Margaret Ann Ward Welker

Margaret Ann Ward was the daughter of Thomas Ward (1838-1904) and Ann Reese Ward (1842-1892). She was born November 22, 1866, in Bloomington, Bear Lake, Idaho. In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Bloomington, Margaret, 14, was living with her parents and siblings, who were listed in the census as follows: Thomas, 41, Ann, 38, Mary, 9, Thomas R., 6, Emma E., 4, and John M., 1. Margaret's father was working as a farmer. He and his parents were born in Wales and her mother in Idaho, and her mother's father was born in England and mother in Wales.

Margaret married Peter Cornia June 29, 1882, at age 15, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had three daughters, Ruth born in 1884, Mary born in 1885, and Exeriel in 1887. I don't know if they were ever officially divorced.

In January of 1888, at the age of 21, Margaret married Charles Wesley Welker, and they had two sons, Victor Hazen in 1890, and Lubin Alma in 1891, however, they were later divorced. In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Woodruff, Rich, Utah, Margaret, 33, was divorced, and living with her daughters with Peter, Mary, 14, and Exeriel, 12, and her two sons with Charles Wesley Welker, Hazen V., 10, and Lubin A, 7. Her oldest daughter, Ruth, may have been married by then since she would have been 16 years old in 1900.

Charles he married Ruth Briscoe (1868-1935), Margaret's cousin, and they had 10 children. The following information is from a sketch of the life of Charles Wesley Welker, written by one of his daughters with Ruth Briscoe, Mary Luzon Welker Draney:

"Father and Mother lived in Bloomington, Idaho, the first years of their marriage. They had a small farm and father worked at odd jobs whenever he had time. He also taught school in Bloomington for a while. Later he freighted between Bloomington, Woodruff and Evanston, Wyoming. This being the time of plural marriages, father married mother's cousin, Margaret Ann Ward, in 1888. They were the parents of two boys, Victor Hazen Welker born 25 Jan 1890, Freedom, Wyoming, and Alma Lubin Welker born 25 November 1892 Woodruff, Utah.

Margaret Ann Ward had been married and sealed to Peter Cornia, before father married her. They were the parents of three girls, which were included in father's family. At the time of this marriage there was much bitterness toward plural marriages, the Manifesto becoming law 24 September 1890, it was therefore necessary to separate the families, so father moved Aunt Margaret into Star Valley Wyoming, in a home on Salt Creek a few miles south of Thayne, Wyoming. Because of heavy snow fall that winter father was not able to get a team through, so he made several trips walking on snow shoes from Bloomington, Idaho to Star Valley, Wyoming, carrying supplies on his back to take care of them. This was not a happy marriage and eventually ended in divorce.

Father loved his two sons dearly; his sorrow was great because he knew they would belong to the family of Aunt Margaret and her first husband. They lived with us much of the time while they were growing up, but as they grew older realizing their mother was sealed to her first husband and that they would belong to that family, they became more sympathetic with their mother. She later married Cornelius Edwards. Aunt Margaret lived, died and was buried in Ogden, Utah. We all loved Victor and Lubin very much; in fact Elma and Lubin all have happy memories of them as brothers we loved."

Margaret and Charles Wesley Welker's son, Victor Hazen Welker married Bertha Mae Phipps in 1908 when she was 16 and he was 18 years old. They were living in Evanston, Wyoming in 1910 with their one month old son, Hazen Victor, and Victor Hazen was working as a fireman for the railroad. They were living at 586 Centre Street, and living with them was Bertha's older brother, Francis A., 20, and his wife, Lillie, 17. Francis and Lillie had given birth to one child, but the child did not live. Francis was working as a blacksmith doing horse shoeing.

Victor and Bertha had another son, Ellsworth Charles, on October 1, 1913, in Evanston, and sadly, Bertha Mae passed away just six days later on October 7, 1913. She was buried in the Evanston City Cemetery. Three years later on November 22, 1916, Victor married 19 year old Myrtle Eliza Rhees, who was born July 30, 1897, in Pleasant View, Weber County, Utah. She was the daughter of Chancey W., and Sarah E. Rhees.

When Victor Hazen Welker completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration Card on June 5, 1917, he described himself as being tall with a medium build, brown eyes and hair. He was 27 years old, and was born January 25, 1890, in the Star Valley of Wyoming. He was living at 3317 Woodland Street in Ogden, Utah, and was working as a locomotive fireman for the Union Pacific Railroad in Ogden, Utah. He had a wife and two children.

