John Wesley Utterback (1925 - 1948)

Born 2 Apr 1925 in Isabel, Dewey, South Dakota, United States

Died 1 Aug 1948 at age 23 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Biography

John Wesley Utterback is the name given to the adopted son of Harry M. Utterback and Minnie Elizabeth Hagerman, ^[1] who was born on 2 Apr 1925 in Isabel, Dewey Co., South Dakota, USA. ^[2] He was undoubtedly named after Harry's father, John Wesley Utterback.

Although (as of yet) no records have been found showing the younger John Wesley's birth parents, it is interesting to note that, in the 1920 Census, ^[3] Harry's parents (John Wesley Utterback and Sarah "Sadie" Elizabeth (Kimes) Utterback, who lived next door to Harry and Minnie) had a boarder, Elta Carr, that was also born in South Dakota (although John wasn't born until 1925). Since Harry and Minnie didn't (and possibly couldn't) have children of their own, perhaps this young lady had a child in South Dakota (where her parents still lived?), and either passed away or gave the child up for adoption to the couple who housed her in Nebraska five years earlier. One can only speculate.

Census Data

1930: Norfolk, Madison, Nebraska, USA ^[1]

Age 5, born in South Dakota. Includes adoptive father, Harry M. Utterback (39, railroad brakeman, born in Nebraska), and adoptive mother, Minnie E. Utterback (35, born in Nebraska).

1940: Ward 4, Norfolk, Norfolk City, Madison, Nebraska, USA ^[4]

Age 15, born in South Dakota. Includes adoptive father, Harry M. Utterback (47, state hospital painter, born in Nebraska), and adoptive mother, Minnie E. Utterback (45, born in Nebraska). Also includes adoptive grandfather, Lester W. Hagerman (82, born in Wisconsin), adoptive grandmother, Mattie E. Hagerman (73, born in Wisconsin), Harry's cousin, Edith Waikman (42, beauty operator, born in Nebraska), and her children, Jack Waikman (16, born in Nebraska), George Waikman (15, born in Nebraska), and Donna L. Waikman (13, born in Nebraska).

Death

Died: 1 Aug 1948 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, USA. ^{[2] [5]}

Buried: Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton, Orange County, California, USA. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch, John W Utterback in household of Harry M Utterback, Norfolk, Madison, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 15B, line 72, family 537, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1288; FHL microfilm 2,341,023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", database with images, FamilySearch : 9 December 2020, John Wesley Utterback, 1948.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch, John W Utterback, Dixon, Nebraska, United States; citing ED 95, sheet 3A, line 38, family 59, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 985; FHL microfilm 1,820,985. Note: Original record had family name as Wtterback.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch : 25 November 2019, John W Utterback in household of Harry M Utterback, Ward 4, Norfolk, Norfolk City, Madison, Nebraska, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-22A, sheet 6B, line 42, family 178, 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 2257.
5. ↑ "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch : 26 November 2014, John Wesley Utterback, 01 Aug 1948; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images,, memorial page for John Wesley Utterback (2 Apr 1925–1 Aug 1948), Find A Grave: Memorial #186215431, citing Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton, Orange County, California, USA.

• FamilySearch profile for John Wesley Utterback.