Edith Marie Tomkins

Donald Curtis Hand was born September 3, 1893, in Seward, NE, and died July 8, 1983, in Crow Wing Co., MN, at age 89. Buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Brainerd, Crow Wing Co., MN.

Edith Marie "Jessie" Tomkins was born October 24, 1899, in North McGregor (now Marquette), Mendon Twp., Clayton Co., IA, and died March 11, 1977, in Crow Wing Co., MN, at age 77. Buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Brainerd, Crow Wing Co., MN. She is the daughter of Edwin Tomkins of Pennsylvania, and Laura L. Wallace of Farmersburg, Clayton Co., IA. Edith Marie "Jessie" Tomkins was adopted before 1910 by William W. Watson and Irene (Whiteford) Watson, childless farmers living in Superior Twp., Dickinson Co., IA, and her name was changed to Edith Marie "Jessie" Watson.

Donald Curtis Hand and Edith Marie "Jessie" Watson were married January 19, 1917, in Cass Co., MN.

Donald Curtis Hand and Edith Marie "Jessie" (Watson) Hand had many children.

Edwin Tomkins (age 35) and Laura L. Wallace (age 19) were married October 12, 1892, in Buckland, Allamakee Co., IA. Agnes (Wallace) Marble and Augusta Wallace, siblings of Laura Wallace, were witnesses to the marriage.

Mina May Tomkins was born September, 1892, in North McGregor (now Marquette), Mendon Twp., Clayton Co., IA.

William Edgar Tomkins was born March 31, 1894, in North McGregor (now Marquette), Mendon Twp., Clayton Co., IA.

Edith Marie "Jessie" Tomkins was born October 24, 1899, in North McGregor (now Marquette), Mendon Twp., Clayton Co., IA.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 6, 1900, shows Edward Tompkins (age 45) born April, 1855, Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania-born parents, is a Fisherman, and who rents his house, and is living in North McGregor Town, Mendon Twp., Clayton Co., IA. Living with him are: his wife of 9 years, Laura Tompkins (age 24) born November, 1875, in Iowa to Iowa and New York-born parents, and with all 3 of the children born to her still alive; his daughter, Mina M. Tompkins (age 7) born September, 1892, in Iowa to Pennsylvania and Iowa-born parents; his son, Edgar W. Tompkins (age 6) born March, 1894, in Iowa to Pennsylvania and Iowa-born parents; and his daughter, Edith M. Tompkins (age 7/12) born October, 1899, in Iowa to Pennsylvania and Iowa-born parents.

Charles Walker and Laura L. (Wallace) (Tomkins) Frye were married about 1906 in Iowa.

Harold Charles Walker was born December 4, 1906, in Sabula, Jackson Co., IA.

Reva Pearl "Peggy" Walker was born November 20, 1908, in Muscatine, Muscatine Co., IA.

Edith Marie "Jessie" Tomkins was adopted before 1910 in Iowa by William M. Watson and Irene (Whiteford) Watson, childless farmers living in Superior Twp., Dickinson Co., IA, and given the name of Edith Marie "Jessie" Watson.

The 1910 U. S. Census taken on May 2, 1910, shows William M. Watson (age 50) born in Illinois to Indiana and New York-born parents, and in his 1st marriage, is a married General Farm Farmer, and who rents his farm, and is living Superior Twp., Dickinson Co., IA. Living with him are: his wife of 26 years, Irene Watson (age 43) born in Illinois to New Jersey and New York-born parents, and in her first marriage, and with none of the 4 children born to her still alive; his adopted son, James B. Watson (age 13) born in Iowa to United States-born parents; his adopted daughter, Jessie M. Watson (age 10) born in Iowa to United States-born parents; his married step-father, Abrelaim Silvernail (age 74) born in New York to Connecticut-born parents, and in his 2nd marriage, and married for 34 years; his married mother, Maria M. Silvernail (age 71) born in New York to New York-born parents, and in her 3rd marriage, and married for 34 years, and with 4 of the 6 children born to her still alive; and his unmarried step-brother, William H. Silvernail (age 52) born in New York to New York-born parents, a General Farm Farm Laborer.

