Wilbur Henry Trudgian (1888 - 1958)

Born 16 Oct 1888 in Guilford Twn., Jo Daviess Co., IL, USA .

Ancestors

Husband of Olive Mary (Harrison) Trudgian — married 16 Sep 1914 in Ft. Dodge, Iowa USA

Descendants

Died 22 Jul 1958 at age 69 in Hinsdale IL USA

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Wilbur Henry Trudgian was born on 16 Oct 1888 in Guilford Township, JoDaviess County, Illinois, USA. He was born in the house across Stage Coach Trail from the house that his grandparents had built in 1852 when they arrived in the Galena IL area from Cornwall, England. His father Thomas A, Trudgian was born in that house and his mother Rachel Kloth was born and raised in JoDaviess County also. He was baptized 06 Dec 1888 in Galena, IL ^[1]. ^[2] listing both birth and baptism dates. Ch. Schwertzer and Mrs. A.D. Tippet were witnesses. Rev.H.T. Smidt was the pastor and Wilbur's parents are listed as Mr. T.H. Trudgian and Rachel.

At the beginning of 1900 Wilbur and his parents and siblings were living in Guilford Twn. ^[3]. But by 1901 they were living in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Ward 4, IA.

At age 19 Wilbur attended Epworth Seminary in Epworth, IA. He continued to attend school there through 1909. ^[4]. ^[5].

In 1910 the family was back living in Guilford Township in IL. ^[6]. In 1913 & 1914 he was back in Waterloo, IA.

On 16 Sep 1914 Wilbur married Olive Mary Harrison in Fort Dodge, IA in her sister's home. ^[7]. They had met in Fort Dodge when Wilbur was visiting his Uncle Kloth and Olive was living there with her father and sister.

1915 State Census listed Wilbur as employed as a packing house clerk earning $700 at Roth Packing, married and living in Waterloo, IA ^[8]

On June 5, 1917 Wilbur registered for World War I Draft. He stated he was born in Galena, IL on 16 Oct 1888 with black hair and dk. brown eyes. He had a wife and child and was living at 423 Vinton St. Waterloo IA and worked at the Smoke House at Roth Packing Co.^[9]

In the 1920 Census Wilbur, Olive and their son, Wayne, were still living at the Vinton address in Waterloo, IA. He was 31, able to read and write, both of his parents were born in IL and he was working as a packer at Rath Co. and owned his on home.^[10]. In 1921 Wilbur was living with his brother Alvin and sister-in-law at 423 Vinton St., Waterloo, IA.^[11] His wife and 2 sons must have been in Middle Inlet.

03 Jan 1921 Wilbur, who lived in Waterloo, Blackhawk Co., IA, signed a contract with Skidmore Land Company. [The N.E. 1/2 of N.E. 1/4 of Sec. 19 and the N. 1/2 Section of the N.W. 1/4 of Sec. 20 in Tp. 33 N. of R.21 E, containing 120 acres, more or less, according to Government survey]. Contract = $2800.00 to be paid yearly by 1 Jan _______ in installments of $380.00 for five years.^[12]

Before 1924 Wilbur and Olive, with sons Wayne and Lowell, lived on the property. It had been previously owned by the government and/or multiple paper/logging companies. Wilbur and Olive would be the first homesteaders on this land. All family information and photos indicate that the family lived a merger, hard life while trying to make a living as a dairy farm and later as a Christmas Tree farm. the children walked miles to school, while working long hours on the land. Wilbur, according to his children, was a strict, hard driving man, quick to use the belt if they didn't move fast enough. He sometimes would go back to Waterloo, IA leaving Olive and the children alone on the property for weeks .^[13]

In 1930 Wilbur, Olive, Wayne and Lowell were living in Middle Inlet^[14]. In 1932 Wilbur was listed in his mother's obit as living in Middle Inlet, Marinette Co., WI, USA. ^[15]. In 1932 Wilbur and Olive's fourth and final child was born/died and was buried at Pine Hill Cemetery, Middle Inlet, Marinette Co., WI, USA. ^[16], ^[17].

On 24 Mar 1940 Wilbur and Olive joined the Middle Inlet Presbyterian Church. ^[18]. According to the 1940 US Fed. Census Wilbur, Olive, sons Wayne & Lowell & daughter Fern were all living on the Middle Inlet property sources.

In 1942 Wilbur and Olive and children were still on the Middle Inlet property when Wilbur filled out a WWII Draft Registration Card, Serial # 2165. This was called the WWII "Old Man's Draft" due to the 45-64 year old registers. ^[19]

By 1945 Wilbur, Olive and Fern, their daughter were living in Waterloo, Blackhawk Co., IA .

On 22 Jul 1958 Wilbur was killed in a car/truck traffic accident in DuPage Co., IL, USA while traveling from his son, Lowell's, home in Orland Park, Cook Co., IL back to his home in Waterloo, Blackhawk Co., IA. ^[20] His wife and daughter-in-law Irene Trudgian were also injured in the accident.

Sources

1. ↑ Thomas and Rachel Trudgian Bible
2. ↑ Baptismal Certificate for Wilbur Trudgian
3. ↑ 1900 Federal Census
4. ↑ Entries in Rachel Kloth Trudgian's diaries
5. ↑ Multiple personal letters and postcards sent between Wilbur and his parents which are now saved in his granddaughter - Sheryl Trudgian Jones' - home
6. ↑ 1910 Federal Census
7. ↑ "Harrison-Trudgian Wedding" 21 Sep 1914 , p.9 The Courier Newspaper, Waterloo, IA.
8. ↑ 1915 Iowa State Census, Waterloo, IA.
9. ↑ "World War I Selective Services System Draft Registration Cards 1917-18. Reg. Location: Blackhawk Co., IA, Roll: 1643414
10. ↑ U.S. 1920 Federal Census, Census Place: Waterloo, Ward 4,, Iowa, Roll: T625_478, Page: 8B, Enumeration District: 30
11. ↑ U.s. City Directories 1821-1995, 1921 Waterloo Iowa City Directory
12. ↑ Abstract of Title # 219158, Marinette Co., Abstract and Land Company, Marinette, Wisconsin, Vol.100 of Deeds p. 62.
13. ↑ oral family history referenced by their children
14. ↑ 1930 U.S. Fed. Census, Place: Middle Inlet, Marinette Co., WI, USA. Roll: 2583, Page: 4B, Enumeration Dist.: 18, Image: 862
15. ↑ "Deaths: Mrs. Rachel Trudgian", The Courier Newspaper, Waterloo, IA., 22 Feb 1932, p. 2.
16. ↑ Rodger Elwood Trudgian Birth and Death Records
17. ↑ Iowa Find-a-Grave Memorial 105596224
18. ↑ Membership Booklet dated 24 Mar 1940 for Middle Inlet Pres. Church
19. ↑ National Archives, Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration, Wisconsin, 1942.
20. ↑ "W.H. Trudgian" (obit) The Courier Newspaper, Waterloo, IA, 23 Jul 1958, p.2.