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Carl & Elaine (Grove) Rhodes' Genealogy Pages

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Helen B. Willits

Female 1910 - 1995  (84 years)


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Generation: 1

  1. 1.  Helen B. Willits was born on 6 Apr 1910 (daughter of Walter Glenn Willits and Cecil Flossie Strayer); died on 7 Mar 1995 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio.

    Family/Spouse: Paul William Bauser. Paul was born on 4 Mar 1910; died on 25 Oct 1985 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Helen married Horace Gladden Swysgood on 10 Feb 1928. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

    Children:
    1. Donald L. Swysgood

Generation: 2

  1. 2.  Walter Glenn Willits was born on 19 Jul 1888 in Ohio; died on 10 Nov 1959 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.

    Walter married Cecil Flossie Strayer. Cecil (daughter of John Edward Strayer and Laura Sower) was born on 10 Oct 1888; died on 26 Nov 1934 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 90, West Liberty, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 3.  Cecil Flossie Strayer was born on 10 Oct 1888 (daughter of John Edward Strayer and Laura Sower); died on 26 Nov 1934 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 90, West Liberty, Ohio.
    Children:
    1. 1. Helen B. Willits was born on 6 Apr 1910; died on 7 Mar 1995 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio.
    2. Roselle Willits was born on 28 Jan 1913; died on 23 Jan 1950.
    3. Ruth Willits was born on 22 Nov 1920; died on 11 Jul 1992.
    4. Jean Willits


Generation: 3

  1. 6.  John Edward Strayer was born on 15 Jul 1861 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; died on 19 Aug 1923 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.

    Notes:

    1870 Census, Ohio, Adams twsp., Champaign County, Page 196B, Dwelling 64, has has John (Edward) living with parents, age 8.

    1880 Census, Ohio, Vol. 7, E.D. 17, Sheet 10, Line 10, Adams twsp., Champaign County, has John E. living with his father, age 18.

    1900 Census, Ohio, Vol. 92, E.D. 114, Sheet 3, Line 28, Liberty twsp., Logan County, has John living with wife Laura; three daughters, May (Alda Mae), Cecil F. and Adda B. (Addie); three sons, Floyd P., Willis R. and Percy R.

    1920 Census, Ohio, Vol. 123, E.D. 191, Sheet 11, Line 75, 220 Oak Land Square, Bellefontaine, Logan County, has John living with wife Laura; four sons, Floyd P., Willis, Ray P., and Hershal R.; one granddaughter, Dorothy I. Bolen.

    John lived in West Liberty, Ohio for thirty years. He was associated with the Niagara Steam Company of West Liberty; Volunteer Fire Department from March 9, 1892 to and after 1917. He worked as a Lamplighter for West Liberty before they haci. he also helped take care of the jail and worked at the West liberty Condensery as a stationary engineer. They moved to Bellefontaine (220 Oakland Square) in the spring of 1923. John died of a combination of intestinal flu and blood po isoning. He received the blood poisoning from a metal splinter in his finger. He was a member of the Christian Church in West Liberty and the International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge#6.



    OBITUARY - West Liberty Banner, dtg August 23, 1923 - Logan County, Ohio.

    J.E. Strayer (John Edward) - 62, son of Joseph and Emily Strayer, DeGraff, wife Laura Sowers, daughter Mrs. May Bolen died 8 years ago, her daughter Dorothy lived with him. Sons, Floyd P. of Urbana, Ray of Springfield, Herschel and Wils and Mrs. Ernest Yoder of West Liberty.



    More About JOHN EDWARD STRAYER:
    Burial: Buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 41, West Liberty Cemetery, Logan County, Ohio.

    John married Laura Sower. Laura (daughter of Samuel Sower and Mary Ellen King) was born on 5 Sep 1859 in Marion County, Indiana; died on 4 Jul 1935 in West Liberty, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 411, West Liberty, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 7.  Laura Sower was born on 5 Sep 1859 in Marion County, Indiana (daughter of Samuel Sower and Mary Ellen King); died on 4 Jul 1935 in West Liberty, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 411, West Liberty, Ohio.

    Notes:

    1900 Census, Ohio, Vol. 92 E.D. Sheet 3, Line 28, Liberty twsp., Logan County has John living with wife Laura; three daughters, May (Alda Mae, Cecil F., and Adda B. (Addie); three sons, Floyd P., Willis R., and Percy R.

    1920 Census, Ohio, Vol. 123, E.D. 191, Sheet 11, Line 75, 220 Oakland Square, Bellefontaine, Logan County has John living with wife Laura, four sons, Floyd P., Willis, Ray P., and Hershal R.; one granddaughter Dorothy I. Bolen

    1890 Census, Indiana, Richland twsp., Grant County, page 359, dwelling #826, has Laura living with her parents, age 9 month.

    OBITUARY - Bellefontaine Examiner, dtg Friday, July 8, 1935, Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio.

