Edna Mae (Lawson) Stengel (1896 - 1978)

Born 12 Aug 1896 in Michigan, United States

Wife of Charles Dillon Stengel — married 18 Aug 1924 in Belleville, St. Clair, Illinois, United States

Died 3 Feb 1978 at age 81 in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Biography

Edna was the second child of four children born to John William and Margaret Forbilly Lawson. There is some conflict about her birthdate as explained in the Note below.

According to the 1900 US Census, John was a contractor and Margaret was a homemaker. John was born in Canada and emigrated in 1884. John's father was born in New York State and his mother was born in Canada. Margaret was born in Michigan and both her parents were Belgian.

The other Lawson children were Mary (Mae) M. born in February, 1893; and Lawrence, born in August, 1896. All the children were born in Michigan.

By 1910, the family had moved to Los Angeles, California where John was working in real estate. The 1910 Census states that John was born on New York State with both of his parents being born in Canada. A fourth child, John, was born in 1904, in Michigan. This census asked for the number of births and living children. There was a fifth pregnancy, but only 4 children living.

The 1920 US Census reports that Edna is still living with her parents and brother John, known as Jack. She is employed as a comptometer operator for an oil company.

Again, there is a difference in the birth information for father John. This census states that John was born in New York State, but both parents were born in the United States. John is employed as a real estate agent.

Edna married Charles "Casey" Stengel on August 18, 1924. Casey was a professional baseball player with the Boston Braves at the time of their marriage. He retired as an active player a year later, but began a long career as manager thereafter. Edna supported Casey throughout his career and followed him through his moves to different teams. Edna was frequently quoted in newspaper articles about Casey and was often in the stands watching the teams Casey managed.

Edna managed most of the correspondence sent to Casey by fans and supporters. She was especially influential in getting Casey to invest in her brother John's bank, the Valley National Bank of Glendale California, after World War II. The Stengels became millionaires through Casey's banking prowess.

Edna maintained her own finances throughout her life, earning a comfortable profit from real estate investing.

They had a 51 year marriage before Casey death in 1975. In 1973, Edna suffered a stroke and was moved to a convalescent home. Casey was diagnosed with cancer of the lymph nodes in mid-September, 1975 and died 15 days after getting the diagnosis. Edna died three years later in 1978. They had no children. They are buried together at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, California.

Note

There are conflicting sources for Edna's birthdate. The 1900 US Census lists July, 1894 and her age is 5. The information filled out for her husband's passport lists Edna's birthdate as August 12, 1896. Find a Grave lists her birthdate as August 12, 1894. ~PM 6/8/19

Sources

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSM9-7JC : accessed 7 June 2019), Edna Lawson in household of John W Lawson, Escanaba city Ward 1-2, Delta, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 35, sheet 20B, family 353, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,708.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV2L-VVC : accessed 8 June 2019), Edna Lawson in household of John W Lawson, Burbank, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 348, sheet 1B, family 24, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 79; FHL microfilm 1,374,092.

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHQ4-MTG : accessed 8 June 2019), Edna Lawson in household of John W Lawson, Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing ED 28, sheet 4B, line 63, family 125, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 102; FHL microfilm 1,820,102.

"United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJG-PMW2 : 16 March 2018), Charles Dillon Stengel, 1924; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #481660, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 2648, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGT4-8S6 : 26 November 2014), Edna M Stengel, 03 Feb 1978; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.

Find a Grave - Https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7001311/edna-m_-stengel

Newspapers.com- https://www.newspapers.com/image/459369664/?terms=edna%2Bstengel

Newspapers.com- https://www.newspapers.com/image/381187700/?terms=edna%2Bstengel