Son of Jeremiah J Betts and Elizabeth Anna Flaugh. For my family reference, Father of Charles Betts, Grandfather of Weston J Betts, and Great-Grandfather of Evelyn Betts Pattison.
This page is about the life of James Wygant Betts. James is my (Heather) fourth great-grandfather. It will show the timeline of his very large family including the good and the bad stories and events from family history books and accounts.
I am currently trying to find out if the white notebook pages still exist. I believe this summary was written by James’s daughter-in-law Mary Ellen Horning Betts, wife of Charles Betts, or by my Great Aunt Barbara Betts Englund.
~~1830~~
James Wygant Betts was born on July 7, 1839, in Green, Mercer County Pennsylvania, to Jeremiah J Betts and Elizabeth Anna Flaugh. He was the firstborn of 15 children. I’m not sure if anyone knows if his middle name is Wygant or Wagner. I have found documents with both spellings. Let me know if you know.
~~1840~~
This is how they recorded the census before the more informational 1850 census. They used tally marks in the appropriate age collums. If you don’t know the family well, it would be hard to tell if this is the correct information. We are looking at the second from bottom Jeremiah Betts. They were living in West Salem, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. It tallies Jeremiah, Elizabeth, and James. Elizabeth would most likely be pregnant with Shepherd when this was recorded. Other relatives of the Betts family are listed also.
~~1850~~
| Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | Real Estate Value | Birthplace | Attended School |
| Bates(Betts), Jeremiah | 32 | M | Farmer | $400 | PA | |
| Elizabeth | 27 | F | PA | |||
| James | 11 | M | PA | Yes | ||
| Shephard | 9 | M | PA | Yes | ||
| Lestina | 7 | F | PA | Yes | ||
| Hannah | 5 | F | PA | Yes | ||
| Martin | 3 | M | PA | |||
| Hezekiah | 1/12 | M | PA |
Not much to unpack in this 1850 Census. Jeremiah is farming his land in Green, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. His real estate was worth $400, about $16,000 in today’s money. Elizabeth has had 7 children born by 1850 with baby Mathias passing away at birth in 1842. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. James, Shephard, Lestina, and Hannah were attending school. Many of Jeremiah’s family can be seen in this census as his neighbors. More on his family when I get their page done.
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(Stock Photo)
In the spring of 1857, Jeremiah and Elizabeth packed up the family and headed west to Iowa where they settled down in Saylor Township, Polk County. Jeremiah bought 120 acres of land which had to be cleared and broken. He planted corn and wheat in his first year.
~~1860~~
| Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | Real Estate | Personal Estate | Birth- Place | Attended School |
| J. Betts | 41 | M | Farmer | $300 | $200 | PA | |
| E.A. Betts | 37 | F | PA | ||||
| James Betts | 21 | M | Farmer | $150 | PA | ||
| S.W. Betts | 19 | M | Farmer | PA | Yes | ||
| L. Betts | 16 | F | Teacher | PA | Yes | ||
| H.E. Betts | 14 | M | PA | Yes | |||
| Martin Betts | 12 | M | PA | Yes | |||
| Hezekiah Betts | 10 | M | PA | Yes | |||
| Jeremiah L. Betts | 7 | M | PA | Yes | |||
| Abbie Betts | 1/12 | F | IA | ||||
| Addie Betts | 1/12 | F | IA |
In this 1860 census, we see the Betts family living in Four Mile Polk County, Iowa. Jeremiah, James, and Shepherd Betts are farming. Listine Betts is a teacher. It wasn’t uncommon for young men to attend school up to 20 years old like we see Shepherd 19, is still attending school. Most of the time they only attended in the winter months when there was less farm work. Sadly this is the only record of twins Addie and Abbie Betts. They both passed away by the end of the year. Jeremiah and Elizabeth would have one more son born in 1863 and he only survived one month.
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James Wygant Betts 21, married Miss Hannah Catherine “Kate” Moore 14-16 (based on her death certificate of age but census records always showed her two years older), on April 1, 1861, in Polk County, Iowa. Hannah may have married young because her father died in 1861. Hanna’s mother was working as a washerwoman while taking care of four kids by herself. When I visit Des Moines Iowa next I’ll try to get their marriage record. I am almost positive this is a picture of Kate. Together James and Kate would have two children,
Charles Eugene Betts 1862-1926 and Ida May Betts 1864-1941.
| FHL Film Number | 1749716 |
|---|
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James and Hannah “Kate” had their first child together Charles Eugene “Charley” Betts, born on May 20, 1862, in Saylor, Polk County, Iowa. Charley is my (Heather’s) great-great-grandfather for reference. He also has his own page on this website.
~~~~~
Three months after Charley was born, James enlisted in the Iowa Grand Army of the Republic on August 12, 1862, and mustered out on August 16, 1862. According to family lore, he deserted his post because he was caught stealing. To avoid jail time James joined the Marines down in Louisiana I believe.
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James and Hannah “Kate” welcome their second baby, a girl, Ida May Betts, born on March 16, 1864, in Saylor, Polk County Iowa. This is an older picture of Ida in Iowa.
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Around 1865-1866, after Ida was born, James and Kate would divorce. James would take Charles and Ida to live with his parents Jeremiah and Elizabeth in Polk County, Iowa. Kate would complain that she would go many months not being able to see her children. Those months turned into years. This must have been hard on Kate especially being very young in age.
~~~~~
On January 1, 1867, James Wygant Betts 27, married Miss Elisabeth Ann Young 17, of Kankakee, Illinois. They were wed in Polk County, Iowa. Together they would have 10 children,
Albert Henry Betts 1868-1959, Jerry Tiffin Betts 1873-1961, Franklin J Betts 1875-1880, Laura Betts 1877-? , Walter W Betts 1878-1948, Ethel Kay Betts 1881-1920, Herbert Ernest Betts 1883-1895, Winnifred Elizabeth Betts 1885-1980, Adelbert Mollie Betts 1890-1959, and Bertha “Berdie” Betts 1892-1911.
~~~~~
James and Elizabeth welcomed a baby boy they named Albert Henry Betts born on January 20, 1868, in Polk County, Iowa.
Albert Henry Betts. Picture taken in Redondo, Washington, circa 1920.
~~1870~~
| Name | Age | Sex | Occupation | Birth- place | Real Estate |
| Betts, James | 30 | M | Farmer | PA | $250 |
| Elizabeth | 20 | F | Keeping House | IL | |
| Charley | 8 | M | IA | ||
| Ida | 6 | F | IA | ||
| Albert | 2 | M | IA |
Shortly after Albert Henry was born, James moved the family to Rush, Missouri. James is a farmer and Elizabeth is keeping house. Not sure why they didn’t stay very long in Missouri.