    PARALYSIS CAUSES DEATH - Funeral of Mrs. Laura Ellen Strayer To Be Held Saturday - Mrs. Laura Ellen Strayer died Thursday at 2:15 p.m. of paralysis after an illness of but a few days. She was stricken Tuesday at her family home, 220 Oaklanor some time. Living in the home with her were her son, Herschel Strayer, and wife and baby son and another son, Ray Strayer.
    Laura Ellen Sower-Strayer was born Sept. 5, 1859, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sower. When she was quite young they moved to a farm near Tremont City, later moving to the vicinity of West Liberty. She was the only daughter in a fafhhers having preceded her in death.
    She was united in marriage with John E. Strayer, July 11, 18885, his death occurring in August of 1923. They moved to a farm in the vicinity of West Liberty, later moving to West Liberty, then to Bellefontaine.
    The deceased was the mother of seven children. Those who remain are Mrs. Ernest Yoder, of West Liberty; Floyd P. Strayer, of Urbana; Willis W. Strayer, Ray Strayer and Herschel Strayer, of Bellefontaine. There are 12 grandchildren and threng. One granddaughter, Mrs. Dorothy Bolen Stevens, who now resides in Lima, was reared by Mrs. Strayer from infancy.
    The following brothers remain, John Sower, of West Liberty; Rev. Grant Sower, of Ferry, Mich., and Edward E. Strayer of Campbell, Calif.
    Mrs. Strayer was long a member of the Congregational church in West Liberty. She was a loving mother and always helpful and considerate.
    Services will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in the Leonard & Eichholtz Funeral Home with Dr. C.E. Rice pastor of the Lutheran church, in charge. Burial will be made in the West Liberty cemetery.



    Funeral Services - Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio, dtg. July 1935.

    MRS. STRAYER IS BURIED - Services for Mrs. Laura Strayer were held in the Leonard & Eichholtz Funeral Home Saturday at 1:30 p.m. with Dr. C. E. Rice, pastor of the Lutheran church, in charge.
    The following pallbearers served at the burial in West Liberty cemetery. Floyd, Willis, Ray and Herschel Strayer and Ernest Yoder and Glenn Willitts.




    Death certificate: Vol: 7878, Cert. NR. 43968, Logan County, Ohio

    Children:
    1. Alda Mae Strayer was born on 28 Sep 1884; died on 8 Sep 1916 in Logan County, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty, Ohio.
    2. 3. Cecil Flossie Strayer was born on 10 Oct 1888; died on 26 Nov 1934 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 90, West Liberty, Ohio.
    3. Addie Belle Strayer was born on 26 Apr 1890 in Ohio; died on 25 Jul 1955 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, , West Liberty, Ohio.
    4. Floyd Pearl Strayer was born on 12 Sep 1893 in West Liberty, Ohio; died on 28 Jul 1961 in Urbana Mercy Memorial Hospital, OH; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, St. Paris, Champaign County, Ohio.
    5. Willis Warrich Strayer was born on 3 Jun 1895 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; died on 27 Jul 1971 in North Palm Beach, Florida..
    6. Ray Percy Strayer was born on 30 Oct 1898; died on 22 Mar 1971 in Miami, Florida; was buried in St/. Thomas Columbarium Gardens, Miami Florida.
    7. Herschel Strayer was born on 28 Jul 1902 in West Liberty, Ohio; died on 3 Jan 1959 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty, Ohio.


Generation: 4

  1. 14.  Samuel Sower was born on 31 Jan 1826 in Tremont, Clark County, Ohio; died on 29 Sep 1891 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.

    Notes:

    Notes for SAMUEL SOWERS:
    1850 Census, Ohio, German twsp., Clark County, Page 46B, Dw
    elling 633, has Samuel living with his mother, age 24.

    1860 Census, Indiana, Richland twsp., Grant County, page 359, dwelling # 826, has Samuel listed with wife Mary, sons Granville and Edward; a daughter Laura. Also in the same household was a Martin Sowers, age 16, born in Ohio. Relationship to Sa muel unknown.

    1870 Census, Ohio, Brown twsp., Miami County, Dwelling 306, Page 265B, has Samuel Sour living with wife Mary E.; one daughter, Laura E.; four sons, Edward, John, Elmer and Grant.

    1880 Census, Ohio, Harrison Twp. Champaign County 2-2-21, 13-13
    Samuel Sower 54 M OH VA VA
    Mary E. 53 M OH MD OH
    Edward E. 22M OH OH OH
    Laura E. 20 F IN OH OH
    John K. 18 M IN OH OH
    Elmer E. 16 M IN OH OH
    Ulysses G. 12 M IN OH OH


    Death Notice, West Liberty Banner, dtg. October 1, 1891
    DEATH OF SAMUEL SOWER
    Mr. Samuel Sower, a well known farmer, who resided on the Forsyth farm north of town, died Tuesday, September 29, 1891, about noon, after an illness of over three weeks with typhoid fever. He was about 65 years of age.
    The funeral services will be held at the M. E. church in this place, Thursday, at 2 p. m. conducted by Rev. John. I. Hillman.

