In the 1900 US Federal Census for Quitman, Green, Nodaway, Missouri, 43-year old Missouri-born blacksmith James W Weddle and his 42-year old Missouri-born wife Laura A [Wykoff] have been married 22 years and have had ten children, nine of whom are living. Eight of these children are 20-year old day laborer Charles, 17-year old Jenell, 16-year old James W Weddle, 14-year old Herbert C , 12-year old Lillie, 10-year old Forest, 6-year old Laura A and one-year old Lela M. Charles has been unemployed three months of the previous year. Jenell, James, Herbert, Lillie and Forest have attended school in the past year. The family is living in a house that James owns, free of mortgage, near the house of his father James W Weddle Sr.
In the 1910 US Federal Census for Skidmore, Monroe, Nodaway, Missouri, 54-year old Missouri-born blacksmith James W Weddle Jr and his 52-year old Missouri-born wife Anna L [Wykoff] have been married for 31-years and have had ten children but only nine are living. Six of them are living with their parents, 30-year old August [Charles on the last two census records], 27-year old Jenel B [transcribed Iva B, very bad handwriting], 26-year old James R [James W on the last census], 20-year old Forest J [age transcribed as 29], 16-year old Laura A and 11-year old Margarette. [Lela M on the 1900 census]. All of these children were born in Missouri. August, James and Forest are blacksmiths in their father's shop. Jenel is a seamstress, working at home. Margaret is the only child attending school. Also in this household is James' 88-year old Kentucky-born widowed mother, Anna [Cornett] Weddle. She has born 14 children but only eight are living. Everyone in the family can read and write except James' mother Anna. The family lives in a house that James owns free of mortgage on Oak Street.
On 12 Sep 1918, when James Weldon Weddle registers for the WWI draft, he states that he was born 13 Feb 1884, that he is living in Skidmore, Nodaway, Missouri with his wife, Hazel Sarah Weddle, that he is a native born citizen and that he is a blacksmith who has a half interest in a shop in Skidmore. His description is white, medium height, stout build with gray eyes and dark brown hair.
In the 1920 US Federal Census for Skidmore, Monroe, Nodaway, Missouri, 35-year old Missouri-born James W Weddle is a blacksmith who owns his shop. He and his 25-year old wife Hazel [Beverlin] Weddle have in their family their Missouri-born children 7-year old schoolboy Dean and 5-year old Donald. James and Hazel are literate. James' father is reported as being born in Indiana and his mother in Missouri. This is incorrect as both of his parents were born in Missouri. Hazel's parents are reported as being born in Indiana. The family is living in a house James owns, free of mortgage. Two houses away from James, is the residence of his brother, 32-year old electrician Herbert and his 32-year old Missouri-born wife, Meda [Buntin] Weddle. In their household are their Missouri-born children, 11-year old Otis, 9-year old Anna Laura, 4-year 11-month old Nola and 5-month old John. This family is living in a house that Herbert owns, with a mortgage. Herbert's parents were born in Missouri. Meda's father was born in Indiana and her mother in Ohio. Herbert and Meda are literate.
In the 1930 US Federal Census for Compton, Los Angeles, California, 46-year old Missouri-born blacksmith James W and his 35-year old Missouri-born wife Hazel S [Beverlin] Weddle were married when he was 25- and she was 15-years old, which would make the year of their marriage about 1910. In their household, they have their Missouri-born sons, 17-year old chauffeur Dean G Weddle, 15-year old Don W Weddle, 9-year old James E Weddle and 7-year old Laddie E Weddle. The birth of their youngest son in Missouri in 1923 would indicate that the family moved to California after that date. James no longer owns his shop but is working in a "repair shop" and has worked on the last regularly scheduled work day. All the sons have attended school in the past year and everyone in the family is literate. The family is living in a rented house at 734 Spruce Street, for which they pay $20 a month. They do not have a radio. James' parents are recorded as being born in Ohio which is incorrect as they were born in Missouri. Hazel's parents were born in Indiana.
James W Weddle died in Los Angeles County, California on 8 Feb 1965 and was buried in Roosevelt Memorial Park. The information about him on the California Death Index and his tombstone states that he was born on 13 Feb 1883 in Missouri and that his mother's name was Wykoff. This birth date is a year earlier than that given on James' WWI draft registration.
James's tombstone is inscribed "James W Weddle, Father, the masonic symbol, and the dates 1883-1965".
Birth
James' California Death Index record and his tombston state that he was born on 13 Feb 1883.
Individuals - Indiana McCaslins
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