Margaret married her third husband, Cornelius Edwards, on June 2, 1908, at the age of 41. In the 1910 census for Frontier, Uinta, Wyoming, Margaret Edwards, 44 was living with her third husband, Corney Edwards, 52, who was working as a coal miner. Everyone listed on the census page with Margaret and Corney were also coal miners, including many people from Japan. On the previous pages listed were more coal miners from places such as Slovenia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Wales, Scotland, Sweden and Poland, as well as other parts of the United States such as Utah, West Virginia, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Iowa, California, Virginia, Idaho, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Minnesota.

Sadly, eight years later, Margaret passed away at the age of just 52 years, 4 months, and 27 days, on April 17, 1918, at the Dee Memorial Hospital in Ogden, Utah. She was still married at the time of her death, and was listed with an occupation of housekeeper. Her father, Thomas Ward, was born in England, and her mother, Anna Reese Ward, was born in Wales according to the informant on her death certificate, Mary Rich, of 428 I Street in Salt Lake City. The death certificate also stated that Margaret was born in Willard Utah, not Bloomington, Idaho. I'm not sure which is correct, but the 1880, 1900 and 1910 census records all indicate that Margaret was born in Idaho. Margaret had lived in Utah for 51 years at the time of her death. Her former address was 268 2nd Street in Ogden. Her death certificate also stated she was to be buried in Garden City Cemetery, Utah, on April 21, 1918.

When Margaret's other son, Lubin Alma Welker completed his U.S. World War I Draft Registration card on the same day as his brother, he described himself as being of medium height with a slender build, grey eyes and light colored hair. He was 25 years old, and was born November 25, 1891, in Woodruff, Utah. He was living at 268 2nd Street in Ogden, Utah, and was working as a brakeman for the Union Pacific Railroad in Evanston, and Ogden. He indicated that his father, mother, sister and three children were dependent upon his support. Lubin married Laura B. Sherner on October 2, 1917, in Weber County, Utah.

In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census for Ogden, Victor, 30, and his second wife, Myrtle, 22, were living with his children with Bertha Mae, Hazen, 10, and Elsworth, 7, and their own daughters, Marjorie, 2 years 3 months old and Phyllis, one year old. They were living in a rented home located at 3321 Child Avenue, and Victor was working as a hostler at the railroad power house. In 1928, they were still living in Ogden, but then at 2130 Pingree Avenue, and Victor was working as a machinist.

In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census for Ogden, Lubin, 28, and his wife, Laura, 22, and their one year, four month old son, Charles S.Welker, were living at 136 Second Street, and he was working as a switch man for the railroad. Laura's father was born in Denmark and her mother in Utah. In a 1927 U.S. City Directory for Ogden, Utah, Lubin and Laura were listed as follows: Welker, Lubin A. (Laura B.), Realtor, Real Estate, Loans and Insurance, 314 Central Building (Old First National Bank Building), residing at 122 2nd Street. His brother Victor Hazen and wife Myrtle were living at 2130 Pingree Avenue, and Victor was working as a salesman for L.A. Welker. Darrell E., and his wife Vera, were living at 2959 Lincoln Avenue, and he was working as a switch man for the OUR&D Company.

In the 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Ogden, Utah, Victor, 40, and his second wife, Myrtle R., 32, were living with his two sons with Bertha and his children with Myrtle as follows: Hazen Victor, 20, Ellsworth, 16, Marjorie, 12, Phyllis, 11, Gerald, 7. Victor was working as a machinist for the railroad and Myrtle was working as a piano teacher. They were living at 2130 Pingree Avenue, a home they owned valued at $3,000.

Sometime after this, Victor and Myrtle must have divorced, because in 1932 he married Ella Cleone Grix in Box Elder, Utah. Ella was born December 22, 1909, in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of Samuel Johnathan Grix and Ella Kerron Chandler. Victor and Cleone had one son, Richard Grix Welker. Victor's former wife, Myrtle Eliza Rhees Welker, passed away in Provo, Utah, on August 9, 1937, and was buried in the Ben Lomond Cemetery in North Ogden, Weber County, Utah.

By 1930, Lubin and his family were listed in the census as follows: Lubin A., 38, Laura, 32, Charles, 11, Mary, 9, Adam, 7, Mark, 3 years, 4 months old. They were living at 122 West Second Street in Ogden, in a home they owned, valued at $2,000. Lubin was still working as a real estate salesman.

