RODEKOHR ANCESTORS

Mary Bessie⁵ WHITE (John Wilbur3, John2, William1) was born to John Wilbur (J. W.) WHITE and Mary Elizabeth PAYSON on 11 February 1884 at Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois at the home of her grandparents, Charles H. PAYSON and Mary Ann RUSSELL.[1] Her mother, Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) PAYSON, died in 1893^[2] when Bessie was 9.

Bessie White, circa 1896 Cropped from original, in possession of Chuck Rodekohr, 2004.

In 1900, Bessie, age 16, is living in Rock Falls with her widowed father, John W; brothers Leo P. age 7; and Ralph, M., age 7; her grandmother, Mary A. [RUSSELL] PAYSON, Mary’s son, Edger C.; and a Mary E. Johnson, servant.[3] She attended, and was a graduate of, Cornell College." [Mount Vernon, Iowa.[4]

Mary Bessie White, Circa 1906? Original photograph in possession of Chuck Rodekohr, 2004.

Her father died in 1904 at Rock Ralls[5] when Bessie was 20 years old, probably when she was attending Cornell College. In 1910, Bessie, age 26, is the head of the household, living on 4^th Ave, Mt. Vernon, Franklin Township, Linn County, Iowa. Living with her is her brother, Ralph, age 17, and an Alma Hahn, a servant.[6]

Bessie married Merrill Martin MORROW, son of Emmet Hugh MORROW and Jennie Eliza WILSON, 26 June 1912 at Mt. Vernon, Linn County, Iowa by Rev. W. L. Alexander, with R. M. WHITE (Bessie’s brother, Ralph Macaulay WHITE) and Mrs. E. H. MORROW (Merrill’s mother, Jennie Eliza (WILSON) MORROW), as witnesses.[7]

Bessie died 16 April 1932 at Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa,[8] at age 48 of Multiple Sclerosis.[9] She was buried 20 April 1932 at Riverview Cemetery, Algona.[10] For details of Bessie’s life after her marriage, please go to the pages of her husband, Merrill Martin MORROW.

Children of Mary Bessie⁵ WHITE and Merrill Martin MORROW were as follows:

+ i. Helen Estella⁶ MORROW was born on 16 Apr 1913 at Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.[11]. On 8 June 1940, she married Howard Marvin RODEKOHR of Battle Creek Nebraska, in Audubon, Audubon County, Iowa.^[12], ^[13] Helen died on 17 March 1962 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California.[14] They had three children.

ii. RN Marjorie Gertrude (Gert) MORROW was born on 17 May 1916 at Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa^.[15] She was killed on the beachhead at Anzio, Italy, on 7 February, 1944, and was buried at the United States Military Cemetery, VI Corps, Nettuno, Italy.^[16]

iii. Charles Merrill MORROW was born on 3 Jul 1921[17]^,

[18] at Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa. He was not married. He died of cancer[19] on 28 September 1975 at Galesburg, Illinois.[20]

[1] White, John Wilbur Standard No. 40 Diary, 1884, entry for 11 February 1884, in possession of Chuck Rodekohr, 2004

[2] Scrap Book kept by Bessie (WHITE) MORROW, page 39, a notice of resolution adopted by the Board of Directors regarding the death of Mrs. WHITE, (Lizzie PAYSON WHITE), at the February meeting: "Death of Mrs. WHITE - Mrs. Lizzie PAYSON WHITE, wife of our beloved Director, J. W. WHITE, and daughter of Charles H. and Mary A. PAYSON, died Jan. 30, 1893.

[3] 1900 United States Federal Census, Illinois, Whiteside County, Coloma Twp., Roll T623_352, Rock Falls City Enumerated: 04 June 1900, Sheet 5, Image 109 (Ancestry.com), Supervisors District No. 4, Enumeration District No. 141 8th Avenue, Line 29, Dwel 98, Fam 103, White, John W, Head, WM, Oct 1852, 47, WD, Illinois, New York, New York, Lawyer, 0, R/W, Eng, Rent, Home; Bessie M., Daughter, WF, Feb, 1884, 16, S, Illinois, Illinois, New York, At school,9, Y, Y, Y; Leo P., Son, WM, Apr 1889, 11, S , Illinois, Illinois, New York, At school, 9,Y, Y , Y; Ralph M, Son, WM, June 1892, 7, S, Illinois, Illinois, New York, At school, 9, Y,Y , Y; Payson, Mary A., M-in-law, WF, June 1825, 74, WD, NY, NY, Penn, Y ,Y,Y; Edger C., Bro-in-law WM Jan 1850 50 D, Machinist 8, Y, Y, Y, R , H; Johnson, Mary E., Servant , WF, July 1879, 20, S, Sweden Swdn Swdn 3 Domestic Y, Y,Y

[4] From printed eulogy for Merrill M. MORROW, given by Rev. James H. BUIKEMA on February 4, 1958: "...Mary Bessie WHITE, a graduate of Cornell/st1:PlaceName> College." [Newhall, Iowa]].

