Earnshaw

   


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EARNSHAW
FAMILY

Helen
Doris
Earnshaw

(Spitzer)
(1898 - 1981)

Alfred
Earnshaw

(1871 - 19??)

William
Earnshaw

(1839 - ????)

_______


LOFTIN
FAMILY
NAMES

LOFTIN:
 Beatty
 Corzine
 Cranford
 Fisher
 Givens
 Harwell
 Kaiser
 Lanier
 Lomax
 McCorkle
 Rudisill
 Sherrill
 Upright
 Washington
 Work


SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon

GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson

JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Helen Doris Earnshaw

 

Born: 15 Jul 1898, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio
Died: 20 May 1981, Hickory, Catawba County, North Carolina

 
 
Helen Doris Earnshaw was born 15 Jul 1898, in Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, to Alfred "Fred" Earnshaw (b. 1871) and Harriet "Hallie" Davis (b. 1872).
 
 

Helen Doris Earnshaw

 

 
 
 
The 1900 Census shows Fred and Harriett Earnshaw living in District 8, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Helen is listed on this Census as being 10 months old, although she was probably closer to 2 years old.  Others on the Census were her brother, Reese (age 3), her aunt Helen Voute (Fred's sister) and her grandmother Helen Bruning (Fred's mother).
 
1900  Census for Toledo Ward 8, Lucas, Ohio

 
Name Rel Personal Description Birth
Nativity
Trade
Last First *R Sex Birth Age S
M
Ys
Md
Kids
Mth Yr Born Alive Self Dad Mom
Earnshaw Fred Head W M Sep 1871 28 M 4     Mic ENG ENG Street
Inspector
----- Harriet Wife W F Jul 1872 27 M 4 2 2 OH NY PA Stenographer
----- Rees Son W M Jan 1897 3 S       OH Mic OH  
----- Helen Dau W F Jul 1899 10/12 S       OH Mic OH  
Voute Helen Sister W F Dec 1877 22 *M 7 1 1 Mic ENG *Scotch Cashier
Fr. Co.
Bruning Helen Mother W F Feb *1880 50 *M *17 3 3 adopt.
*
Unk
*Unk *Unk  
 
 
 
Harriet/Hallie died after 1900.  Alfred "Fred" and little Fred continued to work in Vaudeville while Helen and Grandfather James S. Davis went to live with the Leo Spitzer family.
 
 
 
The 1910 Census shows Helen living in Washington, Lucas County, Ohio, with Leo Paul Spritzer and his wife, Mina.  Helen is 11 years old and listed as a "Boarder". Her maternal grandfather, James S. Davis (age 72), is also living with the Spritzer family as a "Boarder".
 
1910 Census for Washington, Lucas County, Ohio

 
Hse.
No.
Fam.
No.
NAME Rel Personal Description Kids Nativity Occup
Last First Sex Race Age S
M/W
Yrs.
Md.
Born Alive Self Dad Mom
549 552 Spritzer Leo Paul Head M W 41 Ma 8     Ohio Germ Germ Manager
Packing
House
    ----- Mina Wife F W 43 M2 8 1 0 Ohio PA NY None
    Millboff Louis Boarder M W 75 Wd       PA PA PA Own
Income
    Davis James S. Boarder M W 72 Wd       NY NY NY Own
Income
    Earnshaw Helen Boarder F W 11 S       Ohio Ohio Ohio None
 
 
Helen was adopted by the Spitzers after her grandfather, James Davis, died and she went by the name of Helen Spitzer.
 
 
Helen (often called Ellen) married Emery Otis Denniston on 08 May 1917 in Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan.  She was 18 years old at the time of this marriage (not quite 19) and Emery was 18 years older than her.  Emery Otis Denniston was the son of John Mathew Denniston (1852 - 1927) and Caroline Elizabeth Hart (1848 - 1935).  At the time of Helen's marriage, Helen was still being raised by Leo P. Spitzer and his wife Mina Weldon Spiter.  Helen, herself, was going by the name of Helen Spritzer, as the following marriage record shows.
 
Marriage Record for Emery Otis Denniston and Helen Doris Earnshaw (Spitzer)
 
Record No. Date of License Name
Bridegroom & Bride
Age Race Residence Birthplace Occupation Father's
Name
Month Day Year
5596 May 8 1917 Emery O Denniston 36 White Grant Township Nebraska Faming John M. Denniston
        Helen D. Spitzer 19 White Grant Township Ohio At Home Leo P. Spitzer
 
 
 
Helen and Emery's marriage produced two children.
 
Children of Emery Otis Denniston and Helen Doris Earnshaw
Name Birth Death Spouse
Reese Mathew Denniston 28 May 1918
Mecosta Co, MI
23 Nov 1989
Newton, NC
Winifred Irene Gardner
m. 08 Apr 1941
Paul Weldon Denniston 01 Feb 1921
Mecosta, MI
02 Sep 2007
Pinellas Co, FL
*Vivian Van Scooter
*Some records indicate that Paul Denniston had several wives
 
 
Reese Mathew Denniston was named after Helen's brother, Frederick Reese Earnshaw.
 
 
 
 
The 1920 Census shows Emery Otis Denniston, and his wife Helen/Ellen Doris Earnshaw, living in the Grant Township of Mecosta County, Michigan, near his parents, John Mathew and Caroline.  Emery was 39 and Helen/Ellen is 21.  They have one child, Reese Mathew Denniston (age 1 year and 8 months).  Emery is working as a farmer.  They own the family home but it is mortgaged.
 