~~~~~
On February 2, 1873, James and Elizabeth welcomed their son, Jerry Tiffin Betts in Polk County, Iowa. This picture is an older picture of Jerry.
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On February 2, 1875, Franklin J Betts was born in Polk County, Iowa. This is James’s fifth child and Elizabeth’s third.
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James and Elizabeth welcome a daughter Laura Alice Betts born at the start of the new year January 1, 1877, in Saylor, Polk County, Iowa. This is James’s second daughter and Elizabeth’s first.
~~~~~
On December 29, 1878, James and Elizabeth welcomed a baby boy Walter W Betts in Polk County, Iowa. He is James’ fifth son and Elizabeth’s fourth. My guess on his middle name would be William, Wygant, or Wagner?
~~1880~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
| Box # and City | Name | Sex | Age | Relation | Single, Married, or Widowed | Occupation | Blind, Deaf, or Insane | Attended School | Cannot Read or Write | Birth- place | Father’s Birth- Place | Mother’s Birth- place |
| Box 1 | Betts, James W | M | 39 | Head | Married | Farmer | PA | PA | PA | |||
| Paradise, Kansas | Elizabeth | F | 30 | Wife | Married | Keeping House | IL | OH | OH | |||
| Albert H | M | 12 | Son | Single | IA | PA | IL | |||||
| Jerry T | M | 8 | Son | Single | IA | PA | IL | |||||
| Franklin | M | 6 | Son | Single | IA | PA | IL | |||||
| Laura | F | 4 | Dau | Single | IA | PA | IL | |||||
| Walter E | M | 1 | Son | Single | IA | PA | IL | |||||
| Box 2/ Douglas County Colorado | Betts, Charles | M | 18 | Border | Single | Laborer | IA | PA | IL | |||
| Box 3 | Jeremiah J | M | 62 | Head | Married | Farmer | PA | PA | PA | |||
| Saylor, Iowa | Elizabeth | M | 57 | Wife | Married | House Keeping | PA | PA | PA | |||
| Jeremiah L | M | 27 | Son | Single | Farmer | PA | PA | PA | ||||
| Betts, Ida | F | 16 | Grand-daughter | Single | At School | Ida is sick? | Yes | IA | PA | IL |
In this 1880s census, each head of home is in bold. We see James and Elizabeth Betts have moved from Polk County, Iowa after Walter was born to Paradise, Russel County, Kansas. James is farming. I intentionally left some of the census information blank because there is no way that most of the people on the census are deaf, dumb, blind, or cannot read and write. The pen must have been too dark and bled through. I figure Albert, Jerry, and Franklin were attending school.
In the second box, we see Charles Betts living in Douglas County, Colorado, and working as a Laborer. My guess after reading about Douglas County is that Charles may have been there during the gold rush of Colorado.
In the third box, we see Ida Betts living with her grandparents Jeremiah and Elizabeth, and uncle Jeremiah L., in Saylor, Polk County, Iowa. She is marked as sick which I’m not sure about. She is attending school.
~~~~~
I didn’t realize that Paradise Kansas was only 20 minutes from where my brother-in-law and sister-in-law live. They’ve lived 20 minutes away from Paradise for 3 years! So this past weekend (April 2025) We went there to check it out. Here are some of the pictures I took. Also information on James and his brother Martin C Betts’ land.
Scroll Left to Right for pictures. Paradise is known for its Limestone Watertower, pictures 1 & 8. I was a little off on where their land lies but it looks very close to picture 6. The last photo is of my husband, me, and our youngest son.
The highlighted square is the boundary of Paradise, Kansas. The population in the 1890s was 637 people. Today the population is around 35 people.
James W Betts land certificate from July 1890. President Benjamin Harrison was in office at this time.
The blue square is the 160 acres of James W Betts land in Paradise Kansas, and the red square is of his brother, Martin C Betts 160 acres.
~~~~~
As family lore goes, Franklin J Betts passed away on July 23, 1880, from diphtheria at the age of 6 in Paradise, Russell County, Kansas. My guess is that his middle name might be Jeremiah?
Burial Details Unknown F.A.G.# ID51182217 · View Source
~~~~~
On April 19, 1881, James and Elizabeth welcome another girl, Ethel Kay Betts, born in Paradise, Russell County, Kansas
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That’s a long trek from Paradise, Kansas to east Des Moines, Iowa especially in the winter.
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A sixth son was born to James and a fifth to Elizabeth, Herbert Earnest Betts born on October 8, 1883, in Paradise, Russell County, Kansas.
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James and his brother Shepherd William Betts
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Miss Ida May Betts 19 (pictured above), married Mr. Isaac Samuel Hurd 29 (I believe that is Issac above), on November 7, 1883, in Russell County, Kansas at the home of her father James, and stepmother Elizabeth.
Together Isaac and Ida would have seven children, four of them passing away in infancy or before born. Three of the infants known are Carrie born in 1884 with a death date unknown for Carrie but Little Pet lived from August 9-21, 1884. Not sure if they are the same baby or twins? James M Hurd August 30, 1885, to September 16, 1885. The surviving children (pictured below are Alice May Hurd 1887-1966, Raymond Charles Hurd 1889-1937, and Wilmer Clifton Hurd 1901-1971
Hurd children L-R Alice, Wilmer, and Raymond circa 1902
Headstone for James & Little Pet
Russell City Cemetery
Russell, Russell County, Kansas
F.A.G# 85299300
· View Source
~~~~~
Charles Eugene Betts 21, married Miss Mary Ellen Horning 19, of Indiana, on February 17, 1884, in Polk County, Iowa. Witnesses were Mary Ellen’s sister Cassie Horning and Hattie Dillion. Together Charles and Mary Ellen would have only one child survive after many attempts. His name is Weston J Betts 1894-1973 (pictured below). He was a small child. When he started walking he could run under tables without hitting his head. Weston has his own page on this website for more information on his life.
~~~~~
James Betts land notice. March 1884 Russell Kansas
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| Name | Age | Sex | Married/Single | Occupation |
| Betts, J.W. | 46 | M | Married | Farmer |
| E.A | 35 | F | Married | |
| Albert | 16 | M | Single | |
| J.T. | 10* | M | Single | |
| Laura | 8 | F | Single | |
| Walter | 6 | M | Single | |
| Ethel | 4 | F | Single | |
| Herbert | 2 | M | Single |
In this 1885 Kansas State census we see the family living in Paradise, Russell County, Kansas. James is farming. *Jerry’s age is listed at 10 which would have been Franklin’s age but he passed away in 1880. Maybe they just confused the ages. Jerry would be 13 years old. Elizabeth was probably about to give birth to Winnifred Elizabeth around this time.
