Mildred Izell (Griffin) Dobson (1898 - 1969)

Born 13 Jan 1898 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, United States

Wife of Andrew Ethmond Dobson — married 24 Sep 1921 in Cook County, Illinois

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1969 at age 71 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Mildred (Griffin) Dobson is a part of US Black heritage.

Mildred Izell Griffin was born on the 13th January 1898, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States , the third known child, only daughter of Alexander Griffin and Elizabeth Shepherd.^[1]

The Griffith family was incorrectly classified in more than once census as white, perhaps, because of being mulatto, the family was light skinned enough to not appear to be Black.

On the 2nd June 1900 the Griffins were living at 1529 Capital Avenue, Des Moines. Home at the time were Alexander, 51, a waiter at a hotel, his wife, Elizabeth, 37, and their children: Howard, 8; Elwood, 5; and Mildred, 2.^[2]

As of the 2nd January 1905, the Griffin family was living at 1529 Capital Avenue, Des Moines. Home at the time were Alexander, Elizabeth, Howard, Elwood, and Mildred.^[3]

On the 28th April 1910, the Griffins were still living at 1529 Capital Avenue, Des Moines. Those at home were Alexander, 61, still working as a waiter at a hotel; his wife, Elizabeth, 45; and their children: William Howard, 17; Elwood Holmes, 14; and Mildred, 12.^[4]

On the 1st January 1915, the Griffins were still living at 1529 Capital Avenue, Des Moines.^[5]

On the 9th January 1920, Mildred, 21, was living on Walker Street, Des Moines. Also home at the time were her father, Alexander, 70, an elevator operator in an office building; and her mother, Elizabeth, 55.^[6] Elwood was married, and living in his own home. Where Howard was has not been determined, but it is possible he was off and away preparing a home for his future bride.

Mildred, a qualified teacher, and Andrew Ethmond Dobson, a Dentist, were married on the 24th September 1921, in Cook County, Illinois. ^[7] An announcement of the wedding was published in Mildred's home newspaper.^[8] They were to have one known child, a daughter they named Elizabeth Virginia, later known as Bettye.

Mildred was a Teacher.

On the 9th April 1930, Mildred was living at 13th Ave Maywood, Illinois. Also home at the timer were her dentist husband, Andrew; and their 2-year-old daughter: Elizabeth.^[9]

Mildred's mother died in May 1930, in Chicago, and was taken home to Des Moines for burial.^[10]

On the 4th April 1940, the Dobson family was living at 114 South Tenth Avenue; Mildred was a schoolteacher, Bettye was now 13; and her 91-year-old widowed father was living with them^[11]

At some point between 1940 and her death in 1969, Mildred and Andrew obtained a divorce.^[12]

Mildred Izell Dobson née Griffin passed away on the 17th November 1969, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, aged 65 years, and was buried in Chicago.^[13]
An obituary was published in her home state on the 14th.^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ Iowa Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1945. State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa. State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa. Name: Mildred Izell Griffin; Gender: Female; Race: Negro; Birth Date: 13 Jan 1898; Birth Place: Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA; Father: Alexander Griffin; Mother: Elizabeth Shepherd
2. ↑ Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Year: 1900; Census Place: Lee, Polk, Iowa; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0096; FHL microfilm: 1240454
3. ↑ 1905 Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925 Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest. Name: Mildred Griffin; Residence Date: 1905; Residence Place: Des Moines Ward 6, Polk, Iowa, USA
4. ↑ Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1910; Census Place: Des Moines Ward 6, Polk, Iowa; Roll: T624_420; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0151; FHL microfilm: 1374433
5. ↑ 1915 Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836-1925Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest. Name: Mildred I Griffin; Age: 17; Birth Year: abt 1898; Birth Place: Iowa; Residence Date: 1915; Residence Place: Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, USA; Race: Black; Gender: Female; Marital status: Single; Father Birth Place: Iowa; Mother Birth Place: Missouri
6. ↑ Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1920; Census Place: Des Moines Ward 6, Polk, Iowa; Roll: T625_509; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 155
7. ↑ Cook County, Illinois Marriage Indexes, 1912-1942; Name: Mildred I Griffin; Gender: Female; Spouse Name: Andrew E Dobson; Spouse Gender: Male; Marriage Date: 24 Sep 1921
8. ↑ Marriage notice Publication Date: 29/ Sep/ 1921; Publication Place: Des Moines, Iowa, USA; Name: Miss Mildred Griffin; Gender: Female; Occupation: Student; School: Iowa University; Marriage Date: Abt 1921; Marriage Place: Chicago; Father: Alec Griffin; Mother: Griffin; Spouse: Andrew E. Dobson
9. ↑ Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Year: 1930; Census Place: Maywood, Cook, Illinois; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 2315; FHL microfilm: 2340242
10. ↑ Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947. Name: Elizabeth Griffin [Elizabeth Shepherd]; Birth Date: 4 Dec 1865; Birth Place: Missouri; Death Date: 11 May 1930; Death Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Burial Date: 12 May 1930; Burial Place: DesMoines, Iowa; Cemetery Name: Local; Death Age: 65; Occupation: Housework; Race: Black; Marital status: M; Gender: Female; Street Address: 143 So. 13th Ave; Residence: Maywood; Father Name: Shepherd; Father Birth Place: Missouri; Spouse Name: Alex Griffin
11. ↑ Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Year: 1940; Census Place: Maywood, Cook, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00787; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 16-428.
12. ↑ Death notice Name: Mildred G Dobson; Event Type: Death; Event Date: 13 Nov 1969; Event Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States; Address: 16405 Greenwood; Sex: Female; Age: 65; Marital Status: Divorced; Race: Black; Occupation: Teacher; Birth Date: 13 Jan 1904; Birthplace: , , Iowa; Funeral Home: Unity Funeral Pars; Burial Date: 17 Nov 1969; Burial Place: Worth, , Illinois; Cemetery: Lincoln; Father's Name: Alex Griffin; Mother's Name: Betty Shepherd; Informant's Name: Bettye D Wilson
13. ↑ "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MF-CCM2 : 18 March 2018), Mildred G Dobson, 13 Nov 1969; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm
14. ↑ Obituary; The Des Moines Register; Publication Date: 14 Nov 1969; Publication Place: Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America; Name: Mildred Griffin Dobson; Gender: Female; Death Age: 68; Birth Date: abt 1901; Birth Place: Des Moines; Residence Place: Des Moines; Death Date: Abt 1969; Burial Place: Chicago; Obituary Date: 14 Nov 1969; Obituary Place: Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America; Child: Betty Dobson