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Mamie
W. (Swearingen) Courtney Haley |
Mamie W. (Swearingen) Haley was born
in 1863 in Tarlton, Pickaway County, OH, the daughter of John
S. and Eliza J. (Miner) Swearingen. On her grave marker, seen here,
her married name is spelled "Hailey" and appears as though it were her
middle name.
Mamie's grave in Butler, MO
As a girl, in the 1870s, Mamie migrated westward with her parents and siblings to Missouri, settling in Butler, Bates County.
When the federal census was taken in 1900, the 37-year-old unmarried Mamie made her home with her sister and brother in law Anna and George McReynolds on Walnut Street in Rich Hill, Osage Township, Bates County.
On Nov. 27, 1902 -- Thanksgiving Day -- Mamie at age 39 entered into marriage with 63-year-old Col. John M. Courtney (Sept. 10, 1832-1910) of Butler, MO but a native of Alton, IL. The wedding was held in the McReynolds residence, officiated by Rev. L.P. Siceloff of Fayette, MO. In an announcement of the happy affair, the Rich Hill Mining Review, which said that "Only a few relatives of the contracting parties witnessed the ceremony. The groom is well known as a gentleman of fine standing, having been for a number of years one of the leading stockmen of the county. Miss Swearingen, the bride, is well and favorably known in Rich Hill and Butler as an estimable lady of high moral character and fine social qualities."
John was the son of John R. and Dorcas (Galliger) Courtney and had migrated to Missouri from Fort Scott, KS at the age of four in 1836. Said the Mining Review, "During the greater portion of his life he was engaged in the buying and selling of cattle." The Courtneys settled in Kansas City and often returned to Rich Hill for visits during the 1903-1908 timeframe. They moved back to Butler by 1910 with an address on West Ohio Street. Circa 1908, John was a stockholder of the Missouri State Bank in Butler and owned a brick building used as a livery on North Main Street in town.
In the final years of his life, John suffered from cystitis and kidney disease causing uremia and an enlarged prostate. Sadly, at the age of 77, he died at home in Butler on May 9, 1910. The Butler County Democrat noted that "He had been failing in health for over a year, but at times some hopes of his recovery were entertained. Several weeks ago he was able to be up and walk around, but the past week he began to fail rapidly and hopes of his recovery were given up late Sunday night." Another obituary in the Mining Review called him "a gallant Missourian, and for many years a citizen of Bates County..." Rev. J.R. Lamb of the Presbyterian church led the funeral rites, with interment held in Oak Hill Cemetery. His brother-in-law George E. McReynolds signed the official Missouri certificate of death.
Then in 1911, Mamie was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with widower William M. Haley (March 17, 1869-1926),
a Chicago native, whose parents William and Ann (Goss) Haley were immigrants
from Ireland. He had moved with them to Bates County where he went to school in Butler and grew into adulthood.
Grave of William's 1st wife
William and his first bride Ona Lee "Onie" Young ( ? - ? ), wed in 1898, produced two sons together -- Ambert Francis Haley and Young William Haley. Sadly, Onie had died on March 20, 1904, at the age of 25. Her grave marker at Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adrian, Bates County, is inscribed with a popular mourning psalm of the era: "Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear."
Mamie and William did not reproduce.
The Haleys may have initially lived in Nevada, Vernon County, MO. By 1918, they had moved to Kansas City, Jackson County, MO. Their home was at 4119 East 26th Street. William's occupation was listed as "furniture packer." Another source shows him working as a shipping clerk for Robert Keith.
William held a membership in the Benton Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Said the Bates County Democrat, he "had many warm friends and all who knew him held him in high esteem."
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| Nevada streetscape, facing north, lined by a hotel, harness shop, dry goods store, grocery shop and drug store |
William passed away in Kansas City at the age of 57 on Aug. 16, 1926. His death was caused by acute heart disease. The Adrian Journal reported that his sister Mamie Hill and brother Richard Haley went to Kansas City to escort the body back to Adrian for burial at Crescent Hill Cemetery. The Journal added that William was "survived by his widow and two sons. The sons live in California."
High winds and hail struck Butler County in July 1928, said by the Butler Daily Democrat to be "one of the worst that this section has suffered in years and followed several days of extremely hot weather." Mamie's building on North Main, rented to the Childers & Curnutt automobile agency, was badly damaged when the "rear of the building caved in. The brick fire wall on the north of the building crumpled under the heavy wind and weight of the brick and mortar proved too much for the roof. A Buick touring car and a Ford couple were crushed under the falling brick when the roof gave way."
