First wife of Ethelbert McGee Halbrook (1875-1959)
Greetings,
I am seeking to find out the name and lineage of the fist wife of Ethelbert McGee Halbrook (1875-1959), of Perry County, Tennessee.She was the birth mother of Etta Inez Halbrook (b. 1897, m. 1913 to George Wayne Dunn) and Robert LeRoy Halbrook (b. 1899).
Ethelbert McGee Halbrook, also known by 'Thelbert', 'Telbert', 'Ghee', or 'Gee', had three wives over his lifetime (that I know of), the fist currently unknown, and the second two being Nora Randle and Laura A. McDonald.
Here is the his history as I have reconstructed it:
(1) 1880 census, living with his parents as a toddler:
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"United States Census, 1880," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDW3-PZ9 : accessed 28 April 2012), E. A. Holbrook (District 3, Perry, Tennessee).
Name: E. A. Holbrook
Residence: District 3, Perry, Tennessee
Birthdate: 1843
Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
Relationship to Head: Self
Spouse's Name: M. E. Holbrook
Spouse's Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
Father's Name:
Father's Birthplace: South Carolina, United States
Mother's Name:
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee, United States
Race or Color (Expanded): White
Ethnicity (Standardized): American
Gender: Male
Martial Status: Married
Age (Expanded): 37 years
Occupation: Farming
NARA Film Number: T9-1274
Page: 395
Page Character: D
Entry Number: 1701
Film number: 1255274
Collection: United States Census, 1880
Household Gender Age
E. A. Holbrook M 37
Spouse M. E. Holbrook F 36
Child Joseph E. Holbrook M 9
Child Robert M. Holbrook M 6
Child Thelbert Holbrook M 3
Child George A. Holbrook M 1
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(2) The next census I can find him in is 1900, following his first marriage, birth of two children, and apparent death of his first wife.We find him living with his parents again as a widower:
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"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSCR-63N : accessed 26 April 2012), Ethelbert A Halbrook (Civil District 6, Perry, Tennessee).
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSCR-632
Name: Ethelbert L Halbrook
Titles & Terms:
Residence: Civil District 6, Perry, Tennessee
Birth Date: Dec 1875
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Spouse:
Spouse's Titles & Terms:
Spouse's Birthplace:
Father: Ethelbert A Halbrook
Father's Titles & Terms:
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother: Martha Halbrook
Mother's Titles & Terms:
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name: Ethelbert A Halbrook
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Widowed
Years Married:
Estimated Marriage Year:
Mother How Many Children:
Number Living Children:
Immigration Year:
Enumeration District: 0119
Page: 8
Sheet Letter: A
Family Number: 155
Reference Number: 49
Film Number: 1241592
Image Number: 00137
Collection: United States Census, 1900
Household Gender Age
Ethelbert A Halbrook M
Spouse Martha Halbrook F
Child Dasha E Halbrook F
Child Emma J Halbrook F
Child Ethelbert L Halbrook M
Etta I Halbrook F
Leroy Halbrook M
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(3) On 24 Dec 1900, we find a record of 'Ghee' Halbrook's marriage to Nora Randle, in Perry County, Tennessee.
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Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.
Name: Ghee Halbrooks
Spouse: Nora Randle
Marriage Date: 24 Dec 1900
Marriage County: Perry
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(4) In 1910, we find 'Gee' and Nora (2nd wife), along with Etta Inez, Robert LeRoy, and a new child, named Guy.Also living with them is his father, Ethelbert A. Halbrook:
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"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MGFD-38K : accessed 27 April 2012), Gee F Holbrooks (Civil District 3, Perry, Tennessee).
Name: Gee F Holbrooks
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Residence: Civil District 3, Perry, Tennessee
Marital Status: Married
Race : White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Family Number: 86
Page Number: 5
Collection: United States Census, 1910
Household Gender Age
Gee F Holbrooks M 34y
Spouse Nora Holbrooks F 36y
Child Etta Holbrooks F 13y
Child Leroy Holbrooks M 11y
Child Guy Holbrooks M 8y
Parent Ethehart A Holbrooks M 68y
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(5) However, shortly after this census, Nora passes away, and we find record of 'Gee' remarrying again, this time to Laura A. McDonald in 22 Jun 1911:
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Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002. Nashville, TN, USA: Tennessee State Library and Archives. Microfilm.
Name: Gee Halbrooks
Spouse: Laura Mcdonald
Marriage Date: 22 Jun 1911
Marriage County: Perry
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(6) At the time of the 1920 census, we find 'Ethelbert G' living with his third wife, Laura, with only LeRoy and Guy as their remaining children at home.Etta Inez married George Wayne Dunn in 1913 and had moved on by then:
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"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNP2-PK2 : accessed 27 April 2012), Elbert G Halbrook (, Decatur, Tennessee).
Name: Elbert G Halbrook
Residence: , Decatur, Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1876
Age: 44
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Film Number: 1821737
Digital Folder Number: 4390944
Image Number: 00114
Sheet Number: 7
Collection: United States Census, 1920
Household Gender Age
Elbert G Halbrook M 44y
Spouse Laura A Halbrook F 56y
Child Guy Halbrook M 18y
Child Leroy Halbrook M 20y
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With all of these wife changes, Etta Inez Halbrook's mother is frequently listed as either Nora or Laura, although in reality, both appear to be step-mothers.If anyone has any clues regarding who Etta's birth mother was, I'd greatly appreciate the information.
My thanks,
-- Jim Richardson