~~~~~
On April 19, 1885, Winnifred Elizabeth Betts was born in Paradise, Russell County, Kansas, to James and Elizabeth Betts. Winnifred shares a birthday with her big sister Ethel Kay.
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James Betts was trying to prove that he was improving the land they were living on in Paradise, Kansas. One of his witnesses was Irving Hurd, brother-in-law of Ida Betts Hurd.
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James W Betts wheat production
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James Betts sells all of their belongings in Paradise, Kansas. They eventually moved back to Iowa.
~~1890~~
Unfortunately, many of the 1890 censuses were destroyed by a fire in 1921. I have not come across any of our family’s records that survived. It’s very unfortunate because we would have seen info on Herbert Betts.
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On New Year’s Eve December 31, 1890, James and Elizabeth welcomed a son (seventh for James and sixth for Elizabeth) Adelbert Mollie Betts was born in Villisca, Montgomery County, Iowa.
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On September 7, 1892, Bertha “Birdie” Betts was the last girl born to James and Elizabeth Betts in Villisca, Iowa. Family lore says when she was of age (around 1900) she moved to Chicago, Illinois, to work as a nurse. While she was there she suffered a tragic death. I’ve tried to find more on this with no luck.
~~~~~
Family lore says that Herbert Earnest Betts passed away on November 29, 1895, from a snake bite at the age of 12. There has not been a headstone found but he may be buried next to his father James Wygant Betts in the White Oak Cemetery in Elkhart Township, Polk County, Iowa.
F.A.G.# 51182262 · View Source
~~~~~
On October 14, 1896, Jerry Tiffin Betts 23, married Miss Cora Elizabeth Mains 21, in Montgomery, Iowa.
This picture is of Jerry Tiffin and Cora Maines Betts with Jerry’s brother Adelbert Betts (about 7) and son Gerald W Betts circa 1898
Together Jerry and Cora would have eight children,
Gerald W. Betts 1897-1945, James Gaylord Betts 1899-1962, Herbert Elwood Betts 1904-1978, Darleen D. Betts 1905-1991, June Elizabeth Betts 1905-1991, Clark Wesley Betts (pictured below)1907-1986, Dorthea Gwendryln Betts 1911-1971, William Henry Betts (pictured below) 1918-1998.
~~~~~
Mr. Robert Louis Jenkins 23, married Miss Laura Alice Betts 21, on April 27, 1897, in Montgomery, Iowa. Witnesses were Mrs. W.S. Reiley and Cora Etta James
>>>>working on Ruth Jenkins lead as a possible child
~~~~~
Even though this is Albert Henry Betts headstone application it shows when he enlisted into the Army at the age of 29 on October 27, 1897. He was part of the 14th Infantry and by the end of his service was a Sargent. He fought in the Spanish-American War of 1898.
~~~~~
Weston J, Charles, and Mary Ellen Betts
In case you can’t read cursive this reads,
If you decide to come you best come as soon as possible for there will be a great slashing of rates for a while now between the Canadian Pacific and Northern Pacific and if you go into some town, Des Moines for instance where the C.P and N.P both have offices you will come out so cheap you will hardly know you left Iowa until you strike tall timber. Now many things should happen that you should make up your mind to come, buy your ticket to Seattle, you will get there at 9 a.m. and you will get the Steamers Defiance for Buenna at 2 p.m. and arrive at Beuenna at six p.m
~~~~~
This is Isaac and Ida Betts Hurd’s restaurant and post office in Redondo, Washington.
~~1900~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
| Box # City & State | Name | Relation | Sex | Birth Month | Birth Year | Age | Married | Years Married | Children Born/ Living | Birth- place | Father’s Birth- place | Mother’s Birth- place | Occupation | Can Read/ Write | Home/Farm Own/Rent |
| Box 1 | Betts, Charles | Head | M | May | 1862 | 38 | Married | 16 | IA | PA | IL | Farmer | Yes | Own/Free Farm | |
| Buenna, WA | Mary | Wife | F | Dec | 1864 | 35 | Married | 16 | 1/1 | IN | OH | OH | Yes | ||
| Weston | Son | M | March | 1894 | 5 | Single | IA | IA | IN | Yes | |||||
| Hurd, Issac | Head | M | June | 1853 | 46 | Married | 16 | NY | NY | NY | Farmer | Yes | Own/Free Farm | ||
| Ida | Wife | F | March | 1864 | 36 | Married | 16 | 6/2 | IA | PA | IA | Yes | |||
| Alice A | Daughter | F | Jan | 1887 | 13 | Single | KS | NY | IA | at School | Yes | ||||
| Raymond E | Son | M | Feb | 1889 | 11 | Single | KS | NY | IA | at School | Yes | ||||
| Hall, Willis | Head | M | Jan | 1842 | 58 | Married | 32 | IL | MA | CT | Farmer | Yes | Own/Free Farm | ||
| Kate | Wife | F | Dec | 1846 | 53 | Married | 32 | 0/0 | IL | OH | IN | Yes | |||
| Box 2 | Betts, James | Head | M | July | 1839 | 60 | Married | 39 | PA | PA | PA | Farmer | Yes | Own/ Mortgaged Farm | |
| Saylor, Iowa | Elizabeth | Wife | F | July | 1849 | 50 | Married | 33 | 11/8 | IL | OH | OH | Yes | ||
| Walter W | Son | M | Dec | 1879 | 20 | Single | IA | PA | IL | Farm Larbor | Yes | ||||
| Ethel K | Daughter | F | April | 1881 | 19 | Single | KS | PA | IL | House Work | Yes | ||||
| Winnie E | Daughter | F | April | 1885 | 15 | Single | KS | PA | IL | at School | Yes | ||||
| Adelbert | Son | M | Dec | 1890 | 9 | Single | IA | PA | IL | at School | Yes | ||||
| Birdie | Daughter | F | Sept | 1892 | 7 | Single | IA | PA | IL | at School | Yes | ||||
| Elizabeth | Mother | F | May | 1823 | 77 | Widowed | PA | PA | PA | Yes | |||||
| Betts, Shepard | Head | M | Nov | 1840 | 59 | Married | 36 | PA | PA | PA | Farmer | Yes | Own/Free Farm | ||
| Polly | Wife | F | March | 1844 | 56 | Married | 36 | *0/0 6/4 | MI | NY | NY | Yes | |||
| Jenkins, Robert | Head | M | Sept | 1875 | 24 | Married | 3 | IL | KY | IL | Farmer | Yes | Rent/Farm | ||
| Laura | Wife | F | April* | 1877 | 22 | Married | 3 | 0/0 | IA | IL* | MO* |
| Box # City State | Name | Relation | Sex | Birth Month | Birth Year | Age | Marital Status | Years Married | Children Born/Living | Birth- place | Father’s Birth-place | Mother’s Birth- place | Occupation | Can Read/ Write | Home/Farm Own/Rent |
| Box 3 | Betts, Jerry | Head | M | Feb | 1874 | 26 | Married | 4 | IA | PA | IA (IL) | Produce Dealer | Yes | Home/Rent | |
| Sumner, Oklahoma | Cora E | Wife | F | Dec | 1876 | 23 | Married | 4 | 2/2 | IA | IN | IN | Yes | ||
| Gerald W | Son | M | J | 1897 | 2 | Single | IA | IA | IA | No | |||||
| James G | Son | M | July | 1899 | 10/12 | Single | OK | IA | IA | No | |||||
| Ginn, Estella | S-I-L | F | Aug | 1878 | 21 | Married | 3 | 1/1 | KS | IA | IA | Yes | |||
| Frances I Ginn | Niece | F | Nieces | 1897 | 2 | Single | IA | IA | IA | No |
One of my favorite censuses is the 1900s. They ask a lot of questions like birth month, year, and how many children were born/living. Charles Betts, his sister Ida Betts Hurd, their mother Kate Moore Betts Hall, and their families are all living in Buenna, King County, Washington, all living next door to each other. James and Elizabeth Betts are living in Saylor, Polk County, Iowa. James and Elizabeth have five children living at home, Walter, Ethel, Winnie, Adelbert, and Birdie, along with James’s mother Elizabeth Flaugh Betts. James’s brother Sheppard Betts and his wife Polly live next door. It says Polly has not had any children but by 1900 they had 4 of their 6 children living. Also, next door is James’s sister Laura Betts Jenkins, and her husband Robert Jenkins. All the heads of the house are farming.
