Minerd.com Biography of Jurdin C. and Jessie (France) Henry of Cygnet, OH

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Jessie (France) Henry
(1871-1968)

Jessie Henry

Jessie (France) Henry was born on Oct. 7, 1871 in Wood County, OH, the daughter of of John C. and Rhoda (Van Horn) France.

In about 1892, when she would have been 21 or 22 years of age, Jessie was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with 25-year-old Jurdin C. Henry (Dec. 24, 1866-1940). He was the son of John Wesley and Sarah Jane (Tiggt) Henry, and a native of LaGrange, Licking County, OH.

Their two sons were France Burnham Henry and Lyle L. Henry.

Said the Findlay (OH) Republican-Courier, Jurd "moved to Cygnet from Pemberville [in 1895] and was employed in the oil fields of the community ... [He] was a member of the I.O.O.F. at Pemberville and the Methodist church of Cygnet."

The Henrys resided in Cygnet, Wood County for many years, and are shown there in the federal census enumeration of 1900. Jessie's first cousin, Sabina Lucretia "Lou" (Van Horn) Callan, also is known to have resided in Cygnet during that era.

His oil patch work in the year 1900 was as an oil pumper. Then circa 1920, he continued with this type of work as a "stationery" engineer at a nearby pump station.

Cygnet's Main Street -- with horse and buggy in the midst of a dirt street

With sons France (left) and Lyle.

Jessie was active volunteering in the service of her church congregation. Said the Republican-Courier, she "was a member of the Cygnet Methodist Church and its Woman's Society of Christian Service."

By 1930, with the Great Depression underway, the Wood County oilfields may have been tapped out. At that time, Jurd's occupation was as a cement laborer.

Obituary, 1940

Sadly, Jurd was diagnosed with cancer of his prostate gland in about 1937, and he endured the disease for three years.

Then at the start of the new year in 1940, he was stricken by a cerebral hemorrhage which led to paralysis. After three weeks, when he contracted pneumonia, his health plummeted further, and he passed away from their combined effects, relieved of his sufferings, on Jan. 11, 1940.

Jessie spent her final years in a rest home in Maumee, OH.

She died there on March 11, 1968, at the age of 86. She was laid to rest with her husband in the Pemberville Cemetery. At the time of her death, the Republican-Courier said, she was survived by "six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren."

~ Son France Burnham Henry ~

Son France Burnham “France” Henry (1898-1972) was born in February 1898 in Cygnet, Wood County, OH.

At the age of 22, in 1920, he is believed to have dwelled in Columbus, OH and was employed as a railroad brakeman. Later that year, he accepted a transfer to Washington, Washington County, PA. In doing so, he was one of the very few branches to return to southwestern Pennsylvania after several generations of living in Ohio.

On May 15, 1920, at the age of 22, he was joined in matrimony with 22-year-old Margaret V. Lobb (1898- ? ), a native of Moorefield, WV. The wedding was held in Wheeling, WV, by the hand of Rev. L.S. Grose, pastor of the Zane Street Methodist Episcopal Church.

The pair's known children were James Lyle Henry, France Burnham Henry Jr., Esther Arlene Henry and Donna Jean Henry.

Burgettstown, PA, home of the France and Margaret Henry family

The couple made their home in 1930 in Washington, Washington County, PA. In 1930, France continued to make a living as a brakeman for the railroad.

During the latter half of the 1930s, the Henrys relocated to nearby Burgettstown, Washington County, and put down roots at 28 North Main Street. There, in 1940 and 1950, France maintained his railroad brakeman employment.

Both France and Margaret are believed to have died in 1972. Their remains repose for all eternity in Mount Prospect Cemetery in Hickory, Washington County.

Son James Lyle Henry (1921-1992) was born on Jan. 20, 1921. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces. He trained at Keesler Field, MS and learned how to maintain B-24 Liberator bombers, one of the largest combat bombers used during the war. In 1944, in nuptials held in Lafayette, IN, he was united in matrimony with Mary Lou Dowell (1922-2017), daughter of Lonnie and Myrtle Dowell. In time they established a home in Bensenville, DuPage County, IL. Three sons born to this union included Stanley P. Henry, David J. Henry and Gary F. Henry. Sadly, James died in Bensenville at the age of 71 on April 2, 1992. Burial was in Remington Cemetery in Jasper County, IN. Mary Lou lived for another quarter of a century. She passed away at the age of 94 on or about Aug. 20, 2017. Her obituary was published in the Chicago Tribune.

