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Emma Ellen (Gaumer) Mapes |
Emma Ellen (Gaumer) Mapes was born on Jan. 27, 1859 in Ohio, the daughter of Adam and Nancy (Boies) Gaumer.
She migrated to Illinois with her parents as a young girl.
She was an unmarried student at the age of 20, residing with her parents in 1880 in Elbridge Township, Edgar County, IL.
When she was 23 years of age, on Jan. 24, 1883, she was united in matrimony with William Thornton "Will" Mapes (Oct. 1956-1934), an Illinois native and the son of Cyrus and Mary (Ferrell) Mapes. The wedding ceremony was held in Edgar County.
They were the parents of four children -- Grace Mapes, Frank Mapes, Edith Beighle and one who died prior to 1900.
Sometime between 1885 and 1899, the Mapeses relocated to Indiana, where William plied his trade as a butcher in Terre Haute, Harrison Township, Vigo County. During the decade between 1900 and 1910, they moved again to Owasso, Tulsa County, OK, where William secured a position as merchant of a retail grocery store. Emma's sister Eliza Ann James and her husband Firmin also moved to Oklahoma during this period.
The Mapeses remained in Owasso during the 1910s and are listed there in the U.S. Censuses of 1920 and 1930, with William operating a drug store. In 1920, 22-year-old employee Oma Smith lived under their roof.
William died in 1934, with burial in Fairview Cemetery in Owasso.
Emma is listed as a widow, residing by herself, in the 1940 federal census. She joined her husband in death in 1949. [Find-a-Grave]
~ Daughter Grace Mapes ~
Daughter Grace Mapes (1884- ? ) was born in Sept. 1884 in Illinois.
At the age of 15, in 1900, she lived with her parents in Terre Haute, IN.
Her fate is not known.
~ Son Frank Mapes ~
Son Frank Mapes (1885- ? ) was born in Oct. 1885 in Illinois. He moved to Oklahoma with his parents.
At the age of 24, in 1910, he earned a living as a merchant in a retail grocery, likely working for his father.
The Muskogee (OK) Times-Democrat reported in August 1914 that Frank had been appointed federal postmaster in Owasso, Tulsa County.
On March 21, 1915, in Tulsa County, the 29-year-old Frank wedded Beulah McCariston (1886- ? ), daughter of James S. McCariston, an immigrant from England. Census records for 1920 show the childless couple making their home in Owasso, with Frank now employed as a tool dresser in the oilfield industry, and Beulah working as a bank teller.
Frank continued his work as an oilfield tool dresser in 1930-1940, with Beulah's widowed father living in the household in 1930. His home in 1969 -- when he was named in the obituary of his murdered sister Edith -- was in Claremore, OK.
~ Daughter Edith (Mapes) Beighle ~
Daughter Edith Mapes (1899-1969) was born on April 24, 1899 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, IN. She joined her parents in their move to Oklahoma.
When she was 18 years of age, on April 30, 1918, she was united in wedlock with 27-year-old John Henry Beighle Jr. (Aug. 22, 1890-1967), a native of Renfrew, Butler County, PA. Rev. George M. Jeffrey, of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Collinsville, Rogers County, OK, performed the nuptials.
John may have brought a daughter into the marriage, Jewel Blackett.
They are believed to have been the parents of Melvin Gene Beighle, Lois Marie Marlar and Olga "June" Stafford Shoemaker.
By 1925, they had relocated to Skellytown, Carson City, TX and remained there for the rest of their lives.
John passed into eternity on Dec. 7, 1967. Edith enjoyed serving as pianist and organist at the Skellytown First Baptist Church.
Tragically, just two years later, on Sept. 7, 1969, Edith was strangled to death in her bed at home in Skellytown. The Pampa (TX) Daily News said that "Robbery and possibly rape are being investigated as motives" and that "contents of five purses in the woman's home were strewn about the room and no money had been found." Her neck had been wrapped with an electric blanket heating cord, and her face was badly bruised.
A neighbor man later was found guilty of the crime and sentenced to a 99-year term in prison.
Edith and John repose together in Memory Gardens of Pampa, Gray County, TX.
Son Melvin Gene Beighle (1919-2000) was born on April 8, 1919 in Owasso, Tulsa County, OK. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and took part in the battles of Guadalcanal and Tarawa, and was wounded in action at Saipan. News of his wound was printed in the Pampa (TX) Daily News. On Nov. 23, 1946, he wedded Jo Chesher (Nov. 21, 1926-2007), a native of Electra, TX but a resident of Skellytown at the time. They produced two children -- Patricia Ann "Tricia" Trimble and Melvin "Wayne" Beighle. Melvin enjoyed deer hunting, including special trips to Colorado. Jo was employed for two decades as a special education teacher's aide with the Pampa Independent School District, retiring in 1989. They were members of the Westside Church of Christ in Pampa and Olsen Park Church of Christ in Amarillo. At one point, Jo served as president of the Skellytown Parent-Teacher Association. The couple is noted for having made a financial gift that helped create The Hope & Healing Place in the Texas Panhandle, a center for grief and loss for children and families. Sadly, Melvin died in Skellytown, Carson County, TX on Jan. 25, 2000. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery in Pampa. Jo lived for another seven years. She died in Amarillo at the age of 80 on March 29, 2007. Rev. Billy Jones, of Amarillo's Pleasant Valley Church of Christ, led the funeral service. The Amarillo Globe-News printed an obituary.
Daughter Lois Marie Beighle (1923-1976) was born on Aug. 17, 1923 in Owasso, Tulsa County, OK. She married Bob Marlar (1923-1988). Their offspring were Nita Johnson, J'Hon Marlar and Terry Marlar. They dwelled in Pampa, Gray County, TX. At the age of 52, she and Bob went to Lake Greenbelt near Clarendon, TX to attend a family reunion. But sadly, she suffered a heart attack and died while there on June 19, 1976 in Howardick, Donley County TX. Her remains were shipped to Pampa to repose in Memory Gardens of Pampa. Rev. Edwin Waterbury and Rev. Amos Harris officiated at her funeral service. Bob outlived his wife by a dozen years. He died in 1988.
Daughter Olga "June" Beighle (1930-1994) was born on Nov. 18, 1930 in Skellytown, Carson County, TX. She may have been wedded twice. Her first spouse allegedly was Lynn Stafford (1929-2011), whom she married in 1945. Their one known son was Bryan Lynn Stafford (1948-1998). Later, she was joined in matrimony with (?) Shoemaker ( ? - ? ). their residence in 1969 was in Texarkana. June passed away on Aug. 21, 1994. Burial was in Memory Gardens of Pampa in Gray County, TX. Son Bryan married Donna Huckins and in 1969 made their residence in Nashville, KS.
Presumed stepdaughter Jewel Beighle ( ? - ? ) married R.W. Blackett ( ? - ? ) and lived in Garden City, KS in 1969 (at 802 Center Street) and in Hayes, KS in 1976.
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