Bio-Mayle, ElsworthKennedy

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Elsworth "Elzie" Mayle
(1877-1966)

Elsworth "Elzie" (or "Elza") Mayle was born on April 21, 1876, in Barbour County, WV, the son of Hiram "Poke" and Margaret (Minerd) Mayle.

Elsworth stood five feet, seven inches tall, with brown eyes and black hair. He married Sarah E. Kennedy (1880-1956), in Barbour County on Oct. 10, 1897. He was 21, and she 17, at the time. She was the daughter of Andrew and Alice (Male) Kennedy.

They had nine children -- Alva Mayle, Vernis "Verna" Minard, Hazel Croston, Oscar Mayle, Icie E. Parsons, Gladys Mayle, Jacob Mayle, Alvenia Croston and Geneva Mae Croston.

When the federal census was taken in 1900, they lived as farmers near Elzie's parents in rural Philippi. They resided at Moatsville and Meriden, Barbour County circa 1918. Elzie was unable to write his signature, and signed his name with an "X." The 1910 census shows the family living in Barbour County, having produced seven children, but with only four living. That year, they lived only a few doors away from Elzie's parents.

In 1918, he and his sons registered for the military draft during World War I. On the registration card, the draft board officer listed the 41-year-old Elzie as "Negro" and added, "Claims to be white but generally called colored."

Philippi, as seen from the south, early 1900s

When the federal census was taken in 1920, the Mayles lived along Olive Hill Road near Philippi, in close proximity to the dwelling of Elzie's cousin George Riley and Sarah (Croston) Minard and their adult children.

The 1930 census shows the family in rural Philippi, living next to their son Alva and his young family. Elza's nephew, 19-year-old Andrew Newman, boarded in their home that year. The census taker marked the entire household as of the "Negro" race.

In about 1946, after World War II ended, the Mayles moved to rural Webster near Grafton, Taylor County. There they remained for the next decade, and retired from farming.

Sarah passed away of uremic poisoning on June 27, 1956, at the age of 76, in Taylor County. She is buried in Welch Cemetery near Philippi.

After suffering from "a long illness," reported the Grafton Sentinel, Elzie passed away at the age of 89 on Jan. 10, 1966, at Broaddus Hospital in Philippi. Following a funeral held at the Chestnut Ridge Peoples Methodist Church, led by Rev Franklin Peoples, Rev. Johnny Simpson and Rev. Isaac Kennedy, he was laid to rest in the Welch Cemetery. At the time of his death, said the Sentinel, he was survived by three sons, three daughters, 30 grandchildren and 69 great-grandchildren, for a grand total of 105 living offspring.

~ Son Alva Mayle ~

Son Alva Mayle (1898-1989) was a farmer of medium height and build, and brown eyes and dark hair. Alva married Loretta "Lory" Croston (1904-1970), daughter of John Wesleyan and Sabina "Bonnie" (Male) Croston.

During World War I, Alva was a laborer on the farm of his father's cousin, George Riley Minard, who was the son of Sarah (Minerd) Wright. In 1918, he registered for the military draft, and gave his race as "Negro."

Their known children were Virginia B. Mayle, Ralph E. Mayle, Vondie Mayle and Opal V. Mayle.

In 1930, they lived next to Alva's parents in rural Philippi. Evidence shows that the Mayles moved to Youngstown, Mahoning County, OH. Said the Barbour Democrat, Alva "was a retired farmer and attended the Assembly of God Church in Hubbard." Loretta was a member of the Pentecostal Church in Youngstown.

She died in a Youngstown hospital on Jan. 14, 1970, at the age of 66.

Alva survived her by almost two decades. He made his home at 228 East Liberty Street in Hubbard, Trumbull County, OH. At the age of 91, Alva died in Youngstown at the Northside Medical Center on Sept. 22, 1989. His obituary was published in the Barbour Democrat. Their remains were returned to Philippi to rest together in Welch Cemetery. At the time of Alva's death, he and Loretta had produced 20 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Son Ralph Mayle lived in Canfield, OH circa 1970-1989.

Son Alva Mayle Jr. resided in 1970-1989 in Hubbard.

Son David Allen Mayle made his home in Hubbard circa 1970-1989.

Son Gary (or "Jerry") D. Mayle lived in 1970 in Youngstown and in 1989 in Hubbard.

Daughter Virginia Mayle married Adolph Wargacki and resided in Youngstown.

Daughter Vonda Mayle married Robert Justice Jr. They made their home in 1970 in Hubbard. Vonda died sometime prior to 1989.

Daughter Alvenia Croston wed Calvin Croston and resided in Youngstown. She died between 1970 and 1989, details are not yet known.

~ Daughter Vernis (Mayle) Minard ~

Daughter Vernis Mayle (1900-1988) married a cousin, Grover J. Minard (1890-1977). A veteran of World War I, he was the son of George Riley and Sally (Croston) Minard, and the grandson of Sarah (Minerd) Wright. The Minards were wed on Oct. 12, 1916.

They had at least two daughters -- Pansy Jane Mayle and Hazel (Mayle) Croston.

Their daughter Pansy provided genealogical information for the 1979 Cox thesis, mentioned above.

