His obituary said he was 53 yrs. 25 days at the time of death. He came to Stockton with his parents in 1909 and lived there the rest of his life, except for his Navy duty. . . .survived by widow Doris of the home, a daughter, Mrs. Mayanne Lentz of Henderson, Kentucky, a son, James W. of the U.S. Navy, San Diego, CA, a son-in law and a daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren, his father, Wallace W. of Muncie, Indiana, a sister, Mrs. Lee Lambert of Salina .
Information from a letter from Norma Jane Daniels, July 1994
1910 & 1920 U. S. Census, Stockton, Rooks, KS.
Marriage records, Office of the District Court, Rooks County Courthouse, Stockton, Kansas. Book __, Page__, Danton George Rae, age 20 of Stockton, Kansas (Permission given by his father Thomas E. Rea) and Edith Louise Allen age 18 of Stockton, Kansas, Married 7 Aug 1930 by W. T. Case, Probate Judge
Of Grand Island, Neb. at father's death in 1934. Of Albuquerque, N. Mexico in Sept 1942 when her mother died.
OBITUARY: Edith Louise Allen was born December 26, 1911, at Stockton, Kansas to Ben and Jessie Allen and departed this life on June 1, 1945, at St. Joseph's hospital in Albuquerque, N. M., having attained the age of 33 years, 5 months and 5 days. She was preceded in death by her father on August 14, 1934, and by her mother on August 19, 1942. Adith attended the Stockton public schools. She was an honor student and was graduated with the class of 1930. She was married to Danton G. Rea August 7, 1930, and to the union was born one son, Truxton All. After living in California and Arizona for short periods of time, they established their home in Albuquerque in 1939. Here, Edith was employed by the Walgren Drug Store and was fountain manager for the past two years, being forced to quit work May 5, 1945. She leaves to morn her passing, Pvt. Danton G. Rea. U. S. Army Air Force Band, now stationed in Alamagordo, N. Mexico; her son, "Pat," of Albuquerque, N. M.; one sister, Mrs. Opal Hamilton, of Stockton; and three brothers, Lt. Charles B. Allen, U. S. Navy, Virginia Beach, Va.; John E. Allen, of Stockton; and St. William A. Allen, U. S. Army, Camp Carson, Colo.; and other relatives and friends. Interment was in the Allen family lot in the Stockton Cem. Wednesday, June 6.
He is buried in New Mexico. A veterans Cem. in Alamogordo, N. Mexico.
In the Navy and of the USS Dobbin, located at Provincetown, Mass. in 1934 at the time of his father's death. At Pear Harbor, Hawaii as an aviation pilot at his mother's death in Sept 1942.
In "Lest We Forget", copyrighted 1980 by the Rooks County Historical Society, Stockton, Kansas, said Charles lives in Stockton, Kansas.
"Charles Bentley (Chuck) All, born May 8, 1913 at Stockton to Ben and Jessie (Wentz) Allen, died July 5 at the Hadley Medical Center in Hays as the result of complications following surgery. He enlisted in the United State Navy at Kansas City, Mo., August 17 1933, and served on the U. A. A. Ranger, U. S. S. Dobbin and was a pilot instructor at Pensacola, Fla. He received a medical discharge in 1950 and returned to Stockton with his family. He opened the Round-Up, catering mostly to younger folks, and also established the Recreation Parlor. He was also a parts man at the M. A. Touslee Motor and was employed more recently by the Jones Motor He was a member of the Congregational Church and Silver Eagle, an organization for enlisted naval pilots, and was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He had many friends and will be remembered for numerous unobtrusive acts of kindness. He is survived by two sons, Mike of Windsor, Mo., and Larry of San Antonio, Tex.; a daughter, Susan Hassett of Eugene, Ore., a sister, Mrs. Leon (Opal) Hamilton of Stockton; and two brothers, Joh of Lindsay, California, and Bill of Fort Worth, Tex;, eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mrs. Danton (Edith) Rea. . . . ."
Margaret divorced Charles Bentley Allen and married a White.
Of Stockton, Kansas in 1934 at the time of her father's death. Also Stockton at the time of her mother's death in 1942.
Of Stockton, Kansas at the time of her brother Charles' death, July 1984.
