Mary Ellen Vrooman
ID # 1719, (1869-)
Father | Elias Vrooman (1832-1869) |
Mother | Vermicie Jane Woolery (1838-1926) |
Birth | Mary Ellen Vrooman was born in July 1869 at Wyoming (Crossing The Rocky Mountains). |
Note | Vermicie's petition says that a Mr. Shellhorn, a merchant in Pawnee City, Nebr., adopted Mary Ellen. Vermicie never heard of Mary Ellen after leaving Beatrice, Nebraska. Mary Ellen, later known as Ella, eventually married Asa Weaver, physician, and they lived in Concordia, Kansas. The depositions show that Ella was surprised to hear of her mother in 1906, for she thought her as long dead. Ella got involved in supporting her mother's efforts to get a pension. There is some suggestion that Ella was able to contact her mother. Whether they were finally able to reunite isn't shown in the available information. The 1900 census in Concordia, Kansas, shows Ella with her husband Asa. They have four children. With them is Harold Shellhorn, age 15, who is shown as Asa's brother-in-law. In 1910, Asa and Ella are still in Concordia. In 1920, Ella is still in Concordia, a widow, and doing home nursing. In 1930, Ella is in Wichita, Kansas, working as a nurse. In 1940, Ella is back in Concordia, Kansas, and living with sons Ross and Richard. In the 1880 census taken at South Fork, Pawnee Co., Nebraska, we find Ella with P. Shellhorn (a farmer) and wife Kate. Ella is age 11 and shown as born in Colorado. The places of birth for her parents are left blank. Ella is the oldest child present, three younger brothers being shown. There's was a large household, for also with them, shown as 'sisters' are Annie and Zara Fuller, 14 and 9. These will be Kate's sisters, for circumstantial evidence suggests that Ella's adoptive parents were Peter Shellhorn and Catherine Fuller. By the time of the 1900 census taken at Lancaster, Nebraska, Peter Shellhorn is shown as 67, a widower, and with is his adopted son Bartlett, Bartlett's wife Mary, and grandchild Kathryn. Also with them are three of Peter's sons, including Harold, the youngest at age 15, and who was enumerated twice, for he is also found in the household of Ella Weaver in Concordia, Kansas, when the enumerator came to call. |
Last Edited | 6 Oct 2017 |