1920 Census for Grant Township, Mecosta County, Michigan

 
Hse
No.
Fam
No.
Name Relation Home Personal Description Birth
Place
Occup
Last First Sex Race Age S/M
O/R F/M Self Dad Mom
99 101 Denniston John Head O F M W 66 M Michigan New York New York Farmer
    ----- Caroline Wife     F W 71 M Michigan New York New York None
    ----- Myrtle Daug     F W 37 S Michigan Michigan Michigan None
                             
100 102 Denniston Emery Head O M M W 39 M Nebraska Michigan Michigan Farmer
    ----- Ellen Wife     F W 21 M Ohio Ohio Ohio None
    ----- Reese Son     M W 1 8/12 S Michigan Nebraska Ohio None
 
 
 
Emery and Helen filed for divorce on 09 Nov 1926 in Allegan County, Michigan.  He was 46 and she was 27.  The Divorce Record shows that he was the Libellant - the one who was suing for the divorce.  Cause for Divorce was listed as "Extreme Cruelty".  The record shows that the divorce was granted and that alimony was granted to Helen.  Sons Reese was 9 and Paul was 5 at the time of their parent's divorce.
 
Divorce Record for Emery Denniston & Helen Earnshaw Denniston

 
 
 
After Helen's divorce from Emery, she married his first cousin Orrin Denniston (the son of Elmer Augustus Denniston and grandson of Samuel Denniston, Jr.) about 1927
 
 
 
The 1930 Census shows that Orin and Helen/Ellen have moved to the Lee Township in Calhoun County, Michigan.  Where Emery was 18 years older than Helen/Ellen, Orrin in slightly younger than Helen/Ellen and this Census lists his age as 29 and Helen/Ellen as 31.  They've been married for 3 years and are raising Emery's two sons, Reese and Paul.
 

1930 Census for Lee Township, Calhoun County, Michigan

 
Hse
No.
Fam
No
Name Relation Home Personal Can
Read
Write
Birth Occu Indus
Last First O/R Radio Sex Race Age S/M Age
at
1st
Md
Self Dad Mom
116 116 Denniston Orrin Head O R M W 29 M 26 Yes MI MI MI Farmer Truck
    ----- Ellen D. Wife     F W 31 M 18 Yes OH OH OH None  
    ---- Reese M. Son     M W 11 S   Yes Mi MI OH None  
    ----- Paul W. Son     M W 9 S   Yes Mi MI OH None  
 
 
 
The 1940 Census shows Orrin & Helen Denniston living in the Marshall Township in Calhoun County, Michigan.  He is 39 and she is 41.  Reese is 21 and working as a salesman in wholesale, earning $300. Paul is 19 and working as a Handyman at a Bakery. 
 

1940 Census for Marshall Township, Calhoun County, Michigan

 
Home Farm Name Relation Personal Grade Birth Occupation Income
O/R Last First Sex Race Age S/M Occup Ind
R No Denniston Orrin Head M W 39 M HS2 Mich Night
Watch
Bread 750
    ----- Helen D. Wife F W 41 M HS1 Ohio Radio
Service
Factory 0
    ----- Reese Son M W 21 S HS4 Mich Salesman Whole
Sale
300
    ----- Paul Son M W 19 S HS4 Mich Handyman Bakery 0
 
 
 
Helen and Orrin were living in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1940 - 1946 according to the City Directories.
 
 
Helen opened a restaurant called Denniston's City Restaurant in Union City, Michigan.  After Helen had a heart attack, they sold the restaurant and moved in with Reese and Wini Denniston in Plantation, Florida.
 

Denniston's City Restaurant
(the two storefront buildings on the right)

 
 

Helen with Nell Denniston who married Orrin's Brother Ansel Denniston

 

 
 
 

Helen (holding Vanessa Denniston) and Orrin Denniston - Palm Sunday 1958

 
 
 

A homemade Valentine from Orrin to Helen says it all

To Helen Denniston

For many years you

have been my valentine

and for many more I hope

you will still be mine

Orrin

 
 
 

Elizabeth & Fred Reese Earnshaw, Orrin & Helen Earnshaw Denniston - 1958
(Fred Reese Earnshaw was Helen's brother)

 

 
 
 

THREE GENERATIONS - Helen, Reese and Sharon - About 1968

Orrin & Helen, Sharon with parents Winifred Gardner Denniston & Reese Mathew Denniston

 
 
 

Postcard to son Reese Mathew Denniston and his wife Winifred Gardner
from Helen & Orrin in Helen's handwriting

 

 
July 15 (1969) We are camping in Green Mt. Forrest near Bon's home at Ripton, VT.  Are having a wonderful time.  VT is beautiful.  Nice weather after lots of rain.  Love Mom & Dad
 
 
 

Memories of JoAnn Denniston Seese

Grandpa and Grandma (Orrin & Helen Earnshaw Denniston) lived at the Spitzer farm when I was young and I have many memories of summers there.  They lived near Hersey, Michigan.
 
 
 

Helen and Orrin Denniston

 

 

 
 
Orrin's brother Ansel Denniston and his wife Nell were living on Bakers Mountain in Hickory, NC, and encouraged Orrin and Helen to move from Florida to Catawba County, NC.  Nell had been Helen's partner at the Denniston's City Restaurant in Union City, Michigan.
 
 
 
Orrin Denniston died 28 Feb 1979 in Catawba County, NC.  Helen Died 20 May 1981 in Catawba County, NC.
 
 
 
 

Other Family Members

 
 
 
 

Lloyd and Gladys Denniston - December 1969
(Orrin's Brother)

 
 
 
 
SOURCES
 

Thanks to JoAnn Denniston Seese for the photos and her help with the Earnshaw family