MARRIAGE. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, Michigan, Book H. p. 328, #10,080. Married 15 June 1925 at Burlington, Calhoun , MI, Ledger Pierce, w. b. MI, age 23, residing in Coldwater, occupation: chauffer, father: William Pierce, mother; Lulu Carpenter; and Margaret Treacher, w, b. MI, age 22, residing in Coldwater, occupation: none, father: Fred Treacher, mother Lizzie Sherman; neither had been married previously; officiant: Edmond J. Smith, Minister of the Gospel; witnesses: J. B. Gower and Anna S. Gower, both of Union City. (Anna S. Gower is the groom's sister.)
In 1932 Ledger was of Coldwater according to his mother's obituary.
DEATH. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, MI, Vol. D. p. 184, #11,536. Died 1 October 1938 at Allen Twp., Hillsdale County (MI), Ledger Pierce, w. m, widower, age 36y8m12d, b. MI, father: William Pierce, b. MI, mother: Lulu Carpenter, b. Mi, occupation: driver of State highway truck, cause: auto accident. Death record was a transcript from Hillsdale County, Michigan.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE. Coldwater Daily Reporter, Monday, October 3, 1938, p. 1. Local Couple Lose Lives as Car Hits Tree. Ledger Pierce and Miss Lucille Nicola Killed Saturday Night. Ledger K. Pierce, 37, of Coldwater, a truckdriver for the state highway department, was instantly killed and his housekeeper, Miss Lucille Nicola, 30, fatally injured Saturday night when his automobile left US-112 three miles east of Quincy and crashed into a large tree. Pierce and Miss Nicola, who were said to have been planning to be married in about a week, were returning to Coldwater from Hillsdale County fair when the tragedy snuffed out their lives. The accident occurred at about 9 p.m. in front of the Charles Parson farm. The car, which was traveling west, apparently was going at high speed when it left the highway at a point about 500 feet east of the tree. The machine was demolished and the wreckage was twisted around the trunk of the tree. Miss Nicola was hurled a distance of fifty feet from the wreckage while Pierce's badly mangled body was found in the machine. The former sustained a compound fracture of the skull, a broken thigh and other injuries, and died while being taken by ambulance to Hillsdale City Hospital. Pierce suffered a broken neck, skull fracture and compound fracture of both legs. No eye-witnesses to the tragedy had been found today. Mr. Parsons heard the crash and investigated. He asked a passing motorist to secure an ambulance and then notifed the state police at Jonesville. Troopers, after investigating the mishap, were inclined to believe that Pierce fell asleep at the wheel. As the accident occurred just east of the Branch County line in Hillsdale County, Coroner Frank Aldrich of Hillsdale was summoned. He later said that he would probably conduct an inquest but was unable to set a date. From the condition of the wrecked machine, parts of which were strewn for many feet in each direction, officers investigating the accident estimated that the car must have been traveling 65 miles an hour when it left the road. Authorities were unable at first to identify the victims. The bodies were not positively identified until three hours after the crash when they were viewed by J. B. Gower of Union City, a brother-in-law of Pierce.
Both bodies were taken to the Rawson-Brockway Funeral Home in Quincy and Pierce's body was later brought to the Gould Funeral Home here to await funeral arrangements. Pierce was born 37 years ago at Batavia Station and spent his entire life in Branch County. His wife died four years ago and his survivors include four children, Helen, Virginia, R. D. and Mary Lee, all of school age; his father, William E. Pierce of 191 Henry Street; three sisters, Mrs. Anna Gower of Union City, Mrs. Kathrine Brickley of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Mrs. Marie Zabonick of Albion; and four brothers, Zolva, Russell, and Lewis Pierce of Coldwater, and Orval Pierce of Union City. Miss Nicola, formerly a student nurse in Battle Creek, had been employed by Mr. Pierce as his housekeeper for the last six weeks. Funeral services for Pierce will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Gould Funeral Home with the Rev. Hugh C. Crouch of First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be made in Lester Cem.. Funeral arrangements for Miss Nicola had not be completed today.
OBITUARY. Coldwater Daily Reporter. Tuesday, December 4, 1934, p. 1. Succumbs to Long Illness, Mrs. Marjorie Pierce Dies at Hospital Today; She was 31 Years Old. Mrs. Marjorie Pierce, 31, wife of Ledger Pierce and lifelong resident of Branch County died at 9 a.m. today at Wade Memorial Hospital where she had been a patient for the past five weeks. Besides her husband, she is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Treacher; four children, Helen, Virginia, R. D., and Mary Lee; a brother, Kenneth Treacher, and a sister, Marie Quimby all of Coldwater. Mrs. Pierce was born Dec 31, 1902, in Ovid Twp., daughter of Fred and Lizzie Treacher. She attended Coldwater High School and married Mr. Pierce June 15, 1925. She had lived in Coldwater since her marriage. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of McConkey Funeral Home, with the Rev. H. G. Hurrell, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. (On the marriage license, her name was Margaret. In her obituary it is Marjorie.)