Jerry Betts, his wife Cora, and their two boys are living in Sumner, Woods County, Oklahoma, where he is a produce dealer. Living with them are Cora’s sister Estella Maines Ginn and niece Frances I Ginn.
The family I couldn’t find in the 1900 census was Albert Betts. Possibly because he was in the military.
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Walter Betts and the Polk County, Iowa Farmers’ Institute
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(Older picture of Grace Greenwood Betts. Year unknown)
On January 20, 1902, Albert Henry Betts 35, married Miss Grace Leolia Greenwood 22, in Winterset, Maddison County, Iowa. Witnesses were W.E. Greenwood and Minnie English.
Together Albert and Grace would have two children,
Emmet Albert Betts 1903-1987 (shown below) and Pearl E Betts 1904-1999
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On February 5, 1902, Walter W Betts 24, married Miss Julia May Tilton 27, of Warren County, Iowa, in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa.
Julia is also pictured in the group photo in 1924 and I may also have a video of her. I need to double-check
In Walter’s obituary, it said he leaves behind a foster child Roberta Marie Betts. I found Roberta’s birth certificate and it names Walter and Julia as their legitimate child. Not sure if there is more to this?
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On March 19, 1902, Miss Ethel Kay Betts 20 married Mr. Sankey John Smith 23, of Van Meter, Iowa, in Polk County, Iowa. The picture above is of Ethel and I believe that is Sankey next to her. Witnesses were Alva and Lottie Smith.
Together Ethel and Sankey would have three children,
Virgil Theodore Smith 1904-1993 pictured below, Russel Wayne Smith 1906-1976,
Helen Elizabeth Smith 1912-1995 pictured below
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Here’s a legal record from January 1903 with James’s middle name as Wygant. I’m hoping to find the origin of his middle name when I start his father’s page. Sadly James had to file for bankruptcy in Iowa.
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Elizabeth Ann Young Betts passed away at the age of 54 on February 5, 1904, in Saylor, Polk County, Iowa. I am not sure cause of death. She is buried at the White Oak Cemetery in Elkhart Township, Polk County, Iowa. PLOTB6:6
F.A.G.#51180405 · View Source
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On April 19, 1904, Miss Winnifred Elizabeth Betts 21, married Mr. William C Thornton 28, in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. I believe the witnesses were Anna Sweet and G.L Brown
Together Winnifred and William would have seven children, George Irvine Thornton 1907-1962, Marjorie Elizabeth Thornton 1909-2007 (pictured below), Lillian Page Thornton 1911-2006, Twins Winnifred 1913-2006 (pictured below) and Wilma Thornton 1913-1981, Richard Addison Thornton 1919-2009, James Weston Thornton 1920-1983.
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On December 7, 1904, James W Betts 66, married Mrs. Arintha A Maines 51 (widowed mother of Cora Maines Betts), in Cambridge, Iowa.
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In this 1905 Iowa State census, we see the Betts family, James, Rintha, Adelbert, and Bertha “Birdie” living in Union, Story County, Iowa, where James is farming. The nearest Post Office is in Cambridge, Iowa.
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This is a faint picture of James’s ex-wife and mother of Charles and Ida, Kate Moore Betts Hall. From the sign on the tree, it looks like she is near Blewett Pass, Washington
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This is the house Charles Betts built for his wife Mary Ellen in Redondo, Washington, overlooking Poverty Bay.