    Obituary, West Liberty Banner, dtg. October 8, 1891
    Samuel Sower was born near Springfield,Clark county, Ohio, January 31, 1826, and died at his home near West Liberty, Logan county, Ohio, September 29, 1891, after an illness of about three weeks. Typhoid fever was the immediate cause of is d
    On January 2, 1851, he was married to Miss Mary E. King, of Tremont City, who still lives to mourn the loss of him who had been her companion for more than forty years. Nine children were born of this union; four sons and one daughter remaiheir mother.
    Mr. Sower had been a farmer most of his life, and his integrity was unquestioned by all who knew him. In 18?? he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church. That bright experience never faded from his memory and he loved to re of his conversion. For a number of years he held the important position of class leader and was a zealous worker in the cause of Christ. Of late years his infirmities prevented the activities of former years, but he never lost interest i n the church and the consciousness of Christ's presence and power. As his pastor I visited him a few hours before he died. His face would brighten as I tried to talk to him of his Savior and the promises of God. He assured me that all was wel l and just before I left, with considerable effort he exclaimed, "Precious Jesus." It seemed as if he wanted to give one more testimony to the saving power of Christ. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
    J. I. H.


    Death book 2 p. 324 for Logan County records the death of Samuel as October 29, 1891, but I believe that is wrong as I found two obituaries for September 29, 1891.

    Samuel married Mary Ellen King on 2 Jan 1851 in Tremont, Ohio. Mary (daughter of John King and Susannah Rhodes) was born on 17 Aug 1826 in Tremont, Clark County, Ohio; died on 27 Dec 1893 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]


  2. 15.  Mary Ellen King was born on 17 Aug 1826 in Tremont, Clark County, Ohio (daughter of John King and Susannah Rhodes); died on 27 Dec 1893 in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio; was buried in West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.

    Notes:

    1850 Census, Ohio, German twsp., Clark County, Page 30B, Dwelling 405, has Mary living with her parents, age 22.
    John King 52 MD, shoemaker, Susan 44 OH, Mary 22 OH, Elizabeth 20, James 19, William 17, Oliver 14, Matthew 12, Lutetia 10, Thomas 8, Sarah J. 6, Harriet 4


    OBITUARY - West Liberty Banner, dtg. Thursday January 4, 1894, West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio.

    DEATH - MARY E. KING was born August 17, 1826, near Tremont, Ohio, and died at her home near West Liberty, Dec. 27, 1893, aged 67 years, 4 months and 10 days.
    She united with the M.E. church in 1845, being a member for nearly forty-nine years. She was married to SAMUEL SOWER, Jan. 2, 1851, at Tremont. Of this union, nine children were born, eight sons and one daughter. The husband and four soner world, leaving four sons and the daughter, and a large number of friends and relatives to sincerely mourn her death.
    Funeral services were conducted at South Union church by Rev. Swank, on Friday, and the body was laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery.

    Notes:

    Married:
    The marriage record for Samuel Sour is found on p. 241 of V
    ol. 3 of the Clark county marriage records.

    They applied for marriage on Dec. 28, 1850 as Sam'l Sour and Sarah Ellen King. The official certificate of marriage gives the correct name of Mary Ellen King. They were married by Rev. Jesse Goddard, minister of the M. E. church.

    Children:
    1. Granville M.Sower was born on 25 Jan 1853; died on 11 Mar 1866.
    2. Peter Maxwell Sower was born on 8 Dec 1854; died on 3 Jan 1857; was buried in Rector/Gard Cemetery, Clark County, OH.
    3. Edward Sower was born on 6 Dec 1857; died in 1936 in California.
    4. 7. Laura Sower was born on 5 Sep 1859 in Marion County, Indiana; died on 4 Jul 1935 in West Liberty, Ohio; was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Lot 411, West Liberty, Ohio.
    5. John W. Sowers was born on 23 Jun 1861 in Grant County, Indiana; died on 4 Dec 1952 in Near West Liberty, Logan County OH; was buried on 6 Dec 1952 in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty, Logan County OH.
    6. Oliver P.Sower was born on 17 Nov 1862 in Grant County, IN; died on 12 Aug 1863 in Grant County, IN.
    7. Elmer E. Sowers was born on 24 Feb 1864 in Grant County, Indiana; died on 6 Jan 1933 in His Brother John W. Sowers' Barn Near West Liberty; was buried on 8 Jan 1933 in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty.
    8. Grant Sower was born on 23 Jun 1867 in Grant County, Indiana; died on 17 Aug 1958 in Muskegon, Michigan; was buried on 20 Aug 1968 in Fairview Cemetery, West Liberty, Logan County, OH.
    9. Charles E. Sour was born on 11 Dec 1869; died on 6 Feb 1870.


Today's Genealogical Quote

If we know where we came from; we way better know where to go. If we know who we came from; we may better understand who we are