Cora Amelia Churchill

Cora was the daughter of George W. Montague and Hannah E. Yazel, who married on 8 Apr 1856 in Allen Co., Ohio. I found eleven children for the couple, but there may have been others—Mary E. (c.1857), Eliza/Louisa J. (c.1859), Sarah S. (c.1861), Cora Amelia (28 Mar 1862), William A. (c.1865), Samuel (c.1867), Jacob (c.1869), Margaret Almira (c.1872), Franklin (c.1874), Rebecca (c.1879), and Maude (1882).

I found Cora's parents and older siblings on the 1860 Census, living in Auglaize, Allen Co., Ohio, the nearest post office in Westminster. George Montague, aged 26, was farming for a living. Hannah, aged 21, was home with their two young daughters, Mary, aged 3, and Eliza, aged 2.

Cora first appeared with her family on the 1870 Census, living in Wayne Township, Auglaize Co., Ohio, the nearest post office in Waynesfield. George Montague, aged 36, was busy farming. Hannah, aged 30, would have had her hands full at home tending to their home and seven children—Mary, aged 12, Eliza, aged 11, Sarah, aged 9, Cora, aged 7, William, aged 5, Samuel, aged 4, and Jacob, aged 1.

Circa 1873, the family relocated to Indiana. On 12 Feb 1876, the family lost daughter and sister Mary, aged 19.

The 1880 Census placed the rest of the family in Etna Green, Kosciusko County. George Montague, aged 46, was working a new farm. Hannah, aged 39, was keeping house. That house still sheltered eight children—Sarah, aged 19, Cora (Melia on the record), aged 16, William, aged 14, Samuel, aged 12, Jacob, aged 10, Margaret, aged 8, Franklin, aged 6, and Rebecca, aged 1.

Four years after that census, Cora married William Pitts, the first of her two husbands, on 25 Aug 1884 in Marshall County, Indiana. William was about seventeen years Cora's senior, and had previously married Malinda Severs on 23 Mar 1873, also in Marshall County. Cora had four children with William—Herman William (22 May 1885 – 18 May 1954), Bert F. (1 Aug 1889), Irene (10 Sep 1896 – 17 Jul 1961), and an infant son, born in April of 1900. The six of them appeared together on the 1900 Census, living in Center Township (Plymouth area), Marshall County. William Pitts, aged 55, was working as a section hand for Penn Railroad Co. It was his job to inspect and maintain a section of track in the area. Cora (Melia on the record), aged 38, reported that she had had six children, but that only two had survived to that census. Women typically do not misreport this information, but as there were four living children with the couple, her count was clearly off. There with their parents were Herman, aged 15, Bertie, aged 10, Irene, aged 3, and a male infant, aged 1 month, still unnamed, never a good sign for a month-old child.

Cora appears to have remained close to her father and various sisters. (From: The Weekly Republican, Plymouth, IN – Thu 5 Mar 1903 pg. 7) "Mrs. Maude Edmiston has returned to her home at Lima, Ohio, after a visit of several days with her sister, Mrs. William Pitts." (From: The Weekly Republican – Thu 4 Aug 1904 pg. 5) "Mrs. Williams Pitts and little daughter are visiting relatives at Logansport this week." (From: The Weekly Republican – Thu 22 Jun 1905 pg. 5) "Mrs. William Pitts went to Mentone where she will visit her sister, Mrs. McKlun for some time." (Best guess is that this was Cora's sister Sarah, whose married name was McLoughan.) (From: The Weekly Republican – Thu 15 Apr 1909 pg. 8) "George Montague returned to his home in Unionapolis Ohio Tuesday after spending a couple of weeks in this city, the guest of his daughter, Mrs. William Pitts and other relatives." (From: The Weekly Republican – Thu 23 Sep 1909 pg. 5) "Miss Effie Stafford of Logansport, returned to her home in that city Tuesday after spending a week with her aunt, Mrs. William Pitts in this city." Effie would have been the daughter of Cora's sister Margaret, whose married name was Stafford.

The 1910 Census placed the family on N. Adams St. in Plymouth. William Pitts, aged 73, was working at Plymouth's basket factory, officially known as the Edgerton Manufacturing Company, makers of wooden shipping containers for fresh fruits and vegetables. Cora, aged 47, reported that she had only had three living children and did not acknowledge having had a fourth child who had died. All three of their children were still living at home—Herman, aged 24 and working as a baggage master for the railroad, Burt, aged 20 and laboring at odd jobs, and Irene, aged 14.

(From: The Weekly Republican – Thu 29 Sep 1910 pg. 5) "Mrs. William Pitts and daughter Irene went to Logansport Thursday morning to spend a few days with her sister, Mrs. Levi Black." This was likely Cora's sister Louisa, who had married Levi G. Blatt on 13 Mar 1888 in Cass County, where Logansport is located.

On 22 Jan 1916, Cora and William's daughter Irene married James Vernon Black. A year later, on 11 Aug 1917, Cora and William's son Herman also got married. His bride was Nora L. Winrott, the daughter of Frank Winrott and Sarah J. Whiteman.

Sadly, William didn't live long enough to see son Bert wed. William Pitts died on 10 Oct 1918 at age 73.

When the 1920 Census was taken, Cora showed up living with daughter Irene and her family. They were living on Market St. in Logansport, Cass Co., Indiana. Head of household was Irene's husband James Black, aged 26, and working as an assistant inspector for the railroad. Irene, aged 23, was home with sons Ralph, aged 1, and Dale, not yet a month old. There to lend a helping hand was Cora Pitts, aged 56, correctly identified as James' mother-in-law. Also living with the family was a divorced lodger named Charles Churchill, aged 50 and working in some capacity for the railroad.

A little over a month after that census was enumerated, Cora and Charles Churchill got married on 28 Feb 1920 in Cass County. It was also a second marriage for Charles. He had previously married Clarisa E. Hartman on 8 Nov 1890, and they had two sons together—Clarence Leroy (3 Oct 1891) and Clifford Dever (13 Jun 1900).

In 1920, Cora's two sons were living on Kessey St. in nearby South Bend, St. Joseph County. Head of household was Herman W. Pitts, aged 34 and working as an express messenger for the railroad. With him was wife Nora, aged 22. Living with the couple were Nora's brother Ora Winrott and his wife Goldie, and Cora's other son Bert Pitts, single, aged 30 and noted as a theatrical actor. Burt's WWI registration noted that he was part of the Roberson-Leckins Stock Co., a traveling theatre group.

Cora and Charles appeared together on the 1930 Census, living in Henry Township, Fulton Co., Indiana. Charles Churchill, aged 60, was noted as a teamster working in a saw mill. Cora, aged 66, was keeping house. They had a lodger living with them, 59-year-old Willis Meredith, working as a puncher in a shovel factory.

Seven years after that census, Cora died on 5 Apr 1937 after pneumonia set in after a fall in which she broke a femur. She was 75 years old. Charles lived another six years without her, passing on 26 Feb 1943 at age 73.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 5 2024, 9:34:54 UTC