Victor and Bertha's son, Ellsworth Charles Welker married Naomi Lorraine Paxton July 3, 1931. Naomi was born April 25, 1915, to Claude Kessler Paxton and Edith Yocum Paxton. When Claude died, Naomi was given up by her mother and adopted by her aunt, Marie Rebecca Paxton Baseman.

In 1933 Victor and his third wife, Cleone were living at 709 22nd Street, Ogden, and he was working as a machinist for the Southern Pacific Railroad, and 1934, they were living at 2337 Jackson Avenue, Ogden, and Victor was still working as a machinist.

In a U.S. City Directory for Ogden, Utah, dated 1935, listed were Lubin A., and his wife, Laura, living at 128 2nd Street, and his brother, Victor Hazen and his wife, Cleone G., were still living at 2337 Jackson Avenue. Lubin was still working in real estate and Victor was working as a machinist. Victor's son, Ellsworth was an employee of the Coalville Coal & Hay Company, and Darrell E., and his wife Vera Welker, were living at 929 17th Street and he was working as a switch man at OUR&D Company.

In 1938 and 1939, Victor and Cleone, were living at 366 32nd Street in Ogden, and Victor was working as a machinist for the Southern Pacific Railroad. They were at the same place in 1941, and Victor and Myrtle's son, Gerald was living with them and working as a salesman at Penney's. By 1942, Gerald was still living with his father, and was working as an attendant at a Standard Oil Gas Station. Also in the same U.S. City Directory was Victor's brother, Lubin, working as a real estate agent, and his wife, Laura S., who was working as a clerk for the U.S. Selective Service Board. They were living at 122 2nd Street.

By 1940, their family was listed as follows in the census: Lubin, 48, Laura, 42, Charles, 21, Adam, 7, Mark, 13, Donald, 9, and living with them was Laura's mother, Mary Clausse, a 71-year old widow. Lubin had 4 years of high school, Laura, 3, Charles had 2 years of college, and Adam, 3 years of high school. Mark was in the 7th grade and Donald in the second grade. Mary had 4 years of high school. Lubin's occupation was listed as field representative for the HOLC industry, and Charles was working as a farm laborer. Lubin's income for working 48 weeks at 48 hours per week in 1939 was $2,456 and Charles' income for working 40 weeks at 48 hours per week was $450. The home they owned at 122 Second Street was valued at $4,500.

In the 1940 U.S. Federal Census for Berkeley, Alameda County, California, Ellsworth Charles Welker, 26, was living with his wife, Naomi, 25, and their children, Victor, 7, Luanna, 4, and James, 2, at 3038 San Pablo Avenue, a home they were renting for $30 per month. Ellsworth was working as a venitian blind painter and his wife Naomi was working as a waitress and a clerk for the cafeteria of an electric company. For the 8 weeks Ellsworth worked at that profession, his income was $200. And for the 52 weeks that his wife, Naomi, worked at her profession, her income was $700. They were both working 40 hours per week.

Living in their home were four lodgers, Ralph Jeocke, 26, Kenneth Brokgham, 28, Thomas Connolly, 30, and Josephine Wyrick, a 33-year old divorcee. Ralph was from Iowa, Ken and Tom from New York, and Josephine from Indiana. They were all working in a cannery, Ralph as a laboratory worker, Ken as a sterilizer, Tom as a machinist, and Josephine was doing some type of cutting. Ralph and Ken earned $900 in 1939, working 40 weeks, Tom, $200 for 12 weeks, and Josephine, $550 for 52 weeks.

In 1946, Victor and Cleone were still living at 366 32nd Street, Apt. 2, in Ogden, and Victor was still working as a machinist for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Victor's son, Ellsworth Charles, and his wife Naomi, were listed at the same address, and Ellsworth was working as a salesman.

In a 1951 U.S. City Directory for Ogden, Utah, Victor Hazen Welker and his wife Cleone were living at 366 32nd Aveune in Apartment 2, and he was working as either a mechanic or a machinist. Lubin was the President, Manager and Realtor, at Welker's Inc., Real Estate Company, and they handled real estate, insurance, loans, and home building. They were located at 2345 Kiesel Avenue. They were still living at 122 Second Street. Darrell E., was still working as a switch man for OUR&D Company, and lived in Clearfield. Charles L., and his wife Constance were living at 522 17th Street, and he was also working as a salesman at Welker's Inc., Real Estate Company.

In 1954 and 1958, Victor and Cleone were still living on 32nd Street in Ogden, and he was still working as a machinist. In the same 1959 U.S. City Directory was a listing for Welker's Inc., with Lubin A. Welker, as the President and Manager and his wife, Laura working as the Secretary/Realtor. It was located at 2420 Kiesel Avenue.

