., July 8, 1860, and died at La Harpe, Ill., Aug. 27, 1921. She and Mr. and Mrs. Miller of Bettendorf, Ia., and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ege of Albany, the latter being her sister, were returning from an auto trip through parts of Iowa and Illinois and were reun into by a fast train and instantly killed.

Mrs. Blean's father having met his death in the terrible tornado which visited Albany in 1860, she was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Slaymaker of Newton and made her home with them as their only child until her marriage to Wm. Blean, a prosperous farmer, April 13, 1882.

She with her husband remained on the farm until in Feb. 1903 when with their family they retired from active farm life and came to Albany where she lived until her sad and tragic death, her husband having passed away on May 23, 1920.

Mr. and Mrs. Blean were blessed with a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, viz. Leonard W., whose death occurred at Kansas City, Mo., Jan. 19, 1920; Dr. Charles Albert of Ottawa, Ill., and Harold W. who died in his youth; Mrs. Newell K. Senior of Gardenplain, Ill., Mrs. A. L. Lewis of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mrs. D. J. Smith of Crescent Mills, Calif., and Mrs. Cora Beach of Albany; also 7 grandchildren. Besides the surviving family there are left to mourn her loss her grief stricken mother, Mrs. Amanda Booth, her adopted mother, Mrs. Mary J. Slaymaker, the sisters, Mrs. O.L. Rowland and Miss Alice Craig and a host of relatives and friends here and elsewhere who were shocked and grieved to learn of her sudden death.

Mrs. Blean became a member of the Presbyterian church in early life and has been active and earnest in all the work connected to it. She has ably filled the different offices in the Aid and Missionary societies and has been a valuable help to the choir and in other places where her beautiful voice could add to the pleasure and benefit of the occasion.

She was a faithful wife, a fond indulgent mother, a valuable, true friend and will be greatly missed in all the religious and social circles of the community but more than all will be missed in her lovely home where her influence was most largely felt. She was always cheerful, having a bright smile and welcome for all who came into her home.

There is no need for an eulogy for Mrs. Blean. Her life speaks volumes, more than words can express and like one of old she can say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown which the righteous Lord shall give me."

Funeral services were held this Thursday morning, an account of which will be given in next week's Review, all the children being present except Mrs. Arthur L. Lewis who has a two weeks' old baby and was unable to make so long a journey. Mrs. Eva Smith and her husband arrived Wednesday noon from..... (here the clipping ends where it was pasted into a notebook)

Sources

Excerpt from '"Descendants of Amanda Booth'"; Author: Kathryn Starbuck; Typed by Marie Drury, 1967. Note: Family genealogy information collected by Kathryn Starbuck during the 1960's. The information, which mostly is a collection of names, birth, marriage and death dates, seems quite reliable. A copy of this manuscript was passed from Hettie Peck to Devon Blean August 2005.

Edmund Efner and Amanda Stagg married Jan. 1858. Their Children: Delia Efner born January 7 - 1859, died Nov. 25-1917; Mary Edmund Efner born July 8 - 1860, died Aug. 27 - 1921. Mr. Efner was killed in the tornado that struck Albany June 3 - 1860

Excerpt from 'The Biographical Record of Whiteside, Illinois; Clark, S. J. publishing company, Chicago,1900. Pages 440-442. (This book can be found online.)

Leonard A. Slaymaker

Soon after his return home Mr. Slaymaker was united in marriage with Miss Mary Stjigg, the wedding ceremony being celebrated at Fulton, Illinois, February 26, 1861. She was born in Henry County, Illinois, October 16, 1842, and came to Whiteside County with her parents, Thomas and Nancy (McDermott) Stagg, when but five years old. Her father was a native of New Jersey, and located near Columbus, Ohio, and from there moved to Henry county, Illinois, in the thirties, and to Whiteside County, Illinois, in 1847, locating in Albany where he engaged in blacksmithing a number of years and later bought a farm in Newton Township, where he spent the remainder of his years, dying in December, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Slaymaker have been blessed with no children of their own, but reared from infancy a niece of Mrs. Slaymaker, Mary Effner, a daughter of Edward (sic) and Amanda Effner, and she is now the wife of William W. Blean, a prominent farmer of Newton township.

Ege, Rev. Thompson P, D.D.'History and genealogy of the Ege family in the United States : 1738-1911. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Star Printing Company, 1911. Page 97.