DEATH. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, MI, vol. D. p. 114, #9937. Died 4 Dec 1934 at Coldwater Twp., Marjorie Pierce, f, w, married, age 31y11m3d, b. MI, occupation: at home; father: Fred Treacher, b. MI, mother, Lizzie Sherman, b. MI, cause: Peritonitis from rupture.
MARRIAGE. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, Michigan, Book H. p. 330, #10,116. Married 4 July 1925 at Coldwater, Zolby Pierce, w. b. MI, age 21, residing in Coldwater, occupation: truck driver, father: William Pierce, mother: Lulu Carpenter; and Esther Farris, w, b. Ashley, IN, age 18, residing in Coldwater, occupation: none, father: Jason Farris, mother: Maude Davis; neither had been married previously; officiant: O. S. Martin, Minister; witnesses: George W. Lampman and Rowena Parrish, both of Coldwater.
A marriage license was found for a Kenneth L. Pierce which stated his father was Zolvy Pierce and his mother was Zora Garton. The indices were checked for a marriage license for Zolvy and Zora, but none was found. Zolvy's obituary in 1947 state that he was married secondly to Zora Garton and Zora died in June 1947.
In 1932 Zolvy was a resident of Coldwater according to his mother's obituary.
DEATH. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, Michigan, vol. E. p. 12, #1,063. Died 19 Aug. 1947 at Coldwater City, Zolvy R. Pierce, m, w, age 44y9m,10d, b. MI, widower, occupation: Bronson Reel, father: William Pierce, b. MI, mother: Lulu Mae Carpenter, b. MI, cause: coronary thrombosis.
OBITUARY. Coldwater Daily Reporter, Tuesday, August 19, 1947, p. l. Zolvy Pierce Found Dead. Local Man Dies of Heart Ailment. Zolvy R. Pierce, 44, was found dead in bed at about 9 a.m. today by his father, William E. Pierce, at their home at 191 Henry St. An investigation by Coroner Irving L. Stansell revealed a heart ailment as the cause of death, and an inquest was not thought to be required. Mr. Pierce, born November 3, 1903, in Batavia Twp. had always lived in and around Coldwater, with the Bronson Reel Co plant his most recent place of employment. He was for several years a truck driver with the Southern Michigan Grocery Company. Surviving him are his father, two sons, Robert with the United State Marines and stationed in California, and Kenneth, 18 Morse St., Coldwater; three sisters, Katherine Brickly, Ft. Wayne; Marie Zabonick, Albion, and Anna Snyder, Union City, and three brothers, Russell, Coldwater Twp., Orval, Union City, and Lewis, Coldwater. Mr. Pierce was twice married. Esther Farris, his first wife, died in 1935, and his second wife, Zora Garton, died in June of this year. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at Baggerly Funeral Home at 2 o'clock with burial in Oak Grove Cem..
It is not known if Robert is his son by his first wife, Esther Farris, or of Zora Garton, his second wife. His first wife died in 1935, and in Ester's obituary it said she had a son Robert. Later Zora is listed as his mother, but she probably raised the child after the mother's death.
OBITUARY. Coldwater Daily Reporter, Friday, January 25, 1935, p. 1. Esther Pierce Expires Today. Wife of Zolvy Pierce Dies at Hospital Following Month's Illness. Mrs. Esther M. Pierce, 132 Perkins Street, wife of Zolvy Pierce, died at 3 a.m. today at Wade Memorial Hospital where she has been a patient for the past month. She was 28 years old. Her husband, who is employed by the Southern Michigan Grocer Company; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jason Farris of near Coldwater; one son, Robert; three brothers, Charles, Clair and Dale; and a sister, Lucille Farris, all of Coldwater survive. Mrs. Pierce was born Jan 3, 1907, at Ashley, Ind. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at Free Methodist Church. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cem.. Arrangements are in charge of McConkey Funeral Home.