Lubin Alma Welker passed away in May of 1965 in Ogden, Utah, and his brother, Victor Hazen Welker, passed away just two months later on July 10, 1965, also in Ogden, Weber, Utah. He was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery. Lubin's wife, Laura, passed away in 1978, in Ogden, Utah, at the age of 80 years old. Victor Hazen's third wife, Ella Cleone Grix Welker, passed away in 1992, in Ogden, at the age of 82 from pancreatic cancer.

Victor and Bertha Mae's son, Ellsworth Charles Welker, married Naomi Baseman on July 3, 1931, in Weber County, Utah, when he was 17 years old. He passed away August 28, 1974, in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California, and was buried in the Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose. His wife, Naomi, passed away 5 years later and was buried with her husband in San Jose. They were the parents of Victor Ellsworth Welker, born in 1932, Lawana May, born in 1935, and James Charles Welker, born in 1938.

Victor and Bertha Mae's son, Hazen Victor Welker, born April 9, 1910, married his first wife, Felice Marie Cilento, sometime after the 1930 census was taken on April, 1930, because in that census Hazen, 20, and his 16 year old brother, Ellsworth Charles, were living in San Francisco, with a divorced woman named Mrs. Olphouine Hessel, 49, who was from Belgium. Mrs. Hessel was working as a chamber maid in a hotel and Hazen Victor was working as an interior decorator. Ellsworth was not working. Mrs. Hessel was renting the home for $20 per month.

By the 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Hazen and Felice were living at 970 East Lincoln Court, San Jose, Santa Clara, California. They owned their own home which was valued at $5,000 and Hazen was working as a painter for a construction company. For the 50 weeks he worked in 1939 at 48 hours per week, his income was $1,700. They were listed in the census as Hazen, 30, Felice, 29, and their children, Robert, 7, and Shirley A., 5. Hazen had 4 years of high school and Felice had 2 years. Felice was born in New York and their children in California. A U.S. City Directory for 1940 San Jose, shows that Hazen was working as a salesman for The Drapery House.

Hazen and Felicia were living at 1065 Lincoln Court in San Jose in 1943 and he was working as a machinist for Campbell & Budlong. By 1944, they were at the same address, but Hazen was working as a salesman. In 1945 he was again working as machinist but they were living at 1062 Lincoln Court, just a few doors down from their former address.

Hazen's brother, Ellsworth Charles Welker, was working for a business located in Ogden, Utah, in 1948, known as Welker Bro's Draperies and Venetian Blinds, Inc., and Ellsworth was the Vice President and General Manager. They did custom built venitian blinds, and quality upholstering, and had an office and show room located at 418 26th Street, with a shop at 2651 Washington Boulevard.

At the time, Ellsworth and his wife Naomi, were living at 366 32nd Street, Hazen and Felice were living at 431 32nd Street, and Gerald and his wife Betty at 3125 Ogden Avenue. Their uncle, Lubin A. Welker, and his wife, Laura S., and their son, Mark L., were living at 122 2nd. So perhaps Hazen had left California to work with his brother and their uncle in their business in Ogden.

But by 1949 Hazen and Felice were living in San Jose again at 508 Patton Street and they had a business Welker Bros. (G.C. and E.C.) doing draperies located at 2326 Stevens Creek Road. Ellsworth was living in Santa Clara, as was Gerald. They were still there in 1956 and 1957, and Hazen was listed as President and Robert G. Welker, Vice President, and Stanley F. Patten as Secretary-Treasurer, and their upholstery and drapery business was located at 1451 W. San Carlos Street. They still had the same business in 1960. Sometime after that, Hazen and Felice divorced, and seven years later he was married to Margaret J. Jacobs.

Hazen married Margaret J. Jacobs on May 15, 1967, when he was 57 and she was 47, but they were divorced ten years later in 1977. Three years later, Hazen married Mildred C. Antonelli in Reno, Nevada, on January 24, 1979 when he was 68 years old.

Ten years later, Hazen Victor Welker passed away March 1, 1989, in Alameda County, California, while living in Lafayette, Contra Costa County, California. He was one month shy of his 79th birthday. Hazen was buried in the Evanston City Cemetery. His headstone reads as follows: "Beloved Father and Grandfather, Hazen Victor "H.V." Welker, April 9, 1910 to March 1, 1989. Founded Welker Bros. San Jose, California. Watch and Pray."