Query Number: 1211-2 November 2012
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Requested Information:
Estelle (Seeley) Stephens was the wife of Virginia’s grandfather, Ernest Stephens who was born 1879 in Beeton, Ontario, Canada and died in 1967 in the Los Angeles, California area. Virginia doesn’t have any information nor photos of Estella. She believes that her grandfather and Estella had three children – the first named Florence born circa 1905; her father Kenneth Stephens born in Spokane, Washington in October, 1909 and a third son named Charles. She thinks Charles was born after her father but she is not sure.
Virginia surmises that Estelle was born circa 1890 plus or minus 5 years. She has a copy of her father Kenneth’s birth certificate which states that Estelle was born in Oregon. Her grandfather Ernest visited with her family three times during the 1950’s in the Hartford, CT area however he never discussed with Virginia ( I was 8 through 11 years) anything about his wifehe may have spoken about Estelle to Virginia’s mother but she is deceased.
Virginia would like to make a connection with someone who may know more about her grandmother, Estelle Seeley Stephens and would especially like to find a photo of Estelle.
Requester: Virginia tedeschi | vazoedylan@sbcglobal.net
Initial Response Information:
1910 census Spokane, Spokane, WA
Stephens, Earnest E., age 30 b. CAN, parents b. CAN, telegraph operator, md 5 yr to
Stephens, Estella H age 23 b. OR, parents b. KS, 3 ch., 3 living
Stephens, Florence C age 4, b. CA, father b. CAN, mother b. OR; Clarence E age 2, Kennet F age 6 mos., both b. WA, father b. CAN, mother b. OR
1920 census Chicago, Cook, IL
Florence Stephens age 13 b. CA, CAN, OR is a lodger with the family of John and Martha Stueckemann where she is a maid doing housework
Also in Chicago:
Kenneth Stevens age 11 b. CA, parents b. CA, boarding with George and Nellie Meier
And in the Chicago Nursery and Half Orphan Society:
Stevens, Chas age 6 b. CA, CAN, US
1920 census Bloom, Cook, IL
Clarence Stephens age 11 b. WA, US, US is in the Manual(?) Training School for Boys
1930 census township 4, Shasta, CA
Stephens, Earnest, age 50 b. MI, CAN, CAN, poultry man, married 25 years
Stephens, Charles, son, age 18 b. CA, MI, KS, laborer
next door
Stephens, Fred age 55 b. CAN, CAN, CAn, poultry man, md 30 yrs to
Stephens, Nettie age 54 b. CAN, CAN, CAN
In 1940 Earnest Stephens is still in Shasta County, CA, a farmer (age 60 b. FR-CAN, widowed) with lodger Harris W. Bean age 33, md., b. CA who also works on farm.
In 1916 I found an Earnest Stephens age 37 married, b. CAN, of CAN-Amer. citizenship working as an accountant in Winnipeg Manitoba, a roomer in home of Hubert and Nan Baylis
WA Birth Index
Born at Spokane to Ernest Stephens and Stella Seley 1 Mar 1908, male and 22 Oct 1909, male
WWII Draft Registration
Ernest Stephens b. 19 May 1879 Beeton,ONT, CAN, resides Palo Cedro, Shasta, CA, poultry raiser, names
Fred Stephens of Buckeye, CA as someone who will always know his address
1881 census Tecumseth, Simcoe, Ontario, CAN
Earnest Stephens age 2 and Fred age 6 are both ch. of John S and Ann Stephens
SSDI
Ernest Stephens b. 19 May 1879, d. May 1967 – Long Beach, Los Angeles, California
CA Death Index
