Mercedes Catherine (Flemming) Gordon (1900 - 1959)

Born 8 Jun 1900 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 25 Mar 1959 at age 58 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Russell Pate [send private message] and James Greiner [send private message]

Biography

Mercedes Catherine was born in Detroit on 8 June 1900, the first child of Albert and Ida (Deimel) Flemming^[1][2].

In 1910 and 1920, Mercedes is single and living in her parent's home on Brooklyn Avenue in Detroit^[3][4]. In 1920 she is working as a stenographer for a candy company.

In 1920, Mercedes married Charles M. Gordon. They apparently had big ideas about a large family because, by the 1930 census, they have had the first five of their children but are still living in Mercedes parent's home on Brooklyn Avenue in Detroit^[5].

In 1940 they are renting what must be a good size home because they have ten of their twelve children living at home^[6]. Their daughter Virginia was married in 1937 and their son Charles Jr. died during or immediately following birth.

Mercedes passed into eternity in Detroit on 25 March 1959 at the age of 58. She is buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan^[7].

Research Notes

Marriage to Charles

I have not (yet) found a marriage document for Charles and Mercedes. Art listed their marriage as taking place in "Oct 1919" however, Mercedes is listed on the 1920 census as single. The census was taken in January 1920. The 1930 census shows her age at first marriage at 19. This indicates to me that they were married between January 1920 and June 1920, when Mercedes turned 20.

Moved to Silver Creek, New York - Then back to Detroit

In the 1920 Census, Mercedes is living at home with her parents in Detroit. In the 1930 Census, the family is living in Detroit (with Mercedes' parents). Two of their children (Barbara and Dolores) were both born in Silver Creek, New York (1927 and 1928 respectively). Leaves one curious why they moved to NY for about five years (Richard was born in Michigan in 1924). The timing of the move may explain why they were living with Mercedes' parents in 1930.

Shirley is missing

In the 1930 census, Charles and Mercedes are living with Mercedes' parents with four of their five children. For some reason, Shirley (8 years old) is not listed as living in the same home. She is listed with the family in the 1940 census.

Sources

1. ↑ Flemming, Arthur J. A Guide to Greiner Ancestry in America 1831-1983. Livonia, MI: Self-published, 1984.
2. ↑ "Michigan Births, 1867-1902," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQ6N-PJV : 4 December 2014), Mercedes M. Fleming, 08 Jun 1900; citing item 3 p 33 rn 485, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, Department of Vital Records, Lansing; FHL microfilm 2,363,031.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLTK-C51 : accessed 26 January 2018), Mercedes Flemming in household of Albert W Flemming, Detroit Ward 6, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 84, sheet 2B, family 38, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 682; FHL microfilm 1,374,695.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MZWQ-7YB : accessed 26 January 2018), Mercedes Flemming in household of Albert W Flemming, Detroit Ward 6, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing ED 193, sheet 3A, line 4, family 64, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 806; FHL microfilm 1,820,806.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X79S-3SQ : accessed 26 January 2018), Mercedes E Gordon in household of Albert W Flemming, Detroit (Districts 0001-0250), Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 148, sheet 20A, line 42, family 44, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1037; FHL microfilm 2,340,772.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KHS6-CQ1 : accessed 26 January 2018), Mercedes Gordon in household of Charles M Gordon, Ward 21, Detroit, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 84-1435, sheet 6B, line 42, family 125, 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 1882.
7. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #192307230

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 16 January 2022, 07:05), entry for Mercedes Catherine Flemming (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:9QWD-DFW ); contributed by various users.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Russell Eugene Pate for starting this profile.

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Russell Eugene and others.