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James W Betts and his grandsons Gaylord and Gerald Betts (Jerry and Cora’s sons) circa 1905
~~1910~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box6
Box 7
Box 8
| Box Number and City | Name | Relation | Sex | Age | Marital Status Years Married | Children Born/ Living | Birth- place | Father’s Birth- place | Mother’s Birth- place | Occupation/ Industry | Can Read/ Write | Own/ Rent | Farm/ House |
| 1 | Betts, James W | Head | M | 71 | M x2 6yrs | PA | OH | OH | Farmer | Yes, Yes | Own Free | Yes | |
| Union Iowa | Rintha | Wife | F | 54 | Mx2 6yrs | 4/2 | IN | IN | IN | Yes, Yes | |||
| Birdie | Daughter | F | 17 | Single | IA | PA | IL | Yes,Yes, @school | |||||
| 2 | Betts, Charles E. | Head | M | 47 | M1 26yrs | IA | IA* (PA) | IL | Carpenter/ House | Yes, Yes | Own Free | House | |
| Redondo WA | Mary E | Wife | F | 45 | M1 26yrs | 4/4* only 1 | IN | OH | OH | Yes, Yes | |||
| Weston J | Son | M | 15 | Single | IA | IA | IN | Yes, Yes @school | |||||
| 3 | Hurd, Issac | Head | M | 56 | M1 26yrs | NY | NY | NY | Postmaster Redondo WA | Yes Yes | Own Free | House | |
| Redondo WA | Ida | Wife | F | 46 | M1 26yrs | 4/4 | IA | PA | IL | Cook Hotel | Yes Yes | ||
| Raymond | Son | M | 21 | Single | KS | NY | IA | Odd Jobs | Yes Yes | ||||
| Wilmer | Son | M | 8 | Single | WA | NY | IA | Yes Yes @school | |||||
| 4 | Betts, Albert | Head | M | 42 | M1 8yrs | IA | PA | IL | Storekeeper | Yes Yes | Own | House | |
| Jefferson Iowa | Grace | Wife | F | 30 | M1 8yrs | 2/2 | IA | England | IA | Yes Yes | |||
| Emmet | Son | M | 7 | Single | IA | IA | IA | @school | |||||
| Pearl | Daughter | F | 6 | Single | IA | IA | IA | @school | |||||
| 5 | Betts, Jerry T | Head | M | 37 | M1 13 | IA | PA | IL | Farm Implement Seller | Yes Yes | Rent | Farm | |
| Union Iowa | Cora E | Wife | F | 34 | M1 13 | 6/6 | IA | IN | IN | Yes Yes | |||
| Gerald W | Son | M | 12 | Single | IA | IA | IA | Yes Yes @school | |||||
| Jay Gaylord | Son | M | 10 | Single | IA | IA | IA | Yes Yes @school | |||||
| Darlene D | Daughter | F | 8 | Single | IA | IA | IA | Yes Yes @school | |||||
| Herbert R | Son | M | 6 | Single | IA | IA | IA | Yes No @school | |||||
| June E | Daughter | F | 4 | Single | IA | IA | IA | No | |||||
| Clark W | Son | M | 2 | Single | IA | IA | IA | No | |||||
| 6 | Betts, Walter | Head | M | 30 | M1 8yrs | IA | Locomotive Engineer | Yes Yes | Own Mortg. | House | |||
| Valley Iowa | Julia | Wife | F | 34 | M1 8yrs | 0/0 | IA | OH | IA | Yes Yes | |||
| 7 | Smith, Sankey | Head | M | 30 | M1 8yrs | IA | OH | OH | Farmer | Yes Yes | Own Mortg. | Farm | |
| Jefferson Iowa | Ethel | Wife | F | 27 | M1 8yrs | 2/2 | KS | PA | IL | Yes Yes | |||
| Virgil | Son | M | 5 | Single | IA | IA | KS | No | |||||
| Russel | Son | M | 3 | Single | IA | IA | KS | No | |||||
| 8 | Thornton, William | Head | M | 33 | M1 6yrs | IA | IA | IA | Farmer | Yes Yes | Rent | Farm | |
| Douglas Iowa | Winnie | Wife | F | 25 | M1 6yrs | 2/2 | KS | PA | IL | Yes Yes | |||
| George | Son | M | 3 | Single | IA | IA | KS | No | |||||
| Marjorie | Daughter | F | 9/12 | Single | IA | IA | KS | NO |
This was a big collection of censuses. Each family is in a box for easy finding. Some of the rows for Charles Betts and Ida Betts Hurd are missing because they are the extended family of Mary Ellen Betts and borders in Ida’s house. You can see where everyone is living and their occupations. -Missing are the censuses for Laura Betts Jenkins and Adelbert Betts. Adelbert was at Simpson College around this time.
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James Betts on the farm
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James W. Betts visits his brother Jeremiah L. Betts in Des Moines, Iowa.
~~~~~
Adelbert Betts was a star football player at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa
~~~~~
These two pictures are of three of James’s grandsons Ray and Wilmer Hurd, and Weston Betts (above), and James’s granddaughter below Alice Hurd Brengman with three of his great-grandchildren Roger, Jessie Alice, and Raymond Brengman circa 1914.
~~~~~
James Wygant Betts around the age of 70.
~~~~~
I believe this photo of Charles and Mary Ellen Betts was taken before their only child, son Weston, went overseas to fight in WWI.
Circa 1915
~~~~~
This is Adelbert M Betts’s draft card. in 1916 he was 26 years old. He is medium height with a stout build, dark brown eyes, and light brown hair. He is a bank clerk working at First National Bank in Boone, Iowa. He claims an exemption due to a dependent relative. These records are neat because they give you specific traits and their signature.
~~~~~
Mr. Adelbert Betts 27, married Miss Vada Kastner 24, on January 12, 1917, in Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Witnesses were Marcus Peterson and Mrs. Euginia Harless.
Together Adelbert and Vada would have two children, Jean Marian Betts 1919-2001 and Robert Clinton Betts (pictured below) 1928-1998.
~~~~~
This is Jerry Tiffin Betts Draft Card September 12, 1918. He was 45 years old and was living in Cambridge, Iowa. His occupation is listed as a well-driller. Jerry was of medium height and build, and had blue eyes. It’s neat to see their handwriting and signatures.
~~~~~
This is one of my favorite pictures of Charles and Mary Ellen Betts on top of the Continental Divide near Butte, Montana. They were a very adventurous couple. Circa 1919?
~~~~~
Cora Maines Betts, James W Betts, and Ethel Betts Smith
Not sure the year of this picture but it’s definitely pre-1920. Does anyone know who the babies might be?