Daughter Hazel Mayle (1907- ? ) married Columbus "Lum" Croston (1902-1943), son of Elijah and Charity (Collins) Croston. They are known to have had at least one daughter, Vel Vie Croston, who died at the tender age of two months, 19 days on Aug. 19, 1932. The little girl's remains were laid to rest at Laurel Creek Cemetery. Lum died at the age of 41 on March 22, 1943, and is buried in Welch Cemetery. Hazel's fate is unknown.

Daughter Pansy Minard/Miner (11919-1990) was born on June 16, 1919, in West Virginia. She married (?) Mayle and resided in Canton, Stark County, OH. She died there, in Aultman Hospital, at the age of 70 on June 3, 1990.

~ Son Oscar Mayle ~

Son Oscar Mayle (1909-1981) married Murlenis "Sissy" Mayle (1914-2004), daughter of Bulger and Angeline May (Mayle) Mayle. Rev. W.H. Albert officiated, with the ceremony taking place on June 7, 1931 at Nestorville. Oscar was age 21, and Murlenis 16.

They had four children -- Ronnie Mayle, Harsel Mayle, Bartsel Mayle and Annie Lantz.

Sadly, son Hartsel (or "Hartzell") Mayle died in Barbour County at the tender age of three months, caused by bronchial pneumonia, on Aug. 16, 1932.

Oscar died at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Stark County, OH on Nov. 9, 1981. His remains were returned to Philippi for interment at Welch Cemetery.

Murlenis outlived him by 23 years. During that time, said the Grafton Mountain Statesman, she was a "nurses aide and attended the Canton Free Will Baptist Church." She passed away on March 3, 2004, and placed at rest at Welch Cemetery.

~ Daughter Icy (Mayle) Newman Parsons ~

Daughter Icy E. Mayle (1910-1992) was born on Feb. 7, 1910 in Moatsville, Barbour County. She was married twice. Her first husband was Wince Newman (1906-1954), with the ceremony taking place in Barbour County on Dec. 2, 1927. Rev. Fred Decost performed the nuptials at his home in Grafton Route 6. Icy was age 17, and Wince 22.

Wince died on Oct. 22, 1954.. Later, she wed Donald Parsons and lived in Philippi circa 1989, when she was named in the Barbour Democrat obituary of her brother Alva.

Donald's fate is unknown. Icie passed away in 1992. She and Wince rest together in Welch Cemetery.

~ Daughter Gladys (Mayle) Mayle ~

Daughter Gladys Mayle (1914-1944) married John "Henry" Mayle (1912-1994) on March 20, 1933, at Philippi. He was the son of Taze and Mollie (or "Millie") E. (Kennedy) Mayle. The wedding was performed by Rev. M.C. Harris, a minister of the gospel in Philippi.

They had nine children -- Junie Mayle, Danny Mayle, Lloyd Mayle, John R. Mayle, Jay Mayle, Hiram Mayle, Gloria Mayle, Darlene Mayle and Thomas "Tommy" Mayle.

Sadly, Gladys was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus, and died after a year of suffering at the age of 31, on Sept. 19, 1944. She was laid to eternal rest in Welch Cemetery.

John Henry married again, to Genevieve Collins (1924-1987). He was a longtime coal miner and an employee of the West Virginia Department of Highways, Barbour Division. They lived on Olive Hill Road in rural Philippi.

Genevieve passed away on Oct. 14, 1987, leaving John Henry as a widower for the second time.

He outlived Genevieve by seven years, maintaining a home on Olive Hill Road. After suffering from an extended illness, he died on March 31, 1994, at the age of 81, at United Hospital Center in Clarksburg. He is buried at Welch.

Son Junie Mayle made his home in Newark, DE in 1994.

Son Danny Mayle lived in Canton, OH

Son Lloyd Mayle resided in Canton.

Son John R. Mayle called Philippi home circa 1994.

Son Jay Mayle lived in Philippi

Son Hiram Mayle resided in Philippi.

Daughter Gloria Mayle made her home in Canton.

Daughter Darlene Mayle lived in Buckhannon, Upshur County, WV in 1994.

Son Thomas "Tommy" Mayle died prior to 1994.

~ Son Jacob Mayle ~

Son Jacob Mayle (1915- ? ) married Permelia Jones (1917- ? ) on Feb. 10, 1936, in Philippi. She was the daughter of John W. and Fannie (Newman) Jones. The wedding was performed by C.C. Hedrick, a minister of the gospel.

Jacob lived in Canton, OH in 1966-1989, and in 1989 was mentioned in the newspaper obituary of his brother Alva. Nothing more is known.

~ Daughter Geneva (Mayle) Croston ~

Daughter Geneva Mayle (1923- ? ) was born on Jan. 19, 1923. On May 17, 1942, at the Chestnut Ridge Church, she wed Ralph Elbert Croston (1922- ? ), son of Claudis and Cansora Croston. She was age 19, and he 20, at the time. The ceremony was led by Rev. Fred Decost. Her parents, and Ralph's mother, had to give their consent to the union.

Circa 1966, she made her home in Cleveland, and by 1989, she lived in Grafton.