Grandson Stanley P. Henry wed Kathy.

David J. Henry married Patricia

Grandson Gary F. Henry ( ? - ? )

Son France Burnham "France" Henry Jr. (1923-1989) was born on Jan. 13, 1923 in Washington, PA. He stood 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighed 150 lbs. He was unemployed in 1942, at the age of 19, and the following year was drafted into the U.S. Army. In all, he served from Feb. 6, 1943 to Dec. 18, 1945 and then again from June 28, 1948 to June 27, 1952. France was joined in wedlock with Concetta T. "Connie" Carano ( ? - ? ). The pair did not reproduce. Concetta was an alumna of Commercial High School. Circa 1950, They resided in Savannah, GA, where France was employed at Chatham Air Force Base with the 2nd Maintenance Squadron, 2nd Maintenance and Supply Group. Their address at the time was 75A Prince Preston Drive. Concetta held a membership in Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Sadly, France passed away in Chatham, GA on April 12, 1989. Concetta outlived him by 15 years and dwelled in Tucker, GA. She died at age 85, in Meadowbrook Nursing Home, on Oct. 24, 2004. Her funeral mass was held in the family church, by the hand of Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy. Interment of the remains followed in Hillcrest Abbey West. An obituary appeared in the Savannah Morning News.

Daughter Esther Arlene Henry (1927-1994) was born in about 1927 in Cygnet, Wood County, OH. At the age of 23 in 1950, living with her parents in Burgettstown, PA, she made a living as a stenographer for an automobile insurance company. It is unknown whether she ever married. She died on Oct. 18, 1994.

Daughter Donna Jean Henry (1932- ? ) was born in about 1932 in Pennsylvania.

~ Son Lyle Leonard Henry ~

Lyle Leonard Henry (1902- ? ) was born on Dec. 30, 1902 in Ohio. He became fascinated with magic in boyhood and learned the barbering trade as a young man.

He appears to have been twice-married. His first bride was (?). They were divorced in Lucas County, OH on Aug. 11, 1926.

Then on Aug. 24, 1926, in nuptials held in Summit County, OH, the 23-year-old Lyle married 24-year-old teacher Rachel Ellen Butts (April 27, 1902-1979), daughter of Frank and Mysta (Skinner) Butts. Rev. Ira D. Warner officiated. At the time, Lyle lived in Toledo and Ellen in Akron.

Together, the pair bore two children, Richard J. Henry and Judith Ann Snyder Kalvin McClead.

Circa 1940, when the federal census enumeration was made, the Henrys dwelled in Maumee, Lucas County. At that time, he was a salesman for a heating equipment company.

Lyle's obituary

In addition, Lyle was a longtime "Toledo barber and union official who also performed internationally as 'Henri and His Famous Cards'," said the Toledo Blade. Added the Blade:

A barber 40 years in various Toledo and area shops, Mr. Henry also was secretary and business representative 21 years of Local 5, Toledo Barbers Union, until his retirement in 1965. He was a charter member of the Toledo Port Council, when it was founded in 1957 by a group of labor unions. He then served as a council trustee and officer for many years... Although he did not bill himself as a magician, Mr. Henry was a territorial representative for the International Brotherhood of Magicians and twice appeared before international conventions of that organization. He also was active in the Toledo Society of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians.

In his magic repertoire, said the Blade, he was:

The Henrys’ final address was 413 Gibbs Street. Rachel died in Maumee at the age of 77 on Sept. 2, 1979.

Lyle lived for another nearly two years. He passed away at home at the age of 78 on June 1981. Burial was in Pemberville Cemetery in Wood County.

Son Richard J. Henry Sr. (1931-1989) was born in about 1931 in Ohio. Nothing more is known.

Daughter Judith Ann Henry (1940-2010) was born on Dec. 7, 1940, exactly a year before the nation was plunged into World War II. She wedded (?) Snyder – (?) Kalvin ( ? - ? ) – and (?) McClead ( ? - ? ). Death carried her away in Ohio at the age of 69 on May 25, 2010. She sleeps for all time in Pemberville Cemetery.