~~1920~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 7
Box 8
| Box | Name | Relation | Home Own/Rent | Sex | Age | Marital Status | Read/Write @school | Birth- place | Father’s Birth- place | Mother’s Birth- place | Occupation/ Industry | Farm |
| Box 1 | Betts, James | Head | Home/Own | M | 80 | Married | Yes, Yes | PA | PA | PA | General Farmer | Yes |
| Union Iowa | Rintha A | Wife | F | 60 | Married | Yes, Yes | IN | IN | IN | |||
| Box 2 | Hurd, Issac | Head | Home/Own | F | 66 | Married | Yes, Yes | NY | NY | NY | Postmaster | No |
| Redondo, WA | Ida M | Wife | F | 55 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | PA | IA* (IL) | Keeper/ Boarding House | ||
| Raymond | Son | M | 30 | Single | Yes, Yes | KS | NY | I | Driver/ Shipyard | |||
| Wilmer C | Son | M | 18 | Single | Yes, Yes | WA | NY | IA | Laborer/ Co. Road | |||
| Bregman, Herbert | Grandson | M | 5 | Single | No | WA | US | KS | ||||
| Box 3 | Betts, Albert | Head | Home/Own | M | 51 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | IN* (PA) | IA | General Farm | Yes |
| Jefferson, Iowa | Grace L | Wife | F | 39 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | OH | IA | |||
| Emmet A | Son | M | 16 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| Pearl E | Daughter | F | 15 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| Box 4 | Betts, Jerry T | Head | Home/Own | M | 44 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | PA | PA*(IL) | Owner Plumber Store | |
| Union, Iowa | Cora E | Wife | F | 44 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | IN | IN | |||
| Jerald D | Som | M | 23 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | College | |||
| Darlene E | Daughter | F | 18 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| Herbert E | Son | M | 15 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| June E | Daughter | F | 14 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| Dorothy G | Daughter | F | 7 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| William H | Son | M | 1 | Single | No | IA | IA | IA | ||||
| Box 5 | Betts, Walter | Head | Home/Own | M | 41 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | Us* (PA) | IA*(IL) | Locomotive Engineer | No |
| Valley Junction, Iowa | Julia | Wife | F | 44 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | IA | L | |||
| Box 6 | Smith, Sankey J | Head | Home/Own | M | 41 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | OH | OH | General Farmer | Yes |
| Jefferson Tws, IA | Ethel K | Wife | F | 38 | Married | Yes, Yes | KS | PA | PA*(IL) | |||
| Virgil T | Son | M | 14 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||
| Russell W | Son | M | 13 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||
| Helen E | Daughter | F | 7 | Single | Yes, Yes, @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||
| Box 7 | Thornton, William | Head | Rent | M | 42 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | IA | IA | General Farmer | Yes |
| Douglas, Iowa | Winnifred | Wife | F | 34 | Married | Yes, Yes | KS | PA | IL | |||
| George Irvine | Son | M | 12 | Single | @school | IA | IA | IA*(KS) | ||||
| Marjorie E | Daughter | F | 10 | Single | @school | IA | IA | IA*(KS) | ||||
| Lillian P | Daughter | F | 8 | Single | @school | IA | IA | IA*(KS) | ||||
| Wilma | Daughter | F | 6 | Single | @school | IA | IA | IA*(KS) | ||||
| Winnefred | Daughter | F | 6 | Single | @school | IA | IA | IA*(KS) | ||||
| Richard Addison | Son | M | 11/12 | Single | No | IA | IA | IA*(KS) | ||||
| Box 8 | Betts, Adelbert | Head | Rent | M | 29 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | US*(PA) | US*(IL) | Roundhouse Cleark | No |
| Carroll, Iowa | Veda | Wife | F | 25 | Married | Yes, Yes | IA | Germany | Germany | |||
| Jean | Daughter | F | 11/12 | Single | No | IA | IA | IA |
Scroll L-R. Luckily we have eight separate family 1920 Censuses with lots of great information. This was the last census before the Great Depression that started in 1929. All heads of the home are in bold. James and Rintha are living in Iowa where it looks like he is still farming at 80 years old. I have not been able to find Charley, Ida, and Weston’s 1920 census. The only thing I can think of is that they were on their cross-country road trip from Redondo, WA to Florida and back, around the time of the census. Laura Betts Jenkins is also missing. Birdie passed away around 1911 and shortly after this census was taken, Ethel Kay Betts Smith passed away in May 1920.
~~~~~
This is a great photo of our family of Veterans. James’s grandson Weston J Betts served in World War 1, James’s son Albert Henry Betts served in the Spanish War, James Wygant Betts served in the Civil War, and Dave Sharp served in the Civil War. Dave is James’s brother-in-law married to his sister Hanna Elizabeth Betts. Circa 1920
~~~~~
Ethel Kay Betts Smith passed away from cancer on May 28, 1920, at the age of 39 in Winterset, Iowa. Her husband Sankey Smith passed away in 1935 of cognitive heart failure at the age of 56. They were married for 18 years.
~~~~~
Around 1920, Charles, Mary Ellen, and Weston Betts took a journey around the United States in this car or one very similar. You can see their journey in more detail on Charles’s page on my website.
This is a very cool picture for me (Heather). It was taken in 1923 and shows my Grandmother Evelyn Carol Betts (the baby) being held by her Grandfather Charles Eugene Betts 61, who is sitting next to his dad (on the right) James Wygant Betts 84. The other two men on the left are Charles’ father-in-law, John Horning 90, and his daughter-in-law Lauree’s father Arthur Burgess 47.
This is an expanded family photo from the one right above. This one shows James holding his great-granddaughter Evelyn Betts and sitting next to his two oldest children Charles and Ida. Also in the picture are three of his grandsons Wilmer and Raymond Hurd, and Weston Betts, and two of his daughter-in-laws Julia (Walter) Betts and Mary Ellen (Charles) Betts.
~~~~~
Here is another photo of John Horning (Charles Betts’ father-in-law) with James Wygant Betts
circa 1920
~~~~~
James W Betts’s firstborn son passed away on July 12, 1926. Charles Eugene “Charlie” Betts passed away at the age of 65 from Angina Pectoris.
I believe this is a memory from Barbara Jean Betts Englund about her Grandpa Charlie
The Seattle Times, Thursday, July 15, 1926
Services to be held for Charles E. Betts
Funeral services for Charles E. Betts, 65 years old, who died at his home in Redondo Beach Monday, were held at 3 o’clock this afternoon in the Chittenden Funeral Parlors in Kent. Mr. Betts came to this state 28 years ago and bought the property at Stones Landing, which later he renamed Redondo Beach. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mary Betts; a son, Weston J. Betts; his father, James W. Betts and a sister, Mrs. Ida M. Hurd, all of Redondo Beach. Other relatives are living in Iowa. Charley is laid to rest at the Sumner Cemetery in Sumner, Pierce County, Washington. PLOT14-78
F.A.G.# 21067086 · View Source
~~~~~
James Wygant Betts passed away on May 10, 1927, at the age of 87 in Redondo, King County, Washington. His cause of death was Arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and chronic myocarditis.
>>>>>>Flora Sibley Davis Betts is in 2 Washington censuses 1930 and 1940. She is listed as widowed in both. Looks like she was born in Michigan. That’s all I’ve been able to find on her.
James was brought back to Iowa and is buried next to his second wife Elizabeth at the
White Oak Cemetery in Elkhart Township, Polk County, Iowa.
