Minerd.com Biography of William Franklin and Ella Frances (Jones) Gaumer of Paris, IL

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William Franklin Gaumer
(1867-1948)

William Franklin Gaumer was born on June 26, 1867 in Illinois, the son of Adam and Nancy (Boies) Gaumer.

On Oct. 1, 1890, at the age of 23, he entered into marriage with 22-year-old Ella Frances Jones (Nov. 3, 1869-1949).

They produced four offspring -- Willard "Floyd" Gaumer, Mabel Hamilton, Exie Lee Gaumer and Forrest Jones Gaumer.

When the federal census enumeration was made in 1900, the family resided in Paris Edgar County, IL. William earned a living that year as a grocer.

Local landmark in Paris, IL, the water reservoir dam

William changed his occupation during the early part of the decade of the 1900s.

In about 1916, William was sued by George B. Jones "to recover damages for breach of a contract for the exchange of real estate," said the Reports of Cases Determined in the Appellate Courts of Illinois. "Evidence held sufficient to sustain the finding that [Gaumer] had contracted with [Jones] to deed to him a certain eighty acres of land subject to a single mortgage of $2,000, in an action to recover damages for breach of such contract by defendant deeding said eighty acres subject to two mortgages, each for $2,000." They were involved in another lawsuit circa 1928 to recover possession of a certain lot of ground.

William provided sworn testimony in 1915 in support of the military pension claim of his brother-in-law Firmin James.

The United States Census of 1920, of Paris, lists William as a dealer in real estate.

Federal census records for 1930 show the Gaumers living in Paris, with William working as a real estate agent, and daughter Exie earning income as a bookeeper for odd jobs.

William in 1944 had possession of a Gaumer family Bible with inscribed names and dates of birth and death.

They resided in the 1940s at 315 East Crawford Street in Paris.

Sadly, William passed away on April 12, 1948. Burial was in Edgar Cemetery.

The widowed Ellan lived on for another year-and-a-half. She died three days before Christmas 1949.

~ Son Willard "Floyd" Gaumer ~

Son Willard "Floyd" Gaumer (1893-1974) was born on June 2, 1893 in Paris, Edgar County.

As a young man, he resided at 315 East Crawford Street in Paris, IL and was a self-employed merchant. He was of medium height and slender build, with blue eyes and brown hair. During World War I, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves on May 31, 1918 and served for four years.

On June 27, 1917, when he was 24 years of age, Floyd was joined in holy wedlock with Ethel Teresa Stuart (Dec. 6, 1894-1971), a native of Paris. The couple did not reproduce over the 54-year span of their union together.

Above and below: Ethel (Stuart) Gaumer directing the Studebaker Chorus

They resided at 701 Lindsey Avenue, South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN. They belonged to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, and he was a member of the Orak Shrine of the Masons.

Floyd earned a living over the years as an insurance broker for Traveler's Insurance Company, joining the firm in 1925.

In 1944, he applied for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution based upon the service of Jacob Gaumer Sr. He authored a publication -- a stapled manuscript -- which he submitted for copyright protection, entitled Today the Newspapers Are Full of Headlines Like These. Circa 1945, he also submitted supplemental Gaumer genealogy papers to the Library of Congress.

Ethel conducting the Studebaker Chorus

In her own right, Ethel was a talented pianist, organist and singer who was prominent in the South Bend community for decades. She was an alumna of Eastern Illinois Normal College in Charleston, IL and began her career as an elementary school teacher, instructing in all subjects for four years. In 1920, after a move to South Bend, she was hired as organist and choir director for St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church. After several years she joined the staff of Westminister Presbyterian Church. She became employed in 1930 by the Cathedral of St. James Episcopal Church as organist/choir master and held the role for 39 years until her retirement in May 1969.

In 1953, she traveled to Washington, DC to take part in the 62nd annual convention of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, held in Constitution Hall, devoted to "Americanism, problems of youth and activities of clubwomen around the world," said the Pittsburgh Press. Vice President Richard M. Nixon opened the event with remarks. Ethel conducted a choir of philharmonic singers in a performance.

Perhaps Ethel's highest-profile extended accomplishment was her 27 years as conductor of the Studebaker Male Chorus, formed in December 1930. The chorus was filled with workers from the autombile maker's assembly line, body plantsfoundry, machine shops and offices, involving dozen nationalities and nearly as many religious affiliations. The group's portfolio included more than 300 memorized songs. The chorus performed at the Century of Progress in Chicago, the Chicago Music Festival, and on radio networks nationwide. For 16 years, she also led the Studebaker Girls' Glee Club and Mixed Chorus.

She furthered her higher education at Chicago University's Extension Conservatory, at Northwestern University in Chicago and Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Said the Tribune, "She was the first person to play the Deagon Carillon Official Chimes of the Century of Progress in Chicago in 1934 [and] played them by means of telegraph keys set up in the Oliver Hotel in South Bend. She was the first city-wide music chairman for National Music Week, first manager of the Chicagoland Music Festival preliminaries in Michigan City."

In her free time, Ethel held memberships in the Antiquarians, Altrusa Society, Daughters of the American Revolution and Progress Club.

Ethel suffered her final illness for 10 months. She died in Memorial Hospital in South Bend at the age of 76 on March 19, 1971. Funeral services were held in St. Andrews Episcopal Church, followed by burial in Edgar Cemetery in Paris.

Floyd survived his bride by almost four years. He died in South Bend Hospital on Dec. 15, 1974.

~ Daughter Mabel (Gaumer) Hamilton ~

Daughter Mabel Gaumer (1895- ? ) was born on March 16, 1895.

On April 11, 1919, at the age of 24, she married World War I veteran Thomas Sherman Hamilton ( ? - ? ).

During war, Thomas served in the U.S. Army.

The two sons born to this union were Thomas S. Hamilton and Jack K. Hamilton. Both sons joined the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.

Son Thomas S. Hamilton ( ? - ? ) was a member of the Rainbow Division, 7th Army during World War II.

Son Jack K. Hamilton ( ? - ? ) served in the 8th Bomber Squadron during World War II.

~ Daughter Exie Lee Gaumer ~

Daughter Exie Lee Gaumer (1897- ? ) was born on Aug. 21, 1897 in Paris, Edgar County. She did not marry.

In 1930, at the age of 30, she lived at home with her parents in Paris and provided bookkeeping services for "odd jobs."

She relocated to Washington, DC sometime prior to 1940. The federal census of 1940 shows her boarding in a Lamont St. Martin Street residence in the District of Columbus and working as a stenographer in the Agricultural Department of the AAA.

In 1974, she was named in her brother's obituary in the Decatur (IL) Herald.

Research is underway to determine if she moved to Beaumont, TX and dwelled on Rockwell Avenue.

~ Son Forrest Jones Gaumer ~

Son Forrest Jones Gaumer (1899- ? ) was born on Sept. 14, 1899.

He was united in holy wedlock with Nina Taylor Pugh ( ? - ? ).

They bore a daughter, Forrest J. Gaumer.

Daughter Forrest J. Gaumer ( ? - ? )