DEATH. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, Mi, vol. D., p 118, #10,010. Died 25 Jan 1935 at Coldwater, Esther M. Pierce, f. w, married, age 28y0m,22d, b. IN, occupation; at home; father: Jason Farris, b. KS, mother; Maude Davis, b. MI, cause: coronary embolism.
In 1932 Kathryn Brickley was of Ft. Wayne, Ind., according to her mother's obituary. In 1938 Katherine was living in Ft. Wayne, Ind., according to her brother's, Ledger's, obituary. In 1947 Katherine was living in Ft. Wayne, Ind., according to her brother's, Zolvy's, obituary. In 1972 Mrs. Tony Brickley was of Ft. Wayne, Ind., according to her brother's, Louis', obituary. In 1973 Kathryn was of Ft. Wayne, Ind. according to her brother's, Orval's, obituary.
In 1976 Kathryn Brickley was of Fort Wayne, Ind., according to her sister's, Anna Snyder's, obituary. Some information said that Kathryn had a daughter.
MARRIAGE. Branch County Clerk, Coldwater, MI. Vol. H. p. 359, #10,542. Married 17 May 1927 at Coldwater, John Zabonick, w, b. PA, age 21, residiang in Albion, occupation: factory Worker, father; Charles Zabonick, mother: Anna Lukazcek; and Marie Pierce, w, b. MI, age 19, residing in Coldwater, occupation: none, father: William Pierce, mother: Lulu Carpenter; neither had been married previously; officiant: A. C. Shaw, Minister; witnesses: Mrs. A. C. Shaw and Mrs. Cerinda Mapes, both of Coldwater.
In 1932 Marie Zabonick was of Albion according to her mother's obituary. In 1938 Marie Zabonick was of Albion according to her brother's, Ledger's, obituary. In 1947 Marie Zabonick was living in Albion according to her brother's, Zolvy's, obituary, In 1972 Mrs. John (Marie) Zabonick was of Albion according to her brother's, Louis', obituary. In 1973 Marie was of Phoenix, Ariz., according to her brother's, Orval's, obituary. In 1976 Marie was a resident of Oklahoma City, Okla. according to her sister's, Anna Snyder's, obituary.
OBITUARY. Battle Creek Enquirer and News, Friday, 11 June 1982, p. B-2, Albion. Marie Emily (Pierce) Zabonick, 73, of Arlington, Texas, and formerly of Albion died Wednesday in a hospital in Arlington after a brief illness. She was born in Coldwater and moved to albion in 1927, when she was married to John Zabonick, who survives. She moved to Oklahoma in 1971 and to Arlington in 1981. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Enid, Okla., and a former member of the Albion Free Methodist Church. She was a member of the Jackson and Michigan chapters of the Association for the Deaf and of those in Oklahoma and Fort Worth, Texas. She is survived by her husband: sons, Fred Zabonick of Scotts and Jack of Paw Paw; daughters, Dorothy Zabonick and Ms. Anna Pelfrey, both of Arlington, and Mrs. Judy Collins of Albion; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Albion Chapel, Tidd-Williams Funeral Chapels. Memorial donations may be made to the building fund of the Fort Worth, Texas, Association for the Deaf.
OBITUARY. Coldwater Daily Reporter, Friday, June 11, 1982, p. 2. Albion - Marie Zabonick, 73, a former Albion resident, died Wednesday, June 9, at Arlington Community Hospital in Arlington, Texas, following a short illness. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Tidd-Williams Funeral Chapel in Albion, the Rev. Richard B. Cryderman officiating. Burial will be at Albion Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made at the Fort Worth Texas, Association for the Deaf Building Fund. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Mrs. Zabonick, who resided at 3415 Cottilion Drive, Arlington, Texas, was born Sept. 12, 1908 in Coldwater, the daughter of William and Lulu Carpenter Pierce. On May 17, 1927, she married John Zabonick in Coldwater. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Enid, Okla. and a former member of the Albion First Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Jackson Association for the Deaf, the Michigan Association for the Deaf, the Okalahoma Association for the Deaf and the Fort Worth, Texas, Association for the Deaf. She moved to Oklahoma City in 1971, Enid, Okla. in 1973, and Arlington in 1981. Survivors include her husband, John; two sons, Fred Zabonick, Scotts, and Jack Zabonick Sr., Paw Paw; three daughters, Miss Dorothy Zabonick and Miss Anna Pelfrey, both of Arlington, and Mrs. Judy Collins, Albion; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.