F.A.G.#51180145 · View Source
~~1930~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 7
| Box # City | Name | Relation | Home Own/ Rent | Home Value | Radio | Farm | Sex | Age | Marital Status | Marriage Age | Can Read/ Write at School | Birth- place | Father’s Birth- place | Mother’s Birth- place | Occupation/ Industry | Veteran |
| Box 1 | Hurd, Issac | Head | Own | $2500 | Yes | No | M | 76 | Married | 30yo | Yes | NY | NY | NY | Post Master Post Office | No |
| Redondo, WA | Ida | Wife | F | 66 | Married | 19yo | Yes | IA | PA | IL | ||||||
| Bergman, Herbert | Grandson | M | 16 | Single | Yes @school | WA | NE | US | ||||||||
| Box 2 | Betts, Albert H | Head | Own | ? | R (Yes?) | Yes | M | 68 | Married | 34yo | Yes | IA | PA | IA* (IL) | General Farmer | Yes Sp.Am. War |
| Jefferson, Iowa | Grace L | Wife | F | 51 | Married | 21yo | Yes | IA | IA | IA | ||||||
| Box 3 | Betts, Jerry | Head | Rent | $12 month | R (Yes?) | No | M | 57 | Married | 34 | Yes | IA | PA | IA* (IL) | Furniture Merchant | No |
| Des Moines, Iowa | Cora E | Wife | F | 54 | Married | 20 | Yes | IA | IN | IN | ||||||
| Gaylord J | Son | M | 30 | Single | Yes | OK | IA | IA | No | |||||||
| Dorthea G | Daughter | F | 17 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||||||
| William H | Son | M | 11 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||||||
| Box 4 | Betts, Walter | Head | Own | $3500 | R (Yes?) | No | M | 51 | Married | 23yo | Yes | IA | PA | IA* (IL) | Steam Road Engineer | No |
| Valley, Iowa | Julia | Wife | F | 54 | Married | 26yo | Yes | IA | OH | IA | ||||||
| Box 5 | Smith, Sankey | Head | Own | ? | R (Yes?) | Yes | M | 49 | Widowed | Yes | IA | IA | OH | General Farmer | No | |
| Jefferson, Iowa | Virgil | Son | M | 24 | Single | Yes | IA | IA | KS | No | ||||||
| Russell | Son | M | 22 | Single | Yes | IA | IA | KS | No | |||||||
| Helen | Daughter | F | 16 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||||||
| Box 6 | Thornton, W C | Head | Own | ? | R (Yes?) | Yes | M | 53 | Married | 29 | Yes | IA | IA | IA | General Farmer | No |
| Douglas, Iowa | Winnifred | Wife | F | 43 | Married | 19 | Yes | KS | PA | IL | ||||||
| Wilma | Daughter | F | 16 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||||||
| Winnifred | Daughter | F | 16 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||||||
| Richard | Son | M | 11 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||||||
| James | Son | M | 9 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | KS | ||||||||
| Box 7 | Betts, Adelbert | Head | Rent | $30 month | R (Yes?) | No | M | 34 | Married | 20 | Yes | IA | PA | IL | Round House Steam RR Clerk | No |
| Carroll, Iowa | Veda T | Wife | F | 36 | Married | 23 | Yes | IA | Germany | Germany | ||||||
| Jean M | Daughter | F | 11 | Single | Yes @school | IA | IA | IA | ||||||||
| Robert C | Son | M | 1 11/12 | Single | No | IA | IA | IA |
Scroll L-R. This 1930 census was taken at the start of the Depression. We will have to see how things will change in the 1940 census. New to this census are the home value, rent amount per month, radio in the house, and military service and war fought in. $2,000 in 1930 is the equivalent of $36,000 in today’s money. Most of the siblings are living in Iowa except Ida who is still in Redondo, Washington. People who have passed away since the last census are father James Betts and his second wife Rintha, son Charles Betts, and daughter Ethel Kay Betts Thornton.
~~~~~
After Adelbert’s bank teller days, he went to work for The Chicago and North Western Railroad Company.
~~~~~
Albert Betts’ hen lays a big egg.
~~~~~
Albert Betts gets stuck by a moving car and suffers cuts and bruises
~~~~~
This is the 1932 Des Moines, Iowa Directory. I see a lot of Betts listed. Jerry Tiffin Betts and sons, Gerald and James Gaylord are running Betts & Sons Furniture Company (picture and ads listed below). Walter and Julia are at the top of the second section where he is listed as an Engineer (RailroadI).
~~1940~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
| Box # City | Name | Relation | Sex | Age | Marital Status | Attending School | Grade | Home Own/ Rent/Value | Farm | Birth- place | Occupation | Hours Worked | Income |
| Box 1 | Pattison, Carroll | Head | M | 25 | Married | H-4 | Own, $4000 | No | WI* (MT) | Skating Rink Manager | 56 | ? | |
| Redondo, WA | Evelyn | Wife | F | 17 | Married | H-3 | WA | ||||||
| Betts, Weston | Head | M | 46 | Married | H-4 | Rent, $50 | No | IA | Manager at Skating Rink & Park | 0 | 0 | ||
| Lauree | Wife | F | 38 | Married | H-3 | IA | Organist at Skating Rink | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Byron Lee | Son | M | 13 | Single | Yes | 7th | WA | ||||||
| Barbara Jean | Daughter | F | 9 | Single | Yes | 3rd | WA | ||||||
| Mary E | Mother | F | 76 | Widowed | 8th | IN | |||||||
| Hurd, Ida | Head | F | 76 | Widowed | 8th | Own, $1750 | No | IA | 0 | 0 | |||
| Wilmer C | Son | M | 38 | Widowed | H-2 | WA | Stacking Machine at Door Factory | 52 | $1371 | ||||
| Box 2 | Betts, Albert | Head | M | 72 | Married | H-4 | Own, $2500 | Yes | IA | Farmer | 36 | Yes | |
| Jefferson, Iowa | Grace | Wife | F | 59 | Married | H-4 | IA | ||||||
| Box 3 | Betts, Walter | Head | M | 61 | Married | H-4 | Own, $2500 | No | IA | Railroad Engineer | 52 | $2400 | |
| West Des Moines, Iowa | Julia | Wife | F | 58 | Married | 8th | IA | ||||||
| Box 4 | Thornton, Wm | Head | M | 63 | Married | 8th | Own $500 or $5000 | Yes | IA | Farmer | 60 | ? | |
| Douglas, Iowa | Winnifred | Wife | F | 55 | Married | 8th | KS | ||||||
| Box 5 | Betts, Adelbert | Head | M | 49 | Married | C-3 | Rent $35 | No | IA | Service Man @Hatchery | 50 | $1800 | |
| Fort Dodge, Iowa | Vada | Wife | F | 46 | Married | C-4 | IA | ||||||
| Robert | Son | M | 11 | Single | Yes | 5 | IA |
Here’s another big census. In 1940 the country was in full recovery from the Great Depression. Unemployment rates were down to 15% compared to 25% in 1933. This is one of my favorite censuses, it shows my grandparents Pat and Evie Pattison living next to my great-grandparents Weston and Lauree Betts. Charles Betts’ wife Mary Ellen is 76, and living with Weston and Lauree. Ida Betts Hurd is widowed and so is her son Wilmer. All three families are just a few houses away from each other. Pat and Evie Pattison are helping Weston and Lauree Betts run The Redondo Beach Skating Rink in Redondo, Washington (pictured below). Albert Betts and William Thornton are still farming in Iowa. I cannot find a census for Jerry T Betts. I even checked to see if he was living with one of his children but no luck. Walter Betts is working at the railroad. Adelbert Betts is working at a hatchery in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
~~~~~
Ida May Betts Hurd passed away on November 9, 1941, just a few years after her husband Isac. they were married for 56 years.