152.1 to 156.5

Martha Washington Blaine (sic) b. 11, 19, 1852; d. 12, 9, 1852. Wm. ':Weakley, b. 2, 5, 1857. 3. Elizabeth Kilgour, b. 12, 15, 1857. 4. John Calvin, :b. 11, 18, 1859. 5. James Arthur, b. 10, 17, 1862.

 : Of These

(153.2). 157.

Wm. Weakley Blaine (sic), m. 4, 13, 1882, Mary Edmund Efner, b. 7, 8 8, :1860.

Marriage: Mary E Efner & William W Blean, 13 Apr 1882, Whiteside, Illinois Source Information Ancestry.com. Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Illinois State Marriage Records. Online index. Illinois State Public Record Offices.

Name: Mary E. Blean [Mary E. Efner] Birth Date: abt 1860 Birth Place: Newton Twp , Whiteside Co , Ill Death Date: 27 Aug 1921 Death Place: La Harpe, Hancock, Illinois Burial Date: 31 Aug 1921 Burial Place: Albany, Ill. Death Age: 61 Occupation: Housewife Race: White Marital status: W Gender: Female Residence: Illinois Father Name: Mr. Efner Mother Name: Amanda Stag Mother Birth Place: Newhome Twp., Whiteside Co., Ill. FHL Film Number: 1570849

Source Information Ancestry.com. Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916–1947 Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original records.

Name: Mary E Blean Birth Date: 1860 Age at Death: 61 Death Date: 1921 Burial Place: Albany, Whiteside County, Illinois, USA URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52144561/ble

Source Information: Ancestry.com. Web: Illinois, Find A Grave Index, 1809-2012 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Name: Mary Slaymaker Age in 1870: 9 Birth Year: abt 1861 Birthplace: Illinois Dwelling Number: 67 Home in 1870: Newton, Whiteside, Illinois Race: White Gender: Female Post Office: Kingsbury Attended School: Y Household Members: Name Age Mary Slaymaker 9 Leonard Slaymaker 33 Mary Slaymaker 26 Samuel Slaymaker 24

Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Newton, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: M593_290; Page: 226B; Family History Library Film: 545789 Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Name: Mary Efner Age: 20 Birth Date: Abt 1860 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1880: Newton, Whiteside, Illinois, USA Dwelling Number: 25 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Niece Marital status: Single Father's Birthplace: Illinois Mother's Birthplace: New York Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Leonard Slaymaker 44 Mary J. Slaymaker 38 Mary Efner 20 Franklin Hanks 18

Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: Newton, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: 259; Page: 198D; Enumeration District: 207 Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Name: Mary E Blean Age: 39 Birth Date: Jul 1860 Birthplace: Illinois, USA Home in 1900: Newton, Whiteside, Illinois House Number: 141 Sheet Number: 8 Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 143 Family Number: 143 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Wife Marital status: Married Spouse's Name: William W Blean Marriage Year: 1882 Years Married: 18 Mother's Birthplace: Illinois, USA Mother: Number of Living Children: 7 Mother: How Many Children: 7 Can Read: Yes Can Write: Yes Can Speak English: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age William W Blean 44 Mary E Blean 39 Hettie E Blean 16 Mary E Blean 13 Leonard W Blean 13 Albert C Blean 11 Cora A Blean 8 Eva L Blean 5 William H Blean 3 Lester Jordon 22

Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Newton, Whiteside, Illinois; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0153; FHL microfilm: 1240352 Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Name: Mary E Blean Age in 1910: 49 Birth Year: abt 1861 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1910: Albany, Whiteside, Illinois Street: Lime Street Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Wife Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: William W Blean Father's Birthplace: Virginia Mother's Birthplace: Illinois Native Tongue: English Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Years Married: 28 Number of Children Born: 7 Number of Children Living: 6 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members Age Relationship William W Blean 54 Head Mary E Blean 49 Wife Albert C Blean 20 Son Eva L Blean 15 Daughter Frank L Beach 20 Son-in-law Cora A Beach 18 Daughter Glenn A Beach 0 Grandson

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Albany, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: T624_331; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0120; FHL microfilm: 1374344 Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Name: Mary E Blean Age: 59 Birth Year: abt 1861 Birthplace: Illinois Home in 1920: Albany, Whiteside, Illinois Street: East Side Main Street Residence Date: 1920 Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Wife Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: William W Blean Able to Speak English: Yes Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Neighbors: View others on page Household Members Age Relationship William W Blean 64 Head Mary E Blean 59 Wife Cora A Blean 28 Daughter Glen A Blean 9 Grandson

Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Albany, Whiteside, Illinois; Roll: T625_413; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 147 Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.