Mamie was named in the 1934 Butler Times-Press obituary of her brother Harley, and was described as the owner of the Yockey Garage building on North Main Street in town.
When her married niece Helen Klumpp reloated to Nebraska in 1939, Mamie joined them and thenceforth lived in their household in Beatrice, NE. She died there on Oct. 15, 1942. Her remains were shipped back to Butler, accompanied by the Klumpps, and were laid to rest beside her parents. An obituary appeared in the Butler Republican Press and the Bates County Republican, the latter of which said she had "made her home here at Rich Hill for many years and had many friends here who will regret her passing." Also attending her funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Burl Holland, Anna Wilson, Mrs. C.F. Krieger, Mrs. Will Vogel, Ina Waller, Mrs. J.N. Barrows and Samuel and John Klumpp.
~ Stepson Ambert Francis Haley ~
Stepson Ambert Francis Haley (1899-1982) -- sometimes spelled "Embert" -- was born on April 21, 1899 and was age five at his mother's death.
He stood 5 feet, 8 inches tall. On June 16, 1918, when both were 18 years of age, he married Thelma E. Mathews (1899- ? ) of Mound City, MO. News of the union was printed in the Mound City Republic.
Two known daughters in this family were Adelaide Mary Parks Sheppard Worline and Ona Lee Segal.
Later in the year of their marriage, Ambert was required to register for the military draft during World War I. At the time, he worked as an assistant clerk in a shipping office in Parsons, KS.
He relocated to California and circa 1920-1926 dwelled in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA, working as a clerk in a railroad storeroom. The federal census enumeration of 1930 places the family in Taft, Kern County, with him earning a living at a bakery shop.
Their marriage dissolved in divorce during the 1930s. Census records for 1940 show Thelma and daughter Ona Lee in Bakersfield, Kern County. At that time, Thelma was employed as a clerk in a department store and Ona Lee as a bookkeeper in a mercantile business.
By 1940, Ambert moved to Boulder City, NV and was there at the time of the U.S. Census of 1950. His employer in 1940 was F.E. Thomas of Las Vegas.
His second bride was Nebraska native Helen B. (1896- ? ). She was a piano and voice teacher.
Ambert became a public accountant and owned his own accounting firm in Boulder City.
He died in Fresno on New Year's Eve 1982.
Daughter Adelaide M. Haley (1919-1994) was born on Aug. 13, 1919 in Meridian, KS. She accompanied her parents on a move to California when very young. On Nov. 13, 1937, she was united in matrimony with Jess Parks ( ? - ? ) at the Little Chapel of Sacred Memories at the First Methodist Church of Bakersfield, officiated by Rev. Grover Ralston. He was the son of Wallace and Nina Parks. In making the news public, the Bakersfield Californian said that "the bride wore a black gabardine traveling suit, with suede accessories and corsage of orchids... Both young people are popular in Bakersfield's social circles, and their betrothal was the occasion for many pre-nuptial parties." Two sons produced by this union were Michael Parks and William Parks. Her second husband was Melvin W. Sheppard Jr. (Feb. 2, 1970). He is believed to have brought two stepdaughters into the marriage, Cindy Schofield of Bakersfield and Kari Naverick of Paradise. They dwelled at 83 Grapevie Road in Oak View, CA. A native of Philadelphia, he was a retired land manager for Shell Oil and held a membership in the Princeton Club of Southern California, Harvard Association, Petroleum Production Pioneers, Channel Islands Yacht Club, Kern County Historical Society and Ventura County Historical Society. Sadly, at the age of 65, Melvin died on June 7, 1975. Burial was in Ivy Lawn Cemetery. His obituary appeared in the Ventura County Star. Her final spouse was World War II veteran Harry Elmore Worline (married Dec. 14, 1975), son of Harry Worline. His two children from previous marriage were Robert Worline and Linda Llewellyn. He was a 35-year veteran of the oil industry, his last employment as West Coast manager for Mobil Oil Company. He belonged to the Kern River lodge of the Masons, Al Malaikah Temple Shrine of Los Angeles, the Royal Arch York Rite Bodies in Glendale and the Kearn Valley Search and Rescue Squad. He also served a term as president of the Civitan Club in Glendale. The couple lived at 4109 Eton Street, Bakersfield. They were together for two years until his passing at the age of 62 on June 21, 1977. Her home for the final 15 years of her life was in Pismo Beach, CA. Death swept her away on Oct. 12, 1994. An obituary in the Arroyo Grande Times-Press-Recorder said that "At her request, no services will be held." She was survived by seven grandchildren.
