Alvina (Schroeder) Morris (abt. 1909 - aft. 1995)

Born about 1909 in Sparta, Randolph, Illinois, United States

Died after 1995 after about age 86 in The Dalles, Wasco, Oregon, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Carole Pancake [send private message]

Biography

Married Floyd Morris, garage mechanic on Nov 4, 1933, Randolph County, IL. Floyd was in prison by 1940 and listed as divorced Alvina remarried Ross Craig Bennett (1904-1988) in 1965 Alvina Schroeder Morris Bennett died in 1995 and Floyd in 1972, also in Wasco, Oregon. Floyd has 6 children, but there were only 3 listed in the 1940 Census: Laura, Laverne, and Walter. Alvina is buried with Ross Bennett in Park Lawn Cemetery, The Dalles, Wasco, Oregon.

1940 US Census, Chester, Randolph, Illinois: Alvina is renting a home next door to her parents Schroeder Str in Chester, IL. She is 31, b. 1909 in Sparta and head of the household. She has 4 yrs of high school. 3 children: Laura, daughter, b. 1935, aged 5; Laverne E. daughter b. 1937, aged 3; Walter H. son, b. 1939 aged 1; all born in Sparta.

Parents George H. Schroeder 55, b. 1885 is a case worker for relief work and wife Carrie G. 51, live next door-own their home.

1940 US Census Floyd is in the Illinois State Farm in Vandalia, Sharon Township, Fayette County, aged 36 and divorced. Census shows he finished 4 yrs of high school. Number #12342 Vandalia State Farm is a minimum security facility.

Notes: Floyd was home in 1930, then married in 1933, and in prison by 1940. Mom met him either the summer of 1950 or 1951 at a family union at Clara Morris' home. He had just gotten out of prison and had 2 boys (but maybe it was 2 kids) with him, she thinks about 6th grade (11-maybe Walter?) and 8th grade (13) or about. That means that Floyd might have gone to prison about 1936 or 37. Mom didn't know the reason he was imprisoned, but Vandalia was considered a "reform school" prison. Floyd was too old for "school'. The 1940 Census calls Vandalia the Fayette State Farm and Wikipedia lists it as a minimum security facility. It was known for growing its own food. 10+ years seems a long sentence for a minor crime.

Mom never met him again or even heard of Floyd again but thinks that he moved away. Per conversation with Evelyne Morris 9/16/2017~CP

Sources

• Morris Samuel Leslie, D.D. LL.D. The records of the Morris Family. Atlanta, GA: Hubbard Bros., n.d..

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWZ3-SY8 : accessed 16 September 2017), Alvana C Morris, Ward 3, Chester, Chester Election Precinct, Randolph, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 79-9, sheet 14A, line 21, family 298, 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 872.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW4B-7P5 : accessed 16 September 2017), .: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 801.

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 31 December 2017), memorial page for Alvina Morris Bennett (1908–1995), Find A Grave: Memorial #60233682, citing Park Lawn Cemetery, The Dalles, Wasco County, Oregon, USA ; Maintained by columbiagypsy (contributor 47239308) .