Ernest Stephens, SSN: 545707695 b. 19 May 1879 Canada, d. 30 May 1967 Los Angeles Co. CA, mother’s maiden name McKay
Frederick S Stephens, b. 24 Nov 1874 Canada, d. 20 Sep 1950 Shasta Co. CA, mother’s maiden name McKay, Father’s surname: Stephens
CA Birth Index
Charles Stephens b. 6 Jun 1913 in Alameda Co., mother’s maiden name Suley
1900 census Maple Lane, Clackamas, OR
Siley, Oscar b. Aug 1853 WI, OH, IN, laborer in paper mill, md 20 yr to
Siley, Mary J b. Dec 1862 KS, GA, KS, 6 ch., 5 living
Siley, Otis b. Jan 1886, Stella b. Apr 1887, Tunsey (?), son b. May 1890, Clarence b. Feb 1894, McKinley b. May 1896, all b. OR, WI, KS
1910 census Portland, Multnomah, OR
McKinley Seley age 14 b. OR, MI, KS is in a detention home
WWI Draft:
Clarence Oscar Seley b. 1 Feb 1894 at St John’s OR, resides Lents OR, teamster, has wife, registered in Pacific Co. OR
1885 census Milford, Davis, KS
Seely, George age 59 b. CANADA, to KS from IA
Seely, Eliza age 57 b. NY
Seely, Frank age 23, Eva age 21, George age 19, all b. IA
Wells, Pearl, age 2 b. KS
Next door
Seely, William age 29, b. WI
Seely, Mary age 22 b. NY
Seely, Will age 6 b. IA, Lilly age 2 b. KS
1880 census Milford, Davis, KS
Seley, George H, age 54 b. CAN, ENG, ENg, farmer
Seley, Betsey age 53 b. NY, Ny, NY
Seley, Oscar age 22 b. WI, CAN, NY
Seley, Frank age 19, George age 14, Eva age 16 b. IA, CAN, NY
Next door:
Seley, William age 23 b. WI, CAN, NY, farmer
Seley, Mary age 25 b. MI, -, –
Seley, William age 2, b. IA, WI, MI
Zimmerman, Thomas age 23 b. NY, NY, NY, boarder, farm laborer
1870 census Jackson, Linn, IA
Cely, George, age 44 b. CAN
Cely, Betsy, aage 43 b. NY
Cely, Wm age 15, Oscar age 12, both b. WI; Frank age 9, Eva age 6, Geo age 4, all b. IA
1860 census Anamosa, Jones, IA
Seeley, George age 33 b. NY
Seeley, Betsey age 33 b. NY
Seeley, Edward age 13 b. NY, Charles age 9, Wm age 5, Oscar age 2, all b. WI
1850 Spring Prairie, Walworth, WI
Seley, George, age 24, laborer, b. NY
Seley, Betsy, age 23, b. NY
Seley, Edwin, age 3, b. NY
Blodgett Cemetery, Jackson Twsp, Linn, IA
Edwin L. Seley, s/o George & Betsey, d. 16 March 1866 age 19 yrs.
Obituary: Elizabeth Seley – December 8, 1902 – Milford, KS
Mrs. Elizabeth Seley was born Nov. 6, 1826, in Genesee County, N.Y. She was married to Geo. H. Seley, Jan. 1, 1845. They removed to Milford, Kas., in 1878, where she has since resided. Mr. Seley died in 1897. To them were born nine children, six of whom are living and mourn their mother’s death. She lived a faithful and consistent Christian life for sixty years. She died at her home in Milford, December 8, 1902 after an illness of three months.
Published in the Junction City Union, undated, donated to the Seelye Research Center
From Findagrave:
George H Seley b. 1826 NY, d. 26 Jul 1897 at Milford, Geary Co. KS, and his wife Betsey Elizabeth Worth Seley (1827-1902) share a tombstone in Milford Cemetery in Milford KS
Oscar Seley b. 1858, died 1929 buried Multnomah Park Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah Co. OR
In conclusion Estella seems to be the dau. of Oscar and Mary Seley and the granddaughter of George H and Betsey Worth Seley. We do not know the ancestry of George H. Seley. If you recognize this family please let us know.
Responder: SGS Query Editor