[5] White, John W. gravestone, IOOF Cemetery, Section 16, Coloma Twp., 606 Emmons Avenue, Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois 61071, (815) 626-3073. Whiteside County, Illinois, Illinois Trails Website http://www.iltrails.org/whiteside/, Cemeteries, IOOF Cemetery, Jennifer Slaney, http://www.slaney.org/jenni/IOOF.html,, 1998:

[6] 1910 United States Federal Census, Iowa, Linn County, Franklin Township, Mt. Vernon Town, Supervisor's District No. 5, Enumeration District No. 86, Enumerated 20 April 1910, 4th Ave. Line 93, Dwel 111, Fam 113, White, Bessie.

[7] Certificate of Marriage, No. 15549, M. Morrow and Mary Bessie White, 26 June 1912, issued by W.L. Alexander, Minister.

[8] Obituary notice from unknown newspaper found in a Scrap Book kept by Bessie (WHITE) MORROW, page 54: "Mrs. Merrill M. MORROW - Mrs. Merrill M. MORROW, died in the family home in Algona/st1:City>, Iowa, Saturday, according to word received today by Mrs. Don Jones, 2504 North Street, Rock Island..

[9] Conversation on Aug 7, 2002, Sue (RODEKOHR) MORROW told Chuck RODEKOHR that their Dad, Howard RODEKOHR had told her that Grandmother Bessie (WHITE) MORROW had died of Multiple Sclerosis.span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Aug 9, 2002, Norma WORSTER told Chuck RODEKOHR that Bessie (WHITE) MORROW had died of Multiple Sclerosis, tthat she had been confined to a wheelchair much of the time before her death.

[10] Obituary notice from unknown newspaper found in a Scrap Book kept by Bessie (WHITE) MORROW, page 54: "Mrs. Merrill M. MORROW - Mrs. Merrill M. MORROW, died in the family home in st1:place w:st="on">Algona, Iowa, Saturday, . . . BBurial will be Wednesday in Algona."

[11] Baby Book, “Our Baby”, for Helen Estella Morrow, born One’ O’clock P. M., April 16, 1913, Mt. Vernon/st1:City>, Iowa. Original in possession of E.C.; (Chuck) Rodekohr, 22004.

[12] Original Certificate of Marriage, issued 08 June 1940, Audubon, Audubon County, Iowa, joining in marriage, Howard M. Rodekohr and Helen E. Morrow, by Oscar C. Decker, Pastor, St. John’s Luth.
Church, st1:place w:st="on">Battle Creek, Nebr. In possession of E.C. (Chuck ) Rodekohr, 2004.

[13] Caption on photograph of the M, M. Morrow home in Audubon, Audubon County/st1:City>, Iowa, from Helen (Morrow) Rodekohr Photo Album. Photo taken by Howard Rodekohr, 08 Jun 1940. In possession of E. C. (Chuck) Rodekohr, 2004&

[14] Certified copy of Certificate of Death, Certificate # 0700-478, for Helen M. Rodekohr, Date of Death: March 17, 1963, 1:30 p. m., by Eugene B. Whitney, M. D. Physician.span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa, County, California..

[15] Original Application for Membership to the National Daughters of the American Revolution, completed by Marjorie Gertrude Morrow.

[16] Original letter, dated 16 October 1945, from the War Department to Mr. Merrill M. Morrow, Audubon/st1:City>, Iowa. OOriginal in possession of E. C. (Chuck) Rodekohr, 2004.

[17] Copy of obituary for Charles M. Morrow, from the Galesburg Register-Mail, Galesburg/st1:City>, Illinois,, September 29, 1975, provided by Wilson Robb Morrow, May 30, 2002.

[18] Copy of a funeral program for Charles Merrill Morrow, Grace Parish (Episcopal), Galesburg/st1:City>, Illinois..

[19] Copy of obituary for Charles M. Morrow, from the Galesburg Register-Mail, Galesburg/st1:City>, Illinois,, September 29, 1975, provided by Wilson Robb Morrow, May 30, 2002.

[20] Copy of a funeral program for Charles Merrill Morrow, Grace Parish (Episcopal), Galesburg/st1:City>, Illinois.

Mary Bessie WHITE 1884-1932

Mary Bessie WHITE
1884-1932