WA–Kent News Journal….13 Nov 1941
IDA MAY HURD: 77, a widely known Redondo resident, died Sunday morning at her home. Mrs Hurd recently suffered a fall which fractured 5 ribs & this was believed to have hastened her death. She had served as assistant postmaster at Redondo for 33 years & had made her home there for 41 years. A member of a pioneer family, Mrs. Hurd was born 16 Mar 1864, at DeWitt IA, a daughter of Mr & Mrs James Betts. In 1899 she came west with her husband & 5 children to Washington. Before moving to Washington she had lived in Des Moines IA. She was a member of the Methodist Church, a charter member of the Dorcas Ladies Aid Society & was an ardent worker in the local Red Cross chapter. She was married to Isaac Hurd in Kansas in 1883. He preceded her in death in 1938 at Redondo. Surviving are a son Wilmer-Redondo & a daughter MrsAlice Bringman-Redondo. The late Charles Betts was her brother. Final rites were conducted yesterday afternoon in the chapel of the Chittenden Funeral Home with Rev WE Callahan of the Kent Methodist Church officiating. The interment will be at the Sumner Mausoleum.
The cause of death on her death certificate indicates shock after falling on cement steps and breaking some ribs.
Woodlawn Abbey Mausoleum Sumner, Pierce County, Washington. PLOT3E-9-77
(In the old pioneer section)
F.A.G.# 20796910 · View Source
~~~~~
After Jerry Tiffin Betts first wife Cora Maines Betts passed away in 1935, He married Alice Schmidt. There are a lot of Alice Schmidt’s in Iowa so I don’t have any other solid information.
~~~~~
What a neat picture of half of the Betts siblings. Iowa 1944
~~~~~
Sadly right after his 69th birthday, Walter W Betts passed away from heart issues spanning 5 years along with diabetes. He is buried at the Oralabor Cemetery in Ankeny, Iowa along with some of my Horning relatives. I saw his headstone at the cemetery but wasn’t sure how he was related. Now I know. Walter and Julia were married for 46 years.
Walter’s wife Julia passed away just a few years after him in 1951. They are buried beside each other in the Oralabor Cemetery in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa. Section NW-7
F.A.G.# 51182238
~~1950~~
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
| Box Number, City, State | Name | Relation | Age | Gender | Marital Status | Birth- place | Seeking Employment | Hours Worked | Occupation/ Industry | Worked Last Week | Farm |
| Box 1 | Betts, Albert | Head | 82 | Male | Married | IA | No/ Retired | Yes | |||
| Jefferson, Iowa | Grace | Wife | 69 | Female | Married | IA | |||||
| Box 2, Des Moines, Iowa | Betts, Jerry T | Head | 77 | Male | *Says Widdowed then Divorced | IA | No/ Retired | No | |||
| Box 3 | Thornton, William C | Head | 73 | Male | Married | IA | Self-Emp | 40 | Farmer | Yes | Yes |
| Douglas, Iowa | Winnifred | Wife | 64 | Female | Married | KS | |||||
| Box 4 | Betts, Adelbert | Head | 59 | Male | Married | IA | Self-Emp | 105 | Hatchery/ Betts Hatchery | Yes | |
| Linn, Iowa | Veda T | Wife | 56 | Female | Married | IA |
This is the last census record we will see until 2032! I’m really bummed that these last two censuses don’t include more family information. Everyone is living in Iowa. Albert and Grace Betts are retired but are still on their farm. They’ve been married for 48 years. Jerry is retired. His marital status was marked as widowed then a D for divorce was scratched over it. William and Winnifred Thronton are still farming and have been married for 46 years. Adelbert and Veda Betts have been married for 33 years. They own Betts Hatchery in Linn Iowa. Their employee George Mitchel and his family live on the Hatchery property and are listed below them. I found a couple clippings from Newspapers.com pictured below.
~~~~~
Albert Henry Betts passed away on February 13, 1959, at the age of 91, in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa. It looks like he suffered a painful death from pneumonia and cerebral arteriosclerosis which is a thickening of the arteries in the brain.
Albert Henry Betts is buried at the Glendale Cemetery in the Spanish American War section in
Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Blk 16, Sec A lot 128. His wife Grace passed away in 1976. They were married for 57 years.
F.A.G #51180454 · View Source
~~~~~
Adelbert M. Betts passed away on December 7, 1959, in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio, from a heart attack after suffering from a previous illness. His wife Veda passed away a few years earlier in 1955. They were married for 38 years. She is buried next to Adelbert.
He is buried in the Linwood Park Cemetery in Boone, Boone County, Iowa.
F.A.G.# 51182279 · View Source
~~1960~~
Jerry Tiffin Betts passed away on March 22, 1961, at the age of 88 from a kidney ailment he had suffered for over four months.
Jerry Tiffin Betts is laid to rest next to Cora at the Rising Sun Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, Polk County, Iowa. Jerry and Cora were married for 39 years.
F.A.G.# 51182208 · View Source
~~1980~~
Winnefred Elizabeth Betts Thornton passed away at the age of 95, on October 6, 1980, in Bettendorf, Iowa. Winnefred’s husband William passed away in 1962 at the age of 85. They were married for 58 years. They are buried next to each other at the
Greenwood Friends Cemetery Douglas Township, Polk County, Iowa. Section W S 1: 1
F.A.G.# 28410739 · View Source
~~~~~
As always their story isn’t finished yet. Thank you for reading. Let me know if you have pictures, stories, or favorite memories of anyone on this page.
-F.A.G# are FindaGrave.com reference numbers if you want to start your own virtual cemetery through their app.
-I find most of my information in State or County books, family genealogy books, libraries, Google searches, and personal stories and pictures given to me
I do this to preserve our family history for us and future generations. I keep the website ad-free because who wants to see ads. It costs about $850 annually to keep this site up and I do take donations and I truly appreciate everyone who has donated so far. You know who you are 🙂 We have a Venmo set up now @Eric-Puryear-3 to make donations easier.
Thank you again for reading and remember if you count back 10 generations, it took 2,046 people to come together at separate times in history just to make you!
~~~~~
This is from a family memory book made by Mary Ellen Horning Betts
~~~~~
If the Genes Fit... 