- Grandson Michael Parks ( ? - ? ) married Vicki. They were in Bakersfield, CA in 1975-1977.
- Grandson William Parks ( ? - ? ) wed Joyce. The pair made their dwelling-place in the mid-1970s in Bakersfield, CA.
Daughter Ona Lee Haley (1921-1978) was born on March 24, 1921 in Bakersfield, Kern County, CA and named for her grandmother. She tied the knot with Stanley John Segal Sr. (Dec. 29, 1915-2002), a native of Oswego, NY who had come to Bakersfield in 1936. He earned a living as a fireman for the Southern Pacific Railroad, Kern County Fire Department and state forestry service. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Army and initially trained in electrical work at Asbury Park, NY. He attained the rank of second lieutenant and was deployed with the Signal Corps to the European Theatre. As had her father, Ona Lee learned the skill of bookkeeping. While her husband was away at war, she earned a living in this field in 1943, employed by F.W. Stricker & Son in Bakersfield. Stanley is said to have taken part in the Normandy beach landing on D-Day in June 1944. Two months later, he went missing and was captured at Mortain, France on Aug. 7, 1944. For the next eight months, he was held as a prisoner of war in Poland in an officer's prison known as an "Offizierslager" His camp, "Oflag 64," was in the town of Szubin a few miles south of Bydgoszcz. With the war's end nearing, and the Soviet Union army approaching his prison camp, he was among 1,500 POWs to be released. He and 60 other POW officers fanned out in a blizzard, seeking shelter in farmers' haystacks. He is believed to have reached Warsaw and then boarded a train for Odessa, Russia. His path home likely went through Istanbul, Turkey, Port Said, Egypt and Naples, Italy before arriving in the U.S. port in Boston. The news of his freedom was published in the Los Angeles Times on March 12, 1945. Ona Lee was visiting in Colorado at the time and there received word of his release. After the war, Stanley became licensed in California as a real estate salesman and in 1949 joined the Equitable Life Assurance Society. When Equitable sponsored the radio show "This Is Your FBI," he was pictured in the Bakersfield Californian. Their home address in those years was 1011 Normandy Drive, Bakersfield. In the 1950s, Ona Lee's name appeared in local newspapers for her tournament play at golf. They are known in 1949 to have attended the Equitable's 90th anniversary celebration at Atlantic City, NJ, flying to Oklahoma City and thence to Detroit to buy a new automobile before visiting Stanley's motheer in Oswego, NY. He held a membership in the Central Valley Life Underwriters Association. Eventually he formed Stan Segal Insurance Agency and was a certified insurance underwriter for half a century. He held memberships in the Knights of Columbus, serving as a grand knight, and liked to fish and golf. Sadly, she passed away on Feb. 16, 1978. John outlived her by 24 years and married again to Elizabeth Sorenson ( ? - ? ). She brought a stepson to the union, Dennis Sorenson. Their home was in Bakersfield. The angel of death cleaved him away on Oct. 3, 2002. His funeral service was held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, followed by interment in San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery. His obituary was published in the Bakersfield Californian.
- Grandson Stanley John Segal Jr. (1948- ? ) was born in about 1948 in Bakersfield, CA. He wed Mary and in 2002 dwelled in Bakersfield.
~ Stepson Young William Haley ~
Stepson Young William Haley (1901-1943) was born on May 22, 1901 in Kansas City.
He also migrated to California as a young adult. He made his home in Fresno, CA in 1926.
At age 22, Young entered into marriage with 19-year-old Cora (1905- ? ). When the federal census enumeration was made in 1930, the couple roomed in the household of Albert and Mary Randolph in Fresno. At that time, his occupation was as a fireman with the Southern Pacific Railway.
Their only known child was Thelma Baldwin.
By 1943, he had moved to Los Angeles and dwelled at 3433 North Figueroa Street or possibly 309 North Harbor B in San Pedro. He was a member of the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen's Union 1-13.
Tragedy struck in Long Beach on the rainy evening of Dec. 17, 1943. While crossing the street at the intersection of West Anaheim Street and Hayes Avenue, "one car struck him and hurled him into the path of another, which ran over him," reported the Long Beach (CA) Sun. He was rushed to Seaside Hospital and died there an hour later. After a coroner's inquest, both drivers were exonerated of blame.
Daughter Thelma Haley ( ? - ? ) wed (?) Baldwin. Circa 1943, she lived in Los Angeles.
Copyright © 2000, 2004, 2008-2009 , 2023 Mark A. Miner