Ruth Reolia Walker was born March 10, 1912, in Muscatine, Muscatine Co., IA.

Charles Walker and Laura L. (Wallace) (Tomkins) Walker died February 22, 1917, in Muscatine, Muscatine Co., IA. Buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Muscatine, Muscatine Co., IA. A coroners inquest found that the train engineer was not responsible for the deaths, since Mr. and Mrs. Walker were trespassing on railroad property.

Donald Curtis Hand and Edith Marie "Jessie" Watson were married January 19, 1917, in Cass Co., MN.

Harley Walker is adopted by Rev. Paul Giessler, pastor of the German Baptist church.

The Muscatine Journal, Muscatine, Muscatine Co., IA, Wednesday, March 7, 1917

HARLEY WALKER IN HANDS OF MINISTER

Harley Walker, two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker, South Muscatine residents who were killed by a train here about two weeks ago, was today placed in care of the Rev. P. Giessler, pastor of the German Baptist church. It is probable that the clergyman will adopt the child, who is the youngest of four made homeless by the death of the couple.

The Muscatine Journal, Muscatine, Muscatine Co., IA, Thursday, March 8, 1917

OLDEST OF WALKER ORPHANS IS TAKEN BY ALBERT WALLACE

Harold, the oldest of the four Walker Orphans, the surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walker who were killed in a railroad accident here two weeks ago, was placed in the home of Mrs. Walker's brother, Albert Wallace of Dubuque, today. Mr. Wallace was in Muscatine for a week after the accident and was especially attracted by the boy, who is ten years of age. He made tentative arrangements to that the child at that time. Yesterday he wired the Muscatine Welfare association he would adopt the child. Miss M. Opal Zimmerman, secretary of the association took the child to Dubuque last night. The two little girls, aged 6 and 8 are still wards of the court and are in the hands of Miss Zimmerman until home are found for them.

The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 30, 1920, shows William Watson (age 60) born in Illinois to Indiana and New York-born parents, is a married General Farm Farmer, and who rents his farm, and is living Byron Twp., Cass Co., MN. Living with him are: his wife, Irene Watson (age 53) born in Illinois to New Jersey and New York-born parents; his married step-father, Arakam Silvernail (age 83) born in New York to New York-born parents; his married mother, Maria Silvernail (age 81) born in New York to New York-born parents; and his unmarried step-brother, William H. Silvernail (age 62) born in New York to New York-born parents.

Harold Charles Walker and Regina Pearl "Jean" Lenstra were married September 5, 1925, in Dubuque, Dubuque Co., IA.

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 7, 1930, shows Harold Wallace (age 23) born in Iowa to Iowa, and first married at age 18, is a married Building Laborer, and who rents his house for $15/month, and is living at 871 Iowa Street, 7th Pct., Dubuque, Julien Twp., Dubuque Co., IA. Living with him are: his wife, Jeane Wallace (age 21) born in Wisconsin to Wisconsin-born parents, and first married at age 17; and his son, Roger Wallace (age 7/12) born born in Iowa to Iowa and Wisconsin-born parents.

The 1940 U. S. Census taken on April 23, 1940, shows Albert Fry (age 71) born in Wisconsin, and 5 years ago was living elsewhere in Richland Co., WI, and with 8 years of School, is a widower Head of Household, and who rents his house for $8/month, and is living at 546 N. Congress Street, 2nd Ward, City of Richland Center, Richland Co., WI.

Harold Charles Wallace died December 15, 1963, in Dubuque, Dubuque Co., IA, at age 57. Buried in Dubuque Memorial Gardens, Dubuque, Dubuque Co., IA.

The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA, Wednesday, December 18, 1963

City Briefs

Brother Dies - Harold C. Wallace, 57, of Dubuque, a Cedar Rapids resident for two years, died suddenly Sunday. He was the brother of Mrs. Kenneth Gepfert, 386 Thirteenth street SE. Funeral services were held Tuesday at Dubuque.